faction of finding ourselves once more on terra firma, and observing a bare granite hill bearing N. 81° E., about 3 miles distant, steered for it, and at 6 h. 30 m. P.M. bivouacked at the foot, where we found some grass and pools of water on the top of the rocks. Lat.by account 29° 37′30′′, long. by account 117° 38′ 10′′. 26th. From the summit of this hill we had an extensive view, the lake extending about 10 miles to the E., 12 to the S., 15 to the W., and 8 to the N., but to the N.E. by E. the lake formed the visible horizon; shallow pools of water a mile and upwards in extent, and low wooded and high rocky islands, were scattered over this vast expanse of salt, gypsum, and white mud. At 8 h. 35 m. A.M. started in a direction nearly S. along the shore of the lake, in hopes of turning the lake to the W. At 10h. 40 m. turned N. 221 E., and at 12 h. 30 m. halted on a grassy granite hill, with a deep water-hole in the rock, about 1 mile from the lake. by observation 29° 47′ 13′′, long. by account 117° 35′ 45′′.

Lat.

27th-At 7 h. 40 m. steering a general course of N. 200 E., at 8 h. 40 m. again made the shore of the lake, and, following it, at 9 h. 20 m. it turned S. E., and at 9 h. 45m. to a general course of N. 80 E., until 15 m. P.M., when we halted for an hour and a half under a very remarkable solitary white gum-tree. We then turned N. 173° E. till 2 h. 20 m., when the course was changed to N. 204o E. till 3 h. 30 m., when we left the lake (which trended to the west), and steering N. 250° E., at 5 h. 5 m. bivouacked at a native well in a small grassy valley. Lat. by observation 29° 59' 4", long. by account 117 39' 0".

28th. Starting at 7 h. 35 m. in a W.N.W. direction, at 8h. 45 m. passed some small dry lagoons. At 9 h. 20 m. ascended a granite hill. From this we discovered that we were on a peninsula formed by two branches of the lake, and that farther progress in this direction was impossible; the lake continued to trend S. and formed the horizon in that direction. At 9h. 40 m. we turned to the eastward; and at 11 h. 35 m. struck the southern extremity of the eastern branch of the lakes. Following the shore nearly E., at 12 h. it turned N.E.; at 20 m. P.M. N. 17° E.; and continuing this course at 1 h. left the lake. Crossing extensive open downs, at 2 h. 5 m. passed a dry lake on the right, and entered thickets of brushwood; at 2 h. 30 m. changed to a gum and cypress forest till 3 h. 0 m., when we came to a grassy hill, with rich soil, and quartz and granite rocks. After this we again entered the thickets. At 3 h. 45 m. the country became open and grassy; and at 4 h. 0 m. we attained the summit of a granite hill, from which there was an extensive view. On the N. side of this hill we found a native well in a fine grassy patch, and bivouacked, Lat. by account, 29° 45′ 15′′; long. by account, 117° 45′ 40′′.

29th. At 7h. 45m. A.M. left the bivouac, and steered N. 30° E,

Trap Hills-Granite Hills.

31

through dense thickets; at 8 h. 30 m. crossed our track of the morning of the 24th; at 9 h. 15 m. crossed a dry salt lake trending to the N.W. and S.E.; at 25 m. P.M. changed the course to N.; at 1 h. to N. 37° E.; at 1 h. 35 m. ascended a granite hill, on which we found a few small pools of water.

30th. At 7 h. 35 m. A.M. resumed our journey N. over a level country with brushwood and grass; at 10 h. 35 m. ascended a steep grassy ridge, and found ourselves at the N.E. extremity of the immense lake which for five days had baffled all our attempts to proceed N. and W. The lake at this part was about 6 miles wide, and to the S.E. extended to the horizon; on the N. and W. there were many bare granite hills. At 11 h. 0 m., descending the ridge, we crossed a level flat covered with brushwood, and steering N. 328° E., at 12h. 15 m. it became grassy, and ascending a grassy granite hill, halted at 12 h. 55 m. for the remainder of the day to refresh the horses. Lat. by observation, 23° 17′ 56′′; long. by account, 117° 46' 40".

31st.-Leaving our bivouac, at 7 h. 30 m. A.M. steered N. 328° E. for two hours, through thickets of cypress, gum, and acacia. The country then improved, became more open and grassy, with jam-wattle. At 10 h. 55 m. ascended a granite hill, and changed the course to N. 357° E.; at 11 h. 30 m. attained the summit of a high bare granite hill. From this we observed many similar hills to the N. and E.; a remarkable range of trap hills to the N.N.E., and about 30 miles distant; while from N. 281° E. to N. 302' E. were many trap ranges from 12 to 30 miles distant. Descending the hill at noon, we directed our course to the nearest range, which bore N. 302° E., traversing a level plain covered with brushwood, with some grass. At 4 h. 45 m. crossed a dry stream bed, trending to the W.; and at 5 h. 5 m. bivouacked on a granite hill, with some grass, and a fine pool of water in the rock. Lat. by observation, 29° 3′ 14′′; long. by account, 117° 30′ 40′′.

