5'08 DROUGHT AT SYDNEY. 



Port Phillip and Sydney agree with the going one, 

 placing the jetty at William's Town 6° 19' H" west 

 of Fort Macquarie. Everything was still suffering 

 from one of those fearful droughts that occasionally 

 visit this colony, but are as yet unknown in Western 

 Australia, where the seasons are certain, although 

 available land is scarce. An idea may be formed 

 of the nature of this visitation, when I say, that for 

 some time previous to our former departure from 

 Sydney, during the whole of our absence, and for 

 several months subsequent to our return, not a drop 

 of rain fell. The consequence of this was, that 

 the whole country was dried up, and the dust lay 

 on the roads, especially towards Paramatta, at least 

 a foot thick. Whoever attempted to travel, there- 

 fore, seemed, if the wind blew, as though he had 

 been passing through a mill. It will readily be 

 imagined that so long a succession of dry seasons, 

 did prodigious injury to the stock, and utterly ruined 

 the wheat crops. To add to the distress then occa- 

 sioned, the people of Tasmania seizing on the 

 opportunity, raised the price of grain, expecting to 

 make a large profit. But their avidity in this instance 

 over-reached itself. Instead of sending to them for 

 corn, the people of Sydney despatched vessels to South 

 America, and as the early cargoes that arrived sold 

 to advantage, a great deal of money was embarked in 

 the speculation. Soon, however, the natural conse- 

 quence ensued. The market became glutted, cargo 

 after cargo came in, the purchasers held back, prices 



