an English town called Sydney. Here our vessel came to anchor, and I had several opportunities of going ashore.

Sydney is about as large as Hartford or New Haven; but the houses are scattered over a considerable space, and a large part of the town is irregularly built. The buildings are mostly after the English fashion. It struck me as a very curious thing, that we should find a town, in these remote regions, bearing all the marks of an English city.

New Holland is the largest island on the globe. It is about as extensive as the whole of Europe. In the year 1787, the English government established a colony at Botany Bay, about twelve miles south of Sydney. The colonists consisted of English people, who had been guilty of crimes for which they were banished from England forever.

The colony was at length removed to Sydney, and it continues to be a place of banishment,

Sydney? New Holland? What about Botany Bay'

to which wicked people are sent from England. Thieves, robbers, swindlers, traitors, and troublesome persons, to the number of many hundreds, have been transported to this place.

We should expect, that a society composed of such desperate individuals, must be very bad. But the truth is, that many of the wicked people sent here, have repented of their errors, and become industrious and honest members of society. So that on the whole, the state of things is by no means as bad here, as might have been expected.

There are several other English towns and settlements, occupying the southeastern part of this great island. The country passes under the general name of New South Wales.

The coasts of New Holland, are generally flat, but mountains are seen in the interior. Very little is known of the country except along the shores. Some parts are fruitful, but

What of the coasts and interior of New Holland ?

there are extensive wastes of sand. The heat is sometimes excessive. In December, it is often hotter there, than it is ever known to be in the United States.

Dry hot winds also, like the Sirocco of Africa, often sweep over the land.

The native fruits of this country, are not so rich or abundant, as those of many of the islands I have described. But the English settlers raise a plenty of wheat, rye, Indian corn, barley, oats, cabbages, potatoes and other things. They have also fine peaches, apples, and pears, as well as oranges, lemons, grapes, pomegranates, cherries, melons, walnuts, and almonds, all of which are raised with little trouble.

Among the native animals of New Holland, there are several very curious varieties. The most remarkable is the Kangaroo. This creature is about as large as a sheep. Sometimes

What of the heat? Describe the fruits. Productions. What of the Kangaroo ?

it is six feet long. Its fore legs are very short, and its hind ones very long.

It does not run along upon its legs like a cat or a dog, but sits upon its haunches, and bounds along in great leaps. Sometimes, it will go six rods at a single jump. It easily jumps over shrubs of considerable height. It is a timid animal, and runs away as fast as it can go, from a dog or a man.

It defends itself with its tail, which is so strong, that it can easily kill a dog with a single blow. Its flesh is excellent food, and the animal is much hunted, both by the English settlers, and the negro inhabitants.

But I have not yet told you the most curious thing about the Kangaroo. The female has a pouch under the belly, which serves as a retreat for the young Kangaroos, in time of danger. When the little creatures are playing around their mother, if they discover anything that gives them alarm, they immediately run to her, jump into the pouch, and there they remain, snug and safe, till the danger is past