A few days afterwards, at a meeting of the Exploration Committee, a series of questions, more or less pertinent to the circumstances under which he appeared before them, were personally put to him by members of the committee, and which he answered calmly, displaying considerable intelligence and precision of mind in his replies to the rather discursive examination he was subjected to.  The Herald, in reference to the interview, had the following observations:  —­John King was an object of great and curious interest.  Having come out of such great tribulation—­having fasted for so many days in the desert—­having been wasted by privations till he became so near death that for Death to have overcome him would have been no triumph—­he was regarded with feelings similar to those which made the people say of Dante, “There goes the man who has been in Hades.”  Though only a subordinate, he is a man possessing, we should say—­or, indeed, as we know—­good leading qualities, the attributes of a hero; and though his intellectual powers have not been highly cultivated, he evidently possesses no small share of intelligence.  A man who would mind his own business, and not given to ask very many questions, which as things have turned out is to be regretted; but with a memory capable of retaining everything that came within his knowledge.  His coolness rather took aback those members of the committee, yesterday, who seemed to have come loaded to the muzzle with questions, which they proceeded to fire off indiscriminately.  He seemed to know better than those inquisitors the way in which his examination should be conducted; that the inquiry had a more important object than gratifying sheer curiosity; and when he goes before the Royal Commission next Thursday they will find him a very good witness.  The deepest sympathy was expressed by the meeting, and it will be most sincerely felt by every soul to whom his extraordinary history will become known.

The Exploration Committee held a private meeting on the 29th, at which King was present.  He there stated that the tide rose and fell six inches at the part of the river where he was left by Messrs. Burke and Wills when they proceeded on foot with the object of discovering the sea.  The gallantry of King is amply testified to by some memoranda in the handwriting of poor Burke—­the last he ever wrote.  The documents were contained in a pocket-book which the dying explorer committed to the care of the survivor, charging him to deliver it into the hands of Sir William Stawell.  This last desire of his unfortunate commander was most scrupulously observed by King.  The manuscript ran as follows:—­

I hope that we shall be done justice to.  We have fulfilled our task, but we have been abandoned.  We have not been followed up as we expected, and the depot party abandoned their post.

R. O’HARA Burke.

Cooper’s Creek, June 26th.

King has behaved nobly.  I hope that he will be properly cared for. 
He comes up the creek in accordance with my request.