12 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



bananas and prickly pears they were more successful, the two 

 former thriving generously from the very first planting. At the 

 Cape of Good Hope they took on board a large quantity of young 

 fruit trees, including the fig, apple and quince ; some grape vines, 

 strawberry plants, sugar-canes, and a few specimens of timber 

 trees, including the oak and the myrtle. 



It was from this place, also, that they embarked the live stock, 

 on the progeny of which the commissariat of the colony was 

 expected to be largely dependent. The small beginnings, from 

 which such enormous wealth has been developed, are worth 

 recording. Two bulls and seven cows were shipped on board the 

 Sirius ; a stallion, three mares and three colts on board the Lady 

 Penrhyn; about fifty sheep, twenty goats and seventy-five pigs 

 were distributed amongst the store-ships, besides as large an assort- 

 ment of poultry as could be accommodated. Two of the cows died 

 on the passage, and several of the sheep, while a considerable 

 number of the survivors were destroyed by wild dogs within a 

 week of their being landed at Port Jackson. It will surprise many 

 colonists to learn that in a return ordered by Governor Phillip of 

 the live stock in the colony three months after landing, five rabbits 

 appear in the schedule. History is silent as to whether these 

 depredators were brought from England or picked up at one of 

 the ports of call, but the proof of their existence ab initio dissipates 

 the current legends about their introduction by a lover of sport, 

 and endows them with all the distinctions supposed to pertain to 

 the first settlers. 



The phlegmatic character of the Dutch colonists harmonised 

 well with the leisurely habits of the times, and a whole month 

 passed away in the tedious work of purchasing and shipping stores, 

 provisions and water. As the length of the voyage was yet very 

 uncertain, a full supply of the latter necessary was a matter of 

 grave anxiety, and every available reservoir on board all the ships 

 was replenished up to the very hour of sailing. Even then it was 

 considered necessary to revert to the modest allowance of three 

 pints per diem for each adult, all hands being treated alike. At 

 length the whole of the preparations were completed, and at two 

 o'clock in the afternoon of Monday, the 12th of November, the fleet 



