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Am gynnyrchion tyfiannol Awstralia, sylwyd bod y coedydd, yn gyffredin, yn hynod o agored, a’r preniau yn wasgaredig—dim ond dau neu dri yn tyfu ar erw o dir, yr hyn sydd yn rhwyddineb mawr i’w driniogaeth. Ond mewn rhai manau y maent yn ffurfio llwyni cysgodfawr; tra y cyfarfyddir â darnau mawr o wlad, weithiau, wedi eu gorchuddio â dyryslwyni o brysgwydd corachlyd, a elwir gan y trefedigion yn “scrwb.” Y mae y coed yn leision trwy y flwyddyn, ac yn gynnwysedig, gan mwyaf, o folwydd (gum-trees), rhoswydd, ffynidwydd, palmwydd,1 coed acasia, &c., gyda rhywiogaeth o redyn a danadl yn tyfu i faintioli “preniau coedwig.” Ychydig a wyddys am lysieuaeth Awstralia. Dywedir bod y glaswellt, oddigerth yn y dyffrynoedd ffrwythlonaf, yn bur deneu a bras, ond yn hynod o “laethog a phesgol.” Peth tra hynod yw nad oes yma un math o ŷd gwyllt, na “choed ffrwythau,” ond a drawsgludwyd o wledydd eraill; ond y mae pob planigyn estronol, o’r bron, a blenir neu a heuir yma, yn llwyddo yn rhagorol. |
Regarding the vegetable products of Australia, it should be noted that forests, in general, are singularly open, and the trees scattered—no more than two or three growing on an acre of land, which greatly facilitates their management. But in some places they form dense groves; while one sometimes meets with great tracts of land covered with thorny thickets of dwarf bushes, called by the settlers “scrub.” The forest is green throughout the year, and is comprised, for the most part, of gum-trees, rosewood, pine-trees, palms,1 acacias, &c., with species of ferns and nettlesiii growing to the size of forest trees. Little is known of the Australian flora. It is said that the grass, outside of the most fertile valleys, is very thin and coarse, but most nutritious. It is remarkable that there is no kind of wild corn in the country, nor fruit-bearing trees, apart from those introduced from other countries; but almost every foreign plant sown or planted here thrives. |
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Y mae neillduolrwydd hynod, hefyd yn perthyn i filyddiaeth ac ednogyddiaeth Awstralia. Yr anifel brodorol mwyaf yw y Kangaroo, neu y cangarŵ. Y mae y genedledd yn cynnwys llawer o rywogiaethau—rhai yn ddim mwy na llygod, rhai at faint cwn cyffredin, ac eraill dros ddwy lath o hyd, tra y cloddir gweddillion o rywiogaethau diflanedig (o ymysgaroedd) y ddaear mwy nag ychain. Ymhlith anianyddion, y maent yn adnabyddus fel y dosbarth hwnw o detholion (neu greaduriaid yn maethu eu rhai bach ar y deth) a elwir y codolion, am fôd y fam yn cario ei theulu ieuanc mewn côd ar ei bol, ac yn dangos tynerwch a serch mawr tuag atynt. Peth hynod iawn yw nas gall yr anifeiliaid rhyfeddol a diniweid hyn na rhedeg na cherdded, o herwydd hyd mawr eu haelodau ôl, a byrdra nodedig eu pawenau; ac, er hyny, y maent yn gyflym iawn ar eu traed, gan eu bod yn ymborthi ar laswellt, llysiau, a deiliach; a rhai rhywogaethau, megys yr apossumiaid, y rhai nad ydynt yn fwy na llygod Ffrengig, a fwytant bryfed, wyau, a mân ymlusgiaid. Y mae yr apossumiaid yn llïosog iawn mewn rhai parthau o’r wlad. Ond yr anifeilyn rhyfeddaf yn Awstralia, os nad yn yr holl fyd, yw y dyfrdwrch neu yr adarbig (ornithoryncus)—math o greadur bach dwyelfenog, gydâ chorff anifel a phen a thraed aderyn y dwfr, ac yn dodwy. Y mae yn byw mewn dyfroedd tawelog, yn hel ei ymborth yn mysg y merllys, ac yn trychu ei ymguddfëydd o dan ddorlenydd cysgodog. Cyfrifir cig y cangarŵ yn fwyd blasus, iachus, a llesol. Dywedir yn gyffredin mai y tango, neu y ci gwyllt, yw y bwystfil mwyaf