But
the apathy, stupidity, and carelessness of Wright and Brahe are
really beyond comprehension. The effect of their miserably evasive
and contradictory evidence, when under examination, can never be
forgotten by those who were present. They, too, left no indications
of their useless visit. It will be remembered that twenty-two days
after, on the 30th of May, my son returned to Cooper's Creek for
the last time, and deposited his journals and letters in the cache.
The following extracts from Mr. Howitt's diary relate the discovery
of King, with the finding and interment of the remains of Mr. Burke
and my son.
September 14th, 1861.--Latitude, 27 degrees 4 minutes; longitude
140 degrees 4 minutes.--Camped on a large waterhole, about a
quarter of a mile below Mr. Burke's first camp, after leaving the
depot at Cooper's Creek. We could see where the camels had been
tied up, but found no marked tree. To-day I noticed in two or three
places old camel-droppings and tracks, where Mr. Brahe informed me
he was certain their camels had never been, as they were watched
every day near the depot and tied up at night. Mr. Burke's camels
were led on the way down.
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