the official south australian government explorer benjamin herschel babbage followed stuart's maps and went to chambers creek. he reported that the map showed the creek was marked too far to the north. stuart went back to chambers creek to survey the area again. this expedition was paid for by james chambers and william finke who realized the value of reliable water supplies on the other side of the salt lakes. stuart left oratunga station on 2 april 1859, with a small group, three men and 14 horses. the men he took with him included a bavarian naturalist and artist, david herrgott, and louis müller, a stockman and botanist. both herrgott and müller had been gold miners in victoria, and would know how to look for gold in the country around chambers creek. they did not carry much equipment, only a blanket to sleep with, but no tents. the only food they took was flour, dried beef (jerky), tea, sugar and tobacco. he took more equipment than just his watch and compass on this trip; a sextant, a copy of the astronomical almanac and a telescope.