Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia

London: Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington, 1887. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. London, Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington, 1887. Octavo, xii, 368 pages plus a folding colour map (435 × 190 mm). Original mustard yellow cloth with extensive brown and green floral decoration and attractive gilt lettering; all edges uncut (top edge dusty); covers a little marked and discoloured, and rubbed and bumped at the extremities; occasional foxing; trifling chips to a few uncut edges due to careless opening of the leaves; a few minor signs of handling; a very good copy with the armorial bookplate of Bernard Gore Brett on the front pastedown, and an early address stamp on the dedication page. 'Shortly after the return of Mr Goyder's surveying expedition to Adelaide in April, 1870, my father was appointed Government Resident of the Northern Territory'; 16 year-old Harriet accompanied William Bloomfield Douglas (see the 'Australian Dictionary of Biography') and the rest of the family north. She spent the better part of the next three years in the Territory (returning south for her marriage in 1871 to a nephew of the late Governor), before leaving for good in 1873 when her father was dismissed for incompetence. Her chatty account based on her personal experiences concludes then (at page 208); the rest of the book is written 'by means of researches in newspapers, official reports and other documents'. Ferguson 8939 (not noting the map).