Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 2Grey, George
History
Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 2
Grey, George
Natural history -- Australia -- Western Australia; Western Australia -- Discovery and exploration
The Americans, who are decidedly a more enterprising mercantile people
than ourselves, have almost engrossed the profits of the seas surrounding
the Indian Archipelago and the western and south-western portions of New
Holland. Their vessels in these parts are to ours in the ratio of at
least ten to one. They constantly frequent the out-stations of Western
Australia; supply the wants of those retired portions of the world, and
where, legitimately, the British manufacturer should command the market,
little besides the produce of America is to be seen. The settlers at
these stations derive the largest portions of their supplies from the
American whalers, who give them in exchange for potatoes and
vegetables--and this species of barter is so profitable to both parties
that it would be impossible to prevent it (nay the attempt would be
cruel) by any other means than by inducing British whalers and
merchant-vessels to secure some portion of those advantages which are at
present wholly monopolized by others.
EFFECTS OF THE SPIRIT OF SPECULATION.
The masters of the American whalers participate in a great degree in the
feelings of the out-settlers; from the impressions generated in their
infancy they are disposed to look with a fraternal eye upon the few
adventurous spirits who have located themselves far from their fellow men
to reclaim a home from the wilderness. They have seen, lived amongst, and
shared the benefits which result from such commencements, and it is not
therefore to be wondered at that at all the out-stations the most
friendly relations exist between the settlers and the American whalers;
and when, during the five months of the bay whaling season, an American
vessel lays at anchor in some bay where there are one or two settlers'
families, a constant exchange of mutual acts of kindness takes place,
equally creditable to both parties; whence result friendship, and perhaps
an intermarriage; and when the period of the vessel's sailing arrives
there are numerous deserters from her crew, who readily find employment
at the different sheep stations.
DIFFUSION OF EMIGRATION.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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