Book Review: The Camel Who Crossed Australia
Australian Historical Fiction for Tweens and Teens by Jackie French
Aug 5, 2008
The third book in Jackie French’s The Animal Stars series, The Camel who Crossed Australia (HarperCollins, 2008) offers a new insight into the familiar story of Burke and Wills’ fateful expedition through the centre of Australia in 1860.
The Burke and Wills Expedition
In a history littered with tales of ill-conceived journeys undertaken by ill-prepared explorers, the tale of Robert O’Hara Burke and William John Wills through the central Australian outback and dessert is surely the most famous.
In August 1860, the expedition left Melbourne, poorly prepared or equipped to undertake a journey from south to north across the Australian wilderness. Several team members, including the original second-in-command George Landells, left the expedition with concerns for their own safety in the early stages of the journey. Burke’s mishandling of his team and lack of bush survival skills led the remaining members of the group to their eventual deaths.
The Camel’s Point of View
The story begins with the musings of an old camel, Bell Sing. Through his eyes, the reader is given a pragmatic assessment of people and events free from preconceived opinions or expectations.
Bell Sing offers a viewpoint that is deeply connected with the land. He has an abiding affection and understanding of the rhythms of nature and highlights the impractical decisions made by those leading the expedition who refused to take into account the risks and challenges of the harsh Australian landscape.
Dost Mahomet – A Young Cameleer’s Perspective
Dost Mahomet, one of the sepoys who accompanied the expedition to care for the camels, offers another perspective. Coming from a culture of desert survival, his understanding of the harshness of the climate far surpassed those leading the expedition. Unfortunately, the advice of Dost Mahomet and the other sepoys was never sought, to the detriment of the other members of the group.
Dost Mahomet offers a young viewpoint, practical and enquiring without the disdain offered by Bell Sing. He seeks to loyally serve his employer, but finds Burke’s behaviour increasingly erratic and difficult to understand.
John King – A Soldier of the British Realm
The third perspective is that of a loyal officer, afire with dreams of glorious service to the British Empire. He is far more forgiving of Burke’s behaviour than Bell Sing and Dost Mahomet and offers an older but less practical insight into the tragic expedition.
King maintained his loyalty and belief in the superiority of the British, however he did accept assistance from the local Aboriginal people, the Yandruwandha. If Burke had been as wise, he would most likely have survived.
A Fresh Outlook on Australian History
Jackie French brings this familiar tale to life through her unexpected perspectives. Each viewpoint offers something new, describing not only the expedition faults and failures, but also highlighting how things could have ended much differently had Burke been willing to accept assistance from the Aboriginals and sepoys who were much better equipped to survive in the dessert.
The novel is based on fact with the names of the camels, sepoys and other expedition members accurate as far as records can confirm. At the conclusion of the story, information about what happened to surviving members of the group and background information is provided about the Yandruwandha People, camels in the Australian outback and other historical elements of the tale.
The Camel who Crossed Australia conveys not only the tale of Burke and Wills, but also the unknown potential of the Australian colony of the mid 1800’s in a way that is approachable and enjoyable reading for primary school-aged readers and beyond.
Reviews of other books by Jackie French:
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