20
Leichhardt's 1844-45 route
V
ARGUMENTS
February 1845
Living under such arduous conditions the expeditioners often quarrelled and fought among
themselves. Friendships and loyalties were challenged. Trouble could be sparked by the most trivial
of issues, such as the division of native honey at mealtimes. Leichhardt and Gilbert competed with
each other about who would take the credit for finding new animal species. On 22nd February
Charley Fisher argued with Leichhardt, who wrote
“…[Charley] burst into most violent and abusive
language, and threatened to stop my jaw…”
Blows were exchanged and blood was drawn. Charley
was discharged. Harry Brown went with him, but sometime later they rejoined the party as it moved
from the Isaac to Suttor River. Charley and Harry’s superior navigation (especially on finding a return
route to campsites after reconnaissance trip), water and food sourcing skills were much needed by
the others, but relationship issues continued to be troublesome and, perhaps reflecting on those, on
24th February Leichhardt wrote of a
'dreary land'
with
'thunder peeling above us'
.
80 x 120 cm
oil on board
2013
