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Y DRYDEDD BENNOD.“O! y frodir hyfrydol: hinsoddau Y TREFEDIGAETHAU AUSTRALAIDD.Cawn y trefedigaethau Prydeinig yn yr Ynys hon, yn daenedig ar hyd ei harfordiroedd deheu-ddwyreiniol, o’r “Great Sandy Island” yn y dwyrain, hyd ymarllwysiad y “Swan River,” yn eithaf y deheu orllewin.—Gwir fod rhai bylchau pwysfawr yn y cylch trigianol hwn, y rhai ni chynhwysir o fewn terfynau yr un o’r sefydliadau presenol, etto pe gadewid y rhai hyn allan, ïe, a threfedigaeth nychlyd y “Swan River” gyda hwynt, fe ellir ystyried uwchlaw 2,000 a filldiroedd o arfordir yn breswyliedig eisioes. Os rhoddwn y lled canolig o 150 o filldiroedd o lan y môr hyd at y terfyn tumewnol, cawn yr arwyneb dros 225,000 o filldiroedd ysgwar. Dosrenir hyn i dair trefedigaeth, sef eiddo New South Wales, Victoria, a Van Diemen’s Land. |
CHAPTER THREE.“Oh! this gentle land sublime: THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES.The British colonies in this Island are dispersed along the south-eastern coasts, from the “Great Sandy Island” in the east, to the mouth of the “Swan River,” in the extreme south-west.—Certainly there are some important gaps in this inhabited zone, not contained within the bounds of any of the present settlements, but if these, and indeed the fragile colony of “Swan River” with them, are excluded, above 2,000 miles of coast can be considered already settled. If we take a medium breadth of 150 miles from the coast to the interior limit, we get an area over 225,000 square miles. This is divided into three colonies, namely those of New South Wales, Victoria, and Van Diemen’s Land. |
NEW SOUTH WALES.“Wybren deg, a cher bron digon!.”—J. T. Hon ydyw y sefydliad hynaf a feddianna Prydain ar Ynys Australia. Gorwedd ar ei llethr ddwyreiniol, ac ymestyn o “Wide Bay,” yn y gogledd, hyd at “Cape Howe,” yn y deheu. Hyd ei harfordir yw o ddeutu 1,200 milltir, a’i lled cyffredin o 350 i 400, felly cynhwysa oddeutu tair gwaith gymaint o arwyneb a Phrydain Fawr. Yr ardaloedd sefydledig (settled districts) a gyfrifir yn 34,000 o filldiroedd ysgwar, neu dros 22,000,000 o erwau; y rhelyw, a adnabyddir wrth y cyfenwad, y tiroedd cwrcydol (squatting land) a gynwysant dros gan’ miliwn o erwau. |
NEW SOUTH WALES.“A fair, fair sky, and before us abundance!”—J. T. This is the oldest British settlement in Australia. It lies on the Island’s eastern slopes, stretching from Wide Bay, in the north, as far as Cape Howe, in the south. Its coast is about 1,200 miles long, and its general breadth from 350 to 400 miles, so that its surface area is about three times that of Great Britain. The settled districts are reckoned as 34,000 square miles, or over 22,000,000 acres; the remainder, which is known by the appellation, the “squatting land,” takes in over a hundred million acres. |
DECHREUAD.Penderfynodd y Llywodraeth Prydeinig, yn y flwyddyn 1787, yn unol a chyngor y Cadpen Cook, sefydlu trefedigaeth yn Australia. Gan nad oedd yn ddichonadwy dirwasgu’r Taleithiau Americanaidd i barhau yn hwy yn dir alltudiaeth i Brydain Fawr, gorlenwasai’r carchardai cartrefol gan ddrwg-weithredwyr. Angenrhaid oedd caffael rhyw lanerch o dderbyniad i’r chwydliad moesol hwn. Syrthiodd y coelbren ar Australia. Pennodwyd i’r ardal a enwasai Cadpen Cook yn “Botany Bay” fod yn eisteddle sefydliad cospawl (penal settlement) i fwrddwyr a dyn-leiddiaid, a mawr a mân ladronach yr Ynysoedd Prydeinig. Ar y 13eg o Fai, 1787 cychwynodd llynges, cynwysedig o chwe’ chlud-long (transport vessels), a thair ystôr-lestri (store-ships), dan lywyddiad Captain Arthur Phillips, tuag Australia. Dygai gydag ef 757 o garcharorion profedig (convicts), ac o ddeutu 200 o filwyr. Tra yn edrych arnynt yn prysur ymadael â gororau Prydain, ag awel esmwyth y gwanwyn yn llanw’r hwyliau, dywedai Arglwydd Sydney, dan gyfeirio attynt, “Dacw sylfaeni teyrnas nerthol yn cychwyn!” Gwir y dywediad; ond, pwy oddigerth llywodraeth Saes’nig a ddewisasai adeiladu gyda y cyfryw feini tolciog ac anhygyrch! Cyrhaeddodd y llwyth hwn o ysgarthion Cymdeithas angorfa Botany Bay ar yr 20fed o Ionawr, 