310 Account of the Xeio Colony of Western Australia. [Oct. 



descend, and the air gradually becomes cooler. During the winter 

 the winds from the north-west and south-west are sometimes very 

 boisterous ; two or three gales occur in each winter, and are so violent 

 at times as to drive ships which happen to be in Gage's roads from their 

 anchors. However, no such accidents have occurred in the harbour 

 of Cockburn Sound, where ships ride in great safety at all seasons. 

 The sky in summer is clear and of a beautiful azure, without cloud, 

 and with very little rain ; moderate dews descend after sunset. As 

 the autumn approaches, the weather becomes less serene ; the sky is 

 occasionally darkened with clouds, and lightning and thunder with 

 heavy showers occur. These rains are in sudden heavy showers, with 

 intervals of fair weather and sunshine. As they come after a long 

 scorching summer they are very acceptable and beneficial, for they 

 mitigate the excessive heat of the air, and, softening the sun-burnt 

 earth, render it capable of being cultivated. In winter it rains for the 

 most part of two or three days together, then an interval of eight or 

 ten days of fine weather takes place. In damp weather a fog is seen 

 occasionally of a morning or evening rising from the valleys and bor- 

 ders of the rivers, and ascending to the high grounds. Hail of a large 

 size, about an inch in diameter, is sometimes mixed with the rain ; 

 snow has not been seen once, and ice is rare, being only seen out of 

 doors a few times in the morning during the winter ; it soon disappears 

 after sun rise. A fire is agreeable morning and evening in the winter 

 and in wet weather, but on the whole rather a luxury than an absolute 

 want. The winter is a season of flowers ; the beautiful Metrosideras, 

 Styphelea, Hibbertia, a sweet scented little plant, called May, Oxylobi- 

 um, and others, bloom at this season; and, as the spring advances, a 

 profusion of others succeed, amongst which the Anigozanthos, Kenne* 

 dyctf Uakea, Hovea, Helichrysum, Orchidea, Drosera, and Thysanotus 

 j'uncus, or fringed violet, are conspicuous. The latter part of the 

 spring is significantly termed by the natives, the " season of the yellow 

 flowers," the meadows being enamelled with flowers of all colours, but 

 the yellow predominating to a great degree. 



Adjoining the Swan River district, and eastward of the Darling range 

 of mountains, is an extensive tract of fine pasture land ; the part at 

 present settled is called Yorkshire ; it is a cheerful country, well wa- 

 tered, covered with a short close herbage, free from underwood, and 

 thinly timbered, and having a soil fit for raising all sorts of grain suita- 

 ble to the climate. The merino and other breeds of sheep thrive well 

 here j some of the wool has already been sent home, and brought a 



