TO THE DESERT WITH STURT A Diary of the 1844 Expedition By DANIEL GEORGE BROCK Edited with a Preface and Introduction by KENNETH PEAKE-JONES South Australian Government Printer in association with the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (South Australian Branch) Incorporated Adelaide 1988 Reproduced by permission of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (South Australian Branch) Incorporated . Cover print: George French Angas “The departure of Captn. Sturt” First published 1975 by the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, South Australian Branch Incorporated Reprinted in paperback with corrections 1988 South Australian Government Printer 282 Richmond Road NETLEY SA 5037 Copyright - Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, South Australian Branch Incorporated All rights reserved National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Brock, Daniel George, 1811-1867. To the desert with Sturt. ISBN 0 7243 6509 5. 1. Brock, Daniel George, 1811-1867 -Diaries. 2. Sturt, Charles, 1795-1869. 3. Australia-Discovery and exploration. 4. New South Wales-Discovery and exploration. 5. South Australia-Discovery and exploration. I. Peake-Jones, Kenneth. II. Title. 919X042 919.4!042 Printed and bound by the South Australian Government Printer . PREFACE In 1938 the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, South Australian Branch, received the gift of a manuscript diary. The donor was Mrs. Hector Reid, of St. Lucia, British West Indies, a granddaughter of Daniel Brock, who had kept the diary while a member of Captain Charles Sturt's inland expedition in 1844-1846. Mrs. Reid wished the diary to return to South Australia, where Brock had spent most of his adult life, and to he preserved by a public body rather than remain the private possession of one of his descendants. The gift was acknowledged and the diary lodged on a shelf in the Society's library, but its importance does not seem to have been realized, and in course of time even its existence was apparently forgotten. The diary came to light again in 1966, when the Society was co-operating with the Sturt Memorial Museum Trust in planning an exhibition to commemorate the centenary of Charles Sturt's death. In searching for material Mr. K. T. Borrow, a member of the Society's Council and also of the Trust, came across the diary and realized its historical importance. It was exhibited in the Sturt Exhibition as part of the Adelaide Festival of Arts, 1966, and the public was made aware of the nature of its contents by Mrs. Elizabeth Lawrenson, who wrote several newspaper articles and delivered a paper to the Society, New Light on Captain Sturt's Northern Expedition. PREFACE vi The publicity accorded to the diary elicited the fact that there was another one in existence, written by Brock in 1843, when he was a stock inspector for the South Australian Company. This diary, Recollections of D.C.B. 1843, was presented to the South Australian Archives by another Brock descendant, Mrs. Joan Salter of Balmoral, Victoria. Photostat copies were made for the State library, and the Society's library. Copies of the expedition diary were also made for the Archives, the State Library, and the Society's library, and one was presented to the Brock family in the person of the late Mr. Ken Brock of Beaumont, South Australia. The original was withdrawn from the Society's library and locked away on the advice of the State Librarian that any unnecessary handling, or even further use for photostating, was to he avoided. The Society's council considered the publication of the expedition diary, wholly or in part. There were reasons for hesitation. Brock was highly critical of other members of the party, including Sturt himself, and the great explorer's centenary hardly seemed the ideal moment to publish such material. On the other hand, an expurgated edition would remove much of the point and force of the work without adding significantly to historical knowledge. The decisive factors were the sheer interest and literary merit of the work, which were enough to over-ride all but the strongest misgivings. It was therefore resolved that eventually the entire text should be published, but as the Society did not then have the resources to do this, all that could be done was to make a start on preparing the text and considering the most suitable form of presentation. PREFACE vii In the meantime, the photostat copies were made available to researchers. Not only Mrs. Lawrenson's work, already mentioned, but also references to and quotations from the diary in Michael Langley's definitive biography, Sturt of the Murray (Robert Hale, London, 1969), deal specifically with Brock's condemnations of Sturt, so that the matter has become common knowledge. Both Mrs. Lawrenson and Mr. Langley take the view (with which the present writer agrees) that Sturt's great reputation is not seriously assailed by such criticisms, and a fuller discussion of this will be found in the Introduction. In