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ENTRANCE OF PORT LINCOLN.
Taken from behind Memory Cove.
Painted by W. Westall, A.R.A., F.L.S., for Flinders' Voyage to Terra Australis.
THE
NEW BRITISH PROVINCE
OF
SOUTH AUSTRALIA;
OR
A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY. ILLUSTRATED BY CHARTS AND VIEWS; WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE PRINCIPLES, OBJECTS, PLAN, AND PROSPECTS OF THE COLONY.
[by Edward Gibbon Wakefield]
SECOND EDITION,
WITH A COPY OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ACT; AND THE REGULATIONS MADE BY THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN COMMISSION FOR THE DISPOSAL OF LANDS IN THE COLONY; FOR THE PRELIMINARY SALES OF COLONIAL LANDS, IN THIS COUNTRY; AND FOR THE EMIGRATION OF LABOURERS.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR C. KNIGHT, 22, LUDGATE-STREET.
MDCCCXXXVIII.
"Colonization, as hitherto conducted, may be likened to the building of a bridge; a work no part of which is complete until the whole be completed. According to the method here proposed, colonisation would be like the making of a tunnel; a work in the progress of which each step must be complete before another step can be taken."—England and America.
London: Printed by William Clows and Sons, Stamford Street.
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
Object of the work—South Australian Land Company of 1831 —South Australian Association—Theory of Colonization— Practice of Colonization, like the transplanting of a full-grown tree—Attention to details all-important—Details of the plan the subject of this work—Subject divided, p. 1
CHAPTER I.
NATURAL FEATURES OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
Advantage of introductory remarks—Natural features of extra-tropical Australia—Difference of temperature between the northern and southern hemispheres—Sterility of the sea-coast—The richest land not preferred in Australia—The management of water totally neglected—Vulgar error as to the unfitness of Australia for agricultural purposes—Means of water-communication in the new colony—Description of the south coast of Australia—Opinions on that subject, p. 9
CHAPTER II.
RELATIVE POSITION OF THE COLONY.
For the purposes of foreign trade—For obtaining live-stock and cheap food—Table of Sailing Distances to and from Port Lincoln—Table of the prices of provisions and live-stock in New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land—Advantage of the new colony to the British inhabitants of India—Exportable commodities produceable in South Australia, p. 67
CHAPTER III.
MODE OF COLONIZATION.
The proper disposal of waste land, the first object in colonization—Purpose of the Government in disposing of waste land—Evils of profusion in granting land—Effects of profusion at Swan River—Causes of the failure of the Swan River settlement—Best mode of dealing with waste land—Method of proceeding for the new colony—Disposal of the purchase-money of waste land—Selection of poor emigrants—Anticipation of the emigration fund, p. 86
CHAPTER IV.
THE INDUCEMENTS TO EMIGRATION.
To capitalists—To labourers—To men of small fortune and large family—To young men of good fortune—To younger branches of the nobility, p. 113
CHAPTER V.
GOVERNMENT OF THE COLONY.
Provisional legislation by the King in Council—Appointment of officers by the Crown—Present security for good government—Favourable promise as to the future, during the provisional state—Provision for local self-government when the population of the colony shall amount to 50,000 souls—The transportation system never to be inflicted on this colony—Apology for speaking evil of other colonies, p. 130
CONCLUSION.
No expedition of settlers ought to take place until a large one be ready—The emigrants a distinct society before their departure—Means of concert and co-operation—Preparatory measures for religious instruction, education, a well-planned town, and written laws—Colonial Newspaper. p. 138
APPENDIX.
I. Prospectus of South Australian Church Society, 143
II. Report of a Public Meeting held at Exeter Hall, on Monday, June 30, 1834, 149
III. An Act to empower his Majesty io erect South Australia into a British province, or provinces, and to provide for the colonization and government thereof, 15th August, 1834, 221
IV. Regulations for the disposal of Land in the Colony, for the preliminary sales of Colonial Lands, in this country, aud for the emigration of Labourers, 239
List of Works relating to Australia, 254
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Chart of the South Coast of Australia, (beginning of Vol.)
View of Port Lincoln, (to face Title)
Chart of Port Lincoln 28
Chart of Kangaroo Island 36
View of Kangaroo Island 38
Chart of the World 66
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INTRODUCTION.
Object of the work—South Australian Land Company of 1831—South Australian Association—Theory of Colonization—Practice of Colonization, like the transplanting of a full-grown tree—Attention to details all-important— Details of the plan the subject of this work—Subject divided.
The new colony, of whose Principles, Objects, Plan, and Prospects, it is our intention to give the fullest account that the space will admit, was originally projected in the summer of 1831; when the gentlemen whose names follow formed themselves into a Committee for establishing a chartered company to carry the measure into effect.
W. WOLRYCHE WHITMORE, Esq., M.P., Chairman.
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George Fife Angas, Esq. Dominic Browne, Esq., M.P. H. Lytton Bulwer, Esq., M.P. W. F. Campbell, Esq., M.P. Henry Drummond, Esq. Capt. Gowan. Richard Heathfield, Esq. Samuel Hoare, Esq. William Hutt, Esq., M.P. C. Shaw Lefevre, Esq., M.P. Lord Lumley, M.P. |
W. A. Mackinnon, Esq., M.P. J. A. S. Mackenzie, Esq. M.P. Samuel Mills, Esq. Sir R. Musgrave, Bart., M.P. Richard Norman, Esq. J. E. Strickland, Esq. Colonel Torrens, M.P. George Traill, Esq., M.P. R. Throckmorton, Esq., M.P. Sir H. Williamson, Bt. M.P. |
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At the beginning of the present year, another Society was formed, with the same objects, under the name of the South Australian Association; and measures having been taken to bring the subject more fully under the notice of his Majesty's government, it has been determined, that the colony shall be founded, not, indeed, as was formerly proposed, by means of a royal charter, but by act of Parliament. It will be seen presently that this mode of proceeding is, in some respects, preferable to that of a chartered company.
But, at all events, the South Australian Association, which it was proposed should be incorporated, with extensive powers, by means of a charter from the Crown, will continue their existence as a private but temporary Society, desirous to promote the happy establishment aud future prosperity of the colony. Here follows a list of their acting committee:—
COMMITTEE
OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATION.
W. WOLRYCHE WHITMORE, Esq., MP., Chairman.
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A. W. Beauclerk, Esq., M.P. Abraham Borradaile, Esq. Charles Buller, Esq., M.P. H. L. Bulwer, Esq., M.P. J. W. Childers, Esq., M.P. William Clay, Esq., M.P. Raikes Currie, Esq. William Gowan, Esq. George Grote, Esq., M.P. Benjamin Hawes, Esq., M.P. J. H. Hawkins, Esq., M.P. Rowland Hill, Esq. Matthew D. Hill, Esq., M.P. William Hutt, Esq., M.P. John Melville, Esq. |
Samuel Mills, Esq. S. W. Molesworth, Bart. M.P. Jacob Montefiore, Esq. George Warde Norman, Esq. Richard Norman, Esq. G. Poulett Scrope, Esq., M.P. Dr. Southwood Smith. Edward Strutt, Esq., M.P. Colonel Torrens, M.P. Daniel Wakefield, jun., Esq. Henry Warburton, Esq. M.P. Henry G. Ward, Esq., M.P. John Wilks, Esq., M.P. Joseph Wilson, Esq. John Ashton Yates, Esq. |
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Treasurer, George Grote, Esq. M.P.
Solicitor, Joseph Parkes, Esq.
Honorary Secretary, Robert Gouger, Esq.
The leading provisions of the Act of Parliament for erecting South Australia into a British Province, and for establishing therein a peculiar system of colonization, will be fully noticed hereafter. Meanwhile, we have to offer some remarks by way of introduction to the subject of these pages.
Of the general principles, or what may be termed the theory of Colonization, we shall here say very little. The subject has been treated at great length in two volumes recently published, under the title of 'England and America.' To that work we must refer the reader who is desirous to ascertain the objects of an old state in planting or extending colonies, the errors hitherto committed by colonizing governments, and the best means of rendering colonization highly advantageous to a country situated like England.
These are questions which interest all classes at home. But in the discussion of these questions, the writer arrives at a conclusion which deeply concerns those whom we now address; viz., persons who may contemplate settling in the new colony of South Australia. The conclusion is, that, whatever the objects of an old state in promoting colonization, the attainment of those objects depends upon attention to details in the plantation of colonies.
This point may properly be noticed more at length.
Sir Joseph Banks, wishing to ornament a bare piece of ground in front of his house near Hounslow, transplanted into it some full-grown trees. Those trees were torn from the beds in which they had grown to maturity. In order to save trouble in moving them, all their smaller roots and branches were cut off: the trunks, thus mutilated, were stuck into the ground; and there, wanting the nourishment which they had before received through innumerable leaves and fibres, they soon died and rotted. A way, however, has lately been discovered of transplanting full-grown trees so that they shall flourish as if they had not been removed. The art, for a knowledge of which we are indebted to Sir Henry Steuart, consists in removing the whole of the tree uninjured; the stem, all the limbs, every branch and twig, every root and fibre; and in placing the several parts of this whole in the same relative situation as they occupied before; so that each part shall continue to perform its proper office, the trunk to be nourished by its proper number of mouths above and below; and a due proportion or balance be preserved between the weight of the branches and the strength of the roots, between the action of the roots as well as branches on opposite sides, between the functions of each part and the functions of all the other parts, respectively and together. The work of colonizing a desert bears a curious resemblance to that of transplanting full-grown trees. In neither case is it the ultimate object merely to remove; in both cases it is to establish; and as, in the former case, the immediate object is to remove, not a mere trunk, but an entire tree, so, in the latter case, the immediate object is to remove, not people merely, but society. In both cases equally, success depends upon attention to details. The planters of modern colonies have generally gone to work without much attention to details; as if society might be established in a desert without regard to the numerous and minute circumstances on which society depends. Many a modern colony has perished through the inattention of its founders to little matters which, it was supposed, would take care of themselves. Of those modern colonies which have not perished, many suffered in the beginning the greatest privations and hardships; while, in the least unfavourable cases, it has been as if a full-grown oak, carelessly removed and soon dead, had dropped acorns to become in time full-grown trees. But in the present case, the greatest attention will be paid to details. The present measure of colonization may be likened to the careful removal of full-grown trees from a spot in which they were injured by want of room, to one where they should have ample space to expand and flourish. The details of the measure form the subject of this explanation.
In order to render so brief an explanation as clear as possible, the subject may be divided into several parts, all of which, however, it will be seen presently, are closely related with each other. The whole measure consists of three parts: first, precautions for the removal, not of people merely, but of society; that is, of all the different classes of people who, by means of combining their powers and dividing their employments, obtain every advantage that a society enjoys over savage life: secondly, precautions for preventing that social colony from degenerating into an unsocial state; for preserving, that is, in the colony the attributes of society and civilization: thirdly, the natural circumstances of the country about to be colonized.
Since, however, the attractiveness of the colony to persons of all classes, by which alone persons of all classes would be induced to settle there, must depend upon measures for preserving in the colony the attributes of society and civilization, and these again must in part, depend upon the fitness of the country for the purposes of colonization, it has been thought best, in considering separately the three parts of the subject, to reverse the order in which they have been stated above; beginning with the natural features of the country, proceeding to the mode of colonizing that waste region, and concluding with the inducements to the removal of persons of all classes. Besides these three divisions of the subject, there will be a chapter on the position of the colony with relation to other parts of the world, one on the government of the new Province, and some concluding remarks and suggestions of a practical nature. CHAPTER I.
NATURAL FEATURES OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
Advantage of introductory remarks—Natural features of extra-tropical Australia—Difference of temperature between the northern and southern hemispheres—Sterility of the sea-coast—The richest land not preferred, in Australia—The management of water totally neglected—Vulgar error as to the unfitness of Australia for agricultural purposes—Means of water-communication in the new colony—Description of the south coast of Australia—Opinions on that subject.
The information obtained upon this subject consists of the evidence of a number of persons who have visited the country. For two reasons, it requires some introductory remarks: first, because it is composed, for the most part, of naked statements of fact, from which no very satisfactory conclusion could be drawn without the aid of some guiding principles in the examination of them; secondly, because in order to prevent the English enquirer from applying some of those facts to wrong conclusions, it is necessary to lay before him other facts which may assist his judgment by means of analogy and comparison. A few mere hints, however, is all that can be offered in this little work.
1. Every known part of extra-tropical Australia presents some features which are peculiar to that part of the world; such as evergreen forests, animals never seen elsewhere, and the total want of animals which are numerous in other countries. But the most striking, perhaps, of Australian peculiarities is the sameness of those natural features on every part, that has yet been visited, of a line of coast some thousand miles in extent. In North America, and still more in Europe, a difference of latitude, or even of longitude, is generally attended with remarkable differences of soil, climate, and natural productions: whereas throughout Australia, south of the tropic, the climate, allowing for differences of mere temperature in different latitudes, appears to be every where the same; and the soil presents every where the same peculiar features, supporting every where the same peculiar vegetation and the same peculiar animals; from Moreton Bay near the tropic on the East, through Port Jackson, Port Philip, the Tamar, Nepean Bay, Port Lincoln, King George's Sound, and the Swan River, to Shark's Bay near the tropic on the West. From the extent to which this peculiarity of sameness is known, we may infer that it will be more fully established.
In other words, from the perfect sameness of all the known parts of this vast region, we may conclude that such sameness extends to the parts which are still unknown. The discovery of a part of the coast differing materially in its natural circumstances from the other parts, would astonish those who are acquainted with all that is known at present. Such persons will take for granted that South Australia enjoys the great natural fertilizing power which arises from rainy and dry seasons, because they know that New South Wales does. Without multiplying such examples it will be seen, that in forming conjectural opinions concerning natural circumstances, this is the country, beyond all others, in which we may trust to the guide of analogy. Amongst the most useful means of forming a correct judgment as to South Australia, are the published accounts of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land; and indeed it may be said that he who is not familiarly acquainted with the general features of Australia, is hardly qualified to form a confident opinion, one way or the other, as to the natural circumstances of the southern coast[1].
2. In the southern hemisphere, owing to the large proportion which sea bears to land, the temperature does not agree with that of corresponding latitudes in the northern hemisphere, but is generally found to be cooler by two or three degrees. Thus the temperature of Port Lincoln in 35°, South, may be expected to agree with that of places on the sea-coast between 37° and 38° of North latitude.
3. Except where the land is gaining on the sea by the deposits of great rivers, land close to the sea is generally less fertile than land some way removed from it. This is peculiarly the case in every known part of extra-tropical Australia. Here, it seems, the sea is almost universally separated from land of superior fertility by a stripe of very poor land, commonly of sand, bearing only stunted brushwood, and varying in breadth from two or three, to twenty or thirty miles.
Very fine land close to the sea, where the sea is not touched by a range of high land, is a rare exception to the general rule of sameness already noticed.
Hence we are never to presume from the known sterility of a spot close to the sea, that the unknown land beyond it is otherwise than fertile. On the contrary, if any conclusion may be drawn from the sterility of some part of the coast line, it is that, probably, as in so many known cases, there is land of a superior quality not far off; and more especially if there be any range of high land in the neighbourhood.
