The Present Picture of New South Wales (1811) by David Dickinson Mann

D >> David Dickinson Mann >> The Present Picture of New South Wales (1811)

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The other animals of this country; the numerous, curious, and
beautiful birds, which abound there; and the various reptiles
which have been discovered, have been already sufficiently
described: More of the latter, however, have subsequently been
discovered to be of a venomous nature than was formerly
conjectured; and the bite of several species of the Coluber, or
Snake, have proved, in various instances, fatal, in the course of
a very few minutes after the wound has been received. It is to be
wished that some mode of cure could be discovered.--It is worthy
of remark, that at Norfolk Island, a spot where a settlement was
made, and which has been subsequently evacuated, about three
hundred leagues from the nearest coast of New South Wales, no
reptiles of any description are to be found; while at Phillip
Island, only seven miles from Norfolk Island, several species of
reptiles exist in abundance, such as the Centipede, Tarantula,
etc.

Religion.

The religion most generally followed in the colony of New
South Wales, is that established according to the usage of the
Church of England; and it is a subject of satisfaction to observe
that the churches are, generally speaking, well attended. A great
part of the military corps, with their officers, uniformly attend
divine service.--A Roman Catholic priest (the Rev. Mr. Dixon) was
formerly allowed by government to preach in public, but this
indulgence has been subsequently withdrawn from some cause or
other; and I am somewhat inclined to attribute this alteration to
the seditious conduct of the Irish prisoners, some years since,
in which it was proved that another priest (Mr. Harold) bore a
conspicuous part, upholding and encouraging the designs of those
who entertained schemes inimical to the existing government, and
subversive of the welfare of the colony.

Some of the Missionary Society preach at the out-settlements,
frequently on a Sunday, with various success; and it is much to
be lamented, that in the selection of these men, who are sent out
to enlighten and instruct the ignorant, greater attention is not
paid to their qualifications; and the abuses which are practised
under the cloak of religion, in these remote parts of the world,
call loudly for a close investigation, and a total reformation of
the system. That there are amongst these Missionaries men of
strict fidelity, whose hearts are engaged in the task they have
undertaken, and whose conduct has justly gained them the esteem
and veneration of all classes, is a fact which no dispassionate
observer can deny; but it is also equally notorious, that there
are too many of an opposite description, who practise every vice,
and do the most serious injury to that sacred cause to which they
have been delegated, and have engaged to support. If greater
pains were taken in the choice of servants, the Missionary
institution might tend to the more rapid promotion of the
knowledge of religion; but the work will be retarded while
improper instruments are used. A Missionary, of irreproachable
character, was unhappily murdered a few years since, by some
persons whom he had served, and who adopted this new and inhuman
method of repaying the obligation which had been conferred upon
him.

The natives are in general very superstitious, and entertain
some singular notions respecting their deceased friends and
countrymen, of which very ample accounts are given in
Lieutenant-Governor Collins's interesting publication. Their
funeral ceremonies are extremely impressive, and every mark of
respect, which suggests itself to their untaught minds, is paid
to the body of the deceased. A barbarous custom, however,
prevails, which is sanctioned by their rude ideas of
religion:--When a mother dies, while giving suck to an infant,
the living babe is uniformly thrown into the grave of the parent,
and the father having cast a stone upon it, the earth is cast
into the pit, and thus the innocent offspring is immolated to an
erroneous and superstitious prejudice.

Amongst the convicts the influence of superstition is less
prevalent, although, amongst many of the lower orders of Irish,
the traces of it are to be discovered; it leads, however, to no
injurious consequences, and deserves encouragement, in preference
to those totally irreligious principles which might naturally be
expected to shew themselves amidst a body of men, of characters
and dispositions so hostile to every thing which is virtuous,
dignifying, and good.

Morals.

The morals of the colony are by no means so debauched as the
tongue of prejudice has too frequently asserted; on the contrary,
virtuous characters are not rare, and honourable principles are
not less prevalent here than in other communities of equal extent
and limited growth. The instances of drunkenness, dishonesty, and
their concomitant offences, are not more common than in the
mother country; and those amongst the convicts who are disposed
to return to their old habits, and re-commence their depredations
upon society are deterred by the severe punishment which awaits
their detection: There are many also amongst the prisoners
themselves, who are now striking examples of probity, industry,
temperance, and virtue; and some have obtained a remission of the
punishment which occasioned their residence in the settlement, in
consequence of the signal and radical change which had taken
place in their inclinations and behaviour. Where there is society
their must exist offences; but, on the whole, considering the
nature of the colony of New South Wales, the morals of the people
are as free from glaring defects, as those of any other tract of
equal population in the habitable world; and the characters which
are celebrated for their virtues are as numerous, in proportion,
as those which are to be found in other countries, where
civilization and prosperity have made greater progress, and where
individuals have greater inducement to labour, and the prospect
of a brighter reward for their industrious exertions.