1781. Canfyddai y Llywydd âg un golygiad, nad atebai y fangre hono ddybenion trefedigaethol. Y Bay ydoedd agored i bob rhyferthwy ystormus a ymwelai â’r arfordir: cyfodai tònau ofnadwy oddiar draethellau cyfagos, gan ymdywallt yn rheidrau dychrynllyd ar y morlan, a’r wlad oddiamgylch, nid ydoedd fawr ragorach yr olwg arni na “chors anobaith” hen bererin Bunyan. Cychwynodd y Cadpen yn union-gyrchol i edrych ansawdd môr-gilfach arall a nodasai Cook, dan yr enw “Broken Bay.” Tra ar yr hynt hon canfyddwyd agored rhwng creigiau daneddog, ar y llaw aswy. Tueddwyd y badau tuag atto: ac wele ddyfroedd tawel, dwfn, ac amgylchoedd amrywiog a phrydferth “Port Jackson” yn ymagoryd o’n blaenau. Symudwyd y llynges yn ddiatreg, glaniwyd y milwyr a’r carcharorion, cyfodwyd pabell y llywydd ar fin afonig fechandlos; ac yn y modd hwn gosodwyd “sylfaeni” dinas boblogaidd, a threfedigaeth nodedig lwyddianus, ar y 26ain o Ionawr, 1780. Er anrhydedd i brif Arglwydd y morlys, (Lord Sydney) a fuasai yn egniol dros ben yn mharatoad y lynges, cyfenwyd y llanerch yn “Sydney Cove.” |
FOUNDATION.The British Government determined, in the year 1787, in accordance with Captain Cook’s advice, to establish a colony in Australia. As it was not possible to compel the American states to continue as a land of exile for Great Britain, the domestic prisons were overfilled with criminals. Some place of receipt was needed for these moral dregs. The lot fell on Australia. The area Captain Cook had named “Botany Bay” was appointed to be the site of a penal settlement for the murderers and manslaughterers, the great and petty thieves of the British Isles. On the 13th of May, 1787 a fleet, consisting of six transport vessels, and three store-ships, under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, set out for Australia. It took with it 757 convicts, and about 200 soldiers. Watching them leave the shores of Britain at speed, a gentle spring breeze filling the sails, Lord Sydney,12 pointing to them, said, “There sail the foundations of a mighty kingdom!” Truly said; but, who besides the English government would have chosen to build with such rugged and impervious stone! This load of Society’s scum reached the anchorage of Botany Bay on the 20th of January, 1781. The Commander realized at once that the place would not answer the purposes of a settlement. The Bay was open to every torrential storm which might visit the coast: dreadful waves rose on the adjacent strands, pouring themselves in terrible cataracts onto the beach and the surrounding land; it looked little better than the “slough of despond” of Bunyan’s old pilgrim. The Captain immediately proceeded to investigate the suitability of another bay noted by Cook, under the name “Broken Bay.” While on this course an opening was discovered between jagged rocks on the port side. The boats were put towards it: and lo and behold, deep, still waters, with diverse surroundings, and beautiful “Port Jackson” opens up before us. The fleet was promptly moved, the soldiers and convicts were disembarked, the commander’s tent was pitched by a pretty little brook; and in this way the “foundations” of a populous city were laid, and of an eminently successful colony, on the 26th of January, 1780. In honour of the first Lord of the Admiralty, (Lord Sydney), who had been extraordinarily energetic in the preparation of the fleet, the place was named “Sydney Cove.” |
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Nid hir fu Prydain heb ddeall fod trefedigaeth gospawl “New South Wales” yn mwynhau y cyfryw fanteision bywioliaeth, mewn tir a hinsawdd ag oeddynt ychydig yn rhy odidog i ysgybion ei charchardai. Penderfynodd y diwyd a’r diniwed y gweddai iddynt hwythau gael cyfranogiad yn ei rhagorfreintiau. Dechreuodd Ymfudaeth nerthol a chynhyddol tua gwlad y gwrthdroedolion. Cryfhaodd y drefedigaeth yn gyflym mewn poblogaeth a chyfoeth. Etto, er pob taer ymbil a phrotest o eiddo y trefedigion, parhaodd y llywodraeth gartrefol yn eithaf ystyfnig a dideimlad, i ymarllwys llysnafedd ei hanfoesoldeb alltudedig ar eu gwlad brydferth a chynhyrchiol hyd y flwyddyn 1843. Bu y drefedigaeth, efallai, ar ei henill amserol, oddiwrth lafur gorfodol a gorthrechol y carcharorion, ond dios cafwyd niwed moesol llawn cyfartal. Er y gellir dywedyd fod nodweddiad trigolion presenol New South Wales yn ganmoladwy odiaeth, ac ystyried yr elfenau gwenwynig a fwriwyd mor ddiarbed i’w lith, dim llai na 54,583 o anfad-ddynion mewn 55 mlynedd; eto, y gwir am danynt ydyw, maent yn fwy nodedig am ddiwydrwydd masnachol, medrusrwydd celfyddydol, anturiaeth, ag eofndra, na chydwybodolrwydd. |
