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 FOURTH EDITION

GAUGE THEORIES
IN
PARTICLE PHYSICS
A PRACTICAL INTRODUCTION
VOLUME 1
From Relativistic Quantum Mechanics to QED
 FOURTH EDITION

GAUGE THEORIES
IN
PARTICLE PHYSICS
A PRACTICAL INTRODUCTION
VOLUME 1
From Relativistic Quantum Mechanics to QED

Ian J.R. Aitchison • Anthony J.G. Hey

Boca Raton London New York

CRC Press is an imprint of the

Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
Open Access funded by SCOAP3

Copyright 2021 Ian J.R. Aitchison, Anthony J.G. Hey

Tis eBook was converted to open access in 2021 through the sponsorship of SCOAP3 licensed under the terms of the
creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/
by-nc/4.0/) which permits use, sharing, adaptation distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long
as you give appropriate credit to the author(s) and the source, provide a link to the creative commons license and
indicate if changes were made, this license does not permit the Contribution to be used commercially.

CRC Press
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© 2013 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business

No claim to original U.S. Government works

Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper

Version Date: 2012912

International Standard Book Number: 978-1-4665-1299-3 (Hardback)

DOI; 10.1201/b13717

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Aitchison, Ian Johnston Rhind, 1936-

Gauge theories in particle physics : a practical introduction / Ian J R Aitchison, Anthony J.G.
Hey. -- 4th ed.
v. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents: v. 1. From relativistic quantum mechanics to QED -- v. 2. Non-Abelian gauge
theories : QCD and the electroweak theory.
ISBN 978-1-4665-1299-3 (v. 1 : hardback) -- ISBN 978-1-4665-1307-5 (v. 2 : hardback)
1. Gauge fields (Physics) 2. Particles (Nuclear physics) 3. Weak interactions (Nuclear
physics) 4. Quantum electrodynamics. 5. Feynman diagrams. I. Hey, Anthony J. G. II. Title.

QC793.3.F5A34 2012
539.7’21--dc23 2012031181

Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at

http://www.taylorandfrancis.com

and the CRC Press Web site at

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 To Jessie
and to
Jean, Katherine and Elizabeth
Contents

Preface xiii

I Introductory Survey, Electromagnetism as a Gauge

Theory, and Relativistic Quantum Mechanics 1
1 The Particles and Forces of the Standard Model 3
1.1 Introduction: the Standard Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.2 The fermions of the Standard Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.2.1 Leptons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.2.2 Quarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.3 Particle interactions in the Standard Model . . . . . . . . . . 12
1.3.1 Classical and quantum fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
1.3.2 The Yukawa theory of force as virtual quantum ex­
change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
1.3.3 The one-quantum exchange amplitude . . . . . . . . . 19
1.3.4 Electromagnetic interactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
1.3.5 Weak interactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
1.3.6 Strong interactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
1.3.7 The gauge bosons of the Standard Model . . . . . . . 29
1.4 Renormalization and the Higgs sector of the Standard Model 30
1.4.1 Renormalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
1.4.2 The Higgs boson of the Standard Model . . . . . . . . 33
1.5 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

2 Electromagnetism as a Gauge Theory 41

2.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
2.2 The Maxwell equations: current conservation . . . . . . . . . 43
2.3 The Maxwell equations: Lorentz covariance and gauge invari­
ance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
2.4 Gauge invariance (and covariance) in quantum mechanics . . 49
2.5 The argument reversed: the gauge principle . . . . . . . . . . 52
2.6 Comments on the gauge principle in electromagnetism . . . . 56
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

vii
viii

3 Relativistic Quantum Mechanics 63

3.1 The Klein–Gordon equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
3.1.1 Solutions in coordinate space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
3.1.2 Probability current for the KG equation . . . . . . . . 65
3.2 The Dirac equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
3.2.1 Free-particle solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
3.2.2 Probability current for the Dirac equation . . . . . . . 70
3.3 Spin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
3.4 The negative-energy solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
3.4.1 Positive-energy spinors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
3.4.2 Negative-energy spinors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
3.4.3 Dirac’s interpretation of the negative-energy solutions
of the Dirac equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
3.4.4 Feynman’s interpretation of the negative-energy solu­
tions of the KG and Dirac equations . . . . . . . . . . 77
3.5 Inclusion of electromagnetic interactions via the gauge princi­
ple: the Dirac prediction of g = 2 for the electron . . . . . . 80
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

4 Lorentz Transformations and Discrete Symmetries 87

4.1 Lorentz transformations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
4.1.1 The KG equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
4.1.2 The Dirac equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
4.2 Discrete transformations: P, C and T . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
4.2.1 Parity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
4.2.2 Charge conjugation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
4.2.3 CP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
4.2.4 Time reversal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
4.2.5 CPT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

II Introduction to Quantum Field Theory 113

5 Quantum Field Theory I: The Free Scalar Field 115
5.1 The quantum field: (i) descriptive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
5.2 The quantum field: (ii) Lagrange–Hamilton formulation . . . 125
5.2.1 The action principle: Lagrangian particle mechanics . 125
5.2.2 Quantum particle mechanics à la Heisenberg–Lagrange–
Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
5.2.3 Interlude: the quantum oscillator . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
5.2.4 Lagrange–Hamilton classical field mechanics . . . . . . 133
5.2.5 Heisenberg–Lagrange–Hamilton quantum field mechan­
ics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
5.3 Generalizations: four dimensions, relativity and mass . . . . 144
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
 ix

6 Quantum Field Theory II: Interacting Scalar Fields 149

6.1 Interactions in quantum field theory: qualitative introduction 149
6.2 Perturbation theory for interacting fields: the Dyson expansion
of the S-matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
6.2.1 The interaction picture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
6.2.2 The S-matrix and the Dyson expansion . . . . . . . . 156
6.3 Applications to the ‘ABC’ theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
6.3.1 The decay C → A + B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
6.3.2 A + B → A + B scattering: the amplitudes . . . . . . 163
6.3.3 A + B → A + B scattering: the Yukawa exchange mech­
anism, s and u channel processes . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
6.3.4 A + B → A + B scattering: the differential cross section 174
6.3.5 A + B → A + B scattering: loose ends . . . . . . . . . 177
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
7 Quantum Field Theory III: Complex Scalar Fields, Dirac
and Maxwell Fields; Introduction of Electromagnetic Inter­
actions 183
7.1 The complex scalar field: global U(1) phase invariance, parti­
cles and antiparticles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
7.2 The Dirac field and the spin-statistics connection . . . . . . 191
7.3 The Maxwell field Aμ (x) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
7.3.1 The classical field case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
7.3.2 Quantizing Aμ (x) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
7.4 Introduction of electromagnetic interactions . . . . . . . . . 206
7.5 P, C and T in quantum field theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
7.5.1 Parity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
7.5.2 Charge conjugation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
7.5.3 Time reversal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
III Tree-Level Applications in QED 219
8 Elementary Processes in Scalar and Spinor Electrodynamics 221
8.1 Coulomb scattering of charged spin-0 particles . . . . . . . . 221
8.1.1 Coulomb scattering of s+ (wavefunction approach) . . 221
8.1.2 Coulomb scattering of s+ (field-theoretic approach) . . 224
8.1.3 Coulomb scattering of s− . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
8.2 Coulomb scattering of charged spin- 12 particles . . . . . . . . 227
8.2.1 Coulomb scattering of e− (wavefunction approach) . . 227
8.2.2 Coulomb scattering of e− (field-theoretic approach) . . 230
8.2.3 Trace techniques for spin summations . . . . . . . . . 230
8.2.4 Coulomb scattering of e+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
8.3 e− s+ scattering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
8.3.1 The amplitude for e− s+ → e− s+ . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
8.3.2 The cross section for e− s+ → e− s+ . . . . . . . . . . . 239
x

