Page:Handbook of Western Australia.djvu/47

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The Fitzgerald and Phillips.
35

attain their greatest elevation on the Fitzgerald River, which flows (when it does flow, which is at intervals of several years) between lofty cliffs in its middle course, having its sources beyond the granitic outcrop to the South of the district of the Lakes, which crosses the Palinup in its middle course, extending towards Cape Arid. The sandstones occupy less of the valley of the Phillips, and it is therefore more fertile; but the erupted schists, which are so largely developed in parallel lines near the coast of Doubtful Bay, cross the lower course of both rivers, and culminate in the three Mounts Barren. All the waters of the Fitzgerald are saline, but Hamersley's River, an affluent of the Phillips, on the North of Eyre's Range, is fresh. There are also deep and large fresh water pools on the Nicolay and Gardner Rivers, which traverse the centre of the plain, and have their estuaries in Bremer and Doubtful Island Bays. St. Mary's River drains the Eastern and Northern slopes of West Mount Barren, and is remarkable for the beauty of its estuary, and the romantic development of the schistose rocks at St. Mary's crags, on its middle course. There are also fresh water pools on the lower course of the Palinup, where the granitic rocks appear on the surface.

Mr. Price's recent survey of the coast from Bremer Bay to Eucla has given accurate knowledge of its physical features. Granitic rocks present themselves in ragged peaks at intervals to Cape Arid and Cape Pasley. The Steere falls into Cullum inlet to the East of the Phillips, some 20 miles beyond which the Judacup communicates with a chain of lakes; 25 miles further East is the Oldfleld. The Young and Lort fall into Stoke's inlet, and here limestones begin to appear above the granite floor. At Barker inlet the limestone