Written for Ceylon Observer.) Whole Plains and Prevents the Sheep Getting at the M a C K a Y , Queensland, 4Th Sept
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MAC KAY, QUEENSLAND, THE GREAT SUGAR threatens to take possession of large portion of Queens REGION. land, but the colonists are much more troubled about a jute-like weed, sidus retusa, I think. It covers (Written for Ceylon Observer.) whole plains and prevents the sheep getting at the M a c k a y , Queensland, 4th Sept. 1881. gra-s. The once much dreaded thistle (which grows On Tuesday morning, August 31st (the date, in 1606, only in good soil and opens it up) is nothing to this “ curse of Queensland.” Of the blue-blossomed of the discovery of Torres Stray's' for which I am duranta and the “ shoe-flower ” hibiscus they make making), we were roused at half past 3 a.m.(!) in fences here, and in gardens I have seen nates, mangoes, order to leave the “ Alexandra” steamer and get into coconuts, ficus bengahnsis, ficus rriigiosa (the bo-tree), the small “ Dugong." Our steamer, the big one, went poinciana regia and pines growing together. Some of off north and we had to wait not. only for the steamer the planters’ bungalows are beautiful. At one where bound south and take the passengers for Mackay, we met Mr. and Mrs. Hewitt and Mr. and Mrs. Romilly but also, after that, until the tide enabled the the verandah opens out on the river (Pioneer) “ Dugong" to go up the Pioneer river to the bank, and they told us that although a little low fever wharves at Mackay, a town which sugar has raised and ague occurs occasionally in the district the banks from nothing to rapidly increasing importance in ten of the rivers are the healthiest parts ! The climate, years. Before breakfast, however, we lauded on Flat Top after all, is a semi-tropical one, without frost, and Island, where there is a lighthouse and telegraph station. that it is favourable to human health the looks of Hence we telegraphed, had a glorious view of the Pioneer the people shew. We saw about a couple of hun river district, of the semi-circular mountain ranges of dreds of “ fair women and brave men ” at a ball given by sea and river and land, sunshine and clouds, for clouds Mr. and Mrs. Davidson (he a nephew of Davidson of were gathering which issued in a truly tropical rain Tulloch), and they all looked robust, although the fall during the night. It was welcome but transient, men were browned by the sun, to which all expose and not-a drop has fallen since, to our great comfort themselves with impunity. I went yesterday to buy as knockers-about, but to the regret of the planters a white cotton umbrella, and the shopman told me who have young cane in the ground. As soon as I there was absolutely no demand for men’s umbrellas. stepped on shore on the beautiful little islet (one We saw little children lying out bareheaded in the literally of thousands, through which our course has sun all day, and we were told that cases of sun run and will run) I was face to face with tropical stroke are unknown. The gentleman sugar planters, vegetation and much of it common to Ceylon. On like the ploughmen, go about in trousers and shirts,— the shi.re was the goat’s foot ipomea, and festooning coat and waistcoat generally dispensed with in the bushes the very convolvuli common near Colombo. working hours. At Air. Mackinnon’s estate yes The screw pine was abundant, and in the lighthouse- terday I saw the hospital for the Kanekas (South keeper’sgardenthere was a coco palm, vinca ro.-Y-rr,(socom Sea Island coolies), and it was empty. Of late mon in our Cinnamon Gardens), &c. There weie forms years there has been little sickness or mortality not familiar to me intermixed, however. Going along amongst these people, and they look well clad, well the banks of the Pioneer river, I could almost fancy fed, and well-to-do. Each, when he goes back, is myself on the Kelani or other Ceylon stream. H ibis sure to carry away a gun. This ought to strengthen cus tiliaceus most conspicuous, and the same trees as the tribes to which they belong, but the chiefs ob line the road from the Baidge of Boats to Hauwella ject to the withdrawal of the young males, and from festooned with the same species of creepers. But this cause and the islanders dying out I feel cert mixed with forms which 1 recognized were others new ain that ultimately, if not soon, Hindu cooly labour and interesting. Most conspicuous'is what the people must be resorted to. There is a sum of £600 per here call “ the palm,” or palma elegans or the Alex annum on the Queensland estimates for an