Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/183

1833.] David Stead, was overseer, on an estate belonging to a gentleman in India.

The dwelling occupied by D. Stead was superior to many of those in out-stations, but inferior to the houses of the generality of settlers: it was built of upright split timber, plastered inside, and divided to the height of the walls, into four apartments, a sitting-room, bed-room, kitchen, and store-room. The last only, was secured by a lock. The outer doors had no other fastenings than wooden latches, and the windows were of canvass stretched in frames in square openings. The kitchen was also the sleeping-place of the prisoner-servants. A hammock formed the sleeping accommodation of our friend. A wooden sofa in the parlour served a passing guest; and in case of more travellers having to be accommodated, the hospitality of a neighbour was claimed.

The timber on a piece of low ground here, was remarkably tall and slender. Trees had been felled, 140 feet of which were adapted to being cut into lengths for log-fencing: many of them were 200 feet high, and of very even thickness.—From Whales occasionally cast upon these shores, the settlers supply themselves with oil. This is not unfrequent on other parts of the coast. They are probably fish that escape after being struck by the people from the whaling vessels which are stationed in some of the bays, and which cruise about the Island.

After a meeting here, some of the people noticed, that it was the first time the Gospel had been preached at this place. While "neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase;" it is, nevertheless, an honour to bear his message of mercy through Christ Jesus, though it be but to a few, remotely scattered.

5th mo. 2nd. We crossed a series of lofty hills, to Break-o'-day Plains. The first of these are granite, and the succeeding ones, are argillaceous, and red sandstone. On the granite is a species of Eucalyptus, not frequent in Tasmania, called Iron-bark, which name is given to more than one species of this genus in N. S. Wales, on account of the bark being exceedingly coarse, hard, and iron-like. On the argillaceous hills, the Peppermint-tree attains a considerable