The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: In the absence of any further clue, it is impossible to draw any important conclusions from the notes and the plaited hair transmitted. The latter are of a very dark brown colour, and are not like tho...

Document information

Physical location:

65.05.11b

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to the Herald, 1865-05-11 [65.05.11b]. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1860-9/1865/65-05-11b-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

letter not found. The text given here is from Herald (Melbourne), 12 May 1865, p. 2 (B65.05.08). The letter is introduced by ' We have been kindly furnished by Dr. Mueller with the following memoranda having reference to the watch-case and plaited hair found in the possession of some aboriginal natives on the Flinders River'.

The letter is dated to 11 May 1865, on the basis that in a letter from W. Stitt Jenkins dated 10 May 1865, published as 'Carpentaria, Ho!' in the Geelong advertiser , 11 May 1865, p. 3, he stated 'D. H. Dow, of Forest Station, brought me [his son's] most interesting letter, which with its contents I forwarded to Dr Mueller; and we shall doubtless ere long have that distinguished philosopher's ideas upon the matter.' It is possible that the letter and contents were forwarded to M earlier, but the date given here for his assessment is probable, and is the last plausible date for this to have been written, to have appeared in the issue of 12 May.

In the absence of any further clue, it is impossible to draw any important conclusions from the notes and the plaited hair transmitted. The latter are of a very dark brown colour, and are not like those of an individual of the native race. These, as well as the watch-case may, however, have passed by barter for some distance through the country. It would be interesting to learn what other articles were noticed by Mr. Dow, in the aboriginals' camp. Were these trifling remnants of very uncertain origin to indicate disasters to Leichhardt's party at or near the spot where they were found — a supposition in which I cannot for a moment concur— bones of the many cattle, horses, and mules of Leichhardt's expedition would unquestionably have been also noticed. All these occurrences again and again remind us, however, that the inquiry into Leichhardt's fate, now contemplated under the surveillance of the Melbourne Ladies' Committee,

Ladies' Leichhardt Search Committee.

should receive an earnest support for a speedy realisation of its praiseworthy objects.

The following text is printed after M's letter:

Extract from a letter of Mr. John Dow, dated Cambridge Downs, Flinders River, 12th Feb., 1865: — "I have enclosed some hair, which is the only thing light enough to send in a letter, out of a number of queer things which we got in a black's camp, the other day, upon the occasion of a hostile descent, which it was found necessary to make upon about 300 of them as a lesson for some of their tricks they had been playing upon one of the out-stations. The black is gins' hair, which they appear to spin by the yard, as we have a great quantity of it; but that light-coloured bit is all we find of that sort, which leads us to believe it to belong to some unfortunate explorer. At any rate it is that of some white man, as no blackfellow has hair like it. I have also the outside case of a watch, with the number 32811. It may have belonged to Burke and Wills — who knows? — as we found it in possession of the blacks."