4. In thickly-peopled countries, deep alluvial land on the banks of rivers, which when in a state of nature was liable to floods, is considered the most fertile.
But in the settled parts of Australia, such land, unless in a most favourable position with respect to markets, is not highly esteemed. In many cases it is despised, and is entirely neglected for land of far less natural fertility. For this there are two reasons.
First, in the present scattered state of the population, no measures can be taken to confine a river within its ordinary channel; so that, during floods, nearly all rich alluvial land becomes morass, as happened in the time of Alfred with tens of thousands of acres on the banks of the Thames, which are now eminently productive. Secondly, flooded land, being for the most part heavily timbered, or covered with strong reeds, requires before it can be used for production a quantity of labour such as no settler in New South Wales can readily command. Most of the deep alluvial soils, which are neglected in the Australian settlements, would be highly prized in Europe. We may say, therefore, that, up to a certain point, the soil of Australia will become more fit to support a dense population as her population shall become more dense.
5. This conclusion from the present impossibility of guarding against the ravages of water, is confirmed by observing the effects and causes of a total neglect by the Australian settlers of the means by which, in corresponding latitudes of Europe, Asia, and Africa, water is made to exert a fertilizing power. Though during the course of a year more rain, it is believed, falls in New South Wales than in England, the Australian settlers suffer terribly from long periods without rain—from what they call "Australian droughts;" and vast tracts of laud in that colony, which would be thought excellent if constantly supplied with water, are but little esteemed, because deficient in that natural quality. But this would be the case in some of the most fertile and populous districts of Europe, Africa, and Asia, if their inhabitants should, like the Australians, depend wholly upon nature for a supply of water. The extraordinary fertility of the left bank of the Po, from the source almost of that river to its mouths, depends upon skill in the management of its tributary streams—upon artificial irrigation. The Nile, if its waters were not skilfully guided by man, would only devastate, instead of fertilizing. When the north-west of Africa supported many populous nations, it must have been by means of the greatest skill in preserving water that fell from the clouds, and in raising water from the bowels of the earth. Many fertile parts of Spain, the South of Italy, Greece, and Turkey, would become barren if it were not for wells, pumps, reservoirs, and aqueducts. In the countries round about the Caspian Sea, where a very dense population once existed, there are mixed with the ruins of cities, the ruins of all sorts of contrivances for the management of water; and in order to restore the cities, it would be necessary to begin by restoring the wells, tanks, and aqueducts. Without such contrivances, a great part of the dense population of Southern China must inevitably perish. Where, indeed, in latitudes corresponding with extra-tropical Australia, has a dense population ever been maintained without such contrivances? No where: there is no exception to the rule. In New South Wales, as in similar latitudes of the northern hemisphere, more rain falls during the year than in England; but in England, some rain falls almost every week; while at Naples and Sydney months pass without a cloud. Why, then, one is led to ask, have the settlers in Australia never, to any extent whatever, employed those contrivances for the management of water, to which the inhabitants of other countries are so largely indebted? The answer is full of instruction to future settlers in Australia. Because, in the first place, Australia has been settled by Englishmen, in whose native country, water, falling every week, is often an incumbrance; where fertility depends rather on the art of draining, than on that of collecting and preserving water; Englishmen, whose ignorance of the latter art was not likely to be cured by a sense of its value. Because, secondly, even if the settlers in Australia had seen the value of that art, still, being scattered as they are over a wide expanse of country, they could not have formed dams, embankments, water-courses, tanks, reservoirs, and wells. For to conduct such works, combination is required; combination of two sorts: first that combination of purpose which takes place amongst the landowners of a valley in Europe which is artificially irrigated—a kind of agreement for co-operation, under which all behave as if they were directed by a single will; secondly, that combination of labour in particular works, that helping of each other by many, without which no work can be performed which requires, like the formation of embankments, reservoirs, and water-courses, the constant employment of many hands in the same work, at the same time, and for a long period of consecutive time. If Australia had consisted only of the banks of the Hawkesbury, her inhabitants would probably, ere now, have obtained complete control over that river and its tributary streams, confining them within their beds during the rainy seasons, and during the dry seasons conveying their waters, which had been artificially pent up in favourable spots, over a great tract of country, that is now despised as being liable to suffer either from flood or from drought.
Considering also what, in this case, the Australians, being a society, and having therefore such classes as tank-makers and well-diggers, would have done to preserve rain water, and to draw water out of the earth,—from all these considerations it appears again, that when the population of Australia shall become more dense, her soil will be more fit to support a dense population.
6. There is a vague but common impression that Australia is not fit to become an agricultural country; that it is fit only to be a pastoral country. This impression may be correct; but it is not at present a reasonable conclusion. The conclusion is drawn from an English estimate of the soil and climate of Australia, and from the fact that hitherto in Australia it has been far more easy to produce sheep and cattle, than to raise corn and other products of agriculture. But settlers coming from a corresponding latitude of Europe, would have formed a different estimate of the soil and climate of Australia, and, probably, a more correct one. Moreover, the colonists of Australia have been so planted, so widely dispersed and separated from each other, that they could not have been an agricultural people, even though their soil and climate had resembled those of the plains of Lombardy or the Low Countries. For in order to raise the agricultural products of Flanders and the north of Italy, such as corn, rice, wine, tobacco, and silk, it is necessary to employ considerable masses of labour, and of capital as well, in constant combination; and this skilful application of capital and labour could not take place amongst a few scattered shepherds. But those people, it may be said, were so dispersed, and became shepherds, because the soil of their new country was unfit for agriculture; and this argument has been used to show the inexpediency of measures for preventing such dispersion.
To this argument the reply is short and conclusive.
Settlers on the very rich plains of the Ohio and the Mississippi, have been scattered quite as much as the Australians, if not more. In all modern colonies, whatever the nature of the soil, the settlers have been scattered as if the object had been to prevent them from becoming an agricultural people. It may be, therefore, that the pastoral habits of the Australians are owing rather to the mode in which the country has been colonized, than to the nature of its soil.
And this view of the subject is confirmed by observing, that in colonies of which the soil was equally fit for agriculture and pasturage (the deep and rich, but clear and grassy plains of Buenos Ayres are a striking example), the settlers, being widely dispersed, and not having slaves whose labour might be used in combination, have invariably adopted the pastoral life. In fact, when a colony is planted so that the labour of each settler is separated from that of all the other settlers, and still further weakened by being divided amongst a great number of different occupations, the easiest, not the most productive, kind of industry must he adopted; the easiest, that is, under the circumstance of dispersion. Now, under the circumstance of dispersion, the easiest kind of industry, in countries that happen to be clear by nature, is the pastoral life; while, in countries covered with wood, it is the exhaustion, by over-cropping, of the natural richness of virgin land. Thus the colonist of Buenos Ayres or Australia depends, even for his support, on the grasses supplied by nature, while the settler in the forests of Canada depends on the great but perishable fertility of rotten leaves. In either case, the skill of man contributes but little to production: nearly the whole work is left to nature. But we cannot say that the former case establishes the unfitness of Australia and Buenos Ayres for agricultural production; any more than that the latter case proves the soil of North America to be unfit for the support of sheep and cattle. Both cases, on the contrary, show, that in judging of the productive capacity of land about to be colonized, the intended mode of colonization is a circumstance of equal importance, at least, with the natural features of the country. It were idle to ascertain, what indeed is well known, that much land in New South Wales is fit for producing wine, oil, rice, tobacco, and silk; but in the instance of this new colony, when it is proposed to transplant, not people merely, but society, and to maintain in the new place the means of employing capital in the most skilful way, for whatever purpose; in this case, the probable state of the colonial society should always be borne in mind by those who would draw just conclusions from what has been ascertained respecting natural circumstances.
7. After questions of soil and climate, the most important circumstance in a region about to be colonized, is the natural means of communication. This is a consideration of great moment to those, at least, who, intending to settle in a new place, propose to establish there the desires and powers of society. To a few persons scattered over a wide district, whose labour was divided, not only into separate fractions, but also amongst many occupations, between whom, consequently, there could be but little exchange, and who could not raise commodities exchangeable in distant markets, the best natural means of communication would be of but little value. Of what great use, for instance, is the excellent harbour of King George's Sound to the few scattered, or rather isolated Englishmen, who are wandering about in that neighbourhood? What reason have settlers that remain at the Swan River, not yet raising food enough for their own subsistence, and quite incapable of producing commodities for exchange in distant markets, to regret that Gage's Roads are not a good harbour?[2] Means of communication are required for the purposes of exchange. But there can be no exchange without surplus produce; that is, produce over and above what is consumed by the producers. In order to raise a great surplus produce, or in other words a great produce in proportion to the amount of capital and the number of hands employed, it is necessary that capital and labour should be skilfully employed; and the skilful employment of capital and labour in a new colony depends, not on the existence of natural means of communication, but on the mode of colonization adopted. For the present case, in which it is hoped to maintain in the colony the same skilful application of capital and labour as takes place in England, good natural means of communication are most desirable. The attention of the reader is, therefore, particularly directed to the form of the southern coast of Australia. Between the limits of the colony, which in a straight line comprise a distance of 500 miles, the extent of coast, including the coasts of Kangaroo Island and the shores of Lake Alexandria, amounts to about 2,150 miles; and between the Eastern extremity of Lake Alexandrina and Cape Wiles, the distance in a straight line being about 220 miles, the extent of land washed by the waters either of the ocean or of the lake, amounts to about 1,400 miles. Here, then, are ample means of transport, for exchange among the settlers themselves, and for conveying to Nepean Bay and Port Lincoln produce fit for exchange in distant markets; while those fine harbours will be most serviceable for the landing of emigrants, stock, and goods, and for the future management of trade with the neighbouring colonies, and with distant countries. Considering the probable security of Coffin's Bay; the long line of coast, West of that harbour, whereon Captain Flinders observed the indications of several rivers; and the facility of making a road between Coffin's Bay and Port Lincoln, the latter harbour, which for extent, security, and facility of access, is surpassed by none in the world, seems formed by nature to become the central mart of South Australia.
The following description of the Southern part of Australia was compiled by Mr. Gouger, who has paid much attention to the subject; and it will, we imagine, be found, with the aid of the accompanying maps, sufficiently full and clear to enable every one who shall examine it to judge of the eligibility of that part of the world for the purposes of colonization.
Introduction.— This account of the natural circumstances of that part of Australia, between the 132° and 141° of East longitude, which is intended to form the site of the new colony, is compiled from the reports of various persons who have visited the locality. The honour of the discovery of this country is due to Captain Flinders and his party, who, in the year 1802, in His Majesty's Ship Investigator, and employed by his Majesty's Government, explored the whole southern coast. From the expensive work published by Captain Flinders, entitled 'A Voyage to Terra Australis,' in two vols, quarto, much of this report is taken.
Mr. Westall, the artist who accompanied the expedition, has kindly furnished such facts as he recollects which are likely to be interesting, and which are not embodied in Captain Flinders's narrative. This gentleman possesses still some sketches which he made at the time, from which a very accurate opinion may be formed of the kind of country. It is to be regretted that these sketches have not been published—those of Port Lincoln, Sleaford Mere, and Memory Cove, with a sight of which we have been favoured by Mr. Westall, are most interesting.
Next in order to Captain Flinders, as well in time as in merit, is the expedition under Captains Baudin and Freycinet, having on board a naturalist of considerable note, M. Peron, This party fell in with Flinders at Encounter Bay, and thus, by a few days only, the discovery of those magnificent inlets, Spencer's and St. Vincent's Gulfs was anticipated by the British voyagers. Some long extracts have been made from the history of their voyage written by M. Peron.
In the year 1815, Captain Dillon, the well-known discoverer of the remains of La Perouse, visited this part of the Southern Coast; his object was commercial, and he remained in the neighbourhood three months. He has been good enough to favour us with some account of his voyage; and of this use has been made in the narrative which follows.
Captain Sutherland, late commander of the Ship 'Lang,' who has been for many years employed in the trade between England and New Holland, and who, from being a proprietor of land in Van Diemen's Land, has resided there for a length of time, visited this part, of Australia, on a sealing voyage, in 1819. He remained at Kangaroo Island seven months, and has given a full report of his residence there, which is very valuable as being the observation of a practical Australian agriculturist, as well as the work of an experienced navigator. His report is copied at length, and it is well to state, that he submitted to a long examination on the subject before a Committee appointed to investigate the natural circumstances of the locality. The verbal evidence he then gave tended completely to corroborate his written statement.
Richard Wootton and Frederick Hamborg, the one a steward, and the other a mate, of Sealing Vessels, remained on this coast a short time, and have given some account of their voyage. The evidence of the first of these is not very important; but Hamborg states that he entered Spalding Cove, and there found two streams of water. His evidence also corroborates the account of the French navigators, as to the eligibility of Port Lincoln for the reception of a European Colony.
Captain Goold, late Master of his Majesty's Ship Dryad, and Commander of several Merchantmen, a most intelligent man, performed two voyages from Sydney to this coast in 1827 and 1828. The object of the voyage was the seal fishery. His report of the country, generally, is very important, and its value is enhanced by the fact of his having lived some time in Australia, and thus being enabled to compare the different places he visited. Ample use has been made, in the paper which follows, of his statement.
Last in order of time, but perhaps first in importance, is the account of Captain Sturt. This enterprising gentleman traced a river through an unknown country, and amidst great danger and privations, to its joining the sea at Encounter Bay. The account of his voyage, recently published by Smith and Elder, will be found most interesting, and to this we must refer all those who wish to estimate fully the advantages of his discoveries.
Such extracts only have been made here, as are necessary to throw light on the tract of country immediately under investigation.
Account of Soil, &c.—From the 132° of East long, to Coffin's Bay situated in 135° 15', nothing very important is known of the character of the shore or land. Some large inlets called Fowler's Bay, Denial Bay, Smoky Bay, and Streaky Bay, and a large lagoon seen by Captain Flinders from the mast-head near Point Weyland, are the only indications of valuable roadsteads or rivers.
These inlets have never been thoroughly examined, though Captain Flinders remarks he found in one part "much refuse from the shore, as well as sea-weed floating about, by which some hope of finding a river was entertained;" and subsequently, "besides quantities of grass and branches of trees or bushes floating in the water, there was a number of long gauze-winged insects topping about the surface, such as frequent freshwater lakes and swamps." He also saw smokes rising in various places. In proof of the insufficiency of his survey, Captain Flinders says, "my examination was tolerably minute to be done wholly in a ship, but much still remained which boats would best accomplish, to make the surveys complete, especially in the bays of the main land."
The only account given of Coffin's Bay is by Captain Flinders; we cannot therefore do better than quote the entire passage from his work, vol. i. p. 127.
"Coffin's Bay extends four or five leagues to the south-eastward from Point Sir Isaac; but I do not think that any stream more considerable than perhaps a small rill from the back land falls into it, since sandy cliffs and beach were seen nearly all round. On the east side of the entrance, the shore rises quickly from the beach to hills of considerable height, well covered with wood. The highest of these hills I called Mount Greenly, its elevation is between six and eight hundred feet, and it stands very near the water-side.
