Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Exploration in Western Australia', Age (Melbourne), 11 August 1875. p. 3.

[ Baron Von Mueller has received from the explorer, Ernest Giles, now out aga in under the au spices of the honorable Thomas Elder, a communication from Fowler' s Bay.

2

SA. The letter is dated to July 1875, as Giles was at Fowler's Bay from 14 to 17 July (E. Giles (1889), vol. 2, p. 157).

He led his part y by an entirely new route over unexplored country from the telegraph line to the Oasi s, called in native language, Youlde h , the line being better traversable than his first one, as he found sever al waterholes in rocks. He will ascertain on this occasion whether, as Baron Muelle r always anticipated, any water co u rses flow easterly, and therefore inland, from the high country north of Shark Bay,

3

WA.

as eastern extensive waters would greatly facilitate the communication from Central to Western Australia n sub-tropic lati tudes. The great expanse of Lake Amadeus westerly w ould thus also be accounted for ; but before that Mr. Giles has to pro c eed , if possible, under the latitude of Youldeh to the west coast, and will fit out again at Swan River for the exploration of the Marie and Alfred Ranges,

4

Alfred and Marie Range, WA.

only seen but not traversed by him last year. The whole task is an arduous one, but with Mr . Giles' experience and boldness it is likely that it will be accomplished, especially as he has this ti me a large lot of the camels im ported by Mr. Elder at his disposal. ]