nce before the Royal Commission. Brahe
had no journal when he came down the first time with a message from
Wright, and was requested, or ordered, by the committee to produce
one, which he subsequently did. In this journal, Brahe enters, on
the 15th April:

Patten is getting worse. I and McDonough begin to feel ALARMING
SYMPTOMS of the same disease (namely, a sprain).

April 18.--There is no probability of Mr. Burke returning this way.
Patten is in a deplorable state, and desirous of returning to the
Darling to obtain medical assistance; and our provisions will soon
be reduced to a quantity insufficient to take us back to the
Darling if the trip should turn out difficult and tedious. Being
also sure that I and McDonough would not much longer escape scurvy,
I, after most seriously considering all circumstances, made up my
mind to start for the Darling on Sunday next, the 21st.

. . .

That day he abandoned the depot at ten A.M. leaving 50 pounds
of flour, taking with him 150 pounds; leaving 50 pounds of oatmeal,
taking ABOUT 70 pounds; leaving 50 pounds of sugar, taking 75
pounds; leaving rice 30 pounds, taking one bag. He left neither tea
nor biscuits, and took all the clothes, being the property of Mr.
Wills. The latter, he said before the Royal Commissioners, were
only shirts, omitting the word flannel, and added that they were
badly off themselves. He was asked:--

Question 323: Had you any clothes of any description at
Cooper's Creek that might have been left?--Yes, I had a parcel of
clothes that were left with me by Mr. Wills; these were all that I
know of, and we ourselves were very badly off.

Question 1729. By Dr. Wills (through the chairman)--I wish to know
whether a portmanteau was left with you, belonging to Mr. Wills, my
son? Yes, a bag, a calico bag containing clothes.

1730.--You were aware it was his own property?--I was.

1731.--What made you take those clothes back to Menindie, and not
leave them in the cache?--Mr. Wills was better supplied than any
other member of the party, and I certainly did not think he would
be in want of clothes.

. . .

With a somewhat unaccountable disposition to sympathize with Brahe,
on the part of the Committee and the Royal Commission, the latter
summed up their impression of his conduct thus:

The conduct of Mr. Brahe in retiring from his position at the depot
before he was rejoined by his commander, or relieved from the
Darling, may be deserving of consider