"Many smokes were seen round Coffin's Bay, and also two parties of natives, one on each side; these shores were therefore better inhabited than the more western parts of the South Coast: indeed, it has usually been found in this country, that the borders of shallow bays and lagoons, and at the entrance of rivers, are by far the most numerously peopled."
The basis of the Point he reports to be granitic, with an upper stratum of calcareous rock.
Thistle's Island appears, on the whole, to be uninviting, although Mr. Westall, who landed there and went a mile and a half inland, states that "the trees were high and the grass luxuriant." Flinders also remarks that the "size of the kangaroos found there was superior to those found upon the western islands, though much inferior to the forest kangaroos of the Continent." Captain Dillon again states that when he was there in December, 1815, he anchored to the north-west of the island, and remained on shore three days. Grass was then very abundant, as also was underwood. He killed several kangaroos of the kind called the "Wallaba." Here it may be well to remark that the number, size, and fatness of the kangaroos found on any spot may lead to a tolerably correct judgment as to the fertility of the soil. The kangaroo resembles in its habits the deer of England more than any other European animal, and feeds upon the same kind of herbage. It will therefore be fair to suppose that the more plentiful and luxuriant the herbage, the greater will be the number and size, and the better the condition of the animals feeding thereon. This argument may be extended to the human race, especially to those tribes who depend entirely for their subsistence upon success in hunting.
The more plentiful the food, the greater will be the population; and that population will be more active and better formed. As the size of the kangaroos and general appearance of the natives on the site of the intended Colony has been ascertained, and can therefore be compared with the size and appearance of the animals on the other parts of Australia, these considerations should be kept in view in forming an estimate of the locality.
The substratum at Memory Cove is granite, mostly covered with calcareous rock, sometimes lying in loose pieces. The best evidence relative to this spot is that of Mr. Westall, who landed there and went three miles inland. He represents the land as being very good, the grass luxuriant, and the trees of a good size. From reference to sketches which he made at the time, he is of opinion that the land between Port Lincoln and Memory Cove is well wooded, and that the trees are of a good size. Sleaford Mere, a piece of water to the West of Memory Cove, is wooded down to the water's edge. Mr. Westall further states that water was found at Memory Cove, and that it was good, but in small quantities.
Flinders however remarks, that "all his researches could not discover water there, though it must exist in the neighbourhood, as traces of natives were found, and of so recent a date, that they must have been there not longer than a day before."
A seine was hauled upon the beach, and with such success that every man had two meals of fish, and some to spare for salting.
There appears to be much discrepancy in the accounts of the persons who have visited Port Lincoln and its immediate neighbourhood, relative to its distinguishing features. The account of Captain Flinders is decidedly unfavourable to the capabilities of that part of Australia for the establishment of a Colony; while that of the French navigators, Baudin and Freycinet, is quite the reverse; and this latter opinion is corroborated by Captain Goold and others who have since visited the spot. This discrepancy may have arisen from two causes, both operating on the mind of Captain Flinders, and tending greatly to indispose him from viewing with a careful eye the peculiarities of the locality. When there, he lost Mr. Thistle and a boat's crew in some tide ripplings, at a point which he therefore called Cape Catastrophe; and he was in no slight apprehension of being seriously inconvenienced by a want of fresh water. These occurrences produced in him the oppressed state of mind which is evident by the want of spirit in the style in which that part of his book is written. Another cause of the discrepancy may be the fact of the whole of the large inlet between Cape Donnington and Point Boston being called Port Lincoln, nearly half of which Captain Flinders did not minutely examine. The account of M. Peron may refer, and that of Captain Goold does refer to Boston Bay, into which Flinders did not sail. Spalding Cove also was not examined by Captain Flinders, which is much to be regretted, since subsequent statements render it probable that be would have found there what he so much required, viz., fresh water; and in that case his survey of Port Lincoln and its neighbourhood might have been more complete.
The most recent account of Spalding Cove is given by a person of the name of Hamborg, who visited it in May, 1832. He states that he anchored on the eastern side of the Cove, in blue clay, in seven fathoms water, and that the position is safe from all winds, being nearly land-locked. He went about a mile and a half inland, and found two streams of fine water, as clear as crystal, running into Spalding Cove from the southward. This person has travelled much in Van Diemen's Land, and Australia generally, and is of opinion that the appearance of the country resembles Port Augusta rather than any other part he has seen. Amongst the trees he saw were cedar (which would cut into two-feet plank;) beef-wood, tulip-wood, stringy bark (very large), huon pine and iron bark. He saw plenty of wood which would serve for ship and boat building, and for spars. The grass was about knee-deep and in great quantity; it was quite green, and numbers of kangaroos and other animals were feeding on it; the kangaroos were large and as fat as any he had seen elsewhere.
The object of his visit to Port Lincoln was to convey thither a party of thirty persons, with five boats and the necessary implements for catching whales. The persons whom he left had been there three previous seasons for the same purpose, and had been successful. The black whales are very commonly met with close in-shore; the sperm whales not frequently, being farther to the southward. Seals are very numerous. He also found other fish in great numbers and variety—amongst them were grey mullet from 7lbs. to 8lbs. in weight, red mullet from 2lbs. to 3lbs.; soles, mackerel, herrings, snappers, jew-fish, salmon, trumpeters, parrot-fish, sting-ray, mussels, oysters, cockles, rock cod, turtle, &c.
The natives he saw were numerous and peaceful. They assisted him in carrying water to the ship, and in other matters. For a little tobacco, and with kind treatment, he is convinced they would work well. These natives, as well as the whalers and sealers, depend for their supply of water on the two streams running into Spalding Cove before mentioned.
Pursuing the line of coast, the next place of importance is Port Lincoln, properly so called, by which is meant that inlet south of Grantham Island, and in which Captain Flinders anchored with the Investigator.
What is known of the neighbourhood of this place is from the accounts of Captain Flinders, Mr. Westall, Captain Dillon, and the Captains Baudin and Freycinet, who visited Port Lincoln twice.
The account given of this port by Flinders differs from that of every other person who has visited it; and unless what has been before urged relative to his state of mind be admitted as an explanation, it will be difficult to 
CHART OF PORT LINCOLN.
From the head of the port he went to Sleaford Mere, for the purpose of ascertaining whether its waters were fit for the ship's supply. The way to it he represents as being over low land covered with loose pieces of calcareous rock; the soil was moist in some places, and though generally barren, was thinly overspread with grass and shrubs, interspersed with a few clumps of small trees. After walking two miles he reached the lake, but unfortunately he found the water brackish and not drinkable. The shore was a whitish, hardened clay, covered at this time with a thin crust, of which salt was a component part. On his return he found a moist place within a hundred yards of the head of the port, and caused there a hole to be dug. A stratum of whitish clay was penetrated about three feet below the surface; after which water drained in, which was perfectly sweet, though discoloured.
Captain Flinders further says that the above description may be taken as applicable to the country in general; "it is rocky and barren, but has a sufficient covering of grass, bushes, and small trees, not to look desolate." Many strangling bark huts were seen upon the shores of Port Lincoln, and the paths near the tents erected by the navigators had been long and deeply trodden, but no natives were met with. There were kangaroos on the main land, but none were caught. Captain Flinders thus winds up his account of Port Lincoln.
Vol. I. p. 148.—"Port Lincoln is certainly a fine harbour; and it is much to be regretted that it possesses no constant run of fresh water, unless it should be in Spalding Cove, which we did not examine. Our pits at the head of the port will, however, supply ships at all times; and though discoloured by whitish clay, the water has no pernicious quality, nor is it ill-tasted. This, and wood, which was easily procured, were all that we found of use to ships; and for the establishment of a colony, which the excellence of the port might seem to invite, the little fertility of the soil offers no inducement. The wood consists principally of the eucalyptus and the casuarina.
"Of the climate we had no reason to speak but in praise; nor were we incommoded by noxious insects. The range of the thermometer on board the ship was from 66° to 78°. On shore the average height of the thermometer at noon was 76°."
Mr. Westall corroborates this account of Captain Flinders in one respect only, which is in relation to the comparative sterility of the land immediately west of Port Lincoln; but he further says he is of opinion that the land at Port Lincoln is much better than that at King George's Sound; and this is found by recent experiment to be very good land, and applicable to all the purposes of agriculture.
Captain Dillon was at Port Lincoln in 1815. He landed at the head of the Port and remained there two days. The timber he saw was very large and in great plenty. The hills were covered with trees, and he considers the land to be very fertile and productive.
The accounts of Port Lincoln given by MM. Baudin, Freycinet, and Peron are of a very encouraging character. After describing minutely the geographical position of the port, the following account is given, as translated by Pinkerton:—
"On the western side of the gulf, and near its entrance is Champagny Port (Port Lincoln), one of the finest and most secure in New Holland; in every part of it is an excellent bottom; the depth of water, even close in with the land, is from ten to twelve fathoms (French), and such is the capacity of this magnificent Port, that it is competent to receive the most numerous fleets. In front of this port is Lagrange Island (Boston Island), four or five leagues in circumference, and which, placed exactly in the middle of the mouth of the port, leaves on each side a passage from two to three miles broad, in both which passages a vessel can work with ease and security. Finally, as if nature were inclined, in favour of Champagny Port (Port Lincoln), to change the character of monotony and barrenness stamped on the neighbouring lands, she has formed its shores of gently-rising slopes, and clothed them with umbrageous forests. We did not find any fresh water at this spot; but the vigour and liveliness of vegetation, and the height of the country, to us were certain indices of the existence of some rivulets, or at least of some copious springs. On this the most favoured part of 'Napoleon Land' (South Australia), there are certainly numerous tribes of inhabitants, for the whole country seemed in flames. So many exclusive advantages insure special importance to Port Champagny (Port Lincoln), and I may fearlessly affirm that, of all the points of this land, this is the best adapted for the establishment of an European colony."
The second visit of the same party was made a few weeks later, when the impression in favour of this spot appears to have been heightened. The subjoined statement was then given of the harbour:—
"This harbour consists of three basins, in each of which there is not less than ten to twelve fathoms (French) water, with a bottom of muddy sand, and which, from their extent, would be capable of receiving the navies of all Europe. Boston Island is at the mouth of this admirable port, and it forms, with the continent, two passages, in each of which the largest ships of war might work with safety. The northern passage is the narrowest, and opens into Boston Bay; the southern is larger, and opens on one side into the western basin, and on the other into Spalding Cove. Between the island and the main land is the channel Degerando, which establishes a direct communication between the three basins, and which at the same time offers excellent moorings for the most numerous fleets. Two small islands, placed at the mouth of the southern basin, likewise afford good shelter. The same may be said of Grantham Island, with regard to the western basin. Shall I repeat here what I have already said as to the fertility of the soil? Shall I speak of the valleys, which would seem to denote corresponding springs or brooks of fresh water? Is it necessary for me to insist upon those numerous fires which our companions, on approaching the port, observed on all the neighbouring declivities, and which would seem to attest the existence at this spot of a population much more numerous than on the other points of the south-west coast? Worthy to rival Port Jackson, Port Lincoln is, under every point of view, one of the finest harbours in the world; and of all those discovered by us, whether on the south, the west, or the north of New Holland, it appears, I repeat it, to be the best adapted to receive an European colony."
The only account of Boston Bay which has been received is that by Captain Goold, unless the above report by the French travellers is intended, as there is some reason to believe it is, rather as a description of Boston Bay than of Port Lincoln itself.
Captain Goold anchored in Boston Bay between the island and the main land, and resided there in all three weeks. He went about three miles inland, and found the country was open forest land, with the trees about forty or fifty yards apart. They were large and well grown. Amongst them were the blue gum, cedar saplings, and one very large rose-wood tree. In digging for water, he found the soil to the depth of three feet to be of a moist, heavy nature; it was a black mould, and under it was a bed of yellow clay. He did not go deep enough for water, in consequence of one of the crew having found a spring which amply supplied his wants. This was just westward of Point Boston, below the high-water mark. There was plenty of grass, although much dried up in consequence of the season being advanced. He spent Christmas-day (1827) at Boston Bay. In the August following, he returned thither, and found water at the spring which had before supplied him. The water was hard, but very palatable. The anchorage was good, being in five fathoms, close in shore. While at anchor in Boston Bay a typhoon arose which lasted four hours—it blew from the southward and westward; but the ship was not injured in the least. Typhoons are common about the time of the south and west monsoons; they are peculiar to the southern seas.
Captain Goold's experience of Australia has been very considerable; he has been all round the island; but with Swan River, King George's Sound, Port Jackson, and Hunter's River, he is more particularly acquainted. Comparing Boston Bay with the places just named, he says that the land of none of them can be compared with Boston Bay, excepting Hunter's River. It is far superior to all the rest, and about equal to the last[3].
Nothing which he is aware of can render the establishment of a colony at Port Lincoln undesirable:—on the contrary, Captain Goold declares that the harbour, soil, climate, position for commerce, and vicinity to excellent fishing grounds, render the formation of a colony there, in his opinion, highly desirable.
Mr. Westall remarks that he does not recollect that any of Captain Flinders' party landed at Boston Bay.
A lagoon about half way up the gulf was visible from the mast-head of the Investigator over the beach, and a small inlet, apparently connected with it, was also perceived. A few miles short of this, the ridge of hills turns suddenly from the shore, and sweeps round at the back of the lagoon, into which the waters running off the ridge appear to be received.
Flinders, p. 159.—"The view from the top of Mount Brown (at the head of Spencer's Gulf) was very extensive, its elevation being not less than three thousand feet; but neither rivers nor lakes could be perceived. In almost every direction the eye traversed over an uninterruptedly flat woody country; the sole exceptions being the ridge of mountains extending north and south, and the water of the gulf to the south-westward."
Mr. Westall also ascended Mount Brown, and reports that the land was flat, and well wooded, as far as the eye could reach.
Wherever Captain Flinders landed on the western shore of the head of the gulf traces of natives were seen. Mr. Brown, the naturalist, who accompanied Captain Flinders' expedition, found them even to a considerable height up the side of the mountain; and as Flinders remarks, "it would therefore seem that the country here is as well inhabited as most parts of Terra Australis."
The only persons from whom information relative to Yorke's Peninsula has been obtained are Captains Goold and Sutherland; the last of whom was Captain of the brig "Governor Macquarrie," and resided in the immediate neighbourhood for several months.
Captain Goold landed about 20 miles south of Point Riley to shoot kangaroos, while his boat was ordered to drop down along-shore. He saw two kangaroos and some emus, but did not succeed in taking any. Here he went about five miles inland through an open forest country, much of the same character as that of Boston Bay, but the timber not being quite so large. Wild celery was plentiful, and the grass appeared much as that of Hunter's River in the same season. The soil was a light sandy loam, of about two feet deep, upon a bed of oyster-shells and gravel. This was ascertained by the bank where he landed being bare and about five feet higher than the beach. Thus he could see the depth and nature of the soil. During his walk he fell in with a lagoon about two miles from the shore, and endeavoured to wade it, but finding it too deep, he returned and attempted to round it; in this, however, he was disappointed, for after walking about another mile, he fell in with a river running south towards Hardwicke Bay. The river was very clear with good water, about fifty yards wide, eight feet deep, and running a strong current. Captain Goold did not trace the river; but finding he could not get round the lagoon, he returned to his boat.
