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Strzelecki's trip through Gippsland, in 1840, was part of the work he was undertaking to gather materials for his now well-known book, "The Physical Description of New South Wales, Victoria, and Van Die-man's Land." He mounted the Alps, and named one of the highest peaks Kosciusko, from the fancied resemblance of its outline to the patriot's tomb at Cracow.
Browne had put a letter; informing me that he had been most reluctantly obliged to retreat; the water at the Depot having turned putrid, and seriously disagreed with the men; he said that he should fall back on the old Depot along the same line on which we had advanced, and expressed his fears that the water in Strzelecki's Creek would have dried, on the permanence of which he knew our safety depended.
The old man seemed to be perfectly aware that we had been out, but shook his head when I made him understand that I was going out again in the morning. I determined, on the journey I was about to commence, to run on a due north course from the first "Strzelecki's Creek," as soon as I should reach it, and to penetrate the interior in that direction as far as circumstances might justify.
Toiling on over these, with an occasional interlude of sand hills, Gregory at last reached that portion of Cooper's Creek visited by Sturt. This he now followed down to where Strzelecki's Creek left the main stream and carried off some of the surplus flood water to the south. Gregory followed on the many channels trending west, but finally lost them amongst sand hills and flooded plains.
In this letter Count Strzelecki's statement that Australian women who have borne children to a white man, are afterwards sterile with their own race, is disproved. 'An Examination of Prof. Agassiz's Sketch of the Nat. Enquiries formerly made by Sir C. Lyell on this subject led him, as he informs me, to the same conclusion. Dr.
Their labours were now, however, drawing to a close, and I was only too thankful, that I retained my strength. We had crossed the first or Strzelecki's Creek on the 29th, and had halted that night without water. During it some of the horses broke loose and wandered back; but Flood and Joseph soon overtook and brought them back.
The difference existing is so great, that I feel warranted in pronouncing them to be a distinct race. Excellent likenesses of Tasmanian natives will be found in Strzelecki's work on New South Wales, where the truth of these remarks will be perceived at a glance.
A worm, however, will turn, and the atrocities which were perpetrated against these unoffending creatures may well palliate the indiscriminate, though heart-rending slaughter they entailed. Visited by me in 1842, that is, after the interval of seven years, they mustered only fifty-four individuals." STRZELECKI'S NEW SOUTH WALES, p. 352
The Australian savages recognize a Deity, but He is too august for a name in their own language; in English they call Him the Great Master, an expression synonymous with "The Great Lord." They believe in a hereafter of eternal joy, and place it amongst the stars. See Strzelecki's Physical Description of New South Wales.
Following Cooper's Creek back, they found that the water had dried up so rapidly that grave fears were entertained that Strzelecki's Creek, their main reliance in going back to the depot, would be dry. Fortunately, they were in time to find a little muddy fluid left, just enough to serve them. Here they experienced a hot wind that forced them to camp the whole day, although most anxious to get on.
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