take the liberty of annexing some short extracts from the Journal which I kept on that journey.
My friend, Mr. Harris, Senr. having been appointed Surgeon to the Australind Company, in the place of the late Dr. Carpenter, I gladly availed myself of the opportunity thus afforded of having his company in my excursion, and started with him on the 17th of May. Mr. Harris, though not one of the earliest, has always been among the most active and enterprizing settlers at the Swan, and as he had many adieus to take, it was late in the day before we quitted Perth, and equally late on the following (the 18th) ere we left Freemantle. I should have stated that I rode my favourite grey pony "Cabbine;" this word is a native one, corresponding best perhaps with the English "Perhaps," and, signifying uncertainty, and a blending of hope and fear, is not inapplicable to the animal which a Botanist rides. He was, however, so called by the Natives. Mr. Harris travelled in a cart upon springs, and as both he and I were old experienced bushmen, we did not forget to carry a good supply of necessary provisions. We reached Clarence, a deserted village, where Mr. Peel and his people first settled, about nine miles south of Freemantle, before dark that evening, and made tea at one of his old wells. Here I observed the Hottentot's Fig[1] of the Cape, which had become naturalized, and was displaying its large flowers, of a yellow colour; whereas our indigenous species has rose-coloured blossoms, as I have seen it growing on the coast. The fruit of both is alike indifferent, indeed the only good fruit produced by this tribe of plants, and the best, perhaps which we have, is that of a Mesembryanthemum, with small lilac flowers, which grows commonly on the banks of the Salt river, and other places of the interior. After taking our tea, we proceeded six or seven miles farther, and halted for the night in a grove of Blackboys. Grass being plentiful
- ↑ Mesembryanthemum, I presume. Ed.
