were engaged. Hurried, I would repeat, as my view was, my eye never fell on a country of more promising aspect, or of more favourable position, than that which occupies the space between the lake and the ranges of St. Vincent's Gulf, and continuing northerly from Mount Barker, stretches away without any visible boundary.
"It appeared to me that, unless Nature had deviated from her usual laws, this tract of country could not but be fertile, situated as it was to receive the mountain deposits on the one hand, and those of the lake upon the other."
Page 233.—"They (Captain Barker's party) crossed the bar, (between the sea and the lake,) and ascertained that it was a narrow inlet of four miles in length, that terminated at the foot of the ranges. The party were quite delighted with the aspect of the country on either side of the inlet, and with the bold and romantic scenery behind them. The former bore the appearance of natural meadows lightly timbered, and covered with a variety of grasses. The soil was observed to be a rich, flat, chocolate-coloured earth, probably the decomposition of the deep blue limestone, that showed itself along the coast hereabouts. On the other hand, a rocky glen made a cleft in the ranges at the head of the inlet; and they were supplied with abundance of fresh water, which remained in the deeper pools that had been filled by the torrents during late rains. The whole neighbourhood was so inviting that the party slept at the head of the inlet.
"In the morning, Captain Barker proceeded to ascend Mount Lofty, accompanied by Mr. Kent and his servant, leaving the two soldiers at the bivouac, at which he directed them to remain until his return. Mr. Kent says, they kept the ridge all the way, and rose above the sea by a gradual ascent. The rock formation of the lower range appeared to be an argillaceous schist; the sides and summits of the ranges were covered with ver-
