LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. VOL. I. Map of the District of the River Glenelg, on the North-Western Coast of Australia, from the surveys of George Grey, Esq., by John Arrowsmith. Sandstone Cave with Paintings near Glenelg River Diphya, Sp. Do. Salpa, Sp. Hyalea, Sp. Physsophora rosacea Erichthus vitreus Janthina exigua Glaucus, Sp. Phyllosoma, Sp. Janthina exigua Page frontispiece. 47 49 50 51 51 51 54 55 58 60 106 112 202 203 204 204 206 214 227 245 Attack of Natives near Hanover Bay Gigantic Ants' Nest, and Gouty Stem Tree No. 1. Figure drawn on the roof of Cave, discovered March 26th 2. Figure drawn on side of Cave, do. 3. Oval drawing in Cave, do. 4. Figure drawn in Cave, do. Head cut in Sandstone Rock Figure drawn on roof of Cave, discovered March 29th Native Tombs Nest or Bower of the Chalmydera nuchalis Map and Chart of the West Coast of Australia, from Swan River Attack of Natives near Kolaina Plains 329 377 Geological Section from Gregory's Valiey, St. Helena 164 172 186 196 GENERAL PLAN AND OBJECTS INSTRUCTIONS-TENERIFFE -AQUEDUCT AT STA. CRUZ - EXCURSION TO ORATAVACAMELS-STATISTICS OF THE CANARY ISLANDS-TABLESMETEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS-VOCABULARY OF THE CANARIAN DIALECTS-MARINE BLOWING STONE-GUANCHE BONE CAVE. THE Expeditions, of which the results are narrated in the following pages, took their origin from a proposition made to Government by myself, in conjunction with Lieutenant Lushington,* in the latter part of the year 1836. At that time, a large portion of the Western coast and interior of the great Australian continent had remained unvisited and unknown; whilst the opinions of the celebrated navigators, Captains Dampier and King, connected with other circumstances, led to the inference, or at least the hope, that a great river, or water inlet, might be found to open out at some point on its western or north-western side; which had then been only partially surveyed from seaward. Anxious to solve this interesting geographical *Now Captain Lushington, of the 9th Foot. VOL. I. B 2 DESIGN OF THE EXPEDITION. problem, we addressed a letter to Lord Glenelg, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, wherein we offered our services to conduct an exploration from the Swan River to the northward, having regard to the direction of the coast, so as to intersect any considerable body of water, connecting it with the interior; and in the event of such being discovered, to extend our examination of it, as far as circumstances might admit. The letter, containing this offer, also enumerated several secondary objects, to which we proposed to direct our attention, and which were ultimately comprehended in our instructions. The offer and suggestions were favourably entertained by Lord Glenelg, and further communications invited; and, the project having been favoured by the support of the Royal Geographical Society, our services were finally accepted by the Government. More mature consideration, however, led to a material alteration in the first plan; for whilst our principal object, namely, the search for a great river or interior inlet, remained the same, it was considered, for several reasons, more advisable that the exploration should commence from the vicinity of Prince Regent's River, on the north-west coast, and be directed towards the Swan. I shall pass over the various points of detail which occupied our time and attention until the moment of departure, as they offer no matters of general interest. It will be sufficient to say, that every thing suggested, as likely to be conducive to the success and utility of the expedition, was most liberally granted and supplied; and when all was prepared, a letter of instructions, dated the 16th June, 1837, was addressed by Lord Glenelg to myself and Lieutenant Lushington conjointly; which embraced the following points : 1. We were to embark in H.M. sloop of war the Beagle, then fitting out for a survey of the coasts and seas of Australia, under the command of Captain Wickham, R.N.; and to proceed in that vessel, either to the Cape of Good Hope, or to Swan River, as might ultimately appear best suited to forward the objects of the expedition. 2. On our arrival at either of the foregoing places, we were directed to procure a small vessel to convey the party and stores to the most convenient point in the vicinity of Prince Regent's River. 3. After due examination of the country about Prince Regent's River, we were instructed to take such a course as would lead us in the direction of the great opening behind Dampier's Land. From the moment of our arrival at this point, our subsequent proceedings were left more discretionary; but the instructions continued: "You will use the " utmost exertions to penetrate from thence to the "Swan River; as by adopting this course, you will 66 proceed in a direction parallel to the unknown “coast, and must necessarily cross every large river, "that flows from the interior towards that side of "the continent." 4. That we might have an opportunity, in the event of any unforeseen difficulties occurring, of falling back upon the vessel conveying the party, she |