ORIENTAL COMMERCE. [Neiv South >Vale#,$c. 



that it was first seen by navigators of their nation, in the year 1610, when 

 it bore the name of Terra Austral is Incognita. But there U a chart in the 

 Harleian Collection, dated 1542, exhibiting an extensive tract of country 

 south of the Moluccas, called Great Java, which agrees more nearly with 

 New Holland than with any other country, especially the N. W. coast. 



The first English navigator, who appears to have seen any part of New 

 Holland, was Dampier, who, in 1668, touched at the N. W. coast for 

 refreshment. In 1770, Captain Cook visited it, and in the course of his 

 voyages, left but a part of its circuit unexplored. The Eastern Coast was 

 most particularly examined by him ; and he took formal possession of it, in 

 the name of the King of Great Britain, giving it the name of 



NEW SOUTH WALES. — This territory, now generally denomi- 

 nated Australia, if at present divided into four counties : Cumberland, 

 Camden, Argyle, and Westmoreland. The first, which is bounded on the 

 E. by the sea, on the S. by hills, and on the other sides by the rivers Nepean 

 and Hawkesbury, is computed to be 53 miles from N. to S. Its greatest 

 breadth from the sea to the base of the Blue Mountains, is 46 miles. It 

 contains the principal town of Sydney, and those of Paramatta, Windsor, 

 and Liverpool. The external appearance of the Coast of Cumberland is 

 sterile ; and there is a great want of water in the interior. 



Camden is the tract lying between the Shoal Haven river and the 

 Nepean ; the County of Argyle adjoins that of Camden to the S. W., being 

 separated from it by the river Wingee Caribbec. It is bounded on the 

 S. and W. by the Shoal Haven river, the Cookbundoon, and the Wolon- 

 dilly. This district abounds with good timber, vigorous natural grasses, 

 Davyesla, and wild indigo. The limits of Westmoreland County are not vet 

 defined ; it includes the settlement of Bathurst, and the tracts of land dis- 

 covered and occupied to the W. of the Blue Mountains. 



At the close of the American war, it was determined to make a settle- 

 ment in New South Wales, for receiving felons sentenced to transportation. 

 The spot fixed upon was a spacious bay on the S. E. coast, called by Capt. 

 Cook, Botany Bay, from the variety of unknown vegetables he found there. 

 The bay was supposed to afford perfect shelter and good anchorage ; but 

 when the first embarkation of convicts arrived, it was found that the water 

 in the bay was too shallow for large vessels, which lay exposed in the road ; 

 and that the intended site of the colony was in other respects objectionable. 

 The expedition proceeded, therefore, about five miles, to a place since called 



POUT JACKSON, where they landed, and laid the foundations of a 

 town named Sydney. Port Jackson is considered to be one of the best and 

 safest harbours in the world. Its entrance is in latitude 33 a 50 S., and Ion- 



