Page:London Journal of Botany, Volume 2 (1843).djvu/182

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BOTANICAL INFORMATION.
179

flavida, the large green variety, which I had never seen nearly so far to the north. Also a large Leguminous shrub, with whorled leaves, that I had only found in one locality, many miles to the south.

On the 21st we proceeded on our way towards Australind, and in about twenty miles reached the estuary of the Harvey, or the southern extremity of the embouchure of the Murray. We had two miles of water to pass through, but accomplished it in safety before dark. We had still to spend a couple of nights in the bush before reaching Australind, but nothing worthy of record took place.

Australind is situated on the Leschenault estuary, which is formed by the waters of the rivers Collie and Preston. In the immediate vicinity of the town, the soil is sandy; but the situation highly beautiful. My companion, Mr. Harris, had long been anxiously expected; and I had letters of introduction from His Excellency Governor Hutt, to Mr. Clifton the Chief Commissioner, which procured me the notice of his amiable family, who invited me several times to dinner. Mrs. Clifton is a near relation of the late Mr. Barclay of Bury-hill. Mr. C. expressed his willingness to assist my views in any way in his power, and introduced me to Messrs. Plowes and Gibson, two young gentlemen, merchants in Australind: the latter is well acquainted with the Reverend Mr. Bree, an English botanist, whom I had known both by sight and by reputation; but as my botanical pursuits led me farther from Australind, I started from that settlement on the 30th of May, and after spending a day with Mr. Andrew Stirling, a near relation of our late Governor of that name, at Bury-hill, near Bunbury, the seaport for Australind, I visited a farm on his (Sir James Stirling's) estate, held by Mr. John Scott, an old settler at the Swan. The establishment of the town of Australind has been highly advantageous, as affording a ready market for the produce of their farm, both to Mr. Scott and his industrious, kind-hearted gude-wife, named Nelly Scott. The 1st of June, the anniversary of this colony, proving a most wet