dinystriol a pheryglus yn Awstralia; ond y mae Mr. Melville, yr hwn sydd wedi bod yn trigiannu dros ugain mlynedd yn y trefedigaethau hyn, yn crybwyll bod bugeiliaid Gwlad Van Diemen yn cario eu gỳnau yn gyffredin, a bod eu meistriaid yn arfer talu iddynt hyn a hyn y pen am yr holl gŵn gwylltion, teigrod, cythreuliaid, eryrguryllod, a chigfrain, a laddant. Dywedir bod cythreuliaid pedwartroedol Awstralia yn fwystfilod hynod o wrthun a diriaid. Y sylwad cyffredin yw, nad oes yn y wlad hon un anifel brodorol yn cnoi ei gil, nac un aderyn cynhanol yn canu. Pa fodd bynag, y mae yma adar o bluad ardderchog—gwyrddion, cochion, a gwynion; gwahanol rywiogaethau y parrot yn ysgrechian ac yn lolian yn y coedydd. Y mae ysplander plu y colomenod yn syndod i’r sefydlwr ar ei ddyfodiad yma. Y mae adar paradwys yn preswylio y gororau gogleddol. Y mae yma amryw adar ysglyfaethus, elyrch duon, a digon o frain ac adar môr. Y mae yma amryw fathau o wenyn; ond nid oes gan yr un o honynt golyn. Y mae y gwibed yn dra nifeiriog a phoenydiol yn yr iseldir. Y mae geneugoegion, nadroedd, ac ysgorpionau hefyd yn llïosog. Y mae yr aderyn organawl yn difyru y goedwig â’i gerdd. Dywedir bod yr afonydd yn heigio digonedd o bysgod, a bod gororau y môr yn nodedig am westrys rhagorol, berdys, a chregyn-gleision. Y mae pysgodwriaeth moelrhoniaid a morfilod yn dwyn elw nid bychan yma i’r sawl sydd yn meddu arian ac ysbryd i anturio yn y fasnach. |
The fauna and birdlife of Australia are also most peculiar. The largest native animal is the Kangaroo. The genus includes many species—some no larger than mice, some the size of common dogs, and others over six feet tall, while the remains of extinct species bigger than oxen have been dug from the earth. Among naturalists, they are known as that class of mammals (or creatures which nourish their young at the teat) called the marsupials, because the mother carries her young family in a pouch (Latin marsupium) on her belly, and shows great tenderness and affection toward them. A very remarkable thing is that these strange, harmless animals can neither run nor walk, due to the great length of their hind limbs, and their uncommonly short paws; and, despite this, they are very fast on their feet, since they feed on grass, herbs and foliage; and other species, like the opossums, which are no larger than rats, eat worms, eggs, and small reptiles. The opossums are very numerous in some parts of the country. But the strangest animal in Australia, if not in all the world, is the water mole or ornithorhyncusiv—a kind of small amphibious creature, with the body of an animal and the head and feet of a waterbird, and laying eggs. It lives in still waters, and gathers its food among the waterweeds, and carves out its shelters under shady banks. The meat of the kangaroo is reckoned to be a tasty, healthy, and beneficial food. It is commonly said that the dingo, or the wild dog, is the most destructive and dangerous beast in Australia; but Mr. Melville, who has lived for over twenty years in these colonies, mentions that the shepherds of Van Diemen’s Land generally carry their guns, and that their masters are in the habit of paying them a certain amount per head for all the wild dogs, tigers, devils, eaglehawks, and ravens they kill. It is said that the four-footed devils of Australia are singularly odious and wretched beasts. The common observation is, that there are no cud-chewing animals in this country, nor any song-birds. However, there are birds of superb plumage—green, red, and white; various species of parrot screech and chatter in the forests. The