serve for ship and boat building, and for spars. The grass was about knee-deep and in great quantity; it was quite green, and numbers of kangaroos and other animals were feeding on it; the kangaroos were large and as fat as any he had seen elsewhere.

The object of his visit to Port Lincoln was to convey thither a party of thirty persons, with five boats and the necessary implements for catching whales. The persons whom he left had been there three previous seasons for the same purpose, and had been successful. The black whales are very commonly met with close in-shore; the sperm whales not frequently, being farther to the southward. Seals are very numerous. He also found other fish in great numbers and variety-amongst them were grey mullet from 7lbs. to 8lbs. in weight, red mullet from 2lbs. to 3lbs.; soles, mackerel, herrings, snappers, jew-fish, salmon, trumpeters, parrot-fish, sting-ray, mussels, oysters, cockles, rock cod, turtle, &c.

The natives he saw were numerous and peaceful. They assisted him in carrying water to the ship, and in other matters. For a little tobacco, and with kind treatment, he is convinced they would work well. These natives, as well as the whalers and sealers, depend for their supply of water on the two streams running into Spalding Cove before mentioned.

Pursuing the line of coast, the next place of importance is Port Lincoln, properly so called, by which is meant that inlet south of Grantham Island, and in which Captain Flinders anchored with the Investigator. What is known of the neighbourhood of this place is from the accounts of Captain Flinders, Mr. Westall, Captain Dillon, and the Captains Baudin and Freycinet, who visited Port Lincoln twice.

The account given of this port by Flinders differs from that of every other person who has visited it; and unless what has been before urged relative to his state of mind be admitted as an explanation, it will be difficult to re

concile the discrepancies which occur between his and their statements.

From the head of the port he went to Sleaford Mere, for the purpose of ascertaining whether its waters were fit for the ship's supply. The way to it he represents as being over low land covered with loose pieces of calcareous rock; the soil was moist in some places, and though generally barren, was thinly overspread with grass and shrubs, interspersed with a few clumps of small trees. After walking two miles he reached the lake, but unfortunately he found the water brackish and not drinkable. The shore was a whitish, hardened clay, covered at this time with a thin crust, of which salt was a component part. On his return he found a moist place within a hundred yards of the head of the port, and caused there a hole to be dug. A stratum of whitish clay was penetrated about three feet below the surface; after which water drained in, which was perfectly sweet, though discoloured.

Captain Flinders further says that the above description may be taken as applicable to the country in general; "it is rocky and barren, but has a sufficient covering of grass, bushes, and small trees, not to look desolate." Many straggling bark huts were seen upon the shores of Port Lincoln, and the paths near the tents erected by the navigators had been long and deeply trodden, but no natives were met with. There were kangaroos on the main land, but none were caught. Captain Flinders thus winds up his account of Port Lincoln.

Vol. I. p. 148.-"Port Lincoln is certainly a fine harbour; and it is much to be regretted that it possesses no constant run of fresh water, unless it should be in Spalding Cove, which we did not examine. Our pits at the head of the port will, however, supply ships at all times; and though discoloured by whitish clay, the water has no pernicious quality, nor is it ill-tasted. This, and wood, which was easily procured, were all that we

found of use to ships; and for the establishment of a colony, which the excellence of the port might seem to invite, the little fertility of the soil offers no inducement. The wood consists principally of the eucalyptus and the casuarina.

"Of the climate we had no reason to speak but in praise; nor were we incommoded by noxious insects. The range of the thermometer on board the ship was from 66 to 78°. On shore the average height of the thermometer at noon was 76°."

Mr. Westall corroborates this account of Captain Flinders in one respect only, which is in relation to the comparative sterility of the land immediately west of Port Lincoln; but he further says he is of opinion that the land at Port Lincoln is much better than that at King George's Sound; and this is found by recent experiment to be very good land, and applicable to all the purposes of agriculture.

Captain Dillon was at Port Lincoln in 1815. He landed at the head of the Port and remained there two days. The timber he saw was very large and in great plenty. The hills were covered with trees, and he considers the land to be very fertile and productive.

The accounts of Port Lincoln given by MM. Baudin, Freycinet, and Peron are of a very encouraging character. After describing minutely the geographical position of the port, the following account is given, as translated by Pinkerton:

"On the western side of the gulf, and near its entrance is Champagny Port (Port Lincoln), one of the finest and most secure in New Holland; in every part of it is an excellent bottom; the depth of water, even close in with the land, is from ten to twelve fathoms (French), and such is the capacity of this magnificent Port, that it is competent to receive the most numerous fleets. In front of this port is Lagrange Island (Boston Island), four or five leagues in circumference, and which, placed

exactly in the middle of the mouth of the port, leaves on each side a passage from two to three miles broad, in both which passages a vessel can work with ease and security. Finally, as if nature were inclined, in favour of Champagny Port (Port Lincoln), to change the character of monotony and barrenness stamped on the neighbouring lands, she has formed its shores of gentlyrising slopes, and clothed them with umbrageous forests. We did not find any fresh water at this spot; but the vigour and liveliness of vegetation, and the height of the country, to us were certain indices of the existence of some rivulets, or at least of some copious springs. On this the most favoured part of Napoleon Land' (South Australia), there are certainly numerous tribes of inhabitants, for the whole country seemed in flames. So many exclusive advantages insure special importance to Port Champagny (Port Lincoln), and I may fearlessly affirm that, of all the points of this land, this is the best adapted for the establishment of an European colony."

The second visit of the same party was made a few weeks later, when the impression in favour of this spot appears to have been heightened. The subjoined statement was then given of the harbour :

"This harbour consists of three basins, in each of which there is not less than ten to twelve fathoms (French) water, with a bottom of muddy sand, and which, from their extent, would be capable of receiving the navies of all Europe. Boston Island is at the mouth of this admirable port, and it forms, with the continent, two passages, in each of which the largest ships of war might work with safety. The northern passage is the narrowest, and opens into Boston Bay the southern is larger, and opens on one side into the western basin, and on the other into Spalding Cove. Between the island and the main land is the channel Degerando, which establishes a direct communication between the three basins, and which at the same time offers excellent moorings for the