DISCOVERY OF EASTERN AUSTRALIA 447 



on his own experience. Yet, immediately after he had 

 gained this experience, he summed up New Holland as in 

 every respect the most barren country he had seen. He 

 wrote no words of suggestion that colonists would do well 

 to settle there ; and the nearest he got to that suggestion 

 was in the remark that, " were any man to settle here," 

 he would find the study of ants uncommonly interesting 

 " industrious as they are, their courage, if possible, 

 excels their industry." One can only explain the contrast 

 by some theory of the growing optimism of old age. 



On the other hand, Cook's description shows that he Cook thinks 

 had in mind the idea of colonization, and that he regarded Australia 

 New South Wales with favour. He states plainly, it is could be 

 true, that " the land naturally produces hardly anything industrious 

 fit for man to eat," that "the natives know nothing of settlers, 

 agriculture," and that " the country itself, so far as we 

 know, doth not produce any one thing that can become 

 an article in trade to invite Englishmen to fix a settlement 

 upon it. However," he continues, " this Eastern side 

 is not that barren and undesirable country that Dampier 

 and others have described the Western side to be. We 

 are to consider that we see this country in the pure state 

 of nature ; the industry ^pf man has had nothing to do 

 with any part of it, and yet we find all such things as 

 nature had bestowed upon it in a flourishing state. In 

 this extensive country, it can never be doubted but what 

 most sorts of grain, fruit, roots, etc., of every kind would 

 flourish here were they once brought hither, planted and 

 cultivated by the^hands of industry, and here are provender 

 for more cattle at all seasons of the year than ever can be 

 brought into the country." It is "indifferently well watered, 

 even in the dry seasons, with small brooks and springs, 

 but no great rivers unless it be the wet season." The soil, 

 though sandy, is " indifferently fertile, and clothed with 

 woods, long grass, shrubs, plants, etc." The coast North 

 of 25 " abounds with a great number of fine bays and 

 harbours, sheltered from all winds." 



It was not Cook's way to write with enthusiasm. He 

 said enough to show that he thought the soil of New South 



