started almost simultaneously, had penetrated by a more easterly route. In 1862 Stuart again started with an excellent party, equipped at the expense of the South Australian Government, and succeeded in reaching Van Diemen's Gulf on July 24th, 1862. Though he had not strictly complied with the conditions laid down as to priority, the Government paid him the £2000 bonus, and gave him a lease of 1000 square miles of grazing land in the interior free of rent for seven years. In consequence of Stuart's discoveries, the Northern Territory was granted to South Australia by the Home Government. His triumphal entry into Adelaide took place on the very day on which Howitt's rescue party reached the city with the remains of the explorers Burke and Wills en route for Melbourne. Stuart, who contributed enormously to the pastoral development of South Australia, and paved the way for the construction of the overland telegraph line from Adelaide to Port Darwin, was awarded the gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society, who also presented him with a watch. Returning to England, he died there on June 16th, 1869.
Sturt, Capt. Charles, who is justly regarded as the greatest of Australian explorers, entered the army at an early age, and went with his regiment, the 39th, to Sydney, where, in 1828, he was selected by Governor Darling to head an expedition which he had determined to send out to further explore the Macquarie river. Finding no trace of the inland sea marked down on Oxley's (the previous explorer's) chart, the party, which included Hamilton Hume as second in command, took a more northerly course, and in Feb. 1829 discovered what they named the Darling river, and subsequently also what is now known as the Bogan. Still determined to penetrate the mystery of the inland sea, Sturt decided to solve the problem by tracing the course of the Murrumbidgee to its source. Accordingly, in 1829, he started on that second expedition, which, Mr. Blair not inaptly says, "commenced the history of the Australian colonies," being accompanied on the occasion by Mr. (afterwards Sir) George Macleay. They struck the river at Yass Plains, 200 miles from Sydney; but, after following the bank for a week, it became impossible to proceed farther with the heavily laden provision drays; so Sturt, with six picked men, now betook himself to a whaleboat, and decided to trust his fortunes to the current of the stream. The remainder of the party were sent back to Sydney, Sturt carrying what he deemed would be adequate rations on a hastily constructed raft, which was towed by the whaleboat. On the 7th day of the voyage Sturt and his companions suddenly shot out on to the waters of the Murray, a stream not unworthy to be ranked with the great watercourses of the old world, and which has fed the pastoral fortunes of Australia. The party now committed themselves to the more tranquil current of the Murray. and on the thirty-third day of their historic voyage found themselves in the midst of a vast inland sea, which was named Lake Alexandrina, in honour of the Queen, then Princess Alexandrina Victoria. They were now compelled by lack of provisions to commence their return voyage, which, owing to the difficulty of rowing up stream, was one of great labour and hardship. Ultimately, however, they reached their old camping-ground, and were relieved from Sydney just as they had divided their last morsel of food, and symptoms of insanity were developing themselves amongst the subordinate members of the party. As his discoveries had virtually created South Australia, it was not unfitting that Sturt's fortunes should be allied with its future; and in 1838 he took up his residence there, becoming in April 1839 Surveyor-General, with a seat in the Executive and Legislative Councils. In Oct. of the same year he exchanged this post for that of Commissioner of Lands. which he held till 1843, when he became Registrar-General until 1848, from winch time he was Colonial Secretary till 1851. In the meantime the Government were naturally anxious to provide for the expansion of their growing settlement. They therefore resolved to avail themselves of Sturt's admitted capabilities in the exploration of the interior of the new colony towards the unknown north. In 1844 he started from Adelaide with a well-equipped party, which included John McDouall Stuart as draftsman, and Dr. Browne as surgeon. Leaving Lake Torrens on their left, the party passed up the Murray and Darling, and
446