1st September. Åt 7 h. 45 m. A.м. resumed our journey, and at 8 h. 45 m. arrived at the hill we had been steering for on the previous evening. The summit commanded an extensive view: to the W. were many dry salt lakes and ranges of trap hills; on the N. the country was level for several miles, and then rose into a low range of granite hills, covered with brushwood and grass. Having taken bearings to the principal summits, at 9 h. 20 m. descended the hills, and steered N. 230° E. for some miles. The country

was covered with dense thickets of acacia; at noon it was more open and grassy, with granite rocks; at 1 h. 5 m. passed several irregular dry salt lagoons; at 3 h. 30 m. halted at the foot of a granite hill with good grass, and water oozing out of a cleft in the rock. Lat. by observation, 28° 50' 44"; long. by account, 117° 20' 10". 2nd.—Leaving our bivouac at 7 h. 40 m. A M., steered N. 330° E.

Several

At

over a succession of granite hills, with acacia and grass. small watercourses trending westward occupied the valleys. 12 h. 40 m. came on a party of four natives, who immediately decamped, leaving their spears, shields, &c. behind in their haste to escape. Observing a high and somewhat remarkable summit bearing N. 312 E. about 20 miles distant, we steered for it; the country still continued grassy and covered with brushwood, but was more level. At 3 h. 5 m. turned N. to a steep granite hill; at 3h. 30 m. crossed a dry stream bed, 30 yards wide and 15 feet deep, trending to the N.W.; at 4 h. 10 m. halted in a gully in the granite hill, and obtained water by digging among the rocks. Lat. by observation, 28° 34'9"; long. by account, 117° 2' 10".

3rd.-Started at 8 h. 0 m., steering towards the hill seen the previous day, and which now bore N. 307 E. The country was nearly a dead level, with a few small dry stream-beds trending to the S.W.; the soil a red loam, producing brushwood and grass. At 10 h. 50 m. came on an extensive salt marsh or dry lake, which extended to the foot of the hill we were steering towards. At 12 h. 25 m. gained the summit. From this spot the salt marsh appeared to extend about 15 miles to the N.Ê., and a branch to the N.W. In that direction the water appeared to trend in wet seasons, but the dip of the country was so slight as to render it uncertain; to the N. a range of trap hills 5 to 10 miles distant intercepted the view; to the E. the granite hills continued to trend in a northerly direction. Having completed our observations at 2 h. 10 m., started in a direction N. 300° E. along the N.E. foot of a rugged range of trap hills; at 3 h. 50 m. passed a dry lake on the right; and at 5 h. 15 m. bivouacked in a patch of fine oat grass on the side of a trap hill. From the summit of the hill near the bivouac we could see the salt marshes continuing in a N.W. direction. All the hills within 20 miles appeared to be of the trap formation, and therefore gave no prospect of finding any water. Lat. by account, 28° 24' 20"; long. by account,

116° 42' 20".

4th. This morning we held a council, when it was determined that, as the horses had been 24 hours withcut water, and no prospect of obtaining a supply to N. or W. (there having been no rain for more than a month), it would be advisable to return to the well at our last bivouac to refresh; and then, by a westerly course, attempt to make the sources of the Hutt or Arrowsmith river. We accordingly started at 8 h. 10 m., and, after a smart ride of 6 hours, arrived at our bivouac of the 2nd.

At

5th.-Left at 7 h. 20 m. A.M., steering N. 240° E.; at 8 h. 15 m. crossed the large dry stream-bed, which here trends W. 11 h. 0 m. ascended the ridge of trap hills which bounded the valley on the W. At 12 h. 0 m. found a small pool of water in a

gully trending to the W. After this we traversed an acacia thicket, with narrow strips of cypress forest, till 5 h. 50 m., when we bivouacked.

6th. At 6 h. 45 m. A.M. ascended a granite hill, near the top of which we found a native well, where we halted at 7 h. 30 m. At 9 h. 0 m. resumed our journey over granite hills covered with brushwood and cypress, with some patches of good grass. At 11 h. 10 m. passed a native well; then steering W.N.W., crossed three small water-courses, trending to the N.W.; and at 1 h. 15 m. halted in a patch of good grass at the foot of a bare granite hill, on the top of which we found a fine pool of water. Lat. by observation 28° 50′ 51′′; long. by account 116° 29′ 0′′.

we

7th. Started at 7 h. 15m.; steered N. 255° E., through thickets of acacia; at 10 h. 5 m. crossed a narrow strip of salt marsh, which spread into a dry lake to the S. After leaving the lake the country became more grassy, until 11 h. 30 m., when we entered a dense thicket of acacia, cypress, and eucalyptus. The country rose gradually till 4 h. 0 m., and then descended till 5 h. 25 m., when we crossed a small watercourse trending S.

