Enterprise in Tropical Australia |
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abundant adapted afforded Alligator amount anchor appeared arrived beach became become boat Britomart Cape capital Captain carried Chinese circumstance climate coasts of Australia Cobourg Peninsula colonists colony command commenced considerable continent cotton course crew cultivation Dutch emigrants employed employment England established European existed expedition export favourable formed garrison Gulf of Carpentaria hundred Indian Archipelago Indian Islands inhabitants inner harbour intercourse Kissa labour Lady Nelson MacArthur Macassar prahus Majesty's ship Melville Island ment miles month Moreton Bay mother country natives nature necessary neighbouring islands north coast northern obtained occupied party plants Port Essington portion possessions produce profitable proved Raffles Bay Reefs render rivers sailed scarcely season settlement settlers shore Singapore singular Sir Gordon Bremer soil soon South Australia South Wales southern spot Stedcombe sufficient supply Sydney Timor Laut tion Torres Strait trees trepang tropical vegetation vessel voyage waste lands
Popular passages
Page 84 - ... (small huts covered with mats,) upon frames of split bamboo, spread out immediately under the roof. Each slug is carefully placed with the part that has been cut open facing downwards, and a fire is made underneath ; the smoke of which soon dries the trepang, sufficiently to permit its being packed in baskets or bags for exportation.
Page 3 - As a harbour, Port Essington is equal, if not superior, to any I ever saw, and from its proximity to the Moluccas and New Guinea, and its being in the direct line of communication between Port Jackson and India, as well as from its commanding situation with respect to the passage through Torres Strait, it must, at no very distant period, become a place of great trade, and of very considerable importance.
Page 83 - The trepang is found in all the sheltered harbours, where it gropes about the bottom, and feeds upon weeds and mollusca. It is taken at low water upon the shoals or mud banks, over which the fishermen wade knee deep in water, dragging their boats after them ; and when the feet come in contact with a slug, it is picked up, and thrown into the boat. They occasionally search in deeper water, when the fishermen avail themselves of the services of the natives, who are expert divers ; or, if they cannot...
Page 68 - The Essington schooner, the first vessel sent out to the islands, was only saved by an accidental occurrence ; but no sooner had it become known that the British possessed a Settlement in the neighbourhood, (and this occurred within an exceedingly short space of time,) than these aggressions suddenly and...
Page 83 - ... natives, who are expert divers, or if they cannot obtain such assistance, they prick for them with barbed iron darts, provided with long bamboo handles. The process of curing is very simple. The slug, on being taken from the boat, is simmered over a fire in an iron...
Page 76 - Peninsula, generally near the sea -shore, are found patches of land varying in extent from two or three acres to fifty acres and upwards, on which the vegetation is perfectly in character with that of the islands of the Indian Archipelago. These spots are covered with a thick jungle, difficult to penetrate, and the trees are often of an enormous size. Among these I have recognized the ii-ni-iinjm, or banyan-tree of Indian Islands; the kanari.
Page 10 - While the subject was under discussion it was discovered that a French expedition was preparing at Toulon for the express purpose of taking possession of some port on the north coast of Australia.
Page 126 - Thus the Malay is best adapted for clearing new lands ; — the Chinese being unaccustomed to these operations, from their country having been long under cultivation. The latter, again, are the best agriculturists, and the most skilful manufacturers of raw produce; while the natives of India prove superior herdsmen. They are all acquainted with the culture of cotton, but not in an equal degree ; the Chinese and natives of continental India claiming the precedence. The Indian...
Page 103 - ... Australia had been quoted in England to support the idea that North Australia was a country altogether unsuited to the sheep farmer. In that work, which was published eighteen years ago, it was said ' that sheep taken to Port Essingdon from New South Wales did not thrive,' and the writer went on to say, ' Even if it be found that other pasturages are better suited to them, the nature of the climate generally forbids the hope that wool, the staple export from the northern colonies, can ever be...
Page 83 - ... along the back with a sharp knife. It is then again placed in the cauldron, and boiled in salt water, with which a quantity of the bark of the mangrove has been mixed, for about three hours, when the outer skin will begin to peel off. It is now sufficiently boiled; and after the water has been drained off, the slugs are arranged in the drying-houses upon frames of split bamboo, spread out immediately under the roof.