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diff --git a/12565-0.txt b/12565-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..148cd82 --- /dev/null +++ b/12565-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,26454 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12565 *** + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY IN NEW SOUTH WALES: +WITH REMARKS ON THE DISPOSITIONS, CUSTOMS, MANNERS, etc. +OF THE NATIVE INHABITANTS OF THAT COUNTRY. +TO WHICH ARE ADDED, SOME PARTICULARS OF NEW ZEALAND; COMPILED, +BY PERMISSION, FROM THE MSS. OF LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR KING. + +By DAVID COLLINS, Esquire, + +LATE JUDGE ADVOCATE AND SECRETARY OF THE COLONY. + +ILLUSTRATED BY ENGRAVINGS. + +VOLUME I. + +Many might be saved who now suffer an ignominious and an early death; +and many might be so much purified in the furnace of punishment and +adversity, as to become the ornaments of that society of which they had +formerly been the bane. The vices of mankind must frequently require the +severity of justice; but a wise State will direct that severity to the +greatest moral and political good. + +ANON. + + +LONDON: + + +PRINTED FOR T. CADELL JUN. AND W. DAVIES, IN THE STRAND. + + +1798. + + +TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THOMAS LORD VISCOUNT SYDNEY + +One of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, +Chief Justice in Eyre South of Trent, +A Governor of the Charter-house, +and a Vice-President of the Asylum + +MY LORD, + +The honour that your Lordship has done me, in permitting this volume to +go forth into the world under the sanction of your name, demands my +warmest acknowledgments. I can only wish that the Work had been more +worthy of its patron. + +The originator of the plan of colonization for New South Wales was too +conspicuous a character to be overlooked by the narrator of its rise and +progress. The benevolent mind of your Lordship led you to conceive this +method of redeeming many lives that might be forfeit to the offended +laws; but which, being preserved, under salutary regulations, might +afterward become useful to society: and to your patriotism the plan +presented a prospect of commercial and political advantage. The following +pages will, it is hoped, serve to evince, with how much wisdom the +measure was suggested and conducted; with what beneficial effects its +progress has been attended; and what future benefits the parent country +may with confidence anticipate. + +That your Lordship may long live to enjoy those grateful reflections +which a sense of having advanced the public welfare must be presumed to +excite; and that our most gracious sovereign, the father of his people, +may long, very long reign over these kingdoms, and continue to be served +by statesmen of tried talents and integrity, is the earnest prayer of, + +MY LORD, +Your Lordship's much obliged, +and most devoted servant, +DAVID COLLINS + +Poland Street, +May 25, 1798 + +* * * * * + +PREFACE + +To the public the following work is with respectful deference submitted +by its author, who trusts that it will be found to comprise much +information interesting in its nature, and that has not been anticipated +by any former productions on the same subject. If he should be thought to +have been sometimes too minute in his detail, he hopes it will be +considered, that the transactions here recorded were penned as they +occurred, with the feelings that at the moment they naturally excited in +the mind; and that circumstances which, to an indifferent reader, may +appear trivial, to a spectator and participant seem often of importance. +To the design of this work (which was, to furnish a complete record of +the transactions of the colony from its foundation), accuracy and a +degree of minuteness in detail seemed essential; and on reviewing his +manuscript, the author saw little that, consistently with his plan, he +could persuade himself to suppress. + +For his labours he claims no credit beyond what may be due to the +strictest fidelity in his narrative. It was not a romance that he had to +give to the world; nor has he gone out of the track that actual +circumstances prepared for him, to furnish food for sickly minds, by +fictitious relations of adventures that never happened, but which are by +a certain description of readers perused with avidity, and not +unfrequently considered as the only passages deserving of notice. + +Though to a work of this nature a style ornamental and luxuriant would +have been evidently inapplicable, yet the author has not been wholly +inattentive to this particular, but has endeavoured to temper the dry and +formal manner of the mere journalist, with something of the historian's +ease. Long sequestered, however, from literary society, and from +convenient access to books, he had no other models than those which +memory could supply; and therefore does not presume to think his volume +proof against the rigid censor: but to liberal criticism he submits, with +the confidence of a man conscious of having neither negligence nor +presumption to impute to himself. He wrote to beguile the tedium of many +a heavy hour; and when he wrote looked not beyond the satisfaction which +at some future period might be afforded to a few friends, as well as to +his own mind, by a review of those hardships which in common with his +colleagues he had endured and overcome; hardships which in some degree he +supposes to be inseparable from the first establishment of any colony; +but to which, from the peculiar circumstances and description of the +settlers in this instance, were attached additional difficulties. + +In the progress of his not unpleasing task, the author began to think +that his labours might prove interesting beyond the small circle of his +private friends; that some account of the gradual reformation of such +flagitious characters as had by many (and those not illiberal) persons in +this country been considered as past the probability of amendment, might +be not unacceptable to the benevolent part of mankind, but might even +tend to cherish the seeds of virtue, and to open new streams from the +pure fountain of mercy*. + +[* "It often happens," says Dr. Johnson, "that in the loose and +thoughtless and dissipated, there is a secret radical worth, which may +shoot out by proper cultivation; that the spark of heaven, though dimmed +and obstructed, is yet not extinguished, but may, by the breath of +counsel and exhortation, be kindled into flame . . . + +"Let none too hastily conclude that all goodness is lost, though it may +for a time be clouded and overwhelmed; for most minds are the slaves of +external circumstances, and conform to any hand that undertakes to mould +them; roll down any torrent of custom in which they happen to be caught; +or bend to any importunity that bears hard against them." + +_Rambler_, No. 70.] + +Nor was he without hope, that through the humble medium of this history, +the untutored savage, emerging from darkness and barbarism, might find +additional friends among the better-informed members of civilized +society. + +With these impressions, therefore, he felt it a sort of duty to offer his +book to the world; and should the objects alluded to be in any degree +promoted by it, he shall consider its publication as the most fortunate +circumstance of his life. + +Occurrences such as he has had to relate are not often presented to the +public; they do not, indeed, often happen. It is not, perhaps, once in a +century that colonies are established in the most remote parts of the +habitable globe; and it is seldom that men are found existing perfectly +in a state of nature. When such circumstances do occur, curiosity, and +still more laudable sentiments, must be excited. The gratification even +of curiosity alone might have formed a sufficient apology for the author; +but he has seen too much of virtue even among the vicious to be +indifferent to the sufferings, or backward in promoting the felicities of +human nature. + +A few words, he hopes, may be allowed him respecting the colony itself, +for which he acknowledges what, he trusts, will be considered as at least +an excusable partiality. He bore his share of the distresses and +calamities which it suffered; and at his departure, in the ninth year of +its growth, with pleasure saw it wear an aspect of ease and comfort that +seemed to bid defiance to future difficulties. The hardships which it +sustained were certainly attributable to mischance, not to misconduct. +The Crown was fortunate in the selection of its governors, not less with +respect to the gentlemen who were sent out expressly in that capacity, +than in those on whom the temporary administration occasionally devolved. + +Under Governor Hunter, who at present presides there, the resources of +the country and the energies of the colonists will assuredly be called +forth. The intelligence, discretion, and perseverance of that officer +will be zealously applied to discover and fix every local advantage. His +well-known humanity will not fall to secure the savage islander from +injury or mortification; reconcile him to the restraints, and induce him +to participate in the enjoyments, of civilized society; and instruct him +to appreciate justly the blessings of rational freedom, whose salutary +restrictions are not less conducive to individual benefit than to the +general weal. + +With respect to the resources of the settlement, there can be little +doubt, that at this moment it is able to support itself in the article of +grain; and the wild stock of cattle to the westward of the Nepean will +soon render it independent on this country in the article of animal food. +As to its utility, beside the circumstance of its freeing the mother +country from the depraved branches of her offspring, in some instances +reforming their dispositions, and in all cases rendering their labour and +talents conducive to the public good, it may prove a valuable nursery to +our East India possessions for soldiers and seamen. + +If, beside all this, a whale fishery should be established, another great +benefit may accrue to the parent country from the coast of New South +Wales. + +The island, moreover, abounds with fine timber in every respect adapted +to the purposes of ship-building: iron too it possesses in abundance. +Coal has been found there, and some veins of copper; and however +inconsiderable the quantity of these articles that has been hitherto +found, yet the proof of their existence will naturally lead to farther +research, and most probably terminate in complete success. + +The flax plant grows spontaneously, and may, with the assistance of +proper implements and other necessaries, be turned to very profitable +account. + +The climate is for the most part temperate and healthy; cattle are +prolific; and fruits and culinary vegetables thrive with almost a +tropical luxuriance. + +To be brief: Such is the English Colony in New South Wales, for which the +author is anxiously solicitous to obtain the candid consideration of his +countrymen; among whom it has been painful to him to remark a disposition +too prevalent for regarding it with odium and disgust. + +London, May 25, 1798 + +* * * * * + +CONTENTS + +INTRODUCTION + +Section I + +Transports hired to carry convicts to Botany Bay +The _Sirius_ and the _Supply_ commissioned +Preparations for sailing +Tonnage of the transports +Persons left behind +Two convicts punished on board the _Sirius_ +The _Hyaena_ leaves the Fleet +Arrival of the fleet at Teneriffe +Proceedings at that island +Some particulars respecting the town of Santa Cruz +An excursion made to Laguna +A convict escapes from one of the transports, but is retaken +Proceedings +The fleet leaves Teneriffe, and puts to sea + +Section II + +Proceed on the voyage +Altitude of the peak of Teneriffe +Pass the isles of Sal, Bonavista, May, and St. Iago +Cross the equator +Progress +Arrive at the Brazils +Transactions at Rio de Janeiro +Some particulars of that town +Sail thence +Passage to the Cape of Good Hope +Transactions there +Some particulars respecting the Cape +Depart for New South Wales + +Section III + +Proceed on the voyage +Captain Phillip sails onward in the _Supply_, taking with him three of +the transports +Pass the island of St. Paul +Weather, January 1788 +The South Cape of New Holland made +The _Sirius_ and her convoy anchor in the harbour of Botany Bay. + +CHAPTER I + +Arrival of the fleet at Botany Bay +The governor proceeds to Port Jackson, where it is determined to fix the +settlement +Two French ships under M. de la Perouse arrive at Botany Bay +The _Sirius_ and convoy arrive at Port Jackson +Transactions +Disembarkation +Commission and letters patent read +Extent of the territory of New South Wales +Behaviour of the convicts +The criminal court twice assembled +Account of the different courts +The _Supply_ sent with some settlers to Norfolk Island +Transactions +Natives +Weather + +CHAPTER II + +Broken Bay visited +M. de la Perouse sails +Transactions +The _Supply_ returns +Lord Howe Island discovered +The ships for China sail +Some convicts wounded by the natives +Scurvy +New store-house +Necessary orders and appointments +Excursions into the country +New branch of the harbour into Port Jackson +Sheep + +CHAPTER III + +Transactions +Transports sail for China +The _Supply_ sails for Lord Howe Island +Return of stock in the colony in May +The _Supply_ returns +Transactions +A convict wounded +Rush-cutters killed by the natives +Governor's excursion +His Majesty's birthday +Behaviour of the convicts +Cattle lost +Natives +Proclamation +Earthquake +Transports sail for England +_Supply_ sails for Norfolk Island +Transactions +Natives +Convicts wounded + +CHAPTER IV + +Heavy rains +Public works +Sheep stolen +Prince of Wale's birthday +Fish +Imposition of a convict +Natives +Apprehensive of a failure of provisions +Natives +Judicial administration +A convict murdered + +CHAPTER V + +Settlement of Rose Hill +The _Golden Grove_ returns from Norfolk Island +The storeships sail for England +Transactions +James Daley tried and executed for housebreaking +Botany Bay examined by the governor +A convict found dead in the woods +Christmas Day +A native taken and brought up to the settlement +Weather +Climate +Report of deaths from the departure of the fleet from England to the +31st of December 1788 + +CHAPTER VI + +New Year's Day +Convicts, how employed +Their disposition to idleness and vice +Her Majesty's birthday kept +Natives +Captain Shea dies +Regulations respecting the convicts +Instances of their misconduct +Transactions +The _Supply_ sails for Norfolk Island +Public Works +Natives +Convicts killed +Stores robbed +The _Supply_ returns +Insurrection projected at Norfolk Island +Hurricane there +Transactions at Rose Hill + +CHAPTER VII + +Neutral Bay +Smallpox among the natives +Captain Hunter in the _Sirius_ returns with supplies from the Cape of +Good Hope +Middleton Island discovered +Danger of wandering in the forests of an unknown country +Convicts +The King's birthday kept +Convicts perform a play +A reinforcement under Lieutenant Cresswell sent to Norfolk Island +Governor Phillip makes an excursion of discovery +Transactions +Hawkesbury River discovered +Progress at Rose Hill +Important papers left behind in England + +CHAPTER VIII + +Barracks +Stock +Intelligence from Norfolk Island +Police established at the principal settlement +A successful haul of fish +A soldier tried for a rape +Provisions begin to fail +Natives +A launch completed +Rats +Ration reduced to two-thirds +_Sirius_ returns to the Cove +One of her mates lost in the woods +_Supply_ sails for Norfolk Island +Utility of the night watch +A female convict executed for house-breaking +Two natives taken +Serious charge against the assistant commissary satisfactorily cleared up +Lieutenant Dawes's excursion +The _Supply_ returns +Transactions + +CHAPTER IX + +A convict made a free settler +A pleasing delusion +Extraordinary supply of fish +Caesar's narrative +Another convict wounded by the natives +The _Supply_ arrives from Norfolk Island +A large number of settlers sent thither on board the _Sirius_ and +_Supply_ +Heavy rains +Scarcity of provisions increasing in an alarming degree +Lieutenant Maxwell's insanity +News brought of the loss of the _Sirius_ +Allowance of provisions still further reduced +The _Supply_ sent to Batavia for relief +Robberies frequent and daring +An old man dies of hunger +Rose Hill +Salt and fishing-lines made +The native escapes +Transactions + +CHAPTER X + +The _Lady Juliana_ transport arrives from England +_The Guardian_ +His Majesty's birthday +Thanksgiving for His Majesty's recovery +The _Justinian_ storeship arrives +Full ration ordered +Three transports arrive +Horrid state of the convicts on board +Sick landed +Instance of sagacity in a dog +A convict drowned +Mortality and number of sick on the 13th +Convicts sent to Rose Hill +A town marked out there +Works in hand at Sydney +Instructions respecting grants of land +Mr. Fergusson drowned +Convicts' claims on the master of the _Neptune_ +Transactions +Criminal Court +Whale + +CHAPTER XI + +Governor Phillip wounded by a native +Intercourse opened with the natives +Great haul of fish +Convicts abscond with a boat +Works +Want of rain +Natives +_Supply_ returns from Batavia +Transactions there +Criminal Courts +James Bloodworth emancipated +Oars found in the woods +A convict brought back in the _Supply_ +A boat with five people lost +Public works +A convict wounded by a native +Armed parties sent out to avenge him +A Dutch vessel arrives with supplies from Batavia +Decrease by sickness and casualties in 1790 + +CHAPTER XII + +New Year's Day +A convict drowned +A native killed +Signal colours stolen +_Supply_ sails for Norfolk Island +H. E. Dodd, Superintendant at Rose Hill, dies +Public works +Terms offered for the hire of the Dutch snow to England +The _Supply_ returns +State of Norfolk Island +Fishing-boat overset +Excessive heats +Officers and seamen of the _Sirius_ embark in the snow +_Supply_ sails for Norfolk Island, and the _Waaksamheyd_ for England +William Bryant and other convicts escape from New South Wales +Ruse, a settler, declares that he can maintain himself without assistance +from the public stores +Ration reduced +Orders respecting marriage +Port regulations +Settlers +Public works + +CHAPTER XIII + +A Musket found by a native +Reports of plans to seize boats +_Supply_ arrives from Norfolk Island +The King's birthday +A canoe destroyed +Its evil effects +Corn sown +Battery begun +One hundred and forty acres inclosed for cattle +The _Mary Ann_ arrives +Two criminal courts held +Ration improved +The _Matilda_ arrives +The _Mary Ann_ sails for Norfolk Island +Settlers +The _Atlantic_ and _Salamander_ arrive +Full ration issued +The _William and Ann_ arrives +Natives +Public works + +CHAPTER XIV + +The _Salamander_ sails for, and the _Mary Ann_ arrives from Norfolk +Island +Bondel, a native, returns +A seaman, for sinking a canoe, punished +The _Gorgon_ arrives +Commission of emancipation, and public seal +The _Active_ and _Queen_ arrive +Complaints against the master of the _Queen_ +_Supply_ ordered home +_Albemarle_ arrives +Mutiny on board +_Britannia_ and _Admiral Barrington_ arrive +Future destination of the transports +The _Atlantic_ and _Queen_ hired +_Atlantic_ sails for Bengal +_Salamander_ returns from Norfolk Island +Transactions +Public works +Suicide + +CHAPTER XV + +A party of Irish convicts abscond +The _Queen_ sails for Norfolk Island +Whale fishery +Ration altered +The _Supply_ sails for England +Live stock (public) in the colony +Ground in cultivation +Sick +Run of water decreasing +Two transports sail +Whale fishery given up +The _Queen_ arrives from Norfolk Island +The Marines embark in the _Gorgon_ for England +Ration further reduced +Transactions +Convicts who were in the _Guardian_ emancipated +Store finished +Deaths in 1791 + +CHAPTER XVI + +The _Queen_ sails for Norfolk Island +Whalers on their fishing voyages +Convicts missing +Various depredations +Dispensary and bake-house robbed +Proclamation +A criminal court held +Convict executed +Transactions +The _Pitt_ with Lieutenant-Governor Grose arrives +Military duty fixed for Parramatta +Goods selling at Sydney from the _Pitt_ +The _Pitt_ ordered to be dispatched to Norfolk Island +Commissions read +Sickness +The _Pitt_ sails +Mr. Burton killed +Stormy weather +Public works +Regulations respecting persons who had served their terms of +transportation +Natives + +CHAPTER XVII + +Mortality in April +Appearance and state of the convicts +Ration again reduced +Quantity of flour in store +Settlers +State of transactions with the natives +Indian corn stolen +Public works +Average prices of grain, etc at Sydney, and at Parramatta +Mortality decreases +King's birthday +The _Atlantic_ returns from Bengal +Account received of Bryant and his companions +Ration farther reduced +_Atlantic_ cleared +Sheep-pens at Parramatta attempted +Quality of provisions received from Calcutta +The _Brittania_ arrives from England +Ration increased +A convict emancipated +Public works + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The _Britannia_ cleared +Survey of provisions +Total of cargo received from Bengal +_Atlantic_ sails with provisions for Norfolk Island +Transactions +General behaviour of convicts +Criminal Courts +Prisoner pardoned conditionally +Another acquitted +New barracks begun +Thefts +The _Atlantic_ returns from Norfolk Island +Information +Settlers there discontented +Principal works +The _Britannia_ taken up by the officers of the New South Wales Corps to +procure stock +The _Royal Admiral_ East Indiaman arrives from England +Regulations at the store +A Burglary committed +Criminal Court +The _Britannia_ sails +Shops opened +Bad conduct of some settlers +Oil issued +Slops served +Governor Phillip signifies his intention of returning to England + +CHAPTER XIX + +A vessel from America arrives +Part of her cargo purchased +George Barrington and others emancipated conditionally +The _Royal Admiral_ sails +Arrival of the _Kitty_ Transport +£1001 received by her +Hospital built at Parramatta +Harvest begun at Toongabbie +Ration increased +The _Philadelphia_ sails for Norfolk Island +State of the cultivation previous to the governor's departure +Settlers +Governor Phillip sails for England +Regulations made by the Lieutenant Governor +The _Hope_, an American Ship, arrives +Her cargo purchased for the colony +The _Chesterfield_ whaler arrives +Grant of land to an officer +Extreme heat and conflagration +Deaths in 1792 +Prices of Stock, etc + +CHAPTER XX + +Order respecting. spirits +Seamen punished +Convicts enlisted into the new corps +Regulations respecting Divine Service +The _Hope_ sails +The _Bellona_ arrives +Cargo damaged +Information +Two women and a child drowned +The _Kitty_ sails for Norfolk Island +Ration +An Officer sent up to inspect the cultivation at Parramatta +A theft committed +Works +Kangaroo Ground opened +Settlers +Liberty Plains +Conditions +_Bellona_ sails +Transactions +The _Shah Hormuzear_ from Calcutta arrives +Information received by her +The Dholl expended +Sickness and death occasioned by the American spirits +The _Chesterfield_ sent to Norfolk Island +Convicts sell their clothing +Two Spanish ships arrive +Information +Epitaph +A Criminal Court +The _Kitty_ returns from Norfolk Island +Fraud at the store at Parramatta + +CHAPTER XXI + +The Spanish ships sail +The _Chesterfield_ returns from Norfolk Island +A contract entered into for bringing cattle from India to this country +Provisions embarked on board the Bengal ship for Norfolk Island +The _Daedalus_ arrives +Cattle lost +Discoveries by Captain Vancouver +Two natives of New Zealand brought in +Bengal ship sails +Phenomenon in the sky +The hours of labour and ration altered +Lead stolen +Detachment at Parramatta relieved +Accident at that settlement +Lands cleared by officers +Mutiny on board the _Kitty_ +The _Kitty_ sails for England +His Majesty's birthday +State of the provision store +The _Britannia_ arrives +Loss of cattle +General account of cattle purchased, lost in the passage, and landed in +New South Wales +Natives + +CHAPTER XXII + +The _Daedalus_ sails for Nootka +A temporary church founded +Criminal court +The colonial vessel launched +A scheme to take a longboat +Two soldiers desert +Counterfeit dollars in circulation +A soldier punished +The _Boddingtons_ arrives from Cork +General Court Martial held +The _Britannia_ hired and chartered for Bengal +The new church opened +Accident +Provisions in store +Corn purchased from settlers +The _Britannia_ sails for Bengal, and the _Francis_ Schooner for New +Zealand +Irish convicts steal a boat +The _Sugar Cane_ arrives +Intended mutiny on board prevented +Excursion to the westward +Public works + +CHAPTER XXIII + +The _Boddingtons_ and _Sugar Cane_ sail +A mill erected +Thefts committed +Convicts emancipated +Two persons killed by lightning +The _Fairy_ arrives +Farms sold +Public works +The _Francis_ returns from New Zealand +The _Fairy_ sails +Ration altered +Transactions +Harvest begun +Criminal Court held +A convict executed +Provisions +Mill at Parramatta +Christmas Day +Natives +Convicts +Boats +Grants of land +Settlers +Public works +Expenses how to be calculated +Deaths in 1793 +Prices of grain, stock, and labour + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A murder committed near Parramatta +The _Francis_ sails for Norfolk Island +Provisions +Storm of wind at Parramatta +Crops +A Settlement fixed at the Hawkesbury +Natives +A burglary committed +Samuel Burt emancipated +Death of William Crozier Cook +The watches recovered +The _Francis_ returns from Norfolk Island +Information +The New Zealand natives sent to their own country +Disturbance at Norfolk Island +Court of inquiry at Sydney +The _Francis_ returns to Norfolk Island +Natives troublesome +State of provisions + +CHAPTER XXV + +Alarming State of the provisions +The _William_ arrives with supplies from England, and the _Arthur_ from +Bengal +The amor patriae natural to man in all parts of the earth +Information +Mr. Bampton +Captain Bligh +_Admiral Barrington_ transport lost +Full ration issued +Ingratitude and just punishment of the settlers +Buffin's corn-mill set to work +Gaming +Honesty of a native +The _Daedalus_ arrives from America +Information +Female inconstancy, and its consequences +The _Arthur_ sails +The _Francis_ returns from Norfolk Island +A boat stolen +Natives killed +A new mill +Disorder in the eyes prevalent + +CHAPTER XXVI + +The _William_ sails +Cultivation +Excursion in search of a river +A storeship arrives +Captain Bampton +Full ration +The _Britannia_, _Speedy_, and _Halcyon_ arrive +The _Indispensable_ and _Halcyon_ sail +The _Fanny_ arrives from Bombay +Information +Two convicts executed +The _Hope_ sails + +CHAPTER XXVII + +The _Speedy_ sails and returns +Excursion to the western mountains +The _Francis_ returns from Norfolk Island +Corn bills not paid +The _Britannia_ sails for the Cape, and the _Speedy_ on her fishing +voyage +Notification respecting the corn bills +The _Resolution_ and _Salamander_ arrive from England +Irish prisoners troublesome +Gales of wind +Natives +_Daedalus_ sails for Norfolk Island +Emancipations +_The Fancy_ sails +A death +Bevan executed +A settler murdered at Parramatta +The _Mercury_ arrives +Spanish ships +Emancipation +Settlers and natives +Civil Court +The _Surprize_ arrives +Deaths +_Resolution_ and _Salamander_ sail +Transactions +The _Daedalus_ returns from Norfolk Island +The _Mercury_ sails for America +The Lieutenant-Governor leaves the Settlement +The _Daedalus_ sails for England, and the _Surprize_ for Bengal +The Experiment arrives +Captain Paterson assumes the government _pro tempore_ +Ration +Deaths in 1794 + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +Gangs sent to till the public grounds +The _Francis_ sails +Regulations for the Hawkesbury +Natives +Works +Weather +Deaths +Produce at the river +Transactions there +Natives +The _Francis_ arrives from the Cape +The _Fancy_ from New Zealand +Information +The _Experiment_ sails for India +A native killed +Weather +Wheat +Criminal Court +Ration reduced +The _Britannia_ hired to procure provisions +Natives at the Hawkesbury +The _Endeavour_ arrives with cattle from Bombay +Deaths +Returns of ground sown with wheat +The _Britannia_ sails for India +The _Fancy_ for Norfolk Island +Convicts +Casualties + +CHAPTER XXIX + +Ration +A Criminal and a Civil Court held +Circumstances of the death of Francis T. Daveney +Salt made +Wilson, Knight, and the natives +The new mill +_Providence_ arrives from England +Four convicts brought from Port Stephens +Public labour +Storm +The _Fancy_ arrives from Norfolk Island +The _Supply_ and _Reliance_ arrive +Governor Hunter's commission read +Transactions +The India ships sail +Another arrival from England +Military promotions +Colonial regulations +The _Providence_, _Supply_, and _Young William_ sail +The _Sovereign_ storeship arrives from England +Criminal court held +Convict executed +Printing-press employed +Ration +Information from Norfolk Island +The Cattle lost in 1788 discovered +Transactions +Bennillong's Conduct after his return from England +Civil Court held +Harvest +Regulations +Natives +Meteorological phenomenon at the Hawkesbury +Mr. Barrow's death +Deaths in 1795 + +CHAPTER XXX + +The _Arthur_ arrives from India +_Francis_ from Norfolk Island +A playhouse opened +Her Majesty's birthday kept +Stills destroyed +_Ceres_ storeship arrives +and _Experiment_ from India +Ship _Otter_ from America +Natives +Harvest got in +Deaths +A hut demolished by the military +A Transport arrives with prisoners from Ireland +A criminal court held +Caesar shot +General court martial +_Otter_ takes away Mr. Muir +_Abigail_ from America arrives +A forgery committed +Works +The _Reliance_ +Particulars respecting Mr. Bampton, and of the fate of Captain Hill and +Mr. Carter +A Schooner arrives from Duskey-Bay +Crops bad +Robberies committed +_Supply_ for Norfolk Island +Natives +Bennillong +_Cornwallis_ sails +Gerald and Skirving die + +CHAPTER XXXI + +Slops served +Orders +Licences granted +The _Supply_ returns from Norfolk Island +The _Susan_ from North America and the _Indispensable_ from England +A Criminal and Civil Court held +Sick +Thefts committed +The _Britannia_ arrives from Bengal +Mr. Raven's opinion as to the time of making a passage to India +A Civil Court +The _Cornwallis_ and _Experiment_ sail for India +Caution to masters of ships +A Wind-mill begun +Thefts committed +State of the settlers +The Governor goes to Mount Hunter +Regulations +Public works +Deaths + +CHAPTER XXXII + +Two men killed; consequent regulations +The _Britannia_ hired to proceed to England +Report of the natives +The _Francis_ arrives from Norfolk Island +Public works +Deaths +A criminal court assembled +A settler executed for murder +The _Susan_ sails +A civil court held +An American ship arrives from Boston +A long-boat lost +Deaths +Weather +A temporary church opened at Parramatta +Appointments +The _Supply_ sails for Norfolk Island and the Cape +Account of stock +Land in cultivation, and numbers in the colony +A murder committed +_Britannia_ sails for England +General observations + +CONCLUSION + +Comprising particulars of the _Britannia's_ voyage to England; with +remarks on the state of Norfolk Island, and some account of New Zealand. + +Particulars of the state of Norfolk Island to the time when the ships +left it: + +Court of Judicature +Number of Inhabitants +Male Convicts +State of Cultivation +Appropriation of the Land +Statement of the Stock belonging to Government and individuals on the +18th October 1796 +Hours of Labour +Ordinary Price of Labour +Average Prices of Provisions raised on the Island +Account of Grain raised on Norfolk Island, from the 6th of March 1788 +(when it was first settled) to October 1796 +Account of Births and Deaths from November 12th, 1791, to September 31st, +1796 +State of the Flax Manufactory +An Account of New Zealand and its inhabitants +A Short Vocabulary of the New Zealand Language + +APPENDICES + +General Remarks: +Government and Religion +Stature and Appearance +Habitations +Mode of Living +Courtship and Marriage +Customs and Manner +Superstition +Diseases +Property +Dispositions +Funeral Ceremonies +Language + +POSTSCRIPT + +LIST OF PLATES + +Chart of the three harbours of Botany Bay, Port Jackson, and Broken Bay, + showing the cultivated grounds in and about the different settlements, + with the course of the Rivers Hawkesbury and Nepean, and the situation + of the wild cattle to the westward of the last-mentioned river. +View of the Governor's house at Rose Hill in the township of Parramatta +By water to Parramatta, with a distant view of the western mountains +Eastern view of Sydney +Western view of Sydney Cove +Direct south view of Sydney +South-east view in Sydney, including the church, etc. +North view of Sydney Cove +Baker's Farm on the banks of the river +Western view of Toongabbie +Portraits of Ben-nil-long, Wo-lar-ra-bar-ray, Wo-gul-trow-el Boin-ba, + and Bun-de-bun-da +The Brick Field, or High Road to Parramatta +View of Sydney in Norfolk Island +Facsimile of a chart of New Zealand, drawn by Too-gee +Saunderson's Farm +Yoo-long Erah-ba-diang, No. 1 +Ditto No. 2 +Ditto No. 3 +Ditto No. 4 +Ditto No. 5 +Ditto No. 6 +Ditto No. 7 +Ditto No. 8 +Ceremony of burning a corpse + +* * * * * + +INTRODUCTION + +A VOYAGE TO NEW SOUTH WALES + +SECTION I + +Transports hired to carry convicts to Botany Bay +The _Sirius_ and the _Supply_ commissioned +Preparations for sailing +Tonnage of the transports +Persons left behind +Two convicts punished on board the _Sirius_ +The _Hyaena_ leaves the Fleet +Arrival of the fleet at Teneriffe +Proceedings at that island +Some particulars respecting the town of Santa Cruz +An excursion made to Laguna +A convict escapes from one of the transports, but is retaken +Proceedings +The fleet leaves Teneriffe, and puts to sea + +1786.] +The Commissioners of his Majesty's Navy, near the end of the +year 1786, advertised for a certain number of vessels to be taken up for the +purpose of conveying between seven and eight hundred male and female felons +to Botany Bay in New South Wales, on the eastern coast of New Holland; +whither it had been determined by Government to transport them, after +having sought in vain upon the African coast for a situation possessing +the requisites for the establishment of a colony. + +The following vessels were at length contracted for, and assembled in the +River to fit, and take in stores and provisions, _viz_ the _Alexander_, +_Scarborough_, _Charlotte_, _Lady Penrhyn_, and _Friendship_, as +transports; and the _Fishbourn_, _Golden Grove_, and _Borrowdale_, as +store-ships. The _Prince of Wales_ was afterwards added to the number of +transports, on a representation being made to the Treasury Board that +such an addition was necessary. The transports were immediately prepared +for the reception of the convicts, and the store-ships took on board +provisions for two years, with tools, implements of agriculture, and such +other articles as were considered necessary to a colonial establishment. + +October.] On the 24th of October, Captain Arthur Phillip hoisted a +pendant on board his Majesty's ship the _Sirius_ of 20 guns, then lying +at Deptford. This ship was originally called the _Berwick_, and intended +for the East India Company; but having, while on the stocks, met with +some accident by fire, was purchased by Government for a store-ship, and +as such had performed one voyage to America. Her burden was about 520 +tons; and being, from her construction, well-calculated for this +expedition, she was taken into the service as a man of war, and with her +capacity changed also her name. + +As the government of the intended colony, as well as the command of the +_Sirius_, was given to Captain Phillip, it was thought necessary to +appoint another captain to her, who might command her on any service in +which she might be employed for the colony, while Captain Phillip should +be engaged in his government. For this purpose an order was signed by his +Majesty in Council, directing the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to +appoint John Hunter esquire (then a master and commander) second captain +of the Sirius, with the rank of post. Although this ship mounted only 20 +guns, and those but six-pounders, yet on this particular service her +establishment was not confined to what is usual in a ship of that class; +but, with a first and second captain, she had also three lieutenants, a +master, purser, surgeon and two mates, a boatswain, a gunner, and a +subaltern's detachment of marines. + +The _Supply_ brig was also put into commission, and the command given to +Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball. This vessel was to accompany the Sirius +as an armed tender; and both ships, having completed their equipment at +Deptford-yard, dropped down on the 10th of December to Long Reach, where +they took in their guns, powder, and other stores. + +1787.] +January.] They were here joined by some of the transports, and continued +waiting for orders until the 30th of January 1787, when they sailed for +Spithead; which port, however, they were prevented from reaching, by +heavy and contrary gales of wind, which they continued to experience both +in the Downs and on their passage, until the latter end of the following +month. + +One or two of the transports had in the mean time arrived at Portsmouth, +and the _Charlotte_ and _Alexander_ proceeded to Plymouth, where they +were to receive the male and female convicts that were ready for them. + +March.] On the 5th of March, the order for their embarkation, together +with that of the detachment of marines provided as an escort, was sent +from the Secretary of State's office, with directions for their +immediately joining the other ships of the expedition at the Motherbank. +This was done accordingly; and, every necessary arrangement having taken +place, the troops intended for the garrison embarked, and the convicts, +male and female, were distributed in the different transports. + +May.] On Monday the 7th of May Captain Phillip arrived at Portsmouth, and +took the command of his little fleet, then lying at the Motherbank. +Anxious to depart, and apprehensive that the wind, which had for a +considerable time been blowing from the quarter favourable to his passage +down the Channel, might desert him at the moment when he most wished for +its continuance, he on the Thursday following made the signal to prepare +for sailing. But here a demur arose among the sailors on board the +transports, who refused to proceed to sea unless they should be paid +their wages up to the time of their departure, alleging as a ground for +this refusal, that they were in want of many articles necessary for so +long a voyage, which this money, if paid, would enable them to purchase. +The custom of their employ, however, being against a demand which yet +appeared reasonable, Captain Phillip directed the different masters to +put such of their people as refused to proceed with them to sea, on board +of the _Hyaena_ frigate, and to receive an equal number of her seamen, +who should afterwards be re-exchanged at sea, her captain being directed +to accompany the fleet to a certain distance. + +This difficulty being removed, and the ship's companies of the _Sirius_ +and the _Supply_ having received the usual advance of two months' wages, +on Saturday the 12th the men of war and some of the transports got under +sail, with a view of dropping down to St. Helen's, and thence proceeding +to sea; but the wind falling short, and proving unfavourable, they +brought up at Spithead for the night, and at day-break next morning the +whole fleet weighed with a fresh breeze, and, having a leading wind, +passed without any accident through the Needles. + +The transports were of the following tonnage, and had on board the +undermentioned number of convicts, and other persons, civil and military, +viz + +The _Alexander_, of 453 tons, had on board 192 male convicts; 2 +lieutenants, 2 sergeants, 2 corporals, 1 drummer, and 29 privates, with 1 +assistant surgeon to the colony. + +The _Scarborough_, of 418 tons, had on board 205 male convicts; 1 +captain, 2 lieutenants, 2 sergeants, 2 corporals, 1 drummer, and 26 +privates, with 1 assistant surgeon to the colony. + +The _Charlotte_, of 346 tons, had on board 89 male and 20 female +convicts; 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 2 sergeants, 3 corporals, 1 drummer, +and 35 privates, with the principal surgeon of the colony. + +The _Lady Penrhyn_, of 338 tons, had on board 101 female convicts; 1 +captain, 2 lieutenants, and 3 privates, with a person acting as a +surgeon's mate. + +The _Prince of Wales_, of 334 tons, had on board 2 male and 50 female +convicts; 2 lieutenants, 3 sergeants, 2 corporals, 1 drummer, and 24 +privates, with the surveyor-general of the colony. + +The _Friendship_, (snow,) of 228 tons, had on board 76 male and 21 female +convicts; 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 2 sergeants, 3 corporals, 1 drummer, +and 36 privates, with 1 assistant surgeon to the colony. + +There were on board, beside these, 28 women, 8 male and 6 female +children, belonging to the soldiers of the detachment, together with 6 +male and 7 female children belonging to the convicts. + +The _Fishbourn_ store-ship was of 378 tons; the _Borrowdale_ of 272 tons; +and the _Golden Grove_ of 331 tons. On board this last ship was embarked +the chaplain of the colony, with his wife and a servant. + +Not only these as store-ships, but the men of war and transports, were +stored in every part with provisions, implements of agriculture, camp +equipage, clothing for the convicts, baggage, etc. + +On board of the _Sirius_ were taken, as supernumeraries, the major +commandant of the corps of marines embarked in the transports*, the +adjutant and quarter-master, the judge-advocate of the settlement, and +the commissary; with 1 sergeant, 3 drummers, 7 privates, 4 women, and a +few artificers. + +[* This officer was also lieutenant-governor of the colony.] + +Proper day and night signals were established by Captain Phillip for the +regulation of his convoy, and every necessary instruction was given to +the masters to guard against separation. On board the transports a +certain number of prisoners were allowed to be upon deck at a time during +the day, the whole being properly secured at night: and as the master of +each ship carrying convicts had indented for their security in a penalty +of forty pounds for every one that might escape, they were instructed +constantly to consult with the commanding marine officer on board the +transports, both as to the number of convicts that were to be suffered to +come on deck during the passage, and the times when such indulgence +should be granted. To the military was left the care of those essential +services, the preservation of their health, the inspection of their +provisions, and the distribution of the sentinels who were to guard them. +Their allowance of provisions during the voyage (two-thirds of the usual +allowance to a seaman in the navy) was contracted for in London*; and Mr. +Zachariah Clark was sent out in one of the transports as the agent +responsible for the due performance of the contract. This allowance was +to be suspended on their arrival at any foreign port, the commissary of +the settlement being then to furnish them with fresh provisions. + +[* By William Richards jun. esquire, of Walworth in the county of Surry.] + +At our outset we had the mortification to find that two of our convoy +were very heavy sailers, and likely to be the occasion of much delay in +so long a voyage as that in which we had embarked. The _Charlotte_ was on +the first and second day taken in tow by the _Hyaena_, and the _Lady +Penrhyn_ fell considerably astern. As the separation of any of the fleet +was a circumstance to be most sedulously guarded against and prevented, +the _Sirius_ occasionally shortened sail to afford the sternmost ships +time to come up with her; at the close of evening she was put under an +easy sail for the night, during which time she carried, for the guidance +of the whole, a conspicuous light in the main-top. + +On the 15th the signal was made for the transports to pass in succession +within hail under the stern of the _Sirius_, when, on inquiry, it +appeared, that the provost-marshal of the settlement (who was to have +taken his passage on board the _Prince of Wales_) was left behind, +together with the third mate of the _Charlotte_ transport, and five men +from the _Fishbourn_ store-ship; the loss of these five persons was +supplied by as many seamen from on board the _Hyaena_. + +Light or unfavourable winds prevented our getting clear of the Channel +until the 16th, at which time we had the satisfaction of finding that we +had accomplished it without returning, or putting in at any of the ports +which offered themselves in our way down. + +Sunday the 20th was marked by the discovery of a design formed among the +convicts on board the _Scarborough_ transport to mutiny and take +possession of the ship. The information was given by one of the convicts +to the commanding marine officer on board, who, on the lying-to of the +convoy at noon to dispatch Captain De Courcy to England, waited on the +major-commandant on board the _Sirius_, and communicated the particulars +to him and Captain Phillip, who, after some deliberation, directed that +the ringleaders (two in number) should be brought on board the _Sirius_, +there punished, and afterwards secured in the _Prince of Wales_ +transport. This was accordingly put in execution, and two dozen lashes +were inflicted by the boatswain's mate of the Sirius on each of the +offenders, who stedfastly denied the existence of any such design as was +imputed to them. + +A boat from each of the transports coming on board the _Sirius_ with +letters for England, some additional signals were given to the masters, +with directions to those who had convicts on board to release from their +irons such as might by their behaviour have merited that indulgence; but +with orders to confine them again with additional security on the least +appearance among them of irregularity. + +These necessary regulations being adjusted, and the _Hyaena_ sent off +with the commanding officer's letters, the fleet made sail again in the +evening. But it should have been observed, that when the _Hyaena's_ boat +came on board she brought some necessaries for the five men belonging to +her, who had been lent to the _Fishbourn_ store-ship, and who, animated +with a spirit of enterprise, chose rather to remain in her than return in +the frigate to England. + +The wind was more favourable to the _Hyaena's_ return to Plymouth (which +port she was directed to make) than to our progress southward, for the +two following days; but it then coming round to the NW, by the 24th we +had reached the latitude of Cape Ortegal. + +On the 25th, the signal was made for Lieutenant Shortland, the agent on +board the Alexander, who, at his coming on board, was directed to visit +the several transports, and collect from each a list of the different +trades and occupations of the respective convicts, agreeably to a form +given him for that purpose by Captain Phillip. From this time to the 29th +the wind continued favourable, but blowing exceedingly fresh, and +attended with a heavy rolling sea. The _Supply_ was now directed to make +sail and keep six miles ahead during the day, and two during the night; +and to look out for the land, as it was expected that the fleet would on +the morrow be in the neighbourhood of the Madeira Isles. Accordingly, +soon after day-break the following morning, she made the signal for +seeing land, and at noon we were abreast of the Deserters--certain high +barren rocks so named, to the SSE of the Island of Madeira, and distant +about three leagues. + +In the afternoon of the 31st, the _Supply_ ahead again made the signal +for seeing land; and shortly after we were abreast of the ridge of rocks +situated between the Madeira and Canary Isles, called the Salvages. + +June.] Our strong trade-wind appeared to have here spent its force, and +we were baffled (as frequently happens in the vicinity of islands) by +light airs or calms. With these and contrary winds our patience was +exercised until the evening of the 2nd of June, when a favourable breeze +sprang up, which continued during that night. At six the next morning the +island of Teneriffe was seen right ahead; and about seven in the evening +the whole fleet came to an anchor in the road of Santa Cruz. The ships +were immediately moored, taking the precaution of buoying their cables +with empty casks, to prevent their being injured by rocks or foul ground, +an inconvenience which had frequently been experienced by navigators in +this road. We found riding here a Spanish packet, an English brig bound +to London, and some smaller vessels. + +Captain Phillip designed to have sent an officer forward in the _Supply_, +to announce his arrival to the governor, and to settle as well the hour +of his waiting upon him, as some necessary arrangements respecting fresh +provisions, water, etc.; but as it was growing dark before the fleet +anchored, and night coming on, when business of that nature could not +well be transacted, his visit was postponed until the morning. Before we +came to an anchor the port-officer, or harbour-master, came on board to +make the customary inquiries, accompanied by some Spanish officers and +gentlemen of the town. The ceremony of a salute was on their side +declined, having, as was alleged, but two or three guns mounted for use; +and on our part this omission was readily acquiesced in, as expediting +the service which brought us thither, that of watering the ships, and +taking on board wine and such other refreshments as could be procured; an +object of more consequence than the scrupulous observance of compliment +and etiquette, particularly in the then necessarily crowded state of the +_Sirius_. And as it was afterwards understood, that it was not usual at +this place to return an equal number of guns upon those occasions (a +circumstance always insisted on by his Majesty's ships when they salute), +all +unpleasant discussion of this point was thereby avoided. + +Early in the morning the officer was dispatched on shore by Captain +Phillip to learn at what time he might pay his respects to the governor. +The hour of noon was appointed for that ceremony; and accordingly at that +time Captain Phillip, accompanied by the civil, military, and naval +officers under his orders, waited on his excellency the Marquis De +Branceforte, and were received by him with the utmost politeness. + +The same reasons which induced Captain Phillip to acquiesce in omitting +to salute on his arrival at this port, operated against his taking public +notice of his Majesty's birthday, which he would otherwise have made a +point of celebrating with every mark of respect. + +In the afternoon of this day the marquis sent an officer on board the +_Sirius_, politely offering Captain Phillip whatever assistance he might +stand in need of, and that was in his power to furnish. In the forenoon +of Wednesday the 6th, he came in person on board, attended by several of +his officers, to return Captain Phillip's visit; and afterwards +entertained him, the lieutenant-governor, and other officers of the +settlement, navy, and marines, to the number of ten, at dinner. + +The next being the day of Corpus Christi, a day of great religious +observance and ceremony in Roman Catholic countries, no boats were sent +from the transports to the shore. The business of watering, getting off +wine, etc. was suspended by Captain Phillip's directions until the +morrow, to prevent the least interruption being given by any of the +people under his command to the ceremonies and processions which were to +take place. Those officers, whose curiosity led them to observe the +religious proceedings of the day, very prudently attended uncovered, and +knelt, wherever kneeling was required, in the streets, and in their +churches; for, when it was considered that the same great Creator of the +universe was worshipped alike by Protestant and Catholic, what difficulty +could the mind have in divesting their pageant of its tinsel, its +trappings, and its censers, and joining with sincerity in offering the +purest incense, that of a grateful heart? + +The Marquis De Branceforte, whom we found in the government of the Canary +Isles, was, we were informed, a major-general in the Spanish service, and +having been three years in the government, only waited, it was said, for +his promotion to the rank of lieutenant-general to return to Spain. The +salary annexed to this government, as we understood, was not quite equal +to fifteen hundred pounds a year. His Excellency's house was situated at +the upper end of the High Street, or Square, as it was called, and was by +no means the best in the town. Mr. Carter (the treasurer) and some +private merchants appearing to reside in larger and much better +habitations. The houses in most of the streets were built with +quadrangles, a gallery running round the interior sides of the first +floor, on which indeed the families chiefly resided, appropriating the +ground floor to offices for domestic purposes. The dwelling-rooms were +not ceiled, but were open to the roof of the building, which rarely +exceeded two stories in height. The upper part of the windows was glazed +with very bad glass; the lower part consisted of close lattice-work, +through the small apertures of which, as we traversed the streets, we had +now and then opportunities of noticing the features of the women, whom +the custom of the country had confined within doors to the lattice, and +in the street to the _roba zilia_, or veil. There were but few objects in +the town sufficiently striking to draw the attention of a stranger. + +The landing-place was commodious, being formed by a stone pier, alongside +of which two boats at a time might lie with great ease and take in their +fresh water. It appeared by an inscription in Spanish, that the pier, +having fallen nearly into a state of entire ruin, was indebted for its +present convenience to the liberality of the governor assisted indeed by +some merchants, who superintended and contributed largely to its repair, +which was completed in the year 1786. + +At the lower end of the High Street was observed a light and +well-finished monument of white marble, commemorating the marvellous +appearance of the image or bust of Our Lady at Candelaria, to the +Guanches, the aborigines of the country, who were thereby converted to +Christianity 104 years before the preaching of the gospel. The four sides +of the monument bore long inscriptions to this effect, and further +intimated, that it was erected, as an act of piety and cordial devotion, +at the expense of Don Bartholomi di Montagnes, perpetual captain of the +Royal Marine Castle at Candelaria. + +In the centre of this street were a stone basin and fountain, from which +the inhabitants were supplied with a stream of very good water, conveyed +from the neighbouring hills by wooden troughs supported on slight posts, +and reaching quite to the town. At the head of the street, near the +government-house, stood a large stone cross, and at a small distance the +church of St Francis, annexed to which was a monastery of Franciscans. +The name of Santa Cruz, the Holy Cross, seemed not inapplicable to this +town, for one or more crucifixes of wood or stone were to be found in +most of the streets, and in others the form of the Cross was painted upon +the walls of the houses. Over the entrances of some houses we observed, +inclosed in small glass-cases, the images and pictures of favourite +saints, with lamps before them, which were lighted in the evenings and on +certain public occasions. + +There were not any fortifications upon the commanding ground above the +town; but at each end of the bay stood a fort, between which were erected +three or four circular redoubts, connected with each other by a low +parapet wall, wearing the appearance of a line of communication between +the forts; but very few cannon were to be seen in the works. + +On the skirts of the town to the southward we visited a workhouse, which +had been originally designed for the reception of the mendicants with +which the town had been very much infested. About forty families had +subscribed a certain sum to erect this building, and to furnish in a +manner every way convenient and consistent with such a design. But we +were informed that the governor had filled it with the daughters of the +labouring poor, who were here instructed in weaving and spinning, and +were brought up in industry and cleanliness, remaining in the house until +of a marriageable age, when a portion equal to ten pounds sterling was +given with each on the day of her nuptials. This and the other expenses +of the house were furnished by a fund produced from the labour of the +young people, who appeared all in the same dress, plain indeed, but +cleanly and neat. + +We heard with surprise, and not without regret, that this institution was +likely to fall to the ground whenever the governor's departure should +take place, the subscribers being dissatisfied with the plan that was +then pursued, alleging that their money had been given to get rid of +their beggars, whose numbers were not diminished; and that the children +were only taught what they could learn from their mothers at home. To us +however, judging without prejudice or partiality, the design of the +institution appeared to have been more effectually answered by striking +at the root of beggary, than if the charity had been merely confined to +objects who would have been found daily to multiply, from the comfortable +provision held out to them by that charity. + +A whole-length picture of the governor was hung up in the working-rooms +of the house. He was represented, agreeably to the end that was at first +proposed by the institution, conducting a miserable object to the gate of +the workhouse; a front view of which was also given. + +These islands, known to the Romans by the appellation of the Fortunate +Islands, appeared even at this day to deserve that epithet; for the +inhabitants were so fortunate, and the soil so happy, that no venomous +creature had been found to live there; several toads, adders, and other +poisonous reptiles, which had been brought thither for proof, having died +almost immediately after their arrival. The air of this place is very +salubrious; an instance of which was remarked in a gentleman who was said +to be 113 years of age, and who had been happy enough to preserve his +faculties through such a series of time, nearly entire, his memory alone +appearing to be impaired. He came from Waterford in Ireland, and had been +vice-consul at this port ever since the year 1709. + +We were informed that a slight shock of an earthquake had been felt here +in the month of February preceding, but was unattended with any eruption +from the Peak, which had not alarmed the island since the year 1703, when +it destroyed the port of Guarrachica. + +When the weather was very hot at Santa Cruz, the better sort of the +inhabitants chose cooler residences higher up in the mountains, and these +they could establish in whatever degree of temperature they chose; for in +proportion as they ascended the air became cooler, the famous Peak being +(though a volcano) clad in perpetual snow at its summit. We understood +that the rain fell very heavy at certain seasons; and, on the sides of +the hills which surrounded the town, ridges or low walls of stone were +constructed at short distances, with intervals in them, to break the +force of the water, which otherwise, descending in torrents, would sweep +away every thing before it. Around Santa Cruz, indeed, there appeared but +little vegetation for which to be apprehensive, nor did the prospect +brighten till we came within view of the town named Laguna, an inland +settlement, and once the capital of the island. + +For this place a party of us set forward on the 8th, mounted, according +to the custom of the country, upon mules or asses. Our route lay over +hills and mountains of rock continually ascending, until within a short +distance of the town, at which we arrived in between two and three hours +from our leaving Santa Cruz. The road over which we passed was wide, but +for the greatest part of it we travelled over loose stones that bore all +the appearance of cinders; in some places resembling a regular pavement, +and in others our beasts were compelled to scramble as well as they could +over the hard solid rock. We found that Laguna, which was somewhat better +than three English miles distant from Santa Cruz, had formerly been a +populous city; the streets were spacious, and laid out at right angles +with each other. + +Here were two monasteries and as many convents. The monastery of St +Augustine we visited; and the good fathers of it with great civility +conducted us to their chapel, though it was preparing for the celebration +of some religious ceremony. We found the altar-piece, on which was +commonly displayed all their finery and taste, neat, light, and elegant. +Few paintings were to be seen; the best were half-lengths of some of the +saints disposed round the pulpit. The form of this building was a +quadrangle, the centre of which was laid out in garden-ground, elegantly +divided into walks, bordered with roses, myrtle, and a variety of other +shrubs and flowers. Hence we proceeded to the retreat of religious +females, but had not chosen the proper time for paying our respects, +which ceremony we therefore deferred until our return in the evening from +an excursion into the adjacent country. + +The town of Laguna (a name which signifies Lake or Swamp) is situated +upon a plain surrounded by high hills, and watered by the same means as +Santa Cruz, from a great distance up the country. We noticed, indeed, two +stone-basins, and fountains playing in different streets of the place. +The buildings here had a manifest superiority over those of Santa Cruz, +the streets were far more spacious, and the houses larger. In some of the +former we perceived a regular line of shops filled chiefly with articles +from England. The insalubrity of the air of this place, however, had +driven, and was continuing to drive, such numbers almost daily from its +influence, that it had more the appearance of a deserted than of an +inhabited town, weeds and grass literally growing in the streets. As this +town decreased in its population, Santa Cruz, with some others on the +island, received the benefit; and it must be acknowledged, that although +in quitting Laguna they removed from fertile fields and a romantic +pleasant country, to uncouth and almost barren rocks at Santa Cruz, they +changed a noxious for a very healthy situation. + +After viewing the town we remounted our beasts, and proceeded by the side +of the aqueduct into a most delightful country, where we found the people +cheerfully employed in gathering their harvest, and singing their rural +roundelays. The soil produced oats, barley, wheat, and Indian corn; but, +though it bore always two, and sometimes three crops, it was nevertheless +unequal in the whole of its produce to the consumption of the island, the +deficiency being supplied from the Grand Canary. + +The sides of the hills were clothed with woods, into one of which we +rode, and arriving at a place named Il Plano de los Vieios, or the Plain +of the Old People, we rested for some little time, and afterward, +crossing through a cultivated valley, ascended the hill on the opposite +side, where we visited the source of the stream that supplied the +aqueduct. Returning thence, we refreshed under the walls of a small +chapel, where a friar occasionally performed mass for the neighbouring +country people. About five o'clock we again entered Laguna, with the +intention of paying our compliments to the sisterhood of the convent +which we had visited in the morning; but whether our party was too +numerous, or from what other cause it proceeded we could not learn, we +were only favoured with the company of four or five of the elder ladies +of the house, who talked very loud and very fast. After purchasing some +few bunches of artificial fruit, we took our leave, and proceeded to +Santa Cruz, cautiously indeed, down the hills and rocks which we had +ascended in the morning, and arrived about sun-set. + +An outward-bound Dutch East-Indiaman had anchored in the road since the +morning. + +In the evening of this day John Powers, a convict, made his escape from +the _Alexander_ transport, in a small boat which by some accident was +suffered to lie unattended to alongside the ship, with a pair of oars in +it; he was however retaken at day-break the next morning, by the activity +of the master and a party of marines belonging to the transport, and +brought on board the _Sirius_, whence he was removed to his own ship, +with directions for his being heavily ironed. + +It appeared that he had at first conceived hopes of being received on +board the Dutch East India ship that arrived in the morning; but, meeting +with a disappointment there, rowed to the southern part of the island, +and concealed himself among the rocks, having first set his boat and oars +adrift, which fortunately led to a discovery of the place he had chosen +for his retreat. The Marquis de Branceforte, on hearing of his escape, +expressed the greatest readiness to assist in his recovery; and Captain +Phillip offered a considerable reward for the same purpose. + +Having completed the provisioning and watering of the fleet, and being +again ready to proceed on our voyage, in the afternoon of Saturday the +9th the signal was made from the _Sirius_ for all boats to repair on +board; shortly after which she unmoored, and that night lay at single +anchor. + +At daybreak the following morning the whole fleet got under way. + +SECTION II + +Proceed on the voyage +Altitude of the peak of Teneriffe +Pass the isles of Sal, Bonavista, May, and St. Iago +Cross the equator +Progress +Arrive at the Brazils +Transactions at Rio de Janeiro +Some particulars of that town +Sail thence +Passage to the Cape of Good Hope +Transactions there +Some particulars respecting the Cape +Depart for New South Wales + +Light airs had, by the noon of Monday the 11th, carried the fleet midway +between the islands of Teneriffe and the Grand Canary, which latter was +now very distinctly seen. This island wore the same mountainous +appearance as its opposite neighbour Teneriffe, from which it seemed to +be divided by a space of about eleven leagues. Being the capital of the +Canary Islands, the chief bishop had his residence there, and evinced in +his diocese the true spirit of a primitive Christianity, by devoting to +pious and charitable purposes the principal part of a revenue of ten +thousand pounds _per annum_. The chief officers of justice also reside in +this island, before whom all civil causes are removed from Teneriffe and +the other Canary Islands, to be finally decided. + +While detained in this spot, we had a very fine view of the Peak of +Teneriffe, lifting its venerable and majestic head above the neighbouring +hills, many of which were also of considerable height, and perhaps rather +diminished the grandeur of the Peak itself, the altitude of which we +understood was 15,396 feet, only 148 yards short of three miles. + +On the 14th, the wind began to blow steady from the north-east; and on +the 15th, about eleven in the forenoon, we crossed the tropic of Cancer. +Our weather now became hot and close, and we rolled along through a very +heavy sea, the convoy, however, keeping well together. + +At six o'clock in the morning of the 18th, the _Supply_, then ahead of +the fleet, made the signal for seeing land. The weather being very hazy, +we had but an indistinct view of the Isle of Sal, one of the Cape de Verd +islands, bearing NW by W ¼ W distant eight leagues; and at one the same +day, we came in sight of the Island of Bonavista, bearing S.W. distant +two leagues. + +Captain Phillip designing to anchor for a few hours at the Island of St. +Iago, to procure water and other refreshments, if he could get in without +any risk or difficulty, in the evening shortened sail, and made the +convoy's signal to close, the run from thence to that island being too +great to admit of our reaching it before dark. The _Supply_ was directed +at the same time to keep ahead with a light during the night; and at +twelve o'clock the night signal was made for the fleet to bring-to. + +At six the next morning we made sail again, and soon after passed the +Isle of May, distant about four leagues, bearing NW by W of us. Between +nine and ten o'clock we made the south end of the Island of St. Iago and +at the distance of about two leagues. The wind freshening soon after we +saw the island, at noon we were ranging along the south side of it, with +the signal flying for the convoy to prepare to anchor; but at the moment +of our opening Praya-bay, and preparing to haul round the southern +extremity of it, the fleet was suddenly taken aback, and immediately +after baffled by light airs. We could however perceive, as well by the +colours at the fort, as by those of a Portuguese snow riding in the bay, +that the wind blew directly in upon the shore, which would have rendered +our riding there extremely hazardous; and as it was probable that our +coming to an anchor might not have been effected without some accident +happening to the convoy, Captain Phillip determined to wave, for the +superior consideration of the safety of the fleet under his care, the +advantages he might otherwise have derived from the supply of fresh +provisions and vegetables to be procured there: the breeze therefore +coming off the land, and with sufficient effect to carry us clear of the +island and its variable weather, the anchoring signal was taken in, and +we made sail about two o'clock, the fleet standing away due south. Our +sudden departure from the island, we imagined, must have proved some +disappointment to the inhabitants, as we noticed that a gun was fired at +the fort, shortly after our opening the bay; a signal, it was supposed, +to the country people to bring down their articles for trade and barter. + +July.] On the 14th of July the fleet crossed the equator in the 26th +degree of east longitude. Such persons as had never before crossed the +Line were compelled to undergo the ridiculous ceremonies which those who +were privileged were allowed to perform on them. + +From this time our weather was pleasant, and we had every appearance of +soon reaching our next port, the Rio de Janeiro, on the Brazil coast. + +The track which we had to follow was too beaten to afford us any thing +new or interesting. Captain Phillip proposed making the Island of +Trinidada; but the easterly winds and southerly currents which we had met +with to the northward of the Line having set us so far to the westward +when we crossed it, he gave up all expectation of seeing it, and on the +28th altered his course, steering SW. Trinidada is laid down in 20 +degrees 25 minutes south latitude, and 28 degrees 35 minutes west +longitude, while we at noon on the 29th were in 19 degrees 36 minutes +south latitude, and 33 degrees 18 minutes west longitude. + +The longitude, when calculated by either altitudes of the sun, for the +time-piece (of Kendal's constructing, which was sent out by the Board of +Longitude), or by the means of several sets of lunar observations, which +were taken by Captain Hunter, Lieutenant Bradley, and Lieutenant Dawes, +was constantly shown to the convoy, for which purpose the signal was made +for the whole to pass under the stern of the _Sirius_, when a board was +set up in some conspicuous part of the ship with the longitude marked on +it to that day at noon. + +A good look-out (to make use of the sea-phrase usual on these occasions) +was kept for an island, not very well known or described, which was laid +down in some charts, nearly in the track which we were to cross, but it +was not seen by any of the ships of the fleet; nor was implicit credit +given to its existence, although named (the island of Ascension) and a +latitude and longitude assigned to it. It was conjectured, that the +islands of Martin Vas and Trinidada, lying within about five leagues of +each other, had given rise to the idea of a new island, and that +Ascension was in reality one or other of those islands. + +Only two accidents happened during the passage to the Brazils. A seaman +belonging to the _Alexander_ was so unfortunate as to fall overboard, and +could not be recovered--and a female convict on board the _Prince of +Wales_ was so much bruised by the falling of a boat from off the booms +(which, owing to the violent motion of the ship, had got loose) that she +died the following day, notwithstanding the professional skill and humane +attention of the principal surgeon; for as the boat in launching forward +fell upon the neck and crushed the vertebrae and spine, all the aid he +could render her was of no avail. + +August.] On Thursday the 2nd of August we had the coast of South America +in sight; and the head-land, named Cape Frio, was distinctly seen before +the evening closed in. Our time-piece had given us notice when to look +out for it, and the land was made precisely to the hour in which it had +taught us to expect it. It was not, however, until the evening of the 4th +that we anchored within the islands at the entrance of the harbour of Rio +de Janeiro. + +At day-break the next morning an officer was dispatched from the _Sirius_ +to inform the viceroy of the arrival of the fleet; and he most readily +and politely promised us every assistance in his power. A ship bound to +Lisbon passing us about noon, that opportunity was taken of sending an +account to England of the fortunate progress which we had so far made in +the long voyage before us; soon after which the port-officer, or +harbour-master, came on board, and, the seabreeze beginning to blow, the +fleet got under sail. About five in the afternoon we crossed the bar, and +soon after passing the fort of Santa Cruz, saluted it with thirteen guns, +which were returned by an equal number of guns from the fort. While +saluting, it fell calm; but by the assistance of a light breeze which +afterwards sprung up, and the tide of flood, the _Sirius_ was enabled to +reach far enough in by seven o'clock to come to an anchor in the harbour +of Rio de Janeiro; the convoy also anchored as they came up, at the +distance of about a mile and a half from the landing-place, which was +found very commodious. + +Our passage from Teneriffe, although rather a long one, had fortunately +been unattended with any disease, and the surgeon reported that we had +brought in only ninety-five persons sick, comprehending every description +of people in the fleet. Many, however, of this number were bending only +under the pressure of age and its attendant infirmities, having no other +complaints among them. + +On the morning after our arrival the intendant of the port, with the +usual officers, repaired on board the _Sirius_, requiring the customary +certificates to be given, as to what nation she belonged to, whither +bound, the name of her commander, and his reason for coming into that +port; to all which satisfactory answers were given; and at eleven o'clock +the day following Captain Phillip, accompanied by the officers of the +settlement, civil and military, waited upon Don Louis Vasconcellos, the +viceroy of the Brazils, at his excellency's palace, who received them +with much politeness, readily assenting to a tent being pitched on shore +for the purpose of an observatory; as well as to the drawing of the Seine +in different parts of the bay for fish; only pointing out the +restrictions that would be necessary to prevent the sailors from +straggling into the country. On their taking leave, it was most politely +intimated, that no restraint would be imposed upon the officers, whenever +they came on shore to the town, in which they were free to pass wherever +they desired. A conduct so opposite to that in general observed to +foreigners in this port could by us be attributed only to the great +esteem in which Captain Phillip was held here by all ranks of people +during the time of his commanding a ship in the Portuguese service; for +on being informed of the employment he now held, the viceroy's guard was +directed to pay him the same honours during his stay here, that were paid +to himself as the representative of the crown of Portugal. + +The palace of the viceroy stood in the Royal Square, of which, together +with the public prison, the mint, and the opera-house, it formed the +right wing. Of these buildings the opera-house alone was shut up; and we +were informed, that the gloom which was thrown over the court and kingdom +of Portugal by the death of the late king, had extended in full force to +the colonies also; all private and public amusements being since that +time discouraged as much as possible, the viceroy himself setting the +example. Once a week, indeed, his excellency had a music-meeting at the +palace for the entertainment of himself and a few select friends; but +nothing more. + +The town of St. Sebastian (or, as it is more commonly named, the town of +Rio de Janeiro, which was in fact the name of the river forming the bay, +on the western side of which was built the town) is large, and was +originally designed to have had an elevated and airy situation, but was, +unfortunately for the inhabitants, erected on low ground along the shore, +and in a recess almost wholly out of the reach of the refreshing +seabreeze, which was observed to be pretty regular in its visitations. +The inhabitants, nevertheless, deemed the air salubrious; and we were +informed that epidemic distempers were rare among them. In their streets, +however, were frequently seen objects of wretchedness and misery, +crawling about with most painful and disgusting swellings in their legs +and privities. The hospital, which had formerly been a Jesuit's convent, +stood near the summit of the hill, in an open situation, at the back of +the town. From the great estimation in which English surgeons were held +here, it would seem that the town is not too well provided in that +respect. Senor Ildefonse, the principal in the place had studied in +England, where he went under the course of surgical education called +walking the hospitals, and might by his practice in this place, which was +considerable, and quite as much as he could attend to, have soon realised +a handsome fortune; but we understood, that to the poor or necessitous +sick he always administered _gratis_. + +The township of the Rio de Janeiro was said to contain on the whole not +less than 40,000 people, exclusive of the native Indians and negroes. +These last appear to be very numerous, of a strong robust appearance, and +are brought from the coast of Guinea, forming an extensive article of +commerce. With these people of both sexes the streets were constantly +filled, scarcely any other description of people being seen in them. +Ladies or gentlemen were never seen on foot in the streets during the +day; those whose business or inclination led them out being carried in +close chairs, the pole of which came from the head of the vehicle, and +rested on the shoulders of the chairmen, having, notwithstanding the +gaudiness of the chair itself, a very awkward appearance. + +The language spoken here by the white people was that of the mother +country--Portuguese. The ecclesiastics in general could converse in +Latin; and the negro slaves spoke a corrupt mixture of their own tongue +with that of the people of the town. The native Indians retained their +own language, and could be distinctly discerned from the natives of +Guinea, as well by the colour of the skin, as by the hair and the +features of the face. Some few of the military conversed in French; but +this language was in general little used. + +The town appeared to be well supplied with water, which was conveyed into +it from a great distance by means of an aqueduct (or carioca) which in +one place having to cross a road or public way was raised upon a double +row of strong lofty arches, forming an object that from the bay, and at +the entrance of the harbour, added considerably to the beauty of the +imagery. From this aqueduct the water was received into stone fountains, +constructed with capacious basins, whither the inhabitants sent their +linen, to have the dirt rather beaten than washed out of it, by slaves. +One of these fountains of a modern construction was finished with great +taste and neatness of execution. + +We also observed several large and rich convents in the town. The chief +of these were, the Benedictine and the Carmelite; one dedicated to St. +Anthony, another to Our Lady of Assistance, and another to St. Theresa. +The two last were for the reception of nuns; and of the two, that of St. +Theresa was reported the severest in its religious duties, and the +strictest in its restraints and regulations. The convent D. Ajuda, or of +Assistance, received as pensioners, or boarders, the widows of officers, +and young ladies having lost their parents, who were allowed to remain, +conforming to the rules of the convent, until married, or otherwise +provided for by their friends. There were many inferior convents and +churches, and the whole were under the spiritual direction of a bishop, +whose palace was in the town, a short distance from one of the principal +convents. + +Near the carioca, or aqueduct, stood the seminary of St. Joseph, where +the servants of the church received their education, adopting on their +entrance the clerical habit and tonsure. The chapel to the seminary was +neat, and we were conducted by a sensible well-informed father of the +Benedictine Order to a small library belonging to it. + +To a stranger nothing could appear more remarkable than the innumerable +religious processions which were to be seen at all hours in this town. At +the close of every day an image of the Virgin was borne in procession +through the principal streets, the attendants arrayed in white surplices, +and bearing in their hands lighted tapers; chanting at the same time +praises to her in Latin. To this, as well as to all other religious +processions, the guards turned out, grounded their arms, kneeled, and +showed the most submissive marks of respect; and the bells of each church +or convent in the vicinity of their progress sounded a peal while they +were passing. + +Every church, chapel, or convent, being under the auspices of some +tutelary saint, particular days were set apart as the festival of each, +which were opened with public prayers, and concluded with processions, +music, and fireworks. The church and altars of the particular saint whose +protection was to be solicited were decorated with all the splendor of +superstition*, and illuminated both within and without. During several +hours after dark, on these solemn festivals, the inhabitants might be +seen walking to and from the church, dressed in their best habiliments, +accompanied by their children, and attended by their slaves and their +carriages. + +[* We were informed that they never permitted any base metals near their +altars, all their vessels, etc. being of the purest gold or silver.] + +An instance was related to us, of the delay that was thrown in the way of +labour by this extravagant parade of public worship, and the strict +observance of saints' days, which, though calculated, no doubt, by the +glare which surrounds the shrine, and decorates the vesture of its +priests, to impress and keep in awe the minds of the lower sort of +people, Indians and slaves, had nevertheless been found to be not without +its evil effects: + +A ship from Lisbon, laden chiefly with bale goods, was burnt to the +water's edge, with her whole cargo, and much private property, the fourth +day after her anchoring in the harbour, owing to the intervention of a +sabbath and two saints' days which unfortunately ensued that of her +arrival. All that could be done was, to tow the vessel on shore near the +Island of Cobres, clear of the shipping in the bay, where grounding, she +was totally consumed. One of the passengers, whose whole property was +destroyed with her, came out to fill an high judicial employment, and had +with all his family removed from Lisbon for that purpose, bringing with +him whatever he had valuable in Europe. + +At a corner of almost every street in the town we observed a small altar, +dedicated generally to the Virgin, and decorated with curtains and lamps. +Before these altars, at the close of every evening, the negroes assembled +to chant their vespers, kneeling together in long rows in the street. The +policy of thus keeping the minds of so large a body, as that of the black +people in this town, not only in constant employment, but in awe and +subjection, by the almost perpetual exercise of religious worship, was +too obvious to need a comment. In a colony where the servants were more +numerous than the masters, a military, however excellent, ought not to be +the only control; to keep the mind in subjection must be as necessary as +to provide a check on the personal conduct. + +The trades-people of the town have adopted a regulation, which must prove +of infinite convenience to strangers, as well as to the inhabitants. We +found the people of one profession or trade dwelling together in one, +two, or as many streets as were necessary for their numbers to occupy. +Thus, for instance, the apothecaries resided in the principal street, or +Rua Direita, as it was named; one or more streets were assigned to the +jewellers; and a whole district appeared to be occupied by the mercers. +By this regulation the labour of traversing from one street to another, +in search of any article which the purchaser might wish to have a choice +of, was avoided*. Most of the articles were from Europe, and were sold at +a high price. + +[* The same useful regulation is observed at Aleppo.] + +Houses here were built, after the fashion of the mother-country, with a +small wooden balcony over the entrance; but to the eye of one accustomed +to the cheerful appearance of glass windows, a certain sombre cast seemed +to pervade even their best and widest streets, the light being conveyed +through window-frames of close lattice-work. Some of these, indeed, being +decorated on the outside with paint and some gilding, rather improved the +look of the houses to which they belonged. + +The winter, we were informed, was the only season in which the +inhabitants could make excursions into the country; for when the sun came +to the southward of the Line, the rain, as they most energetically +assured us, descended for between two and three months rather in seas +than in torrents. At this season they confined themselves to their houses +in the town, only venturing out by the unscorching light of the moon, or +at those intervals when the rains were moderated into showers. But, +though the summer season is so extremely hot, the use of the cold bath, +we found, was wholly unknown to the inhabitants. + +The women of the town of Rio de Janeiro, being born within the tropics, +could not be expected to possess the best complexions; but their features +were in general expressive--the eye dark and lively, with a striking +eye-brow. The hair was dark, and nature had favoured them with that +ornament in uncommon profusion: this they mostly wore with powder, +strained to a high point before, and tied in several folds behind. By +their parents they were early bred up to much useful knowledge, and were +generally mistresses of the polite accomplishments of music, singing, and +dancing. Their conversation appeared to be lively, at times breaking out +in sallies of mirth and wit, and at others displaying judgment and good +_sense_. In their dress for making or receiving visits, they chiefly +affected silks and gay colours; but in the mornings, when employed in the +necessary duties of the house, a thin but elegant robe or mantle thrown +over the shoulders was the only upper garment worn. Both males and +females were early taught to dress as men and women; and we had many +opportunities of seeing a hoop on a little Donna of three years of age, +and a bag and a sword on a Senor of six. This appearance was as difficult +to reconcile as that of the saints and virgins in their churches being +decorated with powdered perukes, swords, laced clothes, and full-dressed +suits. + +Attentions to the women were perhaps carried farther in this place than +is customary in Europe. To a lady, in the presence of a gentleman, a +servant never was suffered to hand even a glass of water, the gentleman +(with a respect approaching to adoration) performing that office; and +these gallantries appeared to be received as the homage due to their +superior rank in the creation. It was said, indeed, that they were not +disinclined to intrigues, but in public the strictest decorum and +propriety of behaviour was always observed in the women, single as well +as married. At houses where several people of both sexes were met +together, the eye, on entering the room, was instantly hurt, at +perceiving the female part of the company ranged and seated by themselves +on one side, and the gentlemen on the other, an arrangement certainly +unfavourable to private or particular conversation. These daughters of +the sun should, however, neither be censured nor wondered at, if found +indulging in pleasures against which even the constitutions of colder +regions are not proof. If frozen chastity be not always found among the +children of ice and snow, can she be looked for among the inhabitants of +climates where frost was never felt? Yet heartily should she be welcomed +wherever she may be found, and doubly prized if met with unexpectedly. + +The mines, the great source of revenue to the crown of Portugal, and in +the government of this place the great cause of jealousy both of +strangers and of the inhabitants, were situated more than a week's +journey hence, except some which had been lately discovered in the +mountains near the town. Sufficient employment was found for the Mint, at +which was struck all the coin that was current here, besides what was +sent to Europe. The diamond-trade had been for some time taken into the +hands and under the inspection of Government; but the jewellers' shops +abounded with topazes, chrysolites, and other curious and precious +stones. + +Beside the forts at the entrance of the harbour, there were two others of +considerable force, one at either extremity of the place, constructed on +islands in the bay. On an eminence behind the town, and commanding the +bay, stood the Citadel. The troops in these works were relieved regularly +on the last day of every month, previous to which all the military in the +garrison passed in review before the viceroy in the quadrangle of the +palace. About 250 men with officers in proportion were on duty every day +in the town, distributed into different guards, from which sentinels were +stationed in various parts of the place, who, to keep themselves alert, +challenge and reply to each other every quarter of an hour. In addition +to these sentinels, every regiment and every guard sent parties through +the streets, patrolling the whole night for the preservation of peace and +good order. + +An officer from each regiment attended every evening at the palace to +take orders for the following day, which were delivered by the adjutant +of orders, who himself received them directly from the viceroy. At the +palace every transaction in the town was known, and thence, through the +adjutant of orders, the inhabitants received the viceroy's commands and +directions whenever he thought it necessary to guide or regulate their +conduct. + +The regiments that came here from Lisbon had been twenty years in the +country, although, on leaving Europe, they were promised to return at the +expiration of the third. They were recruited in the Brazils; and such +officers as might wish to visit Portugal obtained leave of absence on +application to the court, through the viceroy. To each regiment is +attached an officer, who is styled an Auditor, and whose office is to +inquire into all crimes committed by the soldiers of his regiment. If he +sees it necessary, he has power to inflict corporal punishment, or +otherwise, as the offender may in his judgment merit; but his authority +does not extend either to life or limb. For exercising his employment he +is allowed the pay of a captain of infantry. + +The barracks for the troops appeared to be commodious, and to be kept in +good order. A small number of cavalry were always on duty, employed in +the antichamber of the palace, or in attending the viceroy either on days +of parade, or in his excursions into the country. A captain's guard of +infantry with a standard mounted every day at the palace. + +During our stay in this port all the transports struck their yards and +top-masts, and overhauled their rigging preparatory to our passage to the +Cape of Good Hope. An observatory was erected on the Island of Enchados, +where Lieutenant Dawes, with two young gentlemen from the _Sirius_ as +assistants, went on shore, taking with them the instruments requisite for +ascertaining the exact rate of going of the time-piece; and for making +other necessary observations. Sailmakers were also sent to the island; +and some of the camp-equipage of the settlement was landed to be +inspected and thoroughly aired, with proper guards for its security. + +Some propensities to the practice of their old vices manifesting +themselves among the convicts* soon after their arrival in this port had +given them an opportunity, the governor, with the lieutenant-governor, +visited the transports, and informed the prisoners, both male and female, +that in future any misbehaviour on their part should be attended with +severe punishment, while on the other hand propriety of conduct should be +particularly distinguished and rewarded with proportionate indulgence. + +[* Counterfeit coin was offered by some of them to a boat which came +alongside one of the transports.] + +On the 21st, being the birthday of the prince of Brazil, the _Sirius_, in +compliment to the court of Portugal, displayed a Portuguese flag at her +fore-top-masthead, and, on the saluting of the fort on the Island of +Cobres, saluted also with twenty-one guns. At ten o'clock the same +morning, Captain Phillip, with the principal officers of the settlement +and garrison. went on shore to pay their compliments to the viceroy in +honour of the day, who on this and similar occasions had a court, at +which all the civil and military officers and principal inhabitants of +the town attended to pay their respects to his excellency as the +representative of the sovereign, who received them standing under a +canopy in the presence-chamber of the palace. + +September.] Preparations were now making for putting to sea; and on +Saturday the 1st of September, having appointed to sail on the Monday +following, the governor, lieutenant-governor, and other officers, waited +upon and took leave of the viceroy, who expressed himself in the +handsomest terms at their departure. + +During their stay in this port of refreshment, the convicts were each +served daily with a pound of rice and a pound and an half of fresh meat +(beef), together with a suitable proportion of vegetables. Great numbers +of oranges were at different times distributed among them, and every +possible care was taken to refresh and put them into a state of health +and condition to resist the attacks of the scurvy, should it make its +appearance in the long passage over the ocean which was yet between them +and New South Wales. The Reverend Mr. Johnson gave also his full share of +attention to their welfare, performing divine service on board two of the +transports every Sunday of their stay in port. + +We were unluckily not in season for any other of the fruits of this +country than oranges and bananas; but these were truly delicious, and +amply compensated, both in quantity and quality, for the want of others. +Some few guavas, and a pine-apple or two, were purchased; but we were +informed that their flavour then, and when in perfection, was not to be +compared. Vegetables (which were brought from the opposite shore) were in +great plenty. The beef was small and lean, and sold at about two-pence +halfpenny _per_ pound: mutton was in proportion still smaller, and +poultry dear, but not ill-tasted. The marketplace was contiguous to the +palace. + +On the evening of Sunday the 2nd of September, a Portuguese boat, just at +the close of the day, after once or twice rowing round the _Sirius_, +dropped a soldier of the island on board, who, it appeared from his own +account, had been for five or six days absent from his duty, and dreading +perhaps to return, or perhaps wishing to change his situation, requested +that he might be received on board, and permitted to sail to New Holland +with Captain Phillip; who, however, not choosing to comply with his +request, caused him to be immediately conveyed on shore in one of the +ship's boats; but with great humanity permitted him to be landed wherever +he thought he might chance to escape unobserved, and have an opportunity +of returning to his duty. + +An officer was this day sent to signify Captain Phillip's intention of +saluting the forts when he took his departure, which would be the +following morning, and presuming that an equal number of guns would be +fired in return. The viceroy answered, that no mark of attention or +respect should on his part be omitted that might testify his esteem for +Captain Phillip, and the high sense he entertained of the decorum +observed by those under his command during their stay in that port. + +The land-wind not blowing on Monday morning, all idea of sailing was +given up for that day. In the afternoon the signal was made for +unmooring, and for all boats to cease communication with the shore. + +At day-break the following morning the harbour-master came on board the +_Sirius_, and, a light land breeze favouring her departure, took charge +of that ship over the bar; the _Supply_ and convoy getting under sail, +and following her out of the bay. When the _Sirius_ arrived nearly +abreast of the fort of Santa Cruz, it was saluted with twenty-one guns; a +marked compliment paid by the viceroy to Captain Phillip, who immediately +returned it with the like number of guns. Shortly after this the +harbour-master left the ship, taking with him Mr. Morton, the master of +the _Sirius_, who from ill health was obliged to return to England in the +_Diana_, a whaler, which was lying here on our arrival. By this gentleman +were sent the public and private letters of the fleet. + +The land-breeze carrying us clear of the islands in the offing, the +_Supply_ was sent to speak a ship that was perceived at some little +distance ahead, and which proved to be a ship from Oporto. By her we +learned that the viceroy was superseded in his government, and it was +imagined that his successor was standing into the harbour in a royal +yacht which we then saw under the land. Toward evening it fell calm, and +the islands and high land were still in sight. The calm continued during +the greatest part of the following day; but toward evening a light and +favourable breeze sprung up, which enabled us to cross the tropic of +Capricorn, and bend our course toward the Cape of Good Hope. + +On the night of Friday the 7th we had heavy squalls of rain, thunder, and +lightning. From that time until the 1lth the wind was rather +unfavourable; but shifting to the northward on that day, it blew during +the two following in strong gales, with squalls of heavy rain, attended +with much sea. + + These strong gales having, on Friday the 14th, terminated in a calm, +Lieutenant Shortland, the day following, reported to the commanding +officer, that there were eleven soldiers sick on board the _Alexander_ +and five or six convicts on board the _Charlotte_. The calm continued +until the 16th, when a favourable breeze sprung up; but those ships of +the fleet which could sail were prevented from making the most of the +fair wind, by the _Lady Penrhyn_ transport and others, which were +inattentive, and did not make sail in proper time. + +On the 19th the wind was fresh, and frequently blew in squalls, attended +with rain. In one of these squalls the _Charlotte_ suddenly hove-to, a +convict having fallen overboard; the man, however, was drowned. Our +weather was at this time extremely cold; and the wind, which had for some +days been unfavourable, shifting on the 22nd, we again looked towards the +Cape. At one o'clock the next morning it came on to blow very hard, +accompanied with a great sea; we had nevertheless the satisfaction to +observe that the convoy appeared to get on very well, though some of them +rolled prodigiously. This gale continued with very little variation until +the morning of the 28th, when it moderated for a few hours, and shifted +round to the SE. It now again blew in fresh gales, attended with much +rain and sea. But a calm succeeding all this violence shortly after, on +Sunday morning the 30th the weather was sufficiently clear to admit of +some altitudes being taken for the time-keeper, when our longitude was +found to be 3 degrees 04 minutes. + +October.] Thence to the 4th of October both wind and weather were very +uncertain, the wind sometimes blowing in light airs, very little +differing from a calm, with clear skies; at others, in fresh breezes, +with rain. On the 4th, Captain Phillip was informed that thirty of the +convicts on board of the _Charlotte_ were 111; some of them, as it was +feared, dangerously. To render this information still more unpleasant, +the wind was foul during the two succeeding days. + +In the forenoon of Saturday the 6th, four seamen of the _Alexander_ +transport were sent on board the _Sirius_, under a charge of having +entered into a conspiracy to release some of the prisoners while the ship +should be at the Cape of Good Hope, and of having provided those people +with instruments for breaking into the fore-hold of the ship (which had +been done, and some provisions stolen thereout). The four seamen were +ordered to remain in the _Sirius_, a like number of her people being sent +in lieu of them on board the transport. + +On Thursday the 11th, by an altitude of the sun taken that morning, the +fleet was found to be in the longitude of 15 degrees 35 minutes E at +which time there was an unfavourable change of the wind, and the sick on +board the _Charlotte_ were not decreasing in number. + +On the next day, as it was judged from the information given by the +time-keeper that we were drawing nigh the land, the _Supply_ was sent +forward to make it; but it was not seen until the following morning. + +At noon on the 13th the _Supply_ was sent to instruct the sternmost ships +of the convoy in what direction they should keep to enter the bay; and +about four in the afternoon, the harbour-master getting on board the +_Sirius_, that ship was brought safely to an anchor in Table Bay, the +convoy doing the same before dark; having crossed over from one Continent +to the other, a distance of upwards of eleven hundred leagues, in the +short space of five weeks and four days, fortunately without separation, +or any accident having happened to the fleet. + +Immediately on our anchoring, an officer from the _Sirius_ was sent on +shore to the governor, who politely promised us every assistance in his +power; and at sun-rise the next morning the _Sirius_ saluted the garrison +with thirteen guns, which were returned by an equal number from the fort. + +From the great uncertainty of always getting readily on shore from the +bay, and the refreshments found at the Cape of Good Hope being so +necessary after, and so well adapted to the fatigues and disorders +consequent on a long voyage, we found it a custom with most strangers on +their arrival to take up their abode in the town, with some one or other +of the inhabitants, who would for two rix-dollars (eight shillings of +English money) or a ducatoon (six shillings English) per week, provide +very good lodgings, and a table amply furnished with the best meats, +vegetables, and fruits which could be procured at the Cape. This custom +was, as far as the nature of our service would admit, complied with by +several officers from the ships; and, on the second day after our +arrival, Captain Phillip, with the principal officers of the navy and +settlement, proceeded to the government-house in the Company's garden, +where they were introduced to Mr. Van de Graaf (the governor, for the +Dutch East India Company, of this place and its dependencies) and by him +politely received. + +With a requisition made by Captain Phillip of a certain quantity of flour +and corn, the governor expressed his apprehensions of being unable to +comply, as the Cape had been very lately visited by that worst of +scourges--a famine, which had been most severely felt by every family in +the town, his own not excepted. This was a calamity which the settlement +had never before experienced, and was to be ascribed rather to bad +management of, than any failure in, the late crops. Measures were however +taking to guard, as much as human precaution could guard, against such a +misfortune in future; and magazines were erecting for the reception of +grain on the public account, which had never been found necessary until +fatal experience had suggested them. Captain Phillip's request was to be +laid before the Council, without whose concurrence in such a business the +governor could not act, and an answer was promised with all convenient +dispatch. This answer, however, did not arrive until the 23rd, when +Captain Phillip was informed that every article which he had demanded was +ordered to be furnished. + +November.] In the meantime the ships of the fleet had struck their yards +and topmasts (a precaution always necessary here to guard against the +violence of the south-east wind, which had been often known to drive +ships out of the bay) and began filling their water. On board of the +_Sirius_ and some of the transports, the carpenters were employed in +fitting up stalls for the reception of the cattle that was to be taken +hence as stock for the intended colony at New South Wales. These were not +ready until the 8th of the next month, November, on which day, 1 bull, 1 +bull-calf, 7 cows, 1 stallion, 3 mares, and 3 colts, together with as +great a number of rams, ewes, goats, boars, and breeding sows, as room +could be provided for, were embarked in the different ships, the bulls +and cows on board the _Sirius_, the horses on board the _Lady Penrhyn_; +the remainder were put into the _Fishbourn_ store-ship and _Friendship_ +transport. + +Shortly after our arrival in the bay, a soldier belonging to the Swiss +regiment of Muron, quartered here, swam off from his post and came on +board one of the transports, requesting to be permitted to proceed in her +to New South Wales; but, as an agreement had been mutually entered into +between the Dutch and English commanders, that deserters in the service +of, or subjects of either nation, should be given up, Captain Phillip +sent him on shore, previously obtaining a promise of his pardon from the +regiment. + +On the 9th the watering of the fleet being completed, corn and hay for +the stock, and flour, wine, and spirits for the settlement, being all on +board, preparations were made for putting to sea, and on the 10th the +signal was made to unmoor. + +The convicts while in this port had been served, men and women, with one +pound and an half of soft bread each _per diem_; a pound of fresh beef, +or mutton, and three quarters of a pound for each child, together with a +liberal allowance of vegetables. + +While in this harbour, as at Rio de Janeiro, Mr. Johnson, the chaplain, +preached on board two of the transports every Sunday; and we had the +satisfaction to see the prisoners all wear the appearance of perfect +health on their being about to quit this port, the last whereat any +refreshment was to be expected before their arrival in New South Wales. + +As it was earnestly wished to introduce the fruits of the Cape into the +new settlement, Captain Phillip was ably assisted in his endeavours to +procure the rarest and the best of every species, both in plant and seed, +by Mr. Mason, the king's botanist, whom we were so fortunate as to meet +with here, as well as by Colonel Gordon, the commander in chief of the +troops at this place; a gentleman whose thirst for natural knowledge +amply qualified him to be of service to us, not only in procuring a great +variety of the best seeds and plants, but in pointing out the culture, +the soil, and the proper time of introducing them into the ground. + +The following plants and seeds were procured here and at Rio de Janeiro: + +AT RIO DE JANEIRO + +Coffee--both seed and plant +Cocoa-in the nut +Cotton-seed +Banana-plant +Oranges--various sorts, seed and plant +Lemon--seed and plant +Guava--seed +Tamarind +Prickly pear-plant, with the cochineal on it +Eugenia, or Pomme Rose--a plant bearing a fruit in shape like an apple, +and having the flavour and odour of a rose +Ipecacuana--three sorts +Jalap + +AT THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE + +The Fig-tree +Bamboo +Spanish Reed +Sugar Cane +Vines of various sorts +Quince +Apple +Pear +Strawberry +Oak +Myrtle + +To these must be added all sorts of grain, as Rice, Wheat, Barley, +Indian corn, etc. for seed, which were purchased to supply whatever +might be found damaged of these articles that were taken on board +in England. + +During our stay here, the Ranger packet, _Captain Buchanan_, arrived +after a passage of twelve weeks from Falmouth, bound to Bengal. She +sailed again immediately. One officer alone of our fleet was fortunate +enough to receive letters by her from his connexions in England. + +At the time of our arrival the inhabitants of this agreeable town had +scarcely recovered from the consternation into which they had been thrown +by one of the black people called Malays, with whom the place abounded; +and who, taking offence at the governor for not returning him to Batavia +(where, it seemed, he was of consequence among his own countrymen, and +whence he had been sent to the Cape as a punishment for some offence), +worked himself up to frenzy by the effect of opium, and, arming himself +with variety of weapons, rushed forth in the dusk of the evening, killing +or maiming indiscriminately all who were so unfortunate as to be in his +route, women alone excepted. He stabbed the sentinel at the gate of the +Company's gardens, and placed himself at his post, waiting some time in +expectation of the governor's appearance, who narrowly escaped the fate +intended for him, by its falling on another person accidentally passing +that way. On being pursued, he fled with incredible swiftness to the +Table Mountain at the back of the town, whence this single miscreant, +still animated by the effect of the opium, for two days resisted and +defied every force that was sent against him. The alarm and terror into +which the town was thrown were inconceivable; for two days none ventured +from within their houses, either masters or slaves; for an order was +issued (as the most likely means of destroying him, should he appear in +the town) that whatever Malay was seen in the streets should be instantly +killed by the soldiery. On the evening of the second day, however, he was +taken alive on the Table Mountain, having done much injury to those who +took him, and was immediately consigned to the death he merited, being +broken on the wheel, and his head and members severed after the +execution, and distributed in different parts of the country. + +Of this man, who had killed fourteen of the inhabitants, and desperately +wounded nearly double that number, it was remarked, that in his progress +his fury fell only on men, women passing him unhurt; and it was as +extraordinary as it was unfortunate, that among those whom his rage +destroyed, were some of the most deserving and promising young men in the +town. This, at Batavia, was called running a muck, or amocke, and +frequently happened there, but was the first instance of the kind known +at the Cape. Since that time, every Malay or other slave, having business +in the street after a certain hour in the evening, is obliged to carry a +lighted lantern, on pain of being stopped by the sentinel and kept in +custody until morning. Murder and villany are strongly depicted on the +features of the slaves of that nation; and such of them as dared to speak +of this dreadful catastrophe clearly appeared to approve the behaviour of +their countryman. + +The government of the Cape we understood to be vested in a governor and +council, together with a court of justice. The council is composed of the +governor, the second or lieutenant-governor, the fiscal, the commanding +officer of the troops for the time being, and four counsellors. With +these all regulations for the management of the colony originate; and +from them all orders and decrees are issued. The court of justice is +composed of the fiscal, the second governor, a secretary, and twelve +members, six of whom are from among the burghers, and six from among the +bourgeoisie. The fiscal, who was the first magistrate, had hitherto been +styled independent, that is to say, his decisions were not subject to the +interference of the governor and council; but we were informed, that +since the death of the late fiscal, M. Serrurier, it had been determined +by the States, that the decrees of the fiscal should be subject to the +revision of the council. Before this officer were tried all causes both +civil and criminal. He had a set of people belonging to him who +constantly patrolled the streets armed, to apprehend all vagrant and +disorderly persons. Every fourteen days offences were tried. The prison +was adjacent to and had communication with the court-house. The place +where all sentences were executed stood to the left of the landing-place, +a short distance above the fort or castle. The ground on which it stood +was raised by several steps above the road. Within the walls were to be +seen (and seen with horror) six crosses for breaking criminals, a large +gibbet, a spiked pole for impalements, wheels, etc., etc. together with a +slight wooden building, erected for the reception of the ministers of +justice upon execution-days. Over the entrance was a figure of justice, +with the usual emblems of a sword and balance, and the following apposite +inscription: 'Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum.' The bodies of +those broken on the wheel were exposed in different parts of the town, +several instances of which, and some very recent ones, were still to be +seen. + +It had been always imagined, that the police of the Cape-town was so well +regulated as to render it next to impossible for any man to escape, after +whom the fiscal's people were in pursuit. This, however, did not appear +to be the case; for very shortly after our arrival four seamen belonging +to a ship of our fleet deserted from her; and although rewards were +offered for apprehending them, and every effort made that was likely to +insure success, two only were retaken before our departure. + +Since the attempt meditated upon the Cape by the late Commodore +Johnstone, the attention of the government appeared to have been directed +to its internal defence. To this end additional works had been +constructed on each side of the town, toward the hill called the Lion's +Rump, and beyond the castle or garrison. But the defence in which they +chiefly prided themselves, and of which we were fortunate enough to +arrive in time to be spectators, consisted of two corps of cavalry and +one of infantry, formed from the gentlemen and inhabltants of the town. +We understood that these corps were called out annually to be exercised +during seven days, and were reviewed on the last day of their exercise by +the governor attended by his whole council. They appeared to be stout and +able-bodied men, particularly those who composed the two corps of +cavalry, and who were reputed to be excellent marksmen. Their horses, +arms, and appointments were purchased at their own expense, and they were +expected to hold them selves in readiness to assemble whenever their +services might be required by the governor. For uniform, they wore a blue +coat with white buttons, and buff waistcoat and breeches. Their parade +was the Square or Market-place, where they were attended by music, and +visited by all the beauty of the place, who animated them by their smiles +from the balcony of the town-hall, and if the weather was favourable +accompanied them to the exercising ground, where tents were pitched for +their reception, and whence they beheld these patriotic Africans (for few +of them knew Holland but by name) enuring themselves to the tolls of war, +'_pro aris et focis_'. We were however told, that at the least idea of an +enemy coming on the coast, the women were immediately sent to a distance +in the country. + +The militia throughout the whole district of the Cape were assembled at +this time of the year, exercised for a week, and reviewed by the governor +or his deputy, commencing with the militia of the Capetown. + +The present governor of the Cape, Mr. Van de Graaf, though a colonel of +engineers in the service of the States, yet holds his commission as +governor under the authority of the Dutch East India Company, to which +body the settlement wholly belongs. Every ship or vessel wearing a +pendant of the States, be her rate what it may, is on entering the +harbour saluted by the fort, which salute she returns with an inferior +number of guns. The governor, at the landing-place, with his officers and +carriages, attends the coming on shore of her captain or senior officer, +to receive his commands, and escort him to his lodgings in the town, +treating him with every mark of respect in his power. Such an humiliation +of the Company's principal servant and officers in a commercial community +bore, it must be confessed, rather an extraordinary appearance; but such, +as we were informed, was the distinction between the two services; and +Mr. Van de Graaf was obliged to obtain his prince's permission before he +could accept of the government of the Cape from the East India Company. + +Residence at the Cape would be highly agreeable, were it not for the +south-east wind. This during the summer season blows with such violence, +and drives every where such clouds of sand before it, that the +inhabitants at certain times dare not stir out of their houses. Torrents +of dust and sand, we were told, had been frequently known to fall on +board of ships in the road. This circumstance accounted for every thing +we got here being gritty to the taste; sand mixing with their flour, +their rice, their sugar, and with whatever was capable of receiving it, +finding its way in at doors, windows, and wherever there was an entrance +for it. From the great height of the Table Mountain*, whatever clouds are +within its influence are attracted when the south-east wind prevails; and +as it increases in violence, these clouds hang over the side of the +mountain, and descend into the valley, sometimes rolling down very near +the town. From the curling of the vapour over the mountain, the +inhabitants predict the arrival of the south-easter, and say, 'The +Table-cloth is spread;' but with all its violence, and the inconvenience +of the dust and sand, it has a good effect, for the climate and air of +the Cape Town (though wonderfully beneficial and refreshing to strangers +after a long voyage) is not reckoned salubrious by the inhabitants, who, +we understood, were at times visited by pains in the chest, sore throats, +and putrid fevers; and the place would certainly be still more unhealthy +were it not for this south-east wind, which burns as it blows, and while +it sweeps disorder before it purifies the air. + +[* 3353 Rhineland feet--a Rhineland foot being twelve inches and 5/12 +English.] + +The Cape is celebrated for producing in the highest perfection all the +tropical and other fruits; but of the few that were in season during our +stay we could not pronounce so favourably. The oranges and bananas in +particular were not equal to those of Rio de Janeiro. The grape we could +only taste from the bottle; that of Constantia, so much famed, has a very +fine, rich, and pleasant flavour, and is an excellent cordial; but much +of the wine that is sold under that name was never made of the grape of +Constantia; for the vineyard is but small, and has credit for a much +greater produce that it could +possibly yield: this reminds us of those eminent masters in the art of +painting, to whom more originals are ascribed than the labour of the +longest life of man could produce. + +Wines of their own growth formed a considerable article of traffic here; +and the neatness, regularity, and extent of their wine-vaults, were +extremely pleasing to the eye; but a stranger should not visit more than +one of them in a day; for almost every cask has some peculiarity to +recommend it, and its contents must be tasted. + +We found the paper currency here very inconvenient, from its lightness; +as more than one instance occurred among ourselves during our stay, of +its being torn from our hands by the violence of the south-east wind, +when we were about to make a payment in the street, or even at the door +of a shop. + +The meat of the Cape was excellent; the black cattle were large, very +strong, and remarkable for the great space between their horns. It was +not uncommon to see twelve, fourteen, or sixteen oxen yoked in pairs to a +waggon, and galloping through the streets of the town, preceded by a +Hottentot boy, who accompanied them on foot, conducting the foremost +couple by a leathern thong, which caution they are compelled to observe +by an order of government, some accidents having formerly happened from +some of these large teams having been imprudently driven through the +streets without any one to lead them; the lash of the charioteer (for the +driver of such a team deserves a more honourable appellation than that of +waggoner) had been sometimes heard, we were told, on board of ships in +the bay. + +The sheep are fat, well-flavoured, and remarkable for the weight and