62 
Notes on the 
fortunes of Australia, was the Commandant; and from 
hijn I learnt much to convince me of the importance of 
maintaining the Settlement. It is not a climate suited to 
European constitutions, the settlers looked cadaverous 
and worn; and though they had no positive sickness 
among them, yet I understood they had turned their 
attention to building a new hospital, in consequence of the 
old one being insufficiently large. Nevertheless, though 
unfit for European labourers, it will be a most valuable 
mart for the teeming population of the neighbouring, 
islands, and a connecting station with Singapore. The 
Christian natives of Amboyna are a laborious race, frugal, 
and anxious to realise a competency, in order to enjoy it 
among their own people; and Mr. Earle, who has put 
into my possession some very valuable information about 
these matters, says that the Dutch under whom they live 
do not at present put any hindrance in the way of their 
emigrating to the English settlement. But I imagine 
that this refers to the burghers, or highest class of the na¬ 
tive population; for the villagers, or Orang-negri, though 
christianised and industrious, are bound to the soil in a 
certain degree. The Arafuras or mountaineers are wild 
heathens. There is also a class of slaves. The incredible 
short-sightedness of the Dutch, to whom the colonies 
neighbouring on Port Essington belong, will also be 
greatly in favour of the English trade. 
It is true that they forbid European ships to visit Amboy¬ 
na, or any other of their six surbordinate residencies; and 
that having bound themselves to admit English shipping if 
they admit any others besides the native, they make the 
Spaniards from Manilla chauge flags at the Island of 
Zula, and appear with a native flag, in order to evade 
the English claim. But all this will avail little if they 
persevere in the restrictions which they impose upon their 
commerce. Once a year a few ships come from Java and 
