J799-3 



OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



4*3 



ctmceive how death had fo fuddenly fucceeded fo much vigour in an 

 animal fo tenacious of life. Was it poffible that his own bite could 

 have been the caufe ? When, three hours afterwards, the fkin was 

 ftripped off, the flefli for fome diftance round the marks of his teeth 

 was found inflamed and difcoloured. 



The account of the Derwent River being now clofed, and the whole 

 of what was learned of Van Diemen's Land related, it may not be im- 

 proper, fays Mr. Bafs, to point out the manner in which this country 

 and New South Wales appear to differ in their mpft effential quality, 

 that of their foil. 



In adj ufting their comparative fertility, the contrafted difpofition 

 of their foils is much more prominent than any inequality in their 

 quantity. They are poor countries ; but, as far as the eye of dif- 

 covery has yet penetrated into either, the culturable foil of the latter 

 is found lying in a few diftindt patches of limited extent, and of 

 varying quality ; while the foil of the former, being more equally 

 fpread, thofe fpots of abundant richnefs, or large wilds of unimprove- 

 able fterility, are much lefs frequently feen. 



Although Van Diemen's Land feems to poffefs few or none of thofe 

 vaft depths of foil with which the happieft fpots of New South 

 Wales are bleffed ; yet it feldom fickens the heart of its traveller 

 with thofe extenfive tra&s which at once difarm induftry, and leave 

 the warmeft imagination without one beguiling project. 



In point of productive foil Mr. Bafs gives the preponderance to 

 Van Diemen's Land. 



In one particular, which to the inhabitants of a civilized country is 

 of the utmoft importance, both countries are but too much alike : 

 each is amply ftored with water for the common purpofes of life ; 

 but deficient in thofe large interfe&ions of it which, in other more 

 fortunate countries, fo much facilitate the operations of man, and lead 

 commerce to the door of even the moft inland farmer. 



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Twq 



