This extract describes part of a journey undertaken in November - December 1839 by South Australian Governor George Gawler, Charles Sturt, and a party including Sturt's wife. According to H. J. Gibbney, writing in 'Sturt, Charles (1795 - 1869)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 2, Melbourne University Press (1967), the journey 'was intended to be a short excursion up the Murray valley. On ... [the] expedition a young man lost his life and the governor was placed in serious danger. Although Sturt was not responsible the tragedy affected him deeply.' The event of the young man's loss and presumed death makes up most of the extract.
Source: H. J. Gibbney, 'Sturt, Charles (1795 - 1869)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 2, Melbourne University Press (1967): 495-498.