Page:Handbook of Western Australia.djvu/57

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The Glenelg River.
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and rich in vegetation, and, for the most part, thinly wooded with large timber. This plain rises gradually to the North, to Harrington Downs, which are well grassed and watered. The sandstone ranges to the North-East are clothed with a forest of pine timber. From the rapids at the North-East angle, the Glenelg is broad and deep, and navigable for 20 miles, but its mouth, in Maitland Bay, is divided by an island into two narrow channels, accessible only to vessels of about 100 tons. It was entered by the Flying Foam, schooner, 32 tons, in 1864. George water is about 7 miles long and 4 broad, and is probably connected with Brecknock harbor, some 15 miles to the North; it opens by two narrow channels into Doubtful Bay, which has an area 8 miles in length by 6 in breadth, with deep water and sheltered to the West by islands forming a safe and commodious harbor. The Eastern shores are, however, formed of mangrove swamps, and it is separated from the valley of the Glenelg by rugged sandstone bill a rising 700 feet above the sea.

Prince Regent's River may be taken as an example of others on this coast. It opens to the sea in Brunswick Bay, among numerous islands which, with the indentations of the coast, form many large and safe harbors. Its entrance is covered to the North-West by a group of islands, which also protect Hanover Bay to the East. Below these it is 4 miles wide with 30 fathoms water; about 5 miles further it narrows to about ¾ of a mile, and then expands in St. George's basin, a noble sheet of water 10 miles long and nearly 7 broad, with two islands to the North-West, and from 8 to 14 fathoms water. Beyond the basins the river is continued through a narrow gorge for 15 miles, with water shoaling gradually to 2 fathoms. From the extremity, and from every gorge and ravine on