es were forcibly abducted from their homes by unprincipled
sea-captains, who realized a large amount of money per head for passage
and for procuring the stolen islanders. One instance of this sort was
related to us in detail, where a small coasting-vessel brought a large
number of natives from an outlying island of the Feejee group, whence
they were forcibly abducted, and treated with as much cruelty as
formerly characterized the slave trade between Africa and Cuba. Even
when imported under the fairest scheme that could be conceived, the
ignorant "Kanacks," as they are called, cannot enforce their rights,
and rarely ever see their homes again after having once left them. The
contracts entered into between employers and these men are little more
than a farce on the part of the principals, and are probably never
consummated. It is gratifying to know that this iniquitous system of
Coolie labor is becoming a thing of the past. Freely expressed public
opinion has nearly abolished it, although its evil results are by no
means yet outgrown.

It is clearly apparent to any observant person that the pastoral and
agricultural interests are paramount to all others in Australia. This is
amply proved by the published statistics of the past five years. Few
persons not especially interested to inquire have any idea of the large
amount of fresh meat shipped thither in refrigerator steamers, or of the
aggregate amount of wool and flour exported thence to England, India,
and China. The tenure upon which farm-lands are held in Queensland, as
already intimated, seemed to us to be not a little confusing. In order
to make men good citizens their land should be to them a freehold; that
is, the title should be solely vested in themselves. The laws relating
to this matter differ in the several colonies.

The semi-tropical climate of Queensland permits of the cultivation (as
we have already stated) of pineapples, cotton, arrowroot, bananas,
coffee, mangoes, and the like. The cotton is of the long and best
staple. The planters here already compete with those of the West Indies
in the product of the sugar-cane, three varieties of which are
especially adapted to this climate; namely, the Burbon, the purple Java,
and the yellow Otaheitan. It must not be forgotten that two thirds of
this colony is within the tropics, stretching northward until it is
separated from the Equator by eleven degrees only. Three tons of sugar
to the acre is no uncommon yiel