Withrespecttothestateoftheconvicts，Ihadstillfeweropportunitiesofjudgingthanonotherpoints。Thefirstquestionis，whethertheirconditionisatalloneofpunishment：noonewillmaintainthatitisaverysevereone。This，however，Isuppose，isoflittleconsequenceaslongasitcontinuestobeanobjectofdreadtocriminalsathome。Thecorporealwantsoftheconvictsaretolerablywellsupplied：theirprospectoffuturelibertyandcomfortisnotdistant，and，aftergoodconduct，certain。A“ticketofleave。”which，aslongasamankeepsclearofsuspicionaswellasofcrime，makeshimfreewithinacertaindistrict，isgivenupongoodconduct，afteryearsproportionaltothelengthofthesentence；yetwithallthis，andoverlookingthepreviousimprisonmentandwretchedpassageout，Ibelievetheyearsofassignmentarepassedawaywithdiscontentandunhappiness。Asanintelligentmanremarkedtome，theconvictsknownopleasurebeyondsensuality，andinthistheyarenotgratified。TheenormousbribewhichGovernmentpossessesinofferingfreepardons，togetherwiththedeephorrorofthesecludedpenalsettlements，destroysconfidencebetweentheconvicts，andsopreventscrime。Astoasenseofshame，suchafeelingdoesnotappeartobeknown，andofthisIwitnessedsomeverysingularproofs。Thoughitisacuriousfact，Iwasuniversallytoldthatthecharacteroftheconvictpopulationisoneofarrantcowardice：notunfrequentlysomebecomedesperate，andquiteindifferentastolife，yetaplanrequiringcoolorcontinuedcourageisseldomputintoexecution。
　　Theworstfeatureinthewholecaseis，thatalthoughthereexistswhatmaybecalledalegalreform，andcomparativelylittleiscommittedwhichthelawcantouch，yetthatanymoralreformshouldtakeplaceappearstobequiteoutofthequestion。Iwasassuredbywell-informedpeople，thatamanwhoshouldtrytoimprove，couldnotwhilelivingwithotherassignedservants；——hislifewouldbeoneofintolerablemiseryandpersecution。
　　Normustthecontaminationoftheconvict-shipsandprisons，bothhereandinEngland，beforgotten。Onthewhole，asaplaceofpunishment，theobjectisscarcelygained；asarealsystemofreformithasfailed，asperhapswouldeveryotherplan；butasameansofmakingmenoutwardlyhonest，——ofconvertingvagabonds，mostuselessinonehemisphere，intoactivecitizensofanother，andthusgivingbirthtoanewandsplendidcountry——agrandcentreofcivilization——ithassucceededtoadegreeperhapsunparalleledinhistory。
　　30th——TheBeaglesailedforHobartTowninVanDiemen’sLand。Onthe5thofFebruary，afterasixdays’passage，ofwhichthefirstpartwasfine，andthelatterverycoldandsqually，weenteredthemouthofStormBay：theweatherjustifiedthisawfulname。Thebayshouldratherbecalledanestuary，foritreceivesatitsheadthewatersoftheDerwent。
　　Nearthemouth，therearesomeextensivebasalticplatforms；buthigherupthelandbecomesmountainous，andiscoveredbyalightwood。Thelowerpartsofthehillswhichskirtthebayarecleared；andthebrightyellowfieldsofcorn，anddarkgreenonesofpotatoes，appearveryluxuriant。
　　Lateintheeveningweanchoredinthesnugcove，ontheshoresofwhichstandsthecapitalofTasmania。ThefirstaspectoftheplacewasveryinferiortothatofSydney；thelattermightbecalledacity，thisisonlyatown。ItstandsatthebaseofMountWellington，amountain3100
