Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/64

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CHAPTER III.

Hobart Town.—Pious Persons.—Penitentiary.—Temperance Society.—Kings Pits.—Shrubs.—Fern Valley.—School Meeting.—Voyage to Macquarie Harbour.—Prison Ship.—Piracy of the Cypress.—Prisoners.— Loss of the Science.—Fish.—Penguin.—Storm.—Port Davey.—Cockatoos.—Land Lobster.—Excursions.—Sharks.—Swearing.—Storm.—Sea Fowl.—Entrance of Macquarie Harbour.

We remained in Hobart Town till the 7th of 5th month; and were much occupied in putting religious tracts and books into circulation, visiting the prisons, conversing with various persons, on the eternal interests of man, and holding or attending meetings for the promotion of religion and morality. During this period we became acquainted with several pious persons; one of whom, Captain William Jacob, from India, was temporarily residing in this island, on account of his health; Van Diemens Land being much resorted to by invalids from India, and often with great benefit, from its fine, dry, salubrious climate. Another, was a drummer, who went into the army at fourteen years of age, and had remained in it fourteen years. He said he had spent much of his time in sin, but had now learned the value of his Bible, and was glad when opportunity offered, to retire into the bush to read it alone: he had found peace of mind through faith in Christ, but was in a situation requiring great watchfulness, to retain the sense of the Divine presence being with him. Another, was a young man, who, when in London, sometimes stepped into Friends' Meeting House, in White Hart Court; where a solemn feeling pervaded his mind, without his knowing from whence it arose; but as he supposed the congregation while sitting in silence, were exercised in