BothonhispassagefromEngland,andsincehisarrivalhere,hisconducthasbeenirreproachable.Heisappointedhigh-constableofthesettlementofRoseHill,apostofsomerespectability,andcertainlyoneofimportancetothosewholivehere.Hisknowledgeofmen,particularlyofthatpartofthemintowhosemorals,mannersandbehaviourheisorderedespeciallytoinspect,eminentlyfithimfortheoffice.
Icannotquithimwithoutbearingmytestimonythathistalentspromisetobedirectedinfuturetomakereparationtosocietyfortheoffenceshehasheretoforecommittedagainstit.
ThenumberofpersonsofalldescriptionsatRoseHillatthisperiodwillbeseeninthefollowingreturn.
AreturnofthenumberofpersonsatRoseHill,3rdofDecember1791
Quality.Men.Women.Childrenof10yearsof2yearsunder2years
Convicts*13361330917
Troops949152
CivilDepartment70000
SeamenSettlers30000
FreePersons07212
Totalnumberofpersons144014931521
[*Theconvictswhoarebecomesettlers,areincludedinthisnumber.]
OfmySydneyjournal,Ifindnopartsufficientlyinterestingtobeworthextraction.Thisplacehadlongbeenconsideredonlyasadepotforstores.Itexhibitednothingbutafewoldscatteredhutsandsomesterilegardens.Cultivationofthegroundwasabandoned,andallourstrengthtransferredtoRoseHill.Sydney,nevertheless,continuedtobetheplaceofthegovernor\'sresidence,andconsequentlytheheadquartersofthecolony.
Nopublicbuildingofnote,exceptastorehouse,hadbeenerectedsincemylaststatement.Thebarracks,solongtalkedof,solongpromised,fortheaccommodationanddisciplineofthetroops,werenotevenbegunwhenIleftthecountry;andinsteadofanewhospital,theoldonewaspatchedupand,withtheassistanceofonebroughtready-framedfromEngland,servedtocontainthesick.
Theemploymentofthemaleconvictshere,asatRoseHill,wasthepubliclabour.Ofthewomen,themajoritywerecompelledtomakeshirts,trousersandothernecessarypartsofdressforthemen,frommaterialsdeliveredtothemfromthestores,intowhichtheyreturnedeverySaturdaynighttheproduceoftheirlabour,astipulatedweeklytaskbeingassignedtothem.Inamoreearlystage,governmentsentoutallarticlesofclothingreadymade;but,byadoptingthepresentjudiciousplan,notonlyapublicsavingiseffected,butemploymentofasuitablenaturecreatedforthosewhowouldotherwiseconsumeleisureinidlepursuitsonly.
Onthe26thofNovember1791,thenumberofpersons,ofalldescriptions,atSydney,was1259,towhich,if1628atRoseHilland1172atNorfolkIslandbeadded,thetotalnumberofpersonsinNewSouthWalesanditsdependencywillbefoundtoamountto4059.*
[*AveryconsiderableadditiontothisnumberhasbeenmadesinceIquittedthesettlement,byfreshtroopsandconvictssentthitherfromEngland.]
Onthe13thofDecember1791,themarinebattalionembarkedonboardHisMajesty\'sshipGorgon,andonthe18thsailedforEngland.
CHAPTERXVII.
MiscellaneousRemarksonthecountry.Onitsvegetableproductions.
Onitsclimate.Onitsanimalproductions.Onitsnatives,etc.
Thejournalscontainedinthebodyofthispublication,illustratedbythemapwhichaccompaniesitunfortunately,thereisnomapaccompanyingthisetext,are,Iconceive,sodescriptiveofeverypartofthecountryknowntous,thatlittleremainstobeaddedbeyondafewgeneralobservations.
Thefirstimpressionmadeonastrangeriscertainlyfavourable.
Heseesgentlyswellinghillsconnectedbyvaleswhichpossesseverybeautythatverdureoftrees,andform,simplyconsideredinitself,canproduce;
buthelooksinvainforthosemurmuringrillsandrefreshingspringswhichfructifyandembellishmorehappylands.Nothinglikethosetributarystreamswhichfeedriversinothercountriesarehereseen;
forwhenIspeakofthestreamatSydney,Imeanonlythedrainofamorass;
andtheriveratRoseHillisacreekoftheharbour,whichabovehighwatermarkwouldnotinEnglandbecalledevenabrook.WhencetheHawkesbury,theonlyfreshwaterriverknowntoexistinthecountry,derivesitssupplies,wouldpuzzleatransientobserver.Heseesnothingbuttorpidunmeaningpondsoftenstagnantandalwaysstill,unlessagitatedbyheavyrainswhichcommunicatewithit.DoubtlessthespringswhichariseinCarmarthenmountainsmaybesaidtoconstituteitssource.
