Ferdinand von Mueller

Circular Head

1

Tas.

10th October 1874

My dear Sir

Your letter of 26th Ultimo

2

Letter not found.

came safely to hand with the post Office order for £2.

I propose to go out this week for the (supposed) Pittosporum and Agastachys Odorata — I will attend to the drying process by changing the paper daily under Mrs Emmetts care.

With regard to the longer Journey I should like to start on the 1st of December or in the event of your coming over whenever the date best suited yourself

3

M left Melbourne for Tasmania on 27 January 1875. See M to S. Emmett, 25 December 1874.

— I should be delighted with your company but the fatigue would be great. our country is very different to yours —

You can get a horse here without any difficulty — but the track cut by me for the Government when I was sent out in 1859 & 1860 is not now fit for traffach

4

traffic?

— I could however after one or two days labor with a man make it so that you could get 20 miles inland to a large boggy plain, over which the horse could not travel before February , nor get around without about 3 days labor. — I think however if you come over we could go to the plain and form our encampment 4½ miles from the Hellyer.

5

Hellyer River. All places named are in the north-eastern part of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tas.

We could get to the plains the first day. Second day to the Hellyer and find a crossing place, 3rd day to Rapid river (10 miles) 4th day to the Arthur (7 miles) and on to the Don

6

Arthur and Don Rivers.

— so that we could do it in a week — Hargraves the gold discoverer

7

E. H. Hargraves, unsuccessful in seeking gold in Tas in 1864.

went on it and to the plains, leaving his horses in charge of the servant, and walked to the Hellyer and back to the horses— Hargraves was 48 years old then weighing 20 stone he was greatly fatigued; when I go alone, I manage to reach the Hellyer easily the first day with a weeks provisions in my knapsack fishing at night at the river for Blackfish & Lobster of which the river is full, second day Rapid river and 3rd the Don — a good deal will depend upon the state of the Hellyer — when Mr John Hurst and five other gentlemen went with me to examine the Hellyer for gold, Mr Hurst took a hired servant to be his bodyguard attending to his horse and his own personal comforts — I should recommend your taking a horse all the way to the Hellyer, the track could be cleared I think for £3 — and start from thence with a lighter load — I would make my time yours — if it took a fortnight — My oldest son will go with me (25)

If however you change your mind. give me instruction accordingly —

Mount Ramsay is a [new] name situated 25 miles South of Mount Bischoff tin mine and therefore a cold part of the colony — I walked last February from Circular Head to Bischoff and back 206 miles — and enjoyed myself wonderfully well.

You as an old explorer must be quite used to drinking tea out of a tin pannican without milk &c &c &c

You can get good accommodation here at £1 a week — my house is too small otherwise I could offer you my hospitality with pleasure — The trip would do you good.

Schooner Melbourne or other traders would bring you over. Piggott Brothers