Day, A, Historical Dictionary of the Discovery and Exploration of Australia.

Lanham, Scarecrow Press, 2003. ISBN: 0-8108-4588-1, $77 (US), hardcover, 368 pages.

The Historical dictionary of the discovery and exploration of Australia is the first in a new series of historical dictionaries of discovery and exploration by the Scarecrow Press. As such, it sets the tone and standard for the series with a high level of scholarship and includes the latest research. Further volumes are planned for Africa and America.

The amount of research that has obviously gone into the preparation of the work is phenomenal, especially so given that the author did not have the advantage of being brought up and living in Australia. Day studied the history of Australia from the United Kingdom, and visited Australia for two months in 2001 where he drove around a large part of the interior and visited libraries around the country for further research.

Despite the title, this volume is much more than a historical dictionary. It also contains a substantial bibliography, a chronology, and an extensive introduction which brings the contents of the Dictionary together in a narrative. Maps of the evolution of the states and territories are also included, although the small layout and some ambiguities make these confusing. There is also a factual error: the Dictionary states that 'the Northern Territory was part of South Australia until 1863' - the Northern Territory was actually part of New South Wales until 1863, and then part of South Australia from 1863 to 1907.

While the Dictionary is definitely a remarkable achievement, there is sometimes no substitute for the local knowledge which comes from spending an extended period of time in the country. For example, the entry for Darwin contains a see reference for Port Darwin. While this is technically correct (as Port Darwin was developed before the town of Darwin), in modern times it is all referred to as Darwin. For most Australians using the Dictionary, seeing the capital of the Northern Territory listed under Port Darwin would appear to be very odd. However, if Port Hedland were included, then the author would be entirely justified in listing it under Port, as that is how it is commonly referred to.

Of more consequence for the reader, particularly the Australian reader, are the American English spellings (particularly in place names) and the use of Imperial measurements, rather than metric as is standard in Australia. For example, the Red Centre and Centre are both consistently spelt as 'Center'. The Imperial measurements are frustrating for readers who are familiar with metric, especially in the otherwise marvellously detailed article on Equipment where the entire inventory of Gregory's 1855-56 North Australian Exploring Expedition is given. The Imperial measurements are mostly problematic in relation to distances; future editions could be made much more user-friendly by at least including the metric equivalents in parentheses.

Australia has a reputation for its slang, and this has also led to some slightly odd headwords. 'Jerky' is the term used to describe the kind of tinned meat that was taken on expeditions, even though its proper name - as correctly listed in the Dictionary - is 'Jerked' meat. Likewise, Dirk Hartog Island is how the locals refer to what is perhaps properly known as Dirk Hartog's Island, near Shark Bay. Although technically correct, the author does need to be using the same language as the bulk of the readers.

With a few notable exceptions, the reviewer found the volume to be generally lacking in details which are essential for even the most basic level of research. An example is the entry for Blackboys, which to quote in full, says 'Grass trees.' This is not very helpful, especially for people who have never seen one of these plants. An explanation of how they came to get that common name and the botanical name would be an improvement. This entry is also one of several candidates that would have benefited from an illustration, along with Spinifex and the routes of some of the major expeditions. Other entries that could have benefited from more information were the First Fleet (at least list all of the ships), Gregory's Compass and Rabbit Fence (known to West Australians as the Rabbit-Proof Fence, and exactly why the rabbits were such a problem).

There are also some entries which are irrelevant, or even inappropriate for the work. Francis Drake, although important in the history of international cartography, does not need to be included, and Mendana, although he went looking for Australia, did not get past the Solomon Islands. Unfortunately, there are some entries for commercial companies which do not belong in such a volume. They are the blatant advertising for Westprint heritage maps, and the entry for Facsimile maps and charts of Australia which only lists a series of six maps produced by the Mapping Sciences Institute. If there is to be an entry for facsimile maps of Australia then it needs to be much more comprehensive, as in the Maps entry.

Some entries that one would expect, either from reading elsewhere in the Dictionary or from general knowledge of Australia, simply are not there. The Nullarbor Plain is conspicuous by its absence, as are Ayers Rock/Uluru and Lake Eyre. Although there are many see references already, more are needed to make the volume more user-friendly; as an example, the J.S. Battye Library of West Australian History is under J, but would benefit from a see reference from Battye.

Despite these problems, the Dictionary is very easy to read and I particularly like how Day discusses the motivations of the explorers and the inclusion of recent 'scholarship' into the possible Arab, Chinese and Egyptian expeditions to the area. The motivations of the personalities involved are discussed in such a way that it draws the reader into the explorer's frame of mind. This was particularly evident in the entries relating to the tragic outcome of the Burke and Wills expedition, where they missed their rendezvous only by a matter of hours, costing them their lives. The readers may well find themselves consulting one entry, only to be drawn into other references, either through the numerous see references or through an entry that catches their eye.

The volume is also very broad in scope and contains some entries that are relevant, but which the reader might not expect. El Nino receives a mention, and the author suggests that it accounts for the difference between Cook's very favourable report about Australia's lush green pastures and the reality as discovered by the First Fleet.

The bibliography is also very impressive, as may be expected from a professional librarian. It is a book in its own right, occupying some 87 pages, with a contents page, introduction and two appendices, much like the subject bibliographies that were so common before online databases. The arrangement by subject is very useful and would be a good starting point for research into any aspect of the European history and discovery of Australia.

Despite the somewhat expensive price of US$77, the Dictionary will certainly stand the test of time, both in terms of the information included and from the high-quality binding, hardcover and archival paper. It should certainly form a solid basis for further research into this aspect of Australian history.

Kylie Smith, Maps Librarian, State Library of Western Australia.

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