size +of their tails. Wonders have been related of them by travellers; but +travellers from this part of the world are privileged to exaggerate in +their narrations, if they choose so to do; the truth however is, that +their tails weigh from eight to sixteen pounds; some few perhaps may be +heavier by a pound or two; but though the sheep itself will very well +endure the voyage to Europe, yet its tall considerably decreases in size +and weight during the passage. + +Strangers coming into the bay are served with beef, mutton, etc. by the +Company's butcher, who contracts to supply the Company, its officers and +ships, with meat at a certain price, which is fixed at about three +halfpence per pound, although he may have to purchase the cattle at three +or four times that sum; but in return for this exaction, he has the sole +permission of selling to strangers, and at a much higher price, though +even in that instance his demand is not allowed to exceed a certain +quota. Four-pence _per_ pound was the price given for all the meat served +to our ships after we came in. + +During our stay here we made frequent visits to the Company's garden, +pleasantly situated in the midst of the town. The ground on each side of +the principal walk, which was from eight to nine hundred paces in length, +was laid out in fruit and kitchen gardens, and at the upper end was a +paddock where we saw three large ostriches, and a few antelopes. Behind +this paddock was a menagerie, which contained nothing very curious--a +vicious zebra, an eagle, a cassowary, a falcon, a crowned falcon, two of +the birds called secretaries, a crane, a tiger, an hyaena, two wolves, a +jackal, and a very large baboon, composed the entire catalogue of its +inhabitants. + +In the town are two churches, one for the Calvinists, and another for the +followers of Luther. In the first of these was a handsome organ; four +large plain columns supported the roof, and the walls were ornamented +with escutcheons and armorial quarterings. The body of the church was +filled with chairs for the women, the men sitting in pews round the +sides. By the pulpit stood an hour-glass, which, we were told, regulated +the duration of the minister's admonition to his congregation. In the +churchyards the gravestones, instead of bearing the names of the +deceased, were all numbered, and the names were registered in a book kept +for the purpose. + +Weddings were always solemnized on a Sunday at one or other of these +churches, and the parties were habited in sables, a dress surely more +congenial with the sensations felt on the last than on the first day of +such an union. + +To the care of an officer belonging to a regiment in India, who was +returning to Europe in a Danish vessel, Captain Phillip committed his +dispatches; and by this ship every officer gladly embraced the last +opportunity of communicating with their friends and connections, until +they should be enabled to renew their correspondence from the new world +to which they were now bound. + +Nothing remaining to be done that need detain the convoy longer in this +port, every article having been procured that could tend to the present +refreshment of the colonists, or to the future advantage of the colony, +the _Sirius_ was unmoored in the evening of Sunday the llth, Captain +Phillip purposing to put to sea the following morning; but the wind at +that time not being favourable, the boats from the _Sirius_ were once +more sent on shore for a load of water, in order than no vessel which +could be filled with an article so essential to the preservation of the +flock might be taken to sea empty. + +The south-east wind now beginning to blow, the signal was made for +weighing, and at ten minutes before two in the afternoon of Monday the +12th of November the whole fleet was under sail standing out with a fresh +of wind to the northward of Robin Island. + +It was natural to indulge at this moment a melancholy reflection which +obtruded itself upon the mind. The land behind us was the abode of a +civilized people; that before us was the residence of savages. When, if +ever, we might again enjoy the commerce of the world, was doubtful and +uncertain. The refreshments and the pleasures of which we had so +liberally partaken at the Cape, were to be exchanged for coarse fare and +hard labour at New South Wales. All communication with families and +friends now cut off, we were leaving the world behind us, to enter on a +state unknown; and, as if it had been necessary to imprint this idea more +strongly on our minds, and to render the sensation still more poignant, +at the close of the evening we spoke a ship from London*. The metropolis +of our native country, its pleasures, its wealth, and its consequence, +thus accidentally presented to the mind, failed not to afford a most +striking contrast with the object now principally in our view. + +[* The _Kent_--southern whaler.] + +Before we quitted the Cape Captain Hunter determined the longitude of the +Cape-town in Table-bay to be, by the mean of several sets of lunar +observations taken on board the _Sirius_, 18 degrees 23 minutes 55 +seconds east from Greenwich. + +SECTION III + +Proceed on the voyage +Captain Phillip sails onward in the _Supply_, taking with him three of +the transports +Pass the island of St. Paul +Weather, January 1788 +The South Cape of New Holland made +The _Sirius_ and her convoy anchor in the harbour of Botany Bay. + +Every precaution being absolutely necessary to guard against a failure of +water on board the different ships, the whole were put upon an allowance +of three pints _per_ man _per diem_ soon after our departure from the +Cape. This regulation was highly proper, as from the probable continuance +of the easterly wind which then blew, the fleet might be detained a +considerable time at sea. + +For several days after we had sailed, the wind was unfavourable, and +blowing fresh, with much sea, some time elapsed before we had reached to +the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope. On the 16th, Captain Phillip +signified his intention of proceeding forward in the _Supply_, with the +view of arriving in New South Wales so long before the principal part of +the fleet, as to be able to fix on a clear and proper place for the +settlement. Lieutenant Shortland was at the same time informed, that he +was to quit the fleet with the _Alexander_, taking on with him the +_Scarborough_ and _Friendship_ transports. These three ships had on board +the greater part of the male convicts, whom Captain Phillip had sanguine +hopes of employing to much advantage, before the _Sirius_, with that part +of the fleet which was to remain under Captain Hunter's direction, should +arrive upon the coast. This separation, the first that had occurred, did +not take place until the 25th, on which day Captain Phillip went on board +the _Supply_, taking with him, from the _Sirius_, Lieutenants King and +Dawes, with the time-keeper. On the same day Major Ross, with the +adjutant and quarter-master of the detachment, went into the +_Scarborough_, in order to co-operate with Captain Phillip in his +intention of preparing, as far as time might allow, for the reception of +the rest of the convoy. + +The _Supply_ and the three transports having taken their departure, +Captain Hunter drew his little convoy into the order of sailing +prescribed for them; and the boats, which had been employed passing and +repassing between the _Sirius_ and the transports, being hoisted in, +about noon the fleet made sail to the south-east, having a fresh breeze +at west-north-west. + +December.] On Sunday the 16th of December, by computation, we were +abreast of the Island of St. Paul, passing it at the distance of about +sixty leagues. + +The following day, on the return of a boat from the _Fishbourn_ +store-ship which had been sent to inquire into the state of the stock, we +heard that several of the sheep were dead, as well as eight of the hogs +belonging to the public stock. + +Christmas day found us in the latitude of 42 degrees 10 minutes south, +and steering, as we had done for a considerable time, an east-south-east +course. We complied, as far as was in our power, with the good old +English custom, and partook of a better dinner this day than usual; but +the weather was too rough to admit of much social enjoyment. + +With the wind at south-west, west-south-west, and south and by west, the +weather was clear and cold, while to the northward of east or west it +generally blew in strong gales. + +We now often noticed pieces of sea-weed floating by the ships; and on the +28th the sun just appeared in time to show us we were in the latitude of +42 degrees 58 minutes south. + +On the 29th, being in latitude 43 degrees 35 minutes south, the course +was altered to east and by south half south, in order to run down our +easting without going any further to the southward. The run at noon on +this day was found to be the greatest we had made in any twenty-four +hours since our departure from England, having 182 miles on the log-board +since twelve o'clock the preceding day. + +By lunar observations taken on the 30th the longitude was found to be 118 +degrees 19 minutes east. + +1788.] +January.] The new year opened with a gale of wind from the northward, +which continued with much violence all the day, moderating towards +evening. + +The evening of the third proved fine and moderate, and the sun setting +clear gave a good observation for the amplitude, when the variation was +found to be 1 degree 00 minutes east. At noon the fleet was in the +latitude of 44 degrees 00 minutes south, and longitude by lunar +observation 135 degrees 32 minutes east, of which the convoy was +informed. + +At noon on the 4th preparations were made on board the _Sirius_ for +falling in with the land; her cables were bent, signal-guns prepared, and +every possible precautions taken to ensure the safety of the fleet. + +About ten at night on the 5th, a very beautiful aurora australis was +observed bearing about south-west of the fleet; and for some nights a +luminous phenomenon had been seen resembling lights floating on the +surface of the water. + +By a lunar observation taken at ten o'clock of the forenoon of Monday the +7th, the fleet was then distant seventeen leagues from the South Cape of +New Holland; and at five minutes past two in the afternoon the signal was +made for seeing the land. The rocks named the Mewstone and Swilly were +soon visible, and the fleet stood along shore with fair moderate weather +and smooth water, the land of New Holland distant from three to five +miles. + +Nothing could more strongly prove the excellence and utility of lunar +observations, than the accuracy with which we made the land in this long +voyage from the Cape of Good Hope, there not being a league difference +between our expectation of seeing it, and the real appearance of it. + +A thick haze hanging over the land, few observations could be made of it. +What we first saw was the South-west Cape of New Holland, between which +and the South Cape the land appeared high and rocky, rising gradually +from the shore, and wearing in many places a very barren aspect. In small +cavities, on the summit of some of the high land, was the appearance of +snow. Over the South Cape the land seemed covered with wood; the trees +stood thick, and the bark of them appeared in general to have a whitish +cast. The coast seemed very irregular, projecting into low points forming +creeks and bays, some of which seemed to be deep; very little verdure was +any where discernible; in many spots the ground looked arid and sterile. +At night we perceived several fires lighted on the coast, at many of +which, no doubt, were some of the native inhabitants, to whom it was +probable our novel appearance must have afforded matter of curiosity and +wonder. + +In all the preceding passage we had been scarcely a day without seeing +birds of different kinds; and we also met with many whales. The weather +was in general very rough, and the sea high, but the wind favourable, +blowing mostly from north-west to south-west. + +The convoy behaved well, paying more attention and obedience to signals +than ships in the merchant service are commonly known to do. The ships, +however, began to grow foul, not one of them being coppered, and we now +anxiously wished for a termination of the voyage, particularly as the hay +provided for the horses was on the point of being wholly expended. + +The fair wind which had accompanied us to New Holland suddenly left us, +shifting round to north-east and by east; we were obliged to lay our +heads off-shore, in order to weather Swilly and the Eddystone (a +perpendicular rock about a league to the eastward of Swilly) and the next +day we had the mortification of a foul wind, a thing to which we had been +long unaccustomed. + +In the night of the 9th the _Golden Grove_ shipped a sea, which stove in +all her cabin windows: it was nearly calm at the time, with a confused +heavy swell*. + +[* This circumstance has since occurred to other ships nearly in the same +situation.] + +At two o'clock in the afternoon of the following day a very heavy and +sudden squall took the _Sirius_ and laid her considerably down on her +starboard side: it blew very fresh, and was felt more or less by all the +transports, some of which suffered in their sails. + +Our progress along the coast to the northward was very slow, and it was +not until the 19th that we fell in with the land, when we were nearly +abreast of the Point named by Captain Cook Red Point. Before evening, +however, we were gratified with the sight of the entrance into Botany +Bay, but too late to attempt standing into it with the transports that +night. The convoy therefore was informed by Captain Hunter how the +entrance of the bay bore, and directed to be very attentive in the +morning when the _Sirius _made sail or bore up. + +When the morning came we found the fleet had been carried by a current to +the southward as far as a clump of trees which had the preceding day +obtained, from some resemblance in the appearance, the name of Post-down +Clump; but with the assistance of a fine breeze we soon regained what we +had lost in the night; and at ten minutes before eight in the morning the +_Sirius_ came to an anchor in Botany Bay. The transports were all safe in +by nine o'clock. + + + + + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY IN NEW SOUTH WALES + + + + +CHAPTER I + + + +Arrival of the fleet at Botany Bay +The governor proceeds to Port Jackson, where it is determined to fix the +settlement +Two French ships under M. de la Perouse arrive at Botany Bay +The _Sirius_ and convoy arrive at Port Jackson +Transactions +Disembarkation +Commission and letters patent read +Extent of the territory of New South Wales +Behaviour of the convicts +The criminal court twice assembled +Account of the different courts +The _Supply_ sent with some settlers to Norfolk Island +Transactions +Natives +Weather + + +When the _Sirius_ anchored in the bay, Captain Hunter was informed that +the _Supply_ had preceded him in his arrival only two days; and that the +agent Lieutenant Shortland, with his detachment from the fleet, had +arrived but the day before the _Sirius_ and her convoy. + +Thus, under the blessing of God, was happily completed, in eight months +and one week, a voyage which, before it was undertaken, the mind hardly +dared venture to contemplate, and on which it was impossible to reflect +without some apprehensions as to its termination. This fortunate +completion of it, however, afforded even to ourselves as much matter of +surprise as of general satisfaction; for in the above space of time we +had sailed five thousand and twenty-one leagues; had touched at the +American and African Continents; and had at last rested within a few days +sail of the antipodes of our native country, without meeting any accident +in a fleet of eleven sail, nine of which were merchantmen that had never +before sailed in that distant and imperfectly explored ocean: and when it +is considered, that there was on board a large body of convicts, many of +whom were embarked in a very sickly state, we might be deemed peculiarly +fortunate, that of the whole number of all descriptions of persons coming +to form the new settlement, only thirty-two had died since their leaving +England, among whom were to be included one or two deaths by accidents; +although previous to our departure it was generally conjectured, that +before we should have been a month at sea one of the transports would +have been converted into an hospital ship. But it fortunately happened +otherwise; the high health which was apparent in every countenance was to +be attributed not only to the refreshments we met with at Rio de Janeiro +and the Cape of Good Hope, but to the excellent quality of the provisions +with which we were supplied by Mr. Richards junior, the contractor; and +the spirits visible in every eye were to be ascribed to the general joy +and satisfaction which immediately took place on finding ourselves +arrived at that port which had been so much and so long the subject of +our most serious reflections, the constant theme of our conversations. + +The governor, we found, had employed the time he had been here in +examining the bay, for the purpose of determining where he should +establish the settlement; but as yet he had not seen any spot to which +some strong objection did not apply. Indeed, very few places offered +themselves to his choice, and not one sufficiently extensive for a +thousand people to sit down on. The southern shore about Point Sutherland +seemed to possess the soil best adapted for cultivation, but it was +deficient in that grand essential fresh water, and was besides too +confined for our numbers. There was indeed a small run of water there; +but it appeared to be only a drain from a marsh, and by no means promised +that ample or certain supply which was requisite for such a settlement as +ours. The governor, therefore, speedily determined on examining the +adjacent harbours of Port Jackson and Broken Bay, in one of which he +thought it possible that a better situation for his young colony might be +found. But as his search might possibly prove fruitless, and that the few +days which it should occupy might not be altogether thrown away, he left +the lieutenant-governor at Botany Bay, with instructions to clear the +ground about Point Sutherland, and make preparations for disembarking the +detachment of marines and the convicts on his return, should that place +at last be deemed the most eligible spot. At the same time Lieutenant +King, of the _Sirius_, was directed to examine such parts of the bay as, +from want of time, the governor had not himself been able to visit. + +The governor set off on Monday the 21st, accompanied by Captain Hunter, +Captain Collins (the judge-advocate), a lieutenant, and the master of the +_Sirius_, with a small party of marines for their protection, the whole +being embarked in three open boats. The day was mild and serene, and +there being but a gentle swell without the mouth of the harbour, the +excursion promised to be a pleasant one. Their little fleet attracted the +attention of several parties of the natives, as they proceeded along the +coast, who all greeted them in the same words, and in the same tone of +vociferation, shouting every where 'Warra, warra, warra' words which, by +the gestures that accompanied them, could not be interpreted into +invitations to land, or expressions of welcome. It must however be +observed, that at Botany Bay the natives had hitherto conducted +themselves sociably and peaceably toward all the parties of our officers +and people with whom they had hitherto met, and by no means seemed to +regard them as enemies or invaders of their country and tranquillity*. + +[* How grateful to every feeling of humanity would it be could we +conclude this narrative without being compelled to say, that these +unoffending people had found reason to change both their opinions and +their conduct!] + +The coast, as the boats drew near Port Jackson, wore so unfavourable an +appearance, that Captain Phillip's utmost expectation reached no farther +than to find what Captain Cook, as he passed by, thought might be found, +shelter for a boat. In this conjecture, however, he was most agreeably +disappointed, by finding not only shelter for a boat, but a harbour +capable of affording security to a much larger fleet than would probably +ever seek for shelter or security in it. In one of the coves of this +noble and capacious harbour, equal if not superior to any yet known in +the world, it was determined to fix the settlement; and on the 23rd, +having examined it as fully as the time would allow, the governor and his +party left Port Jackson and its friendly and peaceful inhabitants (for +such he everywhere found them), and returned to Botany Bay. + +In the report, of the survey made by Lieutenant King, during the +governor's absence, the latter found nothing to induce him to alter his +resolution of fixing in Port Jackson: directions were therefore given, +that the necessary supply of water and grass for the stock should be +immediately sent off to the ships, and the next morning was appointed for +their departure from Botany Bay. + +Several trees had been cut down at Point Sutherland, a saw-pit had been +dug, and other preparations made for disembarking, in case the governor +had not succeeded as, to the great satisfaction of every one, it was +found he had; for had he been compelled to remain in Botany Bay, the +swampy ground every where around it threatened us with unhealthy +situations; neither could the shipping have ridden in perfect security +when the wind blew from the SE to which the bay lay much exposed, the sea +at that time rolling in with a prodigious swell. A removal therefore to +Port Jackson was highly applauded, and would have taken place the next +morning, but at daylight we were surprised by the appearance of two +strange sail in the offing. Of what nation they could be, engaged the +general wonder for some time, which at last gave way to a conjecture that +they might be the French ships under M. de la Perouse, then on a voyage +round the world. This was soon strengthened by the view of a white +pendant, similar in shape to that of a commodore in our service, and we +had no longer a doubt remaining that they were the ships above mentioned. +They were, however, prevented by a strong southerly current from getting +into the bay until the 26th, when it was known that they were the +_Boussole_ and _Astrolabe_, French ships, which sailed, under the command +of M. de la Perouse, from France in the year 1785, on a voyage of +discovery. As Captain Hunter, with whom the governor had left the charge +of bringing the _Sirius_ and transports round to Port Jackson (whither he +had preceded them in the _Supply_ the day before), was working out when +M. de la Perouse entered Botany Bay, the two commanders had barely time +to exchange civilities; and it must naturally have created some surprise +in M. de la Perouse to find our fleet abandoning the harbour at the very +time he was preparing to anchor in it: indeed he afterwards said, that +until he had looked round him in Botany Bay, he could not divine the +cause of our quitting it, which he was so far from expecting, that having +heard at Kamschatka of the intended settlement, he imagined he should +have found a town built and a market established; but from what he had +seen of the country since his arrival, he was convinced of the propriety +and absolute necessity of the measure. M. de la Perouse sailed into the +harbour by Captain Cook's chart of Botany Bay, which lay before him on +the binnacle; and we had the pleasure of hearing him more than once pay a +tribute to our great circumnavigator's memory, by acknowledging the +accuracy of his nautical observations. + +The governor, with a party of marines, and some artificers selected from +among the seamen of the _Sirius_ and the convicts, arrived in Port +Jackson, and anchored off the mouth of the cove intended for the +settlement on the evening of the 25th; and in the course of the following +day sufficient ground was cleared for encamping the officer's guard and +the convicts who had been landed in the morning. The spot chosen for this +purpose was at the head of the cove, near the run of fresh water, which +stole silently along through a very thick wood, the stillness of which +had then, for the first time since the creation, been interrupted by the +rude sound of the labourer's axe, and the downfall of its ancient +inhabitants; a stillness and tranquillity which from that day were to +give place to the voice of labour, the confusion of camps and towns, and +'the busy hum of its new possessors.' That these did not bring with them, +'Minds not to be changed by time or place,' was fervently to have been +wished; and if it were possible, that on taking possession of Nature, as +we had thus done, in her simplest, purest garb, we might not sully that +purity by the introduction of vice, profaneness, and immorality. But +this, though much to be wished, was little to be expected; the habits of +youth are not easily laid aside, and the utmost we could hope in our +present situation was to oppose the soft harmonising arts of peace and +civilisation to the baneful influence of vice and immorality. + +In the evening of this day the whole of the party that came round in the +_Supply_ were assembled at the point where they had first landed in the +morning, and on which a flag-staff had been purposely erected and an +union jack displayed, when the marines fired several vollies; between +which the governor and the officers who accompanied him drank the healths +of his Majesty and the Royal Family, and success to the new colony. The +day, which had been uncommonly fine, concluded with the safe arrival of +the _Sirius_ and the convoy from Botany Bay--thus terminating the voyage +with the same good fortune that had from its commencement been so +conspicuously their friend and companion. + +The disembarkation of the troops and convicts took place from the +following day until the whole were landed. The confusion that ensued will +not be wondered at, when it is considered that every man stepped from the +boat literally into a wood. Parties of people were every where heard and +seen variously employed; some in clearing ground for the different +encampments; others in pitching tents, or bringing up such stores as were +more immediately wanted; and the spot which had so lately been the abode +of silence and tranquillity was now changed to that of noise, clamour, +and confusion: but after a time order gradually prevailed every where. As +the woods were opened and the ground cleared, the various encampments +were extended, and all wore the appearance of regularity. + +February.] A portable canvas house, brought over for the governor, was +erected on the East side of the cove (which was named Sydney, in +compliment to the principal secretary of state for the home department) +where also a small body of convicts was put under tents. The detachment +of marines was encamped at the head of the cove near the stream, and on +the West side was placed the main body of the convicts. The women did not +disembark until the 6th of February; when, every person belonging to the +settlement being landed, the numbers amounted to 1030 persons. The tents +for the sick were placed on the West side, and it was observed with +concern that their numbers were fast increasing. The scurvy, that had not +appeared during the passage, now broke out, which, aided by a dysentery, +began to fill the hospital, and several died. In addition to the +medicines that were administered, every species of esculent plants that +could be found in the country were procured for them; wild celery, +spinach, and parsley, fortunately grew in abundance about the settlement; +those who were in health, as well as the sick, were very glad to +introduce them into their messes, and found them a pleasant as well as +wholesome addition to the ration of salt provisions. + +The public stock, consisting of one bull, four cows, one bull-calf, one +stallion, three mares, and three colts (one of which was a stone-colt) +were landed on the East point of the cove, where they remained until they +had cropped the little pasturage it afforded; and were then removed to a +spot at the head of the adjoining cove, that was cleared for a small +farm, intended to be placed under the direction of a person brought out +by the governor. + +Some ground having been prepared near his excellency's house on the East +side, the plants from Rio-de-Janeiro and the Cape of Good Hope were +safely brought on shore in a few days; and we soon had the satisfaction +of seeing the grape, the fig, the orange, the pear, and the apple, the +delicious fruits of the Old, taking root and establishing themselves in +our New World. + +As soon as the hurry and tumult necessarily attending the disembarkation +had a little subsided, the governor caused his Majesty's commission, +appointing him to be his captain-general and governor in chief in and +over the territory of New South Wales and its dependencies, to be +publicly read, together with the letters patent for establishing the +courts of civil and criminal judicature in the territory, the extent of +which, until this publication of it, was but little known even among +ourselves. It was now found to extend from Cape York (the extremity of +the coast to the northward) in the latitude of 20 degrees 37 minutes +South, to the South Cape (the southern extremity of the coast) in the +latitude of 43 degrees 39 minutes South; and inland to the westward as +far as 135 degrees of East longitude, comprehending all the islands +adjacent in the Pacific Ocean, within the latitudes of the +above-mentioned capes. + +By this definition of our boundaries it will be seen that we were +confined along the coast of this continent to such parts of it solely as +were navigated by Captain Cook, without infringing on what might be +claimed by other nations from the right of discovery. Of that right, +however, no other nation has chosen to avail itself. Whether the western +coast is unpromising in its appearance, or whether the want of a return +proportioned to the expense which the mother-country must sustain in +supporting a settlement formed nearly at the farthest part of the globe, +may have deterred them, is not known; but Great Britain alone has +followed up the discoveries she had made in this country, by at once +establishing in it a regular colony and civil government. + +The ceremony of reading these public instruments having been performed by +the judge-advocate, the governor, addressing himself to the convicts, +assured them, among other things, that 'he should ever be ready to show +approbation and encouragement to those who proved themselves worthy of +them by good conduct and attention to orders; while on the other hand, +such as were determined to act in opposition to propriety, and observe a +contrary conduct, would inevitably meet with the punishment which they +deserved.' He remarked how much it was their interest to forget the +habits of vice and indolence in which too many of them had hitherto +lived; and exhorted them to be honest among themselves, obedient to their +overseers, and attentive to the several works in which they were about to +be employed. At the conclusion of this address three volleys were fired +by the troops, who thereupon returned to their parade, where the +governor, attended by Captain Hunter and the principal officers of the +settlement, passed along the front of the detachment, and received the +honours due to a captain-general; after which he entertained all the +officers and gentlemen of the settlement at dinner, under a large tent +pitched for the purpose at the head of the marine encampment. + +The convicts had been mustered early in the morning, when nine were +reported to be absent. From the situation which we had unavoidably +adopted, it was impossible to prevent these people from straggling. +Fearless of the danger which must attend them, many had visited the +French ships in Botany Bay, soliciting to be taken on board, and giving a +great deal of trouble. It was soon found that they secreted at least +one-third of their working tools, and that any sort of labour was with +difficulty procured from them. + +The want of proper overseers principally contributed to this. Those who +were placed over them as such were people selected from among themselves, +being recommended by their conduct during the voyage; few of these, +however, chose to exert the authority that was requisite to keep the +gangs at their labour, although assured of meeting with every necessary +support. Petty thefts among themselves began soon to be complained of; +the sailors from the transports, although repeatedly forbidden, and +frequently punished, still persisted in bringing spirits on shore by +night, and drunkenness was often the consequence. + +To check these enormities, the court of criminal judicature was assembled +on the 11th of February, when three prisoners were tried; one for an +assault, of which being found guilty, he was sentenced to receive one +hundred and fifty lashes; a second, for taking some biscuit from another +convict, was sentenced to a week's confinement on bread and water, on a +small rocky island near the entrance of the cove; and a third, for +stealing a plank, was sentenced to receive fifty lashes, but, being +recommended to the governor, was forgiven. + +The mildness of these punishments seemed rather to have encouraged than +deterred others from the commission of greater offences; for before the +month was ended the criminal court was again assembled for the trial of +four offenders, who had conceived and executed a plan for robbing the +public store during the time of issuing the provisions. This crime, in +its tendency big with evil to our little community, was rendered still +more atrocious by being perpetrated at the very time when the difference +of provisions, which had till then existed, was taken off, and the +convict saw the same proportion of provision issued to himself that was +served to the soldier and the officer, the article of spirits only +excepted. Each male convict was that day put upon the following weekly +ration of provisions, two-thirds of which was served to the female +convicts, viz 7 pounds of biscuit; 1 pound of flour; 7 pounds of beef, or +4 pounds of pork; 3 pints of peas; and 6 ounces of butter. + +It was fair to suppose that so liberal a ration would in itself have +proved the security of the store, and have defended it from depredation; +but we saw with concern, that there were among us some minds so +habitually vicious that no consideration was of any weight with them, nor +could they be induced to do right by any prospect of future benefit, or +fear of certain and immediate punishment. The charge being fully proved, +one man, James Barrett, suffered death: his confederates were pardoned, +on condition of their being banished from the settlement. Another culprit +was sentenced to receive three hundred lashes; but, not appearing so +guilty as his companions, was pardoned by the governor, the power of +pardoning being vested in him by his Majesty's commission. + +His excellency, having caused one example to be made, extended lenity to +some others who were tried the following day; and one convict, James +Freeman, was pardoned on condition of his becoming the public +executioner. + +It appeared by the letters patent under the great seal of Great Britain, +which were read after the governor's commission, that 'the appointment of +the place to which offenders should be transported having been vested in +the crown by an act of parliament, his Majesty, by two several orders in +council, bearing date the 6th of December 1786, had declared, that +certain offenders named in two lists annexed to the orders in council +should be transported to the eastern coast of New Holland, named New +South Wales, or some one or other of the islands adjacent:' and it being +deemed necessary that a colony and civil government should be established +in the place to which such felons should be transported, and that a court +of criminal jurisdiction should also be established therein, with +authority to proceed in a more summary way than is used within the realms +of Great Britain, according to the known and established laws thereof, +his Majesty, by the 27th Geo. 3. cap. 56. was enabled to authorise, by +his commission under the great seal, 'the governor, or in his absence the +lieutenant-governor of such place, to convene from time to time, as +occasion may require, a court of criminal jurisdiction, which court is to +be a court of record, and is to consist of the judge-advocate and such +six officers of the sea and land service as the governor shall, by +precept issued under his hand and seal, require to assemble for that +purpose.' This court has power to inquire of, hear, determine, and punish +all treasons, misprisions of treasons, murders, felonies, forgeries, +perjuries, trespasses, and other crimes whatsoever that may be committed +in the colony; the punishment for such offences to be inflicted according +to the laws of England as nearly as may be, considering and allowing for +the circumstances and situation of the settlement and its inhabitants. +The charge against any offender is to be reduced into writing, and +exhibited by the judge-advocate: witnesses are to be examined upon oath, +as well for as against the prisoner; and the court is to adjudge whether +he is guilty or not guilty by the opinion of the major part of the court. +If guilty, and the offence is capital, they are to pronounce judgment of +death, in like manner as if the prisoner had been convicted by the +verdict of a jury in England, or of such corporal punishment as the +court, or the major part of it, shall deem meet. And in cases not +capital, they are to adjudge such corporal punishment as the majority of +the court shall determine. But no offender is to suffer death, unless +five members of the court shall concur in adjudging him to be guilty, +until the proceedings shall have been transmitted to England, and the +king's pleasure signified thereupon. The provost-marshal is to cause the +judgment of the court to be executed according to the governor's warrant +under his hand and seal. + +The resemblance of this to the military courts may be easily traced in +some particulars. The criminal court is assembled, not at stated times, +but whenever occasion may require. It is composed of military officers +(the judge-advocate excepted, whose situation is of a civil nature) who +assemble as such in their military habits, with the insignia of duty, the +sash and the sword. Their judgments are to be determined by the majority; +and the examination of the witnesses is carried on by the members of the +court, as well as by the judge-advocate. But in other respects it differs +from the military courts. The judge-advocate is the judge or president of +the court; he frames and exhibits the charge against the prisoner, has a +vote in the court, and is sworn, like the members of it, well and truly +to try and to make true deliverance between the king and the prisoner, +and give a verdict according to the evidence. + +When the state of the colony and the nature of its inhabitants are +considered, it must be agreed, that the administration of public justice +could not have been placed with so much propriety in any other hands. The +outward form of the court, as well as the more essential part of it, are +admirably calculated to meet the characters and disposition of the people +who form the major part of the settlement. As long confinement would be +attended with a loss of labour, and other evils, the court is assembled +within a day or two after the apprehension of any prisoner whose crime is +of such magnitude as to call for a criminal proceeding against him. He is +brought before a court composed of a judge and six men of honour, who +hear the evidence both for and against him, and determine whether the +crime exhibited be or be not made out; and his punishment, if found +guilty, is adjudged according to the laws of England, considering and +allowing for the situation and circumstances of the settlement and its +inhabitants; which punishment, however, after all, cannot be inflicted +without the ratification of the governor under his hand and seal. + +Beside this court for the trial of criminal offenders, there is a civil +court, consisting of the judge-advocate and two inhabitants of the +settlement, who are to be appointed by the governor; which court has full +power to hear and determine in a summary way all pleas of lands, houses, +debts, contracts, and all personal pleas whatsoever, with authority to +summon the parties upon complaint being made, to examine the matter of +such complaint by the oaths of witnesses, and to issue warrants of +execution under the hand and seal of the judge-advocate. From this court, +on either party, plaintiff or defendant, finding himself or themselves +aggrieved by the judgment or decree, an appeal lies to the governor, and +from him, where the debt or thing in demand shall exceed the value of +three hundred pounds, to the king in council: but these appeals must be +put in, if from the civil court, within eight days, and if from the +governor or superior court, within fourteen days after pronouncing the +said judgments. + +To this court is likewise given authority to grant probates of wills and +administration of the personal estates of intestates dying within the +settlement. But as property must be acquired in the country before its +rights can come into question, few occasions of assembling this court can +occur for many years. + +In addition to these courts for the trial of crimes, and the cognisance +of civil suits, the governor, the lieutenant-governor, and the +judge-advocate for the time being, are by his Majesty's letters patent +constituted justices for the preservation of the peace of the settlement, +with the same power that justices of the peace have in England within +their respective jurisdictions. And the governor, being enabled by his +Majesty's commission, soon after our arrival, caused Augustus Alt esq. +(the surveyor-general of the territory) to be sworn a justice of the +peace, for the purpose of sitting once a week, or oftener as occasion +might require, with the judge-advocate, to examine all offences committed +by the convicts, and determine on and punish such as were not of +sufficient importance for trial by the criminal court. + +There is also a vice-admiralty court for the trial of offences committed +upon the high seas, of which the lieutenant-governor is constituted the +judge, Mr. Andrew Miller the registrar, and Mr. Henry Brewer the +marshall. The governor has, beside that of captain-general, a commission +constituting him vice-admiral of the territory; and another vesting him +with authority to hold* general courts-martial, and to confirm or set +aside the sentence. The major-commandant of the detachment had the usual +power of assembling regimental or battalion courts-martial for the trial +of offences committed by the soldiers under his command. + +[* Captain Collins, the judge-advocate of the settlement, had also a +warrant from the Admiralty appointing him judge-advocate to the marine +detachment.] + +By this account of the different modes of administering and obtaining +justice, which the legislature provided for this settlement, it is +evident that great care had been taken on our setting out, to furnish us +with a stable foundation whereon to erect our little colony, a foundation +which was established in the punishment of vice, the security of +property, and the preservation of peace and good order in our community. + +The governor having also received instructions to establish a settlement +at Norfolk Island, the _Supply_ sailed for that place about the middle of +the month of February, having on board Lieutenant King of the _Sirius_, +named by Capt. Phillip superintendant and commandant of the settlement to +be formed there. Lieutenant King took with him one surgeon (Mr. Jamieson, +surgeon's mate of the _Sirius_), one petty officer (Mr. Cunningham, also +of the _Sirius_), two private soldiers, two persons who pretended to some +knowledge of flax-dressing, and nine male and six female convicts, mostly +volunteers. This little party was to be landed with tents, clothing for +the convicts, implements of husbandry, tools for dressing flax, etc. and +provisions for six months; before the expiration of which time it was +designed to send them a fresh supply. + +Norfolk Island is situated in the latitude of 29 degrees south, and in +longitude 168 degrees 10 minutes east of Greenwich, and was settled with +a view to the cultivation of the flax plant, which at the time when the +island was discovered by Captain Cook was found growing most luxuriantly +where he landed; and from the specimens taken to England of the New +Zealand flax (of which sort is that growing at Norfolk Island), it was +hoped some advantages to the mother country might be derived from +cultivating and manufacturing it. + +Mr. King, previous to his departure for his little government, was sworn +in as a justice of the peace, taking the oaths necessary on the occasion, +by which he was enabled to punish such petty offences as might be +committed among his people, capital crimes being reserved for the +cognisance of the criminal court of judicature established here. + +Our own preservation depending in a great measure upon the preservation +of our stores and provisions, houses for their reception were immediately +begun when sufficient ground was found to be cleared; and the persons who +had the direction of these and other works carrying on, found it most to +the advantage of the public service to employ the convicts in task work, +allotting a certain quantity of ground to be cleared by a certain number +of persons in a given time, and allowing them to employ what time they +might gain, till called on again for public service, in bringing in +materials and erecting huts for themselves. But for the most part they +preferred passing in idleness the hours that might have been so +profitably spent, straggling into the woods for vegetables, or visiting +the French ships in Botany Bay. Of this latter circumstance we were +informed by M. de Clonard, the captain of the _Astrolabe_, in an +excursion he made from the ships, to bring round some dispatches from M. +de la Perouse, which that officer requested might be forwarded to the +French ambassador at the court of London by the first of our transports +that might sail from hence for Europe. He informed us, that they were +daily visited by the convicts, many of whom solicited to be received on +board before their departure, promising (as an inducement) to be +accompanied by a number of females. M. de Clonard at the same time +assured us, that the general (as he was termed by his officers and +people) had given their solicitations no kind of countenance, but had +threatened to drive them away by force. + +Among the buildings that were undertaken shortly after our arrival, must +be mentioned an observatory, which was marked out on the western point of +the cove, to receive the astronomical instruments which had been sent out +by the Board of Longitude, for the purpose of observing the comet which +was expected to be seen about the end of this year. The construction of +this building was placed under the direction of Lieut. Dawes of the +marines, who, having made this branch of science his particular study, +was appointed by the Board of Longitude to make astronomical observations +in this country. + +The latitude of the observatory was 33 degrees 52 minutes 30 seconds S; +the longitude, from Greenwich, 151 degrees 19 minutes 30 seconds E. + +Governor Phillip, having been very much pressed for time when he first +visited this harbour, had not thoroughly examined it. The completion of +that necessary business was left to Captain Hunter, who, with the first +lieutenant of the _Sirius_, early in the month of February, made an +accurate survey of it. It was then found to be far more extensive to the +westward than was at first imagined, and Captain Hunter described the +country as wearing a much more favourable countenance toward the head or +upper part, than it did immediately about the settlement. He saw several +parties of the natives, and, treating them constantly with good humour, +they always left him with friendly impressions. + +It was natural to suppose that the curiosity of these people would be +attracted by observing, that, instead of quitting, we were occupied in +works that indicated an intention of remaining in their country; but +during the first six weeks we received only one visit, two men strolling +into the camp one evening, and remaining in it for about half an hour. +They appeared to admire whatever they saw, and after receiving each a +hatchet (of the use of which the eldest instantly and curiously showed +his knowledge, by turning up his foot, and sharpening a piece of wood on +the sole with the hatchet) took their leave, apparently well pleased with +their reception. The fishing-boats also frequently reported their having +been visited by many of these people when hauling the seine, at which +labour they often assisted with cheerfulness, and in return were +generally rewarded with part of the fish taken. + +Every precaution was used to guard against a breach of this friendly and +desirable intercourse, by strictly prohibiting every person from +depriving them of their spears, fizgigs, gum, or other articles, which we +soon perceived they were accustomed to leave under the rocks, or loose +and scattered about upon the beaches. We had however great reason to +believe that these precautions were first rendered fruitless by the ill +conduct of a boat's crew belonging to one of the transports, who, we were +told afterwards, attempted to land in one of the coves at the lower part +of the harbour, but were prevented, and driven off with stones by the +natives. A party of them, consisting of sixteen or eighteen persons, some +time after landed on the island* where the people of the _Sirius_ were +preparing a garden, and with much artifice, watching their opportunity, +carried off a shovel, a spade, and a pick-axe. On their being fired at +and hit on the legs by one of the people with small shot, the pick-axe +was dropped, but they carried off the other tools. + +[* Since known by the name of Garden Island.] + +To such circumstances as these must be attributed the termination of that +good understanding which had hitherto subsisted between us and them, and +which Governor Phillip laboured to improve whenever he had an +opportunity. But it might have been foreseen that this would unavoidably +happen: the convicts were every where straggling about, collecting +animals and gum to sell to the people of the transports, who at the same +time were procuring spears, shields, swords, fishing-lines, and other +articles from the natives, to carry to Europe; the loss of which must +have been attended with many inconveniences to the owners, as it was soon +evident that they were the only means whereby they obtained or could +procure their daily subsistence; and although some of these people had +been punished for purchasing articles of the convicts, the practice was +carried on secretly, and attended with all the bad effects which were to +be expected from it. We also had the mortification to learn, that M. De +la Perouse had been compelled to fire upon the natives at Botany Bay, +where they frequently annoyed his people who were employed on shore. This +circumstance materially affected us, as those who had rendered this +violence necessary could not discriminate between us and them. We were +however perfectly convinced that nothing short of the greatest necessity +could have induced M. De la Perouse to take such a step, as we heard him +declare, that it was among the particular instructions that he received +from his sovereign, to endeavour by every possible means to acquire and +cultivate the friendship of the natives of such places as he might +discover or visit; and to avoid exercising any act of hostility upon +them. In obedience to this humane command, there was no doubt but he +forbore using force until forbearance would have been dangerous, and he +had been taught a lesson at Maouna, one of the Isles des Navigateurs, +that the tempers of savages were not to be trusted too far; for we were +informed, that on the very day and hour of their departure from that +island, the boats of the two ships, which were sent for a last load of +water, were attacked by the natives with stones and clubs, and M. De +l'Angle, the captain of the _Astrolabe_, with eleven officers and men, +were put to death; those who were so fortunate as to get off in the small +boats that attended on the watering launches (which were destroyed), +escaped with many wounds and contusions, some of which were not healed at +the time of their relating to us this unfortunate circumstance. It was +conjectured, that some one of the seamen, unknown to the officers, must +have occasioned this outrage, for which there was no other probable +reason to assign, as the natives during the time the ships were at the +island had lived with the officers and people on terms of the greatest +harmony. And this was not the first misfortune that those ships had met +with during their voyage; for on the north-west coast of America, they +lost two boats with their crews, and several young men of family, in a +surf. + +Notwithstanding the pressure of the important business we had upon our +hands after our landing, the discharge of our religious duties was never +omitted, divine service being performed every Sunday that the weather +would permit: at which time the detachment of marines paraded with their +arms, the whole body of convicts attended, and were observed to conduct +themselves in general with the respect and attention due to the occasion +on which they were assembled. + +It was soon observed with satisfaction, that several couples were +announced for marriage; but on strictly scrutinizing into the motive, it +was found in several instances to originate in an idea, that the married +people would meet with various little comforts and privileges that were +denied to those in a single state; and some, on not finding those +expectations realised, repented, wished and actually applied to be +restored to their former situations; so ignorant and thoughtless were +they in general. It was however to be wished, that matrimonial connexions +should be promoted among them; and none who applied were ever rejected, +except when it was clearly understood that either of the parties had a +wife or husband living at the time of their leaving England. + +The weather during the latter end of January and the month of February +was very close, with rain, at times very heavy, and attended with much +thunder and lightning. In the night of the 6th February, six sheep, two +lambs, and one pig, belonging chiefly to the lieutenant-governor, having +been placed at the foot of a large tree, were destroyed by the lightning. +But accidents of this kind were rather to be expected than wondered at, +until the woods around us could be opened and cleared. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + + +Broken Bay visited +M. de la Perouse sails +Transactions +The _Supply_ returns +Lord Howe Island discovered +The ships for China sail +Some convicts wounded by the natives +Scurvy +New store-house +Necessary orders and appointments +Excursions into the country +New branch of the harbour into Port Jackson +Sheep + + +March.] Early in March the governor, accompanied by some officers from +the settlement and the _Sirius_, went round by water to the next +adjoining harbour to the northward of this port, which is laid down in +the charts by the name of Broken Bay, from the broken appearance of the +land by which it is formed. The intention of this visit was, not only to +survey the harbour, if any were found to exist, but to examine whether +there were within it any spots of ground capable of cultivation, and of +maintaining a few families; but in eight days that he was absent, though +he found an harbour equal in magnitude to Port Jackson, the governor saw +no situation that could at all vie with that which he had chosen for the +settlement at Sydney Cove, the land at Broken Bay being in general very +high and in most parts rocky and barren. The weather proved very +unfavourable to an excursion in a country where the residence for each +night was to be provided by the travellers themselves; and some of the +party returned with dysenteric complaints. The weather at Port Jackson +had been equally adverse to labour, the governor finding at his return +upwards of two hundred patients under the surgeon's care, in consequence +of the heavy rains that had fallen. A building for the reception of the +sick was now absolutely necessary, and one, eighty-four feet by +twenty-three, was put in hand, to be divided into a dispensary, (all the +hospital stores being at that time under tents,) a ward for the troops, +and another for the convicts. It was to be built of wood, and the roof to +be covered in with shingles, made from a species of fir that is found +here. The heavy rains also pointed out the necessity of sheltering the +detachment, and until barracks could be built, most of them covered their +tents with thatch, or erected for themselves temporary clay huts. The +barracks were begun early in March; but much difficulty was found in +providing proper materials, the timber being in general shakey and +rotten. They were to consist of four buildings, each building to be +sixty-seven feet by twenty-two, and to contain one company. They were +placed at a convenient distance asunder for the purpose of air and +cleanliness, and with a space in the centre for a parade. + +On or about Monday the 10th of March, the French ships sailed from Botany +Bay, bound, as they said, to the northward, and carrying with them the +most unfavourable ideas of this country and its native inhabitants; the +officers having been heard to declare, that in their whole voyage they no +where found so poor a country, nor such wretched miserable people. During +their stay in Botany Bay, they set up the frames of two large boats which +they brought out from Europe, to replace those they lost at Maouna, and +on the north-west coast of America. We had, during their stay in this +country, a very friendly and pleasant intercourse with their officers, +among whom we observed men of abilities, whose observations, and +exertions in the search after knowledge, will most amply illustrate the +history of their voyage: and it reflected much credit on the minister +when he arranged the plan of it, that people of the first talents for +navigation, astronomy, natural history, and every other science that +could render it conspicuously useful, should have been selected for the +purpose. + +We found after their departure the grave of the Abbé L. Receveur, who +died but a short time before they sailed: he was buried not very far from +the spot where their tents were erected, at the foot of a tree, on which +were nailed two pieces of board with the following inscription: + +Hic jacet +L. Receveur +Ex F. F. Minoribus +Galliae Sacerdos +Physicus in Circumnavigatione Mundi +Duce D. de la Perouse +Obiit Die 17 Febr. Anno +1788. + +Governor Phillip, on hearing that these boards had fallen down from the +tree, caused the inscription to be engraven on a plate of copper, which +was put up in place of the boards; but rain, and the oozing of gum from +the tree, soon rendered even that illegible. + +We continued to be still busily employed; a wharf for the convenience of +landing stores was begun under the direction of the surveyor-general: the +ordnance, consisting of two brass six-pounders on travelling carriages, +four iron twelve-pounders, and two iron six-pounders, were landed; the +transports, which were chartered for China, were clearing; the long-boats +of the ships in the cove were employed in bringing up cabbage-tree from +the lower part of the harbour, where it grew in great abundance, and was +found, when cut into proper lengths, very fit for the purpose of erecting +temporary huts, the posts and plates of which being made of the pine of +this country, and the sides and ends filled with lengths of the +cabbage-tree, plastered over with clay, formed a very good hovel. The +roofs were generally thatched with the grass of the gum-rush; some were +covered with clay, but several of these failed, the weight of the clay +and heavy rain soon destroying them. + +A gang of convicts was employed, under the direction of a person who +understood the business, in making bricks at a spot about a mile from the +settlement, at the head of Long Cove; at which place also two acres of +ground were marked out for such officers as were willing to cultivate +them and raise a little grain for their stock; it not being the intention +of government to give any grants of land until the necessary accounts of +the country, and of what expectations were likely to be formed from it, +should be received. + +Great inconvenience was found from the necessity that subsisted of +suffering the stock of individuals to run loose amongst the tents and +huts; much damage in particular was sustained by hogs, who frequently +forced their way into them while the owners were at labour and destroyed +and damaged whatever they met with. At first these losses were usually +made good from the store, as it was unreasonable to expect labour where +the labourer did not receive the proper sustenance; but this being soon +found to open a door to much imposition, and to give rise to many +fabricated tales of injuries that never existed, an order was given, that +any hog caught trespassing was to be killed by the person who actually +received any damage from it. + +The principal street of the intended town was marked out at the head of +the cove, and its dimensions were extensive. The government-house was to +be constructed on the summit of a hill commanding a capital view of Long +Cove, and other parts of the harbour; but this was to be a work of +after-consideration; for the present, as the ground was not cleared, it +was sufficient to point out the situation and define the limits of the +future buildings. + +On the 19th the _Supply_ returned from Norfolk Island, having been absent +four weeks and six days. We learned that she made the island on the 29th +of last month, but for the five succeeding days was not able to effect a +landing, being prevented by a surf which they found breaking with +violence on a reef of rocks that lay across the principal bay. Lieutenant +King had nearly given up all hopes of being able to land, when a small +opening was discovered in the reef wide enough to admit a boat, through +which he was so fortunate as to get safely with all his people and +stores. When landed, he could nowhere find a space clear enough for +pitching a tent; and he had to cut through an almost impenetrable +wilderness before he could encamp himself and his people. Of the flock he +carried with him, he lost the only she-goat he had, and one ewe. He had +named the bay wherein he landed and fixed the settlement Sydney Bay, and +had given the names of Phillip and Nepean to two small islands which are +situated at a small distance from it. + +Lieutenant King, the commandant, wrote in good spirits, and spoke of +meeting all his difficulties like a man determined to overcome them. The +soil of the island appeared to be very rich, but the landing dangerous, +Sydney Bay being exposed to the southerly winds, with which the surf +constantly breaks on the reef. The _Supply_ lost one of her people, who +was washed off the reef and drowned. There is a small bay on the other +side of the island, but at a distance from the settlement, and no +anchoring ground in either. The flax plant (the principal object in view) +he had not discovered when the _Supply_ sailed. Lieutenant Ball, soon +after he left this harbour, fell in with an uninhabited island in lat. 31 +degrees 56 minutes S and in long. 159 degrees 4 minutes East, which he +named Lord Howe Island. It is inferior in size to Norfolk Island, but +abounded at that time with turtle, (sixteen of which he brought away with +him,) as well as with a new species of fowl, and a small brown bird, the +flesh of which was very fine eating. These birds were in great abundance, +and so unused to such visitors, that they suffered themselves to be +knocked down with sticks, as they ran along the beach. + +Pines, but no small trees, grow on this island, in which there is a good +bay, but no anchoring ground. Of the pines at Norfolk Island, one +measured nine feet in diameter, and another, that was found lying on the +ground, measured 182 feet in length. + +As the scurvy was at this time making rapid strides in the colony, the +hope of being able to procure a check to its effects from the new island, +rendered it in every one's opinion a fortunate discovery. + +The _Scarborough_, _Charlotte_, and _Lady Penrhyn_ transports being +cleared, were discharged from government service in the latter end of the +month, and the masters left at liberty to proceed on their respective +voyages pursuant to the directions of their owners. + +In the course of this month several convicts came in from the woods; one +in particular dangerously wounded with a spear, the others very much +beaten and bruised by the natives. The wounded man had been employed +cutting rushes for thatching, and one of the others was a convalescent +from the hospital, who went out to collect a few vegetables. All these +people denied giving any provocation to the natives: it was, however, +difficult to believe them; they well knew the consequences that would +attend any acts of violence on their part, as it had been declared in +public orders early in the month, that in forming the intended +settlement, any act of cruelty to the natives being contrary to his +Majesty's most gracious intentions, the offenders would be subject to a +criminal prosecution; and they well knew that the natives themselves, +however injured, could not contradict their assertions. There was, +however, too much reason to believe that our people had been the +aggressors, as the governor on his return from his excursion to Broken +Bay, on landing at Camp Cove, found the natives there who had before +frequently come up to him with confidence, unusually shy, and seemingly +afraid of him and his party; and one, who after much invitation did +venture to approach, pointed to some marks upon his shoulders, making +signs they were caused by blows given with a stick. This, and their +running away, whereas they had always before remained on the beach until +the people landed from the boats, were strong indications that the man +had been beaten by some of our stragglers. Eleven canoes full of people +passed very near the _Sirius_, which was moored without the two points of +the cove, but paddled away very fast upon the approach of some boats +toward them. + +The curiosity of the camp was excited and gratified for a day or two by +the sight of an emu, which was shot by the governor's game-killer. It was +remarkable by every stem having two feathers proceeding from it. Its +height was 7 feet 2 inches, and the flesh was very well flavoured. + +The run of water that supplied the settlement was observed to be only a +drain from a swamp at the head of it; to protect it, therefore, as much +as possible from the sun, an order was given out, forbidding the cutting +down of any trees within fifty feet of the run, than which there had not +yet been a finer found in any one of the coves of the harbour. + +April.] As the winter of this hemisphere was approaching, it became +absolutely necessary to expedite the buildings intended for the +detachment; every carpenter that could be procured amongst the convicts +was sent to assist, and as many as could be hired from the transports +were employed at the hospital and storehouses. The long-boats of the +ships still continued to bring up the cabbage-tree from the lower part of +the harbour, and a range of huts was begun on the west side for some of +the female convicts. + +Our little camp now began to wear the aspect of distress, from the great +number of scorbutic patients that were daily seen creeping to and from +the hospital tents; and the principal surgeon suggested the expediency of +another supply of turtle from Lord Howe Island: but it was generally +thought that the season was too far advanced, and the utmost that could +have been procured would have made but a very trifling and temporary +change in the diet of those afflicted with the disorder. + +On the 6th, divine service was performed in the new storehouse, which was +covered in, but not sufficiently completed to admit provisions. One +hundred feet by twenty-five were the dimensions of this building, which +was constructed with great strength; yet the mind was always pained when +viewing its reedy combustible covering, remembering the livid flames that +had been seen to shoot over every part of this cove: but no other +materials could be found to answer the purpose of thatch, and every +necessary precaution was taken to guard against accidental fire. + +An elderly woman, a convict, having been accused of stealing a flat iron, +and the iron being found in her possession, the first moment she was left +alone she hung herself to the ridge-pole of her tent, but was fortunately +discovered and cut down before it was too late. + +Although several thefts were committed by the convicts, yet it was in +general remarked, that they conducted themselves with more propriety than +could have been expected from people of their description; to prevent, +however, if possible, the commission of offences so prejudicial to the +welfare of the colony, his excellency signified to the convicts his +resolution that the condemnation of any one for robbing the huts or +stores should be immediately followed by their execution. Much of their +irregularity was perhaps to be ascribed to the intercourse that +subsisted, in spite of punishment, between them and the seamen from the +ships of war and the transports, who at least one day in the week found +means to get on shore with spirits. + +Notwithstanding it was the anxious care of every one who could prevent +it, that the venereal disease might not be introduced into the +settlement, it was not only found to exist amongst the convicts, but the +very sufferers themselves were known to conceal their having it. To stop +this evil, it was ordered by the governor, that any man or woman having +and concealing this disorder should receive corporal punishment, and be +put upon a short allowance of provisions for six months. + +Lieutenant Dawes of the marines was directed in public orders to act as +officer of artillery and engineers; in consequence of which the ordnance +of the settlement, and the constructing of a small redoubt on the east +side, were put under his direction. + +Mr. Zachariah Clark, who came out of England as agent to Mr. Richards the +contractor, was at the same time appointed an assistant to the +commissary; and the issuing of the provisions, which was in future to be +once a week, was put under his charge. + +In the course of this month a stone building was begun on the west side +for the residence of the lieutenant-governor, one face of which was to be +in the principal street of the intended town. + +The governor, desirous of acquiring a knowledge of the country about the +seat of his government, and profiting by the coolness of the weather, +made during the month several excursions into the country; in one of +which having observed a range of mountains to the westward, and hoping +that a river might be found to take its course in their neighbourhood, he +set off with a small party, intending if possible to reach them, taking +with him six days provisions; but returned without attaining either +object of his journey--the mountains, or a river. + +He penetrated about thirty miles inland, through a country most amply +clothed with timber, but in general free from underwood. On the fifth day +of his excursion he had, from a rising ground which he named Belle Vue, +the only view of the mountains which he obtained during the journey; and +as they then appeared at too great a distance to be reached on one day's +allowance of provisions, which was all they had left, he determined to +return to Sydney Cove. + +In Port Jackson another branch extending to the northward had been +discovered; but as the country surrounding it was high, rocky, and +barren, though it might add to the extent and beauty of the harbour, it +did not promise to be of any benefit to the settlement. + +The governor had the mortification to learn on his return from his +western expedition, that five ewes and a lamb had been destroyed at the +farm in the adjoining cove, supposed to have been killed by dogs +belonging to the natives. + +The number of sheep which were landed in this country were considerably +diminished; they were of necessity placed on ground, and compelled to +feed on grass, that had never before been exposed to air or sun, and +consequently did not agree with them; a circumstance much to be lamented, +as without stock the settlement must for years remain dependent on the +mother-country for the means of subsistence. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + + +Transactions +Transports sail for China +The _Supply_ sails for Lord Howe Island +Return of stock in the colony in May +The _Supply_ returns +Transactions +A convict wounded +Rush-cutters killed by the natives +Governor's excursion +His Majesty's birthday +Behaviour of the convicts +Cattle lost +Natives +Proclamation +Earthquake +Transports sail for England +_Supply_ sails for Norfolk Island +Transactions +Natives +Convicts wounded + + +May.] The month of May opened with the trial, conviction, and execution +of James Bennett, a youth of seventeen years of age, for breaking open a +tent belonging to the _Charlotte_ transport, and stealing thereout +property above the value of five shillings. He confessed that he had +often merited death before he committed the crime for which he was then +about to suffer, and that a love of idleness and bad connexions had been +his ruin. He was executed immediately on receiving his sentence, in the +hope of making a greater impression on the convicts than if it had been +delayed for a day or two. + +There being no other shelter for the guard than tents, great +inconvenience was found in placing under its charge more than one or two +prisoners together. The convicts, therefore, who were confined at the +guard until they could be conveyed to the southward, were sent to the +Bare Island at the entrance of this cove, where they were to be supplied +weekly with provisions from the store, and water from the _Sirius_, until +an opportunity offered of sending them away. + +The three transports sailed on the 5th, 6th, and 7th of this month for +China. The _Supply_ also sailed on the 6th for Lord Howe Island, to +procure turtle and birds for the settlement, the scurvy continuing to +resist every effort that could be made to check its progress by medicine; +from the lateness of the season, however, little hope was entertained of +her success. + +The governor having directed every person in the settlement to make a +return of what livestock was in his possession, the following appeared to +be the total amount of stock in the colony: + +1 Stallion 2 Bulls 19 Goats 5 Rabbits 35 Ducks +3 Mares 5 Cows 49 Hogs 18 Turkeys 122 Fowls +3 Colts 29 Sheep 25 Pigs 29 Geese 87 Chickens + +There having been found among the convicts a person qualified to conduct +the business of a bricklayer, a gang of labourers was put under his +direction, and most of the huts which grew up in different parts of the +cleared ground were erected by them. Another gang of labourers was put +under the direction of a stonemason, and on the 15th the first stone of a +building, intended for the residence of he governor until the +government-house could be erected, was laid on the east side of the cove. +The following inscription, engraven on a piece of copper, was placed in +the foundation: + +His Excellency +ARTHUR PHILLIP Esq. +Governor in Chief and Captain General +in and over the Territory of New South Wales, +landed in this Cove +with the first Settlers of this Country, +the 24th Day of January 1788; +and on the 15th Day of May +in the same Year, +being the 28th of the Reign of His present Majesty +GEORGE the THIRD, +The First of these Stones was laid. + +The large store-house being completed, and a road made to it from the +wharf on the west side, the provisions were directed to be landed from +the victuallers, and proper gangs of convicts placed to roll them to the +store. + +Carpenters were now employed in covering in that necessary building the +hospital, the shingles for the purpose being all prepared; these were +fastened to the roof (which was very strong) by pegs made by the female +convicts. + +The timber that had been cut down proved in general very unfit or the +purpose of building, the trees being for the most part decayed, and when +cut down were immediately warped and split by the heat of the sun. A +species of pine appeared to be the best, and was chiefly used in the +frame-work of houses, and in covering the roofs, the wood splitting +easily into shingles. + +The _Supply_ returned in the afternoon of the 25th from Lord Howe Island, +without having procured any turtle, the weather being much too cold and +the season too late to find them so far to the southward. + +To the southward and eastward of Lord Howe Island there is a rock, which +may be seen at the distance of eighteen leagues, and which from its shape +Lieutenant Ball has named Ball Pyramid. + +On the 26th a soldier and a sailor were tried by the criminal court of +judicature for assaulting and dangerously wounding James McNeal, a +seaman. These people belonged to the _Sirius_, and were employed on the +island where the ship's company had their garden, the seamen in +cultivating the ground, and the soldier in protecting them; for which +purpose he had his firelock with him. They all lived together in a hut +that was built for them, and on the evening preceding the assault had +received their week's allowance of spirits, with which they intoxicated +themselves, and quarrelled. They were found guilty of the assault, and, +as pecuniary damages were out of the question, were each sentenced to +receive five hundred lashes. + +Farther and still more unpleasant consequences of the ill-treatment which +the natives received from our people were felt during this month. On the +evening of the 21st a convict belonging to the farm on the east side was +brought into the hospital, very dangerously wounded with a barbed spear, +which entered about the depth of three inches into his back, between the +shoulders. The account he gave of the transaction was, that having +strayed to a cove beyond the farm with another man, who did not return +with him, he was suddenly wounded with a spear, not having seen any +natives until he received the wound. His companion ran away when the +natives came up, who stripped him of all his clothes but his trousers, +which they did not take, and then left him to crawl into the camp. A day +or two afterwards the clothes of the man that was missing were brought +in, torn, bloody, and pierced with spears; so that there was every reason +to suppose that the poor wretch had fallen a sacrifice to his own folly +and the barbarity of the natives. + +On the 30th an officer, who had been collecting rushes in a cove up the +harbour, found and brought to the hospital the bodies of two convicts who +had been employed for some time in cutting rushes there, pierced through +in many places with spears, and the head of one beaten to a jelly. As it +was improbable that these murders should be committed without +provocation, inquiry was made, and it appeared that these unfortunate men +had, a few days previous to their being found, taken away and detained a +canoe belonging to the natives, for which act of violence and injustice +they paid with their lives. + +Notwithstanding these circumstances, a party of natives in their canoes +went alongside the _Sirius_, and some submitted to the operation of +shaving: after which they landed on the western point of the cove, where +they examined every thing they saw with the greatest attention, and went +away peaceably, and apparently were not under any apprehension of +resentment on our parts for the murders above-mentioned. + +June.] The governor, however, on hearing that the two rushcutters had +been killed, thought it absolutely necessary to endeavour to find out, +and, if possible, secure the people who killed them; for which purpose he +set off with a strong party well armed, and landed in the cove where +their bodies had been found; whence he struck across the country to +Botany Bay, where on the beach he saw about fifty canoes, but none of +their owners. In a cove on the sea-side, between Botany Bay and Port +Jackson, he suddenly fell in with an armed party of natives, in number +between two and three hundred, men, women, and children. With these a +friendly intercourse directly took place, and some spears, etc. were +exchanged for hatchets; but the murderers of the rush-cutters, if they +were amongst them, could not be discovered in the crowd. The governor +hoped to have found the people still at the place where the men had been +killed, in which case he would have endeavoured to secure some of them; +but, not having any fixed residence, they had, perhaps, left the spot +immediately after glutting their sanguinary resentment. + +His Majesty's birthday was kept with every attention that it was possible +to distinguish it by in this country; the morning was ushered in by the +discharge of twenty-one guns from the _Sirius_ and _Supply_; on shore the +colours were hoisted at the flag-staff, and at noon the detachment of +marines fired three volleys; after which the officers of the civil and +military establishment waited upon the governor, and paid their respects +to his excellency in honor of the day. At one o'clock the ships of war +again fired twenty-one guns each; and the transports in the cove made up +the same number between them, according to their irregular method on +those occasions. The officers of the navy and settlement were entertained +by the governor at dinner, and, among other toasts, named and fixed the +boundaries of the first _county_ in his Majesty's territory of New South +Wales. This was called Cumberland County, in honor of his Majesty's +second brother; and the limits of it to the northward were fixed by the +northernmost point of Broken Bay, to the southward by the southernmost +point of Broken [sic] Bay, and to the westward by Lansdown and Carmarthen +Hills (the name given to the range of mountains seen by the governor in +an excursion to the northward). At sunset the ships of war paid their +last compliment to his Majesty by a third time firing twenty-one guns +each. At night several bonfires were lighted; and, by an allowance of +spirits given on this particular occasion, every person in the colony was +enabled to drink his Majesty's health. + +Some of the worst among the convicts availed themselves of the +opportunity that was given them in the evening, by the absence of several +of the officers and people from their tents and huts, to commit +depredations. One officer on going to his tent found a man in it, whom +with some difficulty he secured, after wounding him with his sword. The +tent of another was broken into, and several articles of wearing apparel +stolen out of it; and many smaller thefts of provisions and clothing were +committed among the convicts. Several people were taken into custody, and +two were afterwards tried and executed. One of these had absconded, and +lived in the woods for nineteen days, existing by what he was able to +procure by nocturnal depredations among the huts and stock of +individuals. His visits for this purpose were so frequent and daring, +that it became absolutely necessary to proclaim him an outlaw, as well as +to declare that no person must harbour him after such proclamation. + +Exemplary punishments seemed about this period to be growing daily more +necessary. Stock was often killed, huts and tents broke open, and +provisions constantly stolen about the latter end of the week; for among +the convicts there were many who knew not how to husband their provisions +through the seven days they were intended to serve them, but were known +to have consumed the whole at the end of the third or fourth day. One of +this description made his week's allowance of flour (eight pounds) into +eighteen cakes, which he devoured at one meal; he was soon after taken +speechless and senseless, and died the following day at the hospital, a +loathsome putrid object. + +The obvious consequence of this want of economy was, that he who had +three days to live, and nothing to live on, before the store would be +again open to supply his wants, must steal from those who had been more +provident. Had a few persons been sent out who were not of the +description of convicts, to have acted as overseers, or superintendants, +regulations for their internal economy, as well in the articles of +clothing as provisions, might have been formed which would have prevented +these evils: it would then too have been more practicable to detect them +in selling or exchanging the slops which they received, and their +provisions would have been subject to a daily inspection. But overseers +drawn from among themselves were found not to have that influence which +was so absolutely necessary to carry any regulation into effect. And +although the convicts, previous to the birthday, were assembled, and +their duty pointed out to them, as well as the certain consequence of a +breach or neglect thereof, both by his excellency the governor and the +lieutenant-governor, yet it soon appeared that there were some among them +so inured to the habits of vice, and so callous to remonstrance, that +they were only restrained until a favourable opportunity presented +itself. + +The convicts who had been sent to the rock, in the hope that lenity to +them might operate also upon others, were, on the occasion of his +Majesty's birthday, liberated from their chains and confinement, and his +excellency forgave the offences of which they had been respectively +guilty, and which had occasioned their being sent thither. + +By some strange and unpardonable neglect in the convict who had been +entrusted with the care of the cattle, the two bulls and four cows were +lost in the beginning of this month. The man had been accustomed to drive +them out daily to seek the freshest grass and best pasturage, and was +ordered never on any pretence to leave them. To this order, as it +afterwards appeared, he very seldom attended, frequently coming in from +the woods about noon to get his dinner, leaving them grazing at some +little distance from the farm where they were kept; and in this manner +they were lost. They had strayed from the spot he expected to find them +on, or perhaps had been driven from it by the natives, and he spent two +days in searching for them before the governor was made acquainted with +the accident. + +Several parties were successively sent out to endeavour the recovery of +stock so essential to the colony; but constantly returned without +success. + +On the 27th a party of the natives, supposed to be in number from twenty +to thirty, landed at the point on the east side of the cove, between the +hours of eleven and twelve at night, and proceeded along close by the +sentinels, stopping for some time at the spot where the governor's house +was building, and in the rear of the tents inhabited by some of the +women. It was said that they appeared alarmed on hearing the sentinels +call out 'All is well,' and, after standing there for some time, went off +toward the run of water. The sentinels were very positive that they saw +them, and were minute in their relation of the above circumstances; +notwithstanding which, it was conjectured by many to be only the effect +of imagination. It is true, the natives might have chosen that hour of +the night to gratify a curiosity that would naturally be excited on +finding that we still resided among them; and perhaps for the purpose of +observing whether we all passed the night in sleep. + +The cold weather which we had at this time of the year was observed to +affect our fishing, and the natives themselves appeared to be in great +want. An old man belonging to them was found on the beach of one of the +coves, almost starved to death. + +It having been reported, that one of the natives who had stolen a jacket +from a convict had afterwards been killed or wounded by him in an attempt +to recover it, the governor issued a proclamation, promising a free +pardon, with remission of the sentence of transportation, to such male or +female convict as should give information of any such offender or +offenders, so that he or they might be brought to trial, and prosecuted +to conviction; but no discovery was made in consequence of this offer. + +In the afternoon of the 22nd a slight shock of an earthquake was +observed, which lasted two or three seconds, and was accompanied with a +distant noise like the report of cannon, coming from the southward; the +shock was local, and so slight that many people did not feel it. + +July.] The _Alexander_, _Prince of Wales_, and _Friendship_ transports, +with the _Borrowdale_ storeship, having completed their preparations for +sea, sailed together on the 14th of the month for England. Two officers +from the detachment of marines, Lieutenant Maxwell and Lieutenant +Collins, were embarked as passengers; these gentlemen having obtained +permission to return to Europe for the recovery of their healths, which +had been in a bade state from the time of their arrival in the country. + +The following report was made by the principal surgeon, of the state of +the sick in the settlement, at the time of the departure of the ships: + +The number of marines under medical treatment were 36 +The number of convicts under medical treatment were 66 +Convicts unfit for labour from old age and infirmities 52 + +And if idleness might have been taken into the account, as well it might, +since many were thereby rendered of very little service to the colony, +the number would have been greatly augmented. + +It was now necessary to think of Norfolk Island; and on the 20th the +_Supply_ sailed with stores and provisions for that settlement. + +Only two transports remained of the fleet that came out from England; +these were the _Golden Grove_ and _Fishburn_, and preparations were +making for clearing and discharging them from government service. The +people were employed in constructing a cellar on the west side for +receiving the spirits which were on board the _Fishburn_, and in landing +provisions from the _Golden Grove_, which were stowed in the large +storehouse by some seamen belonging to the _Sirius_, under the inspection +of the master of that ship. + +From the nature of the materials with which most of the huts occupied by +the convicts were covered in, many accidents happened by fire, whereby +the labour of several people was lost, who had again to seek shelter for +themselves, and in general had to complain of the destruction of +provisions and clothing. To prevent this, an order was given, prohibiting +the building of chimneys in future in such huts as were thatched. + +Several thefts were committed by and among the convicts. Wine was stolen +from the hospital, and some of those who had the care of it were taken +upon suspicion and tried, but for want of sufficient evidence were +acquitted. There was such a tenderness in these people to each other's +guilt, such an acquaintance with vice and the different degrees of it, +that unless they were detected in the fact, it was generally next to +impossible to bring an offence home to them. As there was, however, +little doubt, though no positive proof of their guilt, they were removed +from the hospital, and placed under the direction of the officer who was +then employed in constructing a small redoubt on the east side. + +The natives, who had been accustomed to assist our people in hauling the +seine, and were content to wait for such reward as the person who had the +direction of the boat thought proper to give them, either driven by +hunger, or moved by some other cause, came down to the cove where they +were fishing, and, perceiving that they had been more successful than +usual, took by force about half of what had been brought on shore. They +were all armed with spears and other weapons, and made their attack with +some show of method, having a party stationed in the rear with their +spears poised, in readiness to throw, if any resistance had been made. To +prevent this in future, it was ordered that a petty officer should go in +the boats whenever they were sent down the harbour. + +No precautions, however, that could be taken, or orders that were given, +to prevent accidents happening by misconduct on our part, had any weight +with the convicts. On the evening of the 27th one of them was brought in +wounded by the natives. He had left the encampment with another convict, +to gather vegetables, and, contrary to the orders which had been +repeatedly given, went nearly as far as Botany Bay, where they fell in +with a party of the natives, who made signs to them to go back, which +they did, but unfortunately ran different ways. This being observed by +the natives, they threw their spears at them. One of them was fortunate +enough to escape unhurt, but the other received two spears in him, one +entering a little above his left ear, the other in his breast. He took to +an arm of the bay, which, notwithstanding his wounds, he swam across, and +reported that the natives stood on the bank laughing at him. + +Much credit, indeed, was not to be given to any of their accounts; but it +must be remarked, that every accident that had happened was occasioned by +a breach of positive orders repeatedly given. + +Still, notwithstanding this appearance of hostility in some of the +natives, others were more friendly. In one of the adjoining coves resided +a family of them, who were visited by large parties of the convicts of +both sexes on those days in which they were not wanted for labour, where +they danced and sung with apparent good humour, and received such +presents as they could afford to make them; but none of them would +venture back with their visitors. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + + +Heavy rains +Public works +Sheep stolen +Prince of Wale's birthday +Fish +Imposition of a convict +Natives +Apprehensive of a failure of provisions +Natives +Judicial administration +A convict murdered + + +August.] All public labour was suspended for many days in the beginning +of the month of August by heavy rain; and the work of much time was also +rendered fruitless by its effects; the brick-kiln fell in more than once, +and bricks to a large amount were destroyed; the roads about the +settlement were rendered impassable; and some of the huts were so far +injured, as to require nearly as much labour to repair them as to build +them anew. It was not until the 14th of the month, when the weather +cleared up, that the people were again able to work. The public works +then in hand were, the barracks for the marine detachment; an observatory +on the west point of the cove; the houses erecting for the governor and +the lieutenant-governor; and the shingling of the hospital. + +Thefts among the convicts during the bad weather were frequent; and a +sheep was stolen from the farm on the east side a few nights prior to the +birthday of his royal highness the Prince of Wales, for celebrating of +which it had been for some time kept separate from the others and +fattened; and although a proclamation was issued by the governor offering +a pardon, and the highest reward his excellency could offer, +emancipation, to any male or female convict who should discover the +person or persons concerned in the felony, except the person who actually +stole or killed the sheep, no information was +given that could lead to a discovery of the perpetrators of this offence. + +The anniversary of the Prince of Wales's birth was observed by a +cessation from all kinds of labour. At noon the troops fired three +volleys at the flag-staff on the east side, after which the governor +received the compliments usual on this occasion. The _Sirius_ fired a +royal salute at one o'clock, and a public dinner was given by the +governor. Bonfires were lighted on each side of the cove at night, with +which the ceremonies of the day concluded. + +It had been imagined in England, that some, if not considerable savings +of provisions might be made, by the quantities of fish that it was +supposed would be taken; but nothing like an equivalent for the ration +that was issued to the colony for a single day had ever been brought up. + +We were informed, that the French ships, while in Botany Bay, had met +with one very successful haul of large fish, that more than amply +supplied both ships companies; but our people were not so fortunate. Fish +enough was sometimes taken to supply about two hundred persons; but the +quantity very rarely exceeded this. Three sting-rays were taken this +month, two of which weighed each about three hundred weight, and were +distributed amongst the people. + +His royal highness Prince William Henry's birthday was distinguished by +displaying the colours at the flag-staff; and this compliment was paid to +other branches of the royal family whose birthdays were not directed to +be observed with more ceremony. + +On the 26th the _Supply_ returned from Norfolk Island, having been absent +five weeks and two days. From the commandant the most favourable accounts +were received of the richness and depth of the soil and salubrity of the +climate, having been visited with very little rain, or thunder and +lightning. His search after the flax-plant had been successful; where he +had cleared the ground he found it growing spontaneously and luxuriant: a +small species of plaintain also had been discovered. His gardens promised +an ample supply of vegetables; but his seed-wheat, having been heated in +the long passage to this country, turned out to be damaged, and did not +vegetate. The landing was found to be very dangerous, and he had the +misfortune to lose Mr. Cunningham, the midshipman, with three people, and +the boat they were in, by the surf on the reef, a few days before the +_Supply _sailed. Short, however, as the time was, the carpenter of chat +vessel replaced the boat by building him a coble of the timber of the +island, constructed purposely for going without the reef, and for the +hazardous employ she must often be engaged in. + +The settlement at Sydney Cove was for some time amused with an account of +the existence and discovery of a gold mine; and the impostor had +ingenuity enough to impose a fabricated tale on several of the officers +for truth. He pretended to have found it at some distance down the +harbour; and, offering to conduct an officer to the spot, a boat was +provided; but immediately on landing, having previously prevailed on the +officer to send away the boat, to prevent his discovery being made public +to more than one person, he made a pretence to leave him, and, reaching +the settlement some hours before the officer, reported that he had been +sent up by him for a guard. The fellow knew too well the consequences +that would follow on the officer's arrival to wait for that, and +therefore set off directly into the woods, whence he returned the day +following, when he was punished with fifty lashes for his imposition. +Still, however, persisting that he had discovered a metal, a specimen of +which he produced, the governor, who was absent from the settlement at +the opening of the business, but had now returned, ordered him to be +taken again down the harbour, with directions to his adjutant to land him +on the place the man should point out, and keep him in his sight; but on +being assured by that officer, that if he attempted to deceive him he +would put him to death, the man saved him the trouble of going far with +him, and confessed that his story of having discovered a gold mine was a +falsehood which he had propagated the hope of imposing on the people +belonging to the _Fishburn_ and _Golden Grove_, from whom, being about to +prepare for Europe, he expected to procure cloathing and other articles +in return for his promised gold-dust; and that he had fabricated the +specimens of the metal which he had exhibited, from a guinea and a brass +buckle; the remains of which he then produced. + +For this imposture he was afterwards ordered by the magistrates before +whom he was examined to receive a hundred lashes, and to wear a canvas +frock, with the letter R cut and sewn upon it, to distinguish him more +particularly from others as a rogue. + +Among the people of his own description, there were many who believed, +notwithstanding his confession and punishment, that he had actually made +the discovery he pretended, and was induced to say it was a fabrication +merely to secure it to himself, to make use of at a future opportunity. +So easy is it to impose on the minds of the lower class of people! + +The natives continued to molest our people whenever they chanced to meet +any of them straggling and unarmed; yet, although forcibly warned by the +evil and danger that attended their straggling, the latter still +continued to give the natives opportunity of injuring them. About the +middle of the month a convict, who had wandered beyond the limits of +security which had been pointed out for them, fell in with a party of +natives, about fourteen in number, who stripped and beat him shockingly, +and would have murdered him had they not heard the report of a musket, +which alarming them, they ran away, leaving him his clothes. On the 21st +a party of natives landed from five canoes, near the point where the +observatory was building, where, some of them engaging the attention of +the officers and people at the observatory, the others attempted forcibly +to take off a goat from the people at the hospital; in which attempt +finding themselves resisted by a seaman who happened to be present, they +menaced him with their spears, and, on his retiring, killed the animal +and took it off in a canoe, making off toward Long Cove with much +expedition. They were followed immediately by the governor, who got up +with some of the party, but could neither recover the goat, nor meet with +the people who had killed it. + +It was much to be regretted, that none of them would place a confidence +in and reside among us; as in such case, by an exchange of languages, +they would have found that we had the most friendly intention toward +them, and that we would ourselves punish any injury they might sustain +from our people. + +September.] The seed-wheat that was sown here did not turn out any better +than that at Norfolk Island; in some places the ground was twice cropped, +and there was reason to apprehend a failure of seed for the next year. +The governor, therefore, early in this month, signified his intention of +sending the _Sirius_ to the Cape of Good Hope, to procure a sufficient +quantity of grain for that purpose; together with as much flour for the +settlement as she could stow, after laying in a twelvemonth's provisions +for her ship's company. Her destination was intended to have been to the +northward; but on making a calculation, and comparing the accounts of +those navigators who had procured refreshments among the islands, it was +found, that although she might provide very well for herself, yet, after +an absence of three or four months, which would be the least time she +would be gone, she could not bring more than would support the colony for +a fortnight. At the same time his excellency made known his intention of +establishing a settlement on some ground which he had seen at the head of +this harbour when he made his excursion to the westward in April last, +and which, from its form, he had named the Crescent. This measure +appeared the more expedient, as the soil in and about the settlement +seemed to be very indifferent and unproductive, and by no means so +favourable for the growth of grain as that at the Crescent. + +The _Sirius_ was therefore ordered to prepare for her voyage with all +expedition; and as she would be enabled to stow a greater quantity of +flour by not taking all her guns, eight of them were landed on the west +point of the cove, and a small breast-work thrown up in front of them. + +The master of the _Golden Grove_ storeship also was ordered to prepare +for sea, the governor intending to employ that ship in taking provisions +and stores, with a party of convicts, to Norfolk Island. + +The stores of the detachment having been kept on board the _Sirius_ until +a building could be erected for their reception, and a storehouse for +that purpose being now ready, they were removed on shore. + +Two boats, one of eight and another of sixteen oars, having been sent out +in frame for the use of the settlement, the carpenter of the _Supply_ was +employed in putting them together during that vessel's day in port, and +one of them, the eight-oared boat, was got into the water this month; but +the want of a schooner or two, of from thirty to forty tons burden, to be +employed in surveying this coast, was much felt and lamented. + +We had now given up all hope of recovering the cattle which were so +unfortunately lost in May last; and the only cow that remained not being +at that time with calf, and having since become wild and dangerous, the +lieutenant-governor, whose property she was, directed her to be killed; +she was accordingly shot at his farm, it being found impracticable to +secure and slaughter her in the common way. + +About the middle of September several canoes passed the _Sirius_, and +above 30 natives landed from them at the observatory or western point of +the cove. They were armed, and, it was imagined, intended to take off +some sheep from thence; but, if this was their intention, they were +prevented by the appearance of two gentlemen who happened +to be there unarmed; and, after throwing some stones, they took to their +canoes and paddled off. + +On the 25th the people in the fishing-boat reported that several spears +were thrown at them by some of the natives; for no other reason, than +that, after giving them freely what small fish they had taken, they +refused them a large one which attracted their attention. + +On the 30th one midshipman and two seamen from the _Sirius_, one +sergeant, one corporal, and five private marines, and twenty-one male and +eleven female convicts, embarked on board the _Golden Grove_ for Norfolk +Island, and the day following she dropped down, with his Majesty's ship +_Sirius_, to Camp Cove, whence both ships sailed on the 2nd of October. + +October.] Captain Hunter, having been sworn as a magistrate soon after +the arrival of the fleet, continued to act in that capacity until his +departure for the Cape of Good Hope, sitting generally once a week, with +the judge-advocate and the surveyor-general, to inquire into petty +offences. Saturday was commonly set apart for these examinations; that +day being given to the convicts for the purpose of collecting vegetables +and attending to their huts and gardens. + +The detachment also finding it convenient to collect vegetables, and +being obliged to go for them as far as Botany Bay, the convicts were +ordered to avail themselves of the protection they might find by going in +company with an armed party; an never, upon any account, to straggle from +the soldiers, or go to Botany Bay without them, on pain of severe +punishment. Notwithstanding this order and precaution, however, a +convict, who had been looked upon as a good man (no complaint having been +made of him since his landing, either for dishonesty or idleness), having +gone out with an armed party to procure vegetables at Botany Bay, +straggled from them, though repeatedly cautioned against it, and was +killed by the natives. On the return of the soldiers from the bay, he was +found lying dead in the path, his head beat to a Jelly, a spear driven +through it, another through his body, and one arm broken. Some people +were immediately sent out to bury him; and in the course of the month the +parties who went by the spot for vegetables three times reported that his +body was above ground, having been, it was supposed, torn up by the +natives' dogs. This poor wretch furnished another instance of the +consequences that attended a disobedience of orders which had been +purposely given to prevent these accidents; and as nothing of the kind +was known to happen, but where a neglect and contempt of all order was +first shown, every misfortune of the kind might be attributed, not to the +manners and disposition of the natives, but to the obstinacy and +ignorance of our people. + +On the departure of the _Sirius_, one pound of flour was deducted from +the weekly ration of those who received the full proportion, and +two-thirds of a pound from such as were at two-thirds allowance. The +settlement was to continue at this ration until the return of the +_Sirius_, which was expected not to exceed six months. But public labour +was not affected by this reduction. The cellar being completed and ready +for the reception of the spirits that were on board the _Fishburn_, they +were landed from that ship; and she, being cleared and discharged from +government employ, hove down, and prepared for her return to England. + +A gang of convicts were employed in rolling timber together, to form a +bridge over the stream at the head of the cove; and such other public +works as were in hand went on as usual; those employed on them in general +barely exerting themselves beyond what was necessary to avoid immediate +punishment for idleness. + +A warrant having about this time been granted by the governor, for the +purpose of assembling a general court-martial, a defect was discovered in +the marine mutiny act; and it was determined by the officers, that, as +marine officers, they could not sit under any other than a warrant from +the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. The marines are so far distinct +from his Majesty's land forces, that while on shore in any part of his +Majesty's dominions, they are regulated by an act of parliament passed +expressly for their guidance; and when it was found necessary to employ a +corps of marines during the late war in America, they were included in +the mutiny act passed for his Majesty's forces employed in that country. +This provision having been neglected on the departure of the expedition +for this country, and not being discovered until the very instant when it +was wanted, all that could be done was to state their situation to the +governor, which they did on the 13th. and at the same time requested, +'That they might be understood to be acting only in conformity with an +act of the British legislature, passed expressly for their regulation +while on shore in any part of his Majesty's dominions; and that they had +not in any shape been wanting in the respect that belonged to the high +authority of his Majesty's commission, or to the officer invested with it +in this country.' + +On the 24th a party of natives, meeting a convict who had straggled from +the settlement to a fence that some people were making for the purpose of +inclosing stock, threw several spears at him; but, fortunately, without +doing him any injury. The governor, on being made acquainted with the +circumstance, immediately went to the spot with an armed party, where +some of them being heard among the bushes, they were fired at; it having +now become absolutely necessary to compel them to keep at a greater +distance from the settlement. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + + +Settlement of Rose Hill +The _Golden Grove_ returns from Norfolk Island +The storeships sail for England +Transactions +James Daley tried and executed for housebreaking +Botany Bay examined by the governor +A convict found dead in the woods +Christmas Day +A native taken and brought up to the settlement +Weather +Climate +Report of deaths from the departure of the fleet from England to the +31st of December 1788 + + +November.] The month of November commenced with the establishment of a +settlement at the head of the harbour. On the 2nd, his excellency the +governor went up to the Crescent, with the surveyor-general, two +officers, and a small party of marines, to choose the spot, and to mark +out the ground for a redoubt and other necessary buildings; and two days +after a party of ten convicts, being chiefly people who understood the +business of cultivation, were sent up to him, and a spot upon a rising +ground, which his excellency named Rose Hill, in compliment to G. Rose +Esq. one of the secretaries of the treasury, was ordered to be cleared +for the first habitations. The soil at this spot was of a stiff clayey +nature, free from that rock which every where covered the surface at +Sydney Cove, well clothed with timber, and unobstructed by underwood. + +The party of convicts having, during the course of the month, been +gradually increased, the subaltern's command was augmented by a captain +with an additional number of private men; and it being found necessary +that the commanding officer should be vested with civil power and +authority sufficient to inflict corporal punishment on the convicts for +idleness and other petty offences, the governor constituted him a justice +of the peace for the county of Cumberland for that purpose. + +10th. While this little settlement was establishing itself, the _Golden +Grove_ returned from Norfolk Island, having been absent five weeks and +four days. It brought letters from Lieutenant King, the commandant, who +wrote in very favourable terms of his young colony. His people continued +healthy, having fish and vegetables in abundance; by the former of which +he was enabled to save some of his salted provisions. He had also the +promise of a good crop from the grain which had been last sown, and his +gardens wore the most flourishing appearance. + +A coconut perfectly fresh, and a piece of wood said to resemble the +handle of a fly-flap as made at the Friendly Islands, together with the +remains of two canoes, had been found among the rocks, perhaps blown from +some island which might lie at no great distance. + +The _Golden Grove_, on her return to this port, saw a very dangerous +reef, the south end of which, according to the observation of Mr. +Blackburn (the master of the _Supply_) who commanded her for the voyage, +lay in the latitude of 29 degrees 25 minutes South, and longitude 159 +degrees 29 minutes East. It appeared to extend, when she was about four +leagues from it, from the NE by N to N. + +The _Golden Grove_ brought from Norfolk Island a lower yard and a +top-gallant-mast for herself, and the like for the _Fishburn_. + +A soldier belonging to the detachment, who was employed with some others +in preparing shingles at a little distance from the settlement, was +reported by his comrades, toward the latter end of last month, to be +missing from the hut or tent, and parties were sent out in search of him; +but returning constantly without success, he was at length given up; and +a convict who was employed in assisting the party, and who had been the +last person seen with him, was taken into custody; but on his examination +nothing appeared that could at all affect him. + +Another soldier of the detachment died at the hospital of the bruises he +received in fighting with one of his comrades, who was, with three +others, taken into custody, and afterward tried upon a charge of murder, +but found guilty of manslaughter. Instead of burning in the hand, (which +would not have been in this country an adequate punishment), each was +sentenced to receive two hundred lashes. + +The two storeships sailed for England on the 19th. By these ships the +governor sent home dispatches, and he strongly recommended to the masters +to make their passage round by the south cape of this country; but it was +conjectured that they intended to go round Cape Horn, and touch at Rio de +Janeiro. + +The small redoubt that was begun in July last being finished, a +flag-staff was erected, and two pieces of iron ordnance placed in it. + +In order to prevent, if possible, the practice of thieving, which at +times was very frequent, an order was given, directing that no convict, +who should in future be found guilty of theft, should be supplied with +any other clothing than a canvas frock and trousers. It was at the same +time ordered, that such convicts as should in future fail to perform a +day's labour, should receive only two thirds of the ration that was +issued to those who could and did work. + +Unimportant as these circumstances may appear when detailed at a distance +from the time when they were necessary, they yet serve to show the nature +of the people by whom this colony (whatever may be its fate) was first +founded; as well as the attention that was paid by those in authority, +and the steps taken by them, for establishing good order and propriety +among them, and for eradicating villany and idleness. + +December.] James Daley, the convict who in August pretended to have +discovered an inexhaustible source of wealth, and was punished for his +imposition, was observed from that time to neglect his labour, and to +loiter about from hut to hut, while others were at work. He was at last +taken up and tried for breaking into a house, and stealing all the +property he could find in it; of this offence he was convicted, and +suffered death; the governor not thinking him an object of mercy. Before +he was turned off, he confessed that he had committed several thefts, to +which he had been induced by bad connections, and pointed out two women +who had received part of the property for the acquisition of which he was +then about to pay so dear a price. These women were immediately +apprehended, and one of them made a public example of, to deter others +from offending in the like manner. The convicts being all assembled for +muster, she was directed to stand forward, and, her head having been +previously deprived of its natural covering, she was clothed with a +canvas frock, on which was painted, in large characters, R. S. G. +(receiver of stolen goods) and threatened with punishment if ever she was +seen without it. This was done in the hope that shame might operate, at +least with the female part of the prisoners, to the prevention of crimes; +but a great number of both sexes had too long been acquainted with each +other in scenes of disgrace, for this kind of punishment to work much +reformation among them. This, however, must be understood to be spoken +only of the lowest class of these people, among whom the commission of +offences was chiefly found to exist; for there were convicts of both +sexes who were never known to associate with the common herd, and whose +conduct was marked by attention to their labour, and obedience to the +orders they received. + +On the 11th, the governor set off with a small party in boats, to examine +the different branches of Botany Bay, and, after an excursion of five +days, returned well satisfied that no part of that extensive bay was +adapted to the purpose of a settlement; thus fully confirming the reports +he had received from others, and the opinions he had +himself formed. + +A convict having been found dead in the woods near the settlement, an +enquiry into the cause of his death was made by the provost-marshal; when +it appeared from the evidence of Mr. Balmain, one of the +assistant-surgeons who attended to open him, and of the people who lived +with the deceased, that he died through want of nourishment, and through +weakness occasioned by the heat of the sun. It appeared that he had not +for more than a week past eaten his allowance of provisions, the whole +being found in his box. It was proved by those who knew him, that he was +accustomed to deny himself even what was absolutely necessary to his +existence, abstaining from his provisions, and selling them for money, +which he was reserving, and had somewhere concealed, in order to purchase +his passage to England when his time should expire. + +Mr. Reid, the carpenter of the _Supply_, now undertook the construction +of a boat-house on the east side, for the purpose of building, with the +timber of this country, a launch or hoy, capable of being employed in +conveying provisions to Rose Hill, and for other useful and necessary +purposes. The working convicts were employed on Saturdays, until ten +o'clock in the forenoon, in forming a landing-place on the east side of +the cove. At the point on the west side, a magazine was marked out, to be +constructed of stone, and large enough to contain fifty or sixty barrels +of powder. + +Christmas Day was observed with proper ceremony. Mr. Johnson preached a +sermon adapted to the occasion, and the major part of the officers of the +settlement were afterward entertained at dinner by the governor. + +It being remarked with concern, that the natives were becoming every day +more troublesome and hostile, several people having been wounded, and +others, who were necessarily employed in the woods, driven in and much +alarmed by them, the governor determined on endeavouring to seize and +bring into the settlement, one or two of those people, whose language it +was become absolutely necessary to acquire, that they might learn to +distinguish friends from enemies. + +Accordingly, on the 30th a young man was seized and brought up by +Lieutenant Ball of the _Supply_, and Lieutenant George Johnston of the +marines. A second was taken; but, after dragging into the water beyond +his depth the man who seized him, he got clear off. The native who was +secured was immediately on his landing led up to the governor's, where he +was clothed, a slight iron or manacle put upon his wrist, and a trusty +convict appointed to take care of him. A small hut had been previously +built for his reception close to the guardhouse, wherein he and his +keeper were locked up at night; and the following morning the convict +reported, that he slept very well during the night, not offering to make +any attempt to get away. + +The weather, during the month of December, was for the first part hot and +close; the middle was fine; the latter variable, but mostly fine--upon +the whole the month was very hot. The climate was allowed by every one, +medical as well as others, to be fine and salubrious. The rains were +heavy, and appeared to fall chiefly on or about the full and change of +the moon. Thunder and lightning at times had been severe, but not +attended with any bad effects since the month of February last. + +The following report of the casualties which had happened from the day of +our leaving England to the 31st of December 1788, was given in at this +time, viz. + +--------------------------------------------------------------------- +Casualties from May 13, 1787, Garrison Convicts +to December 31, 1788 Man Woman Child Man Woman Child Total +--------------------------------------------------------------------- +Died on the passage, from May 13, +1787, to Januarv 26, 1788, 1 1 1 20 4 9 36 +Died between January 26, 1788, +and January 1, 1789, 5 0 1 28 13 9 56 +Killed by the natives in the above +time, 0 0 0 4 0 0 4 +Executed in the above time, 0 0 0 5 0 0 5 +Missing in the above time, 1 0 0 12 1 0 14 +--------------------------------------------------------------------- +Total 7 1 2 69 18 18 115 +--------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + + +New Year's Day +Convicts, how employed +Their disposition to idleness and vice +Her Majesty's birthday kept +Natives +Captain Shea dies +Regulations respecting the convicts +Instances of their misconduct +Transactions +The _Supply_ sails for Norfolk Island +Public Works +Natives +Convicts killed +Stores robbed +The _Supply_ returns +Insurrection projected at Norfolk Island +Hurricane there +Transactions at Rose Hill + + +1789.] + +January.] The first day of the new year was marked as a holiday by a +suspension of all kinds of labour, and by hoisting the colours at the +fort. The ration of provisions, though still less by a pound of flour +than the proper allowance, was yet so sufficient as not to be complained +of, nor was labour diminished by it. Upon a calculation of the different +people employed for the public in cultivation, it appeared, that of all +the numbers in the colony there were only two hundred and fifty so +employed--a very small number indeed to procure the means of rendering +the colony independent of the mother-country for the necessaries of life. +The rest were occupied in carrying on various public works, such as +stores, houses, wharfs, etc. A large number were incapable, through age +or infirmities, of being called out to labour in the public grounds; and +the civil establishment, the military, females, and children, filled up +the catalogue of those unassisting in cultivation. + +The soil immediately about the settlement was found to be of too sandy a +nature to give much promise of yielding a sufficient produce even for the +small quantity of stock it possessed. At Rose Hill the prospect was +better; indeed whatever expectations could be formed of successful +cultivation in this country rested as yet in that quarter. But the +convicts by no means exerted themselves to the utmost; they foolishly +conceived, that they had no interest in the success of their labour; and, +if left to themselves, would at any time rather have lived in idleness, +and depended upon the public stores for their daily support so long as +they had any thing in them, than have contributed, by the labour of their +hands, to secure themselves whereon to exist when those stores should be +exhausted. + +Idleness, however, was not the only vice to be complained of in these +people. Thefts were frequent among them; and one fellow, who, after +committing a robbery ran into the woods, and from thence coming at night +into the settlement committed several depredations upon individuals, and +one upon the public stores, was at length taken and executed, in the hope +of holding out an example to others. His thefts had been so frequent and +daring, that it became necessary to offer a reward of one pound of flour +to be given weekly, in addition to the ration then issued, for his +apprehension. Another convict, named Ruglass, was tried for stabbing Ann +Fowles, a woman with whom he cohabited, and sentenced to receive seven +hundred lashes, half of which were inflicted on him while the other +unhappy wretch was suffering the execution of his sentence. + +The 19th was observed as the birthday of her Majesty; the colours were +displayed at sunrise; at noon the detachment of marines fired three +rounds; after which the governor received the compliments of the day; and +at one o'clock the _Supply_, the only vessel in the country, fired +twenty-one guns. The governor entertained the officers at dinner, and the +day concluded with a bonfire, for which the country afforded abundant +materials. + +A day or two after this the place was agitated by a report that a great +gun had been fired at sea; but on sending a boat down without the +harbour's mouth, nothing was seen there that could confirm a report which +every one anxiously wished might be true. + +A boat having been sent down the harbour with some people to cut rushes, +a party of natives came to the beach while they were so employed, and +took three of their jackets out of the boat. On discovering this theft, +the cockswain pursued a canoe with two men in it as far as a small island +that lay just by, where the natives landed, leaving the canoe at the +rocks. This the cockswain took away, contrary to an order, which had been +made very public, on no account to touch a canoe, or any thing belonging +to a native, and towed it to the bay where they had been cutting rushes. +The natives returned to the same place unobserved, and, while the +cockswain and his people were collecting what rushes they had cut, threw +a spear at the cockswain, which wounded him in the arm, notwithstanding +they must have known that at that time we had one of their people in our +possession, on whom the injury might be retaliated. He, poor fellow, did +not seem to expect any such treatment from us, and began to seem +reconciled to his situation. He was taken down the harbour once or twice, +to let his friends see that he was alive, and had some intercourse with +them which appeared to give him much satisfaction. + +For fifteen days of this month the thermometer rose in the shade above +eighty degrees. Once on the 8th, at one in the afternoon, it stood at 105 +degrees in the shade. + +February 2nd.] Captain John Shea, of the marines, who had been for a +considerable time in a declining state of health, died, and was interred +with military honours the day following; the governor and every officer +of the settlement attending his funeral. The major commandant of the +detachment shortly after filled up the vacancy which this officer's death +had occasioned by appointing Captain Lieutenant Meredith to the company; +and First Lieutenant George Johnston succeeded to the +captain-lieutenancy. Second Lieutenant Ralph Clarke was appointed a +First, and volunteer John Ross a Second Lieutenant; but their commissions +were still to receive the confirmation of the lords commissioners of the +Admiralty. + +The convicts being found to continue the practice of selling their +clothing, an order was issued, directing, that if in future a convict +should give information to the provost-marshal against any person to whom +he had sold his clothes, the seller should receive them again, be +permitted to keep whatever was paid him for them, and receive no +punishment himself for the sale. It was also found necessary to direct, +that all stragglers at night who, on being challenged by the patrole, +should run from them, should be fired at; but orders, in general, were +observed to have very little effect, and to be attended to only while the +impression made by hearing them published remained upon the mind; for the +convicts had not been accustomed to live in situations where their +conduct was to be regulated by written orders. There was here no other +mode of communicating to them such directions as it was found necessary +to issue for their observance; and it was very common to have them plead +in excuse for a breach of any regulation of the settlement, that they had +never before heard of it; nor had they any idea of the permanency of an +order, many of them seeming to think it issued merely for the purpose of +the moment. + +It was much to be regretted, that there existed a necessity for placing a +confidence in these people, as in too many instances the trust was found +to be abused: but unfortunately, to fill many of those offices to which +free people alone should have been appointed in this colony, there were +none but convicts. From these it will be readily supposed the best +characters were selected, those who had merited by the propriety of their +conduct the good report of the officers on board the ships in which they +were embarked, and who had brought with them into those ships a better +name than their fellows from the prisons in which they had been confined. +Those also who were qualified to instruct and direct others in the +exercise of professions in which they had superior knowledge and +experience, were appointed to act as overseers, with gangs under their +direction; and many had given evident proofs or strong indications of +returning dispositions to honest industry. + +There were others, however, who had no claim to this praise. Among these +must be particularised William Bryant, to whom, from his having been bred +from his youth to the business of a fisherman in the western part of +England, was given the direction and management of such boats as were +employed in fishing, every encouragement was held out to this man to keep +him above temptation; an hut was built for him and his family; he was +always presented with a certain part of the fish which he caught; and he +wanted for nothing that was necessary, or that was suitable to a person +of his description and situation. But he was detected in secreting and +selling large quantities of fish; and when the necessary enquiry was +made, this practice appeared to have been of some standing with him. For +this offence he was severely punished, and removed from the hut in which +he had been placed; yet as, notwithstanding his villainy, he was too +useful a person to part with and send to a brick cart, he was still +retained to fish for the settlement; but a very vigilant eye was kept +over him, and such steps taken as appeared likely to prevent him from +repeating his offence, if the sense of shame and fear of punishment were +not of themselves sufficient to deter him. + +A person of the name of Smith having procured a passage from England in +the _Lady Penrhyn_, with a design to proceed to India in the event of his +not finding any employment in this country, on his offering his services, +and professing to have some agricultural knowledge was received into the +colony, and, being judged a discreet prudent man, was placed about the +provision store under the assistant to the commissary at Rose Hill, and +was moreover sworn in as a peace-officer, to act as such immediately +under the provost-marshal; a line wherein, from the circumstance of his +being a free man, it was supposed he might render essential aid to the +civil department of the colony. It was farther intended, at a future +period, to place some people under his direction, to give him an +opportunity of exercising the abilities he was said to possess as a +practical farmer. + +14th.] The magazine at the Point being now completed, the powder +belonging to the settlement was lodged safely within its walls. + +It being of importance to the colony to ascertain the precise situation +and extent of the reefs seen by Mr. Blackburn, in the _Golden Grove_ +storeship, in November last, Leiutenant Ball (who was proceeding to +Norfolk Island with provisions and convicts) was directed to perform that +duty on his return. He sailed with the vessel under his command on the +17th, having on board twenty-one male and six female convicts, and three +children; of the latter two were to be placed under Mr. King's care as +children of the public. They were of different sexes; the boy, Edward +Parkinson, who was about three years of age, had lost his mother on the +passage to this country, the girl, who was a year older, had a mother in +the colony; but as she was a woman of abandoned character*, the child was +taken from her to save it from the ruin which would otherwise have been +its inevitable lot. These children were to be instructed in reading and +writing, and in husbandry. The commandant of the island was directed to +cause five acres of ground to be allotted and cultivated for their +benefit, by such person as he should think fit to entrust with the charge +of bringing them up according to the spirit of this intention, in +promoting the success of which every friend of humanity seemed to feel an +interest. + +[* The same who was wounded by Ruglass, earlier this chapter] + +The cove was now, for the first time, left without a ship; a circumstance +not only striking by its novelty, but which forcibly drew our attention +to the peculiarity of our situation. The _Sirius_ was gone upon a long +voyage to a distant country for supplies, the arrival of which were +assuredly precarious. The _Supply_ had left us, to look after a dangerous +reef; which service, in an unknown sea, might draw upon herself the +calamity which she was seeking to instruct others to avoid. Should it +have been decreed, that the arm of misfortune was to fall with such +weight upon us, as to render at any time the salvation of this little +vessel necessary to the salvation of the colony, how deeply was every one +concerned in her welfare! Reflection on the bare possibility of its +miscarriage made every mind anxious during her absence from the +settlement. + +From the evident necessity that existed of maintaining a strict +discipline among the military employed in this country, it became a +requisite to punish with some severity any flagrant breach of military +subordination that might occur. Joseph Hunt, a soldier in the detachment, +having been found absent from his post when stationed as a sentinel, was +tried by a court-martial, and sentenced to receive seven hundred lashes; +which sentence was put in execution upon him at two periods, with an +interval of three weeks. + +Toward the end of this month the detachment took possession of their +barracks; two of which, having been nearly twelve months in hand, were +now completed, and ready for their reception. A brick house, forty feet +by thirteen, was begun on the east side for the commissary; and materials +were preparing for a guard-house. + +At Rose Hill the people were principally employed in clearing and +cultivating land; but the labour of removing the timber off the ground +when cut down very much retarded the best efforts of the people so +employed. The military and convicts still lived under tents; and, as a +proof of the small space which they occupied, two Emus or Cassowaries, +who must have been feeding in the neighbourhood, ran through the little +camp, and were so intermingled with the people, who ran out of their +tents at so strange an appearance, that it became dangerous to fire at +them; and they got clear off, though literally surrounded by a multitude +of people, and under the very muzzles of some of their muskets. + +Very little molestation was at this time given by the natives; and had +they never been ill treated by our people, instead of hostility, it is +more than probable that an intercourse of friendship would have +subsisted. + +March.] The impracticability of keeping the convicts within the limits +prescribed for them became every day more evident. Almost every month +since our arrival had produced one or more accidents, occasioned +principally by a non-compliance with the orders which had been given +solely with a view to their security; and which, with thinking beings, +would have been of sufficient force as examples to deter others from +running into the same danger. But neither orders nor dangers seemed to be +at all regarded where their own temporary convenience prompted them to +disobey the one, or run the risk of incurring the other. A convict +belonging to the brick-maker's gang had strayed into the woods for the +purpose of collecting sweet tea; an herb so called by the convicts, and +which was in great estimation among them. The leaves of it being boiled, +they obtained a beverage not unlike liquorice in taste, and which was +recommended by some of the medical gentlemen here, as a powerful tonic. +It was discovered soon after our arrival, and was then found close to the +settlement; but the great consumption had not rendered it scarce. It was +supposed, that the convict in his search after this article had fallen in +with a party of natives, who had killed him. A few days after this +accident, a party of the convicts, sixteen in number, chiefly belonging +to the brick-maker's gang, quitted the place of their employment, and, +providing themselves with stakes, set off toward Botany Bay, with a +determination to revenge, upon whatever natives they should meet, the +treatment which one of their brethren had received at the close of the +last month. Near Botany Bay they fell in with the natives, but in a +larger body than they expected or desired. According to their report, +they were fifty in number; but much dependance was not placed on what +they said in this respect, nor in their narrative of the affair; it was +certain, however, that they were driven in by the natives, who killed one +man and wounded six others. Immediately on this being known in the +settlement, an armed party was sent out with an officer, who found the +body of the man that had been killed, stripped, and lying in the path to +Botany Bay. They also found a boy, who had likewise been stripped and +left for dead by the natives. He was very much wounded, and his left ear +nearly cut off. The party, after burying the body of the man, returned +with the wounded boy, but without seeing any of the perpetrators of this +mischief; the other wounded people had reached the settlement, and were +taken to the hospital. The day following, the governor, judging it highly +necessary to make examples of these misguided people, who had so daringly +and flagrantly broken through every order which had been given to prevent +their interfering with the natives as to form a party expressly to meet +with and attack them, directed that those who were not wounded should +receive each one hundred and fifty lashes, and wear a fetter for a +twelvemonth; the like punishment was directed to be inflicted upon those +who were in the hospital, as soon as they should recover from their +wounds; in pursuance of which order, seven of them were tied up in front +of the provision store, and punished (for example's sake) in the presence +of all the convicts. + +The same day two armed parties were sent, one toward Botany Bay, and the +other in a different direction, that the natives might see that their +late act of violence would neither intimidate nor prevent us from moving +beyond the settlement whenever occasion required. + +Such were our enemies abroad: at home, within ourselves, we had enemies +to encounter of a different nature, but in their effects more difficult +to guard against. The gardens and houses of individuals, and the +provision store, were overrun with rats. The safety of the provisions was +an object of general consequence, and the commissary was for some time +employed in examining into the state of the store. One morning, on going +early to the store, he found the wards of a key which had been broken in +the padlock that secured the principal door, and which it was the duty of +the patrols to visit and inspect every night. Entering the storehouse, he +perceived that an harness-cask had been opened and some provisions taken +out. It being supposed that the wards of the key might lead to a +discovery of the perpetrator of this atrocious act, they were sent to a +convict blacksmith, an ingenious workman through whose hands most of the +work passed that was done in his line, who immediately knew them to +belong to a soldier of the name of Hunt, the same who in the course of +the preceding month received seven hundred lashes, and who had some time +back brought the key to this blacksmith to be altered. On this +information, Hunt was taken up; but offering to give some material +information, he was admitted an evidence on the part of the crown, and +made an ample confession before the lieutenant-governor and the +judge-advocate, in which he accused six other soldiers of having been +concerned with him in the diabolical practice of robbing the store for a +considerable time past of liquor and provisions in large quantities. This +crime, great enough of itself, was still aggravated by the manner in +which it was committed. Having formed their party, seven in number, and +sworn each other to secrecy and fidelity, they procured and altered keys +to fit the different locks on the three doors of the provision store; and +it was agreed, that whenever any one of the seven should be posted there +as sentinel during the night, two or more of the gang, as they found it +convenient, were to come during the hours in which they knew their +associate would have the store under his charge, when, by means of their +keys, and sheltered in the security which he afforded them (by betraying +in so flagrant a manner the trust and confidence reposed in him as a +sentinel), they should open a passage into the store, where they should +remain shut up until they had procured as much liquor or provisions as +they could take off. If the patrols visited the store while they chanced +to be within its walls, the door was found locked and secure, the +sentinel alert and vigilant on his post, and the store apparently safe. + +Fortunately for the settlement, on the night preceding the discovery one +of the party intended to have availed himself of his situation as +sentinel, and to enter the store alone, purposing to plunder without the +participation of his associates. But while he was standing with the key +in the lock, he heard the patrol advancing. The key had done its office, +but as he knew that the lock would be examined by the corporal, in his +fright and haste to turn it back again, he mistook the way, and, finding +that he could not get the key out of the lock, he broke it, and was +compelled to leave the wards in it; the other part of the key he threw +away. + +On this information, the six soldiers whom he accused were taken up and +tried; when, the evidence of the accomplice being confirmed by several +strong corroborating circumstances, among which it appeared that the +store had been broken into and robbed by them at various times for +upwards of eight months, they were unanimously found guilty, and +sentenced to suffer that death which they owned they justly merited. +Their defence wholly consisted in accusing the accomplice of having been +the first to propose and carry the plan into execution, and afterwards +the first to accuse and ruin the people he had influenced to associate +with him. A crime of such magnitude called for a severe example; and the +sentence was carried into execution a few days after their trial. + +Some of these unhappy men were held in high estimation by their officers, +but the others, together with the accomplice Hunt, had been long verging +toward this melancholy end. Four of them had been tried for the death of +their comrade Bulmore, which happened in a contest with one of them in +November last; and their manner of conducting themselves at various times +appeared to have been very reprehensible. The liquor which they procured +from the store was the cause of drunkenness, which brought on affrays and +disorders, for which, as soldiers, they were more than once punished. To +these circumstances must be added (what perhaps must be considered as the +root of these evils) a connexion which subsisted between them and some of +the worst of the female convicts, at whose huts, notwithstanding the +internal regulations of their quarters, they found means to enjoy their +ill-acquired plunder. + +On the morning of their execution, one of them declared to the clergyman +who attended him, that the like practices had been carried on at the +store at Rose Hill by similar means and with similar success. He named +two soldiers and a convict as the persons concerned; these were +afterwards apprehended, and underwent an examination of several hours by +the lieutenant-governor and the judge-advocate, during which nothing +being drawn from either that could affect the others, they were all +discharged. It was, however, generally believed, that the soldier would +not in his dying moments have falsely accused three men of a crime which +they had never committed; and that nothing but their constancy to each +other had prevented a discovery of their guilt. + +While these transactions were passing at Sydney, the little colony at +Norfolk Island had been threatened with an insurrection. The _Supply_ +returned from thence the 24th, after an absence of five weeks, and +brought from Lieutenant King, the commandant, information of the +following chimerical scheme. The capture of the island, and the +subsequent escape of the captors, was to commence by the seizure of Mr. +King's person, which was intended to be effected on the first Saturday +after the arrival of any ship in the bay, except the _Sirius_. They had +chosen that particular day in the week, as it had been for some time Mr. +King's custom on Saturdays to go to a farm which he had established at +some little distance from the settlement, and the military generally +chose that day to bring in the cabbage palm from the woods. Mr. King was +to be secured in his way to his farm. A message, in the commandant's +name, was then to be sent to Mr. Jamison, the surgeon, who was to be +seized as soon as he got into the woods; and the sergeant and the party +were to be treated in the same manner. These being all properly taken +care of, a signal was to be made to the ship in the bay to send her boat +on shore, the crew of which were to be made prisoners on their landing; +and two or three of the insurgents were to go off in a boat belonging to +the island, and inform the commanding officer that the ship's boat had +been stove on the beach, and that the commandant requested another might +be sent ashore; this also was to be captured: and then, as the last act +of this absurd scheme, the ship was to be taken, with which they were to +proceed to Otaheite, and there establish a settlement. They charitably +intended to leave some provisions for the commandant and his officers, +and for such of the people as did not accompany them in their +escape--this was their scheme. Not one difficulty in the execution of it +ever occurred to their imagination: all was to happen with as much +facility as it was planned; and, had it not been fortunately revealed to +a seaman belonging to the _Sirius_, who lived with Mr. King as a +gardener, by a female convict who cohabited with him, there was no doubt +but that all these improbabilities would have been attempted. + +On being made acquainted with these circumstances, the commandant took +such measures as appeared to him necessary to defeat them; and several +who were concerned in the scheme confessed the share which they were to +have had in the execution of it. Mr. King had hitherto, from the +peculiarity of his situation--secluded from society, and confined to a +small speck in the vast ocean, with but a handful of people--drawn them +round him, and treated them with the kind attentions which a good family +meets with at the hands of a humane master; but he now saw them in their +true colours, and one of his first steps, when peace was restored, was to +clear the ground as far as possible round the settlement, that future +villainy might not find a shelter in the woods for its transactions. To +this truly providential circumstance, perhaps, many of the colonists +afterwards were indebted for their lives. + +On Thursday the 26th of February the island was visited by a hurricane +which came on early in the morning in very heavy gales of wind and rain. +By four o'clock several pines of 180 and 200 feet in length, and from 20 +to 30 feet in circumference, were blown down. From that hour until noon +the gale increased to a dreadful hurricane, with torrents of heavy rain. +Every instant pines and live oaks, of the largest dimensions, were borne +down by the fury of the blast, which, tearing up roots and rocks with +them, left chasms of eight or ten feet depth in the earth. Those pines +that were able to resist the wind bent their tops nearly to the ground; +and nothing but horror and desolation everywhere presented itself. A very +large live oak tree was blown on the granary, which it dashed to pieces, +and stove a number of casks of flour; but happily, by the activity of the +officers and free people, the flour, Indian corn, and stores, were in a +short time collected, and removed to the commandant's house, with the +loss only of about half a cask of flour, and some small stores. At noon +the gale blew with the utmost violence, tearing up whole forests by the +roots. At one o'clock there were as many trees torn up by the roots as +would have required the labour of fifty men for a fortnight to have +felled. Early in the forenoon the swamp and vale were overflowed, and had +every appearance of a large navigable river. The gardens, public and +private, were wholly destroyed; cabbages, turnips, and other plants, were +blown out of the ground; and those which withstood the hurricane seemed +as if they had been scorched. An acre of Indian corn which grew in the +vale, and which would have been ripe in about three weeks, was totally +destroyed*. + +[* The direction of the hurricane was across the island from the +South-east; and as its fury had blown down more trees than were found +lying on the ground when Mr. King landed on it, he conjectured that it +was not an annual visitant of the island. This conjecture seems now to be +justified, as nothing of the kind has since occurred there.] + +His people continued to be healthy, and the climate had not forfeited the +good opinion he had formed of it. He acquainted the governor, that for +his internal defence he had formed all the free people on the island into +a militia, and that a military guard was mounted every night as a picket. +There were at this time victualled on the island sixteen free people, +fifty-one male convicts, twenty-three female convicts, and four children. + +The arrival of the _Supply_ with an account of these occurrences created +a temporary variety in the conversation of the day; and a general +satisfaction appeared when the little vessel that brought them dropped +her anchor again in the cove. Lieutenant Ball, having lost an anchor at +Norfolk Island, did not think it prudent to attempt to fall in with the +shoal seen by the _Golden Grove_ storeship; his orders on that head being +discretionary. + +We now return to the transactions of the principal settlement. The person +who was noticed in the occurrences of the last month as being employed at +Rose Hill under the commissary, had been also entrusted with the +direction of the convicts who were employed in clearing and cultivating +ground at that place; but, being advanced in years, he was found +inadequate to the task of managing and controlling the people who were +under his care, the most of whom were always inventing plausible excuses +for absence from labour, or for their neglect of it while under his eye. +He was therefore removed, and succeeded by a person who came out from +England as a servant to the governor. This man joined to much +agricultural knowledge a perfect idea of the labour to be required from, +and that might he performed by the convicts; and his figure was +calculated to make the idle and the worthless shrink if he came near +them. He had hitherto been employed at the spot of ground which was +cleared soon after our arrival at the adjoining cove, since distinguished +by the name of Farm Cove, and which, from the natural poverty of the +soil, was not capable of making an adequate return for the labour which +had been expended on it. It was, however, still attended to, and the +fences kept in repair; but there was not any intention of clearing more +ground in that spot. + +Toward the latter end of the month two of the birds distinguished in the +colony by the name of Emus were brought in by some of the people employed +to shoot for the officers. The weight of each was seventy pounds. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + + +Neutral Bay +Smallpox among the natives +Captain Hunter in the _Sirius_ returns with supplies from the Cape of +Good Hope +Middleton Island discovered +Danger of wandering in the forests of an unknown country +Convicts +The King's birthday kept +Convicts perform a play +A reinforcement under Lieutenant Cresswell sent to Norfolk Island +Governor Phillip makes an excursion of discovery +Transactions +Hawkesbury River discovered +Progress at Rose Hill +Important papers left behind in England + + +April.] The governor thinking it probable that foreign ships might again +visit this coast, and perhaps run into this harbour for the purpose of +procuring refreshments, directed Mr. Blackburn to survey a large bay on +the north shore, contiguous to this cove; and a sufficient depth of water +being found, his excellency inserted in the port orders, that all foreign +ships coming into this harbour should anchor in this bay, which he named +Neutral Bay, bringing Rock Island to bear SSE and the hospital on the +west side of Sydney Cove to bear SW by W. + +Early in the month, and throughout its continuance, the people whose +business called them down the harbour daily reported, that they found, +either in excavations of the rock, or lying upon the beaches and points +of the different coves which they had been in, the bodies of many of the +wretched natives of this country. The cause of this mortality remained +unknown until a family was brought up, and the disorder pronounced to +have been the smallpox. It was not a desirable circumstance to introduce +a disorder into the colony which was raging with such fatal violence +among the natives of the country; but the saving the lives of any of +these people was an object of no small importance, as the knowledge of +our humanity, and the benefits which we might render them, would, it was +hoped, do away the evil impressions they had received of us. Two elderly +men, a boy, and a girl were brought up, and placed in a separate hut at +the hospital. The men were too far overcome by the disease to get the +better of it; but the children did well from the moment of their coming +among us. From the native who resided with us we understood that many +families had been swept off by this scourge, and that others, to avoid +it, had fled into the interior parts of the country. Whether it had ever +appeared among them before could not be discovered, either from him or +from the children; but it was certain that they gave it a name +(gal-gal-la); a circumstance which seemed to indicate a preacquaintance +with it. + +The convicts, among other public works, were now employed in forming a +convenient road on the west side from the hospital and landing-place to +the storehouses; and in constructing a stable at Farm Cove, with some +convenient out-houses for stock. + +May.] Of the native boy and girl who had been brought up in the last +month, on their recovery from the smallpox, the latter was taken to live +with the clergyman's wife, and the boy with Mr. White, the surgeon, to +whom, for his attention during the cure, he seemed to be much attached. + +While the eruptions of this disorder continued upon the children, a +seaman belonging to the _Supply_, a native of North America, having been +to see them, was seized with it, and soon after died; but its baneful +effects were not experienced by any white person of the settlement, +although there were several very young children in it at the time. + +From the first hour of the introduction of the boy and girl into the +settlement, it was feared that the native who had been so instrumental in +bringing them in, and whose attention to them during their illness +excited the admiration of every one that witnessed it, would be attacked +by the same disorder; as on his person were found none of those traces of +its ravages which are frequently left behind. It happened as the fears of +every one predicted; he fell a victim to the disease in eight days after +he was seized with it, to the great regret of every one who had witnessed +how little of the savage was found in his manner, and how quickly he was +substituting in its place a docile, affable, and truly amiable +deportment. + +6th.] After an absence of seven months and six days, to the great +satisfaction of every one, about five in the evening his Majesty's ship +_Sirius_ anchored in the cove from the Cape of Good Hope. Captain Hunter +sailed from this port on the 2nd of October 1788, and, during the space +which had elapsed between his departure and his return, had +circumnavigated the globe. He made his passage by Cape Horn, arriving on +the 2nd of last January at the Cape of Good Hope, from which place he +sailed on the 20th of the following month. Off the southern extremity of +this country the _Sirius_ met with a gale of wind, when so close in with +the land that it was for some time doubtful whether she would clear it. +In this gale she received considerable damage; the head of the ship, the +figure of the Duke of Berwick, was torn from the cutwater, and she was +afterwards found to have been very much weakened. + +The _Sirius_ brought 127,000 weight of flour for the settlement, and a +twelvemonth's provisions for her ship's company; but this supply was not +very flattering, as the short space of four months, at a full ration, +would exhaust it. It was, however, very welcome, and her return seemed to +have gladdened every heart. Eager were our inquiries after intelligence +from that country from which we had been now two years divided, and to +whose transactions we were entire strangers. With joy, mingled with +concern that we were not personal sharers in the triumph, did we hear of +our country's successful efforts in the cause of the Stadtholder, and of +the noble armaments which our ministers had fitted out to support it. We +trusted, however, that while differently employed, our views were still +directed to the same object; for, though labouring at a distance, and in +an humbler scene, yet the good, the glory, and the aggrandizement of our +country were prime considerations with us. And why should the colonists +of New South Wales be denied the merit of endeavouring to promote them, +by establishing civilization in the savage world; by animating the +children of idleness and vice to habits of laborious and honest industry; +and by showing the world that to Englishmen no difficulties are +insuperable? + +We heard with concern that Lieutenant Shortland was near five months in +reaching Batavia in the _Alexander_, in which ship he sailed from this +port on the 14th of last July, in company with the _Friendship_, +_Borrowdale_, and _Prince of Wales_. From this ship and the _Borrowdale_ +he parted company very shortly after leaving our harbour; they proceeded +round Cape Horn, to Rio de Janeiro, where in last December they were left +lying ready for sea. The _Alexander_ and _Friendship_ proceeding to the +northward kept company together as far as the island of Borneo, where, +the crews of both ships being so much reduced by the scurvy (the +_Alexander_ had buried seventeen of her seamen) that it was impossible to +navigate both vessels against the strong currents which they met with, +and the western monsoon which had then set in, both ships were brought to +an anchor, and most of the _Friendship's_ stores, with all her people, +being taken out and received on board the _Alexander_, she was scuttled +and sunk. When the Alexander arrived at Batavia, she had, of both ship's +crews, but one man who was able to go aloft. + +Lieutenant Shortland, in his letter, noticed some discoveries which he +had made; particularly one of an extensive and dangerous shoal, which +obtained the name of Middleton Shoal, and was reckoned to be in the +latitude of 29 degrees 20 minutes South, and in the longitude of 158 +degrees 40 minutes East. He had also discovered an island, which he +placed in the latitude of 28 degrees 10 minutes South, and in the +longitude of 159 degrees 50 minutes East, and named Sir Charles Middleton +Island: his other discoveries, not being so immediately in the vicinity +of this territory, were not likely to be of any advantage to the +settlement; but it was of some importance to it to learn that an +extensive reef was so near, and to find its situation ascertained to be +in the track of ships bound from hence to the northward; for if Sir +Charles Middleton Island should hereafter be found to possess a safe and +convenient harbour, it might prove an interesting discovery for this +colony. + +A Dutch ship, bound for Europe, sailing from the Cape of Good Hope on the +9th of last January, Captain Hunter took that opportunity of forwarding +the dispatches with which he had been charged by Governor Phillip. He was +informed by the master of the _Harpy Whaler_, who had put into Table Bay, +that in England there had been a general anxiety to hear of our safety +and arrival in this country, and that ships to be taken up had been +advertised for, but had not been engaged, as the government waited for +accounts from Governor Phillip. + +Of these accounts it was hoped that ministers had been some time in +possession, and that in consequence supplies were at this hour on their +passage to New South Wales. + +Our attention was now directed to receiving from the _Sirius_ the +provisions she had brought us; and as the flour had been packed in bags +at the Cape of Good Hope, the coopers were immediately employed in +setting up and preparing casks for its reception on shore. These being +soon completed, the flour was landed and deposited in the store. This, +with the building and covering-in of a new hut for the smith's work, +formed the principal labour of the convicts at Sydney during this month. + +The boats in the colony not being found sufficient for the purpose of +transporting provisions from the store at Sydney to the settlement at +Rose Hill, a launch or hoy was put upon the stocks, under the direction +of Mr. Reid, the carpenter of the _Supply_, to be employed for that and +other necessary purposes. She was to be built of the timber of the +country, and to carry ten tons. + +From that settlement, early in the month, two soldiers of the detachment +doing duty there were reported to be missing; and, though parties had +been sent out daily in different directions to seek for them, yet all was +unavailing. It was supposed that they must have lost their way in some of +the thick and almost impenetrable brushes which were in the vicinity of +Rose Hill, and had there perished miserably. They had gone in search of +the sweet tea plant already mentioned; and perhaps when they resigned +themselves to the fate which they did not see how to avoid, oppressed +with hunger, and unable to wander any farther, they may have been but a +short distance from the relief they must so earnestly have desired. A dog +that was known to have left the settlement with them reached Rose Hill, +almost famished, nine days after they had left it. The extreme danger +attendant on a man's going beyond the bounds of his own knowledge in the +forests of an unsettled country could no where be more demonstrable than +in this. To the westward was an immense open track before him, in which, +if unbefriended by either sun or moon, he might wander until life were at +an end. Most of the arms which extended into the country from Port +Jackson and the harbour on each side of Port Jackson, were of great +length, and to round them without a certain and daily supply of +provisions was impossible*. + +[* In many of these arms, when sitting with my companions at my ease in a +boat, I have been struck with horror at the bare idea of being lost in +them; as, from the great similarity of one cove to another, the +recollection would be bewildered in attempting to determine any relative +situation. It is certain, that if destroyed by no other means, insanity +would accelerate the miserable end that must ensue.] + +To guard as much as possible against these accidents every measure which +could be suggested was adopted. A short time after the settlement was +established at Rose Hill, the governor went out with some people in a +direction due South, and caused a visible path to be made; that if any +person who had strayed beyond his own marks for returning, and knew not +where he was, should cross upon his path, he might by following it have a +chance of reaching the settlement; and orders were repeatedly given to +prohibit straggling beyond the limits which were marked and known. + +Toward the end of the month, some convicts having reported that they had +found the body of a white man lying in a cove at a short distance from +the settlement, a general muster of the convicts at Sydney was directed; +but no person was unaccounted for except Caesar, an incorrigibly stubborn +black, who had absconded a few days before from the service of one of the +officers, and taken to the woods with some provisions, an iron pot, and a +soldier's musket, which he had found means to steal. + +Garden robberies, after Caesar's flight, were frequent, and some leads +belonging to a seine being stolen, a reward of a pardon was held out to +any of the accomplices on discovering the person who stole them; and the +like reward was also offered if, in five days, he should discover the +person who had purchased them; but all was without effect. It was +conjectured that they had been stolen for the purpose of being converted +into shot by some person not employed or authorized to kill the game of +this country. + +The weather during the latter part of this month was cold; +notwithstanding which a turtle was seen in the harbour. + +June 4.] The anniversary of his Majesty's birthday, the second time of +commemorating it in this country, was observed with every distinction in +our power; for the first time, the ordnance belonging to the colony were +discharged; the detachment of marines fired three volleys, which were +followed by twenty-one guns from each of the ships of war in the cove; +the governor received the compliments due to the day in his new house, of +which he had lately taken possession as the government-house of the +colony, where his excellency afterwards entertained the officers at +dinner, and in the evening some of the convicts were permitted to perform +Farquhar's comedy of the Recruiting Officer, in a hut fitted up for the +occasion. They professed no higher aim than 'humbly to excite a smile,' +and their efforts to please were not unattended with applause. + +In addition to the steps taken by the commandant of Norfolk Island for +his internal security, the governor thought an increase of his military +force absolutely necessary. Accordingly, the day after his Majesty's +birthday, Lieutenant Creswell, with fourteen privates from the detachment +of marines, embarked on board the _Supply_ for Norfolk Island; and at the +same time he received a written order from his excellency to take upon +himself the direction and execution of the authority vested in Mr. King, +in the event of any accident happening to that officer, until a successor +should be formally appointed and sent from hence. + +The _Supply_, on her return from Norfolk Island, was to visit the island +seen by Lieutenant Shortland, and laid down by him, in the latitude of 28 +degrees 10 minutes South. She was also to cruise for the shoal seen by +that officer, and stated to be in the latitude of 29 degrees 20 minutes +South, and for the shoal seen by Mr. Blackburn, the south end of which +lay in the latitude of 29 degrees 25 minutes South; all of which, if the +observations of both officers were equally correct, would, it was +supposed, be found contiguous to each other. Lieutenant Ball was directed +to land upon the island, if landing should be found practicable; and to +determine, if he could, the extent and situation of the shoals. + +On these services the _Supply_ sailed the 6th of this month; on which day +the governor set off with a party on a second excursion to Broken Bay, in +the hope of being able, from the head of that harbour, to reach the +mountains inland. His excellency returned to the settlement on the +evening of the 16th, having discovered a capacious freshwater river, +emptying itself into Broken Bay, and extending to the westward. He was +compelled to return without tracing it to its source, not having a +sufficient quantity of provisions with him; but immediately made the +necessary preparations for returning to finish his examination of it; and +set off on that design with an increased party, and provisions for +twenty-one days, on Monday the 29th. + +Caesar, being closely attended to, was at length apprehended and secured. +This man was always reputed the hardest working convict in the country; +his frame was muscular and well calculated for hard labour; but in his +intellects he did not very widely differ from a brute; his appetite was +ravenous, for he could in any one day devour the full ration for two +days. To gratify this appetite he was compelled to steal from others, and +all his thefts were directed to that purpose. He was such a wretch, and +so indifferent about meeting death, that he declared while in +confinement, that if he should be hanged, he would create a laugh before +he was turned off, by playing off some trick upon the executioner. +Holding up such a mere animal as an example was not expected to have the +proper or intended effect; the governor therefore, with the humanity that +was always conspicuous in his exercise of the authority vested in him, +directed that he should be sent to Garden Island, there to work in +fetters; and in addition to his ration of provisions he was to be +supplied with vegetables from the garden. + +The _Sirius_ had, in the gale of wind which she met with off Tasman's +Head, sustained much more damage, and was, upon inspection, found to have +been weakened much more than was at first conjectured. This was the more +unfortunate, as, from the nature of our situation, many important +services were yet to be rendered by her to the colony. It became, +therefore, a matter of public concern to have her damages repaired and +the ship strengthened as expeditiously and as efficaciously as our +abilities would admit. A convenient retired cove on the north shore being +fixed on for the purpose of a careening cove, she dropped down and took +possession of it toward the latter end of the month. She could have been +refitted with much ease at Sydney; but there was no doubt that the work +necessary to be done to her would meet with fewer interruptions, if the +people who were engaged in it were removed from the connections which +seamen generally form where there are women of a certain character and +description. + +The gang under the direction of the overseer employed at the brick fields +had hitherto only made ten thousand bricks in a month. A kiln was now +constructed in which thirty thousand might be burnt off in the same time, +which number the overseer engaged to deliver. + +The carpenter of the _Supply_, who had undertaken the construction of the +hoy, being obliged to proceed with that vessel on her going to sea, the +direction of the few people employed upon her was left with the carpenter +of the _Sirius_ during his absence. + +July 14.] The governor returned from his second visit to the river, which +he named the Hawkesbury, in honor of the noble lord at the head of the +committee of council of trade and plantations. He traced the river to a +considerable distance to the westward, and was impeded in his further +progress by a shallow which he met with a short distance above the hill +formerly seen, and then named by him Richmond Hill, to the foot of which +the course of the Hawkesbury conducted him and his party. They were +deterred from remaining any time in the narrow part of the river, as they +perceived evident traces of the freshes having risen to the height of +from twenty to forty feet above the level of the water. They represented +the windings of the river as beautiful and picturesque; and toward +Richmond Hill the face of the country appeared more level and open than +in any other part. The vast inundations which had left such tokens behind +them of the height to which they swell the river seemed rather +unfavourable for the purpose of settling near the banks, which otherwise +would have been convenient and desirable, the advantages attending the +occupation of an allotment of land on the margin of a fresh-water river +being superior to those of any other situation. The soil on the banks of +the river was judged to be light; what it was further inland could not be +determined with any certainty, as the travellers did not penetrate to any +distance, except at Richmond Hill, where the soil appeared to be less +mixed with sand than that on the branches. + +During the governor's absence the sail-maker of the _Sirius_ had strayed +into the woods about the cove where she was repairing, and, not knowing +the country, wandered so far that he could not find his way back to the +ship. Fortunately for him, the governor, on his return from Broken Bay, +met with him in the north arm of this harbour, but so weakened by hunger +and fatigue, as to have all the appearance of intoxication when first +discovered and spoken to, and in a situation so remote from a probability +of assistance, that perhaps a few days more would have fixed the period +of his existence. + +On visiting the settlement at Rose Hill, the convicts were all found +residing in very good huts, apparently under proper regulations, and +encouraged to work in the gardens, which they had permission to cultivate +during those hours which were not dedicated to public labour. A barrack +for the soldiers was erected in the small redoubt which had been +constructed, and in which also stood the provision store. Some ground had +been opened on the other side of the stream of water which ran into the +creek, where a small house had been built for the superintendant Dodd, +under whose charge were to be placed a barn and granaries, in which the +produce of the ground he was then filling with wheat and barley was to be +deposited. The people of all descriptions continued very healthy; and the +salubrity of the climate rendered medicine of little use. + +Notwithstanding little more than two years had elapsed since our +departure from England, several convicts about this time signified that +the respective terms for which they had been transported had expired, and +claimed to be restored to the privileges of free men. Unfortunately, by +some unaccountable oversight, the papers necessary to ascertain these +particulars had been left by the masters of the transports with their +owners in England, instead of being brought out and deposited in the +colony; and as, thus situated, it was equally impossible to admit or to +deny the truth of their assertions, they were told to wait until accounts +could be received from England; and in the mean time by continuing to +labour for the public, they would be entitled to share the public +provisions in the store. This was by no means satisfactory, as it +appeared that they expected an assurance from the governor of receiving +some gratuity for employing their future time and labour for the benefit +of the settlement. One of these people having, in the presence of his +excellency, expressed himself disrespectfully of the lieutenant-governor, +he was brought before a criminal court and tried for the same, of which +offence being found guilty, he was sentenced to receive six hundred +lashes, and to wear irons for the space of six months. + +It must be acknowledged, that these people were most peculiarly and +unpleasantly situated. Conscious in their own minds that the sentence of +the law had been fulfilled upon them, it must have been truly distressing +to their feelings to find that they could not be considered in any other +light, or received into any other situation, than that in which alone +they had been hitherto known in the settlement. + +In the infancy of the colony, however, but little was to be gained by +their being restored to the rights and privileges of free people, as no +one was in possession of such abundance as to afford to support another +independent of the public store. Every man, therefore, must have wrought +for his provisions; and if they had been gratified in their expectation +of being paid for their labour, the price of provisions in this country +would certainly have been found equal, if not superior, to any value they +could have set upon their time and labour for the public. As these +considerations must have offered themselves to the notice of many good +understandings which were among them, it was rather conjectured, that the +dissatisfaction which evidently prevailed on this subject was set on foot +and fomented by some evil-designing spirits and associates in former +iniquities. The governor, however, terminated this business for the +present, by directing the judge-advocate to take the affidavits of such +persons as would make oath that they had served the term prescribed by +the law, and by recommending them to work for the public until some +information was received from government on that head. + +The observatory which was erected on our first landing being found small +and inconvenient, as well for the purpose of observing as for the +residence of Lieutenant Dawes and the reception of the astronomical +instruments, the stone-cutters began preparing stone to construct +another, the materials for which were found in abundance upon the spot, +the west point of the cove. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + + +Barracks +Stock +Intelligence from Norfolk Island +Police established at the principal settlement +A successful haul of fish +A soldier tried for a rape +Provisions begin to fail +Natives +A launch completed +Rats +Ration reduced to two-thirds +_Sirius_ returns to the Cove +One of her mates lost in the woods +_Supply_ sails for Norfolk Island +Utility of the night watch +A female convict executed for house-breaking +Two natives taken +Serious charge against the assistant commissary satisfactorily cleared up +Lieutenant Dawes's excursion +The _Supply_ returns +Transactions + + +August.] Of the four barracks which were begun in March 1788, and at that +time intended to be finished as such, two had been for some time occupied +by the detachment, two companies residing in each; a third was at the +beginning of this month converted into a storehouse; and the wood-work of +the fourth was taken down and applied to some other purpose; the labour +and time required to finish it being deemed greater than the utility that +would be derived from it as a barrack, the two that were already occupied +conveniently and comfortably accommodating the detachment. + +As every circumstance became of importance that might in its tendency +forward or retard the day whereon the colony was to be pronounced +independent of the mother-country for provisions, it was soon observed +with concern, that hitherto by far a greater proportion of males than +females had been produced by the animals we had brought for the purpose +of breeding. This, in any other situation, might not have been so nicely +remarked; but here, where a country was to be stocked, a litter of twelve +pigs whereof three only were females became a subject of conversation and +inquiry. Out of seven kids which had been produced in the last month, one +only was a female; and many similar instances had before occurred, but no +particular notice was attracted until their frequency rendered them +remarkable. This circumstance excited an anxious care in every one for +the preservation of such females as might be produced; and at the moment +now spoken of no person entertained an idea of slaughtering one of that +sort; indeed males were so abundant that fortunately there was no +occasion. + +On the 7th Lieutenant Ball returned from Norfolk Island, and from an +unsuccessful cruise of nearly six weeks in search of the island and +shoals for which he was directed to look. He sailed over the identical +spot on which Mr. Shortland had fixed the latitudes and longitudes of his +island and his shoal, without seeing either, and therefore concluded, +that they had not been placed far enough to the northward. The error +might have lain in copying the account from his log-book into his letter. + +From Norfolk Island Lieutenant King wrote, that he had cleared seventeen +acres of ground upon the public account, all of which were either sown or +ready for sowing; that caterpillars had done much damage to some wheat +which had just come up; and that he was erecting a storehouse capable of +containing a large quantity of stores and provisions, and had made a +visible road from Sydney Bay to Cascade Bay. The pine trees, of the +utility of which such sanguine hopes had been entertained, were found to +be unfit for large masts or yards, being shakey or rotten at thirty or +forty feet from the butt; the wood was so brittle that it would not make +a good oar, and so porous that the water soaked through the planks of a +boat which had been built of it. Mr. King also lamented their ignorance +of the proper mode of preparing the flax plant, which rendered it useless +to them. A single pod of cotton had been found on the island, and a tree +had been discovered, the bark of which was strong, and of a texture like +cotton. A species of bird also had been met with, which burrowed in the +ground, and had been seen in such numbers about the summit of Mount Pitt, +the highest hill on the island, that they were contemplated as a resource +in any future season of distress, should they be found to visit the +island at stated periods, and to deposit their eggs on it. Mr. King spoke +well of the general behaviour of the subjects of his little government +since the detection of their late scheme to overturn it. + +From the frequent commission of offences in this settlement and at Rose +Hill, where scarcely a night passed but complaint was made on the +following morning of a garden being robbed, or a house broken into, so +favourable a report could not be given of the general conduct of the +people. The frequency of these enormities had become so striking, that it +appeared absolutely necessary to devise some plan which might put a stop +to an evil that was every day increasing. The convicts who were employed +in making bricks, living in huts by themselves on the spot where their +work was performed, were suspected of being the perpetrators of most of +the offences committed at Sydney; and orders had been given, forbidding, +under pain of punishment, their being seen in town after sunset. These +depredations continuing, however, a convict of the name of Harris +presented to the judge-advocate a proposal for establishing a +night-watch, to be selected from among the convicts, with authority to +secure all persons of that description who should be found straggling +from the huts at improper hours. This proposal being submitted to the +governor, and the plan thoroughly digested and matured, the first attempt +toward a police in this settlement commenced on Saturday the 8th of +August. The following are the heads of the plan: + +The settlement was divided into four districts, over each of which was +placed a watch consisting of three persons, one principal and two +subordinate watchmen. These, being selected from among those convicts +whose conduct and character had been unexceptionable since their landing, +were vested with authority to patrol at all hours in the night, to visit +such places as might be deemed requisite for the discovery of any felony, +trespass, or misdemeanor, and to secure for examination all persons that +might appear to be concerned therein; for which purpose they were +directed to enter any suspected hut or dwelling or to use any other means +that might appear expedient. They were required to detain and give +information to the nearest guardhouse of any soldier or seaman who should +be found straggling after the taptoo had been beat. They were to use +their utmost endeavours to trace out offenders on receiving accounts of +any depredation; and in addition to their night duty, they were directed +to take cognizance of such convicts as gamed, or sold or bartered their +slops or provisions, and report them for punishment. A return of all +occurrences during the night was to be made to the judge-advocate; and +the military were required to furnish the watch with any assistance they +might be in need of, beyond what the civil power could give them. They +were provided each with a short staff, to distinguish them during the +night, and to denote their office in the colony; and were instructed not +to receive any stipulated encouragement or reward from any individual for +the conviction of offenders, but to expect that negligence or misconduct +in the execution of their trust would be punished with the utmost rigour. +It was to have been wished, that a watch established for the preservation +of public and private property had been formed of free people, and that +necessity had not compelled us, in selecting the first members of our +little police, to appoint them from a body of men in whose eyes, it could +not be denied, the property of individuals had never before been sacred. +But there was not any choice. The military had their line of duty marked +out for them, and between them and the convict there was no description +of people from whom overseers or watchmen could be provided. It might, +however, be supposed, that among the convicts there must be many who +would feel a pride in being distinguished from their fellows, and a pride +that might give birth to a returning principle of honesty. It was hoped +that the convicts whom we had chosen were of this description; some +effort had become necessary to detect the various offenders who were +prowling about with security under cover of the night; and the convicts +who had any property were themselves interested in defeating such +practices. They promised fidelity and diligence, from which the scorn of +their fellow-prisoners should not induce them to swerve, and began with a +confidence of success the duty which they had themselves offered to +undertake. + +The _Sirius_, on being closely inspected and surveyed by her own +carpenter and the carpenter of the _Supply_, was found to be so much +weakened, that the repairs which were requisite to put her in a state fit +to encounter the storms of this coast would require the labour of four +men for six months and twenty-four days, not including Sundays in the +calculation. This was unfortunate; the resources of a king's yard were +not to be found in the careening cove in Port Jackson; people who looked +forward beyond the event of the morrow began to think that her services +might be wanted before she could be in a condition to render them; and it +was considered a matter of the utmost moment, to bestow the labour that +she required in as little time and with as much skill as the +circumstances of our situation would admit. + +12th.] Such attentions as were within our power were shown to the +anniversary of his royal highness the Prince of Wales's birthday; and +although the table of our festivity was not crowned with luxuries or +delicacies, yet the glass that was consecrated on that occasion to his +royal highness's name was in no part of the British dominions accompanied +with more sincere wishes for his happiness. + +On the 20th, Daniel Gordon, a convict, was brought to trial for stealing +a quantity of provisions and clothes, the property of persons employed by +the lieutenant-governor at some ground which he had in cultivation near +the settlement. The prisoner appearing wild and incoherent on being +brought before the court, the principal surgeon of the settlement was +directed to examine him, and giving it as his opinion, upon oath, that +the man's pulse very strongly indicated either a delirium or +intoxication, his trial was put off until the following morning, when, +the same appearances of wildness continuing on him, witnesses were +examined as to the tenor of his conduct during his being in confinement +for the offence; and the court were of opinion from their testimony, +'That the prisoner was not in a state of mind to be put upon his trial.' +He was therefore placed under the care of the surgeon at the hospital, +and the court broke up. + +It was generally supposed, that a firm belief that his offence would be +fixed upon him occasioned the derangement of intellect which appeared. He +was a notorious offender, and had been once pardoned in this country +under the gallows. Many of his fellow-prisoners gave him credit for the +ability with which he had acted his part, and perhaps he deserved their +applause; but disordered as he appeared before the court, their humanity +would not suffer them to proceed against a wretch who either had not, or +affected not to have, a sufficient sense of his situation. + +Slops were served to the convicts during this month, and the detachment +received the remainder of the shoes which they brought from England. + +September.] In England some dependence had been placed on fish as a +resource for the settlement, but sufficient for a general distribution +had not hitherto been caught at any one time. On the 4th of this month +the people belonging to the _Supply_ had a very large haul; their seine +was so full, that had they hauled it ashore it must have burst; the ropes +of it were therefore made fast on shore, and the seine was suffered to +lie until left dry by the tide. The fish were brought up to the +settlement, and distributed among the military and convicts. A night or +two after this, a fishing-boat caught about one hundred dozen of small +fish; but this was precarious, and, happening after the provisions were +served, no other advantage could be derived from the circumstance, than +that of every man's having a fish-meal. + +On the 10th a criminal court of judicature was assembled for the trial of +Henry Wright, a private soldier in the detachment, for a rape on a child +of eight years of age; of which heinous offence being found guilty, he +received sentence to die; but being recommended by the court to the +governor, his excellency was pleased to pardon him, on condition of his +residing, during the term of his natural life, at Norfolk Island. This +was an offence that did not seem to require an immediate example; the +chastity of the female part of the settlement had never been so rigid, as +to drive men to so desperate an act; and it was believed, that beside the +wretch in question there was not in the colony a man of any description +who would have attempted it. + +On the 12th, the butter, which had hitherto been served at six ounces per +week to each man in the settlement, being expended, the like quantity of +sugar was directed to be issued in its stead. This was the first of the +provisions brought from England which had wholly failed; and, fortunately, +the failure was in an article which could be the best spared. It never +had been very good, and was not, strictly speaking, a necessary of life. + +A small boat belonging to a gentleman of the settlement, having been too +deeply laden with cabbage-trees which had been collected in a bay down +the harbour for the purpose of building, was overset on her return to the +cove, by touching on a rock which lay off one of the points. There were +three people in her, two of whom swam on shore; the third remained five +hours on her keel, and was accidentally met with and picked up by the +people of a fishing boat. + +Captain Hunter, unwilling to lose any opportunity of rendering a service +to the colony, while the repairs of his ship were going on, surveyed the +two adjoining harbours of Broken Bay and Botany Bay; and correct charts +were thus obtained of these two harbours, so admirably situated with +relation to Port Jackson. + +The natives, who had for some time past given very little interruption, +toward the end of the month attacked Henry Hacking, one of the +quarter-masters of the _Sirius_, who, being reckoned a good shot, was +allowed to shoot for the officers and ship's company. His account was, +that, being in the woods, a stone was thrown at him from one of two +natives whom he perceived behind him, and that on looking about he found +dispersed among the trees a number that could not be less than forty. +Wishing to intimidate them, he several times only presented his piece +toward them; but, finding that they followed him, he at last gave them +the contents, which happened to be small shot for birds. These he +replaced with buckshot, and got rid of his troublesome and designing +followers by discharging his piece a second time. They all made off; but +some of them stumbling as they ran, he apprehended they had been wounded. +This account met with more credit than could usually be allowed to such +tales, as the person who gave it was held in great estimation by the +officers of his ship both as a man and as a seaman. + +Mr. Palmer, the purser of the _Sirius_, having occasion to cut timber in +a cove down the harbour, was visited by some natives, who took an +opportunity of concealing two of his axes in the bushes. On his missing +the implements, the natives went off in some consternation, leaving two +children behind them, whom Mr. Palmer detained, and would have brought up +to the settlement, had not their friends ransomed them with the property +that had been stolen. + +At Rose Hill, where the corn promised well, an Emu had been killed, which +stood seven feet high, was a female, and when opened was found to contain +exactly fifty eggs. + +October.] The launch that was begun in May last by the carpenter of the +_Supply_, being completed, was put into the water the 5th of October. +From the quantity of wood used in her construction she appeared to be a +mere bed of timber, and, when launched, was named by the convicts, with +an happiness that is sometimes visible in the allusions of the lower +order of people, The Rose Hill Packet*. She was very soon employed in +transporting provisions to Rose Hill, and going up with the tide of +flood, at the top of high water, passed very well over the flats at the +upper part of the harbour. + +[* She was afterwards generally known by the name of The Lump, a word +more strictly applying to her size and construction.] + +Our enemies the rats, who worked unseen, and attacked us where we were +most vulnerable, being again observed in numbers about the provision +store, the commissary caused the provisions to be moved out of one store +into another; for, alas! at this period they could be all contained in +one. These pernicious vermin were found to be very numerous, and the +damage they had done much greater than the state of our stores would +admit. Eight casks of flour were at one time found wholly destroyed. From +the store, such as escaped the hunger of the different dogs that were +turned loose upon them flew to the gardens of individuals, where they +rioted upon the Indian corn which was growing, and did considerable +mischief + +The presence of a captain being no longer deemed necessary at Rose Hill, +the military guard there for the protection of the stores was reduced to +a subaltern officer, and a proportionate number of privates. Mr. Dodd, +who had for some time been authorized by the governor to inflict corporal +punishment on the convicts for idleness, rioting, or other misdemeanors, +had obtained such an influence over them, that military coercion was not +so necessary as when the settlement was first established. Of this +person, the officers who had been on duty at Rose Hill from time to time +gave the most favourable reports, speaking of him as one in every respect +qualified to execute the trust which had been reposed in him by the +governor. + +During this month a gang of convicts were employed at Sydney in forming a +convenient road from the hospital to the magazine and observatory on the +point; and a small hut, for the reception of a corporal's guard at the +hospital, was erected. + +Of the few people who died in October, (one soldier, three women, and one +child), one was an unhappy woman who had been sent on board in a state of +insanity, and who had remained in that condition until the day of her +death; she and another of the three women died in child-bed; and the +soldier was carried off by a disorder which he brought with him into the +country. These circumstances tended to establish the good opinion +which was at first formed of the salubrity of the climate of New South +Wales. + +November.] This month opened with a serious, but prudent and necessary +alteration in our provisions. The ration which had hitherto been issued +was, on the first of the month, reduced to two thirds of every species, +spirits excepted, which continued as usual. This measure was calculated +to guard against accidents; and the necessity of it was obvious to every +one, from the great uncertainty as to the time when a supply might arrive +from England, and from the losses which had been and still were +occasioned by rats in the provision store. Two years provisions were +landed with us in the colony: we had been within two months of that time +disembarked, and the public store had been aided only by a small surplus +of the provisions which remained of what had been furnished by the +contractor for the passage, and the supply of four months flour which had +been received by the _Sirius_ from the Cape of Good Hope. All this did +not produce such an abundance as would justify any longer continuance of +the full ration; and although it was reasonable to suppose, as we had not +hitherto received any supplies, that ships would arrive before our +present stock was exhausted; yet, if the period of distress should ever +arrive, the consciousness that we had early foreseen and strove to guard +against its arrival would certainly soften the bitterness of our +reflections; and, guarding thus against the worst, that worst +providentially might never happen. The governor, whose humanity was at +all times conspicuous, directed that no alteration should he made in the +ration to be issued to the women. They were already upon two thirds of +the man's allowance; and many of them either had children who could very +well have eaten their own and part of the mother's ration, or they had +children at the breast; and although they did not labour, yet their +appetites were never so delicate as to have found the full ration too +much, had it been issued to them. The like reduction was enforced afloat +as well as on shore, the ships' companies of the _Sirius_ and _Supply_ +being put to two thirds of the allowance usually issued to the king's +ships. This, as a deduction of the eighths allowed by custom to the +purser was made from their ration, was somewhat less than what was to be +issued in the settlement. + +Thus opened the month of November in this settlement; where, though we +had not the accompanying gloom and vapour of our own climate to render it +terrific to our minds, yet we had that before us, in the midst of all our +sunshine, which gave it the complexion of the true November so inimical +to our countrymen. + +It was soon observed, that of the provisions issued at this ration on the +Saturday the major part of the convicts had none left on the Tuesday +night; it was therefore ordered, that the provisions should be served in +future on the Saturdays and Wednesdays. By these means, the days which +would otherwise pass in hunger, or in thieving from the few who were more +provident, would be divided, and the people themselves be more able to +perform the labour which was required from them. Overseers and married +men were not included in this order. + +On the 7th Captain Hunter brought the _Sirius_ into the cove completely +repaired. She had been strengthened with riders placed within board, her +copper had been carefully examined, and she was now in every respect fit +for sea. Previous to her quitting the careening cove, Mr. Hill, one of +the master's mates, having had some business at Sydney, was landed on his +return early in the morning on the north shore, opposite Sydney Cove, +from whence the walk to the ship was short; but he was never afterwards +heard of. Parties were sent day after day in quest of him for several +days. Guns were fired from the _Sirius_ every four hours, night and day, +but all to no effect. He had met with some fatal accident, which deprived +a wife of the pleasurable prospect of ever seeing him return to her and +to his friends. He had once before missed his way; and it was reported, +when his loss was confirmed, that he declared on the fatal morning, when +stepping out of the boat, that he expected to lose himself again for a +day or two. His conjecture was more than confirmed; he lost himself for +ever, and thus added one to the number of those unfortunate persons who +had perished in the woods of this country. + +On the 11th the _Supply_ sailed for Norfolk Island, having on board +provisions and six male and eight female convicts for that colony. She +was to stop at Lord Howe Island, to endeavour to procure turtle for this +settlement; a supply of which, in its present situation, would have been +welcomed, not as a luxury, but as a necessary of life. + +The night-watch was found of infinite utility. The commission of crimes, +since their institution, had been evidently less frequent, and they were +instrumental in bringing forward for punishment several offenders who +would otherwise have escaped. The fear and detestation in which they were +held by their fellow-prisoners was one proof of their assiduity in +searching for offences and in bringing them to light; and it possibly +might have been asserted with truth, that many streets in the metropolis +of London were not so well guarded and watched as the small, but rising +town of Sydney, in New South Wales. + +By their activity, a woman (a female convict of the name of Ann Davis +alias Judith Jones), was apprehended for breaking into the house of +Robert Sidaway (a convict) in the daytime, and stealing several articles +of wearing apparel thereout. The criminal court being assembled, she was +tried and found guilty. On receiving sentence to die, she pleaded being +quick with child; but twelve of the discreetest women among the convicts, +all of whom had been mothers of children, being impanelled as a jury of +matrons, they pronounced that she was not pregnant; on which she was +executed the Monday following, acknowledging at that fatal moment which +generally gives birth and utterance to truth, that she was about to +suffer justly, and that an attempt which she made, when put on her +defence, to criminate another person (a woman whose character was so +notorious that she hoped to establish her own credit and innocence upon +her infamy), as well as her plea of pregnancy, were advanced merely for +the purpose of saving her life. She died generally reviled and unpitied +by the people of her own description. + +The summer was observed to be the chief season of fish. A fishing-boat +belonging to the colony had so many fish in the seine, that had it not +burst at the moment of landing, it was imagined that a sufficiency would +have been taken to have served the settlement for a day; as it was, a +very considerable quantity was brought in; and not long after a boat +belonging to the _Sirius_ caught forty-seven of the large fish which +obtained among us the appellation of Light Horse Men, from the peculiar +conformation of the bone of the head, which gave the fish the appearance +of having on a light-horse man's helmet. + +The governor, after the death of the native who was carried off by the +smallpox in May last, never had lost sight of a determination to procure +another the first favourable opportunity. A boat had several times gone +down the harbour for that purpose; but without succeeding, until the 25th +of this month, when the first lieutenant of the _Sirius_, accompanied by +the master, fortunately secured two natives, both men, and brought them +up to the settlement without any accident. Being well known to the +children, through their means every assurance was given them of their +perfect safety in our possession. They were taken up to the governor's, +the place intended for their future residence, where such restraint was +laid upon their persons as was judged requisite for their security. + +The assurances of safety which were given them, and the steps which were +taken to keep them in a state of security, were not perfectly +satisfactory to the elder of the two; and he secretly determined to take +the first opportunity which offered of giving his attendants no further +trouble upon his account. The negligence of his keeper very soon gave him +the opportunity he desired; and he made his escape, taking with him into +the woods the fetter which had been rivetted to his ankle, and which +every one, who knew the circumstance, imagined he would never be able to +remove. His companion would have joined him in his flight, but fear +detained him a few minutes too late, and he was seized while tremblingly +alive to the joyful prospect of escaping. + +During the month of November a brick house was begun on the east side of +the cove for the judge-advocate. The huts which were got up on our first +landing were slight and temporary; every shower of rain washed a portion +of the clay from between the interstices of the cabbage-tree of which +they were constructed; their covering was never tight; their size was +necessarily small and inconvenient; and although we had not hitherto been +so fortunate as to discover limestone any where near the settlement, yet +to occupy a brick house put together with mortar formed of the clay of +the country, and covered with tiles, became in point of comparative +comfort and convenience an object of some importance. + +December.] Among the various business which came before the magistrates +at their weekly meetings, was one which occupied much of their time and +attention. The convicts who were employed about the provision store +informed the commissary, by letter, that from certain circumstances, they +had reason to accuse Mr. Zachariah Clark, his assistant, of embezzling +the public provisions. A complaint of such a nature, as well on account +of its importance to the settlement, as of its consequence to the person +accused, called for an immediate enquiry; and the judge-advocate and +Captain Hunter lost no time in bringing forward the necessary +investigation. The convicts charged Mr. Clark with having made at +different times, and applied to his own use, a considerable over-draught +of every species of provisions, and of the liquor which was in store. A +dread of these circumstances being one day discovered by others, when the +blame of concealment might involve them in a suspicion of participation, +induced them to step forward with the charge. The suspicious appearances, +however, were accounted for by Mr. Clark much to the satisfaction of the +magistrates under whose consideration they came. He stated, that +expecting to be employed in this country, he had brought out with him +large quantities of provisions, wine, rum, draught and bottled porter, +all of which he generally kept at the store; that when parties have +applied to him for provisions or spirits at an hour when the store was +shut, he had frequently supplied them from his own case, or stock which +he had for present use in his tent or in his house, and afterwards repaid +himself from the store; and that being ill with the scurvy for several +months after his arrival, he did not use any salt provisions, which gave +him a considerable credit for such articles at the store: from all which +circumstances the convicts who accused him might, as they were unknown to +them, be induced to imagine that he was taking up more than his ration +from time to time. + +With Mr. Clark's ample and public acquittal from this accusation, a +commendation equally public was given to the convicts, who, noticing the +apparent over-draught of spirits and provisions, and ignorant at the same +time of the causes which occasioned it, had taken measures to have it +explained. + +From the peculiarity of our situation, there was a sort of sacredness +about our store; and its preservation pure and undefiled was deemed as +necessary as the chastity of Caesar's wife. With us, it would not bear +even suspicion. + +In the course of this month the harvest was got in; the ground in +cultivation at Rose Hill produced upwards of two hundred bushels of +wheat, about thirty-five bushels of barley, and a small quantity of oats +and Indian corn; all of which was intended to be reserved for feed. At +Sydney, the spot of ground called the Governor's Farm had been sown only +with barley, and produced about twenty-five bushels. + +A knowledge of the interior parts of this extensive country was anxiously +desired by every one; but the difficulty of attaining it, and the various +employments in which we had all been necessarily engaged, had hitherto +prevented any material researches being made. The governor had penetrated +to the westward as far as Richmond Hill, perhaps between fifty and sixty +miles inland; but beyond that distance all was a blank. Early in this +month Lieutenant Dawes with a small party, taking with them just as much +provisions as they could conveniently carry, set off on an attempt to +reach the western mountains by and from the banks of the fresh water +river, first seen, some time since, by Captain Tench, and supposed to be +a branch of the Hawkesbury. From this excursion he returned on the ninth +day, without accomplishing his design, meeting with nothing, after +quitting the river, but ravines that were nearly inaccessible. He had, +notwithstanding the danger and difficulty of getting on through such a +country, reached within eleven miles of the mountains, by computation. +During his toilsome march he met with nothing very remarkable, except the +impressions of the cloven feet of an animal differing from other cloven +feet by the great width of the division in each. He was not fortunate +enough to see the animal that had made them. + +In this journey Lieutenant Dawes's line of march, unfortunately and +unpleasantly for him, happened to lie, nearly from his setting out, +across a line of high and steep rocky precipices, which required much +caution in descending, as well as labour in ascending. Perhaps an open +country, which might have led him readily and conveniently to the point +he proposed to attain, was lying at no great distance from him either to +his right or left. To seek for that, however, might have required more +time than his stock of provisions would have admitted; and he was +compelled to return through the same unprofitable country which he had +passed. + +On the 21st, between ten and eleven o'clock at night, the _Supply_ +returned from Norfolk Island, having been absent six weeks within a day. +From thence Lieutenant King wrote that he expected his harvest would +produce from four to six months flour for all his inhabitants, exclusive +of a reserve of double feed for twenty acres of ground. Beside this +promising appearance, he had ten acres in cultivation with Indian corn, +which looked very well. His gardens had suffered much by the grub worm +and from a want of rain, of which they had had scarcely any since the +23rd of September last. The ground which was cleared for the crown +amounted to about twenty-eight acres, and he was busied in preparations +for building a redoubt on an eminence named by him Mount George. + +The _Supply_, in her visit at Lord Howe Island, turned eighteen turtle; +several of which unluckily dying before she reached Norfolk Island, she +could leave only four there, and but three survived the short voyage +thence to this place. + +Several thefts having been lately committed by the convicts, and the +offenders discovered by the vigilance of the members of our new police, +several of them were tried before the criminal court of juidicature. +Caesar the black, whose situation on Garden Island had been some time +back rendered more eligible, by being permitted to work without irons, +found means to make his escape, with a mind insensible alike to kindness +and to punishment, taking with him a canoe which lay there for the +convenience of the other people employed on the island, together with a +week's provisions belonging to them; and in a visit which he made them a +few nights after in his canoe, he took off an iron pot, a musket, and +some ammunition. + +The working convicts at Sydney had lately been principally employed in +constructing two convenient kitchens and ovens for the use of the +detachment, adjoining to the quarters; building a house for the +judge-advocate; forming roads either in or leading to the town; and +removing the provisions from the old thatched storehouse to that in the +marine quarters, which, by being covered in with tiles, was not so liable +to an accident by fire, nor likely to prove so great an harbour for rats, +to guard against whom it had become necessary to take as many precautions +as against any other enemy. They, however, in defiance of every care +which was taken to shut them out, when the provisions were removed, found +means, by working under ground, to get in; and as it was now a matter of +much moment to preserve every ounce of provisions that belonged to us, +they were all taken out, and restowed with an attention suitable to their +important value. + +At Rose Hill, where as yet there was not any night-watch established, +petty thefts and depredations were frequently committed, particularly on +the wheat as it ripened. The bakehouse also was robbed of a quantity of +flour by a person unknown. These offences were generally attributed to +the reduction which had taken place in the ration of provisions; and +every one dreaded how much the commission of them might be increased, if +accident or delay should render a still greater reduction necessary. + +Mr. Dodd, the superintendant at that settlement, a few days before +Christmas, cut and sent down a cabbage which weighed twenty-six pounds. +The other vegetables productions of his garden, which was by no means a +rich mould, were plentiful and luxuriant. + +Some people who had been out with a gun from Rose Hill brought in with +them, on their return, a tinder-box, to which chance conducted them in a +thick brush distinguished by the name of the New Brush, about six miles +from the settlement. This article was known to have belonged to the two +unfortunate soldiers who had been unaccounted for since last April, and +who, in great probability, found there a miserable period to their +existence. They also picked up in the same brush a piece of linen, said +to have formed part of a petticoat which belonged to Anne Smith, a female +convict who absconded a few days after our landing in the country. This +might have been carried thither and dropped by some natives in their way +through the brush; but it gave a strong colour to the supposition of her +having likewise perished, by some means or other, in the woods. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + + +A convict made a free settler +A pleasing delusion +Extraordinary supply of fish +Caesar's narrative +Another convict wounded by the natives +The _Supply_ arrives from Norfolk Island +A large number of settlers sent thither on board the _Sirius_ and +_Supply_ +Heavy rains +Scarcity of provisions increasing in an alarming degree +Lieutenant Maxwell's insanity +News brought of the loss of the _Sirius_ +Allowance of provisions still further reduced +The _Supply_ sent to Batavia for relief +Robberies frequent and daring +An old man dies of hunger +Rose Hill +Salt and fishing-lines made +The native escapes +Transactions + + +1790.] + +January.] Early in the new year the _Supply_ sailed again for Norfolk +Island with twenty-two male and two female convicts, and one child; +Lieutenant King having in his last letters intimated, that he could very +well find employment for a greater number of people than he then had +under his orders. With those convicts and some stores she sailed on the +7th, and on her return was to touch at Lord Howe island to procure +turtle. + +Of the convicts the period of whose sentences of transportation had +expired, and of whom mention was made in the transactions of July last, +one, who signified a wish of becoming a settler, had been sent up to Rose +Hill by the governor; where his excellency, having only waited to learn +with certainty that he had become a free man before he gave him a grant +of land, caused two acres of ground to be cleared of the timber which +stood on them, and a small hut to be built for him. This man had been +bred to the business of a farmer, and during his residence in this +country had shown a strong inclination to be industrious, and to return +to honest habits and pursuits. Rewarding him, therefore, was but holding +out encouragement to such good dispositions. The governor had, however, +another object in view, beside a wish to hold him up as a deserving +character: he was desirous of trying, by his means, in what time an +industrious active man, with certain assistance, would be enabled to +support himself in this country as a settler; and for that purpose, in +addition to what he caused to be done for him at first, he furnished him +with the tools and implements of husbandry necessary for cultivating his +ground, with a proportion of grain to sow it, and a small quantity of +live stock to begin with. He took possession of his ground the 21st of +November 1789, and under some disadvantages. An opinion had prevailed, +and had been pretty generally disseminated, that a man could not live in +this country; and in addition to this discouragement, although he still +received a ration from the public store, yet it was not a ration that +bore any proportion to the labour which his situation required from him. +The man himself, however, resolved to be industrious, and to surmount as +well as he was able whatever difficulties might lie in his way. + +The flour which had been brought from England did not serve much beyond +the beginning of this month, and that imported from the Cape now supplied +its place. Every one began to look forward with much anxiety to the +arrival of supplies from England; and as it was reasonable to conclude +that every day might bring them on the coast, Captain Hunter, accompanied +by Mr. Worgan, the surgeon of the _Sirius_, and Mr. White, with six or +eight seamen, having chosen a spot proper for their purpose, erected a +flagstaff on the South Head of this harbour, whence, on the appearance of +a ship in the offing, a signal might be made, as well to convey the +wished-for information to the settlement, as to serve as a mark for the +stranger. An hut was built for their accommodation, and this little +establishment was of such importance, that our walks were daily directed +to a spot whence it could be seen; thus fondly indulging the delusion, +that the very circumstance of looking out for a sail would bring one into +view. + +A sufficient quantity of fish having been taken one night in this month, +to admit the serving of two pounds to each man, woman, and child +belonging to the detachment, the governor directed, that a boat should in +future be employed three times in the week to fish for the public; and +that the whole quantity caught should be issued at the above rate to +every person in turn. This allowance was in addition to the ration of +provisions; and was received with much satisfaction several times during +the month. + +Caesar, after his escape from and subsequent visit at Garden Island, +found his way up to Rose Hill, whence he was brought on the 30th, very +much wounded by some natives whom he had met with in the woods. Being +fearful of severe punishment for some of his late offences, he reported, +on being brought in, that he had fallen in with our cattle which had been +so long lost; that they were increased by two calves; that they seemed to +be under the care of eight or ten natives, who attended them closely +while they grazed; and that, on his attempting to drive the cattle before +him, he was wounded by another party of the natives. The circumstance of +his being wounded was the only part of his story that met with any +credit, and that could not well be contradicted, as he had several spear +wounds about him in different parts of his body; but every thing else was +looked upon as a fabrication (and that not well contrived) to avert the +lash which he knew hung over him. He was well known to have as small a +share of veracity as of honesty. His wounds however requiring care and +rest, he was secured, and placed under the surgeon's care at the +hospital. + +Information was also received at this time from Rose Hill, that a convict +who had been employed to strike the sting ray, with another, on the +flats, having gone on shore, engaged in some quarrel with the natives, +who took all his clothes from him, severely wounded, and would inevitably +have killed him, but for the humane, friendly, and disinterested +interference of one of their own women, who happened to be present. This +accident, and many others of the same nature, could not have happened, +had the orders which he had received, not to land upon any account, been +attended to. + +The bricklayers, having finished the judge-advocate's house, were +employed in building a dispensary on the west side contiguous to the +hospital, the medicines and chirurgical instruments being much exposed to +damps in the place where they had hitherto been necessarily kept. + +Garden robberies were frequent, notwithstanding the utmost care and +vigilance were exerted to prevent them. A rainy tempestuous night always +afforded a cloak for the thief, and was generally followed in the morning +by some one complaining of his or her garden having been stripped of all +its produce. + +February.] The first signal from the flagstaff at the South Head was +displayed on the 10th of February; and though every imagination first +turned toward the expected stranger, yet happening about the time at +which the _Supply_ was expected from Norfolk Island, conjecture soon +fixed on the right object; and the temporary suspence was put an end to, +by word being brought up to the settlement, that the _Supply_, unable to +get into Port Jackson, had borne up for Botany Bay, in which harbour she +anchored in the dusk of the evening. The next morning the letters which +she had brought were received. Lieutenant King wrote, that his people +continued healthy, and his settlement went on well. His wheat had +returned twenty fold, notwithstanding he had had much dry weather. He had +relinquished his intention of throwing up a redoubt on Mount George; but, +instead of that work, had employed his people in constructing a stockade +of piles round his house, inclosing an oblong square of one hundred feet +by one hundred and forty, within which he purposed erecting storehouses, +and a barrack for the military. He stated, that the convicts under his +orders had in general very good gardens, and that many of them would have +a very large produce of Indian corn. + +The _Supply_ having in her way to Norfolk Island touched at Lord Howe +Island, Lieutenant Ball left the gunner and a small party to turn turtle, +but they met with no success; so that no dependance was to be placed on +that island for any material relief. The gunner examined the island, and +found fresh water in cavities, but not in any current. + +The _Supply_ could not get round from Botany Bay until the 12th, when she +came to anchor in the cove, whence she had been absent just five weeks. + +Lieutenant King having constantly written in high terms of the richness +of the soil of Norfolk Island, the governor, on comparing the situation +of the convicts there and in this settlement, where their gardens had not +that fertility to boast of, and where the ration from the store was with +too many hastily devoured, and with most derived but an uncertain and +scanty aid from any other source, determined, and about the middle of the +month announced his determination, to detach thither a large body of +convicts, male and female, together with two companies of the marines. +Some immediate advantages were expected to be derived from this measure; +the garden ground that would be left by those who embarked would be +possessed by those who remained, while the former would instantly on +their arrival at Norfolk Island participate in the produce of luxuriant +gardens, in a more constant supply of fish, and in the assistance that +was occasionally obtained from the birds which settled on Mount Pitt. + +At the same time that this intention was made public, the day of their +departure was fixed. The whole were to embark on board the _Sirius_ and +the _Supply_ in the beginning of the following month, and were, if no +ship arrived from England to prevent them, to sail on the 5th. Should, +unfortunately, the necessity of adopting the measure then exist, the +_Sirius_ was to proceed to China directly from Norfolk Island to procure +a supply of provisions for the colony. China was chosen, under an idea +that salt provisions were to be obtained there, and that it was +preferable to sending to any of the islands in those seas, or to the Cape +of Good Hope at this season of the year, when the _Sirius_ and her crew +would have had to encounter the cold and boisterous weather of a winter's +passage thither. + +As the numbers on Norfolk Island would be considerably increased by the +arrival of this detachment from hence, the governor judged the presence +of Major Ross necessary there, as lieutenant-governor of the territory. +Lieutenant King was to be recalled and return to this settlement. + +Preparations were immediately set on foot for the embarkation of the +marines and other persons who were to quit this colony. It had been a +part of the first determinations on this business, that the _Sirius_ +should, as I have mentioned, proceed directly from Norfolk Island on her +voyage to China; but Captain Hunter having represented the absolute +necessity he should be under of touching somewhere to wood and water, +owing to the number he should have on board, that idea was given up, and +Captain Hunter was directed to return with the _Sirius_ to this port for +the above purposes of wooding and watering. An additional reason offered +itself to influence this determination; it was hoped, that before she +could return, the arrival of the expected supplies would have rendered +the voyage altogether unnecessary; and it was but reasonable to suppose +that this would happen. The governor had, in all his dispatches, +uniformly declared the strong necessity there was of having at least two +years provisions in store for some time to come; and as this information, +together with an exact account of the situation of the colony, had been +transmitted by seven different conveyances, if only one had arrived safe, +it could not reasonably be doubted that supplies would be immediately +dispatched. From the length of time too which had elapsed since the +departure of the last ships* that sailed from hence direct for England +(full fifteen months), it was as reasonable to suppose that they might +arrive within the time that the _Sirius_ would be absent. + +[* The _Golden Grove_ and the _Fishburn_ sailed from this port the 19th +of November 1788, intending to make their passage round by Cape Horn, to +which the season was most favourable.] + +The month passed in the arrangements and preparations requisite on this +occasion, to which the weather was extremely unfavourable, heavy rains, +with gales of wind, prevailing nearly the whole time. The rain came down +in torrents, filling up every trench and cavity which had been dug about +the settlement, and causing much damage to the miserable mud tenements +which were occupied by the convicts. By these rains, a pit which had been +dug for the purpose of procuring clay to plaister the walls of a hut, was +filled with water; and a boy upwards of two years of age, belonging to +one of the female convicts, falling into it, was drowned. The surgeons +tried, but without success, to save his life, using the methods practised +by the Humane Society. Yet bad as the weather was, several gardens were +robbed, and, as at this time they abounded with melons and pumpkins, they +became the object of depredation in common with other productions of the +garden. + +A brick building, fifty-nine feet in front, designed for a guard-house, +of which the foundation had been laid a few days before the heavy rains +commenced, suffered much by their continuance. The situation of this +building was on the east side of the cove, at the upper part, contiguous +to the bridge over the run of water, and convenient for detaching +assistance to any part of the place where it might be requisite. + +On the 1st of March a reduction in the allowance of spirits took place; +the half pint _per diem_, which had hitherto been issued to each man who +was entitled to receive it, was to be discontinued, and only the half of +that allowance served. Thus was the gradual decrease in our stores +followed by a diminution of our daily comforts and necessaries. + +One immediate consequence, and that an evil one, was the effect of the +intended embarkation for Norfolk Island. It being found that great +quantities of stock were killed, an order was immediately given to +prevent the further destruction of an article so essential in our present +situation, until some necessary regulations could be published; but the +officers and people who were about to embark were not included in this +prohibition. The mention of future regulations in this order instantly +begat an opinion among the convicts, that on the departure of the ships +all the live stock in the colony would be called in, or that the owners +would be deprived of the benefits which might result from the possession +of it. Under colour, therefore, of its belonging to those who were +exempted in the late order, nearly all the stock in the settlement was in +the course of a few nights destroyed; a wound being thereby given to the +independence of the colony that could not easily be salved, and whose +injurious effects time and much attention alone could remove. + +The expected supplies not having arrived, on the 3rd, the two companies +of marines with their officers and the colours of the corps embarked on +board the _Sirius_ and the _Supply_. With them also embarked the +lieutenant-governor, and Mr. Considen the senior assistant surgeon of the +settlement. On the day following, one hundred and sixteen male and +sixty-eight female convicts, with twenty-seven children, were put on +board; among the male convicts the governor had sent the troublesome and +incorrigible Caesar, on whom he had bestowed a pardon. With these also +was sent, though of a very different description, a person whose exemplary +conduct had raised him from the situation of a convict to the privileges +of a free man. John Irving had since our landing in the country been +employed as an assistant at the hospital. He was bred a surgeon, and in +no instance whatever, since the commission of the offence for which he +was transported, had he given cause of complaint. He was now sent to +Norfolk Island, to act as an assistant to the medical gentlemen there. + +On the 5th the _Sirius_ and the _Supply_ left the cove, but did not get to +sea until the following day, when at the close of the evening they were +scarcely to be discerned from the South Head. At the little post at this +place Captain Hunter left the gunner, a midshipman, and six of the +_Sirius's_ people. Mr. Maxwell, one of her lieutenants, having been for a +considerable time past in a melancholy and declining way, and his +disorder pronounced by the surgeons to be insanity, he was discharged +from the ship, and had taken up his residence on shore under the care of +the surgeon, with proper people who were left from the ship to attend +him. This was the second officer whose situation in the _Sirius_ it +became necessary to have filled. Lieutenant King, the commandant of +Norfolk Island, had for some time been discharged from the ship's books; +and Mr. Newton Fowell, a young gentleman of the _Sirius's_ quarter-deck, +being deemed well qualified, was appointed by the governor (as the naval +commanding officer) to succeed him. To fill the vacancy occasioned by Mr. +Maxwell's unfortunate state of health, Mr. Henry Waterhouse, a young +gentleman of promising abilities, was taken from the quarter-deck. Both +these appointments were to wait the confirmation of the lords +commissioners of the admiralty. + +Immediately after the departure of these ships, the governor directed his +attention to the regulation of the people who were left at Sydney, and to +the preservation of the stock in the colony. For these purposes, he +himself visited the different huts and gardens whose tenants had just +quitted them, distributing them to such convicts as were either in +miserable hovels, or without any shelter at all. It was true, that by +this arrangement the idle found themselves provided for by the labour of +many who had been industrious; but they were at the same time assured, +that unless they kept in good cultivation the gardens which they were +allowed to possess, they would be turned out from the comforts of a good +hut, to live under a rock or a tree. That they might have time for this +purpose, the afternoon of Wednesday and the whole of Saturday in each +week were given to them. Much room was made every where by the numbers +who had embarked (in all two hundred and eighty-one persons); the +military quarters had a deserted aspect; and the whole settlement +appeared as if famine had already thinned it of half its numbers. The +little society that was in the place was broken up, and every man seemed +left to brood in solitary silence over the dreary prospect before him. + +With respect to the stock, his excellency directed, that no hogs under +three months old should be killed, nor were any to be butchered without +information being first given at headquarters. + +Those who bred poultry were left at liberty to dispose of it in such +manner as they thought proper; and the commissary was directed to +purchase for the use of the hospital such live stock as the owners were +desirous of selling, complying with the above regulations, and receiving +one shilling a pound as the price. + +Some provisions which yet remained in the old large thatched store were +removed for greater security into the store in the marine quarters. It +was strongly suspected, that an attempt had been made to obtain some part +of these provisions in the night; and some convicts were examined before +the judge-advocate on suspicion of having taken some flour from the +store; but nothing appeared that could materially affect them. The +provisions, when all collected together under one roof and into one view, +afforded but a melancholy reflection; it was well that we had even them. + +On the 27th of the month, the long-expected signal not having been +displayed, it became necessary to put the colony upon a still shorter +ration of provisions. It was a painful but a necessary duty. The governor +directed that the provisions should in future be served daily; for which +purpose the store was to be opened from one to three in the afternoon. +The ration for the week was to consist of four pounds of flour, two +pounds and a half of pork, and one pound and a half of rice, and these +were to be issued to every person in the settlement without distinction; +but as the public labour must naturally be affected by this reduction, +the working hours were in future to be from sunrise, with a small +interval for breakfast, until one o'clock: the afternoons were to be +allowed the people to receive their provisions and work in their gardens. +These alterations in the ration and in the hours of labour, however, were +not to commence until the 1st of the following month. + +At Rose Hill similar regulations were made by the governor. The garden +ground was enlarged; those who were in bad huts were placed in better; +and every thing was said that could stimulate them to be industrious. +This, with a few exceptions, appeared to be the principal labour both +there and at Sydney; and the nightwatch were called upon by the common +interest to be more than ever active and sedulous in their efforts to +protect public and private property; for robberies of gardens and houses +were daily and nightly committed. Damage was also received from the +little stock which remained alive; the owners, not having wherewith to +feed them, were obliged to turn them loose to browse among the grass and +shrubs, or turn up the ground for the fern-root; and as they wandered +without any one to prevent their doing mischief, they but too often found +an easy passage over fences and through barriers which were now grown +weak and perishing. It was however ordered, that the stock should be kept +up during the night, and every damage that could be proved to have been +received during that time was to be made good by the owners of the stock +that might be caught trespassing; or the animals themselves were to be +forfeited. + +The carpenters were employed in preparing a roof for a new storehouse, +those which were first erected being now decaying, and having been always +insecure. It was never expected to get up a building of one hundred feet +in front, which this was designed to be, upon so reduced a ration as the +present; but while the people did labour, it was proper to turn that +little labour to the public account. + +The working gangs being now so much reduced by the late embarkation, the +hoy was employed in bringing the timber necessary for this building from +the coves where it was cut down and deposited for that purpose. This +vessel, when unemployed for public services, was given to the officers, +and by them sent down the harbour to procure cabbage-tree for their +stock, in the preservation and maintenance of which every one felt an +immediate and anxious concern. + +The weather had been very wet during this month; torrents of rain again +laid every place under water; many little habitations, which had +withstood the inundations of the last month, now suffered considerably; +several chimneys fell in; but this was owing, perhaps, as much to their +being built by job or taskwork (which the workmen hurried over in general +to get a day or two to themselves) as to the heavy rains. + +April.] The reduced ration and the change in the working hours commenced, +as was directed, on the 1st of this month; much time was not consumed at +the store, and the people went away to dress the scanty allowance which +they had received. + +Attention to our religious duties was never omitted. Divine service was +performed in one of our emptied storehouses on the morning of the next +day, being Good Friday; and the convicts were recommended to employ the +remainder of it in their gardens. But, notwithstanding the evident +necessity that existed for every man's endeavouring to assist himself, +very few were observed to be so profitably occupied. + +As every saving that could be made in the article of provisions was of +consequence in the present situation of the stores, it was directed on +the 3rd, that such fish as should in future be taken by the public boats +should be issued at the store, in the proportion of ten pounds of fish to +two pounds and a half of pork; and one hundred and fifty pounds of fish, +which had been brought up before the issuing of provisions commenced on +that day, were served out agreeable to that order. + +Mr. Maxwell, whose disorder at times admitted of his going out alone, was +fortunately brought up from the lower part of the harbour, where he had +passed nearly two days, without sustenance, in rowing from one side to +the other, in a small boat by himself. He was noticed by a sergeant who +had been fishing, and who observed him rowing under the dangerous rocks +of the middle-head, where he must soon have been dashed to pieces, but +for his fortunate interposition. After this escape he was more narrowly +watched. + +While occupied in listening to the tale, of his distresses, the _Supply_ +returned from Norfolk Island, with an account that was of itself almost +sufficient to have deranged the strongest intellect among us. A load of +accumulated evils seemed bursting at once upon our heads. The ships that +were expected with supplies were still to be anxiously looked for; and +the _Sirius_, which was to have gone in quest of relief to our +distresses, was lost upon the reef at Norfolk Island, on the 19th of last +month. This was a blow which, as it was unexpected, fell with increased +weight, and on every one the whole weight seemed to have fallen. + +This untoward accident happened in the following manner: + + +Captain Hunter was extremely fortunate in having a short passage hence to +Norfolk Island, arriving there in seven days after he sailed. The +soldiers, and a considerable part of the convicts, were immediately +landed in Cascade Bay, which happened at the time to be the leeward side +of the island. Bad weather immediately ensued, and for several days, the +provisions could not be landed, so high was the surf occasioned by it. +This delay, together with a knowledge that the provisions on the island +were not adequate to the additional numbers that were now to be +victualled, caused him to be particularly anxious to get the provisions +on shore. The bad weather had separated the _Sirius_ from the _Supply_; +but meeting with a favourable slant of wind on the 19th, Captain Hunter +gained the island from which he had been driven, and stood for Sydney +Bay, at the south end of it, where he found the _Supply_; and it being +signified by signal from the shore (where they could form the best +judgment) that the landing might be effected with any boat, he brought to +in the windward part of the bay, with the ship's head off the shore, got +out the boats, and loaded them with provisions. When the boats had put +off from the ship, it being perceived that she settled very much to +leeward, the tacks were got on board, and every sail set that was +possible to get her free from the shore. Notwithstanding which, she could +not weather the reef off the south-west end of the bay, the wind having +at that time very unfavourably shifted two points. The ship was then +thrown in stays, which she missed, being with great difficulty wore clear +of the breakers, and brought to the wind on the other tack, when every +sail was again set. Finding that she still drifted fast upon the shore, +another attempt was made to stay her; but being out of trim, it did not +succeed. All the sheets and hallyards were then ordered to be let fly, +and an anchor to be cut away; but before it reached the ground, she +struck with violence on the reef, very soon bulged, and was irrecoverably +lost. Her officers and people were all saved, having been dragged on +shore, through the surf, on a grating. + +This day, which untoward circumstances had rendered so gloomy to us, was +remarkably fine, and at the unfortunate moment of this calamity there was +very little wind. On the next or second day after, permission was given +to two convicts (one of whom, James Brannegan, was an overseer) to get +off to the ship, and endeavour to bring on shore what live hogs they +might be able to save; but with all that lamentable want of resolution +and consideration which is characteristic of the lower order of people +when temptations are placed before them, they both got intoxicated with +the liquor which had escaped the plunder of the seamen, and set the ship +on fire in two places. A light on board the ship being observed from the +shore, several shot were fired at it, but the wretches would neither put +it out, nor come on shore; when a young man of the name of Ascott, a +convict, with great intrepidity went off through the surf, extinguished +the fire, and forced them out of the ship. + +The lieutenant-governor, immediately after the loss of the Sirius, called +a council of all the naval and marine officers in the settlement, when it +was unanimously determined that martial law should be proclaimed; that +all private stock, poultry excepted, should be considered as the property +of the state; that justice should be administered by a court-martial to +be composed of seven officers, five of whom were to concur in a sentence +of death; and that there should be two locks upon the door of the public +store, whereof one key was to be in the keeping of a person to be +appointed by Captain Hunter in behalf of the seamen; the other to be kept +by a person to be appointed in behalf of the military. The day following, +the troops, seamen, and convicts, being assembled, these resolutions were +publicly read, and the whole confirmed their engagement of abiding by +them by passing under the king's colour, which was displayed on the +occasion. + +In the _Supply_ arrived the late commandant of Norfolk Island, two +lieutenants, four petty officers, twenty-four seamen, and two marines, +lately belonging to the _Sirius_. These officers spoke in high terms of +the activity and conduct of Mr. Keltie the master, Mr. Brooks the +boatswain, and Mr. Donovan a midshipman of the _Sirius_, who ventured off +to the ship in one of the island boats through a very dangerous surf, and +brought on shore the end of the hawser, to which was slung the grating +that saved the lives of the officers and people. They likewise somewhat +blunted the edge of this calamity, by assurances that it was highly +probable, from the favourable appearance of the weather when the _Supply_ +left Norfolk Island, that all or at least the greatest part of the +provisions would be landed from the _Sirius_. + +The general melancholy which prevailed in this settlement when the above +unwelcome intelligence was made public need not be described; and when +the _Supply_ came to an anchor in the cove every one looked up to her as +to their only remaining hope. + +In this exigency the governor thought it necessary to assemble all the +officers of the settlement, civil and Military, to determine on what +measures were necessary to be adopted. At this meeting, when the +situation of the colony was thoroughly weighed and placed in every point +of view, it was determined to reduce still lower what was already too +low; the ration was to be no more then two pounds and a half of flour, +two pounds of pork, one pint of peas, and one pound of rice, for each +person for seven days. This allowance was to be issued to all +descriptions of people in the colony, children under eighteen months +excepted, who were to have only one pound of salt meat. Every exertion +was to be made here, and at Botany Bay, in fishing for the general +benefit. All private boats were to be surrendered to the public use; +every effort was to be put in practice to prevent the robbing of gardens; +and, as one step toward this, all suspicious characters were to be +secured and locked up during the night. People were to be employed to +kill, for the public, the animals that the country afforded; and every +step was to be taken that could save a pound of the salt provisions in +store, It was proposed to take all the hogs in the settlement as public +property; but as it was absolutely necessary to keep some breeding sows, +and the stock being small and very poor, that idea was abandoned. + +In pursuance of these resolutions, the few convicts who had been employed +to shoot for individuals were given up for the public benefit; and a +fishery was established at Botany Bay, under the inspection of one of the +midshipmen of the _Sirius_. But this plan, not being found to answer, was +soon relinquished. The quantity of fish that was from time to time taken +was very inconsiderable, and the labour of transporting it by land from +thence was greater than the advantage which was expected to be derived +from it. The boats were therefore recalled, and employed with rather more +success at Sydney. + +It was well known, that the integrity of the people employed in fishing +could not be depended upon; the officers of the settlement therefore +voluntarily took upon themselves the unpleasant task of superintending +them; and it became a general duty, which every one cheerfully performed. +The fishing-boat never went out without an officer, either by night or by +day. + +On the 7th, about four hundred weight of fish being brought up, it was +issued agreeable to the order; and could the like quantity have been +brought in daily, some saving might have been made at the store, which +would have repaid the labour that was employed to obtain it. But the +quantity taken during this month, after the 7th, was not often much more +than equal to supplying the people employed in the boats with one pound +of fish per man, which was allowed them in addition to their ration. The +small boats, the property of individuals, were therefore returned to +their owners, and the people who had been employed in them, together with +the seamen of the _Sirius_ now here, were placed in the large boats +belonging to the settlement. + +Neither was much advantage obtained by employing people to shoot for the +public. At the end of the month only three small kangaroos had been +brought in. The convicts who were employed on this service, three in +number, were considered as good marksmen, and were allowed a ration of +flour instead of their salt provisions, the better to enable them to +sustain the labour and fatigue of traversing the woods of this country. + +The necessity of procuring relief became every day more pressing. The +voyage of the _Sirius_ to China was at an end; and nothing had yet +arrived from England, though hourly expected. It was the natural and +general opinion, that our present situation was to be attributed to +accident rather than to procrastination. It was more probable, that the +vessels which had been dispatched by the British government had met with +some distress, that had either compelled them to return or had wholly +prevented them from any further prosecution of the voyage, than that any +delay should have taken place in their departure. The governor, +therefore, determined on sending the _Supply_ armed tender to Batavia; +and, as her commander was most zealously active in his preparations for +the voyage, she was soon ready for sea. Her tonnage, however, was +trifling when compared with our necessities. Lieutenant Ball was, +therefore, directed to procure a supply of eight months provisions for +himself, and to hire a vessel and purchase 200,000 pounds of flour, +80,000 pounds of beef, 60,000 pounds of pork, and 70,000 pounds of rice; +together with some necessaries for the hospital, such as sugar, sago, +hogs lard, vinegar, and dongaree. The expectation of this relief was +indeed distant, but yet it was more to be depended upon than that which +might be coming from England. A given time was fixed for the return of +the _Supply_; but it was impossible to say when a vessel might arrive +from Europe. Whatever might be our distress for provisions, it would be +some alleviation to look on to a certain fixed period when it might be +expected to be removed. Lieutenant Ball's passage lay through the regions +of fine weather, and the hope of every one was fixed upon the little +vessel that was to convey him; yet it was painful to contemplate our very +existence as depending upon her safety; to consider that a rough sea, a +hidden rock, or the violence of elemental strife, might in one fatal +moment precipitate us, with the little bark that had all our hopes on +board, to the lowest abyss of misery. In the well-known ability and +undoubted exertions of her commander however, under God, all placed their +dependance; and from that principle, when she sailed, instead of +predicting mischance, we all, with one wish for her safe return, fixed +and anticipated the period at which it might reasonably be expected. + +She sailed on Saturday the 17th of April, having on board Lieutenant +King, the late commandant of Norfolk Island, who was charged with the +governor's dispatches for the secretary of state, and Mr. Andrew Miller, +the late commissary, whose ill state of health obliging him to resign +that employment, the governor permitted him to return to England. and had +appointed Mr. John Palmer, the purser of the _Sirius_, to supply his +place. + +Lieutenant Newton Fowell, of the _Sirius_, was, together with the gunner +of that ship, also embarked. The _Supply_ was to touch at Norfolk Island, +if practicable, and take on board Lieutenant Bradley of the _Sirius_, +who, from his knowledge of the coast, was chosen by the governor to +proceed to Batavia, and was to return to this port in whatever vessel +might be freighted by Lieutenant Ball; Mr. Fowell and the gunner were to +be left at the island. + +Mr. Palmer received his appointment from his excellency on the 12th of +this month, on which day the following was the state of the provisions in +the public store, viz + +Pork 23,851 pounds,) Which was 26th Aug.