8.4 Scattering from a non-point-like object: the pion form factor

in e− π + → e− π + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
8.4.1 e− scattering from a charge distribution . . . . . . . . 243
8.4.2 Lorentz invariance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
8.4.3 Current conservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
8.5 The form factor in the time-like region: e+ e− → π + π − and
crossing symmetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
8.6 Electron Compton scattering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
8.6.1 The lowest-order amplitudes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
8.6.2 Gauge invariance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
8.6.3 The Compton cross section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
8.7 Electron muon elastic scattering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
8.8 Electron–proton elastic scattering and nucleon form factors . 257
8.8.1 Lorentz invariance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
8.8.2 Current conservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263

9 Deep Inelastic Electron–Nucleon Scattering and the Parton

Model 269
9.1 Inelastic electron–proton scattering: kinematics and structure
functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
9.2 Bjorken scaling and the parton model . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
9.3 Partons as quarks and gluons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
9.4 The Drell–Yan process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
9.5 e+ e− annihilation into hadrons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292

IV Loops and Renormalization 297

10 Loops and Renormalization I: The ABC Theory 299
10.1 The propagator correction in ABC theory . . . . . . . . . . . 300
[2]
10.1.1 The O(g 2 ) self-energy ΠC (q 2 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
10.1.2 Mass shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
10.1.3 Field strength renormalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
10.2 The vertex correction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
10.3 Dealing with the bad news: a simple example . . . . . . . . . 314
[2]
10.3.1 Evaluating ΠC (q 2 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
10.3.2 Regularization and renormalization . . . . . . . . . . . 316
10.4 Bare and renormalized perturbation theory . . . . . . . . . . 318
10.4.1 Reorganizing perturbation theory . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
2
10.4.2 The O(gph ) renormalized self-energy revisited: how counter
terms are determined by renormalization conditions . 321
10.5 Renormalizability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
 xi

11 Loops and Renormalization II: QED 327

11.1 Counter terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
11.2 The O(e2 ) fermion self-energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
11.3 The O(e2 ) photon self-energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
11.4 The O(e2 ) renormalized photon self-energy . . . . . . . . . . 333
¯ [2]
11.5 The physics of Π 2
γ (q ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
11.5.1 Modified Coulomb’s law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
11.5.2 Radiatively induced charge form factor . . . . . . . . . 338
11.5.3 The running coupling constant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
¯ [2]
11.5.4 Π γ in the s-channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
11.6 The O(e2 ) vertex correction, and Z1 = Z2 . . . . . . . . . . . 345
11.7 The anomalous magnetic moment and tests of QED . . . . . 348
11.8 Which theories are renormalizable – and does it matter? . . 353
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360

A Non-relativistic Quantum Mechanics 361

B Natural Units 365

C Maxwell’s Equations: Choice of Units 369

D Special Relativity: Invariance and Covariance 371

E Dirac δ -Function 377

F Contour Integration 387

G Green Functions 393

H Elements of Non-relativistic Scattering Theory 399

H.1 Time-independent formulation and differential cross section . 399
H.2 Expression for the scattering amplitude: Born approximation 401
H.3 Time-dependent approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402

I The Schrödinger and Heisenberg Pictures 405

J Dirac Algebra and Trace Identities 407

J.1 Dirac algebra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407
J.1.1 γ matrices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407
J.1.2 γ5 identities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407
J.1.3 Hermitian conjugate of spinor matrix elements . . . . 408
J.1.4 Spin sums and projection operators . . . . . . . . . . 408
J.2 Trace theorems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409
xii

K Example of a Cross Section Calculation 411

K.1 The spin-averaged squared matrix element . . . . . . . . . . 413
K.2 Evaluation of two-body Lorentz-invariant phase space in ‘lab­
oratory’ variables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413

L Feynman Rules for Tree Graphs in QED 417

L.1 External particles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 417
L.2 Propagators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 418
L.3 Vertices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 418

References 421

Index 427
Preface to the Fourth Edition

In the Preface to the first edition of this book, published thirty years ago,
we wrote that our aim was to help the reader to acquire a ‘reasonable under­
standing of gauge theories that are being tested by contemporary experiments
in high-energy physics’; and we stressed that our approach was intended to
be both practical and accessible.
We have pursued the same aim and approach in later editions. Shortly
after the appearance of the first edition, a series of major discoveries at the
CERN p̄p collider confirmed the existence of the W and Z bosons, with prop­
erties predicted by the Glashow-Salam-Weinberg electroweak gauge theory;
and also provided further support for quantum chromodynamics, or QCD.
Our second edition followed in 1989, expanded so as to include discussion,
on the experimental side, of the new results; and, on the theoretical side, a
fuller treatment of QCD, and an elementary introduction to quantum field
theory, with limited applications. Subsequently, experiments at LEP and
other laboratories were precise enough to test the Standard Model beyond
the first order in perturbation theory (‘tree level’), being sensitive to higher
order effects (‘loops’). In response, we decided it was appropriate to include
the basics of ‘one-loop physics’. Together with the existing material on rel­
ativistic quantum mechanics, and QED, this comprised volume 1 (2003) of
our two-volume third edition. In a natural division, the non-Abelian gauge
theories of the Standard Model, QCD and the electroweak theory, formed the
core of volume 2 (2004). The progress of research on QCD, both theoretical
and experimental, required new chapters on lattice quantum field theory, and
on the renormalization group. The discussion of the central topic of sponta­
neous symmetry breaking was extended, in particular so as to include chiral
symmetry breaking.
This new fourth edition retains the two-volume format, which has been
generally well received, with broadly the same allocation of content as in
the third edition. The principal new additions are, once again, dictated by
substantial new experimental results – namely, in the areas of CP violation and
neutrino oscillations, where great progress was made in the first decade of this
century. Volume 2 now includes a new chapter devoted to CP violation and
oscillations in mesonic and neutrino systems. Partly by way of preparation for
this, volume 1 also contains a new chapter, on Lorentz transformations and
discrete symmetries. We give a simple do-it-yourself treatment of Lorentz
transformations of Dirac spinors, which the reader can connect to the group
theory approach in appendix M of volume 2; the transformation properties of