Amusements.

The erection of a play-house was noticed in the preceding part
of this sketch; the abuses which were uniformly committed on the
nights of performance, subsequently rendered that a nuisance
which was originally intended for an innocent recreation. When
the inhabitants were engaged in this enjoyment, their property
was left unwatched, and there were ever numbers of dishonest
individuals who were ready to seize upon these opportunities to
gratify their vicious dispositions. It was also a common practice
to give provisions to obtain entrance, if money was scarce; and
thus, by the frequent privations of their regular food, many of
the convicts were unable to pursue their labour with proper
energy and activity. Other abuses also resulted from the
establishment of the theatre, which induced the governor to recal
the permission which had been given for the performances, and the
playhouse itself was soon afterwards levelled to the ground.

Since the destruction of this building, the sources of
amusement have been confined to cricket, cards, water-parties,
shooting, fishing, hunting the kangaroo, etc. or any other
pleasures which can be derived from society where no public place
is open for recreations of any description. The officers of the
colony have also built a private billiard-room, by subscription,
for their own use; and if these amusements possess not that
degree of attraction which is attached to dramatic
representations, they cannot, on the other hand, be liable to
those abuses, and produce those injurious consequences, which
previously existed.

Amongst the convicts, indeed, gaming is carried, too
frequently, to the most deplorable excesses; and, in some cases,
the most abandoned of the prisoners have actually staked the
clothes which they wore, and when those were lost, stood amongst
their companions in a state of nudity, thus reducing themselves
to a level with the natives of the woods. The most severe
measures were called for by this unprincipled practice, and the
most gross part of the custom was done away; but it was
impossible to put a total stop to the gratification of this
gaming disposition, which is still pursued with equal avidity in
some way or other, and which may be said, next to drinking, to
constitute the chief pleasure and amusement of the lowest classes
of the prisoners.

The amusements of the natives need no recital here, as they
have been fully detailed in other publications.

Military Force.

The whole of the military in the colony consists of the New
South Wales corps (now the 102d regiment), two volunteer
associations, and a body-guard of troopers for the governor,
commanded by a serjeant. In fact, the inutility of a larger
military force must be obvious to every man of common reflection,
since it is merely required for the purposes of preserving
domestic peace, which might be in danger of continual
interruptions, in case of the absence of military power
altogether, from the turbulent dispositions of many of the
convicts. This inclination to revolt, however, is repressed by
the appearance of a few organized troops; and a sufficient check
is kept upon the natives, who still continue to make occasional
incursions, and commit their depredations upon the India corn of
the settlers, whenever an opportunity offers itself: At these
periods the soldiers are called in, and a few of them are found
sufficient to drive back the plunderers, who hate and fear the
approach of a soldier.

Buildings.

The buildings are of stone, brick, and lath and plaister;
weather-boarded; and the houses are durable. There are two
churches; one, St. Philip's, which possesses a very handsome
service of communion plate, presented by his Majesty, and
received by the Calcutta, on the 8th of October, 1803; and the
other, St. John's, at Parramatta: There are likewise a school and
chapel at Hawkesbury, where divine service is performed. Two
jails have also been erected in the colony. A house has been
built for the governor at each of the principal settlements;
which also possess several very commodious barracks, with many
other public buildings, and a great number of extensive and
handsome houses, the property of private individuals. There are a
stone bridge, and several very substantial wooden ones, which, if
not celebrated for beauty, are found extremely serviceable, and
well calculated for all the present purposes of the colony, which
is not yet sufficiently advanced in prosperity to prefer ornament
to use. A new stone citadel is in a course of building, on which
the Royal Standard, for the first time in these settlements, was
hoisted on the 4th of June, 1803; and several batteries are
erected.--For a more particular account of the buildings at
Sydney, I must refer the reader to the following explanation of
the Views of Sydney, the principal seat of government, which
accompany this sketch:--

