party and walked to Perth,
he reported that he had passed over extensive tracts of fertile country
in the neighbourhood of Moresby's Flat-topped Range, where there are
several rivers, one of which (the largest) he had called the Hutt River,
after His Excellency the Governor. His Excellency having directed the
Champion schooner to proceed to explore the coast with a view to
ascertain whether there was any practicable entrance to the river, and
whether there was any harbour, shelter, or anchorage in that
neighbourhood, also what sort of anchorage there was about the Houtman's
Abrolhos, it appeared very desirable that such an opportunity should be
taken advantage of to obtain, at the same time, as much information as
circumstances would permit as to the nature and quality of the soil and
its general capabilities with reference to its eligibility as a district
to be occupied by settlers. With this view G.F. Moore, Esquire, embarked
on the trip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ABROLHOS ISLANDS.

The Abrolhos. Latitude by a good sight on shore, 288 degrees 45 minutes,
subsequently corrected to 288 degrees 40 minutes.

That part of the Abrolhos where we anchored seems to consist of a number
of small islets, perhaps 10 or 12, lying something in the form of an
irregularly shaped horse's shoe, extending for a space of perhaps 20
miles in a north and south direction.

These islets, which are raised only from 10 to 12 feet above the level of
the sea, are a mere mass of coral and shells with a very small variety of
plants struggling to establish themselves upon some of them. I was rather
surprised to find a few plants of the common groundsel on one of the
barest. It is not improbable that these islets are upon the outer rim of
the crater of a volcano, and that not only the entire outer rim, but also
a large space, both interior and exterior, will eventually be elevated.
Nothing can exceed the beauty of the different sorts of coral as seen
under the clear smooth water. We broke of many specimens of the branch-
or tree-coral, which seemed to be in full vigour of life and activity.
These islets appear to be a favourite resort of seals, many of which we
saw, but of the sort called hair-seals. The sailors knocked many of them
upon the head with clubs as they lay sleeping on the shores. One of these
afforded much sport, though rather of a barbarous sort if one had taken
time to think at all on the subject. Sleeping on the brink of a small
lagoon