1839.] TASMANIA. 265 



of-leave men, and are allowed to hire themselves out, their 

 employers stipulating to keep a strict watch over their con- 

 duct. Most of the female convicts are also assigned, and the 

 refractory and turbulent ones are sent to the factory at Par- 

 amatta, where they are employed in making clothing, pick- 

 ing oakum, and plaiting straw. 



Sometimes a convict takes to the bush, as it is termed ; 

 that is, makes his escape to the woods in the interior, where 

 he leads a roving, depredatory life, and is called a bush- 

 ranger. The natives generally stand in great awe of the 

 fugitive convicts, who terrify them by feigning to be " native 

 devils ;" yet they frequently render important services to the 

 government officers in recapturing them. 



Recently, in compliance with the earnest importunities of 

 the free settlers, New South Wales has been discontinued as 

 a penal colony, and Chatham Island, in 43° 52' southern 

 latitude, and longitude 179° 14' W., has been selected as a 

 convict settlement. The foregoing remarks, therefore, will 

 be taken as applying to the former condition of the convicts, 

 except as to those who are still left there to serve out their 

 terms of service. Since this change was made, and no more 

 convicts are sent to the colony, those who had not been for- 

 tunate enough to secure such as they needed for servants, 

 have been forced to employ free laborers, at an average rate 

 of thirty pounds sterling per year, in addition to rations. It 

 was to be expected, therefore, that some considerable incon- 

 venience should be at first felt ; but the colony has already 

 recovered from the shock, and is steadily pursuing her career 

 of prosperity. 



A few, and but a few, in comparison with the whole num- 

 ber of convicts, become good citizens. Many of them engage 

 in trade, and amass great wealth. A large proportion of the 

 shopkeepers in Syriney are liberated convicts ; and ticket-of- 

 leave men often follow similar pursuits, with the consent and 

 patronage of their nominal employers. 



(11.) Tasmania, or Van Diemen's Land, has long been 

 associated, in idea, with New Holland, and it should be men- 



12 



