west-south-west; but it extends far
more to the north, and breaks, I presume, in bad weather. The reefs
extend also a great way to the westward of this point. We anchored about
half a mile from the shore in seven fathoms water, and about three miles
from the head of the bay. The soundings are exceedingly even for five
miles, carrying seven fathoms, never varying: just before, we carried
four and five, when, I think, we passed over the reef, which appears to
me to join the main at that distance from the south-west point. The beach
does not show the least sign of any sea. Found two posts stuck up in it.
I consider this bay an excellent anchorage during summer; and, I think,
from the appearance of the beach, it must be safe in winter.)

SEA VIEW OF AUSTRALIND. APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY.

To the south of the tongue of land which forms the bay there is also
another bay, which would be completely sheltered from all northerly winds
so as to combine between the two bays perfect shelter at all seasons of
the year. From the deck of the schooner where she lay we had a view of
the entire slope of ground from the beach to the top of the range, about
five or six miles distant. The range seems to consist of isolated hills
rising from an elevated plain. Judging by the eye at that distance, the
entire space as far as we had any opportunity of seeing, after going a
little way back from the coast, on the slope to the hills, upon the
hills, among the hills, beyond the hills, and, in short, everywhere, as
far as the eye could discern, appeared a grassy country, thinly sprinkled
with some low trees or shrubs, perhaps the acacia. If this be the case,
and that there be water sufficient, of which there is no reason to doubt,
this may certainly turn out to be the finest district for sheep pasture
that this colony can possess. What may be the breadth of this district,
how far it may extend into the interior, of course nothing can be known
or said; but from what I have now seen, and from what Captain Grey has
seen on a former occasion, there is little doubt that it extends north
and south from the northern part of the Menai Hills as far south as the
River Arrowsmith, a distance of more than 80 miles. To the south of that
river comes the range of hills which Captain Grey has called Gairdner's
Range, and which is supposed to be the northern termination of the
Darling Range; if so it is very probable that, by keeping on the east
side of the Darling