ceiving any considerable contribution to its stream: it is navigable for boats a few miles from its source.
About twelve miles above Perth, opposite Guildford, (a town that is to be,) it receives a considerable accession by the waters of the Helena; and shortly afterwards, it receives two other tributary streams, whose source and direction are not yet accurately ascertained.
A little above Perth, the navigation is much impeded, by the shallowness of the water, and a cluster of islands, named by the French "Heirisson's Isles."
At Perth, the river expands, and deepens considerably; and being joined by the River Canning (the junction taking place nearly south from Mount Eliza), the united waters have been named by Captain Stirling "Melville Water."
The triple source of the Canning is also from the Darling Range,—one branch traced by the Governor's party, another by us, and the third not yet surveyed.
The united streams become navigable, for boats, about six miles from the mountains[1]. Pursuing a westerly course for several miles, the river becomes deeper, but navigable only for small craft.
As the navigation of the Swan is impeded by islets, so is the Canning by a similar cluster[2]. Passing this obstruction, the river still flows in a westerly direction (its banks becoming higher, and the adjacent land more