---4 months 14 days. +Beef 1,280 pounds,) to serve +Rice 24,455 pounds,) at the 13th Sept.--5 months 1 day. +Peas 17 bushels,) ration +Flour 56,884 pounds,) then issued 19th Dec.---8 months 7 days. +Biscuit 1,924 pounds,) until + +The duration of the _Supply's_ voyage was generally expected to be six +months; a period at which, if no relief arrived in the mean time from +England, we should be found without salt provisions, rice, and peas. + +In the above statement three hundred bushels of wheat, which had been +produced at Rose Hill, were not included, being reserved for seed. + +The governor, from a motive that did him immortal honor, in this season +of general distress, gave up three hundred weight of flour which was his +excellency's private property, declaring that he wished not to see any +thing more at his table than the ration which was received in common from +the public store, without any distinction of persons; and to this +resolution he rigidly adhered, wishing that if a convict complained, he +might see that want was not unfelt even at Government house. + +On the 20th of the month, the following was the ration issued from the +public store to each man for seven days, or to seven people for one day: +flour, 2½ pounds, rice, 2 pounds, pork, 2 pounds. The peas were all +expended. Was this a ration for a labouring man? The two pounds of pork, +when boiled, from the length of time it had been in store. shrunk away to +nothing; and when divided among seven people for their day's sustenance, +barely afforded three or four morsels to each. + +The inevitable consequences of this scarcity of provisions ensued; labour +stood nearly suspended for want of energy to proceed; and the +countenances of the people plainly bespoke the hardships they underwent. +The convicts, however, were employed for the public in the forenoons; and +such labour was obtained from them as their situation would allow. The +guard-house on the east side was finished and taken possession of during +the month. + +There being many among the convicts who availed themselves of this +peculiar situation to commit thefts, it became necessary to punish with +severity all who were fully convicted before the court of criminal +jurisdiction. One convict was executed for breaking into a house, and +several others were sentenced to severe corporal punishments. Garden +robberies were the principal offences committed. These people had been +assembled by the governor, and informed that very severe punishment would +follow the conviction of persons guilty of robbing gardens, as a +necessary step toward preventing the continuance of such an evil; and he +strongly inculcated the absolute necessity that existed for every man to +cultivate his own garden, instead of robbing that of another. To the few +who, from never having been industrious, had not any ground sown or +planted with vegetables, he allotted a small but sufficient spot for +their use, and encouraged them in their labour by his presence and +directions; but they preferred any thing to honest industry. These +people, though the major part of them were, during the night, locked up +in the building lately occupied as a guardhouse, were ever on the watch +to commit depredations on the unwary during the hours in which they were +at large, and never suffered an opportunity to escape them. A female +convict, who came down from Rose Hill, was robbed of her week's +provisions; and as it was impossible to replace them from the public +store, she was left to subsist on what she could obtain from the bounty +(never more truly laudable than at this distressing juncture) of others +who commiserated her situation. + +One male convict was executed; one female convict and one child died. The +female convict occasioned her own death, by overloading her stomach with +flour and greens, of which she made a mess during the day, and ate +heartily; but, not being satisfied, she rose in the night and finished +it. This was one of the evil effects of the reduced ration. + +May.] The expedient of shooting for the public not being found to answer +the expectations which had been formed of it, sixty pounds of pork only +having been saved, the game-killers were called in, and the general +exertion was directed to the business of fishing. The seine and the hooks +and lines were employed, and with various success; the best of which +afforded but a very trifling relief. + +As the _Sirius_ was fated not to return to perform her intended voyage to +India, the biscuit which had been baked for that purpose was issued, in +lieu of flour, that article being served again when the biscuit was +expended; and it lasted only through seven days. + +It was naturally expected, that the miserable allowance which was issued +would affect the healths of the labouring convicts. A circumstance +occurred on the 12th of this month, which seemed to favor this idea; an +elderly man dropped down at the store, whither he had repaired with +others to receive his day's subsistence. Fainting with hunger, and unable +through age to hold up any longer, he was carried to the hospital, where +he died the next morning. On being opened, his stomach was found quite +empty. It appeared, that not having any utensil of his own wherein to +cook his provisions, nor share in any, he was frequently compelled, short +as his allowance for the day was, to give a part of it to any one who +would supply him with a vessel to dress his victuals; and at those times +when he did not choose to afford this deduction, he was accustomed to eat +his rice and other provisions undressed, which brought on indigestion, +and at length killed him. + +It might have been supposed, that the severity of the punishments which +had been ordered by the criminal court on offenders convicted of robbing +gardens would have deterred others from committing that offence; but +while there was a vegetable to steal, there were those who would steal +it, wholly regardless as to the injustice done to the person they robbed, +and of the consequences that might ensue to themselves. For this sort of +robbery the criminal court was twice assembled in the present month. The +clergyman had taken a convict in his garden in the act of stealing +potatoes. Example was necessary, and the court that tried him, finding +that the severity of former courts did not prevent the commission of the +same offence, instead of the great weight of corporal punishment which +had marked their former sentences, directed this prisoner to receive +three hundred lashes, his ration of flour to be stopped for six months, +and himself to be chained for that time to two public delinquents who had +been detected in the fact of robbing the governor's garden, and who had +been ordered by the justices to work for a certain time in irons. + +This sentence was carried into execution; but the governor remitted, +after some days trial, that part of it which respected the prisoner's +ration of flour, without which he could not long have existed. + +The governor's garden had been the object of frequent depredation; +scarcely a night passed that it was not robbed, notwithstanding that many +received vegetables from it by his excellency's order. Two convicts had +been taken up, who confessed that within the space of a month they had +robbed it seven or eight times, and that they had killed a hog belonging +to an officer. These were the people who were ordered by the justices to +work in irons. A soldier, a man of infamous character, had been detected +robbing the garden while sentinel in the neighbourhood of it, and, being +tried by a court-martial for quitting his post, was sentenced and +received five hundred lashes. Yet all this was not sufficient: on the +evening of the 26th, a seaman belonging to the _Sirius_ got into the +governor's garden, and was fired at by a watchman who had been stationed +there for some nights past, and wounded, as it afterwards appeared, but +so slightly as not to prevent his effecting his escape; leaving, however, +a bag behind him, filled with vegetables. On close examination it was +fixed upon him, and, being brought before a criminal court, he was +sentenced to receive five hundred lashes; but at the same time was +recommended to the governor's clemency, on account of a good character +which had been given him in court. The governor, as it was his garden +that was robbed, attended to the recommendation, remitting four out of +the five hundred lashes which had been ordered him*. Being, after this, +villain enough to accuse some of his shipmates of crimes which he +acknowledged existed only in his own malicious mind, he received, by +order of the justices, a further punishment of fifty lashes. + +[* Sixty pounds of flour, which had been offered as a reward for bringing +to justice a garden-thief, were paid to the watchman who fired at him.] + +So great was either the villainy of the people, or the necessities of the +times, that a prisoner lying at the hospital under sentence of corporal +punishment having received a part of it, five hundred lashes, contrived +to get his irons off from one leg, and in that situation was caught +robbing a farm. On being brought in, he received another portion of his +punishment. + +Among other thefts committed in this season of general distress, was one +by a convict employed in the fishing boats, who found means to secrete +several pounds of fish in a bag, which he meant to secure in addition to +the allowance which was to be made him for having been out on that duty. +To deter others from committing the like offence, which might, by +repetition, amount to a serious evil, he was ordered to receive one +hundred lashes. + +At Rose Hill the convicts conducted themselves with much greater +propriety; not a theft nor any act of ill behaviour having been for some +time past heard of among them*. + +[* They had vegetables in great abundance.] + +At that settlement a kangaroo had been killed of one hundred and eighty +pounds weight; and the people reported that they were much molested by +the native dogs, which had been seen together in great numbers, and, +coming by night about the settlement, had killed some hogs which were not +housed. + +The colony had hitherto been supplied with salt from the public stores, a +quantity being always shaken off from the salt provisions, and reserved +for use by the store-keepers; but the daily consumption of salt +provisions was now become so inconsiderable, and they had been so long in +store, that little or none of that article was to be procured. Two large +iron boilers were therefore erected at the east point of the cove; some +people were employed to boil the salt water, and the salt which was +produced by this very simple process was issued to the convicts. + +Our fishing tackle began now, with our other necessaries, to decrease. To +remedy this inconvenience, we were driven by necessity to avail ourselves +of some knowledge which we had gained from the natives; and one of the +convicts (a rope-maker) was employed to spin lines from the bark of a +tree which they used for the same purpose. + +The native who had been taken in November last convinced us how far +before every other consideration he deemed the possession of his liberty, +by very artfully effecting his escape from the governor's house, where he +had been treated with every indulgence and had enjoyed every comfort +which it was in his excellency's power to give him. He managed his escape +so ingeniously, that it was not suspected until he had completed it, and +all search was rendered fruitless. The boy and the girl appeared to +remain perfectly contented among us, and declared that they knew their +countryman would never return. + +During this month the bricklayer's gang and some carpenters were sent +down to the Look-out, to erect two huts for the midshipmen and seamen of +the _Sirius_ who were stationed there, where the stonemason's gang were +employed quarrying stone for two chimneys. + +The greatest quantity of fish caught at any one time in this month was +two hundred pounds. Once the seine was full; but through either the +wilfulness or the ignorance of the people employed to land it, the +greatest part of its contents escaped. Upwards of two thousand pounds +were taken in the course of the month, which produced a saving of five +hundred pounds of pork at the store, the allowance of thirty-one men for +four weeks. + +Very little labour could be enforced from people who had nothing to eat. +Nevertheless, as it was necessary to think of some preparations for the +next season, the convicts were employed in getting the ground ready both +at Sydney and at Rose Hill for the reception of wheat and barley. The +quantity of either article, however, to be now sown, fell far short of +what our necessities required. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + + +The _Lady Juliana_ transport arrives from England +_The Guardian_ +His Majesty's birthday +Thanksgiving for His Majesty's recovery +The _Justinian_ storeship arrives +Full ration ordered +Three transports arrive +Horrid state of the convicts on board +Sick landed +Instance of sagacity in a dog +A convict drowned +Mortality and number of sick on the 13th +Convicts sent to Rose Hill +A town marked out there +Works in hand at Sydney +Instructions respecting grants of land +Mr. Fergusson drowned +Convicts' claims on the master of the _Neptune_ +Transactions +Criminal Court +Whale + +June.] The first and second days of this month were exceedingly +unfavourable to our situation; heavy rain and blowing weather obstructed +labour and prevented fishing. But it was decreed that on the 3rd we +should experience sensations to which we had been strangers ever since +our departure from England. About half past three in the afternoon of +this day, to the inexpressible satisfaction of every heart in the +settlement, the long-looked-for signal for a ship was made at the South +Head. Every countenance was instantly cheered, and wore the lively +expressions of eagerness, joy, and anxiety; the whole settlement was in +motion and confusion. Notwithstanding it blew very strong at the time, +the governor's secretary, accompanied by Captain Tench and Mr. White, +immediately went off, and at some risk (for a heavy sea was running in +the harbour's mouth) reached the ship for which the signal had been made +just in time to give directions which placed her in safety in Spring +Cove. She proved to be the _Lady Juliana_ transport from London, last +from Plymouth; from which latter place we learned, with no small degree +of wonder and mortification, that she sailed on the 29th day of last July +(full ten months ago) with two hundred and twenty-two female convicts on +board. + +We had long conjectured, that the non-arrival of supplies must be owing +either to accident or delays in the voyage, and not to any backwardness +on the part of government in sending them out. We now found that our +disappointment was to be ascribed to both misfortune and delay. The _Lady +Juliana_, we have seen, sailed in July last, and in the month of +September following his majesty's ship _Guardian_, of forty-four guns, +commanded by Lieutenant Edward Riou, sailed from England, having on +board, with what was in the _Lady Juliana_, two years provisions, viz +295,344 pounds of flour, 149,856 pounds of beef, and 303,632 pounds of +pork, for the settlement; a supply of clothing for the marines serving on +shore, and for those belonging to the _Sirius_ and _Supply_; together +with a large quantity of sails and cordage for those ships and for the +uses of the colony; sixteen chests of medicines; fifteen casks of wine; a +quantity of blankets and bedding for the hospital; and a large supply of +unmade clothing for the convicts; with an ample assortment of tools and +implements of agriculture. + +At the Cape of Good Hope Lieutenant Riou took on board a quantity of +stock for the settlement, and completed a garden which had been prepared +under the immediate direction of Sir Joseph Banks, and in which there +were near one hundred and fifty of the finest fruit trees, several of +them bearing fruit. + +There was scarcely an officer in the colony that had not his share of +private property embarked on board of this richly freighted ship; their +respective friends having procured permission from government for that +purpose. + +But it was as painful then to learn, as it will ever be to recollect, +that on the 23rd day of December preceding, the _Guardian_ struck against +an island of ice in latitude 45 degrees 54 minutes South, and longitude +41 degrees 30 minutes East, whereby she received so much injury, that +Lieutenant Riou was compelled, in order to save her from instantly +sinking, to throw overboard the greatest part of her valuable cargo both +on the public and private account. The stock was all killed, (seven +horses, sixteen cows, two bulls, a number of sheep, goats, and two deer,) +the garden destroyed, and the ship herself saved only by the +interposition of Providence, and the admirable conduct of the commander. + +The _Guardian_ was a fast-sailing ship, and would probably have arrived +in the latter end of January or the beginning of February last. At that +period the large quantity of live stock in the colony was daily +increasing; the people required for labour were, comparatively with their +present state, strong and healthy; the necessity of dividing the +Convicts, and sending the _Sirius_ to Norfolk Island, would not have +existed; the ration of provisions, instead of the diminutions which had +been necessarily directed, would have been increased to the full +allowance; and the tillage of the ground consequently proceeded in with +that spirit which must be exerted to the utmost before the settlement +could render itself independent of the mother country for subsistence. + +But to what a distance was that period now thrown by this unfortunate +accident, and by the delay which took place in the voyage of the _Lady +Juliana_! Government had placed a naval officer in this transport, +Lieutenant Thomas Edgar*, for the purpose of seeing justice done to the +convicts as to their provisions, cleanliness, etc. and to guard against +any unnecessary delays on the voyage. Being directed to follow the route +of the _Sirius_ and her convoy, he called at Teneriffe and St. Iago, stayed +seven weeks at Rio de Janeiro, and one month at the Cape of Good Hope; +completing his circuitous voyage of ten months duration by arriving here +on the 3rd day of June 1790. + +[* He had sailed with the late Captain Cook.] + +On Lieutenant Edgar's arrival at the Cape he found the _Guardian_ lying +there, Lieutenant Riou having just safely regained that port, from which +he had sailed but a short time, with every fair prospect of speedily and +happily executing the orders with which he was entrusted, and of +conveying to this colony the assistance of which it stood so much in +need. Unhappily for us, she was now lying a wreck, with difficulty and at +an immense expense preserved from sinking at her anchors. + +Beside the common share which we all bore in this calamity, we had to +lament that the efforts of our several friends, in amply supplying the +wants that they concluded must have been occasioned by an absence of +three years, were all rendered ineffectual, the private articles having +been among the first things that were thrown overboard to lighten the +ship*. + +[* The private property of the officers was all stowed, as the best and +safest place in the ship, in the gun-room. Some officers were great +losers.] + +Government had sent out in the _Guardian_ twenty-five male convicts, who +were either farmers or artificers, together with seven persons engaged to +serve as superintendants of convicts, for three years from their landing, +at salaries of forty pounds per annum each. Of these, two, who were +professed gardeners, were supposed to be drowned, having left the ship +soon after she struck, with several other persons in boats, and not been +heard of when the _Lady Juliana_ left the Cape. The superintendants who +remained came on in the transport; but the convicts, of whose conduct +Lieutenant Riou spoke in the highest terms, were detained at the Cape. + +A clergyman also was on board the _Guardian_, the Rev. Mr. Crowther, who +had been appointed, at a salary of eight shillings per diem, to divide +the religious duties of the settlement with Mr. Johnson. This gentleman +left the ship with the master and purser in the long-boat, taking +provisions and water with them; and of five boats which were launched on +the same perilous enterprise, this was the only one that conducted her +passengers into safety. They were fortunately, after many days sailing, +picked up by a French ship, which took them into the Cape, and thence to +Europe. + +One-third of the stores and provisions intended for the colony were put +on board the transport, the remaining two-thirds were on board the +_Guardian_; none of which it was supposed would ever reach the +settlement, the small quantity excepted (seventy-five barrels of flour) +which was put on board the transport at the Cape. The Dutch at that place +were profiting by our misfortune, their warehouses being let out at an +immense expense to receive such of the provisions and stores as remained +on board the _Guardian_ when she got in. + +In addition to the above distressing circumstances, we learned that one +thousand convicts of both sexes were to sail at the latter end of the +last year, and that a corps of foot was raising for the service of this +country under the command of a major-commandant, Francis Grose esq. from +the 29th foot, of which regiment, he was major. The transports which +sailed hence in May, July, and November 1788 (the _Friendship_ excepted) +arrived in England within a very short time of each other; and their +arrival relieved the public from anxiety upon our account. + +The joy that was diffused by the arrival of the transports was +considerably checked by the variety of unpleasant and unwelcome +intelligence which she brought. We learned that our beloved Sovereign had +been attacked and for some months afflicted with a dangerous and alarming +illness, though now happily recovered. Our distance from his person had +not lessened our attachment, and the day following the receipt of this +information being the anniversary of his Majesty's birth, it was kept +with every mark of distinction that was in our power. The governor +pardoned all offenders who were under confinement, or under sentence of +corporal punishment; the ration was increased for that day, that every +one might rejoice; at the governor's table, where all the officers of the +settlement and garrison were met, many prosperous and happy years were +fervently wished to be added to his Majesty's life; and Wednesday the +9th was appointed for a public thanksgiving on occasion of his recovery. + +The _Lady Juliana_ was, by strong westerly winds and bad weather, +prevented from reaching the cove until the 6th, when, the weather +moderating, she was towed up to the settlement. The convicts on board her +appeared to have been well treated during their long passage, and +preparations for landing them were immediately made; but, in the +distressed situation of the colony, it was not a little mortifying to +find on board the first ship that arrived, a cargo so unnecessary and +unprofitable as two hundred and twenty-two females, instead of a cargo of +provisions; the supply of provisions on board her was so inconsiderable +as to permit only an addition of one pound and a half of flour being made +to the weekly ration. Had the _Guardian_ arrived, perhaps we should never +again have been in want. + +On the 9th, being the day appointed for returning thanks to Almighty God +for his Majesty's happy restoration to health, the attendance on divine +service was very full. A sermon on the occasion was preached by the Rev. +Mr. Johnson, who took his text from the book of Proverbs, 'By me kings +reign.' The officers were afterwards entertained at the governor's, when +an address on the occasion of the meeting was resolved to be sent to his +Majesty. + +When the women were landed on the 11th, many of them appeared to be +loaded with the infirmities incident to old age, and to be very improper +subjects for any of the purposes of an infant colony. Instead of being +capable of labour, they seemed to require attendance themselves, and were +never likely to be any other than a burden to the settlement, which must +sensibly feel the hardship of having to support by the labour of those +who could toll, and who at the best were but few, a description of people +utterly incapable of using any exertion toward their own maintenance. + +When the women were disembarked, and the provisions and stores landed, it +was found that twenty casks of flour (from the unfitness of the ship to +perform such a voyage, being old and far from tight) were totally +destroyed. This was a serious loss to us, when only four pounds of flour +constituted the allowance of that article for one man for seven days. + +From this situation of distress, however, we were in a short time +afterwards effectually relieved, and the colony might be pronounced to be +restored, by the arrival (on the 20th) of the _Justinian_ storeship, Mr. +Benjamin Maitland master, from England, after a short passage of only +five months. Mr. Maitland, on the 2nd of this month, the day preceding +the arrival of the _Lady Juliana_, was off the entrance of this harbour, +and would certainly have been found by that ship at anchor within the +heads, had he not, by a sudden change of the wind, aided by a current, +been driven as far to the northward as Black Head, in latitude 32 degrees +S. where he was very nearly lost in an heavy gale of wind; but which he +providentially rode out, having been obliged to come to an anchor, though +close in with some dangerous rocks. The wind was dead on the shore, and +the rocks so close when he anchored, that the rebound of the wave +prevented him from riding any considerable strain on his cable. Had that +failed him, we should never have seen the _Justinian_ or her valuable +cargo, which was found to consist of stores and provisions, trusted, it +was true, to one ship; but as she had happily arrived in safety, and was +full, we all rejoiced that we had not to wait for the arrival of a second +before the colony could be restored to its former plenty. + +We now learned that three transports might be hourly expected, having on +board the thousand convicts of whose destination we had received some +information by the _Lady Juliana_, together with detachments of the corps +raised for the service of this country. The remainder of this corps +(which was intended to consist of three hundred men) were to come out in +the _Gorgon_ man of war, of forty-four guns. This ship was also to bring +out Major Grose, who had been appointed lieutenant-governor of the +territory in the room of Major Ross, which officer, together with the +marines under his command, were intended to return to England in that +ship. + +Of the change which had been effected in the system of government in +France we now first received information, and we heard with pleasure that +it was not likely to interrupt the tranquillity of our own happy +nation--happy in a constitution which might well excite the admiration +and become the model of other states not so free. + +The _Justinian_ had sailed on the 17th of last January from Falmouth, and +touched only at St. Iago, avoiding, as she had not any convicts on board, +the circuitous passage by the Rio de Janeiro and the Cape of Good Hope. + +On the day following her arrival, every thing seemed getting into its +former train; the full ration was ordered to be issued; instead of daily, +it was to be served weekly as formerly; and the drum for labour was to +beat as usual in the afternoons at one o'clock. How general was the wish, +that no future necessity might ever occasion another deduction in the +ration, or an alteration in the labour of the people! + +That Norfolk Island, whose situation at this time every one was fearful +might call loudly for relief, should as quickly as possible reap her +share of the benefit introduced among us by these arrivals, it was +intended to send the _Lady Juliana_ thither; and as she required some +repairs, without which she could not proceed to sea, some carpenters from +the shore were sent on board her, and employed to sheath her bends, which +were extremely defective. + +A shop was opened on shore by the master of this ship, at the hut lately +occupied as a bakehouse for the _Supply_, for the sale of some articles +of grocery, glass, millinery, perfumery, and stationary; but the risk of +bringing them out having been most injudiciously estimated too highly, +as was evident from the increase on the first cost, which could not be +disguised, they did not go off so quickly as the owners supposed they +would. + +A report having been circulated soon after the establishing of this +settlement, that a considerable sum of money had been subscribed in +England, to be expended in articles for the benefit of the convicts who +embarked for this country, which articles had been entrusted to the Rev. +Mr. Johnson, to be disposed of according to the intention of the +subscribers after our arrival, Mr. Johnson wrote to his friends in +England to confute this report; and by accounts lately received, it +appeared that no such public collection had ever been made; at Mr. +Johnson's request, therefore, the governor published a contradiction of +the above report in the general orders of the settlement. The convicts +had hitherto imagined that they had a right to the articles which had +from time to time been distributed among them; but Mr. Johnson now +thought it necessary that they should know it was to his bounty they were +indebted for them, and that consequently the partakers of it were to be +of his own selection. + +The female convicts who had lately arrived attending at divine service on +the first Sunday after their landing, Mr. Johnson, with much propriety, +in his discourse, touched upon their situation, and described it so +forcibly as to draw tears from many who were the least hardened among +them. + +Early in the morning of the 23rd, one of the men at the Lookout discerned +a sail to the northward, but, the weather coming on thick, soon lost +sight of it. The bad weather continuing, it was not seen again until the +25th, when word was brought up to the settlement, that a large ship, +apparently under jury-masts, was seen in the offing; and on the following +day the _Surprise_ transport, Nicholas Anstis master (late chief mate of +the _Lady Penrhyn_) anchored in the cove from England, having on board +one captain, one lieutenant, one surgeon's mate, one serjeant, one +corporal, one drummer, and twenty-three privates of the New South Wales +corps; together with two hundred and eighteen male convicts. She sailed +on the 19th of January from Portsmouth in company with two other +transports, with whom she parted between the Cape of Good Hope and this +place. + +We had the mortification to learn, that the prisoners in this ship were +very unhealthy, upwards of one hundred being now in the sick list on +board. They had been very sickly also during the passage, and had buried +forty-two of these unfortunate people. A portable hospital had +fortunately been received by the _Justinian_, and there now appeared but +too great a probability that we should soon have patients enough to fill +it; for the signal was flying at the South Head for the other transports, +and we were led to expect them in as unhealthy a state as that which had +just arrived. + +On the evening of Monday the 28th, the _Neptune_ and _Scarborough_ +transports anchored off Garden Island, and were warped into the cove the +following morning. + +We were not mistaken in our expectations of the state in which they might +arrive. By noon the following day, two hundred sick had been landed from +the different transports. The west side afforded a scene truly +distressing and miserable; upwards of thirty tents were pitched in front +of the hospital, the portable one not being yet put up; all of which, as +well as the hospital and the adjacent huts, were filled with people, many +of whom were labouring under the complicated diseases of scurvy and the +dysentery, and others in the last stage of either of those terrible +disorders, or yielding to the attacks of an infectious fever. + +The appearance of those who did not require medical assistance was lean +and emaciated. Several of these miserable people died in the boats as +they were rowing on shore, or on the wharf as they were lifting out of +the boats; both the living and the dead exhibiting more horrid spectacles +than had ever been witnessed in this country. All this was to be +attributed to confinement, and that of the worst species, confinement in +a small space and in irons, not put on singly, but many of them chained +together. On board the _Scarborough_ a plan had been formed to take the +ship, which would certainly have been attempted, but for a discovery +which was fortunately made by one of the convicts (Samuel Burt) who had +too much principle left to enter into it. This necessarily, _on board +that ship_, occasioned much future circumspection; but Captain Marshall's +humanity considerably lessened the severity which the insurgents might +naturally have expected. On board the other ships, the masters, who had +the entire direction of the prisoners, never suffered them to be at large +on deck, and but few at a time were permitted there. This consequently +gave birth to many diseases. It was said, that on board the _Neptune_ +several had died in irons; and what added to the horror of such a +circumstance was, that their deaths were concealed, for the purpose of +sharing their allowance of provisions, until chance, and the +offensiveness of a corpse, directed the surgeon, or some one who had +authority in the ship, to the spot where it lay. + +A contract had been entered into by government with Messrs. Calvert, +Camden, and King, merchants of London, for the transporting of one +thousand convicts, and government engaged to pay £17 7s 6d per head for +every convict they embarked. This sum being as well for their provisions +as for their transportation, no interest for their preservation was +created in the owners, and the dead were more profitable (if profit alone +was consulted by them, and the credit of their house was not at stake) +than the living. + +The following accounts of the numbers who died on board each ship were +given in by the masters: + + Men Women Children +On board the _Lady Juliana_ 0 5 2 +On board the _Surprise_ 42 0 0 +On board the _Scarborough_ 68 0 0 +On board the _Neptune_ 151 11 2 + ----------------- +Total 261 16 4 + ----------------- + +All possible expedition was used to get the sick on shore; for even while +they remained on board many died. The bodies were taken over to the north +shore, and there interred. + +Parties were immediately sent into the woods to collect the acid berry of +the country, which for its extreme acetosity was deemed by the surgeons a +most powerful antiscorbutic. Among other regulations, orders were given +for baking a certain quantity of flour into pound loaves, to be +distributed daily among the sick, as it was not in their power to prepare +it themselves. Wine and other necessaries being given judiciously among +those whose situations required such comforts, many of the wretches had +recourse to stratagem to obtain more than their share by presenting +themselves, under different names and appearances, to those who had the +delivery of them, or by exciting the compassion of those who could order +them. + +Blankets were immediately sent to the hospital in sufficient numbers to +make every patient comfortable; notwithstanding which, they watched the +moment when any one died to strip him of his covering (although dying +themselves) and could only be prevented by the utmost vigilance from +exercising such inhumanity in every instance. + +The detachment from the New South Wales corps, consisting of one captain, +three subalterns, and a proportionate number of non-commissioned officers +and privates, was immediately disembarked, and room being made in the +marine barracks, they took possession of the quarters allotted for them. + +Lieutenant Shapcote, the naval agent on board the _Neptune_, died between +the Cape of Good Hope and this place. A son of this gentleman arrived in +the _Justinian_, to which ship he belonged, and received the first +account of his father's death, on going aboard the _Neptune_ to +congratulate him on his arrival. + +An instance of sagacity in a dog occurred on the arrival of the +_Scarborough_, too remarkable to pass unnoticed; Mr. Marshall, the master +of the ship, on quitting Port Jackson in May 1788, left a Newfoundland +dog with Mr. Clark (the agent on the part of the contractor, who remained +in the colony), which he had brought from England. On the return of his +old master, Hector swam off to the ship, and getting on board, recognised +him, and manifested, in every manner suitable to his nature, his Joy at +seeing him; nor could the animal be persuaded to quit him again, +accompanying him always when he went on shore, and returning with him on +board. + +At a muster of the convicts which was directed during this month, one man +only was unaccounted for, James Haydon. Soon after the muster was over, +word was brought to the commissary, that his body had been found drowned +in Long Cove, at the back of the settlement. Upon inquiry into the cause +of his death, it appeared that he had a few days before stolen some +tobacco out of an officer's garden in which he had been employed, and, +being threatened with punishment, had absconded. He was considered as a +well-behaved man; and if he preferred death to shame and punishment, +which he had been heard to declare he did, and which his death seemed to +confirm, he was deserving a better fate. + +The total number of sick on the last day of the month was three hundred +and forty-nine. + +July.] The melancholy scenes which closed the last month appeared +unchanged at the beginning of this. The morning generally opened with the +attendants of the sick passing frequently backwards and forwards from the +hospital to the burying-ground with the miserable victims of the night. +Every exertion was made to get up the portable hospital; but, although we +were informed that it had been put up in London in a very few hours, we +did not complete it until the 7th, when it was instantly filled with +patients. On the 13th, there were four hundred and eighty-eight persons +under medical treatment at and about the hospital--a dreadful sick list! + +Such of the convicts from the ships as were in a tolerable state of +health, both male and female, were sent up to Rose Hill, to be employed +in agriculture and other labours. A subaltern's detachment from the New +South Wales corps was at the same time sent up for the military duty of +that settlement in conjunction with the marine corps. + +There also the governor in the course of the month laid down the lines of +a regular town. The principal street was marked out to extend one mile, +commencing near the landing-place, and running in a direction west, to +the foot of the rising ground named Rose Hill, and in which his +excellency purposed to erect a small house for his own residence whenever +he should visit that settlement. On each side of this street, whose width +was to be two hundred and five feet, huts were to be erected capable of +containing ten persons each, and at the distance of sixty feet one from +the other; and garden ground for each hut was allotted in the rear. As +the huts were to be built of such combustible materials as wattles and +plaster, and to be covered with thatch, the width of the street, and the +distance they were placed from each other, operated as an useful +precaution against fire; and by beginning on so wide a scale the +inhabitants of the town at some future day would possess their own +accommodations and comforts more readily, each upon his own allotment, +than if crowded into a small space. + +While these works were going on at Rose Hill, the labouring convicts at +Sydney were employed in constructing a new brick storehouse, discharging +the transports, and forming a road from the town to the brick-kilns, for +the greater ease and expedition in bringing in bricks to the different +buildings. + +Our stores now wore a more respectable appearance than they had done for +some time. In addition to the provisions put on board the transports in +England, Lieutenant Riou had forwarded by those ships four hundred +tierces of beef and two hundred tierces of pork, which he had saved from +the wreck of the _Guardian_, and which we had the satisfaction to find +were nothing the worse for the accident which befel her. These, with the +seventy-five casks of flour which were brought on by the _Lady Juliana_, +formed the amount of what we were now to receive of the large cargo of +that unfortunate ship. + +Lieutenant Riou also sent by these ships the twenty male convicts which +had been selected as artificers and put on board the _Guardian_ in +England; and with them he sent the most pointed recommendations in their +favour, describing their conduct, both before and after the accident +which happened to the ship under his command, in the strongest terms of +approbation. + +The _Lady Juliana_ being found on inspection to require such extensive +repairs as would too long delay the dispatching the necessary supplies to +Norfolk Island, the governor directed the _Surprise_ transport and +_Justinian_ storeship to proceed thither. + +By the 19th, the _Justinian_ was cleared of her cargo, excepting about +five hundred casks of provisions, which were not to be taken out +until she arrived at Norfolk Island; and both that ship and the +_Surprise_ were preparing with all expedition for sailing. The +_Justinian_, however, from the circumstance of retaining some part of her +large cargo on board, was ready first, and sailed on the 28th. The +master, Mr. Benjamin Maitland, was directed to follow his former orders +after landing his stores and provisions at Norfolk Island, and proceed to +Canton to freight home with teas upon account of government. She was +hired by the month at fifteen shillings and sixpence per ton, and was to +be in government employ until her return to Deptford. By this ship the +governor sent dispatches to the secretary of state. + +The _Lady Juliana_, having received some repairs by the carpenters of the +colony at the time when it was designed she should to Norfolk Island, +and some others by the assistance of her own carpenters, sailed a day or +two after the _Justinian_ for Canton. From the extravagant price set on +his goods by the master, his shop had turned out badly; and it was said +that he took many articles to sea, which he must of necessity throw +overboard before he reached Canton. + +The governor received by these ships dispatches from the secretary of +state, containing, among other articles of information, instructions +respecting the granting of lands and the allotting of ground in +townships. Soon after their arrival it was declared in public orders: + +That, in consequence of the assurances that were given to the +non-commissioned officers and men belonging to the detachment of marines, +on their embarking for the service of this country, that such of them as +should behave well should be allowed to quit the service on their return +to England, or be discharged abroad upon the relief, and permitted to +settle in the country; his Majesty had been graciously pleased to direct +the following terms to be held out as an encouragement to such +non-commissioned officers and private men of the marines as might be +desirous of becoming settlers in this country, or in any of the islands +comprised within the government of the continent* of New South Wales, on +the arrival of the corps raised and intended for the service of this +country, and for their relief, viz. + +[* Now so called officially for the first time.] + +To every non-commissioned officer, an allotment of one hundred and thirty +acres of land if single, and one hundred and fifty if married. + +To every private man, eighty acres of land if single, one hundred if +married; and ten acres of land for each child at the time of granting the +allotment; free of all fees, taxes, quit-rents, and other +acknowledgments, for the term of five years; at the expiration of which +term to be liable to an annual quit-rent of one shilling for every fifty +acres. + +As a further encouragement, a bounty was offered of three pounds per man +to every non-commissioned officer and private man who would enlist in the +new corps (to form a company to be officered from the marines) and an +allotment of double the above proportion of land if they behaved well for +five years, to be granted them at the expiration of that time; the said +allotments not to be subject to any fee or tax for ten years, and then to +be liable to an annual quit-rent of one shilling for every fifty acres. + +And upon their discharge at either of the above periods they were to be +supplied with clothing and one year's provisions, with feed grain, +tools, and implements of agriculture. The service of a certain number of +convicts was to be assigned to them for their labour when they could make +it appear that they could maintain, feed, and clothe them. In these +instructions no mention was made of granting lands to officers; and to +other persons who might emigrate and be desirous of settling in this +country, no greater proportion of land was to be allotted than what was +to be granted to a non-commissioned officer of the marines. + +Government, between every allotment, reserved to itself a space on either +side, which, as crown land, was equal to the largest grant, not to be +granted, but leased only to individuals for the term of fourteen years. + +Provision was made for the church, by allotting in each township which +should be marked out four hundred acres for the maintenance of a +minister; and half of that number was to be allotted for the maintenance +of a school master. + +If the allotments should happen to be made on the banks of any navigable +river or creek, care was to be taken that the breadth of each track did +not extend along the banks thereof more than one-third of the length of +such track, in order that no settler should engross more than his +proportion of the benefit which would accrue from such a situation. And +it was also directed, that the good and the bad land should be as equally +divided as circumstances would allow. + +No new regulations were directed to take place in respect of granting +lands to convicts emancipated or discharged; the original instructions, +under which each male convict if single was to have thirty, if married +fifty, and ten acres for every child he might have at the time of +settling, remained in force. + +The particular conditions required by the crown from a settler were, the +residing upon the ground, proceeding to the improvement and cultivation +of his allotment, and reserving such of the timber thereof as might be +fit for naval purposes for the use of his Majesty. + +The period fixed by government for victualling a settler from the public +stores, twelve months, was in general looked upon as too short, and it +was thought not practicable for any one at the end of that period to +maintain himself, unless during that time he should have very great +assistance given him, and be fortunate in his crops. + +About the latter end of this month a spermaceti whale was seen in the +harbour, and some boats from the transports went after it with harpoons; +but, from the ignorance of the people in the use of them, the fish +escaped unhurt. In a few days afterwards word was received that a punt +belonging to Lieutenant Poulden had been pursued by a whale and overset, +by which accident young Mr. Ferguson (a midshipman of the _Sirius_) and +two soldiers were unfortunately drowned. The soldiers, with another of +their companions, who saved his life by swimming, had been down the +harbour fishing, and, calling at the Look-out, took in Mr. Ferguson, who +had sat up all the preceding night to write to his father, Captain James +Ferguson, lieutenant-governor of Greenwich hospital, and was now bringing +his letters to Sydney for the purpose of sending them by the _Justinian_. + +Mr. Ferguson was a steady well-disposed young man, and the service, in +all probability, by this extraordinary accident, lost a good officer. + +The _Scarborough_ was cleared this month, and, being discharged from +government employ, the master was left at liberty to proceed to Canton, +where he was to load home with teas. + +Much irregularity was committed by the seamen of the transports, who +found means to get on shore at night, notwithstanding the port orders; +and one, a sailor from the _Neptune_, was punished with twenty-five lashes +for being found on shore without any permission at eleven o'clock at +night. + +The sick list, now consisting of only three hundred and thirty-two +persons, was found to be daily decreasing, and the mortality was +infinitely less at the end, than at the beginning of the month. + +August.] The _Surprise_ transport sailed on the first of August for +Norfolk Island, having on board thirty-five male and one hundred and +fifty female convicts, two of the superintendants lately arrived, and one +deputy commissary, Mr. Thomas Freeman, appointed such by the governor's +warrant. There came out in the _Neptune_ a person of the name of +Wentworth, who, being desirous of some employment in this country, was +now sent to Norfolk Island to act as an assistant to the surgeon there, +being reputed to have the necessary requisites for such a situation. + +On the 8th, the _Scarborough_ sailed for Canton, and the _Neptune_ was +preparing to follow her as soon as she could be cleared of the cargo she +had on board upon account of government. While this was delivering, some +of the convicts who came out in that ship put in before the +judge-advocate their claims upon the master, Mr. Donald Trail, not only +for clothing and other articles, but for money, which they stated to have +been taken from them at the time of their embarkation, and had never +since been returned to them. Many of these claims were disputed by Mr. +Trail, and others were settled to the satisfaction of the claimants; but +of their clothing, knives, buckles, etc. he could give no other account, +than that he was directed by the naval agent, Lieutenant Shapcote, to +destroy them at their embarkation for obvious reasons, tending to the +safety of the ship and for the preservation of their healths. + +On the 19th the _Neptune_ was cleared and discharged the service, having +landed the cargo she brought out on government account in good +condition. Preparatory to her sailing for China, she quitted the cove on +the 22nd; soon after which, information being received that several +convicts purposed to attempt making their escape in her from the colony, +a small armed party of soldiers was sent on board her, under the +direction of Lieutenant Long* of the marines, to search the ship, when +one man and one woman were found on board. The man was one who had just +arrived in the colony, and, being soon tired of his situation, had +prevailed on some of the people to secrete him among the fire-wood which +they had taken on board. In the night another person swam off to the +ship, and was received by the guard. He pleaded being a free man, but as +he had taken a very improper mode of quitting the colony, he was, by +order of the governor, punished the day following, together with the +convict who had been found concealed among the fire-wood. The _Neptune_ +sailed on the 24th, leaving behind her one mate Mr. Forfar, and two +seamen; and the cove was once more without a ship. + +[* Appointed by Governor Plillip, after the arrival of the New South +Wales corps, to do the duty of town-adjutant.] + +An excursion into the country had been undertaken this month by Captain +Tench and some other officers. They were absent six days, and on their +return we learned, that they had proceeded in a direction SSW of Rose +Hill; that they met with fresh water running to the northward; found the +traces of natives wherever they went, and passed through a very bad +country intersected every where with deep ravines. They had reason to +think, that in rainy weather the run of water which they met with rose +above its ordinary level between thirty and forty feet. They saw a flock +of emus twelve in number. + +It having been found that the arms and ammunition which were entrusted to +the convicts residing at the distant farms for their protection against +the natives, were made a very different use of, an order was given +recalling them, and prohibiting any convicts from going out with arms, +except McIntire, Burn, and Randall, who were licensed game-killers. + +The clergyman complaining of non-attendance at divine service, which it +must be observed was generally performed in the open air, alike +unsheltered from wind and rain, as from the fervor of the summer's sun, +it was ordered that three pounds of flour should be deducted from the +ration of each overseer, and two pounds from that of each labouring +convict, who should not attend prayers once on each Sunday, unless some +reasonable excuse for their absence should be assigned. + +Toward the latter end of the month a criminal court was held for the +trial of Hugh Low, a convict, who had been in the _Guardian_, and who was +in custody for stealing a sheep, the property of Mr. Palmer the +commissary. Being most clearly convicted of the offence by the evidence +of an accomplice and others, he received sentence of death, and, the +governor not deeming it advisable to pardon an offence of that nature, +suffered the next day, acknowledging the commission of the fact for which +he died. + +The preservation of our stock was an object of so much consequence to the +colony, that it became indispensably necessary to protect it by every +means in our power. Had any lenity been extended to this offender on +account of his good conduct in a particular situation, it might have been +the cause of many depredations being made upon the stock, which it was +hoped his punishment would prevent. + +On the 28th a pair of shoes were served to each convict. The female +convicts were employed in making the slops for the men, which had been +now sent out unmade. Each woman who could work at her needle had +materials for two shirts given her at a time, and while so employed was +not to be taken for any other labour. + +The storehouse which was begun in July was finished this month, and was +got up and covered in without any rain. Its dimensions were one hundred +feet by twenty-two. + +At Rose Hill the convicts were employed in constructing the new town +which had been marked out, building the huts, and forming the principal +street. The governor, who personally directed all these works, caused a +spot of ground for a capacious garden to be allotted for the use of the +New South Wales corps, contiguous to the spot whereon his excellency +meant to erect the barracks for that corps. + +In addition to the flagstaff which had been erected on the South Head of +the harbour, the governor determined to construct a column, of a height +sufficient to be seen from some distance at sea, and the stonemasons were +sent down to quarry stone upon the spot for the building. + +The body of one of the unfortunate people who were drowned at the latter +end of July last with Mr. Ferguson was found about the close of this +month, washed on shore in Rose Bay, and very much disfigured. The whale +which occasioned this accident, we were informed, had never found its way +out of the harbour, but, getting on shore in Manly Bay, was killed by the +natives, and was the cause of numbers of them being at this time +assembled to partake of the repasts which it afforded them. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + + +Governor Phillip wounded by a native +Intercourse opened with the natives +Great haul of fish +Convicts abscond with a boat +Works +Want of rain +Natives +_Supply_ returns from Batavia +Transactions there +Criminal Courts +James Bloodworth emancipated +Oars found in the woods +A convict brought back in the _Supply_ +A boat with five people lost +Public works +A convict wounded by a native +Armed parties sent out to avenge him +A Dutch vessel arrives with supplies from Batavia +Decrease by sickness and casualties in 1790 + + +September.] Since the escape of Bennillong the native in May last, +nothing had been heard of him, nor had any thing worthy of notice +occurred among the other natives. In the beginning of this month, +however, they were brought forward again by a circumstance which seemed +at first to threaten the colony with a loss that must have been for some +time severely felt; but which was succeeded by an opening of that +amicable intercourse with these people which the governor had always +laboured to establish, and which was at last purchased by a most +unpleasant accident to himself, and at the risk of his life. + +The governor, who had uniformly directed every undertaking in person +since the formation of the colony, went down in the morning of the 7th to +the South Head, accompanied by Captain Collins and Lieutenant Waterhouse, +to give some instructions to the people employed in erecting a column at +that place. As he was returning to the settlement, he received +information, by a boat which had landed Mr. White and some other +gentlemen in the lower part of the harbour (they were going on an +excursion towards Broken Bay) that Bennillong had been seen there by Mr. +White, and had sent the governor as a present a piece of the whale which +was then lying in the wash of the surf on the beach. Anxious to see him +again, the governor, after taking some arms from the party at the +Look-out, which he thought the more requisite in this visit as he heard +the cove was full of natives, went down and landed at the place where the +whale was lying. Here he not only saw Bennillong, but Cole-be also, who +had made his escape from the governor's house a few days after his +capture. At first his excellency trusted himself alone with these people; +but the few months Bennillong had been away had so altered his person, +that the governor, until joined by Mr. Collins and Mr. Waterhouse, did +not perfectly recollect his old acquaintance. Bennillong had been always +much attached to Mr. Collins, and testified with much warmth his +satisfaction at seeing him again. Several articles of wearing apparel +were now given to him and his companions (taken for that purpose from the +people in the boat, who, all but one man, remained on their oars to be +ready in case of any accident), and a promise was exacted from the +governor by Bennillong to return in two days with more, and also with +some hatchets or tomahawks. The cove was full of natives allured by the +attractions of a whale feast; and it being remarked during the conference +that the twenty or thirty which appeared were drawing themselves into a +circle round the governor and his small unarmed party (for that was +literally and most inexcusably their situation) the governor proposed +retiring to the boat by degrees; but Bennillong, who had presented to him +several natives by name, pointed out one, whom the governor, thinking to +take particular notice of, stepped forward to meet, holding out both his +hands toward him. The savage not understanding this civility, and perhaps +thinking that he was going to seize him as a prisoner, lifted a spear +from the grass with his foot, and fixing it on his throwing-stick, in an +instant darted it at the governor. The spear entered a little above the +collar bone, and had been discharged with such force, that the barb of it +came through on the other side. Several other spears were thrown, but +happily no further mischief was effected. The spear was with difficulty +broken by Lieutenant Waterhouse, and while the governor was leading down +to the boat the people landed with the arms, but of four muskets which +they brought on shore one only could be fired. + +The boat had five miles to row before it reached the settlement; but the +people in her exerting themselves to the utmost, the governor was landed +and in his house in something less than two hours. The spear was +extracted with much skill by Mr. Balmain, one of the assistant-surgeons +of the hospital, who immediately pronounced the wound not mortal. An +armed party was dispatched that evening toward Broken Bay for Mr. White, +the principal surgeon, who returned the following day, and reported that +in the cove where the whale lay they saw several natives; but being armed +nothing had happened. + +No other motive could be assigned for this conduct in the savage, than +the supposed apprehension that he was about to be seized by the governor, +which the circumstance of his advancing toward him with his hands held +out might create. But it certainly would not have happened had the +precaution of taking even a single musket on shore been attended to. The +governor had always placed too great a confidence in these people, under +an idea that the sight of fire arms would deter them from approaching; he +had now, however, been taught a lesson which it might be presumed he +would never forget. + +This accident gave cause to the opening of a communication between the +natives of this country and the settlement, which, although attended with +such an unpromising beginning, it was hoped would be followed with good +consequences. + +A few days after the accident, Bennillong, who certainly had not any +culpable share in the transaction, came with his wife and some of his +companions to a cove on the north shore not far from the settlement, +where, by means of Boo-roong, the female who lived in the clergyman's +house, an interview was effected between the natives and some officers, +Mr. White, Mr. Palmer, and others, who at some personal risk went over +with her. + +At this time the name of the man who had wounded the governor was first +known, Wil-le-me-ring; and Bennillong made many attempts to fix a belief +that he had beaten him severely for the aggression. Bennillong declared +that he should wait in that situation for some days, and hoped that the +governor would be able, before the expiration of them, to visit him. On +the tenth day after he had received the wound, his excellency was so far +recovered as to go to the place, accompanied by several officers all +armed, where he saw Bennillong and his companions. Bennillong then +repeated his assurances of his having, in conjunction with his friend +Cole-be, severely beaten Wille-me-ring; and added that his throwing the +spear at the governor was entirely the effect of his fears, and done from +the impulse of self-preservation. + +The day preceding the governor's visit, the fishing boats had the +greatest success which had yet been met with; near four thousand of a +fish, named by us, from its shape only, the salmon, being taken at two +hauls of the seine. Each fish weighed on an average about five pounds; +they were issued to this settlement, and to that at Rose Hill; and thirty +or forty were sent as a conciliating present to Bennillong and his party +on the north shore. + +These circumstances, and the visit to the natives, in which it was +endeavoured to convince them that no animosity was retained on account of +the late accident, nor resentment harboured against any but the actual +perpetrator of the fact, created a variety in the conversation of the +day; and those who were desirous of acquiring the language were glad of +the opportunity which the recently-opened intercourse seemed to promise +them. + +In the night of the 26th a desertion of an extraordinary nature took +place. Five male convicts conveyed themselves, in a small boat called a +punt, from Rose Hill undiscovered. They there exchanged the punt, which +would have been unfit for their purpose, for a boat, though very small +and weak, with a mast and sail, with which they got out of the harbour. +On sending to Rose Hill, people were found who could give an account of +their intentions and proceedings, and who knew that they purposed +steering for Otaheite. They had each taken provisions for one week; their +cloaths and bedding; three iron pots, and some other utensils of that +nature. They all came out in the last fleet, and took this method of +speedily accomplishing their sentences of transportation, which were for +the term of their natural lives. Their names were, John Tarwood, a +daring, desperate character, and the principal in the scheme; Joseph +Sutton, who was found secreted on board the _Neptune_ and punished; George +Lee; George Connoway, and John Watson. A boat with an officer was sent to +search for them in the north-west branch of this harbour, but returned, +after several hours search, without discovering the least trace of them. +They no doubt pushed directly out upon that ocean which, from the +wretched state of the boat wherein they trusted themselves, must have +proved their grave. + +The governor purposing to erect a capacious storehouse and a range of +barracks at Rose Hill, a convict who understood the business of +brickmaking was sent up for the purpose of manufacturing a quantity +sufficient for those buildings, a vein of clay having been found which it +was supposed would burn into good bricks. A very convenient wharf and +landing place were made at that settlement, and twenty-seven huts were in +great forwardness at the end of the month. + +Very small hopes were entertained of the wheat of this season; extreme +dry weather was daily burning it up. Toward the latter end of the month +some rain fell, the first which deserved the name of a heavy rain since +last June. + +October.] The little rain which fell about the close of the preceding +month soon ceased, and the gardens and the corn grounds were again +parching for want of moisture. The grass in the woods was so dried, that +a single spark would have set the surrounding country in flames; an +instance of this happened early in the month, with the wind blowing +strong at N W. It was however happily checked. + +Bennillong, after appointing several days to visit the governor, came at +last on the 8th, attended by three of his companions. The welcome +reception they met with from every one who saw them inspired the +strangers with such a confidence in us, that the visit was soon repeated; +and at length Bennillong solicited the governor to build him a hut at the +extremity of the eastern point of the cove. This the governor, who was +very desirous of preserving the friendly intercourse which seemed to have +taken place, readily promised, and gave the necessary directions for its +being built. + +19th.] While we were thus amusing ourselves with these children of +ignorance, the signal for a sail was made at the South Head, and shortly +after the _Supply_ anchored in the cove from Batavia, having been absent +from the settlement six months and two days. Lieutenant Ball arrived at +Batavia on the 6th of July last, where he hired a vessel, a Dutch snow, +which was to sail shortly after him with the provisions that he had +purchased for the colony. While the _Supply_ lay at Batavia the season +was more unhealthy than had ever been known before; every hospital was +full, and several hundreds of the inhabitants had died. Lieutenant Ball, +at this grave of Europeans, buried Lieutenant Newton Fowell, Mr. Ross the +gunner, and several of his seamen. He tried for some days to touch at +Norfolk Island, but ineffectually, being prevented by easterly winds. +Mr. King and Mr. Miller (the late commissary) had sailed on the 4th of +last August in a Dutch packet for Europe. + +By the return of this vessel several comforts were introduced into the +settlement; her commander, with that attention to the wants of the +different officers which always characterised him, having procured and +taken on board their respective investments. + +In his passage to Batavia, Lieutenant Ball saw some islands, to which, +conjecturing, from not finding them in any charts which he had on board, +that he might claim being the discoverer of them, he gave names +accordingly. Although anxious to make an expeditious passage, he had the +mortification to be baffled by contrary winds both to and from Batavia; +and at that settlement, instead of finding the governor-general (to whom +in his orders he was directed to apply for permission to purchase +provisions, and for a ship to bring them) ready to forward the service he +came on, which he represented as requiring the utmost expedition, he was +referred to the Sabandhaar, Mr. N. Engelhard, who, after much delay and +pretence of difficulty in procuring a vessel, produced one, a snow, which +they estimated at three hundred and fifty tons burden, and demanded to be +paid for at the rate of eighty rix dollars for every ton freight, +amounting together to twenty-eight thousand rix dollars, each rix dollar +being computed at forty-eight Dutch pennies; and the freight was to be +paid although the vessel should be lost on the passage. + +As it was impossible to hire any vessel there upon cheaper terms, +Lieutenant Ball was compelled to engage for the _Waaksamheyd_ (that being +her name, which, englished, signified 'Good look out') upon the terms +they proposed. Of the provisions which he was instructed to procure, the +whole quantity of flour, two hundred thousand pounds, was not to be had, +he being able only to purchase twenty thousand and twenty-one pounds, for +which they charged ten stivers per pound, and an addition of about +one-third of a penny per pound was charged for grinding it*. Instead of +the flour Lieutenant Ball purchased two hundred thousand pounds of rice, +at one rix dollar and forty-four stivers per hundred weight over and +above the seventy thousand pounds he was directed to procure. The salt +provisions were paid for at the rate of seven stivers per pound, and the +amount of the whole cargo, including the casks for the flour, wood for +dunnage, hire of cooleys, and of craft for shipping the provisions, was +thirty thousand four hundred and forty-one rix dollars and thirty-three +stivers; which added to the freight (twenty-eight thousand rix dollars) +made a total of fifty-eight thousand four hundred and forty-one rix +dollars and thirty-three stivers, or £11,688 6s 9d sterling. + +[* The flour, without the freight, including one hundred and ten rix +dollars which were charged for twenty-two half leagers in which it was +contained, amounted as nearly as possible to tenpence three farthings per +pound.] + +Mr. Ormsby, a midshipman from the _Sirius_, was left to come on with the +snow, which it was hoped would sail in a few weeks after the _Supply_. + +The criminal court was twice assembled during this month. At the first a +soldier was tried for a felony, but acquitted. At the second William +Harris and Edward Wildblood were tried for entering a hut at Parramatta, +in which was only one man, and that a sick person, whom they knocked +down, and then robbed the hut. They were clearly convicted of the +offence, and, being most daring and flagrant offenders, were executed at +Rose Hill, near the hut which they had robbed. These people had given a +great deal of trouble before they committed the offence for which they +suffered. At the latter end of the last month they took to the woods, +having more than once or twice robbed their companions at Rose Hill. As +they were well known, the watch soon brought them in to the settlement at +Sydney. They confessed, that the night before they were apprehended they +killed a goat belonging to Mr. White. The governor directed them +immediately to be linked together by the leg, and sent them back to Rose +Hill, there to labour upon bread and water. It was in this situation +that, taking advantage of their overseer's absence for a few minutes, +they went to the hut, of the situation of which they had previous +knowledge, and robbed it of every thing they could carry away. + +While these people were suffering the punishment they deserved, James +Bloodworth, mentioned before in this narrative, received the most +distinguishing mark of approbation which the governor had in his power to +give him, being declared free, and at liberty to return to England +whenever he should choose to quit the colony. Bloodworth had approved +himself a most useful member of the settlement, in which there was not a +house or building that did not owe something to him; and as his loss +would be severely felt should he quit it while in its infancy, he bound +himself by an agreement with the governor to work for two years longer in +the colony, stipulating only to be fed and clothed during that time. + +Encouraged by the facility with which Tarwood and his companions made +their escape from the colony, some others were forming plans for a +similar enterprise. A convict gave information that a scheme nearly ripe +for execution was framed, and that the parties had provided themselves +with oars, masts, sails, etc. for the purpose, which were concealed in +the woods; and as a proof of the veracity of his account, he so clearly +described the place of deposit, that on sending to the spot, four or five +rude unfinished stakes were found, which he said were to be fashioned +into oars. The person who gave the information dreaded so much being +known as the author, that no further notice was taken of it than +destroying the oars, and keeping a very vigilant eye on the conduct of +the people who had been named by him as the parties in the business. + +Attempts of this sort were always likely to be made, at least as long as +any difficulty occurred in their quitting the colony after the term had +expired for which by law they were sentenced to remain abroad. There must +be many among them who would be anxious to return to their wives or +children, or other relations, and who, perhaps, might not resort again to +the companions of their idle hours. If these people found any obstacles +in their way, they would naturally be driven to attempt the attainment of +their wishes in some other mode; and it would then become an object of +bad policy, as well as cruelty, to detain them. + +The weather about this period was evidently becoming warmer every day; +and although the trees never wholly lost their foliage, yet they gave +manifest signs of the return of spring. + +November.] James Williams, who was missing on the sailing of the _Supply_ +for Batavia, was found by Lieutenant Ball to have secreted himself on +board that vessel, and on her return he delivered him up as a prisoner to +the provost-marshal. Williams owned that his flight was to avoid a +punishment which he knew awaited him; and Lieutenant Ball spoke so +favourably of his conduct while he was under his observation, that the +governor would have forgiven him, had he not feared that others might, +from such an example, think to meet the same indulgence: he therefore +directed him to receive two hundred and fifty lashes, half of the +punishment which by the court that tried him he was sentenced to receive, +and remitted the remainder. + +A small boat belonging to Mr. White, which had been sent out with a +seine, was lost this month somewhere about Middle Head. She had five +convicts in her; and, from the reports of the natives who were witnesses +of the accident, it was supposed they had crossed the harbour's mouth, +and, having hauled the seine in Hunter's Bay, were returning loaded, +when, getting in too close with the rocks and the surf under Middle Head, +she filled and went down. The first information that any accident had +happened was given by the natives, who had secured the rudder, mast, an +oar, and other parts of the boat, which they had fixed in such situations +as were likely to render them conspicuous to any boat passing that way. +Mr. White and some other gentlemen, going down directly, found their +information too true. One of the bodies was lying dead on the beach; with +the assistance of Cole-be and the other natives he recovered the seine +which was entangled in the rocks, and brought away the parts of his boat +which they had secured. + +This appeared to be a striking instance of the good effect of the +intercourse which had been opened with these people; and there seemed +only to be a good understanding between us and them wanting to establish +an harmony which would have been productive of the best consequences, and +might have been the means of preventing many of the unfortunate accidents +that had happened. The governor, however, thought it necessary to direct, +that offensive weapons should not be given to these people in exchange +for any of their articles; being apprehensive that they might use them +among themselves, and not wishing by any means to arm them against each +other. + +At Rose Hill a storehouse was begun and finished during the month, +without any rain; its dimensions were one hundred feet by twenty-four +feet. The bricks there, either from some error in the process, or defect +in the clay, were not so good in quality as those made at Sydney. In +their colour they were of a deep red when burned, but did not appear to +be durable. + +At Sydney, a good landing-place on the east side was completed; and two +small brick huts, one for a cutler's shop, and another for the purpose of +boiling oil or melting tallow, were built on the same side. A wharf was +also marked out on the west side, which was to be carried far enough out +into deep water to admit of the loaded hoy coming along-side at any time +of tide. The hut, a brick one twelve feet square and covered with tiles, +was finished for Bennillong, and taken possession of by him about the +middle of the month. + +Notwithstanding the accidents which had happened to many who had strayed +imprudently beyond the known limits of the different settlements, two +soldiers of the New South Wales corps, who had had every necessary +caution given them on the arrival of their detachment at Rose Hill, +strayed into the woods, and were missing for four or five days, in which +time they had suffered severely from anxiety and hunger. + +December.] The temporary barrack which had been erected within the +redoubt at Rose Hill, formed only of posts and shingles nailed or +fastened with pegs on battens, going fast to decay, and being found +inadequate to guard against either the rain or wind of the winter months +and the heat of those of the summer, the foundation of a range of brick +buildings for the officers and soldiers stationed there was laid early in +the month. The governor fixed the situation contiguous to the storehouse +lately erected there, to which they might serve as a protection. They +were designed for quarters for one company, with the proper number of +officers, a guardroom, and two small store-rooms. + +On the 10th, John McIntire, a convict who was employed by the governor to +shoot for him, was dangerously wounded by a native named Pe-mul-wy*, +while in quest of game in the woods at some considerable distance from +the settlement. When brought in he declared, and at a time when he +thought himself dying, that he did not give any offence to the man who +wounded him; that he had even quitted his arms, to induce him to look +upon him as a friend, when the savage threw his spear at about the +distance of ten yards with a skill that was fatally unerring. When the +spear was extracted, which was not until suppuration took place, it was +found to have entered his body under the left arm, to the depth of seven +inches and a half. It was armed for five or six inches from the point +with ragged pieces of shells fastened in gum. His recovery was +immediately pronounced by Mr. White to be very doubtful. + +[* His name was readily obtained from the natives who lived among us, and +who soon became acquainted with the circumstances.] + +As the attack on this man was wanton, and entirely unprovoked on the part +of McIntire, not only from his relation of the circumstance, but from the +account of those who were with him, and who bore testimony to his being +unarmed, the governor determined to punish the offender, who it was +understood resorted with his tribe above the head of Botany Bay. He +therefore directed that an armed party from the garrison should march +thither, and either destroy or make prisoners of six persons (if +practicable) of that tribe to which the aggressor belonged, carefully +avoiding to offer any injury to either women or children. To this measure +the governor resorted with reluctance. He had always wished that none of +their blood might ever be shed; and in his own case, when wounded by +Wille-me-ring, as he could not punish him on the spot, he gave up all +thoughts of doing it in future. As, however, they seemed to take every +advantage of unarmed men, some check appeared absolutely necessary. +Accordingly, on Tuesday the 14th a party, consisting of two captains, +Tench, of the marines, and Hill of the New South Wales corps, with two +subalterns, three sergeants, two corporals, one drummer, and forty +privates, attended by two surgeons, set off with three days' provisions +for the purpose abovementioned. + +There was little probability that such a party would be able so +unexpectedly to fall in with the people they were sent to punish, as to +surprise them, without which chance, they might hunt them in the woods +for ever; and as the different tribes (for we had thought fit to class +them into tribes) were not to be distinguished from each other, but by +being found inhabiting particular residences, there would be some +difficulty in determining, if any natives should fall in their way, +whether they were the objects of their expedition, or some unoffending +family wholly unconnected with them. The very circumstance, however, of a +party being armed and detached purposely to punish the man and his +companions who wounded McIntire, was likely to have a good effect, as it +was well known to several natives, who were at this time in the town of +Sydney, that this was the intention with which they were sent out. + +On the third day after their departure they returned, without having +wounded or hurt a native, or made a prisoner. They saw some at the head +of Botany Bay, and fired at them, but without doing them any injury. +Whenever the party was seen by the natives, they fled with incredible +swiftness; nor had a second attempt, which the governor directed, any +better success. + +The governor now determining to avail himself as much as possible of the +health and strength of the working convicts, while by the enjoyment of a +full ration they were capable of exertion, resolved to proceed with such +public buildings as he judged to be necessary for the convenience of the +different settlements. Accordingly, during this month, the foundation of +another storehouse was laid, equal in dimensions and in a line with that +already erected on the east side of the cove at Sydney. + +On the 17th the Dutch snow the _Waaksamheyd_ anchored in the cove from +Batavia, from which place she sailed on the 20th day of last September, +meeting on her passage with contrary winds. She was manned principally +with Malays, sixteen of whom she buried during the passage. Mr. Ormsby +the midshipman arrived a living picture of the ravages made in a good +constitution by a Batavian fever. He was in such a debilitated state, +that it was with great difficulty he supported himself from the wharf on +which he landed to the governor's house. + +The master produced a packet from the sabandhaar (his owner) at Batavia, +inclosing two letters to the governor, one written in very good English, +containing such particulars respecting the vessel as he judged it for +his interest to communicate; the other, designed to convey such +information as he was possessed of respecting European politics, being +written in Dutch, unfortunately proved unintelligible; and we could only +gather from Mr. Ormsby and the master, who spoke bad English, that a +misunderstanding subsisted between Great Britain and Spain; but on what +account could not be distinctly collected. + +On the first working day after her arrival the people were employed in +delivering the cargo from the snow. The quantity of rice brought in her +was found to be short of that purchased and paid for by Lieutenant Ball +42,900 weight, and the governor consented to receive in lieu a certain +proportion of butter*, the master having a quantity of that article on +board very good. This deficiency was ascertained by weighing all the +provisions which were landed; a proceeding which the master acquiesced in +with much reluctance and some impertinence. + +[* One pound of butter to eighteen pounds of rice.] + +The numbers who died by sickness in the year 1790, were two seamen, one +soldier, one hundred and twenty-three male convicts, seven females, and +ten children; in all, one hundred and forty-three persons. + +In the above time four male convicts were executed; one midshipman, two +soldiers, and six male convicts were drowned; one male convict perished +in the woods, and two absconded from the colony, supposed to be secreted +on board a transport; making a total decrease of one hundred and +fifty-nine persons. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + + +New Year's Day +A convict drowned +A native killed +Signal colours stolen +_Supply_ sails for Norfolk Island +H. E. Dodd, Superintendant at Rose Hill, dies +Public works +Terms offered for the hire of the Dutch snow to England +The _Supply_ returns +State of Norfolk Island +Fishing-boat overset +Excessive heats +Officers and seamen of the _Sirius_ embark in the snow +_Supply_ sails for Norfolk Island, and the _Waaksamheyd_ for England +William Bryant and other convicts escape from New South Wales +Ruse, a settler, declares that he can maintain himself without assistance +from the public stores +Ration reduced +Orders respecting marriage +Port regulations +Settlers +Public works + + +1791.] + +January.] On the first day of the new year the convicts were excused from +all kind of labour. At Rose Hill, however, this holiday proved fatal to a +young man, a convict, who, going to a pond to wash his shirt, slipped +from the side, and was unfortunately drowned. + +The Indian corn beginning to ripen at that settlement, the convicts +commenced their depredations, and several of them, being taken with corn +in their possession, were punished; but nothing seemed to deter them, and +they now committed thefts as if they stole from principle; for at this +time they received the full ration, in which no difference was made +between them and the governor, or any other free person in the colony. +When all the provisions brought by the Dutch snow were received into the +public stores, the governor altered the ration, and caused five pounds of +rice to be issued in lieu of four pounds of flour, which were taken off. + +Information having been received toward the close of the last month, that +some natives had thrown a spear or fiz-gig at a convict in a garden on +the west side, where they had met together to steal potatoes, the +governor sent an armed party to disperse them, when a club being thrown +by one of the natives at the party, the latter fired, and one man was +wounded. This circumstance was at first only surmised, from tracing a +quantity of blood from the spot to the water; but in a few days afterward +the natives in the town told us the name of the wounded man, and added, +that he was then dead, and to be found in a cove which they mentioned. On +going to the place, a man well known in the town since the intercourse +between us and his countrymen had been opened was found dead, and +disposed of for burning. He had been shot under the arm, the ball +dividing the subclavian artery, and Mr. White was of opinion that he bled +to death. + +It was much to be regretted that any necessity existed for adopting these +sanguinary punishments, and that we had not yet been able to reconcile +the natives to the deprivation of those parts of this harbour which we +occupied. While they entertained the idea of our having dispossessed them +of their residences, they must always consider us as enemies; and upon +this principle they made a point of attacking the white people whenever +opportunity and safety concurred. It was also unfortunately found, that +our knowledge of their language consisted at this time of only a few +terms for such things as, being visible, could not well be mistaken; but +no one had yet attained words enough to convey an idea in connected +terms. It was also conceived by some among us, that those natives who +came occasionally into the town did not desire that any of the other +tribes should participate in the enjoyment of the few trifles they +procured from us. If this were true, it would for a long time retard the +general understanding of our friendly intentions toward them; and it was +not improbable but that they might for the same reason represent us in +every unfavourable light they could imagine. + +About the middle of the month a theft of an extraordinary nature was +committed by some of the natives. It had been the custom to leave the +signal colours during the day at the flagstaff on the South Head, at +which place they were seen by some of these people, who, watching their +opportunity, ran away with them, and they were afterwards seen divided +among them in their canoes, and used as coverings. + +On the 18th the _Supply_ quitted the cove, preparatory to her sailing for +Norfolk Island, which she did on the 22nd, having some provisions on +board for that settlement. She was to bring back Captain Hunter, with the +officers and crew of his Majesty's late ship _Sirius_. Her commander, +Lieutenant Ball, labouring under a very severe and alarming +indisposition, Mr. David Blackburn, the master, was directed by the +governor to take charge of her until Mr. Ball should be able to resume +the command. + +The wound which McIntire had received proved fatal to him on the 22nd of +this month. He had appeared to be recovering, but in the afternoon of +that day died somewhat suddenly. On opening the body, the spear appeared +to have wounded the left lobe of the lungs, which was found adhering to +the side. In the cavity were discovered some of the pieces of stone and +shells with which the weapon had been armed. This man had been suspected +of having wantonly killed or wounded several of the natives in the course +of his excursions after game; but he steadily denied, from the time he +was brought in to his last moment of life, having ever fired at them but +once, and then only in defence of his own life, which he thought in +danger. + +26th. Our colours were hoisted in the redoubt, in commemoration of the +day on which formal possession was taken of this cove three years before. + +On the night of the 28th Henry Edward Dodd, the superintendant of +convicts employed in cultivation at Rose Hill, died of a decline. He had +been ill for some time, but his death was accelerated by exposing himself +in his shirt for three or four hours during the night, in search after +some thieves who were plundering his garden. His body was interred in a +corner of a large spot of ground which had been inclosed for the +preservation of stock, whither he was attended by all the free people and +convicts at Rose Hill. The services rendered to the public by this person +were visible in the cultivation and improvements which appeared at the +settlement where he had the direction. He had acquired an ascendancy over +the convicts, which he preserved without being hated by them; he knew how +to proportion their labour to their ability, and, by an attentive and +quiet demeanor, had gained the approbation and countenance of the +different officers who had been on duty at Rose Hill. + +Mr. Thomas Clark, a superintendant who arrived here in the last year, was +directed by the governor to carry on the duties with which Mr. Dodd had +been charged, in which, it must be remarked, the care of the public grain +was included. + +At Rose Hill great progress was made in the building of the new barracks. + +At Sydney, the public works in hand were, building the new storehouse, +and two brick houses, one for the Rev. Mr. Johnson, and the other for +Mr. Alt, the surveyor-general. These two buildings were erected on the east +side of the cove, and in a line with those in the occupation of the +commissary and judge-advocate. + +February.] The master of the Dutch snow having received instructions from +his owner, the sabandhaar at Batavia, to offer the vessel to the +governor, either for sale or for hire, after she should be cleared of her +cargo, mentioned the circumstance to his excellency, and proposed to him +to sell the vessel with all her furniture and provisions for the sum of +thirty-three thousand rix dollars, about £6,600, or to let her to hire at +fifteen rix dollars per ton per month; in either of which cases a passage +was to be provided for his people to the Cape of Good Hope. The governor +was desirous of sending this vessel to England with the officers and +people of the _Sirius_; but it was impossible to close with either of these +offers, and he rejected them as unreasonable. Her master therefore +dropped the vessel down to the lower part of the harbour, meaning to sail +immediately for Batavia. Choosing, however, to try the success of other +proposals, he wrote from Camp Cove to the secretary, offering to let the +vessel for the voyage to England for twenty-thousand rix dollars, +stipulating that thirty thousand rix dollars should be paid for her in +the event of her being lost; the crew to be landed at the Cape, and +himself to be furnished with a passage to England. On receiving this his +second offer, the governor informed him, that instead of his proposal one +pound sterling per ton per month should be given for the hire of the +snow, to be paid when the voyage for which she was to be taken up should +be completed. With this offer of the governor's, the master, +notwithstanding his having quitted the cove on his first terms being +rejected, declared himself satisfied, and directly returned to the cove, +saluting with five guns on coming to an anchor. + +In adjusting the contract or charter-party, the master displayed the +greatest ignorance and the most tiresome perverseness, throwing obstacles +in the way of every clause that was inserted. It was however at length +finally settled and signed by the governor on the part of the crown, and +by Detmer Smith, the master, on the part of his owners, he consenting to +be paid for only three hundred tons instead of three hundred and fifty, +for which she had been imposed upon Lieutenant Ball at Batavia. The +carpenter of the _Supply_ measured her in this cove. + +Directions were now given for fitting her up as a transport to receive +the _Sirius's_ late ship's company and officers; and Lieutenant Edgar, +who came out in the _Lady Juliana_ transport, was ordered to superintend +the fitting her, as an agent; in which situation he was to embark on +board her and return to England. + +26th. The _Supply_, after an absence of just five weeks, returned from +Norfolk Island, having on board Captain Hunter, with the officers and +people of the _Sirius_; and Lieutenant John Johnson of the marines, whose +ill state of health would not permit him to remain there any longer. + +We now found that our apprehensions of the distressed situation of that +settlement until it was relieved were well founded. The supply of +provisions which was dispatched in the _Justinian_ and _Surprise_ reached +them at a critical point of time, there being in store on the 7th of +August, when they appeared off the island, provisions but for a few days +at the ration then issued, which was three pounds of flour and one pint +of rice; or, in lieu of flour, three pounds of Indian meal or of wheat, +ground, and not separated from the husks or the bran. Their salt +provisions were so nearly expended, that while a bird or a fish could be +procured no salt meat was issued. The weekly ration of this article was +only one pound and an half of beef, or seventeen ounces of pork. What +their situation might have been but for the providential supply of birds +which they met with, it was impossible to say; to themselves it was too +distressing to be contemplated. On Mount Pitt they were fortunate enough +to obtain, in an abundance almost incredible, a species of aquatic birds, +answering the description of that known by the name of the Puffin. These +birds came in from the sea every evening, in clouds literally darkening +the air, and, descending on Mount Pitt, deposited their eggs in deep +holes made by themselves in the ground, generally quitting, them in the +morning, and returning to seek their subsistence in the sea. From two to +three thousand of these birds were often taken in a night. Their seeking +their food in the ocean left no doubt of their own flesh partaking of the +quality of that upon which they fed; but to people circumstanced as were +the inhabitants on Norfolk Island, this lessened not their importance; +and while any Mount Pitt birds (such being the name given them) were to +be had, they were eagerly sought. The knots of the pine tree, split and +made into small bundles, afforded the miserable occupiers of a small +speck in the ocean sufficient light to guide them through the woods, in +search of what was to serve them for next day's meal. They were also +fortunate enough to lose but a few casks of the provisions brought to the +island in the _Sirius_, by far the greater part being got safely on +shore; but so hazardous was at all times the landing in Sydney Bay, that +in discharging the two ships, the large cutter belonging to the _Sirius_ +was lost upon the reef, as she was coming in with a load of casks, and +some women; by which accident, two seamen of the _Sirius_, of whom James +Coventry, tried at Sydney in 1788, for assaulting McNeal on Garden +Island, was one, three women, one child, an infant at the breast whose +mother got safe on shore, and one male convict who swam off to their +assistance, were unfortunately drowned. The weather, notwithstanding this +accident, was so favourable at other times, that in one day two hundred +and ninety casks of provisions were landed from the ships. + +The experience of three years had now shown, that the summer was the only +proper season for sending stores and provisions to Norfolk Island, as +during that period the passage through the reef had been found as good, +and the landing as practicable as in any cove in Port Jackson. But this +was by no means certain or constant; for the surf had been observed to +rise when the sea beyond it was perfectly calm, and without the smallest +indication of any change in the weather. A gale of wind at a distance +from the island would suddenly occasion such a swell, that landing would +be either dangerous or impracticable. + +It was matter of great satisfaction to learn, that the _Sirius's_ people, +under the direction of Captain Hunter, had been most usefully and +successfully employed in removing several rocks which obstructed the +passage through the reef, and that a correct survey of the island had +been made by Lieutenant Bradley, by which several dangers had been +discovered, which until then had been unknown. + +The lieutenant-governor had, since taking upon him the command of the +settlement, caused one hundred and fourteen acres of land to be cleared; +and the late crops of maize and wheat, it was supposed, would have proved +very productive had they not been sown somewhat too late, and not only +retarded by too dry a season but infested by myriads of grubs and +caterpillars, which destroyed every thing before them, notwithstanding +the general exertions which were made for their extirpation. These vermin +were observed to visit the island during the summer, but at no fixed +period of that season. + +Two pieces of very coarse canvas manufactured at Norfolk Island were sent +to the governor; but, unless better could be produced from the looms than +these specimens, little expectation was to be formed of this article ever +answering even the common culinary purposes to which canvas can be +applied. + +Those officers who had passed some time in both settlements remarked, +that the air of Norfolk Island was somewhat cooler than that of ours, +here at Sydney; every breeze that blew being, from its insular situation, +felt there. + +Martial law continued in force until the supplies arrived; and of the +general demeanor of the convicts during that time report spoke +favourably. + +The _Lady Juliana_, passing the island in her way to China, was the first +ship that was seen; but, to the inexpressible disappointment and distress +of those who saw her, as well as to the surprise of all who heard the +circumstance, the master did not send a boat on shore. Nor were they +relieved from their anxiety until two days had passed, when the other +ships arrived. + +This was the substance of the information received from Norfolk Island. +From an exact survey which had been made, it was computed, that not more +than between three and four hundred families could be maintained from the +produce of the island; and that even from that number in the course of +twenty years many would be obliged to emigrate. + +On the _Supply's_ coming to an anchor, the _Sirius's_ late ship's +company, whose appearance bore testimony to the miserable fare they had +met with in Norfolk Island for several months, were landed, and lodged in +the military or portable hospital, until the _Waaksamheyd_ Dutch snow +could be got ready to receive them. + +William Bryant, who had been continued in the direction of the +fishing-boat after the discovery of his malpractices, was, at the latter +end of the month, overheard consulting in his hut after dark, with five +other convicts, on the practicability of carrying off the boat in which +he was employed. This circumstance being reported to the governor, it was +determined that all his proceedings should be narrowly watched, and any +scheme of that nature counteracted. The day following this conference, +however, as he was returning from fishing with a boat-load of fish, the +hook of the fore tack giving way in a squall of wind, the boat got +stern-way, and filled, by which the execution of his project was for the +present prevented. In the boat with Bryant was Bennillong's sister and +three children, who all got safe on shore, the woman swimming to the +nearest point with the youngest child upon her shoulders. Several of the +natives, on perceiving the accident, paddled off in their canoes, and +were of great service in saving the oars, mast, etc. and in towing the +boat up to the cove. + +In addition to other works in hand this month, the surveyor was employed +in clearing and deepening the run of water which supplied the settlement +at Sydney, and which, through the long drought, was at this time very +low, although still sufficient for the consumption of the place. Fresh +water was indeed every where very scarce, most of the streams or runs of +water about the cove being dried up. + +At Rose Hill the heat on the 10th and 11th of the month, on which days at +Sydney the thermometer stood in the shade at 105 degrees, was so +excessive (being much increased by the fire in the adjoining woods) that +immense numbers of the large fox bat were seen hanging at the boughs of +the trees, and dropping into the water, which, by their stench, was +rendered unwholesome. They had been observed for some days before +regularly taking their flight in the morning from the northward to the +southward, and returning in the evening. During the excessive heat many +dropped dead while on the wing; and it was remarkable, that those which +were picked up were chiefly males. In several parts of the harbour the +ground was covered with different sorts of small birds, some dead, and +others gasping for water. + +The relief of the detachment at Rose Hill unfortunately took place on one +of these sultry days, and the officer having occasion to land in search +of water was compelled to walk several miles before any could be found, +the runs which were known being all dry; in his way to and from the boat +he found several birds dropping dead at his feet. The wind was about +north-west, and did much injury to the gardens, burning up every thing +before it. Those persons whose business compelled them to go into the +heated air declared, that it was impossible to turn the face for five +minutes to the quarter from whence the wind blew. + + 8 a.m. 2 p.m, 10 p.m. +The greatest height of the thermometer + during this month was, 90 105 84 +The least height of the thermometer + during this month was, 62 64½ 61 + +March.] On the 2nd of March Lieutenant Thomas Edgar hoisted a pendant on +board the snow, in quality of naval agent, on which occasion she fired +five guns. The preparations which were making on board that vessel were +not completed until toward the latter end of the month, at which time the +officers and seamen who were to go home in her were embarked. + +Of the _Sirius's_ late ship's company, ten seamen and two marines chose +rather to settle here than return to their friends. Two of the seamen +made choice of their lands in this country, the others in Norfolk Island. +The majority of them had formed connections with women, for whose sake +they consented to embrace a mode of life for which the natural +restlessness of a sailor's disposition was but ill calculated. This +motive, it is true, they disavowed; but one of the stipulations which +they were desirous of making for themselves being the indulgence of +having the women who had lived with them permitted still to do so, and it +appearing not the least important article in their consideration, seemed +to confirm the foregoing opinion. + +The number of officers who were to embark was lessened by Mr. Jamison, +the surgeon's mate of the _Sirius_, receiving the governor's warrant +appointing him an assistant surgeon to the colony, in which capacity he +was to be employed at Norfolk Island. For that settlement the _Supply_ +was now ready to sail; and on the 21st, one captain, two subalterns, one +serjeant, one corporal, one drummer, and eighteen privates of the New +South Wales corps, embarked on board that vessel, to relieve a part of +the marine detachment doing duty there. Mr. Jamison and the ten settlers +from the _Sirius_ were also put on board, together with some stores that +had been applied for. Allotments of sixty acres each were to be marked +out for the settlers, which they were to possess under the same +conditions as were imposed on settlers in this country. + +The _Supply_ sailed the following morning, carrying an instrument under +the hand and seal of the governor, restoring to the rights and privileges +of a free man John Ascott, a convict at Norfolk Island, who had rendered +himself very conspicuous by his exertions in preventing the _Sirius_ from +being burnt soon after she was wrecked. + +On Monday the 28th the _Waaksamheyd_ transport sailed for England, having +on board Captain Hunter, with the officers and crew of his majesty's late +ship _Sirius_. By Captain Hunter's departure, which was regretted by +every one who shared the pleasure of his society, the administration of +the country would now devolve upon the lieutenant-governor, in case of the +death or absence of the governor; a dormant commission having been signed +by his majesty investing Captain Hunter with the chief situation in the +colony in the event of either of the above circumstances taking place. + +In the course of the night of the 28th, Bryant, whose term of +transportation, according to his own account, expired some day in this +month, eluded the watch that was kept upon him, and made his escape, +together with his wife and two children (one an infant at the breast) and +seven other convicts, in the fishing-boat, which, since the accident at +the latter end of the last month, he had taken care to keep in excellent +order. Their flight was not discovered until they had been some hours +without the Heads. + +They were traced from Bryant's hut to the Point, and in the path were +found a hand-saw, a scale, and four or five pounds of rice, scattered +about in different places, which, it was evident, they had dropped in +their haste. At the Point, where some of the party must have been taken +in, a seine belonging to government was found, which, being too large for +Bryant's purpose, he had exchanged for a smaller that he had made for an +officer, and which he had from time to time excused himself from +completing and sending home. + +The names of these desperate adventurers were, + +Came in the first fleet, +William Bryant, His sentence was expired. +Mary Braud his wife, and two children, She had 2 years to serve. +James Martin, He had 1 year to serve. +James Cox, He was transported for life. +Samuel Bird, He had 1 year and 4 months to serve. +Came in the second fleet, +William Allen, He was transported for life. +Samuel Broom, He had 4 years and 4 months to serve. +Nathaniel Lilly, He was transported for life. +William Morton, He had 5 years and 1 month to serve. + +So soon as it was known in the settlement that Bryant had got out of +reach, we learned that Detmer Smith, the master of the _Waaksamheyd_, had +sold him a compass and a quadrant, and had furnished him with a chart, +together with such information as would assist him in his passage to the +northward. On searching Bryant's hut, cavities under the boards were +found, where he had secured the compass and such other articles as +required concealment: and he had contrived his escape with such address, +that although he was well known to be about making an attempt, yet how +far he was prepared, as well as the time when he meant to go, remained a +secret. Most of his companions were connected with women; but if these +knew any thing, they were too faithful to those they lived with to reveal +it. Had the women been bound to them by any ties of affection, fear for +their safety, or the dislike to part, might have induced some of them to +have defeated the enterprise; but not having any interest either in their +flight, or in their remaining here, they were silent on the subject. For +one young woman, Sarah Young, a letter was found the next morning, +written by James Cox, and left at a place where he was accustomed to work +in his leisure hours as a cabinet-maker, conjuring her to give over the +pursuit of the vices which, he told her, prevailed in the settlement, +leaving to her what little property he did not take with him, and +assigning as a reason for his flight the severity of his situation, being +transported for life, without the prospect of any mitigation, or hope of +ever quitting the country, but by the means he was about to adopt. It was +conjectured that they would steer for Timor, or Batavia, as their +assistance and information were derived from the Dutch snow. + +The situation of these people was very different from that of Tarwood and +his associates, who were but ill provided for an undertaking so perilous; +but Bryant had long availed himself of the opportunities given him by +selling fish to collect provisions together, and his boat was a very good +one, and in excellent order; so that there was little reason to doubt +their reaching Timor, if no dissension prevailed among them, and they had +but prudence enough to guard against the natives wherever they might +land. William Morton was said to know something of navigation; James Cox +had endeavoured to acquire such information on the subject as might serve +him whenever a fit occasion should present itself, and Bryant and Bird +knew perfectly well how to manage a boat. What story they could invent on +their arrival at any port, sufficiently plausible to prevent suspicion of +their real characters, it was not easy to imagine. + +The depredations committed on the Indian corn at Rose Hill were so +frequent and so extensive, that it became absolutely necessary to punish +such offenders as were detected with a severity that might deter others; +to this end, iron collars of seven pounds weight were ordered as a +punishment for flagrant offenders, who were also linked together by a +chain, without which precaution they would still have continued to +plunder the public grounds. The baker at that settlement absconded with a +quantity of flour with which he had been entrusted, belonging to the +military on duty there, and other persons. He was taken some days +afterward in the woods near Sydney. It must be remarked, however, that +all these thefts were for the procuring of provisions, and that offences +of any other tendency were very seldom heard of. + +Some time in this month, James Ruse, the first settler in this country, +who had been upon his ground about fifteen months, having got in his crop +of corn, declared himself desirous of relinquishing his claim to any +further provisions from the store, and said that he was able to support +himself by the produce of his farm. He had shown himself an industrious +man; and the governor, being satisfied that he could do without any +further aid from the stores, consented to his proposal, and informed him +that he should be forthwith put in possession of an allotment of thirty +acres of ground in the situation he then occupied. + +To secure our fresh water, which, though very low, might still be +denominated _a run_, the governor caused a ditch to be dug on each side +of it at some distance from the stream, and employed some people to erect +a paling upon the bank, to keep out stock, and protect the shrubs within +from being destroyed. + +April.] The supplies of provisions which had been received in the last +year not warranting the continuing any longer at the ration now issued, +the governor thought it expedient to make a reduction of flour, rice, and +salt provisions. Accordingly, on the first Saturday in this month each +man, woman, and child above ten years of age, was to receive: + +3 pounds of flour, 1 pound being taken off; +3 pounds of rice, ditto; +3 pounds of pork, ditto; + or when beef should be served, +4½ pounds of beef, 2½ pounds being taken off. + +A small proportion was to be given to children under ten years of age; +and this ration the commissary was directed to issue until further +orders. Of this allowance the flour was the best article; the rice was +found to be full of weevils; the pork was ill-flavoured, rusty, and +smoked; and the beef was lean, and, by being cured with spices, truly +unpalatable. Much of both these articles when they came to be dressed +could not be used, and, being the best that could be procured at Batavia, +no inclination was excited by these specimens to try that market again. + +It having been reported to the governor, that Bryant had been frequently +heard to express, what was indeed the general sentiment on the subject +among the people of his description, that he did not consider his +marriage in this country as binding; his excellency caused the convicts +to be informed, that none would be permitted to quit the colony who had +wives or children incapable of maintaining themselves and likely to +become burdensome to the settlement, until they had found sufficient +security for the maintenance of such wives or children as long as they +might remain after them. This order was designed as a check upon the +erroneous opinion which was formed of the efficacy of Mr. Johnson's +nuptial benediction; and if Bryant had thought as little of it as he was +reported to do, his taking his wife with him could only be accounted for +by a dread of her defeating his plan by discovery if she was not made +personally interested in his escape. + +This order was shortly after followed by another, limiting the length of +such boats as should be built by individuals to fourteen feet from stem +to stern, that the size of such boats might deter the convicts from +attempts to take them off. + +About this time some information being received, that it was in agitation +to take away the sixteen-oared boat belonging to the colony, or some one +or two of the smaller boats, a sentinel was placed at night on each +wharf, and the officer of the guard was to be spoken to before any boat +could leave the cove. In addition to this regulation, it was directed, +that the names of all such people as it might be necessary to employ in +boats after sun-set should be given in writing to the officer of the +guard, to prevent any convicts not belonging to officers or to the public +boats from taking them from the wharfs under pretence of fishing or other +services. + +Mr. Schaffer, who came out from England as a superintendent of convicts, +finding himself, from not speaking the language (being a German) +inadequate to the just discharge of that duty, gave up his appointment as +a superintendant, and accepted of a grant of land; and an allotment of +one hundred and forty acres were marked out for him on the south side of +the creek leading to Rose Hill. On the same side of the creek, but nearer +to Rose Hill, two allotments of sixty acres each were marked out for two +settlers from the _Sirius_. On the opposite side the governor had placed +a convict, Charles Williams, who had recommended himself to his notice by +extraordinary propriety of conduct as an overseer, giving him thirty +acres, and James Ruse received a grant of the same quantity of land at +Rose Hill. These were all the settlers at this time established in New +South Wales; but the governor was looking out for some situations in the +vicinity of Rose Hill for other settlers, from among the people whose +sentences of transportation had expired. + +During this month the governor made an excursion to the westward, but he +reached no farther than the banks of the Hawkesbury, and returned to Rose +Hill on the 6th, without making any discovery of the least importance. At +that settlement, the Indian corn was nearly all gathered off the ground; +but it could not be said to have been all gathered in, for much of it had +been stolen by the convicts. So great a desire for tobacco prevailed +among these people, that a man was known to have given the greatest part +of his week's provisions for a small quantity of that article; and it was +sold, the produce of the place, for ten and even fifteen shillings per +pound. The governor, on being made acquainted with this circumstance, +intimated an intention of prohibiting the growth of tobacco, judging it +to be more for the true interest of the people to cultivate the +necessaries than the luxuries of life. + +The public works at Rose Hill consisted in building the officers +barracks; a small guardhouse near the governor's hut; a small house for +the judge-advocate (whose occasional presence there as a magistrate was +considered necessary by the governor), and for the clergyman; and in +getting in the Indian corn. + +At Sydney, the house for the surveyor-general was covered in; and the +carpenters were employed in finishing that for the clergyman. Bricks were +also brought in for a house for the principal surgeon, to be built near +the hospital on the west side. + +Many thefts, and some of money, were committed during the month at both +settlements. A hut belonging to James Davis, employed as a coxswain to +the public boats, was broken into; but nothing was stolen, Davis having +taken his money with him, and nothing else appearing to have been the +object of their search. His hut was situated out of the view of any +sentinel, and a night was chosen for the attempt when it was known that +he was on duty at Rose Hill. