1809.] 
fect arises much. less from the climate, 
than from the change of manners amongst 
the women, is, that those prostitutes in 
the colony, who are permitted by the po- 
lice to continue in their immoral way of 
life, remain barren the same as in Eus 
rope. Hence we may be permitted to 
deduce the important physiological re- 
sult, that an excess of sexual intercource 
destroys the sensibilicy of the female or- 
gans, to such a degree, as to render them 
incapable of conception; while, to re- 
store the trame to its pristine activity, no- 
thing is necessary but to renounce those 
fatal excesses. 
While we were reflecting on these nu- 
merous and interesting subjects, all the 
officers and principal citizens of the co 
Jony were unremitting in their assiduities 
towards us, Our numerous sick were re- 
ceived into the government hospital, 
where the Engiish surgeons paid them all 
possible attention. Doctor THomson, 
the chief physician of the celony, directed 
the mode of treatment with the greatest 
tenderness: and whatever we were in 
need of, that the place could furnish, 
was put at our disposal. The governor- 
general gave us an unlimited credit on 
the public treasury, and our Commodore 
was furnished with royal printed checks, 
to fill up, with any sum that he might 
wish for; and these checks, without any 
other security than the signature of the 
French commandant, were accepted by 
the inhabitants, with a confidence highly 
honourable to the government of our 
country. Qur salt provisions, spirits, 
and biscuits, were exhausted; but by 
means of these checks we obtdined fresh 
supplies ; and several times the magazines 
of the colony were opened to supply us 
with articles, which our agents could not 
procure. Thus, by this generous relief, 
we were enabled to re-clothe our crews, 
who were in want of every thing; repair 
Our ships, purchase one, instead of that 
we had lost; and be completely prepared 
for continuing our voyage. : | 
Atthe same time, our scientific re- 
searches met with every encouragement; 
a guard of English soldiers was appointed 
expressly to protect our observatory, 
which we placed on the north point of 
the eastern bank of Sydney Cove The 
whole of the country was open to the ex- 
cursions of our naturatists, and we were 
even permitted to wear our arms, as 
were the persons of our suite: while 
guides and interpreters were furnished 
us, for our longest journies, In short, 
the Capital of the English Colonies. 
1¢9 
the English government behaved to us, 
with such generosity, that they acquired 
our warmest gratituce. 
The principal ouject of our stay at Port 
Jackson, was, that we might devote pro- 
per attention to every part of the sur- 
roundinge country. While our crews 
were repairing the damages the ships had 
sustained, and getting in fresh supplies of 
provisions, the naturalists extended their 
researches to every branch of the physi- 
cal history of this interesting country. 
The seurvy, which had affected all my 
joints with, swellings and stiffness, had 
already begun to yield to the influence of 
diet and the climate; and as soon as [ 
was able, I went down te the coast of 
Botany Bay, the harbour of which is si- 
tuated some leagues to the south of Port 
Jackson. A large and commodious road 
leads from Sydney Town, to this great 
bay: all theintermediate country is sandy 
and barren, and appears unfit for any 
kind of cultivation; consequently one 
does not meet with any European habita- 
tions, After passing the high hill, at the 
foot of which is the establishment of Mr. 
Palmer, the country opens upon a sandy 
plain, which extends as far as the swam- 
py banks of Cook’s river. _ Various spe- 
cies of Elakea, Styphelia, Eucalyptus, 
Banksia, Embothryum, and Casuarina, 
grow amidst these sands, and large spaces 
are occupied entirely with the Xanthorea, 
the gigantic stalks of which grow to the 
heigiit of from eighteen to twenty feet. 
in the distauce may be perceived the 
smoke of a few huts, belonging to those 
unfortunate hordes of natives, who exist 
on these desolate shores. 
As youapproach towards Botany Bay, 
the land gradually sinks, till you reach the 
dangerous swamps formed by the brack. 
ish waters of Cook’s river, towards the 
north, and of George river, to the south, 
These marshes are so extensive, and often 
so deep, that it is impossible in many 
parts to pass them, if you want to reach 
the sea. On their banks, and all along 
the two rivers just mentioned, vegetation 
is very active: a thousand species of trees 
and shrubs, which cover the surface of 
the soil, afforded to that part of the coun- 
try which we occupied, a delightful ap- 
pearance 5 it was this circumstance which 
deceived Captain Cook, and his brave 
companions; for they supposed the land 
to be unparalleled in point o: fertility, Te 
would have been well, however, if this 
bay, so celebrated by those navigators, 
had justified the great ideas which they 
* ' formed 
