42 



JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO 



no other genus, so far as I know. The best Caraipe is afforded by 

 species growing in rich, dryish soil ; those of the low sandy forests, and 

 of the gapo, containing only a small proportion of silex in the bark. 

 The Indians test Caraipe by burning it ; and if, when burnt, it cannot 

 be broken by the fingers, l:)ut requires the use of a mortar, it is considered 

 good. In the best sorts, the silex can be seen by the naked eye, filling up 

 the vessels of the bark. On the Uaupes and Guainia, utensils of immense 

 size, such as stills and coppers, are made of clay mixed with Caraipe. 



{To he continued.) 



Report of a Journey op Discovery into the Interior of Western 

 Australia, letween Wt September, 1848, and Brd February, 1849; 

 by J. S. EoE, Esq., Surveyor-General. 



Our Botanical Journal, under whatever title it has appeared, has in- 

 cluded a great deal of valuable information relating to Australia and 

 the first geographical discoveries in various parts of that colony. In 

 the 'Botanical Miscellany,' volume 1, published in 1830, at p. 231 et 

 seq., we were privileged to publish the Eeport of Mr. Charles Fraser, 

 the Colonial Botanist in New South Wales, who had been sent to in- 

 vestigate, some years previously, the nature and capabilities of Swan 

 River for a settlement in Western Australia. The result of his explo- 

 ration was summed up by that naturalist and traveller in the following 

 words :— " The advantages, above those of New South Wales, which 

 this country holds out to settlers, besides the important cii-cumstance 

 of its vicinity to India, the Spice Islands, Java, Mauritius, and the Cape 

 of Good Hope, and independent of its situation as a place of call for 

 East India and China ships, are— in the first place, the great ease 

 with which a settler can bring his land into cultivation ; secondly, the 

 facmty with which he can convey his produce to market, either by land 

 or water, the coast being of easy access on any part near the river, 

 and no impediments existing in the interior ; thirdly, the great abund- 

 ^ce of fresh water, of the best quality,— an advantage which New South 

 Wales, east of the Blue Mountains, does not possess, excepting on the 

 immediate banks of the rivers and creeks ; fourthly, the prevalence of 

 Imiestone." When this country soon after came to be settled, the 

 most gloomy forebodings, with respect to its future prosperity, owing, 