splendour of the pigeons’ feathers is a marvel to the settler on his arrival here. Birds of paradise inhabit the northern coasts. There are various birds of prey, black swans, and plenty of crows and seabirds here. There are several kinds of bee here; but none of them has a sting. The mosquitoes are very numerous and vexatious in the lowlands. Lizards, snakes, and scorpions are also plentiful. The organ birdv entertains the forest with its song. It is said that the rivers teem with fish, and the coasts are noted for excellent oysters, shrimp, and mussels. The hunting of seals and whales brings no little profit to those who have enough money and spirit to venture into the trade. |
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Desgrifir cynfrodorion Awstralia yn gyffredin megys y radd isaf o farbariaid: eu lliw yn ddu, eu pryd yn wrthun, a’u cyrff yn afluniaidd; ac yn hollol groes i’r hyn a ganfyddir ymhlith agos yr holl dylwythau eraill o ddynolryw, dywedir bod y merched yma yn llawer hyllach na’r meibion; ond y mae llawer o le i ammheu bod anwybodaeth, rhagfarn, a chasineb, yn eu dangos yn llawer gwaeth yn ngolwg trefedigion treisgar nag yr ymddangosent i lygad dyngarol. Yn wir, dywed Mr. Melville, ac eraill, eu bod yn ddynion tal, chwim, ystumgar, ac yn rhagori ar Ewropëaid yn nghyflymder eu golwg, eu clyw, a’u harogliad; a’u bod yn rhyfeddol o fedrus gyda’r waewffon, y boomerang, a’r bicell bren, pa un bynag ai mewn brwydr, neu ar hynt hela. Cydsynir eu bod yn llawer mwy diniweid na’r cyffredinolrwydd o farbariaid, a’u bod, gan mwyaf, yn bobl gyfeillgar, lletygar, a chymwynasgar, er eu bod wedi goddef llawer o anghyfiawnder, trais, a chreulondeb, oddiar ddwylaw estroniaid rheibus a’u gweision lladronllyd a llofruddiog, y rhai, yn lle ceisio eu gwareiddio a’u Cristionogi, a’u saethent fel brain neu fwystfilod drwg, neu a’u croesawent yn fradus i’w gwenwyno wrth yr ugeiniau.2 |
The aborigines of Australia are generally described as the lowest order of savages: black in colour, their appearance repellent, and their bodies misshapen; and quite contrary to what is seen amongst all other races of mankind, it is said that the females are much uglier than the males; but there is room to suspect that ignorance, prejudice, and hatred, make them appear much worse in the sight of hostile settlers than they appear to humane eyes. Indeed, Mr. Melville says, with others, that they are tall, agile, graceful people, surpassing Europeans in the acuteness of their sight, hearing, and sense of smell; and their remarkable skill with the spear, the boomerang, and the wooden lance, whether in battle, or at the chase. It is allowed that they are much more harmless than the generality of savages, and that they are, for the most part, a friendly, hospitable, and obliging people, though they have suffered a great deal of injustice, violence, and cruelty at the hands of rapacious foreigners and their thieving, murderous servants, who, instead of trying to civilize and Christianize them, shot them like crows or verminous beasts, or welcomed them treacherously to their own poisoning by the score.2 |
