2 2 Voyage of the Nov ar a. 



tliey were at a loss for a word supplied it by its English 

 equivalent. There resulted from this a most comical jargon, 

 sometimes most grotesque in its eccentricity, as, for instance, 

 when, on our remarking to one of these vine-dressers who 

 had been in Australia for ten years that he seemed to have 

 quite forgotten his German, he replied, with an air of outraged 

 national dignity, " Oh no ! wir keep it immer in exercise." 



The entire number of Germans in New South Wales is es- 

 timated (in 1858) at 7000. They are usually settled on the 

 larger rivers, such as Hunter, Clarence, Brisbane rivers, where 

 they have small farms on the alluvial soil, or are engaged in 

 agriculture, or vine cultivation. Their industry, perseverance, 

 and frugality soon make them independent and well-to-do. 

 We were told of one poor peasant of the Rhenish districts, 

 named Frauenfelder, who arrived here from Germany, in 

 1849, with twelve daughters, and settled on Clarence river as 

 a vine-dresser. After ten years of unwearied activity he be- 

 came a j)rosperous man, got all his daughters well married, 

 and now owns one of the most flourishing settlements in the 

 entire colony.* A German enjoys in Australia, after five 

 years' residence, the same political rights as the English. 

 After twelve months he becomes naturalized and may possess 

 land ; after three years he may vote ; and after five years' resi- 

 dence he may become a member of Parliament, Should there be 



* On the Clarence river there has been for several years past, in full activity, a 

 stearine candle-fact(3ry, which pays well, owing to the demand at the " diggings " 

 for these candles. In 1S56 the value of those manufactured was £600,000. 



