190 RAMBLES TO CHAMPION BAY 



Until this day we had not met with any iguanas, 

 although it was known that those reptiles inhabit all 

 this part of Australia. But on the 8th several were seen 

 and shot, as they are excellent food. They were small, 

 however, none of them three feet long. According to 

 works on natural history, these reptiles favour marshes 

 and wet localities for their haunts. Here, however, they 

 are found quite as often in dry, arid situations, which are 

 miles away from water ; yet there is no doubt they are 

 aquatic in their general habits. They swim gracefully and 

 well, and can run on dry land with great rapidity. But 

 the iguanas and other creatures seen during the remainder 

 of this ramble must have a chapter devoted to their 

 description. For they are so many in number that I 

 feel I must omit mention of some of the most interesting 

 if I pause to describe them at the moment of finding 

 them. 



The time had now arrived when it was necessary to 

 decide on a homeward course. I supposed our position 

 to be about 300 miles from the coast, almost abreast of 

 Champion Bay, and I had the choice of returning to the 

 Swan River district or turning due west for Geraldion. 

 The latter seemed to be the wisest and safest route to 

 now take ; for the stores were running short, and to return 

 to Perth would compel us to again pass through a trying, 

 if not a dangerous country. I quickly decided for Champion 

 Bay and Port Grey, and on the 9th May we turned our 

 horses' heads due west. 



The day broke overcast and cloudy, and a cold drizzling 

 rain set in and lasted till noon. At that hour a strong 

 wind began to blow straight in our faces, and although 

 this drove back the clouds and we had a bright afternoon 

 we all felt the cold acutely. 



Two small parties of natives were seen during the day, 

 but neither of them came near us. One lot, consisting of 

 three men and two women with children, had a couple of 

 dogs with them ; and I have forgotten to mention that 

 some of the parties previously met with had a dingo or 

 two following them. Neither of these parties came up to 



