in a letter written in august 1839, brunskill describes the countryside as "magnificent" after rains, with trees, flowers, vegetables all flourishing. the settler population of adelaide is reported as 8,250. in a letter the following april, he says that in contrast to when they arrived, when the area was almost totally uninhabited, they were now surrounded by neighbours. his 67 acres leased from the company provide lizards and goannas for "excellent eating", and he says that "the blacks" (the local kaurna people) hardly ever come near them, are "harmless" and do not steal; he lent an axe which was promptly returned. he later (june–july 1840) describes their house, comprising three bedrooms and other features which will make it "the best in the colony".