Page:History of West Australia.djvu/100

76 possessed primitive hand-mills, and taking the grain obtained in the fields near by, they ground it down and prepared it for consumption. Wheat was sold at 25s. a bushel in January, and it was estimated that with economy there was only a six weeks' supply in the colony. Settlers now often made a scanty meal from coffee and bread alone. There were not sufficient milk cows to furnish milk and butter, nor was salt pork or beef to be obtained. The supply of kangaroo flesh and other game was intermittent, and to secure a little fresh meat settlers had to waste much time from their necessary occupations in the hunt.

On the 21st January a vessel entered Fremantle and landed a small cargo of the necessaries of life. Other ships soon anchored round her, but colonial affairs were so regulated that they were not as a rule laden with the great desiderata. Flour on the 25th January sold at 10d. per lb., and cheese at 2s. 6d. per lb. Writing on the 4th March a settler says: "Prices have risen to a very serious height just now, and there is consequently a great outcry in the colony." This outcry was caused by the supineness of the Imperial Government in all affairs dealing with their offspring—Western Australia—and also by the want of foresight displayed by ships' masters in not bringing to these shores the cargoes most required. Some settlers complained loudly concerning the lack of consideration demonstrated by their rich friends and relatives at home, to whom they constantly wrote, advising the despatch of argosies as almost certain ventures. But their friends, surrounded by the luxury and refinement of the Old World, and regularly catered for in their food supplies, could not comprehend the environments of colonists. They were told that in Western Australia were great stretches of fertile agricultural land, and they could not understand why sufficient grain was not produced on them for local consumption. Indeed, they knew nothing of the heartbreaking labour a young colony demanded before it became self-contained.

The local Government was fully impressed with the seriousness of the position, and to assist settlers possessing little ready money, and to prevent starvation, arranged to supply provisions out of the Government stores on credit. Rich and poor availed themselves of this opportunity; indeed, they often had no alternative, for the Government almost alone held supplies. On 24th January, 1833, when the difficulty was overcome, a notice was issued by the Lieut.-Governor with reference to payment of these advances. It announced that the Colonial Storekeeper would "receive wheat (the growth of the colony) in part or whole payment of each respective debt, at the rate of 15s. per bushel."

Moreover, the warship Sulphur was despatched to neighbouring settlements to secure cargoes, and was expected to return late in February, but her voyage lasted until some months later. A small colonial vessel was sent to Hobart Town late in February for wheat and flour, but when that port was reached a most injurious rumour caused the master to curtail his operations. Interested persons, so it is alleged, reported at Hobart Town that two vessels had arrived at Fremantle from Calcutta with abundant supplies. Consequently ships, which under ordinary circumstances would have carried ventures to Swan River, turned from their purpose. The blame was laid on commercial men, who desired to keep food stuffs depleted at Swan River until prices rose to famine rates. The colonial vessel returned to Fremantle with a small cargo.

The Helen, schooner, from Hobart, called in at Fremantle in March, and was able to spare the community twenty tons of flour, little wheat, and a few potatoes. This tided them over immediate want. In April, the Merop put in with flour and pork. Before her arrival there were said to be only three casks of pork in colony, and £14 each was asked for them. Salt pork and beef were among the chief articles of diet of settlers. Wheat at this time had risen to 35s., and even 40s. a bushel, while fresh meat was 1s. 10d. per lb. More provisions arrived in May by the Cornwallis, and then the more serious strain was removed. In July fresh butter sold at 7s. per lb., eggs 4s. 6d. and 5s. per dozen, tea 2s. per lb., fresh meat 1s. 8d. per lb.; £18 was paid for a cask of wine, and £17 12s. 6d. for 47 gallons of rum. These prices to people who were used to a plethora of food in the old country, caused them much chagrin, especially when ready money was such a scarce quantity. The necessaries of life absorbed that capital which was so needed to improve the land. Towards the end of the year the arrival of several vessels begot lower prices, not only in food supplies, but in clothes and shoes as well. Actual famine was thus averted at the cost of some privation.

Hand in hand with the question of insufficient food supplies was that of the tilling of the soil and the stocking of the land. Because of the foolish absorption of their capital in useless investments, settlers had little left wherewith to purchase implements, horses and cattle for cultivating the soil, and sheep to stock their pastures. Their situation was largely discussed among them and they found that they were not strong enough to charter a vessel and import stock, and had not sufficient capital to form a company for those purposes. But all were convinced that if the Imperial Government chartered vessels and shipped sheep and cattle to the Swan River, the settlers would be able to purchase them at a fair rate. They could not lock up their capital for any time. Since the preceding harvest most of the chief settlers were assured of the suitability of Swan River soil for agricultural purposes. It was generally believed that the country would produce crops "inferior to none in England and with less trouble;" that it possessed abundant herbage for cattle and sheep. In consequence all set to work the more zealously to prepare to enlarge their fields for the approaching seed-time. The smaller settlers used the time to break up the ground, and it was estimated to take one man twenty days to prepare one acre. Two horses or two cattle could have done the work with a single-furrow plough in a few days. In their choice of seeds they were equally as experimental as in the previous year. It was roughly computed that 435 acres were sown in grain in 1832 from which an average of 15 bushels per acre was anticipated. A return such as this, it was believed, would place them beyond the need of imported grain.

All were permeated with a strong hope for the coming harvest. They found their rural occupation of a healthy, happy, innocent nature, and could they but overcome the difficulties of want of stock and capital, they were convinced that the future held much glowing prosperity for them. They were rendered still more hopeful when it became generally known that Captain Irwin had obtained from a small patch of soil, sown in October, without manure, and reaped in December, returns at the rate of 48s. per acre. Mr. Drummond, who was in correspondence with well-known scientists, especially Sir William Hooker, was also obtaining excellent results from his experiments. He planted Botanic Gardens in Perth and Guildford in 1831, which soon encouraged him with their rapid growth. He spent much time in testing soils in various situations, and his reports, while cautious, were warranted to stimulate the hopes of the community. On his own farms he presented an example which was copied by many his fellow settlers. With the ardour of a sincere botanist he collected numerous specimens of plants and grasses, and collated those which were specially useful as food for stock.