CON T E N S 
OF 
T H E FIRST V O L U M E. 
P RELl MIN ARY CHAPTER. 
Tiupose of lliis Cliapler — Name of Austvalia — Impipssions of its early 
\’isitors — Character of the Australian rivers — Author’s first view 
of Port Jackson — Extentof the Colony of New South Wales — its 
rapid advances in prosperity — Erroneous impressions — Com- 
mercial importance of Sydney — Growth of fine w'ool — Mr. M‘Ar- 
thur’s meritorious exertions — Whale-fishery — Other exports — 
fJeographical features — Causes of the large proportion of bad soil 
— Connection between the geology and vegetation — Geological 
features — Character of the soil connected with the geological for- 
mation — County of Cumberland — Country westward of the Blue 
Mountains — Disadvantages of the remote settlers — Character of 
the Eastern coast — Rich tracts in the interior — Periodical droughts 
— The seasons apparently affected by the interior marshes — Tem- 
perature — Fruits — Emigrants : Causes of their success or failure 
— ■ Moral disadvantages — System of emigration recommended — 
Hints to emigrants — Progress of inland discovery — Expeditions 
across the Blue Mountains — Discoveries of Mr. Evans, Mr. Oxley, 
and others — Conjectures respecting the interior. 
