1799*1 OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 493 



the inhabitants would have every thing that Norfolk Ifland has to 

 offer, befides the fuperior benefits of a temperate climate and capa- 

 cious harbour. 



In addition to the advantages likely to be obtained in New South 

 Wales by the culture of the flax plant, the breed of fheep had been 

 confiderably improved, by croffing the fmall Bengal with the larger 

 Cape fheep. The fleece produced from this mixture was excellent ; 

 and a fpecimen of woollen cloth fabricated of it was fent to England. 

 One end of a web of linen, woven from the wild flax of the country, 

 was croffed with a thread fpun from the bark of a tree ; and a web 

 from that bark was croffed, in the fpecimen fent home, by a thread 

 of wool. All thefe were made under many difficulties; but they an- 

 fwered the purpofe of mewing what might be done, with proper tools, 

 at a future period. There was not any. doubt, but that the flax plant 

 would confiderably improve by cultivation ; and the manufacture of 

 woollens promifed to be of great benefit to the fettlement, whenever a 

 fufficiencv of the raw materials fhould be colle&ed. 



The difcovery of the vaft ftrata of coal rauft be reckoned among 

 the new lights thrown upon the refources of the colony. The facility 

 that this prefents in working the iron ore with which the fettlement 

 abounded, mull prove of infinite utility if a dock-yard mould ever be 

 eftablifhed there. 



On the 3d of May his Majefty's fhip Buffalo arrived from England ; 

 but lafl from the Gape of Good Hope, whence fhe brought fixty-fix 

 head of cattle. She had alfo on board fome tools and articles of 

 hardware for the ufe of the colony ; but, unfortunately, no bedding 

 or clothing of any kind. 



The natives, ever hoftile to the fettlers, had lately killed one of 

 them : thefe natives belonged to the tribe of which Pe-mul-wy was 

 the leader. 



Savage as thefe beings were toward the white people, and to 

 each other, yet they could unbend, and divert themfelves. with the 

 fofter amufements of fmging and dancing. The annexed Engraving 



repre- 



