It will be observed in following these Field Books that there are occasional intervals and omissions, which I account for thus:  —­My son’s first entries, in pencil, are more in the form of notes, with observations, and figures to guide him in mapping; because, when his maps are accurate and attended to, his journal is imperfect, and vice versa.  Besides, there can be no doubt that Mr. Burke kept a journal, though perhaps not a complete one, and of which a very small portion has come to hand.  In it he mentions a difficult pass they went through on the route to Carpentaria, of which my son does not speak.  King confirms Mr. Burke’s statement, and says my son knew he had written it, which was the reason why he did not himself repeat the same passage.

The Royal Commissioners in their Report said: 

“It does not appear that Mr. Burke kept any regular journal, or that he gave written instructions to his officers.  Had he performed these essential portions of the duties of a leader, many of the calamities of the Expedition might have been averted, and little or no room would have been left for doubt in judging the conduct of those subordinates who pleaded unsatisfactory and contradictory verbal orders and statements.”

With all due submission and humility, I think this opinion too conclusive, and formed on unsatisfactory evidence, as any statement must be considered, proceeding from one who destroyed his own credit by self-contradiction to the extent that Mr. Brahe did.  He admitted, on his examination, that he had burnt some of Mr. Burke’s papers at Mr. Burke’s own request.  How then is it possible to determine what he may otherwise have burnt or placed out of the way?  In fact, what written instructions, if any, he did or not receive, and what he did with them?

CHAPTER 10.

Return from Carpentaria to Cooper’s Creek. 
Mr. Wills’s Journals from February 19th to April 21st, 1861. 
Illness and Death of Gray. 
The Survivors arrive at Cooper’s Creek Depot and find it deserted. 
A Small Stock of Provisions left. 
Conduct of Brahe. 
Report of the Royal Commission.

Mr. Burke and Mr. Wills having accomplished the grand object of the Expedition by reaching the Gulf of Carpentaria, rejoined Gray and King at Camp 119, where they had left them with the camels.  On the 13th of February the party turned their faces to the south, and commenced their long and toilsome march in return.  The entries in my son’s journals were transcribed as follows:—­

Tuesday, 19th February, 1861.—­Boocha’s Camp.

Wednesday, 20th February, 1861.—­Pleasant Camp; 5R.