1900

1929 · 215642 — South Australia. 1929. Typescript manuscript 11 pages foolscap 33.8 x 21 cms inked manuscript corrections and annotations in Jack's hand some age toning most noticeable on the first leaf and small chips from the inner margin no loss to the text old folds pin holes to the upper corner good condition. Unpublished typescript for an illustrated address given to the Royal South Australian Yacht Club in September 1929 by Robert Lockhart Jack 1878-1964 with annotations in his hand. <br> <br>In January 1900 at the age of 22 Jack travelled with his father Robert Logan Jack 1845-1921 pioneer geologist and the first Government Geologist for Queensland to select and acquire mines in the Western Chinese province of Szechuan on behalf of an Anglo-Belgian Company. Chengtu Chengdu the capital served as a starting point for research trips to record the deposits of mineral resources on the Chinese-Tibetan border on behalf of English companies. Jack's lively and detailed description of the methods and incidents of the 1400 mile 2250 km journey on the Yangtze offer fascinating insights into life and customs along the great river at that time as well as mindful of his audience very detailed descriptions of sailing vessels. With the start of the Boxer Rebellion the expedition was cancelled immediately and as a precaution their return journey was along the shortest route: still some 700 kms 450 miles of mountainous and uncharted terrain; south along the Chinese-Tibetan border where they reached British territory again on October 20th and the town of Bhamo in Upper Burma a day later. <br> <br>Robert Lockhart Jack began his career working in Europe South Africa and China becoming assistant government geologist of South Australia from 1912. He led an expedition to the Everhard and Musgrave Ranges in 1914. He joined BHP in 1931 and became chief geologist retiring in 1948. . unknown