thrive upon
the food there produced, but we found goats did not answer so well.

The richest land in this part of the country is found in the valleys of
the second class. The streams flowing through these valleys have
generally almost imperceptible currents and often form wide reaches. The
land upon their margins is thinly wooded; and I have often seen exposed
fine vegetable mould of ten or twelve feet in thickness, through which
these streams had worn their way. Good examples of this kind of valley
are those through which run the Fitzroy and Glenelg rivers.

The northern banks of Prince Regent's River I conceive to offer no
inducement whatever for the formation of a settlement, the whole of the
country in that direction, as far as I have seen, consisting entirely of
sandstone ridges. These ridges are continually intersected by valleys, or
rather ravines of great fertility, but they are so narrow, and the good
land contained in them is so very limited in extent, that from the first
moment of the establishment of a colony here the individuals composing it
must necessarily be scattered over a large space of country. They would
thus be separated from one another by considerable intervals, which
separation would not only render them more liable to disagreements with
the natives, but would for many other reasons be highly detrimental to
the interests of an infant colony.

The same objection holds good with regard to the south bank of this
river, as far as the longitude of 125 degrees 3 minutes east, and even
after passing this point the land immediately bordering the river is of
the same sterile character; however a creek which trends nearly south
runs up from thence into one of the most fertile countries I have ever
seen.

HARBOURS.

The coastline to the south of Prince Regent's River is indented, as shown
upon Captain King's chart, by numerous deep bays, many of which afford
excellent anchorage; indeed I believe that there is no other part of the
world in which an example occurs of three such fine harbours as Port
George the Fourth, Hanover Bay, and Camden Sound, lying so close to one
another.

These harbours alone render this a point of considerable consequence to
Great Britain; but when viewed in connexion with the fine tract of
country lying behind them its importance is very materially increased.

COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGES.

Should this part of Australia be found eligible for colonization its
commercial importanc