beauty of the scenery, the vivid green of the foliage, and the astonishing luxuriance of the herbaceous plants, which he described as exceeding anything he ever saw on the East coast. Indeed the river, still beautiful, must, before its banks were denuded of the forest trees which then clothed them "so magnificently," to use his own expression, have afforded "a great treat "to one accustomed to the ever brown Eucalyptus of Port Jackson."
The reports made by Captain Stirling and Mr. Frazer, on the return of the Success to Sydney, determined the Governor to recommend that a settlement should be formed on the Swan River, and Captain Stirling was, in consequence, sent out in 1829, to give effect to his recommendation. Hitherto, nothing had been known of Western Australia but the coast line, and that imperfectly, with the lower course of the rivers Swan and Canning, and the lake or estuary into which they have their outlets. On his arrival. Captain Stirling lost no time in obtaining further knowledge both of the coast and of the interior of that country which it had become his duty to develop for the advancement and future prosperity of the Colony of which he was the founder; indeed, even before Stirling's arrival. Captain Fremantle (H.M.S. Challenger) had already hoisted the British flag at the place which now bears his name, and had explored the country lying between Cockburn Sound and the Canning River.
While Mr. James Drummond, the botanist, who accompanied Captain Stirling, was at his work near the coast. Ensign Robert Dale, of the 63rd, explored the country to the Eastward, and reached the valley of the Avon, at Mt. Bakewell; and afterwards, starting from thence, proceeded Eastward for about 60 miles to Mts.
