290 SCIENTIFIC EXCURSIONS IN NEW HOLLAND. 
deplores this result, it is quite evident that none of the many 
means, hitherto employed to preserve them from destruction, 
islikely to prove successful It seems fore-ordained that 
these races shall vanish from the earth to make way for the 
Caucasian race, though all are endowed with the same 
passions and the germs of similar virtues. From what I have 
seen, I conclude that the natives of this part, at least of New 
Holland, are by no means stupid or incapable of learning; 
but an education of two or three, or even twenty years, will 
not do much for them ; itis the education of successive gene- 
rations which is requisite ; and alas! even ten years will have 
wasted these people nearly away, so fatal are the conse- 
quences of small pox, and other introduced maladies, so 
baneful the effect of spirituous liquors. : 
Sydney, July 12, 1844. 
I have organized a party of six persons (four whites and 
two blacks); and with six riding horses and as many mules 
carrying provisions, we are about to start for Port Essington, 
distant 2000 English miles! Heaven only knows whether 
we shall ever accomplish this journey! |I have sent a collec- 
tion of plants to the museum of the Jardin des Plantes, which 
I hope may give satisfaction ; but let it not be forgotten that 
these specimens were gathered in a country where I was 
in frequent risk of my life, and where every energy was Te- 
quired to enable me to travel, and partially to endure, 
fatigue, hunger, and thirst! I was compelled to cut down 
wood for firing, with my own hands, and to cook my food; 
while I was also: a geologist and botanist, and to wash my 
own linen and dry my specimens, often passing ten days and 
a fortnight in the forests, without any companion but my 
horse and my dog.. If I had not occasionally been assisted 
by friendly and hospitable individuals, I must have been 
compelled to relinquish my journey, and to discontinue my 
collections. Such as the latter are you will see them: they 
were gathered in an area of country six hundred miles long 
and three hundred miles wide. _ | 4a guine 
