Page:Journals of Several Expeditions Made in Western Australia.djvu/71

 shore, expecting to see some entrance to the lagoon we had left, but could discover no traces of one. Arrived at Port Leschenault at half-past 8. After giving the boat's crews some refreshment, we proceeded in one boat to examine the port, and left the other with Mr. Cudlip, to pitch the tents, dig for water, prepare dinner, &c. About two miles and a half up we discovered a river flowing over a shallow to the estuary, and immediately made for it. Every one was obliged to get out and track the boat over a short distance, when the water became deep and very little salt. Good land appeared on both banks; and we were soon among the natives, who testified the greatest and most friendly eagerness to be allowed to approach us. There are two mouths to the river, with a low sandy island between them and the one we entered; the western-most was afterwards found the least shallow. A second island is formed in the river, not a mile up, and the water rather shallow, affording a good crossing place for the natives. About half a mile above this, the water being perfectly fresh, we filled our barricoes, and soon had our native friends around us. On returning, between thirty and forty had assembled on the banks, and ran to the shallows at the mouth, where they closely surrounded us, carrying green boughs, and without any weapons of offence or defence. The soil which we saw, and productions on both sides of the river as far as we saw—and there was a long and wide reach beyond where we stopped—seemed good and luxuriant, except on one or two heights, where the sand predominated so much as only to support a few shrubs, banksias, and a few eycalipti. The head, which runs out to the westward of the entrance, is bare of trees but covered with shrubs and a little grass, and