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and the water not being carried off, the country has been 

 converted into an immense swamp. A portion of the swamp 

 is overgrown by low tea-trees, and the remainder is covered 

 with forests of eucalyptus and underwood. The higher 

 grounds, which generally occur nearer the shores, have a 

 sandy soil covered with heath or stunted trees. The only 

 tract which seems to be applicable to useful purposes is 

 along the sea from Cape Grim to the River Arthur : its 

 width near the cape is several miles, but farther south it 

 grows much narrower : the surface is hilly and partly stony. 

 The soil has generally a tendency to sand, but it is thickly 

 covered with kangaroo grass, and makes good pasture- 

 ground for sheep, and in some places for cattle. Trees 

 occur only at considerable distances from each other. It 

 is probable that the plain continues south of Arthur River, 

 but that it is of less extent there, as low hills have been 

 seen at a short distance from the sea, which are dry and 

 only covered with bushes, but behind them the hills rise 

 much higher. These parts have never been visited. 



The Arthur, whose mouth is near 41 lOi S. lat., is a 

 river of considerable size, and brings down a large volume 

 of water. There is a bar across its mouth, on which the 

 sea breaks with a heavy surf. Its middle course is not 

 known, but it is supposed that the chief supply of its waters 

 is derived from the Surrey Hills, and that two large rivers, 

 which rise there, and are respectively called Hellyer River 

 and Arthur River, unite in the country between the Surrey 

 Hills and the western coast ; and that by their confluence 

 the- Arthur is formed. 



The other known rivers of the northern part of Tasmania 

 are unimportant, with the exception of the Emu, which is 

 navigable for boats for a few miles. With respect to the 

 Smith Esk, which probably has a course of 100 miles, two 

 of'its principal branches, the Macquarrie and the Lake River, 

 rise on the southern elevated plains, and the upper branches 

 of these rivers interlock with rivers which flow southward 

 to the Derwent. As other branches of the South Esk rise 

 near the eastern coast, and others far to the west, it is pro- 

 liable that the area of the country which is drained by it 

 and the North Esk does not fall short of 4000 square miles. 

 The Tamar certainly receives the drainage of a much larger 

 extent of country than any other river of Tasmania. 



I'li mate. As no meteorological observations have been 

 published on the climate of Tasmania, we only know its 

 peculiarities by comparisons which have been made be- 

 tween it and that of England and Sydney. There is a con- 

 _siderable difference between the climate of Hobart Town 

 on the southern, and of Launceston on the northern coast. 

 The climate of Hobart Town seems to be greatly in- 

 fluenced by the range of mountains west of the town and 

 the vicinity of the open ocean. The vague statement of 

 Breton, that the mean temperature in summer is 70, and 

 in winter between 40" and 48, is apparently not derived 

 from observations, and is not much to be relied on. The 

 climate of Hohart Town is extremely changeable. Heat, 

 cold, rain, and sunshine succeed each other with a rapidity 

 which is rarely observed in any other part of the globe. The 

 winter is not more constant than the summer : the same 

 alternations, with the addition of hail and snow, follow each 

 other in quick succession ; but the snow never remains on 

 the ground beyond a few hours, whilst at Launceston it falls 

 in greater quantity, and covers the ground for many days 

 together. This statement does not agree with another, ac- 

 cording to which the average number of days on which rain 

 actually falls dors not exceed fifty or sixty in the year, and 

 that, except on these days, the sky is clear, the sun brilliant, 

 and the atmosphere dry, pure, and elastic. Hot winds 

 sometimes occur, which occasionally raise the thermometer 

 to 108. They blow from north and north-west, and rarely 

 la>t a long time ; but during their prevalence vegetation is 

 greatly injured. However warm the middle of the day may 

 lie, it is invariably attended by a morning and evening so 

 cool as completely to brace the body, and to counteract any 

 enervating effects of the climate. Thunder-storms are less 

 icnt than in Australia, but violent gusts of wind some- 

 times occur, which cause great destruction in the forests, 

 and the coasts are visited by much boisterous weather. 

 Alctii; tin; \votern coast strong south-westerly winds pre- 

 vail nearly all the year round, and render this tract almost 

 inaccessible on account of the want of harbours. During 

 >n of the year westerly gales continue for many 

 weeks in Bass's Strait, so that vessels sailing from Sydney 

 to the Atlantic find that I hey save time and labour by 



going round the island. The climate is very healthy : no 

 epidemic or contagious diseases have been observed, and 

 acute diseases are generally mild and of short duration, and 

 yield more easily to the usual remedies than in anv other 

 country. 



