Hobart Town Gazette (Tas. : 1825 - 1833), Saturday 28 October 1826, page 4


MISCELLANY,

ORIGINAL AND SELECT.

THE VOYAGE TO SOUTH CAPE.

Agreeably to our promise, we this day insert a por-

tion of the, remarks made in the course of this voyage, which we were enabled to present to our Readers through the kind assistance of Mr. Scott.

Brune-This interesting island is about 40 miles long from north to south. It is divided by a narrow neck of land in the middle between Isthmus Bay and Adventure Bay. One of the boats was hauled over this neck in order to explore Adventure Bay, so called from the vessel of that name in which the immortal naviga-

tor Cook sailed. The neck has evidently been thrown. up at some remote period by the action of the sea. It is composed of sea sand, is very low, and does not ex-

ceed 50 yards in breadth for nearly a mile in length. A few trees however grow upon it, with shrubs and low bushes. It is remarkable that when it is high water on the one side of this isthmus it is low water on the other,

and vice versa. About two milessouth of this isthmus, on the western side (not on the north as laid down in the charts) and about 3 miles from the anchorage at Adven-

ture Bay, opposite Penguin island, coal was found on a rocky beach. The same spot had been excavated seve-

ral years ago when Commissioner Bigge was here. It cannot however be got at unless a road of about 2 miles be made. The stratum is 10 feet above the level of the

sea, and doubtless a superior mineral would be found by digging, though the operation would be attended with much labour. Near this is the place where the whale fishing had been carried on last season with con-

siderable success, 7 fine whales having been caught.-

The whole island received its name from Rear-admiral

Bruné d'Entrecasteaux, who discovered it to be an island separated from the main - a fact which had es-caped the notice of Captain Cook, though he had an-chored more than once in Adventure Bay. The port south of this Bay is called South Bruné, and the other North Bruné. The most lofty land is on the southern extremity, the tops of some of the hills being so ele-vated as; to appearance, to be beyond the range of vege-tation, as they are entirely destitute of trees. North Bruné is also very hilly, but the hills are low and af-ford good pasturage for cattle. There appears to be

none of those ravenous creatures in the whole inland which destroy lambs and poultry on the main land. It is therefore a very eligible place for the planting of rabbit warrens. Captain Kelly, on his farm at the northern extremity, keeps a large stock of geese and fowls in perfect security. The animals found on it are harmless, namely, the two species of kangaroo known by the names of brush and walaby. None of the nu-merous kinds of opossum were found excepting that called the ringtail. There are many of the common large, graminivorous native rat, several of a white colour, forming a distinct species peculiar to the island, and also the water rat. There does not appear to be more than 20 black natives on the whole island. Their fires are generally seen on the hills to the south, oppo-site Satellite island. Occasionally, however, they make excursions to the north. They are a stately race of men. While the tent was pitched at the head of Isthmus Bay, 5 men came down, but without their women or children. They had spears with them, with which Mr. Scott

asked them to aim at a tree. After many trials, it ap-peared that within a distance of 30 yards they never fail to strike their object, but beyond that success is uncer-tain. Their countenances were placid, generally with a smile, and their manners were friendly. They were

in general about 5 feet 6, or 5 feet 8 in height. They have with them a number of little dogs, very expert at hunting the small species of kangaroo, with which the

inland abounds. This accounts for the owners being stout and healthy. Their only covering was a skin over their shoulders, and suspended to the neck a few trin-kets, buttons, and other things which they had obtained from the navigators who had at former periods visited the coasts. They are remarkably fond of bread, and frequently asked the party for it. In approaching strangers they hold up both hands above the head, to shew that they carry no offensive weapons, and if this signal of peace is answered they approach with confi-

dence.

The Coal Cliff.-This is situated on the north side

of South Cape Bay, and extends about two miles along the coast, which distance the boats followed the coal rocks on the water. This bay is immediately to the east of the Cape, making a northern indentation on the main of about five miles in length and three in depth. The shore on all sides is steep and bold, with ledges of rocks running out a considerable way into the sea. Except when the wind is from the north, a heavy surf incessantly beats upon the beach. No boat could land in any part, but in a small inlet at the nortthern extre-mity of the bay, and even there the surf is so great,

that if the wind should happen to shift to another quar-ter, there is a possibility of being kept in for a week, For these reasons it will be impossible to work the coal contiguous to the beach of the bay. The nearest point to which a vessel can approach the mine is on the most southern inlet of D'Entrecasteaux Channel, called by the French la baie des roches or rocky bay, and that is from four to five miles from the coal, the road to which for two miles must be made through a marshy plain. The lower stratum of coal is about twelve feet

above low water-mark on the beach. The mineral

could not be expected to be very good outside, being thus exposed for ages to the continued surges of the sea. A horizontal exavation was therefore made to the depth of seven or eight feet, from the bottom of which, coal was taken and brought to Town of a very pure and brilliant quality. Below this vein, however, there is no doubt that another is to be found of even superior quality and greater thickness, the existence of which,

the whole appearance of, and analogy to be drawn from, the strata conspicuos in the face of the cliff, evidently indicate. The party enjoyed only two dry days in this

situation, and were also limited as to provisions, which made their stay shorter than it otherwise wouId have

been.

