are kept in
excellent order; and their being strictly forbidden the use of spirits no
doubt contributes materially to prevent their giving trouble. I could not
help thinking that the Company conducted its operations on too extensive
a scale to render their undertaking profitable. The high pay of their
officers, and the difficulties encountered in clearing the land, are in
themselves considerable drawbacks; especially when we consider, that
after all the pains bestowed, the soil acquired for the purposes of
cultivation is often of very inferior quality.

The soil on the peninsula, of which Circular Head forms the most
remarkable feature, is generally speaking of a poor light character, and
not well watered. The country lying immediately behind it is low and cut
up with branches from a large estuary.

My esteemed friend, Count Strzelecki, traversed the country between
Circular Head and Point
Woolnorth (North-West extreme of Tasmania) and describes it as presenting
"eight rivers as difficult to cross as the Scamander, with deep gullies
and rocky ridges, and marshes more difficult to overcome than either
ridges or rivers."

MINERAL WATERS.

We learned there were some mineral waters about fifteen miles to the
westward of Circular Head. The ingredients they contain, and their
medicinal properties, were discovered by Count Strzelecki, who in
speaking of them, says, "I have endeavoured to ascertain both--the latter
on my own constitution, and the former by chemical analysis. They belong
to a class of carbonated waters." From his examination he concludes,
"that they are aperient and tonic, and sufficiently disgusting to the
palate to pass for highly medicinal."

Whilst here, I was informed that a small party of natives were still at
large, though seldom seen, keeping in the remotest recesses of the woods.
They thus succeeded in avoiding for some years their enemy the white man.
Indeed it was only when pressed by hunger that these aboriginal
possessors of the soil ventured to emerge from their hiding-places, and
rob some of the Company's out-stations of flour. By these means, however,
it was that a knowledge was obtained of their existence. For, though they
managed so secretly, that it was some time before they were found out, a
shepherd at an out-station, began at last frequently to miss flour and
tobacco* in a very mysterious manner. He determined accordingly to watch,
but was for a long time unsuccessful. At length he sa