In Sturt's letter to John Morphett, which Eyre included in his book, Charles Sturt records that the expedition had had no difficulties with the Aboriginal people along the Murray or the Darling, and that several elderly men had recognised him from his expedition along the River Murray in 1829-30. He also wrote that though the River Darling had ample water, Laidley's Ponds, which he had hoped to follow to the ranges, were dry. Sturt also sent James Poole, his second-in-command, on ahead of the expedition to scout for water and pasture for his animals.

On his expedition in 1829-30 down the Murrumbidgee and Murray Rivers, Sturt had maintained good relations with the Aboriginal people along the way. They had even sent 'forward ambassadors' ahead to neighbouring clans, to spread the word that this expedition was kindly disposed to them, and posed no problems. This had been particularly noticeable at the junction of the Murray and Darling where a large body of Aboriginal men had threatened Sturt's party until they were appeased by men from up river, who had come downstream to ease Sturt's passage. Sir Thomas Mitchell had been on the River Darling in 1835 and had fired upon the Aboriginal people and killed two of them during a dispute over water.