immigra andra palm, or the cabbage palm. It resembles a tion agent, and I believe the necessary law has been thornless katu-kitul, or rather a very luxuriant areka passed, but the working men and others also are palm, with more of a tendency to bend. These palms strongly prejudiced against the introduction of im are iu masses everywhere, beside rivers or lagoons migrants other than whites. If they prevail Mackay and add much to the beauty of the scenery. The will never turn out, as it is capable of doing, 300,000 inflorescence and seeds are much like those of the tons of sugar instead of the 10,000 now produced. areka, only the seeds are much smaller, like wild W7e saw opposite Flat Top Island three schooners dates, and of a brilliant red as they ripen. This just arrived from Solomon Isles with “ boys ” and a palm would be beautiful and useful in Ceylon, so 1 got few women. I never felt so inclined to believe the Air. Charles Xlackinnon (brother to th eA rg u s proprietor) development-from-ape theory as when I saw the who drove me out to a grand sugar estate yesterday, Kanekas ranged on deck, although they were well which he has just purchased for £95,000, to get me dressed, in “ jolly” condition, and many of them some seeds. Also some of what he called “ quad- smoking pipes. Their bushy beads of hair were gener rongs ” or Queensland plums, and some ripe Queens ally dyed a bright yellow with lime or ashes, and land raspberries. This indigenous raspberry exactly in that rcpect they reminded us of the R imalis at resembles the cultivated “ rasp ” in flower and foliage, Aden. But their features are even more of the but the fruit is more like a strawberry, being almost negro type, and it seems to me they are the shortest round like a scarlet ihread button. Very pretty it is, race of human beings I have yet seen. At the sug- but the flower is not equal to the true thing. If we can gestion of Mr. Jaffrey, who is very largely interested grow it from the seed, however, cultivation might im in sugar, I spoke several sentences in Tamil to the prove it. “ coolies,” but they only grinned at me. When our Mackay (in 21° 10' south) has about the climate steamer left they gave us a loud cheer which went of those parts of Bengal where 75 inches of rain off into a yell, such as no doubt they utter when fall, with a far less severe hot season, and what attacking their enemies. They make good cart drivers, grows well here ought, I think, to do well in our hill but the ploughing on the sugar estates is done by country. All the way from Sydney hither the bougain white men, the proportion of an estate force being 20 villea has been blazing,—pink, magenta, and bright per cent white men to 80 per cent blacks. It is scarlet. So withthe bignonia" which the Tamil coolies certain that whites could not do the “ trashing,” cut call the tangapu or gold flower. On Sydney bay ting of I he canes, &c., or if they could the pursuit shores the lantana, chiefly the pink-blossomed, abounds, would not pay. For while the Kanekas get only £ 6 and on to this place we have seen it. Indeed it > per annum, with lodgings, rations and medical attend- 121 ance,* the wages of white men is 20s to 25s per got a most complete set of machinery for a new week, with lodging and rations. If the resources estate, The Palms, and amidst this machinery, and of tropical Queensland and Australia generally are to be no doubt to inaugurate the great mill, the ball was developed, Indian coolies must be introduced. It was given, to which Mr. Jeffray procured invitations for very amusing to see an experienced Kaneka drayman me and my companions. Nothing could exceed the pushing his “ new chum ” countrymen out of I he way kindness of the Davidsons. Mr. Davidson, the leader with an emphatic “ Get out of that, will you?!” of the sugar planters here, is a fine energetic fellow : As far as I could see the black labourers are treated I told him that the joke in the Highlands well and work heartily here. But more labour is when I was a boy was that Tulloch spent the wanted, so that instead of the “ trash,” withered money which his brother Henry Davidson, the leaves, &c , being removed from the field, it is often London merchant (father of our host), made. set on fire on dewy nights. The agents, one of a I heard Mr. Jeffray say that from one estate he French sugar machinery company, the other of an did not expect a shilling of return until he had spent English firm, who are travelling with me, did not £40,000; but then he looked for a minimum return approve of this and of other expedients, but good of 20 per cent.