While on shore he caught two turtles of the hawksbill kind, and the celery assisted in making soup.
Captain Sutherland landed once on Yorke's Peninsula, in the bight near Corny Point, The soil there was thickly covered with timber and brushwood. Some of his men, however, landed on several parts of the Peninsula, and were sometimes absent three weeks at a time in search of seals. On these occasions they carried with them bread, and some salt meat; but having a musket and a dog with them, they always obtained fresh meat (kangaroos) when on the main as well as on some of the islands. On these expeditions they never took fresh water with them. They often spoke of the places they had seen as being very pleasant.
Captain Flinders remarks, that "between Corny Point and Point Pearce, twenty-eight miles to the north-north-east, is a large bay, well sheltered from all southern winds, and none others seem to blow with much strength here. The land bends eastward about seven leagues from Corny Point to the head of the bay, 
CHART OF KANGAROO ISLAND.
NORTH VIEW OF KANGAROO ISLAND.
Painted by W. Westall, A.R.A., F.L.S., for Flinders' Voyage to Terra Australis.
any fresh stream falls into it, I am unable to state; the land, however, was better wooded, and had a more fertile appearance than any before seen in the neighbourhood. I called this place Hardwicke Bay."
Kangaroo Island been more thoroughly examined than any other part of the site of the intended colony. The best evidence is that of Captain Sutherland, who has given the following written report of his residence on the island during seven months.
"Report
Of a Voyage from Sydney to Kangaroo Island, and of Observations made, during a stay of seven months on and near the island, by Captain Sutherland, who in the year 1819 was employed by some merchants of Sydney to command a vessel of 140 tons, expressly fitted out for the purpose of obtaining a cargo of salt and seal skins from Kangaroo Island. Captain Sutherland has been engaged for many years in the trade between England and New Holland, and lately commanded the ship Lang.
On the 8th of January, 1819, we arrived at Kangaroo Island from Sydney, after a pleasant passage of fourteen days, during which nothing particular occurred to attract our attention. We anchored in Lagoon Bay, in about four fathoms water (sand and mud) close in-shore: our first object being to procure salt to ballast the ship and to cure skins. To facilitate this object two boats were despatched, with five men in each, to discover the salt lagoon, and ascertain where seals resorted to round the island. While these two boats were thus engaged, our other boat and three men were employed in searching for water, and examining the various bays and anchorages. During our ramble on this occasion we discovered a well with a small supply of water, near which we observed a flat stone with some writing on the surface. This appears to be the place where the French navigator watered: the ship and captain's names, with the particular dates, were cut on this stone; but being in French, we paid little or no attention to it, not at the time imagining it would be of consequence at any future period. Close to Point Marsden in Nepean Bay, about twenty yards from the sea at high water, behind the bank washed up by the sea, we dug a hole about four feet deep; it immediately filled with fresh water. We put a cask into it, which was always filled as fast as two hands could bale it out. The water was excellent, as clear as crystal, and I never tasted better. This hole supplied us whilst we were in Nepean Bay, and so plentifully, that we had no occasion to look farther for fresh water thereabouts. When on the south and west coasts of the island, we had no occasion to dig for water, having always found plenty in lagoons close to the beach. The water of the lagoons, though not bad, is not so good as that of the springs: the people settled on the island (mentioned hereafter) had not dug for water till I arrived there, but depended entirely on the lagoons: they however followed my example, and I was told had no difficulty in obtaining excellent water by digging in various parts of the island. On the return of the boats, in three or four days, we weighed and stood farther into the bay, in a much more safe anchorage, being sheltered from all winds. We moored ship, and each individual took part in pursuing the objects of the voyage: my own lot, with another person, was to stay by the ship, during which time I had many opportunities of examining the bays, harbours, sands, and different anchorages, with many other occurrences and incidents which I could not now relate from lapse of time.
From a point five miles south of Point Marsden a sand spit runs out at least six miles in a south-easterly direction, which is not mentioned in any of the English charts. I have corrected this in my own, and called it Sutherland's Shoal. I made a regular sketch of the island as near as I could, having due regard to all the bays with the best anchorages, and all the probable dangers I could discover. Having sailed twice round the island, I have placed several small reefs and rocks on the chart as I discovered them, and drawn the south side of the island, and shown the direction of the land.
Near the Bay of Shoals I planted cabbages, having brought the seed from Sydney; they proved very good and useful. While here we had abundance of fish of several kinds; the best we found was the snapper, some weighing about seven pounds; they are excellent eating, and preferable to some of our English fish; oysters, and every other species of shell-fish, were abundant.
These, with our daily supply of kangaroos, enabled us to live in great plenty. Indeed, I never was on a voyage which pleased me better, or on which we were better supplied.
HARBOURS AND ROADSTEADS.
Twenty ships could moor within 100 yards of the shore, and the same number anchor in safety farther off, the water being always smooth, sheltered by the land from the north-west, and from the southward by Kangaroo Head, and from the north-east by Sutherland's Shoal, extending from the point below Point Marsden about six miles, always dry at half ebb for nearly the whole distance. The shore is thickly lined with wood and shrubs, interspersed with several high hills protecting the anchorage: the opposite coast on the main is Cape Jervis, which I should judge to be about fourteen or fifteen miles from the first anchorage, but nearer to Kangaroo Head by three or four miles. The main land here is very high, and at the head of the bay wears every appearance of an inlet or river.
THE SOIL.
I had an opportunity of seeing much of the interior of the island, having crossed the country in company with two sealers, who had been residents on the island for several years. The land wears every appearance of being fertile; a deep loam with coarse grass, abounding with kangaroos and emus: where these animals feed, the grass is much better for pasture: occasional ponds of rain water are seen, and a plentiful supply of pure spring water is always attainable by digging for it. The land here is as good as any I have seen in Van Diemen's Land. In the neighbourhood of Sydney I have not observed any equal to it. Trees are scattered every where over the plains—the Swamp Oak or Beef wood, and the Wattle (both of which indicate good land) are growing in abundance here. Close on the shore, within from a quarter to half a mile from the sea, the wood is very thick; but when this belt of wood is passed, you come on to an open country, covered with grass, where there are often hundreds of acres without a tree; I calculated, by oomparison with New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, there might be on this plain, on the average, three or four trees to an acre. I once crossed the Island, a distance of about sixty miles in two days. Once past the belt of wood which surrounds the Island, we walked straight on end over the plains, found plenty of water in ponds, saw abundance of kangaroos and emus, and met with no difficulty or trouble. As we crossed the Island I looked to the right and left, and saw every where the same open plains, now and then changed in appearance by close timber of great height, on high points and ridges of land. In some places we found the grass very high and coarse in patches, but where the greatest number of kangaroos and emus were found, the grass was short and close. In the other places, close short grass was found between the coarse high patches.
While crossing the Island we saw plenty of parrots and wild pigeons, and black swans on the lagoons.
PRODUCTIONS.
With the exception of salt, the timber appears the principal production we have observed of this place.
The trees are the same as at New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land; some run exceedingly high and large in circumference, and may be converted into every domestic purpose as well as maritime; as many may be found and selected for ship's spars and other purposes of ship-building. Twenty years ago an American ship was cast away on the coast, and the crew built a schooner in Lagoon Bay, which enabled them to get away, after a residence of several months on the Island. Salt is produced here in abundance; I should say between two and three hundred tons could be collected from the lagoon with a little attention; the distance to the beach is about three-quarters of a mile, and from the beach to where ships anchor about four miles. This lagoon ia a perfect circle of about three miles in circumference.
The prospect about this lagoon is very pleasant. Close to the salt-water lake is another of fresh, but considerably smaller. It was at this spot our people erected their tents while collecting the salt. Pigeons and kangaroos make their appearance here regularly morning and evening for water, so that we were well supplied with fresh provisions for very little trouble.
My attention was next directed to the lime-stone of the Island,—in several places I found it plentiful, but not general over the country. Free-stone and granite are also in large quantities, so that people emigrating to this country would find every necessary as in Europe and both the other Colonies. I make no doubt but seme more valuable productions might be found on examination and enquiry— my time and attention were of course mora particularly devoted to the object, of my voyage.
THE CLIMATE
appeared to me very temperate, and not subject to oppressive heat, nor do the rains fall in torrents as at Sydney; the dews are heavy, but not injurious to health, which we had ample opportunity of proving, owing to the frequent exposure of our men, many of whom have slept under trees and bushes for several nights together, and though almost wet through, never experienced any ill effects. I had fifteen men under my command, and though they were a class of people who take no care of themselves, not one of them was ill during our stay, nor did my own health suffer at all, though I was exposed to all weathers both night and day.
January, when I reached the Island, is the middle of the summer; and the autumn and winter elapsed during our stay. In the winter it appeared to me much less cold than in Van Diemen's Land, and I observed generally that the changes of temperature are less sudden and frequent than in New South Wales.
The winds there are regular land and sea breezes, with occasional calms; during the winter months strong south westerly winds prevail, but are not of any duration, and cannot throw any sea into the anchorages to injure the shipping, they being completely landlocked;—a vessel, on making for the Island, must be careful in not standing too close to the shore, until they ascertain their true position, as several dangers are still unexplored on the southern part of the Island: this I would leave entirely to the judgment of the navigator, who always ought to be guided by circumstances.
There are no harbours on the south side of the Island, but in fine weather a ship may anchor for a few hours in any place along the coast, but must be always ready to slip in case of the appearance of bad weather. It was the case with me at the south-west side of the Island. There are no natives on the Island; several Europeans assembled there; some who have run from ships that traded for salt; others from Sydney and Van Diemen's Land, who were prisoners of the Crown.
These gangs joined after a lapse of time, and became the terror of ships going to the Island for salt, &c. being little better than pirates. They are complete savages, living in bark huts like the natives, not cultivating any thing, but living entirely on kangaroos, emus, and small porcupines, and getting spirits and tobacco in barter for the skins which they lay up during the sealing season. They dress in kangaroo skins without linen, and wear sandals made of seal skins. They smell like foxes.
They have carried their daring acts to an extreme, venturing on the main land in their boats, and seizing on the natives, particularly the women, and keeping them in a state of slavery, cruelly beating them on every trifling occasion; and when at last some of these marauders were taken off the Island by an expedition from New South Wales, these women were landed on the main with their children and dogs, to procure a subsistence, not knowing how their own people might treat them after a long absence. There are a few even still on the Island, whom it would be desirable to have removed, if a permanent settlement were established in the neighbourhood.
The period during which I stayed on and near the Island, was from the 8th of January to the 12th of August. I myself landed only once on the main, in the bight between Point Riley and Corny Point. The soil was thickly covered with timber and brushwood. Some of my men landed at several different places on the main, being sometimes absent three weeks at a time in search of seals. On these occasions they carried with them bread and some salt meat; but having a musket and a dog with them, they always obtained fresh meat (kangaroo), when on the main as well as on some of the islands. On these expeditions they never took fresh water with them. They often spoke of the places they had seen as being very pleasant.
I never saw or heard of any native dogs on the Island of Kangaroo; and from the very great number of kangaroos, do not believe there are any. Some of the kangaroos which I killed on the Island weighed 120lbs.
Our men used to go to hunt them at sunrise, when they leave the woods to feed on the grassy plains. I have known as many as fifteen taken by my men in one morning. We never touched any part but the hind quarters.
GEORGE SUTHERLAND,
Commander of the Brig Governor Macquarrie
In a course of interrogatories put to Captain
Sutherland by a Committee appointed to examine into the
evidence as to the soil, &c., he further stated that the
kangaroos were larger and fatter than any he had seen
on the main land; and that during his stay on the Island,
he and his men killed 1500 of them. From having
cultivated land in Van Diemen's Land, he was able to form
a tolerable judgment as to the character of the soil, and
he thought the land of Kangaroo Island superior to
that of Van Diemen's Land; the soil of the Island is a
deep loam on a bed of blue clay. The climate is better
also; it is milder, and the rains are more regular.
There was no ice during his stay there, which included the whole winter.
The prevailing winds in winter are westerly. Kangaroo Island five or six days' sail from Circular Head, the establishment of the Van Diemen's Land Company; and a vessel calling at the Island from England would not be delayed more than five or six days. The wind would be fair if she kept along the coast. Nepean Bay can be entered at all times, and the anchorage is safe all the year wand. The rise of the tide in the Bay of Shoals is ten or eleven feet.
Snakes are numerous, but Captain Sutherland was not annoyed by them; nor did he see any venomous ones. There are many guanas as large as a small alligator, but they are quite harmless.
Captain Sutherland declared his intention of settling at Kangaroo Island, if the colony were founded; and he proposed to follow the whale fishery, for which the locality is, in his opinion, admirably adapted.*
Captain Dillon states that in the Bay of Shoals he found good anchorage for ships under 300 tons, and safe from all winds. The climate he found very good, and the soil of the western coast bore as fertile an appearance as the shores of Van Diemen's Land. He went but a mile inland at any part, but wherever he landed (and this was on several parts of the Island) timber was plentiful. In the neighbourhood of the salt lagoon, it was open forest land, but the trees there were not so large as on the western coast. He saw a great many kangaroos; they were the forest kangaroos of the continent, and were larger and fatter than those of Van Diemen's Land.
He took 7 tons of salt on board, and would have taken 40 tons more, had he not allowed it to remain on the bed of the lagoon after having collected it, where it was dissolved by a fall of rain. He also took 500 seals on the Island.
The account given by Richard Wootton, Steward of the brig Guardian, is much to the same effect as the preceding statement. He landed about twelve miles west of Point Marsden with some shipmates and dogs, to shoot kangaroos, walking towards Nepean Baywhere his ship was to anchor. They succeeded in killing a dozen kangaroos of a larger sort than the Wallaba species. Where they landed the shore was barren; but it continued improving till they arrived at Nepean Bay. Near the water's edge on the north side of the Island the land was barren; but about three or four miles from the shore they saw large trees. They dug a pit about five feet deep, and so found plenty of very good water; they dug through sand first, and then light earth till they got to the clay, where they found water.
He remained on the Island three weeks, and the weather was very fine the whole time.
The report of the Island by MM. Baudin and Freycinet is not inviting, and shows that they were not disposed uniformly to praise. It is worthy of remark that although they describe the soil as sterile, they corroborate fully the account of the vast number and large size of the kangaroos found there; and if their picture were strictly correct, it would be difficult to imagine how these animals could be supported.
"From Cape Bedout to the Ravine des Casoars, the country exhibits a range of hills exactly like those of the south, but higher; and although destitute of wood of any kind, one may perceive here and there some traces of verdure. The Ravine des Casoars cutting through this chain exhibits to us in the interior other hills, some parts of which are wooded. The northern coast is arid and naked like the southward, and exhibits throughout an analogous appearance. The shores of Nepean Bay consist of hills of small elevation; but the verdure by which they are covered, and the forests, the tops of which are seen at different points, give to this part of the Island a more smiling and agreeable aspect.
