Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.3)

Jan. 1836. new south wales. 525 forty, but at the present time there were rather more. Although the farm was well stocked with every requisite, there was an apparent absence of comfort; and not even a single woman resided here. The sunset of a fine day will generally cast an air of happy contentment on any scene ; but here, at this retired farm-house, the brightest tints on the surrounding woods could not make me forget that forty hardened, profligate men, were ceasing from their daily labours, like the slaves from Africa, yet without their just claim for compassion. Early on the next morning, Mr. Archer, the joint super- intendent, had the kindness to take me out Kangaroo- hunting. We continued riding the greater part of the day, but had very bad sport, not seeing a kangaroo, or even a wild dog. The greyhounds pursued a kangaroo rat into a hollow tree, out of which we dragged it : it is an animal as big as a rabbit, but with the figure of a kangaroo. A few years since, this country abounded with wild animals ; but now the emu is banished to a long distance, and the kangaroo is become scarce ; to both, the English greyhound is utterly destructive. It may be long before these animals are alto- gether exterminated, but their doom is fixed. The natives are always anxious to borrow the dogs from the farm-houses: the use of them, the ofFal when an animal is killed, and milk from the cows, are the peace-offerings of the settlers, who push further and further towards the interior. The thoughtless aboriginal, blinded by these trifling advantages, is delighted at the approach of the white man, who seems predestined to inherit the country of his children. Although having bad sport, we enjoyed a pleasant ride. The woodland is generally so open that a person on horse- back can gallop through it. It is traversed by a few flat- bottomed valleys, which are green and free from trees : in such spots the scenery was like that of a park, and pretty. In the whole country I scarcely saw a place without the marks of fire ; whether these had been more or less recent whether the stumps were more or less black, was the greatest change which varied the uniformity, so wearisome to the