INTERIOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 241 



three descriptions* of Pines, indigenous to this colony, with cones at- 

 tached, labelled ; also a few other specimens, and some seeds. Among 

 the latter is a parcel of Bahama cotton-seed, and a specimen of the 

 cotton, that its value may, if necessary, be compared. I was induced 

 to do this, from reading Grovernor J. J. Hill's Eeport of Cotton on the 

 (rold Coast, published in the 'Blue Book,' laid before Parliament in 

 1833 by Her Majesty's command, with the annual reports of the go- 

 vernors of the British Colonies for 1852, page 197. The American 

 cotton was originally obtained from seeds of cotton-plants grown in the 

 Bahamas; and possibly the seed might equally be adapted for Africa. 

 Here it is a perennial plant, and I think it most probable it would not 

 be liable to the same objections as the Ashantee, or Long- stapled 

 Cotton, referred to by Mr. Freeman in the document accompanying 

 Governor Hill's report, of not bearing the second year. The cotton- 

 seed now sent is taken from plants that have been in bearing for the 

 last six years. It would be curious if, while the Bahamas have ceased, 

 for any commercial purpose, to produce cotton, they may be hcreafler 

 traced as having given this important seed to two continents. I have 

 little doubt but that the successful culture of cotton in Africa would 

 do as much to put down the slave-trade there, as it has assisted in sup- 

 porting slavery In America. 



Report of a Journey of Discover'^ «/fo the Interior o/* Western 

 Australia, hetween Wt September, 1848, and Zrd February, 1849; 

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



{Continued from p. 217.) 



fide 



seen, and feasted our eyes on the broad sheet before us, which was cal- 

 culated to prove of such important benefit to the colony, we took away 

 as much of the coal as could be conveniently carried on our jaded 

 horses, and moved away to where Bob remembered to have drunk 

 fresh water from a well, amongst good feed for the horses. In one 

 mile E. by N. we reached it, and were afforded another proof of the 

 unerring memory and instinctive sagacity of the aboriginal native, in 



♦ The three speciraena seem to be mere varietica of one and the «ame species. 

 The leaves much resemble those of Finus aMtralts: but the conci arc like ihote of 

 P. tada, to which I wouU refer it.— En. 



VOL. VI. . ^ ' 



