New South WaletyQc.) ORIENTAL COMMERCE* 



547 



gitude 151° 25' E. There is no particular mark by which it can be known; 

 the latitude is the best guide. Soundings generally extend 4 or 5 leagues off. 



SYDNEY COVE, the seat of Government, and principal settlement in 

 Australia, and to which those on Van Diemen's Land are subordinate, is 

 about 5 miles within the Heads, on the S. side of the great southern arm of 

 the Harbour of Port Jackson. The town is situated at the base of two 

 eminences, a rivulet traversing the centre. It is rapidly enlarging, and the 

 number of its inhabitants is fast increasing. According to the official 

 returns in the year 1820, the number of inhabitants in New South Wales 

 was 23,939, whereof 15,249 were, or had been convicts. Of this number, 

 the residents at Sydney,, and the adjoining districts, amounted to 12,079, in- 

 cluding 4457 convicts. The largest proportion of the free class in the 

 colony consists of individuals bom in the country, of whose character Mr. 

 Bigge, the Commissioner appointed by the Prince Regent to enquire into 

 the state of the colony, in the year 1621, has given the following interesting 

 particulars : — 



" They are generally tall in person, and slender in their limbs, of fair 

 complexion and small features; they are capable of undergoing more 

 fatigue, and arc less exhausted by labour, than Europeans ; they are active 

 in their habits, but remarkably awkward in their movements. In their 

 temper they are quick and irascible, but not vindictive ; and I only repeat 

 the testimony of persons who have had many opportunities of observing them, 

 that they neither inherit the vices nor the feelings of their parents (the 

 convicts). Many of the native youths have evinced a strong disposition for 

 a seafaring life, and are excellent sailors ; and no doubt can be entertained 

 that that class of the population will afford abundant and excellent materials 

 for the supply of any department in the commercial or naval service/'' 



The ravages to which the town and district of Sydney are exposed from 

 the inundations of the Hawkesbury are very great Although the alluvial 

 deposit made by the inundations is rich, the loss both in labour and grain is 

 often considerable. Its lands are infested, also, with a plant, called in the 

 colony, the silk cotton plant, which was brought thither under a belief that 

 its down might be useful in manufactures. 



The colony, being now in possession of a charter, and other privileges 

 granted by the Crown, is rising fast into importance. 



Trade. — Besides its trade with Great Britain, New South Wales carries 

 on a considerable commerce with Bengal, from whence it imports chiefly 

 sugar, spirits, soap, and cotton goods ; with Canton, (which is carried on by 

 India built vessels) ; the articles brought from whence are tea, sugar candy, 

 nankeen, China silks, and (according to Mr. Bigge's report) wearing appa- 



M m 2 