The picture which I have just traced, though strictly correct as regards the coast of this Island, would doubtless have been more interesting and more varied, had we had an opportunity of penetrating into the interior of the country. Destitute of mountains, and devoid of that active vegetation which a humid soil supports, Kangaroo Island appeared to us to be almost without fresh water. It is true that it was then the hottest season of the year, and we, nevertheless, upon digging a few holes in the little Anse des Sources (Freshwater Bay) were enabled to procure a sufficient quantity of water for our daily consumption. It is not only the coasts of the Island which, at the period I speak of, were destitute of fresh water. There is a remarkable fact in the history of the animals inhabiting it, which seems to lead to the inference that this deficiency prevailed at that time, if not absolutely, at least generally, throughout the interior of the country. In fact, as soon as the heat of the day began to abate, we observed large herds of kangaroos and emus repairing from the depths of the woods to demand of the ocean that beverage which the earth doubtless denied them. This scarcity of water, the little elevation of the ground, and the general feebleness of the vegetation, must all concur in increasing the heat of the atmosphere upon these coasts; and it is therefore very surprising that the mean of our thermometrical observations at noon should have been 18°[4]."
"At the bottom of the great bay (Nepean Bay) we are now upon, are found forests which appear to extend a considerable distance into the interior of the country, and which consist, like all others in these remote regions, of different species of eucalyptus, Banksia, phebalium, mimosa, casuarina, metrasideros, leptosperraa, styphelia, conchicum, diosma, Hakea, embothreum," &c. &c.
Page 131.—"No traces of the abode of man are to be observed here, and we saw but three species of the mammalia; one of these belongs to the handsome genus dasyurus; the other two are new species, and appear to be the largest of the kangaroo tribe. Many of these animals are here of the height of a man, and more; when sitting on their hind legs and tail, they hold their body erect. From the favourable circumstance of the absence of every enemy, these large quadrupeds have multiplied very considerably in this Island; they associate there in large herds. In some spots which they are in the habit of frequenting regularly, the earth is so trodden that not a blade of herbage remains. Large pathways, opening into the heart of the woods, abut upon the sea-shore from every part of the interior:
these paths, which cross in every direction, are throughout firmly beaten; one might be led to suppose, at first sight, that the vicinity must be inhabited by a numerous and active population.
"This abundance of kangaroos rendering the chase as easy as productive, we were enabled to procure twenty-seven, which we carried on board our ship alive, independent of those which were killed and eaten by the crew. This valuable acquisition cost us neither ammunition nor labour; one single dog was our purveyor: trained by the English fishermen to this description of chase, he pursued the kangaroos, and having overtaken them, he immediately killed them by tearing the carotid arteries."
Page 139.—"Towards the bottom of the bay is a kind of marsh covered with sea-weed, in which live, buried in the mud and sand, millions of pinnæ marinæ, or mussels. These shells furnish a silk, equal, in all respects, to that obtained from similar animals along the coasts of Calabria and Sicily; but the European mussels dwell at a depth of 30 or 40 feet, and the fishery is attended with great difficulty, whilst those of Kangaroo Island are covered with scarcely 25 to 30 inches of water, and thousands might with ease be collected in a few hours[5]."
Captain Flinders gives an account of his adventures on Kangaroo Island much more in accordance with SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 51
what the statement of Captain Sutherland would lead one to anticipate.
"Next morning, however, going towards the shore, a number of dark brown kangaroos were seen feeding upon a grass plat by the side of the wood, and our landing gave them no disturbance*. I had with me a double-barrelled gun fitted with a bayonet, and the gentlemen my companions had muskets. It would be difficult to guess how many kangaroos were seen; but I killed ten, and the rest of my party made up the number to thirty-one taken on board in the course of the day; the least of them weighing sixty nine, and the largest one hundred and twenty-five pounds. These kangaroos had much resemblance to the large species found in the forest lands of New South Wales; except that their colour is darker, and they were not wholly destitute of fat.
"After this butchery, for the poor animals suffered themselves to be shot in the eyes with small shot, and in some cases to be knocked on the head with sticks, I scrambled with difficulty through the brush-wood and over fallen trees, to reach the higher land with the surveying instruments; but the thickness and height of the wood prevented any thing else being distinguished. There was little doubt, however, that this extensive piece of land was separated from the continent; for the extraordinary tameness of the kangaroos and the presence of the seals upon the shore, concurred with the absence of all traces of men to show that it was not inhabited.
"The whole ship's company was employed this afternoon in skinning and cleaning the kangaroos, and a delightful regale they afforded, after four months' privation from almost any fresh provisions." "In gratitude for so seasonable a supply, I named this southern land Kangaroo Island."
- This was before the runaway sailors and convicts had settled there.
E2 52 NATURAL FEATURES OF
Page 170.—"The scientific gentlemen landed again to examine the natural productions of the Island, and in the evening eleven more kangaroos were brought on board; but most of these were smaller and seemed to be of a different species to those of the preceding day. Some of the party saw several large running birds which, according to their description, seemed to be the emu or cassowary.
"All the cliffs of Kangaroo Island seen to the west of the anchorage had the appearance of being calcareous, and the loose stones scattered over the surface of Kangaroo Head and the vicinity were of that substance; but the basis in this part seemed to be a brown slate, lying in strata nearly horizontal, and laminae of quartz were sometimes seen in the interstices. In some places the slate was split into pieces of a foot long, or more, like iron bars, and had a shining ore-like appearance; and the strata were there farther from the horizontal line than I observed them to be elsewhere.
"A thick wood covered almost all that part of the Island visible from the ship; but the trees in a vegetating state were not equal in size to the generality of those lying on the ground, nor to the dead trees standing upright. Those on the ground were so abundant, that, in ascending the higher land, a considerable part of the walk was made upon them. They lay in all directions, and were nearly of the same size, and in the same progress towards decay; whence it would seem that they had not fallen from age, nor yet been thrown down in a gale of wind. Some general conflagration, and there were marks apparently of fire on many of them, is perhaps the sole cause which can be reasonably assigned." "They were a species of eucalyptus, and being less than the fallen trees, had most probably not arrived at maturity; but the wood is hard and solid, and may thence be supposed to grow slowly."
Page 172. — "The soil of that part of Kangaroo Island SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 53
examined by us was judged to be much superior to any before seen, either upon the south coast of the continent, or upon the islands near it; with the exception of some portions behind the harbours of King George's Sound. The depth of the soil was not particularly ascertained; but from the thickness of the wood it cannot be very shallow. Some sand is mixed with the vegetable earth, but not in any great proportion; and I thought the soil superior to some of the land cultivated at Port Jackson, and to much of that in our stony counties in England."
Page 183. — "The entrance of a piece of water at the head of Nepean Bay is less than half a mile in width and mostly shallow; but there is a channel sufficiently deep for all boats near the western shore. After turning two low islets near the east point, the water opens out, becomes deeper, and divides into two branches, each of two or three miles long. Boats can go to the head of the southern branch only at high water; the east branch appeared to be accessible at all times; but as a lead and line were neglected to be put into the boat, I had no opportunity of sounding. There are four small islands in the eastern branch; one of them is moderately high and woody, the others are grassy and lower, and upon two of these we found many young pelicans unable to fly. Flocks of the old birds were sitting upon the beaches of the lagoon, and it appeared that the islands were their breeding places; not only so, but from the number of skeletons and bones there scattered, it should seem that they had for ages been selected for the closing scene of their existence."
Page 184. — "I named this piece of water Pelican Lagoon. It is also frequented by flocks of the pied shag, and by some ducks and gulls, and the shoals supplied us with a few oysters. The surrounding country is almost everywhere thickly covered with brushwood; and the soil appeared to be generally of a good quality, though not 54 NATURAL FEATURES OF
deep. Not being able to return on board the same night, we slept near the entrance of the lagoon."
Mr. Westall corroborates the reports of Captains Sutherland and Flinders. He says that the land of Kangaroo Island is decidedly fertile; the trees are large, but a number of them had been thrown down by some inexplicable cause. Young ones were growing up between the fallen trunks, and the grass was thick and short. A number of very large kangaroos were found there. The appearance of the land there, says Mr. Westall, was decidedly better than that at Port Lincoln, and that again is better than the soil at King George's Sound.
Of the western shore of Yorke's Peninsula nothing is known, but we are now approaching a spot which has been explored, though not so completely as could be wished, by Captain Sturt, (a most enterprising traveller now in England,) who was employed by the Government of New South Wales to conduct an expedition of discovery into the interior. The following extract from the official report of that expedition relates to the country visited by Captain Sturt, after he had got within the limits of the new Colony.
Extracts from "Two Expeditions into the Interior of Southern Australia, during the years 1828, 1829, 1830, and 1831; with Observations on the soil, climate, and general resources of the Colony of New South Wales," by Captain Charles Sturt, 39th Regiment, &c.
Vol. II. p. 180.— "The valley of the Murray, at its entrance, cannot be less than four miles in breadth. The river does not occupy the centre, but inclines to either side, according to its windings, and thus the flats are of greater or less extent, according to the distance of the river from the base of the hills. It is to be remarked, that the bottom of the valley is extremely level, and extensively covered with reeds. From the latter circumstance, one would be led to infer that these flats are SOUTH AUSTRALIA 55
subject to overflow, and no doubt can exist as to the fact of their being, at least partially, if not wholly, under water at times. A country in a state of nature is, however, so different from one in a state of cultivation, that it is hazardous to give an opinion as to its practical availableness, if I may use such a term. I should undoubtedly say the marshes of the Macquarrie were frequently covered with water, and that they were wholly unfit for any one purpose whatever. It is evident from the marks of the reeds upon the banks, that the flood covers them occasionally to the depth of three feet, and the reeds are so densely embodied, and so close to the river side, that the natives cannot walk along it. The reeds are the broad flag-reed (arundo phragenatis), and grow on a stiff earthy loam, without any accompanying vegetation; indeed they form so solid a mass that the sun cannot penetrate to the ground to nourish vegetation. On the other hand, the valley of the Murray, though covered with reeds in most places, is not so in all. There is no mark upon the reeds by which to judge of the height of inundation; neither are they of the same kind as those which cover the marshes of the Macquarrie. They are the species of round reed of which the South Sea Islanders make their arrows, and stand sufficiently open, not only to allow of a passage through, but for the abundant growth of grass among them. Still I have no doubt that parts of the valley are subject to flood; but, as I have already remarked, I do not know whether these parts are either deeply or frequently covered. Rain must fall simultaneously in the S.E. angle of the island in the intertropical regions, and at the heads of all the tributaries of the main stream, ere its effects can be felt in the lower parts of the Murray. If the valley of the Murray is not subject to flood, it has only recently gained a height above the influence of the river, and still retains all the character of flooded land. In either case, however, it contains land that is of the very richest kind 56 NATURAL FEATURES OF
— soil that is the pure accumulation of vegetable matter, and is as black as ebony. If its hundreds of thousands of acres were practically available, I should not hesitate to pronounce it one of the richest spots of equal extent on earth, and highly favoured in other respects. How far it is available* remains to be proved; and an opinion upon either side would be hazardous, although that of its liability to flood would, most probably, be nearest the truth. It is, however, certain, that any part of the valley would require much labour before it could be brought under cultivation, and that even its most available spots would require almost as much trouble to clear them as the forest tract, for nothing is more difficult to destroy than reeds. Breaking the sod would naturally raise the level of the ground, and lateral drains would most probably carry off all floods; but then the latter at least is the operation of an advanced stage of husbandry only. I would, however, observe, that there are many parts of the valley decidedly above the reach of floods. I have, in the above observations, been more particularly alluding to the lowest and broadest portions of it. I trust I shall be understood as not wishing to overrate this discovery on the one hand, or, on the other, to include its whole extent in one sweeping clause of condemnation."
Page 229. — "We were borne over its ruffled and agitated surface (Lake Alexandrina) with such rapidity, that I had scarcely time to view it as we passed; but cursory as my glance was, I could not but think I was leaving behind me the fullest reward of our toil, in a country that would ultimately render our discoveries valuable, and benefit the colony for whose interests we
- "Available" means here, available under the circumstance of dispersed and divided labour. In the time of Alfred, a surveyor might have doubted whether the rich garden grounds near Fulham, or the marsh of the Isle of Dogs, was "available." Captain Sturt had lived in a colony where pains have been taken to disperse and divide the settlers. 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 verdure, and the trees upon them were of more than ordinary size. The view to the eastward was shut out by other ranges, parallel to those on which they were: below them, to the westward, the same pleasing kind of country that flanked the inlet still continued.
"In the course of the day they passed round the head of a deep ravine, whose smooth and grassy sides presented a beautiful appearance."
Page 236.—"Immediately behind Cape Jervis there is a small bay, in which, according to the information of the sealers who frequent Kangaroo Island, there is good and safe anchorage for seven months in the year; that is to say, during the prevalence of the east and north-east winds."
Page 237.—"Between this inlet (on the east coast of Gulf St. Vincent) 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.
Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/78 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/79 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/80 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/81 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/82 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/83 ample experiment in colonization. For making such an experiment, that spot has been chosen concerning whose natural fertility there is better evidence than touching any other wilderness open to British enterprise. The wisest can only do as well as is possible.
Is there a country more suitable for the object in view, recollecting the greatness of that object, and the necessity of keeping away from colonies whose bad state of political economy would interfere with the best-laid plan if it were tried in their immediate neighbourhood? The reader must answer that question for himself. Neither the Government nor the Association are half so well qualified to decide the question, as those who, contemplating emigration, have the deepest interest in deciding it correctly.
CHART OF THE WORLD.
CHAPTER II.
RELATIVE POSITION OF THE COLONY.
For the purposes of foreign trade — For obtaining live-stock and cheap food—Table of Sailing Distances to and from Port Lincoln— Table of the prices of provisions and live-stock in New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land—Advantage of the new colony to the British inhabitants of India—Exportable commodities produceable in South Australia.
The position of Australia with relation to other parts
of the world, is explained in the following extract
from a little work on the state and prospects of New
South Wales[6].
"Just before I embarked at Plymouth, I visited my grandmother, in order to take leave of her for ever.
Poor old soul! she was already dead to the concerns of this life: my departure could make but little difference in the time of our separation; and it was of no importance to her which of us should quit the other. My resolution, however, revived for a day all her woman's feelings: she shed abundance of tears, and then became extremely curious to know every particular about the place to which I was going. I rubbed her spectacles whilst she wiped her eyes, and, having placed before her a common English chart of the world, pointed out the situation of New Holland. She shook her head. 'What displeases you, my dear Madam?' said I. 'Why,' she answered, 'it is terribly out of the way; down in the very right-hand corner of the world.' The chart being mine, I cut it in two through the meridian of Iceland, transposed the parts laterally, and turned them upside down. 'Now,' asked I, 'where is England?' 'Ah, boy,' she replied, 'you may do what you like with the map; but you can't twist the world about in that manner, though they are making sad changes in it.'