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + + +A Musket found by a native +Reports of plans to seize boats +_Supply_ arrives from Norfolk Island +The King's birthday +A canoe destroyed +Its evil effects +Corn sown +Battery begun +One hundred and forty acres inclosed for cattle +The _Mary Ann_ arrives +Two criminal courts held +Ration improved +The _Matilda_ arrives +The _Mary Ann_ sails for Norfolk Island +Settlers +The _Atlantic_ and _Salamander_ arrive +Full ration issued +The _William and Ann_ arrives +Natives +Public works + + +May.] Cole-be, the native who since our communication with these people +had attached himself to Mr. White, the principal surgeon, made his +appearance one morning in the beginning of the month with a musket, +which, on diving into the sea for something else, he had brought up with +him. It was supposed to have been lost from Mr. White's boat in November +last at the lower part of the harbour. + +The scheme for seizing one of the boats was resumed in this month, and +appeared to be in great forwardness. The boat however was changed, the +long-boat being chosen instead of that which was at first thought of. She +was to be seized the first time she should be employed in towing the boy +with provisions to Rose Hill; out of which they were to take what +quantity they required for their purpose, land the crew, and run her +ashore. On receiving this information, the governor, instead of sending +the hoy up with different species of provisions, caused her to be loaded +with rice, and a small quantity of flour, in some measure to defeat their +scheme, at least for that time, as the information did not state that +they had collected any salt provisions. She was accordingly dispatched +with flour and rice, and returned safely, no attempt having been made to +stop her. It was then said, that they were at a loss for a person to +navigate her; and that a deposit of powder and ball was made at a farm +near the brick-fields; where however, on searching, nothing of the kind +was found. Various other reports were whispered during the month, which, +whether founded in truth or not, had this good effect, that every +necessary precaution was taken to prevent their succeeding in any attempt +of that kind which they might be desperate enough to make. + +Much anxiety was excited on account of the long and unusual absence of +the _Supply_, which sailed for Norfolk Island on the 22nd day of March, +and did not return to this harbour until the 30th of this month, which +completed ten weeks within a day since she sailed. Contrary winds and +heavy gales had prevented her arrival at the time she might have been +reasonably expected. She was three weeks in her passage hither, and was +blown off the island for eleven days. + +Captain Johnston, Lieutenants Creswell and Kellow, one sergeant, one +corporal, one drummer, and twenty privates of the marine detachment, +arrived in the _Supply_; with two prisoners, one a soldier for some +irregularity of conduct when sentinel, the other a convict. + +The weather had been as dry at Norfolk Island as it had been here; which, +with the blighting winds, had considerably injured all the gardens, and +particularly some crops of potatoes. Of the great fertility of the soil +every account brought the strongest confirmation; and by attending to the +proper season for sowing, it was the general opinion that two crops of +corn might be got off in a year. + +Their provisions, like ours, were again at so low an ebb, that the +lieutenant-governor had reduced the ration. The whole number victualled +when the _Supply_ sailed amounted to six hundred and twenty-nine persons; +and for that number there were in store at the _full_ ration, flour and +Indian corn for twenty weeks, beef for eighteen weeks, and pork for +twenty-nine weeks; and these, at the ration then issued, would be +prolonged, the grain to twenty-seven, the beef to forty-two, and the +pork to twenty-nine weeks. + +It must however be remarked, that the ration at Norfolk Island was often +uncertain, being regulated by the plenty or scarcity of the Mount Pitt +birds. Great numbers of these birds had been killed for some time before +the _Supply_ sailed thence; but they were observed about that time to be +quitting the island. + +On board the _Supply_ were some planks, and such part of the stores +belonging to the _Sirius_ as the lieutenant-governor could get on board. +That ship had not then gone to pieces; the side of her which was on the +reef was broken in and much injured, but the side next the sea (the +larboard side) appeared fresh and perfect. + +At Sydney, by an account taken at the latter end of the month of the +provisions then remaining in store, there appeared to be at the ration +then issued of + +Flour and rice 40 weeks, a supply till 31st March 1792; +Beef 12 weeks, a supply till 31st August 1791; +Pork 27 weeks, a supply till 21st December 1791. + +In this account the rice and flour were taken together as one article, +but the rice bore by far the greatest proportion. + +It was remarked by many in the settlement, that both at Sydney and at +Rose Hill the countenances of the labouring convicts indicated the +shortness of the ration they received; this might be occasioned by their +having suffered so much before from the same cause, from the effects of +which they had scarcely been restored when they were again called upon to +experience the hardship of a reduced ration of provisions. The convicts +who arrived in June had not recovered from the severity of their passage +to this country. + +It having been said that James Ruse, who in March last had declared his +ability to support himself independent of the store, was starving, the +governor told him, that in consideration of his having been upon a short +allowance of provisions during nearly the whole of the time he had been +cultivating ground upon his own account, the storekeeper should be +directed to supply him with twenty pounds of salt provisions. The man +assured his excellency that he did not stand in need of his bounty, +having by him at the time a small stock of provisions; a quantity of +Indian corn (which he found no difficulty in exchanging for salt meat) +and a bag of flour; all which enabled him to do so well, that he +absolutely begged permission to _decline_ the offer. So very +contradictory was his own account of his situation to that which had been +reported. + +The barracks at Rose Hill, being so far completed as to admit of being +occupied, were taken possession of this month by the New South Wales corps. + +Several thefts of provisions were committed; two, that were of some +consequence, appeared as if the provisions had been collected for some +particular purpose; and, if so, perhaps only passed from the possession +of one thief to that of another. While a stalk of Indian corn remained +upon the ground, the convicts resolved to plunder it, and several were +severely punished; but it did not appear that they were amended by the +correction, nor that others were deterred by the example of their +punishment. So truly incorrigible were many of these people! + +Finishing the clergyman's and surveyor's houses; bringing in bricks for +other buildings; posts and paling for a fence round the run of water; and +making clothing for the people, occupied the convicts at Sydney. + +June.] The bad weather met with by the _Supply_ during her late voyage to +Norfolk Island had done her so much injury, that, on a careful +examination of her defects, it appeared that she could not be got ready +for sea in less than three months. In addition to other repairs which +were indispensable, her main mast was found so defective, that after +cutting off eighteen feet from the head of it and finding the heel nearly +as bad, the carpenter was of opinion that she must be furnished with an +entire new mast. This, when the difficulty of finding timber for her +foremast (which, it must be remarked, bore the heavy gales of wind she +met with, as well as could be desired even of wood the fittest for masts) +was recollected, was an unlucky and an ill-timed want; for, should it +happen that supplies were not received from England by the middle or end +of the month of July, the services of this vessel would be again +required; and, to save the colony, she must at that time have been +dispatched to some settlement in India for provisions. She was therefore +forthwith hauled along side the rocks, and people were employed to look +for sound timber fit for a mast. + +On his Majesty's birthday an extra allowance of provisions was issued to +the garrison and settlements; each man receiving one pound of salt meat, +and the like quantity of rice; each woman half a pound of meat and one +pound of rice; and each child a quarter of a pound of meat and half a +pound of rice. And to make it a cheerful day to every one, all offenders +who had for stealing Indian corn been ordered to wear iron collars were +pardoned. + +The town which had been marked out at Rose Hill, and which now wore +something of a regular appearance, on this occasion received its name. +The governor called it Parramatta, being the name by which the natives +distinguished the part of the country on which the town stood. + +Notwithstanding the lenity and indulgence which had been shown on his +Majesty's birthday, in pardoning the plunderers of gardens and the public +grounds, and by issuing an extra allowance of provisions to every one, +the governor's garden at Parramatta was that very night entered and +robbed by six men, who assaulted the watchman, Thomas Ocraft, and would +have escaped all together, had he not, with much resolution, secured +three of them for punishment. + +Indulgences of this nature were certainly thrown away upon many who +partook of them; but as it was impossible to discriminate so nicely +between the good and the bad as wholly to exclude the undeserving, no +distinction could be made. + +The people who had assaulted the watchman were severely punished, as his +authority could never have been supported without such an example; but +either his vigilance, or the countenance which was shown to him on +account of his strict performance of his duty, created him many enemies; +and it became necessary to give him arms, as well for his own defence, as +for the more effectual protection of the district he watched over. Some +nights after, in a turnip ground at Parramatta, he was obliged to fire at +a convict, whom he wounded, but not dangerously, and secured. He was sent +down to the hospital at Sydney. + +Since the establishment of that familiar intercourse which now subsisted +between us and the natives, several of them had found it their interest +to sell or exchange fish among the people at Parramatta; they being +contented to receive a small quantity of either bread or salt meat in +barter for mullet, bream, and other fish. To the officers who resided +there this proved a great convenience, and they encouraged the natives to +visit them as often as they could bring them fish. There were, however, +among the convicts some who were so unthinking, or so depraved, as +wantonly to destroy a canoe belonging to a fine young man, a native, who +had left it at some little distance from the settlement, and as he hoped +out of the way of observation, while he went with some fish to the huts. +His rage at finding his canoe destroyed was inconceivable; and he +threatened to take his own revenge, and in his own way, upon all white +people. Three of the six people who had done him the injury, however, +were so well described by some one who had seen them, that, being closely +followed, they were taken and punished, as were the remainder in a few +days after. + +The instant effect of all this was, that the natives discontinued to +bring up fish; and Bal-loo-der-ry, whose canoe had been destroyed, +although he had been taught to believe that one of the six convicts had +been hanged for the offence, meeting a few days afterwards with a poor +wretch who had strayed from Parramatta as far as the Flats, he wounded +him in two places with a spear. This act of Ballooderry's was followed by +the governor's strictly forbidding him to appear again at any of the +settlements; the other natives, his friends, being alarmed, Parramatta +was seldom visited by any of them, and all commerce with them was +destroyed. How much greater claim to the appellation of savages had the +wretches who were the cause of this, than the native who was the +sufferer? + +During this month some rain had fallen, which had encouraged the sowing +of the public grounds, and one hundred and sixteen bushels of wheat were +sown at Parramatta. Until these rains fell, the ground was so dry, hard, +and literally burnt up, that it was almost impossible to break it with a +hoe, and until this time there had been no hope or probability of the +grain vegetating. + +In the beginning of the month, the stone-mason, with the people under his +direction, had begun working at the west point of the cove, where the +governor purposed constructing out of the rock a spot whereon to place +the guns belonging to the settlement, which was to wear the appearance of +a _work_. The flagstaff was to be placed in the same situation. The house +for the principal surgeon was got up and covered in during this month. + +Among the convicts who died about this time, was ---- Frazer, a man who +came out in the first fleet, and who, since his landing, had been +employed as a blacksmith. He was an excellent workman, and was supposed +to have brought on an untimely end by hard drinking, as he seldom chose +to accept of any article but spirits in payment for work done in his +extra hours. + +July.] To guard against a recurrence of the accident which happened to +our cattle soon after we had arrived, the governor had for some time past +employed a certain number of convicts at Parramatta in forming +inclosures; and at the commencement of this month not less than one +hundred and forty acres were thinned of the timber, surrounded by a +ditch, and guarded by a proper fence. + +In addition to the quantity of ground sown with wheat, a large proportion +was cleared to be sown this season with Indian corn; and the country +about Parramatta, as well as the town itself, where eight huts were now +built, wore a very promising appearance. + +At Sydney, the little ground that was in cultivation belonged to +individuals; the whole labour of the convicts employed in clearing ground +being exerted at Parramatta, where the soil, though not the best for the +purposes of agriculture (according to the opinion of every man who +professed any knowledge of farming) was still better than the sand about +Sydney, where, to raise even a cabbage after the first crop, manure was +absolutely requisite. + +On the morning of the ninth, the signal for a sail was made at the +South Head; and before night it was made known that the _Mary Ann_ +transport was arrived from England, with one hundred and forty-one female +convicts on board, six children, and one free woman, some clothing, and +the following small quantity of provisions: one hundred and thirty-two +barrels of flour; sixty-one tierces of pork; and thirty-two tierces of +beef. + +This ship sailed alone; but we were informed that she was to be followed +by nine sail of transports, on board of which were embarked (including +one hundred and fifty women, the number put into the _Mary Ann_) two +thousand and fifty male and female convicts; the whole of which were to +be expected in the course of six weeks or two months, together with his +Majesty's ship _Gorgon_. + +We also learned that Lieutenant King, who sailed hence the 17th April +1790, arrived in London the 20th day of December following, having +suffered much distress after leaving Batavia, whence he was obliged to go +to the Mauritius, having lost nearly all the crew of the packet he was in +by sickness. Mr. Millar, the late commissary, died on the 28th of August. + +With great satisfaction we heard, that from our government having adopted +a system of sending out convicts at two embarkations in every year, at +which time provisions were also to be sent, it was not probable that we +should again experience the misery and want with which we had been but +too well acquainted, from not having had any regular mode of supply. +Intimation was likewise given, that a cargo of grain might be expected to +arrive from Bengal, some merchants at that settlement having proposed to +Lord Cornwallis, on hearing of the loss of the _Guardian_, to freight a +ship with such a cargo as would be adapted to the wants of the colony, +and to supply the different articles at a cheaper rate than they could be +sent hither from England. We were also to expect a transport with live +stock from the north west coast of America. + +The master, Mark Monroe, had not any private letters on board; but (what +added to the disappointment every one experienced) he had not brought a +single newspaper; and, having been but a few weeks from Greenland before +he sailed for this country, he was destitute of any kind of information. + +The _Mary Ann_ had a quick passage, having been only four months and +sixteen days from England. She touched nowhere, except at the island of +St. Iago, where she remained ten days. The master landed a boat in a bay +on this coast about fifteen miles to the southward of Botany Bay; but +made no other observation of any consequence to the colony, than that +there was a bay in which a boat might land. + +The women, who were all very healthy, and who spoke highly of the +treatment which they had experienced from Mr. Monroe, were landed +immediately after the arrival of the transport in the cove, and were +distributed among the huts at Sydney, while the governor went up to +Parramatta to make such preparation as the time would admit for the +numbers he expected to receive. + +The convicts whose terms of transportation had expired were now +collected, and by the authority of the governor informed, that such of +them as wished to become settlers in this country should receive every +encouragement; that those who did not, were to labour for their +provisions, stipulating to work for twelve or eighteen months certain; +and that in the way of such as preferred returning to England no +obstacles would be thrown, provided they could procure passages from the +masters of such ships as might arrive; but that they were not to expect +any assistance on the part of Government to that end. The wish to return +to their friends appeared to be the prevailing idea, a few only giving in +their names as settlers, and none engaging to work for a certain time. + +We had twice in this month found occasion to assemble the court of +criminal judicature. In the night of Saturday the 16th, a soldier of the +marine detachment was detected by the patrols in the spirit cellar +adjoining to the deputy-commissary's house, the lock of which he had +forced. On being taken up, he offered, if he could be admitted an +evidence, to convict two others; which being allowed, the court was +assembled on the 19th, when two of his brother soldiers were tried; but +for want of evidence sufficiently strong to corroborate the testimony of +the accomplice, they were of necessity acquitted. Godfrey the accomplice +was afterwards tried by a military court for neglect of duty and +disobedience of orders in quitting his post when sentinel; which offence +being proved against him, he was sentenced to receive eight hundred +lashes, and to be drummed out of the corps. In the evening of the day on +which he was tried (the 21st) he received three hundred lashes, and was +drummed out with every mark of disgrace that could be shown him. In a +short time afterwards the two soldiers who had been acquitted were sent +to do duty at the South Head. There was little room to doubt, but that in +concert with Godfrey they had availed themselves of their situations as +sentinels, and frequently entered the cellar; and it was judged necessary +to place them where they would be disabled from concerting any future +scheme with him. + +A convict was tried for a burglary by the same court, but was acquitted. +On the 27th another court was assembled for the trial of James Chapman, +for a burglary committed in the preceding month in the house of John +Petree, a convict, in which he stole several articles of wearing apparel. +Charles Cross and Joseph Hatton, two convicts, were also tried for +receiving them knowing them to be stolen. Chapman the principal, refusing +to plead any thing but guilty, received sentence of death. Against the +receivers it appeared in evidence, that after the burglary was committed +the property was concealed in the woods between Sydney and Parramatta, at +which place all the parties resided; that having suffered it to remain +some weeks, Chapman and Cross went from Parramatta to bring it away; and +while they were so employed, Hatton found that the watchmen were going in +pursuit of Chapman; on which he directly set off to meet and advertise +them of it, and receive the property, which, by a clear chain of +evidence, he was proved to have taken and concealed again in the woods. +Hatton was found guilty, and sentenced to receive eight hundred lashes. +Cross was acquitted. Chapman was executed the following day at noon. Half +an hour before he died, he informed the judge-advocate and the clergyman +who attended him, that a plan was formed of breaking into the +government-house, and robbing it of a large sum of money which it was +imagined the governor kept in it; and that it was to be executed by +himself and three other convicts, all of whom were, however, very far +from being of suspicious characters. But as there was no reason to +suppose that a person in such an awful situation would invent an +accusation by which he could not himself be benefited, and which might +injure three innocent people, the governor took all the precautions that +he thought necessary to guard against the meditated villainy. + +A practice having been discovered, of purchasing the soldiers regimental +necessaries for the purpose of disposing of them among the shipping, and +this requiring a punishment that should effectually check it, Bond, a +convict who baked for the hospital and others, was brought before two +magistrates, and, being convicted of having bought several articles of +wearing apparel which had been served to a soldier, was sentenced to pay +the penalty prescribed by act of parliament, five pounds; or, on failure +within a certain time, to go to prison. Having made some considerable +profits in the exercise of his trade as a baker, he preferred paying the +penalty. + +It being always desirable to go as near the established ration as the +state of the stores would allow, and the governor never wishing to keep +the labouring man one moment longer than was absolutely necessary upon a +reduced allowance of provisions, he directed two pounds of rice to be +added to the weekly proportion of that article; but, although by this +addition eight pounds of grain were issued, viz three pounds of flour and +five pounds of rice, the ration was far from being brought up to the +standard established by the Treasury for the colony; five pounds of bad +worm-eaten rice making a most inadequate substitute for the same quantity +of good flour. In the article of meat the labouring man suffered still +more; for in a given quantity of sixty pounds, which were issued on one +serving day to two messes, there were no less than forty pounds of bone, +and the remainder, which was intended to be eaten, was almost too far +advanced in putrefaction for even hunger to get down. It must be observed +that it came in the snow from Batavia. + +Patrick Burn, a person employed to shoot for the commanding officer of +the marine detachment, died this month: and the hut that he had lived in +was burnt down in the night a few hours after his decease, by the +carelessness of the people, who were Irish and were sitting up with the +corpse, which was with much difficulty saved from the flames, and not +until it was much scorched. + +August.] On Monday, the 1st of August, the _Matilda_, the first of the +expected fleet of transports, arrived, after an extraordinary passage of +four months and five days, from Portsmouth; having sailed from thence on +the 27th day of March last, with four sail of transports for this place, +with whom she parted company that night off Dunnoze. Another division of +transports had sailed a week before from Plymouth Sound. On board the +_Matilda_ were two hundred and five male convicts, one ensign, one. +sergeant, one corporal, one drummer, and nineteen privates, of the New +South Wales corps; and some stores and provisions calculated as a supply +for the above number for nine months after their arrival. + +The master of this ship anchored for two days in a bay of one of +Schoeten's Islands, distant from the main land about twelve miles, in the +latitude of 42 degrees 15 minutes S.: where, according to his report, +five or six ships might find shelter. Those who were on shore saw the +footsteps of different kinds of animals, and traces of natives, such as +huts, fires, broken spears, and the instrument which they use for +throwing the spear. They spoke of the soil as sandy, and observed that +the ground was covered with shrubs such as were to be found here. + +The convicts in this ship, on their landing, appeared to be aged and +infirm, the state in which they were said to have been embarked. It was +not therefore to be wondered at, that they had buried twenty-five on the +passage. One soldier also died. Twenty were brought in sick, and were +immediately landed at the hospital. + +It was intended by the governor that this ship should have proceeded +immediately to Norfolk Island with the greater part of the convicts she +had on board, together with all the stores and provisions; but the +master, Mr. Matthew Weatherhead, requesting that as the ship was very +leaky the _Mary Ann_ might be permitted to perform the service required, +instead of the _Matilda_ (both ships belonging to the same owners), and +the _Mary Ann_ being perfectly ready for sea, the governor consented to +this proposal; and that ship was hauled alongside the _Matilda_ to +receive her cargo. Fifty-five of the convicts brought in this ship, +selected from the others as farmers or artificers, were sent up to +Parramatta; of the remainder, those whose health would permit them to go +were put on board the _Mary Ann_, together with thirty-two convicts of +bad character from among those who came out in the preceding year, and +eleven privates of the New South Wales corps. On the Monday following +(the 8th) the _Mary Ann_ sailed for Norfolk Island. + +At Parramatta the only accommodation which the shortness of the notice +admitted of being provided for the people who were on their passage was +got up; two tent huts, one hundred feet long, thatched with grass, were +erected; and, independent of the risk which the occupiers might run from +fire, they would afford good and comfortable shelter from the weather. + +The governor had now chosen situations for his settlers, and fixed them +on their different allotments. Twelve convicts, whose terms of +transportation had expired, he placed in a range of farms at the foot of +a hill named Prospect Hill, about four miles west from Parramatta; +fifteen others were placed on allotments in a district named the Ponds, +from a range of fresh-water ponds being in their vicinity; these were +situated two miles in a direction north-east of Parramatta. Between every +allotment, a space had been reserved equal to the largest grant on either +side, pursuant to the instructions which the governor had received; but +it was soon found that this distribution might be attended with much +disadvantage to the settler; a thick wood of at least thirty acres must +lie between every allotment; and a circumstance happened which showed the +inconvenience consequent thereon, and determined the governor to deviate +from the instructions, whenever, by adhering to them, the settlers were +likely to be material sufferers. + +In the beginning of the month information was received, that a much +larger party of the natives than had yet been seen assembled at any one +time had destroyed a hut belonging to a settler at Prospect Hill, who +would have been murdered by them, but for the timely and accidental +appearance of another settler with a musket. There was no doubt of the +hut having been destroyed, and by natives, though perhaps their numbers +were much exaggerated; the governor, therefore, determined to place other +settlers upon the allotments which had been reserved for the crown; by +which means assistance in similar or other accidents would be more ready. + +After the arrival of the _Matilda_, the governor, judging that his stores +would admit of increasing the weekly allowance of flour, directed that +(instead of three) five pounds of that article should be issued to each +man; and to each woman an addition of half a pound to the three which +they before received. The other articles of the ration remained as +before. + +The platform which had been constructing on the West Point since June +last being ready for the reception of the cannon, they were moved thither +about the middle of the month; in doing which, a triangle which was made +use of, not being properly secured, slipped and fell upon a convict (an +overseer), by which accident his thigh was dislocated, and his body much +bruised. He was taken to the hospital, where, fortunately, Mr. White +immediately reduced the luxation. + +About noon on Saturday the 20th, the _Atlantic_ transport anchored in the +cove from Plymouth, whence she sailed with two other transports, and +parted with them about five weeks since in bad weather between Rio de +Janeiro and this port, the passage from which had not been more than ten +weeks. She had on board a sergeant's party of the new corps as a guard to +two hundred and twenty male convicts, eighteen of whom died on the +passage. The remainder came in very healthy, there being only nine sick +on board. The evening before her arrival she stood into a capacious bay, +situated between Long Nose and Cape St. George, where they found good +anchorage and deep water. Lieutenant Richard Bowen, the naval agent on +board, who landed, described the soil to be sandy, and the country +thickly covered with timber. He did not see any natives, but found a +canoe upon the beach, whose owners perhaps were not far off. This canoe, +by Lieutenant Bowen's account, appeared to be on a somewhat stronger +construction than the canoes of Port Jackson. + +The signal for another sail was made the next morning at the Lookout, and +about one o'clock the _Salamander_ transport arrived. She sailed from +England under Lieutenant Bowen's orders, with a sergeant's party of the +new corps and one hundred and sixty male convicts on board, one hundred +and fifty-five of whom she brought in all healthy, except one man who was +in the sick list. The party arrived without the sergeant, he having +deserted on their leaving England. + +Both these transports having brought a supply of provisions calculated to +serve nine months for the convicts that were embarked, the governor +directed the commissary to issue the full ration of provisions, serving +rice in lieu of peas; the reduced ration having continued from Saturday +the 2nd day of last April to Saturday the 27th of August; twenty-one +weeks. + +A party of one hundred convicts were sent from the Atlantic to +Parramatta, the remainder were landed and disposed of at Sydney. The +_Salamander_ was ordered to proceed to Norfolk Island with the people and +the cargo she had on board. + +There were at this time not less than seventy persons from the _Matilda_ +and _Atlantic_ under medical treatment, being weak, emaciated, and unfit +for any kind of labour; and the list was increasing. It might have been +supposed that on changing from the unwholesome air of a ship's +between-decks to the purer air of this country, the weak would have +gathered strength; but it had been observed, that in general soon after +landing, the convicts were affected with dysenteric complaints, perhaps +caused by the change of water, many dying, and others who had strength to +overcome the disease recovering from it but slowly. + +On the 28th the _William and Ann_ transport arrived (the last of +Lieutenant Bowen's division). She had on board one sergeant and twelve +privates of the new corps, one hundred and eighty-one male convicts, with +her proportion of stores and provisions. She sailed with one hundred and +eighty-eight convicts from England, but lost seven on the passage; the +remainder came in very healthy, five only being so ill as to require +removal. The first mate of this ship, Mr. Simms, formerly belonged to the +_Golden Grove_ transport. + +The town beginning to fill with strangers (officers and seamen from the +transports) and spirituous liquors finding their way among the convicts, +it was ordered that none should be landed until a permit had been granted +by the judge-advocate; and the provost-marshal, his assistant, and two +principals of the watch, were deputed to seize all spirituous liquors +which might be landed without. + +Ballooderry, the proscribed native, having ventured into the town with +some of his friends, one or two armed parties were sent to seize him, and +a spear having been thrown (it was said by him) two muskets were fired, +by which one of his companions was wounded in the leg; but Ballooderry +was not taken. On the following day it was given out in orders, that he +was to be taken whenever an opportunity offered; and that any native +attempting to throw a spear in his defence, as it was well known among +them why vengeance was denounced against him, was, if possible, to be +prevented from escaping with impunity. + +Those who knew Ballooderry regretted that it had been necessary to treat +him with this harshness, as among his countrymen we had no where seen a +finer young man. The person who had been wounded by him in the month of +June last was not yet recovered. + +Discharging the transports formed the principal labour of the month; the +shingles on the roof of the old hospital being found to decay fast, and +many falling off, the whole were removed, and the building was covered +with tiles. + +The convicts at Parramatta were employed in opening some ground about a +mile and a half above that settlement, along the south side of the creek; +and it was expected from the exertions which they were making, that +between forty and fifty acres would be soon ready for sowing with Indian +corn for this season. Their labour was directed by Thomas Daveney, a free +person who came out with the governor. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + + +The _Salamander_ sails for, and the _Mary Ann_ arrives from Norfolk Island +Bondel, a native, returns +A seaman, for sinking a canoe, punished +The _Gorgon_ arrives +Commission of emancipation, and public seal +The _Active_ and _Queen_ arrive +Complaints against the master of the _Queen_ +_Supply_ ordered home +_Albemarle_ arrives +Mutiny on board +_Britannia_ and _Admiral Barrington_ arrive +Future destination of the transports +The _Atlantic_ and _Queen_ hired +_Atlantic_ sails for Bengal +_Salamander_ returns from Norfolk Island +Transactions +Public works +Suicide + + +September.] It became necessary to land the cargo brought out in the +_Salamander_, for the purpose of restowing it in a manner convenient for +getting it out at Norfolk Island while the ship was under sail. The great +inconvenience attending landing a cargo in such a situation had been +pointed out in letters which could not yet have been attended to. It was +at the same time suggested, that ships should be freighted purposely for +Norfolk Island, with casks and bales adapted to the size of the island +boats, which would in a great measure lessen the inconvenience above +mentioned. + +On the 3rd, near two hundred male convicts, with a sergeant's party of +the New South Wales corps, some stores and provisions, having been put on +board the _Salamander_, she sailed for Norfolk Island the following +morning: and the _Mary Ann_ returned from that settlement on the 8th, +having been absent only four weeks and two days. The convicts, troops, +stores, and provisions, were all landed safely; but an unexpected surf +rising at the back of the reef, filling the only boat (a Greenland +whale-boat) which the master took with him, she was dashed upon the reef, +and stove; the people, who all belonged to the whaler, fortunately saved +themselves by swimming. + +From Norfolk Island we learned, that the crops of wheat then in the +ground promised well, having been sown a month earlier than those of the +last season. Of the public ground ninety acres were in wheat, and one +hundred in Indian corn: of the ground cleared by the convicts, and +cultivated by themselves for their own maintenance, there were not less, +at the departure of the transport, than two hundred and fifty acres. + +Bondel, a native boy, who went thither with Captain Hill, to whom he was +attached, in the month of March last, came back by this conveyance to his +friends and relations at Port Jackson. During his residence on the +island, which Mr. Monroe said he quitted reluctantly, he seemed to have +gained some smattering of our language, certain words of which he +occasionally blended with his own. + +Some prisoners having been sent from Norfolk Island, the criminal court +was assembled on the 15th for the trial of one of them for a capital +offence committed there; but for want of sufficient evidence he was +acquitted. Great inconvenience was experienced from having to send +prisoners from that island with all the necessary witnesses. In the case +just mentioned the prosecutor was a settler, who being obliged to leave +his farm for the time, the business of which was necessarily suspended +until he could return, was ruined: and one of the witnesses was in nearly +the same situation. But as the courts in New South Wales would always be +the superior courts, it was not easy to discover a remedy for these +inconveniences.' + +A seaman of one of the transports having been clearly proved to have +wantonly sunk a canoe belonging to a native, who had been paddling round +the ship, and at last ventured on board, he was ordered to be punished, +and to give the native a complete suit of wearing apparel, as a +satisfaction for the injury he had done him, as well as to induce him to +abandon any design of revenge which he might have formed. The corporal +punishment was however afterwards remitted, and the seaman ordered to +remain on board his ship while she should continue in this port. + +Some of the soldiers who came out in the _William and Ann_ transport +having exhibited complaints against the master, whom they accused of +assaulting and severely beating them during the passage, the affair was +investigated before three magistrates, and a fine laid upon the master, +which he paid. + +On Wednesday the 21st his Majesty's ship _Gorgon_ of forty-four guns, +commanded by Captain John Parker, anchored within the heads of the +harbour, reaching the settlement the following morning, and anchoring +where his Majesty's late ship _Sirius_ used to moor. + +The _Gorgon_ sailed from England on the 15th of March last, touching on +her passage at the islands of Teneriffe and St. Iago, and at the Cape of +Good Hope, where she remained six weeks, taking in three bulls, +twenty-three cows, sixty-eight sheep, eleven hogs, two hundred fruit +trees, a quantity of garden seed, and other articles for the colony. +Unfortunately, the bulls and seven of the cows died; but a bull calf, +which had been produced on board, arrived in good condition. + +Six months provisions for about nine hundred people, with stores for his +Majesty's armed tender the _Supply_, and for the marine detachment, were +sent out in the _Gorgon_; wherein also was embarked Mr. King, the late +commandant of Norfolk Island, now appointed by his Majesty +lieutenant-governor of that settlement, and a commander in the navy; +together with Mr. Charles Grimes, commissioned as a deputy +surveyor-general to be employed at Norfolk Island; the chaplain and +quarter-master of the New South Wales corps, and Mr David Burton, a +superintendant of convicts. + +By this ship we received a public seal to be affixed to all instruments +drawn in his Majesty's name, and a commission under the great seal +empowering the governor for the time being to remit, either absolutely or +conditionally, the whole or any part of the term for which felons, or +other offenders, should have been or might hereafter be transported to +this country. Duplicates of each pardon were to be sent to England, for +the purpose of inserting the names of the persons so emancipated in the +first general pardon which should afterward issue under the great seal +of the kingdom. + +To deserving characters, of which description there were many convicts in +the colony, a prospect of having the period of their banishment +shortened, and of being restored to the privilege which by misconduct +they had forfeited, had something in it very cheering, and was more +likely to preserve well intentioned men in honest and fair pursuits, than +the fear of punishment, which would seldom operate with good effect on a +mind that entertained no hope of reward for propriety of conduct. The +people with whom we had to deal were not in general actuated by that nice +sense of feeling which draws its truest satisfaction from self +approbation; they looked for something more substantial, something more +obvious to the external senses. + +In determining the device for the seal of the colony, attention had been +paid to its local and peculiar circumstances. On the obverse were the +king's arms, with the royal titles in the margin; on the reverse, a +representation of convicts landing at Botany Bay, received by Industry, +who, surrounded by her attributes, a bale of merchandise, a beehive, a +pickaxe, and a shovel, is releasing them from their fetters, and pointing +to oxen ploughing and a town rising on the summit of a hill, with a fort +for its protection. The masts of a ship are seen in the bay. In the +margin are the words _Sigillum. Nov. Camb. Aust._; and for a motto _'Sic +fortis Etruria crevit.'_ The seal was of silver; its weight forty-six +ounces and the devices were very well executed. + +The cattle were immediately landed, and turned into the inclosures which +had been prepared for them. One cow died in the boat going up. + +The remaining transports of the fleet were now dropping in. On the 26th +the _Active_ from England, and the _Queen_ from Ireland, with convicts of +that country arrived and anchored in the cove. On board of the _Active_, +beside the sergeant's guard, were one hundred and fifty-four male +convicts. An officer's party was on board the _Queen_, with one hundred +and twenty-six male and twenty-three female convicts and three children. + +These ships had been unhealthy, and had buried several convicts in their +passage. The sick which they brought in were landed immediately; and many +of those who remained, and were not so ill as to require medical +assistance, were brought on shore in an emaciated and feeble condition, +particularly the convicts from the _Active_. They in general complained +of not having received the allowance intended for them; but their +emaciated appearance was to be ascribed as much to confinement as to any +other cause. The convicts from the _Queen_, however, accusing the master +of having withheld their provisions, an inquiry took place before the +magistrates, and it appeared beyond a doubt, that great abuses had been +practised in the issuing of the provisions; but as to the quantity +withheld, it was not possible to ascertain it so clearly, as to admit of +directing the deficiency to be made good, or of punishing the parties +with that retributive justice for which the heinousness of their offence +so loudly called; the proceedings of the magistrates were therefore +submitted to the governor, who determined to transmit them to the +secretary of state. + +Nothing could have excited more general indignation than the treatment +which these people appeared to have met with; for, what crime could be +more offensive to every sentiment of humanity, than the endeavour, by +curtailing a ration already not too ample, to derive a temporary +advantage from the miseries of our fellow-creatures! + +By the arrival of these ships several articles of comfort were introduced +among us, there being scarcely a vessel that had not brought out +something for sale. It could not, however, be said that they were +procurable on easier terms than what had been sold here in the last year. +The Spanish dollar was the current coin of the colony, which some of +the masters taking at five shillings and others at four shillings and +six-pence, the governor, in consideration of the officers having been +obliged to receive the dollars at five shillings sterling when given for +bills drawn in the settlement, issued a proclamation fixing the currency +of the Spanish dollar at that sum. + +The _Supply_ was now carefully surveyed, when it appeared, that her +defects were such as to render it by no means difficult to put her into a +state that would enable her to reach England; but that if she remained +six months longer in this country, she would become wholly unserviceable. +It was therefore determined to dispatch her immediately to England. +Timber had with infinite labour been procured for her main-mast, and her +other repairs were put in train for her sailing hence in the course of +the next month. + +October.] The remainder of the transports expected did not arrive until +the middle of October. The _Albermarle_ was off the coast some days, +being prevented by a southerly current from getting in. She arrived on +Thursday the 13th, with two hundred and fifty male and six female +convicts, her proportion of stores and provisions, and one sergeant, one +corporal, one drummer, and twenty privates of the new corps. + +The convicts of this ship had made an attempt, in conjunction with some +of the seamen, to seize her on the 9th of April, soon after she had +sailed from England; and they would in all probability have succeeded, +but for the activity and resolution shown by the master Mr. George Bowen, +who, hearing the alarm, had just time to arm himself with a loaded +blunderbuss, which he discharged at one of the mutineers, William Syney +(then in the act of aiming a blow with a cutlass at the man at the +wheel), and lodged its contents in his shoulder. His companions, seeing +what had befallen him, instantly ran down below; but the master, his +officers, and some of the seamen of the ship, following them, soon +secured the ringleaders, Owen Lyons and William Syney. A consultation was +held with the naval agent, Lieutenant Robert Parry Young, the ship's +company, and the military persons on board, the result of which was, the +immediate execution of those two at the fore-yard arm. They had at this +time parted company with the other transports, and no other means seemed +so likely to deter the convicts from any future attempt of the like +nature. It afterwards appearing that two of the seamen had supplied them +with instruments for sawing off their irons, these were left at the +island of Madeira, where the _Albermarle_ touched, to be sent prisoners +to England. + +On the day following the _Britannia_ arrived, with one hundred and +twenty-nine male convicts, stores, and provisions on board; and on the +16th the _Admiral Barrington_, the last of the ten sail of transports, +anchored in the cove. This ship had been blown off the coast, and fears +were entertained of her safety, as she left the cape with a crippled +main-mast and other material defects. She had on board a captain and a +party of the New South Wales corps, with two hundred and sixty-four male +convicts, four free women, and one child. She had been unhealthy too, +having lost thirty-six convicts in the passage, and brought in +eighty-four persons sick, who were immediately landed. Her stores and +proportion of provisions were the same as on board of the other ships. + +The whole number of convicts now received into the colony, including +thirty on board the _Gorgon_, were, male convicts one thousand six +hundred and ninety-five; female convicts one hundred and sixty-eight; and +children nine. There were also eight free women (wives of convicts) and +one child; making a total number of one thousand eight hundred and +eighty-one persons, exclusive of the military. Upwards of two hundred +convicts, male and female, did not reach the country. + +Of the ten sail of transports lately arrived, five, after delivering +their cargoes, were to proceed on the southern whale fishery, viz the +_Mary Ann_, _Matilda_, _William and Ann_, _Salamander_, and _Britannia_. +Melville, the master of the _Britannia_, conceiving great hopes of +success on this coast from the numbers of spermaceti whales which he saw +between the south cape and this port, requested to be cleared directly on +his coming in, that he might give it a trial; and, the governor +consenting, his ship was ready by the 22nd (a week after her arrival), +and sailed on the 24th with the other whalers. + +The _Queen_, _Atlantic_, _Active_, _Albemarle_, and _Admiral Barrington_, +after being discharged from government employ, were to proceed to Bombay, +by consent of the East India Company, and load home with cotton upon +private account under the inspection of the company's servants at that +settlement, provided the cotton should be afterwards sold at the +company's sales, subject to the usual expenses (their duty only +excepted), and provided the ships did not interfere with any other part +of the company's exclusive commerce*. + +[* Notwithstanding this provision, which was expressed more at large in +the licence given by the company, and which extended to the prohibition +of every article except the stores and provisions put on board by +government, there was on board of these ships a very large quantity of +iron, steel, and copper, intended for sale at a foreign settlement in +India, with the produce of which they were to purchase the homeward-bound +investment of cotton.] + +The quantity of provisions received by these ships being calculated for +the numbers on board of each for nine months only after their arrival, +and as, so large a body of convicts having been sent out, it was not +probable that we should soon receive another supply, the governor judged +it expedient to send one of the transports to Bengal, to procure +provisions for the colony; for which purpose he hired the _Atlantic_ at +fifteen shillings and sixpence per ton per month. In the way thither she +was to touch at Norfolk Island, where lieutenant-governor King, with some +settlers, was to be landed; and the _Queen_ transport was hired for the +purpose of bringing back lieutenant-governor Ross, and the marine +detachment serving there, relieved by a company of the New South Wales +corps. + +On the 25th, the anniversary of his Majesty's accession to the throne, a +salute of twenty-one guns was fired by the _Gorgon_, and the public dinner +given on the occasion at the government-house was served to upwards of +fifty officers, a greater number than the colony had ever before seen +assembled together. + +The following morning the _Atlantic_ sailed for Norfolk Island and +Calcutta. For the first of these places, she had on board +Lieutenant-Governor King and his family; Captain Paterson of the New +South Wales corps (lately arrived in the _Admiral Barrington_); Mr. +Balmain, the assistant-surgeon, sent to relieve Mr. Considen; the Rev. +Mr. Johnson, who voluntarily visited Norfolk Island for the purpose of +performing those duties of his office which had hitherto been omitted +through the want of a minister to perform them; twenty-nine settlers +discharged from the marines; several male and female convicts, and some +few settlers from that class of people. + +At Calcutta, Lieutenant Bowen, who was continued in his employment of +naval agent, was to procure a cargo of flour and peas, in the proportion +of two tons of flour to one ton of peas; and was for that purpose +furnished with letters to the merchants who had made proposals to Lord +Cornwallis to supply the colony, the governor meaning for that reason to +give their house the preference. + +The _Salamander_ had returned from Norfolk Island, where every person and +article she had on board were safely landed. By letters received thence, +we learned that it was supposed there had formerly been inhabitants upon +the island, several stone hatchets, or rather stones in the shapes of +adzes, and others in the shapes of chisels, having been found in turning +up some ground in the interior parts of the island. Lieutenant-Governor +King had formerly entertained the same supposition from discovering the +banana tree growing in regular rows. + +It was not to be doubted but that the tranquillity and regularity of our +little town would in some degree be interrupted by the great influx of +disorderly seamen who were at times let loose from the transports. Much +less cause of complaint on this score, however, arose than was expected. +The port orders, which were calculated to preserve the peace of the +place, were from time to time enforced; and on one occasion ten seamen +belonging to the transports were punished for being found in the +settlement after nine o'clock at night. + +At Parramatta, whither the greatest part of the convicts lately arrived +had been sent, petty offences were frequently committed, and the constant +presence of a magistrate became daily more requisite. The convicts at +that place were chiefly employed in opening some new ground at a short +distance from the settlement. + +The foundation of a new storehouse was begun this month at Sydney, on the +spot where the redoubt had hitherto stood; which, since the construction +of the platform near the magazine on the east point of the cove, had been +pulled down, and the mould removed into the garden appropriated to +government-house. This, and clearing the transports, formed the principal +labour at Sydney. + +On the last day of this month, James Downey was found hanging in his hut. +The cause of this rash action was said to have been the dread of being +taken up for a theft which, according to some intimation he had received, +was about to be alleged against him. He came out in the first fleet, had +served his term of transportation, had constantly worked as a labourer in +the bricklayers gang, and was in general considered as a harmless fellow. + +From Parramatta two convicts were missing, and were said to be killed by +the natives. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + + +A party of Irish convicts abscond +The _Queen_ sails for Norfolk Island +Whale fishery +Ration altered +The _Supply_ sails for England +Live stock (public) in the colony +Ground in cultivation +Sick +Run of water decreasing +Two transports sail +Whale fishery given up +The _Queen_ arrives from Norfolk Island +The Marines embark in the _Gorgon_ for England +Ration further reduced +Transactions +Convicts who were in the _Guardian_ emancipated +Store finished +Deaths in 1791 + + +November.] On the first day of this month, information was received from +Parramatta, that a body of twenty male convicts and one female, of those +lately arrived in the _Queen_ transport from Ireland, each taking a +week's provisions, and armed with tomahawks and knives, had absconded +from that settlement, with the chimerical idea of walking to China, or of +finding in this country a settlement wherein they would be received and +entertained without labour. It was generally supposed, however, that +this improbable tale was only a cover to the real design, which might be +to procure boats, and get on board the transports after they had left the +cove. An officer with a party was immediately sent out from Parramatta in +pursuit of them, who traced them as far down the harbour as Lane Cove, +whence he reached the settlement at Sydney, without seeing or hearing any +thing more of them. A few days afterward the people in a boat belonging +to the _Albemarle_ transport, which had been down the harbour to procure +wood on the north shore, met with the wretched female who had accompanied +the men. She had been separated from them for three days, and wandered by +herself, entirely ignorant of her situation, until she came to the water +side, where, fortunately, she soon after met the boat. Boats were sent +down the next day, and the woman's husband was found and brought up to +the settlement. They both gave the same absurd account of their design as +before related, and appeared to have suffered very considerably by +fatigue, hunger, and the heat of the weather. The man had lost his +companions forty eight hours before he was himself discovered; and no +tidings of them were received for several days, although boats were +constantly sent in to the north west arm, and the lower part of the +harbour. + +Three of these miserable people were some time after met by some officers +who were on an excursion to the lagoon between this harbour and Broken +Bay; but, notwithstanding their situation, they did not readily give +themselves up, and, when questioned, said they wanted nothing more than +to live free from labour. These people were sent up to Parramatta, +whence, regardless of what they had experienced, and might again suffer, +they a second time absconded in a few days after they had been returned. +Parties were immediately dispatched from that settlement, and thirteen of +those who first absconded were brought in, in a state of deplorable +wretchedness, naked, and nearly worn out with hunger. Some of them had +subsisted chiefly by sucking the flowering shrubs and wild berries of the +woods; and the whole exhibited a picture of misery, that seemed +sufficient to deter others from the like extravagant folly. The practice +of flying from labour into the woods still, however, prevailing, the +governor caused all the convicts who arrived this year to be assembled, +and informed them of his determination to put a stop to their absconding +from the place where he had appointed them to labour, by sending out +parties with orders to fire upon them whenever they should be met with; +and he declared that if any were brought in alive, he would either land +them on a part of the harbour whence they could not depart, or chain them +together with only bread and water for their subsistence, during the +remainder of their terms of transportation. He likewise told them, that +he had heard they were intending to arm themselves and seize upon the +stores (such a design had for some days been reported); but that if they +made any attempt of that kind, every man who might be taken should be +instantly put to death. Having thus endeavoured to impress them with +ideas of certain punishment if they offended in future, he forgave some +offences which had been reported by the magistrate, exhorted them to go +cheerfully to their labour, and changed their hours of work, agreeably to +a request which they had made. + +Four hundred and two of these miserable people had received medicines +from the hospital in the morning of the day when the governor had thus +addressed them. The prevailing disease was a dysentery, which was +accompanied by a general debility. + +The _Queen_ sailed early in the month with an officer and a detachment of +the New South Wales corps, some convicts, stores and provisions, for +Norfolk Island. The _Salamander _sailed at the same time on her fishing +voyage. + +From her intended trial of the whale-fishery on the coast the _Britannia_ +arrived on the 10th, and was followed the next day by the _Mary Ann_. +Mr. Melvill killed, in company with the _William and Ann_, the day after he +went out, seven spermaceti whales, two only of which they were able to +secure from the bad weather which immediately succeeded. From the whale +which fell to the _Britannia's_ share, although but a small one, thirteen +barrels of oil were procured; and in the opinion of Mr. Melvill, the oil, +from its containing a greater proportion of that valuable part of the +fish called by the whalers the head-matter, was worth ten pounds more per +ton than that of the fish of any other part of the world he had been in. +He thought that a most advantageous voyage might be made upon this coast, +as he was confident upwards of fifteen thousand whales were seen in the +first ten days that he was absent, the greater number of which were +observed off this harbour; and he was prevented from filling his ship by +bad weather alone, having met with only one day since he sailed in which +he could lower down a boat. + +The success and report of the master of the _Mary Ann_ were very +different; he had been as far to the southward as the latitude of 45 +degrees without seeing a whale; and in a gale of wind shipped a sea that +stove two of his boats, and washed down the vessels for boiling the oil, +which were fixed in brick-work, and to repair which he came into this +harbour. + +The _Matilda_ came in a few days afterwards from Jervis Bay, in latitude +35 degrees 6 minutes S and longitude 152 degrees 0 minutes E, where she +had anchored for some days, being leaky. The master of this ship, +Mr. Matthew Weatherhead, saw many whales, but was prevented from killing +any by the badness of the weather. + +The _William and Ann_ came in soon after, confirming the report of the +great numbers of fish which were to be seen upon the coast, and the +difficulty of getting at them. She had killed only one fish, and came in +to repair and shorten her main-mast. + +A difference of opinion prevailed among the masters of the ships which +had been out respecting the establishing a whale-fishery upon this coast. +In one particular, however, they all agreed, which was, that the coast +abounded with fish; but the major part of them thought that the currents +and bad weather prevailing at this season of the year, and which appeared +to be also the season of the fish, would prevent any ships from meeting +with that success, of which on their setting out they themselves had had +such sanguine hopes. One of them thought that the others, in giving this +opinion, were premature, and that they were not sufficiently acquainted +with the weather on the coast to form any judgment of the advantage to be +derived from future attempts. They were determined, nevertheless, to give +it another trial, on the failure of which they meant to prosecute their +voyage to the coast of Peru. Having set up their rigging, they went out +again toward the latter end of the month. + +About the middle of the month an alteration took place in the ration; two +pounds of flour were taken off, and one pint of peas and one pint of +oatmeal were issued in their stead; the full ration, which was first +served on the 27th of August last, having been continued not quite three +months. + +The _Supply_ armed tender, having completed her repairs, sailed for +England on the 26th, her commander, Lieutenant Ball, purposing to make +his passage round Cape Horn, for which the season of the year was +favourable. Lieutenant John Creswell of the marines went in her, charged +with the governor's dispatches. + +The services of this little vessel had endeared her, and her officers and +people, to this colony. The regret which we felt at parting with them +was, however, lessened by a knowledge that they were flying from a +country of want to one of abundance, where we all hoped that the services +they had performed would be rewarded by that attention and promotion to +which they naturally looked up, and had an indisputable claim. + +At this time the public live stock in the settlement consisted of one +stallion aged, one mare, two young stallions, two colts, sixteen cows, +two calves, one ram, fifty ewes, six lambs, one boar, fourteen sows (old +and young), and twenty-two pigs. + +The ground in cultivation at and about Parramatta amounted to three +hundred and fifty-one acres in maize, forty-four in wheat, six in barley, +one in oats, two in potatoes, four in vines, eighty-six in garden ground, +and seventeen in cultivation by the New South Wales corps. In addition to +these there were one hundred and fifty acres cleared to be sown with +turnips, ninety-one acres were in cultivation by settlers, twenty-eight +by officers civil and military at and about Sydney; and at Parramatta one +hundred and forty acres were inclosed and the timber thinned for cattle; +making a total of nine hundred and twenty acres of land thinned, cleared, +and cultivated. + +The platform at the west point of the cove was completed during this +month. The flag-staff had been for some time erected, and the cannon +placed on the platform. A corporal's guard was also mounted daily in the +building which had been used as an observatory by Lieutenant Dawes. + +The mortality during this month had been great, fifty male and four +female convicts dying within the thirty days. Five hundred sick persons +received medicines at the end of the month. That list however was +decreasing. The extreme heat of the weather during the month had not only +increased the sick list, but had added one to the number of deaths. On +the 4th, a convict attending upon Mr. White, in passing from his house to +his kitchen, without any covering upon his head, received a stroke from a +ray of the sun which at the time deprived him of speech and motion, and, +in less than four-and-twenty hours, of his life. The thermometer on that +day stood at twelve o'clock at 94¾ degrees and the wind was at NW. + +By the dry weather which prevailed our water had been so much affected, +beside being lessened by the watering of some of the transports, that a +prohibition was laid by the governor on the watering of the remainder at +Sydney, and their boats were directed to go to a convenient place upon +the north shore. To remedy this evil the governor had employed the +stone-mason's gang to cut tanks out of the rock, which would be +reservoirs for the water large enough to supply the settlement for some +time. + +December.] On the 3rd of this month the ships _Albemarle_ and _Active_ +sailed for India. After their departure several people were missing from +the settlement; some whose sentences of transportation had expired, and +others who were yet convicts. Previous to their sailing (it having been +reported that the seamen intended to conceal such as had made interest +among them to get off) the governor instructed the master to deliver any +persons whom he might discover to be on board without permission to quit +the colony, as prisoners to the commanding officer of the first British +settlement they should touch at in India. About this time a boat +belonging to Mr. White was taken from its mooring; and it was for a time +supposed that she had been taken off by some runaways to get on board +one of the ships then about to sail, and afterwards set adrift; but she +was found by some gentlemen of the _Gorgon_ the day after their +departure, between this harbour and Broken Bay, with two men in her, who +on the appearance of the party which found her ran into the woods. The +gentlemen left her with a plank knocked out, an oar and the rudder +broken, and otherwise rendered useless to the people who ran away with +her. They also fell in with a convict, an Irishman, who had been absent +five weeks from Parramatta, and who had set off with some others to +proceed along the coast in search of another settlement. The boat was +brought up a few days afterwards. + +Two of the whalers, the _Matilda_ and _Mary Ann_, came in from sea the +day on which the other ships sailed. The former landed a boat in a bay +on the coast about six miles to the southward of Port Stephens, where the +seine was hauled and a large quantity of fish taken; but of the fish +which they went to procure (whales) they saw none. + +The _Mary Ann_ was rather more fortunate. By going to the southward, she +killed nine fish; of five of them she secured enough to procure about +thirty barrels of oil; but was prevented by bad weather from getting +more. These ships sailed again immediately, and both ran down the coast +as far to the southward as 36 degrees 30 minutes, and returned on the +16th without killing a fish. The masters attributed their bad success to +currents; and, giving up all hopes of a fishery here, they determined, +after refitting, to quit the coast. The _Salamander_ and _Britannia_ +whalers came in at the same time, and with like ill fortune. Melvill the +master of the _Britannia_, who had been formerly so sanguine in his hopes +of a fishery, seemed now to have adopted a different opinion, and hinted +to some in the colony, that he did not think he should try the coast any +longer. It must be remarked however, that the whalers were not out of +port at any one time long enough to enable them to speak with any great +degree of precision either for or against the probability of success. +They seemed more desirous of obtaining a knowledge of the harbours on +the coast; the _William and Ann_ had been seen in Broken Bay; others had +visited Botany Bay and Jervis Bay; the _Salamander_ had remained long +enough in Port Stephens (an harbour to the northward, until then not +visited by any one) to take an eye-sketch of the harbour and of some of +its branches or arms; and Port Jackson was found to have its +conveniences. After a well-manned and well-found whaler should have kept +the sea for an entire season, the success might be determined. + +The _Queen_ transport having returned from Norfolk Island, with the +lieutenant-governor and the officers and soldiers of the marine corps, +who were to take their passage to England in the _Gorgon_, the greatest +part of the marine detachment embarked on board of that ship on the 13th. +Those who did not embark were left for the duty of the place until the +remainder of the New South Wales corps should arrive. + +By the _Queen_ several convicts whose sentences of transportation had +expired were allowed to return to this settlement, pursuant to a promise +made them on their going thither; and we were informed, that the +_Atlantic_ sailed from Norfolk Island for Calcutta on the 13th of the +last month. Both ships landed safely every article they had on board for +the colony, being favoured by very fine weather while so employed. +Lieutenant-governor King, on taking upon him the government of the +island, pardoned all offenders whom he found in custody. + +Governor Phillip having no further occasion for the services of the +_Gorgon_, that ship sailed for England on Sunday the 18th. Two convicts +had the folly to attempt making their escape from the colony in this +ship, but they were detected and brought back. A woman was also supposed +to have effected her escape; but she was found disguised in men's apparel +at the native's hut on the east point of the cove. + +On board of the _Gorgon_ were embarked the marines who came from England +in the first ships; as valuable a corps as any in his Majesty's service. +They had struggled here with greatly more than the common hardships of +service, and were now quitting a country in which they had opened and +smoothed the way for their successors, and from which, whatever benefit +might hereafter be derived, must be derived by those who had the easy +task of treading in paths previously and painfully formed by them. + +The cove and the settlement were now resuming that dull uniformity of +uninteresting circumstances which had generally prevailed. The _Supply_ +and the _Gorgon_ had departed, and with them a valuable portion of our +friends and associates. The transports which remained were all preparing +to leave us, and in a few days after the _Gorgon_, the _Matilda_ and +_Mary Ann_ sailed for the coast of Peru. These ships had some convicts on +board, who were permitted to ship themselves with the masters. + +A further reduction of the ration was directed to take place at the end +of the month, one pound being taken from the allowance of flour served to +the men. From the state of the provision stores, the governor, on +Christmas Day, could only give one pound of flour to each woman in the +settlement. On that day divine service was performed here and at +Parramatta, Mr. Bayne, the chaplain of the new corps, assisting Mr. +Johnson in the religious duties of the morning. There were some among +us, however, by whom even the sanctity of this day was not regarded; for +at night the marine store was robbed of twenty-two gallons of spirits. + +At Parramatta various offences were still committed, notwithstanding the +lenity which had been shown to several offenders at the close of the last +month. Many of the convicts there not having any part of their ration +left when Tuesday or Wednesday night came, the governor directed, as he +had before done from the same reason, that the provisions of the +labouring convicts should be issued to them daily. This measure being +disapproved of by them, they assembled in rather a tumultuous manner +before the governor's house at Parramatta on the last day of the month, +to request that their provisions might be served as usual on the +Saturdays. The governor, however, dispersed them without granting their +request; and as they were heard to murmur, and talk of obtaining by +different means what was refused to entreaty (words spoken among the +crowd, and the person who was so daring not being distinguishable from +the rest), he assured them that as he knew the major part of them were +led by eight or ten designing men to whom they looked up, and to whose +names he was not a stranger, on any open appearance of discontent, he +should make immediate examples of them. Before they were dismissed they +promised greater propriety of conduct and implicit obedience to the +orders of their superiors, and declared their readiness to receive their +provisions as had been directed. + +This was the first instance of any tumultuous assembly among these +people, and was now to be ascribed to the spirit of resistance and +villany lately imported by the new comers from England and Ireland. + +Among the public works of the month the most material was the completing +and occupying the new store on the east side, which was begun in October +last; its dimensions were eighty by twenty-four feet; and as it was built +for the purpose of containing dry stores, the height was increased beyond +that commonly adopted here, and a spacious loft was formed capable of +containing a large quantity of bale goods. This was by far the best store +in the country. + +In the course of the month a warrant of emancipation passed the seal of +the territory to John Lowe, Henry Cone, Richard Chears, Thomas Fisk, +Daniel Cubitt, Charles Pass, George Bolton, William Careless, William +Curtis, John Chapman Morris, Thomas Merrick, William Skinner, and James +Weavers, convicts who left England in the _Guardian_, on condition of +their residing within the limits of this government, and not returning to +England within the period of their respective sentences. Instructions to +this effect had been received from home, Lieutenant Riou having +interested himself much in their behalf. They were to be at liberty to +work at any trade they might be acquainted with; but during their +continuance in the country they were to be disposed of wherever the +governor should think proper. They were also at liberty to settle land +upon their own account. + +The numbers who died by sickness in the year 1791 were, one of the civil +establishment (H. E. Dodd); two soldiers; one hundred and fifty-five male +and eight female convicts; and five children: in all one hundred and +seventy-one persons (twenty-eight more than had died during the preceding +year). + +In the above time one male convict was executed; one drowned; four lost +in the woods (exclusive of the Irish convicts who had absconded, of whom +no certain account was procured); one destroyed himself, and eight men, +one woman, and two children, had run from the settlement; making a loss +of one hundred and eighty-nine persons. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + + +The _Queen_ sails for Norfolk Island +Whalers on their fishing voyages +Convicts missing +Various depredations +Dispensary and bake-house robbed +Proclamation +A criminal court held +Convict executed +Transactions +The _Pitt_ with Lieutenant-Governor Grose arrives +Military duty fixed for Parramatta +Goods selling at Sydney from the _Pitt_ +The _Pitt_ ordered to be dispatched to Norfolk Island +Commissions read +Sickness +The _Pitt_ sails +Mr. Burton killed +Stormy weather +Public works +Regulations respecting persons who had served their terms of transportation +Natives + +1792.] + +January.] Early in this month sixty-two people, settlers and +convicts, with Mr. Bayne, the chaplain of the New South Wales corps, who +offered his services, as there never had been a clergyman there, embarked +on board the _Queen_ transport for Norfolk Island, the master of that +ship having engaged to carry them and a certain quantity of provisions +thither for the sum of £150. Of the settlers twenty-two were lately +discharged from the marine service, and the remainder were convicts; some +of the latter, whose terms of transportation had expired, had chosen +Norfolk Island to settle in, and others were sent to be employed for the +public. + +This ship, with the _Admiral Barrington_ for India, sailed on the 6th; +and the _Salamander_ and _Britannia_ whalers on the 7th, the masters of +the two latter ships signifying an intention of cruising for three months +upon this coast; at the end of which time, according to their success, +they would either return to this port, or pursue their voyage to the +northward. + +Several convicts attempted to escape from the settlement on board of +these ships, some of whom were discovered before they sailed, and, being +brought on shore, were punished; but there was great reason to suppose +that others were secreted by the connivance of the seamen, and eluded the +repeated searches which were made for them. + +In addition to this exportation, the colony lost some useful people whom +it could ill spare; but who, their terms of transportation having +expired, would not be induced to remain in the settlement, and could not +be prevented from quitting it. + +By the commissary's report of the muster it appeared, that forty-four +men and nine women were absent and unaccounted for; among which +number were included those who were wandering in the woods, seeking for a +new settlement, or endeavouring to get into the path to China! Of these +people many, after lingering a long time, and existing merely on roots +and wild berries, perished miserably. Others found their way in, after +being absent several weeks, and reported the fate of their wretched +companions, being themselves reduced to nearly the same condition, worn +down and exhausted with fatigue and want of proper sustenance. Yet, +although the appearance of these people confirmed their account of what +they had undergone, others were still found ignorant and weak enough to +run into the woods impressed with the idea of either reaching China by +land, or finding a new settlement where labour would not be imposed on +them, and where the inhabitants were civil and peaceable. Two of these +wretches at the time of their absconding met a convict in their way not +far from the new grounds, whom they robbed of his provisions, and beat in +so cruel a manner that, after languishing for some time, he died in the +hospital at Parramatta. He described their persons, and mentioned their +names, with the precise circumstances attending their treatment of him, +and it was hoped that they would have lived to return, and receive the +reward of their crime; but one of their companions who survived them +brought in an account of their having ended a wicked and miserable +existence in the woods. + +Depredations being nightly committed at the skirts of the town, and at +the officers' farms, by some of these vagrants, who were supposed to lurk +between this place and Parramatta, it was thought necessary to send armed +parties out at night for a certain distance round the settlement, with +orders to seize, or fire on, all persons found straggling; and several +were detected by them in the act of robbing the gardens at the different +farms. Indeed neither the property nor the persons of individuals were +safe for some time. Two villains came to a hut which was occupied by one +Williams a sawyer, and which he had erected at a spot at some distance +from the town where he could have a little garden ground, and attempted +to rob him; but the owner surprised them, and, in endeavouring to secure +them, was wounded so severely in the arm with a tomahawk, that the tendon +was divided; and it was supposed that he never would recover the perfect +use of the limb. They even carried their audacity so far, as to be +secretly meditating an attempt upon the barrack and storehouse at +Parramatta; at least, information of such a plan was given by some of the +convicts; and as there had been seen among them people silly enough to +undertake to walk to the other side of this extensive continent, +expecting that China would be found there, it was not at all improbable +that some might be mad enough to persuade others that it would be an easy +matter to attempt and carry the barracks and stores there. But no other +use was made of the report than the exertion of double vigilance in the +guards, which was done without making public the true motive. To the +credit of the convicts who came out in the first fleet it must be +remarked, that none of them were concerned in these offences; and of them +it was said the new comers stood so much in dread, that they never were +admitted to any share in their confidence. + +As the Indian corn began to ripen the convicts recommenced their +depredations, and many were punished with a severity seemingly calculated +to deter others, but actually without effect. They appeared to be a +people wholly regardless of the future, and not dreading any thing that +was not immediately present to their own feelings. It was well known that +punishment would follow the detection of a crime; but their constant +reliance was on a hope of escaping that detection; and they were very +rarely known to stand forward in bringing offenders to punishment, +although such rewards were held out as one would imagine were sufficient +to induce them. It being necessary to secure four dangerous people, who, +after committing offences, had withdrawn into the woods, a reward of +fifty pounds of flour was offered for the apprehension of either of them, +but only one was taken. + +The easy communication between Sydney and Parramatta had been found to be +a very great evil from the time the path was first made; but since the +numbers had been so much augmented at Parramatta, it became absolutely +necessary to put a stop to the intercourse. The distance was about +sixteen miles; and, unless information was previously given, a person +would visit Sydney and return without being missed: and as stolen +property was transferred from one place to another by means of this quick +conveyance, orders were given calculated to cut off all unlicensed +intercourse. + +A report having been falsely propagated at Parramatta, that it was +intended by the governor to take the corn of individuals on the public +account, the settlers and convicts who had raised maize or other grain, +and who were not provided with proper places to secure it in, were +informed, that they might send it to the public store, and draw it from +thence as their occasions required; and farther, that they were at +liberty to dispose of such live stock, corn, grain, or vegetables, which +they might raise, as they found convenient to themselves, the property of +every individual being equally secured to him, and by the same law, +whether belonging to a free man or a convict. Such of the above articles +as they could not otherwise dispose of, they were told, would be +purchased by the commissary on the public account at a fair market-price. + +Toward the latter end of the month some villains broke into the +dispensary at the hospital, and stole two cases of portable soup, one +case of camomile flowers, and one case containing sudorific powder. These +articles had been placed in the dispensary on the very evening it was +broken into, to be sent to Parramatta the following morning. The cases +with the camomile and sudorific powder (which perhaps they had taken for +sugar or flour) were found at the back of the hill behind the hospital; +and, in order to discover the persons concerned in this theft, as well as +those who maimed the sawyer, as before related, a proclamation was +published, offering to any person or persons giving such information as +should convict the principal offenders, a free pardon for every offence +which he, she, or they might have committed since their arrival in this +country; and that a full ration of provisions should be issued to such +person or persons during the remainder of their respective terms of +transportation. + +Several people died at Parramatta, some of whom were at labour, +apparently in health, and dead in twenty-four hours. An extraordinary +circumstance attended, though it was not the cause of the death of one +poor creature: while dragging with others at a brick cart he was seized +with a fainting fit, and when he recovered was laid down under a cart +which stood in the road, that he might be in the shade. Being weak and +ill, he fell asleep. On waking, and feeling something tight about his +neck, he put up his hand, when, to his amazement and horror, he grasped +the folds of a large snake which had twined itself round his neck. In +endeavouring to disengage it, the animal bit him by the lip, which became +instantly tumid. Two men, passing by, took off the snake and threw it on +the ground, when it erected itself and flew at one of them; but they soon +killed it. The man who had fainted at the cart died the next morning, +not, however, from any effect of the bite of the snake, but from a +general debility. + +At Parramatta the public bakehouse was broken into, and robbed of a large +quantity of flour and biscuit. The robber had made his way down the +chimney of the house, and, though a man and woman slept in the place, +carried off his booty undiscovered. + +The convicts having assembled there at the latter end of the last month +in an improper and tumultuous manner, the governor now thought proper to +issue a proclamation, directing that 'in case of any riot or disturbance +among the convicts, every one who was seen out of his hut would (if such +riot or disturbance should happen in the night, or during the hours of +rest from labour, or if he were absent from his labour during the hours +of work) be deemed to be aiding and assisting the rioters, and be +punished accordingly.' + +The convicts were strictly forbidden ever to assemble in numbers under +any pretence of stating a complaint, or for any other cause whatever, all +complaints being to be made through the medium of the superintendants or +overseers. + +A disobedience to this proclamation was to be punished with the utmost +severity; and any person who, knowing of any intended riot or tumultuous +and unlawful assembly among the convicts, did not take the first +opportunity of informing either the commanding officer of the military or +one of the superintendants thereof, would be deemed and punished as a +principal in such riot. + +An instance of the profligacy of the convicts which occurred at this time +is deserving of notice: a woman who had been entrusted to carry the +allowance of flour belonging to two other women to the bakehouse, where +she had run in debt for bread which she had taken up on their account, +mixed with it a quantity of pounded stone, in the proportion of +two-thirds of grit, to one of flour. Fortunately, she was detected before +it had been mixed with other flour at the bakehouse, and was ordered to +wear an iron collar for six months as a punishment. + +February.] A criminal court was held at Parramatta on the 7th of this +month for the trial of James Collington, who, as before mentioned, had +broken into the public bakehouse at that place by getting down the +chimney in the night. It appeared that he had taken off about fifty +pounds of flour, which he tied up in an apron that he found in the room, +and the leg of a pair of trousers. He deposited the property under a +rock, and occasionally visited it; but it was soon seized by some other +nocturnal adventurer, and Collington then broke into another hut, wherein +eight people were sleeping, and took thereout a box containing wearing +apparel and provisions, without disturbing them, so soundly did fatigue +make them sleep; but he was detected in a garden with the property, and +secured. Being found guilty, he received sentence of death, and was +executed early the following morning. At the tree he addressed the +convicts, warning them to avoid the paths he had pursued; but said, that +he was induced by hunger to commit the crime for which he suffered. He +appeared desirous of death, declaring that he knew he could not live +without stealing. + +Information having been received, that a great body of convicts at the +new grounds intended to seize some arms which had been given to the +settlers for their protection against the natives, and (after robbing +their huts) to proceed to the sea-coast, where, destroying every person +who should oppose them, they were to build a vessel, a convict who was +said to be a ringleader was taken up, and, upon the information which he +gave, five others were apprehended and chained together; in which +situation they continued for some time, when their scheme having been +defeated, and other steps taken to prevent their putting it in execution, +they were liberated, and returned to their usual labour. + +Information would have been at all times more readily procured from these +people, had they not been constantly apprehensive of receiving +ill-treatment not only from the parties concerned, but from others who +were not; and although every assurance of protection was given by those +who were authorised to hold it out, yet it was not found sufficient to do +away the dread they were said to labour under. Accident, or a quarrel +among themselves, sometimes furnished information that was not otherwise +to be procured; and in general to one or other of these causes was to be +attributed every information that was received of any malpractices among +them. + +A person who had been employed under one of the superintendants at +Parramatta, and in whom, from an uniformity of good conduct during his +residence in this country, some trust was at times placed, was detected +in giving corn to a settler from the public granary, to which he had +occasional access. The offence being fully proved, he was sentenced to +receive three hundred lashes, and the person to whom he had given the +corn two hundred lashes. It was seen with great concern, that there were +but few among them who were honest enough to resist any temptation that +was placed in their way. + +A convict who had absconded five weeks since was apprehended by some of +the military at the head of one of the coves leading from Parramatta. He +had built himself a hut in the woods, and said when brought in, that he +had preserved his existence by eating such fish as he was fortunate +enough to catch, rock oysters, and wild berries; and that the natives had +more than once pursued him when employed in these researches. But very +little credit was given to any account he gave, and it was generally +supposed that he had lived by occasionally visiting and robbing the huts +at Sydney and Parramatta. He had taken to the woods to avoid a punishment +which hung over him, and which he now received. + +Early in the month eight settlers from the marines received their grants +of land situated on the north side of the harbour near the Flats, and +named by the governor the Field of Mars. + +The convicts employed in cultivating and clearing public ground beyond +Parramatta, having been landed in a weak and sickly state, wore in +general a most miserable and emaciated appearance, and numbers of them +died daily. The reduced ration by no means contributed to their +amendment; the wheat that was raised last year (four hundred and +sixty-one bushels) after reserving a sufficiency for seed, was issued to +them at a pound per man per week, and a pound of rice per week was issued +to each male convict at Sydney. + +On Tuesday the 14th the signal was made for a sail, and shortly after the +_Pitt_, Captain Edward Manning, anchored in the cove from England. She +sailed the 17th of last July from Yarmouth Roads, and had rather a long +passage, touching at St. Iago, Rio de Janeiro, and the Cape of Good Hope. +She had on board Francis Grose, esq the lieutenant-governor of the +settlements, and major-commandant of the New South Wales corps, one +company of which, together with the adjutant and surgeon's mate, came out +with him. + +She brought out three hundred and nineteen male and forty-nine female +convicts, five children, and seven free women; with salt provisions +calculated to serve that number of people ten months, but which would +only furnish the colony with provisions for forty days. The supply of +provisions was confined to salt meat, under an idea that the colony was +not in immediate want of flour, and that a supply had been sent from +Calcutta, which, together with what had been procured from Batavia, that +which had been sent before from England, and the grain that might have +been raised in the settlements, would be adequate to our consumption for +the present. The dispatches, however, which had been forwarded from this +place by the _Justinian_ in July 1790 having been received by the +secretary of state, what appeared from those communications to be +necessary for the colony were to be sent in one or more ships to be +dispatched in the autumn of last year, with an additional number of +convicts, and the remaining company of the New South Wales corps. A sloop +in frame, of the burden of forty-one tons, was sent out in the _Pitt_; to +make room for which, several bales of clothing, and many very useful +articles, were obliged to be shut out. + +By this conveyance information was received, that the _Daedalus_ hired +storeship, which was sent out to carry provisions to the Sandwich islands +for two ships employed in those parts on discovery, was directed to +repair to this settlement after performing that service, to be employed +as there should be occasion, and that she might be expected in the +beginning of the year 1793. + +The _Pitt_ brought in many of her convicts sick; and several of her +seamen and fifteen soldiers of the New South Wales corps had died shortly +after her leaving St. Iago, owing to her having touched there during an +unhealthy season. + +The whole of the New South Wales corps, except one company, being now +arrived, the numbers requisite for the different duties were settled; and +one company, consisting of a captain, two lieutenants, one ensign, three +sergeants, three corporals, two drummers, and seventy privates, was fixed +for the duty of Parramatta; a like number for Norfolk Island, and the +remainder were to do duty at Sydney, the head quarters of the corps. + +Permission having been obtained, a shop was opened at a hut on shore for +the sale of various articles brought out in the _Pitt_; and +notwithstanding a fleet of transports had but lately sailed hence, +notwithstanding the different orders which had been sent to Bengal, and +the high price at which every thing was sold, the avidity with which all +descriptions of people grasped at what was to be purchased was +extraordinary, and could only be accounted for by the distance of our +situation from the mother country, the uncertainty of receiving supplies +thence, and the length of time which we had heretofore the mortification +to find elapse without our receiving any. + +March.] It being necessary to send to Norfolk Island a proportion of what +provisions were in store, the Pitt was engaged for that purpose; and for +performing this service her owners were to receive £651, a sum equal to +six weeks demurrage for that ship. From Norfolk Island she was to +proceed, upon her owners account, to Bengal; and her commander was +charged with duplicates of the letters and instructions given to +Lieutenant Bowen. In the event of any accident having prevented the +arrival of that officer at Calcutta, Captain Manning was to cause the +service with which he was entrusted to be executed, by applying to the +governor-general, and the house of Messrs. Lambert, Ross, and company, +for the supply of provisions, which the _Atlantic_ was to have brought, +to be forwarded to this country either by the _Pitt_, or by vessels to be +hired by that house at Calcutta. + +This precaution was taken rather to guard against the worst that might +happen, than from any probability that the _Atlantic_ would not have +reached Calcutta, that ship being well fitted for such a voyage, strong, +well manned, and under the direction of an able and an active officer. To +her arrival, however, we looked forward at this period with some anxiety, +as the flour and salt provisions in the settlement already occupied but a +small portion of the stores which contained them, there being only +fifty-two days flour, and twenty-one weeks salt meat in store at the +ration now issued. + +On the morning of Saturday the 17th the marines and New South Wales corps +formed under arms on the parade in front of the quarters, when his +Majesty's commission appointing Francis Grose, Esquire, to be +lieutenant-governor of this territory, and the letters patent under the +great seal for establishing the civil and criminal courts of judicature, +were publicly read by the judge-advocate. The governor and the principal +officers of the settlement attended, and his excellency received from the +corps under arms the honours due to his rank in the colony. At the +conclusion of the ceremony, the _Pitt_, by a well-concerted signal, saluted +with fifteen guns, as a compliment to the lieutenant-governor. + +A person who came out to this country in the capacity of a carpenter's +mate on board the _Sirius_, and who had been discharged from that ship's +books into the _Supply_, having been left behind when that vessel sailed +for England, offered his services to put together the vessel that arrived +in frame in the _Pitt_; and being deemed sufficiently qualified as a +shipwright, he was engaged at two shillings _per diem_ and his provisions +to set her up. Her keel was accordingly laid down on blocks placed for +the purpose near the landing-place on the east side. As this person was +the only shipwright in the colony, the vessel would much sooner have +rendered the services which were required of her, had she been put +together, coppered, and sent out manned and officered from England; by +these means too the colony would have received many articles which were +of necessity shut out of the _Pitt_ to make room for her stowage. + +About this time a malady of an alarming nature was perceived in the +colony. Four or five of the convicts were seized with insanity; and, as +the major part of those who were visited by this calamity were females, +who on account of their sex were not harassed with hard labour, and who +in general shared largely of such little comforts as were to be procured +in the settlement, it was difficult to assign a cause for this disorder. + +April.] With a dreadful sick list, and with death making rapid strides +among us, the month of April commenced: a lamentable circumstance to +those who had to provide by their labour for the support of a colony, in +which, from its great distance, not only from the parent country, but +from every port where supplies could be procured, it became an object of +the first magnitude and importance to endeavour speedily, and by every +possible exertion, to place its inhabitants in a situation that accident +or delay might not affect. His Majesty's ship _Guardian_ afforded a +melancholy recollection how much this colony had already felt from +misadventure, and the delay which occurred in the voyage of the _Lady +Juliana_ transport had proved equally calamitous. The recent circumstance +of a ship arriving without a supply of flour, and other contingencies, +spoke with a warning voice, and loudly demanded that every arm which +could be raised should be exerted to make provision against the hour of +want. Few, however, in comparison with the measure of our necessities, +were the numbers daily brought into the field for the purpose of +cultivation; and of those who could handle the hoe or the spade by far the +greater part carried hunger in their countenances; but it was earnestly +hoped and anxiously expected, that by the speedy arrival of supplies from +England the full ration of every species of provisions would be again +issued, when labour would be renewed with additional vigour and effect; +health and strength be seen residing among us; and the approaches of +independence on Great Britain be something more than a sanguine hope or +visionary speculation. + +The convicts, and such stores and provisions as the governor thought it +necessary to send to Norfolk Island, being embarked, the _Pitt_ sailed on +the 7th. Previous to her departure, a female convict was found secreted +on board, who declaring in her justification that the fourth mate of the +ship had assisted her in her escape, he was tried by the civil court of +judicature for taking a convict from the settlement, but, for want of +sufficient proof, was acquitted. + +The practicability of being secreted on board of ships would always +operate as an inducement to wretches who saw a long term of servitude +before them to attempt their escape; but it certainly behoved every +master of a merchantman bound from this port to be very vigilant and +sedulous to prevent their succeeding, as the safety of the ship might be +very much endangered by having numbers of such people on board mixing +with their ship's company. + +On Friday the 13th died Mr. David Burton, of a gunshot wound which he +received on the preceding Saturday. This young man, on account of the +talents he possessed as a botanist, and the services which he was capable +of rendering in the surveying line, could be but ill spared in this +settlement. His loss was occasioned by one of those accidents which too +frequently happen to persons who are inexperienced in the use of +fire-arms. Mr. Burton had been out with Ensign Beckwith, and some +soldiers of the New South Wales corps, intending to kill ducks on the +Nepean. With that sensation of the mind which is called presentiment he +is said to have set out, having more than once observed, that he feared +some accident would happen before his return; and he did not cease to be +tormented with this unpleasant idea, until his gun, which he carried +rather awkwardly, went off, and lodged its contents in the ground within +a few inches of the feet of the person who immediately preceded him in +the walk through the woods. Considering this as the accident which his +mind foreboded, he went on afterwards perfectly freed from any +apprehension. But he was deceived. Reaching the banks of the river, they +found on its surface innumerable flocks of those fowl of which they were +in search. Mr. Burton, in order to have a better view of them, got upon +the stump of a tree, and, resting his hand upon the muzzle of his piece, +raised himself by its assistance as high as he was able. The butt of the +piece rested on the ground, which was thickly covered with long grass, +shrubs, and weeds. No one saw the danger of such a situation in time to +prevent what followed. By some motion of this unfortunate young man the +piece went off, and the contents, entering at his wrist, forced their way +up between the two bones of his right arm, which were much shattered, to +the elbow. Mr. Beckwith, by a very happy presence of mind, applying +bandages torn from a shirt, succeeded in stopping the vast effusion of +blood which ensued, or his patient must soon have bled to death. This +accident happened at five in the afternoon, and it was not till ten +o'clock at night of the following day that Mr. Burton was brought into +Parramatta. The consequence was, such a violent fever and inflammation +had taken place that any attempt to save life by amputation would only +have hastened his end. In the night of the 12th the mortification came +on, and he died the following morning, leaving behind him, what he +universally enjoyed while living, the esteem and respect of all who knew +him. + +A person of a far different character and description met with an +accidental death the following day. He had been employed to take some +provisions to a settler who occupied a farm on the creek leading to +Parramatta, and was killed by a blow from the limb of a tree, which fell +on his head and fractured his skull, without having allowed him that time +for repentance of which a sinful life stood so much in need. His +companions and fellow prisoners (for he was a convict) declared him to +have been so great a reprobate, that he was scarcely ever known to speak +without an oath, or without calling on his Maker as a witness to the +truth of the lie he was about to utter. + +The weather had been for some days extremely bad, heavy storms of wind +and rain having generally prevailed from Monday the 9th till Friday the +13th, when fair weather succeeded. At Parramatta the gale had done much +damage; several huts which were built in low grounds were rendered almost +inaccessible, and the greater part of the wattled huts suffered +considerably. A large portion of the cleared ground was laid under water, +and such corn as had not been reaped was beaten down. At Sydney the +effects of the storm, though it had been equally violent, were not so +severe. Most of the houses were rendered damp, and had leaks in different +parts; seeds which had been recently sown were washed out of the ground, +and the bridge over the stream was somewhat injured. In the woods it had +raged with much violence; the people employed to kill game reported that +it was dangerous to walk in the forests; and the ground, covered with +huge limbs or whole trunks of trees, confirmed the truth of their report. + +The bricklayers were immediately sent up to Parramatta, to repair the +damages effected by the storm; and the bridge at Sydney was not only +repaired, but considerably widened. + +On Saturday the 13th an alteration took place in the ration. Three pounds +of flour, and two pounds of maize, with four pounds of pork, were served +to each man, and three pounds of flour, and one pound of maize, with four +pounds of pork, were served to each woman in the settlement.The children +received the usual proportion. To such alterations the settlement had now +for some years been habituated; and although it was well known that they +never were imposed but when the state of the stores rendered them +absolutely necessary, it was impossible to meet the deduction without +reflecting, that the established ration would have been adequate to every +want; the plea of hunger could not have been advanced as the motive and +excuse for thefts; and disease would not have met so powerful an ally in +its ravages among the debilitated and emaciated objects which the gaols +had crowded into transports, and the transports had landed in these +settlements. + +The works in hand were, building brick huts at Sydney for convicts, +consisting of two apartments, each hut being twenty-six feet in front, +and fourteen feet in width, and intended to contain ten people, with a +suitable allotment of garden ground; completing tanks for water; widening +the bridge, etc. One day in each week was dedicated to issuing +provisions, and the labour of the other five (with interruptions from bad +weather, and the plea of the reduced ration) did not amount in all to +three good working days. + +At Parramatta the principal labour was the getting in and housing the +maize, and preparing ground for the next year's grain. The foundations of +two material buildings were laid, a town-hall and an hospital. The +town-hall was intended to include a market-place for the sale of grain, +fish, poultry, live stock, wearing apparel, and every other article that +convicts might purchase or sell. An order establishing this regulation +had been given out at Parramatta, and a clerk of the market appointed to +register every commodity that was brought for sale or barter; directing, +in the case of non-compliance, the forfeiture both of the purchase-money +and of the article, to be given, one moiety to the informer, and the +other to the hospital for the benefit of the sick. + +This order was meant to prevent the selling or interchanging of stolen +goods among the convicts; a measure that appeared to be daily becoming +more necessary. The depredations which were committed, hourly it might be +said, upon the maize, were very serious, and called for the interposition +of some measure that might prevent them, as punishments, however severe, +were not found effectually to answer the end. A convict who lived as a +servant with an officer was tried by the criminal court for robbing his +master, and being found guilty was sentenced to receive three hundred +lashes. + +The colony had now been so long established, that many convicts who had +come out in the first fleet, and might be termed the first settlers in +the country, had served the several terms of transportation to which they +had been sentenced. Of the people of this description, some had become +settlers; some had left the country; others, to use their own +expressions, had taken themselves off the stores, that is to say, had +declined receiving any farther provisions from the public stores or doing +any public labour, but derived their support from such settlers or other +persons as could employ and maintain them; while others, with somewhat +more discretion, continued to labour for government, and to receive +their provisions as usual from the commissary. Of the latter description, +fourteen who were indulged with the choice of the place where they were +to labour, preferred the settlement at Sydney, and there had one hut +assigned to them for their residence. To prevent any imposition on the +part of those who professed to be supported by settlers, they were +directed to render an account at the end of each week of their respective +employments; for people who had not any visible means of living would +soon have become nuisances in the settlement. + +It required something more than common application to adapt remedies to +the various irregularities which from time to time grew up in the +settlement, and something more than common ingenuity to counteract the +artifices of those whose meditations were hourly directed to schemes of +evasion or depredation. + +The natives had not lately given us any interruption by acts of +hostility. Several of their young people continued to reside among us, +and the different houses in the town were frequently visited by their +relations. Very little information that could be depended upon respecting +their manners and customs was obtained through this intercourse; and it +was observed, that they conversed with us in a mutilated and incorrect +language formed entirely on our imperfect knowledge and improper +application of their words. