The strongest proof is thus given of its strength. Its power, however, to resist wet, and its durability, are yet to be ascertained.—Hampshire Telegraph.
[34] The following was mentioned to me as the origin of the name given to this point. Governor Phillip, at an early period of the colony, formed a pic-nic party to proceed up the Paramatta river, and a person was sent on before to prepare kangaroo steaks. They landed at this point, and having regaled themselves, the gentlemen, following the maxims of John Hunter, laid down upon the grass, and aided digestion by falling asleep; the ladies finding themselves deserted began to propose winning gloves, and therefore kisses were taken, and on their awaking the forfeit was demanded, and of course not refused. Before leaving the place the governor wished some name to be bestowed upon the point, and one of the ladies being requested to do so, in consequence of the occurrence just mentioned, named it “Kissing Point.”
[35] This creek, commonly called the Paramatta river, is a creek or inlet of the sea from Port Jackson; the true river, which is very small, falls into this creek at Paramatta.
[36] Boyams are the roots of different genera and species of the Orchideæ family; some are called, by the colonists, “double or single boyams,” according to the appearance of the roots, and they all form an article of food among the aboriginal tribes.
[37] The dimensions of the large specimen were as follows:
| Feet. | Inch. | |
|---|---|---|
| From the vertex of the head to the tip of the tail | 2 | 3 |
| Breadth across the shoulders | 0 | 3 |
| Length of the tail | 0 | 11½ |
| Breadth of the loins | 0 | 3²⁄₈ |
| Length of the fore-leg to the claws | 0 | 6⅝ |
| hind-leg to do. | 0 | 7⅜ |
| Length of the head to the snout | 0 | 4 |
| Length of the ear | 0 | 2½ |
The tail is naked underneath from its extremity to within five inches of the base, and is prehensile.
The colour of the male specimen was greyish; a short fine fur covers the back, being also continuous of the same colour to within four inches of the tail; after which the fur becomes longer, more glossy, and of a black colour; the fur on the abdomen was of a yellowish white colour; near the feet the fur is short, of a dirty yellow colour, with brownish patches; the colour is similar under the chin, throat, and angles of the jaw; the upper part of the ears is nearly bare; the thumbs of the hind feet have no claw, but the fore-feet are pentadactyle, and armed with sharp claws; the four toes of the hind-feet are also armed with claws, the first dividing into two phalanges, each having a claw. The young specimen differed from this only in having a yellowish tinge mixed with the grey over the back, legs, and abdomen; angles of the jaw and throat of a brownish yellow; the under portion about the eyes and upper part of the head of a yellowish colour.
[38] The Hobart Town Colonist of Oct. 12, 1832, contains the following paragraph respecting the capability of the opossum fur being used in manufactures.
“We have been favoured with the sight of a pair of mittens spun and knit by Mrs. M’Kenzie, of the Lower Clyde, from the fur of the opossum. In texture and appearance they very much resemble the best sort of Angola mittens, but to us they appear of superior quality. The pair that we saw are now in the possession of Mr. Gordon, of Forcett, to whom they were presented by Mr. M’Kenzie.”