Old John

[william williams]

Good read Manny in your first paragraph when you mentioned POLLY did you mean POLEY as there was a common saddle used up north called a poley which a lot of people used

bill the old battler

[manfredvijars]

G'day Bill, thanks for reading.

No, "Polly" was the name of Stuart's mare, she had as much staying power in the desert as he did. Sadly we don't know what happened to her.
The 'poley' saddle is like the 'pol' hereford - no horns.

Matty, that is praise indeed thank you. And thank you Glenny; remember, we must suffer for our art ...

[Stephen Whiteside]

I remember reading that his horse collapsed under him one day, and he walked on to the next camp by himself, but only after placing a tarpaulin (to catch the water) over a puddle (or was it just a shallow depression in the sand?) near the horse. Next day he walked back to find the horse revived, and rode it back to camp. Was that Polly, I wonder?

[manfredvijars]

I'm pretty certain it was Stephen ... This may have been the occasion ...

(From the ...)
JOURNAL OF MR. STUART'S FIFTH EXPEDITION. FROM NOVEMBER, 1860, TO SEPTEMBER, 1861.

Following the course of the Finke, they arrived on the 25th at some springs which were rendered memorable by Mr. Stuart's favourite mare Polly. She became very ill, and on the morning of the 26th slipped her foal. Polly had been with her master on all his previous journeys, and was much too valuable and faithful a creature to be left behind; besides, she was second to none in enduring hardship and fatigue. They therefore waited another night to give her time to recover, and Mr. Stuart named the springs Polly Springs in her honour. On the 27th they again moved northwards, still following the course of the Finke, and, after a short journey of ten miles, camped at what were afterwards called Bennett Springs. It is worthy of remark that while the horses were in this water drinking, one of them kicked out a fish about eight inches long and three broad--an excellent sign of the permanency of the water. Here several of the horses were taken violently ill, and the next morning one of them could not be found. Mr. Stuart writes:

[Stephen Whiteside]

Could be. I remember something about placing a tarpaulin on the ground to catch water...

[manfredvijars]

I also recall reading that somewhere too Stephen. just unsure of that source for the moment.

The following is the only reference to tarpaulin I can find (Fifth Expedition)

Thursday, 11th July, Tomkinson Creek. Shoeing horses, and repairing saddles and bags to carry our provisions back. We have now run out of everything for that purpose, and are obliged to make all sorts of shifts. The two tarpaulins that I brought from Mr. Chambers's station for mending the bags, are all used up some time ago, and nearly all the spare bags; the sewing-twine has been used long since, and we are obliged to make some from old bags. We are all nearly naked, the scrub has been so severe on our clothes; one can scarcely tell the original colour of a single garment, everything is so patched. Our boots are also gone. It is with great reluctance that I am forced to return without a further trial. I should like to go back, and try from Newcastle Water, but my provisions will not allow me. I started with thirty weeks' supply at seven pounds of flour per week, and have now been out twenty-six, and it will take me ten weeks before I can reach the first station. The men are also failing, and showing the effects of short rations.

[Stephen Whiteside]

Sounds like my bucks party...

[Peely]

The 'poley' saddle is like the 'pol' hereford - no horns.

Not correct, 'poll' that has the meaning of 'no horns' as in 'Poll Hereford" is spelt with a double 'l', as I have spelt it here. Given that my old man breeds Poll Herefords, I ought to know.

Please note, I am referring to the spelling in the above of 'poll'. I am pretty sure Manfred's interpretation of the terminology is right though, sorry if there was any confusion.

[Bob Pacey]

I think it is something to do with the kneepads ?

Not sure ?

Bob

[Peely]

Hey Bob, I have edited my previous post. Hopefully it is a little less confusing.