24
Leichhardt's 1844-45 route
IX
GILBERT“IS DONE FOR”
June 1845
By the end of June 1845, the party had made their way along the Mitchell River almost as far as the
Gulf of Carpentaria. Gilbert, who had trained with and was now collecting for the great European
ornithologist, John Gould, thought he had again sighted the Paradise Parrot (now extinct and easily
confused with the magnificent Golden-Shouldered Parrot). Throughout the journey the party met
aboriginal communities. They saw
“camp smoke rising in every direction”
. Gilbert noted that they
had entered into a land with
“…beautifully constructed ant hills…many rings of fires made by
the natives, doubtless for the performance of some of their extraordinary ceremonies…''
. But they
became the authors of their own tragedy when some of them sought out the company of aboriginal
females in the course of which they assaulted some of the local people. On 29th June at Campsite No.
175, 'Tea-Tree Lagoon' a night attack by aboriginals armed with spears and waddies resulted in death
and serious injury for both explorers and aboriginals. Gilbert and possibly one or more aboriginals
were killed. Gilbert was speared and uttered his dying words
“… I am done for …”
80 x 120 cm
oil on board
2013
