VOYAGE TO NEW SOUTH WALES. 
infenfible to the fear of corporal punifhment, or even death 
itfelf. 
The principal buiinefs going forward at prefent is erecting 
cabbage-tree huts for the officers, foldiers, and convids ; 
fome ftore-houfes, &c. ; and a very good hofpital ; all 
v^hich in the completion will coft a great deal of time and 
trouble, as the timber of this country is very unfit for the 
purpofe of building. Nor do I knov/ any one purpofe for 
which it will anfwer, except for fire-wood ; and for that it 
is excellent : but, in other refpeds, it is the worft wood 
that any country or climate ever produced ; although fome 
of the trees, when (landing, appear fit for any ufe whatever, 
mafts for fhipping not excepted. Strange as it may be ima- 
gined, no wood in this country, though fawed ever fo thin, 
and dried ever fo well, will float. Repeated trials have 
only ferved to convince me that, immediately on immerfion, 
it finks to the bottom like a ftone. 
The flone of this country is excellent for building, could 
any kind of cement be found to keep it together. There is 
not any lime-ftone (I believe) in New South Wales. The 
governor, notwithftanding that he had colleded together 
all the fhells which could be found, for the purpofe of 
obtaining;; 