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + + +Mortality in April +Appearance and state of the convicts +Ration again reduced +Quantity of flour in store +Settlers +State of transactions with the natives +Indian corn stolen +Public works +Average prices of grain, etc at Sydney, and at Parramatta +Mortality decreases +King's birthday +The _Atlantic_ returns from Bengal +Account received of Bryant and his companions +Ration farther reduced +_Atlantic_ cleared +Sheep-pens at Parramatta attempted +Quality of provisions received from Calcutta +The _Brittania_ arrives from England +Ration increased +A convict emancipated +Public works + + +May.] The mortality in the last month had been extremely great. +Distressing as it was, however, to see the poor wretches daily dropping +into the grave, it was far more afflicting to observe the countenances +and emaciated persons of many that remained soon to follow their +miserable companions. Every step was taken that could be devised to save +them; a fishery was established at the South Head, exclusively for the +use of the sick, under the direction of one Barton, who had been formerly +a pilot, and who, in addition to this duty, was to board all ships coming +into the harbour and pilot them to the settlement. The different people +who were employed by individuals to kill game were given up for the use +of the hospital; and to stimulate them to exertion, two pounds of flour +in addition to the ration were ordered for every kangaroo that they +should bring, beside the head, one forequarter, and the pluck of the +animal. + +The weakest of the convicts were excused from any kind of hard labour; +but it was not hard labour that destroyed them; it was an entire want of +strength in the constitution to receive nourishment, to throw off the +debility that pervaded their whole system, or to perform any sort of +labour whatever. + +This dreadful mortality was chiefly confined to the convicts who had +arrived in the last year; of one hundred and twenty-two male convicts who +came out in the _Queen_ transport from Ireland, fifty only were living at +the beginning of this month. The different robberies which were committed +were also confined to this class of the convicts, and the wretches who +were concerned in the commission of them were in general too weak to +receive a punishment adequate to their crimes. Their universal plea was +hunger; but it was a plea that in the then situation of the colony could +not be so much attended to as it certainly would have been in a country +of greater plenty. + +The quantity of Indian corn stolen and destroyed this season was not +ascertained, but was supposed to have been at least one sixth of what was +raised. The people employed in bringing it in daily reported that they +found immense piles of the husks and stalks concealed in the midst of +what was standing, having been there shelled and taken off at different +times. This was a very serious loss, and became an object of immediate +consideration in such a scarcity as the colony then experienced; most +anxiously it expected supplies from England, which did not arrive, though +the time had elapsed in which they should have appeared had their +departure taken place at the period mentioned by the secretary of state +(the autumn of last year). His excellency therefore thought it prudent +still farther to abridge the ration of flour which was then issued; and +on the 9th of the month directed the commissary to serve weekly, until +further orders, one pound and an half of flour with four pounds of maize +to each man; and one pound and an half of flour with three pounds of +maize to each woman, and to every child ten years of age; but made no +alteration in the ration of salt provisions. + +This ration was to take place on Saturday the 12th; and as maize or +Indian corn was now necessarily become the principal part of each +person's subsistence, hand-mills and querns were set to work to grind it +coarse for every person both at Sydney and at Parramatta; and at this +latter place, wooden mortars, with a lever and a pestle, were also used +to break the corn, and these pounded it much finer than it could be +ground by the hand-mills; but it was effected with great labour. + +On comparing this ration with that issued in the month of April 1790, it +will appear that the allowance then received from the public store was in +most respects better than that now ordered. We then received, in addition +to two pounds and a half of flour, two pounds of rice, which taken +together yielded more nutritive substance than the four pounds of maize +and one pound and a half of flour; for the maize when perfectly ground, +sifted, and divested of the unwholesome and unprofitable part, the husk, +would not give more than three pounds of good meal; and the rice was used +by the convicts in a much greater variety of modes than it was possible +to prepare the maize in. + +As at this period the flour in store was reduced to a very inconsiderable +quantity, twenty-four days at the new ration (one pound and a half per +week), and the salt provisions at the present ration not affording a +supply for a longer time than three months, it became a melancholy, +although natural reflection, that had not such numbers died, both in the +passage and since the landing of those who survived the voyage, we should +not at this moment have had any thing to receive from the public stores; +thus strangely did we derive a benefit from the miseries of our fellow +creatures! + +Several of the settlers who had farms at or near Parramatta, +notwithstanding the extreme drought of the season preceding the saving of +their corn, had such crops that they found themselves enabled to take off +from the public store, some one, and others two convicts, to assist in +preparing their grounds for the next season. The salt provisions with +which they supplied them they procured by bartering their corn for that +article, reserving a sufficiency for the support of themselves and +families, and for seed. Mr. Schaffer from a small patch of ground got in +about two hundred bushels of Indian corn; and with the assistance of four +convicts expected to have thirty acres in cultivation the next season. +But others of the settlers, inattentive to their own interests, and more +desirous of acquiring for the present what they deemed comforts, than +studious to provide for the future, not only neglected the cultivation of +their lands, but sold the breeding stock with which they had been +supplied by order of the governor. Two settlers of the former description +having clearly forfeited their grants, and it being understood that they +did not intend to proceed to cultivation any further than to save +appearances till they could get away, their grants were taken from them, +and other settlers placed on the grounds. But exclusive of the idle +people, of which there were but few, the settlers were found in general +to be doing very well, their farms promising to place them shortly in a +state of independence on the public stores in the articles of provisions +and grain; and it must not be omitted in this account, that they had to +combat with the bad effects of a short and reduced ration nearly the +whole of the time that they had been employed in cultivating ground on +their own account. + +Many complaints having been made by the settlers, of depredations +committed on their Indian corn by some of the convicts, it was ordered, +that every convict residing at Parramatta, who should be fully convicted +before a magistrate of stealing Indian corn, should, in addition to such +corporal punishment as he might think it necessary to adjudge, be sent +from Parramatta to the New Grounds, there to be employed in cultivation. +Mr. Richard Atkins, who came out in the Pitt, and who had been sworn a +Justice of the peace, went up to Parramatta to reside there, the constant +presence of a magistrate being deemed by the governor indispensable at +that settlement. + +It was soon perceived, that the punishment of being sent from Parramatta +was more dreaded by the convicts than any corporal correction, however +severe, that could have been inflicted on them. The being deprived of a +comfortable hut and garden, and quitting a place whence the communication +with Sydney was frequent, particularly when shipping were in the cove, +operated so powerfully with one offender, who was ordered out to the New +Grounds, that he chose rather to make an attempt to destroy himself than +be sent thither; and had very nearly effected his purpose, having made an +incision in his neck of such depth as to lay bare the carotid artery. + +In addition to the depredations of our own people, the natives had for +some time been suspected of stealing the corn at the settlements beyond +Parramatta. On the 18th a party of the tribe inhabiting the woods, to the +number of fifteen or sixteen, was observed coming out of a hut at the +middle settlement, dressed in such clothing as they found there, and +taking with them a quantity of corn in nets. The person who saw them +imagined at first from their appearance that they were convicts; but +perceiving one of them preparing to throw a spear at him, he levelled his +piece, which was loaded with small shot, and fired at him. The native +instantly dropped his spear, and the whole party ran away, leaving behind +them the nets with the corn, some blankets, and one or two spears. It was +supposed that the native was wounded; for in a few days information was +received from Parramatta, that a convict who was employed in well-digging +at Prospect Hill, having come in from thence to receive some slops which +were issued, was on his return met midway and murdered, or rather +butchered by some of the natives. When the body was found, it was not +quite cold, and had at least thirty spear wounds in it. The head was cut +in several places, and most of the teeth were knocked out. They had taken +his clothing and provisions, and the provisions of another man which he +was carrying out to him. The natives with whom we had intercourse said, +that this murder was committed by some of the people who inhabited the +woods, and was done probably in revenge for the shot that was fired at +the natives who some time before were stripping the hut. + +Toward the end of the month the corn was all got in and housed at +Parramatta. As the grounds were cleared of the stalks, the depredations +which had been committed became visible; and several of the convicts were +detected by the night-watch in bringing in large quantities of shelled +corn which had been stolen, buried or concealed in the woods, and shelled +as they could find opportunity. Seven bushels were recovered in one night +by the vigilance of the watch; and as different quantities were found +from time to time in the huts, the people who resided in them were all +ordered to the New Grounds. + +The works during this month, both at Sydney and at Parramatta, went on +but slowly. At Sydney a tank that would contain about seven thousand nine +hundred and ninety-six gallons of water, with a well in the centre +fifteen feet deep, was finished, and the water let into it. Brick huts +were in hand for the convicts in room of the miserable hovels occupied by +many, which had been put up at their first landing, and in room of others +which, from having been erected on such ground as was then cleared, were +now found to interfere with the direction of the streets which the +governor was laying out. People were also employed in cutting paling for +fencing in their gardens. At Parramatta and the New Grounds, during the +greatest part of the month, the people were employed in getting in the +maize and sowing wheat. A foundation for an hospital was laid, a house +built for the master carpenter, and roofs prepared for the different huts +either building, or to be built in future. + +The following were the prices of grain and other articles, as they were +sold during this month at Sydney, and at the market-place at Parramatta. + +AT SYDNEY + +Flour from 6d to 1s per lb. +Maize per bushel from 12s 6d to 15s. +Laying hens from 7s to 10s each. +Cocks for killing from 4s to 7s each. +Half grown chickens from 2s 6d to 3s 6d each. +Chickens six weeks old 1s each. +Eggs 3s per dozen, or 3d a-piece. +Fresh pork 1s per lb. +Potatoes 3d per lb. +Good white heart cabbages 1d each. +Greens per dozen 6d. +Turnips 6d per dozen. +Sows in pig from £4 10s to £6 6s. +Sows just taken the boar from £3 to £4 4s. +Growing pigs from £1 to £2 10s each. +Sucking pigs 10s each. +Moist sugar from 1s 6d to 2s 6d per lb. +Coffee 2s to 2s 6d per lb. +Salt pork per lb. from 8d to 9d. +Tobacco, Brazil, per lb. from 3s to 5s. + +AT PARRAMATTA + +Flour 1s per lb. +Maize per bushel from 11s to 13s. +Laying hens from 7s 6d to 10s each. +Cocks for killing from 4s 6d to 5s each. +Chickens two months old 3s each. +Eggs per dozen 3s. +Fresh pork per lb. from 1s 1d to 1s 3d. +Salt pork per lb. from 10d to 1s. +Potatoes per lb. from 3d to 4d. +A lot of cabbages, per hundred 10s. +Tea per lb. from 16s to £1 1s. +Coffee per lb. from 2s to 3s. +Moist sugar from 2s to 2s 6d per lb. +Tobacco grown in the country from 1s 6d to 2s per lb. +Virginia or Brazil from 4s to 6s. +Soap from 1s 6d to 2s 6d per lb. +Cheese from 1s 6d to 2s per lb. + +June.] With infinite satisfaction it was observed at the beginning of the +month, that the mortality and sickness among the people had very much +decreased. This was attributed by the medical gentlemen to the quantities +of fresh meat which had been obtained at Parramatta by the people who +were employed to shoot for the hospital; a sufficiency having been +brought in at one time to supply the sick with fresh meat for a week; and +for the remainder of the month in the proportion of twice or three times +a week. Great quantities of vegetables had also been given to those who +were in health, as well as to the sick, both from the public ground at +the farther settlement (which had been sown, and produced some most +excellent turnips) and from the governor's garden. + +4th.] The anniversary of his Majesty's birthday was observed with as much +distinction as was in our power. The governor always wished to celebrate +that day in the year in a manner that should render it welcome to all +descriptions of people in the different settlements. Heretofore on the +same occasion he had increased the ration of provisions; but the +situation of the public stores not admitting of such increase at the +present, the commissary was directed to issue on that day half a pint of +rum to each person of the civil and military department, and a quarter of +a pint of rum to each female in the settlement. At noon the New South +Wales corps fired three volleys, and the governor received the +compliments of the day; after which the officers of each department were +entertained by his Excellency at dinner at government-house. Bonfires +were made at night, and the day concluded joyfully, without any +interruption to the peace of the settlement. + +The small allowance of spirits which was given for the day to the +convalescents, and to such sick in the hospital as the surgeon judged +proper, being found of infinite service to them, the governor directed +that the surgeon should receive a certain quantity, and at his discretion +issue it from time to time to such sick under his care as he thought +would derive benefit from it; the remainder was ordered to be reserved +for the use of the sloop when it might be necessary to send her to sea. +The spirits at this time in the colony were the surplus of what had been +sent out for his majesty's ship _Sirius_, and the _Supply_ armed tender. + + As it had been customary too, on this day, to grant a pardon to such +offenders as might be in custody or under sentence of corporal +punishment, his Excellency was pleased a few days after to release such +convicts as were sentenced to work in irons for a limited time at +Parramatta and the New Grounds, and who were not very notorious +offenders. This lenity was the rather shown at this time, as the +convicts were in general giving proofs of a greater disposition to +honesty than had for some time been visible among them. The convicts at +the New Grounds being assembled for this purpose, the governor +acquainted them, 'that the state of the colony requiring a still farther +reduction in the ration, it would very shortly take place; but that he +hoped soon to have it in his power to augment it. The deficiencies in +the established ration, he informed them, should at a future period be +made up; but in the meantime he expected that every man would continue +to exert himself and get the corn into the ground to insure support for +the next year.' Indeed these exertions became every day more necessary. +On the 6th of this month there was only a sufficiency of flour in store +to serve till the 2nd of July, and salt provisions till the 6th of +August following, at the ration then issued; and neither the _Atlantic_ +storeship from Calcutta, nor the expected supplies from England, had +arrived. + +Notwithstanding the mortality and sickness which had prevailed among the +convicts who came out in the last ships, much labour had been performed +at the New Grounds by those who were capable of handling the hoe and the +spade. At this time the quantity of ground in wheat, and cleared and +broken up for maize, there and at Parramatta, was such as (if not visited +again by a dry season) would at least, computing the produce even at what +it was the last year, yield a sufficiency of grain for all our numbers +for a twelvemonth. But every one doubted the possibility of getting all +the corn into the ground within the proper time, unless the colony should +be very speedily relieved from its distresses, as the reduction in the +ration would inevitably be followed by a diminution of the daily labour. + +On the 20th however, to the inexpressible joy of all ranks of people in +the settlements, the _Atlantic_ storeship anchored safely in the cove, +with a cargo of rice, soujee, and dholl, from Calcutta, having been much +longer performing her voyage than was expected, owing to some delays at +Calcutta, in settling and arranging the contract for the supply of +provisions which had been required. The merchants who, in the year 1790, +had made a tender to supply this colony with certain articles at a +stipulated price, were, from several concurring circumstances, unable to +furnish what was required by Lieutenant Bowen, agreeable to the prices +then stipulated; it was therefore determined by the members of the +council at Calcutta, to whom Lieutenant Bowen delivered his letters and +instructions (Earl Cornwallis, who had, several months previous to his +arrival, been desired by the secretary of state to direct any supplies +which might be required for this settlement, being absent with the army), +to invite offers for supplying the different articles which were required +by contract. Lieutenant Bowen arrived at Calcutta on the 4th of February, +and it was not till the 27th of the following month that the business was +finally arranged, and a contract entered into by the house of Lambert, +Ross, and Co. satisfactory to the council and to Lieutenant Bowen. + +It appearing that the flour of Bengal, unless it was dressed for the +purpose, which would have taken a great deal of time, was not of a +quality to keep even for the voyage from Calcutta to this country a large +proportion of rice, of that sort which was said to be the fittest for +preservation, was purchased. A small quantity of flour too was put on +board, but merely for the purpose of experiment. It was called soujee by +the natives, but was much inferior in quality to the flour prepared in +Europe, and more difficult to make into bread. + +The _Atlantic_ left Calcutta the 28th of March, and on her passage met +with much bad weather, and some heavy gales of wind. She brought two +bulls and a cow of the Bengal breed, together with twenty sheep and +twenty goats; but these were of so diminutive a species, that, unless the +breed could be considerably improved by that already in the country, very +little benefit was for a length of time to be expected from their +importation. Various seeds and plants also were received from the +company's botanical garden; and much commendation was due to Colonel +Kydd, the gentleman who superintended the selection and arrangement of +them for the voyage; as well as to Lieutenant Bowen, for his care, and +for the accommodation which he gave up, both to them and to the cattle, +in the cabin of the ship. + +Information was received by the Calcutta papers of the loss of his +Majesty's ship _Pandora_, Captain Edwards, who had been among the +Friendly islands in search of Christian and his piratical crew, fourteen +of whom he had secured, and was returning with the purpose of surveying +Endeavour Straits pursuant to his instructions, when he unfortunately +struck upon a reef in latitude 23 degrees S eleven degrees only to the +northward of this port. By his boats he providentially reached Timor with +ninety-nine of his officers and people, being the whole of his ship's +company which were saved. At Timor, on his arrival, he found Bryant and +his companions, who made their escape from this place in the fishing +cutter in the night of the 28th of March 1791. These people had framed +and told a plausible tale of distress, of their having been cast away at +sea; and this for a time was believed; but they soon, by their language +to each other, and by practising the tricks of their former profession, +gave room for suspicion; and being taken up, their true characters and +the circumstances of their escape were divulged. The Dutch governor of +Timor delivered them to Captain Edwards, who took them on with him to +Batavia, whence he was to proceed to England. The circumstance of these +people having reached Timor confirmed what was suggested immediately +after their departure, that the master of the snow _Waaksamheyd_ had +furnished Bryant with instructions how to proceed, and with every thing +he stood in need of for his voyage; and it must be remembered, that +though this man, during his stay in this port, had constantly said that +every sort of refreshment was to be procured at Timor, yet when Captain +Hunter, while at sea, proposed to steer for that island, he declared that +nothing was to be got there, and so prevented that officer from going +thither. There cannot be a doubt that, expecting to find his friends at +Timor, he did not choose either to endanger them, or risk a discovery of +the part he had acted in aiding their escape. + +Had it not been for the fortunate discovery and subsequent delivery of +these people to a captain of a British man of war, the evident +practicability of reaching Timor in an open boat might have operated with +others to make the attempt, and to carry off boats from the settlements; +which, during the absence of the king's ships belonging to the station, +was never difficult; and it was now hoped, that the certainty of every +boat which should reach that or any other Dutch settlement under similar +circumstances being suspected and received accordingly, would have its +due effect here. + +The supply of provisions received by the Atlantic being confined to +grain, it became necessary to reduce the ration of salt meat. It was +therefore ordered on the 21st, that after the Friday following only two +pounds of pork should be issued in lieu of four. The allowance of one +pound and a half of flour and four pounds of maize was continued, but one +pound of rice and one quart of peas were added. + +The general order given out on this occasion stated, + +That the arrival of ships with further supplies of provisions might be +daily looked for; but as it was possible that some unforeseen accident +might have happened to the ships which were expected to have sailed from +England shortly after the departure of the _Pitt_, it became necessary to +reduce the ration of provisions then issued, in order that the quantity +in store might hold out till the arrival of those ships, which might be +supposed to have sailed for this country about the months of January or +February last; it having been the intention of government that ships +should sail from England for this colony twice in every year. And as all +deficiencies in the ration were to be made good hereafter, the following +extract from the instructions which fixed the ration for the colony was +inserted, viz + +Ration for each marine and male convict for seven days successively: 7 +pounds of bread, or in lieu thereof 7 pounds of flour; 7 pounds of beef, +or in lieu thereof 4 pounds of pork; 3 pints of peas; 6 ounces of butter; +1 pound of flour, or in lieu thereof half a pound of rice: + +Being the same as are allowed his Majesty's troops serving in the +West-India Islands, excepting only the allowance of spirits. + +And two thirds of the above ration were directed to be issued to each +woman in the settlement. + +So far the general order. + +As, however, a sufficient quantity of rice could not be landed in time to +issue on the Saturday, one pound of maize was issued in lieu of the same +quantity of rice. + +At this ration the rice and flour or soujee were calculated to last five +months; and the peas or dholl for nearly a twelvemonth. But if the +_Atlantic_ had not arrived, the prospect in the colony would have been +truly dreary and distressing; as it was intended to have issued only one +pound and a half of flour, three pounds of maize, and two pounds of pork +per week, on Saturday the 23rd; a ration that would have derived very +little assistance from vegetables, as at that season of the year the +gardens had scarcely any thing in them. Gloomy and unpromising, however, +as was the situation of the settlements before her arrival, that event, +which happened the very day on which, two years before, the colony had +been relieved by the arrival of the _Justinian_ storeship, cast a gleam +of sunshine which penetrated everyone capable of reflection, and, by +effecting a sudden change in the ideas, operated so powerfully on the +mind, that we all felt alike, and found it impossible to sit for one +minute seriously down to any business or accustomed pursuit. + +A black, the same who had secreted himself on board the _Supply_ when she +went to Batavia, having found means to conceal himself on board the +_Atlantic_ on her departure for Calcutta, and to remain concealed until +she had left Norfolk Island, was brought back again to the settlement, +notwithstanding he endeavoured to escape from the ship in the Ganges. As +it appeared that he had served the term for which he was sentenced to be +transported even before he got off on board the _Atlantic_, of which +Lieutenant Bowen had only his assertion, no punishment was inflicted upon +him, and he was left at liberty to get away in any ship that would +receive him on board. + +The little live stock that was received by the _Atlantic_ was landed at +Parramatta directly after her arrival, and placed in an inclosure +separated from the others. + +About two hundred and fifty gallons of Bengal rum having been received, +the governor directed, that in consequence of the ration being reduced, +that quantity, together with what was in store, and had been intended for +the use of the sloop at a future time, should be issued to the civil and +military, reserving a proportion for those at Norfolk Island. + +The flag-staff which had been erected at the South Head under the +direction of Captain Hunter, in the month of January 1790, being found +too short to show the signal at any great distance, a new one was taken +down the harbour, and erected the day the _Atlantic_ arrived, within a +few feet of the other; its height above ground was sixty feet. + +It was not found that the return of the _Atlantic_ had caused any +diminution in the price of grain or stock, either at Parramatta or at +Sydney. At this latter place a market had been established for the sale +of grain, fish, or poultry, similar to that at Parramatta; a clerk being +appointed to superintend it, and take account of the different articles +brought for sale, to prevent the barter of goods stolen by the convicts. + +On the last day of the month, some natives residing at the south shore of +Botany Bay, whether from a hope of reward, or from actually having seen +some ships at a distance, informed the governor that a few days before +they had perceived four or five sail, one of which they described to be +larger than the others, standing off the land, with a westerly wind. +Little credit was however given to their report. + +July.] As the merchants who supplied the provisions received by the +_Atlantic_ were only to be paid for such part of the cargo as was +actually landed, and found to be in a merchantable condition, it became +necessary to weigh and survey the whole of the cargo; for which purpose +two surveyors were appointed by the governor. This of course proved a +very tedious business, from the weakness of the gangs at Sydney. Seldom +more than four hundred bags, each bag containing one hundred and +sixty-four pounds, were at first landed in a day; latterly, this number +was by great exertions got up to somewhat more than five hundred in a +day. It was not, however, till the 21st of the month that she was +cleared. + +Having discharged her cargo, she began the serious labour of ballasting, +and it being wished to expedite her preparations for Norfolk Island, her +ship's company were assisted with twelve convicts from the settlement, +and the occasional use of such boats as could be spared to convey the +ballast to the ship. The governor was anxious to learn the state of that +dependency, not having heard from it since the return of the _Queen_ +transport early in the last December. + +The maize being all got in, it was hoped that the convicts would not find +any new object for their depredations, and that order and tranquillity +would for a time at least be restored among them. But the houses of +individuals soon became their prey, and three or four daring burglaries +were committed this month: I say daring burglaries, as the houses which +were broken into were either within the view of a sentinel, or within the +round of a watchman. This, however, must not be otherwise understood than +as a proof of the perseverance and cunning of these people, who could +find means to elude any vigilance that was opposed to their designs. An +attempt to steal some of the sheep at Parramatta was also made by two +notorious offenders, who, from being deemed incorrigible, were not +included in the pardon which the governor granted to the wretches in +irons after his Majesty's birthday, but were ordered to be chained +together for some longer time. Being fortunately overheard by the person +who lived in the inclosure, and had the care of the stock, he snapped a +piece at them, and, finding it miss fire, gave an alarm to the watch, by +whose activity they were apprehended two miles from the place. They were +provided with every thing necessary for their design, such as a tomahawk, +an iron kettle, knives, spoons, platters, and a quantity of vegetables. +It was found, that with the assistance of the tomahawk they had divided +the chain that linked them together, and had secured round the leg the +iron that remained with each, so as not to be heard when they moved. + +The different species of provisions which had been received from Calcutta +were not much esteemed by the people. The flour or soujee, from our not +knowing the proper mode of preparing it for bread, soon became sour, +particularly if not assisted with some other grain; the dholl, or peas, +were complained of as boiling hard, and not breaking, though kept on the +fire for a greater length of time than the impatience of those who were +to use it would in general admit of; and the rice, though termed the best +of the cargo, was found to be full of husks, and ill dressed. Some pork +also, of which eight casks had been sent as an experiment, was, on being +issued, found to be for the most part putrid, and, in the language of +surveyors of provisions, not fit for men to eat. These circumstances, +together with the extreme minuteness of the Bengal breed of cattle, +excited a general hope, that these settlements would not have to depend +upon that country for supplies. To the parent country every one anxiously +looked for a speedy and substantial assistance; and day after day used to +pass in a fruitless hope that the morrow would come accompanied with the +long wished-for arrival of ships. + +The natives who lived among us assured us from time to time, that the +report formerly propagated of ships having been seen on the coast had a +foundation in reality; and as every one remembered that the _Justinian_, +after making the heads of Port Jackson, had been kept at sea for three +weeks, a fond hope was cherished that the sun had shone upon the whitened +sails of some approaching vessel, which had been discovered by the +penetrating eyes of our savage neighbours at Botany Bay. In this anxiety +and expectation we remained till the 26th, when the long-wished-for +signal was made, and in a few hours after the _Britannia_ storeship, +Mr. William Raven master, anchored in the cove, after a passage of +twenty-three weeks from Falmouth, having sailed from thence on the 15th +of last February, the day after the arrival of the _Pitt_ in this country. + +The _Britannia_ was the first of three ships that were to be dispatched +hither, having on board twelve months clothing for the convicts, four +months flour, and eight months beef and pork for every description of +persons in the settlements, at full allowance, calculating their numbers +at four thousand six hundred and thirty-nine, which it was at home +supposed they might amount to after the arrival of the _Pitt_. It was +still a matter of uncertainty in England, even at the departure of the +_Britannia_, whether the merchants of Calcutta had supplied this country +with provisions; and under the idea that some circumstance might have +prevented them, this supply was ordered to be forwarded. The _Kitty_ +transport, one of the three ships which were to contain these supplies, +had sailed from Deptford, at the time the _Britannia_ passed through the +Downs; her arrival therefore might be daily expected, and in her, or on +board of the other ship, it was imagined that fifteen families of +Quakers, who had made proposals to government to be received in this +country as settlers, were to take their passage. + +It was with great pleasure heard in the colony, that some steps had been +taken toward prosecuting Donald Trail, the master of the _Neptune_ +transport, for his treatment of the convicts with which he sailed from +England for this settlement in the year 1790. The sickness and mortality +which prevailed among them excited a suspicion that they had been +improperly treated; and information upon oath was soon procured of many +acts of neglect, ill usage, and cruelty toward them. + +In the consequence of the arrival of the _Britannia_, the commissary was +on the following day directed to issue, _until further orders_, the +following weekly ration, viz to each man 4 pounds of maize, 3 pounds of +soujee, 7 pounds of beef, or in lieu thereof 4 lbs. of pork, 3 pints of +peas or dholl, and ½ a pound of rice. + +Two thirds of the man's ration was directed to be issued to each woman +and to every child above ten years of age; one half of the man's ration +to each child above two, and under ten years of age; and one fourth of +the man's ration to each child under two years of age. + +Thus happily was the colony once more put upon something like a full +ration of provisions; a change in our situation that gave universal +satisfaction, as at the hour of the arrival of the _Britannia_ there were +in the public store only twenty-four days salt provisions for the +settlement at the ration then issued. A delay of a month in her voyage +would have placed the colony in a state that must have excited the +commiseration of its greatest enemies; a vast body of hard-working people +depending for their support upon one pound and a half of soujee, or bad +Bengal flour, four pounds of maize, one pound of rice, and one quart of +peas for one man per week, without one ounce of meat! But with this new +ration all entertained new hopes, and trusted that their future labours +would be crowned with success, and that the necessity of sending out +supplies from the mother country until the colony could support itself +without assistance would have become so evident from the frequency of our +distresses and the reduction of the ration, that the journalist would no +longer have occasion to fill his page with comparisons between what we +might have been and what we were; to lament the non arrival of supplies; +nor to paint the miseries and wretchedness which ensued; but might adopt +a language to which he might truly be said to have been hitherto a +stranger, and paint the glowing prospects of a golden harvest, the +triumph of a well-filled store, and the increasing and consequent +prosperity of the settlements. + +His excellency this month thought fit to exercise the power vested in him +by act of parliament, and by his Majesty's commission under the great +seal, of remitting either wholly, or in part, the term for which felons +might be transported, by granting an absolute remission of the term for +which Elizabeth Perry had been sentenced. This woman came out in the +_Neptune_ in 1790, and had married James Ruse a settler. The good conduct +of the wife, and the industry of the husband, who had for some time +supported himself, his wife, a child, and two convicts, independent of +the public store, were the reasons assigned in the instrument which +restored her to her rights and privileges as a free woman, for extending +to her the hand of forgiveness. + +This power, so pleasing to the feelings of its possessor, had hitherto +been very sparingly exercised; and those persons who had felt its +influence were not found to have been undeserving. I speak only of such +convicts as had been deemed proper objects of this favour by the governor +himself; the convicts, however, who came out in the _Guardian_ were +emancipated by the King's command, and of these by far the greater part +conducted themselves with propriety. + +Preparing roofs for new barracks, bringing in bricks to the spot +appointed for their construction, and discharging the _Atlantic_ and the +_Britannia_, were the principal works in hand at Sydney during the month. +At the settlements beyond Parramatta (which had lately obtained and were +in future to be distinguished by the name of Toongabbie) the convicts +were employed in preparing the ground for the reception of next year's +crop of maize. At and near Parramatta, the chief business was erecting +two houses on allotments of land which belonged to Mr. Arndell the +assistant surgeon, and to John Irving (one of those persons whose +exemplary conduct and meritorious behaviour both in this country and on +the passage to it had been rewarded with unconditional freedom by the +governor), each of whom had been put in possession, the former of sixty +and the latter of thirty acres of land on the creek leading to +Parramatta; erecting chimneys for the different settlers at the ponds, +preparing roofs for various buildings, sawing timber, cutting posts and +railing for inclosures, and hoeing and preparing ground for maize. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + + +The _Britannia_ cleared +Survey of provisions +Total of cargo received from Bengal +_Atlantic_ sails with provisions for Norfolk Island +Transactions +General behaviour of convicts +Criminal Courts +Prisoner pardoned conditionally +Another acquitted +New barracks begun +Thefts +The _Atlantic_ returns from Norfolk Island +Information +Settlers there discontented +Principal works +The _Britannia_ taken up by the officers of the New South Wales Corps +to procure stock +The _Royal Admiral_ East Indiaman arrives from England +Regulations at the store +A Burglary committed +Criminal Court +The _Britannia_ sails +Shops opened +Bad conduct of some settlers +Oil issued +Slops served +Governor Phillip signifies his intention of returning to England + + +August.] The Britannia was cleared, and discharged from government +employ, on the 17th of this month. A deficiency appearing in the weight +of the salt provisions delivered from that ship, a survey was immediately +ordered; and it appeared from the report of the persons employed to +conduct it, and who from their situations were well qualified to judge, +Mr. Bowen, a lieutenant in the navy, and Mr. Raven, the commander of the +_Britannia_ and a master of a man of war, that the casks of beef were +deficient, on an average, thirty-six pounds and one-third, and the +tierces twenty-one pounds and one-third. It also appeared that the meat +was lean, coarse, and boney, and worse than they have ever been issued in +his Majesty's service. A deception of this nature would be more severely +felt in this country, as its inhabitants had but lately experienced a +change from a very short ration of salt provisions; and every ounce lost +here was of importance, as the supply had been calculated on a +supposition of each cask containing its full weight. + +It having been covenanted, as already mentioned, by Messrs. Lambert, +Ross, and Company, that only such part of the cargo as on its arrival +here should be found to be in a merchantable state should be paid for, +the following quantity, having been deemed merchantable by the persons +appointed to take the survey, was received into the store; viz + + Tons Cwt Qrs lbs +Rice 190 3 2 3 +Dholl 152 18 2 13 +Peas 15 9 2 23 +Soujee 57 3 0 4 +Wheat 1 15 1 24 + --------------------- +Total of Grain 417 10 1 11 + --------------------- +[28lb=1qr, 4qr=1cwt, 20cwt=1ton. 67lb=2qr+11lb, etc.] + +Eight casks of pork (as an experiment) from Lambert and Company; and two +casks of rum containing one hundred and twenty-six gallons, supplied at +3s per gallon. Four casks of flour, and four casks of soujee from Mr. +Cockraine (sent likewise as an experiment) were also received into the +store. + +The unmerchantable articles, consisting of soujee, dholl, and rice, were +sold at public auction; and though wholly unfit for men to eat, yet being +not too bad for stock, were quickly purchased, and in general went off at +a great price. Several lots, consisting of five bags of the soujee, each +bag containing about one hundred and fourteen pounds, sold for £4 14s. +The whole quantity of damaged grain which was thus disposed of amounted +to nine hundred and ninety-one bags, and sold for £373 9s making a most +desirable and acceptable provision for the private stock in the colony. +For this sum of £373 9s credit was given to the merchants at the final +settling of the account; at which time it appeared, that the whole of the +_Atlantic's_ cargo of rice, dholl, peas, soujee, wheat, and rum, which +was to be paid for by government, amounted to the sum of £7538 14s 4d. + +This cargo might be termed an experiment, to which it was true we were +driven by necessity; and it had become the universal and earnest wish +that no cause might ever again induce us to try it. + +The maize being expended, except a certain proportion which was reserved +for seed, seven pounds of soujee were issued per week to each man; but as +the quantity of this article which had been received from India was but +small (fifty-seven tons) compared with the rice and dholl, toward the +latter end of the month it became necessary to make up a new ration +compounded of the various grain which had been introduced from Calcutta, +and the different articles of food which had been received from England. + +One third of the provisions received from Bengal by the _Atlantic_, and +the like proportion of the stores add provisions which had been landed +from the _Britannia_, having been put on board the former of those ships, +she sailed on the 19th for Norfolk Island, having also on board two +settlers from the marine detachment, twenty-two male convicts, an +incorrigible lad who had been drummed out of the New South Wales corps, +three natives, and a free woman, wife to one of the convicts. Among the +latter description of persons were some of very bad character; others who +were supposed to have formed a design of escaping from the colony; some +who professed to be flax dressers, and a few artificers who might be +useful at that island. + +At the head of a party of convicts who were said to have formed a design +of seizing a boat and effecting their escape, was J. C. Morris, one of +those convicts who left England in the _Guardian_, and who, from their +meritorious behaviour before and after the disaster that befel that ship, +received conditional emancipation by his Majesty's command. Morris was +at Norfolk Island when the intimation of the royal bounty reached this +country. Being permitted to return to this settlement, he obtained a +grant of thirty acres of land at the Eastern Farms, in an advantageous +situation on the northside of the creek leading to Parramatta. Here it +soon became evident that he had not the industry necessary for a _bona +fide_ settler, and that, instead of cultivating his own ground, he lent +himself to his neighbours, who were to repay his labour by working for +him at a future day. The governor deemed this a clear forfeiture of his +grant, in which it was unequivocally expressed, that he held the thirty +acres on condition of his residing within the same, and proceeding to the +improvement and cultivation thereof. Being no longer a settler, he +declared himself able to procure his daily support without the assistance +of the public stores, from which, it must be remarked, he had been +maintained all the time he held his grant. Soon after this, it was said, +he formed the plan of going off with a boat; yet not so cautiously, but +that information was given of it to the governor, who resolved to send +him back to Norfolk Island, whence an escape was by no means so +practicable as from this place; and he was, very much against his +inclination, put on board the _Atlantic_ for that purpose. He found +means, however, to get on shore in the night preceding her departure; and +she sailed without him. A reward being offered for apprehending him, he +was soon taken, and sent up to Parramatta, there to be confined on a +reduced ration, until an opportunity offered of sending him to Norfolk +island. + +During the month the governor thought it necessary to issue some +regulations to be observed by those convicts whose sentences of +transportation had expired. The number of people of this description in +the colony had been so much increased of late, that it had become +requisite to determine with precision the line in which they were to +move. Having emerged from the condition of convicts, and got rid of the +restraint which was necessarily imposed on them while under that +subjection, many of them seemed to have forgotten that they were still +amenable to the regulations of the colony, and appeared to have shaken +off, with the yoke of bondage, all restraint and dependence whatsoever. +They were, therefore, called upon to declare their intentions respecting +their future mode of living. Those who wished to be allowed to provide +for themselves were informed, that on application to the judge-advocate, +they would receive a certificate of their having served their several +periods of transportation, which certificate they would deposit with the +commissary as his voucher for striking them off the provision and +clothing lists; and once a week they were to report in what manner and +for whom they had been employed. + +Such as should be desirous of returning to England were informed, that no +obstacle would be thrown in their way, they being at liberty to ship +themselves on board of such vessels as would give them a passage. And +those who preferred labouring for the public, and receiving in return +such ration as should be issued from the public stores, were to give in +their names to the commissary, who would victual and clothe them as long +as their services might be required. + +Of those, here and at Parramatta, who had fulfilled the sentence of the +law, by far the greater part signified their intention of returning to +England by the first opportunity; but the getting away from the colony +was now a matter of some difficulty, as it was understood that a clause +was to be inserted in all future contracts for shipping for this country, +subjecting the masters to certain penalties, on certificates being +received of their having brought away any convicts or other persons from +this settlement without the governor's permission; and as it was not +probable that many of them would, on their return, refrain from the vices +or avoid the society of those companions who had been the causes of their +transportation to this country, not many could hope to obtain the +sanction of the governor for their return. + +With very few exceptions, however, the uniform good behaviour of the +convicts was still to be noted and commended. + +September.] The month of September was ushered in with rain, and storms +of wind, thunder, and lightning. At Parramatta and Toongabbie too, as +well as at Sydney, much rain fell for several days. On the return of fine +weather, it was seen with general satisfaction that the wheat sown at +the latter settlement looked and promised well, and had not suffered from +the rain. + +Early in the month the criminal court was assembled for the trial of +Benjamin Ingram, a man who had served the term for which he was ordered +to be transported. He had broken into a house belonging to a female +convict, in which he was detected packing up her property for removal. +Being found guilty, he received sentence of death; but, on the +recommendation of the court, the governor was induced to grant him a +pardon, upon condition of his residing for life on Norfolk Island. With +this extension of mercy the culprit was not made acquainted till that +moment had arrived which he thought was to separate him from this world +for ever. Upon the ladder, and expecting to be turned off, the condition +on which his life was spared was communicated to him; and with gratitude +both to God and the governor, he received the welcome tidings. He +afterwards confessed, that he had for some time past been in the habit of +committing burglaries and other depredations; for, having taken himself +off the stores to avoid working for the public, he was frequently +distressed for food, and was thus compelled to support himself at the +expense perhaps of the honest and industrious. He readily found a rascal +to receive what property he could procure for sale, and for a long time +escaped detection. This depraved man had two brothers in the colony; one +who came out with him in the first fleet, and who had been for some time +a sober, hard-working, industrious settler, having also served the term +of his transportation; the other brother came out in the last year, and +bore the character of a well-behaved man. There was also a fourth +brother; but he was executed in England. It was said, that these +unfortunate men had honest and industrious people for their parents; they +could not, however, have paid much attention to the morals of their +family; or, out of four, some might surely have laid claim to the +character of the parents. + +The criminal court was again assembled on the 20th of this month, for the +trial of William Godfrey, who was taken up on a suspicion of having +seized the opportunity of some festivity on board of the _Britannia_, +then nearly ready for sea, and taken half a barrel of powder out of the +gun-room, about nine o'clock at night. Proof however was not brought home +to him; although many circumstances induced every one to suppose he was +the guilty person. + +This month was fixed for beginning the new barracks. For the private +soldiers there were to be five buildings, each one hundred feet by +twenty-four in front, and connected by a slight brick wall. At each end +were to be two apartments for officers, seventy-five feet by eighteen; +each apartment containing four rooms for their accommodation, with a +passage of sixteen feet. Of these barracks, one at each end was to be +constructed at right angles with the front, forming a wing to the centre +buildings. Kitchens were to be built, with other convenient offices, in +the rear, and garden ground was to be laid out at the back. Their +situation promised to be healthy, and it was certainly pleasant, being +nearly on the summit of the high ground at the head of the cove, +overlooking the town of Sydney, and the shipping in the cove, and +commanding a view down the harbour, as well of the fine piece of water +forming Long Cove, as that branching off to the westward at the back of +the lieutenant governor's farm. + +The foundation of one of the buildings designed for an officer's barrack +having been dug, and all the necessary materials brought together on the +spot, the walls of it were got up, and the whole building roofed and +covered in, in eleven days. + +Their situation being directly in the neighbourhood of the ground +appropriated to the burial of the dead, it became necessary to choose +another spot for the latter purpose; and the governor, in company with +the Rev. Mr. Johnson, set apart the ground formerly cultivated by the +late Captain Shea of the marines. + +Several thefts were committed at Sydney and at Parramatta, from which +latter place three male convicts absconded, taking with them the +provisions of their huts, intending, it was supposed, to get on board the +_Britannia_. Rewards being offered, some of them were taken in the woods. +It had been found, that the masters of ships would give passages to such +people as could afford to pay them from ten to twenty pounds for the +same, and the perpetrators of some of the thefts which were committed +appeared to have had that circumstance in view, as one or two huts, whose +proprietors were well known to have amassed large sums of money for +people in their situations, were broken into; and in one instance they +succeeded. On the night of the 22nd the hut of Mary Burne, widow of a man +who had been employed as a game-killer, was robbed of dollars to the +amount of eleven pounds; with which the pillagers got off undiscovered. + +On the 30th the _Britannia_ left the cove, dropping down below Bradley's +Point, preparatory to sailing on her intended voyage to Dusky Bay in New +Zealand; and while every one was remarking, that the cove (being left +without a ship) again looked solitary and uncomfortable, the signal was +made at the South Head, and at ten o'clock at night the _Atlantic_ +anchored in the cove from Norfolk Island, where, we had the satisfaction +to learn, the large cargo which she had on board was landed in safety, +although at one time the ship was in great danger of running ashore at +Cascade Bay. We now learned that the expectations which had been formed +of the crops at Norfolk Island had been too sanguine; but their salt +provisions lasted very well. Governor King, however, wrote that the crops +then in the ground promised favourably, although he would not venture to +speak decidedly, as they were very much annoyed by the grub. This was an +enemy produced by the extreme richness of the soil; and it was remarked, +that as the land was opened and cleared, it was found to be exposed to +the blighting winds which infest the island. + +The great havoc and destruction which the reduced ration had occasioned +among the birds frequenting Mount Pitt had so thinned their numbers, that +they were no longer to be depended upon as a resource. The convicts, +senseless and improvident, not only destroyed the bird, its young, and +its egg, but the hole in which it burrowed; a circumstance that ought +most cautiously to have been guarded against; as nothing appeared more +likely to make them forsake the island. + +The stock in the settlement was plentiful, but, from being fed chiefly on +sow thistle during the general deficiency of hard food, the animals +looked ill, and were as badly tasted. The _Pitt_, however, took from the +island a great quantity of stock; barrow pigs and fowls, pumpkins and +other vegetables; for which Captain Manning and his officers paid the +owners with many articles of comfort to which they had long been +strangers. + +The convicts in general wore a very unhealthy cadaverous appearance, +owing, it was supposed, not only to spare diet, but to the fatigue +consequent on their traversing the woods to Mount Pitt, by night, for the +purpose of procuring some slender addition to their ration, instead of +reposing after the labours of the day. They had committed many +depredations on the settlers, and one was shot by a person of that +description in the act of robbing his farm. + +Governor King, having discovered that the island abounded with that +valuable article lime-stone, was building a convenient house for his own +residence, and turning his attention to the construction of permanent +storehouses, barracks for the military, and other necessary buildings. + +The weather had been for some time past very bad, much rain having fallen +accompanied with storms of wind, thunder, and lightning. In some of these +storms the wreck of his Majesty's ship _Sirius_ went to pieces and +disappeared, no part of that unfortunate ship being left together, except +what was confined by the iron ballast in her bottom. + +On board of the _Atlantic_ came sixty-two persons from Norfolk Island, +among whom were several whose terms of transportation had expired; +thirteen offenders; and nine of the marine settlers, who had given up the +hoe and the spade, returned to this place to embrace once more a life to +which they certainly were, from long habit, better adapted than to that +of independent settlers. They gave up their estates, and came here to +enter as soldiers in the New South Wales corps.' + +Mr. Charles Grimes, the deputy-surveyor, arrived in the _Atlantic_, being +sent by Mr. King to state to the governor the situation of the settlers +late belonging to the _Sirius_, whose grounds had, on a careful survey by +Mr. Grimes, been found to intersect each other. They had been originally +laid down without the assistance of proper instruments, and being +situated on the side of the Cascade Stream, which takes several windings +in its course, the different allotments, being close together, naturally +interfered with each other when they came to be carried back. The +settlers themselves saw how disadvantageously they were situated, and how +utterly impossible it was for every one to possess a distinct allotment +of sixty acres, unless they came to some agreement which had their mutual +accommodation in view; but this, with an obstinacy proportioned to their +ignorance, they all declined: as their grounds were marked out so would +they keep them, not giving an inch in one place, though certain of +possessing it with advantage in another. These people proved but +indifferent settlers; sailors and soldiers, seldom bred in the habits of +industry, but ill brooked the personal labour which they found was +required from them day after day, and month after month. Men who from +their infancy had been accustomed to have their daily subsistence found +them were but ill calculated to procure it by the sweat of their brows, +and must very unwillingly find that without great bodily exertions they +could not provide it at all. A few months experience convinced them of +the truth of these observations, and they grew discontented; as a proof +of which they wrote a letter to the judge-advocate, to be submitted to +the governor, stating, as a subject of complaint among other grievances, +that the officers of the settlement bred stock for their own use, and +requesting that they might be directed to discontinue that practice, and +purchase stock of them. + +Very few of the convicts at Norfolk Island whose terms of transportation +had expired were found desirous of becoming permanent settlers; the sole +object with the major part appearing to be, that of taking ground for the +purpose of raising by the sale of the produce a sum sufficient to enable +them to pay for their passages to England. The settler to benefit this +colony, the _bona fide_ settler, who should be a man of some property, must +come from England. He is not to be looked for among discharged soldiers, +shipwrecked seamen, or quondam convicts. + +Governor King finding, after trying every process that came within his +knowledge for preparing and dressing the flax-plant, that unless some +other means were devised, it never would be brought to the perfection +necessary to make the canvas produced from it an object of importance, +either as an article of clothing for the convicts or for maritime +purposes, proposed to Mr. Ebor Bunker, the master of the _William and +Ann_, who had some thoughts of touching at Dusky Bay in New Zealand, to +procure him two natives of that country, if they could be prevailed on to +embark with him, and promised him one hundred pounds if he succeeded, +hoping from their perfect knowledge of the flax-plant, and the process +necessary to manufacture it into cloth, that he might one day render it a +valuable and beneficial article to his colony; but Captain Bunker had +never returned. + +Norfolk Island had been visited by all the whalers which sailed from this +port on that fishery. The _Admiral Barrington_ and _Pitt_ left with Mr. +King eleven men and two female convicts, who had secreted themselves at +this port on board of those ships. + +October.] The _Britannia_, which had quitted the cove on the last day of +September, preparatory to her departure on a fishing voyage (a licence +for which had been granted by the East India Company for the space of +three years), returned to the cove on the third of this month for the +purpose of fitting for the Cape of Good Hope, the officers of the New +South Wales corps having engaged the master to proceed thither and return +on their account with a freight of cattle, and such articles as would +tend to the comfort of themselves and the soldiers of the corps, and +which were not to be found in the public stores. Mr. Raven, the master, +let his ship for the sum of £2000; and eleven shares of £200 each were +subscribed to purchase the stock and other articles. The ship was well +calculated for bringing cattle, having a very good between-decks; and +artificers from the corps were immediately employed to fit her with +stalls proper for the reception and accommodation of cows, horses, etc. A +quantity of hay was put on board sufficient to lessen considerably the +expense of that article at the Cape; and she was ready for sea by the +middle of the month. Previous to her departure, on the 7th, the _Royal +Admiral_ East-Indiaman, commanded by Captain Essex Henry Bond, anchored in +the cove from England, whence she had sailed on the 30th of May last. Her +passage from the Cape of Good Hope was the most rapid that had ever been +made, being only five weeks and three days from port to port. + +On board of the _Royal Admiral_ came stores and provisions for the +colony; one sergeant, one corporal, and nineteen privates, belonging to +the New South Wales corps; a person to be employed in the cultivation of +the country; another as a master miller; and a third as a master +carpenter; together with two hundred and eighty-nine male and forty-seven +female convicts. She brought in with her a fever, which had been much +abated by the extreme attention paid by Captain Bond and his officers to +cleanliness, the great preservative of health on board of ships, and to +providing those who were ill with comforts and necessaries beyond what +were allowed for their use during the passage. Of three hundred male +convicts which she received on board, ten only died, and one made his +escape from the hospital at False Bay; in return for whom, however, +Captain Bond brought on with him Thomas Watling, a male convict, who +found means to get on shore from the _Pitt_ when at that port in December +last, and who had been confined by the Dutch at the Cape town from her +departure until this opportunity offered of sending him hither. + +We had the satisfaction of hearing that the _Supply_ armed tender made +good her passage to England in somewhat less than five months, arriving +at Plymouth on the 21st of April last. It was, however, matter of much +concern to all who were acquainted with him, to learn at the same time, +that Captain Hunter, who sailed from this port in March 1791, in the +Dutch snow _Waaksamheyd_, and who had anxiously desired to make a speedy +passage, had been thirteen months in that vessel striving to reach +England, where he at last let go his anchor a day after the termination +of Lieutenant Ball's more successful voyage in the _Supply_, arriving at +Spithead on the evening of the 22nd of April last. His Majesty's ship +_Gorgon_ had been at the Cape of Good Hope, but had not arrived in +England when the _Royal Admiral_ left that country. + +We were also informed, that the _Kitty_ transport had sailed with +provisions and a few convicts from England some weeks before the _Royal +Admiral_; and Captain Bond left at False Bay an American brig, freighted +on speculation with provisions for this colony, and whose master intended +putting to sea immediately after him. + +The sick, to the number of eighty, were all immediately disembarked from +the Indiaman; the remainder of her convicts were sent up to be employed +at Parramatta and the adjoining settlement. At these places was to be +performed the great labour of clearing and cultivating the country; and +thither the governor judged it necessary at once to send such convicts as +should arrive in future, without permitting them to disembark at Sydney, +which town (from the circumstance of its being the only place where +shipping anchored) possessed all the evils and allurements of a sea port +of some standing, and from which, if once they got into huts, they would +be with difficulty removed when wanted; they pleaded the acquirement of +comforts, of which, in fact, it would be painful though absolutely +necessary to deprive them. At once to do away therefore the possibility +of any attachment to this part of the colony, the governor gave +directions for their being immediately sent from the ship to the place of +their future residence and employment; and, having no other thoughts, +they went with cheerfulness. + +There arrived in the _Royal Admiral_ as a superintendant charged with the +care of the convicts, Mr. Richard Alley, who formerly belonged to the +_Lady Juliana_ transport, in quality of surgeon, in the memorable voyage +of that ship to this colony; a voyage that could never be thought on by +an inhabitant of it without exciting a most painful sensation. This +gentleman went to England in the snow with Captain Hunter, whither the +comforts of long voyages seemed to accompany him. Immediately on his +arrival there, he was appointed by the commissioners of the navy to come +out in the _Royal Admiral_ as surgeon and superintendant of the convicts +embarked in that ship, with an allowance of twelve shillings and sixpence +_per diem_ until his arrival in England, exclusive of his half pay as +surgeon of the navy. + +It had always been an object of the first consequence, that the people +employed about the stores, if not free, should at least have been so +situated as to have found it their interest to resist temptation. This +had never hitherto been accomplished; capital and other exemplary +punishments did not effect it; the stores were constantly robbed, +although carefully watched, and as well secured as bolts, locks, and iron +fastenings could make them. The governor therefore now adopted a plan +which was suggested to him; and, discharging all the convicts employed at +the provision-store, replaced them by others, to whom he promised +absolute emancipation at the end of a certain number of years, to be +computed from the dates of their respective arrivals in this country. + +If any thing could produce the integrity so much to be desired, this +measure seemed the best calculated for the purpose; an interest was +created superior to any reward that could have been held out, a certain +salary, an increase of ration, a greater proportion of clothing, or even +emancipation itself, if given at the time. To those who had no other +prospect but that of passing their lives in this country, how cheering, +how grateful must have been the hope of returning to their families at no +very distant period, if not prevented by their own misconduct! There were +two in this situation among those placed at the stores, Samuel Burt and +William Sutton, both of whom had conducted themselves with the greatest +propriety since their conviction, and who beheld with joy the probability +that appeared of their being again considered and ranked in the class of +honest men and good members of society; estimations that depended wholly +upon themselves. + +As a store-keeper was a person on whom much dependence must necessarily +be placed, it being his duty to be constantly present whenever the stores +were opened, and with a vigilant eye to observe the conduct of the +inferior servants, at the strong recommendation of the officers under +whom he had served, Sergeant Thomas Smyth was discharged from the marine +detachment, and placed upon the list of superintendants of convicts as a +storekeeper. This appointment gave general satisfaction; and the +commissary now felt himself, under all these arrangements, more at ease +respecting the safety of the stores and provisions under his charge. + +On the night of the 10th a daring burglary was committed. Mr. Raven, the +master of the _Britannia_, occupied a hut on shore, which was broken open +and entered about midnight, and from the room in which he was lying +asleep, and close to his bedside, his watch and a pair of knee-buckles +were stolen; a box was forced open, in which was a valuable timepiece and +some money belonging to Mr. Raven, who, fortunately waking in the very +moment that the thief was taking it out at the door, prevented his +carrying it off. Assistance from the guard came immediately, but too +late--the man had got off unseen. In a day or two afterwards, however, +Charles Williams, a settler, gave information that a convict named +Richard Sutton, the morning after the burglary, had told him that he had +stolen and secured the property, which he estimated at sixty pounds, and +which he offered to put into his possession for the purpose of sale, +first binding him by a horrid ceremony* and oath not to betray him. +Williams, on receiving the watch, which proved a metal one, worth only +about ten pounds, and the disproportion of which to the value he had +expected, probably had induced him to make the discovery, immediately +caused him to be taken into custody, and delivered the property to a +magistrate, giving at the same time an account how he came by them. All +these circumstances were produced in evidence before a criminal court; +but the prisoner, proving an _alibi_ that was satisfactory to the court, +was acquitted. With the evidence that he produced in his defence it was +impossible to convict him; but the court and the auditors were in their +consciences persuaded that the prisoner had committed the burglary and +theft, and that he intended to have employed Williams to dispose of the +property; which the latter had undertaken, and would have performed, had +the watch proved to have been a timepiece which the prisoner imagined he +had been lucky enough to secure. Williams, had he been put to prove where +he was at the very time the house was entered, had people ready to depose +that he was on his way by water to his farm near Parramatta. This man had +formerly been remarkable for propriety of conduct; but, after he became a +settler, gave himself up to idleness and dissipation, and went away from +the court in which he had been giving his testimony, much degraded in the +opinion of every man who heard him. + +[* They cut each other on the cheek with their knives.] + +The _Britannia_ sailed on the 24th for the Cape of Good Hope, Mr. Raven +taking with him Governor Phillip's dispatches for England, in which was +contained a specific demand for twelve months provisions for the colony, +and the wishes as well of those whom he considered as his employers, as +of those who were not, for the safe and speedy execution of his +commission; as his return to the colony would introduce many articles of +comfort which were not to be found in the public stores among the +articles issued by government. + +At Sydney and at Parramatta shops were opened for the sale of the +articles of private trade brought out in the _Royal Admiral_. A licence +was given for the sale of porter; but, under the cover of this, spirits +found their way among the people, and much intoxication was the +consequence. Several of the settlers, breaking out from the restraint to +which they had been subject, conducted themselves with the greatest +impropriety, beating their wives, destroying their stock, trampling on +and injuring their crops in the ground, and destroying each other's +property. One woman, having claimed the protection of the magistrates, +the party complained of, a settler, was bound over to the good behaviour +for two years, himself in twenty pounds, and to find two sureties in ten +pounds each. Another settler was at the same time set an hour in the +stocks for drunkenness. The indulgence which was intended by the governor +for their benefit was most shamefully abused; and what he suffered them +to purchase with a view to their future comfort, was retailed among +themselves at a scandalous profit; several of the settlers houses being +at this time literally nothing else but porter-houses, where rioting and +drunkenness prevailed as long as the means remained. It was much to be +regretted that these people were so blind to their own advantage, most of +them sacrificing to the dissipation of the moment what would have +afforded them much comfort and convenience, if reserved for refreshment +after the fatigue of the day. + +The only addition made to the weekly ration in consequence of the arrival +of the _Royal Admiral_ was an allowance of six ounces of oil to each +person; a large quantity, nine thousand two hundred and seventy-eight +gallons, having been put on board that ship and the _Kitty_ transport, to +be issued in lieu of butter; as an equivalent for which it certainly +would have answered well, had it arrived in the state in which it was +reported to have been put on board; but it grew rancid on the passage, +and was in general made more use of to burn as a substitute for candles, +than for any other purposes to which oil might have been applied. + +Toward the latter end of the month, the convicts received a general +serving of clothing, and other necessary articles. To each male were +issued two frocks made of coarse and unsubstantial osnaburgs, in which +there were seldom found more than three weeks wear; two pairs of trousers +made of the same slight materials as the frocks, and open to the same +observation as to wear; one pair of yarn stockings; one hat; one pair of +shoes; one pound of soap; three needles; a quarter of a pound of thread, +and one comb. + +The females received each one cloth petticoat; one coarse shift; one pair +of shoes; one pair of yarn stockings; one pound of soap; a quarter of a +pound of thread; two ounces of pins; six needles; one thimble, and one +pair of scissors. + +These articles were supplied by commission; and Mr. Davison, the person +employed by government, was limited in the price of each article, which +was fixed too low to admit of his furnishing them of the quality +absolutely necessary for people who were to labour in this country. The +osnaburgs in particular had always been complained of, for it was a fact, +that the frocks and trousers made of them were oftener known to have been +worn out within a fortnight, than to have lasted three weeks. + +The month closed with a circumstance that excited no small degree of +concern in the settlement: Governor Phillip signified a determination of +quitting his government, and returning to England in the _Atlantic_. To +this he was induced by perceiving that his health hourly grew worse, and +hoping that a change of air might contribute to his recovery. His +Excellency had the satisfaction, at the moment that he came to this +resolution, of seeing the public grounds wear every appearance of a +productive harvest. At Toongabbie, forty-two acres of wheat, sown about +the middle of last March, looked as promising as could be wished; the +remainder of the wheat, from being sown six weeks later, did not look so +fine and abundant, but still held out hopes of an ample return. The +Indian corn was all got into the ground, and such of it as was up looked +remarkably well. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + + +A vessel from America arrives +Part of her cargo purchased +George Barrington and others emancipated conditionally +The _Royal Admiral_ sails +Arrival of the _Kitty_ Transport +£1001 received by her +Hospital built at Parramatta +Harvest begun at Toongabbie +Ration increased +The _Philadelphia_ sails for Norfolk Island +State of the cultivation previous to the governor's departure +Settlers +Governor Phillip sails for England +Regulations made by the Lieutenant Governor +The _Hope_, an American Ship, arrives +Her cargo purchased for the colony +The _Chesterfield_ whaler arrives +Grant of land to an officer +Extreme heat and conflagration +Deaths in 1792 +Prices of Stock, etc + + +November.] On the 1st of November, about eleven o'clock at night, the +_Philadelphia_ brigantine, Mr. Thomas Patrickson master, anchored in +the cove from Philadelphia. Lieutenant-governor King, on his passage +to this country in the _Gorgon_ in the month of July 1791, had seen +Mr. Patrickson at the Cape of Good Hope, and learning at that time from +the _Lady Juliana_ and _Neptune_ transports, which had just arrived there +from China, that the colony was in great distress for provisions, +suggested to him the advantage that might attend his bringing a cargo to +this country on speculation. On this hint Captain Patrickson went to +England, and thence to Philadelphia, from which place he sailed the +beginning of last April with a cargo consisting chiefly of American beef, +wine, rum, gin, some tobacco, pitch, and tar. He sailed from Philadelphia +with thirteen hands; but, in some very bad weather which he met with +after leaving the African shore, his second mate was washed overboard and +lost, it blowing too hard to attempt saving him. + +The governor directed the commissary to purchase such part of the +_Philadelphia's_ cargo as he thought was immediately wanting in the +colony; and five hundred and sixty-nine barrels of American cured beef, +each barrel containing one hundred and ninety-three pounds, and +twenty-seven barrels of pitch and tar, were taken into store; the expense +of which amounted to £2829 lls. + +Notwithstanding the great length of time Captain Patrickson had been on +his voyage (from the beginning of April to November) his speculation did +not prove very disadvantageous to him. A great part of his cargo, that +was not taken by government, was disposed of among the officers and +others of the settlement; and the governor hired his vessel to take +provisions to Norfolk Island, giving him £150 for the run. Captain +Patrickson had formed some expectation of disposing of his vessel in this +country; but the governor, having received intimation that the _Kitty_ +might be detained in the service as long as he found it necessary after +her arrival, did not judge it expedient to purchase the vessel. + +On the 3rd of the month three warrants of emancipation passed the seal of +the territory: one to John Trace, a convict who came out in the first +fleet; having but three months of his term of transportation remaining, +that portion of it was given up to him, that he might become a settler. +The second was granted to Thomas Restil (alias Crowder) on the +recommendation of the lieutenant-governor of Norfolk Island, on condition +that he should not return to England during the term of his natural life, +his sentence of transportation being _durante vitae_. The third warrant +was made out in favour of one who whatever might have been his conduct +when at large in society, had here not only demeaned himself with the +strictest propriety, but had rendered essential services to the +colony--George Barrington. He came out in the _Active_; on his arrival +the governor employed him at Toongabbie, and in a situation which was +likely to attract the envy and hatred of the convicts, in proportion as +he might be vigilant and inflexible. He was first placed as a +subordinate, and shortly after as a principal watchman; in which +situation he was diligent, sober, and impartial; and had rendered himself +so eminently serviceable, that the governor resolved to draw him from the +line of convicts; and, with the instrument of his emancipation, he +received a grant of thirty acres of land in an eligible situation near +Parramatta.* Here was not only a reward for past good conduct, but an +incitement to a continuance of it; and Barrington found himself, through +the governor's liberality, though not so absolutely free as to return to +England at his own pleasure, yet enjoying the immunities of a free man, a +settler, and a civil officer, in whose integrity much confidence was +placed. + +[* He was afterwards sworn in as a peace officer.] + +On the 13th the _Royal Admiral_ sailed for Canton. Of the private +speculation brought out in this ship, they sold at this place and at +Parramatta to the amount of £3600 and left articles to be sold on +commission to the amount of £750 more. + +Captain Bond was obliged to leave behind him one of his quartermasters +and six sailors, who ran away from the ship. The quartermaster had served +in the same capacity on board of the _Sirius_, and immediately after his +arrival in England (in the snow) engaged himself with Captain Bond for +the whole of the voyage; but a few days before the departure of the ship +from this port, he found means to leave her, and, assisted by some of the +settlers, concealed himself in the woods until concealment was no longer +necessary. On giving himself up, he entered on board the _Atlantic_; but +on his declaring that he did not intend returning to England, the +governor ordered him into confinement. The sailors were put into one of +the longboats, to be employed between this place and Parramatta, until +they could be put on board a ship that might convey them hence. + +It was never desirable that seamen should receive encouragement to run +from their ships; they became public nuisances here; the masters of such +ships would find themselves obliged to procure convicts at any rate to +supply their places; indeed, so many might be shipped or secreted on +board, as might render the safety of the vessel very precarious; and as +the governor determined to represent the conduct of any master who +carried away convicts without his approbation, so he resolved never to +deprive them of their seamen. Under this idea, a hut, in which a seaman +from the _Royal Admiral_ was found concealed, was pulled down, and two +convicts who had been secreted on board that ship were sent up to +Toongabbie, as a punishment, as well as to be out of the way of another +attempt. + +On the 18th the _Kitty_ transport anchored in the cove from England, +after a circuitous passage of thirty-three weeks, round by the Rio de +Janeiro and the Cape of Good Hope. She twice sailed from England. On her +first departure, which was in March last, she had on board thirty female +and ten male convicts; but being obliged to put back to Spithead, to stop +a leak which she sprung in her raft port, eight of her ten male convicts +found means to make their escape. This was an unfortunate accident; for +they had been particularly selected as men who might be useful in the +colony. Of the two who did remain, the one was a brick-maker and the +other a joiner. + +When her cargo was landing, it was found to have suffered considerably by +the bad weather she had experienced; the flour in particular, an article +which could at no time bear any diminution in this country, was much +damaged. The convicts had for a long time been nearly as much distressed +for utensils to dress their provisions, as they had been for provisions; +and we had now the mortification to find, that of the small supply of +iron pots which had been put on board, a great part were either broken or +cracked, having been literally stowed among the provision casks in the +hold. + +There arrived in this ship two chests, containing three thousand eight +hundred and seventy ounces of silver, in dollars, amounting to £1001. +This remittance was sent out for the purpose of paying such sums as were +due to the different artificers who had been employed in this country. It +was also applied to the payment of the wages due to the superintendants, +who had experienced much inconvenience from not receiving their salaries +here; and indeed the want of public money had been very much felt by +every one in the colony. When the marines, who became settlers before and +at the relief of the detachment, were discharged for that purpose, they +would have suffered great difficulties from the want of public money to +pay what was due to them, had not the commissary taken their respective +powers of attorney, and given them notes on himself, payable either in +cash, or in articles which might be the means of rendering them +comfortable, and of which he had procured a large supply from Calcutta. +These notes passed through various hands in traffic among the people of +the description they were intended to serve, and became a species of +currency which was found very convenient to them. + +The female convicts who arrived in the _Kitty_, twenty-seven in number, +were immediately sent up to Parramatta. + +Government had put on board the _Kitty_ a naval agent, Lieutenant Daniel +Woodriff, for the purpose of seeing that no unnecessary delays were made +in the voyage, and that the convicts on board were not oppressed by the +master or his people. This officer, on his arrival, stated to the +governor his opinion that the master had not made the best of his way, +and that he had remained longer in the port of Rio de Janeiro than there +could possibly be occasion for. He likewise stated several disagreements +which had occurred between him and the master, and in which the latter +seemed to think very lightly of the authority of a naval agent on board +his ship. There was also on board this ship, on the part of the crown, a +medical gentleman who was appointed for the express purpose of attending +to such convicts as might be ill during the voyage; so extremely +solicitous were the members of Administration to guard against the evils +which had befallen the convicts in former passages to this country. + +At Parramatta a brick hospital, consisting of two wards, was finished +this month; and the sick were immediately removed into it. The spot +chosen for this building was at some distance from the principal street +of the town, and convenient to the water; and, to prevent any improper +communication with the other convicts, a space was to be inclosed and +paled in round the hospital, in which the sick would have every necessary +benefit from air and exercise. + +At the other settlement they had begun to reap the wheat which was sown +in April last; and for want of a granary at that place it was put into +stacks. From not being immediately thrashed out, there was no knowing +with certainty what the produce of it was; but it had every appearance of +turning out well. The ear was long and full, and the straw remarkably +good. + +December.] On the 3rd of this month, the governor, as one of his last +acts in the settlement, ordered one pound of flour to be added to the +weekly ration, which, by means of this addition, stood on his departure +at 3 pounds of flour, 5 pounds of rice, 4 pounds of pork or 7 pounds of +beef, 3 pounds of dholl, and 6 ounces of oil. + +On the 7th the _Philadelphia_ sailed for Norfolk Island, having on board +for that settlement Mr. Grimes, the deputy surveyor; Mr. Jamieson who was +to superintend the convicts employed there in cultivations; Mr. Peat, the +master-carpenter (there being a person* in that situation here of much +ability); a convict who came out in the _Royal Admiral_, to be employed +as a master-tailor; two Convicts sawyers, and one convict carpenter, the +same who came out with his family in the _Kitty_; together with some +provisions and stores. His excellency had always attended to this little +colony with a parental care; often declaring, that from the peculiarity +of its situation he would rather that want should be felt in his own +government than in that dependency; and as they would be generally eight +or ten weeks later than this colony in receiving their supplies, by +reason of the time which the ships necessarily required to refit after +coming in from sea, he purposed furnishing them with a proportion of +provisions for three months longer than the provisions in store at this +place would last: and his excellency took leave of that settlement, by +completing, as fully as he was able, this design. + +[* Mr. Thomas Livingstone, at a salary of £50 per annum.] + +He was now about taking leave of his own government. The accommodations +for his excellency and the officers who were going home in the _Atlantic_ +being completed, the detachment of marines under the command of +Lieutenant Poulden embarked on the 5th, and at six o'clock in the evening +of Monday the 10th Governor Phillip quitted the charge with which he had +been entrusted by his Sovereign, and in the execution of which he had +manifested a zeal and perseverance that alone could have enabled him to +surmount the natural and artificial obstacles which the country and its +inhabitants had thrown in his way. + +The colony had now been established within a few weeks of five years; and +a review of what had been done in cultivation under his excellency's +direction in that time cannot more properly be introduced than at the +close of his government. + +Previous to the sailing of the _Britannia_ on the 24th of last October, +an accurate survey of the whole ground in cultivation, both on account of +the crown, and in the possession of individuals, was taken by the +surveyor-general, and transmitted to England by that ship; and from the +return which he then made, the following particulars were extracted: + +GROUND IN CULTIVATION, THE 16TH OCTOBER 1792 +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + Acres Acres Acres Ground Total + in in in Garden cleared number + wheat barley maize ground of timber of acres +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +At Parramatta ¾ 7½ 308 - - 316¼ +At and leading to 171½ 14 511 - - 696½ +Toongabbie +Total public ground 172¼ 21½ 819 - - 1012¾ + +_Belonging to Settlers and others_ +At Parramatta, (1 +The governor's garden - ½ 2 (3 vines - 6½ +Garden ground belonging to +different people, including +convicts' gardens - - - 104 - 104 +At Parramatta, 1 settler 3 - 18 1 7 29 +At Prospect Hill, four miles +to the westward of +Parramatta, 18 settlers 11¼ - 84 - - 95¼ +At the Ponds, two miles to +the northeast of +Parramatta, 16 settlers 10¼ 2¼ 63 3½ 16½ 95½ +At the Northern boundary +farms, two miles from +Parramatta, 5 settlers 3 - 35 2¾ 11 51¾ +At the Field of Mars, on +the north shore, near the +entrance of the creek +leading to Parramatta, +8 settlers, (marines) 4 - 44½ 2 31 81½ +At the Eastern farms, +12 settlers - - 40½ - 12½ 53 +On the creek leading to +Parramatta, 7 settlers 4¾ - 80½ 4 22 111¼ +In cultivation by the civil +and military at Sydney - - - - 6½ 6½ +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +Total 208½ 24¼ 1186½ 121¼ 162½ 1703 +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Of the sixty-seven settlers above enumerated, one, James Ruse, who had a +grant of thirty acres at Parramatta, went upon his farm the latter end of +November 1789; but none of the others began to cultivate ground upon +their own accounts earlier than the middle of July 1791; but many of them +at a much later date. The eight marine settlers at the Field of Mars took +possession of their allotments at the beginning of February 1792. The +conditions held out to settlers were, to be victualled and clothed from +the public store for eighteen months from the term of their becoming +settlers; to be furnished with tools and implements of husbandry; grain +to sow their grounds, and such stock as could be spared from the public. +They were likewise to have assigned them the services of such a number of +convicts as the governor should think proper, on their making it appear +that they could employ, feed, and clothe them. Every man had a hut +erected on his farm at the public expense. At the time of the governor's +departure, many of them, by their own industry, and the assistance he had +afforded them, were enabled to have one or two convicts off the store, +and employed by them at their farms; and such as were not married were +allowed a convict hutkeeper. In general they were not idle, and the major +part were comfortably situated. + +At this time the quantity of land which had passed to settlers* in this +territory under the seal of the colony amounted to three thousand four +hundred and seventy acres; of which quantity four hundred and seventeen +acres and a half were in cultivation, and the timber cleared from one +hundred more, ready for sowing; which, compared with the total of the +_public ground_ in cultivation (one thousand and twelve acres and three +quarters) will be found to be by eleven acres more than equal to one half +of it. A striking proof of what some settlers had themselves declared, on +its being hinted to them that they had not always been so diligent when +labouring for the whole, 'We are now working for ourselves.' One material +good was, however, to be expected from a tract of land of that extent +being cultivated by individuals, if at any time an accident should happen +to the crop on the public ground, they might be a resource, though an +inconsiderable one. Fortunately, no misfortune of that nature had ever +fallen upon the colony; but it had been, at the beginning of this month, +very near experiencing a calamity that would have blasted all the +prospects of the next season, and in one moment have rendered ineffectual +the labour of many hands and of many months. Two days after the wheat had +been reaped, and got off the ground at Toongabbie, the whole of the +stubble was burnt. The day on which this happened had been unusually hot, +and the country was every where on fire. Had it befallen us while the +wheat was upon the ground, nothing could have saved the whole from being +destroyed. From this circumstance, however, one good resulted; +precautions against a similar accident were immediately taken, by +clearing the timber for a certain distance round the cultivated land. + +[* Some few had been added since the surveyor's return of the 16th +October.] + +The stock belonging to the public was kept at Parramatta. It consisted of +three bulls*, two bull calves, fifteen cows, three calves, five +stallions, six mares, one hundred and five sheep, and forty-three hogs. + +[* Two from Calcutta, and one which was calved on board the _Gorgon_.] + +Of the sheep, the governor gave to each of the married settlers from the +convicts, and to each settler from the marines, and from the _Sirius_, +one ewe for the purpose of breeding; and to others he gave such female +goats as could be spared. This stock had been procured at much expense; +and his excellency hoped that the people among whom he left it would see +the advantage it might prove to them, and cherish it accordingly. + +His excellency, at embarking on board the _Atlantic_, was received near +the wharf on the east-side, (where his boat was lying), by Major Grose, +at the head of the New South Wales corps, who paid him, as he passed, the +honors due to his rank and situation in the colony. He was attended by +the officers of the civil department, and the three marine officers who +were to accompany him to England. + +At daylight on the morning of the 11th, the _Atlantic_ was got under way, +and by eight o'clock was clear of the Heads, standing to the ESE with a +fresh breeze at south. By twelve o'clock she had gained a considerable +offing. + +With the governor there embarked, voluntarily and cheerfully, two natives +of this country, Bennillong and Yem-mer-ra-wan-nie, two men who were much +attached to his person; and who withstood at the moment of their +departure the united distress of their wives, and the dismal lamentations +of their friends, to accompany him to England, a place that they well +knew was at a great distance from them." + +One or two convicts also who had conducted themselves to his +satisfaction, and whose periods of transportation were expired, were +permitted by the governor to return to England in the same ship with +himself. + +The _Atlantic_ had likewise on board various specimens of the natural +productions of the country, timber, plants, animals, and birds. Among the +animals were four fine kangaroos, and several native dogs. + +The _Atlantic_ had been put into excellent condition for the voyage which +she had to perform; she was well found and well manned, and there +appeared no reason to doubt her reaching England in six months from her +departure. A safe and speedy passage to her was the general wish, not +only on account of the governor, whose health and constitution (already +much impaired) might suffer greatly by the fatigues of a protracted +voyage; but that the information of which his excellency was in +possession respecting these settlements, from their establishments to the +moment of his quitting them, might as quickly as possible be laid before +administration. + +The government of the colony now devolved, by his Majesty's letters patent +under the great seal of Great Britain, upon the lieutenant-governor. +This office was filled by the major-commandant of the New South Wales +corps, Francis Grose, esq who arrived in February last in the _Pitt_ +transport. At his taking upon himself the government, on which occasion +the usual oaths were administered by the judge-advocate, he gave out the +following order, regulating the mode of carrying on the duty at Parramatta: + +'All orders given by the captain who commands at Parramatta, respecting +the convicts stationed there, are to be obeyed; and all complaints or +reports that would be made to the lieutenant-governor when present, are +in his absence to be communicated to captain Foveaux, or such other +captain as may be doing duty with the detachment.' + +The alteration which this order produced, consisted in substituting the +military for the civil officer. Before this period, all complaints had +been inquired into by the civil magistrate, who, in the governor's +absence from Parramatta, punished such slight offences as required +immediate cognizance, reporting to the governor from time to time +whatever he did; and all orders and directions which regarded the +convicts, and all reports which were made respecting them, went through +him. + +The military power had hitherto been considered as requisite only for the +protection of the stores, and the discharge of such duties as belonged to +their profession, without having any share in the civil direction of the +colony*; but as it was provided by his Majesty's commission already +spoken of, that, in case, of the death or absence both of the governor +and lieutenant-governor of the territory, the officer next in rank on +service in the colony should take upon himself and exercise the functions +of the governor, until such time as instructions should be received from +England; under this idea, the lieutenant-governor issued the above order, +placing the captain commanding the detachment of the New South Wales +corps at Parramatta, in the direction of the civil duties of that +settlement. + +[* The commanding officer of the corps or regiment serving in the +territory excepted, who held likewise the _civil_ appointment of +lieutenant-governor.] + +Similar regulations took place at Sydney, where 'the captain of the day +was directed to report to the commanding officer all convict prisoners, +stating by whom and on what account they might be confined;' and this +order was in a few days after enforced by another, which directed 'that +all inquiries by the civil magistrate were in future to be dispensed +with, until the lieutenant-governor had given directions on the subject; +and the convicts were not on any account to be punished but by his +particular order.' + +At Sydney, it had been usual for the magistrates to take examinations, +and make enquiry into offences, either weekly, or as occasion required, +and to order such punishment as they thought necessary, always reporting +their proceedings to the chief authority. + +It must be noticed, that at this time the civil magistrates in the colony +consisted of the lieutenant-governor and the judge-advocate, who were +justices of the peace by virtue of their respective commissions; the Rev. +Mr. Johnson; Augustus Alt and Richard Atkins*, Esquires, who had been +sworn in as magistrates by authority of the governor. + +[* This gentleman had been appointed registrar of the court of +vice-admiralty by Governor Phillip.] + +As no inconvenience had ever been experienced in the mode which was +practised of conducting the business of the settlement, the necessity or +cause of these alterations was not directly obvious, and could not be +accounted for from any other motive than that preference which a military +man might be supposed to give to carrying on the service by means of his +own officers, rather than by any other. + +On Saturday the 15th the convicts received their provisions according to +the ration that was issued before the governor's departure; but on the +Monday following, the usual day of serving provisions to the civil and +military, a distinction was made, for the first time, in the ration they +received; the commissary being directed to issue to the officers of the +civil and military departments, the soldiers, superintendants, watchmen, +overseers, and settlers from the marines, six pounds of flour, and but +two pounds of rice per man, per week, instead of three pounds of flour, +and five pounds of rice, which was the allowance of the convicts. This +distinction was intended to be discontinued whenever the full ration +could be served. + +The stock which had been distributed among the married settlers and +others by Governor Phillip for the purpose of breeding from (as has been +already observed) appeared to have been thrown away upon them when viewed +as a breeding stock for settlers. No sooner had the _Atlantic_ sailed, +than the major part of them were offered for sale; and there was little +doubt (many of their owners making no scruple to publish their +intentions) that had they not been bought by the officers, in a very few +weeks many of them would have been destroyed. By this conduct, as far as +their individual benefit was concerned, they had put it out of their own +power to reap any advantage from the governor's bounty to them; but the +stock by this means was saved, and had fallen into hands that certainly +would not wantonly destroy it. There were a few among the settlers who +exchanged their sheep for goats, deeming them a more profitable stock; +but, in general, spirits were the price required by the more ignorant and +imprudent part of them; and several of their farms, which had been, and +ought to have always been, the peaceful retreats of industry, were for a +time the seats of inebriety and consequent disorder. + +About this time there anchored in the cove an American ship, the _Hope_, +commanded by a Mr. Benjamin Page, from Rhode island, with a small cargo +of provisions and spirits for sale. The cause of his putting into this +harbour, the master declared, was for the purpose of procuring wood and +water, of which he stated his ship to be much in want; thus making the +sale of his cargo appear to be but a secondary object with him. + +As the colony had not yet seen the day when it could have independently +said, 'We are not in want of provisions; procure your wood and your +water, and go your way,' the lieutenant-governor directed the commissary +to purchase such part of his cargo as the colony stood in need of; and +two hundred barrels of American cured beef, at four pounds per barrel; +eighty barrels of pork, at four pounds ten shillings per barrel; +forty-four barrels of flour, at two pounds per barrel; and seven thousand +five hundred and ninety-seven gallons of (new American) spirits at four +shillings and sixpence per gallon, were purchased; amounting in all to +the sum of £2957 6s 6d. + +This ship had touched at the Falkland Islands for the purpose of +collecting skins from the different vessels employed in the seal trade +from the United States of America, with which she was to proceed to the +China market. From the Cape of Good Hope her passage had been performed +in two months and one day. The master said, he found the prevailing winds +were from the NW and described the weather as the most boisterous he had +ever known for such a length of time. By one sea, his caboose was washed +over the side, and one of his people going with it was drowned. He +observed, when about the South-cape of this country, that the weather was +clear; but after passing the latitude of the Maria Islands, he found it +close, hazy, and heated, and had every appearance of thick smoke. About +that time we had the same sort of weather here; and the excessive heats +which at other times have been experienced in the settlements have been +also noticed at sea when at some distance from the land. + +By this ship we were not fortunate enough to receive any European news. +The master saw only one English ship at the Cape, the _Chesterfield_ +whaler, commanded by a Mr. Alt, who had formerly been a midshipman in his +Majesty's ship _Sirius_, and who went home on board of the _Neptune_ +transport." + +In a few days after the arrival of the _Hope_, the signal was again made +at the South Head, and in a few hours the _Chesterfield_, the ship just +mentioned to us by the American, anchored in the cove. She sailed from +the Cape of Good Hope shortly after Mr. Page; and the master said he +touched at Kerguelan's Land, where, some other ship having very recently +preceded him (which he judged from finding several sea elephants dead on +the beach, and a club which is used in killing them) he remained but a +short time, having very bad weather. He supposed the ship which preceded +him to have been the first which had visited those desolate islands since +Captain Cook had been there, as he found the fragments of the bottle in +which that officer had deposited a memorial of his having examined them. +This was conjecture and might be erroneous, as the mere pieces of the +bottle afforded no proof that it had been recently broken. + +Mr. Alt spoke of meeting with very bad weather, and of his ship having +thereby suffered such injury, that he was compelled on the representation +of his people to put in here for the purpose of getting repairs. Indeed +her appearance very amply justified their representations; and it was a +wonder how she had swam so far, for her complaints must have been of very +long standing. + +To expedite the building of the new barracks, which formed the most +material labour at Sydney, two overseers and forty men were sent down +from Parramatta. One barrack being now completed, towards the latter end +of the month it was occupied by Captain George Johnston, a party-wall +having been thrown down adapting the building to the accommodation of one +instead of two officers. + +On the last day of the month, two warrants of emancipation passed the +seal of the territory, together with a grant of twenty-five acres of land +to Ensign Cummings of the New South Wales corps. In the instructions for +granting lands in this country, no mention of officers had yet been made; +it was however fairly presumed that the officers could not be intended to +be precluded from the participation of any advantages which the crown +might have to bestow in the settlements; particularly as the greatest in +its gift, the free possession of land, was held out to people who had +forfeited their lives before they came into the country. + +Among the regulations which took place at Sydney, must be noticed the +dispensing with the officer's guard which had always mounted there; and +the changing the hours of labour. The convicts now had more time given to +them, for the purpose not only of avoiding the heat of the day, but of +making themselves comfortable at home. They were directed to work from +five in the morning until nine; rest until four in the afternoon, and +then labour until sun-set. + +The _Kitty_, having delivered her cargo, began to prepare for taking some +stores and provisions and a detachment of the New South Wales corps to +Norfolk Island. + +The weather during this month was very hot. The 5th was a day most +excessively sultry. The wind blew strong from the northward of west; the +country, to add to the intense heat of the atmosphere, was everywhere on +fire. At Sydney, the grass at the back of the hill on the west side of +the cove, having either caught or been set on fire by the natives, the +flames, aided by the wind which at that time blew violently, spread and +raged with incredible fury. One house was burnt down, several gardens +with their fences were destroyed; and the whole face of the hill was on +fire, threatening every thatched hut with destruction. The conflagration +was with much difficulty (notwithstanding the exertions of the military) +got under, after some time, and prevented from doing any further +mischief. At different times during this uncomfortable day distant +thunder was heard, the air darkened, and some few large drops of rain +fell. The apparent danger from the fires drew all persons out of their +houses; and on going into the parching air, it was scarcely possible to +breathe; the heat was insupportable; vegetation seemed to suffer much, +the leaves of many culinary plants being reduced to a powder. The +thermometer in the shade rose above one hundred degrees. Some rain +falling toward evening, the excessive heat abated. + +At Parramatta and Toongabbie also the heat was extreme; the country there +too was every where in flames. Mr. Arndell was a great sufferer by it. The +fire had spread to his farm; but by the efforts of his own people and the +neighbouring settlers it was got under, and its progress supposed to be +effectually checked, when an unlucky spark from a tree, which had been on +fire to the topmost branch, flying upon the thatch of the hut where his +people lived, it blazed out; the hut with all the out-buildings, and +thirty bushels of wheat just got into a stack, were in a few minutes +destroyed. The erecting of the hut and out-houses had cost £15 a short +time before. + +The day preceding that of the excessive heat, James Castles, an +industrious and thriving settler at Prospect Hill, had his hut +accidentally burnt down, with all his comforts, and three bushels of +wheat which he had just reaped. The governor ordered his hut to be +rebuilt, and every assistance given which the stores afforded to repair +his loss. + +There died between the 1st of January and 31st of December 1792, two of +the civil department, six soldiers, four hundred and eighteen male +convicts, eighteen female convicts, and twenty-nine children; one male +convict was executed; and three male convicts were lost in the woods; +making a decrease by death of four hundred and eighty-two persons. + +The following were the prices of stock, grain, and other articles, as +they were sold at Sydney, and at Parramatta, at the close of the year: + +AT SYDNEY + +Maize per lb. 3d +Rice per lb 3d +Peas or dholl from 1½d to 2d per lb. +Flour 9d per lb. +Potatoes 3d per lb. +Sheep £10 10s each. +Milch goats from £8 8s to £10 10s +Kids from £2 10s to £4 +Breeding sows from £6 6s to £7 7s and £10 10s +Young ditto from £3 to £4 +Laying hens 10s +Full grown fowls from 5s to 7s 6d +Chickens 1s 6d +Fresh pork per lb 1s +Prime salt pork from 6d to 8d +Salt beef 4d +Eggs per dozen from 2s to 3s +Moist sugar per lb 1s 6d +Tea from 8s to 16s +Soap 1s +Butter from 1s 6d to 2s +Cheese from 1s 6d to 2s +Hams from 1s 6d to 2s +Bacon from 1s 6d to 2s + +AT PARRAMATTA + +Maize per lb. 3d +Rice per lb. 3d +Peas or dholl 2d per lb. +Flour 6d per lb +Potatoes 2d per lb +Sheep £10 10s each +Milch goats from £5 5s to £10 +Breeding sows from £6 6s to £10 10s +Pigs of a month old 12s +Laying hens from 7s to 10s +Full grown fowls from 7s to 10s +Chickens 1s 6d +Fresh pork per lb 1s +Prime salt pork 6d +Salt beef 4d +Eggs per dozen 2s +Moist sugar per lb 1s 6d +Tea from 6s to 16s +Soap 1s +Coffee 2s +Tobacco, American Brazil, 4s +Tobacco of the colony 2s + +The price of fish and vegetables varied from day to day; spirits in +exchange were estimated at from twelve to twenty shillings per gallon; +porter was sold from nine to ten pounds per hogshead, or from one +shilling to one shilling and three pence per quart. + +It did not appear that the settlers had brought any new wheat or other +grain to market. