343 JOURNEY or discovery into 



that time did not admit of my making some further examination of 

 Fitzgerald Inlet, amongst the precipitous rocky glens of which it 

 seemed yerj probable that coal might even yet be found near tlie sur- 

 face on further examination, with the assistance of a boat. 



Proceeding south from our camp of 28th and 29th of December, the 

 Fitzgerald was crossed at our former ford at the end of three-quarters 

 of a mile, and we then entered on an extensive level flat of excellent 

 kangaroo-grass, which had afforded our horses both rich and abundant 

 food. Beyond this we emerged from the valley of the river by ascend- 

 ing one of its tributaries coming from the westward, where the country 

 was exceedingly rough, steep, and rocky, covered with coarse stunted 

 scrub, and difficult of access. Further to the south it appeared even 

 worse. 



At the end of five miles we crossed over a poor sandy ridge at the 

 source of this branch, and then crossed two others belonging to a dif- 

 ferent stream, which seemed to have its exit to the sea by a break m 

 the coast-hills three or four miles to the southward ; the country 

 around extremely rocky, rugged, and scrubby. In the westernmost of 

 these branches we crossed a briny salt stream, in pools, at foot of some 

 well-defined yellow and brown sandstone cliffs, commencing eighty or 

 ninety feet below the general surface of the country above. Salt was 

 encrusted upon them, and had oozed out between the layers- 



In three miles more, over open gravelly sand-plains, covered with 

 low heathy vegetation, we were passing a mile to the N.W. of the re- 

 markable double-topped summit of Mount Bland, and both here and at 

 the adjoining hill. West Mount Ban-en, observed a remarkable change 

 in the character of the vegetation. Many plants and shrubs long lost 

 sight of, here re-appeared under the protection of the hills. Mr, Drum- 

 mpnd's new Hakea Victoria especially seemed to be perfectly at home, 

 in all its splendid magnificence ; and we felt another stage had been 

 accomplished in our journey by the re-appearance of the " Mungart, 

 or Honey-bearing Baulsia, so prized by the natives during its flowering 

 season. 



West Mount Barren being passed on its north side, we were de- 

 scending from a shoulder about half a mile westward of its western 

 base, when shales were again met with, lying as before, W. 25° S., and 

 vice versa, and dipping south-eastward at an angle of 5^ or 10'' from 

 the vertical. They were extensive, and seemed to traverse the Mount 