xiii
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 The Echidna is eaten by the natives, who declare it to be
“cobbong budgeree” (very good,) “and, like pig, very fat.” Europeans
who have eaten of them, confirm this opinion, and observe that they
taste similar to a sucking pig. This animal, when scratching, or rather
cleaning itself, uses only the hind claws, lying in different positions,
so as to enable it to reach the part of the body to be operated upon.
The animal is pentadactyle, the two first claws of the hind feet being
long, the first the longest; that of the great toe the shortest: they
seem to have the power of erecting their spines, and, rolling
themselves into a spherical form, making an excellent defence
against many of their enemies.
I consider there are two species of this genus existing:—first, E.
hystrix, Desm., or Spiny Echidna, which is found on the mountain
ranges in the colony of New South Wales; and the second, E.
Setosa, Desm., or Bristly Echidna, which is found more common in
Van Dieman’s Land. The first species attains a large size: it is stated
in our works of natural history as being the size of a hedge-hog: my
young specimen was fully that. At “Newington,” the residence of
John Blaxland, Esq., I had an opportunity of seeing a specimen full
fourteen inches long, and of proportionate circumference: it fed
upon milk and eggs, the eggs boiled hard and chopped up small,
with rice; its motion was heavy and slow; it was of a perfectly
harmless disposition. When disturbed from its place of retreat, it
would feed during the day; but was difficult to remove from the cask
in which it was placed, on account of its firmly fixing itself at the
bottom: it feeds, by thrusting out the tongue, to which organ the
food is attached, and then withdrawing it. Mine moved about, and
drank milk at night, taking little other food. After keeping it for
nearly seven months, I found it one morning dead.
There is an affection of the eye, which much prevails at this
season of the year in the interior of the colony, attacking both
European settlers and natives, and is called by the colonists the
“blight:” it occurs only during the summer season: the attack is
sudden, no doubt proceeding from the bite of a gnat, or some other
insect. I had an opportunity of witnessing a case of this malady,
which occurred in a native. The integuments surrounding the orbit
were puffed up so much, as totally to close the eye, which was
found much inflamed, as in acute ophthalmia, and attended with
symptoms, in some degree similar, with severe itching and pricking
pain, as if sand had been lodged in it, with a profuse flow of tears.
This disease seldom continues for more than three days, even if no
remedy be applied. A spirit lotion has been found the most beneficial
application. Last summer every individual at one of the farms was
attacked by it in both eyes, occasioning temporary blindness, and
much inconvenience was experienced from all being attacked at the
same period.[118]
On the 14th of December, I left the Tumat country on my return to
Yas. Day had just dawned when I commenced my journey; the sky
was clear and serene; the rising sun gilded the summits of the
picturesque mountains; the sparkling dew was not yet dispelled, and
all nature looked refreshed; the atmosphere was cool and agreeable,
and the birds chanted, as if to salute the rising orb with their early
melody; the dark foliage of the swamp oaks, and a brighter
vegetation, would indicate the proximity of the river, whose
murmuring stream was occasionally heard, although its waters were
not seen. But as the day advanced, it became more sultry;
vegetation drooped with excessive heat; the feathered songsters
ceased their carolling, and only a few herons, magpies, (“Karo” of
the aborigines,) and crows, were visible. I arrived at Darbylara late
in the afternoon.
The banks of the Murrumbidgee were beautifully picturesque. How
delightful it is in this country, so destitute of large streams, to sit
under the overshadowing branches of the Eucalypti, near the river,
watching the flights of wild fowl, engaged in catching the fish, with
which this river abounds, or seeing the young amphibious blacks
amusing themselves by throwing stones into the deep part of the
stream, and diving in order to catch them before they reach the
bottom. In this amusement, they displayed much activity, and in
nearly every instance succeeded in regaining the stone before it
reached the bottom. The competition among them to catch it, was
highly amusing.
There were a number of the aborigines about this farm, who
made themselves occasionally useful by grinding wheat, and other
occupations; but no dependence can be placed upon their industry
for they work when they please, and remain idle when they like; the
latter being of most frequent occurrence; but they are encouraged
for their valuable assistance in finding strayed cattle, as they track
the beasts with an accuracy seldom or never attained by a
European.
The river’s banks abounded in trees of enormous size, and were
profusely embellished with elegant flowers. I saw a species of the
Eucalyptus, called the “Water Gum,” full a hundred feet in elevation,
and six or seven feet in diameter.[119] I also observed a swamp
oak[120] growing from the trunk of one of these trees, having quite a
parasitical character; the former being about twelve feet high, and
the latter full forty, both in a flourishing condition. An animal, called
“Water-rat” by the colonists, and Biddunong by the aborigines,
burrowed in the banks; but I was not able to procure a specimen.
There are also two species of the Kangaroo-rat found about this part
of the colony; one called “Cannamung,” and the second, a larger
species, called “Talbung” by the blacks.
About the river’s banks an elegant species of fly-catcher,
“Birinberu” of the natives, was numerous, burrowing for some
distance in the sand, where it lays its eggs, and produces young. It
is about the size of a lark, of beautiful and varied plumage, migrating
from this part of the country in the winter, and returning in the
summer to build about its old haunts. I examined several of the
burrows, which were situated on a sandy flat, near the river; the
entrance was two inches and a half at its broadest diameter,
continuing of a breadth seldom exceeding three inches, to the length
of three feet generally,—although some were even longer,—
terminating in a space from six to eight inches broad, where the
eggs are laid, no nest was constructed, and, on examining the first
burrow, I found four young ones reposing upon the bare sand. I
covered the burrow as well as possible, leaving the young ones to a
mother’s care, who soon returned to her progeny. Other burrows
contained from four to five white nearly round eggs. The length of
these birds was ten inches from the beak to the two projecting tail
feathers, which last were usually an inch and a half beyond the
others: the irides were of a beautiful bright-red colour.
There are several species of birds seen here during the summer
season, migrating in the winter, and others returning in the winter,
and taking their departure in the summer. Observations upon the
migration of birds in this colony would be interesting, as the
accounts are often contradictory. The elegant “satin-bird,”
(Ptilinorynchus of Temminck,) it is said, leaves the Murrumbidgee
country during summer, returning in autumn: it is also mentioned,
that the aborigines never kill this bird.[121]
Cattle and sheep stations now extend for some distance down the
Murrumbidgee probably as much as fifty miles. The following is a list
of them, commencing from below Mr. Warby’s farm at Darbylara. At
a distance of two miles from Darbylara, proceeding down the
stream, is the

Miles. Belonging to
1st Station, “Minghee,” Mr. Warby, sen.
2 beyond, 2d Station, “Gundagiar,” Mr. Hutchinson.
5 — 3d Station, “Willeplumer,” Mr. Stuckey.
4 — 4th Station, “Kimo,” Mr. Guise.
3 — 5th Station, “Wadjego,” Mrs. Jenkins.
4 — 6th Station, “Nanghas,” Mr. J. M’Arthur.
8 — 7th Station, “Jabtre,” Mr. Ellis.
2 — 8th Station, “Wandubadjere,” Mr. Thorn.
10 — 9th Station, “Kubandere,” Mr. Tompson.
10 — 10th Station, “Billing billing,” Mr. H. M’Arthur.
 The natives’ names of that part of the country where the stations
are situated have been retained; the distance in miles is nominal.
The family at Darbylara are generally industriously employed in
making butter and cheese, which is taken to Sydney for sale: they
possess numerous herds of cattle, and the luxuriant pasturage about
the farm fattens and enables the milch cows to furnish abundance of
milk. From the industry displayed by this family, they deserve to
realize an independence from their exertions. Formerly flocks of
sheep were kept about the farm; but from great losses being
sustained among them, from a morbid propensity of destroying their
progeny, they were given up, and more attention paid to this as a
dairy farm, for which purpose no land could be better selected.
 CHAPTER XVI.
Flocks of pelicans and grey parrots—Arrive at Jugiong—A busy scene—
The harvest—Quails and Hawks—Mr. Hume’s farm—Domestic life
among the settlers—Miss my way in the forest—Mr. Reddal’s farm—
Disease called the Black Leg—Mr. Bradley’s residence at Lansdowne
Park—Drooping manna trees—Christmas festival—Mr. F. M’Arthur’s
farm—Aboriginal tribes—Native costume—Noisy revelry—Wild ducks
and pigeons—Spiders.

