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[Page 2]
be procured at a much easier rate than what wood can be had for at this time. The indifferent sort may be used for various purposes. As salt is an article much wanted, Pans erected on the sea shore where, the Coals being at hand, it might be manufactured at very little expence; and in Summer great qualitys might be procured by Evaporation without much trouble. The burning of Lime from Shells is also an important object, where they are in such abundance, as they are at Hunter River, and so convenient for loading. This is also a very expensive article to Government, as well as to Individuals.
Fish are here in plenty, there are great varieties, and good of their kind. While this colony is dependent on England for animal food, the expence of that article might be considerably lessened by attending to salting of fish in the Winter season. The different kinds of timber is also an object. The Ground around Hunter River, is well situated for a settlement, the soil is good, and not subject to floods, like the Hawkesbury. During most of the time we were out, the weather was so bad, as to prevent my exploring, the source of any one of the Rivers; and our provisions were so near expended that we were under the necessity of returning to Port Jackson.
From the constant rain I found great difficulty in drying any specimens. and from an accident that happened by fire, I lost some of the choicest of them, what remains, I have the pleasure of sending by this conveyance, on the hope of their being acceptable, these and a few seeds, you will dispose of, as you think proper.
The Nicotsana, [Nicotiana] if Mr. Dryander will take the trouble to describe it, I think it would be acceptable to the Linnean Society. It grows in moist situations, in good abundance, the flowers are remarkable fragrant, the leaves are not so large as that of the common tobacco, and I am
of opinion, were it properly manufactured, it would be superior in flavor, to any yet known; All the specimens from Hunter River are mark'd H. I sent by Captain Raven, a Bird of this country called the Pheasant; as it was the second that