430 VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. [CHAP. six. 



rounding stumps. But to return to the hunting-match ; the natives 

 understanding this kind of warfare, were terribly alarmed, for they 

 at once perceived the power and numbers of the whites. Shortly 

 afterwards a party of thirteen belonging to two tribes came in ; and, 

 conscious of their unprotected condition, delivered themselves up 

 in despair. Subsequently by the intrepid exertions of Mr. Robinson, 

 an active and benevolent man, who fearlessly visited by himself the 

 most hostile of the natives, the whole were induced to act in a 

 similar manner. They were then removed to an island, where food 

 and clothes were provided them. Count Strzelecki states,* that " at 

 the epoch of their deportation in 1835, the number of natives 

 amounted to 210. In 1842, that is, after the interval of seven years, 

 they mustered only fifty-four individuals; and, while each family 

 of the interior of New South Wales, uncontaminated by contact 

 with the whites, swarms with children, those of Flinders' Island 

 had during eight years, an accession of only fourteen in number ! " 



The Beagle stayed here ten days, and in this time I made several 

 pleasant little excursions, chiefly with the object of examining the 

 geological structure of the immediate neighbourhood. The main 

 points of interest consist, first in some highly fossiliferous strata, 

 belonging to the Devonian or Carboniferous period ; secondly, in 

 proofs of a late small rise of the land ; and lastly, in a solitary and 

 superficial patch of yellowish limestone or travertin, which contains 

 numerous impressions of leaves of trees, together with land-shells, 

 not now existing. It is not improbable that this one small quarry, 

 includes the only remaining record of the vegetation of Van 

 Diemen's Land during one former epoch. 



The climate here is damper than in New South Wales, and henco 

 the land is more fertile. Agriculture flourishes: the cultivated 

 fields look well, and the gardens abound with thriving vegetables 

 and fruit-trees. Some of the farm-houses, situated in retired spots, 

 had a very attractive appearance. The general aspect of the vege- 

 tation is similar to that of Australia ; perhaps it is a little more 

 green and cheerful ; and the pasture between the trees rather more 

 abundant. One day I took a long walk on the side of the bay 

 opposite to the town : I crossed in a steamboat, two of which are 

 constantly plying backwards and forwards. The machinery of one 

 of these vessels was entirely manufactured in this colony, which, 



* Physical Description of New South Wales ami Van Die-men's Land, 

 p. Ro4. 



