ACCLIMATIZATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 214, 27 August 1862, Page 6

ACCLIMATIZATION

TO THK EDITOK OF THE TIMES. Sir,—We are siully iv want of a new word. In our endeavor to carry out according to our interpretation the injunction '' to rcploiiisli the ea>th ami subiiue it,"1 it, is rather our function to distribute than .simply to acclimatize. Yet the v/ord "distributim" convoys no definite meaning, and the use ofthe word " acclimatize " brings down- the HcientiHo iunn upon us with a 'vigour somewhat unsuited to the'oocj^-ion. He knows far better than wi; know the difficulties att.en lant upon the process of ajelimathvitiou, strictly so called, and in his eagerness to warn us of th<> punla lin our path, he too readily ignores the more impor- : Uuit and far move feasible, portion of ouv scheme. Till sortie philo'o2:i?t, then favours uawiih th" word de- ! sired', it is to be wished that ail who tako interest in this suhjfci may, once for all, deal with it as embracing distribution and acclimatization—more, perhaps, of the former than the latter. In a large glass e.i<e, somewhat injudiciously placd in the Now South \Val»?.s''court of the hUeruatinnul Exhibition, may be seen a collection of anun.iU, probably as deserving of attention as anything in this I wonderful assemblage • f tventhing great and be.uttij fu!. The group comprises specimens of the pure i t alpaca, born in Australia, the pure llama, a!.-:a horn j there, and five distinct crosses between the tx.).!. breeds. J would commend lhe*e animals t« the ol>se j attention of .<>very one interested in tin? progressive expansion of our empire and the prosperity of our trade; and 1 think.l .shaHbj able t» show that in its j present position the ■ alpaca is, perhaps the mo-t in- t terostisig animal in the world. j The animals exhibited are the produce of the Hock ! introduced infcj.Xt'w Sout'i Wales, after iucr<Hiibio i toils, and danger-;, by Mr. Lc-iltrer, in vhc Iff^itiuitu i of 1859. They were culled from .hU present fUv!v, ■ and, at thy c-st of actual tears iixnu their enthu^i i.-iif i protector, who lias nursed them like his children, j slaughtered f'lv the KxbiVuion, \>y way ol" showing to j the world ihe progress of the I'-xperiiiwntsw wliich he \ has devoted his life iind sacrificed his fortune. ■ The "introduction of thi.i clarN'uf anim/ils inti Au> \ tralia hvs been a.brilliant s ic\-.\s. Mr. Ledger's ;ivv;i i flock has huTea-r-1 rapidly hi ir.unLors, skeins .iVi-o ; from all disease, and U fmiad to thrive better upon the ; indi^eufious herbage, even of ihu more ioui;h di\>eri;>- f tions, th-ui when pampered upon clowr, iuccm:-..0r : other culiivaie.l yvas.ies. Antony a tittle herd vi \ cross-bred imiui.-iU which we h.miL out from KnuUnd ) so Melbourne about the s.uno tint", we have !t;t:! scavcely any deaths. They scjin q;iite rarde-s of nuy.; vicissitudes of heat aa 1 c.UI, and on inspection by ; Air. Ludgvv, aft-r they ha-.l bee.i two years in the .:<>- ' 3ony, ho stated thrtt u?ver, even in fk-irowriVouiitr;.', had he ssen a fl>ck in such beautifid condition^ Mr. Lodger iias . made a calculation that ii 50 years, the natural hierense of.his own lloc.k ulina will yield an annual export of something like £9.000,000 jjut now we reach a very, startling faut, which promises iiidefiaiteiy to hasten even such wonderful results as these. While watching with the must inttr!i«^ interest the elaboration of this oxp'jritneut, ami meeting'at every step >iirn-» of encourageuK'nt, a pruiuU'inau presents him-c!f aniouar u.-s, announcing th-it ii■; is connected with a very t-unncnt house in S. ;r,h Aincriei, that Id-; firm U%* obtained a *'cuiH-^^'.nn " from the Peruvian aud Holiv.'an Governments for th c exportation of ],fjt}') pure ;tl;>aca-s, and tiiat h<* iw ru>xious t> enter into ncj,-ottrit;ois tor the introiuct!!'! * i ! Australia tifthe wlio'e lurd. A few inrctinjfs f'f o-sr i leading capitalists, and landowners, and i!<>-k- ---• niast^TH, a few interviews l'»«twefcn the gui'itiemau iv

