The New York herald., 1879-12-12
The Daring Journey of AL
eXander Forrest.
LOST IN THE BU SH.
Discovery Of a Vast Pas
toral Region.
PORT DARWIN, strait,


sometimes crowned with tho lsurels of and
often followed by the the lives OF the ad-
venturers In the latter category stand
Burke and Wells. who. without companions. rushed
precipitately ever barren. stony desert and back
again only to lie down under aud die and
Leichardt. who essayed to cross the conti-
nent from east to west. more than twenty
years ago. but returned to give the world
the benefit of his discoveries. His bones and
those of his party lie bleaching in the bush and his
name is now almost forgotten. On tho other hand
John Stuart determined to cross the continent of
Australia from south to north; and. though batied
in his first attempts. he renewed his oforts until
he finally planted the South Australian flag in Adam
Bay and named the far north Alexandria Land. This
discovery was followed by the construction Of the
overland telegraph line and by Palmerston. the
capital of the northern territory being the
minus Of the British and Australian cable STILL be-
the telegraph wire and the shores OF Western
Australia there lay vast extent of territory, not
only unexplored but unknown and nntraversed
by white 1t is about this new country that
now intend to write.
PREVIOUS CAREER MR. FORREST.
Mr.. Alexander Forrest is o Western Australian ex
plorer of many years. experience. From his earliest
manhood he has had liking for the bush for bush
life and bush adventure and in every expedition he
has undertaken he has been successful; he always
made his way cautiously and carefully, always man.
aged to keep tho best Of terms with the natives
recklessly exposed himself to danger by rush
ing into desert country. but kept in the line of
water, and succeeded in bringing himself and
party safely home. Several parties attempted to
bridge the gap between South and West Australia.
and either died in the effort or abandoned
it in despair. Not many years ago Mr..
Forrest started with few men from Perth and
in q remarkably short time he aud his followers pre-
sented themselves in Adelaide safe and WELL For
this act of bush daring he received the thanks Of
both colonies and. having afterward gone to Eng
land he was cordially recstved by the Royal Geo
wARBURroN's EXPLOITS IN THE BUSH.
In the meantime the South Australian government
sent out Major Warburton OH an expedition. the OBJ
ject Of which was to ascertain the feasibility OF lay
ing telegraph line between Perth and Adelaide He
aud a wire between the capitals OF the two colo
nies is now um ta't aecomph There now
coast Of Western Australia and Port Darwin.
terra c0gnitd, and 1t highly desirable to
auriferous ranges or good pastoral land For this
purpose the Western Australian government agreed
to send out Mr. Forrest again to explore the fitzroy
River to its aud aferward the northwest coast
| to Port Darwin. The expedition consisted of eight
men. six Europeans and two natives. with twenty
six horses and provisions sufficient to last for six
months. The party left Perth the 18th Of January
last going by boat to the northern settlement of tho
COLONY from W hich start made the point OF de-
parture being latitude degrees and longitude
ll0 degrees east Mr. Forrest along
exploring Beagle Bay aud Kings Sound. and from
this travelled through we'll grassed and well watered
but very rough country to the basin Of the Fitzroy
River.
This river at its mouth is . magnificent body of
water. nearly half mile wide with numerous
lagoons and small lakes along its banks covered
every direction with water fow and the river itself
abounding in fish of every description The
plorer could not imagine any better country for
settlement, better suited for agricul-
tural or pastoral purposes. 1t was impossi-
boats and as the object Of the expedition was ex-
ploraton. the party kept tho southern bank Of the
At this distance precipitous range of mountains,
than two thousand feet high. abutted upon the
river and formed bar over which they were able to
cross. tfIt
AN rLDonADo ron AUSTRALIAN FARMERS.
Up to this point tho banks on both sides consisted
Of plain open country covered nth luxuriant vege
ation. stretching for thirty or forty miles before
tho usual fringe Of blue ranges rose to the view.
while lngo0ns observed here and there and trib
utary streams flowing into the main river short
intervals left nothing to be desired in the way of
water. Ships of average tonnage could sail or steam
up the river for 100 miles without meeting any in
terruption. Above this crossing point the river ap
peared to dow through high ranges which the horses
could not scale and Mr.. Forrest returned thence to
the coast, which he reached at Camden Harbcr.
the mouth of the Glenelg River. At one time this
had been settlement aud pearl fishery station,
but has been abandoned for some years. Finding
that the coast was too rough for travelling he deter
mined TO the high ranges to the eastward and
continue along the table land the Noi Terri.
tory Ii this scheme he had more difficulties to
counter than he anticipated.
DIFFICULT PASSAGE.
Tho ranges were not very high. but very rugged,
break. saddle pass. In every direction they
presented precipitous face. Crag above crag.
and in tho attempt to pass through the rocks the
horses sometimes 80 closely jammed that it
impossible to extrcate them. By this means and
six were killed The men besides suffered severely
from the heat, which was intensified by the refec
on the the Of une
stroke, and as he appeared to be falling Mr. A. For
rest to hold him up. when both rolled together
fully thirty feet from rock to rock down to level
spot below. and fortunately escaped with only few
bruises. After fortnight spent In the fruit.
less attempt to cross this range the project
abandoned. and the party returned to tho Fitzroy
River. keeping about twenty miles south OF their
former track. and travelling through Lowell. grassy
DISCOVERY or MAGNIFICENT REGION
/ They found eastern branch flowing into tho
main river in latitude ~ degrees south, aud this
they followed up TO the dividing range i'll longitude
l27 deg 40 min. east. From this point to the
boundary OF the two colonies in longitude l2y de-
grces Mr. Forrest represents the country all that
the most enthusiastic squatter could desire. Bound-
\ less open, unduating country. covered with tall
grasses intersccted with innunerablo rivuics from
permanent springs. with here and there large la
eight or ten miles large rivers moving slow yioward
tho There was forest observable, except
For all this there disadvantage; tho fever
season was now on and malaria reigned in this dis
trict Several OF tho men were laid up, provisions
running short. horses had killed for food
| and. under tho circumstances. 1t resolved to
abandon further exploration and proceed In direct
line to the telegraph wire passing from Port Darwin
| to Adelaide.
STRIKING ron THE TELEGRAPH LINE
Tho party consequently pursued northeast line,
passing through country the that just de-
scrbcd, until they reached the wickham River. and
this they followed down to its junction with the
Victoria, about Atty miles from its mouth. There
| was some difficulty in crossing here, owing to the
numerous agoons at the confluence OF the rivers,
but by returning three miles up the wckham Rivcr
they succeeded IN getting over both rivers. They
now shaped a course east-northeast and travelled
dpV min ~
where, owing to scarcity Of water, they were com
PEELED to camp for some days This the first
time they experienced any difficulty for the want OF
water. but there no prospect OF
any ahead for somo distance, provisions
| were almost exhausted, tho horses
reduced TO eight. the men were worn out with
fatigue. having had lattcrly to travel by turns
foot. and suffered at the same time from fever,
that all things taken into consideration Mr. Forrest
Thought tho best thing he could do to enyo tho