　　feethigh，butoflittlepicturesquebeauty；fromthissource，however，itreceivesagoodsupplyofwater。Roundthecovetherearesomefinewarehousesandononesideasmallfort。ComingfromtheSpanishsettlements，wheresuchmagnificentcarehasgenerallybeenpaidtothefortifications，themeansofdefenceinthesecoloniesappearedverycontemptible。ComparingthetownwithSydney，Iwaschieflystruckwiththecomparativefewnessofthelargehouses，eitherbuiltorbuilding。HobartTown，fromthecensusof1835，contained13，826inhabitants，andthewholeofTasmania36，505。
　　AlltheaborigineshavebeenremovedtoanislandinBass’sStraits，sothatVanDiemen’sLandenjoysthegreatadvantageofbeingfreefromanativepopulation。Thismostcruelstepseemstohavebeenquiteunavoidable，astheonlymeansofstoppingafearfulsuccessionofrobberies，burnings，andmurders，committedbytheblacks；andwhichsoonerorlaterwouldhaveendedintheirutterdestruction。Ifearthereisnodoubt，thatthistrainofevilanditsconsequences，originatedintheinfamousconductofsomeofourcountrymen。Thirtyyearsisashortperiod，inwhichtohavebanishedthelastaboriginalfromhisnativeisland，——andthatislandnearlyaslargeasIreland。Thecorrespondenceonthissubject，whichtookplacebetweenthegovernmentathomeandthatofVanDiemen’sLand，isveryinteresting。
　　Althoughnumbersofnativeswereshotandtakenprisonersintheskirmishing，whichwasgoingonatintervalsforseveralyears；nothingseemsfullytohaveimpressedthemwiththeideaofouroverwhelmingpower，untilthewholeisland，in1830，wasputundermartiallaw，andbyproclamationthewholepopulationcommandedtoassistinonegreatattempttosecuretheentirerace。Theplanadoptedwasnearlysimilartothatofthegreathunting-matchesinIndia：alinewasformedreachingacrosstheisland，withtheintentionofdrivingthenativesintoa_cul-de-sac_onTasman’speninsula。Theattemptfailed；thenatives，havingtieduptheirdogs，stoleduringonenightthroughthelines。Thisisfarfromsurprising，whentheirpractisedsenses，andusualmannerofcrawlingafterwildanimalsisconsidered。Ihavebeenassuredthattheycanconcealthemselvesonalmostbareground，inamannerwhichuntilwitnessedisscarcelycredible；theirduskybodiesbeingeasilymistakenfortheblackenedstumpswhicharescatteredalloverthecountry。
　　IwastoldofatrialbetweenapartyofEnglishmenandanative，whowastostandinfullviewonthesideofabarehill；iftheEnglishmenclosedtheireyesforlessthanaminute，hewouldsquatdown，andthentheywereneverabletodistinguishhimfromthesurroundingstumps。Buttoreturntothehunting-match；thenativesunderstandingthiskindofwarfare，wereterriblyalarmed，fortheyatonceperceivedthepowerandnumbersofthewhites。Shortlyafterwardsapartyofthirteenbelongingtotwotribescamein；and，consciousoftheirunprotectedcondition，deliveredthemselvesupindespair。SubsequentlybytheintrepidexertionsofMr。Robinson，anactiveandbenevolentman，whofearlesslyvisitedbyhimselfthemosthostileofthenatives，thewholewereinducedtoactinasimilarmanner。
　　Theywerethenremovedtoanisland，wherefoodandclotheswereprovidedthem。CountStrzeleckistates，[6]that“attheepochoftheirdeportationin1835，thenumberofnativesamountedto210。In1842，thatis，aftertheintervalofsevenyears，theymusteredonlyfifty-fourindividuals；and，whileeachfamilyoftheinteriorofNewSouthWales，uncontaminatedbycontactwiththewhites，swarmswithchildren，thoseofFlinders’Islandhadduringeightyearsanaccessionofonlyfourteeninnumber！”
