25^ Account of Peron's Peninsula. 



It appears by the latter account, " that although the shores of 

 this Peninsula are sterile, yet it was remarked that at short dis- 

 tances there were vallies where the vegetation was magnificent / 

 and that the human species seemed to be pleased with these fa- 

 voured spots, as there were a great number of natives' huts, one of 

 which was very spacious." . 



" Point Guichenot is, in particular, as well as the shores in its 

 vicinity, covered by a multitude of trees, of which the verdure and 

 the dimensions announce a vigorous and active vegetation. Little 

 interior salt lakes communicate with the sea in this place, (proba- 

 bly similar to our " Backwaters" in Malabar,) and render this spot 

 truly enchanting." Birds of a great number of species, appear to 

 delight so much in this solitude, that when the French arrived, 

 the trees, the ponds, and even the points of land, were all covered 

 with them ; but the presence of men soon frightened them away, 

 for on another visit none were to be seen. " In fact, extinct fires, 

 natives' footsteps, certain proofs of the recent presence of dogs, and 

 several other kinds of quadrupeds, informed them of the motives of 

 their flight." 



Capes Rose and Roland are similar in profile, each to the ap- 

 pearance of an angle of a bastion ; and from the latter cape to 

 Point Shoals the coast resembles a line of fortifications, the cliffs 

 descending in a slope to the shore at an angle of 45 degrees. The 

 upper surface is a calcareous rock, a mixture of grit stone and pe- 

 trified shells. The rocks of the whole peninsula are of this calca- 

 reous and shelly sandstone, and may be available for the purposes 

 of building. There is also clay for Ibrick-making, and the myriads 

 of sea-shells afford an inexhaustible supply for burning into capital 

 lime. 



" The breadth of the peninsula at the north-west end, from Point 

 Shoals to Cape Lesueur, is twelve miles." 



The north-west coast of the peninsula, like that of the east, is 

 composed of sand-hills eighty feet high, of a red colour, peaked and 

 intermixed with grit stone. A few wretched plants spring from 

 the soil, but in several places vegetation appears with greater vi- 

 gour, and furnishes more abundant productions. 



Several ponds of salt water, in general of a circular form, occupy 

 a part of the surface, and salt was found on the margin of the pond 

 nearest to the observatory. A haven, named Monthazin, exten- 

 sive in length and tolerably spacious, but so much encumbered 

 Avith sand-banks, (or supposed to be,) that it seemed doubtful whe- 

 ther a boat could navigate it, reaches to the ponds- It was ascer- 

 tained, during an excursion in search of the natives, that this great 

 sheet of water communicated with the sea. 



It is from a rough sketch by M. Gabert, that the ponds and ha- 

 ven of Montbazin have been traced in the map ; but as he had no 

 instruments, the shape of these waters, and particularly the place 

 of their embouchure, is doubtful. This creek is, however, a very 