8th.-Leaving our bivouac at 7 h. 0 m. A.M., we steered N. 275° E. At 7 h. 20 m. crossed a rich grassy granite hill; we then turned W.N.W. to a similar hill, where we halted half an hour to look for water; our search being unsuccessful, at 9 h. 30 m. we resumed a westerly course through alternate thickets and grassy gum forests till noon, when the soil changed from red loam to ironstone gravel; the grass disappeared and was replaced by scrub; the country was much broken, and continued to rise till 4 h. 0 m.; it then rapidly descended till 4 h. 30 m., when we struck a small watercourse trending S. Following the stream downwards for half a mile, we found a pool of water and an open patch of grass, and halted for the night, having travelled nearly 50 miles without obtaining water. Lat. by account 28° 58′ 50′′; long. by account 115° 45′ 10′′.

9th. At 7 h. 30 m. resumed a westerly course through a grassy gum forest; at 8 h. 0 m. crossed a large watercourse, trending S., with many shallow pools; at 9 h. 10 m. passed a granite hill, and entered a rich grassy valley timbered with gum and jam-wattle, with a small watercourse trending N.: the ridge on the W. of the valley was destitute of timber, but covered with thickets of acacia and scrub. At 10 h. 0 m. turned N. 305o E., and at 10 h. 35 m. came on the head of a small stream-bed with water in pools; following it to the W.N.W., at 11 h. 30 m. it was joined by a running stream of brackish water, 4 yards wide, from the N.E.; the stream turned S.W. We then left it, and steered W. over an open scrubby country; at 12 h. 30 m. entered a dense thicket of eucalypti and acacia, the soil composed of fragments of granite

VOL. XVIII.

D

and trap-rock; at 1 h. 0m. entered a deep valley by an abrupt descent, and found ourselves again on the bank of the stream, which was now much enlarged, and running through a narrow grassy flat, backed by sandstone cliffs 80 to 100 feet in height. Followed the river W. till 1 h. 55 m., when it turned N.; at 2 h. 30 m. it turned N.W., at 3 h. 5 m. the banks of the stream became very high, and stratified in a singular manner: the thin strata of the lower rocks being inclined and dipping to the E., while the superincumbent red sandstone was nearly horizontal. We entered the bed of the stream, and upon examination two seams of coal were discovered, one about 5 and the other 6 feet in thickness, with several beds of shale and sandstone. Having pitched the tent and tethered the horses, we commenced collecting specimens of the various strata; we succeeded in cutting out 5 or 6 cwt. of coal with a small axe, and, in a short time, had the satisfaction of seeing a fire of Western Australian coal burning cheerfully before the tent.

115° 30′ 30′′.

Lat. by account 28° 57′ 10′′; long. by account

10th. At 7 h. 20 m. followed the river, the general course of which was N. 250° E.; at 7 h. 40 m. crossed to the left bank: the valley became wider and the soil of a much better quality, being formed of decomposed bituminous shale and gypsum, producing luxuriant oat and rye-grass; at 9 h. 10 m. crossed to the right bank, and steered N. 220° E., to an abrupt headland on the N. side of the valley, about two miles wide; the soil a stiff brown loam, with rounded fragments of granite, quartz rock resembling burrstone, and flinty trap; the grass was much improved, being principally of perennial species. At 9 h. 50 m. halted on the top of the hill for 20 minutes, and then turned N. 200o E.; at 11 h. 15 m. again crossed to the S. bank, and then changed the course to N. 235° E., the grassy flats extended nearly 2 miles back from the river; at 11 h. 55 m. ascended a sandy ridge with a few gumtrees on the summit; the valley now narrowed considerably, the flats averaging half a mile in width, and backed by elevated sandy downs, producing short scrub and grass. The course of the river was now about N. 230° E.; at 1 h. 35 m. we ascended a remarkable red sandstone hill, with a table summit and steep rocks on all sides; it nearly blocked up the valley. At 2 h. 15 m. left the hill, steering a general course of N. 242o E. along the river; at 4 h. 5 m. bivouacked in a rich grassy flat, thinly timbered with a white-stemmed species of eucalyptus. Lat. by observation 29° 10′ 42′′; long. by account 115° 15′ 15′′.

11th. Started at 7 h. 40 m. A.M., and steering N. 240° E., crossed the river, and at 7 h. 55 m. left the grassy flat, and crossing undulating sandy downs halted at 8 h. 45 m. to ascend a steep red sandstone hill, or rather cliff, from the top of which we had a