1837.] Account of the New Colony of Western Australia. 300 



the most part ; in some places called the " flats" it is difficult at low- 

 water to get a boat over ; the Swan is however navigable to vessels 

 carrying three or four tons as far as Perth, that is, about twelve miles 

 from the coast ; the banks vary alternately on each side into hilly 

 points and extensive flats, and are either sandy, alluvial or loamy, ac- 

 cording to the tract of country they pass through. They are studded 

 by trees, but neither the height of the banks, nor the number of trees, 

 shade the water from free exposure to the sun and winds. Shoals of fish 

 occasionally come up these rivers from the sea, and periodical floods 

 occur after heavy rains, which overflow the banks and leave a deposit 

 of alluvium on the low grounds ; such a circumstance occurred 

 in the winter of 1830. The fallen trees and stumps contribute much to 

 increase these floods. Fresh water lagoons are numerous ; there are 

 also some containing salt water. 



The water of the wells is abundant, and has the taste, odour, and 

 transparence of the most perfect kind ; it sparkles in the glass, and is 

 found to answer to the utmost for all domestic purposes. It boils with- 

 out leaving a sediment ; is easily digested, excites the appetite, and 

 may be drank freely without relaxing the stomach. 



In the early period of the colony, there was some difficulty in finding 

 good water along the coast, and in some other situations, but it was af- 

 terwards ascertained that it arose from the wells not having been made 

 sufficiently deep. The water of some of the wells has still a darkish 

 appearance, from not being properly cleared of roots of trees and 

 other vegetable matter; in some places the water is impregnated 

 with iron. In the government garden at Perth, there is a chalybeate 

 spring which has been found useful in cases where a mild tonic is 

 required. A small quantity of carbonic acid, carbonate of iron, and of 

 muriate of soda, were found by analysis in this water ; but I had not the 

 means of ascertaining the exact proportions. 



The strongst winds are from the north-west ; the next in force from 

 the south-west : the north wind is the hottest, and if long continued 

 during the summer (which rarely happens) shrivels up vegetables and 

 destroys their tender shoots. During the summer months there is a 

 regular land and sea breeze, almost daily ; the former of a morning 

 from the east and north-east, the latter sets in about noon from the 

 south and south-west; these winds render the intense heat of the sun 

 less inconvenient and dangerous ; the nights are cool, and the mornings 

 and evenings agreeable. About 2 p. m. the thermometer begins to 



