Facsim. of ed. published London : T. & W. Boone, 1841.
Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-west and Western Australia: During the Years 1837, 38, and 39, Under the Authority of Her Majesty’s Government. Describing Many Newly Discovered, Important, and Fertile Districts, with Observations on the Moral and Physical Condition of the Aboriginal Inhabitants, &c., &c, Sir George Grey
Grey, George Sir, 1812-1898 — Journeys — Western Australia. | Aboriginal Australians — Western Australia. | Race relations – Representation – History. | Race relations. | Animals – Birds – Parrots. | Language – Linguistics – Language elicitation. | Geology. | Culture – Relationship to land. | Law – Indigenous – Inter-group relations and protocol. | Race relations – Racial discrimination. | Plants – Trees. | Language – Vocabulary – Place names. | Social organisation. | Plants. | Settlement and contacts. | Hunting, gathering and fishing – Tracking. | Race relations – Violent. | Language – Linguistics. | Animals – Invertebrates – Insects. | Language – Linguistics – Vocabulary and grammar – Verbs. | Weapons – Spears – Fighting. | Animals – Mammals. | Settlement and contacts – Colonisation – 1788-1850. | Geography. | Law – Indigenous. | Animals – Amphibians – Frogs and toads. | Animals. | Feuds and warfare. | Indigenous knowledge. | Western Australia — Discovery and exploration. | Hanover Bay (WA West Kimberley SD51-16) | Bowes River (WA Gascoyne / Murchison SG 50-14, SH 50-01, SH 50-02) | Perth map area (SW WA SH50-14) | Prince Regent map area (WA West Kimberley SD51-16) | Buller (SW WA SH50-01) | Moore River (SW WA SH50-14) | Hutt River (WA Gascoyne / Murchison SG 50-14, SH 50-01, SH 50-02) | Murchison River (WA South Pilbara SG50) | Glenelg River (WA West Kimberley SD51-16) | Shark Bay (WA Gascoyne / Murchison SG49-08) | Greenough River (WA Gascoyne / Murchison SG50-14, SH50-01, SH50-02) | Swan River (SW WA SH50-14) | Darling Range (SW WA SI50-02) | Gascoyne River (WA South Pilbara SG50) | Murray River (SW WA SI50-02)
Also Titled
North-west and Western Australia, 1837-1839

pp. xi, 412, plates, fold-out map intact. #131121 Some fading and light scuffs to cloth. #131121
In 1837, at the age of 25, Grey led an ill-prepared expedition that explored North-West Australia. British settlers in Australia at the time knew little of the region and only one member of Grey’s party had been there before. It was believed possible at that time that one of the world’s largest rivers might drain into the Indian Ocean in North-West Australia; if that were found to be the case, the region it flowed through might be suitable for colonisation. Grey, with Lieutenant Franklin Lushington, of the 9th (East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot, offered to explore the region. On 5 July 1837, they sailed from Plymouth in command of a party of five, the others being Lushington; Dr William Walker, a surgeon and naturalist; and Corporals John Coles and Richard Auger of the Royal Sappers and Miners. Joining the party at Cape Town were Sapper Private Robert Mustard, J.C. Cox, Thomas Ruston, Evan Edwards, Henry Williams, and Robert Inglesby. In December they landed at Hanover Bay (west of Uwins Island in the Bonaparte Archipelago). Travelling south, the party traced the course of the Glenelg River. After experiencing boat wrecks, near-drowning, becoming completely lost, and Grey himself being speared in the hip during a skirmish with Aboriginal people, the party gave up. After being picked up by HMS Beagle and the schooner Lynher, they were taken to Mauritius to recover. Lieutenant Lushington was then mobilised to rejoin his regiment in the First Anglo-Afghan War. In September 1838 Grey sailed to Perth hoping to resume his adventures.[7][12][13][14][15]

In February 1839 Grey embarked on a second exploration expedition to the north, where he was again wrecked with his party, again including Surgeon Walker, at Kalbarri. They were the first Europeans to see the Murchison River, but then had to walk to Perth, surviving the journey through the efforts of Kaiber, a Whadjuk Noongar man (that is, indigenous to the Perth region), who organised food and what water could be found (they survived by drinking liquid mud). At about this time, Grey learnt the Noongar language.[7][16][17][18]

Due to his interest in Aboriginal culture in July 1839, Grey was promoted to captain and appointed temporary Resident Magistrate at King George Sound, Western Australia,[2] following the death of Sir Richard Spencer RN KCH, the previous Resident Magistrate.[19]