Volume II Part 36 (1/2)

Froht miles from Portland, I had an extensive view of this fertile district: the outlines of those es, that completed the distant part of the landscape, to the eastward, were distinctly defined against the clear rassy round-topped hills, rose on either side of wide valleys sparingly dotted with trees, h theular circular waterholes, with sides so steep as to render it necessary to cut through them to enable the cattle to drink, that were distributed around as if for course of the Glenelg, and was told that some of the squatters had located the of stations (which they have since made) as far as the volcanic mountains, Schanck and Gambier, where there is some rich country, recently visited from Adelaide, by Governor Grey, who has discovered that the barrier of desert between New South Wales and South Australia, is less ood land intervening, so that at no very distant day, we may hope to see the whole of the coast, fro a scattered white population

I noticed that there was a vast superiority in the soil on the north-west side of the hills; but saw none equal in richness to the five-mile patch at Mount Eckersley

The steep sides of a part of the valley of the Wannon, however, a few arloaf, are very fertile, and being clothed with patches of woodland, form extremely pretty scenery The rocks of this part of the country are chiefly trappean; in the ihbourhood of Portland, they consist of liinous sandstone, and trap

CAPE BRIDGEWATER

After having extended our ride to above seventysatisfied ourselves, froreater extent of good land here, than at South Australia; though it was more scattered, and farther fro a bundle of spears leaning against a tree, I rode up to examine them, but the owner instantly ran and seized them, in a manner that confirmed the report I had before heard, to the effect, that the settlers and the aborigines of this part, either through the ement of the one, or the evil disposition of the other, are not on very good terewater, tofour miles north of it These we found to be fros were encrusted with stalactites and the mouths overlooked some pretty freshwater lakes, three miles in extent separated from the sea by a narrow chain of sandhills; upon these were a feans, and a black and white kind of goose, one of which Mr Bynoe shot; it rese over the Albert in the Gulf of Carpentaria

ARRIVE AT HOBART

February 20

A slight cessation of the easterly wind allowed us to leave Portland Bay in theagain frohly desirable that I should consult with His Excellency, Sir John Franklin, before we commenced the survey of Bass Strait, we proceeded direct to Hobart, where we arrived on the 26th The latitude of the south-west cape was deterrees 35survey was made of the south coast of Tas which land and seabreezes prevailed, afforded netic observatory, established since our last visit by the Antarctic expedition, and left in charge of Lieutenant Key and Messrs Day to it This place His Excellency, who took part in the observations made there, named after the leader of the expedition, Ross Bank Observatory: I found it to be 20 seconds west, and 1 le's observation spot in Fort Mulgrave

Sir John Franklin, who has always taken great interest in the Beagle's voyage, testified every wish to afford me assistance: and in the most liberal manner placed at my disposal the colonial cutter, Vansittart, to assist in the survey of the Strait Messrs Forsyth and Pascoe were selected for the service, the forht refit, and a few alterations which were expedited in a most praiseworthy manner by Captain Booth, commandant at Port Arthur, she was to proceed to the scene of operations near Banks Strait In the le sailed for Sydney to receive the stores we expected froland

ATMOSPHERIC CHANGES

March 10

This was our second day fro to the prevalence of North-East winds we had not ress than to be at noon, thirtythis day were curious Thebroke hazy, with a radually subsiding and veering at the same time to East-South-East, left us becals meanwhile passed at intervals to the South-West; and whenever this obstruction to our vision was re, so themselves passed rapidly over our heads About three PM there was the sighing of a breeze from that quarter The baro and stood at 2957, being as much as two-tenths lower than what it was an hour before, and having fallen since eight AM four-tenths

The rapid depression of the mercury was quite perceptible to the eye

Under reduced sail the shi+p, like the petrel with closed wing, waited the co enveloped us; but an hour after the baro sheet of hissing foaed by the tempest, tumultuously towards us from the south-west

RETURN TO SYDNEY

For a while the heavy reduced canvas still flapped with a lazy swag against the ust; and the Beagle was hurried swiftly onwards, careering over the waves like the misty spectre in a storm Two hours after (six PM) the baroe to Sydney to be short: but the ill luck of foul winds again attending us, it was the fifteenth before we arrived

CHAPTER 213

Exploration of Interior

Twofold Bay

Survey of Bass Strait

Dangerous situation of the Beagle

Kent and Hogan Groups

Gipps Land

Wilson's Promontory

The Tamar

Eastern entrance of Strait

Steam communication between India and Australia