88 CONVICTS. 



ceed from their feeding on the foliage of those 

 trees which are well known to possess that pecu- 

 liar smell. The fur of the opossum is used at 

 Sydney by the hat-manufacturers, and may be 

 likewise valuable for other purposes ; the natives 

 spin it, in their rude manner, into small cord, 

 from which they manufacture their bags called 

 netbuls.* 



The opinion which appears generally to pre- 

 vail, that prisoners of the crown are placed in 

 the colony in a better situation than free men, 

 there is too much reason for regarding as correct. 

 They are w^ell-fed and clothed, take good care to 

 be never overworked, and have an hospital, with 

 the best attendance, when sick. An assigned 

 servant or convict may be correctly defined as 

 an individual who is well fed and clothed — in- 

 solent and indolent— and takes care that the little 

 work he has to perform is badly done. When sick, 



* The Hobart Town Colonist of Oct. 12, 1832, contains 

 the following paragraph respecting the capability of the 

 opossum fur being used in manufactures. 



" We have been favoured with the sight of a pair of 

 mittens spun and knit by Mrs. M'Kenzie, of the Lower 

 Clyde^ from the fur of the opossum. In texture and ap- 

 pearance they very much resemble the best sort of Angola 

 mittens, but to us they appear of superior quality. The pair 

 that we saw are now in the possession of Mr. Gordon, of 

 Forcett, to whom they were presented by Mr. M'Kenzie." 