In going across from Rocky Bay, two natives accom-panied the party, a man and his wife; the former, with

out murmur, carried their bedding and provisions, a much heavier load than any of themselves could have borne; his wife walked first, pointing out the best path, they had left their companions to join the party, having with them two dogs, by means of which, they procured plenty of meat for the whole. These men are excellent hunters, being always in at the death as soon as the dogs, which they constantly cheer by imitating the voice of the kangaroo or wombat. The country is hilly, is co-

vered with a thick brushwood, down to the water's edge, and affords no spot available for the purpose of cultiva-tion. Being so near the South Cape of an extensive Country, stretching towards the North, it must naturally be exposed to much boisterous and rainy weather, and the land wears the appearance of much more rain than usually falls at Hobart Town, or further up the country. The hills, however, even of the most inferior, and appa-rently unproductive, soils, are covered with the finest and most stately trees; there are among them some of the celery Top Pine, so named from the shape of the leaf; It a distinct species from that found at Mac-quarie Harbour. The trunk seldom exceeds 6 inches in diameter. The other trees are common to the rest of

the island. The stringy bark however predominates, though not of a very stupendous size. The natives ge-nerally build their huts of its bark, and also carry their fire in its dry spongy substance. When a piece is wrapped up tight; and lighted at one end, it retains the fire like a match till the whole length is consumed. By this means the natives are never without a light.

In sailing up Rocky Bay many of the natives ran along the beach, in the direction of the point at which the boats were about to land. Three families, composed of thirteen individuals, here joined the party, and re-mained in company during the time of their stay. The three men were brothers, all married, each having along with him, his wife and children, they had all been born

and bred in that part of the country. Their children were of all ages, from a week old, to full grown men. At night each family made a distinct hut and fire, for the especial accommodation of the members composing it. Mr. Scott was desirous of having one of the children, an interesting girl, of six years of age, in order to bring her to town and civilize, and the mother was very anx-ious for the measure, but her husband had so great an affection for his child, that he could not be prevailed upon to part with her.

VOWS.—Froissart speaks of certain English nobles, who swore to keep one eye blinded with a patch till they had taken a certain number of prisoners in the French wars; and we have heard of the Knights who

took an oath not to cut their beards until certain achievements were accomplished. In like manner the persons employed in the expedition of the Van Die-

men's Land Company have resolved not to shave until they reach Cape Grim; and one of them, who was lately stopped in his progress by the floods, visited Hobart Town with a great deal of hair upon his face.

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DOGS.—We have frequently raised our voice against

the growing evil, springing from the unconscionable increase of these animals. We do think seriously, though we are no friends of taxation, that a tax, simi-lar to that which is exacted in England, would

be a most wholesome measure. To those who live in Town, and who have occasion to be out after dusk, the dogs are not only annoying, but dangerous. It was but last night that a gentleman was attacked by them, had his leg seriously bitten, and his clothes torn in pieces. In the country, the nuisance is still more in-tolerable. No longer ago than last week 50 fine young ewes mostly heavy in lamb, of a very improved breed, being crossed with Merino and South Down rams, were found worried to death, and twenty others severely wounded on the enclosed grounds of Mr. Gellibrand, at South Arm. Two of his neighbour's dogs are be-lieved to have done this irreparable mischief. A tax on these animals would be beneficial in many points of view—the inordinate numbers would be lessened—the breed of the useful creature itself would be more attended to and improved, because the possessors would hardly pay an annual sum for the useless, noisy curs, which now abound—the idle habits of many stock-keepers would be restrained, who now are apt to hunt the few kangaroo remaining in their districts rather than attend to their flocks and herds—and a vast saving of the best of food would remain to be devoted to more useful and necessary purposes.

So melancholy a picture does the state of morals in the British metropolis present at this time, that an average of ten prisoners a day is committed for trial at the Old Bailey. The majority of these benighted persons is composed of thieves by profession.

The old South Sea House, in Broad-street, lately pur-chased by Government, has been burnt to the ground.

Mr. Horner has completed his panoramic view of London, taken from the dome of St. Paul's cathedral, in an immense and magnificent building in the Regent's Park. The canvas is 110 feet in height, and the spect-

tutor ascends 55 to view the exhibition. It has cost £100,000.