Tocultivateitsbankswithinmanymilesofthebedofthestreamexceptonsomeelevateddetachedspotswillbefoundimpracticable,unlesssomemethodbedevisedoferectingamound,sufficienttorepeltheencroachmentsofatorrentwhichsometimesrisesfiftyfeetaboveitsordinarylevel,inundatingthesurroundingcountryineverydirection.
ThecountrybetweentheHawkesburyandRoseHillisthatwhichIhavehithertospokenof.Whentheriveriscrossed,thisprospectsoongivesplacetoaverydifferentone.Thegreenvalesandmoderatehillsdisappearatthedistanceofaboutthreemilesfromtheriverside,andfromKnightHill,andMountTwiss,*thelimitswhichterminateourresearches,nothingbutprecipices,wildsanddeserts,aretobeseen.Eventhesesteepsfailtoproducestreams.Thedifficultyofpenetratingthiscountry,joinedtothedreadofasuddenriseoftheHawkesbury,forbiddingallreturn,hashithertopreventedourreachingCarmarthenmountains.
[*LookattheMap.Thereisnomapaccompanyingthisetext]
LetthereadernowcasthiseyeontherelativesituationofPortJackson.
HewillseeitcutofffromcommunicationwiththenorthwardbyBrokenBay,andwiththesouthwardbyBotanyBay;andwhatisworse,thewholespaceofinterveningcountryyetexplored,exceptanarrowstripcalledtheKangarooGroundinbothdirections,issobadastoprecludecultivation.
ThecourseoftheHawkesburywillnextattracthisattention.
TothesouthwardofeverypartofBotanyBaywehavetracedthisriver;
buthowmuchfartherinthatlineitextendsweknownot.Henceitschanneltakesanortherlydirection,andfinishesitscourseinBrokenBay,runningatthebackofPortJacksoninsuchamannerastoformthelatterintoapeninsula.
Theprincipalquestionthenremainingis,whatisthedistancebetweentheheadofBotanyBayandthepartoftheHawkesburynearesttoit?
Andistheintermediatecountryagoodone,ordoesitleadtoonewhichappearancesindicatetobegood?TofutureadventurerswhoshallmeetwithmoreencouragementtopersevereanddiscoverthanIandmyfellowwanderer[s]did,Iresigntheanswer.Inthemeantimethereaderisdesiredtolookattheremarksonthemapthereisnomapaccompanyingthisetext,whichweremadeinthebeginningofAugust1790,fromPyramidHill,whichboundedourprogressonthesouthernexpedition;when,andwhenonly,thispartofthecountryhasbeenseen.
ItthenfollowsthatfromRoseHilltowithinsuchadistanceoftheHawkesburyasisprotectedfromitsinundations,istheonlytractoflandweyetknowof,inwhichcultivationcanbecarriedonformanyyearstocome.Toaimatformingacomputationofthedistanceoftime,ofthelabourandoftheexpense,whichwouldattendformingdistinctconvictsettlements,beyondtheboundsIhavedelineated;
orofthedifficultywhichwouldattendasystemofcommunicationbetweensuchestablishmentsandPortJackson,isnotintendedhere.
Untilthatperiodshallarrive,theprogressofcultivation,whenitshallhaveoncepassedProspectHill,willprobablystealalongtothesouthward,inpreferencetothenorthward,fromthesuperiornatureofthecountryinthatdirection,astheremarksinsertedinthemapwilltestify.
SuchismystatementofaplanwhichIdeeminevitablyentailedonthesettlementatPortJackson.InsketchingthisoutlineofitletitnotbeobjectedthatIsupposethereaderaswellacquaintedwiththerespectivenamesandboundariesofthecountryaslongresidenceandunweariedjourneyingamongthem,havemadetheauthor.Tohavesubjoinedperpetualexplanationswouldhavebeentediousanddisgusting.Familiaritywiththerelativepositionsofacountrycanneitherbeimparted,oracquired,butbyconstantrecurrencetogeographicdelineations.
