19th-Century Australian Travel Writing
The Cruise of Her Majesty's Ship "Bacchante" is compiled from the private journals, letters and notebooks of Prince Albert Victor (1864-1892) and Prince George (1865-1936) (later King George V) of Wales, with additions made by John N. Dalton. Dedicated to the Queen by her grandsons, this extensive work is divided into two volumes. The first volume is titled "The West and the South," the second "The East" and together these works provide a travel narrative of the ship's global tour. In Australia the narrative, taking a diary format, noted the destinations visited (Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland) as well as the welcomes made to the Princes by notable politicians, scenery, fauna and flora, their experience of the bush and the city, kangaroo hunts, the legend of Ned Kelly, sports, gold-mining, as well as political matters such as federation, legislation and the military.
