First Impressions
When Edward Ward climbed up and over the hills from Lyttelton to explore the Canterbury Plains he faced plenty of challenges, as well as many discoveries about the environment of his new home, and how settlers were adapting.
Think – It is interesting to consider the language he uses to describe plants whose seeds would have been brought from England for crops, compared to his views on the native plants and landscape he found.
Tuesday December 17th
…we started to climb up the mountain to have a look at the Plains. We missed our direction in climbing and got round the harbour side… In our way we came upon a little nest of fertility that was delicious to look at. In a sheltered nook, facing the N.E. by the side of a small wood, a house was built whose situation was well chosen. All round the soil teemed with vegetable productions – wild oats, ripe sowthistle, plantain, groundsel & other plants grew large and strong… We had to get down precipices, and when we got to the bottom we found the soil very inferior covered at first with thin grass and perennial flax, and then with New Zealand flax and coarser grass growing upon a harsh dry soil, then with bulrushes & swamp plants, the soil really bog and spongy swamp…We came to the river after a long trudge, occasionally refreshing ourselves with the delicious honey of the flax flower…
Source: E. Ward, The Journal of Edward Ward 1850 – 51, Christchurch, first published 1851.
Canterbury Museum Documentary Research Centre
See also >>
Our new land | Food | Shelter | Stormy weather | Bridle Path | A place to settle
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Haere Mai, Welcome / Solving History’s Mysteries / Will you join us? / Our Journey / Our New Land / Resources / About this site / Links / Sitemap
Think – It is interesting to consider the language he uses to describe plants whose seeds would have been brought from England for crops, compared to his views on the native plants and landscape he found.
Tuesday December 17th
…we started to climb up the mountain to have a look at the Plains. We missed our direction in climbing and got round the harbour side… In our way we came upon a little nest of fertility that was delicious to look at. In a sheltered nook, facing the N.E. by the side of a small wood, a house was built whose situation was well chosen. All round the soil teemed with vegetable productions – wild oats, ripe sowthistle, plantain, groundsel & other plants grew large and strong… We had to get down precipices, and when we got to the bottom we found the soil very inferior covered at first with thin grass and perennial flax, and then with New Zealand flax and coarser grass growing upon a harsh dry soil, then with bulrushes & swamp plants, the soil really bog and spongy swamp…We came to the river after a long trudge, occasionally refreshing ourselves with the delicious honey of the flax flower…
Source: E. Ward, The Journal of Edward Ward 1850 – 51, Christchurch, first published 1851.
Canterbury Museum Documentary Research Centre
See also >>
Our new land | Food | Shelter | Stormy weather | Bridle Path | A place to settle
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Haere Mai, Welcome / Solving History’s Mysteries / Will you join us? / Our Journey / Our New Land / Resources / About this site / Links / Sitemap