Onthepolicyofsettling,withconvictsonly,acountryatoncesoremoteandextensive,Ishalloffernoremarks.WheneverIhaveheardthisquestionagitated,sincemyreturntoEngland,thecryof,\"Whatcanwedowiththem!
Whereelsecantheybesent!\"hasalwayssilencedme.
Ofthesoil,opinionshavenotdifferedwidely.Aspoteminentlyfruitfulhasneverbeendiscovered.Thattherearemanyspotscursedwitheverlastingandunconquerablesterilitynoonewhohasseenthecountrywilldeny.
AtthesametimeIamdecidedlyofopinionthatmanylargetractsoflandbetweenRoseHillandtheHawkesbury,evennow,areofanaturesufficientlyfavourabletoproducemoderatecropsofwhatevermaybesowninthem.Andprovidedasufficientnumberofcattle*beimportedtoaffordmanurefordressingtheground,nodoubtcanexistthatsubsistenceforalimitednumberofinhabitantsmaybedrawnfromit.Toimperfecthusbandry,anddryseasons,mustindubitablybeattributedpartofthedeficiencyofformeryears.Hithertoallourendeavourstoderiveadvantagefrommixingthedifferentsoilshaveprovedfruitless,thoughpossiblyonlyfromwantofskillonourside.
[*InmyformernarrativeIhaveparticularlynoticedthesuddendisappearanceofthecattle,whichwehadbroughtwithusintothecountry.Notatraceofthemhaseversincebeenobserved.Theirfateisariddle,sodifficultofsolutionthatIshallnotattemptit.Surelyhadtheystrayedinland,insomeofournumerousexcursions,marksofthemmusthavebeenfound.
Itisequallyimpossibletobelievethateithertheconvictsornativeskilledandatethem,withoutsomesignofdetectionensuing.]
Thespontaneousproductionsofthesoilwillbesoonrecounted.
Everypartofthecountryisaforest:ofthequalityofthewoodtakethefollowinginstance.The\'Supply\'wantedwoodforamast,andmorethanfortyofthechoicestyoungtreeswerecutdownbeforeasmuchwoodaswouldmakeitcouldbeprocured,thetreesbeingeitherrottenattheheartorrivenbythegumwhichaboundsinthem.Thisgumrunsnotalwaysinalongitudinaldirectioninthebodyofthetree,butisfoundinitincircles,likeascroll.Thereishowever,aspeciesoflightwoodwhichisfoundexcellentforboatbuilding,butitisscarceandhardlyeverfoundoflargesize.
Tofindlimestonemanyofourresearchesweredirected.Butafterrepeatedassayswithfireandchemicalpreparationsonallthedifferentsortsofstonetobepickedup,itisstilladesideratum.NordidmyexperimentswithamagnetinducemetothinkthatanyofthestonesItriedcontainediron.
Ihave,however,heardotherpeoplereportverydifferentlyonthishead.
Thelistofesculentvegetables,andwildfruitsistoocontemptibletodeservenotice,ifthe\'sweettea\'whosevirtueshavebeenalreadyrecorded,andthecommonorchisrootbeexcepted.Thatspeciesofpalmtreewhichproducesthemountaincabbageisalsofoundinmostofthefreshwaterswamps,withinsixorsevenmilesofthecoast.Butisrarelyseenfartherinland.EventhebanksoftheHawkesburyareunprovidedwithit.
Theinnerpartofthetrunkofthistreewasgreedilyeatenbyourhogs,andformedtheirprincipalsupport.Thegrass,ashasbeenremarkedinformerpublications,doesnotoverspreadthelandinacontinuedsward,butarisesinsmalldetachedtufts,growingeverywayaboutthreeinchesapart,theintermediatespacebeingbare;thoughtheheadsofthegrassareoftensoluxuriantastohidealldeficiencyonthesurface.Therareandbeautifulfloweringshrubs,whichaboundineverypart,deservethehighestadmirationandpanegyric.
Ofthevegetableproductionstransplantedfromotherclimes,maizeflourishesbeyondanyothergrain.Andasitaffordsastrongandnutritivearticleoffood,itspropagationwill,Ithink,altogethersupersedethatofwheatandbarley.
Horticulturehasbeenattendedinsomeplaceswithtolerablesuccess.
