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a specially minute survey of the coast in the vicinity of the Swan River and at Rottnest Island, where they found a species of wallaby, they proceeded to make an examination of the whole Western Australian Coast. From Cape Levêque to North-West Cape names were awarded to the prominent natural features. A new entrance to Shark Bay, to which Baudin gave the name of Géographe Channel, was discovered, and Captain Hamelin found the plate left by Vlaming on Dirk Hartog Island more than a century previously. Evidence of the visit of this expedition to the south-west coast may be found in Leschenault Estuary and Cape Leschenault and Point Péron, named after the botanist and the zoologist attached to the enterprise.
Some English authorities are of opinion that, considering the completeness of the scientific equipment carried by these vessels, the results achieved were surprisingly small. This is set down to the fact that Baudin hurried over his work, being satisfied to take credit for discoveries already made by Flinders and others. To some extent it may apply to the south coast, over which a certain amount of friction arose between Baudin and Flinders, who were coincidently in that neighbourhood; but there is no reason to express any dissatisfaction with the work done on the western side of the continent, over which great pains appear to have been taken.
No further record exists of any voyage to Western Australia until the year 1818, when the French Government dispatched Captain Freycinet in the corvette "Uranie" on a voyage of discovery and scientific investigation. In the course of this cruise Freycinet anchored in Shark Bay, of which M. Duperron made a minute survey, and upon which the French name "le Baie des Chiens Marins" was bestowed. He then proceeded along the north-west coast on his way to the islands in the South Seas, calling at Sydney on his return. Judging from the letters of M. Arago, one of the members of the expedition, the Western Australian coast failed to meet with their approval. "The coast," he says, "from the moment we saw it exhibited nothing but a picture of desolation; no rivulet consoled the eye, no tree attracted it; no mountain gave variety to the landscape, no dwelling enlivened it. Everywhere reigned sterility and death. … Threatening reefs, sometimes rising to the height of 40 or 50 ft., seem desirous of opposing the audacity of the mariner and forbidding his approach to this land, abandoned by Nature. Its outline is uniform, without breaks, almost without difference, and always very low. At the first view you take in an immense distance; but beware of looking for any enjoyment. The search would be merely wasting your strength, without finding the least relief." And in another letter:—"The sun sets: everything is dead. The myriads of flies that devoured us have disappeared; no insect wings through the air; no voice disturbs the silence of this melancholy solitude; a sharp cold benumbs the limbs. The sun reappears: the air is again peopled; a consuming heat oppresses us; we seek repose and find nothing but fatigue. What a frightful abode!" All of which simply goes to prove M. Arago's inability to probe beneath the surface appearances.
The number of French expeditions that touched at one part or another of the western coast of Australia began to arouse something like suspicion in the English mind, and consequently the British Government started to take a livelier interest in that part of the continent. In 1817 the Admiralty decided to send an expedition to complete the survey of the whole coastline, and from that date until 1822 Lieutenant Philip Parker King was busily engaged carrying out that work. In pursuance of his instructions King left Sydney in December, 1817, in the cutter "Mermaid," of only 84 tons, having with him Mr. Allan Cunningham as botanist and as officers Lieutenants Bedwell and John Septimus Roe, the latter of whom afterwards became the first Surveyor-General of the colony. The first call was made at King George III. Sound, which was reached on the 20th of the following month. Here King remained ten days, which were spent in procuring wood and water and making various excursions into the surrounding country, giving Mr. Roe his first experience of what was afterwards to be his life's work—the survey of Western Australia. The usual directions laid down by the Admiralty about the planting of seeds were carried out, but without permanent effect, as three years later not a trace of the garden was to be found. Leaving the Sound, King was prevented by sickness among the crew from making any further examination until he reached the north-west coast. This was then accurately charted and various points named. At the same time excursions to the mainland were made at various places and friendly intercourse, wherever possible, established with the natives. On March 4 he anchored in Nickol Bay for the purpose of making researches and then went along the north coast and on to Timor, after leaving which he made all speed back to Sydney to replenish the stores. Two important questions had been set at rest by this voyage—the openings behind Rosemary Island and the nature of Van Diemen Gulf. Owing to the loss of the anchors King found it impossible to make a detailed examination of Exmouth Gulf or land upon Depuch Island, so favourably noticed by Péron. Many rivers, bays, and ports had been discovered, and the exploration of the interior had revealed good pastoral country. "Its thickly-wooded shores," says King, "bore a striking contrast to the sandy, desert-looking tract we had previously seen, and inspired us with