Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne bot. Garden,

16/1/73.

Sir Henry

Encouraged by you and your honorable Colleague Mr Barrow,

1

John Barrow.

I beg to transmit to you the journal and sketch map of Mr Ernest Giles's geographic explorations westward from the overland telegraph and entirely within South Australian territory. I received these important documents only last evening, and now place them unreservedly at the disposal of your Government;

2

On 17 January 1873, Ayers forwarded M's letter to the Commissioner of Crown Lands & Survey, Thomas Reynolds, who was 'respectfully requested to consider whether the information contained in the accompanying plan and journal is of value to the Government; and, if so, whether he can recommend that any and what sum could be offered to Mr Giles in return for the same. It is Mr Giles intention to pursue his explorations if he can obtain the means for doing so.' On 24 January1873 a minute 'respectfully suggested that in return for Baron von Mueller's ready courtesy in placing these journals & plans in the hands of the Govt that the latter might be photolithographed in this Office and copies supplied to the Baron and Mr Giles'. The suggestion was approved by Reynolds on the same day.

A digitized version of the map prepared in the SA Surveyor General's department is available at http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-231439545; the version published by August Petermann as plate 10 of the 1873 volume of his Mittheilungen is available at http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-232432495. Extracts from Giles's journal were published in the South Australian advertiser beginning 1 February 1873, p. 2, continuing 3 February 1873, p. 2, and concluded 5 February 1873, p. 2. The journal was published as Giles (1873); see also Petermann (1873a) and Giles (1875), pp. 5-68.

I prefer to do this without delay, rather than to add, as Mr Giles requested, notes of my own, as probably you would desire to give early publicity to Mr Giles researches, especially as two South Australian exploring parties, now in the field, would by the intelligence now obtained be guided in some of their movements.

3

The exploration parties were led by P. E. Warburton and W. C. Gosse; see M's comments below.

I will however supply some notes from Mr Giles's collections of plants hereafter,

4

See B73.04.01; collections from the 1872 expedition were included in B75.04.08.

and I also may add at once, that the finishing portion of the journal will only arrive by one of the next mails; but by a glance on the map it will be perceived that this finishing part of the diaries will have no additional important geographic bearings. Some of the new mountains and one of the Watercourses remained unnamed, the new geographic appellations to be chosen by the South Australian authorities. So far as a hurried perusal of the journals and maps allowed me to judge, I see great difficulties after the courageous exploit of Mr Giles, in continuing any exploration on the southern base of Macdonnell range, that range having been traced by Mr Giles to its western termination, about 150 miles from where Stuart struck it. It would be of importance, if the northern base of the MacDonnell Ranges could be explored.

5

It would be … could be explored is a marginal addition by M.

The great Amadeus Lake,

6

NT.

similar to Lake Eyre, and extending through more than two degrees of longitude, may also intercept the explorers now preparing for their expeditions from Central Australia to Swan River,

7

i.e. Perth, WA.

should they not become timely acquainted with the results of Mr Giles labours. The returning explorer notwithstanding his great experience, ability and perseverance, found himself repelled from further penetrating westward under his latitudes by the extraordinary want of water south and west of M'Donnell's Range and by the Saltmarshes to the south. He is however most eager to resume his explorations South of the great Amadeus Lake, especially as some high mountains were seen by him in that direction, and as the expeditions of Colonel Warburton and Mr Gosse will start several degrees farther north and will terminate at Swan River, Mr Giles in steering for the River Murchison

8

WA.

will follow an entirely independent line of travels. He is at present near Blinman

9

SA.

on the overland telegraph line reorganising his party and replenishing his outfit for a very early reoccupation of the field; and I venture to draw the attention of the South Australian Government now to the important services, which he has already performed without wishing to establish a claim by traversing from the telegraph line nearly half across to Sturts Creek, in the upper part of which magnificent basaltic pastoral country exists.

10

WA; as seen by M during the North Australian Exploring Expedition, 1855-6.

He has also mapped already one third of the way across from the telegraph line in one direction to the West coast. His expedition was entirely a private one, and solely undertaken in the cause of geography and cognate sciences. So will it be with his new enterprise. This latter however can be rendered more safe and more powerful in proportion to the means at Mr Giles disposal. Should therefore your honorable ministerial Colleagues and the other members of the Legislature of South Australia attach importance to the information now unconditionally afforded through me by Mr Giles, it may then become a subject of consideration, whether so worthy a man should experience some recognition and thus some additional means be gained for his new private travels.

11

The SA Government decided to contribute £250 towards Giles's new expedition.

The lines of the expedition just finished extend over 1300 miles, and the area mapped and before unexplored is equal to more than half of that of the Kingdom of Italy.

I have the honor, Sir Henry, to remain your regardful and obedient

The honorable Henry Ayers K.CMG.

Chief Secretary of South Australia.

The various permanent waters, discovered by Mr Giles, will be of importance not only for travellers, but also for permanent settlers. The collections of plants submitted to me show also considerable pastoral capabilities of some of the tracts explored, the grasses for instance belong to the genera Panicum, Pappophorum, Eragrostis, Elythrophora,

12

Elytrophorus?

Leptochloa, Andropogon, Aristida, all fair, some of superior value.