AtRoseHillIhaveseengardenswhich,withouttheassistanceofmanure,havecontinuedforashorttimetoproducewellgrownvegetables.
ButatSydney,withoutconstantlydressingtheground,itwasinvaintoexpectthem;andwithitasupplyofcommonvegetablesmightbeprocuredbydiligenceinallseasons.Vinesofeverysortseemtoflourish.
Melons,cucumbersandpumpkinsrunwithunboundedluxuriancy,andIamconvincedthatthegrapesofNewSouthWaleswill,inafewyears,equalthoseofanyothercountry.\'ThattheirjuicewillprobablyhereafterfurnishanindispensablearticleofluxuryatEuropeantables\',hasalreadybeenpredictedinthevehemenceofspeculation.Otherfruitsareyetintheirinfancy;butoranges,lemonsandfigs,ofwhichlastindeedIhaveeatenverygoodoneswill,Idarebelieve,inafewyearsbecomeplentiful.Applesandthefruitsofcolderclimesalsopromisetogratifyexpectation.Thebanana-treehasbeenintroducedfromNorfolkIsland,whereitgrowsspontaneously.
Norwillthissurprise,ifthegenialinfluenceoftheclimatebeconsidered.
Placedinalatitudewherethebeamsofthesuninthedreariestseasonaresufficientlypowerfulformanyhoursofthedaytodispensewarmthandnutrition,theprogressofvegetationneverisatastand.
ThedifferenttemperaturesofRoseHillandSydneyinwinter,thoughonlytwelvemilesapart,afford,however,curiousmatterofspeculation.
Ofawellattestedinstanceoficebeingseenatthelatterplace,Ineverheard.Attheformerplaceitsproductioniscommon,andonceafewflakesofsnowfell.ThedifferencecanbeaccountedforonlybysupposingthatthewoodsstopthewarmvapoursoftheseafromreachingRoseHill,whichisatthedistanceofsixteenmilesinland;
whereasSydneyisbutfour.*Again,theheatsofsummeraremoreviolentattheformerplacethanatthelatter,andthevariationsincomparablyquicker.ThethermometerhasbeenknowntoalteratRoseHill,inthecourseofninehours,morethan50degrees;standingalittlebeforesunriseat50degrees,andbetweenoneandtwoatmorethan100degrees.
Toconveyanideaoftheclimateinsummer,Ishalltranscribefrommymeteorologicaljournal,accountsoftwoparticulardayswhichwerethehottestweeversufferedunderatSydney.
[*Lookatthejournalwhichdescribestheexpeditioninsearchoftheriver,saidtoexisttothesouthwardofRoseHill.AtthetimewefeltthatextraordinarydegreeofcoldwerenotmorethansixmilessouthwestofRoseHill,andaboutnineteenmilesfromthetheseacoast.
WhenImentionedthiscircumstancetocolonelGordon,attheCapeofGoodHope,hewonderedatit;andowned,that,inhisexcursionsintotheinteriorpartsofAfrica,hehadneverexperiencedanythingtomatchit:heattributeditsproductiontolargebedsofnitre,whichhesaidmustexistintheneighbourhood.]
December27th1790.WindNNW;itfeltliketheblastofaheatedoven,andinproportionasitincreasedtheheatwasfoundtobemoreintense,theskyhazy,thesungleamingthroughatintervals.
At9a.m.85degreesAtnoon104
Halfpasttwelve1071/2
Fromonep.m.until20
minutespasttwo1081/2
At20minutespasttwo109
AtSunset89
At11p.m.781/2
[ByalargeThermometermadebyRamsden,andgraduatedonFahrenheit\'sscale.]
December28th.
At8a.m.86
10a.m.93
11a.m.101
Atnoon1031/2
Halfanhourpastnoon1041/2
Atonep.m.102
At5p.m.73
Atsunset691/2
[Ataquarterpastone,itstoodatonly89degrees,having,fromasuddenshiftofwind,fallen13degreesin15minutes.]
Myobservationsonthisextremeheat,succeededbysorapidachange,werethatofallanimals,manseemedtobearitbest.Ourdogs,pigsandfowls,laypantingintheshade,orwererushingintothewater.
