resemble in character that on the banks of the Macquarrie River, west
of Wellington valley; and though marks of occasional floods appeared
on the lower plains, the upper flats had evidently never been flooded.
The sides of the mountains were bare of underwood, and their summits
covered with large masses of iron stone, among which were growing
enormous trees of Angophera, and some straggling plants of Hakea. On a
careful examination of this part of the country bordering the two
rivers from the sea-coast to the mountains, Mr. Fraser says, "In
giving my opinion of the land seen on the banks of the Swan River, I
hesitate not in pronouncing it superior to any I ever saw in New South
Wales, east of the Blue Mountains, not only in its local character,
but in the many existing advantages which it holds out to settlers.
These advantages I consider to be,

"First, the evident superiority of the soil.

"Secondly, the facility with which a settler can bring his farm into a
state of immediate culture, in consequence of the open state of the
country, which allows not a greater average than two trees to an acre.

"Thirdly, the general abundance of springs, producing water of the
best quality, and the consequent permanent humidity of the soil; two
advantages not existing on the eastern coast. And,

"Fourthly, the advantages of water carriage to his door, and the
non-existence of impediments to land carriage."

[2] Published by J. Cross, 18, Holborn, opposite Furnival's Inn.

[3] The _Rivière de Cygnes_ of the French is a translation of the