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + + +Order respecting spirits +Seamen punished +Convicts enlisted into the new corps +Regulations respecting Divine Service +The _Hope_ sails +The _Bellona_ arrives +Cargo damaged +Information +Two women and a child drowned +The _Kitty_ sails for Norfolk Island +Ration +An Officer sent up to inspect the cultivation at Parramatta +A theft committed +Works +Kangaroo Ground opened +Settlers +Liberty Plains +Conditions +_Bellona_ sails +Transactions +The _Shah Hormuzear_ from Calcutta arrives +Information received by her +The dholl expended +Sickness and death occasioned by the American spirits +The _Chesterfield_ sent to Norfolk Island +Convicts sell their clothing +Two Spanish ships arrive +Information +Epitaph +A Criminal Court +The _Kitty_ returns from Norfolk Island +Fraud at the store at Parramatta + + +1793.] + +January.] The lieutenant-governor having directed the commissary to +dispose of the spirits purchased from the American to the military and +civil officers of the colony, in which were included the superintendants, +and some others in that line, it was found that it had been purchased by +many individuals of the latter description with the particular view of +retailing it among the convicts. He therefore found it necessary to +declare in public orders, 'That it was his intention to make frequent +inquiries on the subject; and it might be relied upon, that if it ever +appeared that a convict was possessed of any of the liquor so supplied by +the commissary, the conduct of those who had thought proper to abuse what +was designed as an accommodation to the officers of the garrison, would +not be passed over unnoticed.' + +Some such order had indeed become very necessary; for the American spirit +had by some means or other found its way among the convicts; and, a +discreet use of it being wholly out of the question with those people, +intoxication was become common among them. The free use of spirits had +been hitherto most rigidly prohibited in the colony; that is to say, it +was absolutely forbidden to the convicts. It might therefore have been +expected, that when that restraint was in ever so small a degree removed, +they would break out into acts of disorder and contempt of former +prohibitions. It was therefore indispensable to the preservation of peace +and good order in the settlement, to prevent, if possible, the existence +of so great an evil as drunkenness; which, if suffered, would have been +the parent of every irregularity. The fondness expressed by these people +for even this pernicious American spirit was incredible; they hesitated +not to go any lengths to procure it, and preferred receiving liquor for +labour, to every other article of provisions or clothing that could be +offered them. + +The master of the _Kitty_ having represented to the lieutenant-governor +that the conduct of his ship's company was at times so irregular and +mutinous (some of them refusing to do their duty, going on shore and +taking boats from the ship without permission) that he found it +impossible to carry on the business of the ship, unless he could receive +some assistance from the civil authority, the lieutenant-governor +directed one, of whom the master particularly complained, Benjamin +Williams, to receive one hundred lashes, and another, Adams, to receive +twenty-five lashes. This in some measure checked the spirit of +disobedience in the ship, and the duty was carried on better than before. +Her preparations for Norfolk Island however went on but slowly, four or +five of her hands having left her. These, together with some other seamen +who had been left behind from the _Royal Admiral_, were either employed +in the public boats belonging to the colony, or had entered into the New +South Wales corps; into which corps also several convicts of good +character had been lately received, to complete the company that had been +formed from the marines under the command of Captain Johnston. This +company was a valuable addition, being composed of many excellent +soldiers from the marines; who entered into it voluntarily, and whose +conduct had met the entire approbation of their officers. + +On the departure of the governor, the house that he had lived in was +taken possession of by the oldest captain of the corps, his apartments in +the officers quarters being confined, and tumbling to pieces. + +Divine service was now performed at six o'clock in the morning. For want +of a building dedicated to that purpose, many inconveniences were +suffered, as well by the clergyman as by those who attended him. The +lieutenant-governor therefore did not require the ceremony to be performed +more than once a day; and that the health of the convicts might not be +injured from the heat of the sun, which at this season of the year was +excessive, he directed the church call to be beat at a quarter before six +in the morning. The overseers were enjoined to be particularly careful to +collect as many of their gangs to attend Mr. Johnson as could +conveniently be brought together; for, although it was not wished that +the huts should be left without proper persons to look after them, it was +nevertheless expected, that no idle excuses should keep the convicts from +attending divine service. + +On the 10th the _Hope_ sailed for Canton, the master having been allowed +to ship three convicts, whose sentences of transportation had expired; +viz Murphy, a sail-maker; Sheppard, a joiner; and Bateman, a lad who had +been employed as an attendant on an officer. + +At six o'clock in the evening of Tuesday the 15th, the signal which +always gave satisfaction in the colony was made at the South Head; +several boats went down, but when night closed it was only known that a +ship was off. A large fire for the information of the stranger was made +at the South Head; and at about ten o'clock the following morning, the +_Bellona_ transport, Mr. Mathew Boyd commander, anchored in the cove from +England; from which place she sailed on the 8th day of August last, +having on board a cargo of stores and provisions for the colony; +seventeen female convicts; five settlers, and their families; Thorpe, a +person engaged as a master millwright at a salary of £100 per annum; and +Walter Broady, who returned to New South Wales to be employed in his +former capacity of master blacksmith. The quaker families which had been +expected for some time past had engaged to take their passage in the +_Bellona_; but it was said, that they had been diverted from their +purpose by some misrepresentations which had been made to them respecting +this country. + +Among other articles now received were five pipes of port wine and a +quantity of rum, which were consigned to the governor for the purpose of +being sold to the officers of the civil and military establishments at +prime cost; and three thousand pounds of tobacco for the use of the +soldiers of the garrison and others. + +The shameful impositions which had been practised by many who had brought +out articles for sale in the colony, and the advantage which had been +taken in too many instances of our necessities, had been properly stated +at home, and this measure had been adopted by Government for our +accommodation. The wine was immediately distributed; coming to the +officer, after every expense of wharfage, etc. at £19 10s per hogshead, +and the rum at five shillings per gallon. The tobacco was likely to +remain for some time undisposed of, as a quantity had been lately brought +into the settlement, and was selling at a lower price than could be taken +for that imported by this ship; and tobacco formed a material article of +the different investments in the _Britannia_. + +With great pleasure we also found that Government, in consequence of the +representations of Governor Phillip, had directed a strong substantial +Russia duck to be substituted for the slight unserviceable Osnaburgs with +which the convicts had been hitherto supplied. + +We learned by the _Bellona_, that his Majesty's ship _Gorgon_ arrived at +Spithead on the 19th of June last. In her passage, which she made by Cape +Horn, on the 18th of February last, being in the latitude of 51 degrees +30 minutes S and longitude 34 degrees 07 minutes W variation 13 degrees +37 minutes E she fell in with twenty-nine islands of ice. When the ship +reached within three or four miles of the first of these islands, they +observed one compact body, without the smallest appearance of any opening, +bearing from NNE to WNW and which with some difficulty, being embayed*, +they were enabled to clear, by hauling the ship from N to WSW. This was +done at ten in the forenoon; they did not reach the extreme western point +of the ice until five in the evening; and from the rate at which the ship +sailed, from her coming up with the first island of ice, until she cleared +the north-west point of the field abovementioned, it was computed that she +had run full twenty leagues. + +[* When near this great body of ice, the thermometer was as low as +thirty-six degrees; and it rose from that point, as she drew off, to forty +degrees.] + +It must be remarked, that the _Sirius_, in the month of December 1788, +saw several islands of ice in nearly the same latitude and longitude. + +At the Cape of Good Hope Captain Parker had met with Captain Edwards of +the _Pandora_, who delivered to him Mary Braud, the widow of Bryant, who +escaped to Timor in the fishing cutter, with one of the children, and +only four of the male convicts who accompanied Bryant in his flight. +Bryant died at Batavia, with the other child, and two of his companions; +one of them, James Cox, was said to be drowned in the Straits of Sunda. +On their arrival in England the story of their sufferings in the boat +excited much compassion; and, before the _Bellona_ sailed, they had been +brought up to the bar of the Old Bailey, and ordered by the court to +remain in Newgate until the period of their original sentence of +transportation should expire, there to finish their unsuccessful attempts +to regain their liberty. + +While the cargo of the _Bellona_ was landing much of it was found to be +damaged; the ship had been overloaded, and had met with very boisterous +weather on her passage. This practice of crowding too much into one ship +had in many instances been very prejudicial to the colony; in the present +instance, of the Russia duck, which was excellent in its kind, and which +had cost the sum of £6636 0s 9d; sixty-eight bales, containing thirteen +thousand one hundred and forty-eight yards, were damaged; sixty-nine casks +of flour also were found to be much injured. Of seventy-six hogsheads of +molasses, eleven hundred and seventy-two gallons were found to have leaked +out; one cask of pork was stinking and rotten; seventy-nine gallons of +rum, and one hundred and ninety-eight gallons of wine, were deficient, +owing to improper stowage; three hundred and thirty-five hammocks, +thirteen rugs, five hundred and twenty-seven yards of brown cloths, and +one case of stationary, were rendered totally unfit for use. Of the +articles thus found to be unserviceable to the colony, there was not one +which in its proper state would not have been valuable; and when the +expense attending their conveyance, the risk of the passage, the +inconvenience that must be felt from the want of every damaged article, +and the impossibility of getting them replaced for a great length of +time, were considered, it was difficult to ascertain their precise value. + +Among the occurrences of this month one appears to deserve particular +notice. On Friday the 18th, Eleanor McCave, the wife of Charles Williams, +the settler, was drowned, together with an infant child, and a woman of +the name of Green. These unfortunate people had been drinking and +revelling with Williams the husband and others at Sydney, and were +proceeding to Parramatta in a small boat, in which was a bag of rice +belonging to Green. The boat heeling considerably, and some water getting +at the bag, by a movement of Green's to save her rice the boat overset +near Breakfast Point, and the two women and the child were drowned. If +assistance could have been obtained upon the spot, the child might have +been saved; for it was forced from the wretched mother's grasp just +before she finally sunk, and brought on shore by the father; but for want +of medical aid it expired. The parents of this child were noted in the +colony for the general immorality of their conduct; they had been rioting +and fighting with each other the moment before they got into the boat; +and it was said, that the woman had imprecated every evil to befal her +and the infant she carried about her (for she was six months gone with +child) if she accompanied her husband to Parramatta. The bodies of these +two unfortunate women were found a few days afterwards, when the wretched +and rascally Williams buried his wife and child within a very few feet of +his own door. The profligacy of this man indeed manifested itself in a +strange manner: a short time after he had thus buried his wife, he was +seen sitting at his door, with a bottle of rum in his hand, and actually +drinking one glass and pouring another on her grave until it was emptied, +prefacing every libation by declaring how well she had loved it during +her life. He appeared to be in a state not far from insanity, as this +anecdote certainly testifies; but the melancholy event had not had any +other effect upon his mind. + +The _Kitty_ transport being ready for sea, on Sunday the 20th two +subalterns, three sergeants, three corporals, one drummer, and sixty +privates, of the New South Wales corps, were embarked, for the purpose of +relieving the detachment from that corps now on duty at Norfolk Island +under the command of a captain, who received orders to return to this +settlement. + +On board of this ship were also embarked, Mr. Clarke, the deputy-commissary +for Norfolk Island; Mr. Peate, the master carpenter, who came out in the +_Royal Admiral_; two coopers; two tailors; two officers' servants; John +Chapman Morris, Benjamin Ingram (pursuant to the conditional pardon which +he received from Governor Phillip), and a few women: and on the 25th +she sailed. + +On Saturday the 26th, the rice being expended, the convicts received +three pounds of flour, and the civil and military one pound of flour in +addition to the former allowance. + +In the course of this month the lieutenant-governor judged it necessary +to send an officer to Parramatta, whom he could entrust with the +direction of the convicts employed there and at Toongabbie in +cultivation, as well as to take charge of the public grain. This business +had always been executed by one of the superintendants, under the +immediate inspection and orders of the governor, who latterly had +dedicated the greatest part of his time and attention to these +settlements. But it was attended with infinite fatigue to his excellency; +and the business had now grown so extensive, that it became absolutely +necessary that the person who might have the regulation of it should +reside upon the spot, that he might personally enforce the execution of +his orders, and be at all times ready to attend to the various +applications which were constantly making from settlers. + +The lieutenant-governor, therefore (his presence being required at +Sydney, the head-quarters of his regiment, and the seat of the government +of the country) deputed this trust to Lieutenant John Macarthur, of the +New South Wales corps; the superintendants, storekeepers, overseers, and +convicts at the two settlements, being placed under his immediate +inspection. + +Charles Gray, a man who had rendered himself notorious in the registers +of this colony by repeated acts of villainy, exhibited himself again to +public view at the close of this month, and at a time when every one +thought him a reclaimed man. He had been sent to Norfolk Island as a +place where he would have fewer opportunities of exercising his predatory +abilities than at Sydney; but the law having spent its force against him, +he returned to this settlement as a free man in September last. On his +declaring that he was able to provide for himself, he was allowed to work +for his own support, and for some time past he had cut wood and drawn +water for a drummer in the New South Wales corps, a man who, by much +self-denial and economy, had got together and laid up thirty-three +guineas, for the prudent and laudable purpose of hereafter apprenticing +his children; but having unfortunately and most indiscreetly suffered +this man to know, not only that he had such a sum, but where he kept it, +Gray availed himself of a convenient opportunity, and carried off the +whole sum, together with a shirt which lay in his way. On being taken up +(for suspicion was directly fixed on him) he readily acknowledged the +theft, and either was, or pretended to be, very much in liquor. On being +urged to restore the property, he sent the watchmen to search for it in +different places, but without directing them to the spot where he had +concealed it. At last he was taken out himself, when accidentally meeting +the lieutenant-governor he threw himself on the ground, pretending to be +in a fit; on which he was directly ordered to be tied up and punished +with one hundred lashes. After this he would not make any discovery, and +was sent to the hospital. The drummer who had suffered so materially by +this wretch, although the object of pity, yet, knowing as he must have +done the character of the man, was certainly entitled to no small degree +of blame for trusting with a secret of such importance to his family a +man who he must have known could not have withstood so great a temptation. + +The lieutenant-governor proposing to open and cultivate the ground +commonly known by the name of the Kangaroo Ground, situate to the +westward of the town of Sydney between that settlement and Parramatta, a +gang of convicts was sent from the latter place for that purpose. The +soil here was much better for agriculture than that immediately adjoining +to the town of Sydney, and the ground lay well for cultivation; but it +had hitherto been neglected, from its being deficient in the very +essential requisite of water; on which account Parramatta had been +preferred to it. The eligibility of cultivating it was however now going +to be tried; and, permission having been received by the _Bellona_ to +grant lands to those officers who might desire it, provided the +situations of the allotments were such as might be advantageous to _bona +fide_ settlers hereafter, if they ever should fall into such hands, +several officers chose this as the spot which they would cultivate, and +allotments of one hundred acres each were marked out for the clergyman +(who, to obtain a grant here, relinquished his right to cultivate the +land allotted for the maintenance of a minister), for the principal +surgeon, and for two officers of the corps. + +February.] The settlers who came out in the _Bellona_ having fixed on a +situation at the upper part of the harbour above the Flats, and on the +south side, their different allotments were surveyed and marked out; and +early in this month they took possession of their grounds. Being all free +people, one convict excepted, who was allowed to settle with them, they +gave the appellation of '_Liberty Plains_' to the district in which their +farms were situated. The most respectable of these people, and apparently +the best calculated for a _bona fide_ settler, was Thomas Rose, a farmer +from Dorsetshire, who came out with his family, consisting of his wife +and four children. An allotment of one hundred and twenty acres was +marked out for him. With him came also Frederic Meredith, who formerly +belonged to the _Sirius_, Thomas Webb, who also belonged to the _Sirius_, +with his nephew, and Edward Powell, who had formerly been here in the +_Lady Juliana_ transport. Powell having since his arrival married a free +woman, who came out with the farmer's family, and Webb having brought a +wife with him, had allotments of eighty acres marked out for each; the +others had sixty each. The conditions under which they engaged to settle +were, 'To have their passages provided by government*; an assortment of +tools and implements to be furnished them out of the public stores; to be +supplied with two years' provisions; their lands to be granted free of +expense; the service of convicts also to be assigned them free of +expense; and those convicts whose services might be assigned them to be +supplied with two years' rations and one year's clothing.' The convict +who settled with them (Walter Rouse, an industrious quiet man) came out +in the first fleet, and being a bricklayer by trade they thought he might +be of some service to them in constructing their huts. He had an +allotment of thirty acres marked out for him. + +[* Government paid for each person above ten years of age the sum of +eight pounds eight shillings; and allowed one shilling _per diem_ for +victualling them; and sixpence _per diem_ for every one under that age.] + +Many more officers availed themselves of the assent given by government +to their occupying land, and fixed, some at Parramatta and others in +different parts of the harbour, where they thought the ground most likely +to turn out to their convenience and advantage. They began their +settlements in high spirits; the necessary tools and implements of +husbandry were furnished to them from the stores; and they were allowed +each the use of ten convicts. From their exertions the lieutenant-governor +was sanguine in his hopes of being enabled to increase considerably the +cultivation of the country; they appeared indeed to enter vigorously into +these views, and not being restrained from paying for labour with spirits, +they got a great deal of work done at their several farms (on those days +when the convicts did not work for the public) by hiring the different +gangs; the great labour of burning the timber after it was cut down +requiring some such extra aid. + +On the 5th of the month the _Bellona_ was discharged from government +employ. Twenty-one days were allowed for the delivery of her cargo; but, +by taking off the people from the brick carts, and from some other works, +she was cleared within the time. This ship was of four hundred and +fifty-four tons burden, and was paid by government at the rate of four +pounds four shillings per ton per month. A clause was inserted in the +charter-party, forbidding the master to receive any person from the +colony, without the express consent and order of the governor. The +governor was also empowered to take her up for the purposes of the colony +should he want her; but as the _Daedalus_ was expected, and the _Kitty_ +was already here, both in the service of government, it was not necessary +to detain her, and she sailed on the 19th for Canton. + +The master having been permitted to receive on board two convicts (the +number he requested) whose terms of transportation had expired, consented +to his ship being smoked, when four people were found secreted on board, +two of whom had not yet served the full periods of their sentences. + +To prevent this ship's coming on demurrage while her cargo was +delivering, the convicts worked in their own hours, as well as those +allotted to the public, under a promise of having the extra time allowed +them at a future day. While this labour was in hand, the building of the +barracks stood still for want of materials; it therefore became +necessary, when the brick carts could again be manned, to lose no time in +bringing in a sufficient number of bricks to employ the bricklayers. This +having performed, they claimed their extra time, which now amounted to +sixteen days. As it would have proved very inconvenient to have allowed +them to remain unemployed for that number of days, the lieutenant-governor +directed the commissary to issue to each person so employed half a pint +of spirits _per diem_ for sixteen days. Liquor given to them in this way +operated as a benefit and a comfort to them: it was the intemperate use +of spirits, procured at the expense of their clothing or their provisions, +which was to be guarded against, and which operated as a serious evil. + +For want of sufficient store-room, it was found necessary to stow a great +part of the wet provisions and flour arrived by the _Bellona_ in tiers +before the provision-store. Care was taken to shelter them from the sun +and from the weather; and when the pile was completed, it was, until the +eye was accustomed to the sight, an object of novelty and wonder; it +never having occurred to us since we first built a store, to have more +provisions than our stores could contain. + +Gray, who had recovered from his last punishment, being now again urged +to discover what he had done with the drummer's money, trifled until he +was again punished, and then declared he had buried it in the man's +garden; but being taken to the spot he could not find it, and in fact did +not seem to know where to look for it. It was supposed, that, being in +liquor when he committed the robbery, he was ignorant how he had disposed +of the property, or that it had fallen into the hands of some person too +dishonest to give it to the right owner. He was afterwards sent to the +hospital, whence he made his escape into the woods. + +On the evening of Sunday the 24th the signal was made at the South Head, +a short time before dark, but too late to be observed at the settlement; +at nine o'clock, however, information was received by the boat belonging +to the South Head, that a ship from Calcutta was at anchor in the lower +part of the harbour. In the morning she worked up, and anchored just +without the cove. She proved to be the _Shah Hormuzear_, of about four +hundred tons burden, commanded by Mr. Matthew Wright Bampton, from +Calcutta, who had embarked some property on a private speculation for +this country. Mr. Bampton, in September last, had sailed from Bombay, +with a cargo of provisions and stock for this settlement; but when near +the Line, his ship springing a leak, he was obliged to return, and got to +Bengal, where, with the sanction of Lord Cornwallis, he took on board a +fresh cargo for the colony. At Bengal he had met with Captain Manning, +who sailed from hence in the _Pitt_ in April last, and who mentioned to +him such articles as he thought were most wanted in these settlements. + +Mr. Bampton had on board when he sailed, one bull, twenty-four cows, two +hundred and twenty sheep, one hundred and thirty goats, five horses, and +six asses; together with a quantity of beef, flour, rice, wheat, gram, +paddy, and sugar; a few pipes of wine, some flat iron, and copper +sufficient for the sloop's bottom which had been received in frame by the +_Pitt_, and which Captain Manning remembered to have been sent out +without that necessary article; a large quantity of spirits, and some +canvas. In the article of stock, however, Mr. Bampton had been very +unfortunate. His cattle died; of the sheep more than half perished; one +horse and three asses died; and very few of the goats survived the +voyage, a voyage by no means a long one, having been performed in eight +weeks wanting three days, and in good weather. This mortality evidently +did not proceed from any want of proper care, but was to be ascribed to +their having been embarked immediately on being taken from the fields, +and consequently wanting that stamina which a sea-voyage required. + +The cattle that survived was purchased by the different officers of the +colony, while the other part of the cargo, the spirits and canvas +excepted, were taken by government. The amount of the whole purchased by +government was £9603 5s 6d; for although a supply of provisions had been +lately received from England, it was but a small one, and we were not yet +in possession of that plenty which would have warranted our rejecting a +cargo of provisions, particularly when brought on speculation. The hour +of distress might again arrive, and occasions might occur that would +excite a wish, perhaps in vain, for a cargo of provisions from Bengal. In +addition to these reasons, it must be remarked, that the different +articles which were purchased were of the best quality, and offered on +reasonable terms. + +By this ship we received information, that the _Queen_ transport had +arrived safe at Bombay; but it was much feared that the _Admiral +Barrington_, which sailed in company with the _Queen_ from this place on +the 6th of January 1792, was lost, as no accounts had been received of +her at any port in India, a considerable time after her arrival at Bombay +from Batavia might reasonably have been expected. There arrived in the +_Chesterfield_ a person who had been a convict in this country, but who +had been allowed to take his passage on board the _Admiral Barrington_. +This man quitted the _Admiral Barrington_ at Batavia, and got to the Cape +in a Dutch ship, where meeting with Mr. Alt, he embarked with him, and by +the accident which brought the _Chesterfield_ hither returned to this +colony. On his arrival here, he circulated a report, that several of the +convicts who had got on board of these two ships had been landed by order +of the masters at an island which they met with in their passage to +Batavia, inhabited indeed, but by savages; and that those who remained +experienced such inhuman treatment, that they were glad to run away from +them at the first port where any civilised people were to be found. He +was himself among this number, and now declared that he was ready to make +oath to the truth of his relation if it should be required. If there was +any truth in his account, and the masters of these ships did actually +turn any people on shore in the manner already described, it was more +than probable that an act of such apparent cruelty had been occasioned by +some attempt of the convicts to take the ships from them; and the numbers +which were supposed to have been on board (seventeen) rather justified +the supposition. Captain Manning, of the _Pitt_, who had taken from this +settlement twenty men and nine women, found them so useless and +troublesome, that he was very glad to leave the greatest part of them at +Batavia*, and now declared that he regretted ever having received them on +board. When these circumstances should be made public, it was thought +that the masters of ships would not be so desirous of recruiting their +ships' companies from among the inhabitants of this colony. + +[* At that grave of Europeans the _Pitt_ lost eighteen of her people.] + +The grain called dholl, which had been issued as part of the ration at +the rate of three pints per man per week since the arrival of the +_Atlantic_, was discontinued on the 25th, the whole of that article +having been served out. It had been found useful for stock. + +At Toongabbie the workmen were now employed in constructing a barn and +granary upon a very extensive scale. + +Among the females who died this month was one, a stout healthy young +woman, of the name of Martha Todd, who came out in the _Mary Ann_, and +fell a victim to a dysenteric complaint, which seized her after drinking +too freely of the pernicious spirits which had been lately introduced +into the colony. The same fate attended James Hatfield, a man who had +been looked upon as a sober good character. He was on the point of +obtaining a grant of land, and came from Parramatta to Sydney for the +purpose of speaking about his allotment, when, unfortunately, he met with +some of his friends, and partaking intemperately of the American rum, he +was seized with a dysentery, which carried him off in a few days. In this +way many others were affected after drinking, through want of a +sufficient stamina to overcome the effect of the spirit. + +March.] The repairs of the _Chesterfield_ having been completed, she was +on the point of proceeding to sea, when the lieutenant-governor proposed +to the master for the sum of £120 to take on board a freight of +provisions for Norfolk Island; which he consenting to, she was hauled +alongside the ship from Bengal, and a certain proportion of grain was put +into her; after which, such salt provisions and stores as were intended +to be conveyed by her were sent from the colony, and on the 10th she +sailed for Norfolk Island. + +In lieu of the three pints of dholl, which were now discontinued, an +additional pound of flour was served; the civil and military receiving +eight pounds, and the convicts seven pounds of flour per week, from the +9th; and in order to make a little room in the store, and that the +officers might be accommodated with a better kind of flour, they were +permitted to receive from the commissary two casks of American flour +each, which were to be deducted from their ration. + +The ship from Bengal, which was manned with Lascars, had no sooner hauled +into the cove, and opened a communication with the shore, than a practice +commenced among the convicts of disposing of the slops and blankets which +they had lately received to the Lascars, who, trembling with the cold +even of this climate, very readily availed themselves of their propensity +to part with them; which was so great, that it became necessary to punish +with severity such offenders as were detected. + +On Tuesday the 12th the signal was made at the South Head, and by the +noon of the following day two Spanish ships anchored in the lower part of +the harbour. An officer from one of them arriving at the settlement, we +learned that they were the two ships of whose expected arrival +information had been received from government in the year 1790; and to +whom it was recommended that every attention should be paid. They were +named the _Descuvierta_ and _Atrevida_ (the _Discovery_ and the +_Intrepid_); the former commanded by Don Alexandro Malaspina, with a +broad pendant as the commander of the expedition, and the latter by Don +Jose de Bustamante y Guerra. They had been three years and a half from +Europe on a voyage of discovery and information; and were now arrived +from Manilla, after a passage of ninety-six days; touching in their way +hither at Dusky Bay in New Zealand, from which they had sailed about a +fortnight. + +On their coming up, they anchored just abreast of the two points which +form Sydney Cove, declining saluting, as it was not in our power to +return it. These ships were of three hundred and five tons burden each, +and were built for the particular voyage on which they were sent. Great +care was observable in their construction, both as to the strength of the +vessels and the accommodation of the officers and the equipage. They were +well manned, and had, beside the officers customary in king's ships, a +botanist and limner on board each vessel. + +They had visited all the Spanish possessions in South America and other +parts of the world, ascertaining with precision their boundaries and +situations; gaining much information respecting their customs and +manners, their importance with regard to the mother country, their +various productions commercial, agricultural, botanical, and mineral. For +all which purposes the officers on board appeared to have been selected +with the happiest success. They most forcibly reminded us of the +unfortunate Count de la Perouse and his followers, of whom these +gentlemen had only heard that they were no more; and for whose destiny +they expressed a feeling arising from their having traversed the ocean in +the same pursuit, and followed in the same path. Equally sincere and +polite as Count de la Perouse, the Spanish commodore paid a tribute to +the abilities and memory of our circumnavigator Cook, in whose steps the +Chevalier Malaspina, who was an Italian marquis and a knight of Malta, +declared it was a pleasure to follow, as it left him nothing to attend +to, but to remark the accuracy of his observations. They lost at the +island of Luconia Don Antonio Pineda, a colonel of the Spanish guards, +who was charged with that department of the expedition which respected +the natural history of the places they visited. They spoke of him in high +terms as a man of science and a gentleman, and favoured us with an +engraving of the monument which they had caused to be erected over his +grave at the place where he died; and from which the following +inscription was copied: + +ANTONIO . PINEDA . +Tribuno . Militum . +Virtute . In . Patriam . Bello . Armisque . Insigni . +Naturae . Demum . Indefesso . Scrutatori . +Trienni . Arduo . Itinere . Orbis . Extrema . Adiit . +Telluris . Viscera . Pelagi . Abyssos . Andiumque . Cacumina. Lustrans . +Vitae . Simul . Et . Laborum . Gravium . +Diem . Supremum . Obiit . In . Luconia . Phillipicarum . +VI Calendas . Julii . M.D.C.C.X.C.II. +Prematuram . Optimi . Mortem . +Luget . Patria . Luget . Fauna . Lugent . Amici . +Qui . Hocce . Posuere . Monumenturn . + +The monument was designed by Don Fernando Brambila, the landscape-painter +on board the _Atrevida_; and the inscription did credit to the classical +knowledge of Senor Don Fadeo Heencke, the botanist on board the +_Descuvierta_. + +Having requested permission to erect an observatory, they chose the point +of the cove on which a small brick hut had been built for Bennillong by +Governor Phillip, making use of the hut to secure their instruments. They +did not profess to be in want of much assistance; but such as they did +require was directed to be furnished them without any expense; it was +indeed too inconsiderable to become an object of charge. + +The arrival of these strangers, together with that of the ship from +Bengal, gave a pleasant diversity to the dull routine that commonly +prevailed in the town of Sydney; everyone striving to make their abode +among us as cheerful as possible, and to convince them, that though +severed from the mother country, and residing in woods and among savages, +we had not forgotten the hospitalities due to a stranger. + +The commission of offences was now so frequent, that it had become +necessary to assemble the criminal court during this month; and William +Ashford, a lad who had been drummed out of the New South Wales corps, was +tried for stealing several articles of wearing apparel from some of the +convicts; of which being convicted, he was sentenced to receive three +hundred lashes. + +On the 21st the _Kitty_ returned from Norfolk Island, having on board +Captain Paterson and his company of the new corps, together with a number +of free people and convicts; amounting in all to one hundred and +seventy-two persons; Governor King having been desired to get rid of any +such characters as might be dangerous or troublesome to him. + +Mr. King wrote very favourably of the state of the settlements, under his +command. The crops of wheat and maize had produced so abundantly, as to +insure him a sufficiency of that article for the next twelve months. The +inhabitants were healthy; and such had been the effects of some wholesome +regulations, and the attention of the magistrates to enforce them, that +for the last three months not any offence deserving of punishment had +been committed, nor a cob of corn purloined either of private or public +property. + +At the departure of the _Kitty_, he was busied in erecting some necessary +buildings, as barracks, a granary, storehouses, etc. and had completed a +very excellent house for his own use. Lime-stone having been found in +great abundance on Norfolk Island, enabled him to build with some extent +and security than had hitherto been done even in New South Wales. Several +casks of this useful article were now imported in the _Kitty_, with a +quantity of plank. + +Captain Johnston's company in the new corps received some addition by +this ship. Eight of the marine settlers, whose grounds, on extending the +lines of their allotments, were found to intersect each other, and who +had declined such accommodation as Governor King thought it proper to +offer them, had resigned their farms, and preferred returning to their +former profession. + +Toward the latter end of the month information was received of some +nefarious practices which had been carrying on at the store at +Parramatta; the sum of which was, that the two convicts who had been +employed in issuing the provisions under the storekeeper had been for +some time in the habit of serving out on each issuing-day an extra +allowance of provisions to one, or occasionally to two messes. The messes +consisted of six people, and one of these six (taking any mess he chose) +used to be previously informed by one or other of the convicts who served +the provisions, that an extra allowance for the whole mess would be +served to him, which he was to receive and convey away, taking care to +return the allowance to them at night, then to be divided into three +shares. To accomplish this fraud, an opportunity was to be taken of the +storekeeper's absence, which might happen during the course of a long +serving, and for which they took care to watch. On his return the mess +for which one allowance had just been served was publicly called, and the +whole served a second time. With this practice they had trusted nine or +ten different people; and the wife of one man, who had assisted in the +crime, in a fit of drunkenness confessed the whole. + +On examination before the judge-advocate it appeared, in addition to the +above circumstances, that this scheme had been carried on for about two +months past; but there was little doubt of its having existed much +longer. + +It was no difficult matter to discover the persons who had assisted in +this practice; and on their being taken up several confessed the share +that they and others had had in it: upon which the lieutenant-governor +ordered them all to be severely punished. + +In the _Kitty_ arrived one of the superintendants who had at Norfolk +Island been employed in manufacturing the flax plant; but which, for want +of some necessary tools, he could not bring to much perfection. These had +been written for to England, and he came hither to be employed at these +settlements till they should arrive. He was now sent up to Toongabbie, to +superintend the delivery of provisions at that place. + +Notwithstanding the orders which had been given respecting spirits being +in the possession of the convicts, on a search made in some suspected +houses, fourteen or fifteen gallons were found in one night; and, being +seized by the watchmen and the guard, were divided among them as a +stimulus to future vigilance. The evil effect of this spirit was +perceptible in the number of prisoners which were to be found every +morning in the watch-house; for, when intoxicated, it could not be +expected that people of this description would be very careful to avoid +breaking the peace. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + + +The Spanish ships sail +The _Chesterfield_ returns from Norfolk Island +A contract entered into for bringing cattle from India to this country +Provisions embarked on board the Bengal ship for Norfolk Island +The _Daedalus_ arrives +Cattle lost +Discoveries by Captain Vancouver +Two natives of New Zealand brought in +Bengal ship sails +Phenomenon in the sky +The hours of labour and ration altered +Lead stolen +Detachment at Parramatta relieved +Accident at that settlement +Lands cleared by officers +Mutiny on board the _Kitty_ +The _Kitty_ sails for England +His Majesty's birthday +State of the provision store +The _Britannia_ arrives +Loss of cattle +General account of cattle purchased, lost in the passage, and landed in +New South Wales +Natives + + +April.] The Spanish officers having nearly completed the astronomical +observations which the commodore thought it necessary to make in this +port, that officer signified his intention of shortly putting to sea on +the further prosecution of the instructions and orders which he had +received from his court. Previous to their departure, however, the +lieutenant-governor, with the officers of the settlement and of the +corps, were entertained first on board the _Descuvierta_, and the next +day on board the _Atrevida_, the lieutenant-governor being each day +received with a salute of nine guns, with the Spanish flag hoisted on the +foretopmast-head, being the compliment that is paid in the Spanish +service to a lieutenant-general. The dinner was prepared and served up +after their own custom, and bore every appearance of having been +furnished from a plentiful market.* The healths of our respective +sovereigns, being united in one wish, were drank with every token of +approbation, under a discharge of cannon; and 'Prosperity to the British +colonies in New South Wales' concluded the ceremonials of each day. + +[* A small cow from Monterrey was sacrificed on the occasion] + +The commodore presented the lieutenant-governor with two drawings of this +settlement, and one of Parramatta, done in Indian ink, by F. Brambila; +together with a copy of the astronomical observations which had been made +at the observatory, and at Parramatta. From these it appeared that the +longitude of the observatory which they had erected at the Point, deduced +from forty-two sets of distances of the sun and moon, taken on the +morning of the 2nd of this month, was 151 degrees 18 minutes 8 seconds E +from Greenwich; and the latitude, 33 degrees 51 minutes 28 seconds S. The +latitude of the governor's house at Parramatta was 33 degrees 48 minutes +0 seconds S; and the distance west from the observatory about nineteen +miles. + +The commodore left a packet with dispatches for the Spanish ambassador at +the court of London, to be forwarded by the first ship which should +depart hence direct for England; and on the 12th both ships sailed. Their +future route was never exactly spoken of by them; but, from what the +officers occasionally threw out, it appeared that they expected to be in +Europe in about fourteen months from their departure. They spoke of +visiting the Society and Friendly Islands, and of proceeding again to the +coast of South America. + +As it had been the general wish to render the residence of these +strangers among us as pleasant as our situation would allow, we received +with great satisfaction the expressions of regret which they testified at +their departure, a regret that was at least equally felt on our part. Our +society was very small; we could not therefore but sensibly feel the +departure of these gentlemen, who united to much scientific knowledge +those qualities of the heart which render men amiable in society; and the +names of Malaspina, Bustamante, Tova, Espinosa, Concha, Cevallos, +Murphy*, Robredo, Quintano, Viana, Novales, Pineda**, Bauza, Heencke***, +Nee***, Ravenet****, and Brambila****, were not likely to be soon +forgotten by the officers of this settlement. During their stay here, the +greatest harmony subsisted between the seamen of the two ships and our +people, the latter in but few instances exercising their nimble-fingered +talents among them; such, however, as did choose to hazard a display, and +were detected, were severely punished. + +[* This gentleman was of Irish extraction.] + +[** Brother of D. A. Pineda.] + +[*** The botanists.] + +[**** The limner, and landscape-painter.] + +A few days before these ships left us, the _Chesterfield_ returned (after +an absence of only thirty days) from Norfolk Island, where she landed +safely every thing she had on board for that settlement. Mr. Alt anchored +for some days in Cascade Bay, where Governor King had constructed a +wharf, and had hopes of making the landing more convenient that could +ever be practicable at Sydney Bay. This was truly a desideratum, as few +ships had gone to this island without having in the course of their stay +either been blown off, or been in some danger on the shore. It was +understood that scarcely any thing less than a miracle could have saved +the _Kitty_ from being wrecked on a rock just off the reef. + +The master of the _Shah Hormuzear_ having laid before the +lieutenant-governor some proposals for bringing cattle to this country, +they were taken into consideration; and as the introducing cattle into +the colony was a most desirable object, and Bengal had been pointed out +as the settlement from which they were to be procured, after some days a +contract was entered into between Mr. Bampton on his own part, and the +lieutenant-governor on behalf of the crown, wherein it was covenanted, +that Mr. Bampton should freight at some port in India a ship with one +hundred head of large draught cattle; one hundred and fifty tons of the +best provision rice, and one hundred and fifty tons of dholl, both +articles to be equal in quality to samples then produced and approved of, +and one hundred tons of the best Irish cured beef or pork; or, in lieu of +the salt provisions, fifty tons of rice. For the cattle, it was +covenanted on the part of the crown that Mr. Bampton should receive at +the rate of thirty-five pounds sterling per head for all that he should +land in a merchantable condition in the colony; for the rice he was to be +paid twenty-six pounds sterling, and for the dholl eighteen pounds +sterling, for every merchantable ton which should be landed; and, lastly, +for the salt provisions he was to receive four-pence halfpenny per pound +for all that should be landed in proper condition. In this contract there +were several conditions and restrictions, and the master was bound in one +thousand five hundred pounds penalty to fulfil them. + +The lieutenant-governor, wishing to send a supply to Norfolk Island +sufficient to place that settlement, as far as depended upon him, in a +comfortable state in point of provisions, engaged the _Shah Hormuzear_ to +carry two hundred and twenty tons of provisions thither for the sum of +£220; and the quantity now sent, added to what the _Kitty_ and +_Chesterfield_ had already conveyed, insured to Governor King provisions +for more than twelve months for all his people at the full ration. +Mr. Bampton engaging the _Chesterfield_ to carry some part of these +provisions, both ships began taking them in, and by the 19th had quitted +the cove, intending to sail the following morning; but the signal being +made for a sail at daylight, they waited to see the event. + +At the close of the evening of the 10th the _Daedalus_ storeship anchored +in the cove, from the north-west coast of America. The _Daedalus_ left +England with a cargo of provisions and stores, consisting chiefly of +articles of traffic, for the use of the vessels under the command of +Captain Vancouver, whom she joined at Nootka Sound on the north-west +coast of America, and it was designed that she should, after delivering +her cargo, be dispatched to this colony with such stock as she might be +able to procure from the different islands whereat she might touch, and +be afterwards employed as the service might require, should Captain +Vancouver not make any application for her return; which was thought +probable, as well as that he might require some assistance from the +colony. + +Captain Vancouver, after taking out as much of the cargo as could be +received on board the vessels under his command, dispatched her according +to his orders, although not so early as he could have wished, owing to +particular circumstances; and he was now obliged to send with her a +requisition for the remainder of the provisions and stores being returned +to him, together with a certain quantity of provisions from the colony; +the whole to be dispatched from hence so as to join him either at Nootka, +or some of the Sandwich islands, in the month of October next. + +The agent Lieutenant Richard Hergist, who left England in this ship, was +unfortunately killed, together with a Mr. Gootch (an astronomer, on his +way to join Captain Vancouver) and one seaman, at Wahool one of the +Sandwich Islands, where they touched to procure refreshments. Captain +Vancouver had replaced this officer, by Lieutenant James Hanson, of the +_Chatham_ armed-tender, who now arrived in the ship. + +On board of the _Daedalus_ were embarked at Monterrey, a Spanish +settlement at a short distance from Nootka, six bulls, twelve cows, six +rams, and eight ewes; and at Otaheite, Lieutenant Hanson took on board +upwards of one hundred hogs (most of them, unluckily, barrows) of all +which stock four sheep and about eighty hogs only survived the passage. +The loss of the cattle was attributed to their having been caught wild +from the woods, and put on board without ever having tasted dry food. The +major part of the hogs, apparently of a fine breed, arrived in very poor +condition. + +Lieutenant Hanson, having touched at the northernmost island of New +Zealand, brought away with him two natives of that country, having +received directions to that effect for the purpose of instructing the +settlers at Norfolk Island in the manufacture of the flax plant. They +were both young men, and, as they arrived before the departure of the +_Shah Hormuzear_, the lieutenant-governor determined to send them at once +to Norfolk Island. + +Captain Vancouver transmitted by Lieutenant Hanson a chart and drawings +of a spacious harbour, which he discovered on the southwest coast of this +country, and which he named King George the Third's Sound. Its situation +was without the line prescribed as the boundary of the British +possessions in this country, being in the latitude of 35 degrees 05 +minutes 30 seconds South, and longitude 118 degrees 34 minutes 0 seconds +E. He also sent an account of the discovery of a dangerous cluster of +rocks, which he named the Snares, the largest of which was about a league +in circuit, and lay in latitude 48 degrees 03 minutes S and longitude 166 +degrees 20 minutes East, bearing from the South-end of New Zealand S 40 +degrees W true, twenty leagues distant; and from the southernmost part of +the Traps (rocks discovered by Captain Cook) S 67½ degrees W true, twenty +leagues distant. The largest of these rocks, which was the highest and +the northeasternmost, might be seen in clear weather about eight or nine +leagues: the whole cluster was composed of seven barren rocks, extending +in a direction about N 70 degrees E and S 70 degrees W true, occupying +the space of about three leagues. + +The _Chatham_, being separated in a gale of wind from the _Discovery_, +fell in with an island, which was named 'Chatham Island,' and along the +north-side of which she sailed for twelve leagues. Its inhabitants much +resembled the natives of New Zealand, and it was situated in latitude 43 +degrees 48 minutes S and longitude 183 degrees 02 minutes East. + +We learned from Lieutenant Hanson, that the _Matilda_ whaler, which +sailed hence in the latter end of the year 1791, on her fishing voyage, +was wrecked on a reef in 22 degrees South latitude, and 138 degrees 30 +minutes West longitude. The master and people reached Otaheite, from +whence some were taken by an American vessel, and some by Captain Bligh +of the Providence. Five sailors only remained on the island, with one +runaway convict from this place, when the _Daedalus_ touched there in her +route hither, and of that number one sailor only could be prevailed on to +quit it. + +We had now the satisfaction of learning that Captain Bligh had sailed for +Jamaica in July last, with ten thousand breadfruit plants on board in +fine order; having so far accomplished the object of this his second +mission to that island. + +The natives from New Zealand having been put on board the _Shah +Hormuzear_ at the last moment of her stay in port, Lieutenant Hanson +remaining with them until the ship was without the Heads, she sailed, +together with the _Chesterfield_, on the 24th. + +Mr. Bampton purposed making his passage to India through the straits at +the south end of New Guinea, known by the name of Torres Straits. Captain +Hill, of the New South Wales corps, took his passage to England by the +way of India with Mr. Bampton. + +But few convicts were allowed to quit the colony in these ships; four men +and one woman only, whose terms of transportation were expired, being +received on board. + +Gray, who had absconded from the hospital in February last, made his +appearance about the latter end of this month at Toongabbie, where he was +detected in stealing Indian corn. + +Richard Sutton was stabbed with a knife in the belly by one Abraham +Gordon, at the house of a female convict, on some quarrel respecting the +woman, and at a time when both were inflamed with liquor. In the struggle +Sutton was also dangerously cut in the arm; and when the surgeon came to +dress him, he found six inches of the omentum protruding at the wound in +his belly. Gordon was taken into custody. + +Some people were taken up at Parramatta on suspicion of having murdered +one of the watchmen belonging to that settlement; the circumstances of +which affair one of them had been overheard relating to a fellow convict, +while both were under confinement for some other offence. A watchman +certainly had been missing for some time past; but after much inquiry and +investigation nothing appeared that could furnish matter for a criminal +prosecution against them. + +A soldier, who had been sentenced by a court-martial to receive three +hundred lashes, on being led out to receive his punishment, attempted to +cut his throat, wounding himself under the ear with a knife. The +punishment was put off until the evening, when he declared that he was +the person who killed the watchman at Parramatta, which he effected by +shooting him; and that he would lead any one to the place where the body +lay. This, however, not preventing his receiving as much of his +punishment as he could bear, he afterwards declared that he knew nothing +of the murder, and had accused himself of perpetrating so horrid a crime +solely in the hope of deferring his punishment. + +The natives, who now and then showed themselves about the distant +settlements, toward the latter end of the month wounded a convict who was +taking provisions from Parramatta to a settler at Prospect Hill. The +wound was not dangerous; but it occasioned the loss of the provisions +with which he was entrusted. + +The rains of this month came too late to save the Indian corn of the +season, which now wore a most unpromising appearance. A grain had been +lately introduced into the settlement, and grown at Toongabbie, and other +places, which promised to answer very well for stock. It was the caffre +corn of Africa, and had every appearance of proving a useful grain. + +An extraordinary appearance in the sky was observed by several people +between five and six o'clock in the evening of Friday the 12th of this +month. It was noticed in the north-west, and appeared as if a ray of +forked lightning had been stationary in that quarter of the sky for about +fifteen minutes, which was the time it was visible. It was not to be +discerned, however, after the sun had quitted the horizon. + +May.] The days being considerably shortened, and the weather having +lately been bad, it became necessary to alter the hours of labour. On the +first of May, therefore, the lieutenant-governor directed that the +convicts employed in cultivation, those employed under the master +bricklayer, and those who worked at the brick carts and timber carriages, +should labour from seven in the morning until ten, rest from that time +until three in the afternoon, and continue at their work till sunset. The +carpenters, whose business mostly lay within doors, and who were +therefore not exposed to the weather, were directed to work one hour more +in the afternoon, beginning at one instead of two o'clock. + +On the 4th the weekly ration was altered, the male convicts receiving +(instead of seven) four pounds of flour, to which were added four pounds +of wheat and four pounds of maize; the allowance of salt provisions +continued the same; but, the oil being expended, six ounces of sugar were +issued in lieu of that article. The wheat was that received from Bengal, +and the maize was issued the first week shelled, but unground; on the +second the people received it in the cob, getting six pounds in that +state in lieu of four shelled. This was unquestionably a good ration, and +when a sufficient number of mills were put up to grind the maize and the +wheat, the people themselves allowed it to be so. + +With a ration that they admitted to be a good one, with about six hours +labour during five days of the week, and with the advantages of gardens +and good huts, the situation of the convicts might at this period be +deemed comfortable, and such as precluded all excuse for misconduct. +Garden robberies were, notwithstanding, often committed at Sydney; and at +the other settlements the maize which was still in the field suffered +considerable depredation. + +A distinction was made in the ration served to the civil and military, +they receiving weekly six instead of eight pounds of flour, two pounds of +wheat, and four pounds of maize _per_ man. + +About the middle of the month the weather was remarkably bad. In the +forenoon of the 15th a report was spread, in the midst of a most violent +squall of wind and rain, that a ship was coming in. The wind having blown +from the southward for some days before favoured the story, and, every +one who heard it believing it to be true, the town was soon in motion +notwithstanding the storm; for, although it was not so rare as it had +been to hear of a ship, yet there was always something cheering and +grateful, and perhaps ever will be, in entertaining the idea that our +society was perhaps about to be increased, and that we were on the point +of receiving intelligence from our connections, or information of what +was doing in that world from which we felt ourselves almost severed. On +this occasion, however, we were disappointed; for, on the return of a +boat which had been sent to the South Head, we were informed that the +signal had not been made, nor a ship seen to occasion it. But we had been +well trained in New South Wales to meet and endure disappointment! + +On the night of this day, during the very heavy rain which fell, some +person or persons found means to take off, undiscovered by the sentinel +at the store on the east side, five hundred weight of sheet lead, which +had been landed from the _Daedalus_, and rolled to the storehouse door, +where, being an article not likely from its weight to become an easy +object of depredation, it was supposed to be perfectly safe. A very +diligent search was made, but without success; and it remained +undiscovered until the 27th, when a seaman belonging to the _Kitty_ +transport, on the ebbing of a spring tide, perceived it lying on the +shore at low-water mark, opposite to the spot where the _Daedalus_ lay at +anchor. From this circumstance suspicion fell upon the people belonging +to that ship; but as any design they could have in stealing it was not +very obvious it was more probable that some of the convicts had dropped +it there for the purpose of secreting it till a future day, when it would +have been got up, and cast into shot for those who are allowed to kill +game. + +About the end of the month the detachment of the New South Wales corps on +duty at Parramatta was relieved. The party that remained there was placed +under the command of Lieutenant Macarthur, the officer charged with the +direction of the civil duties of that settlement. The relief took place +by land, the party from Sydney marching up in about seven hours, and that +from Parramatta arriving at their quarters in Sydney in something more +than six. The computed distance by land is between seventeen and eighteen +miles. + +On the 29th our colours were displayed at the fort, in grateful remembrance +of the restoration of monarchy in England. + +Information was the same day received from Parramatta, that on the +evening of Saturday the 24th a settler of the name of Lisk, having been +drinking at the house of Charles Williams with Rose Burk (a woman with +whom he cohabited) until they were very much intoxicated, as he was +returning to his farm through the town of Parramatta, a dispute arose +between him and the woman, during which a gun that he had went off, and +the contents lodged in the woman's arm below the elbow, shattering the +bones in so dreadful a manner as to require immediate amputation; which +Mr. Arndell, being fortunately at home, directly performed. The unhappy +woman acquitted her companion of any intention to do her so shocking an +injury, and when the account reached Sydney she was in a favourable way. + +In this accident Williams, it is true, had no further share than what he +might claim from their having intoxicated themselves at his house; but +that, however, established him more firmly in the opinion of those who +could judge of his conduct as a public nuisance. + +The principal labour in hand at Sydney at this time was what the building +of the barracks occasioned; and at the other settlements the people were +chiefly employed in getting into the ground the grain for the ensuing +season, and in preparing for sowing the maize. This article of +subsistence having in the late season proved very unprofitable, the +average quantity being not more than six bushels per acre in the whole, +the lieutenant-governor determined to sow with wheat as much of the +public grounds as he could; and every settler who chose to apply was +permitted to draw as much wheat from the public granary as his ground +required, proper care being taken to insure its being applied solely to +that use. At Toongabbie no addition had been made to the public ground +since Governor Phillip's departure; but by a survey made at the latter +end of this month it appeared, that the officers to whom lands had been +granted, had cultivated and cleared two hundred and thirty-three acres, +and had cut down the timber from two hundred and nineteen more. All the +settlers of a different description had added something to their grounds; +and there were many who might be pronounced to be advancing fast toward +the comfortable situation of independent farmers. + +The quantity of land granted since the governor's departure amounted to +one thousand five hundred and seventy-five acres, eight hundred and +thirty of which lay between the towns of Sydney and of Parramatta, the +lieutenant-governor wishing and purposing to form a chain of farms +between these settlements. The advantages to be derived from this +communication were, the opening of an extent of country in the +neighbourhood of both townships, and the benefit that would ultimately +accrue to the colony at large from the cultivation of a track of as good +land as any that had been hitherto opened; by some indeed it was deemed +superior to the land immediately about Parramatta or Toongabbie. In this +chain, on the Parramatta side, were placed those settlers who came out in +the _Bellona_; and although they had only taken possession of their farms +about the middle of February, they had got some ground ready for wheat, +and by their industry had approved themselves deserving of every +encouragement. + +June.] The _Kitty_ transport, which, since her arrival from Norfolk +Island on the 21st of April last, had been fitting for her return to +England, at length hauled out of the cove on the 1st of this month, it +being intended that she should sail on the following morning. Her +departure, however, was delayed by the appearance of a mutiny among the +sailors at the very moment of being ordered to get the anchor up and +proceed to sea. The master, George Ramsay, had frequently complained of +some of the sailors belonging to the ship for various offences, and +several of them had been punished on shore; one in particular, Benjamin +Williams, for resisting Mr. Ramsay's authority as master of this ship, +had been punished with one hundred lashes. This man, and four or five of +the other sailors, having procured half a gallon of liquor from a man who +(his term of transportation having expired) was permitted to return to +England, were found by the master drinking, and with a light burning in +the forecastle, at the late and improper hour of twelve o'clock on the +night preceding their intended sailing. On being ordered to put out the +light, they refused, Williams declaring with an oath, that if the master +extinguished it, he would light it again. This, however, the master +effected; but on his afterwards going forward for the purpose of +discovering if they had procured another light, he was seized by Williams +and the other sailors, and thrown clear of the ship into the water. +Fortunately he could swim, a circumstance unknown to these miscreants, +and he reached the ship's side, whence, the mate coming to his +assistance, he was, though with some difficulty, being a very heavy man, +got into the ship. The master, notwithstanding the outrage which he had +thus experienced at their hands, would have contented himself with making +a deposition of the circumstance, and have put to sea the next morning; +but when he ordered the topsails to be hoisted, and the ship got under +way, Williams stood forward, and, for himself and the rest, declared with +much insolence, that the anchor should not be moved until the proper +number of hands belonging to the ship were on board*. The anchor, +however, was got up by the assistance of the passengers and some people +who had boats from the settlement alongside, and with the wind at west +she dropped gradually down the harbour. The lieutenant-governor, on being +informed by some officers who were present of the dangerous and alarming +temper which the seamen manifested on board, resolved, by taking a firm +and very active part, to crush the disorder at once, He accordingly went +on board in person, with some soldiers, and, ordering the ship to be +brought to an anchor, returned with Williams, and two others who were +pointed out by the master as his confederates, not only in refusing the +duty of the ship, but in throwing him overboard during the preceding +night. This resolute step was instantly followed up by their being taken +to the public parade, and there punished, Williams with one hundred and +fifty, and his companions with one hundred lashes each, by the drummers +of the New South Wales corps. At the place and in the moment of +punishment Williams's courage forsook him, and the spirit which he had +displayed on board the _Kitty_ was all evaporated**. He would have said +or done any thing to have averted the lash. + +[* She was deficient three men and two boys. The latter had run away the +night before.] + +[** He pretty well knew what a flogging was; for he was recognised by a +soldier of the New South Wales corps, who had seen him flogged from ship +to ship at Spithead for a similar offence.] + +The appearance of a mutiny is at all times and in every situation to be +dreaded; but in this country nothing could be more alarming. The +lieutenant-governor saw the affair in that light; and with a celerity and +firmness adapted to the exigency of the case restored tranquillity and +safety to all those who were concerned in the fate of the _Kitty_. The +day following several depositions were taken by the judge-advocate, for +the purpose of being transmitted to the navy-board, and the three seamen +who had been taken out of the _Kitty_ being replaced by two convicts and +one seaman lately discharged from the _Daedalus_, she sailed at daylight +on the morning of the 4th instant, and by twelve o'clock at noon was not +to be seen from the South Head. + +On board the _Kitty_ were embarked Mr. Dennis Considen, one of the +assistant-surgeons of the settlement, who had received permission to +return to England on account of his health, which had been formerly +impaired in the East Indies, Lieutenant Stephen Donovan, who had been +employed in superintending the landing of provisions and stores at +Norfolk Island, and was now returning to England, having been appointed a +lieutenant in the navy; Mr. Richard Clarke, who came out in the _Bellona_ +as a medical superintendant; Mr. Alexander Purvis Cranston, late surgeon +of his Majesty's sloop _Discovery_, who was returning to England, being +from ill health no longer capable of attending to the duties of his +profession; Mr. Henry Phillips, late carpenter of the same vessel, who +was sent hither to be forwarded to England as a prisoner; two seamen and +one marine, invalids from the vessels under the command of Captain +Vancouver; five men and one woman*, who, their terms of transportation +being expired, were permitted to return to their friends; the seaman who +was left behind from the _Atrevida_; also five men, who were permitted to +enter on board the _Kitty_ for the purpose of navigating her. For the +officers and invalids who were on board, provisions for six months were +sent from the colony; but the others provided for themselves. + +[* Dorothy Handland, who at the time of her departure was upwards of +eighty years of age, but who nevertheless had not a doubt of weathering +Cape Horn.] + +The services of the _Kitty_ were to be summed up in very few words. Of +ten artificers with which she sailed from England, she lost eight; and of +the cargo of stores and provisions which she brought out, a part was +damaged. In seventeen months that she had been in the service of +government, she had made a long and circuitous voyage from England, and +had taken one freight of provisions, stores, and troops to Norfolk Island +from this place. For these services her owners were to receive the sum of +£3500; and, allowing her to be seven months on her passage to England, +the total amount of her hire will be found to be very little short of +£5000. + +His Majesty's birthday passed with the usual marks of distinction. +The regiment fired three vollies on their own parade, and the convicts +were allowed the day to themselves. On this occasion also the +lieutenant-governor caused twelve of the largest hogs which had been +received by the _Daedalus_, to be killed and divided among the military, +superintendants, and sick at the hospital; sufficient being given to the +latter for two days. + +Notwithstanding the purchases of provisions which had fortunately been +made from the _Philadelphia_ brigantine before governor Phillip's +departure, and since that time from the _Hope_ and from the _Shah +Hormuzear_, the lieutenant-governor found it necessary on the 12th of the +month to give notice, 'That unless supplies arrived before the 22nd he +should be under the disagreeable necessity of ordering the ration to be +reduced on that day.' + +A view of the provisions remaining in store here and at Parramatta on the +24th of last month (the date of the return sent home by the commissary in +the _Kitty_) will evince the necessity of such an alteration. + +On the 24th of May there were in store + +Of Flour 137,944 lbs +Of Wheat 154,560 lbs +Of Paddy 49,248 lbs + +making a total of three hundred and forty-one thousand seven hundred and +fifty-two pounds of grain; which, at the established ration of eight +pounds per man per week, would last six weeks and three days. + +Beef 93,969 lbs +Pork 125,178 lbs + +which, at the ration of seven pounds of beef, or four pounds of pork, per +man per week, would last, the beef five weeks, and the pork eleven weeks +and a half. + +There was also in store, though not at present issued, the Indian corn +rendering it unnecessary, seventy-one thousand two hundred and eighty +pounds of grain and peas; which, at the allowance of three pints per man +per week, would last eight weeks and a half, and nineteen thousand eight +hundred pounds of sugar; which, at six ounces per man per week, would +last eighteen weeks and a half. This latter article had been issued since +the beginning of the last month, when it was served as an equivalent for +oil. + +It must be remarked, that but for the purchases which had most +fortunately been made of provisions, the colony must at this moment have +been again groaning under the oppression of a very reduced ration. + +From the Philadelphia were purchased Beef 109,817 lbs. +From the Hope were purchased Beef 38,600 lbs. +From the Shah Hormuzear were purchased Beef 107,988 lbs. + ------- +Total of Beef 256,405 lbs. + +From the Hope were purchased Pork 15,600 lbs. + ------- +Whole quantity purchased 272,005 lbs. + +of which, deducting the quantity remaining, we shall be found to have +then consumed fifty-two thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight pounds, +something more than equal to one-fifth part. + +From the Hope were purchased Flour 8,800 lbs. +From the Shah Hormuzear were purchased Flour 36,539 lbs. + ------- +Whole quantity purchased 45,339 lbs. + +which deducted from the quantity remaining, +we should then only have had in store 92,605 lbs. +of the other articles of which the present ration was composed (the maize +excepted) we should not have had any in the colony; for the wheat and the +sugar were brought hither in the ship from Bengal. + +As none of these incidental supplies could be known in England, it was +fair to conclude, that our situation must have been adverted to, and that +ships with provisions were now not very distant. Under this idea, +although on the 22nd no supplies had arrived, the lieutenant-governor did +not make any alteration in the ration, determining to wait one week +longer before he directed the necessary reduction. It was always a +painful duty to abridge the food of the labouring man, and had been too +often exercised here. The putting off, therefore, the evil day for +another week in the hope of any decrease being rendered unnecessary by +the arrival of supplies, met with general applause. + +On the Monday following the signal was made for a sail, and about nine +o'clock at night the _Britannia_ was safe within the Heads, having to a +day completed eight months since she sailed hence. The length of time she +had been absent gave birth to some anxiety upon her account, and her +arrival was welcomed with proportionate satisfaction. + +Mr. Raven touched at Dusky Bay in New Zealand, where he left his second +mate Mr. John Leith and some of his people, for the purpose of procuring +seals (the principal object of his voyage from England); and of the +timber which he found there he made a very favourable report, pronouncing +it to be light, tough, and in every respect fit for masts or yards. From +New Zealand the _Britannia_, after rounding Cape Horn in very favourable +weather, proceeded to the island of Santa Catherina, on the Brasil coast, +where the Portuguese have a settlement, and from whose governor Mr. Raven +received much civility during the eighteen days that he remained there. +Not being able to procure at this place any of the articles he was +instructed to purchase (one cow and one cow-calf excepted) he stood over +to the African continent, and arrived at the Cape of Good Hope on the +24th of March last. At this port he took on board thirty cows; three +mares; twelve goats; a quantity of flour, sugar, tobacco, and spirits; +and other articles, according to the orders of his employers. Mr. Raven +afforded another instance of the great difficulty attending the +transporting of cattle to this country; for, notwithstanding the extreme +care and attention which were paid to them, twenty-nine of the cows and +three goats unfortunately died. This he attributed solely, and no doubt +justly, to their not being properly prepared for such a voyage, and +previously fed for some weeks on dry food. + +In her passage from the Cape of Good Hope to this port, the _Britannia_ +met with much bad weather, running for fourteen days under her bare +poles. The prevailing winds were from SW to NW. She came round Van +Dieman's Land in a gale of wind without seeing it. To the southward of +New Zealand Mr. Raven fell in with the rocks seen by Captain Vancouver, +and named by him the Snares. In the latitude of them Mr. Raven differed +from Captain Vancouver only four miles; their longitude he made exactly +the same. Such similarity in the observations was rare and remarkable. He +passed some islands of ice at three and five leagues distance, in +latitudes 51 degrees and 52 degrees S and longitudes 232 degrees and 240 +degrees East. + +At the Cape Mr. Raven found the _Pitt_, Captain Manning, from Calcutta, +to whom he delivered his dispatches; and he received information from the +captains of the _Triton_ and _Warley_ East Indiamen of the agitated state +of Europe; of the naval and military preparations which were making in +our own country; and of the spirit of loyalty and affection for our +justly-revered sovereign which breathed throughout the nation, +accompanied with firm and general determinations to maintain inviolate +our happy constitution. These accounts, while they served to excite an +ardent wish for the speedy arrival of a ship from England, seemed to +throw the probability of one at a greater distance, particularly as +Mr. Raven could not learn with any certainty of a ship being preparing for +New South Wales. + +Among other circumstances which he mentioned was one which deserved +notice. The _Royal Admiral_ East Indiaman, Captain Bond, was lying on the +19th of last December in the Tigris. She sailed hence on the 13th of +November, and, admitting that she had only arrived on the day on which +she was stated to a certainty to be at anchor in the river, she must have +performed the voyage in thirty-seven days from this port. This ship, it +may be remembered, made the passage from the Cape of Good Hope to this +place in five weeks and three days; a run that had never before been made +by any other ship coming to this country. + +From the length of time which the _Britannia_ had been absent, our +observation was forcibly drawn to the distance whereat we were placed +from any quarter which could furnish us with supplies; and a calculation +of the length of time which had been taken by other ships to procure them +confirmed the necessity that existed of using every exertion that might +place the colony in a state of independence. + +When the _Sirius_ went to the Cape of Good Hope in 1788, she was absent +seven months and six days. + +The _Supply_, which was sent for provisions in 1789, returned herself in +six months and two days; but the supplies which had been purchased for +the colony were two months longer in reaching it. + +The _Atlantic_ sailed hence for Calcutta on the 26th of October 1791, +touching at Norfolk Island, from which place she took her departure on +the 13th of November; and, calculating her passage from that time, she +will be found to have been seven months and one week in procuring the +supplies for which she was sent out. + +The _Britannia_ too was eight months absent. From all this it was to be +inferred, that there should not only be always provisions in the stores +for twelve months beforehand; but that, to guard against accidents, +whenever the provisions in the colony were reduced to that quantity and +no more, then would be the time to dispatch a ship for supplies. + +The difficulty of introducing cattle into the colony had been rendered +evident by the miscarriage of the different attempts made by this and +other ships. In this particular we had indeed been singularly +unfortunate; for we had not only lost the greatest part of what had been +purchased and embarked for the colony, as will appear by the following +statement; but we had at the beginning, as will be remembered, lost the +few that did survive the passage. Of these it never was known with any +certainty what had been the fate. Some of the natives who resided among +us did, in observing some that had been landed, declare that they had +seen them destroyed by their own people; and even offered to lead any one +to the place where some of their bones might be found; but, from the +distance of the supposed spot, and our more important concerns, this had +never been sought after. It was very probable that they had been so +destroyed; if not, and that they had met with no other accident, their +increase at this time must have been very considerable. + +Account of Black Cattle purchased for, lost in the passage to, +and landed in New South Wales. + + Purchased Lost in Landed + Passage + (B=Bull Cw=Cow Cf=Calf) B Cw Cf B Cw Cf B Cw Cf +Embarked in 1787 on board the Sirius and +one of the transports 1 7 1 - 2 - 1 5 1 +Embarked in 1789 on board the Guardian 2 16 - 2 16 - - - - +Embarked in 1791 on board the Gorgon, + Admiral Barrington, and calved + on the passage 3 24 1 3 7 - - 17 1 Bull +Embarked on board the Atlantic + in 1792, at Calcutta 2 2 1 - 1 1 2 1 - +Embarked on board the Pitt - 2 - - 1 - - 1 - +Embarked on board the Royal Admiral - 1 - - - - - - 0 +Embarked on board the Shah Hormuzear + in 1792, in India 1 24 2 1 23 - - 1 2 +Embarked on board the Daedalus 6 12 - 6 12 - - - - +Embarked on board the Britannia - 31 1 - 29 - - 2 1 + +Total Purchased 15 bulls, 119 cows, 6 calves; +Total Lost in the passage 12 bulls, 91 cows, 1 calf; +Total Landed 3 bulls, 28 cows, 5 calves. + +Of the three bulls which were landed two only were living at this period, +beside the bull calf produced on board the _Gorgon_. Of the twenty-eight +cows only twenty, and of the five calves only two were living; but the +cows which arrived in the _Gorgon_ had produced three cow and two bull +calves; and one small cow must be added to the number in the colony, +which had been presented by the Spanish commodore to the +lieutenant-governor. + +Sheep, horses, and hogs were found, better than any other stock, to stand +the rough weather which was in general met with between the Cape of Good +Hope and this country. + +The mortality which had happened among the stock on board the _Britannia_ +set a high price on those which survived. For the cows Mr. Raven bought +at the Cape he gave twenty dollars each, and for each horse he gave +thirty dollars. For the cow with her calf, which he purchased at Santa +Catharina, he gave no more than sixteen Spanish dollars. + +On Saturday the 29th, the lieutenant-governor determining to try the +present ration yet another week, the usual allowance was issued, and on +the next day the following general order appeared: 'It being unsafe to +continue at the present ration, the commissary has received instructions +to reduce the weekly allowance, either one pound of pork, or two pounds +of beef, making a proportionate deduction from the women and children. +This alteration to take place on Saturday the 6th of July.' + +The natives had lately become troublesome, particularly in lurking +between the different settlements, and forcibly taking provisions and +clothing from the convicts who were passing from one to another. One or +two convicts having been wounded by them, some small armed parties were +sent out to drive them away, and to throw a few shot among them, but with +positive orders to be careful not to take a life. + +Several of these people, however, continued to reside in the town, and +to mix with the inhabitants in the most unreserved manner. It was no +uncommon circumstance to see them coming into town with bundles of +fire-wood which they had been hired to procure, or bringing water from +the tanks; for which services they thought themselves well rewarded with +any worn-out jacket or trousers, or blankets, or a piece of bread. Of +this latter article they were all exceedingly fond, and their constant +prayer was for bread, importuning with as much earnestness and +perseverance as if begging for bread had been their profession from their +infancy; and their attachment to us must be considered as an indication +of their not receiving any ill treatment from us. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + + +The _Daedalus_ sails for Nootka +A temporary church founded +Criminal court +The colonial vessel launched +A scheme to take a longboat +Two soldiers desert +Counterfeit dollars in circulation +A soldier punished +The _Boddingtons_ arrives from Cork +General Court Martial held +The _Britannia_ hired and chartered for Bengal +The new church opened +Accident +Provisions in store +Corn purchased from settlers +The _Britannia_ sails for Bengal, and the _Francis_ Schooner for New Zealand +Irish convicts steal a boat +The _Sugar Cane_ arrives +Intended mutiny on board prevented +Excursion to the westward +Public works + + +July.] On the first of this month the _Daedalus_ sailed to convey to +Captain Vancouver the provisions and stores which had been required by +that officer. Lieutenant Hanson, the naval agent on board, received the +most pointed orders for the ship to return to this port immediately after +having executed the service on which she was then going. The _Daedalus_ +was considered as a colonial ship; and nothing but Captain Vancouver's +express requisition to have the stores and provisions which were on board +her (the stores being chiefly articles of traffic) sent back to him, to +enable him to fulfil the instructions he had received, would have induced +the lieutenant-governor, in the present state of the colony, to have +parted with her, when it was not improbable that her services might be +wanting to procure supplies, and at no very distant period, if ships did +not arrive. + +The _Daedalus_ being, like other ships which had preceded her, short of +hands, the master was permitted to recruit his numbers here, and took +with him six convicts, who had served their several terms of +transportation, and were of good character; and two seamen, who had been +left behind from other ships. The extensive population of the islands at +some of which the _Daedalus_ might have occasion to touch rendered it +absolutely necessary that she should be completely manned; as we well +knew the readiness with which, at all times, their inhabitants availed +themselves of any inferiority or weakness which they might discover +among us. + +On board of the _Daedalus_ also was embarked a native of this country, +who was sent by the lieutenant-governor for the purpose of acquiring our +language. Lieutenant Hanson was directed by no means to leave him at +Nootka, but, if he survived the voyage, to bring him back safe to his +friends and countrymen. His native names were Gnung-a gnung-a, +Mur-re-mur-gan; but he had for a long time entirely lost them, even among +his own people, who called him 'Collins,' after the judge-advocate, whose +name he had adopted on the first day of his coming among us. He was a man +of a more gentle disposition than most of his associates; and, from the +confidence he placed in us, very readily undertook the voyage, although +he left behind him a young wife (a sister of Bennillong who accompanied +Governor Phillip) of whom he always appeared extremely fond. + +On Saturday the 6th the intended change took place in the ration; and it +being a week on which pork was to be issued, three pounds of that +article were served instead of four. The other articles remained the +same. + +The clergyman, who suffered as much inconvenience as other people from +the want of a proper place for the performance of divine service, himself +undertook to remove the evil, on finding that, from the pressure of other +works it was not easy to foresee when a church would be erected. He +accordingly began one under his own inspection, and chose the situation +for it at the back of the huts on the east side of the cove. The front +was seventy-three feet by fifteen; and at right angles with the centre +projected another building forty feet by fifteen. The edifice was +constructed of strong posts, wattles, and plaster, and was to be +thatched.* Much credit was due to the Rev. Mr. Johnson for his personal +exertions on this occasion. + +[* The expense of building it was computed to be about forty pounds] + +Representation having been made to the lieutenant-governor, that several +of the soldiers had been so thoughtless as to dispose of the sugar and +tobacco which had been served out to them by their officers since the +arrival of the _Britannia_, almost as soon as they had received those +articles, and that some artful people had availed themselves of their +indiscretion, in many instances bartering a bottle of spirits (Cape +brandy) for six times its value, he judged it necessary to give notice, +that any convict detected in exchanging liquor with the soldiers for any +article served out to them by their officers, would immediately be +punished, and the articles purchased taken away: and further (now become +a most necessary restriction), that any persons attempting to sell liquor +without a licence might rely on its being seized, and the houses of the +offending parties pulled down. + +About the middle of the month all the wheat which was to be sown on the +public account was got in at and near Toongabbie; the quantity of ground +was about three hundred and eighty acres. The wheat of last season being +now nearly thrashed out, some judgment was formed of its produce, and it +was found to have averaged between seventeen and eighteen bushels an +acre. A large quantity of wheat was also sown this season by individuals, +amounting to about one thousand three hundred and eighty-one bushels, +every encouragement having been given to them to sow their grounds with +that grain. + +Several houses having been lately broken open, the criminal court of +judicature was assembled on the 15th, when Samuel Wright, a convict who +arrived in 1791, was tried for breaking into a hut in the day-time, and +stealing several articles of wearing apparel; of which offence being +found guilty, he received sentence of death, and was to have been +executed on the Monday following; but the court having recommended him to +mercy on account of his youth, being only sixteen years of age, the +lieutenant-governor as readily forgave as the court had recommended him; +but, that the prisoner might have all the benefit of so awful a +situation, the change in his fate was not imparted to him until the very +moment when he was about to ascend the ladder from which he was to be +plunged into eternity. He had appeared since his conviction as if devoid +of feeling; but on receiving this information, he fell on his knees in an +agony of joy and gratitude. The solemn scene appeared likewise to make a +forcible impression on all his fellow prisoners, who were present. + +The weather of this winter having been colder than any that we had before +experienced, great exertions were made to clothe all the labouring +convicts; and for that purpose the work of the tailors had for some time +been confined to them. Every male convict received one cloth jacket, two +canvas frocks, one pair of shoes, and one leathern cap. The females also +had been clothed. + +The vessel which had been received in frame by the _Pitt_ was now +completed, and, to avoid the labour which would have attended her being +launched in the usual manner, Mr. Raven, the master of the _Britannia_, +offered his own services and the assistance of his ship to lay her down +upon her bilge, and put her into the water on rollers. This mode having +been adopted, in the forenoon of Wednesday the 24th of this month she was +safely let down upon the rollers, and by dusk, with the assistance of the +_Britannia_, was hove down to low-water mark, whence, at a quarter before +eight o'clock, she floated with the tide, and was hauled safely alongside +the _Britannia_. The ceremony of christening her was performed at sunrise +the next morning, when she was named _The Francis_, in compliment to the +lieutenant-governor's son, whose birthday this was; and, Mr. Raven +coinciding with the general opinion that she would be much safer if +rigged as a schooner than as a sloop, for which she had been originally +intended, the carpenters were directed to fit her accordingly; and that +gentleman very obligingly supplied a spar, which he had procured for the +_Britannia_ at Dusky Bay, to make her a foremast. + +The command of this little vessel, of whose utility great expectations +were formed, was given by the lieutenant-governor to Mr. William House, +late boatswain of the _Discovery_, who arrived here in the _Daedalus_ for +the purpose of proceeding to England as an invalid; but being strongly +recommended by Captain Vancouver as an excellent seaman, with whom he was +very unwilling to part, and signifying a wish to be employed in this +country, the command of this vessel was given to him, with the same +allowance that is made to a superintendant; on which list he was placed. +The two boys who were left behind from the _Kitty_ were also entered for +her, and she was ordered to be fitted forthwith for sea. As it was well +known that many people had their eyes upon this vessel as the means of +their escaping from the colony, it was intended, in addition to other +precautions, that none but the most trusty people should ever be employed +in her. + +On the last day of the month a plan to take off one of the longboats was +revealed to the lieutenant-governor. The principal parties in it were +soldiers; and their scheme was, to proceed to Java, with a chart of which +they had by some means been furnished. If their plan had been put into +execution, the evil would have carried with it its own punishment; for, +had they survived the voyage, they would never have been countenanced by +the Dutch, who were always very jealous of strangers coming among them, +and had, no doubt, heard of the desertion of Bryant and his associates +from this settlement. Two of the soldiers were immediately put into +confinement; and in the night two others, one a corporal, went off into +the woods, taking with them their arms, about one hundred rounds of +powder and ball, which they collected from the different pouches in the +barrack, their provisions and necessaries. + +The principal works in hand by the people at Sydney were, erecting +kitchens and storerooms for the officers' new barracks, bringing in +timber for rollers for the sloop, and constructing huts at Petersham for +convicts. At Toongabbie the Indian corn was not all gathered, and housing +of that, and preparing the ground for the reception of the next season's +crop, occupied the labouring convicts at that settlement. + +Some counterfeit dollars were at this time in circulation; but the +manufacturers of them were not discovered. + +August.] The two soldiers who were put into confinement on suspicion of +being parties in a plan to seize one of the long-boats, were tried by a +regimental court-martial on the first day of this month, and one was +acquitted; but Roberts, a drummer, who was proved to have attempted to +persuade another drummer to be of the party, was sentenced to receive +three hundred lashes, and in the evening did receive two hundred and +twenty-five of them. While smarting under the severity with which his +punishment was inflicted, he gave up the names of six or eight of his +brother soldiers as concerned with him, among whom were the two who had +absented themselves the preceding evening. These people, the day +following their desertion, were met in the path to Parramatta, and told +an absurd story of their being sent to the Blue Mountains. They were next +heard of at a settler's (John Nicholls) at Prospect Hill, whose house +they entered forcibly, and, making him and a convict hutkeeper prisoners, +passed the night there. At another settler's they took sixteen pounds of +flour, which they sent by his wife to a woman well known to one of them, +and had them baked into small loaves. They signified a determination not +to be taken alive, and threatened to lie in wait for the game-killers, of +whose ammunition they meant to make themselves masters. These +declarations manifested the badness of their hearts, and the weakness of +their cause; and the lieutenant-governor, on being made acquainted with +them, sent out a small armed party to secure and bring them in, rightly +judging that people who were so ready at expressing every where a +resolution to part with their lives rather than be taken, would not give +much trouble in securing them. + +This desertion, and the disaffection of those who meant to take off a +long-boat, was the more unaccountable, as the commanding officer had +uniformly treated them with every indulgence, putting it entirely out of +their power to complain on that head. Spirits and other comforts had been +procured for them; he had distinguished them from the convicts in the +ration of provisions; he had allowed them to build themselves comfortable +huts, permitting them while so employed the use of the public boats; he +had indulged them with women; and, in a word, have never refused any of +them a request which did not militate against the rules of the service, +or of the discipline which he had laid down for the New South Wales +corps; at the same time, however, to prevent these indulgencies from +falling into contempt, they were counterbalanced by a certainty of their +being withdrawn when abused, and flagrant offenders were sure of meeting +with punishment: yet there were many among them who were so ungrateful +for the benefits which they received, and so unmindful of their own +interest and accommodation, that they behaved ill whenever they had an +opportunity. + +The parties who had been sent after the runaways, by dividing themselves, +fell in with them near Toongabbie on the 6th. and secured them without +any opposition. + +There were at this time in the New South Wales corps, distributed among +the different companies, thirty recruits who had been selected from among +the convicts as people of good characters, and, having formerly been in +the army, were permitted to enlist. These people had conducted themselves +with remarkable propriety, one man only excepted, who had some time since +been punished by the sentence of a court-martial, and who afterwards +misbehaving was discharged from the corps. They were in general enlisted +for life, a condition to which they subscribed on being attested; and +such as had a long time to serve under their sentence, were emancipated +on the above condition. + +On the 7th the _Boddingtons_ transport anchored in the cove from Ireland, +having sailed from Cork on the 15th of February last, with one hundred +and twenty-four male, and twenty female convicts of that kingdom on +board, provisions calculated to serve them nine months* after their +arrival, and a proportion of clothing for twelve months. As a guard, +there was embarked a subaltern's party of the New South Wales corps; and +this precaution was found to have been very necessary, the ignorance of +the Irish convicts having displayed itself in an absurd scheme to take +the ship; but which was happily frustrated by the vigilance and activity +of the master** and the officers. + +[* Two hundred and twenty-eight barrels of flour; one hundred and eight +tierces of pork, and fifty-four tierces of beef, twenty-eight bales and +thirteen cases of stores.] + +[* Captain Robert Chalmers, on the captain's half pay of the marines.] + +Mr. Richards jun, who had the contract for supplying the ships which +sailed for this country in 1788 and the _Lady Juliana_ transport, was +employed again by government; a circumstance of general congratulation +among the colonists on its being made known. On the present occasion he +had contracted to furnish two ships to bring out three hundred male and +female convicts from Ireland, with stores and provisions. The +_Boddingtons_, being the first ready, sailed alone; the _Sugar Cane_ (the +second ship) was at Deptford ready to drop down to Gravesend when her +intended companion was about leaving Ireland. Government were to pay four +pounds four shillings per ton for such stores as should be put on board, +and for the convicts at the rate of twenty-two pounds per head. This +mode of payment was complained of in the contract made formerly with +Messrs. Calvert and Co.; but in the present instance the evil attending +that contract was avoided, by a part of the above sum (five pounds) being +left to be paid by certificate for every convict which should be landed. +No ship, however, could have brought out their convicts in higher order, +nor could have given stronger proofs of attention to their health and +accommodation, than did this vessel. Each had a bed to himself, and a new +suit of clothes to land in. On the part of the crown also, to see justice +done to the convicts, there was a surgeon of the navy on board, Mr. Kent, +as a superintendant; and on the part of the contractor, a gentleman who +had visited us before with Mr. Marshall, in the second voyage of the +_Scarborough_ to this country, Mr. A. Jac. Bier, a surgeon also. They had +not any sick list, and had lost only one man on the passage. + +Captain Chalmers informed us, that on his arrival at Rio de Janeiro, in +which port he anchored on the 10th of last April, he heard that the +_Atlantic_ transport had sailed thence about three weeks, and had made +her passage from this country round Cape Horn to Rio de Janeiro in +fifty-eight days. He learned from the gentlemen about the palace, that +his excellency Governor Phillip when he touched there appeared to be in +perfect health. He had there too heard of the agitated state of Europe; +and understanding that in all probability the Channel would be infested +with French privateers, he purchased some guns, to strengthen the force +which he had already on board the _Atlantic_. + +Advices were received by this ship, that administration intended to make +arrangements for our being supplied from Bengal with live cattle: and +this became a favourite idea with every person in the colony; for the +sheep, though small, were found to be very productive, breeding twice in +the year, and generally bringing two lambs at a birth. The climate was +also found to agree well with the cattle of the buffalo species which had +been received. + +The convicts received by the _Boddingtons_ were disembarked a day or two +after her arrival, and sent up to Toongabbie. On quitting the ship they +with one voice bore testimony to the humane treatment they had received +from Captain Chalmers, declaring that they had not any complaints to +prefer, and cheering him when the boats which carried them put off from +her side. + +It being necessary to mark with some degree of severity the offence which +had been committed by the two soldiers, a general court-martial was +assembled for their trial on the 12th. The lieutenant-governor, with much +humanity, forebore to charge them with a capital offence; bringing them +to trial for absenting themselves from head-quarters without leave, +instead of the more serious crime of desertion. + +By the mutiny act, a general court-martial may, in Africa, consist of +less than thirteen commissioned officers, but not less than five; the +like provision was also extended to New South Wales; and nine officers +formed the court now assembled for the first time in this colony. +Captain Collins officiated as deputy judge-advocate. The prisoners did +not deny the crime they were charged with; and the court, after reducing +the corporal to the ranks, sentenced him to receive five hundred lashes, +and the private soldier eight hundred. The sentence, being approved by +the lieutenant-governor, was in part carried into execution on Saturday +the 17th, the corporal receiving two hundred and seventy-five, and the +soldier three hundred lashes. + +The _Britannia_ being now nearly ready for sea, having had some very +necessary articles of repair done to her, and which the master declared +had been as well executed by the artificers of the colony as if the ship +had been in England, she was tendered to be employed for the service of +the settlement wherever the lieutenant-governor might think it necessary +to send her. In the charter-party of the _Boddingtons_, a clause was +inserted, empowering the governor to send her to Norfolk Island, or +elsewhere, should he have occasion, the crown paying the same hire as was +paid for the _Atlantic_ transport (fifteen shillings and sixpence per ton +per month) during the time she should be so employed. The _Britannia_ was +tendered at one shilling per ton less, and had moreover the advantage of +being a coppered ship. + +It has been seen that the supply brought by the _Boddingtons_ was very +inconsiderable. No greater quantity was expected with any degree of +certainty by the _Sugar Cane_. The salt provisions remaining in store (by +a calculation made up to the 28th) were sufficient for only fourteen +weeks at the full ration, including what had been received by the +_Boddingtons_, and some surplus provisions which had been purchased of +the agent to the contractor, and one hundred casks of pork, which had +been omitted by an oversight in the last account taken in May a few days +before the _Kitty_ sailed. When it was considered that our supplies would +always be affected by commotions at home, and that if a war should take +place between England and any other nation, which at the departure of the +_Boddingtons_ was hourly expected, they might be retarded, or taken by +the enemy, the lieutenant-governor determined, while he had in his own +hands the means of supplying himself, to employ them; and on the 26th +chartered the _Britannia_ for India. Our principal want was salt +provisions; of flour we well remembered that Bengal produced none, and a +coming crop was before us on our own grounds. The _Britannia_ was +therefore to proceed to Bengal, to be freighted by the government of that +presidency with salt provisions, Irish beef or pork; and in the event of +its not being possible to procure them, the ship was to return loaded +with sugar, rice, and dholl, these being the articles which, next to salt +provisions, were the most wanted in the colony. + +Mr. Raven, the master of the _Britannia_, having, as was before observed, +left a mate and some of his people at Dusky Bay in New Zealand, the +lieutenant-governor directed the _Francis_ to be got ready with all +expedition, purposing that she should accompany the _Britannia_ as far on +her way as that harbour, where she had permission to touch; and Mr. Raven +was directed to transmit by the master all such information respecting +that extensive bay, and the seal-fishery in its vicinity, as he should be +of opinion might in anywise tend to the present or future benefit of his +Majesty's service as connected with these settlements. + +The clergyman having completed the building which he began in July last, +divine service was performed in it for the first time on Sunday the 25th +of this month; and for a temporary accommodation it appeared likely to +answer very well. Mr. Johnson in his discourse, which was intended to +impress the minds of his audience with the necessity of holiness in every +place, lamented that the urgency of public works had prevented any +undertaking of the kind before, and had thus thrown it upon him; he +declared that he had no other motive for standing forward in the +business, than that of establishing a place sheltered from bad weather, +and from the summer heats, where public worship might be performed. He +said, that the uncertainty of a place where they might attend had +prevented many from coming; but he now hoped the attendance would be full +whenever he preached there. The place was constructed to hold five +hundred people. + +It appeared by an estimate which Mr. Johnson afterwards gave in, for the +purpose of being reimbursed what it had cost him, that the expense of +this building considerably exceeded his first calculation, the whole +amount of it being £67 12s 11½d; of which Mr. Johnson paid to the +different artificers he had employed £59 18s in dollars; twenty gallons +and a half of spirits; one hundred and sixteen pounds of flour; fifty-two +pounds of salt provisions; three pounds of tobacco; and five ounces of +tea. Spirits were at this time sold in the colony at ten shillings per +gallon; but Mr. Johnson observed in his estimate that he only charged +that and other articles at the prices which they had actually cost him. +This account Mr. Johnson requested might be transmitted to the secretary +of state, and he accompanied it with a letter stating his reasons for +having undertaken the building? + +The _Boddingtons_ were cleared of her cargo, and discharged from +Government employ on the 26th. The cargo, when landed, was found in most +excellent condition, not a single article being damaged; far different +from that received by the _Bellona_, where the ship was overloaded. Had +the _Boddingtons_ been coppered, no ship could have been better +calculated for the transport of provisions to this country from any part +of the world. + +A remarkable instance of fecundity in a female goat occurred at the house +of one of the superintendants at Sydney. She produced five kids, three +females and two males, all of which died (a blow which the animal +received bringing them before their time) excepting the first which was +kidded, a female. The same goat in March last brought four kids, three +males and one female, all of which lived. She was a remarkably fine +creature. + +Much apprehension was now entertained for the wheat, which began to look +yellow and parched for want of rain. Toward the latter end of the month, +however, some rain fell during three days and nights, which considerably +refreshed it. But there being no fixed period at which wet weather was to +be expected in this country, it might certainly be pronounced too dry for +wheat. + +An unpleasant accident occurred at the lieutenant-governor's farm. A +convict of good character, who had the care of the sheep, was found dead +in the woods. He had declined coming in to his breakfast, and was left +eating some bread made of Indian corn and coarse-ground wheat. His body +was opened, but no cause for his sudden dissolution could be assigned +from its appearance. + +At the Ponds, a district of settlers in the neighbourhood of Parramatta, +John Richards, in possession of a grant of thirty acres of land, died of +intoxication. This was the first death which had occurred among any of +the people of that description. + +By an account taken of the provisions remaining in store on the 28th of +the month, it appeared that we had, calculating each article at the +established ration for two thousand eight hundred and forty-five persons, +the numbers victualled at Sydney and Parramatta, + +Flour, to last 4 weeks, -- or 91,040 lbs +Beef, to last 3 weeks, -- or 59,745 lbs +Pork, to last 11 weeks, -- or 125,180 lbs +Wheat, to last 1 week, -- or 22,760 lbs +Gram and Peas, to last 8 weeks, -- or 68,280 lbs +Sugar, to last 3 weeks, -- or 3,200 lbs +Paddy, 43,000 lbs + +September.] Unproductive as the Indian corn proved which was sown last +year on the public grounds, the settlers must have had a better crop; +for, after reserving a sufficiency for seed for the ensuing season, and +for their domestic purposes, a few had raised enough to enable them to +sell twelve hundred bushels to Government, who, on receiving it into the +public stores, paid five shillings per bushel to the bringer. Government, +however, was not resorted to in the first instance by the settler, who +preferred disposing of his corn where he could receive spirits in payment +(which he retailed for labour) to bringing it to the commissary for five +shillings a bushel; but at this price, from whose hands soever it might +come, it was received into the public stores. + +The _Britannia_ and _Francis_ schooner sailed on Sunday. the 8th for +Dusky Bay. The _Francis_ was manned with seamen and boys who had been +left here from ships, and the master had for his assistant as mate Robert +Watson, who formerly belonged to his Majesty's ship _Sirius_, and was +afterwards a settler at Norfolk Island; but his allotment having been +erroneously surveyed, he, being obliged to resign a part of it, gave up +the whole, and gladly returned to his former way of life. One of the +three seamen who had been taken out of the _Kitty_, and punished, was +permitted to enter on board the schooner; another of them was taken by +the captain of the _Boddingtons_; Williams, the principal, remained in +the colony, not bearing that sort of character which would recommend him +to any master of a ship. + +Captain Nicholas Nepean, the senior captain in the New South Wales corps, +having been for some time past in an ill state of health, obtained the +lieutenant-governor's leave to return to England by the way of Bengal, +and quitted the colony in the _Britannia_. Three men and one woman also +received permission to leave the settlement. + +It might have been supposed, that the fatal consequences of endeavouring +to seek a place in the woods of this country where they might live +without labour had been sufficiently felt by the convicts who arrived +here in the _Queen_ transport from Ireland, to deter others from rushing +into the same error, as they would, doubtless, acquaint the new comers +with the ill success which attended their schemes of that nature. Several +of those, however, who came out in the _Boddingtons_ went off into the +woods soon after their landing; and a small party, composed of some +desperate characters, about the same time stole a boat from Mr. Schaffer, +the settler, with which, as they were not heard of for some days after, +it was supposed they had either got out of the harbour, or were lying +concealed until, being joined by those who had taken to the woods, they +could procure a larger and a safer conveyance from the country. + +A slight change took place in the ration this month; the sugar being +expended, molasses was ordered to be served in lieu of that article, in +the proportion of a pint of molasses to a pound of sugar. + +On Sunday the 15th died James Nation, a soldier in the New South Wales +corps, into which he had entered from the marine detachment. He sunk +under an inflammatory complaint brought on by hard drinking. With this +person Martha Todd cohabited at the time of her decease, which, as before +related, was occasioned by the same circumstance, and which, together +with her death, Nation had been frequently heard to say was the cause of +much unhappiness to him. + +On Tuesday the 17th the signal was made at the South Head, and about six +o'clock in the evening the _Sugar Cane_ transport anchored in the cove +from Cork, whence she sailed the 13th of last April, having on board one +hundred and ten male and fifty female convicts, with a sergeant's party +of the New South Wales corps as a guard. Nothing had happened on board +her until the 25th of May, when information was given to Mr. David Wake +Bell, the agent on the part of Government, that a mutiny was intended by +the convicts, and that they had proceeded so far as to saw off some of +their irons. Insinuations were at the same time thrown out, of the +probability of their being joined by certain of the sailors and of the +guard. The agent, after making the necessary inquiry, thought it +indispensable to the safety of the ship to cause an instant example to +be made, and ordered one of the convicts who was found out of irons to +be executed that night. Others he punished the next morning; and by +these measures, as might well be expected, threw such a damp on the +spirits of the rest, that he heard no more during the voyage of attempts +or intentions to take the ship. + +Since the arrival of the _Boddingtons_ many circumstances respecting the +intended mutiny in that ship had been disclosed by the convicts +themselves which were not before known. They did not hesitate to say, +that all the officers were to have been murdered, the first* mate and the +agent excepted, who were to be preserved alive for the purpose of +conducting the ship to a port, when they likewise were to be put to +death. + +[* Mr. Duncan McEver. He belonged to the _Atlantic_, which ship he +quitted at Bengal.] + +As intentions of this kind had been talked of in several ships, the +military guard should never have been less than an officer's command, and +that guard (especially when embarked for the security of a ship full of +wild lawless Irish) ought never to have been composed either of young +soldiers, or of deserters from other corps. + +This ship had a quick passage from Rio de Janeiro, arriving here in +sixty-five days from that port. She brought the following quantity of +provisions and stores for the colony: + +Beef 46 tierces 15,496 ) 31,496 pounds; + Shipped at Cork 80 barrels 16,000 ) +Pork 92 tierces 29,440 ] 45,440 pounds; + Shipped at Cork 80 barrels 16,000 ] +Flour 192 barrels, 64,512 pounds; +Lime-stone, shipped at Cork 44 tons; +Clothing and necessaries 17 bales and 5 cases + +The convicts arrived in a very healthy state, nor was any one lost by +sickness during the voyage. + +Captain Paterson, of the New South Wales corps, an account of whose +journeys in Africa appeared in print some years ago, conceiving that he +might be able to penetrate as far as, or even beyond, the western +mountains (commonly known in the colony by the name of the Blue +Mountains, from the appearance which land so high and distant generally +wears), set off from the settlement with a small party of gentlemen +(Captain Johnston, Mr. Palmer, and Mr. Laing the assistant-surgeon) well +provided with arms, and having provisions and necessaries sufficient for +a journey of six weeks, to make the attempt. Boats were sent round to +Broken Bay, whence they got into the Hawkesbury, and the fourth day +reached as far as Richmond Hill. At this place, in the year 1789, the +governor's progress up the river was obstructed by a fall of water, which +his boats were too heavy to drag over. This difficulty Captain Paterson +overcame by quitting his large boats, and proceeding from Richmond Hill +with two that were smaller and lighter. He found that this part of the +river carried him to the westward, and into the chasm that divided the +high land seen from Richmond Hill. Hither, however, he got with great +difficulty and some danger, meeting in the space of about ten miles with +not less than five waterfalls, one of which was rather steep, and was +running at the rate of ten or twelve miles an hour. Above this part the +water was about fifteen yards from side to side, and came down with some +rapidity, a fall of rain having swollen the stream. Their navigation was +here so intricate, lying between large pieces of rock that had been borne +down by torrents, and some stumps of trees which they could not always +see, that (after having loosened a plank in one boat, and driven the +other upon a stump which forced its way through her bottom) they gave up +any further progress, leaving the western mountains to be the object of +discovery at some future day. It was supposed that they had proceeded ten +miles farther up the river than had ever before been done, and named that +part of it which until then had been unseen, 'the Grose;' and a high peak +of land, which they had in view in the chasm, they called 'Harrington +Peak.' + +Captain Paterson, as a botanist, was amply rewarded for his labour and +disappointment by discovering several new plants. Of the soil in which +they grew, he did not, however, speak very favourably. + +He saw but few natives, and those who did visit them were almost +unintelligible to the natives of this place who accompanied him. He +entertained a notion that their legs and arms were longer than those of +the inhabitants of the coast. As they live by climbing trees, if there +really was any such difference, it might perhaps have been occasioned by +the custom of hanging by their arms and resting on their feet at the +utmost stretch of the body, which they practise from their infancy. The +party returned on the 22nd, having been absent about ten days. + +In their walk to Pitt Water, they met with the boat which had been stolen +by some of the Irish convicts; and a few days after their return some of +those who had run into the woods came into Parramatta, with an account of +two of their party having been speared and killed by the natives. The men +who were killed were of very bad character, and had been the principals +in the intended mutiny on board the _Boddingtons_. Their destruction was +confirmed by some of the natives who lived in the town. + +The foundation of another barrack for officers was begun in this month. +For the privates one only was yet erected; but this was not attended with +any inconvenience, as all those who were not in quarters had built +themselves comfortable huts between the town of Sydney and the +brick-kilns. This indulgence might be attended with some convenience to +the soldiers; but it had ever been considered, that soldiers could no +where be so well regulated as when living in quarters, where, by frequent +inspections and visitings, their characters would be known, and their +conduct attended to. In a multiplicity of scattered huts the eye of +vigilance would with difficulty find its object, and the soldier in +possession of a habitation of his own might, in a course of time, think +of himself more as an independent citizen, than as a subordinate soldier. + +On the 23rd the first part of the cargo of the _Sugar Cane_ was +delivered, and in a very few days all that she had on board on account of +government was received into the store, together with some surplus +provisions of the contractor's. The convicts which she brought out were, +very soon after her arrival, sent to the settlements up the harbour. At +these places the labouring people were employed, some in getting the +Indian corn for the ensuing season into such ground as was ready, and +others in preparing the remainder. At the close of the month, through the +favourable rains which had fallen, the wheat in general wore the most +flattering appearance, giving every promise of a plenteous harvest. At +Toongabbie the wheat appeared to bid defiance to any accident but fire, +against which some precautions had however been judiciously and timely +taken. From this place, and from the settlers, a quantity of corn +sufficient to supply all our numbers for a twelvemonth was expected to be +received into the public granaries, if those who looked so far forward, +and took into their calculation much corn not yet in ear, were not too +sanguine in their expectations. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + + +The _Boddingtons_ and _Sugar Cane_ sail +A mill erected +Thefts committed +Convicts emancipated +Two persons killed by lightning +The _Fairy_ arrives +Farms sold +Public works +The _Francis_ returns from New Zealand +The _Fairy_ sails +Ration altered +Transactions +Harvest begun +Criminal Court held +A convict executed +Provisions +Mill at Parramatta +Christmas Day +Natives +Convicts +Boats +Grants of land +Settlers +Public works +Expenses how to be calculated +Deaths in 1793 +Prices of grain, stock, and labour + + + +October.] The _Boddingtons_ and _Sugar Cane_ being both bound for the +same port in India (Bengal) the masters agreed to proceed together; and +on the 13th, the _Sugar Cane_ having set up her rigging, and hurried +through such refitting as was indispensably necessary, both ships left +the harbour with a fair wind, purposing to follow in the _Atlantic's_ +track. The master of the _Boddingtons_ was furnished by us with a copy of +a chart made on board the _Pitt_ Indiaman, and brought hither by the +_Britannia_, of a passage or channel found by that ship in the land named +by Lieutenant Shortland New Georgia; which channel was placed in the +latitude of 8 degrees 30 minutes S and in the longitude of 158 degrees 30 +minutes E and named 'Manning's Straits,' from the commander of the +_Pitt_. + +The master of the _Sugar Cane_, had he been left to sail alone, +determined to have tried the passage to India by the way of the South +Cape of this country, instead of proceeding to the northward, and seemed +not to have any doubt of meeting with favourable winds after rounding the +cape. By their proceeding together, however, it remained yet to be +determined, whether a passage to India round the South Cape of this +country was practicable, and whether it would be a safer and a shorter +route than one through Endeavour or Torres Strait, the practicability of +which was likewise undetermined as to any knowledge which was had of it +in this colony. + +Seven persons whose terms of transportation had expired, were permitted +to quit the colony in these ships, and the master of the _Sugar Cane_ had +shipped Benjamin Williams, the last of the _Kitty's_ people who remained +undisposed of. One free woman, the wife of a convict, took her passage in +the _Sugar Cane_. + +Notwithstanding the facility with which passages from this place were +procured (very little more being required by the masters than permission +to receive them, and that the parties should find their own provisions) +it was found after the departure of these ships that some convicts had, +by being secreted on board, made their escape from the colony; and two +men, whose terms as convicts had expired, were brought up from the _Sugar +Cane_ the day she sailed, having got on board without permission; for +which the lieutenant-governor directed them to be punished with fifty +lashes each, and sent up to Toongabbie. + +Early in the month an alteration took place in the weekly ration, the +four pounds of wheat served to the convicts were discontinued, and a +substitution of one pint of rice, and two pints of gram (an East India +grain resembling dholl) took place. The serving of wheat was discontinued +for the purpose of issuing it as flour; to accomplish which a mill had +been constructed by a convict of the name of James Wilkinson, who came to +this country in the _Neptune_. His abilities as a millwright had hitherto +lain dormant, and perhaps would longer have continued so, had they not +been called forth by a desire of placing himself in competition with +Thorpe the millwright sent out by government. + +His machine was a walking mill, the principal wheel of which was fifteen +feet in diameter, and was worked by two men; while this wheel was +performing one revolution, the mill-stones performed twenty. As it was in +opposition to the public millwright that he undertook to construct this +mill, he of course derived no assistance whatever from Thorpe's knowledge +of the business, and had to contend not only with his opinion, but the +opinion of such as he could prejudice against him. The heavy part of the +work, cutting and bringing in the timber, and afterwards preparing it, +was performed by his fellow-prisoners, who gave him their labour +voluntarily. He was three months and five days from taking it in hand to +his offering it for the first trial. On this trial it was found defective +in some of the machinery, which was all constructed of the timber of the +country, and not properly seasoned. Its effects in grinding were various; +at first it would grind no more than two bushels an hour; with some +alteration, it ground more, and did for some time complete four bushels; +it afterwards ground less, and at the end of the month produced not more +than one bushel. Had the whole of the machinery been upon a larger scale, +there was reason to suppose it would have answered every expectation of +the most interested. The constructor, however, had a great deal of merit, +and perceiving himself what the defects were in this, he undertook to +make another upon a larger scale at Sydney, and on an improved plan. For +this purpose, all the artificers and a gang of convicts were brought down +from Parramatta, and were first employed in forming a timber-yard at +Petersham, two hundred feet square. + +At that place, a small district in the neighbourhood of Sydney so named +by the lieutenant-governor, nine huts for labouring convicts were built, +and sixty acres of government ground cleared of timber, twenty of which +were sown with Indian corn. This was the only addition made to the public +ground this season; and the sole difference that was observable in the +progress of our cultivation consisted in sowing this year with wheat a +large portion of that ground which last year grew Indian corn. The +weather throughout the month continued extremely favourable for wheat. + +The number of convicts which it was intended to receive for the present +into the New South Wales corps being determined, a warrant of +emancipation passed the seal of the territory, giving conditional freedom +to twenty three persons of that description, seven of whom were +transported for life, and three had between six and nine years to serve, +having been sent out for fourteen. The condition of the pardon was, their +continuing to serve in the corps into which they had enlisted until they +should be regularly discharged therefrom. + +Several instances of irregularity and villainy among the convicts +occurred during this month. From Parramatta, information was received, +that in the night of the 15th four people broke into the house of John +Randall, a settler, where with large bludgeons they had beaten and nearly +murdered two men who lived with him. The hands and faces of these +miscreants were blackened; and it was observed, that they did not speak +during the time they were in the hut. It was supposed, that they were +some of the new-comers, and meant to rob the house; and this they would +have effected, but for the activity of the two men whom they attacked, +and for the resistance which they met with from them. At this time seven +of the male convicts lately arrived from Ireland, with one woman, had +absconded into the woods. Some of these people were afterwards brought in +to Parramatta, where they confessed that they had planned the robbing of +the millhouse, the governor's, and other houses; and that they were to be +visited from time to time in their places of concealment by others of +their associates who were to reside in the town, and to supply them with +provisions, and such occasional information as might appear to be +necessary to their safety. They also acknowledged that the assault at +Randall's hut was committed by them and their companions. + +About the same time the house of Mr. Atkins at Parramatta was broken +into, and a large quantity of provisions, and a cask of wine, removed +from his store-room to the garden fence, where they left them on being +discovered and pursued. They, however, got clear off, though without +their booty. + +At Sydney, in the night of the 26th, a box belonging to John Sparrow (a +convict) was broke open, and three watches stolen out, one of which with +the seals had cost thirty-two guineas, and belonged to an officer. This +theft was committed at the hospital, where Sparrow was at the time a +patient, although able to work occasionally at his business; and being a +young man of abilities as a watchmaker, and of good character, was +employed by most of the gentlemen of the settlement. Suspicion fell upon +a notorious thief who was in the same ward, and who had some time before +proposed to another man to take the box. On his examination he accused +two others of the theft, but with such equivocation in his tale as +clearly proved the falsehood of it. As there was no evidence against him, +except the proposal just mentioned, he was discharged, and during the +month nothing was heard of the watches. An old man belonging to the +hospital was robbed at the same time of eight guineas and some dollars, +which he had got together for the purpose of paying for his passage and +provisions in any ship that would take him home. + +During a storm of rain and thunder which happened in the afternoon of +Saturday the 26th, two convict lads Dennis Reardon and William Meredith, +who were employed in cutting wood just by the town when the rain +commenced, ran to a tree for shelter, where they were found the next +morning lying dead, together with a dog which followed them. There was no +doubt that the shelter which they sought had proved their destruction, +having been struck dead by lightning, one or two flashes of which had +been observed to be very vivid and near. One of them, when he received +the stroke, had his hands in his bosom; the hands of the other were +across his breast, and he seemed to have had something in them. The +pupils of their eyes were considerably dilated, and the tongue of each, +as well as that of the dog, was forced out between the teeth. Their faces +were livid, and the same appearance was visible on several parts of their +bodies. The tree at the foot of which they were found was barked at the +top, and some of its branches torn off. In the evening they were decently +buried in one grave, to which they were attended by many of their +fellow-prisoners. Mr. Johnson, to a discourse which he afterwards +preached on the subject, prefixed as a text these words from the first +book of Samuel, chap xx verse 3. 