question and the Council of the A<.v!iui tizition Society, and !>et.vpcu that h >dv .md th" (] »vi-rinu--?.t, ami we find .Mr. I>u:Ht;ld fiinrtcrimr .1 ei;[>ji.:r •,: l l;i, and fairly under wav t" r 1/iua, jil'-j^-l to lan 1 t!i" first 50O'by next Ocf.,b t. I Till* ;mi ml, \i mu-t I*.' r-'i'ii'inh'T.-d. Jn* Vi-n j«u- ---' i'ou.-ly uuarde-l :h a national m<;iinjM3!\ from ti:i.>- i-u memorial, a.id a j-jurial iriLiTi"-! i.-. atf ichrnle to r;i • fact of" thi» abrogation of Mich monopoly. Jn Antral'sa w ■am oniv account for it nj> >:i an hvrruJi ■>,- which lifts .Mr. LoVper'-; t?Mcrji!se to a '•'.•!< iiLi <•■• j-inuado of liMiiuur. We ln-lieu- t'rit •• ri.-i-!er.->! ■ ! number* of tiii.- anim.il, in\i.;tf Wt.i iinji":l.>-d pii, Au>;trali:>, tlic (jUC^Liun of fiuir e\ti-;i-iv ; c-t il>'i-ii-ment flu-re is only one of time, aid that the S •v"li American G ivenim.-n. 1, feeing tin-., aie wi-.«-I\. i!- ■ riding to cut tlicir e> it i\e •ocJilr.j i-» t!i -ire! ■>.1, ii i arc prei-arin;: to make a trad- r t tint v.hi ■':! tlir.- r i.i no longer {iiv-sci v«> aN a iu'iu(i]».!-,-. It s, 'inw to us t' ,•' the time :-i'ff coniiri'i in which t*io nipaea wi:l !>■• imported a-! r^nl.iriy ;.:; las i-a-i y t'ro.u S nth A -i: •- rjt:a as SmhliJuwhs or .-!i 'it, hums nr<- 11.1.V in-'."u'iit frdin liis^i.ind. And how smn, tbfn, uuv »m"i look fir our a ritnl export of millions -ttiliiifj1 We wiil 1 ><■!-. luck tar a. niMiicm ir .1.: ih.j a iim.il ;.. tIK! pasture l!i.it U h m,' mvpured for it. V," ■1; • 1 not 'iwi il o >;','- I'illlioiji of afrfs already known. ■•{ wliirrh but, a fr.ii'.j,i 1i- a hpteil to v'serji nr c IVI , ' however Miliid !l» a-i auitu.il !c-s i-ari-J'nl nf ir. ■'• n and writ,-;-. Hut wiuN: we heir of tin: .-ippr.i.K-h <>i such an ti'ii'iril from <i'\ • side, we. »hi>.ii 1 n-niMiiii •;■ t'i it. a w!i i'c viiitifi.iiU, !il)jut :i. 'nr^n »-. lvjr.ii»", iat last beinc: fairly th:.»wn open to us Wnat Le ".uxt , and Dii/H'lii iii-i* d<i:n : or 11 ■• in one din-etion, i'.urk" and Wil«, .*-'t win. (i- rj. >.-v, and Jl.iuiM, I.ml-i.i j roujrh ;iml V.'a'k r. ari- tl*•! i^- for 11 in a'ior'i. r !■•, up/nin^ up flt'tU Jlir our t M}<-rpr;-e pnii't'cnliv ihi itaille. 'iiit'l- X t!l<i , X)ti \ t|,i, Vr r . t1),.;.,. i s tllt> ;-nl ! plae?. Lot us .".•'•!ii.riti/.crs dfvoto our-ulvcs v'rh all ' our eiu'rci''-, lo hri.,-^ rh'-iii totrcth'-r. : Two pnin..-, mile with ivi;ard to thi» alpaca, ft'i I I 1 will leave him. So:nf> iirtii* juaiou-v i^ f.-lt tow.i-.!- : tiiis ar.ini'.l h»' our nior.j devout incii'.o w j'"-}jFj-jj*-. h, ; from a sn-jiieio-i ihat l.i- i> intend*"! to -.up'-r--:-.'- t'i- ■ sheep. Tt.f-ri' t-.i'i hf no mUta^e. Th" a'j a-a 1 N-a la 1 per atii'i/ial, nit!) iliif-n'tit h.ibit.-,, HM'i-^ltiK n.id ttMcd. It wlil, -o to •■j.e-ik, feed ovi'i* th1* *-i.« f- >'- \ head, thriving on h.