Page:Journals of Several Expeditions Made in Western Australia.djvu/240

 two kangaroos of the large kind, which are properly called forest kangaroos, and a small one of another kind, called the mountain kangaroo; some bad travelling ahout here, but suppose it might be avoided by keeping in or near the valleys. We saw many white cockatoos to-day; this bird is very wholesome food. A traveller may, in general, conclude he is not far from water when many of these birds are to be seen; we also observed they were most numerous on the best lands. The white cockatoo appears to live on what it takes from the ground, whether insects or roots, I am not able to say. The black kind live on the buds of large trees and shrubs. About 12 o'clock, we made the river, and were in some measure disappointed. At the time it was discovered by Messrs. Dale and Brockman, it would be from one hundred to two hundred yards across in some places, marks of inundation being discoverable to that extent; in other parts thirty, forty, or sixty yards wide, with rather high banks. When this circumstance is taken into consideration, it was in the midst of the rainy season, Messrs. Dale and Brockman are very excusable for taking it for a river. The rainy season being over, the floods have subsided, and the true course of the stream or streams may be distinctly seen; where the waters prevailed most, at the period mentioned before, may now be discovered alluvial flats, well covered with grass, and admirably suited for grazing cattle in the hot months. Where the course of the water was most contracted in the rainy season, at present there is as fine a river, to all appearance, for half a mile together, as any one can wish to see; the fact is, these appearances of a river, are large reservoirs or ponds, made by the tremendous rush of waters from the hills at that period. I am of opinion this strong mountain stream falls into a river northward. Though our hopes of inland navigation are cut of from this place, yet this stream will be of infinite advantage to the district, yielding an abundant supply of excellent water for man and beast all the year. I felt rather disappointed in the quality of the land, in descending from the hills to the stream, which would be between two and three miles; at the same time it is land that may be made to produce