015 - Hunter Valley Manuscript - July 1833

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Description(015.jpg) Recto Become one of our principal exports especially if the home duty on Australian tobacco is lowered. The colonists can produce it at [6 c] per lb in leaf and have at this price a handsome return for their labour. At present they depend chiefly on colonial consumption as a vent for this produce but should the home market be opened by a reduction of duty fifty times as much tobacco could be grown in the first year - The consumption of the colony is however very great in itself, for the pipe is the only solace of the lower classes, and the cigar of those who consider a yard of clay beneath their dignity. It has been very justly said that in Australia a mans estimation of himself may be measured by his pipe - Not Jonathan himself is a greater adept at blowing a [cloud] them all [bipeds] in Australia, even our chaste importations from Blingsgate and Cork renew their acquaintance with their old friend on arriving in this Country with redoubled fervor, not even the all engrossing rum bottle has power to divert their attention from the infatuating vapour of the pipe, but the latter like Bardolphs nose to Sir John Falstaff served as an ignis fatuus to lead them the way when the fumes of the former have darkened their perceptions - The very blacks have caught the contagion as the first salutation from them is invariably, you gottit bacca massa, gib me smoke massa - Whilst for a whiff of this precious herb they will procure first ducks or any thing you require only taking care as in all other transactions in the mercantile world not to pay too soon, although your payment be but smoke- The climate of Australia as far as it is known, is decidedly most salubrious, the air is clear pure and exhilarating, this may be attributed in a great degree to the strong westerly winds, which prevail the greater part of the year especially in the winter season. These strong winds purge the atmosphere of the [mephitic] vapours that usually arise from tracts of wood and savannah with both of which the interior abounds - Altho the changes of the weather are in some years very uncertain, April and August are SubjectNew South Wales historyNSWHunter ValleySettlerAustralian historyMaitlandAustraliaDatenot specifiedSourcehttps://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/2665500289/

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