Iremarkedthatahenbelongingtome,whichhadsatforafortnight,frequentlyquittedhereggs,andshewedgreatuneasiness,butneverremainedfromthemmanyminutesatoneabsence;taughtbyinstinctthatthewonderfulpowerintheanimalbodyofgeneratingcoldinairheatedbeyondacertaindegree,wasbestcalculatedfortheproductionofheryoung.Thegardenssufferedconsiderably.Alltheplantswhichhadnottakendeeprootwerewitheredbythepowerofthesun.
Nolastingilleffects,however,arosetothehumanconstitution.
Atemporarysicknessatthestomach,accompaniedwithlassitudeandheadache,attackedmany,buttheywereremovedgenerallyintwenty-fourhoursbyanemetic,followedbyananodyne.Duringthetimeitlasted,weinvariablyfoundthatthehousewascoolerthantheopenair,andthatinproportionasthewindwasexcluded,wascomfortaugmented.
ButeventhisheatwasjudgedtobefarexceededinthelatterendofthefollowingFebruary,whenthenorth-westwindagainsetin,andblewwithgreatviolenceforthreedays.AtSydney,itfellshortbyonedegreeofwhatIhavejustrecorded:butatRoseHill,itwasallowed,byeveryperson,tosurpassallthattheyhadbeforefelt,eitherthereorinanyotherpartoftheworld.Unluckilytheyhadnothermometertoascertainitspreciseheight.Itmust,however,havebeenintense,fromtheeffectsitproduced.Animmenseflightofbatsdrivenbeforethewind,coveredallthetreesaroundthesettlement,whencetheyeverymomentdroppeddeadorinadyingstate,unablelongertoenduretheburningstateoftheatmosphere.Nordidthe\'perroquettes\',thoughtropicalbirds,bearitbetter.Thegroundwasstrewnwiththeminthesameconditionasthebats.
WereIaskedthecauseofthisintolerableheat,Ishouldnothesitatetopronouncethatitwasoccasionedbythewindblowingoverimmensedeserts,which,Idoubtnot,existinanorth-westdirectionfromPortJackson,andnotfromfireskindledbythenatives.ThisremarkIfeelnecessary,asthereweremethodsusedbysomepersonsinthecolony,bothforestimatingthedegreeofheatandforascertainingthecauseofitsproduction,whichIdeemequallyunfairandunphilosophical.Thethermometer,whencemyobservationswereconstantlymade,washungintheopenairinasouthernaspect,neverreachedbytheraysofthesun,atthedistanceofseveralfeetabovetheground.
Myotherremarksontheclimatewillbeshort.ItischangeablebeyondanyotherIeverheardof;butnophenomenasufficientlyaccuratetoreckonupon,arefoundtoindicatetheapproachofalteration.
Indeed,forthefirsteighteenmonthsthatwelivedinthecountry,changesweresupposedtotakeplacemorecommonlyatthequarteringofthemoonthanatothertimes.Butlunarempireafterwardslostitscredit.
ForthelasttwoyearsandahalfofourresidingatPortJackson,itsinfluencewasunperceived.Threedaystogetherseldompassedwithoutanecessityoccurringforlightingafireinanevening.
A\'habitd\'ete\',ora\'habitdedemisaison\',wouldbeinthehighestdegreeabsurd.Clouds,stormsandsunshinepassinrapidsuccession.Ofrain,wefoundingeneralnotasufficiency,buttorrentsofwatersometimesfall.
Thunderstorms,insummer,arecommonandverytremendous,buttheyhaveceasedtoalarm,fromrarelycausingmischief.Sometimestheyhappeninwinter.Ihaveoftenseenlargehailstonesfall.
Frequentstrongbreezesfromthewestwardpurgetheair.Thesearealmostinvariablyattendedwithahardclearsky.Theeasterlywinds,bysettinginfromthesea,bringthickweatherandrain,exceptinsummer,whentheybecomeregularsea-breezes.The\'auroraaustralis\'
issometimesseen,butisnotdistinguishedbysuperiorbrilliancy.
Tosumup:notwithstandingtheinconvenienceswhichIhaveenumerated,Iwillventuretoassertinfewwords,thatnoclimatehithertoknownismoregenerallysalubrious*,oraffordsmoredaysonwhichthosepleasureswhichdependonthestateoftheatmospherecanbeenjoyed,thanthatofNewSouthWales.Thewinterseasonisparticularlydelightful.
[*Tothiscause,Iascribethegreatnumberofbirthswhichhappened,consideringtheageandothercircumstances,ofmanyofthemothers.
