rich
spreading fronds on all sides forms a canopy that perfectly excludes the
piercing rays of even an Australian sun. It is impossible to describe the
feelings of surprise and pleasure that are excited in the mind of the
traveller as he descends into any one of these delightful dells: the
contrast in the vegetable kingdom strikes him at once; he gazes around on
the rich masses of verdure with astonishment, and strongly impressed with
the idea that enchantment has been at work, involuntarily rubs his eyes
and exclaims, "Am I in Australia or in the Brazils?"

ABORIGINES.

Few only of the aborigines of the neighbourhood of Sydney are now to be
seen, and these are generally in an intoxicated state. Like most savage
tribes they are passionately addicted to spiritous liquors, and seek to
obtain it by any means in their power. Out of a sugar bag, with a little
water, they manage to extract a liquor sufficient to make half a dozen of
them tipsy; and in this condition, as I have observed, they most
frequently presented themselves to my view. They are in every respect a
weak, degraded, miserable race, and are anything but a favourable
specimen of the benefits produced by intercourse with polished nations on
an uncivilised people. However, the natives of Australia vary as
strangely as its soil; the members of the tribes that dwell about
Shoalhaven and the small southern ports, and come up in coasting vessels,
are good-looking, useful fellows, and may hereafter be made much of. I
noticed also, in my circumnavigation of the continent, a remarkable
diversity in the character of the natives, some being most kindly
disposed, while others manifested the greatest hostility and aversion. My
whole experience teaches me that these were not accidental differences,
but that there is a marked contrast in the dispositions of the various
tribes, for which I will not attempt to account. I leave in the hands of
ethnologists to determine whether we are to seek the cause in minute
variations of climate or in other circumstances, physical or historical.
This I can say, that great pains were formerly taken to civilize the
natives of Sydney, gardens were given them, and numerous attempts made to
inculcate habits of order, and communicate a knowledge of European arts;
but no advantageous results ensued, and it was at length deemed
impossible not only to improve them, but even to prevent their
deterioration. I cannot determine whether this evinces a na