Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/56

 xlvi AX INTRODUCTORY of people ; there were no tame animals, and he saw no wild ones during his stay of ten days, but he observed the dung of what was called the KangowrouB^ which were about the size of a middling sheep, but very swift and difficult to catch ; some of those animals he saw in another part of the bay upon the same continent* ; there were no beasts of prey, and he did not doubt but our sheep and oxen, if carried there, would thrive and increase ; there was great quantity of fish, he took a large quantity by hauling the seine, and struck several stingrays — a kind of skate — all very large ; one weighed three hundred and thirty -six pounds. The grass was long and luxuriant, and there were some eatable vegetables, particularly a sort of wild spinage ; the country was well supplied with water ; there was abundance of timber and fuel, sufficient for any number of buildings which might be found necessary. Being asked, how a colony of that nature could be subsisted in tlie beginning of their establishment % he answered — They must certainly be furnished at landing, with a full year's allowance of victuals, raiment, and drink ; with all kinds of tools for labouring the earth, and building houses ; with black cattle, sheep, hogs, and poultry ; with seeds of all kinds of European com and pulse with garden seeds ; with arms and ammunition for their defence, and they should likewise have small boats, nets, and fishing tackle, all of which, except arms and ammunition, might be purchased at the Cape of Good Hope ; and that afterwards, with a moderate portion of industry, they might undoubtedly maintain them- selves without any assistance from England. He recommended sending a large number of persons, two or three hundred at least ; their escape would be difficult, as the country was far distant from any part of the globe inhabited by Europeans. And being asked, whether he conceived the mother country was likely to reap any benefit from a colony established in Botany Bay ? he replied — If the people formed among themselves a civil government, they would necessarily increase, and find occasion for many European commodities ; and it was not to be doubted, that a tract of land such as New Holland, which was larger than the "whole of Europe, would furnish matter of advantageous return, t Several other witnesses were examined by the Committee with respect to places on the African coast at which penal settlements • This should read — "in another part of the same continent," meaning the Endeavour riyer, where Banks hunted his first kangaroo; Hawkeswofth, toI. iii, p. 509. t Journals of the House of Commons, vol. xxzvii, p. 311. Digitized by Google