Altogether This Little Deserted Spot Was Very
Pleasing, And Were It Larger Would Be Unexceptionable For An European
Settlement." - G.F.
Notwithstanding the diminutive size of this island, the advantages it
presented, especially as to the cultivation of the flax-plant, were
sufficient to induce the British government to erect a settlement on
it, which was effected by a detachment from Port Jackson under the
command of Lieutenant King in 1788.
The reader who desires particular
information respecting its progress, will be amply supplied with it in
Collins's account of New South Wales. It may perhaps be sufficient to
inform him, that though in 1790 the colony consisted of 498 persons,
and in 1796, of 889, and though very great expence and pains were
employed to ensure its prosperity, yet every year's experience proved
that the expectations entertained of its importance and benefits were
vastly over-rated, and in consequence it was at last abandoned. In the
opinion of Collins, Van Diemen's island presents in every respect a
more advantageous spot for a settlement. - E.
[3] "They continued from time to time to ask if we were displeased
with them, and seemed to be very apprehensive that our present
protestations of friendship were not quite sincere. We suspected from
this circumstance, that a fatal misunderstanding had happened between
the natives and the crew of some European ship, and we naturally
thought of our consort the Adventure." - G.F.
[4] The natives were repeatedly questioned, and in every conversation
we discovered some additional circumstances, by which the fact was
more clearly established.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 851 of 885
Words from 230000 to 230260
of 239428
