NEW SOUTH WALES. 127 
angles with the front of this building. Inflead of thatch, ^^^^ ^' 
they now ufe fliingles made from a tree in appearance -^r— » 
like a fir, but producing a wood not unlike the EngliQi 
oak. This, though more fecure than thatching, is not ^ 
enough fo for ftorehoufes. For thefe, if flate-ftone 
Ihould not be found, tiles mufl: be made of the clay 
■which has been ufed for bricks. The principal farm is 
fituated in the next cove to the eaft of the town, and lefs 
than half a mile from it. When the plan was drawn it 
contained about nine acres laid down in corn of different 
kinds. Later accounts fpeak of fix acres of wheats 
eight of barley, and fix of other grain, as raifed on the 
public account, and in a very promiiing way. 
Sydney cove lies open to the north-eafb, and is con- 
tinued in a fouth-weft diredion for near a thoufand 
yards, gradually decreafing from the breadth of about 
one thoufand four hundred feet, till it terminates in a . 
point, where it receives a fmall llream of freili water. 
The anchorage extends about two thoufand feet up the 
cove, and has foundings in general of four fathoms near 
the fhore, and five, fix, or feven, nearer the middle of the 
channel. It is perfe6lly fecure in all winds ; and for a 
confiderable vv^ay up on both fides, iliips can lie almofl 
clofe to the fliore : nor are there, in any part of it, rocks 
or fliallows to render the navigation dangerous. Such a , 
fituation could not fail to appear deiireable to a difcerning 
manj 
