Mr. Landsborough replied that, although living in the open air and not having the best of food, the country agreed admirably with him.  While his party and the crew of the Victoria were at Carpentaria there was very little sickness among them, nor was there fever and ague.  The shores were very level.  There was nothing that could be called a hill for 60 or 100 miles.  Although a very dry country, there was rain for about three months in the year, and there were in some seasons large floods.  He did not reach the Flinders River until two or three months after Walker’s party, and he could not then find Burke’s tracks.  He considered he could not be expected to find them, since Mr. Walker, a gentleman whose great perseverance and bush experience were well-known, who was then two months before with a larger party than his and twice the equipment, could not follow them up.  He could not even find Walker’s tracks.  He believed it was impossible for Burke and Wills to have gone within sight of the sea, because saltwater creeks spread all over the country for ten miles from the sea.  This was his opinion from what he saw at the mouth of the Albert, and he had no doubt that the mouth of the Flinders was of the same character.

His Excellency said he was sure that they all felt very much obliged to Mr. Landsborough for the cheerful alacrity with which he had replied to all questions, and the amount of information about his journey which he had laid before the meeting.  The remaining business on the paper would be postponed.  He was afraid that a great many of those present were attracted to the meeting rather by the exploration information than the scientific papers announced to be brought forward.  However this might be he would call upon them to give three hearty cheers for Mr. King and Mr. Landsborough.

The Society then adjourned.

...

JOURNAL:  LANDSBOROUGH’S EXPEDITION FROM CARPENTARIA TO VICTORIA.

In laying before our readers the whole of Mr. Landsborough’s journal, descriptive of the country he passed over in crossing the continent, some explanatory notes respecting the vegetation, etc., may be found acceptable and they are therefore given at the end.  We are indebted to Dr. Mueller for some of them.

The party consisted of: 

Mr. W. Landsborough, leader. 
Mr. Bourne, second in command. 
Gleeson. 
Aboriginals:  Jemmy, Fisherman, Jackey.

The party left Carpentaria on the 8th of February and arrived at Messrs. Williams’ station on the Warrego River on the 21st of May—­inclusive of both dates, 103 days.  The total weight of provisions with which the party started was 1,279 pounds.

Continuation of the journal of W. Landsborough, commander of the party organised at Brisbane, to search from the Albert river, Gulf of carpentaria, for Burke’s party.