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.