belonging toVan Diemen's land, the old name of Tasmania; generally usedof the convicts of the early days; and the demon inthe word is a popular application of the law of Hobson-Jobson.Now obsolete.
1852. G. C. Mundy, `Our Antipodes,' (edition 1855), p. 533:
«The Van Diemonians, as they unpleasingly call themselves,or permit themselves to be called, are justly proud of theirhorse-flesh.»
1853. S. Sidney, `Three Colonies of Australia' (2nd edit.),p. 171:
«One of the first acts of the Legislative Assemblies created bythe Australian Reform Bill of 1850 was to pass . . . actslevelled against Van Diemonian expirees.»
1855. W. Howitt, `Two Years in Victoria,' vol. i, p. 367:
«Unquestionably some of the Van Diemenian convicts.»
1867. `Cassell's Magazine,' p. 440:
«`I never wanted to leave England,' I have heard an oldVandemonian observe boastfully. `I wasn't like one of these`Jemmy Grants' (cant term for `emigrants'); I could alwaysearn a good living; it was the Government as took and sent meout.»