Page:Madras Journal of Literature and Science, series 1, volume 6 (1837).djvu/334

312 green wood, and pervious to every shower that fell; whilst many of the lower classes had no other awning day or night, than the canopy of heaven. After a little time, when the settlers got on their grants, buildings of a better description began to spring up. Some had wooden houses, which they brought out with them from London. Others had the same description of house made for them in the colony. Some erected houses of wattle and dab; that is, posts, about eight feet in height, erected at some distance from each other, and the intermediate spaces filled up with clay; to this was added a thatched roof and a chimney, which altogether formed a very comfortable dwelling. So soon as bricks could be made, or stone procured in sufficient quantity, good houses of such materials came into fashion.

During the first months of the colony, much anxiety was caused by the straying and loss of cattle in the bush, and by exposure to the weather of valuable plants and goods. Had any individual established a farm for the reception of cattle, and a ware-house to receive goods, it would have amply repaid him, and been the means of saving a vast deal of valuable stock and other property. No blame can attach to the government for want of arrangement on this head, as the settlers were apprized previous to leaving England, that they were to do every thing for themselves, and not to expect any assistance whatever from government. The zeal and activity, the kindness and attention, of Sir James Stirling, the Governor, in providing for all the wants and wishes of the people, so far as he had the means, were the theme of universal praise, and he was supported to the utmost by all his officers.

Travelling overland, or "travelling in the bush" as it is called, where neither roads nor houses were to be met with, though an interesting, was often a hazardous undertaking; but the danger did not arise from beasts of prey, none being met with in this country; but from the want of so simple a thing as a pocket compass. Being unprovided with this little instrument, was often the cause of many anxious hours as well as sleepless nights being passed in the bush. When the sun is clouded, so that one cannot guide his course by it, it is astonishing how readily you may go the wrong way; going a few yards out, will lead miles astray.

Things went on agreeably till about the beginning of the winter of 1830, when the supplies brought out from England, consisting chiefly of salt meat, biscuit and rum, became nearly exhausted; the crops which had been rather sanguinely calculated on, were scanty; provision reached a high price, owing to the irregularity of the supplies,