Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/168

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132
LAUNCESTON.
[2nd mo.

by continued efforts it swallowed the whole grasshopper. The lizard was 8 inches long: it did not use its feet in capturing the grasshopper, which was two inches long, nor in arranging it in its mouth.

3rd. Our kind friend I. Sherwin invited a few persons, whom he knew to be piously inclined, to meet us for worship at his house. After spending a considerable time with them in silence, I called their attention to the greater profitableness of feeling our own necessity before the Lord, in this state, and of putting up our petitions to him in secret, according to our feeling of need, than of having the time occupied continually in hearing. I stated that I did not despise true, gospel ministry, but wished people to learn the way to the fountain set open in the blood of Jesus, for themselves, and not to lean unduly upon their fellow men.—In the evening, we met a little company, in a very humble cottage: they were persons professing with the Wesleyans, who at that time had no congregation in Launceston. We recommended them to meet regularly for worship, though they might be without a preacher, and to seek to know the Lord to teach them himself.

5th. On the way to Perth, we visited a company of prisoners, who were very destitute of religious instruction.—The road to this place is through open forest, except where there are habitations of settlers. The town of Perth consists of ten houses, two of which are inns; it is prettily situated on the high banks of the South Esk River, which is about 60 yards across, at the ferry.

From the 6th to the 14th, we visited the settlers in the vicinity of Perth, as well as on Norfolk Plains, and on the Macquarie and Lake Rivers, and held some meetings among them. Many of these people are in good circumstances, and are living in substantial, brick houses.—Norfolk Plains is a fine agricultural district: the wheat crops are often self-sown, and continue for several years in succession, till the land becomes almost overrun with Wild Oats; but these form useful hay in this dry country. The average yearly crops of wheat, are estimated at from twelve to fifteen bushels per acre; but this is perhaps from mismanagement,