1796J OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 339 



animal food, and that Government in the courfe of twelve months 

 might furnifh the other half : And further, that if the induftry of the 

 fetclers and other individuals were encouraged by their overplus grain 

 and animal food being purchafed at a fair price, the produce of the 

 grounds cleared would be more than fufficient for the maintenance of 

 the prefent inhabitants, three hundred and thirty-feven of whom fup- 

 ported themfelves without any expence to the crown ; and this might 

 be further fecured, if cattle and fheep could be fent there, as the for- 

 mer were much wanted for labour, and the latter for change of food. 

 It is certain that fheep breed there as w r ell as in any part of the world, 

 and have not as yet been fubjedt to the diflempers common to that 

 kind of flock. The Bengal ewes yean twice in thirteen months, and 

 have commonly two, often three, and fometimes four lambs at a 

 yeaning ; and thefe have increafed fo much by being crofled with the 

 Cape ram, that a lamb fix weeks old is now as large as one of the old 

 ewes. 



The goats too are extremely prolific, and generally breed thrice in 

 the year, having commonly from two to four kids at a time. 



Any number of fheep and goats, and a large quantity of flock might 

 be bred in this ifland, as the cleared ground affords the beft of pafhire 

 for thofe fpecies of flock. But it will be a long time before the pre- 

 fent flock will be of much ufe, unlefs more are fent. 



The want of artificers of all defcriptions, and the fcarcity of labour- 

 ers at public works, much retarded the conftru&ion of a number 

 of neceffary buildings. The ifland pofTeffed the beft of flone, lime, 

 and timber ; but, unfortunately, there never had been but one mafon 

 there. 



At Cafcade Bay a great advantage had been gained in the conflruc- 

 tion of a very flrong wharf, at the end of which is a Twinging crane 

 and capflern. Near this wharf, a large flore-heufe and barracks are 

 built. 



A well-conflruded water-mill has been ere&ed, which grinds twenty 

 bufhels of wheat a day, 



x x 2 The 



