6 4 



A US TRALASIA ILL US TRA TED. 



per pound. By crossing the two breeds, I had the satisfaction of seeing the lambs of 

 the Indian ewes bear a mingled fleece of hair and wool. This circumstance originated 



the idea of producing 

 fine wool in New South 

 Wales." 



Two years after- 

 wards two sloops of war 

 were sent from Sydney 

 to the Cape of Good 

 Hope, and their com- 

 manders being friends of 

 Macarthur's, he requested 

 them to ascertain whether 

 there were any wool- 

 bearing sheep at the 

 Cape. When they arrived 

 they fortunately found 

 for sale in the market 

 some merinos bred from 

 animals of the celebrated 

 Escurial flock, which had 

 been presented by the 

 CAPTAIN 1'iiiu.ip's FIRST SIGHT OF PORT JACKSON. Ki n & f -Spain to the 



Dutch Government, and 



sent to the Cape. About twenty were purchased, and of these, said Macarthur, " I was 

 favoured with five ewes and three rams. The remainder were distributed among different 

 individuals, who did not take the necessary precautions to preserve the pure breed, 

 and they soon disappeared. Mine were carefully guarded against any impure mixtures, 

 and increased in number and improved in the quality of their wool. In a year or two 

 after I had an opportunity of augmenting my flocks by the purchase from Colonel 

 Foveaux of twelve hundred sheep of the common Cape breed. The results soon made 

 themselves manifest. In 1801, I took to England 

 specimens of the wool of the pure merino, and 

 of the best of the cross-bred ; and, having sub- 

 mitted them to the inspection of a committee of 

 manufacturers, they reported that the merino wool 

 was equal to any Spanish wool, and the cross- 

 bred of considerable value. Thus encouraged, I 

 purchased nine rams and an ewe from the Royal 

 flock at Kew, and returned to this country 

 determined to devote my attention to the im- 

 provement of the wool of my flocks." 



Then began negotiations with the Imperial Government for the purpose of obtaining 

 sufficient pastures for the increasing flocks. Macarthur presented a memorial to the Privy 



THE FIRST GOVERNMENT HOUSE : 

 PITT STREET, SYDNEY. 