　　TheBeaglestayedheretendays，andinthistimeImadeseveralpleasantlittleexcursions，chieflywiththeobjectofexaminingthegeologicalstructureoftheimmediateneighbourhood。Themainpointsofinterestconsist，firstinsomehighlyfossiliferousstrata，belongingtotheDevonianorCarboniferousperiod；secondly，inproofsofalatesmallriseoftheland；
　　andlastly，inasolitaryandsuperficialpatchofyellowishlimestoneortravertin，whichcontainsnumerousimpressionsofleavesoftrees，togetherwithland-shells，notnowexisting。ItisnotimprobablethatthisonesmallquarryincludestheonlyremainingrecordofthevegetationofVanDiemen’sLandduringoneformerepoch。
　　TheclimatehereisdamperthaninNewSouthWales，andhencethelandismorefertile。Agricultureflourishes；thecultivatedfieldslookwell，andthegardensaboundwiththrivingvegetablesandfruit-trees。Someofthefarmhouses，situatedinretiredspots，hadaveryattractiveappearance。
　　ThegeneralaspectofthevegetationissimilartothatofAustralia；perhapsitisalittlemoregreenandcheerful；andthepasturebetweenthetreesrathermoreabundant。OnedayItookalongwalkonthesideofthebayoppositetothetown：Icrossedinasteamboat，twoofwhichareconstantlyplyingbackwardsandforwards。Themachineryofoneofthesevesselswasentirelymanufacturedinthiscolony，which，fromitsveryfoundation，thennumberedonlythreeandthirtyyears！AnotherdayIascendedMountWellington；Itookwithmeaguide，forIfailedinafirstattempt，fromthethicknessofthewood。Ourguide，however，wasastupidfellow，andconductedustothesouthernanddampsideofthemountain，wherethevegetationwasveryluxuriant；andwherethelabouroftheascent，fromthenumberofrottentrunks，wasalmostasgreatasonamountaininTierradelFuegoorinChiloe。Itcostusfiveandahalfhoursofhardclimbingbeforewereachedthesummit。InmanypartstheEucalyptigrewtoagreatsize，andcomposedanobleforest。Insomeofthedampestravines，tree-fernsflourishedinanextraordinarymanner；Isawonewhichmusthavebeenatleasttwentyfeethightothebaseofthefronds，andwasingirthexactlysixfeet。Thefrondsformingthemostelegantparasols，producedagloomyshade，likethatofthefirsthourofthenight。Thesummitofthemountainisbroadandflat，andiscomposedofhugeangularmassesofnakedgreenstone。
　　Itselevationis3100feetabovethelevelofthesea。Thedaywassplendidlyclear，andweenjoyedamostextensiveview；tothenorth，thecountryappearedamassofwoodedmountains，ofaboutthesameheightwiththatonwhichwewerestanding，andwithanequallytameoutline：tothesouththebrokenlandandwater，formingmanyintricatebays，wasmappedwithclearnessbeforeus。Afterstayingsomehoursonthesummit，wefoundabetterwaytodescend，butdidnotreachtheBeagletilleighto’clock，afterasevereday’swork。
　　February7th——TheBeaglesailedfromTasmania，and，onthe6thoftheensuingmonth，reachedKingGeorge’sSound，situatedclosetotheS。
　　W。cornerofAustralia。Westayedthereeightdays；andwedidnotduringourvoyagepassamoredullanduninterestingtime。Thecountry，viewedfromaneminence，appearsawoodyplain，withhereandthereroundedandpartlybarehillsofgraniteprotruding。OnedayIwentoutwithaparty，inhopesofseeingakangaroohunt，andwalkedoveragoodmanymilesofcountry。Everywherewefoundthesoilsandy，andverypoor；itsupportedeitheracoarsevegetationofthin，lowbrushwoodandwirygrass，oraforestofstuntedtrees。ThesceneryresembledthatofthehighsandstoneplatformoftheBlueMountains；theCasuarinaatreesomewhatresemblingaScotchfiris，however，hereingreaternumber，andtheEucalyptusinratherless。Intheopenpartsthereweremanygrass-trees，——aplantwhich，inappearance，hassomeaffinitywiththepalm；but，insteadofbeingsurmountedbyacrownofnoblefronds，itcanboastmerelyofatuftofverycoarsegrass-likeleaves。Thegeneralbrightgreencolourofthebrushwoodandotherplants，viewedfromadistance，seemedtopromisefertility。
