heat of the day, and my exertions to extinguish it and to prevent its progress to the dry grass near the house were quite exhausting.
The vessel which has come from Van Diemen's Land has not delivered my letters yet: the impression is, that there are some on board which are suppressed until her cargo of flour is disposed of at high prices—to such tricks are we subject; and every effort to keep us back seems to be resorted to by the people of that colony.
You speak of nets and other things arriving by Van Diemen's Land, or Sidney. I have not received them, and probably never shall.
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April 4th.—I got home a thousand bricks to-day, made on Mr. Bull's grant, near this, for there was not time to make them on my own. I pay 30s. per thousand for them. Fished a long time to-day without success; yet I saw fish in plenty, but they would not take the bait; and I have no nets. Went out with my gun to look for cockatoos, being particularly anxious for fresh meat; but the birds were most wary, and I could not get near them. No two birds can be more different in outward appearance than crows and cockatoos, yet in their habits they are similar; they go in flocks, call and give the alarm to one another, and fly off with a noise equal to that of a rookery.
5th.—The weather is now very delightful,
