27
Mr. RICHARD DALE’S
First Excursion to trace the Helena River, in October, 1829.
Oct. 15th.—Left Perth at 8 o’clock, a.m. and forded the Swan at the islands at a quarter past 9 o’clock, proceeding E. by S. till 10, when we altered our course to the E.N.E. and N.E., and at 11 o’clock again changed it to E. by S. and crossed a large reedy swamp running E.S.E. with a small stream to the eastward, the soil on its banks being a loam much mixed with sand, but thickly covered with grass trees; at half-past 10 o’clock met with another stream running at N.W., and at 2 arrived at a broad brook running to the W.N.W.; we proceeded about a quarter of a mile along its banks, which has a most verdant appearance, resembling the richest parts of the Swan, and when we left it, took its course from the S.E.; at twenty minutes to 3 o’clock ascended the mountains, first passing over a hill about a hundred yards high, at the top of which, and up to within a few yards of the summit of another conical one, we found a rich soil and very good grass, which continued along the mountains for about a mile and a half to the end of this day’s journey. The country we passed over, after passing the Swan River, till we came within a short distance of the mountains, was generally sandy, and thickly wooded with large trees. Bivouaced by the side of a small stream, at twenty minutes to 4 o’clock, running W.—Fifteen miles extent of the first day’s journey.