"Enough of my grandmother. But, notwithstanding the great increase of knowledge which she deplored, English people generally do consider New Holland 'terribly out of the way.' Out of the way of what? Of England? Yes; but is every part of the world a pleasant or hateful residence, only according to its facilities of communication with England? Any people, no doubt, must be the better for communication with the most civilized people in the world; but the degree of intercourse between nations is not entirely regulated by distance. Indeed, distance has very little to do with it; as appears by comparing the case of France and Spain, with that of England and India. Perhaps, if there were no restrictions on trade, the greatest difference of temperature, which involves considerable distance, would cause the greatest degree of intercourse, by means of the greatest difference of production, and the greatest motive for exchange. But, however this may be, I suspect that those who despise New Holland on account of its being out of the way of England, would, if they could be forced to think on the subject, acknowledge that they do not mean exactly what they say. Comparing the inhabitants of Pest, for example, with those of Calcutta, they would see that wealth and civilization are not measured by the longitude from Greenwich; and a glance at Loo-Choo might convince them, if Captain Hall was not deceived, that happiness does not depend on geographical position with respect to England. But without inquiry, a moment's reflection would lead them to use other words.
They do not mean, though they say so, out of the way with respect to England, but positively out of the way ; that is, isolated and distant from the rest of the world; 'down in the corner,' as my grandmother said.
"This old woman's notion appears to arise from con fusion of ideas. Because New Holland is more distant from England than some well-known distant places, the vulgar suppose that it must also be more distant from those places. Whereas the very contrary is the fact; the distance of those places from England placing them near to New Holland. There is a great difference, in short, between looking to a place and looking from it; and my grandmother thought there was no difference.
Now the situation of a country is of importance to those who live in it, rather than to those who do not; and the former also will, looking from the country, make the truest estimate of what good or evil may belong to its position with respect to other countries. Fancy yourself ere, therefore. And, for fear of my grandmother's 'down in the corner,' look at a globe; or divide a chart of the world, transposing the parts laterally, but without turning them upside down.
"Where is England? Up in the left-hand corner.
And New Holland? Let an English writer answer:—'In order to obtain a connected view of the loftiest and most extensive system of mountains upon the globe, we must suppose ourselves placed in New Holland, with our face turned towards the north. America will then be on the right; Asia and Africa on the left. From Cape Horn to Behring's Strait, along the western coast of America, there is almost an uninterrupted range of the highest mountains: from Behring's Strait again, succeeds an enormous line, passing in a south- westerly direction through Asia, leaving China and Hindostan to the south, somewhat interrupted as it approaches Africa, but still to be looked upon as continuing its course in the mountains of Persia and Arabia Felix. From Cape Gardafui in Africa, to the Cape of Good Hope, there appears to be a chain which completes the view. The series of mountains which we have thus followed, is in the form of an immense irregular curve, which comprises within it the Pacific and Indian Oceans, with their innumerable islands, besides a portion of Asia, including China, the Burman dominions, and the Indian peninsula[7].'
"The situation of NewHolland with respect to this 'immense irregular curve,' is like that of the frog of a horse's foot to the outline of the shoe; the most favourable position imaginable, for intercourse with all that the curve contains. Remark also, that Australia has a territorial line of above eight thousand miles, immediately connected by water with those numerous countries, of which, again, nearly all the rivers flow towards a common centre, which is New Holland. Add to this, that those countries comprise, not only every degree of latitude, north and south, as far as land extends, but the most fertile, and, above all, the most populous regions of the earth. Thus it becomes evident, that Australasia, instead of being positively 'out of the way,' offers all at once better means and greater motives, for a more frequent intercourse with a greater variety of nations, and a larger number of people, than any other country without exception."
Many new colonies have suffered in the beginning from want of food. In every case, of course, some time must elapse before food is produced in an infant settlement; and especially animal food. In most cases, the colony, until it obtained a domestic supply, was dependent upon importation from a great distance. It was difficult, therefore, to regulate the supply by the demand, and nearly all the animal food
imported, consisted necessarily of salt provisions.
The whole supply of food obtained, was often insufficient, always dear, and never of a good quality. In the present case, no such evil is to be apprehended.
As respects food and live-stock, the province of South Australia will be, not a new colony, but a new settlement in an old colony which produces plenty of whatever is required for human subsistence. The following tables of Sailing Distances, and of the Cost of Provisions and the Prices of Stock in New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, will show, that the new colony may easily obtain from those settlements an ample and cheap supply of food, seeds, and all kinds of live-stock. There is nothing perhaps (except more, and more constant, labour wherewith to raise commodities for distant markets) that the capitalists of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land require so much, as new markets in which to dispose of those things which they raise in abundance, notwithstanding deficiency of labour. They made large shipments of such things to the Swan River; and their enterprising character leaves no doubt, that, if sufficient notice be given, the first settlers in South Australia will, on landing, or very soon afterwards, find a cheap market established, in which to supply themselves with potatoes, flour, seeds of all sorts, sheep, cattle, and horses. "Still," says the writer of A Letter from Sydney, "are not these settlements" (New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land) "parted by the ocean? No; they are united by a strait.
Water is every where the best of roads for bringing together distant places. Without the great civilization of England, London would be nearer to Hamburgh than to Birmingham. Here, where canals are out of the question, and where the few roads of which I have boasted, are due entirely to a forced cheapness" (constancy and combination) " of labour, now coming to its end, the operation of water in contracting absolute space, is far more evident than in any part of Europe. The inhabitants of Hobart's Town and Sydney are nearer neighbours, than two families in the district of Bathurst, who may be separated by only fifty miles of unreclaimed land. A farmer of Van Diemen's Land sells corn in the market of Sydney, whilst many a New South Wales farmer grows no more corn than will supply his family, because he would be unable to remove a surplus quantity from his own barn. The shopkeeper of Launceston, again, can sell Chinese goods obtained from Sydney, for less than the shopkeeper of Bathurst, who, on the map, appears nearer to Sydney by some hundred miles.
In a word, ships, and water to float them on, are to the inhabitants of new countries, what waggons, carriages, inns, and Macadam's roads, are to you. Believe, then, that New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land are connected, not separated, by Bass's Strait."
It is the same with respect to Van Diemen's Land and the shores of Spencer's Gulph. The first town of South Australia, whether formed at Nepean Bay, on Cape Jervis, or at Port Lincoln, will be more easily provisioned; and stocked with what a new settlement requires, than a fresh settlement within New South Wales or Van Diemen's Land, which was planted at a distance of fifty miles from the nearest cultivated district. As respects a new market for the producers of Van Diemen's Land, as well as cheap food, and an ample supply of cheap stock from the very beginning, the plantation in South Australia will be the same as a new settlement on Van Diemen's Land, if not better: it will be better, unless the supposed new settlement in the old colony were connected by the means of water-carriage with some district superabounding in food and stock. It seems needless to dwell further on this most important and satisfactory consideration.
| Place. | Distance in Miles. |
Winds. | Time, Days. |
Proper Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Port Lincoln to: | ||||
| Timor | 2700 | Fav. at all Seasons. | 20 | All times of the year. |
| Java | 2650 | Ditto | 18 | Ditto |
| Madras | 4700 | Ditto | 33 | Ditto |
| Ceylon | 4500 | Ditto | 32 | Ditto |
| Isle of France | 4400 | Ditto | 29 | Ditto |
| C. of G. Hope | 6000 | Ditto | 40 | Ditto |
| England | 11500 | Variable. | 105 | Ditto |
| Van D. Land | 800 | Favourable. | 6 | Ditto |
| Sidney | 1200 | Favourable in general. | 12 | Ditto |
| To Port Lincoln from: | ||||
| Timor | 2700 | Favourable at all Times. | 23 | At all Times. |
| Java | 2650 | Favourable. | 18 | Ditto |
| Madras | 4700 | Ditto by proper route. | 36 | Ditto |
| Ceylon | 4500 | Ditto | 34 | Ditto |
| Isle of France | 4400 | Variable, gen. Favourable. | 29 | Ditto |
| C. of G. Hope | 6000 | Strong and Favourable. | 34 | Ditto |
| England | 11500 | Ditto | 100 | Ditto |
| Launceston | 700 | Always easy. | 6 | Ditto |
| Sidney | 1200 | ... ... | 12 | Ditto |
should bear in mind, that, going to a new settlement on the sea-shore, he will disembark from the ship in which he shall leave England, on the very spot of his future home. This will appear extremely advantageous to those who know how much time is lost, and how much cost and trouble are incurred, in conveying a family or goods from the sea-coast to the interior of any of our established colonies.
Prices of Provisions, Live-stock, &c.
In New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land[8].
| New South Wales. | Van Diemen's Land. | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £. | s. | d. | £. | s. | d. | £. | s. | d. | £. | s. | d. | ||||||||
| Ale, English, per hogshead | 6 | 0 | 0 | to | 6 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | to | 6 | 5 | 0 | |||||
| Dittodozen | 11 | 0 | .. | 13 | 0 | 11 | 0 | .. | 13 | 0 | |||||||||
| Colonial, per hogshead | 3 | 0 | 0 | .. | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .. | 4 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Dittodozen | 6 | 0 | .. | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | .. | 8 | 0 | |||||||||
| Beer, English, per hogshead | 5 | 0 | 0 | .. | 5 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | .. | 5 | 3 | 0 | |||||
| Dittodozen | 11 | 0 | .. | 13 | 0 | 11 | 0 | .. | 13 | 0 | |||||||||
| Colonial, per hogshead | 2 | 5 | 0 | .. | 2 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | .. | 2 | 15 | 0 | |||||
| Ditto per gallon | 2 | 0 | .. | 2 | 0 | .. | |||||||||||||
| Biscuit, per cwt. | 11 | 6 | .. | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .. | 1 | 5 | 0 | ||||||
| Blankets, col. per pair | 16 | 0 | .. | 1 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 0 | .. | 1 | 10 | 0 | |||||||
| Blue, per lb. | 1 | 6 | .. | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .. | 2 | 0 | |||||||||
| Butter, fresh | . | . | .. | 1 | 9 | 1 | 5 | .. | 1 | 8 | |||||||||
| , salt | 10 | ½ | .. | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .. | 1 | 4 | |||||||||
| Bread, 2 lb. loaf | 2 | .. | 2 | ½ | .. | 5 | |||||||||||||
| Candles, moulds, per lb. | 9 | .. | 9 | .. | |||||||||||||||
| dips | 4 | ½ | .. | 5 | 4 | ½ | .. | ||||||||||||
| Cattle— Bullocks, each | 2 | 15 | 0 | .. | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 0 | .. | 3 | 5 | 0 | |||||
| Working ditto | 4 | 0 | 0 | .. | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .. | 5 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Cows | 1 | 10 | 0 | .. | 2 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .. | 2 | 10 | 0 | |||||
| Ditto in milk | 1 | 10 | 0 | .. | 2 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .. | 2 | 10 | 0 | |||||
| New South Wales. | Van Diemen's Land. | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £. | s. | d. | £. | s. | d. | £. | s. | d. | £. | s. | d. | ||||||||
| Cattle—Calves | 6 | 0 | to | 8 | 0 | 12 | 0 | to | 14 | 0 | |||||||||
| Sheep | 6 | 0 | .. | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | .. | 9 | 6 | |||||||||
| Pigs | 7 | 0 | .. | 10 | 0 | 3 | ½ per lb. | ||||||||||||
| Ditto roasting. | 3 | 0 | .. | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .. | 4 | 0 | |||||||||
| Cheese, English, lb. | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Colonial | 4 | .. | 6 | 4 | .. | 6 | |||||||||||||
| Cloth, Paramatta, per yard | 1 | 8 | .. | 1 | 8 | .. | |||||||||||||
| Ditto, broad | 3 | 4 | .. | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Coffee, ground per lb. | 2 | 0 | .. | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | .. | 2 | 6 | |||||||||
| Eggs per dozen | 1 | 0 | .. | 8 | .. | 11 | |||||||||||||
| Flax, New Zealand, per ton | 16 | 0 | 0 | .. | 18 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | .. | 18 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Ditto pec 100 lbs., fine | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| Ditto seconds | 9 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| Fruit (not in season) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Apples per dozen | 1 | 6 | .. | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| Oranges, ditto | 1 | 0 | .. | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | .. | 1 | 6 | |||||||||
| Peaches, ditto. | 6 | .. | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
| Lemons | 4 | .. | 0 | 6 | |||||||||||||||
| Grain, Wheat, per Bushel | 3 | 0 | .. | 3 | 8 | 6 | 6 | .. | 7 | 6 | |||||||||
| Maize | 2 | 3 | .. | 2 | 6 | 3 | 6 | .. | 4 | 0 | |||||||||
| Barley | 3 | 6 | .. | 2 | 3 | .. | 3 | 0 | |||||||||||
| Oats | 3 | 0 | .. | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | .. | 4 | 0 | |||||||||
| Rye | 2 | 0 | .. | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Hay, English Seed, per ton | 8 | 10 | 0 | .. | 10 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | .. | 11 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Colonial | 6 | 0 | 0 | .. | 8 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Hides, per lb. | 1 | ½ | .. | 1 | ¼ | .. | |||||||||||||
| Horns, per 100 | 8 | 0 | .. | 10 | 8 | 0 | .. | 10 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Leather sole, per lb | 0 | 8 | .. | 10 | 8 | .. | 10 | ||||||||||||
| Dressed shoe, per lb. | 3 | 6 | .. | 10 | 0 | 3 | 6 | .. | 10 | 0 | |||||||||
| Basils, per dozen | 6 | 0 | .. | 12 | 0 | 6 | 0 | .. | 12 | 0 | |||||||||
| Meat—Beef, quarter, per lb. | 1 | ¼ | .. | 1 | ½ | 1 | ¼ | .. | 1 | ½ | |||||||||
| Joint | 2 | .. | 3 | 2 | .. | 2 | ½ | ||||||||||||
| Salted | 2 | ½ | .. | 3 | 2 | ½ | .. | 3 | |||||||||||
| Mutton, carcass | 1 | ¾ | .. | 2 | 2 | .. | |||||||||||||
| Joint | 2 | ½ | .. | 3 | 2 | ½ | .. | 3 | |||||||||||
| Pork carcass | 3 | .. | 4 | 6 | .. | 7 | |||||||||||||
| Joint | 5 | .. | 5 | ½ | |||||||||||||||
| Salted | 4 | .. | 5 | ½ | 6 | .. | 7 | ||||||||||||
| Bacon | 5 | .. | 6 | .. | |||||||||||||||
| Ham | 8 | .. | 10 | 8 | .. | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Veal per quarter | 3 | .. | 2 | .. | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Joint | 5 | .. | 4 | .. | 4 | ½ | |||||||||||||
| Milk per quart | 6 | .. | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil, Sperm, per gallon | 3 | 0 | .. | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Black,ditto | 1 | 9 | .. | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | .. | 2 | 0 | |||||||||
| Neats-foot | 4 | 0 | .. | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | .. | 5 | 0 | |||||||||
| Poultry—Geese, each | 2 | 6 | .. | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | .. | 4 | 6 | |||||||||
| Turkeys | 3 | 0 | .. | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | .. | 5 | 0 | |||||||||
| Ducks | 2 | 6 | .. | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | .. | 3 | 6 | |||||||||
| Rice, per lb. | 3 | .. | 4 | 3 | .. | 6 | |||||||||||||
£. s. d. Salt, Colonial, cwt 4 6 fo Sperm caudles, lb • Spermaceti, Spirits— Rum, gallon 9 . Brandy 12 6 . Gin 12 6 . Colonial 7 6 . Soap, lb 4 . Starch 9 . Straw, oat, load 1 0. Barley 10 0. Sugar, loaf/ lb 8 . Moist 3 . Tallow, per cwt 1 8 0. Rough fat I 3 4. TEA,hyson 4 6 . Young hyson 5 6. Souchong 4 . Pekoe , 5 . GunpDwder 7 0. Tobacco— Brazil, lb 2 . . Colonial, leaf • ■ 6 . Fig 1 3 . Stalks 4 . Negro-head 4 6 . Cigar, col., box 7 . Uavannah 15 . Chinsurah 10 . Manilla 2 15 . Snuff; col. per lb 6 . Vegetables— Potatoes, cwt. 6 . Cabbages, each If. Turnips, bunch 2 . Carrots, ditto 3*. Radishes, ditto 1 . Onions, lb 2}. Peas , Cucumbers 2 . Vinegar, Col. gal. ......... 2 6 . Woods, Cedar board, ft. . . , 4 . plank. 1 j. ' Blue Gum plank 19., log 1 .. Firewood, load 4 . Trenails, 100 4 . Wine, Port, per dozen 1 15 . Madeira 1 15 . Sherry 1 15 ., Claret 2 10 0. Cape per gal M 8 6 . Elder....? Wool, lb 10. Van Diemen's Land. £. s. d. £.8. d. £
