Page:Journals of Several Expeditions Made in Western Australia.djvu/247

 November 4th.— After breakfast we crossed the stream, walked over valley, found another rivulet, ascended a high hill; from this eminence we had a view of Mount Bakewell, hearing N. twelve miles off; it is all hill and dale in the intermediate space, with every appearance of good land. The native grasses in this part are very good, and grow very strong; some of them are a yard in length; but where they are very long, it must be observed, they are thinly planted in general. About 11 o'clock we halted, and after dinner Mr. Clarkson, Mr. Crawfield, and myself, crossed the stream, with the intention of examining the land some miles distant, but in this we were disappointed by a heavy rain; however, what we did see amply repaid us for our labour.

November 5th.—Gunpowder-plot. Arose before 5 o'clock, breakfasted, and bent our course home due W. Our stock of provisions being rather low, we could not spend more time in examining the country; the first five miles after leaving the stream was very hilly, but the land good, with huge pieces of granite rock here and there. The land in the vicinity of this place is well watered; even in the tops of some of the highest hills, water may be had all the year round. Plenty of stone may be procured for the purposes of building houses, out-houses, and fences. There are no large trees on the good land, but plenty of black or green wattle, which gives it a very pleasing and picturesque appearance; there is also a species of gum; these two kinds of wood will do very well for the farmer at first, and there is plenty of mahogany and some red gum, within a few miles. The limestone ridge opposite Mount Bakewell, will also be of very great service to this part if no other can be found nearer. The good native grasses of Western Australia, to the amount of half a dozen or more, I should not know from good English grasses, were it not for the knowledge I have of the distance that separates the two countries. I frankly confess that I am a novice in botany, and botanical phrases, or I would have given you the proper names of each of these grasses: however, I have vanity enough to suppose I know what kinds of grass are suitable for sheep and cattle; and I give it as my opinion, that the before-mentioned grasses