On leaving Darbylara, I proceeded to Jugiong by a different road

from that by which I came, keeping near the Murrumbidgee river
during the journey. Occasionally a flock of pelicans (“Guligalle” of the
natives) were seen: this species has black and white plumage; the
back and upper part of the wings being black, the remainder of the
body white, with the bill and legs of a yellowish colour. Black swans
(“Guniock” of the aborigines) were also seen; and among others of
the “plumy tribe” that enlivened the scenery, were flocks of grey
parrots, and several other species of the same tribe; the bell-bird,
razor-grinder, and coach-whip birds, were also occasionally seen or
heard; the latter well named from its peculiar note, which accurately
resembles the cracking of a whip. In the vicinity of this noble stream
the scenery was beautiful; rich and luxuriant pasturage abounded,
and the country had a cheerful and animated appearance. The river,
during its course, occasionally forms pretty cascades, by falling over
huge rocks that oppose its current.
After riding four miles, a station belonging to Mr. Kennedy, called
Kurongullen, gullen, was seen on the opposite side of the river;
about a mile further distant, Mr. Lupton’s station of Guberolong was
passed; and a further ride of eight miles, through a fertile
picturesque country, brought me to Bulbábuck, a station the
property of Mr. Henry O’Brien, where the men were busily occupied
in cutting some fine fields of wheat. In the evening I reached
Jugiong, and on the following day (10th December) arrived at Yas
Plains.
This was the busy season with the settlers, being both the wool
and grain harvest. Shearing had commenced some time before; but
many who had numerous flocks were still engaged in that profitable
occupation; the packing, sorting, screwing, and sewing in bales,
occupying much time; wool being the staple article of the colony,
and forming the principal riches of the settler. It is interesting for a
stranger visiting the country at this period to view the processes of
washing and shearing the animals—sorting, pressing, and packing
the wool;—to often hear the terms of short and long staple wool,
and to see the specimens of it arranged in small locks, showing the
different degrees of fineness. If the shearing season is deferred,
various grass seeds get into the wool, particularly those of the
Anthisteria Australis, or kangaroo grass, one of the most abundant
perhaps of the native grasses, frequently not only injuring the fleece,
but, aided by its awns, penetrating even to the skin of the sheep.
The Australian climate is admirably calculated for wool growing; the
improvement of the fleeces during the late years, and the assorting
of the wool by competent persons educated for the purpose in
Germany, have produced for it so high a character in the London
market, that the quantity exported from the colony is now great, and
annually increasing: many of the settlers sell their wool to buyers in
the colony, who speculate upon it, while others send it direct to
agents in England.
The golden harvest also increases the business of the settler,
usually occurring at the same time with the wool season, and the
fields of grain around the scattered habitations render the scenery
extremely rich. The prospect of the harvest this season was
favourable both for its abundance and quality, although in some
crops smut prevailed, the most were entirely free from it. It is a
curious circumstance that self-sown wheat never smuts; that early
sown is said to have little or none, and the wheat never smuts but
when in blossom. I saw at one farm an ear of wheat from one of the
fields, one side of which bore fine, healthy, and full grains, whilst the
opposite side was entirely destroyed by smut. Wheat appears to
suffer most. At one of the stations in the Tumat country the wheat
suffered from smut, whilst barley and rye were perfectly free from it;
and finer crops of the latter grain had never been seen. There are, I
understand, many kinds of wheat that never suffer from smut in the
colony; why are they not then sown in preference? The plan of
trying different kinds of wheat and other grain, from various parts of
the world, is worthy of attention, and would no doubt eventually
confer much benefit, and add to the resources of the colony. There
is a grain which the settlers have lately commenced to cultivate,
called the “skinless oat,” said to be brought from China, that yields
greater returns than the usually cultivated kind.
On riding through plains, &c. a number of quails are usually
started by the dogs, and numerous eagle hawks, (Mollien of the
natives,) and others of the same rapacious tribe, hover about for the
purpose of darting upon the unfortunate quails when started; these
hawks will also destroy and feed upon snakes, lizards, &c.
On the 23d of December I left Yas Plains for Sydney; in the
evening I arrived at “Lomebraes,” or “Willowdalong,” the farm of Mr.
John Hume, after a journey of twenty-two miles. This farm is
situated close to a river, which I was surprised to find was the
“Lachlan.” At this season it was merely a chain of shallow ponds,
abounding with weeds, and even in the winter season, from the
extent of the banks, it cannot attain any magnitude; probably by aid
of tributary streams, it may in its course become a river of more
importance. About this country the heat of the summer had not
been so great as to parch up the land, which still maintained its
verdure; but the utter want of variety in several parts of the colony,
produces a tedious vacuity in the mind of the traveller when
journeying over it.
A pleasing object in domestic life among the settlers was the
number of healthy, blooming children seen on the farms in the
interior; their little plump forms, with the prevailing flaxen hair,
cheerful and lively disposition, and rosy countenances, sufficiently
indicated that bush fare did not disagree with them: living in the
midst of excellent milk, and other wholesome food, with exercise,
they are never cloyed by the trash usually given to children in large
towns. Sickness is also rarer among the servants, from an inability to
become inebriated; but tobacco is quite a necessary of life among
them; few can undergo any labour without it, and many have told
me that they would rather give up their rations than be deprived of
tobacco; consequently no gift is more acceptable in the bush to a
servant, for any assistance he may render to the traveller, than a
present of tobacco, for money in the distant parts of the colony, is
comparatively useless, and they care little or nothing about it.
On leaving “Lomebraes,” the morning following, I proceeded some
distance on my journey, when thinking I could reach “Mut, mut,
billy,” sooner by taking a nearer cut across the bush, I followed
cattle-paths, until I missed my way; no trifle in the bush of New
South Wales, where many, having lost themselves in the mazes of a
forest, have perished. However, after chancing the direction, I came
to a settler’s hut, about three or four miles distant from Mr. Reddal’s
farm, at Mut, mut, billy; I made inquiry of a man and woman, who
were at that time busily engaged in opening a cow in the stock-yard,
whether I was in the right road; after answering my inquiry in the
affirmative, the man asked me if I had ever seen the disease called
the “black leg,” which prevailed so much, and was still prevailing to
some extent among the cattle in the colony, informing me that the
cow had died of the disease, the first instance of it in this part of the
country.
I felt gratified at having an opportunity of examining a case of this
disease, of which I had only previously heard an account; so
