s for your guidance, the same as myself, I feel well assured
you will do all in your power to fulfil them, and will make such
deviations as the country will admit of in order to find any track of the
missing explorers, as well as to meet the wishes of the Exploration
Committee.

With reference to your suggestion of starting on a south-easterly
exploration after you return to this depot, rest assured I will do all in
my power to assist you in anything that may be likely to lead to the
discovery of the tracks of the missing explorers.

In conclusion, if any unforeseen accident should delay your return here
before my departure, I will bury one of the iron tanks and mark on the
large tree at the smithy where you will find it.

I will also take other precautions to ensure your getting the same
information by marking other trees, and sinking bottles with letters in
the ground. In the tank I will secure all the best stores, and if
necessary sink two to hold them.

With every good wish for your safe conduct, and speedy return before I am
compelled to depart,

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

(Signed) W.H. NORMAN,

Commander, and Commander-in-Chief of Northern Exploring Parties.

W. Landsborough, Esquire.*

(*Footnote. It will be seen by this letter that Captain Norman approved
of my searching to the south-east when I returned from the south-west. I
may mention that, when bidding Captain Norman goodbye, before starting,
he told me that he would be very glad to see me return to the depot at
the end of two months.)

...

(Number 3.)

Albert River Depot, November 15 1861.

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day,
and to state that I hope to start on the journey recommended by you in
accordance with the instruction of the Exploration Committee.

I shall do my utmost to find traces of Mr. Burke and his companions
between here and Central Mount Stuart, and will, D.V., return within the
time (ninety days) which you have given me for that purpose, if I am not
delayed from sickness, or from the country being rather too dry or too
wet. I am very much pleased to learn from you that you are willing, as
well as lies in your power, to assist me in making a second journey in
search of Mr. Burke and his companions, between here and his depot on
Cooper's Creek; because I believe the traces seen of an exploring party
by Messrs. Cornish and Buchanan, nearly three hun