[55] The “swamp oak” bears much resemblance to the larch. I know not why this and other species of the casuarina trees have received the colonial appellation of “oaks,” as forest-oak, swamp-oak, she oak, &c., as they have not the slightest resemblance to that tree in external character, unless the name may have been given from some similarity in the wood. [56] The granite soil at Bolam is said to injure the teeth of the sheep, the teeth of young sheep being as much worn down by it as in other soils is often seen in the old sheep. [57] In February, 1833, the ship “Prince Regent” arrived at Port Jackson, from England, with emigrants and a general cargo; she was immediately placed under quarantine, on account of the small-pox having occurred at two distinct periods on board the vessel during the passage. The vessel was not released from her unpleasant situation until the commencement of March, having been, previous to her release, thoroughly fumigated, and the clothes of all the infected persons burnt and washed at the quarantine station, before being admitted into the cove of Sydney. [58] This is not uncommon among savage nations; the introduction of dysentery at Otaheite, or Tahiti, was attributed to Vancouver; and in Beechey’s interesting narrative we are told that the Pitcairn islanders had imbibed similar notions with regard to shipping calling at their island, of leaving them a legacy of some disease. Mr. Hamilton Hume, (the well-known Australian traveller,) who accompanied Captain Sturt in his expedition to the northward, says the natives were suffering severely from this eruptive malady, when they arrived among them, and numbers had died, and many more were still dying, from its virulence. The description of the disease he gave me accords in most points with that given by Dr. Mair. [59] Quoted in Good’s Study of Medicine, vol. iii. page 82. [60] We tasted some excellent ale which had been brewed on the farm, and it was gratifying to find that so wholesome a beverage could be made by the colonists. The hop thrives well in this part of the colony, and I understand succeeds even better on the farms at the Hunter’s River. [61] This pass in the mountain range was discovered by Mr. Hamilton Hume, (in the expedition made to the south-west of Australia, by those enterprising travellers, Messrs. Hovell and Hume,) and from which the important discovery of Yas (or according to the aboriginal pronunciation, Yar) Plains was made.