That the remains found by McKinlay cannot
have been those of Burke and Wills, disinterred, removed, and
mangled after death, may be inferred from a number of circumstances
detailed by him in the extracts which we have given from his diary.
It will be seen that marks of violence were found on the remains,
that there were indications of white men having camped in the
neighbourhood (which was far distant from any camp of Burke's),
that one of the natives bore marks of having been engaged in a
conflict where pistols were used, and that, lastly, the natives
themselves said the bones were those of white men who had been
murdered and eaten. All this would probably appear conclusive to
Mr. McKinlay that he had ascertained the fate of the explorers whom
he had been in search of. He was prepared for such a result, and
there were many circumstances favourable to its probability. He saw
even, as he believed, positive indications of camels having been at
the place where he found the graves; and yet, it will be seen, he
speaks of appearances indicating that the remains were buried a
long time ago, and states that some of the human hair discovered
was in a state of decay.
Pages:
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379