Page:An account of a voyage to establish a colony at Port Philip in Bass's Strait.djvu/50

( 25 ) out to us with every mark of national pride by our conductor, who, after a long harangue on the courage of their troops, was drilydryly [sic] requested by an English Officer to be particularly careful of this trophy of their prowess, for that Nelson might probably one day return, and call for it.

The water here has a soft, soapy taste, and I believe a slight purgative quality; it is conducted from the mountains to a stone fountain, which throws up three jets d'eau. The island produces a species of pine-tree, which is used in the construction of the houses, and in small vessels; we were here too early for the fruits of the island, which are those peculiar to the tropics. Vegetables were plenty, onions in  lar