Womenwhocertainlywouldneverhavebredinanyotherclimatehereproducedasfinechildrenaseverwereborn.]
Theleadinganimalproductioniswellknowntobethekangaroo.
Thenaturalhistoryofthisanimalwill,probably,bewrittenfromobservationsmadeuponitinEngland,asseverallivingonesofbothsexes,havebeenbroughthome.Untilsuchanaccountshallappear,probablythefollowingdesultoryobservationmayproveacceptable.
ThegenusinwhichthekangarooistobeclassedIleavetobetternaturaliststhanmyselftodetermine.Howitcopulates,thosewhopretendtohaveseendisagreeintheiraccounts:nordoweknowhowlongtheperiodofgestationlasts.Prolificitcannotbetermed,bringingforthonlyoneatabirth,whichthedamcarriesinherpouchwherevershegoesuntiltheyoungonebeenabledtoprovideforitself;andeventhen,inthemomentofalarm,shewillstoptoreceiveandprotectit.
Wehavekilledshe-kangarooswhosepouchescontainedyoungonescompletelycoveredwithfurandofmorethanfifteenpoundsweight,whichhadceasedtosuckandafterwardswererearedbyus.Inwhatspaceoftimeitreachessuchagrowthastobeabandonedentirelybythemother,weareignorant.Itisbornblind,totallybald,theorificeoftheearclosedandonlyjustthecentreofthemouthopen,butablackscore,denotingwhatishereaftertoformthedimensionofthemouth,ismarkedverydistinctlyoneachsideoftheopening.Atitsbirth,thekangaroonotwithstandingitweighswhenfullgrown200pounds
isnotsolargeasahalf-grownmouse.IbroughtsomewithmetoEnglandevenless,whichItookfromthepouchesoftheoldones.
Thisphenomenonissostrikingandsocontrarytothegenerallawsofnature,thatanopinionhasbeenstartedthattheanimalisbroughtforthnotbythepudenda,butdescendsfromthebellyintothepouchbyoneoftheteats,whicharetheredeposited.OnthisdifficultyasIcanthrownolight,Ishallhazardnoconjecture.Itmay,however,benecessarytoobservethattheteatsareseveralincheslongandcapableofgreatdilatation.AndhereIbegleavetocorrectanerrorwhichcreptintomyformerpublicationwhereinIassertedthat,\"theteatsofthekangarooneverexceedtwoinnumber.\"Theysometimes,thoughrarely,amounttofour.Thereisgreatreasontobelievethattheyareslowofgrowthandlivemanyyears.Thisanimalhasaclavicle,orcollar-bone,similartothatofthehumanbody.Thegeneralcolourofthekangarooisverylikethatoftheass,butvarietiesexist.
Itsshapeandfigurearewellknownbytheplateswhichhavebeengivenofit.
Theeleganceoftheearisparticularlydeservingofadmiration.
Thisfarexceedstheearofthehareinquicknessofsenseandissoflexibleastoadmitofbeingturnedbytheanimalnearlyquiteroundthehead,doubtlessforthepurposeofinformingthecreatureoftheapproachofitsenemies,asitisofatimidnature,andpoorlyfurnishedwithmeansofdefence;thoughwhencompelledtoresist,ittearsfuriouslywithitsforepaws,andstrikesforwardveryhardwithitshindlegs.
Notwithstandingitsunfavourableconformationforsuchapurpose,itsswimsstrongly;butnevertakestothewaterunlesssohardpressedbyitspursuersastobeleftwithoutallotherrefuge.Thenoisetheymakeisafaintbleat,querulous,butnoteasytodescribe.
Theyaresociableanimalsanduniteindroves,sometimestothenumberoffiftyorsixtytogether;whentheyareseenplayfulandfeedingongrass,whichaloneformstheirfood.Atsuchtimetheymovegentlyaboutlikeallotherquadrupeds,onallfours;butattheslightestnoisetheyspringupontheirhindlegsandsiterect,listeningtowhatitmayproceedfrom,andifitincreasestheyboundoffonthoselegsonly,theforeonesatthesametimebeingcarriedclosetothebreastlikethepawsofamonkey;andthetailstretchedout,actsasarudderonaship.Indrinking,thekangaroolaps.Itisremarkablethattheyareneverfoundinafatstate,beinginvariablylean.
