Page:Journals of Several Expeditions Made in Western Australia.djvu/32

 marl; of a nature I think well calculated for making bricks; this extended about a mile; it then continued sandy with gravelly patches, till approaching the base of the mountains, where the surface is entirely covered with coarse gravel and loose stones.

June 28th.—At 7, a.m. ascended the summit of a mountain 1000 feet in height, for the purpose of obtaining a more extensive view of the surrounding country, but the density of the atmosphere was so great, that objects were only visible a few miles to the westward, where little of interest presented itself; and to the eastward nothing was discernible but a succession of lofty mountains, covered with trees. At nine, descended to the river, and passed to the left bank, and in our progress along its course to the northward, we were soon gratified by finding good red soil, which continued (with an occasional mixture of sand) for about five miles. The river then divided into two branches, and the ground became swampy; crossed the western and lesser stream, and endeavoured to follow the course of the principal one, which tended more to the northward, but we were shortly interrupted by a deep, reedy swamp, which forced us to pursue our course more to the westward, and in doing which we lost sight of the river altogether; but after a few miles' walk over good soil and through several small swamps, we found it again, but so much reduced by passing through and inundating an extent of low marshy ground, that we were induced to cross to the northward, and proceed direct to the mountains, two miles distant, to be fully satisfied that it had not branched off in that direction. But observing, from the top of a hill, water N. by W. advanced in that bearing about 4 miles, over a sandy surface, and bivouaced on rising ground in the vicinity of a