J. Giles Powell

“ Our Summer is just commencing, and in the course of a little time will most probably be very hot. The settler must travel nearly fifteen miles up both the Swan and Canning Rivers before he can arrive at good land. It is said that all the good land on their banks not reserved by Government, is already taken up by those who arrived before us. It is my intention to wait with patience till I can meet with an allotment not yet appropriated, and desirable from situation and quality. ”

“ As yet, there has not been time for the settlers to raise a crop from any but garden seeds (but these, when sown, appear very nourishing) : it is impossible at present to say with certainty what will agree best with the soil; but if we judge from the appearance of the land, we may be assured there are very few articles cultivated by man which will not thrive in this Colony, though several years must pass away before we can ascertain what will best succeed in the soil and climate. ”

“ But if Government will cut through the sand-flats above Perth, or make a short canal to avoid them, or only make a road or causeway on the land from one extremity of the shallow water to the other, I am confident the Colony would be benefited in tenfold proportion to the money expended. To say nothing of the saving of time and labour it would be to us poor devils, who are obliged to push an empty boat over these flats by main force. For although the river is navigable from Freemantle to a mile above Perth, at that point there are some islands, which it is difficult to pass ”

“ Here it was that the settlers landed who came out in the Parmelia, Calista, and Marquis of Anglesea, but, after a sojourn of twelve weeks, in fruitless labour and expence, they were obliged to remove to the main land ; and hence it was that we found every thing in such a state of confusion upon our arrival at Freemantle.
I can safely assure you that the soil, both on the Swan and Canning Rivers, is excellent, to a certain extent from their banks inwards, and, in my opinion, (if the climate be as suitable as it appears) is capable of producing abundant crops under proper cultivation. ”

“ I was agreeably surprized to find an abundance of live stock of every description, which shows that Government had paid particular attention in providing for the wants and accommodation of the settlers, by ensuring the necessary supplies from the Cape, Sydney, and Van Dieman's Land. Cattle are by no means so dear as was generally expected. [2] Unfortunately for the colony, the sheep which came from Van Dieman's Land are now suffering severely with the "scab," which is raging among some flocks with all its fury. ”

“ The natives seem a mild and harmless people, though, like other savages, addicted to pilfering. They are very jealous of their women, none of which the settlers have seen at present.
The Canning River is similar to the Swan for flats and islands, but the land upon its banks is not so good. ”

“ As the Colony is not yet properly surveyed and marked out, those persons who intend to become farmers, ought to explore the country by proceeding up the different rivers in search of a spot that may appear eligible, and then they should wait upon the Colonial Secretary, and if it be not a Government reserve, or taken up by a prior applicant, it is allowed, according to the amount of stock, and the means of cultivating it. ”

“ From the small party of natives, as above described, it is not unreasonable to assimilate them to those of New South Wales, who are represented as a mild, cheerful, and inoffensive race; a mere nation of hunters, passionately fond of their wandering life, but averse to labour of every kind; that they have very little jealousy of strangers, and live among the settlers on terms of perfect friendship and confidence. ”

“ There are settlers now at this place who came out with the first ships, and rather than be at the trouble of putting up with five or six days' provisions, and brushing up the country in search of a suitable allotment, remain here upon a dry sand, which cannot be cultivated to any useful purpose, wasting their time, and consuming their provisions, and when they are exhausted, they must either become day-labourers or starve. ”

“ With regard to property, the savage tribe only, know but one law or rule, and that is the doctrine of occupancy. The first occupant of any article, with these people, is considered to be him who can possess himself of any property not in the actual manual possession of another ”

“ In the untutored African or Australian native, who is alike ignorant of the Bible and the laws of civilized man, this surely will be, in the eye of the feeling and sympathizing Christian, considered as a venial offence, until time and education hath taught them the difference between right and wrong. ”

“ Some of the settlers have attempted to build flat-bottomed boats, but, owing to the wood in general being very tough and short in the grain, it makes sad havoc with their tools, and they, perhaps, do not understand the art of boat-building. ”

“ It will be well if Government remove these obstructions, or at least deepen some of the shallowest parts of the River, for otherwise the Colony will suffer materially; but when the Governor represents the matter in its true light to those who are at the head of affairs at home, there is no doubt it will be taken into consideration, and orders be given to make the necessary improvements where they are most wanted. [7]
It is utterly impossible for the settlers to improve the navigation for some years to come. ”

“ There are certainly some places bare of timber, and some boggy and marshy ground, but these are not of great extent. On the edge of the rivers, where we find the land to be of the best quality, there are not many trees ”