ct of this part of the coast might justify
the name of Southern, or Australian, _Hesperia_; under which might be
included all that line of coast from Cape Leuwin, the southernmost
point of New Holland, in lat. 34 deg. 30 min., long. 115 deg. 12 min.
east, to the lat. 31 deg. (or a degree or two more northerly) long.
115 deg. 15 min. east; and from the former point easterly to King
George's Sound, where an English colony has already been established.
This extent of territory, between the sea-coast and a range of
mountains parallel to it, hereafter to be described, may be estimated
to contain from five to six millions of acres, the greater part of
which, from the general appearance of the two extreme portions (the
only ones examined) may be considered as land fit for the plough, and,
therefore, fully capable of giving support to a million of souls. The
description we are about to give of this territory is mainly derived
from Captain Stirling, the intelligent officer who explored the
country, and of which he has been appointed the Lieutenant Governor,
and from Mr. Fraser, an excellent botanist, who accompanied him, and
who was well acquainted with the soil and products of New South Wales,
on the opposite side of Australia.

Captain Stirling, when commanding the Success frigate, was sent to New
South Wales on a particular service, which the state of the monsoon
prevented him from carrying into immediate execution. He determined,
therefore, on the recommendation of General Darling, the governor, to
explore, in the meantime, this western part of Australia, which was
omitted to be surveyed by Captain King, on the ground that it had been
_visited_ by the French in the expedition of Captain Baudin: the
result of that visit, however, is so unsatisfactory, and so very
inaccurate, that we are rather surprised that Captain King should have
passed over so interesting a portion, geographically considered, as
the south-western angle of this great country. Captain Stirling
arrived at Cape Leuwin on the 2nd of March, 1827, stood along the
coast, and anchored in Gage's Roads, opposite Swan River, which he
afterwards ascended to its source in boats, and sent out exploring
parties to ascertain the nature of the surrounding territory.

"We found," he says, "the country in general rich and romantic, gained
the summit of the first range of mountains, and had a bird's-eye view
of an immense plain, which extended as far as the eye could reach t