It was not long before Britain realized the penal colony of “New South Wales” offered such a favourable subsistence, in land and climate, as to be a little too grand for the sweepings of the prisons. The industrious and the blameless decided that it befitted themselves to partake of its advantages. There began a vigorous and increasing Emigration to the land of the antipodes. The settlement quickly grew in population and wealth. Still, despite all the earnest appeals and protests on the part of the settlers, the home government continued obstinately and callously to pour the slime of its exiled immorality on their beautiful and productive land until the year 1843. The colony in time benefited, perhaps, from the harsh forced labour of the convicts, but was doubtless morally harmed in equal measure. It can be said that the character of the present inhabitants of New South Wales is perfectly commendable, considering the poisonous elements thrown unsparingly into the mash, no less than 54,583 villains in 55 years; but the truth about them is, that they are noted more for their application to commerce, their skilled workmanship, their enterprise, and their boldness, than for their conscientiousness. |
ANSAWDD Y TIR, &c.Er mai lled anwastad yw arwynebedd y drefedigaeth hon, a lluaws o foelydd gwyrdd-leision, a bryniau uchel, serth-ochrog yn amrywio yr olygfa, etto i syniadau Ymfudwr Cymreig nad edrychodd erioed ar eangach gwastadedd na’r eiddo “Cors Fachno,” neu waelodion Dyffryn Clwyd, efallai yr edrycha mor wastad-lyfn a’r morwerydd. Y mae Australia drwyddi draw wedi ei chyfansoddi ar scale fwy na Chymru. Nid anhawdd fyddai cuddio dwsin pobydd, chwedl y Sais, o’n bryniau a’n cymoedd bychain, diddim ni, yn un o ddyffrynoedd eang-fawr New South Wales! Ymgollent yno fel nodwyd mewn tysw o wellt! Y drefedigaeth a ddosrenir i ddwy gyfran arbenig gan drumoedd y “Blue Mountains.” Ar yr ochr ddwyreiniol, sef o’u llethrau i’r môr, gorwedd y rhandiroedd hynaf a mwyaf sefydledig, ac i’r gorllewin iddynt, sef tua’r perfedd wlad—y sefydliadau diweddaraf, ac ychwanegol. Yn y blaenaf cawn rym amaethyddol a thrafnidiol y drefedigaeth; yn yr olaf, ei chyfoeth anifeilaidd a diadellawg. Yn y dosran gorllewinol cawn y tir yn rhagorach ei nodedd, yn gyflawnach a mwy dihysbydd ei ddwfr, tra’n yr un ddwyreiniol, sef yr hen sefydliad. Y mae y tir yn lled amrywiog, rhai llanerchau yn dda odiaeth, eraill yn gras-diroedd tywodlyd, a’r dwfr ar y cyfan yn brin. Er hyn oll, oblegid manteision marchnadol, yma yn unig yr ad-dâl y ddaear draul ei llafur. O barth ffrwythlonrwydd y dosparth hwn, dywed y Parch. D. Mackensie, “Gwelais yn nyffryn Hume River, 300 bwsiel o Wenith wedi eu codi oddiar wyth erw: a hwn ydoedd y trydydd cnwd o wenith a gynyrchasai yr un llanerch yn ddiwrtaith. Gwelais saith gnwd olynol yn cael eu codi oddiar yr un cae, a hwnw heb erioed ei deilo; a’r seithfed crop yn 25 o fwsielau yr erw.” Mewn perthynas i’r sefydliadau gorllewinol, sef tu draw i’r “Blue Mountains,” tystiolaethai Mr. Mossman, “Ceir cyflawnder o dir rhagorol, atebol i bob rhyw ddybenion amaethyddol, a ymylon yr afonydd, a chan fod yr ardymer yn is, (oerach) yn ddios gwna well tir gwenith, na’r ochr ddwyreiniol.” Mynega Mr. Earp, yn gyffredinol am y drefedigaeth, “Er fod y priddyn yn deneu a gwan, (ar y cyfan) a’r porfeydd yn lled wasgaredig, etto y mae New South Wales yn gyfoethog o’r llanerchau ffrwythlonaf sydd ddichonadwy, a digonol i wynebu angenrheidiau poblogaeth aneirif.” Y tymhor hau a gynnwysir o ddechreu Mawrth hyd ddiwedd Gorphenaf, a’r Medi, o Dachwedd hyd Ionawr. Yr Haidd a’r Ceirch a heuir Gorphenaf i’w tori’n lâs fel ymborth anifeiliaid. Plenir y Pytatws drwy ystod y flwyddyn, eithr yr adegau addasaf ydynt Ebrill, Mai, Gorphenaf, Rhagfyr, ac Ionawr. |