-i-ba^; whifh tlio sheep n-jcor^, I and occupyinir I.md ui^ui'icd to any other puipo-m It is strictly in its a^piict as rai a Idition. not .1 -'i,. r session, t!::»t thi- anini.il i< bulievnl to be invalu dili«, and th * ino»t en'husaslic s'locp-ov/niT in'iy h t"«" !i:-i al]»aca stations, too, with perfect mental qni'.'tiide. Once inoiv. w • have now j, rut thu alp.i'-.i, b:it i' v i 1! perhaps be found tli'it w; have slill to rroafe rlie alpaca. It has been locked up for centuries in :he Innds of the South American Indian, one of the. must superstilious, \g jorsi'it, nn: uni'npvovi'iu,' of mankind. It rests with ii.-j to try what wo can make of it., and it 83euis proh.tbk' tliat tiu car,j which has nuidc tin-short-liorn ox what v.o S' je will scarcely be c.)iitfnted to leave th<- alpva a^ it X The Indian holds to thi--tiny, that the c-rcss bitwp.'ii the alpica and tin: lln-m is a mule and has not lh»* power of rcproduetio 1. Mr Ledger s>end.<> us home .•■ix progressive cruises from 11 flock under hi* own ,«nj>i?rvi-«ioji. And hv allciT'-s th-f not only i.s tin: continuous en « pi"i(:tic:tl>!(', but i,:iat a.strain of the llama s.-e:n.s 1c he an itriprovemeut. ti-, furnifJiiii" a lurtier carcase, a stron^fr con>tir'i'.hu. and a heavier flta-co. Is'ext iti importance upon the list of a''ima!« tint I think we have, Miccectied in rccntly cstablMi'nifr, comes the camel. JJis .\sf rou-ly as rcrtiiinatcd the. l'ni«-t stage of our present exphiiaiion, the camel diliK duty. It was not undejs'ood by poor Burke and his associates, but even then it served them to the las'. Mi-. Howitt writes that he cuuld not wish a iimiv -,cr viceable animal. In the discoveries now being report* il by Ct'crv mail, ample aroi in licjntr revr-aled for thousands L-]»oi» thousands of runs, for which fora rentury to come the camel will be the only available mode oft-ausif. In an arid country, with Vast tracts imperfectly and uncertainly watered, the horse fails us. The workinj; bullock, (he chief slave of the up-country district, is an .eminently respectable character. Really-whe.n one considers his patient performance of duty, alto^.llier unsupported by any considerations of. honour and glory,-one scarcely knows how sufficiently to admire him. Hut like other respectable workers that we wot. of, he must have hw drink, lie has very distinct prejudices as to the expediency of frequent grass, and i; denied his regular rations of thrfie requisites, he either gives in or winds up a hard day's work by hobbling oft" in the night twenty or thirty miles to look for them. To convey our wool to the ports from such legions as these we must look for sonic other animal. And where else.need we look hut to the camel, capable of breakfasting sumptuously on a birch broom, and quite contented with an accidental drink af*otit once in a week 1 Any one who has seen the Arab vvalk quietly oil" into the desert with his lonjr line of six or eight of these animals, each carrying their half ton, will easily see how cheap and effective a mode of transit they furnish from distant places, accessible by no other means. We have the finest camels I ever saw, carefully .selected from the best breeding districts of India. They appear to suit the country admirably, and tho^e in our charge keep in such high coudition tkut I lately had to remonstrate on the subject with .our superintendent to warn him; that we should be liaviag sonic-

