Page:Journals of Several Expeditions Made in Western Australia.djvu/241

 most kinds of grain, except beans; it is thinly covered with grassy, but of a good kind. In the afternoon, we travelled in a southerly direction up the stream, the land continues to improve, and some very nice farms may be found; it lies remarkably well for draining. The whole of this land is lightly wooded; a species of gum and green wattle are the kinds which prevail most; here and there is to be seen the sandal wood tree. We halted by a small stream for the night. Our evenings have been very agreeably spent.

Oct. 28th.—Up early as usual. After breakfast walked to the foot of Mount Bakewell—this mount is remarkable on account of its peak and height. The best soil I have seen since I left England is about the base of this hill; the grass, also, is truly good and thick set. The land walked over this morning is of excellent quality, generally speaking, very nicely situated, and well suited for grazing and agricultural purposes; it may be very easily drained, and will not require any very great draught to turn up the soil. I think this district cannot be properly called loamy, that term implying, unctuous, or marly ground; the soil here is rather light than otherwise, inclining to sand more than clay—some would call it a sandy loam, but how far correct I am not able to determine. I think the best way to describe it is to compare it with land you and my friends are acquainted with in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. It is similar to good wold land, with this exception, it has got the granite pebble instead of the chalk or flint one; land impregnated with granite is generally good, whilst that with ironstone in it is the reverse, at least I think so, from the observations I have made. On arriving at the foot of this hill we began to ascend; it is very steep in some places, and required a good deal of energy and resolution to reach the top; however, when we got there we were not disappointed, but amply repaid for our labour. To the W. and N.W. we had a most beautiful and extensive view, hill above hill in almost endless succession till they are lost in the clouds,the smoke of a native fire at some distance—indeed there is a very romantic and delightful prospect all around except to the N.E. S. and