NEW SOUTH WALES. 277 



in seasons of freshet by the Bell river, which winds through it, and 

 falls into the Macquarie about two miles below the station. During 

 the season of Mr. Hale's visit, the channel was dry. 



The buildings at Wellington consist of a dozen small brick houses, 

 erected formerly as barracks for soldiers, and having undergone some 

 slight alteration, and repair, they are now inhabited by the mis- 

 sionaries, and a police magistrate. The former are three in number, 

 two clergymen and an agriculturist. They have under instruction 

 forty men, women, and children, but the wandering and capricioiis 

 habits of these aborigines render it impossible to keep the adults 

 with them. Mr. Watson, the eldest of the missionaries, has now 

 with him fifteen children, whom he does not allow to leave his house, 

 and is endeavouring to teach them the habits of Europeans, and the 

 English language. He considers them as equal to white children in 

 docility and intelligence, and several of them had made as much 

 proficiency in the various branches of education, as could be expected 

 at their age. They could read and write with facility, and solve 

 questions in elementary arithmetic. They had a natural aptitude for 

 music, and they joined with much harmony in singing common 

 English tunes. 



Mr. Hale was greatly indebted to the chief missionary, Mr. Watson, 

 for his hospitality and the aid lie furnished in his researches into the 

 language, manners, and customs of the natives. 



While at Wellington, he passed a few days at the station of 

 W. 0. Raymond, Esq., one of the magistrates of the colony, who is 

 owner of a large stock of cattle and sheep. His house is situated on 

 the Macquarie, and here an opportunity presented itself of seeing the 

 operation of washing and shearing the sheep. This took place at the 

 time of their visit, and was, on account of the lateness of the season, 

 about a month later than usual. 



The sheep were plunged and held in a tub of hot water, until their 

 fleeces were thoroughly soaked ; they were . then taken out and made 

 to swim about in one of the deep pools of the Macquarie, for half an 

 hour ; after this they were held under the spout of a pump, where 

 they were rubbed, combed, and rinsed, until their wool was con- 

 sidered sufficiently clean. 



The sheep are shorn when dry, and the fleeces assorted according 

 to their fineness, in lots, which are afterwards packed in bales of 

 from two to three hundred pounds : these are then compressed by a 

 lever-press. 



VOL. II. "0 



