PRODUCE OF ISLANDS. 453 



posed of the Orkney goose feathers. Some of the 

 birds are preserved by smoking, and form the prin- 

 cipal food of the Straitsmen, resembling mutton, 

 according to their taste, though none of us could 

 perceive the similarity. 



The habitations of these people are generally 

 slab and plaster, of very rude and uninviting ex- 

 terior, but tolerably clean and comfortable within. 

 They generally take what they may have for the 

 market to Launceston twice in the year, lay in 

 stores for the next six months, and return home, 

 never, I believe, bringing back any spirits, so 

 that while on the islands, they lead, from necessity, 

 a temperate life. 



It is sometimes in the power of these men to be 

 of infinite service to vessels who are strangers in 

 the strait, when driven into difficulties by westerly 

 gales. Portions of the islands on which they reside 

 are brought into cultivation ; but at Gun Carriage 

 they complain of their crops having been very back- 

 ward since they were disturbed by the natives, with 

 Mr. Robinson, as they destroyed with fire all the 

 shelter that w^as afforded. The water throughout 

 the islands is not always very good ; grain, how- 

 ever, thrives tolerably, and potatoes do very well 

 indeed. The latter are taken, with peas and other 

 garden produce, to Port Dalrymple. This is an 

 evident proof of what these islands are capable of 

 producing, and is worthy the attention of Govern- 

 ment, in case the idea, which I have suggested, is 



