Captain Barker landed on the 21st on this rocky point at the northern extremity of this bay.  He had, however, previously to this, examined the indentation in the coast which he had observed from Mount Lofty, and had ascertained that it was nothing more than an inlet; a spit of sand, projecting from the shore at right angles with it, concealed the month of the inlet.  They took the boat to examine this point, and carried six fathoms soundings round the head of the spit to the mouth of the inlet, when it shoaled to two fathoms, and the landing was observed to be bad, by reason of mangrove swamps on either side of it.  Mr. Kent, I think, told me that this inlet was from ten to twelve miles long.  Can it be that a current setting out of it at times, has thrown up the sand-bank that protects its mouth, and that trees, or any other obstacle, have hidden its further prolongation from Captain Barker’s notice?  I have little hope that such is the case, but the remark is not an idle one.

Beautiful valleys.

Between this inlet and the one formerly mentioned, a small and clear stream was discovered, to which Captain Barker kindly gave my name.  On landing, the party, which consisted of the same persons as the former one, found themselves in a valley, which opened direct upon the bay.  It was confined to the north from the chief range by a lateral ridge, that gradually declined towards and terminated at, the rocky point on which they had landed.  The other side of the valley was formed of a continuation of the main range, which also gradually declined to the south, and appeared to be connected with the hills at the extremity of the cape.  The valley was from nine to ten miles in length, and from three to four in breadth.  In crossing it, they ascertained that the lagoon from which the schooner had obtained a supply of water, was filled by a watercourse that came down its centre.  The soil in the valley was rich, but stony in some parts.  There was an abundance of pasture over the whole, from amongst which they started numerous kangaroos.  The scenery towards the ranges was beautiful and romantic, and the general appearance of the country such as to delight the whole party.

Preserving a due east course, Captain Barker passed over the opposite range of hills, and descended almost immediately into a second valley that continued to the southwards.  Its soil was poor and stony, and it was covered with low scrub.  Crossing it, they ascended the opposite range, from the summit of which they had a view of Encounter Bay.  An extensive flat stretched from beneath them to the eastward, and was backed, in the distance, by sand hummocks, and low wooded hills.  The extreme right of the flat rested upon the coast, at a rocky point near which there were two or three islands.  From the left a beautiful valley opened upon it.  A strong and clear rivulet from this valley traversed the flat obliquely, and fell into the sea at the rocky point, or a little