168 



ABORIGINES. 



of much importance in this arid country,) com- 

 bining capabilities of cultivation and grazing land 

 with picturesque beauty. The ' ' Plains, " or more 

 properly speaking, extensive downs, are destitute 

 of trees, affording abundance of pasturage for 

 sheep, &c., and the distance is terminated by 

 open forest country, most part of which has 

 already been granted or sold by government to 

 settlers. 



Mr. Manton's farm is delightfully situated, 

 having a fine stream of water running through 

 it, every facility for sheep-washing is afforded 

 him — a desideratum of the first importance in 

 this colony, where wool forms the staple article, 

 the settler's main prop, and the cleaner it is 

 brought to market, of course a better price 

 can be obtained. The land about the farm, 

 (as must be expected from all large grants,) 

 is composed of good and bad portions, but the 

 former, I believe, preponderates. 



The natives had just arrived in the paddock, 

 and established their temporary village or en- 

 campment ; their habitations were merely sheets 

 of bark, stripped from the trees in the vicinity, 

 and supported by props, the sheet of bark being 

 placed to windward, and shifted as might be re- 

 quired, the fire for cooking purposes, &c., being- 

 made in front. The aborigines are very expert 



