Port Augusta to Swan River, from 6th to 25th June 1834

by Frederick Ludlow

Port Augusta June 6^th, 1834—for Swan River. Made Chapman River^Brook on the same day and reached the rapids on the 7^th. The Vasse road being so badly marked on the 8^th I altered my course from North to NW in order to make the Sea Side, where I arrived at 10 o'clock on the 9^th finding myself 8 miles to the South^d of Cape Naturaliste—and coming over the high land I saw Geographe Bay on the East—(a great quantity of Kangaroo). Cutting off Cape Naturaliste I came upon a track of good land, and a spring of Fresh water which after running the space of about 2 miles empties itself into Geographe Bay. As I came into the Bay I was surrounded by 30 natives—they were very kind to me and told me their names, they walked with me on the beach about ¾ of a mile. I enquired for M^r Bussell and for M^r Chapman but could not make them understand, they wanted me to go back and have some Kangaroo with them, but as it was so near night I was in a hurry to make the Vasse Inlet, this was on the 10^th or fourth day of my journey. I made the Inlet on the 11^th at 1 o'clock when I fired twice and was heard by M^r Chapman, who came to Search after me but could perceive nothing but the footsteps of a man. I walked up a river about 8 miles and saw a great many Kangaroos and about 20 wild turkeys—returning to the Inlet on the 12^th I met M^r Bussell who told me they were in Search of me—and that this river was not the Vasse, but that it was a Stream, that he had never seen before—it runs South West, and commences at the junction of the Vasse River as a small Inlet, this was on the 12^th. I then stopt 6 days with M^r Chapman and Started again on the 18^th at 12 o'clock taking a NE course finding the land good. I headed the Sabina River and saw a great quantity of Kangaroo. I also headed the Abba River and still found the land good the soil of the same description as on the Vasse and the timber ab^t 5 trees to an acre. 19^th I found the land much the same until ab^t 12 o'clock when I came upon a river about 20 yards wide which I had to walk up about 2 miles—the banks on each side were nearly perpendicular about 20 feet in height the soil was a red clay. After leaving this river I found the land Sandy with large blue gum trees. 20^th. The land very good—crossed the Preston about 9 o'clock—land continued good for ab^t ½ an hours walk—then very sandy till within ab^t ½ mile of the Collie. I waded the Collie & found the land good for ¾ mile—then on the plains a strong clay. Kangaroo very numerous. 21^st. I altered my course after heading the rivers from NE to NW I found the land very bad, all white sand and no fresh water. 22^nd. I made the Lake which runs parallel with the sea along which I walked the whole day and did not reach the end by 3 miles, it is about ¾ mile wide. 23^rd, I made the Sea Coast and the Murray—on the 25^th I arrived at Fremantle and my Company was my dog and gun.

(Signed) Frederick Ludlow