284 [Assembly 



tion of the country, its mineral, botanical or chemical mysteries; 

 he examines them, and notes down for the benefit of his fellow 

 men anything useful to them. 



Now, with regard to the colony of New South Wales, which 

 constitutes the southeastern portion of Australia, I rode over, in 

 the manner I have above described, some two thousand miles in 

 seven months, spending some days with the most hospitable and 

 intelligent set of men, the "squatters of the unsettled districts," 

 from whom I learnt the following particulars : 



The government of New South Wales, in order to open up the 

 lands on the western and northern frontiers, adopted a system of 

 renting them at the low price of 10s. per square mile, for grazing 

 sheep and cattle, granting a pre-emption right for a certain num- 

 ber of years to the bold pioneer who dared to expose his life and 

 property to the treacherous and plundering attaclis of the abori- 

 gines. (The most degenerate of the human species, blacker than 

 the African negro, and much worse formed ; lazy, superstitious, 

 and incapable of communicating with those who live but a few 

 miles apart from them. Each tribe seems to have a different lan- 

 guage, and are continually at war with each other. Their cor- 

 robberies are extraordinary exhibitions. Some boys have been 

 sent to England and educated, but, like the American Indian, he 

 returns to his tribe as soon as he has a chance.) They are gene- 

 rally gentlemen or noblemen's sons in the northern districts, who 

 came out with sufiicient capital to start 5,000 sheep on their 

 " runs," as soon as they took them up on the frontier, frequently 

 beyond that point known to us. His sheep increase at the rate 

 of 90 or 95 per cent annually. He continues to extend his pre- 

 emption right over lands, and before the period of fourteen years 

 (the terms of his lease) comes round, at a yearly rent of 10s. per 

 square mile, he has become rich by the increase of his stock, &c., 

 and sells a portion to those who co'ne after him, and penetrates 

 further on the frontier. In this manner the " squatter" soon be- 

 comes independent, and retires home to England to enjoy his 

 former society. 