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.. If the peculiar mode of colonization adopted, should accomplish the end with which it has been devised, rendering South Australia different from all modern colonies, and far superior to any with respect to wealth, refinement, and the state of society, the existence of this colony will prove highly advantageous to the British inhabitants of India. As the European constitution suffers from the climate of Hindostan, it is the prac- tice with British residents in that country to remove their children at an early age (and generally accom- panied by their mother) to be educated in a more healthy spot. The nearest country in which, under a healthy climate, good education can be obtained, is England! It follows that parent and child, as well as, in many cases, husband and wife, are separated by an immense distance, for a great number of years, and not unusually for life. In the next place, change of climate is the general prescription of Indian phy- sicians to Indian invalids. But in order that the resident of Bombay, Madras, or Calcutta, should reach a cooler climate, he must either travel by land to a temperate northern latitude, or sail across the line (through the fire, as it were) into the temperate regions of the southern hemisphere. This course being infinitely more convenient to persons in bad health, is much preferred by those who can afford to pursue it; and thus, Cape-Town, Hobartown, and Sydney (the only towns in the South where an in- valid can remain to recruit his health) are commonly visited by Indian invalids. But in none of these towns does the Anglo-Indian gentleman meet with a state of society that is otherwise than disagreeable to him, or even with the physical comforts, much less with the Digitized by CjOOQIC luxuries which long habit has taught him to consider as necessaries. He obtains coolness for the body, but wants every thing else that would be of service to him,—a comfortable house, the company of his wife and children, pleasant society, and entertainment for the mind. Yet what is there to prevent the formation, in one of the southern colonies, of a sort of pleasure town, like one of our watering-places, where, within five or six weeks' sail of Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta, the children of Anglo-Indians might, under the eye of their mother, obtain as good an education as at Brighton, and whither the Indian invalid might resort with the certainty of finding all that he could desire? There is nothing to prevent it, but the state of all the southern colonies,—the poverty and wildness of South Africa and Western Australia, and the horrid convict system of Van Diemen's Land and New South Wales.[9] The establishment of such a town at the Swan-river was recommended to some of the founders of that miserable settlement; and though the project appear ridiculous now, when after five years the settlers do not raise enough food for themselves, still it is a project well deserving the attention of the founders of South Australia, whose aim it is to establish something widely different from any modern colony. The project, considering the facts on which it is based, must inevitably succeed, if the numerous precautions taken for rendering South Australia a civilized colony from the beginning, should prove successful. Even the partial success of the project at first, would tend to promote its complete success ultimately; for there can be no doubt, that every Anglo-Indian gentleman who should be induced to visit the colony, would, by doing so, help to promote the wealth and civilization of the colonists. It seems more than probable, also, that many who should establish their families in the colony, and visit them from time to time, would afterwards invest their savings in the purchase of public land, and settle permanently on their property. To those who know how much retired Indians suffer from the damp and changeable climate of England, and how disagreeable English society with its purely English tastes, its coldness towards strangers, and its insolent assumption of superiority towards the first generation of new-rich, is to the greater part of Anglo-Indians, this last speculation will appear by no means extravagant. But all depends on the merits of the novel system of colonization.
In case the merits of that system should, as is expected, lead families, of an order superior to the common run of emigrants, to join the first body of settlers in this colony; heads of families, that is, who would not fail to provide for the good education of their own children, then the colony will immediately offer to Anglo-Indians the two grand desiderata of their situation; pleasant society and good schools, in a fine climate, and not far off. And in that case, as soon as there shall be evidence of the fact, an edition of this book, containing all the evidence, will be printed for circulation in the three British presidencies of India.
Nearly connected with this division of our subject is a consideration of great importance; viz. the capacity of the new settlement for producing commodities that would be exchangeable in distant markets. Without goods to be exchanged in foreign commerce, the best commercial position is of little value; it is of no value, except as it may lead to the production of such goods. Whether such goods will be produced in South Australia, must depend upon two points; first, the productiveness of labour, or the cost of production, supposing soil and climate to be favourable, which must be determined in great measure, as we shall endeavour to show presently, by the mode of colonization adopted; secondly, the fitness of soil and climate for producing things which are required in distant places. On the latter of these points, the statement which follows will be found instructive: it is taken from a publication of the South Australian Land Company, who so long ago as 1831 projected the formation of a settlement at or near Port Lincoln.[10]
"Exportable Commodities, which the Soil and Climate of the new Colony are capable of producing.
"The productions from which the colonists of the new settlement may be expected to derive the means of repaying the importer for the manufactures of the mother-country, may be divided into three classes: —
"First. The spontaneous productions of its land and waters;
"Second. Those productions which now form the exports of the Australian colonies; and,
"Third. Many of the articles which those colonies now import, but which they might grow and export, were the colonial capitalist able to avail himself of a constant and ample supply of labour.
"Under the first head of Spontaneous Productions, are the following:
"Slate, which is imported into the Isle of France from England; no other roofing being found to answer, in consequence of the violent hurricanes which visit that island. On Kangaroo Island are slate- quarries, which may thus be at once turned to profitable account.
"Coal has been found in every part of Australia where the attempt has been made; but the colonists have benefited little by the discovery, in consequence of the want of labour to work it. Markets for this commodity may be found in Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, Java, Canton, Sincapore, and the Isle of France; to most of which places coal has been sent from England.
"Wood of various kinds, some admirably adapted for cabinet use, and others for ship-building, are found all over Australia, of which that of the gum-tree is already known in the London market. The former, in plank and veneer, would find a ready market in India and China, and, perhaps, even in the mother-country.
"The Barks of several of the indigenous trees, especially that of the Mimosa, contain the tanning principle in a highly concentrated degree, for extracting which a process has been adopted which causes a great saving of freight.
"Gums of various species and qualities, particularly Gum Arabic and Manna, are obtainable in great abundance; many of the indigenous trees yielding them in large quantities.
"Salt of an excellent quality is found on Kangaroo Island, to which place ships are in the habit of going from the neighbouring colonies for this article. The salt of New South Wales contains a portion of magnesia, which is very prejudicial to its quality as an antiputrescent; and even the salt imported into the colonies from this country, is inferior in this respect to that obtained from Kangaroo Island. In 1819, the salt obtained by Captain Sutherland from Kangaroo Island, sold for 10l. per ton, while that imported front England was selling for only 7l. 10s.; the latter not answering equally well for curing skins. New South Wales and Van Die men's Land, therefore, are markets for this commodity; while its possession will enable the colonists to carry on a trade in
"Salt Fish, and other salted provisions, with China and India, besides supplying vessels which may touch at their port.
"Seals, of the kind from which the fur is obtained, are very plentiful on all the adjacent islands, and on the coast. The seal-fishery will open two sources of wealth to the colonist; the first being a trade in skins, and the second, in seal-oil.
"The Sperm and Black Whale fishery will afford articles of profitable export, and will also tend to make the settlement important for the refitting and victualling of vessels engaged in that trade.
"The use made of these natural productions of the sea and land by the Australian colonists, has hitherto been very limited, from the impossibility they have experienced of obtaining a sufficient supply of labour to work much in combination. One of the essentials of the plan upon which the new colony is to be founded, being such a concentration of people as will ensure a combination of labour, every profitable employment will be followed, for which the amount of capital at the disposal of the colonists shall suffice.
"Under the second head—Those Productions which now form the articles of export from Australia, are the following:—
"Wheat and Flour, which will at all times find a ready market in the Isle of France; and as Van Diemen'9 Land now supplies Sydney with large quantities of this commodity, it is reasonable to hope that this trade may also be followed by the new colony, as from the facility of production it will derive from an ample supply of labour, the cost of producing wheat may be expected to be lower there than at Van Diemen's Land.
"Fine Wool will also be an article of export to the mother- country, as from New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land at the present moment. And here it should be remarked, that, although land is uniformly to be sold, instead of being given away, such arrangement is not meant to prevent the occupation of land for breeding purposes without purchase, only on the distinct understanding that it shall not be cultivated or used in any other way. As to this article, therefore, the inducements offered to the Sydney capitalists apply also to capitalists settling in the proposed Colony; with the advantage on the part of the latter of a greater facility of obtaining shepherds, wool-dressers, &c., than is at present possessed either in New South Wales or Van Diemen's Land. This consideration is of great importance, since a want of shepherds, by preventing a proper division of flocks, is, in those countries, a cause of great mortality among the sheep.
"Hides, Tallow, and Horns, after a few years, may be expected to add to the list of colonial exports. Tobacco, although not an article of export from Australia,still, as its cultivation is encouraged in New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, may be mentioned here. That it cannot for a considerable time be an article* of extensive export from the colonies already established in Australia, is evident from the fact that 200,000lbs. of tobacco were imported into New South Wales in 1 829, at a duty of 2s. per lb. The cultivation of this plant requires a constant and plentiful supply of labour, which it is clear cannot be enjoyed in a colony where the dispersion of the inhabitants is very great. It may, however, be regarded as one of the first articles to which the attention of capitalists in the new colony will be directed.
"Under the third head—Articles at present imported into the Australian Colonies, but which might be cultivated there advantageously with a combination of labour, are comprised all, or nearly all commodities, the produce of similar latitudes in the northern hemisphere. The most important of these is
"Wine. It has been ascertained that the soil and climate of New South Wales are very favourable to the cultivation of the grape; but in this, as in many other instances, the want of combination of labour has prevented the production of this article for exportation. A vineyard must have existed some years before a generous grape can be produced; and if the supply of labour should not equal the demand for the purposes of the vineyard in any one year of the series, the vineyard is destroyed, and the capital invested is lost[11].
"Flax and Hemp, if not indigenous as in New Zealand and Van Diemen's Land, can be introduced with a certainty of success, and will afford to females an opportunity of working in-doors at a time which can be spared from domestic arrangements. The flax of New Zealand is of admirable quality; and a small trade is already carried on in it by the colonists of New South Wales.
"Cotton would form another article of export. Specimens sent home are of the best quality; but a sufficiently extensive trial has not been made, to ascertain what would be the cost of production, if followed with spirit and perseverance. Almonds, Aniseed, Bees' Wax and Honey, Barilla, Cheese for India and China, Carraway, Cochineal, Coriander, Dried Fruits, such as figs, currants, raisins, and prunes; Hops, Vegetable Oils, Olives, Citrons, Oranges, &c. &c., may all be produced; to which may be added the very important article Silk."
CHAPTER III.
MODE OF COLONIZATION.
The proper disposal of waste land, the first object in colonization—Purpose of the Government in disposing of waste land—Evils of profusion in granting land—Effects of profusion at Swan River—Causes of the failure of the Swan River settlement—Best mode of dealing with waste land—Method of proceeding for the new colony—Disposal of the purchase-money of waste land—Selection of poor emigrants—Anticipation of the emigration fund.
It is scarcely necessary to say, that, in planting a
colony, one of the chief elements with which we have
to deal, is the unoccupied land of the new country.
All this land is held by the government in trust for the public; and the mode in which the government disposes of public land to individuals, inevitably exerts the most important influence on the state of the colony. This subject is so very important to all who may think of settling in the new colony, that we shall endeavour, with the aid of a recent work wherein the whole subject is carefully examined, to give a full explanation of the peculiar mode of disposing of waste land, which is to be pursued in South Australia.
"All these cases pretty well establish, that in no modern colony has the best way, or indeed any one way of treating waste land been pursued systematically: to these cases, it would be easy to add several hundreds of Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/106 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/107 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/108 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/109 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/110 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/111 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/112 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/113 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/114 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/115 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/116 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/117 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/118 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/119 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/120 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/121 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/122 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/123 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/124 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/125 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/126 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/127 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/128 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/129 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/130 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/131
CHAPTER IV.
THE INDUCEMENTS TO EMIGRATION.
To capitalists—To labourers—To men of small fortune and large family—To young men of good fortune—To younger branches of the nobility.
Every capitalist going to the colony will know that
his want of labour is sure to be supplied. Nay,
having satisfied the Commissioners that he will
employ any given number of labourers, or domestic
servants, he may take that number along with him,
free of cost to himself. What is far more important,
he will be able to retain their services until others
shall arrive to take their place. In Canada, New
South Wales, Van Diemen's Land, South Africa,
and Western Australia, servants taken out by
capitalists under engagement to work for high wages
during a fixed period, invariably quit their masters.
"Reflecting on the urgent want of labour that occurs in all colonies which prosper, we may be sure that great pains have been taken by people in colonies, to devise some means of obtaining a supply of labour from old countries. The supplies of labour obtained by kidnapping in the old English colonies of America, by the late immigration of poor Germans into the United States; poor Germans, who, ignorant of the laws and language of America, were liable to be held in a state of Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/133 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/134 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/135 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/136 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/137 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/138 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/139 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/140 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/141 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/142 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/143 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/144 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/145 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/146 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/147 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/148
CHAPTER V.
GOVERNMENT OF THE COLONY.
Provisional legislation by the King in Council—Appointment of Officers by the Crown—Present security for good government—Favourable premise as to the future, during the provisional state—Provision for local self-government when the population of the colony shall amount to 50,000 souls. The transportation system never to be inflicted on this colony—Apology for speaking evil of other colonies.