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Y maent wedi eu rhanu yn llïaws o fân lwythau annibynol, pob un dan arweiniad ei lywydd neu dywysog ei hun, ac yn hòni hawl i gyfran neillduol o’r wlad. Y mae pob llwyth yn cadw yn gyffredin o fewn y terfynau a nodwyd iddynt ar y coed (drwy gydsyniad y llwythau cymydogaethol), megys tir hela a physgota. Meddylir yn gyffredin mai ofer fyddai dysgwyl i greaduriaid crwydrol a segurllyd wneyd unrhyw waith; ond mewn papyr ar Awstralia a gyflwynwyd i’r senedd yn 1851, y mae adroddiad oddiwrth y llywodraethwr, yn mha un y dywed, “Y mae diffynwr cynnorthwyol y cynfrodorion ar yr Afon Murray wedi adrodd i mi yn ddiweddar eu bod yn Nghulfor Encounter wedi cael gwaith, yn ystod y cynauaf, gan un ar bymtheg ar hugain o wahanol sefydlwyr, ac iddynt fedi chwe’ chant a chwech a thriugain (666) o erwau. Yn Strathalbyn, i un ar ddeg o sefydlwyr, y cynfrodorion a fedasant dri chant a phump (305) o erwau; yn Mynydd Barcer, i saith o sefydlwyr, medasant ddwy ar bymtheg a phedwar ugain (97) o erwau; ac ar yr Afon Hutt, i ddau sefydlwr, bymtheng erw.” |
They are divided into a host of small independent tribes, each one under the leadership of its own chief or prince, and claiming rights to a particular portion of the country. Each tribes keeps generally within its own boundaries which are marked for them on the trees (by agreement with the neighbouring tribes), as hunting and fishing territories. It is commonly thought that it would be pointless to expect such nomadic, idle creatures to do any work; but in papers on Australia presented to the parliament in 1851, there is a report from the governor, in which he says, “The assistant protector of the natives on the River Murray has recently reported to me that they had got work in Encounter Bay, during the harvest, from thirty-six different settlers, and that they had gathered in six hundred and sixty-six (666) acres. At Strathalbyn, the aborigines gathered in three hundred and five (305) acres for eleven settlers; at Mount Barker, for seven settlers, the brought in ninety-seven (97) acres; and on the Hutt River fifteen acres, for two settlers.” |
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Teithiwr o Adelaide i’r ardal dde-ddwyreiniol a gymerwyd yn glaf ar y Coorong, a darfu ei holl ddarbodion; y cynfrodorion a adeilasant fwthyn iddo, a ddygasant iddo fwyd a dwfr, a’i porthasant â physgod, ac, wedi gweini arno lawer o ddyddiau, a hysbysasant ei gyflwr digymhorth i’r heddgeidwaid, gan ba rai y symudwyd ef i’r sefyllfa yn Wellington, ac fel hyn yr achubwyd ei fywyd. Rhwng Nairne a Mynydd Barcer, y cynfrodorion a fuant yn foddion i ddiffodd perth-dân oedd yn bwgwth difa cnydau y sefydlwyr. O amgylch y llyn, yn agos i aberfa yr Afon Murray, gosodir y cynfrodorion ar waith gan y tyddynwyr defaid i ddiffoddi perth-danau, ac y maent yn ofalus i attal eu dygwyddiad. Yn Nghulfor Encounter y mae rhai o’r cynfrodorion yn gychwyr da, ac yn cael gorchwyl felly yn ystod tymmor pysgota morfilod. Mynegwyd i mi fod rhai o’r liwbraod, neu wragedd, yn gwneyd eu hunain yn wasanaethgar fel golchwragedd; ac yr oedd fy hysbyswraig yn siarad yn uchel am garedigrwydd un, yr hon a fuasai yn fammaeth i’w phlentyn. |
A traveller from Adelaide to the south-eastern district was taken ill on the Coorong, and all his provisions perished; the aborigines built a hut for him, and brought him food and water, and fed him fish, and, having ministered to him for many days, brought his helpless situation to the attention of the police, who moved him to station in Wellington, thus saving his life. Between Nairne and Mount Barker, the aborigines have been a means of extinguishing bush-fires which threatened to destroy the settlers’ crops. Around the lake, near the mouth of the River Murry, the aborigines were put to work by the small sheep-farmers putting out bush-fires, and they were careful to prevent their occurrence. In Encounter Bay some of the aborigines are good boatsmen, and are employed as such during the whaling season. I have been told that some of the “lubras”, or women, make themselves useful as washerwomen; and my informant spoke highly of the kindness of one, who had been nurse to her children. |
