130 
formed of it. Obstructed by large banks 
of mud, and open at the south to the 
easterly winds, it does not afford to ves- 
sels that security, which they are often 
in need of; while the marshy nature of 
the soil in its environs, renders it at once 
unheaithy, and scarcely fit for ordinary 
cultivation. Hence, commodore Philip, 
after reconnoitring Port Jackson, was in- 
duced to abandon Botany Bay; and-since 
that period, there has been no other es- 
tablishment at it, except a kiln for the 
preparation of lime, which is made from 
the shells that abound on this part of the 
coast. ~Botany Bay, and its environs, 
are called by the natives, Gwea, and to 
this country belong the tribe of savayes, 
called Gwea Gal, who acknowledge Ben- 
nil-long, for their chief. - 
Twenty five miles, or there-abouts, to 
the west of Sydney Town, is the town of 
Rose Hill, or Parramatta; which I took 
the earliest opportunity of visiting. The 
prineipal physician of le Naturaliste, M. 
Bellefn, accompanied me; a serjeant of 
the New South Wales regiment, acted as 
eur guide, and was erdered by Colonel 
Paterson, to obtain for us such facilities 
as we might require, to pursue our re- 
searches. A large road leads from Syd- 
ney Lown, to Parramatta; it is not paved; 
but is well made. and kept in good cOndi- 
tion. . It is almost every where’ wide 
enough for three carriages to pass a- 
breast, and bridges have been thrown 
ever such parts ot it, as are interrupted 
by the waters; so that the traveller meets 
with no obstacle on his journey. Having 
been opened through vast forests, that 
were never hefvre assailed by the axe, 
this grand road appears ata distance, 
hke an immense avenue of foliage and 
yverdure, A charming freshness, and an 
agreeable shade always prevail in this 
continuous bower, the silence of which is 
interrupted only, by thesinging and chirp- 
ing of the richiy- plumed parroquets, and 
other birds which inhiabit it. 
The whole ground, over which you pro- 
ceed to Rose Hill, is flat, with the excep- 
tion of a few insignificant hillocks. In 
proportion, as you recede from the sea- 
shore, the soil becomes less barren, and 
affords great varieties of vegetation. In 
some parts there are large spaces between 
the trees, which is covered by a very fine 
and sweet-scented grass, that forms a 
beautiful verdant carpet,. and affords 
pasturage to numerous flocks of excellent 
sheep. The mild temperature of the cli- 
mate, the absence of all kinds of feroci- 
A 
ome. 
? 
Description of Sydney Town, 
[Sept. I, 
ous beasts, together with the particular 
species, and agreeable odour of most of 
the vegetables, have been so favourable 
to these useful animals, that the finest 
kinds of Spain and England, thrive as 
well here as on their native sou.  Al- 
ready the wool of these antarctic animals, | 
is found to be superior to the rich fleeces 
of Asturias; and the English manufac- 
turers pay dearer for it; because they are 
convinced of its superiority. This disco- 
very will probably soon open to Great 
Britain, a branch of commerce as easy, 
as It is lucrative. ; 
Woods here and there open to the 
view, and the traveller perceives amidst 
them, spots which have been cleared by 
the settlers;and some of which are exten- 
sive ; he discovers on them, many pretty 
habitations, shaded by beautiful trees ; 
and contemplates with pleasing emotion, 
these new- fields, where the feeble grass 
of the north rises from the decay of the 
powerful Eucalyptus: he discovers with 
delight om these distant grounds, the most 
useful animals of his own country; the 
bulls frisk about with a vigour equal, or 
even superior, to that of the cold mea- 
dows of Ireland ; while the cow, more fe- 
cund, gives a greater quantity of milk in 
these mild climates, than in ours. The 
English horse also, appears with the same 
strength and spirit, that he exhibits on 
the banks of the Thames; while the Eu- 
ropean hog is improved, by numerous 
crosses, with those of the South-Sea- 
islands; which are superor in size, as 
well as quality of fat and lean. Alt 
kinds of poultry have succeeded as well 
as the larger animals, and the farm- 
yards are stocked with different varieties 
of geese, ducks, turkies, pheasants, &c. 
several of which are preferable to the 
finest of the European species. 
The traveller receives additional plea~ 
sure on visiting the interior of the habita- 
tions. Bereath their agreeable roofs, in 
the midst. of vast forests, live in pertect 
tranquility, those banditti, who but a 
short time beiure were the terror of Eu- 
rope, and who, familiarized with guiit, 
were in constant expectation of the pu- 
nishment of death: here now live those 
numerous robbers, rogues, and picks 
pockets, those criminals of every kind, 
who in the mother-country appeared to 
increase in proportion to the progress 
of civilization. All these unfortunate 
wretches, who were the disgrace and 
odium of theircountry, have become, by 
the most inconceivable metamorphosis, la- 
_ borioug 
