FREEMANTLE. 51 



in a day,'* is but a collection of low white houses 

 scattered over the scarce whiter sand. The only con- 

 spicuous landmark visible in approaching the ancho- 

 rage is the Jail : rather a singular pharos for a 

 settlement in Australia, which boasts its uncon- 

 tarainated state. This building I afterwards induced 

 the Governor to have white-washed, and it now 

 forms an excellent mark to point out the river, as 

 well as the town.* 



Shortly after our arrival, I was introduced to the 

 Governor, Sir James Stirling ; he, and all those 

 here best qualified to judge, joined in regretting 

 that Lieutenant Grey had not decided to come on 

 with us. The accounts we heard of the country 

 and the natives gave us every reason to entertain 

 but slender hopes of his success. Sir James and 

 Mr. Roe, the Surveyor-General, appeared to coin- 

 cide with the general opinion that a large inland 

 lake will ultimately be discovered. They had ques- 

 tioned many of the natives about it, who all as- 

 serted its existence, and pointed in a south-easterly 

 direction to indicate its position. Their notions of 

 distance are, to say the least, exceedingly rude ; 

 with them every thing is " far away, far away." 

 The size of this water the natives describe by 

 saying, that if a boy commenced walking round it, 

 by the time he finished his task he would have 

 become an old man ! After all may not this be 



* A large patcli of white sand, on the coast, about three 

 miles to the northward of Swan River, also serves as a landmark. 



E 2 



