52 AN INLAND LAKE. 



the great Australian Bight that these natives have 

 heard of, for none we met in Western Australia pre- 

 tended to have seen it ? They derive their infor- 

 mation from the eastern tribes, and under such 

 circumstances it must at least be considered ex- 

 tremely vague.* 



The Surveyor-General had lately returned from 

 an exploring journey to the eastward of the capital, 

 and reported that there existed no reasonable pro- 

 bability of extending the colony in that direction : 

 he strongly recommended us to proceed at once to 

 the north-west coast, and return again to Swan 

 River to recruit ; saying that we should find the 

 heat there too great to remain for a longer period. 

 This course Captain Wickham, after due delibera- 

 tion, resolved to adopt, and accordingly all the 

 stores, not absolutely required, were forthwith 

 landed, and the ship made in every respect as airy 

 as possible. The 25th November was fixed for our 

 departure, when most unfortunately Captain Wick- 

 ham, while on his way to Perth, was attacked with 

 a severe dysentery, and continued so ill that he 

 could not be brought to the ship till the end of 

 December. The most that could be efi"ected was 

 done to improve this unavoidable delay ; and our 



* This much talked of lake, which it was the assumed labour 

 of a life to circumambulate, was discovered in January 1843, by 

 Messrs. Landor and Lefroy,who found it about 100 miles S.S.E. 

 from Beverley. It is quite salt, called Danibeling, and about 

 fifteen miles long by seven and a half broad ! 