Productions. The mineral wealth of the island is not 

 known. The existence of gold and silver rests on state- 

 ments which cannot be relied on ; but that of copper is 

 certain, and this metal is rather abundant in some of the 

 hills on the north coast. Iron-ore is abundant, but not 

 yet turned to account. Some ore which was subjected to 

 a trial yielded 80 per cent, of metal. There are also in- 

 dications of lead, zinc, and manganese ; and those of coal 

 have been found all across the island. Roofing-slate of 

 good quality abounds in many parts : on the Arthur such 

 extensive layers were discovered by Hellyer, that in his 

 opinion the whole globe might be supplied with them. 

 Salt is obtained from the salt lakes of Salt-Pan Plain, and 

 is also got from sea-water on Bruni Island, but not in 

 sufficient quantity to supply the consumption. Salt is 

 imported from England. Excellent sandstone for building 

 is found in all parts of the island, and marble is met with 

 at various places. Basalt rocks are frequent along the 

 coast and in many places in the interior. 



No tropical grains or plants are cultivated, but all grains 

 cultivated in England succeed well. Wheat is of excel- 

 lent quality, weighing generally from 62 to 64 pounds the 

 bushel : considerable quantities are exported. Barley and 

 oats will only thrive in a good soil. Vegetables of all 

 kinds are most plentiful, even those of Southern Europe, 

 the production of which requires in England much care 

 and expense. The apple-orchards are of great extent, 

 and the making of cider is attended to. Peaches, apricots, 

 and nectarines grow very abundantly. Damsons, plums, 

 cherries, pears, and quinces are also grown ; but the fruit 

 is of inferior quality, for want of care. Grapes are of good 

 quality, but no good wine has yet been made. Rasp- 

 berries, gooseberries, and currents are abundant and of 

 good quality : strawberries are also good. All these fruits 

 have been introduced by the settlers. 



The domestic animals of Europe have been transplanted 

 to Tasmania, and thrive very well. Sheep are most nu- 

 merous. Wool and live stock are exported to a great 

 extent. Black cattle are also numerous, and many head 

 are annually exported ; and also some horses. Fowls are 

 extremely numerous, but geese and ducks are not much 

 kept. 



The spermaceti-whale is very abundant in Bass's Strait, 

 and many of them are annually taken, but more by the 

 inhabitants of Australia than by those of Tasmania. Black 

 whales abound in all the seas round the island, and a very 

 lucrative fishery is carried on along the southern coast. 

 Whalebone and train-oil are important articles of export. 

 A small quantity of spermaceti-oil is also exported. Seals 

 are found on most of the smaller islands, and especially 

 on the eastern coast : their skins constitute an article 

 of export. Some of the animals of the forests are common 

 to Australia and Tasmania. The native tiger (Hyaena 

 opossum) and the native devil (Dasyurus ursinus) are pe- 

 culiar to Tasmania, and perhaps also the wild cat. These 

 are the only carnivorous animals in Tasmania, with the 

 exception of some species of weasel. There are three or 

 four species of kangaroos, two kinds of opossum, the ban- 

 dicoot, the native porcupine or echidna, the wombat, the 

 opossum-mouse, and the ornithorhynchus paradoxus. All 

 the wild animals of Tasmania, with the exception of the 

 native devil, are very easily tamed and domesticated. The 

 birds are numerous : these are emus, black and white 

 cockatoos, parrots, two kinds of magpies, the laughing 

 jackass, hawks, eagles, the carrion crow, pelican, black 

 swan, ducks, teal, widgeons, quails, snipes, and bronze- 

 winged pigeons : the last-named are considered the most 

 beautiful birds in the island. There are likewise several 

 varieties of snakes, two or three of which are venomous ; 

 also centipedes, scorpions, and large ants. Fish are 

 said to be more numerous than on the coast of Australia, 

 but they have not been further noticed. The river-fish 

 are small. 



None of the forest-trees or shrubs yield an edible fruit. 

 They are all evergreens, and have that sombre olive hue 

 which prevails in Australia, without a single lively tint, 

 except that of the native cherry, to break this monotony. 

 The most numerous are the eucalyptus, which attains an 



