overlanders

"overlanders" and prospectors soon followed; indeed some preceded this expedition, for Mr. Johnston has told me that he found marked trees in more than one place.

Spinifex and Sand David Wynford Carnegie 1885

"overlanders," as they were called, affected a bandit style of dress; in their scarlet shirts and broad-brimmed hats, their belts filled with pistols, and their horses gaily caparisoned, they caused a sensation in the streets in Adelaide, which rang all evening with their merriment and dissipation.

History of Australia and New Zealand From 1606 to 1890 George Sutherland 1880

I have a theory that overlanders in Africa — the twenty-something, gap-year or post-graduation Cairo-to-Cape (or more commonly Marrakech-to-Johannesburg) tribe — are, of all tourists in Africa, the category who have least real engagement with the places they travel through.

In Africa, where there are dreadlocks, there are white tourists being preyed upon 2010

As with the tick-eating egrets that hop around in the vicinity of hippopotamuses, the moment you see a couple of dreadlocks at or near a food stall, bar or market, you know there will be white travellers, probably overlanders, nearby.

In Africa, where there are dreadlocks, there are white tourists being preyed upon 2010

The “overlanders” baked bread in folding tin reflector ovens or heavy cast-iron Dutch ovens with three legs and a lid over fires of scrounged fuel—from buffalo chips to dried weeds.

One Big Table Molly O’Neill 2010

And the association which is almost automatic is with young European overlanders.

In Africa, where there are dreadlocks, there are white tourists being preyed upon 2010

Where there are overlanders, and especially white overlanding women, there are black dreadlocks.

In Africa, where there are dreadlocks, there are white tourists being preyed upon 2010

Walk into an encampment of overlanders, or a bar, beach resort or eatery which overlanders frequent (their organisers always, but always, take them to the same places) and the aura is of inwardness.

In Africa, where there are dreadlocks, there are white tourists being preyed upon 2010

UNDER THE CANVASES OF THEIR covered wagons, the Western overlanders stowed a little of everything they required to start life in a new, raw land.

THE AMERICAN WEST DEE BROWN 2007

The overlanders had not the contempt for difficulties bred by familiarity into the mountain men.

THE AMERICAN WEST DEE BROWN 2007