1825. ] 5 
we took them on board at Sydney; 
added to which; the season was too far 
advanced for planting them, and perhaps 
the land not sufficiently prepared to re- 
ceive them: In addition to all this, the 
large red ant was found to burrow in the 
seed; and, notwithstanding all the care 
and ingenuity of the gardener and his 
assistant, these destructive insects could 
not be got rid of. Even under all these 
difficulties, there were hopes that some 
few would arrive at maturity : and there 
is little doubt; when the land is cleared 
- to agreater extent, and the place comes 
to be cultivated, but all these difficulties 
will be easily overcome, and that the ex- 
cellency of the soil will produce abun- 
dantly all the luxuries and necessaries 
‘of life. © - f 
The’stream of water first discovered 
was found to run into several large ponds 
near the beach, which afford to ships 
the most ready mode of watering ; and, 
as the land, in the vicinity, is low, it holds 
out the prospect that valuable rice plan- 
tations may be made along that part of 
the coast. 
Amongst the trees, some of which are 
of noble growth, we met with a sort of 
lignum vite, which will probably be va- 
luable for block sheaves, and several 
others which appear to be well caleu- 
lated for naval purposes. The forests 
are almost inexhaustible. Thesago and 
cabbage tree are in great abundance ; 
a sort of large cotton tree was also found 
in considerable numbers: but as we were 
not quite certain of their produce being 
valuable, parcels of it are put up to be 
sent to England for the inspection of 
proper* judges. The bastard nutmeg, 
and’a species of pepper, highly pungent, 
are likewise abundant, and samples of 
which are also prepared to send home. 
From the excellency of the soil, and the 
goodness of the climate, it is most likely 
that, if those islands were brought un- 
der a proper state of cultivation, they 
would produce those articles in perfec- 
“The trepang, which is considered a 
wonderful delicacy in China, is found at 
Port. Essington, and along the shores 
and round the*islands and reefs on the 
coast of ‘Australia, in great quantities. 
They are’ something like the snail or 
en England, but very much larger ; 
are» gathered in great numbers, at 
particular seasons, by the Malays, who 
resort to the coast for that purpose, 
anddrive a very considerable trade, with 
the Dutch» settlements, in’ that article ; 
from whence it is exported to China, at 
Voyage to Australia, &c. 
299 
an enormous profit.. It is however to 
be hoped that our new establishments 
at Melville and Bathurst Islands will be 
the means of leading so valuable a branth 
of commerce into another channel. »! 
The animals we have seen: areothe 
kangaroo, the opossum, the bandicoot, 
the kangaroo rat, and the flying squirrel. 
The birds are quails, pigeons, pheasants, 
parrots, parroquets, curlews, a sort.of 
snipe, and a species of moor fowl, mostly 
of a beautiful plumage; and immense 
flights of smaller birds, There is ‘ano~ 
ther bird which deserves notice, called 
the laughing jackass: it is the ugliest 
and most deformed, in my opinion, of 
the whole feathered race; and, to com- 
plete its deformity, its voice isa medley 
of all that is harsh, loud and disagree- 
able. The greater part of the forenoon, 
and at night, they join chorus with the 
alligators (which are in great numbers, 
and very large), producing a concert b 
no means melodious. . 
A few snakes have been seen, which, 
from the flattened head and. fangs, 
were evidently venomous; but. their 
tribes are neither large nor numerous, 
The centipedes, tarantulas, scorpions, 
lizards, &c. &c. are every where to: be 
met with; but they are not very trouble- 
some. There are, however, myriads of 
ants of four or five sorts, which are very 
destructive; and the bite of the large 
green ant dreadfully painful whilst: the 
inflammation lasts. As usual imall tro- 
pical climates, musquitos and sand flies 
are superabundant. The latter is the 
smallest thing holding animal life, and 
its sting or bite is very painful, and ge- 
nerally attended with tedious ulcers.” 
Our supply of fish was generally. very 
scanty. Those we took in the’seine net 
were principally mullet, skate, bass, 
snappers, and old’ wife, the latter:being 
the most plentiful; however, at »Port 
Essington we had better’success. 
The climate of those islands, as:far 
as we were able to form a judgment,. is 
decidedly as good, if not better than any 
to be found within the tropics: the 
thermometer rarely reaching more than 
eighty-eight in the shade, in the hottest 
part of the day; and, at early dawn, 
’ falling to seventy-six. 
Indeed, nothing 
can be more delightful than: the: first 
part of the morning, and the evening, 
after four or five o’clock: nor ;need 
there be a more convincing proof of the 
salubrity of this climate, than that, al- 
though all the officers and men engaged 
in the expedition pei ee ae ha : 
ployed on shore, undernu - 
2Q2 vantages, 
