Page:Madras Journal of Literature and Science, series 1, volume 6 (1837).djvu/326

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
304
Account of the New Colony of Western Australia.
[Oct.

As Dr. Benza's narrative has frequently, to my knowledge, been adopted as a guide to travellers, and as on one occasion a party of five besides myself endeavoured in vain to find the "Devil's Gap" from the drawing thereof which accompanied his paper, owing to that faithful delineation being taken not from the road but from a point low down, I venture to send a rough sketch[1] of the Gap as seen from the route to Murraypett. The Gap alluded to is about two miles only from Murraypett Bungalow (not four as supposed by Dr. Benza), and is situated at a turn of the road immediately after descending rapidly from a high rocky bleak ridge, and at the entrance of a very remarkable narrow defile which leads to the Sispara range.

Camp Neilgherries, July 1, 1837.




VIII.—Some Account of the New Colony of Western Australia, more especially of the Swan River District, the Natives, Settlers, Climate, Soil, Productions, &c.—By William Milligan, Esq. m.d.Assistant Surgeon H. M. 63d Regiment—Staff Surgeon at Poonamallee.


The new colony of Western Australia is situated on the western coast of New Holland, and extends from Cape Londonderry, in lat 13° 44' south, to west Cape Howe, in lat. 33° 8' south, and Hertogs Island on the western coast in long. 112° 52 to 129 east longitude, reckoning from the meridian of Greenwich.

The Swan River district (the first settled, and as yet the most important) is situated in the great plain of Quartania, bounded on the north by the Swan river, lat. 32° 1¾' long. 115° 40'; on the south by the Murray river, lat. 32° 33' long. 115° 44'; to the east by the Darling range of mountains, and to the west by the Indian Ocean.

  1. We regret that we are unable to introduce a lithograph from this sketch, but we are necessarily obliged to be as economical as possible in our illustrations, and as a mere matter of topographical interest, we do not think one called for in this case. The sketch which accompanied Dr. Benza's memoir was intended to delineate the Gap as an interesting geological phenomenon. Captain Underwood's description will sufficiently indicate the true position, we think, for the guidance of travellers,— Editor.