Volume II Part 21 (1/2)

On the Darling Range is found a red cellular structure capping the granite, assu been subjected to fire; it extends also in the low country about that neighbourhood

Slate of a pri River The e runs nearly in the direction of north and south On the eastern side of it, close to the base, are several groups of isolated conical hills, fro froee District, a distance of about one hundred and twenty nition

The country farther on to the eastward falls into sandy plains, similar to those on the western side, and intersected by watercourses; during the summer, pools remain, and at that time become remarkably salt On the mountains, as well as on the plains, scattered pebbles in patches are to be netic

SAIL FROM SWAN RIVER

From the very debilitated state of some of the crew, from dysenteric affections contracted at Timor, ere not able to leave Swan River before the 25th of October At noon on the 28th, Cape Naturaliste bore South 80 degrees East threeto our observations it was in latitude 33 degrees 31 minutes 45 seconds South four h in longitude (0 degrees 47 minutes 30 seconds West of Swan River) it appeared pretty correct Some reefs have been reported three or fourof thes of 23 and 25 fatho a few hbourhood of which we looked in vain for a rock called the Rambler, that had been supposed to be about twelve miles south-west of a remarkable white patch close to the northward of the Cape, the locality of which it always serves to shoenty miles west of Cape Leeuwin the depth was 47 fatho the south coast we found the white-topped rocks near Cape Chatharees 29 minutes 30 seconds East of Swan River They are not only remarkable in themselves, but like the Eclipse Islands, are ad a shi+p's position when in with the coast

PEAKED HILL

We entered King George's Sound on November 2nd I should here observe that Bald Head is connected with the main by a low piece of land, in the centre of which stands a s to the southward, the appearance of an island In the view annexed the reader will perceive a representation of the conspicuous headland called Peaked Hill, with its peculiar profile outline, lying about fiveup the Sound we anchored in Princess Royal Harbour, Mount Clarence bearing North-North-East, and the south end of Michaelmas Island just open of Point Possession The entrance to this great basin is by a narrow channel in the north-east corner; a long spit extending off the inner western entrance-point for it; but although the passage is thus contracted the Beagle orked through both ways Inside, there is water sufficient for the largest shi+p in the navy; but only for a limited space, a short distance within the entrance--merely a hollow scooped out towards the north-west corner of the harbour

ALBANY

Here, just above a dazzling white sandy beach, a straggling village points out the townshi+p of Albany Mounts Clarence and Melville reared their bare granitic heads on either side, and huge fantastically-shaped boulders were strewn over their slopes The origin of this settleenerally known: it was first planned, in consequence of a report that the French were about to establish themselves there; which turned out to be the truth, for they had actually formed and abandoned a settleang of convicts he brought with hiovern the few improvements that had taken place since our visit in 1836, were a jetty and a government storehouse The latter was close to the spot where the observations werethe granite in a North-North-West direction I observed the same circumstance at Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope

I was sorry to see that the infant town of Albany had ress, especially as it possesses by far the finest harbour in Western Australia There is no doubt that ulties will be developed; but it is so that they have not already been turned to better account Though there is not a very great extent of good land in the neighbourhood, there is aement to the settler; especially e consider that this is one of the most healthy portions of the continent, that it is never visited by hot winds, and that the therrees This evenness of temperature at all times of the year is very remarkable, and renders the spot particularly suitable for invalids,even from Swan River to renovate themselves If our East Indians were aware of what a salubrious clie's Sound, they would soon be seen flocking thither to repair the constitutions they have injured on the banks of the Ganges and the Indus

Our object in visiting this place was to obtain athe chronometers I availedthe detach duty there, to accompany him on a visit to the out-stations We were joined by a person fros, and by three or four natives

Leaving Albany, we reached the foot of a large clear piece of land called the Great Plain, about fifteen miles distant, and a little off the Swan River road

BURNING THE BUSH

On our ethe bush, which they do in sections every year The dexterity hich they ent as fire is indeed astonishi+ng Those to whouide or stop the running flahs, hich, if itdirection, they beat it out Their only object in these periodical conflagrations seems to be the destruction of the various snakes, lizards, and saroos, called wallaby, which with shouts and yells they thus force fro-sticks of the hunting division The whole scene is a e, every muscle in action and every faculty called forth, then appears to the ut I can conceive no finer subject for a picture than a party of these swarthy beings engaged in kindling,the destructive elee its nature, acquiring, as it were, coovernable fury we are accustoh the thick underwood, amidst volumes of smoke--their dark active lilow of the fire--they present a spectacle which it rarely falls to our lot to behold, and of which it is impossible to convey any adequate idea by words

COURSE A KANGAROO

After tethering out our horses andto look for a kangaroo I had never as yet seen one put fairly at his speed on open ground before a dog, but this evening I was fully gratified; for we soon found a couple lying out on our side of the plain, and by crawling up through the e s about five hundred yards fro a strea direction soon gave us a broadside view; and a splendid course it was They ran horizontally, no leap or hop being perceptible At first the dogs closed rapidly, but for soe in their relative positions took place, each doing his best The kangaroos held their oell, until they had reached nearly the other side of the plain, a distance of about two radually to draw on theth, after a turn or two, the s the wood It was a fine young buck, weighing about 60 pounds, and made a capital supper for our party The natives cooked the tail for us in their oay, roasting it with the hair on, the bestwe found that our sable friends had eaten so etting theth consented to accompany us, and we proceeded five or six miles further on the Swan River road, to a place where a party of soldiers were stationed Here the tearoo proved irresistible, and with the exception of one, as Lieutenant Warburton's servant, the natives all left us to resuastrono; and in the work recently published by Mr

Eyre the reader will find some curious details on the subject

We now took a westerly direction, for a tract of good country lying about thirty-five miles from the Sound, a little to the ard of the road to Swan River

PITFALLS FOR KANGAROOS

On our e crossed several short trenches, cut by the natives for pitfalling kangaroos, which were here very nu across the runs of the anirass, and were very narrow at the botto to bound out

HERDS OF KANGAROOS

I have never, at any other place, seen sihbourhood they have probably been suggested by the great abundance in which the kangaroo is found I am certain there could scarcely have been less than a hundred in a herd It was curious to observe therass or underneath the trees, with the largeup the rear of a certain number of does We had several very beautiful courses, but the dogs being footsore were beaten on all occasions

I was very much pleased with this portion of the country: it quite resembles the park-like features of Port Phillip We heard the kangaroos thu round our bivouac, the heavier fall of the uishable It was now detererup, one of Lady Spencer's far down our position by a sort of dead reckoning I had kept to find the course, we started