It was originally proposed to his Majesty's
government, that the South Australian Association should he
incorporated as a body politic, with powers for
governing the colony until its population amounted to
50,000 souls; and that then the powers of the
Association should he transferred to the colonists. Such a delegation of authority would have been in strict accordance with the leading principle of the British constitution, which may be said to govern by means of a vast number of subordinate governments exercising delegated authority for special or local purposes:
CONCLUSION.
No expedition of settlers ought to take place until a large one be ready—The emigrants a distinct society before their departure—Means of concert and co-operation—Preparatory measures for religious instruction, education, a well-planned town, and written laws—Colonial Newspaper.
Considering that the new settlement, though distant from England, will be close to settlements abounding in food and stock, there is only one way in which the distance between South Australia and England may prove unfavourable to the early prosperity of the colony. To so distant a place, a sufficiently large and wealthy body of colonists may not be disposed to emigrate in the first instance. Many who will approve of the plan of the colony, and who will have made up their minds to emigrate upon hearing a favourable report of the working of that plan, yet may not be disposed to join the first expedition. But if those who form the first expedition should be too few for the immediate establishment of a complete society, there would be some risk, at least, of the first report from the colony being unfavourable.
As the terms co-operation and social order are wholly inapplicable to a single person, so are they not fully applicable to less than such a number as comprises all ranks and conditions, and a sufficient number of each class, for that concert or combination on which Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/158 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/159 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/160 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/161
APPENDIX, No. I.
"SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CHURCH SOCIETY.
(Office, No. 7, John-Street, Adeiphi.)
Amongst those who, with their families, propose to settle in the new Colony of Sonth Australia, are some dissenters from the Church of England; and they are engaged in raising funds for the purpose of establishing their mode of worship. The emigrating members of the Church of England also, are most anxious that the faith and discipline to which they subscribe, should be planted from the very beginning and preserved for their children, by means of a sufficient religious establishment. With this view, they are prepared to contribute towards a fund, to be vested in Trustees, for the purposes of building churches and clergymen's houses, and supporting clergymen in the colony.
Several members of the Church of England who do not intend to emigrate, desirous to promote the objects of fheir emigrating brethren, are also prepared to contribute towards the fund in question; and these two classes have formed themselves into a society for the purpose of collecting other subscriptions in aid of their object, and for making arrangements for the best investment and most beneficial application of the money subscribed.
The rules and regulations of the Society will not be finally settled until time shall have been allowed for Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/163 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/164 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/165 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/166 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/167
APPENDIX, No. II.
REPORT OF A PUBLIC MEETING HELD AT EXETER HALL, ON MONDAY, JUNE 30, 1834.
(From the Morning Chronicle of July 1, 1834.)
NEW COLONY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
A public meeting of the promoters and friends of the projected colony in South Australia was held yesterday, pursuant to public advertisement, in the large room at Exeter Hall. The meeting was highly respectable and numerous, there being not less than two thousand five hundred people present. Many elegantly-dressed ladies graced the platform and the front seats. We observed amongst a great number of eminent and influential individuals, the following gentlemen:—Mr. Abraham Borradaile, Mr. J. W. Childers, M.P.; Mr. Clay, M.P.; Captain Gowan, Mr. Grote, M.P.; Mr. Hawkins, M.P.; Mr. M. D. Hill, M.P.; Mr. Rowland Hill, Mr. Hutt, M.P.; Mr. John Melville, Sir William Molesworth, M.P.; Mr. Jacob Montefiore, Mr. P. Scrope, M.P.; Mr. Strutt, M.P.; Colonel Torrens, M.P.; Mr. Daniel Wakefield, jun.; Mr. Wilks, M.P.; Mr. Joseph Parkes, Mr. Gouger, Mr. Scholefield, M.P.; Colonel Walker, C.B.; Mr. Guest, M.P.; Sir Charles Lemon, M.P.; and the Hon. Mr. Mullins, M.P.
At twelve, on the motion of Mr. Grote, one of the Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/169 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/170 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/171 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/172 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/173 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/174 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/175 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/176 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/177 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/178 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/179 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/180 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/181 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/182 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/183 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/184 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/185 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/186 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/187 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/188 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/189 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/190 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/191 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/192 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/193 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/194 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/195 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/196 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/197 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/198 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/199 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/200 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/201 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/202 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/203 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/204 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/205 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/206 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/207 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/208 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/209 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/210 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/211 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/212 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/213 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/214 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/215 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/216 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/217 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/218 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/219 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/220 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/221 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/222 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/223 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/224 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/225 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/226 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/227 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/228 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/229 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/230 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/231 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/232 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/233 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/234 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/235 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/236 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/237 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/238 Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/239
APPENDIX, No. III.
ANNO QUARTO & QUINTO
GULIELMI IV. REGIS.
CAP. XCV.
An Act to empower his Majesty to erect South Australia into a British Province or Provinces,[12] and to provide for the Colonization and Government thereof. [15th August, 1834.]
His Majesty may establish One or more Provinces in that Part of Australia herein described.
APPENDIX, NO. IV.
REGULATIONS
For the Disposal of Lands in the Colony, for the preliminary Sales of Colonial Lands, in this Country, and for the Emigration of Labourers.
NEW COLONY IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
COLONIZATION COMMISSIONERS FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA,
Appointed by his Majesty by virtue of an Act of Parliament (4th and 5th William IV., chap. xcv.), entitled, "An Act to empower His Majesty to erect South Australia into a British Province or Provinces, and to provide for the Colonization and Government thereof."
Colonel Torrens, F.R.S., Chairman.
|
George Fife Angas, Esq. Edward Barnard, Esq. William Hutt, Esq., M.P. John George Shaw Lefevre, Esq. William Alexander Mackinnon, Esq., M.P. |
Samuel Mills, Esq. Jacob Montefiore, Esq. George Palmer, Jun., Esq. John Wright, Esq. |
|
George Barnes, Esq., Treasurer.
James Freshfield, Jun., Esq., Solicitor. Rowland Hill, Esq., Sec.
Office, pro tem., No. 61, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London.
cost of passage will be defrayed, provided always that the persons so hired shall be adults, under the age of thirty years. A detailed statement of the mode in which this regulation is to be carried into effect, will be published as soon as the time shall have been fixed for the departure of the governor for the colony.
By means of this regulation, it will be seen that the buyer of land may have his purchase-money returned to him in the most valuable shape. Whatever the line of industry that any capitalist may intend to pursue in the colony, all the workmen whom he may choose to engage for that purpose, will be set down in the colony free of cost to himself. Masters, also, who may not engage actively in any work of production, will enjoy a similar advantage with respect to domestic servants. The value of this regulation will be made apparent by reference to the following circumstance. It has been proposed, that contracts should be made in England for the erection of public buildings in the colony, such as a government house, courthouse, land office, &c. Supposing such a contract entered into by a capitalist intending to emigrate, the chief means of carrying it into effect, the masons, bricklayers, and carpenters, without whose united labour nothing could be done, would be set down in the place where the work was to be performed, and without any expense to the contractor. But for this circumstance, no man of prudence would enter into such a contract; it is only the certainty of obtaining skilful labourers, that would justify him in engaging to perform what cannot be done without skilful labour. This case of a supposed contract for building, has been mentioned only by way of example. What would render it not imprudent for a builder to enter into a contract with the colonial government, would induce others to project undertakings which require the constant employment of many labourers in the same work. This is the peculiar distinction of the present colony. Without either slaves or convicts, capitalists of every description will obtain, without cost, as many labourers as they may wish to employ; and engagements which labourers may make for a short term of service, will be maintained. The means of securing all this, is a proper price for public lands.
- By order of the commissioners,
- ROWLAND HILL, Secretary.
- By order of the commissioners,
61, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
June, 1835.
*** Copies of the act of parliament, and further information as to the plan of the intended colony, may be obtained at the office of the commission, 61, Lincoln's Inn Fields, where persons desirous of purchasing land are requested to apply, and where a register of such applications will be immediately opened, and continued in the order of application.
The commissioners recommend all who contemplate emigration to the proposed colony, to examine for themselves the evidence as to soil, climate, &c. This evidence was collected under the direction of the late South Australian Association, and may be found condensed in a work entitled "The New British Province of South Australia; or a Description of the Country, illustrated by Charts and Views, and an account of the principles, Objects, Plan, and Prospects of the colony."
—Knight, London, Price 2s. 6d. LIST OF PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO AUSTRALIA.
Two Years in New South Wales, in a Series of Letters. By P. Cunningham.
An Account of the State of Agriculture in New South Wales; with other Information for those about to emigrate to that Colony. By James Atkinson.
A Letter from Sydney, the chief Town of Australasia; together with the Outline of a System of Colonization. Edited by Robert Gouger.
Sketch of the History of Van Diemen's Land, illustrated by a Map of the Island; and an Account of the Van Diemen's Land Company. By James Bischoff, Esq.
The present State of Australia, its prospects in reference to Emigration, and an Account of its aboriginal Inhabitants. By Robert Dawson.
[[A Statistical Account of the British Settlements in Australasia, including the Colonies of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land; with an Enumeration as well with reference to each other as to the United States and the Canadas, and Directions and Advice to Emigrants]]. By W. C. Wentworth, Esq.
An Historical and Statistical Account of New South Wales, both as a Penal Settlement and as a British Colony. By John Dunmore Lang, D.D.
Journey of Discovery to Port Philip, New South Wales, by Messrs. W. H. Hovell and Hamilton Hume, in 1824 and 1825.
Authentic Information relative to New South Wales and New Zealand. By James Bayley, Esq. London: published by Joseph Cross, Lower Holborn. An Account of the Colony of Van Diemen's Land, principally intended for the use of persons residing in India. Calcutta, 1830.
The Journal of a Voyage from Calcutta to Van Diemen's Land, comprising a Description of that Colony during a Six Months' Residence. From original Letters selected by Mrs. Augustus Prinsep. London: Smith, Elder, and Co., Cornhill.
Extracts from the Letters and Journals of George Fletcher Moore, Esq., now filling a judicial office at the Swan River Settlement. Edited by Martin Doyle. Orr and Smith, Amen Corner.
The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay, with an Account of the Establishment of the Colonies of Port Jackson and Norfolk Island. London: printed for John Stockdale, Piccadilly.
An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, with Remarks on the Disposition, Customs, Manners, &c., of the Native Inhabitants of that Country; to which are added some particulars of New Zealand. By David Collins, Esq. London: printed by Cadell and Davies.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia, performed between the years 1818 and 1822 by Captain Philip P. King, R.N. John Murray, Albemarle-street.
A Voyage for the Discovery of Southern Lands. By M. Peron. Translated from the French.
Two Expeditions into the Interior of Southern Australia during the Years 1828, 1829, 1830, and 1831; with Observations on the Soil, Climate, and General Resources of New South Wales. By Captain Charles Sturt.
A Picture of Australia.
An Account of the Colony of Western Australia. By— Powell.
Evans's Account of the Colony of Van Diemen's Land.
An Account of the Colony of Van Diemen's Land, with Directions for Emigrants. By Edmund Curr. Narrative of a Voyage to India; with some Account of a Residence at the Colony at Swan River. By Jane Roberts.
Geographical Memoirs of New South Wales. By various Hands. Edited by Barron Field, F.L.S. John Murray, Albemarle-street.
Journals ef several Expeditions made in Western Australia during the Years 1829, 1830, 1831, and 1832. London. Hints on Emigration to the new Settlement on the Swan and Canning Rivers, near the West Coast of Australia.
Notes on the Present State and Prospects of Society in New South Wales; with an Historical, Statistical, and Topographical Account of Manilla and Singapore.
An Account of the State of the Colony of New South Wales, in December, 1830. By G. S. Hall. London: Cross, Holborn.
Hints on Emigration to the Colonies of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land.
The History of New South Wales, including Botany Bay, Port Jackson, Parramatta, Sydney, and all its Dependencies; and an Account of the English Colony from its Foundation to the Present Time. By George Barrington. London :Sherwood, Neely, and Jones.
A Voyage to Terra Australis, undertaken for the purpose of completing the Discovery of that vast Country, in the Years 1801, 1802, and 1803, in his Majesty's ship the Investigator. By Matthew Flinders. G. and W. Nicoll, Pall Mall. LONDON:
Printed by William Clowes,
Duke Street, Lambeth.
- ↑ For a List of Publications relating to Australia, see the end of the volume.
- ↑ For fear that these remarks should be attributed to a disposition, which is common amongst colonists, to praise their own settlement at the expense of other settlements, this opportunity is taken to express an opinion, that Western Australia is, as respects soil and climate, one of the finest countries in the world, and one of the most fit for supporting a prosperous colony. That the colony there settled is not prosperous, is, we believe, owing, not at all to any defects of climate or soil, but entirely to a bad system of colonization, which may be reformed; or, rather, to the want of a good system, which may be supplied. For a particular account of the causes of the failure of the Swan River Settlement, the reader is referred to 'England and America.'
- ↑ For an account of Hunter's River, see Wentworth's Australasia, vol. i. p. 71, and Dawsons's Australia, p. 377. "The district of the Hunter's River is by far the richest and the most important in the Colony: it may truly be said to be the garden, as well as the granary, of New South Wales."
- ↑ Réaumur.
- ↑ In Italy, the silk of the pinnæ marinæ is of great value. It is convertible into a fine and durable stuff, and being scarce, fetches a high price.
- ↑ A Letter from Sydney; the principal Town of Australasia. Edited by Robert Gouger. J. Cross, Holborn. 1829.
- ↑ Physical Geography. Published under the superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.
- ↑ This table has been made from the Price Currents in the last Newspapers received from the Australian colonies.
- ↑ For a recent picture of the demoralizing, or rather most corrupting influence of transportation on the whole population of New South Wales, see a history of that colony by Dr. Lang, Principal of the Australian College at Sydney. See also Two Letters to Earl Grey by Dr. Whately, Archbishop of Dublin. The first of Dr. Whately's Letters contains some admirable remarks and suggestions on the art of colonization.
- ↑ Plan of a Company to be established for the purpose of founding a Colony in Southern Australia, purchasing Land therein, and preparing the Land so purchased for the reception of Emigrants. Ridgwav and Sons. 1831.
- ↑ "How," says Mr. Blaxland, a great land-proprietor of New South Wales, "how should our settlers undertake to plant vineyards, when years must pass before any wine could be got?—years during which much labour must be employed in tending the vines; when, for gathering the grapes and turning them into wine, much more labour would be required; and when the supply of labour is always, not only small, but uncertain."—England and America.As a most useful article for exportation to South Australia in the first instance, we should recommend books relating to the agriculture of Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey; a subject little understood by Englishmen, and respecting which it has not hitherto been worth the while of settlers in Australia to acquire much knowledge.
- ↑ The words "or Provinces" were inserted after the word "Province," throughout the Act, by the desire of a noble and learned Lord, who wished that the Colony should be divided into many provinces, in order that it should not become independent. In order to avert opposition to the Bill, some other suggestions, not much less absurd, were adopted. But none of these interfere with the main provisions of the Act, which notwithstanding much opposition and numerous attempts to defeat them, are agreeable to the leading principles of the undertaking, as described in this volume. The Bill would probably have been rejected by the House of Lords, or at all events spoiled, if it had not been strenuously supported by his Grace the Duke of Wellington.