a complete account of the settlement-第40章
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e share of knowledge may; however; be supposed to belong to experience。 Many a night have I toiled (in the times of distress) on the public service; from four o'clock in the afternoon until eight o'clock next morning; hauling the seine in every part of the harbour of Port Jackson: and after a circuit of many miles and between twenty and thirty hauls; seldom more than a hundred pounds of fish were taken。 However; it sometimes happens that a glut enters the harbour; and for a few days they sufficiently abound。 But the universal voice of all professed fishermen is that they never fished in a country where success was so precarious and uncertain。
I shall not pretend to enumerate the variety of fish which are found。 They are seen from a whale to a gudgeon。 In the intermediate classes may be reckoned sharks of a monstrous size; skait; rock…cod; grey…mullet; bream; horse…mackarel; now and then a sole and john dory; and innumerable others unknown in Europe; many of which are extremely delicious; and many highly beautiful。 At the top of the list; as an article of food; stands a fish; which we named light…horseman。 The relish of this excellent fish was increased by our natives; who pointed out to us its delicacies。 No epicure in England could pick a head with more glee and dexterity than they do that of a light…horseman。
Reptiles in the swamps and covers are numerous。 Of snakes there are two or three sorts: but whether the bite of any of them be mortal; or even venomous; is somewhat doubtful。 I know but of one well attested instance of a bite being received from a snake。 A soldier was bitten so as to draw blood; and the wound healed as a simple incision usually does without shewing any symptom of malignity。 A dog was reported to be bitten by a snake; and the animal swelled and died in great agony。 But I will by no means affirm that the cause of his death was fairly ascertained。 It is; however; certain that the natives show; on all occasions; the utmost horror of the snake; and will not eat it; although they esteem lizards; goannas; and many other reptiles delicious fare。 On this occasion they always observe that if the snake bites them; they become lame; but whether by this they mean temporary or lasting lameness I do not pretend to determine。 I have often eaten snakes and always found them palatable and nutritive; though it was difficult to stew them to a tender state。
Summer here; as in all other countries; brings with it a long list of insects。 In the neighborhood of rivers and morasses; mosquitoes and sandflies are never wanting at any season; but at Sydney they are seldom numerous or troublesome。 The most nauseous and destructive of all the insects is a fly which blows not eggs but large living maggots; and if the body of the fly be opened it is found full of them。 Of ants there are several sorts; one of which bites very severely。 The white ant is sometimes seen。 Spiders are large and numerous。 Their webs are not only the strongest; but the finest; and most silky I ever felt。 I have often thought their labour might be turned to advantage。 It has; I believe; been proved that spiders; were it not for their quarrelsome disposition which irritates them to attack and destroy each other; might be employed more profitably than silk…worms。
The hardiness of some of the insects deserves to be mentioned。 A beetle was immersed in proof spirits for four hours; and when taken out crawled away almost immediately。 It was a second time immersed; and continued in a glass of rum for a day and a night; at the expiration of which period it still showed symptoms of life。 Perhaps; however; what I from ignorance deem wonderful is common。
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The last but the most important production yet remains to be considered。 Whether plodding in London; reeking with human blood in Paris or wandering amidst the solitary wilds of New South WalesMan is ever an object of interest; curiosity and reflection。
The natives around Port Jackson are in person rather more diminutive and slighter made; especially about the thighs and legs; than the Europeans。 It is doubtful whether their society contained a person of six feet high。 The tallest I ever measured; reached five feet eleven inches; and men of his height were rarely seen。 Baneelon; who towered above the majority of his countrymen; stood barely five feet eight inches high。 His other principal dimensions were as follows:
Girth of the Chest。 2 feet 10 inches Girth of the Belly。 2 feet 6 1/2 inches Girth of the Thigh。 18 1/8 inches Girth of the Leg at the Calf。 12 1/8 inches Girth of the Leg at the Small。 10 inches Girth of arm half way between the shoulder and elbow。 9 inches
Instances of natural deformity are scarce; nor did we ever see one of them left…handed。 They are; indeed; nearly ambidexter; but the sword; the spear and the fish…gig are always used with the right hand。 Their muscular force is not great; but the pliancy of their limbs renders them very active。 〃Give to civilized man all his machines; and he is superior to the savage; but without these; how inferior is he found on opposition; even more so than the savage in the first instance。〃 These are the words of Rousseau; and like many more of his positions must be received with limitation。 Were an unarmed Englishman and an unarmed New Hollander to engage; the latter; I think; would fall。
Mr。 Cook seems inclined to believe the covering of their heads to be wool。 But this is erroneous。 It is certainly hair; which when regularly combed becomes soon nearly as flexible and docile as our own。 Their teeth are not so white and good as those generally found in Indian nations; except in the children; but the inferiority originates in themselves。 hey bite sticks; stones; shells and all other hard substances; indiscriminately with them; which quickly destroys the enamel and gives them a jagged and uneven appearance。 A high forehead; with prominent overhanging eyebrows; is their leading characteristic; and when it does not operate to destroy all openness of countenance gives an air of resolute dignity to the aspect; which recommends; in spite of a true negro nose; thick lips; and a wide mouth。 The prominent shin bone; so invariably found in the Africans; is not; however; seen。 But in another particular they are more alike。 The rank offensive smell which disgusts so much in the negro; prevails strongly among them when they are in their native state; but it wears off in those who have resided with us and have been taught habits of cleanliness。 Their hands and feet are small*; especially the former。
'*I mentioned this; among other circumstances; to colonel Gordon when I was at the Cape; and he told me that it indicated poverty and inadequacy of living。 He instanced to me the Hottentots and Caffres。 The former fare poorly; and have small hands and feet。 The Caffres; their neighbours; live plenteously and have very large ones。 This remark cannot be applied to civilized nations; where so many factitious causes operate。'
Their eyes are full; black and piercing; but the almost perpetual strain in which the optic nerve is kept; by looking out for prey; renders their sight weak at an earlier age than we in general find ours affected。 These large black eyes are universally shaded by the long thick sweepy eyelash; so much prized in appreciating beauty; that; perhaps hardly any face is so homely which this aid cannot in some degree render interesting; and hardly any so lovely which; without it; bears not some trace of insipidity。 Their tone of voice is loud; but not harsh。 I have in some of them found it very pleasing。
Longevity; I think; is seldom attained by them。 Unceasing agitation wears out the animal frame and is unfriendly to length of days。 We have seen them grey with age; but not old; perhaps never beyond sixty years。 But it may be said; the American Indian; in his undebauched state; lives to an advanced period。 True; but he has his seasons of repose。 He reaps his little harvest of maize and continues in idleness while it lasts。 He kills the roebuck or the moose…deer; which maintains him and his family for many days; during which cessation the mus