o
the northward, southward, and westward. After ten days' absence, we
returned to the ship; we encountered no difficulty that was not easily
removable; we were furnished with abundance of fresh provisions by our
guns, and met with no obstruction from the natives."

Captain Stirling describes the weather as very different from that
which the French experienced; but the latter were on the coast at the
commencement of the winter season. They were apparently so alarmed at
the gales of wind, the rocks, and the reefs, and the banks, that they
hastened to leave behind them this part of the coast unexamined, with
all convenient speed. The strong westerly winds that prevail
throughout the year in the southern ocean to the southward of the
tropic, appear to assume a northern direction near this part of the
Coast of Australia. These winds are here found to be cool and
pleasant, and were generally accompanied by clear and serene weather.
The summer winds from the N.W. are not infrequent; and, coming charged
with moisture from a warm region into a colder one, they are
invariably accompanied by rain; but, in the immediate vicinity of the
shore, land and sea breezes are constant and regular. The climate
appears to be delightful. While the Success was on the coast--that is,
in the autumn--the average height of the thermometer was 72 deg., the
extremes being 84 deg. and 59 deg., the first occurring before the
sea-breeze set in, the latter at midnight. The French found the
temperature when at anchor, in June, from 14 deg. to 17 deg. of
Reaumur, or 63 deg. to 70 deg. of Fahrenheit. On the mountains,
Captain Stirling says, the temperature appeared to be about 15 deg.
below that of the plain. The alternate land and sea breezes create a
moisture in the atmosphere which renders the climate cool and
agreeable; the mornings and evenings are particularly so; and the
nights are almost invariably brilliant and clear. Such a climate, it
is almost unnecessary to say must be highly favourable to vegetation,
which was accordingly observed to be most luxuriant. "The verdant
appearance," says Captain Stirling, "and almost innumerable variety of
grasses, herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees, show that there is no
deficiency in the three great sources of their sustenance, soil, heat,
and moisture."

The general structure and aspect of the country may be thus
described:--from Cape Leuwin to Cape Naturaliste (the southern head of
Baie Geographe,) which i