QUALITY OF THE LAND, &c.Although the surface of this colony is fairly uneven, with numerous green knolls and steep hills varying the scene, to the eyes of a Welsh Emigrant who has seen no broader expanse than that of “Cors Fochno,”13 or the floor of the Vale of Clwyd, it may look as smooth and even as the ocean. Australia is formed throughout on a greater scale than Wales. It would not be difficult to hide, as the English say, a “baker’s dozen” of our hills and empty little cwms in but one of the wide valleys of New South Wales! They would be lost in a clump of grass there! The colony is divided into two distinct parts by the ridges of the Blue Mountains. On the eastern side, that is from the mountain slopes to the sea, lie the oldest and most settled regions, while to their west, that is towards the interior, are the most recent, and growing, settlements. In the former we find the agricultural and commercial strength of the colony; in the latter, its wealth in flocks and herds. In the western division the land is of a better character, with greater supplies of water, than in the older eastern one. The country is quite varied, some places being of excellent quality, and others sandy wastes, while water is on the whole scarce. In spite of all this, on account of the commercial advantages, here alone does the earth repay the cost of working it. As regards the fertility of this division, the Rev. D. Mackensie says, “I saw in the valley of the Hume river 300 bushels of Wheat raised on eight acres: and that was the third crop of wheat produced in the same place without manuring. I saw seven successive crops raised from the same field, and that without ever manuring it; and the seventh crop yielded 25 bushels an acre. In relation to the western settlements, those beyond the Blue Mountains, Mr. Mossman testifies, “There is an abundance of splendid land, answering every agricultural purpose, and without a doubt the river-banks, where the temperature is lower, (cooler) make better wheat land than the eastern side.” Mr. Earp says of the colony generally, “Although the soil is thin and poor (on the whole), and the pastures fairly scattered, still New South Wales is rich with the most productive lands imaginable, sufficient to meet the needs of an immense population.” The sowing season extends from the beginning of March to the end of July, and the Harvest, from November to January. The Barley and Oats are sown in July to be cut green as fodder. The Potatoes are planted throughout the year, but the most suitable times are April, May, July, December, and January. |
DOSPARTHIADAU TIRAWL.Dosperthir y drefedigaeth i 46 o siroedd. Gwnawn ychydig nodiadau ar amrai o’r rhai pwysicaf:— |
TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS.The colony is divided into 46 counties. We shall give here a few notes on some of the most important:— |
SWYDD ARGYLE.Ei harwyneb sydd anwastad, trumoedd hirfaethion, a dyffrynoedd llydain, yn ei gwahanu. Mae y tir yn nodedig gynnyrchiol, a’r dwfr yn ddihysbydd. |
COUNTY OF ARGYLE.Its surface is uneven, broken by long ridges and broad valleys. The land is remarkably productive, and the water inexhaustible. |
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Maintioli.—1,248,600 Erwau. Hyd 60 milldir-lled 36 milldir. |
Area.—1,248,600 Acres. Length 60 miles—breadth 36 miles. |
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Prif-ddinas.—Goulburn, ar afon y Wallondilly, 125 milldir o Sydney. |
Capital.—Goulburn, on the Wallondilly river, 125 miles from Sydney. |
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Poblogaeth.—5,565. |
Population.—5,565. |
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CLODDIR AUR YMA! |
GOLD IS DUG HERE! |
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12 Thomas Townshend, first Viscount Sydney (1733-1801), secretary of state for the colonies. 13 A large bog set in a wide plain in Cardiganshire. |