The alleged causes of abandonment were—1st, The unhealthiness of the climate;—2dly, The hostility of the natives;—and, 3dly, The non-visitation of the Malays.
Now, from a perusal of the preceding pages, it may appear sufficiently evident,—1st, That the climate is not unhealthy;—2dly, That the hostility of the natives was caused, or, at all events, aggravated, by the conduct of the settlers; and that as soon as conciliatory measures were adopted, their hostility ceased[1];—3dly, The Malays did visit Baffles Bay, in considerable numbers; and, had the settlement continued in existence a few months longer, not only the Malays, but also many Chinese, chiefly from Batavia, would have migrated thither.
These three causes, therefore, which influenced His Majesty's ministers to abandon the north coast of New Holland are, I think, proved to be without foundation; and it is deeply to be deplored, that these shores should have been thus deserted,—after so much expense had been incurred,—after all the difficulties, necessarily attending a new settlement, had been overcome, and pleasing prospects of future prosperity had opened into view.
- ↑ In the formation of a settlement on a coast inhabited by savages, it would be worth while to be rather liberal of old iron hoops, nails, hatchets, tomahawks, &c., inasmuch, as acting in this manner would certainly prevent many annoyances, and probably save many lives, both of the intruders and of those intruded on.