presenting this work to the public, the Society desires to thank the following: as already mentioned, Mr. K. T. Borrow and Mrs. R. A. Guy (formerly Mrs. Elizabeth Lawrenson); the late Mr. R. M. Laffer and the late Mr. K. A. Brock, whose bequests made publication possible; several descendants of Daniel Brock, especially Mrs. Joan Salter and Mrs. Jocelyn Russell; Mr. H. C. Brideson, who as State Librarian gave valuable assistance and advice in the early stages; the late Mrs. Marjorie Findlay, who had the difficult task of typing the first draft; and Mrs. Jill Conlon, who typed the revised draft for the printers. CONTENTS PREFACE v INTRODUCTION xi THE PARTY xxii Facsimile Pages from Sturt's Journal FACSIMILE PAGES xxiv Brock's Handwriting CHAPTER 1 Page 1844: 10th JUNE to 12th SEPTEMBER The Expedition-My dream—I leave my family—Progress to Morunde— Sturt addresses the men-Our guides, Nitebook and Careena-Mr Eyre to accompany us part of the way-On the Murray-1 begin work on the birds-Chaining on Lake Bonney -Bad character of some of party-Underhand dealing—The gun taken away from me—Mr Eyre leaves us …............……………………… 1 CHAPTER 11 1844: 13th SEPTEMBER to 27th OCTOBER Expedition poorly managed—Am given charge of sheep—Hatred of Piesse—Wet weather—Tuando joins us-Encounters with natives-News of a massacre-Accident to Flood-Rations reduced-We reach the Darling-I fall foul of Poole-Large body of natives-Diffi cult travelling-False alarm of native attack Message from the Governor-Camp near Laidley's Ponds-Brush with Flood-More chaining …..………. …………………………………………. 2 . CONTENTS ix CHAPTER III 1844: 28th OCTOBER to 10th DECEMBER We break camp-Heat and dust-Animals suffer—I feel poorly My relations with Piesse – Pleasant country — A waterhole Thunderstorm – Heavy rain – Native huts – Dense scrub – Driving the sheep – Sturt dissatisfied – Divine Consolation – Camp on Flood's Creek. .…………………………….. … 57 CHAPTER IV 1844: 11th DECEMBER, to 1845, 28th JANUARY Encamped on Flood's Creek-Officers ride in search of water-Sudden storm-Natives-Bird hunt with Sullivan-Heat, Flies. Mosquitoes-Sturt pleased-Dray catches fire-Browne and Poole find water-We move camp-Poole leads us astray-The Pine forest-Moses rescues us-The Acacia plain-Flood finds water-Sturt suffering from blindness-My birthday-Loose dray wheels-Officers again search for water-I suffer from blindness-Cooler weather-Foulkes sick-Sturt returns-God's Grace-Find large body of water Depot formed. ………………………………………………………...…. 83 CHAPTER V 1845: 29th JANUARY to 25th FEBRUARY Encamped at the depot-Building an underground house – Joseph—Hunting birds with the doctor-Repairs, Handiwork-Dangerous position of party— Blasphemy — Bible reading – Scenery – Seed gathering – Sturt again returns CHAPTER VI 1845: 28th FEBRUARY to I6th AUGUST Encamped at the depot-Unjust treatment-Sturt spies on us-Rations again reduced-Short of water-A big snake-I rely on God's word-Rain-It does not last-I explore to the E with Sturt and doctor-Meeting with natives-Return to camp-Dysentery-Cooler weather—Poole ill—Piesse's meanness-My prayers - Poole helpless-To be sent home-Stuart in charge of camp –arrogance – Complaint to Sturt - Injustice-Marquee catches fire camp -arrogance -Complaint to Sturt--Injustice-Marquee catches fire--I send money home . -Poole's escort leaves--We advance NNW--Poole's death--Return to depot-Piesse sent home-We start again-Chaining-Natives-horrible country-A malicious tongue thwarts my hopes--Sturt starts for centre--Stockade to be built-Stuart's arrogance again-Sturt's injustice. …………………………...126 CONTENTS x CHAPTER VII 1845- ]7th AUGUST to 8th OCTOBER Encamped at Fort Grey – God's promises – Visits by natives – Rain – Self examination – Stockade finished – Stuart's oppression – Summer approaching – Anxiety for Sturt-Flood's perfidy revealed – Sturt returns – Sufferings of his party – He prepares to go out again – Browne refuses to return home. ……………………………………………………………….177 CHAPTER VIII 1845: 9th OCTOBER to ]8th NOVEMBER Encamped at Fort Grey-Sturt, Morgan and Stuart leave-Browne in charge of camp-Natives visit-All hands sick-Slight hopes for Sturt-Heat increases-Retreat to depot-Scurvy-Browne very sick-Sturt returns-His desperate condition-Preparations for home. …..………………………... 193 CHAPTER IX 1845: ]9th NOVEMBER to 1846, 28th JANUARY Encamped at the depot-Sturt determines to push for the Darling – commend myself to God-flood searching for water–I sew journal into jacket-Water bottle made from bullock skin–Sturt very ill--Our determination to save him-Browne finds water-We start – Thunderstorm – God's goodness – Natives – My brave dog – Piesse's party meets us – News of my son's death – Reach the Darling – More Injustice – Morunde – Home. ….………….… 203 ENDPAPERS Reproduced from Arrowsmith's map of Sturt's journeys . INTRODUCTION Captain Charles Sturt set out from Adelaide, with fifteen companions In 1844, on his last journey of exploration, to find the inland sea which he believed must exist in the interior of Australia.