alighting, I entered the stock-yard, and examined the dead animal.
Every part of the internal viscera was in a perfectly healthy
condition, the stomach was distended with food, and there was
nothing in the internal appearances exhibited to account for the
death of the animal; but upon the thigh of the left hind leg, I
perceived a swelling, and on the skin being laid back from it, an
extent of dark extravasated blood was seen, and there was a similar
state of extravasation upon one side of the neck: cutting through the
fascia, the whole of the muscles, which had the appearances just
mentioned, were found saturated with black blood, even to the
bone. I can make no better comparison of its appearance than by
saying it seemed as if those parts of the body had been severely
beaten or mashed.
The animal I examined was a young cow; (the disease is said to
attack principally the yearlings among cattle;) she had been perfectly
well the preceding evening, but was found dead early in the
morning; from the stomach being found distended with food, it could
not have been long ill previous to its death. On arriving at the farm
of Mut, mut, billy, I mentioned the circumstance to the overseer; he
was alarmed at the disease having occurred so near, and expressed
a fear of his cattle becoming attacked, as the disease was
considered contagious; he asserted that none of his cattle had ever
yet been affected, although he had heard of numbers dying in other
districts from the disease.
It was a few days after this, when staying at Goulburn Plains, that
a gentleman arrived, who mentioned his having seen a case of the
disease denominated the “black leg,” in the stock-yard of the farm at
Mut, mut, billy, that morning, so from this circumstance the fears of
the overseer, respecting the extension of the disease, were
unfortunately realized. The Irish assigned servants upon the estates
where the disease has occurred, mention that it is not uncommon in
Ireland, and is there considered contagious.[122] The mode of
treatment adopted for its cure in that country is to bleed and rowel
the cattle, and change the pasturage: it has been asserted that it
was unknown in the colony until within the last twelvemonth; but
some declare that it has existed, although not extensively, for a
much longer period. Dr. Gibson informed me that the disease
prevails principally among calves and yearlings, the first marked
symptoms being a paralytic affection, the animal drawing the leg
after it; a swelling and tenderness are then experienced about the
affected parts, and usually a fatal termination ensues in twelve
hours; bleeding relieves, and even has been known to cure cattle
thus affected, if resorted to in time; but from the rapid progress of
the disease, and among a large number of cattle, it is seldom
observed until too late.
On the 24th of December I arrived at Lansdowne Park, (or, in the
language of the country, “Bungee.”) Goulburn Plains, the residence
of Mr. Bradley; and although the days previous had been sultry and
oppressive, this was so cold as to make it agreeable to see a large
wood-fire blazing on the parlour hearth, giving the close of day the
appearance of a Christmas-eve at home, although in this country it
was the height of the summer season; but such atmospherical
changes occasionally take place in the colony.
The elegant drooping manna-trees (Eucalyptus mannifera) were
numerous, and at this season secreted the peculiar saccharine
mucilaginous substance called manna, which, in greater or less
quantities, was lying upon the ground beneath them, or upon their
leaves, trunks, and branches, in small white flakes, resembling bits
of starch. The taste of this secretion is sweet and mucilaginous,
having a greater or less aperient effect on different individuals; it is
quite a sweetmeat, and seems to consist of mucilage, sugar, and
probably some magnesia: although it readily acts as an aperient on
some persons, upon others it produces no effect; it does not dissolve
in the sun, but, on the contrary, becomes dryer and of harder
consistence, by exposure; rain dissolves it, but more secretion of it
takes place after wet than during a continuance of dry weather.
Many of the colonists supposed the manna was secreted from the
leaves of the tree, but from the foliage having a strong camphorated
taste and odour, which the manna has not in the slightest degree, it
was not probable; others again supposed it to proceed from the
nectaries of the flowers, which are white, growing in clusters, and
give to the tree a beautiful appearance when in bloom, attracting
multitudes of parroquets. This tree, similar to the other Eucalypti,
secretes a red gum, both spontaneously and in larger quantities, on
incisions being made on the trunk. Birds and several insects feed
upon the manna; among others the “Galang, galang,” as they are
named in the language of the country, the “locust” of the colonists,
of which insects, as I have before said, the aborigines declare it to
be the excrement.
The tree is called in the aboriginal language “Bartoman,” and the
manna is named “Cú ningaban;” it is collected and eaten by the
natives. The growth of the tree, when young, is graceful and
elegant; the bark is covered with a whitish powder, which readily
rubs off upon the fingers, and the bark underneath is of a greyish
colour; the bark of the “white gum” (Eucalyptus species) resembles
this tree, but may be distinguished by not having a black butt like
the manna-tree. On examining the tree to ascertain positively from
what part of it the manna was secreted, I found in several that the
manna exuded in a liquid form in minute drops from the bark, and
then concreted; on some it had oozed out and had concreted upon
the trunk in large thin flakes; it exuded about the consistence of
syrup, and in taste was sweet; when secreted from the branches it
falls from those above, upon the leaves, &c. of others beneath, and
upon the ground, where, during a plentiful season, a large quantity
may be collected.
The rain that had fallen the day previous to my examination of
these trees, and the heat of the sun causing a quantity of manna to
exude from them, its mode of secretion could be more readily
distinguished. It is usually secreted about the commencement of
December; but it depends on the weather whether the secretion is
in greater or less quantity: this season it was abundant.
The manna trees had commenced during the latter part of
December, to throw off their outer bark; their trunks, therefore, had
a ragged appearance, and the ground underneath was strewed with
dried crisped pieces which had fallen off, leaving a smooth and
handsome new bark in their place. The black cockatoos
(“Womberong,” and “Bulowla”) were occasionally seen in numbers,
feeding upon the ripe cones of the Banksia, or “honeysuckles;”[123]
and the smaller chattering parroquets were flying about, in
hundreds, and revelling among the Eucalypti trees, which were now
in flower; and, like to the humming-birds, they were extracting
honey from the nectaries of the blossoms. On examining one that
had been shot, the beak was covered, and the mouth filled, with
honey, possessing the peculiar camphorated smell of the leaves and
flowers of the tree, mingled with stamina; the stomach was filled
with a dark, thick honey, among which some quantity of the stamina
of the Eucalyptic flowers were mingled. The Blue Mountain parrot
also sips the nectar from the flowers, as well as from peaches, &c.
The natives, when they kill any of these birds, suck their beaks to
extract the honey with which the mouth is usually filled, and also
recover that collected in the stomach.
The aborigines were now collecting about the farms in expectation
