246 ADAPTATION OP THIS PART OF 
From the above account it would appear that a spot has, 
at length, been found upon the south coast of New Holland, 
to which the colonist might venture with every prospect of 
success, and in whose valleys the exile might hope to build 
for himself and for his family a peaceful and prosperous 
home. All who have ever landed upon the eastern shore of 
St. Vincent’s Gulf, agree as to the richness of its soil, and 
the abundance of its pasture. Indeed, if we cast our eyes 
upon the chart, and examine the natural features of the 
country behind Cape Jervis, we shall no longer wonder at 
its differing in soil and fertility from the low and sandy 
tracks that generally prevail along the shores of Australia. 
Without entering largely into the consideration of the more 
remote advantages that would, in all human probability, re- 
sult from the establishment of a colony, rather than a penal 
settlement, at St. Vincent’s Gulf, it will be expedient to 
glance hastily over the preceding narrative, and, disengaging 
it from all extraneous matter, to condense, as much as possi- 
ble, the information it contains respecting the country itself ; 
for I have been unable to introduce any passing remark, 
lest I should break the thread of an interesting detail. 
The country immediately behind Cape Jervis may, strictly 
speaking, be termed a promontory, bounded to the west by 
St. Vincent’s Gulf, and to the east by the lake Alexandrina, 
and the sandy track separating that basin from the sea. 
Supposing a line to be drawn from the parallel of 34° 40' to 
the eastward, it will strike the Murray river about 25 miles 
above the head of the lake, and will clear the ranges, of 
which Mount Lofty and Mount Barker are the respective 
