210 VAN dieman's land. 



that rich flavour which they have in their native soil. An article 

 which has of late years been exported in considerable quantities, 

 is the bark of a species of mimosa, called the wattle ; this bark 

 is used for tanning leather, and possesses a much greater quantity 

 of tannin than even oak bark, but whether it be owing to the 

 much shorter time in which they tan leather in the colony I am 

 not aware, but the shoes made of leather tanned with this barfc 

 will not last half so long as those made in England. I am in- 

 clined to think that were a proper time given to the processes of 

 tanning, the leather would be more durable. 



Timljer has, at different times, been exported to England^ 

 but I believe that it has seldom given anything like an adequate 

 profit for the money laid out, although there are some woods in 

 the Island, more especially the Blackwood, which make very 

 handsome articles of furniture; but, owing to the price of labour 

 m the colony, there has been but little used, as it is fourui 

 cheaper to import articles of furniture from England. It will be 

 necessary for the settlers to devote their attention to the discovery 

 of some article fit for export, as the mimosa bark will in a year 

 or two cease to be procurable in sufficient quantities to send home. 

 To be sure the whale fisheries are on the increase, but it may 

 happen tliat there may be an unsuccessful season, and then there 

 will be a want of dead weight for vessels taking home wool. 



Having now hastily described the Island, and its produce, I 

 shall proceed to a description of its towns. Hobart Town, the 

 capital of the Island, contains the residence of the Lieut. Go- 

 vernoi-; and is in Latitude 43 degrees, South ; Longitude 147 

 degrees, 20 minutes, East. It is situated on the banks of the 

 River Derwent, which river is navigable for many miles above 

 tins town, which is well built and prettily situated, and when 

 first seen from the anchorage presents a most beautiful appearance. 

 Immediately facing you on the summit of a hill, surrounded by 

 a beautiful shrubbery of native and exotic plants and trees, is 

 Government House, where resides the Governor. The house 

 has nothing particularly splendid in its .appearance, but looks 

 like a comfortable gentleman's house. To the right of you is 

 seen the old jetty ; here hitherto all the cargoes of vessels were 

 discharged ; but this is now deserted for the new wharf; on this 

 jetty are situated many fine merchants' stores, and the bonded 

 warehouses. Here also ply the watermen, who muster in con- 

 siderable numbers; and who, thanks to the municipal police, can 

 charge but a certain price for their hire, so that they are pre- 

 vented from imposing on any one. 



