On the Climate of New Smith Wales, Src. 95 



Mr Martin thinks that neither time, civilization, nor cultiva- 

 tion, has diminished the claim of New South Wales, since our 

 earliest knowledge of it, to the appellation of the " Montpelier 

 of the world,"" merited by its moderate temperature, dryness of 

 atmosphere, and congeniality to the human constitution. Many 

 of the diseases which afflict mankind are totally unknown there. 

 Individuals arriving in the colony with constitutions impaired, 

 are soon restored to health, and attain a robust old age. 



The smallpox has not yet made its appearance among the 

 colonists. Shortly, however, after the first settlement, in 1788, 

 it raged among the aborigines in the neighbourhood of Sydney, 

 and nearly depopulated the country. The caves on the sea- 

 shore were found filled with dead bodies, and in some places 

 were observed the deceased left to perish without human aid, 

 those who had strength remaining having fled from the conta- 

 gion to the interior of the country, leaving the dead to bury the 

 dead, — a circumstance not at all usual among that simple race 

 of men. 



Neither measles, hooping-cough, nor scarlet fever, have yet 

 been seen in the colony. Hydrophobia is equally unknown. 

 Cutaneous eruptions are rare ; but among the aborigines a scaly 

 disease covers their bodies, which they ascribe to a constant use 

 of fish. 



Females seem to be in a great measure exempt from the suf- 

 fering denounced on our first parents. The aborigine, when 

 seized with the throes of labour, if on a journey, stops on the 

 way side, and is attended by her husband, who sprinkles her 

 with water until parturition is over, when the new-born babe is 

 wrapped in a soft paper-like bark, and the mother arising, re- 

 sumes her progress in search of food. 



Mr Martin mentions a very curious fact. The increase of 

 population, he says, has been most rapid, and is to be accounted 

 for by the number of females bom, the proportion being, with 

 regard to males, as three to one ! The greatly preponderating 

 number of females brought forth among domesticated animals, 

 will account for the countless herds of cattle which overspread 

 the colony. 



Viewed as a place of convalescence for individuals suffering 

 under the influence of tropical diseases, Mr Martin is of opinion 