of a feast at the ensuing Christmas festival. I went up to one who
was busily engaged in making an opossum-skin cloak: he sewed the
skins together with the fibres of the bark of the “Stringy Bark” tree
for thread, by first perforating holes in it with a sharp piece of bone,
and then passing the thread through the holes as he proceeded. I
asked him some questions, and then gave him a piece of tobacco:
he asked for two piece tobacco, because “I merry busy, and you ask
me much,” said blackee.
I visited “Northwood,” (distant about six miles from the Plains,)
the neat farm of Mr. Francis M’Arthur, and afterwards rode across the
plains to Dr. Gibson’s farm, at Taranna, which is situated near the
“Soldier’s Flat;” this latter place consists of several small farms, of
about a hundred acres each, which were granted by government to
the discharged veterans. There were small bark huts erected upon
the grants, and several ripe fields of grain and vegetable gardens
about them.
The numerals among the aboriginal tribes of Goulburn Plains are
as follows. One, Metong;—Two, Bulla;—Three, Bulla, metong;—
Plenty, Nerang and Gorong.
Christmas Day is regarded as a festival by the blacks who live near
the habitations of the white men, it being customary at this period
for the settlers to distribute among them provisions and spirits, with
which they contrive to render themselves perfectly happy. Several
tribes had formed their encampment on and about the Plains, for the
occasion, their huts had been speedily erected, by collecting the
branches of trees, and lying over them sheets of bark, so placed as
to form a shelter to windward; the fire being made in front. Some
appeared in “native costume,” with an extra daub of red ochre, and
the “bolombine” round the head; others wore tufts of the yellow
crest of the white cockatoo, pending from their beards; but there
were some who approximated to civilized society in dress, being
arrayed in shirt, trowsers, and handkerchief;—and when thus cleanly
“rigged out” in European finery, their personal appearance was not
unprepossessing,—not that I mean to say they will bear away the
palm for personal beauty.
Some of the “black fellers” had merely a jacket, others only a
shirt: the garments, however, were merely put on for the occasion,
to be soon after laid aside, as they find clothing materially obstruct
them when engaged in hunting or other expeditions. The putting on
the European garments serves merely to gratify their vanity, making
them look “like white feller,” as they express it. Having observed, to
one who petitioned me for a pair of “inexpressibles,” to look “like
white feller,” that his father did not wear breeches; he replied, “My
fadder no see white feller trowsers—if make a light (see) make get;
but no white feller sit down this place when my fadder here.”
The “ladies” are conspicuous principally for their head gear;
glowing in grease and red ochre, the ringlets of these “dark angels”
were decorated with opossum tails, the extremities of other animals,
and the incisor teeth of the kangaroo; some had the “Cambun”
(“Bolombine” of the Tumat country,) or fillet daubed with pipe-clay
bound round the forehead: this ornament is sometimes made from
the stringy bark tree, as well as from the tendons of the kangaroo’s
tail: lateral lines of pipe-clay ornamented the upper part of their
faces, breast, and arms. Both men and women have raised cicatrices
over the breast, arms, and back; but the forms of these personal
decorations are various. They regarded with a degree of awe, a
keyed bugle, with which a gentleman amused himself at this place:
they called it the Cobbong (large) whistle; and were more pleased
with the slow airs played upon it, than those of a lively and quick
movement.
On the evening of Christmas Day we adjourned to the verandah:
the scene was beautiful; the heavy clouds, which had previously
obscured the heavens, had passed away: the sun, about to set, cast
a red glow over the beautiful scenery of fields of golden grain;
numerous herds of cattle and flocks of sheep scattered over different
parts of the extensive plains; the elegant, drooping, young manna
trees, and the sombre foliage of the Banksia, or honeysuckle; the
picturesque wooded hills, with declivities covered with verdure to the
plains beneath, and the farthest view terminated by distant
mountains, formed a splendid prospect.
My attention was recalled from the enjoyment of this tranquil
scene, by the noisy revelry of the blacks, whose approaches towards
civilization were manifested by their getting intoxicated. The camp
was now one scene of tumult and confusion: the huts, of a weak
and temporary construction, were thrown down; the men, inebriated
with “bull,” were chasing the women and children with sticks, who
scampered away to escape the punishment awarded to their
mockery: numerous curses, in English, proceeded from the lips of
the inebriated blacks, being terms more expressive than any their
limited language could afford. As the men swore, the women
screamed and talked incessantly.
One of them came to me the following morning, and said, “You
ought give black feller milliken, (milk,) bullock, and sheep, for white
feller come up here, drive away opossum and kangaroo, and poor
black feller get noting to patta (eat,) merry, merry, get hungry,”—a
very true tale, thought I.
Kangaroo rats, called in the native language “Kánaman,” were
numerous about this place; they are lively playful little animals, and
when in confinement will drink milk and eat manna with avidity;
their fur is as fine as that of the larger species of kangaroo. It is said
to be found abundantly about the “Stringy Bark” ranges, forming
rude nests of the fibrous bark. At a beautiful spot on the Wollondilly,
not far distant from the plains, and at a part of the river forming
even at this, the summer season, a fine sheet of water, called
“Karoa” by the natives,[124] the “Burriol,” or musk ducks, with their
young, the “Gunarung,” or wood-ducks, as well as other kinds of
waterfowl, were seen in great numbers; and occasionally, about the
marshes, the native companion, or Curaduck of the aborigines.
During this short excursion, a young black was stung by a wasp,
and although he no doubt suffered severe pain, he yet disdained to
utter a cry or a groan; he threw himself upon the ground, and rolled
about, but no sound escaped his lips.
The bronzed-winged pigeon, the “Obungalong” in the aboriginal
language, was abundant at this season. It constructs, like the pigeon
tribe generally, a rude nest of sticks upon the forked branches of a
tree, and lays two or more white eggs.
There is a spider which I frequently observed about Yas Plains,
and also at other parts of the colony, which forms a den in the
ground; the opening is about an inch in diameter; over this a lid is
formed of web, incorporated with earth, and a web hinge, accurately
filling the external aperture, which the animal can shut at pleasure. I
have heard of a person who was accustomed to feed one of these
insects; after feeding, it would enter the habitation, and shut down
the lid, by drawing it close with one of its claws. It is nearly
impossible to discover their habitations when the lid is closed, from
its being so accurately fitted to the aperture.
 CHAPTER XVII.
Arrive at Wombat Brush—Animals called Wombat—Parched country—
Road-side houses—Colonial English—Column to the memory of La
Perouse—Death of Le Receveur—Sydney police-office—The Bustard—
Botanic garden—The aborigines—King Dungaree—The castor-oil
shrub—Diseases of Australia—New Zealanders—Australian ladies—
Prejudice against travellers from Botany Bay—Anecdote—A fishing
excursion—Cephalopodous animals—Conclusion of the author’s
researches in this colony.

