But in this matter we are not left to decide between Mr. Landells'
account and Mr. Burke's account. Mr. Wills, the third officer, may
be taken as an impartial observer, and his statement, a private
communication to the head of the department to which he lately
belonged, Professor Neumayer, is free from any suspicion of
toadyism. From it we may find abundant reason for the conduct which
Mr. Landells calls "strange." If Mr. Burke was restless at nights,
hasty in the day, and apparently undecided what course to pursue,
we have from this account of the matter only to wonder that he
managed to bear with Mr. Landells so long as he did. Here the rage
is all on Mr. Landells' side. "Mr. Landells then jumped up in a
rage, asking Mr. Burke whether he intended that I should
superintend him?" To talk, touch, or mention anything about his
favourites, the camels, was sure to bring on "a scene." "On his
remarking that there was no rope here, I mentioned that we had just
brought one across with us, when he wanted to know what business I
had to say anything. Altogether, he made a great fool of himself
before several of the men, and a Mr. Wright, the manager of the
Kinchica Station." These camels, under Mr. Landells' spoiling,
appear to have become the plague of the expedition. They were to
have rum--solely, as it now appears, because Mr. Landells "knew of
an officer who took two camels through a two years' campaign in
Cabul, the Punjab, and Scinde, by allowing them arrack." They were
to carry more stores for themselves than they were worth. They were
not to make long journeys, nor to travel in bad weather, nor to be
subject to any one's direction, or opinion, or advice. In fine, the
chief difficulty of exploring Australia seemed to consist in
humouring the camels. We may imagine the feelings of a leader with
such a drag as this encumbering him. Mr. Pickwick could never have