In the View of Sydney, from the East side of the Cove, No. I.
the house under two birds, as r r, is the Residence of the
Governor in Chief, which is built of brick, plaistered over; has
very convenient stables and outhouses, and is a very pleasant and
comfortable residence; the garden and shrubbery extend to about
four acres. The Flag-staff near the gardenhouse bears the Union
on holidays, and different signal-colours are used there to form
a communication between the shore and the king's vessels in the
Cove. The Pine tree growing in the garden is from Norfolk Island,
and runs to an amazing height and thickness; the knots from this
tree are used instead of flambeaux, and burn remarkably well. The
buildings under three birds, as r r r, extending some distance
right and left, and forming a square, are the Military Barracks,
built of brick, the largest of which was erected by
Lieutenant-Governor Foveaux: This is an extensive well-built
place, and was finished in far less time than any building ever
begun upon by government in that settlement, considering its
magnitude. The White House and Warehouses, which appear
immediately under that building, although a considerable distance
on this side, belong to Mr. Simeon Lord; they are built of stone,
and the dwelling-house is by far the most magnificent in the
colony. The road leading through Barrack-square is the high road
to Parramatta. The house at the head of Government-wharf, shewing
four windows on the ground floor, is a Dry Storehouse belonging
to the crown, and is used for depositing articles for barter,
etc. in, which are sent out by government for that purpose.
The small yellow house behind it belongs to government, and is
inhabited by Mr. John Gowen, one of his majesty's store-keepers
in that settlement. The yellow house, on the right of the
Barrack-square, and having nine windows in front on each floor,
is an extensive Government Granary, and was built of brick,
plaistered over, under the direction of his excellency Governor
Hunter. Attached to this building, on the right, is a very useful
Military Store; and, on the left, a Store for the issue of
Provisions. The red house, to the right, built of brick, with two
wings, is the Female Orphan-house, which is a very convenient
building, and was purchased from Captain Kent, of the royal navy,
but great additions have been made to it subsequent to its
purchase. The long building above the Orphan-house, of which only
a part of the front is seen, is built of brick, and belongs to
Garnham Blaxcell, Esq. whose zeal for the colony, and whose
industry, have equally entitled him to the esteem and praise of
all. The house a little to the right of the Orphan-house, and
appearing to have a wing, is the Dwelling, and, attached to it,
are the Warehouses of Mr. James Underwood; they are built of
brick, and are extremely commodious and comfortable. The building
above is the Church, as the tower denotes; it is built of stone,
and has a peal of eight bells therein, but they are not very
harmonious. On the right of the one road leading to the church,
the building with four windows and two doors in front, and the
erection above it, are two Government Store-houses, built of
brick and plaister; the first is generally used for bonding of
spirits in, for naval stores, etc.; and the other for the
reception of salt provisions, when any arrive from England. The
Windmill on the hill is built of stone, and belongs to
government; and the building on the right, which is continued in
View, No. II. with a wall round it, is built of stone, and forms
part of the County Gaol. In the fore ground, six of the Natives
are in the attitude of throwing the spear; two with spears; one
with a spear and helemon, or shield; and two sitting down.--Of
the dexterity with which they hurl this weapon, some notice has
been taken in a preceding part of this sketch.

In View, No. II. taken from the East side of the Cove, the
long building, with a flight of steps, is the County Gaol, of
which a part is seen in No. I. The White Building, to the right
of the Prison, of which only three windows in front, and the
warehouses around it, are discovered, belongs to Mr. Henry Kable,
who, with Messrs. Lord and Underwood, have been very industrious
and enterprising men in the oil and sealskin trade, etc. and
possess a number of vessels and considerable estates in the
colony. The two small Houses, rather to the right, below the
Gaol, built of brick, are used for the boats' crews. The
Warehouses which hide part of these huts, and the House above,
belong to Mr. Isaac Nichols; they are very extensive and
commodious, and are built of stone. The House, still further to
the right, with a door, four windows, and two side-lights, in
front, and kitchen detached, belongs to Mr. Thomas Moore, the
principal shipwright, a man of unshaken integrity and large
property. The wharf near this part, is called the Hospital Wharf,
where all merchandize, etc. is directed to be landed. The Road
leading on the hill, takes different directions to the houses and
streets on the rocks. The three long buildings, on the right of
the road, are the General Hospitals; and in the front of them is
the Government Dock-yard. Next, to the right of the Hospitals,
one building with eight windows and two doors in front, and the
other with four windows and a door, with side-lights, in front,
are the Barracks occupied by the Medical Staff. The two next
buildings are not tenanted by their late possessors. The large
buildings to the right, at the water's edge, are the House and
extensive Warehouses of Robert Campbell, Esq. a merchant, where a
ship of large dimensions can load or unload, with any tide,
alongside his wharf. Near this place a vessel belonging to that
gentleman some time ago caught fire, and after a great deal of
trouble she was sunk, by which means the fire was extinguished;
she was afterwards got up, and underwent such repairs as soon
enabled her to proceed on her voyage. Where the yellow flag is
seen flying, on Dawes's Point, there is a Battery, and
Lookout-house, to communicate with the signals for ships in the
offing at South Head. The River round the point leads to several
agricultural and farming districts, and to Parramatta. On the
hill is the Citadel, with the union flag flying, and two
Government Wind-mills, one built of wood and the other of stone,
the latter of which is unserviceable. The other buildings belong
to individuals indiscriminately. The Canoes, with fires in them,
belong to the natives.

