Two Expeditions into the Interior of Southern Australia — Volume I eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 251 pages of information about Two Expeditions into the Interior of Southern Australia — Volume I.

Two Expeditions into the Interior of Southern Australia — Volume I eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 251 pages of information about Two Expeditions into the Interior of Southern Australia — Volume I.
remain in Sydney a day longer than is necessary for the arrangement of his affairs.  Every shilling spent there is thrown away.  The greatest facility is given by the different departments of the Colonial Government to the settlers; and it is entirely his own fault if he trifles away his time in search of information elsewhere than at the fountainhead, or if he trusts to any other opinion than his own, supposing him experienced as to the quality of the land he may fix upon.  Let him be speedy in his selection, and fix himself upon his allotment as soon as possible.  Instead of overstocking his farm, or employing more labourers than he can afford to keep, let him be satisfied with a gradual increase of his stock, and wait patiently till he can better afford to employ labour; above all, let him avoid embarrassing himself by the purchase of any superfluous or unnecessary comfort.  I consider that man has already failed, who runs into debt in the first instance, or who exhausts his means in the purchase of large herds, from the vain expectation that their increase will clear him.  The time was when those idle speculations were occasionally attended with success, but such is not now the case.  The energies of the agriculturist are directed to their proper channel, and if the few are unable to make rapid fortunes, the many have escaped inevitable ruin.  No farm in a state of nature can be expected to yield any return of consequence for the first year.  It is incumbent on a settler to provide for his establishment, or to retain the means of providing for it as circumstances may require.

Farming implements are as cheap in Sydney as in England.  Horses and cattle are cheaper.  It requires little, therefore, to stock a farm in a reasonable manner.  On the other hand, the climate is so mild that the want of a house is scarcely felt, and a temporary residence easily constructed.  On the whole I am convinced, that a man who regulates his conduct by prudence, and who perseveringly follows up his occupations, who behaves with kindness to those around him, and performs his social and moral duties with punctuality, will ultimately secure to himself a home that will make up for the one he has quitted in the land of his fathers, and place him in as respectable and as happy a situation as that which he there enjoyed.

*****

PROGRESS OF INLAND DISCOVERY.

Having thrown out the foregoing remarks for the information of the general reader, and of persons who look to Australia with the more earnest views of selecting a colonial home, I now return to the immediate object of these volumes; but before entering on the narrative of my own expeditions, I think it necessary to advert cursorily to the discoveries previously accomplished.

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Two Expeditions into the Interior of Southern Australia — Volume I from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.