VOYAGE TO NEW SOUTH WALES. 
able gums, and all of an excellent quality, are to be found; 
but they are fold at a much dearer rate than could poflibly 
have been conceived or expe&d in a country of which they 
are the natural produce. 
The riches of this country, arifing from the mines, are 
certainly very great. To go near, or to get a fight of thefe 
inexhauftible treafuries, is impolTible, as every pafs leading to 
them is ftrongly guarded ; and even a perfon taken on the 
road, unlefs he be able to give a clear and unequivocal 
account of himfelf and his bulinefs, is imprifoned, and per- 
haps compelled ever after to work in thofe fubterraneous 
cavities, which avarice, or an ill-timed and fatal curiofity, 
may have prompted him to approach. Thefe circumftances 
made a trial to fee them without permiflion (and that per- 
miffion I underfland has never been granted the moft fa- 
voured foreigners) too dangerous to be attempted. 
In addition to the above fource of wealth, the country 
produces excellent tobacco, and likewife fugar canes, from 
which the inhabitants make good fugar, and draw a 
fpirit called aquadente. This fpirit, by proper management, 
and being kept till it is of a proper age, becomes tolerable 
rum. As it is fold very cheap, the commodore purcha fed a 
K hundred 