On the 30th of December I left Goulburn Plains, and arrived the

same evening at Arthursleigh. On the day following I crossed the
“Uringalle,” (more commonly known by the name of “Paddy’s river,”)
and arrived at “Wombat Brush.” This tract of forest land was so
named from being formerly frequented by a number of the animals
called “Wombat,” but which are now rarely or never seen in the
vicinity of the settlement, the whole having been nearly destroyed.
About the Tumat and Murrumbidgee country I witnessed numerous
burrows; and certain marks of the animals indicative of their
presence; but they can but seldom be seen, as they remain in the
burrows during the day, coming out to feed at night.
One of these animals kept at “Been,” in the Tumat country, alive
and in a tame state, would remain in its habitation until dark; it
would then come out, and seek for the keelers or milk vessels; and
should none be uncovered, would contrive to get off the covers,
bathe itself in the milk, drinking at the same time. It would also
enter the little vegetable garden attached to the station, in search of
lettuces, to which it evinced much partiality; if none could be found,
it would gnaw the cabbage-stalks, without touching the foliage.
Although numerous in the more distant parts of the colony, they are
difficult to procure, from the great depth to which they burrow.
 Having passed the “ploughed ground,” Bong Bong, Mittagong
range, &c. I continued, through a country parched by the summer
heats, or having a burnt aspect, from the custom among the settlers
or natives, of setting fire to the dried grass. The scorched and arid
appearance of the land, as my journey led towards Sydney, was
wretched, compared with the beautiful verdant plains and ranges I
had left in the Tumat, Murrumbidgee, and Yas countries. The harvest
was for the most part reaped; a few scattered patches animated by
the verdure of the young maize springing up, and the yellow flowers
of the native “Jibbong,” (Persoonia sp.,) with a few other flowering
shrubs, scattered about, was all that cheered the eye of the traveller
on the journey. I arrived at Sydney on the 2nd of Jan. 1833.
The houses by the road side, on the approach to Sydney from
Liverpool, or Paramatta, are very neat in their construction. A bark-
hut near the “metropolis” is daily becoming rarer; they are speedily
giving place to neat and even elegant verandah cottages. There are
certainly an abundance of public-houses in the colony, and the neat,
clean appearance of the attendants, as well as the interior of the
inns, may vie with those in the mother-country. The signs of the
taverns assume every variety, all but that of Temperance.
It has often been mentioned by writers upon the United States of
America, that a purer and more correct English is spoken in that
country than in the “old country,” where it is corrupted by so many
different provincial dialects. The remark respecting the United States
of America will equally apply to Australia; for among the native-born
Australians, (descended from European parents,) the English spoken
is very pure; and it is easy to recognize a person from home or one
born in the colony, no matter of what class of society, from this
circumstance.
On a spot near the entrance to Botany Bay, (so named by Sir
Joseph Banks, and “Sting Ray Bay,” from the number of that fish
captured there by Captain Cook,) a neat column has been erected by
Mr. Joshua Thorp, (at that time the government architect,) from a
design by Mr. Cookney, to the memory of La Perouse; the expense of
its erection being paid by a subscription from the officers of the
French discovery ships, which visited the colony in 1824; the colonial
government supplying convict labourers. It is situated on a little
elevation not far from the place at which Captain Cook landed. The
column is circular, standing on a pedestal, and surmounted by a
sphere. Its elevation may be about fifteen feet. This was the last
place whence intelligence was received from the indefatigable but
unfortunate navigator. The inscriptions on the pedestal are in English
and French, and as follow:—“This place, visited by Mons. de la
Perouse in 1788, is the last whence any accounts of him were
received. Erected in the name of France by M.M. de Bougainville and
Ducampier, commanding the frigate La Thetis and the corvette
L’Esperance, lying in Port Jackson. An. 1825.” About one hundred
yards distant, inland from this column, near a red gum tree, are
interred the remains of Pere le Receveur, one of the naturalists
attached to Perouse’s expedition, who died at Botany Bay, in 1788.
On the red-gum tree was the following inscription, carved by one of
the officers attached to Bougainville’s expedition:—“Prés de cet
arbre. Reposent les restes, Du P. Le Receveur. Visité en Mars, 1824.”
During the time that the French discovery ships, La Thetis and
L’Esperance, lay at Port Jackson, this place was also visited by their
commanders and officers; and search having been made for the
exact spot where the remains of the naturalist were deposited, some
of his bones were found, and over that spot a plain monument has
been erected to his memory: on it was placed the following
inscription:—“Hic jacet, Le Receveur, Ex. F. F. Minoribus, Galliæ
Sacerdos, Physicus in Circumnavigatione Mundi Duce de la Perouse.
Obiit die 17 Feb. Anno 1788.”
The following account of the death of Le Receveur is given in
Philipp’s Voyage to Botany Bay, &c. “During the stay of M. de la
Perouse in Botany Bay, Father Le Receveur, who came out in the
Astrolabe as a naturalist, died. His death was occasioned by wounds,
which he received in the unfortunate rencontre at the Navigator’s
Island.” A slight monument was erected to his memory. An
inscription was placed on it similar to the preceding.
 The Sydney police office daily produces a strange compound of
characters; ludicrous scenes and incidents furnish abundance of
aliment for the newspapers, who decorate many of the cases
brought before the magistrate in so facetious a manner as to amuse
their readers and sell the papers. The number of newspapers
published in Sydney is very great, considering the small town, and
many of them are well and ably conducted. The “Sydney Herald” is
published twice a week; the “Sydney Gazette” three times; the
“Sydney Monitor” twice; and there are other smaller papers
published weekly.
At Paramatta I saw two tame specimens of the lesser Otis, or
Bustard, the “Curlew” of the colony, which is abundant in this
country; they were familiar with the man who was in the habit of
feeding them, but averse to approach strangers. It is principally
during the stillness of night that the peculiar melancholy cry and
whistle of these birds are heard, seeming like the harbinger of
death. While sitting one night by the bed-side of a young man,
expiring from a decline, I heard the note of the bird, unbroken by
any other sound; it came over my senses like a knell summoning the
departing spirit to its last long home.[125]
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.
New Zealanders are now employed at Sydney as labourers, and
are much esteemed for their steady and sober habits: they are also
careful of the money they earn:—as an instance, one of them, who
had just returned to Sydney from a whaling voyage, on receiving his
wages, placed the amount in the hands of a gentleman, from whom
he drew occasionally, about ten shillings at a time, to purchase
clothes, or any other necessary article.
The Australian ladies may compete for personal beauty and
elegance with any European, although satirized as “corn-stalks” from
the slenderness of their forms. It is true their reserve is great, but it
proceeds from diffidence, for in family intercourse they are both
animated and communicative. Their education, from a deficiency of
good schools, was formerly much neglected, except they were sent
to Europe for that purpose; but now that cause of complaint is
removed by the establishment of several respectable seminaries and
teachers; so the high degree of natural talent the Australian females
really possess may now be improved by proper cultivation. Even
among the male Australians there is a taciturnity proceeding from
natural diffidence and reserve, not from any want of mental
resources: this led one of their more lively countrymen to observe,
“that they could do every thing but speak.”
It has been said that formerly it was dangerous in England to
inform a fellow-traveller of having just arrived from Botany Bay, as
he will soon shun your acquaintance; but visitors from that country
must, after the following anecdote, stand a worse chance in the
celestial empire. A ship arriving at China from Australia, the
commander, when asked by the Chinese where the ship came from,
jocosely answered, “From New South Wales, where all the English
thieves are sent.” The inhabitants of the empire, taking the joke
seriously, reported this and every other ship which arrived from that
country to the mandarin as “ship from thiefo country: one thiefo
captain, three thiefo officers, twenty-five thiefo crew.” And when the
Hooghly arrived with the late governor of New South Wales, it was
—“One thiefo viceroy of thiefo country, with several thiefo
attendants.” The thiefo viceroy’s lady landing at Macao, was not
reported to the mandarin.
One afternoon, a party was formed for a fishing excursion in Port
Jackson: we took a seine with us, and pulled out to a fine bay or
cove, called “Chowder Bay,” a picturesque little spot, and not far
distant in the harbour from the north head at the entrance of Port
Jackson. On the seine being hauled, immense numbers of the
Balistes, more commonly known by the name of “Leather Jackets,”
from the great toughness of their skins, of various sizes were
obtained. This fish is troublesome to hook-and-line fishermen, from
biting their hook into two parts. It was probably this circumstance
that caused the name of File-fish to be conferred upon them. Their
flesh is not used by Europeans; but the blacks eat them. Several
sting-rays (Trygon pastinaca? of Cuvier) were also caught, together
with numerous specimens of Diodon; Sygnathus, and two species of
Mullus; one was the Mullus barbatus, Linn., of a bright-red colour,
“Le Rouget” of the French: this is the species said to be so
celebrated for the excellence of its flavour, as well as the pleasure
the Romans took in contemplating the changes of colour it
experienced while dying.
The “Cat-fish,” (Silurus,) said to have the power of stinging with
the tentaculæ or feelers, which pend from about the external part of
the mouth, large quantities of the Chœtodon fasciata, or Banded
Chœtodon, and several species of bream, were caught in this and
other coves so numerous in the splendid harbour of Port Jackson.
Several large cephalopodous animals, Loligo of Lamarck, Les
Calmars of Cuvier, were frequently taken in the seine. If taken in the
hand alive, they would, with the succulent tentaculæ, draw the
fingers of the person holding them towards their parrot-beaked
mouths, and inflict a severe bite: they also discharge, when
captured, a large quantity of thick black fluid, a very minute
proportion of which suffices to render turbid a large quantity of
water. Should this black liquid fall upon linen clothes, it produces a
stain difficult, if at all possible, to be removed. It is from this fluid
that the material known by the name of China or Indian ink, is
manufactured. The ancients were also accustomed to use it as a
writing ink, and esteemed the flesh as a delicacy. Most of the
eastern natives, and those among the Polynesian islands, partake of
it, and esteem it as food: they may be seen exposed for sale in the
bazaars throughout India.
 Having brought my researches in this colony to a conclusion for
the present, I have to regret the limited portion of time I was able to
devote to the investigation of its various natural productions, &c., so
numerous and interesting in all portions of the great continent of
Australia. The discoveries already made have been numerous; and,
when it is considered that an immense tract of country still remains
unexplored, many treasures in every department of natural history
may yet be looked for from this comparatively new and extraordinary
portion of the globe.
To the botanist and zoologist, objects of peculiar interest are
continually presenting themselves, not previously described, or
indeed known in Europe. While a field of investigation might be
opened by the geologist, the cultivation of which may be expected to
repay his labours a thousand fold.
 CHAPTER XVIII.
Leave Sydney—Rottenest Island—Colonial prospects—Voyage to Batavia
—Prince’s Island—The Java coast—Anchor in Batavia roads—The
river—Alligators—Streets of Batavia—M. Choulan’s tavern—Forests—
Java ponies—A veterinary monkey—Public buildings—The traveller’s
tree—Celebrated Javanese chief—Sketch of his life and actions—
Exactions of the Dutch government—The orang-utan—Society in
Batavia—Animals of Java—Doves—Dried specimen of the
hippocampus.

