1836.] SYDNEY. 313 



examine the whole place. At this village we rested some hours, during 

 which time there was a long discussion with Mr. Bushby, concerning 

 the right of sale of certain lands. One old man, who appeared a 

 perfect genealogist, illustrated the successive possessors by bits of 

 stick driven into the ground. Before leaving the houses a little basket- 

 ful of roasted sweet potatoes was given to each of our party ; and we 

 all, according to the custom, carried them away to eat on the road. I 

 noticed that among the women employed in cooking, there was a man- 

 slave ; it must be a humiliating thing for a man in this warlike country 

 to be employed in doing that which is considered as the lowest 

 woman's work. Slaves are not allowed to go to war ; but this perhaps 

 can hardly be considered as a hardship. I heard of one poor wretch 

 who, during hostilities, ran away to the opposite party ; being met by 

 two men, he was immediately seized ; but as they could not agree to 

 whom he should belong, each stood over him with a stone hatchet, 

 and seemed determined that the other at least should not take him 

 away alive. The poor man, almost dead with fright, was only saved 

 by the address of a chief's wife, We afterwards enjoyed a pleasant 

 walk back to the boat, but did not reach the ship till late in the 

 evening. 



December y>th. In the afternoon we stood out of the Bay of Islands, 

 on our course to Sydney. I believe we were all glad to leave New 

 Zealand. It is not a pleasant place. Amongst the natives there is 

 absent that charming simplicity which is found at Tahiti ; and the 

 greater part of the English are the very refuse of society. Neither is 

 the country itself attractive. I look back but to one bright spot, and 

 that is Waimate, with its Christian inhabitants. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



AUSTRALIA. 



Sydney Excursion to Bathurst Aspect of the Woods Party of Nath 



Gradual Extinction of the Aborigines Infection generated by associated 

 Men in Health Blue Mountains View of the grand Gulf-like Valleys 

 Their Origin and Formation Bathurst, General Civility of the Lower 

 Orders State of Society Van Diemen's Land Hobart Town 

 Aborigines all Banished Mount Wellington King George's Sound 

 Cheerless Aspect of the Country Bald Head, Calcareous Casts of 

 Branches of Trees Party of Natives Leave Australia. 



January \2th, 1836. EARLY in the morning a light air carried us 

 towards the entrance of Port Jackson. Instead of beholding a verdant 

 country, interspersed with fine houses, a straight line of yellowish cliff 

 brought to our minds the coast of Patagonia. A solitary lighthouse, 

 built of white stone, alone told us that we were near a great and 



