Page:Handbook of Western Australia.djvu/43

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The Murray River.
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surface, broken by small lakes, and crossed by numerous rivers. The coast limestone ranges, which in some places appear to have been deposited upon the tertiary strata, in some others may be clearly perceived to rest on granitic rocks. About the mouth of the Swan they have been found below the bed of the river resting on solid cretaceous sandstones. The superficial limestones, however, form ranges of low hills along the coast, between which are extensive lagoons, two of which only, Feel and Leschenanlt inlets, communicate with the sea, but neither are accessible to vessels; the former will not, but the latter will, admit the entrance of boats. Peel inlet extends 20 miles to the South in Harvey inlet and receives the waters of the Murray, with the smaller streams of the Serpentine and Harvey, which have their sources in the valleys in the face of the Darling Range, and with other rivers of the same class to the South, run a rapid course, broken by fells before reaching the plain at the foot of the hills. The falls of the Serpentine and Meares are most remarkable for their height and the picturesque scenery about them.

The Murray has its Northern sources—the Bannister and Hotham—near those of the Avon and Canning; while its Southern, which unite in the Williams, interlock with the Hillman and Arthur, the Northern affluents of the Blackwood. The lateral valleys of the Murray extend about 45 miles, and its main valley is in a direct line from its watershed to the confluence of the Williams and Hotham, about 50 miles in length, and from thence to Peel inlet about 50 more. It receives the North and South Dandalup, from the base of the range on the the North, in its lower course. Upon these, as on all the rivers of this coast, there is much fertile land, which however has been in occupation since the early days of