On the 14th of March I left Sydney, in the ship “Sir Thomas

Munro,” for Batavia, taking the southern passage, the winds obliged
us to pass round Van Dieman’s Land. On the 22nd, “Schouten’s
Island” was seen bearing west by south, and “St. Patrick’s Head,”
north-west by compass, about twenty-five miles distant; and on the
23rd, Cape Pillar bore west by south-half-south; and “Maria Island”
north by west-half-west by compass; distant about thirty miles. We
had to beat against strong westerly winds; and at noon, of the 22nd
of April, D’Entrecasteaux Point bore east by north, distant about
twenty miles, and extreme of the land to the northward, north-east
by compass. The appearance of the coast was sterile. On the 23rd,
we passed “Cape Leeuwin.” When first seen, it had the appearance
of a moderately high island, the land connecting it with the main
being low, and not at that time visible from the deck.
On the 26th, we were off “Rottenest Island,” which was of a
moderate height, and most sterile appearance. The main land was
sandy and scrubby: numerous fires were seen where land was
clearing. A boat came off as we were endeavouring to beat into
Gage’s roads, and came alongside, with two gentlemen in her. They
could furnish us, however, with no news respecting the Dutch war, to
attain information respecting which was the object of our wishing to
touch at this place. In reply to our inquiries respecting the state of
the new colony, they said it was rapidly progressing. Of the
settlements at King George’s Sound and Port Augusta, the latter was
reported as succeeding better than the former. There had been lately
several arrivals with live stock from Hobart Town, and a brig, the
“Dart,” from Sydney, was then standing in for Gage’s roads with a
cargo of provision and live stock. Sheep at this period were selling
from thirty to forty shillings each; flour from twenty to thirty pounds
per ton; and potatoes at the enormous price of twenty-five pounds
per ton. It was expected, however, that in the course of another
year the colony would be able to raise produce sufficient for its
consumption. No vessels had been lost at Swan River since the first
year, and with common precautions it was considered there was no
risk.
At two p.m. we proceeded on our voyage to Batavia. On the 13th
of May we had the south-east trade, in lat. 21° 15′ south, lon. 138°
13′ east. On the 4th of May we crossed from 108° 13′ to 106° 58′
east longitude, (in a run of eight days from Swan River,) being the
track recommended by Horsburg, to look for the “Trial Rocks,” but
did not see them.[128] On the 5th, several tropic birds, of the
roseate and white species, were about the ship, although we were
then distant three hundred and seventy miles from “Christmas
Island,” which was the nearest land.[129] On the 7th, boobies, frigate
birds, and white and rose-coloured tropic birds, indicated the vicinity
of “Christmas Island,” which was seen about midnight, by the light of
the moon, bearing north-east by north, by compass, distant twelve
or fourteen miles. On the 10th we were becalmed three or four miles
off the south-west side of “Clapp’s Island,” which was low, densely
wooded with cocoa-palms, and other trees, even to the water’s
edge: a heavy surf rolled upon the sandy beach, and on reefs
extending from each extremity.
Early in the morning, on the 11th, we were off the north-west side
of “Prince’s Island,” and the land wind brought with it a delicious
balmy fragrance; the extensive reef, running out a long distance
from the south-west point, on which a heavy surf broke, was
distinctly seen. This island, low at one part, is high and mountainous
at another. It was late in the afternoon before we had a clear view of
its lofty peaked mountain. The island was densely wooded, having a
picturesque and verdant appearance. During the morning, which was
showery, we slowly coasted along the island, at about four or five
miles distant. As the weather cleared up about noon, the scenery
gratified the eye with its varied tints, refreshed by the genial
showers, and recalled to my memory those gems of the ocean
distributed over the Polynesian Archipelago.
As we proceeded along the Java coast, having the lofty Crokatoa
Peak, and others of the adjacent islands in view, light and variable
winds and calms, with adverse currents, rendered our passage slow
and tedious, and often obliged us to anchor. We were, on these
occasions, visited by canoes, with fowls, eggs, turtle, &c. The outline
of this island is at some parts low, wooded, and uninteresting; whilst
at others, lofty mountains rise one above the other, until the
towering “Mount Karang” terminates the view. The varied tints of the
vegetation, covering the mountains from the margin of the sea to
the loftiest summits the eye could attain, had a rich and beautiful
appearance, as the setting sun cast its rays over the landscape.
Occasionally the thatched Javanese habitations became visible,
peeping from beneath a canopy of wood. Most Malay villages are
buried amidst the foliage of tropical fruit and other trees, which form
a cool and agreeable shelter; but such situations cannot be regarded
as conducive to health.
After a tedious passage since making the Island of Java, we
passed “Onrust Island,” which is the marine depôt, where ships are
hove down and repaired; there are some neat buildings erected
upon it, with rows of trees before them, in the usual Dutch style: but
silence reigned; there was no bustle; and the black countenances of
two sepoys were all the human beings visible. We anchored in
Batavia Roads on the 21st; and the scene before us was a low
wooded coast, lofty mountains in the distance; a few tiled houses, or
native huts, scattered among the trees; and an extensive jetty,
which is erecting on each side of the river: the town being built on a
swamp, and planted with trees, was entirely concealed from the
shipping in the roadstead.[130]
The following day we passed up the river, by the boat being
tracked: (the current running down at a rapid rate, preventing boats
being pulled against it;) on each side an extensive wooden jetty was
erecting, a great portion of which was now completed; it extended
to the bar at the river’s entrance, with a breakwater in front, having
a passage on each side for boats. The expense of the construction of
this jetty is paid by a duty of five per cent. being levied upon the
amount of duties on all imported goods. A number of native convicts
were employed in driving piles, &c. to complete this very useful
undertaking.
On arriving at the Custom House, our boat was searched.
Miserable houses lined the river on either side; cocoa-nut palms, and
other trees, including the Thespesia populnea, were planted about
the dwellings; masses of filth, dead and putrid bodies of dogs, hogs,
and other animals, float down the river, impeding the boats in their
passage: these carcases serve to feed the numerous alligators
(Buáya of the Javanese) which infest the river in great numbers, but
are useful in removing the putrefying substances, which would
otherwise be destructive to health in this sultry climate.
The alligators are held sacred by the Javanese, who consequently
never destroy them: indeed, the good understanding seems mutual;
for I observed native convicts working up to the waist in the water,
not far from these voracious creatures, (reposing like logs on the
surface of the water,) without fear or apprehension, injury from them
never being experienced. Some say the alligators are too well fed
with the offal and carcases coming down the river; others, that the
reptiles have a respect for black skins; for should a European enter
the river like the natives, he would be attacked by these formidable
creatures. I saw a number of these reptiles, one morning, assembled
about a dead buffalo, which had floated down the river near the bar;
from the size of some of them, they must have survived several
generations.