In View, No. I. taken from the West side of the Cove, on one
side of the land which is farthest seen, is the Harbour; and on
the other, is an amazing expanse of sea. There is a carriage-road
made from Sydney to the extreme point, which is South Head, and a
great many carriages and horsemen frequently go down there to
spend the day, or to see any vessels which may appear off the
land. On South Head are, a Flag-staff, a Lookout-house, and an
Obelisk; and betwixt it and the North Head, is a narrow entrance,
by which vessels enter the port, about seven miles from Sydney.
The small island in the centre is called Pinch-gut, which name
originated from some persons being placed there on an allowance
of provisions for some offence, where they built an oven, the
remains of which are yet to be seen: At this time there is a man
named Brown, before spoken of, hung in chains on this spot, for
committing several murders. The other islands, between these and
the heads, are called Garden, Shark's, and Clark's Islands. On
the land to the right of Pinch-gut, called Be-ne-long's Point,
the native of that name, who was once in England, had a hut built
by government; but he soon left it, and it was destroyed: There
are also the remains of a battery there. Under two birds, as r r,
are two Houses on a point of land leading from Farm Cove, the
next cove to the eastward of Sydney. Under a large flight of
birds, are three Wind-mills, and an extensive Bakehouse; two of
which, and the bake-house, belong to John Palmer, Esq. and the
other to Mr. Henry Kable. Beneath them is Government House, and
part of the offices, and grounds. To the right of the Government
wharf are the Dry Stores spoken of in No. I. from the east side.
The building above that, of brick, is the Main Guard-house, and
is a very convenient place for that purpose. The Stone-house, and
offices, to the right of the Dry Stores, with five windows on a
floor, belong to Mr. Thomas Reiby; the brick House, nearly
adjoining, to Mr. Andrew Thompson; and the large Stone-house and
Warehouses, to Mr. Simeon Lord, spoken of in No. I. of the other
Views; in the front of which buildings is the principal road
leading to Government House, where are houses and offices for the
Judge Advocate, Commissary, Clergyman, and Surveyor-General; but
they are mostly hidden in this View by the trees and large
buildings before them. The stone building at the stern of the
Sloop, comprises the Warehouse and part of the House belonging to
Mr. Isaac Nichols, spoken of in No. II. of the other Views, and
continued in the next of this. The buildings concealed by part of
the long shed near, but on this side Mr. Nichols's, is the back
part of the Assistant-Surgeon's Barracks. The house behind the
trees is the back of the Barracks of the principal Surgeon. The
house near the Natives, who are fighting, is not occupied by any
person of particular consequence; and the one, partly hidden by
the rocks, was occupied by Mr. Moore, but is going to decay.

In View, No. II. taken from the West side of the Cove, the
lofty House of which a part is seen, and which was spoken of in
No. II. of the other Views, and I. of this, belongs to Mr. Isaac
Nichols; and the buildings on this side are the back of the
General Hospital. The Bridge, the only one built of stone in the
whole colony, is a very bad structure; the walls on each side of
the arch inclose the grounds belonging to the Orphan-house and
Mr. Simeon Lord. The road seen on the other side of the bridge is
called Spring-row; it leads to several streets, and joins the
main road to Parramatta, etc.; below the paling of which there
are very large Tanks, cut in rocks, to supply the town and
shipping with water; but there is another watering-place for
ships on the north side of the Cove, very commodious, and the
permission to use which produces a small annual income to the
Orphan fund. The rows, commencing above the foot of the Bridge,
on the east side, are called Chapel, Pitt's, and Serjeant-Major's
rows, the latter of which, under the two birds, runs to the
Brick-fields, towards Parramatta. The House on the right, at this
end of the longest street, seen in this View, with three windows
and a door visible, belongs to Garnham Blaxcell, Esq. spoken of
in No. I. of the other Views. The building, the eastern end of
which is partly covered by a tree, is the most southern Military
Barrack. The two lofty red houses at the west foot of the Bridge,
in the rise, are side-views of the Orphan-house and Mr. James
Underwood's, spoken of in No. I. of the other Views. The houses
on the right, a spot called the Rocks, belong to different
individuals, and some of them are very comfortable
habitations.

