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Extract from, A Journal of a Voyage from Portsmouth to New South Wales and China in the Lady Penrhyn, 1787-1789, Manuscript page 5

By Arthur Bowes-Smyth, Surgeon

Arthur Bowes-Smyth, illustrated journal, 1787-1789. Titled `A Journal of a Voyage from Portsmouth to New South Wales and China in the Lady Penrhyn, Merchantman William Cropton Sever, Commander by Arthur Bowes-Smyth, Surgeon - 1787-1788-1789'; being a fair copy compiled ca 1790.

[Page 83]

There are many Cabbage trees, but scarce any fruit whatever -- There are some tollerable springs of fresh water & but few rung, streams & those chiefly towards the Sea wh. are many of them quite dry'd up in Summer.
The Animals we saw during our stay at New Holland; (In discribing Botany Bay I take in Port Jackson also, being only 5 miles distant & in most respects the same) I say then, That during our stay there of 3 months, the different Animals we saw, were Kangaroos, abt. as big as a large Sheep a very large Species of Li/ard, Dogs, Rats, Raccoons, flying Squirrels -- very large Snakes -- a Bird of a new genus, as large & high as an Ostrich -- Many species of Cockatoos, Parrotts, Loury & Louryquets, Eagles, Hawks, (Rooks & wild fowl of many sorts vizt. Duck, Teal, Widgeon &ca.) the same as in England; wt. an infinity of small Birds, some of them very handsome plumage but none that we heard of were singing ones --
There are also (as mention'd above) great quantities of Ants of 8 or 10 different species & many flies & Musquito's. The Women are also quite naked & go in misserable bad canoes to Catch fish -- The Women in general fish with a hook & Line the men strike them wt. a kind of spear. The Hook is made of the convoluted part of the Ear Shell, sharpen'd on a stone to a fine point. The Natives do not besmear their Hair or Bodies with any kind of Oil or paint as many Indians do -- Their Teeth are in general White but both their Skin & hair have a remarkably strong fishy scent. They wear their beards wh. are quite black & inclined to be curly. They did not appear hostile; their Language is excessively Loud & harsh & seems to

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