GAPE RICHE. 101 
served in parts of the valley, being the first met 
with since those seen near Cape Arid. 
July 2. — Oar route to-day lay through a country 
much covered with gum-scrub, banksias, and other 
shrubs, besides occasionally a few patches of stunted 
gum-trees growing in clumps in small hollows, 
where water appeared to lodge after rains. At two 
miles we crossed a small watercourse, and at fifteen 
further, came to a deep valley with fine fresh -water 
pools in it, and tolerable feed around ; here we 
halted for the night. The valley we were upon (and 
one or two others near) led to a much larger one 
below, through which appeared to take its course 
the channel of a considerable watercourse trending 
towards a bight in the coast at S. 17° W. 
Some high land, seen to the southward and west- 
ward of us, 1 took to be Cape Riche, a point I 
should like greatly to have visited, but did not think 
it prudent to go so far out of my direct course, in the 
circumstances I was travelling under. 
July 3. — Upon commencing our journey to-day 
I found our route was much intersected by deep 
ravines and gorges, all trending to the larger valley 
below, and where I had no doubt a large chain of 
ponds, and probably much good land, would have 
been found. After proceeding four miles and a 
half, we were stopped by a large salt-water river, 
which seemed to be very deep below where we 
struck it, and trended towards a bight of the coast 
where it appeared to form a junction wit' the sea. 
