Jan. 1836. 



NEW SOUTH WALES. 



525 



forty, but at the present time there were rather more. 

 Although tlie farm was well stocked with every requisite, 

 there was an apparent absence of comfort; and not even 

 a single woman resided here. The sunset of a fine day 

 will generally cast an air of happy contentment on any 

 scene ; but here, at this retired farm-house, the brightest 

 tints on the surrounding woods could not make me forget 

 that forty hardened, profligate men, were ceasing from, their 

 daily labours, like the slaves from Africa, yet without their 

 just claim for compassion. 



Early on the next morning, Mr. Archer, the joint super- 

 intendent, had the kindness to take me out Kangaroo- 

 hunting. We continued riding the greater part of the day, 

 but had very bad sport, not seeing a kangaroo, or even a 

 wild dog. The greyhounds pursued a kangaroo rat into a 

 hollow tree, out of which we dragged it : it is an animal as 

 big as a rabbit, but with the figure of a kangaroo. A few 

 years since, this country abounded with wild animals ; but 

 now the emu is banished to a long distance, and the kangaroo 

 is become scarce ; to both, the English greyhound is utterly 

 destructive. It may be long before these animals are alto- 

 gether exterminated, but their doom is fixed. The natives 

 are always anxious to borrow the dogs from the farm-houses : 

 the use of them, the off'al when an animal is killed, and 

 milk from the cows, are the peace-ofFerings of the settlers, 

 who push further and further towards the interior. The 

 thoughtless aboriginal, blinded by these trifling advantages, 

 is delighted at the approach of the white man, who seems 

 predestined to inherit the country of his children. 



Although having bad sport, we enjoyed a pleasant ride. 

 The woodland is generally so open that a person on horse- 

 back can gallop through it. It is traversed by a few flat- 

 bottomed valleys, which are green and free from trees : in 

 such spots the scenery was like that of a park, and pretty. 

 In the whole country I scarcely saw a place without the 

 marks of fire ; whether these had been more or less recent — 

 whether the stumps were more or less black, was the greatest 

 change which varied the uniformity, so wearisome to the 



