Contains journals of Howitt, King, Wills, Burke, Wright & Brahe; King - near Mount Hopeless contact with natives, fish nets, making nardoo cakes; the death of Wills and Burke; Kings life with the natives in the Cooper Creek area; p.439- 459; Howitts diary - contacts near Coopers Creek, native painted white, party offered native tobacco, deserted native camps, finding of King; many contacts on return journey; p.459-485; Wills diary from Coopers Creek to Carpentaria; description of fish trap (camp 84-85); Standish Ranges - native method of climbing trees, types of huts, brief notes on native camps passed on journey; death of Grey (Gray); p.485-487; Burkes notes of the expedition - very brief notes on contact; p.487-502; Journal of trip from Coopers Creek towards Adelaide (Wills) - natives give party fish, nardoo, pitchuri; p.507-526; Mr. Wrights diary Torowotto natives - body ornaments, circumcised natives noticed, scarification; Bulloo - contact with natives, boomerangs carried, body painting, attack; p.526 - William Brahes report - brief notes on contacts.

Reveals for the first time the true extent and limits of the scientific achievements of the Burke and Wills Expedition.