98 FROM SYDNEY TO BATHURST IN 1822 



" We arrived rather late in the evening at Rooty Hill, a 

 distance of 25 miles. The Government House was ready to 

 receive us. The next day being Sundny we rested, partly to 

 recover our own fatigues which we had had previou-* to leaving 

 Sydney, and because the general orders are : ' There should be no 

 travelling on Sundays.' I could have been contented to remain 

 there for ever ; the house was good and the lands all around like 

 a fine wooded park in England. On Monday we recovered our 

 fatigue, and for nine miles found the road the same as before. 

 We had now reached the Nepean River, which you cross to 

 Emu Plains where there is a Government house and depot, but 

 beyond there are no habitations until you reach Bathurst, 

 excepting a solitary house at the difierent places where people 

 stop. We had to wait many hours until horses and carts were 

 ready on the opposite side, as those which brought us from 

 Sydney were to return. We could only get part of our 

 luggage over that night, and Sir .John Jamison who 

 resides near, sent his head constable to guard the rest 

 during the night. The next day it rained hard, but through 

 fear that it might continue, when the water rushing from the 

 mountains often makes all the rivers in this country dangerous 

 and impassable, we had the rest of our things brought over. 

 The next day was occupied in getting things dried, and the 

 following one in making every necessary preparation for the 

 journey, unpacking many things to ensure their greater safety, 

 arranging our provisions and bedding to enable us conveniently 

 to get at them. This being done, at five o'clock my husband and 

 myself went to dine with Sir John Jamison, who had invited a lady 

 and two gentlemen to meet us. There we partook of a sumptuous 

 dinner, consisting of mock turtle, boiled fowl, round of beef, 

 delicious fish of three kinds, curried duck, goose and wildfowl, 

 Madeira, Burgundy, and various liqueurs and English ale. I 

 mention all this to show you his hospitality and to convince you 

 that it is possible for people to live here as well as in England. 



" I was delighted with his garden, the apples and quinces 

 were larger than I ever saw before (it is now autumn in this 

 country), and many early trees of the former were again in 

 blossom ; the vines had a second crop of grapes, the figtrees a 

 third crop ; the peaches and apricots here are standing trees. 

 He has English cherries, plums and filberts ; these with oranges, 

 lemons, limes, citrons, medlars, almonds, rock and watermelons, 

 with all the common fruits of England and vegetables of every 



