The Handbook of instructions for the guidance of the officers of the Elder Scientific Exploration Expedition included in Appendix A the system of orthography for the recording of Aboriginal words which was to be used. This was the system used by the Royal Geographical Society in London, and the Australasian Society recommended its use for the Elder Expedition. The medical officer on the expedition Dr FJ Elliott was responsible for the ethnology, but when he resigned from the expedition Larry Wells the surveyor took over.

The Elder Scientific Exploring Expedition was financed by Sir Thomas Elder and managed by the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (South Australian Branch). Its purpose was to explore western South Australia and into Western Australia for pastoral lands and mineral resources. These were essentially the last unexplored parts of the continent. Each member of the expedition was given a handbook of instructions with directions for every particular of his duties. The handbook was compiled by the Society's Council which included GW Goyder the Surveyor General and Sir Charles Todd who had supervised the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line. Other members of Council were also experienced in the bush and in exploration. They also drew upon the publications of the Royal Geographical Society (London) which had been guiding and advising explorers since 1831. The handbook would provide advice for almost all contingencies, except the personal conflicts that affected the expedition.