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Edrychwyd arnynt gyda dirmyg a ffieiddiad, am eu bod yn coginio llygod, nadroedd, geneugoegion, a phryfed genwair, ynghyd â phob bwyd drewedig a deflid allan gan y sefydlwyr boneddig; ond y mae hyny i’w briodoli yn benaf i’r ffaith nad yw y wlad, oddigerth lle y mae dan driniaeth gan y sefydlwyr, yn cynnyrchu o’r braidd ddim ffrwythau na gwreiddiau cyfaddas i fod yn ymborth i ddyn. |
They were looked upon with contempt and loathing, because they cooked mice, snakes, lizards, and worms, as well as any stinking food thrown out by the gentry of the colony; but that is to be attributed chiefly to the fact that the country, apart from where it is under cultivation by the settlers, produces scarcely any fruits or roots fit to be eaten by man. |
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Mewn gwlad mor ëang ag Awstralia y mae hinsawdd y naill gẁr yn gwahaniaethu yn fawr oddiwrth dymheriant y cẁr arall. Y mae yr holl ynys yn llawer brytach na Chymru, ond y mae yr hinsawdd yn y trefedigaethau yn hynod o iach a hyfryd—yr awyr bur yn gwasgar iechyd, heinedd, cryfder, a hirhoedledd. Ond yn y pharthau gogleddol a chanoldirol y mae yn boeth iawn--yn rhy boeth i gyfansoddiad Ewropëaidd, oddigerth ar lyn y môr, lle y mae yr awel fywus yn lliniaru tanbeidrwydd yr haul trofanol. |
In a land as broad as Australia the climate in one corner differs greatly from that in another. The whole island is much warmer than Wales, but the climate in the colonies is remarkably healthy and pleasant—the pure air spreads health, vitality, strength, and longevity. But in the northern and central parts it is very hot--too hot for a European constitution, except on the coast, where the refreshing breeze assuages the scorching heat of the tropical sun. |
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1 Nid oes dim palmwydd yn ngororau deheuol yr ynys. 2 Bernir eu bod yn prysuro i ddarfod. Pan gymerwyd meddiant o Ynys Van Diemen yn 1803, cyfrifwyd cynfrodorion y wlad hòno yn gan mil (100,000) o nifer; ond yn 1848, yn ol ymchwiliadau swyddol, nid oedd yr holl weddill a adawyd heb eu difrodi ond 13 o feibion, 22 o ferched, 5 o fechgyn, a 5 enethod! Gwel “Melville’s Present State of Australasia:” tudal. 345-370. “Pa fodd yr ymddygwyd tuag atynt?” gofyna yr un awdur: “Yn waeth na thuag at gŵn neu fwystfilod rheibus,—eu hela o le i le, eu saethu, rhwygo eu teuluoedd oddiwrthynt—y fam yn cael ei chipio oddiwrth ei phlant i’w gwneyd yn aberth i chwant a chreulondeb ei chymydogion gwareiddiedig a Christionogol!” Ond nid ydynt mwy. |
1 There are no palms in the southern parts of the island. 2 It is thought they are hastening to their extinction. When possession was taken of the Island Of Van Diemen in 1803, the aborigines of that land were reckoned at a hundred thousand (100,000) in number; but in 1848, according to official investigations, the total remnant left unharmed was no more than 13 men, 22 women, 5 boys, and 5 girls! See “Melville’s Present State of Australasia:” pp. 345-370. “How have they been treated?” asks the same author: “Worse than dogs or beasts of prey,—chased from place to place, shot, their families torn from them—the mother snatched from her children to make sacrifice to the lust and cruelty of her civilized Christian neighbours!” But they are no more. |
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iii Probably the stinging tree, Dendrocnide spp. iv The platypus. v The magpie. |