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INTRODUCTION.

THE able and undaunted traveller, whose diaries are re-issued in these pages, has entrusted to me the task of revising his journals for the press and introducing this volume by a few prefatory words to public notice. I have complied with his request all the more readily, as he has entered already anew the field of geographic exploration. It was deemed desirable to render the instructive and stirring account of his exploits accessible in a more attainable form than that of parliamentary records. No one perusing these journals will withhold the admiration due to the courage, skill and perseverance displayed by Mr. Giles under unusually trying difficulties, more particularly so as he was supported only by the most slender means; and it seems probable, that any other explorer would have shrunk from the task of braving the terrors of the Australian deserts in seasons of protracted aridity with such narrow resources as were at his commands.

The writer of these lines may possibly be held responsible for having unwarrantedly initiated and encouraged these enterprises, though now of lasting importance, with such utterly inadequate auxiliaries; but although aware that the greatest deeds in Australian geographic research have generally been accomplished with the most modest resources, yet he was equally cognisant that ampler appliances, if accessible, would lessen the dangers and privations which beset the path of his now deservedly celebrated friend. It is therefore due on this occasion to relate, under which circumstances these two expeditions arose.

The formation of our Trans-continental Telegraph-Line, a few years ago, gave facilities for carrying explorations from some central positions of our continent widely westward, and afforded also easier means of retreat in cases of distress. Moreover, a few previous seasons rather favourable

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for rain held out the hope of traversing Central Australia then with comparative ease; and in order that these chances might not be lost I induced my experienced friend, who for years was eager to push in new lines through the interior, to step forward as the champion of a new cause of science. I long had entertained the view, that the remotest inland settlements of South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland, from which transits to the sea become almost unprofitable, ought to be connected by a traversable overland line with the many excellent harbours of the north-west coast; and during my own travels with Mr. Augustus Gregory, in 1855 and 1856, I had recognised the pastoral fertility of many inland tracts of country towards those unsettled places of shipment. If, therefore, an easy overland-route could be found for bringing the surplus stock from the distant inland stations of the eastern portion of our continent to far more remunerative places of occupation and to the very vicinity of safe coast places of export, then an immense impetus would be given to the lucrative settlement of wide tracts of Australia hitherto unnoticed, or even unmapped, and thus gradually palatinal estates might arise by mere small outlays where hitherto blanks only existed on the geographic chart.

Thus the plan was formed to connect the MacDonnell's Ranges with an overland-road to the sources of the River Murchison, or to any other of the great watercourses entering the ocean in more northern latitudes than that stream. I made an appeal through public journals for support of the intended enterprise, but the call at the time was in vain; and as there appeared to be no immediate prospect of geographic parties setting out from any other colony in the direction indicated, the first expedition of Mr. Giles was fitted out at his own private expense and that of the writer, aided by the voluntary service of Mr. Carmichael. The enthusiastic ardour, periodically manifested for territorial explorations, but which seemed for a while to have faded away, was kindled anew when this small private expedition boldly went forth; for ere Mr. Giles had regained the settlements, two other exploring parties, both provided with dromedaries, that of the South Australian Government under the youthful Mr. Gosse, and that of Messrs. Elder and Hughes under the venerable Colonel Warburton, were organised to proceed from middle-stations on the Telegraph-Line also in westerly directions, while soon subsequently West Australia sent eastward her own explorers, Messrs. Forrest, who, like Colonel War

burton, had won renown in former geographic travels. It may be easily understood, that Mr. Giles, having been the first in the field at that period, should have re-entered chivalrously the arena as a champion for geography also; and in as much as space existed, and still exists, for the independent action and movements of several distinct exploring parties, no uncharitable jealousies needed, so we conceived, to mar the successes and achievements of each of these pioneers of civilisation, there being ample room for the work of all.

A second now direct call made by me for aiding so brave and experienced a geographic investigator as Mr. Giles in the renewal and continuation of his journeys met with the generous response of a number of Victorian gentlemen, and the means thus afforded, supplemented by a grant from the Government of South Australia (within whose territory all the first discoveries of Mr. Giles were made), enabled him to start more amply equipped on his second expedition, and throughout this he was most ably assisted by Mr. Tietkens. What can be done by an earnest will, combined with caution and long-trained experience, has been shown by Mr. Giles, and he has by the enterprises already performed stamped his name gloriously as one of the heroes of geography for ever on the pages of Australian history. Modest pretensions and true worth were in these instances nobly joined, and let us trust that under the grace of Providence they will also in his new engagements bring him additional rewards. May we also entertain a hope that those sons of Australia, on whom prosperity has largely smiled, will not forget that they owe tribute to the great land of their birth, and that their gratitude cannot be manifested more gracefully than in fostering enterprises by which at last our Australian Continent will become fully mapped, and at no distant day its far underrated resources may be extensively understood, enjoyed, and utilised.

FERD. VON MUELLER

MELBOURNE, March, 1875.