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86.01.05

Preferred Citation:

Belooch to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1886-01-05. 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/1880-9/1886/86-01-05-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

1
Letter not found. For the text given here, see Argus, 6 January 1886, p. 5. See also Leader (Melbourne), 9 January 1886, p. 32; West Australian, 26 January 1886, p. 3; and Western mail, 30 January 1886, p. 11.
[Baron von Mueller received a telegram last evening from a camel-driver named Billoch, who was with M'Intyre in his exploring expedition of 1866,
2
Ladies' Leichhardt Search Expedition.
and who sent the message from Cloncurry in Northern
Queensland, stating that he had just found the remains of the explorer Leichhardt. No particulars were given in the message as to where or under what circumstances the find was made.]
3
The text in the Leader, but not in the Argus, is accompanied by the following information: ‘Baron von Mueller has wired to the local police magistrate and the warden to interrogate the man, and forward particulars of his reply, but so far has received no reply. Belooch was the camel driver for the Burke and Wills expedition, and has remained in charge of several of these animals ever since, latterly being in the employ of the Queensland Government.'
The text in the Western Mail included further information, as follows: ‘Baron von Mueller says that the Afghan was probably somewhere to the west of Cloncurry, in a new country, and by interrogating the aborigines, who would naturally be less fearful and more communicative now than in years past found out the remains. ... He rather inclines to the belief that the remains are those of Leichardt, who would reasonably enough have avoided the sandy desert of Ayers’ Creek by taking the more northerly direction, almost in a line with the 20th parallel in order to carry out his intention of crossing over to Swanr River, in West Australia.‘
M's telegram to Cloncurry not found. For the police magistrate's discouraging reply, see R. Uhr to M, 7 January 1886.