'791* of the plains; efpecially that through which the rivulet in Oyfter Harbour
)£tober. , . , ' . , .
■ has been mentioned to flow. In that plain we found, at irregular intervals,
juft beneath the furface, a fubftratum of an apparently irnperfeCl
chalk, or a rich white marie, feemingly formed of the fame decayed (hells;
with which the courfe of the river abounded. Thefe ftrata, about eight or
ten yards broad, run perpendicularly to the rivulet; their depth we had
not leifure to examine, although there feemed little doubt of finding this
fubftance in fufficient abundance for the purpofes of manure, (hould the
cultivation of this country ever be in contemplation. The general ftruc-
ture of it feems very favorable to fuch an attempt, as the mountains are
neither deep nor numerous; nor do the rififtg grounds form fuch hills
as bid defiance to the plough, while they produce that fort of diverfity
which is grateful to the eye, and not unpleafant to the traveller.
This. chalky earth was alfo found in the neighbourhood of a moorilh
foil; and, on a more minute examination, feemed much to- referable an
earth defcribed in Gronftadt’s Mineralogy at the bottom of his note (y),
page 21. It did not (hew any figns of effervefcence with acids, nor did
it burn into lime; but, like the earth alluded to, contains a number of
fmall tranfparent cryftals. Thefe were vifible without , a microfcope;
and as, on applying the blow pipe, vitrification took place, it might
probably be ufefully appropriated in making a fort of porcelain.
Xhe (tones we found were chiefly o f coral, with a few black and brown
pebbles, (late, quartz, two or three forts of granite, with fome fand (tones,
but none feeming to poffefs any metallic quality.
The climate, if a judgment may be formed by fo Ihort a vifit, feemed
delightful: for though we contended with fome boifterous weather on our
.approach to the coaft, nothing lefs ought reafonably to have been expected
at the feafon of the vernal equinox, and breaking up of the winter.
The gales we experienced in King George the Third’s Sound, were
not of fuch violence as to put veffels at fea pad their topfails; although
whilft the s.w. wind continued.a mod violent fea broke with incredible
fury on the exterior (hores. This however can eafily be imagined, when
the extenfive uninterrupted range which the wind in that direction has over
the Indian ocean is taken into confideration : during the continuance of
this
this wind the atmofphere was tolerably clear, though the air was keen,
Farenheit’s thermometer, at the time o f year anfwering to. the beginning of 1---- ,— -
april in the northern hemifphere, (lood at 53°; but at all other times during
our ftay, varied between 58° and 64°, and the barometer from 29190' to 30°
■ go!; Slight colds were caught by the crew, which ought rather to be imputed
to their own want of care than to the climate, as, on getting to fea, the
.parties foon recovered. Our convalefcents in the flux received much be-
•nefit, • though their health could not yet be confidered as thoroughly re-
.eftablifhed. Thefe circumftances induced an opinion, that the climate
and foil bid fair to be capable of producing all the eflentials; and many o f
.the luxuries of life; although on thé fubjeCt of agricultural improvement, I
felt myfelf as unqualified to determine, as to enumerate fcientifically the
feveral trees, (hrubs, and plants with which the country abounds. O f the
two latter there appeared a great variety, and I believe afforded to Mr.
Menzies much entertainment and employment. Amongft the moft remarkable
was thé gum plant, found every where in great abundance,
and anfwering, in all its characters, to the defcription and reprefentation
of that plant found at port Jackfon, as mentioned in Philips’s, voyage.
Wild celery was found in quantities fufficient for our pea-foup, and daily
to fupply the people by way of fauce to their falted meat; this with fam-
phire were the only eatable vegetables we procured; Other plants were
numerous, and afforded a great variety of beautiful flowers. The (hrubs
alfo were abundant, and of many fpécies; but neither thefe nor the
trees grew fo clofely together as materially to incommode travelling, even
in the neighbourhood o f Oyfter Harbour, where the country is very well
wooded ; and as the branches of thé trees do not approach within .feveral
feet of the ground, an extenfive view is admitted in every direftion.
The foreft trees feemed of four different forts. The moft common much
refembled the holly, but thefe were not of the larger fort; that which I
took to be the gum tree of New South Wales, by its foliage and its producing
a confiderable quantity of gum, feemed to be a hard, ponderous,
clofe-grained wood: of this defcription the larger trees feemed chiefly to
confift; one of thefe meafured 9 feet 4 inches in girth, and was of a proportionable
height. Thofe from which our fuel was procured were of the myr-
H 2 tie