A USTRALIA, forming as it does a vast island continent
-^J^ in the Southern world, lies to some extent within the
tropical range, for the Tropic of Capricorn traverses its
northern part. At present, however, its most densely
populated portion lies just outside the tropics, and it is
this semi-tropical part of Australia with which we have
mostly to do. And apart, too, from the mere fact of
Australia lying between certain parallels of latitude, which
makes its climate tropical or serai-tropical, as the case may
be, its position is peculiar in that it forms this enormous
ocean-girt continent already described.
One of the most extraordinary circumstances in connection
with the Australian jDcople is, that they have never yet
realized their semi-tropical environment. It would natu-
rally be supposed that a dominating influence of this kind
would have, from the very first, exercised an in-esistible
effect on their mode of living. But, on the contrary, the
type of the Australian dwelling-house, the clothing of the
Australian people, and, what is more significant than any-
thing else, their food habits, prove incontestably that they
have never recognised the semi-tropical character of their
climate. All over the rest of the world it will be found
A 2
4 THE ART OF LIVING IN AUSTRALIA.
that the inhabitants of different regions adapt themselves to
their surroundings. For instance, the Laplander and the
Hindoo live in such a widely diiferent manner, that one can
scarcely believe they belong to the same human family.
It has, however, been reserved for Australia, strange even
from the first, to prove an exception to this universal law.
Yes, strange even from the first ! For did not the earliest
arrivals find that the seasons came at the wrong time of
the year ; that Christmas-tide came with sunshine, and that
the r;iiddle of the year was- its coolest part ? Were there not
found in it curious animals, partly quadruped, partly bird,
and partly reptile ? Were there not discovered, also, other
animals who carried their young in a pouch ? Moreover,
did not these first settlers see that the trees shed their bark,
and not their leaves ; and that the stones were on the out-
side, not the inside, of the cherries ?
But even admitting these peculiarities of season, of fauna
and of floi'a, it may be asked. How is it that the people of
Australia have never adapted themselves to their climatic
sun'oundings ? The answer, or rather answers, to such an
interrogation must largely consist of matters of opinion.
This being the case, therefore, I can do no more than
attempt to give my own explanation of this singular
anomaly. It must be remembered that the one great
impetus to colonisation in Australia was the discovery of
gold in 1851. Up till that time settlement had been pro-
ceeding steadily, it is true. Indeed, one may go so far as to
say that the development of the country was progressing,
although slowly, on safe and natural lines. But the
announcement of the finding of gold, which was continually
being coiToborated by successive reports, acted as an electric
stimulus throughout the whole civilized world. As a con-
sequence shipload after shipload of new comers flocked to
Australia, all aflame with the same ardent desire — gold.
THE CLIMATE OF AUSTRALIA. 5
Page 15
Presented as published in 1893. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
A USTRALIA, forming as it does a vast island continent -^J^ in the Southern world, lies to some extent within the tropical range, for the Tropic of Capricorn traverses its northern part. At present, however, its most densely populated portion lies just outside the tropics, and it is this semi-tropical part of Australia with which we have mostly to do. And apart, too, from the mere fact of Australia lying between certain parallels of latitude, which makes its climate tropical or serai-tropical, as the case may be, its position is peculiar in that it forms this enormous ocean-girt continent already described.
One of the most extraordinary circumstances in connection with the Australian people is, that they have never yet realized their semi-tropical environment. It would naturally be supposed that a dominating influence of this kind would have, from the very first, exercised an irresistible effect on their mode of living. But, on the contrary, the type of the Australian dwelling-house, the clothing of the Australian people, and, what is more significant than anything else, their food habits, prove incontestably that they have never recognised the semi-tropical character of their climate. All over the rest of the world it will be found
A 2
that the inhabitants of different regions adapt themselves to their surroundings. For instance, the Laplander and the Hindoo live in such a widely different manner, that one can scarcely believe they belong to the same human family.
It has, however, been reserved for Australia, strange even from the first, to prove an exception to this universal law. Yes, strange even from the first ! For did not the earliest arrivals find that the seasons came at the wrong time of the year ; that Christmas-tide came with sunshine, and that the middle of the year was- its coolest part ? Were there not found in it curious animals, partly quadruped, partly bird, and partly reptile ? Were there not discovered, also, other animals who carried their young in a pouch ? Moreover, did not these first settlers see that the trees shed their bark, and not their leaves ; and that the stones were on the outside, not the inside, of the cherries ?
But even admitting these peculiarities of season, of fauna and of flora, it may be asked. How is it that the people of Australia have never adapted themselves to their climatic surroundings ? The answer, or rather answers, to such an interrogation must largely consist of matters of opinion. This being the case, therefore, I can do no more than attempt to give my own explanation of this singular anomaly. It must be remembered that the one great impetus to colonisation in Australia was the discovery of gold in 1851. Up till that time settlement had been proceeding steadily, it is true. Indeed, one may go so far as to say that the development of the country was progressing, although slowly, on safe and natural lines. But the announcement of the finding of gold, which was continually being corroborated by successive reports, acted as an electric stimulus throughout the whole civilized world. As a consequence shipload after shipload of new comers flocked to Australia, all aflame with the same ardent desire — gold.