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Wylie: Edward Eyre's companion
Title : Wylie: Edward Eyre's companion Wylie: Edward Eyre's companion
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Creator : Eyre, Edward John, 1815-1901
Source : Journals of expeditions of discovery into Central Australia, and overland from Adelaide to King George's Sound, in the years 1840-1 ... opposite page 295
Place Of Creation : London
Publisher : T. and W. Boone
Date of creation : 1845
Format : Book
Contributor : State Library catalogue
Catalogue record
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Description :

Portrait of Wylie, the Aboriginal man who faithfully accompanied Edward John Eyre across to Albany, in Western Australia. Wylie was a member of the King George Sound tribe and had been brought to South Australia by Eyre in 1840. The crossing with Eyre in 1841 would enable him to return home. After the two other Aboriginal men who accompanied Eyre had deserted, Wylie remained and was able to find native foods to eke out their rapidly diminishing rations. Following their arrival in Albany, where Wylie was greeted with great joy by his tribe, Eyre arranged for him to receive a weekly ration of food for the rest of his life, as a reward for his faithful services.

Edward Eyre had left Adelaide in June 1840 to explore to the north of the colony. Defeated by the salt lakes and the barren lands in the north, he decided in January 1841, to travel across to King George Sound in Western Australia, hoping he would find water and pasturage for a stock route. He set out to the west accompanied by John Baxter, and three Aboriginal men. Three months into the journey, in late April, two of the Aboriginal men killed Baxter and fled, taking with them most of the remaining food and two of the guns. Only Wylie now remained with Eyre.
Subjects
Related names :

Wylie (Aboriginal man)

Eyre, Edward John, 1815-1901

Coverage year : 1840-41
Region : Eyre Peninsula and Far West Coast
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