Page:Madras Journal of Literature and Science, series 1, volume 6 (1837).djvu/336

314 to the mucous membranes; on the contrary, I have known them occasionally affect the serous membranes, and also the solid viscera, but I conceive this to be the tissue generally attacked, and in which disease mostly commences; this, however, is only thrown out as a hint to future inquirers, which I do not much insist upon, my object being to record facts, rather than form hypotheses.

The exportable commodities which the soil and climate are capable of producing, are woods of various kinds, for cabinet use and for ship building, and shingles; the barks of several of the indigenous trees, especially that of the mimosa, containing tannin in a highly concentrated state; gums of various species and qualities, particularly gum arabic; salt of an excellent quality is found in Rottenest Island; salt-fish has been already exported to the Isle of France and India; seals, of the kind from which the fur is obtained, are very plentiful on the coast;—the seal fishery will open two sources of wealth to the colonists; the first being a trade in skins, the second in seal oil. The sperm and black whale fishery will afford articles of profitable export, and tend, also, to make the settlement important for the refitting and victualling of vessels engaged in the trade. Wheat and flour find a ready sale in the Isle of France; it is more favourably situated for that market than either Van Dieman's Land or Sydney. Fine wool has been already exported and approved of in the London market—hides, tallow, and horns; tobacco, wine, flax and hemp; cotton, almonds, aniseed, bees wax, and honey; barrilla, cheese for India and China, carraways, cochineal, coriander; dried fruit, such as figs, currants, raisins, and prunes; hops, vegetable oils, olives, citrons, oranges, lemons, &c. &c. to which may be added the very important article, silk.

Of the Aborigines or natives, I shall only say so much as occasional intercourse with them has enabled me to become personally acquainted with.

On the first meeting of the settlers with the natives, the latter seemed alarmed, and withdrew; after a little time, however, they gained more confidence, and a friendly intercourse became established; this continued for some months, during which time the natives occasionally rendered a little assistance in labour, for which they were rewarded with food, particularly bread, of which they became very fond. The propensity to thieving, inherent among the Swan River, as well as all other, savages, soon began to display itself; whenever an opportunity offered food and implements belonging to the settler were carried off; the lower classes would make no allowance for their large