Ofthefleshwealwayseatwithavidity,butinEuropeitwouldnotbereckonedadelicacy.Arankflavourformstheprincipalobjectiontoit.
Thetailisaccountedthemostdeliciouspart,whenstewed.
HithertoIhavespokenonlyofthelarge,orgreykangaroo,towhichthenativesgivethenameof\'patagaran\'.*Buttherearebesidesthekangaroo-rattwoothersorts.Oneofthemwecalledtheredkangaroo,fromthecolourofitsfur,whichislikethatofahare,andsometimesismingledwithalargeportionofblack:thenativescallit\'bagaray\'.Itrarelyattainstomorethanfortypoundsweight.
Thethirdsortisveryrare,andintheformationofitsheadresemblestheopossum.Thekangaroo-ratisasmallanimal,neverreaching,atitsutmostgrowth,morethanfourteenorfifteenpounds,anditsusualsizeisnotabovesevenoreightpounds.Itjoinstotheheadandbristlesofarattheleadingdistinctionsofakangaroo,byrunningwhenpursuedonitshindlegsonly,andthefemalehavingapouch.
Unlikethekangaroo,whoappearstohavenofixedplaceofresidence,thislittleanimalconstructsforitselfanestofgrass,ontheground,ofacircularfigure,aboutteninchesindiameter,withaholeononesideforthecreaturetoenterat;theinsidebeinglinedwithafinersortofgrass,verysoftanddowny.Butitsmannerofcarryingthematerialswithwhichitbuildsthenestisthegreatestcuriosity:byentwiningitstailwhich,likethatofallthekangarootribe,islong,flexibleandmusculararoundwhateveritwantstoremove,andthusdraggingalongtheloadbehindit.Thisanimalisgoodtoeat;butwhetheritbemoreprolificatabirththanthekangaroo,Iknownot.
[*kangaroowasanameunknowntothemforanyanimal,untilweintroducedit.
WhenIshowedColbeethecowsbroughtoutintheGorgon,heaskedmeiftheywerekangaroos.]
TheIndianssometimeskillthekangaroo;buttheirgreatestdestroyeristhewilddog,*whofeedsonthem.Immediatelyonhearingorseeingthisformidableenemy,thekangaroofliestothethickestcover,inwhich,ifhecaninvolvehimself,hegenerallyescapes.Inrunningtothecover,theyalways,ifpossible,keepinpathsoftheirownforming,toavoidthehighgrassandstumpsoftreeswhichmightbestickingupamongittowoundthemandimpedetheircourse.
[*Ioncefoundinthewoodsthegreatestpartofakangaroojustkilledbythedogs,whichaffordedtothreeofusamostwelcomerepast.
Marksofitsturnsandstrugglesonthegroundwereveryvisible.
Thishappenedintheevening,andthedogsprobablyhadseenusapproachandhadrunaway.Atdaylightnextmorningtheysaluteduswithmostdreadfulhowlingforthelossoftheirprey.]
Ourmethodsofkillingthemwerebuttwo;eitherweshotthem,orhuntedthemwithgreyhounds.Wewereneverabletoensnarethem.Thosesportsmenwhoreliedonthegunseldommetwithsuccess,unlesstheysleptnearcovers,intowhichthekangarooswerewonttoretireatnight,andwatchedwithgreatcautionandvigilancewhenthegame,inthemorning,salliedforthtofeed.Theywere,however,sometimesstoleninuponintheday-timeandthatfascinationoftheeye,whichhasbeenbysomeauthorssomuchinsistedupon,sofaractsonthekangaroothatifhefixeshiseyeuponanyone,andnootherobjectmoveatthesametime,hewilloftencontinuemotionless,instupidgaze,whilethesportsmanadvanceswithmeasuredstep,towardshim,untilwithinreachofhisgun.
Thegreyhoundsforalongtimewereincapableoftakingthem;butwithabraceofdogs,ifnotnearcoverakangarooalmostalwaysfalls,sincethegreyhoundshaveacquiredbypracticethepropermethodoffasteninguponthem.
Neverthelessthedogsareoftenmiserablytornbythem.Theroughwirygreyhoundsuffersleastintheconflict,andismostprizedbythehunters.
Otherquadrupeds,besidesthewilddog,consistonlyoftheflyingsquirrel,ofthreekindsofopossumsandsomeminuteanimals,usuallymarkedbythedistinctionwhichsopeculiarlycharacterizestheopossumtribe.