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Cooper's Creek, 30 May 1861.
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 © La Trobe Collection, State Library of Victoria - www.slv.vic.gov.au
 © La Trobe Collection, State Library of Victoria - www.slv.vic.gov.au
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Original item held at the State Library of Victoria, SLV MS13071, SAFE 1. 'Last notes' of William John Wills,, dated 30 May 1861. 2p. Item also known as 'note left at creek.' |
Depôt Camp, May 30th. We have been unable to leave the creek. Both camels are dead, and our provisions are exhausted. Mr Burke and King are down the lower part of the creek. I am about to return to them, when we shall probably come up this way. We are trying to live the best way we can, like the blacks, but find it hard work. Our clothes are going to pieces fast. Send provisions and clothes as soon as possible. W J Wills. The Depôt party having left, contrary to instructions, has put us in this fix. |
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I have deposited some of my journals here for
fear of accidents. W J W. |
Provenance: A note from the webmaster.
Wills wrote this note on two pages detached from a notebook on 30 May 1861 and buried it in the wooden camel-box cache at the Dig Tree. Alfred Howitt dug up and recovered the note on 28 September 1861 and returned it to Melbourne.