191 7-] Dirk Hartug Island and Peron Peninsula. 5G9 



higher than those from Carnarvon, which is 120 miles farther 

 north. The township of Denhara (formerly called Fresh- 

 water Camp), situated on the mid- west coast of Peron 

 peninsula, is the " hub" of Shark's Bay, and has a population 

 of about 200, mostly coloured, and engaged in pearling. 



The vegetation of the Peron peninsula is mostly scrub, of 

 different species from those growing on Dirk Hartog Island, 

 where some of the bushes (more particularly one large 

 species of Wattle) seem peculiar to that island. The growth 

 on the Peron is generally denser, taller, and of harder wood 

 than on the island, and there is much country through 

 "which it is very difficult to force one's way, either on foot or 

 riding. There is a considerable area of country in both the 

 above localities, where various species of the prickly Spinifex 

 {Triodia\ or Porcupine grass, grow in large bunches, which 

 sometimes attain a height of four feet and are many yards 

 in diameter. The main features of both these localities are 

 loose sand (either white or red) and ranges of sand-hills, 

 which, combined with the scrub and the heat radiating from 

 the sand, in the hollows sheltered from the wind, makes a 

 long tramp somewhat tiring work, unless it is immediately 

 after a heavy shower of rain, which consolidates the sand 

 for a day or two. An immense "drift" of white sand has 

 moved right across the island from the west coast to the 

 east, and appears to be continually spreading and enlarging 

 its area. There are some mangrove lagoons on the Peron, 

 one of which is of considerable size, and winds many miles 

 inland, but there ai'e none on Dirk Hartog Island. The 

 Peron resembles the island in having no fresh-water courses 

 or pools, and no timber ; and it may be mentioned tiiat while 

 I was there last October, a resident of Denham was riding 

 across to the eastern side of the peninsula, when he was 

 thrown by his horse, sustained a fractured thigh, and after 

 painfully dragging himself along the sandy road about two 

 miles back towards the township, in the space of three days 

 (as is proved by the note-book found on his dead body), 

 he died from thirst. 



Sliark's Bay is much isolated from the mainland, stores and 



