Among the attractions which Sydney presents to the visitor is the Botanic Garden, with its neat and tastefully arranged walks; it is, however, to be regretted, that this establishment, as a “botanic garden,” is not encouraged, it being, in fact, merely a government vegetable and fruit garden. Such an establishment would be most valuable as a nursery for the introduction of trees, shrubs, or plants, estimable either for timber, fruits, flowers, or dyes, and thus add to the resources of the colony; by its means how many valuable productions might be introduced: at present exotics are almost entirely confined to the gardens of a few intelligent settlers. Still there are several trees and plants introduced from New Zealand, the north-west, and other parts of Australia, Cape, &c. A fine healthy specimen of the “Adenanthos sericea” has been successfully introduced, (which is correctly figured in Labillardiere’s Plant. Nov. Holl. Tab. 38,) which shows that shrubs, &c. from King George’s Sound (to which place this one is indigenous,) can be grown in perfection at Port Jackson.
In a pond the pretty white flowers and dark leaves of Damasonium ovatifolium were floating, and may be often seen swimming on the surface of the more tardy streams in the colony. The New Zealand flax plant does not appear to thrive well, nor has it yet flowered; the best plants I have seen were at the “Vineyard,” the residence of H. M’Arthur, Esq., who has planted it in a moister soil. The Karaka tree, (Corynocarpus lævigata,) of New Zealand, was in thriving condition, having reached the elevation of from six to nearly fourteen feet, and borne fruit.
The New Zealand species of Dracæna, (or Tee of the natives of that country,) grows and flowers well not only in these gardens, but is frequently seen planted in front of the dwelling houses in and about Sydney; as also that lofty species of Araucaria, (A. excelsa,) commonly known by the name of Norfolk Island pine.[126] The Indian bamboo also grows very luxuriantly in the gardens, and in that part of the domain near the government house. The Callistachys ovata, from King George’s Sound, was also in flower; it is an elegant shrub, having a silvery pubescence over the leaves, and bears handsome clusters of yellow flowers. The Hibiscus splendens, from Moreton Bay, was also in full bloom; its large and elegant pink flowers being full five inches in diameter. Numerous species of Eucalypti, Banksia, &c. from the interior of the colony, as also from Moreton Bay, and other portions of the Australian coast, were in a thriving state; and a species of Dracæna, bearing purple flowers, and brought from Moreton Bay, was in blossom.
About Sydney, however, in January, the beauty of the floral kingdom had in some degree passed away: Melaleuca myrtifolia, Leptospermum, Xanthorrea hastile, and other species; Calicoma serratifolia; Gompholobium; Lambertia formosa; Isopogon anethifolius; Enokelia major and minor; Billardieria scandens; and a few others still remaining, covered with blossoms, to animate the scene with their varied tints and brilliancy of appearance. The shrubs of the Staphelia viridiflora were now in fruit; which, when ripe, is of a purplish black colour, having a sweetish taste, and is gathered and sold in the shops under the popular name of “five corners:” this name, no doubt, was applied to it on account of the calyx projecting in five points above the fruit. The gardens are laid out in very neat order, and Mr. Richard Cunningham having arrived from England with an appointment as colonial botanist, it may be hoped from his known talent and assiduity that the colony will soon have a “Botanic Garden,” in lieu of a repository for turnips and carrots.
The aborigines are often seen about Sydney; but to me they appear, probably from their vicious habits, a far worse-looking race than those I had seen in the interior. The celebrated King Bungaree had recently ended his mortal career, as well as most of his tribe, none of them ever having been induced to settle and cultivate the soil for subsistence. It is related, that in the time of the government of General Macquarie there was an attempt made, by distributing seeds among them, to induce the natives to cultivate the ground: among the packets of seed sent for distribution were some which contained fish-hooks; these, together with the seeds, were given by the governor to the sable monarch, King Bungaree. Some time after the governor inquired of him whether the seeds had yet come up—“Oh berry well, berry well,” exclaimed Bungaree, “all make come up berry well, except dem fish-hooks, them no come up yet.”
The castor oil shrub (Ricinus communis) abounds in the colony both in a wild and cultivated state, thriving even in the most arid soils; yet the oil is still imported and sold in the colony at a high price, when by very little attention any quantity could be expressed from the seeds, not only for medicinal, but likewise for domestic purposes; such as burning in lamps; for which latter purpose it is used in some parts of South America, as well as by the Javanese and others. There are two methods employed to extract the oil—coction and expression; the first is performed by tying the seeds, previously decorticated and bruised, in a bag, and then suspending in boiling water until all the oil is extracted, and, rising to the surface of the water, is skimmed off.
This mode of preparation is still preferred by many of the West Indian practitioners; but as the oil is apt to get rancid when thus prepared, it is now obtained, both at home and abroad, by subjecting the seeds to the press in the same manner as the almond. The oil obtained is equal to one-fourth of the weight of the seeds employed. The acrid principle is contained in the cotyledons, and not in the embryon, nor in the testa. It is of a volatile nature. Good expressed castor oil is nearly inodorous and insipid; but the best leaves a slight sensation of acrimony in the throat after it is swallowed. It is thick, viscid, transparent, and colourless, or of a pale straw colour: that which is obtained by coction has a brownish hue; and both kinds, when they become rancid, thicken, deepen in colour to reddish brown, and acquire a hot, nauseous taste. It has all the chemical characters of the other expressed oils, except that it is heavier, and is very soluble in alcohol, and also in sulphuric ether.[127]
Few diseases can be said to be produced by the climate of Australia: dissipation and numerous vices introduced from home have caused some to prevail extensively in the populous town of Sydney, but in the interior they are comparatively few. A number of persons perish from that fatal disease consumption; but I do not regard it as produced by the climate, as it invariably attacks persons from England, of dissipated habits, or of employments uncongenial to health. The vice of intemperance prevails extensively, and renders the bills of mortality much greater than could be supposed from the population and acknowledged salubrity of the climate.