The head of the Barcoo River was discovered by Sir Thomas Mitchell who
named it the Victoria River. He described it as probably having its
outlet at Carpentaria. Kennedy was sent to trace it, but unfortunately he
had a dry season to contend with; so much so that some distance below the
junction of the Thomson he found its channel perfectly dry and had to
return. He followed it however sufficiently far to enable him to make
tolerably sure that it was the head of Cooper's Creek. Gregory
afterwards, by following it down, on his route to South Australia
ascertained this to be the case. Another river, previously discovered by
Captain Wickham, in Northern Australia, had been called by him the
Victoria: because of this, and from Kennedy having learned the native
name of Mitchell's Victoria to be the Barcoo, it is now generally known
by that designation.

...

Tintinalagy, Darling River, July 22 1862.

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st
ultimo handed to me on the 14th instant at Mount Murchison by Mr. Verdon.
You will no doubt have received my last letter informing you that, as I
was led to suppose that the grass was better at Mount Murchison than at
Menindie, I remained there for instructions from you.

As I had come to the conclusion that, as Mr. Howitt was in South
Australia, it would be unnecessary for me to take any steps to inform him
of my return from the Gulf of Carpentaria in accordance with the