At a public sale of Oil, by Gamon and Beale, Sperm Oil sold for £44, head matter £51, straw colour Seal Oil £27 5s. Whale Oil £24 10s. Whale-bone £220. New

South Wales Planks, 7d. per foot, Oak bark £23 per load.

Insurance to New South Wales, 50 shillings, ditto home, £3.

The official value of imports into the United Kingdom last year, was 44 millions sterling, and the total ex-ports 56.

At the same time that Wheat was 8s. 6d. a bushel in London last year, it was selling in Copenhagen at 1s. 9d.

The goods imported into Great Britain last year from Sierra Leone, consisted chiefly of dye and hardwoods, of Teake Timber, Bugles or horns of all sorts, Ele-phant and Sea Horse Teeth, Hides, Skins, Furs, Fea-thers, Gum, Palm Oil, and Bees Wax, amounting al-together to one hundred and fifty thousand pounds ster-ling. We in Van Diemen's Land may leam from this, that by availing ourselves of its various and peculiar productions, as well as by attention to its great staple articles of Wheat and Wool, the Colony is most likely to maintain a preponderance of exports, and conse-quently internal wealth and prosperity.

ln the end of April there were remaining warehoused under the locks of the Crown, in the port of London, 2,4[?],395lbs. and 333 bales of Spanish Wool, and 1,881,459lbs. and 3123 bales of other sorts of Wool.

A posthumous work of Rousseau, has just been pub-lished in Paris, entitled "Thoughts of an honest mind."

It was left with other works in the hands of the Mar-

shal de Luxembourg, on the precipitate retreat of the philosopher into Switzerland.

New Guatemala, the capital of the republic of central America, contains 40,000 inhabitants. The streets are strait and well paved, but the houses are low, for fear of earthquakes. Bull-baiting is the favourite amuse-

ment.

An interesting colony is now forming by the Ame-ricans on the coast of Africa, at Cape Monserado, for the reception of freed and captured slaves in America, to be sent thither. Several vessels have already ar-rived, freighted with articles necessary for the colony, and some hundreds of the new settlers, all persons of

colour.

The King of France has sent invitations to Chateau-briand, and the other members of the opposition in

Paris, to travel abroad for the benefit of their health.

Colonel Delancey Barclay, aid-de-camp to the King, died suddenly at Tillingbourne, near Dorking,

Professor Vater, the celebrated Prussian orientalist, died at Halle in March last.

Bretons, and the Spanish Biscayans. He is described as a little thin old man, with a sharp yellow face, wear-ing green spectacles. His style of writing is very bad, hard, dry, and stiff.

Turkey has acceded generally to all the demands of Russia, an arrangement over which the Duke of Wel-lington is said to have had considerable influence.

IMPROVED CRIMINAL LAW.—The Act empowers Courts to order compensation to those who have been active in apprehending offenders; the orders are to be paid by the Sheriff, who may obtain immediate pay-ment on application to the treasury. If any man is killed in the pursuit of an offender, the Court may order compensation to his family. A penalty is enacted on all Justices and Coroners not performing their duty.

An interesting trial has just taken place before the Edinburgh Jury Court, in which the plaintiff was Dr. Hamilton, Professor of Midwifery in the University there, and Dr. Hope, Professor of Chemistry. A ver-dict of £500 damages was given for Dr. Hamilton for having been called a liar by the defendant in pre-

sence of the members of the University.

Mr. Buckingham, of the Calcutta Oriental Herald, having failed in obtaining a vote at the India House for £5000 to compensate the loss of his Journal, has been successful in procuring subscriptions to the amount of near £4000, under the patronage of Lord John Russel, and Sir Charles Forbes, the latter of which gentlemen procured him £1300, viz: £500 for himself, £500 for his Indian friends; and £300 for Mr. Palmer of

Calcutta.

A clause of the Currency bill exempted Scotland

from restriction with respect to one pound notes, the

reason of which partial concession, we confess, that at this great distance, we cannot see quite so clearly as Mr. Malachi Malagrowther, Sir Walter Scott, or the author of Waverley. We expressed our dissent some weeks ago against the partial application of general principles. Sincerity obliges us, to repeat the same sentiment on the present occasion, though dissonant with the measures of a popular ministry.

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Description of a Good Cow, according to Wilkinson,

the eminent, breeder, at Linton, near Nottingham.

She's long in her face, she's fine in her horn, She'll quickly get fat without cake or corn,

She's clear in her jaws, and full in her chine, She's heavy in flank, and wide in her loin. She's broad in her ribs, and long in her rump,

A strait and flat back with never a hump,

She's wide in her hips, and calm in her eyes,

She's fine in her shoulders, and thin in her thighs. She's light in her neck, and smail in her tail,

She's wide in her breast, and good at the pail, She's fine in her bone, and silkey of skin,

She's a Grazier's without, and a Butcher's within