The ridges are big and irregular on top : diary entry 18 June 1939 |
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Title : | The ridges are big and irregular on top : diary entry 18 June 1939 |
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Creator : | Madigan, C. T. (Cecil Thomas), 1889-1947 | ||
Source : | C. T. Madigan, PRG 43/1 | ||
Date of creation : | 1939 | ||
Format : | Diary | ||
Contributor : | State Library catalogue | ||
Catalogue record | |||
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Copyright : | This item is reproduced courtesy of Mr David Madigan. It may be printed or saved for research or study. Use for any other purpose requires written permission from Mr David Madigan and the State Library of South Australia. To request approval, complete the Permission to publish form. |
Description : |
In his diary Madigan described the sand ridges which had become very large and irregular on top. They were also further apart than those encountered previously and considerably higher, some 100 feet. Because of the recent rain the expedition experienced heavy going, travelling at about two miles an hour. There was no camel feed on the ground, but they continued to hope that they would soon reach country where rain had fallen and there would be food for the camels. Beyond Camp 10, they did find a claypan full of water and food for the camels. The party rested here so the animals could eat. Conditions improved, and the height of the sand-hills reduced. The expedition crossed the desert in 19 days, crossing 626 sand-hills in 204 miles. A complete plant collection had been made, and 14 new species of spiders identified. Madigan praised the energy and enthusiasm of Andy, the Aboriginal man, who had assisted with the collections. The scientific reports and the popular account of the expedition did not appear for some years because of the intervention of World War II. |
Subjects | |
Related names : | Madigan, C. T. (Cecil Thomas), 1889-1947 |
Coverage year : | 1939 |
Region : | Flinders Ranges and Far North - Outback |
Further reading : | Madigan, C. T. Crossing the dead heart Adelaide: Rigby, 1974 Royal Society of South Australia The Simpson Desert Expedition, 1939: scientific reports Adelaide: The Society, 1944-1948 Shephard, Mark The Simpson Desert: natural history and human endeavour Adelaide: Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (South Australian Branch) and Giles Publications, 1992 |
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