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[Page 1]
June 1 1802
Sir,
As I did not say anything about the Kangaroos in the other letter, I take the liberty of troubling you again, as I have received some information from the Natives since the other was wrote. The sorts that I suspect are in England, are the great Forest Kangaroo (Patagorang). The Kangaroo Rat (Cunimang) and probably what is here called a Brush Kangaroo (Walaby) which of a blackish color, & used to be common about Sydney. The 3 following I imagine are but little known - Pattymellon. It is of a reddish color, & much inferior in size to the forest one. It inhabits thickets & is not easily caught, as the dogs cannot run in such places. Werine [?] dwells in rocky ground in the Blue Mountains. This I suspect to be the one that has its tail covered with long hair. Betony, I think this is the one with the slender tail. It does not dwell in rocky ground, but in (almost) impenetrable thickest & is only caught by the natives, when they set these places on fire. A Native came to me a few days ago, and told me that he would take me to a place that was only 2 days journey, where there were at this time plenty of what are here called Mountain Pheasants, & Werine's. The former I think the Natives call Ban'de [?].
I should have been able to have procured you the skins that you are in want of, had not the Gov. been at variance with the Natives. Since he has permitted me to bring one into Parramatta several have ventured to come to me. I do not suppose that the Governor will molest them, but allow them all the privilege of coming among our people. When I was at sea in the Lady Nelson I believe no person was allowed to harbour any of the natives belonging to this part of the colony. This eruption has been