sisting, for a long
period, the usual atmospheric causes of decay. The painting which
appeared to me to have been the longest executed was the one clothed in
the long red dress, but I came to this conclusion solely from its state
of decay and dilapidation, and these may possibly have misled me very
much; but, whatever may have been the age of these paintings, it is
scarcely probable that they could have been executed by a self-taught
savage. Their origin therefore I think must still be open to conjecture.

But the art and skill with which some of the figures are drawn, and the
great effect which has been produced by such simple means, renders it
most probable that these paintings must have been executed with the
intention of exercising an influence upon the fears and superstitious
feelings of the ignorant and barbarous natives: for such a purpose they
are indeed well calculated; and I think that an attentive examination of
the arrangement of the figures we first discovered, more particularly of
that one over the entrance of the cave, will tend considerably to bear
out the conclusion I have here advanced.

SINGULARITY REGARDING THEM.

It is a singularity worthy of remark that the drawings we found in the
vicinity of the coast were nothing but the rudest scratches; that they
gradually improved until we reached the farthest point we attained from
the sea; and that it was in the vicinity of this point that some of the
best productions were found.

CHAPTER 12. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. COMMERCIAL PROSPECTS.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. MOUNTAIN RANGES.

The most remarkable geographical feature in North-Western Australia is a
high range of mountains running north-north-east and south-south-west,
named by me Stephen's Range after James Stephen, Esquire, Under-Secretary
of State for the Colonies. From this primary range several branches are
thrown off: 1. One between Roe's River on the north and Prince Regent's
River on the south. 2. Macdonald's Range that throws off streams to
Prince Regent's River on the north and to Glenelg River on the south. 3.
Whateley's Range which gives forth streams to Glenelg River on the north,
and to the low country behind Collier's Bay and Dampier's Land on the
south.

These branch ranges as well as the principal one are all composed of
ancient sandstone, deposited in nearly horizontal strata, or of basaltic
rocks which are only visible in certain places, and are most fully
developed in that part of St