Page:Journals of Several Expeditions Made in Western Australia.djvu/44

 Between the first and second the following bearings were taken. The most westerly peak of Porrongor-up N.E., distant about twelve miles the Churin to the eastward of the peak N.E. by E. At eleven o'clock we crossed a mountain stream running to the south-eastward, through a valley where the land began to improve and the banksia and other plants common to a sterile soil, to disappear. At six o'clock we halted for the night on the banks of a limpid mountain-stream, running south westerly through a valley, the land of which would not suffer much by comparison with the best on the banks of the celebrated Swan. It must be confessed, however, that the rich alluvial soil is of no great breadth, yet the fine sheep walks by the gently swelling, lightly wooded adjacent hills, might compensate in some degree for that deficiency.

On Friday morning we directed our course N.W. by W.; passed through a country beautifully diversified by moderately elevated hills, and fertile verdant valleys, adorned and enriched by streams of the purest water. About nine o'clock we proceeded eastward to gain the summit of a hill seen in that direction, for the purpose of obtaining a panoramic view of the surrounding country. A connected cluster of small hills was noticed, turning from E. by N. to N.W.; the westward peak of Porrongor-up bore E. half S., and the westerly point of Morril-up range N.E by E. Having left this, we resumed our course, and passed over a tract (about eight miles) of very indifferent, or rather vary barren country; we then arrived at a swampy flat, where, being abundance of good water, we halted for a short time. Departing from thence, and altering our course a little more to the north-ward, a rich and romantic country soon burst into