APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY.

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what we saw of it, I do not think that much water can issue from it either, although its bed looked larger and better defined than any we had seen hitherto. The man from the mast-head said he saw the sandy beach all across it. But the Captain being anxious to examine the anchorage in the bay, did not wish to come to anchor sooner, so we passed on, perhaps 10 or 12 miles to the south of it. Just as they were about to let go the small anchor, which had been used since the first was broken, it was discovered that it also was broken nearly through, so we had to drop a large and heavy one, being the only one now remaining in the ship. We then landed in the boat, and saw two pieces of ship's timbers set up in the sand of the beach, about half a mile from each other. Dug and examined under and about the largest of them, in hopes of finding some directions, probably about fresh water, but found none. Examined a place where the tea-tree and wattles were very green and luxuriant looking; it appeared like a swamp in winter, but quite dry now. Was struck by the singularity of some tea-trees growing, of a large size, both up the sides and on the tops of high sand-hills, but which appeared to rest upon limestone. Got a view to the east and south of the range the country presented the same appearance as before. It must be remarked, that the grass was all parched and withered, and of a yellow straw colour; and it was from this colour, principally, that we judged of its existence on the distant grounds. Those who have once seen tracts of withered grass

will not readily mistake its appearance; but the green of the shrubs was extremely vivid. One observation which we had repeated occasion to make, was the constant heavy dews which fell at night on this coast, rendering every thing about the ship'quite wet. The wind was off the land-the country all around seemed to be on fire in the morning-the thermometer, as I stood on the deck, was 94°. In the evening, the wind came round to the north-west, and, desirous of availing ourselves of such a favourable breeze, we got on board and set sail, but were obliged to stand well out to sea to clear the reefs. Towards night it fell calm again, and there was some lightning in the north.”

The third district lies immediately to the north of Perth. It contains four rivers :

The Norcott,

The Moore,

The Smith,

The Hill.

The Norcott and Moore Rivers, about fifty miles to the north of Perth, were before known; and about twenty-five miles to the north of Moore River is the Smith. The Hill comes out of Gairdner's Range, the natural northern limit of this district, which is connected with Perth by a chain of freshwater lakes, the greatest distance between any two of them being not more than from five to six miles. The whole of this district is, therefore, fit for location, and affords a gratifying proof

that the flourishing colony of the Swan is by no means deficient in good and immediately available land.

The circumstance also of this district being so abundantly supplied with water, even at the end of an uncommonly dry season, which was the period I traversed it in, much enhances its value. It must, as the number of horned stock in the colony of Western Australia increases, be the first occupied ; for it is nearer to a market than any other open to location, and affords both water and food for cattle in good supply.

CHAPTER VII.

VOYAGE HOMEWARDS.

NATURAL HISTORY.

BEFORE quitting the Mauritius, in August, 1838, I had written to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, reporting my intention to proceed to the Swan River, and then, as circumstances might guide me, either to return from thence at once to the North-west coast, or should that not be feasible, to await further instructions from England; adding that, in the latter event, I should attempt, in the meantime, to pass the range to the north-east of the Swan, and endeavour to ascertain in what direction the streams thrown off from this range towards the interior might flow.

I have already stated the incidents that prevented me from following out the first of these plans, as well as those which led me to adopt the project of the voyage to Sharks Bay in lieu of an inland journey such as the second; and now that this last expedition was brought to a close, I had yet to await, for some time, the answer to my communication from the Mauritius, which was to guide my future proceedings. The interval between my return to Perth and the period at which a reply might be expected, appeared

PREPARE TO RETURN TO ENGLAND.

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too short to allow of my carrying out any comprehensive plan of exploration, and I therefore resolved to employ it, in endeavouring to extend my knowledge of the native character and language, as well as of the general position and prospects of the colony.

At this time, the death of Sir Robert Spencer, the Government Resident at King George's Sound, having caused a vacancy in that appointment, I was induced, at the offer of Mr. Hutt, to assume the temporary duties, with a two-fold desire of rendering what public services I could, during my unavoidable period of inaction in the country, as well as of enlarging my opportunities of observation on the aboriginal race.

In these occupations I remained, until the receipt of a reply from the Secretary of State, which, after speaking in terms of flattering approbation of my past exertions, notified that, for the present, Her Majesty's Ministers did not think it desirable that the researches in the North-west should be prosecuted further.

On the receipt of this I made preparations for returning to England, but no favourable opportunity offering from the western settlements, as soon as I was relieved from my duties as Resident, I embarked for South Australia, in the hope of obtaining from thence a more speedy passage, than the other colony seemed likely to afford.

After a short stay at Adelaide, I finally sailed for England on the 11th April, 1840, and reached this country in September following.