thins* happen to'them "from sheer redundancy" of heal ih. In refi'i-encj to.thu enmel we were lately funa-shed with a specimen of that,kind of incidental enooura.roment whioh so frequently ch;;ers our labours, in recAvhig information of a small lir:rd that, have bwrr running wild for some years in tin; neighborhood of Twofold Ury, proving thnt they enu live Miaon^.ns without the aid of man. So wild nre tlwy, indeed, and so little is anything of them known, that we have found the'irrefite-i't difficulty in fretfju^ reliable information about t'asm, the nlast recent and authentic iiL-in? iVonv the kueperof au adjacent lighthouse. Tiny were placed at T\v>:f>!d Bay. itswins, by Dr. Imhiy. who had large stations there, ami oi late years seem *o have Im-n overlooked.

Itw urged by oiijiutors (our )>atli U very plentifully beset witli thi-i"pestilent animal, which sesirn to require no effort at either distribution or acelimatiVitioa) that the cam ;1 is ill adapted for Australia, inusmueh as its f >)t "v.fitted for t!js.aahtl, not for th» stones. v/it!i which Australian surface is so profu-cly strev.ii. Jluf, in fact, the desert upon which tha enuiel wnlk.s is- everywhere mon: sront; than san-1, the one remaining, while the other U drifted nway info hijrli tnuiuidi), a fai-t pi reeptible fnon<;'h to assy on« that over travelled l>v theovnrlanil route.,-

iiur. I am spending ko mut:h time with my friends the a'pafa and the camel, or rather I am occupying a:* much of your spiiwin draliuj; with them, thai I mu,.t forego, at all events for the pr«'.--r.it, any allusion to other ariiiua's fi-.iurin'jr prominently ou'our H.st.

I point to these two, and to such animals m;t only jiH intercwtir.j; in thrmM'Wrs, but iv fu^uj'^tlve of muiy others tint w<; cutild find if we ■ sought for tho'i. with- proper .spirit. It i> my wi>li to ar.m.se. public attention, an far a< my small squeak cm araii«e it, >o this particular form vi thod-u'eSopnu-nt ot the tie empire, the dotm'u sof which vvi;control. Itvjems a department in which Vnnt IJi-Jt.tin is fuiinintly calfu! itcd to oxccl. A nation of U'uv«:lh;rs t'» s<v ; a nation of m^rcii mt» to convty ; a naiiou of iigiicid- j tnrists todeptsture a»»d improve ; :\ nation of jiianit- | fictiirers to test and to dnbr.sNiU-—what inf.rc \~* , w-«nti'il to (MUit'tnU! England's fitness in- th,-i ' p;;rtu*nlar .branch o\ na;i'>i>:d pn^res .' Ought, h.'ir jii't then, morti hearti'y.t»» htv.; rutioißvi i' ' Is it cxai'ily f;.ir to s^'k )o p'irticipale hi prtii-pt-rity tiiar s!ie does nor her fuil shar..* to produ •;• 1 it Hi'iV'A} i> not .iv Jitab.'e to fin i )«v l-.t'j; wli--\^ shounhl to lead. And, iv iv!ation U> h* r Mnra of fifry Cilouijs, fsp"i.u:USy, it in siiart'oly edifying Jo iri I ht:r staudiuir iiup>i-ive and uniu»p!Vi><i uahh*, iiku a .■tone iieu nun.l:«. hrr-oi| <>f vny .-pri^htiy, fa^t.-r, and • quick wilted litt'u clik-k.;. i lam, Sir, your <>'•»• li«-nt. «<■ rv:t:if, !.- KuwaKu W [i.Kiy, I H.-fM.-iu Cuil*. Jun« 2:).