　　Asinglewalk，however，wasenoughtodispelsuchanillusion；andhewhothinkswithmewillneverwishtowalkagaininsouninvitingacountry。
　　OnedayIaccompaniedCaptainFitzRoytoBaldHead；theplacementionedbysomanynavigators，wheresomeimaginedthattheysawcorals，andothersthattheysawpetrifiedtrees，standinginthepositioninwhichtheyhadgrown。Accordingtoourview，thebedshavebeenformedbythewindhavingheapedupfinesand，composedofminuteroundedparticlesofshellsandcorals，duringwhichprocessbranchesandrootsoftrees，togetherwithmanyland-shells，becameenclosed。Thewholethenbecameconsolidatedbythepercolationofcalcareousmatter；andthecylindricalcavitiesleftbythedecayingofthewood，werethusalsofilledupwithahardpseudo-stalacticalstone。Theweatherisnowwearingawaythesofterparts，andinconsequencethehardcastsoftherootsandbranchesofthetreesprojectabovethesurface，and，inasingularlydeceptivemanner，resemblethestumpsofadeadthicket。
　　Alargetribeofnatives，calledtheWhiteCockatoomenhappenedtopaythesettlementavisitwhilewewerethere。Thesemen，aswellasthoseofthetribebelongingtoKingGeorge’sSound，beingtemptedbytheofferofsometubsofriceandsugar，werepersuadedtoholda“corrobery。”orgreatdancing-party。Assoonasitgrewdark，smallfireswerelighted，andthemencommencedtheirtoilet，whichconsistedinpaintingthemselveswhiteinspotsandlines。Assoonasallwasready，largefireswerekeptblazing，roundwhichthewomenandchildrenwerecollectedasspectators；
　　theCockatooandKingGeorge’smenformedtwodistinctparties，andgenerallydancedinanswertoeachother。ThedancingconsistedintheirrunningeithersidewaysorinIndianfileintoanopenspace，andstampingthegroundwithgreatforceastheymarchedtogether。Theirheavyfootstepswereaccompaniedbyakindofgrunt，bybeatingtheirclubsandspearstogether，andbyvariousothergesticulations，suchasextendingtheirarmsandwrigglingtheirbodies。Itwasamostrude，barbarousscene，and，toourideas，withoutanysortofmeaning；butweobservedthattheblackwomenandchildrenwatcheditwiththegreatestpleasure。Perhapsthesedancesoriginallyrepresentedactions，suchaswarsandvictories；therewasonecalledtheEmudance，inwhicheachmanextendedhisarminabentmanner，liketheneckofthatbird。Inanotherdance，onemanimitatedthemovementsofakangaroograzinginthewoods，whilstasecondcrawledup，andpretendedtospearhim。Whenbothtribesmingledinthedance，thegroundtrembledwiththeheavinessoftheirsteps，andtheairresoundedwiththeirwildcries。Everyoneappearedinhighspirits，andthegroupofnearlynakedfigures，viewedbythelightoftheblazingfires，allmovinginhideousharmony，formedaperfectdisplayofafestivalamongstthelowestbarbarians。InTierradelFuego，wehavebeheldmanycuriousscenesinsavagelife，butnever，Ithink，onewherethenativeswereinsuchhighspirits，andsoperfectlyattheirease。Afterthedancingwasover，thewholepartyformedagreatcircleontheground，andtheboiledriceandsugarwasdistributed，tothedelightofall。