Over the south creek at Hawkesbury a floating-bridge has been
erected, which has proved greatly beneficial to the public;
since, previous to its completion, every person who had occasion
to go to that settlement, and in many cases from one farm to
another, was obliged to pass to and fro in a boat. As this bridge
was constructed by an individual (Mr. Andrew Thompson, a settler)
at his own expense, the following tolls are allowed to be
demanded:--For every foot-passenger, four-pence, or ten shillings
per annum; for each horse, single or in draught, two shillings
and sixpence, or two pounds ten shillings per annum; for waggons,
or other four-wheel carriages, with not more than half a ton
lading, one shilling and sixpence, or one pound ten shillings per
annum; for carts, or carriages with two wheels, laden or not,
each one shilling and sixpence, or one pound ten shillings per
annum; for sheep, under a score, two-pence each, and by the score
two shillings and sixpence, or two pounds ten shillings per
annum; swine and goats, the same as sheep. Passengers, horses,
carts, and carriages, are allowed to pass and re-pass, during the
same day, with one ticket; and a considerable income is derived
from this toll.

* * * * *

The children born in this colony from European parents, are
very robust, comely, and well made; nor do I recollect a solitary
instance of one being naturally deformed. They are remarkably
quick of apprehension; learn any thing with uncommon rapidity;
and greatly improve in good manners, promising to become a fine
race of people.

The Duke of Northumberland has sent over some Teeswater sheep,
and one stallion, very recently, to Colonel Johnston, which have
greatly improved the breed of both. Mr. Mac Arthur took over some
Merino sheep, from the King's flock, which are thriving, and the
wool of which is extremely fine; several samples have been
produced in England. The deer in this colony (originally, I
believe, from India) thrive very well, but are of the Rein
species, and rather inclined to be small: I have seen some very
good venison, and of a superior flavour to any I ever eat in
England, though not so fat; the breed might be much improved by a
few being sent of a larger quality. Some time ago several made
their escape from a park belonging to Mr. Harris, who has for
many years been surgeon of the regiment there, and before I left
the colony, they were breeding and running wild in the woods.

Several foreign vessels have within these few years arrived
here on discovery; but nothing material has resulted from their
observations, with which the reader has not been made
acquainted.

Chapter IV. Hints for the Improvement of the Colony.

Having thus touched upon the progress of the Colony and its
present state, I shall now beg to add such Hints respecting its
future improvement, as have suggested themselves to my mind
during a residence of ten years in the settlement, in which
period I have been enabled, from the nature of the various
situations I have held there, to render myself intimately
acquainted with all those particulars which are essential to the
formation of a correct opinion on this interesting subject. And
to the execution of this task I feel the more particularly urged,
since I have beheld, with pain, that those who seem to be most
deeply impressed with the necessity which exists, for the
adoption of some measures to further the interests of the colony,
have entirely mistaken the line which ought to be followed, and
have marked out to themselves a course of procedure, which is
founded on a total misconception of the nature of the colony, and
a very superficial knowledge of its present state. That a period
of twenty-two years has not been sufficient to render New South
Wales independent of the mother country, is a reflection which
must produce strong and ungenial suspicions of the prudence of
those methods which have been pursued to accelerate such a
desirable end; and the continuance of the late system, the
inefficiency of which has been amply illustrated by recent
events, and facts which are incontrovertible, is, of all evils,
the most sincerely to be deprecated and guarded against. Of the
capability of the settlement to produce adequate means for the
subsistence of its members, there can be but a single opinion
amongst persons who are enabled, from experience, to judge of the
nature and fertility of the soil; and it must, consequently, form
an evident conclusion, that some unnatural check must have sprung
up to impede the ordinary course of proceedings. My object,
however, is not to deprecate the opinions of others, but to give
to the public those ideas of improvement which have arisen in my
own mind, and which have been confirmed by the approbation of
others, who are equally as well or better qualified to decide
upon this important subject.

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