'There is but a step between me and +death.' + +This was the first accident of the kind that, to our knowledge, had +occurred in the colony, though lightning more vivid and alarming had +often been seen in storms of longer duration. + + While every one was expecting our colonial vessel, the _Francis_, from +New Zealand. the signal for a sail was made on the 29th; and shortly +after the _Fairy_, an American snow, anchored in the cove from Boston in +New England, and last from the island of St. Paul, whence she had a +passage of only four weeks. The master, Mr. Rogers, touched at False +Bay; but from there not having been any recent arrivals from Europe, he +procured no other intelligence at that port, than what we had already +received. At the island of St. Paul he found five seamen who had been +left there from a ship two years before, and who had procured several +thousand seal-skins. They informed him, that Lord Macartney in his +Majesty's ship the _Lion_, and the _Hindostan_ East-Indiaman, had +touched there in their way to China, and Mr. Rogers expected to have +heard that his lordship had visited this settlement. + +The _Fairy_ was to proceed from this place to the north-west coast of +America, where the master hoped to arrive the first for the fur market. +Thence he was to go to China with his skins, and from China back to St. +Paul, where he had left a mate and two sailors. Their success was to +regulate his future voyages. + +Mr. Rogers expressed a surprise that we had not any small craft on the +coast, as he had observed a plentiful harvest of seals as he came along. +He came in here merely to refresh, not having any thing on board for +sale, his cargo consisting wholly of articles of traffic for the +north-west coast of America. + +Charles Williams, the settler so often mentioned in this narrative, +wearied of being in a state of independence, sold his farm with the +house, crop, and stock, for something less than one hundred pounds, to an +officer of the New South Wales corps, Lieutenant Cummings, to whose +allotment of twenty-five acres Williams's ground was contiguous. James +Ruse also, the owner of Experiment farm, anxious to return to England, +and disappointed in his present crop, which he had sown too late, sold +his estate with the house and some stock (four goats and three sheep) for +forty pounds. Both these people had to seek employment until they could +get away; and Williams was condemned to work as a hireling upon the +ground of which he had been the master. But he was a stranger to the +feelings which would have rendered this circumstance disagreeable to him. + +The allotment of thirty acres, late in the possession of James Richards, +a settler at the Ponds, deceased, was put into the occupation of a +private soldier of the New South Wales corps; and a grant of thirty acres +at the Eastern Farms was purchased for as many pounds by another soldier. + +The greatest inconvenience attending this transfer of landed property +was the return of such a miscreant as Williams, and others of his +description, to England, to be let loose again upon the public. The land +itself came into the possession of people who were interested in making +the most of it, and who would be more studious to raise plentiful crops +for market. + +Building and covering the new barrack, and bringing in timber for the new +mill-house, which was not to be built of brick, formed the principal +labour of this month at Sydney. The shipwrights were employed in putting +up the frame of a long-boat purchased of the master of the _Britannia_, +and repairing the hoy, which had been lying for some months useless for +want of repairs, having been much injured by the destructive worm that +was found in the waters of this cove. + +At the other settlements the convicts were employed in planting the +Indian corn. About four hundred and twenty acres were planted with that +article for this season's crop. + +November.] In the night of Thursday the 7th of November, the _Francis_ +schooner anchored in the cove from Dusky Bay in New Zealand; her long +absence from this place (nearly nine weeks) having been occasioned by +meeting with contrary and heavy gales of wind. The alteration which had +been made in this vessel by rigging her as a schooner instead of a sloop, +for which she was built, was found to have materially affected her +sailing; for a schooner she was too short, and, for want of proper sail, +she did not work well. Four times she was blown off the coast of New +Zealand, the _Britannia_ having anchored in Dusky Bay sixteen days before +the _Francis_. + +Mr. Raven found in health and safety all the people whom he had left +there. They had procured him only four thousand five hundred seal-skins, +having been principally occupied in constructing a vessel to serve them +in the event of any accident happening to the _Britannia_. This they had +nearly completed when Mr. Raven arrived. She was calculated to measure +about sixty-five tons, and was chiefly built of the spruce fir, which +Mr. Raven stated to be the fittest wood he had observed there for +ship-building, and which might be procured in any quantity or of any +size. The carpenter of the _Britannia_, an ingenious man, and master of +his profession, compared it to English oak for durability and strength. + +The natives had never molested the _Britannia's_ people: indeed they +seemed rather to abhor them; for if, by chance, in their excursions, +which were but very few, they visited and left any thing in a hut, they +were sure, on their next visit, to find the hut pulled down, and their +present remaining where it had been left. Some few articles which +Mr. Raven had himself placed in a hut, when he touched there to establish +his little fishery, were found three months after by his people in the +same spot. + +Their weather had been very bad; severe gales of wind from the north-west +and heavy rains often impeding their fishery and other labour. A shock of +an earthquake too had been felt. They had an abundance of fresh +provisions, ducks, wood-hens, and several other fowl; and they caught +large quantities of fish. The soil, to a great depth, appeared to be +composed of decayed vegetable substances. + +From Mr. Raven, who had waited some days for the appearance of the +_Francis_, the master received such assistance as he stood in need of; +and on the 20th of October she sailed from Dusky Bay, in company with the +_Britannia_, with whom she parted immediately, leaving her to pursue her +voyage to Bengal. + +Nothing appeared by this information from Dusky Bay, that held out +encouragement to us to make any use of that part of New Zealand. So +little was said of the soil, or face of the country, that no judgment +could be formed of any advantages which might be expected from attempting +to cultivate it; a seal fishery there was not an object with us at +present, and, beside, it did not seem to promise much. The time, however, +that the schooner was absent was not wholly misapplied; as we had the +satisfaction of learning the event of a rather uncommon speculation, that +of leaving twelve people for ten months on so populous an island, the +inhabitants whereof were known to be savages, fierce and warlike. We +certainly may suppose that these people were unacquainted with the +circumstance of there being any strangers near them; and that +consequently they had not had any communication with the few miserable +beings who were occasionally seen in the coves of Dusky Bay. + +A few days after the arrival of the _Francis_, Mr. Rogers sailed for +China, taking with him two women and three men who had received +permission to quit the colony. On board of the _Fairy_ was found a +convict, John Crow, who for some offence had been confined in the +military guardhouse at Parramatta, whence he found means to make his +escape, and reached Sydney in time to swim on board the American. On +being brought on shore he received a slight punishment, and was confined +in the black hole at the guardhouse at Sydney, out of which he escaped a +night or two after, by untiling a part of the roof. After this he was not +heard of, till the watch apprehended him at Parramatta, where he had +broken into two houses, which he had plundered, and was caught with the +property upon him. + +The frequency of enormous offences had rendered it necessary to inflict a +punishment that should be more likely to check the commission of crimes +than mere flagellation at the back of the guardhouse, or being sent to +Toongabbie. Crow, therefore, was lodged in the custody of the civil +power, and ordered for trial by the court of criminal judicature. + +During the time the _Fairy_ lay at anchor in this cove, a sergeant and +three privates of the New South Wales corps were sent and remained on +board, for the purpose of preventing all improper visitations from the +shore, and inspecting whatever might be either received into or sent from +the ship in a suspicious manner: a regulation from which the master +professed to have found essential service, as he thereby kept his decks +free from idle or bad people, and his seamen went on unmolested with the +duty of the vessel. + +On Saturday the 23rd, the flour and rice in store being nearly expended, +the ration was altered to the following proportions of those articles, +viz: + +To the officers, civil and military, soldiers, overseers, and the +settlers from free people, were served, of biscuit or flour 2 pounds; +wheat 2 pounds; Indian corn 5 pounds; peas 3 pints. + +To the male convicts were served, women and children receiving in the +proportions always observed, (of biscuit or flour, none, and for the +first time since the establishment of the colony) wheat 3 pounds; Indian +corn 5 pounds; paddy 2 pints; gram 2 pints. + +This was universally felt as the worst ration that had ever been served +from his Majesty's stores; and by the labouring convict particularly so, +as no one article of grain was so prepared for him as to be immediately +made use of. The quantity that was now to be ground, and the numbers who +brought grain to the mill, kept it employed all the night as well as the +day; and as, from the scarcity of mills, every man was compelled to wait +for his turn, the day had broke, and the drum beat for labour, before +many who went into the mill house at night had been able to get their +corn ground. The consequence was, that many, not being able to wait, +consumed their allowance unprepared. By the next Saturday, a quantity +of wheat sufficient for one serving having been passed through the large +mill at Parramatta, the convicts received their ration of that article +ground coarse. + +The lumber yard near Sydney being completed, the convict millwright +Wilkinson was preparing his new mill with as much expedition as he could +use; and John Baughan, an ingenious man, formerly a convict, had +undertaken to build another mill upon a construction somewhat different +from that of Wilkinson's, in which he was assisted by some artificers of +the regiment. Both these mills were to be erected on the open spot of +ground formerly used as a parade by the marine battalion. + +Short as was the quantity of flour in store, we did not, however, despair +of being able to issue some meal of this season's growth before it could +be entirely expended. About the middle of the month, the wheat that was +sown in April last, about ninety acres, being perfectly ripe, the harvest +commenced, and from that quantity of ground it was calculated that +upwards of twenty-two bushels an acre would be received. Most of the +settlers had also begun to reap; and they, as well as others who had +grown that grain, were informed, that 'Wheat properly dried and cleaned +would be received at Sydney by the commissary at ten shillings the +bushel; but that none could be purchased from any other persons than +those who had grown it on their own farms; neither could any be taken +into the stores at Parramatta.' + +The precaution of receiving wheat only from those persons who had raised +it on their own farms was intended to prevent the petty and rascally +traffic which would otherwise have been carried on between free people +off the stores and persons who might employ them to sell the fruits of +their depredations on the public and other grounds. + +December.] Early in this month a criminal court was assembled, at which +Charles Williams, a boy of fourteen years of age, and John Bevan, a +notorious offender, though also very young, were tried for breaking into +a house at Toongabbie; but, for want of evidence, were acquitted. John +Crow was also tried for the burglary in the hut at Parramatta, out of +which he had stolen a quantity of wearing apparel and provisions; and, +being clearly convicted, he received sentence of death. + +An idea very generally prevailed among the ignorant part of the convicts, +that the lieutenant-governor was not authorised to cause a sentence of +death to be carried into execution, a notion that was in their minds +confirmed by the mercy which he had extended to Samuel Wright, who was +pardoned by him in July. It became, therefore, absolutely necessary, for +their own sakes, to let them see that he was not only possessed of the +power, but that he would also exercise it. On this account the prisoner, +after petitioning more than once for a respite, which he received, was +executed on Tuesday the 10th, eight days after his trial. There did not +exist in the colony at this time a fitter object for example than John +Crow. Unfortunately, the poor wretch to his last moment cherished the +idea that he should not suffer; and consequently could have been but ill +prepared for the change he was about to experience. He had endeavoured to +effect his escape by jumping down a privy a few hours before his +execution; and it was afterwards found, that he had with much ingenuity +removed some bricks in the wall of the hole in which he was confined, +whence, had he obtained the respite of another day, he would easily have +escaped. + +Independent of the consideration that this man had long been a proper +object of severe punishment, to have pardoned him (even on any condition) +would only have tended to strengthen the supposition that the +lieutenant-governor had not the power of life and death; and many daring +burglaries and other enormities would have followed. Crow pretended that +he was in the secret respecting the watches which were stolen from the +hospital in October last; but all that he knew amounted to nothing that +could lead to a discovery either of them or of the thief. He did not +appear to be at all commiserated or regretted by any of his fellow +prisoners; a certain proof of the absence of every good quality in his +character. + +In the night of the 6th, during a violent storm of rain and thunder, a +long-boat, which had arrived in the evening from Parramatta with grain +for the next day's serving, and was then lying at the wharf on the west +side under the care of a sentinel, filled with the quantity of water +which ran from the wharf, and sunk. By this accident two hundred and +eighty bushels of Indian corn in cob, and a few bushels of wheaten meal, +were totally lost. The natives who could dive availed themselves of the +circumstance, and recovered a great quantity of the corn, of which they +were very fond. The boats were not injured. + +Sudden storms of this kind were frequent; and gusts of wind have been so +sudden and violent, that ships, loosely moored, have driven at their +anchors in the cove. + +On Saturday the 7th a change took place in the ration; this was, the +discontinuing of the three pints of peas which were served to the civil +and military, and the three pints of gram which were served to the +convicts, and giving them instead an equal quantity of wheat. + +Notwithstanding every supply of flour which had been purchased, or +received into the store from England, it was at length entirely +exhausted; the civil and military receiving the last on Monday the 9th. +This total deprivation of so valuable, so essential an article in the +food of man happened, fortunately, at a season when its place could in +some measure be supplied immediately, the harvest having been all safely +got in at Toongabbie by the beginning of this month. About the middle of +it, eight hundred bushels were threshed out, and on Monday the 16th the +civil and military received each seven pounds of wheat coarsely ground at +the mill at Parramatta. This mill, from the brittleness of the timber +with which it was constructed, was found to be unequal to the consumption +of the settlements. The cogs frequently broke, and hence it was not of +any very great utility. To remedy this inconvenience, a convict +blacksmith undertook to produce one iron hand-mill each week, for which +he was to be paid at the rate of two guineas; and by his means several +mills were distributed in the settlements. + +The salt meat being the next article which threatened a speedy +expenditure, on Saturday the 28th one pound was taken from the weekly +allowance of beef; and but a small quantity of Indian corn remaining in +store, the male convicts received eight pounds of new wheat, whole; and +only three pounds of Indian corn, or paddy, were served. + +On Christmas day, the Reverend Mr. Johnson preached to between thirty and +forty persons only, though on a provision day some four or five hundred +heads were seen waiting round the storehouse doors. The evening produced +a watchhouse full of prisoners; several were afterwards punished, among +whom were some servants for stealing liquor from an officer. + +The passion for liquor was so predominant among the people, that it +operated like a mania, there being nothing which they would not risk to +obtain it: and while spirits were to be had, those who did any extra +labour refused to be paid in money, or any other article than spirits, +which were now, from their scarcity, sold at six shillings per bottle. +Webb, the settler near Parramatta, having procured a small still from +England, found it more advantageous to draw an ardent diabolical spirit +from his wheat, than to send it to the store and receive ten shillings +per bushel from the commissary. From one bushel of wheat he obtained +nearly five quarts of spirit, which he sold or paid in exchange for +labour at five and six shillings per quart. + +McDonald, a settler at the Field of Mars, made a different and a better +use of the produce of his farm. Having a mill, he ground and dressed his +wheat, and sold it to a baker at Sydney at fourpence per pound, procuring +forty-four pounds of good flour from a bushel of wheat, which was taken +at fifty-nine pounds. This person also killed a wether sheep (the produce +of what had been given to him by Governor Phillip) at Christmas, and sold +it at two shillings per pound, each quarter weighing about fifteen +pounds. + +The town of Sydney had this year increased considerably; not fewer than +one hundred and sixty huts, beside five barracks, having been added since +the departure of Governor Phillip. Some of these huts were large, and to +each of them upwards of fourteen hundred bricks were allowed for a +chimney and floor. These huts extended nearly to the brickfields, whence +others were building to meet them, and thus to unite that district with +the town. + +About the latter end of the month a large party of the natives attacked +some settlers who were returning from Parramatta to Toongabbie, and took +from them all the provisions which they had just received from the store. +By flying immediately into the woods, they eluded all pursuit and search. +They were of the Hunter's or Woodman's tribe, people who seldom came +among us, and who consequently were little known. + +The natives who lived about Sydney appeared to place the utmost +confidence in us, choosing a clear spot between the town and the +brickfield for the performance of any of their rites and ceremonies; and +for three evenings the town had been amused with one of their spectacles, +which might properly have been denominated a tragedy, for it was attended +with a great effusion of blood. It appeared from the best account we +could procure, that one or more murders having been committed in the +night, the assassins, who were immediately known, were compelled, +according to the custom of the country, to meet the relations of the +deceased, who were to avenge their deaths by throwing spears, and drawing +blood for blood. One native of the tribe of Cammerray, a very fine fellow +named Carradah*, who had stabbed another in the night, but not mortally, +was obliged to stand for two evenings exposed to the spears not only of +the man whom he had wounded, but of several other natives. He was +suffered indeed to cover himself with a bark shield, and behaved with the +greatest courage and resolution. Whether his principal adversary (the +wounded man) found that he possessed too much defensive skill to admit of +his wounding him, or whether it was a necessary part of his punishment, +was not known with any certainty; but on the second day that Carradah had +been opposed to him and his party, after having received several of their +spears on his shield, without sustaining any injury, he suffered the +other to pin his left arm (below the elbow) to his side, without making +any resistance; prevented, perhaps, by the uplifted spears of the other +natives, who could easily have destroyed him, by throwing at him in +different directions. Carradah stood, for some time after this, defending +himself, although wounded in the arm which held the shield, until his +adversaries had not a whole spear left, and had retired to collect the +fragments and piece them together. On his sitting down his left hand +appeared to be very much convulsed, and Mr. White was of opinion that the +spear had pierced one of the nerves. The business was resumed when they +had repaired their weapons, and the fray appeared to be general, men, +women, and children mingling in it, giving and receiving many severe +wounds, before night put an end to their warfare. + +[* So he was called among his own people before he knew us; but having +exchanged names with Mr. Ball (who commanded the _Supply_,) he went +afterwards by that name, which they had corrupted into Midjer Bool.] + +What rendered this sort of contest as unaccountable as it was +extraordinary was, that friendship and alliance were known to subsist +between several that were opposed to each other, who fought with all the +ardour of the bitterest enemies, and who, though wounded, pronounced the +party by whom they had been hurt to be good and brave, and their friends. + +Possessing by nature a good habit of body, the combatants very soon +recovered of their wounds; and it was understood, that Carradah, or +rather Midjer Bool, had not entirely expiated his offence, having yet +another trial to undergo from some natives who had been prevented by +absence from joining in the ceremonies of that evening. + +About this time several houses were attempted to be broken into; many +thefts were committed; and the general behaviour of the convicts was far +from that _propriety_ which ought to have marked them. The offences were +various, and several punishments were of necessity inflicted. The Irish +who came out in the last ships were, however, beginning to show symptoms +of better dispositions than they landed with, and appeared only to +dislike hard labour. + +Among the conveniencies that were now enjoyed in the colony must be +mentioned the introduction of passage-boats, which, for the benefit of +settlers and others, were allowed to go between Sydney and Parramatta. +They were the property of persons who had served their respective terms +of transportation; and from each passenger one shilling was required for +his passage; luggage was paid for at the rate of one shilling per cwt; +and the entire boat could be hired by one person for six shillings. This +was a great accommodation to the description of people whom it was +calculated to serve, and the proprietors of the boats found it very +profitable to themselves. + +The boat-builders and shipwrights found occupation enough for their +leisure hours, in building boats for those who could afford to pay them +for their labour. Five and six gallons of spirits was the price, and five +or six days would complete a boat fit to go up the harbour; but many of +them were very badly put together, and threatened destruction to whoever +might unfortunately be caught in them with a sail up in blowing weather. + +On the 24th ten grants of land passed the seal of the territory, and +received the lieutenant-governor's signature. Five allotments of +twenty-five acres each, and one of thirty, were given to six +non-commissioned officers of the New South Wales corps, who had chosen an +eligible situation nearly midway between Sydney and Parramatta; and who, +in conjunction with four other settlers, occupied a district to be +distinguished in future by the name of _Concord_. These allotments +extended inland from the water's side, within two miles of the district +named Liberty Plains. + +The settlers at this latter place appeared to have very unproductive +crops, having sown their wheat late. They were, indeed, of opinion, that +they had made a hasty and bad choice of situation; but this was nothing +more than the language of disappointment, as little judgment could be +formed of what any soil in this country would produce until it had been +properly worked, dressed, cleansed, and purged of that sour quality that +was naturally inherent in it, which it derived from the droppings of wet +from the leaves of gum and other trees, and which were known to be of an +acrid destructive nature. + +Another barrack for officers was got up this month at Sydney; but, for +want of tiles, was only partly covered in. The millwrights Wilkinson and +Baughan had got up the frames and roofs of their respective mill-houses, +and, while waiting for their being tiled, were proceeding with preparing +the wood-work of their mills. + +The great want of tiles that was occasionally felt, proceeded from there +being only one person in the place who was capable of moulding tiles, and +he could never burn more than thirty thousand tiles in six weeks, being +obliged to burn a large quantity of bricks in the same kilns. It required +near sixty-nine thousand bricks to complete the building of one barrack, +and twenty-one thousand tiles to cover it in. The number of tiles +rendered useless by carriage, and destroyed in the kilns, was estimated +at about three thousand in each kiln, and fifteen thousand were generally +burnt off at a time. + +To furnish bricks for these barracks, and other buildings, three gangs +were constantly at work, finding employment for three overseers and about +eighty convicts. + +To convey these materials from the brickfield to the barrack-ground, a +distance of about three-quarters of a mile, three brick-carts were +employed, each drawn by twelve men, under the direction of one overseer. +Seven hundred tiles, or three hundred and fifty bricks, were brought by +each cart, and every cart in the day brought either five loads of bricks, +or four of tiles. To bring in the timber necessary for these and other +buildings, four timber-carriages were employed, each being drawn by +twenty-four men. In addition to these, to each carriage were annexed two +fallers, and one overseer, making a total of two hundred and twenty-eight +men, who must be employed in any such heavy labour as the building of a +barrack or a storehouse, exclusive of the sawyers, carpenters, smiths, +painters, glaziers, and stonemasons, without whose labour they could not +be completed. + +The expense of victualling and clothing these people (both their +provisions and the materials for making their clothes being augmented +above their prime cost, by freight and by the cost of what might be +damaged and useless) must be supposed to be considerable; and must be +taken into account, together with the cost of tools and of such materials +as were not to be procured in the country, when calculating the expenses +of the public works erected in this colony. + +There died between the 1st of January and 31st of December, both +inclusive, two settlers, seven soldiers, seventy-eight male convicts, +twenty-six female convicts, and twenty-nine children. One male convict +was executed; six male convicts were lost in the woods; one male convict +was found dead in the woods; one male convict was killed by the fall of a +tree, and two male convicts were killed by lightning; making a decrease +by death and accidents of one hundred and fifty-three persons. To this +decrease may be added, four male convicts, who found means to escape from +the colony on board of some of the ships which had been here. + +The following were the prices of grain, live and dead stock, grocery, +spirits, etc. as they were sold or valued at Sydney and Parramatta at the +close of the year 1793: + +AT SYDNEY + +GRAIN +Wheat per bushel, for cash, 10s +Ditto, in payment for labour, 14s +Maize per bushel, for cash, 7s +Ditto, in payment for labour, 12s 6d +Caffre corn 5s +English flour per lb 6d +Flour of this country, for cash, 3d +Ditto, for labour, 4d + +VEGETABLES +Potatoes per cwt 10s +Ditto per lb 1½d + +LIVE AND DEAD STOCK +Ewes (Cape) from £6 to £8 8s +Wethers (Cape) from £4 to £5 10s +She goats, full grown, £8 8s +Ditto, half grown, £4 4s +Male goat, full grown, £2 +Breeding sows from £3 to £6 +Sucking pigs 6s +A full grown hog from £3 to £3 10s +Turkeys per couple, nearly full grown, £2 ss +Ducks per couple, nearly ditto, 10s +Laying hens, each 5s +A full grown cock 4s +Half grown fowls 2s +Chickens, six weeks old, per couple 2s +Fresh pork per lb 9d +Mutton per lb from 2s to 2s 6d +Kangaroo per lb 4d +Salt pork per lb 9d +Salt beef per lb 6d + +GROCERIES +Tea (green) from 12s to 16s +Tea (black) from 10s to 12s +Loaf sugar per lb 2s 6d +Fine moist sugar per lb 2s +Coarse moist sugar per lb 1s 6d +Butter from 2s per lb to 2s 6d +Cheese from 2s per lb to 2s 6d +Soap per lb from 2s to 3s +Tobacco per lb from 1s to 1s 6d +Lamp oil, made from shark's liver, per gall 4s + +WINE--SPIRITS--PORTER +Jamaica rum per gallon from £1 to £1 8s +Rum (American) from 16s per gall to £1 +Coniac brandy per gallon from £1 to £1 4s +Cape brandy per gallon from 16s to £1 +Cherry brandy per dozen £3 12s +Wine (Cape Madeira) per gallon 12s +Porter per gallon from 4s to 6s + +AT PARRAMATTA + +GRAIN +Wheat per bushel, for cash, 10s +Ditto, in payment for labour, 14s +Maize per bushel, for cash, 7s 6d +Ditto, in payment for labour, l0s +Caffre corn, none +English flour per lb 6d +Flour of this country, for cash, 4d +Ditto, for labour, 6d + +VEGETABLES +Potatoes per lb 3d +Greens per hundred 6s + +LIVE AND DEAD STOCK +Ewes from £4 to £10 +Wethers from £2 10s to £4 +She goats from £4 to £10 10s +A young male goat £3 +Breeding sows from £3 to £7 +Sucking pigs from 4s to 7s 6d +Turkeys per couple, nearly full grown, £2 2s +Ducks per couple, full grown, £1 1s +Laying Hens, each from 4s to 7s 6d +A full grown cock 5s +Half grown fowls 3s +Chickens, six weeks old, per couple 2s +Fresh pork per lb 9d +Mutton per lb from 2s to 2s 6d +Kangaroo per lb 4d +Salt pork per lb 9d +Salt beef per lb 5d + +GROCERIES +Tea (green) from 16s to £1 1s +Black tea from 10s to 16s +Moist sugar (coarse) 2s +Butter per lb 2s 6d +Cheese per lb 2s 6d +Soap per lb 3s +Tobacco per lb 2s +Lamp oil, made from shark's liver, per gall 4s + +WINE--SPIRITS--PORTER +Neat spirits per gallon from £1 10s to £2 +Wine of the most inferior quality per gall 16s + +The high prices of wine, spirits, and porter, proceeded not only from +their scarcity, but from the great avidity with which they were procured +by the generality of the people in these settlements, with whom money was +of so little value, that the purchaser had been often known (instead of +asking) to name himself a price for the article he wanted, fixing it at +as high again would otherwise have been required of him. + +The live stock in the country belonging to individuals was confined to +three or four persons, who kept up the price in order to create an +interest in the preservation of it. An English cow, in calf by the bull +which was brought here in the _Gorgon_, was sold by one officer to +another for eighty pounds; and the calf, which proved a male, was sold +for fifteen pounds. A mare, brought in the _Britannia_ from the Cape, was +valued at forty pounds, and, although aged and defective, was sold twice +in the course of a few days for that sum. It must however be remarked, +that in these sales stock itself was generally the currency of the +country, one kind of animals being commonly exchanged for another. + +Labour was also proportionably high. For sawing one hundred feet of +timber, in their own time, for individuals, a pair of sawyers demanded +seven shillings; a carpenter for his day's work charged three shillings; +and for splitting paling for fences, and bringing it in from the woods, +they charged from one shilling and six-pence to two shillings and +six-pence per hundred. An officer who had an allotment of one hundred +acres of land near the town of Sydney having occasion for a hundred +thousand bricks to build a dwelling-house, contracted with a brickmaker +and his gang, and for that number of bricks paid him the sum of forty-two +pounds ten shillings. In the fields, for cutting down the timber of an +acre of ground, burning it off, and afterwards hoeing it for corn, the +price was four pounds. Five-and-twenty shillings were demanded and paid +for hoeing an acre of ground already cleared. + +For all this labour, where money was paid, it was taken at its reputed +value; but where articles were given in lieu of labour, they were charged +according to the prices stated. + +The masters of merchantmen, who generally made it their business +immediately on their arrival to learn the prices of commodities in the +colony, finding them so extravagantly high as before related, thought it +not their concern to reduce them to anything like a fair equitable value; +but, by asking themselves what must be considered a high price, after +every proper allowance for risk, insurance, and loss, kept up the +extravagant nominal value which every thing bore in the colony. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + + +A murder committed near Parramatta +The _Francis_ sails for Norfolk Island +Provisions +Storm of wind at Parramatta +Crops +A Settlement fixed at the Hawkesbury +Natives +A burglary committed +Samuel Burt emancipated +Death of William Crozier Cook +The watches recovered +The _Francis_ returns from Norfolk Island +Information +The New Zealand natives sent to their own country +Disturbance at Norfolk Island +Court of inquiry at Sydney +The _Francis_ returns to Norfolk Island +Natives troublesome +State of provisions + + +1794.] + +January.] The report that was spread in April last, of a murder having +been committed on a watchman belonging to the township of Parramatta, +never having been confirmed, either by finding the body among the stalks +of Indian corn as was expected, or by any one subsequent circumstance, it +was hoped that the story had been fabricated, and that murder was a crime +which for many years to come would not stain the annals of the colony. In +proportion, indeed, as our numbers increased, and the inhabitants began +to possess those comforts or necessaries which might prove temptations to +the idle and the vicious, that high and horrid offence might, in common +with others of the same tendency, be expected to exist; but at this +moment all thought their persons secure, though their property was +frequently invaded. On the 5th of this month, however, John Lewis, an +elderly convict, employed to go out with the cattle at Parramatta, was +most barbarously murdered. The cattle, having lost their conductor, +remained that night in the woods; and when they were found, the absence +of Lewis excited an apprehension that some accident had happened to him. +His body was not discovered however until the Wednesday following, when, +by the snorting and great uneasiness of the cattle which had been driven +out for the purpose, it was perceived lying in a hollow or ravine, into +which it had been thrown by those who had butchered him, covered with +logs, boughs, and grass. Some native dogs, led by the scent of human +blood, had found it, and by gnawing off both the hands, and the entire +flesh from one arm, had added considerably to the horrid spectacle which +the body exhibited on being freed from the load of rubbish which had been +heaped upon it. + +This unfortunate man had imprudently boasted of being worth much money, +and that he always carried it with him sewed up in some part of his +clothes, to guard against losing it while absent from his hut. If this +was true, what he carried with him certainly proved his destruction; if +not, the catastrophe must be attributed to his indiscreet declarations. +By the various wounds which he had received, it appeared that he must +have well defended himself, and could not have parted with his life until +overpowered by numbers; for, though advanced in years, he was a stout, +muscular man; and it was from this circumstance concluded, that more than +one person was concerned in the murder of him. To discover, if possible, +the perpetrators of this atrocious offence, one or two men of bad +characters were taken up and examined, as well as all the people employed +about the stockyard: but nothing came out that tended to fix it upon any +one of them; and, desirable as it was that they should be brought to that +punishment which sooner or later awaited them, it was feared that until +some riot or disagreement among themselves should occur, no clue would be +furnished that would lead to their detection. The body was therefore +brought in from the spot where it had been concealed, about four miles +from Parramatta, and buried at that place, after having been very +carefully examined by the assistant-surgeon Mr. Arndell. + +In tracing the motives that could lead to this murder, the pernicious +vice of _gaming_ presented itself as the first and grand cause. To such +excess was this pursuit carried among the convicts, that some had been +known, after losing provisions, money, and all their spare clothing, to +have staked and lost the very clothes on their wretched backs, standing +in the midst of their associates as naked, and as indifferent about it, +as the unconscious natives of the country. Money was, however, the +principal object with these people; for with money they could purchase +spirits, or whatever else their passions made them covet, and the colony +could furnish. They have been seen playing at their favourite games +cribbage and all-fours, for six, eight, and ten dollars each game; and +those who were not expert at these, instead of pence, tossed up for +dollars. Their meetings were scenes of quarrelling, swearing, and every +profaneness that might be expected from the dissolute manners of the +people who composed them; and to this improper practice must undoubtedly +be attributed most of the vices that existed in the colony, pilferings, +garden-robberies, burglaries, profanation of the Sabbath, and murder. + +On the 5th the _Francis_ sailed for Norfolk Island. The last accounts +from thence were dated in March 1793; and as we were uncertain that the +supplies which had been sent in the April following by Mr. Bampton had +been safely landed, we became extremely anxious to learn the exact state +of the settlement there. This information was all the advantage that was +expected to be derived from the voyage; for, whatever Mr. King's wants +might be, the stores at Sydney were incapable of alleviating them. Little +apprehension was however entertained of his being in any need of +supplies, as, at the date of his last letter, he reckoned that his crops +of wheat and maize would produce more grain than would be sufficient for +twelve months consumption. + +At this time, an account of the salt provisions remaining in store at +Sydney and Parramatta being taken, it appeared, that there were +sufficient for only ten weeks at the ration then issued, viz three pounds +per man per week. In this situation, every addition that could be made to +the ration was eagerly sought after. Wheat was paid to the industrious in +exchange for labour; and those who were allowed to subsist independent of +the public stores availed themselves of that indulgence to its fullest +extent. It might therefore have been expected, that every advantage was +taken of such a situation, and that no opportunity would be lost from +which any profit could be derived. As an instance of this, one Lane, a +person who had been a convict, and who was allowed to support himself how +he could, was detected in buying a kangaroo of a man employed by an +officer to shoot for him. The game-killer, with the assistance of six or +seven greyhounds, had killed three kangaroos, two of which he brought in; +the third he sold or lent to Lane, but said he had cut it up for his +dogs. + +As most of the officers in the colony were allowed people to shoot for +them, it became necessary to make some example of the man who bought, +rather than of him who sold; for it was a maxim pretty generally adopted, +that the receiver was more culpable than the thief. The lieutenant-governor, +therefore, ordered Lane to be punished with one hundred lashes, placed upon +the commissary's books for provisions, and sent up to labour at Toongabbie. + +About the middle of the month one small cow and a Bengal steer, both +private property, were killed, and issued to the non-commissioned +officers and privates of two companies of the New South Wales corps. This +was but the third time that fresh beef had been tasted by the colonists +of this country; once, it may be remembered, in the year 1788, and a +second time when the lieutenant-governor and the officers of the +settlement were entertained by the Spanish captains. At that time +however, had we not been informed that we were eating beef, we should +never have discovered it by the flavour; and it certainly happened to +more than one Englishman that day, to eat his favourite viand without +recognising the taste.* + +[* We understood that the Spanish mode of roasting beef, or mutton, was, +first to boil and then to brown the joint before the fire.] + +The beef that was killed at this time was deemed worth eighteen-pence per +pound, and at that price was sold to the soldiers. The two animals +together weighed three hundred and seventy-two pounds. + +About this time accounts were received from Parramatta of an uncommon +storm of wind, accompanied with rain, having occurred there. In its +violence it bordered on a hurricane, running in a vein, and in a +direction from east to west. The west end of the governor's hut was +injured, the paling round some farms which lay in its passage were +levelled, and a great deal of Indian corn was much damaged. It was not +however felt at Sydney, nor, fortunately, at Toongabbie; and was but of +short duration; but the rain was represented as having been very heavy. +The climate was well known to be subject to sudden gusts of wind and +changes of weather; but nothing of this violence had been before +experienced within our knowledge. + +It was found that the settlers, notwithstanding the plentiful crops which +in general they might be said to have gathered, gave no assistance to +government by sending any into store. Some small quantity (about one +hundred and sixty bushels) indeed had been received; but nothing equal +either to the wants or expectations of government. They appeared to be +most sedulously endeavouring to get rid of their grain in any way they +could; some by brewing and distilling it; some by baking it into bread, +and indulging their own propensities in eating; others by paying debts +contracted by gaming. Even the farms themselves were pledged and lost in +this way; those very farms which undoubtedly were capable of furnishing +them with an honest comfortable maintenance for life. + +No regular account had been obtained of what these farms had produced; +but it was pretty well ascertained, that their crops had yielded at the +least nearly seven thousand bushels of wheat. Of the different districts, +that of Prospect Hill proved to be the most productive; some grounds +there returned thirty bushels of wheat for one. Next to the district of +Prospect Hill, the Northern Boundary farms were the best; but many of the +settlers at the other districts ascribed their miscarriage more to the +late periods at which their grounds were sown, than to any poverty in the +soil; and seemed to have no doubt, if they could procure seed-wheat in +proper time (that is, to be in the ground in April) and the season were +favourable, of being repaid the expenses which they had been at, and of +being enabled to supply themselves and families with grain sufficient for +their sustenance without any aid from the public stores. + +The ground in cultivation on account of government, which had been sown +with wheat (three hundred and sixty acres) was found to have produced +about the same quantity as that raised by the settlers. Through the want +of flour, the consumption of this article was however very great; and +toward the latter end of the month half of the whole produce of the last +season (reserving twelve hundred bushels for feed) had been issued. This +afforded but a gloomy prospect; for it was much feared, that unless +supplies arrived in time, the Indian corn would not be ripe soon enough +to save the seed-wheat. + +On the 25th, the grain from Bengal being expended, and no more Indian +corn of last year's growth remaining that could be served, the public +were informed, that from that time no other grain than wheat could be +issued; and accordingly on that day the male convicts received for their +week's subsistence three pounds of pork and eight pounds of wheat. One +pound of wheat more than was issued to the convicts was received on the +Monday following by the civil and military. + +In this unprovided state of the settlement, the return of Mr. Bampton +with his promised cargo of cattle, salt provisions, rice, and dholl, +began to be daily and anxiously expected. The completion of the +_Britannia's_ voyage was also looked forward to as a desirable event, +though to be expected at a somewhat later period; and every shower of +rain, as it tended to the benefit of the Indian corn then growing, was +received as a sort of presage that at least the seed wheat, the hopes of +next season, would be safe. Some very welcome rain had fallen during this +month, which considerably revived the Indian corn that was first sown, +and improved the appearance of that which had been sown later. + +Another division of settlers was this month added to the list of those +already established. Williams and Ruse, having got rid of the money which +they had respectively received for their farms, were permitted, with some +others, to open ground on the banks of the Hawkesbury, at the distance of +about twenty-four miles from Parramatta. They chose for themselves +allotments of ground conveniently situated for fresh water, and not much +burdened with timber, beginning with much spirit, and forming to +themselves very sanguine hopes of success. At the end of the month they +had been so active as to have cleared several acres, and were in some +forwardness with a few huts. The natives had not given them any +interruption. + +These people, however, though they had not been heard of where it might +have been expected they would have proved troublesome, had not been so +quiet in the neighbourhood of Parramatta. Between that settlement and +Prospect Hill some settlers had been attacked by a party of armed natives +and stripped of all their provisions. Reports of this nature had been +frequently brought in, and many, perhaps, might have been fabricated to +answer a purpose; but there was not a doubt that these people were very +desirous of possessing our clothing and provisions; and it was noticed, +that as the corn ripened, they constantly drew together round the +settlers farms and round the public grounds, for the purpose of +committing depredations. + +Several gardens were robbed and some houses broken into during this +month, the certain effect of a reduced ration. One burglary which was +committed was of some magnitude, and deserving of mention. A sergeant of +the New South Wales corps having been on guard, on his return to his hut +in the morning, had the mortification of finding he had been robbed +during his absence of a large quantity of wearing apparel, and +twenty-seven pounds in guineas and dollars; in fact the thief had stripped +him of all his moveable property, except only a spare suit of +regimentals. The hut stood the first of a new row just without the town, +and ought not to have been left without some person to take care of it. +The spoil, no doubt, soon passed from one hand to another in the practice +of that vice which, as already mentioned, too generally prevailed among +the lower class of the people in the colony. + +At Parramatta some people were taken up and punished, on being detected +in issuing to themselves from the stores, where they were employed, a +greater proportion of provisions than the ration. This offence had often +been committed; and though it was always punished with severity, yet +while convicts were employed, it was likely, notwithstanding the utmost +vigilance, to continue. Vigilance seemed only to incite to deeper +contrivances; and perhaps, though discoveries of this practice had often +occurred, yet too many had been guilty of it with impunity, and, being +alarmed, had withdrawn in time from the danger. + +But very few appeared deserving of confidence; for, sooner or later, +wherever it had been placed, either temptation was too strong, or +opportunity proved too favourable; and many who had been deemed honest +enough to be trusted ended their services by being detected in a breach +of that duty which they owed to the public as a return for the faith +which had been reposed in them. + +This perhaps was owing to the uncertainty of reward for any services that +they might render while in the class of convicts. As an exception to this +rule, however, must be mentioned those people to whom unconditional +emancipation had been held out at the expiration of a certain period, if +then considered as deserving of his Majesty's mercy as at the time of +making the promise. In the hope of this reward they continued to conduct +themselves without incurring the slightest censure; and one of them, +Samuel Burt, was deemed, through a conscientious and rigid discharge of +his duty, to have merited the pardon he looked up to. Accordingly, on the +last day of the month he was declared absolutely free. In the instrument +of his emancipation it was stated, 'that the remainder of his term of +transportation was remitted in consideration of his good conduct in +discovering and thereby preventing the intended mutiny on board the +_Scarborough_ in her voyage to this country in the year 1790, and his +faithful services in the public stores under the commissary since his +arrival.' Independent of his integrity as a storekeeper, he was certainly +deserving of some distinguishing mark of favour for having been the means +of saving the transport in which he came out at the risk of his own life. + +At the end of this month nearly four hundred acres were got ready for +wheat at Sydney, and every exertion was making to increase that quantity. + +A large number of slops having been prepared, a frock, shirt, and +trousers, were served out to each male convict at Sydney and the interior +settlements. Shoes were become an article of exceeding scarcity; and the +country had hitherto afforded nothing that could be substituted for them. +A convict who understood the business of a tanner had shown that the skin +of the kangaroo might be tanned; but the animal was not found in +sufficient abundance to answer this purpose for any number of people; and +the skin itself was not of a substance to be applied to the soling of +shoes. + +Among the number of deaths this month was that of William Crozier Cook, +who expired in consequence of eating two pounds of unground wheat, which +was forced, by his immediately drinking a quantity of water, into the +intestines, whence it could not pass; and though the most active +medicines were administered a mortification took place in the lower part +of his intestines, which put an end to his life. Cook had, for a length +of time after his arrival in this country, been a worthless vagabond; but +had latterly appeared sensible how much more to his advantage a different +character would prove, and had gained the good word and opinion of the +overseers and superintendants under whom he laboured. + +February.] On the 4th of this month the watches which had remained so +long undiscovered were brought down from Parramatta by Lieutenant +Macarthur. By a chain of circumstances it appeared that they had been +stolen by John Bevan, who at the time had broken out of the prison hut at +Toongabbie, and coming immediately down to Sydney, in conjunction with +Sutton (the man who was tried for stealing Mr. Raven's watch in October +1792) committed the theft, returning with the spoil to his hut at +Toongabbie before he had been missed from it by any of the watchmen. He +afterwards played at cards with another convict, and exchanged the +watches for a nankeen waistcoat and trousers. From this man they got into +the possession of two or three other people, and were at last, by great +accident, found to be in the possession of one Batty, an overseer, in +the thatch of whose hut they, together with ten dollars, were found safe +and uninjured. The dollars were supposed to be part of the money stolen +at the same time from Walsh at the hospital*, with whom Bevan, some time +before, had made acquaintance, winning from him not only a hundred weight +of flour, which he had almost starved himself to lay by, but deluding him +also out of the secret of his money, with every particular that was +necessary to his design of stealing it. + +[* This wretched old man did not long survive the loss of his money.] + +This was the information given against Bevan by the people through whose +hands the watches had passed; but as it was entirely unsupported by any +corroborating circumstance, he was discharged without punishment; but +Batty and another man, Luke Normington, of whose guilt there was not a +doubt, received each a severe corporal punishment by order of the +lieutenant-governor. In all the examinations which took place, nothing +appeared that affected Sutton, farther than the unsupported assertions of +one or two other convicts; but if Bevan was assisted by any one, Sutton, +from his general character, having already dealt in the article of +watches, was very probably his friend on the occasion + +The constancy of this wretched young man (Bevan) was astonishing. He most +steadily denied knowing any thing of the transaction, treating with equal +indifference both promises of rewards and threats of punishment. Crow, +who was executed in December last, declared a short time before he +suffered, that he had been shown the watches by Bevan in the corn ground +between Parramatta and Toongabbie; but as they had never been found in +his possession, he resolved on obstinately persisting in the declaration +that, however guilty of others, he was at least innocent of this offence; +and he thus escaped this time from justice, to be led, perhaps at no very +distant period, if not sufficiently warned, with surer step to the +gallows that he had so often merited, and in the high road to which he +seemed daily to be walking. + +On the 12th the _Francis_ returned from Norfolk Island, having been +absent five weeks and three days. + +The information received from that settlement was, that the _Shah +Hormuzear_ and _Chesterfield_ arrived there from this place, on the 2nd +day of May last, when, every article of stores and provisions which had +been put on board of them being safely landed, both ships sailed for +India on the 27th day of the same month; Captain Bampton purposing to +attempt making the passage between New Holland and New Guinea, that was +expected to be found to the northward of Endeavor Straits. + +While these ships were off Lord Howe Island, they experienced a heavy +gale of wind, in which the _Shah Hormuzear_ lost her topmasts, and the +_Chesterfield_ was in much danger from a leak which she sprung. Captain +Bampton having, in some bad weather off Norfolk Island, lost his +long-boat, he, with the assistance given him by Lieutenant-governor King, +built, in ten days, a very fine one of thirty-two feet keel, with which +he sailed, and without which it would not have been quite safe for him to +have proceeded on a voyage where much of the navigation lay among islands +and shoals, and where part of it had certainly been unexplored. + +Mr. King had the satisfaction of stating, that his crops had been +abundant, plenty reigning among all descriptions of people in the island. +His wheat was cut, the first of it on the 25th of November last, and the +harvest was well got in by Christmas Day. About two thousand bushels were +the calculated produce of this crop, which would have been greater had it +not, during its growth, been hurt by the want of rain. Of the maize, the +first crop (having always two) was gathering while the schooner was +there, and, notwithstanding the drought turned out well; from one acre +and a quarter of ground, one hundred and six bushels had been gathered; +but it was pretty generally established on the island, that thirty-six +bushels of maize might be taken as the average produce of an acre of +ground. + +The superior fertility of the soil at Norfolk Island to that of New South +Wales had never been doubted. The following account of last year's crop +was transmitted to Lieutenant-governor King: + +From November 1792 to November 1793 the crop of maize amounted to 3247 +bushels; wheat 1302 bushels; calavances 50 bushels. + +Purchased in the above time from settlers and others, at five shillings +per bushel 3600 bushels. Reserved by them for seed 3000 bushels of maize; +300 bushels of wheat; 300 bushels of calavances; and 50 tons of potatoes. +Which, together with 305 bushels of maize brought from thence with the +detachment of the New South Wales corps at the relief in March 1793, made +a total of 10,152 bushels of maize, 1602 bushels of wheat, 350 bushels of +calavances, 50 tons of potatoes, raised on Norfolk Island in one +twelvemonth, on about two hundred and fifty-six acres of ground. + +Of this crop, and of what had been purchased, there remained in the +public stores, when the schooner left the island, forty-three weeks maize +and wheat; in addition to which Lieutenant-governor King supposed he +should have of this season's growth, after reserving five hundred bushels +of wheat for seed, sufficient of that article for the consumption of six +hundred and ninety-nine persons*, the whole number of people victualled +there from the stores for fourteen weeks and a half, at the rate of ten +pounds per man per week; and fifty-eight weeks maize at twelve pounds per +man per week. He had besides, at the established ration, twelve weeks +beef, twenty-nine weeks pork, five weeks molasses, and thirty weeks oi1 +and sugar. The whole forming an abundance that seemed to place the evil +hour of want and distress at too great a distance to excite much alarm or +apprehension of its occurring there. + +[* The whole number in the settlement amounted to one thousand and eight +persons.] + +The settlement had been so healthy, that no loss by death had happened +since we last heard from them; and when the schooner sailed very few +people were sick. There had died, between the 20th of November 1791 (the +date of Lieutenant-governor King's return to the command at Norfolk +Island) and the 27th of January 1794, only one soldier, forty male +convicts, three female convicts, and nineteen children, making a total of +sixty-three persons, in two years and sixty-eight days; and ninety-five* +children had been born. Every description of stock, except some Cape +sheep which did not breed, was equally healthy as the inhabitants, and +were increasing fast. + +[* By the commissary's books there were, on the 20th of February 1794, +two hundred and fifty-four children in the three settlements here. On the +30th of January, by Lieutenant-governor King's return, there were one +hundred and forty-eight children at Norfolk; making a total of four +hundred and two children here and at Norfolk Island.] + +On the 22nd of October the _Boddingtons_ and _Sugar Cane_ touched at that +island, for the purpose of landing John Cole, a convict who had secreted +himself on board the former of these ships. Many articles of comfort were +sold among the settlers and others from the _Sugar Cane_. + +On the 2nd of the succeeding month Mr. Raven called there in the +_Britannia_, in his way to Bengal, to procure a supply of fresh +provisions and vegetables for his people. + +The two natives of New Zealand, who had been sent to Mr. King in April +last by the _Shah Hormuzear_, having completed the purpose for which they +had been sent thither, by giving such instruction in the process of +preparing the flax plant, that even with very bad materials a few hands +could manufacture thirty yards of good canvas in a week; and having +manifested much anxiety, on the appearance of any ship, to return to +their friends and native country, though treated with every attention and +kindness that could dispel their fears and conciliate their good opinion; +Mr. King thought this a favourable opportunity of gratifying their +wishes; and that he might himself be a witness of their not experiencing +on the voyage any interruption to the good treatment they had met with +from every one while under his care, he determined to accompany them +himself. He accordingly giving Mr. Raven the necessary order, embarked on +board of the _Britannia_, with a guard from the New South Wales corps, +and sailed for New Zealand on the 9th. Their passage thither was short; +for on the fourth day, having rounded the North Cape, the two natives +were landed among some of their friends and acquaintance, though not +exactly at the district whereat their families and kindred resided (the +Bay of islands); and Mr. King returned to Norfolk Island on the 18th, +having been ten days on board the _Britannia_. Captain Nepean, who was +proceeding in that ship to Europe by the way of India, remained on shore +in the government of Norfolk Island during Mr. King's absence; but, on +his return, reimbarked in the _Britannia_; and on the 20th of the same +month she sailed on the further prosecution of her voyage. + +It was not imagined that this delay in the _Britannia's_ voyage would be +of any consequence, as Mr. Raven purposed making what is called the +Eastern Passage; that is, between the south end of Mindanao and Borneo; +and it was known that the eastern monsoon did not set well in, nor was +attended with good weather in those seas before December or January. + +Mr. King found himself compelled to send by the _Francis_ ten soldiers of +the detachment of the New South Wales corps on duty there, under a charge +of mutinous behaviour. A jealousy which had grown up between the soldiers +and the free men, settlers and others, occasioned by some acts of +violence and improper behaviour on either side, broke out in the evening +of the 18th of last month, at a place in which the lieutenant-governor +had permitted plays to be represented by the convicts, as an innocent +recreation after labour. Mr. King, who was present, having thought it +necessary to order one of the soldiers into confinement when the play was +ended, the detachment repaired to their own commanding-officer, and +demanded the release of their comrade. On his declaring his inability to +comply with such request, they signified a resolution to release him +themselves; upon which the officer remonstrated with them, and they +dispersed. It did not appear that they made any attempts to release the +prisoner; but on the following morning, when the lieutenant-governor was +made acquainted with the above circumstances, he convened all the +officers in the settlement, and laid before them what he had heard, +together with an account of a determination among the soldiers, to +release from the halberts any of their comrades who should be ordered +punishment for any offence or injury done to a settler; all of which he +had caused to be authenticated upon oath. The result of this meeting was, +that the detachment should be disarmed, and that the settlers late of the +marines, and _Sirius's_ ship's company, should be embodied and armed as a +militia. This resolution was accordingly put in execution on the 21st, by +sending the detachment from their quarters unarmed, upon different +duties; while the new-raised militia took possession of their arms. On +their return, twenty were selected as mutineers to be sent to this place, +the remainder returning to their duty immediately, but of that number ten +were, after a few days confinement, pardoned and liberated; and two days +after Mr. King had restored good order in the settlement the _Francis_ +appeared. By her he sent the ten prisoners under a guard of an officer +and as many soldiers as the vessel could conveniently receive. + +A court of inquiry, composed of the officers of the regiment present at +Sydney, was assembled immediately after the arrival of the _Francis_, to +inquire into the complaint which had accompanied the soldiers from +Norfolk Island; when, after five days deliberation, and examination of +papers, witnesses, etc. they reported, that the conduct of the soldiers, +in disobeying the orders of their officers, was reprehensible; but, on +considering the provocations which had given birth to that disobedience. +they recommended them to their commanding officer's clemency. + +On the 27th the schooner sailed a second time for Norfolk Island, for the +purpose of conveying two officers of the New South Wales corps, and some +non-commissioned officers and privates, in lieu of those who had been +sent hither, and without whom the detachment on duty there would have +been too much weakened. + +The natives were again troublesome this month. Two several accounts were +sent down from Parramatta, of their having attacked, robbed, and beaten +some of the settlers' wives who were repassing between their farms and +Parramatta; and great quantities of corn continued to be stolen by them. +One of these women (married to Trace, a settler at the foot of Prospect +Hill) was so severely wounded by a party who robbed and stripped her of +some of her wearing apparel, that she lay for a long time dangerously ill +at the hospital. It was said, that the people who committed this and +other acts of violence and cruelty were occasional visitors with others +at Sydney. Could their persons have been properly identified, the +lieutenant-governor would have taken serious notice of the offenders. + +Notwithstanding the woods were infested by these people, numbers of the +male convicts, idle, and dreading labour as a greater evil than the risk +of being murdered, absented from the new settlements, and, after +wandering about for a few days, got at length to Sydney almost naked, and +so nearly starved, that in most cases humanity interfered between them +and the punishment which they merited. They in general pleaded the +insufficiency of the present ration to support a labouring man; but it +was well known that the labour required was infinitely short of what +might have been justly exacted from them, even had the ration been much +less. They mostly wrought by tasks, which were so proportioned to their +situation, that after the hour of ten in the forenoon their time was left +at their own disposal; and many found employment from settlers and other +individuals who had the means of paying them for their labour. At this +period, it was true, the labouring convict was menaced with the +probability of suffering greater want than had ever been before +experienced in the settlement. On Saturday the 22nd (the last +provision-day in this month) there remained in store a quantity of salt +meat only sufficient for the inhabitants until the middle of the second +week in the next month, at which time there would not be an ounce of +provisions left, if some supplies did not arrive before that period. But +even this situation, bad as it certainly was, was still alleviated by the +assistance that the officers, settlers, and others were able to afford to +those whom they either retained in their service or occasionally hired +for labour as they wanted them. Some who were off the store, and who well +remembered their own distresses in the years 1789 and 1791, declared, +that with a little industry, and being allowed the indulgence of going +out in a boat, they could, even at this time, earn a better subsistence +than if they were employed by Government, and fed from a full store. +Nothing was lost; even the shark was found to be a certain supply; the +oil which was procured from the liver was sold at one shilling the quart, +and but very few houses in the colony were fortunate enough to enjoy the +pleasant light of a candle. + +The seed-wheat as yet escaped, and might remain untouched for another +fortnight. The Indian corn was ripening; and it was hoped, that by making +some little deduction from the wheat, it would be ready in time to save +all the seed that had been reserved for the next season. To lose the +seed-wheat would be to repel every advance which had been made toward +supporting ourselves, and to crush every hope of independence. All that +had been done in cultivation, every acre which was preparing for the +ensuing crop, would long have remained a memorial of our distress; and +where existed the mind that could have returned to the labour of the +field with that cheerful spirit or energy that would have been necessary +to ensure future success? + +The watch at Parramatta, under the direction of Barrington the constable, +ever on the look-out for the murderers of Lewis, detected a man of bad +character in offering a dollar in payment for some article that he had +purchased, and which dollar appeared to have been buried in the ground. +He had been taken up before, and on searching him at that time was not in +possession of any money. As nothing more, however, than this circumstance +was adduced against him, he was discharged, it being admitted that he +might have earned something since that time by his labour. + +The foundation of a second barrack for soldiers at Sydney was begun in +the latter part of this month; and Baughan's mill-house was covered in +with tiles. + +Mutton was this month sold for one shilling and nine-pence per pound. The +Bengal sheep, by crossing the breed with the Cape ram, were found to +improve considerably in appearance and size. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + + +Alarming State of the provisions +The _William_ arrives with supplies from England, and the _Arthur_ from Bengal +The amor patriae natural to man in all parts of the earth +Information +Mr. Bampton +Captain Bligh +_Admiral Barrington_ transport lost +Full ration issued +Ingratitude and just punishment of the settlers +Buffin's corn-mill set to work +Gaming +Honesty of a native +The _Daedalus_ arrives from America +Information +Female inconstancy, and its consequences +The _Arthur_ sails +The _Francis_ returns from Norfolk Island +A boat stolen +Natives killed +A new mill +Disorder in the eyes prevalent + + +March.] To save as much of the seed-wheat as possible, a deduction of two +pounds was made in the allowance of that article which was served to the +convicts on Saturday the first of the month. The provision-store was +never in so reduced a state as at this time; one serving of salt-meat +alone remained, and that was to be the food of only half a week. After +that period, the prospect, unless we were speedily relieved, was +miserable; mere bread and water appeared to be the portion of by far the +greater part of the inhabitants of these settlements, of that part too +whose bodily labour must be called forth to restore plenty, and attain +such a state of independence on the parent country as would render delay +or accident in the transport of supplies a matter of much less moment to +the colony than it had ever hitherto been considered. + +As at this time the stock of swine in the possession of individuals was +rather considerable, some saving of the salt provisions, it was thought, +might be made, by purchasing a quantity sufficient to issue to the +military at the rate of four pounds and a half to each man for the week, +in lieu of the three pounds of salt meat. A quantity was therefore +purchased by the commissary and issued in the above proportion, the +soldiers receiving the fresh instead of the salt provisions (to which +latter they must have given the preference, being able to make them go +the farthest) with that cheerfulness which at all times marked their +conduct when compliance with any wish of their commanding-officer was the +question. + +Both public and private stock appeared to be threatened with destruction. +The sheep and goats in the colony were not numbered far within +one thousand. The cows had increased that species of stock by +thirteen calves, which were produced in the last year. The exact number +of hogs was not, nor could it well be ascertained; it must, however, have +been considerable, as every industrious convict had been able to keep one +or more breeding sows. All this wore, indeed, the appearance of a +resource; yet what would it all have been (admitting that an equal +partition had been made) when distributed among upwards of three thousand +people? But an equal partition of private stock, as most of this was +such, could not have been expected. The officers holding this stock in +their own hands would certainly take care to keep it there, and from it +would naturally supply their own people. How far, in an hour of such +distress, the convicts would have sat quietly down on their return from +labouring in the field to their scanty portion of bread and water, and +looked patiently on while others were keeping want and hunger at a +distance by the daily enjoyment of a comfortable meal of fresh viands? +was a question with many who thought of their situation. + +Happily, however, for all descriptions of people, they were not this time +to be put to the trial. + +On Saturday the 8th, at the critical moment when the doors of the +provision-store had closed, and the convicts had received their last +allowance of the salt provisions which remained, the signal for a sail +was made at the South Head. We expected a ship from India in pursuance of +the contract entered into with Mr. Bampton, who had been absent from us +nearly eleven months. We also looked daily for the return of the +_Daedalus_. We hoped for a ship from England. But whence the ship came +for which the signal had been made was to remain for some time unknown. +One boat alone, with an officer, went down; (in compliance with an order +which had some days before been given to that purpose;) and on its return +at night we were told that a ship with English colours flying had stood +into the harbour as far as Middle-head; but meeting with a heavy squall +of wind at south, in which she split her fore-top-sail, was compelled +again to put to sea. It was conjectured that she was a stranger; for if +any person on board her had had any knowledge of the harbour, she might +have been run with much ease from the Middle-head into safety in +Spring-cove. The officer who went down (Captain Johnston) unfortunately +could not board her, such a sea ran within the Heads; and the wind blew +with so much violence as to render any attempt to get near her extremely +dangerous. + +At night the wind increased with much rain, and morning was anxiously +looked for, to tell us where and who the stranger was. Nothing more +however was known of her during that day (Sunday), the same causes as +those of the preceding day operating against our receiving any other +information, than that she was to be seen from the flagstaff, whence in +the evening word was brought up over land, that another vessel, a brig, +was in sight. + +Anxiety and curiosity, now strained to the utmost, were obliged to wait +the passing of another night; but about three o'clock on Monday the 10th, +the wind and weather having both changed, to our great satisfaction we +saw the ship _William_, Mr. William Folger of London master, anchor +safely in the cove. With her also came up the _Arthur_, a small brig of +about ninety-five tons, from Bengal. + +The _William_, we found, had sailed from the river Thames on the first of +July last, whence she proceeded to Cork, where she took on board a cargo +of beef and pork for this colony*; but had not an ounce of flour. She +left Ireland on the 20th of September, having waited some weeks for a +convoy, (the war with France in which England was engaged having rendered +the protection of some of his Majesty's ships necessary,) and made her +passage to this country by the route of Rio de Janeiro. She arrived at +that port on the 22nd day of November; left it the third of the following +month; and made Van Dieman's Land on the second of this month. Mr. Folger +reported, that his weather from the American coast to this port had been +in general good. + +[* She had likewise on board a machine for dressing flour; a small +quantity of iron; two pairs of millstones and some tools for the smiths; +all which were received in the river.] + +We learned that Governor Phillip reached England in the _Atlantic_ on the +21st of May last. That ship (which it may be remembered sailed from this +place on the 11th of December 1792) passed Cape Horn on the 17th of the +following January; anchored at Rio de Janeiro on the 7th of February; and +sailed thence on the 4th of March; arriving in the channel without any +interruption, save what was given by a French privateer which chased her +when within forty-eight hours sail of the land. The natives Bennillong +and Yem-mer-ra-wan-nie were well, but not sufficiently divested of the +genuine, natural love for liberty and their native country, to prefer +London with its pleasures and its abundance to the woods of New South +Wales. They requested that their wives might be taught to expect their +return in the course of this year. Had it been possible to eradicate in +any breast that love for the place of our birth, or where we have lived +and grown from infancy to manhood, which is implanted in us by the kind +hand of Nature, it surely would have been effected on two natives of New +Holland, whose country did not possess a single charm in the eye even of +a savage inhabitant of New Zealand.* But we now found that in every +breast that sentiment is the same; and that a love for our native country +is not the result of her being the seat of arts and arms; the residence +of worth, beauty, truth, justice; of all the virtues that adorn and +dignify human nature; and of all the pleasures and enjoyments that render +life valuable; but that it can be excited even in a land where +wretchedness, want, and ignorance have laid their iron hands on the +inhabitants, and marked with misery all their days and nights. + +[* The New Zealanders who were brought hither in the _Daedalus_ in April +last expressed both here and at Norfolk Island the utmost abhorrence of +this country and its inhabitants.] + +In the _William_ arrived an assistant-chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Marsden, to +divide the religious duties of the colony with Mr. Johnson. + +Had it been known on the evening of the 8th, when the report was received +that the ship had been blown out to sea, that she contained so valuable a +cargo as four months beef and pork (eleven hundred and seventy-three +barrels of the former, and nine hundred and seven of the latter) at the +full ration, how would our anxiety have been increased upon her account, +particularly as it still lived in our remembrance, that the _Justinian_ +with a similar cargo, after making the North of this harbour, was blown +off to the Northward, was three weeks before she regained the port, and +was once within that time nearly lost in a heavy gale of wind! Had the +_William_ been blown off the coast for three weeks, how deeply would +distress have been felt in these settlements! + +The brig from Bengal had on board a small quantity of beef and pork; some +sugar, Bengal rum, and coarse callicoes. + +To the great surprise and regret of every one, it was heard from Mr. Barber +the master, that at the time of his departure from Calcutta, no accounts +had been received of the arrival of Mr. Bampton in any port in India. + +As well at his departure from Norfolk Island, as when he quitted this +place, he had expressed his resolution of attempting a passage between +this country and New Guinea, in the hope of being, if successful, the +first to establish a fact that would be attended with singular advantages +to his Majesty's settlements in this part of the world. + +Captain Bligh, of the happy conclusion of whose second voyage for the +bread fruit we now heard by the _William_, was particularly instructed to +survey the straits which separate New Holland from New Guinea. By the +accounts of this voyage which reached us, we found that the two ships +_Providence_ and _Assistance_ were twenty days from their entrance into +the strait to their finding themselves again in an open sea. The +navigation through this passage was described as the most dangerous ever +performed by any navigator, abounding in every direction with islands, +breakers, and shoals, through which they pursued their course with the +utmost difficulty. In one day, on anchoring to avoid danger, the +_Providence_ broke two of her anchors; and as the eastern monsoon +was blowing, (the month of September 1792,) and the passage which +they were exploring was extremely narrow, it became impossible to +beat back. From some of the islands, eight canoes formed the daring +attempt of attacking the armed tender, and with their arrows killed +one and wounded two of the seamen. Some of these canoes were sixty +or seventy feet long, and in one of them twenty-two persons were counted. + +This account excited many apprehensions for Mr. Bampton's safety. On +taking his leave of Lieutenant-governor King, he assured him that he +hoped to see Norfolk Island again in November, expecting to be here early +in the month of October. It was known that he had on board some articles +of merchandise which he meant to dispose of at Batavia; but by accounts +received at Calcutta from that place a very short time before the +_Arthur_ sailed, he had not touched at that port. It was therefore more +than probable, that both the _Shah Hormuzear_ and _Chesterfield_ had been +wrecked on some of the shoals with which the strait abounded, and that +their officers and people, taking to their long-boats, had fallen +sacrifices to the natives who had attacked the _Assistance_, by whose +guns many had been wounded in their attempt to carry that vessel. + +To the disappointment which the colony sustained from the failure of the +contract already mentioned for cattle and provisions which were to have +been brought hither by Mr. Bampton, was added the regret which every +thinking being among us felt on contemplating the calamitous moments that +had, in all probability, brought destruction on so many of our +fellow-creatures. + +Mr. Barber also informed us, that Captain Patrickson, who was here in the +_Philadelphia_ brig in October 1792, had purchased or hired a large ship, +on board of which he had actually put a quantity of provisions and other +articles, with which he designed to return to this country; but under +some apprehension that his cargo might possibly not be purchased, he gave +up the intention, and when the _Arthur_ sailed was left proceeding to +Europe under Imperial colours. + +The Government of Bengal too had advertised for terms to freight a vessel +for this country with cattle and provisions; but were diverted from the +design by the equipment of the armaments which it was necessary to enter +into at that time. + +Thus had the infant colony of New South Wales still been doomed to be the +sport of contingency, the jarring interests of men co-operating with the +dangers of the sea to throw obstacles in the way of that long-desired +independence which would free the mother country from a heavy expense, +and would deliver the colonists from the constant apprehension under +which they laboured, of being one day left to seek their subsistence +among the woods of the country, or along the shores of its coast*. + +[* It had been proposed, on the account reaching Bengal of the loss of +his Majesty's ship _Guardian_, to raise by subscription a sum sufficient to +purchase and freight a ship with provisions to this country; but, from +some accident or other, this benevolent purpose was never put in +execution.] + +The report of the probable loss of the _Admiral Barrington_ transport +which was received here in February 1793, was now confirmed. It appeared, +that after sailing from Batavia she reached so near her port as to be in +sight of the shipping at Bombay, but was driven off the coast by a gale +of wind, in which she was forced on shore on one of the Malouine Islands, +where she was wrecked, and her crew (the master, chief mate, and surgeon +excepted) were murdered by the natives. These people saved themselves by +swimming to an East-India country ship which was riding at anchor near +the island. + +The sight of two vessels at anchor in the cove laden with provisions gave +at this time greater satisfaction than had been known on any other +arrival; for never before had the colony verged so near to the point of +being without a pound of salt provisions. On Monday the 10th (the +issuing-day to the civil and military), when all were served their +provisions, there remained only eighteen hundred and three pounds of salt +meat in store; and even this quantity had been saved by issuing fresh +pork to the non-commissioned officers and men of the regiment on the two +last serving-days*. + +[* Saved on the 3rd and 10th of March by issuing fresh pork to the +non-commissioned officers and privates of the New South Wales corps, +their wives and children, 1803 lbs + +There were issued to the above people, fresh pork, 5099 lbs + +The hogs that were purchased on this occasion from individuals cost +government the sum of £254 19s 6d] + +In consequence of these fortunate arrivals, the full ration of salt meat +was ordered to be issued; and as soon as part of the cargo was got on +shore from the storeship, the deficiency on the last serving days was +completed to the full allowance. The last of the wheat was served on the +17th (a proper quantity being reserved for seed) and on the next +provision-day ten pounds of Indian corn were substituted instead of the +allowance of wheat. Nothing but dire necessity could have induced the +gathering and issuing this article in its present unripened state, the +whole of it being soft, full of juice, and wholly unfit to grind. Had the +settlers, with only a common share of honesty, returned the wheat which +they had received from Government to sow their grounds the last season, +the reproach which they drew upon themselves, by not stepping forward at +this moment to assist Government, would not have been incurred; but +though, to an individual, they all knew the anxiety which every one felt +for the preservation of the seed-wheat, yet when applied to, and told (in +addition to the sum of ten shillings per bushel) that any quantity which +they might choose to put into the store should be brought from their +farms without any expence of carriage to them, they all, or nearly all, +pleaded an insufficiency to crop their ground for the ensuing season; a +plea that was well known to be made without a shadow of truth. In +consequence of this refusal, for their excuses amounted to as much, the +lieutenant-governor directed all those settlers*, whose limited time** for +being victualled from the public stores had expired, to be struck off the +provision list, and left to provide for themselves, a very just +punishment for their ingratitude; for some had been fed and supplied from +the colonial stores for more than twelve months beyond the time +prescribed for them when they were settled. This indulgence had been +continued to them from quarter to quarter on account of bad crops, +unfavourable seasons, and the reduced ration, with which all of them, +more or less, had had to struggle; and every accommodation had constantly +been afforded them which was consistent with the situation of the colony. +It was, however, now seen, that they were not the description of settlers +from whom, whatever indulgences they might receive, Government had any +assistance to expect; their principal object was their own immediate +interest; and to serve that, they would forget every claim which the +public had upon them. + +[* Sixty-three in number] + +[** Eighteen months] + +The small cargo of salt provisions brought by the brig from Bengal was +purchased on account of Government for £307 16s; the beef at five-pence +and the pork at eight-pence per pound; the remainder of her cargo was +purchased by the officers of the civil and military departments. The +cargo of the _William_, which arrived in very good order, was all landed, +and the ship cleared and discharged from Government employ on the 28th. + +The Rev. Mr. Marsden entered on the duties of his function the first +Sunday after his arrival, preaching to the military in a barrack prepared +for the occasion in the forenoon, and to the convicts at the church +erected by Mr. Johnson in the afternoon. + +On the day when the _William_ anchored in the cove Buffin's new mill was +completed and set to work; and Wilkinson' s was in some forwardness. At +first it went rather heavily; but in a few days, with nine men's labour, +it ground sixty-three pounds of wheat in seventeen minutes. It must be +observed, that not any mill was yet erected in the colony whereat corn +was ground for the public, the military as well as the convicts grinding +their own grain themselves. Whenever wind or water-mills should be +erected, this labour would be saved, and the allowance of wheat or Indian +corn be issued ground and dressed. + +The late distress of the colony was not found to have made any amendment +in the morals of the convicts. Gaming still prevailed among them in its +fullest extent; and a theft which was committed at one of these meetings +showed how far it was carried. Among those who made a daily practice of +gaming was one who, in his situation as an overseer, had given such +offence to some of his fellow-prisoners, that a plan was formed to +plunder him the first time that he should have a sum worthy of their +attention. He was accordingly surrounded when engaged at play, by a party +who, watching their opportunity, rushed upon him when he had won a stake +of five-and-twenty dollars, and, in the confusion that ensued, secured +the whole. He was, however, fortunate enough to seize one of them, with +ten of the dollars in his hand, but was not able to recover any more. The +man whom he secured proved to be Samuel Wright, who in the month of July +last had been reprieved at the foot of the gallows; so soon had he +forgotten the terror of that moment. On this circumstance being reported +to the lieutenant-governor, Wright received an immediate corporal +punishment. + +McKoy, the overseer, confessed that gaming had been for many years his +profession and subsistence, though born of honest and reputable parents; +and he acknowledged, that but for his pursuit of that vice he should +never have visited this country in the situation of a convict. + +A better principle showed itself shortly after in Ca-ru-ey, a native +youth, who, from long residence among us, had contracted some of our +distinctions between good and ill. Being fishing one morning in his canoe +near the lieutenant-governor's farm, he perceived some convicts gathering +and secreting the Indian corn which grew there; and, knowing that acts of +that nature were always punished, he instantly came to the settlement, +and gave an account of what he had seen, in time to secure the offenders +on the spot, with the corn in their possession. + +As he made no secret of what he had done, it was apprehended that some +revenge might, if they were punished, be levelled at him on a future +opportunity, they were therefore pardoned; but Ca-ru-ey was nevertheless +applauded and recompensed for his attention and honesty. + +Among other articles of information received by the _William_, we were +assured, that it had been industriously circulated in England, that there +was not in this country either grass for graminivorous animals, or +vegetables for the use of man. This report was, however, rather forcibly +contradicted by the abundant increase of all descriptions of live stock +at this time in the colony, and by the plenty which was to be found in +every garden, whether cultivated by the officer or by the convict. A +striking instance of this plenty occurred at Parramatta a few days before +the arrival of the storeship, when six tons and two hundred weight of +potatoes were gathered as the produce of only three quarters of an acre +of ground. From the then reduced state of the stores, they were sold for +fifty pounds. + +Mutton was sold in this month for one shilling and nine-pence per pound. + +April.] in the forenoon of Thursday the 3rd of April, the signal was made +at the South Head for a sail, and about four o'clock the _Daedalus_ +storeship anchored in the cove from the north-west coast of America; but +last from Owhyhee, one of the Sandwich Islands, from which place she +sailed on the 8th day of February last. + +Lieutenant Hanson, on his arrival at Nootka Sound the 8th of last +October, found only a letter from Captain Vancouver, directing him to +follow the _Discovery_ to another port; between which and Nootka he +fortunately met with her and the _Chatham_, and was afterwards obliged to +proceed with them to the Sandwich Islands, before Captain Vancouver could +take out of the _Daedalus_ the stores which were consigned to his charge. +The harbour of Nootka was still in the hands of the Spaniards, and some +jealousy on their part prevented the delivery of the stores from the +vessel in any of the Spanish ports on the coast. + +Mr. Hanson was informed, that three natives of Whahoo (the island whereat +his predecessor in the _Daedalus_, Lieutenant Hergest, with the +astronomer, Mr. Gootch, and the seaman were killed) had been delivered up +by the chief of the island to Captain Vancouver, for the purpose of being +offered as an expiatory sacrifice for those murders; and that they were +accordingly, after remaining some short time on board the _Discovery_, +taken one by one into a canoe, and put to death alongside that ship by +one of their chiefs. A pistol was the instrument made use of on this +occasion, which certainly was as extraordinary as unexpected. + +The great accommodation which those islands proved to ships trading on +the north-west coast of America rendered it absolutely necessary, that +the inhabitants should be made to understand that we never would nor +could pass unnoticed an act of such atrocity. With this view Captain +Vancouver had demanded of the chief of Whahoo the murderers of Mr. Hergest +and his unfortunate companions. It was not supposed that the people +sacrificed were the actual perpetrators of these murders; but that +an equal number of the natives had been given up as an atonement for the +Europeans we had lost. + +The native of this country who accompanied Lieutenant Hanson we had the +satisfaction of seeing return safe in the _Daedalus_. He had conducted +himself with the greatest propriety during the voyage, readily complying +with whatever was required of him, and not incurring, in any one +instance, the dislike or ill-will of any person on board the ship. +Wherever he went he readily adopted the manners of those about him; and +when at Owhyhee, having discovered that favours from the females were to +be procured at the easy exchange of a looking-glass, a nail, or a knife, +he was not backward in presenting his little offering, and was as well +received as any of the white people in the ship. It was noticed too that +he always displayed some taste in selecting the object of his attentions. +The king of Owhyhee earnestly wished to detain him on the island, making +splendid offers to Mr. Hanson, of canoes, warlike instruments, and other +curiosities, to purchase him; but if Mr. Hanson had been willing to have +left him, Collins would not have consented, being very anxious to return +to New South Wales. + +He did not appear to have acquired much of our language during his +excursion; but seemed to comprehend a great deal more than he could find +words to express. + +On his arrival at Sydney he found his wife, whom he had left in a state +of pregnancy, in the possession of another native, a very fine young +fellow, who since his coming among us had gone by the name of Wyatt. The +circumstance of his return, and the novelty of his appearance, being +habited like one of us, and very clean, drew many of his countrymen about +him; and among others his rival, and his wife. Wyatt and Collins eyed +each other with indignant sullenness, while the poor wife (who had +recently been delivered of a female child, which shortly after died) +appeared terrified, and as if not knowing which to cling to as her +protector, but expecting that she should be the sufferer, whether +ascertained to belong to her former or her present husband. A few days, +however, determined the point: her travelled husband shivered a spear +with Wyatt, who was wounded in the contest, and the wife became the prize +of the victor, who, after thus ascertaining his right by arms, seemed +indifferent about the reward, and was soon after seen traversing the +country in search of another wife. + +Three young gentlemen of the _Discovery_ and _Chatham's_ quarterdecks +arrived here in the _Daedalus_, to procure passages from hence to +England. Among them was the Honourable Thomas Pitt, who on his arrival +here first learnt the death of his father, the late Lord Camelford. + +Captain Vancouver not having room for all the provisions which were sent +him from the public stores of this settlement, the greatest part of them +were returned. + +While the _Daedalus_ was in the morning standing in for the harbour, the +_Arthur_ went out, bound to that part of the world from which she was +just arrived, the north-west coast of America. Four convicts whose terms +of transportation had expired were permitted to quit the colony in her. +She also took away the carpenter of the _Fairy_, American brig, who had +been left on shore dangerously ill when Mr. Rogers sailed, but who had +perfectly recovered through the great attention and medical assistance +which he received at the hospital. + +The day following the arrival of the _Daedalus_, the _Francis_ schooner +returned from Norfolk Island, having been absent five weeks and one day. +In her arrived the Rev. Mr. Bayne, the chaplain of the New South Wales +corps, and Mr. Grimes, the deputy-surveyor of lands, with some few other +passengers. + +Lieutenant-governor King's second crop of Indian corn had been so +productive, that he was enabled to make an offer of sending five thousand +bushels of that article to this colony, if required. + +The peace and good order which universally prevailed at Norfolk Island +having rendered unnecessary the keeping together the settlers as a +militia, they had some time before the arrival of the _Francis_ returned +to their several avocations on their respective farms. + +Notwithstanding the ill success which had hitherto attended the +endeavours of the Irish convicts stationed at Toongabbie and Parramatta +to find a way from this country to China, a few of them were again hardy +enough to attempt effecting their escape, and getting thither in a small +boat, which they took from a settler, and with which they got out of the +harbour in the night of the 12th of this month. They had furnished +themselves with some provisions; but the wretchedness of their boat must +have ensured to them the same end which certainly befel Tarwood and his +companions, particularly as it blew a gale of wind the day succeeding +their departure. It was at first imagined that they would be heard of at +the Hawkesbury; but there could be little doubt of their having perished. + +From the settlement on the banks of that river the best reports continued +to be received from time to time: every where the settlers found a rich +black mould of several feet depth, and one man had in three months +planted and dug a crop of potatoes. The natives, however, had given them +such interruption, as induced a necessity for firing upon them, by which, +it was said, one man was killed. + +At Toongabbie, where the Indian corn was growing, their visits and their +depredations were so frequent and extensive, that the watchmen stationed +for the protection of the corn-grounds were obliged to fire on them, and +one party, considerable in number, after having been driven off, +returning directly to the plunder, was pursued by the watchmen for +several miles, when a contest ensued, in which the natives were worsted, +and three were left dead on the spot. The watchmen had so often come in +with accounts of this nature, that, apprehensive lest the present +transaction should not be credited, they brought in with them, as a +testimonial not to be doubted, the head of one of those whom they had +slain. With this witness to support them, they told many wonderful +circumstances of the pursuit and subsequent fight, which they stated to +have taken place at least fourteen miles from the settlement, and to have +been very desperately and obstinately sustained on the part of the +natives. It was remarked, however, that not one of the watchmen had +received the slightest injury, a circumstance that threw a shade over +their story, which, but for the production of the head, would have been +altogether disbelieved. + +Whatever might have been the truth, it is certain that a party of natives +appeared the following day about the corn grounds, but conducted +themselves with a great deal of caution, stationing one of their party +upon the stump of a tree which commanded an extensive view of the +cultivated grounds, and retreating the instant they perceived themselves +to be observed. + +From the quantities of husks and leaves of corn which were found +scattered about the dwelling places of these people, their depredations +this season must have been very extensive. + +At Sydney a large party of natives assembled for the purpose of burning +the body of Carradah, the native mentioned in the transactions of the +month of December last, by the name of Midjer Bool. He had been put to +death while asleep in the night by some people who were inimical to his +tribe; and the natives who witnessed the performance of the last rite +assured us, that when the murderers should be discovered several severe +contests would ensue. It was at this time that the rencounter between +Collins and Wyatt took place; and some other points of honour which +remained unsettled were then determined, not without much violence and +bloodshed, though no one was killed. + +Cropping the ground with wheat formed the general and most material +labour of this month. On the public account nearly four hundred acres were +so sown with that essential grain. At this time wheat bore the price of +twenty shillings a bushel. + +The crops of Indian corn in general turned out very productive. An +officer who held an allotment of an hundred acres near Parramatta, from +each acre of nineteen, on a light sandy soil, gathered fifty bushels of +shelled corn; and a patch of Caffre corn, growing in the like soil, +produced the same quantity per acre. This grain had been introduced into +our settlement from the Cape of Good Hope by Captain Paterson, and was +found to answer well for fattening of stock. No one having attempted to +separate the farinaceous part of the grain from the husk, which was of an +astringent quality, no judgment had been formed of its utility as a +flour; but some who had ground it and mixed the whole together into a +paste pronounced it to be equal to any preparation of oatmeal + +Wilkinson's grinding machine was set in motion this month. It was a +walking mill, upon a larger construction than that at Parramatta. The +diameter of the wheel in which the men walked was twenty-two feet, and it +required six people to work it. Those who had been in both mills (this +and Buffin's, which was worked by capstan-bars and nine men) gave the +preference to the latter; and in a few days it was found to merit it; +for, from the variety and number of the wheels in Wilkinson's machinery, +something was constantly wrong about it. Finding, after a fair trial, +that it was imperfect, it was taken to pieces; and Buffin was employed to +replace it by another mill upon the same principle as that which he had +himself constructed; and Wilkinson returned to Parramatta. + +An inflammation of the eyes appeared to be a disorder generally prevalent +among all descriptions of people at this time. It raged at first among +children; but when got into a house, hardly any person in it escaped the +complaint. It was accounted for by the variable and unsettled weather +which we had during this month. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + + +The _William_ sails +Cultivation +Excursion in search of a river +A storeship arrives +Captain Bampton +Full ration +The _Britannia_, _Speedy_, and _Halcyon_ arrive +The _Indispensable_ and _Halcyon_ sail +The _Fanny_ arrives from Bombay +Information +Two convicts executed +The _Hope_ sails + + +May.] Early in this month the _William_ sailed on her fishing voyage to +the coast of Peru. Mr. Folger, her master, purposed trying what success +might be met with on this coast for a few weeks, it being the wish of his +owners in consequence of the reports brought home by some of the whaling +ships which were here in 1792. If he should be at all fortunate, he +intended to return to this port with the account; it being the anxious +wish of every officer in the colony to hear of any thing that was likely +to make a return to the mother country for the immense sums which must +annually have been expended on this settlement. + +Some dispatches and returns being sent by this ship, it appeared, that +here and at Norfolk Island were existing, at the latter end of last +month, four thousand four hundred and fourteen persons of all +descriptions, men, women, and children. Estimating the daily expense of +these at two shillings a head, (a fair calculation, when every article of +provisions, clothing, stores, freight of ships, allowance for civil and +military establishments, damaged cargoes, etc., etc. was considered,) it +will be found to amount annually to the sum of one hundred and sixty-one +thousand one hundred and eleven pounds; an expense that called loudly for +every exertion toward easing the mother country of such a burden, by +doing away our dependence on her for many of the above articles, or by +affording a return that would be equal to some part of this expence. + +Separated as we were from Europe, constantly liable to accidents +interrupting our supplies, which it might not always be possible to guard +against or foresee, how cheering, how grateful was it to every thinking +mind among us, to observe the rapid strides we were making toward that +desirable independence! The progress made in the cultivation of the +country insured the consequent increase of live stock; and it must be +remembered, that the colony had been supplied with no other grain than +that raised within itself since the 16th day of last December. + +The permission given to officers to hold lands had operated powerfully in +favour of the colony. They were liberal in their employment of people to +cultivate those lands; and such had been their exertions, that it +appeared by a survey taken in the last month by Mr. Alt, that nine +hundred and eighty-two acres had been cleared by them since that +permission had been received. Mr. Alt reported, that there had been +cleared, since Governor Phillip's departure in December 1792, two +thousand nine hundred and sixty-two acres and one quarter; which, added +to seventeen hundred and three acres and a half that were cleared at that +time, made a total of four thousand six hundred and sixty-five acres and +three quarters of cleared ground in this territory. It must be farther +remarked in favour of the gentlemen holding ground, that in the short +period of fifteen months*, the officers, civil and military, had cleared +more than half the whole quantity of ground that had been cleared by +government and the settlers, from the establishment of the colony to the +date of the governor's departure. The works of government, however +vigilantly attended to, always proceeded slowly, and never with that +spirit and energy that are created by interest. + +[* The officers did not begin to open ground until February 1793.] + +The people who were to labour for the public had in general been but +scantily fed, and this operated against any great exertions. The settlers +were not fed any better; and though they had an interest in working with +spirit, yet they always looked to be supplied from the public stores +beyond the time allowed them; and were consequently careless, indolent, +and poor: while the officer, from the hour he received his grant, applied +himself with activity to derive a benefit from it; and it was not too +much to say, that the independence of the colony was more likely to be +attained through their exertions, than by any other means. To encourage +them, therefore, was absolutely necessary to accelerate and promote the +prosperity of the colony. + +One woman and six men, whose terms of transportation had expired, were +permitted to quit the colony in the _William_. + +Some natives, who had observed the increasing number of the settlers on +the banks of the Hawkesbury, and had learned that we were solicitous to +discover other fresh-water rivers, for the purpose of forming +settlements, assured us, that at no very great distance from Botany Bay, +there was a river of fresh water which ran into the sea. As very little +of the coast to the southward was known, it was determined to send a +small party in that direction, with provisions for a few days, it not +being improbable that, in exploring the country, a river might be found +which had hitherto escaped the observation of ships running along the +coast. + +Two people of sufficient judgment and discretion for the purpose being +found among the military, they set off from the south shore of Botany Bay +on the 14th, well armed, and furnished with provisions for a week. They +were accompanied by a young man, a native, as a guide, who professed a +knowledge of the country, and named the place where the fresh water would +be found to run. Great expectations were formed of this excursion, from +the confidence with which the native repeatedly asserted the existence of +a freshwater river; on the 20th, however, the party returned, with an +account, that the native had soon walked beyond his own knowledge of the +country, and trusted to them to bring him safe back; that having +penetrated about twenty miles to the southward of Botany Bay, they came +to a large inlet of the sea, which formed a small harbour; the head of +this they rounded, without discovering any river of fresh water near it. +The country they described as high and rocky in the neighbourhood of the +harbour, which, on afterwards looking into the chart, was supposed to be +somewhere about Red Point. The native returned with the soldiers as +cheerfully and as well pleased as if he had led them to the banks of the +first river in the world. + +An excursion of another nature was at this time framing among some +discontented Irish convicts, and was on the point of being carried into +execution when discovered. Among those who came out in the last ships +from Ireland was a convict who had been an attorney in that kingdom, and +who was weak enough to form the hazardous scheme with several others of +seizing a long-boat, in which they were to endeavour to reach Batavia. A +quantity of provisions, water-casks, sails, and other necessary articles, +were provided, and were found, at the time of making the discovery, in +the house of the principal. These people had much greater reason to +rejoice at, than to regret, the discovery of their plot; for the wind, on +the day succeeding the night in which they were to have gone off, blew a +heavy gale; and, as there were no professed seamen in the party, it was +more than probable that the boat would have been lost. The greatest evil +that attended these desertions was the loss of the boats which were taken +off, for the colony could not sustain much injury by the absence of a few +wretches who were too idle to labour, and who must be constantly whispering +their own discontents among the other convicts. + +On the 24th of this month we had the satisfaction of seeing the +_Indispensable_, a storeship, anchor in the cove from England, with a +cargo consisting principally of provisions for the colony. We understood +that she was the first of six or seven ships which were all to bring out +stores and provisions, and which, if no accident happened in the passage, +might be expected to arrive in the course of two months. The supply of +clothing and provisions intended to be conveyed by them, together with +what had been received by the _William_, was calculated for the +consumption of a twelvemonth. The quantity which now arrived in the +_Indispensable_ formed a supply of flour for twelve weeks, beef for four +ditto, pork for four ditto, and of peas for fourteen ditto. She sailed +from Spithead the 26th of last December, touched at Teneriffe and at the +Cape of Good Hope, from which place she sailed on the 30th of March last, +and made the South Cape of this country the 17th of this month. Between +the Cape of Good Hope and this port, the master stated that he found the +weather in general very rough, and the prevailing winds to have blown +from WNW to SW. + +At the Cape of Good Hope Mr. Wilkinson met with the _Chesterfield_, which +sailed hence in April 1793 with the _Shah Hormuzear_; and one of her +people, who had been formerly a convict in this country, wishing to +return to it, we now collected from him some information respecting +Mr. Bampton's voyage. He told us, that the two ships were six months in +their passage hence to Timor, owing to the difficulty which they met with +in the navigation of the straits between New Holland and New Guinea. On one +of the islands in these straits they lost a boat, which had been sent on +shore to trade with the natives. In this boat went, never to return +(according to this person's account), Captain Hill; Mr. Carter, a friend +of Mr. Bampton's;--Shaw, the first mate of the _Chesterfield_;--Ascott, who +had been a convict here, and who had distinguished himself at the time +the _Sirius_ was lost; and two or three black people belonging to the +_Shah Hormuzear_. It was conjectured that they were, immediately after +landing, murdered by the natives, as the people of a boat that was sent +some hours after to look for them found only the clothes which they had +on when they left the ship, and a lantern and tinder-box which they had +taken with them; the clothes were torn into rags. At a fire they found +three hands; but they were so black and disfigured by being burnt, that +the people could not ascertain whether they had belonged to black or +white men. If the account of this man might be credited, the end of these +unfortunate gentlemen and their companions must have been truly horrid +and deplorable; it was however certain that the ships sailed from the +island without them, and their fate was left in uncertainty, though every +possible effort to discover them was made by Mr. Bampton. + +At Timor Mr. Bampton took in a very valuable freight of sandal wood, with +which he proceeded to Batavia; and when the _Chesterfield_ parted +company, he hoped soon to return to this country. + +In consequence of the supplies received by the _Indispensable_, the full +ration of flour was directed to be issued, and the commissary was ordered +not to receive for the present any more Indian corn that might be brought +to the public stores for sale. The following weekly ration was +established until further orders, and commenced on the 27th: + +Flour eight pounds; beef seven pounds or pork four pounds; Indian corn +three pints, in lieu of peas. + +The whole quantity of Indian corn purchased by the commissary on account +of Government from settlers and others amounted to six thousand one +hundred and sixty-three bushels and a quarter, which, taken at five +shillings per bushel, came to the sum of £1540 16s 3d. + +Toward the latter end of this month, Wilkinson, the millwright, was +drowned in a pond in the neighbourhood of the Hawkesbury River. He had +been there on a Sunday with some of the settlers to shoot ducks, and +getting entangled with the weeds in the pond was drowned, though a good +swimmer; thus untimely perishing before he could reap any reward from his +industry and abilities. + +Several people still continued to complain of sore eyes, but the disorder +was disappearing fast. + +June.] The signal for a sail was made in the morning of the first of +June, and was conjectured to be for one of the ships expected to arrive +from England; but in a few hours word was brought that the _Britannia_ was +safe within the harbour. This arrival gave general satisfaction, as many +doubts about her return had been created by some accounts which the +master of the _Indispensable_ had heard at the Cape of Good Hope, of the +Bay of Bengal being full of French privateers. + +On Mr. Raven's arrival at the settlement, we learned that he had been +forced to go to Batavia instead of Bengal, having been attacked in the +Straits of Malacca by a fleet of piratical Proas, which engaged him for +six hours, and from whom he might have found some difficulty to escape, +had he not fortunately killed the captain of the one which was nearest to +the _Britannia_ when in the act of making preparations for boarding him. +At Batavia he was informed that his passage to Bengal was very +precarious, from the number of French privateers which infested the bay, +as well as the west coast of Sumatra, several vessels having arrived at +Batavia which had been chased by them. Mr. Raven, therefore, determined +to load the _Britannia_ at Batavia, and, after some necessary +arrangements with the governor-general and council, purchased the +following cargo at the annexed prices for the settlements in New South +Wales, viz + + Rix dollars Stivers + +250 Casks of beef--111,264¼ lbs. at 9 stivers* 20,862 2 +250 Casks of pork--83,865½ lbs. at ditto 15,724 37 +500 Pecols** of sugar, at 7 rix dollars + 27 stivers per Pecol 3,781 12 +35 Coyangs*** of rice, at 55 rix dollars per Coyang 1,925 0 + +[* Forty-eight stivers the rix dollar.] + +[** Pecol, one hundred and thirty-three pounds English.] + +[*** Coyang, three thousand three hundred and seventy-five pounds Dutch.] + +To these must be added for extra boat hire. Hire of twenty +black people for twenty days, and commission +on the purchase at 2½ per cent. 1493 0 + ---------- +Rix dollars 42,786 3 + +The bills drawn on the treasury for this cargo bearing +a premium of 16 per cent, there was deducted from +the whole 6,040 0 +Which reduced the total amount to rix dollars 37,746 3 + + £ s d +Or in sterling money of Great Britain 7,549 4 3 +To which the hire* of the ship being added, 2,210 7 7 + ------------ +The whole of the expense amounted to £9,759 11 10 + +[* She was chartered at fourteen shillings and sixpence per ton per +month, and to be paid for two hundred and ninety-six tons, her registered +measurement.] + +Captain Nepean, who left this place as a passenger in the _Britannia_, +and took with him some dispatches for government, and the private letters +of the officers, left Batavia on the 17th of February last in the _Prince +William Henry_, a fast sailing schooner, bound direct for England. + +The _Britannia_ arrived at Batavia on the 11th of February, and sailed +for this country on the 10th of April following. While she lay at +Batavia, the season was extremely unhealthy, and some of her people fell +victims to the well-known insalubrity of the climate. + +At Batavia Mr. Raven learned that the _Shah Hormuzear_ sailed from thence +for Bombay three months before he arrived there; and the report we had +heard of the disaster which befel the boat and people from that ship, in +the passage through the Straits between this country and New Guinea, was +confirmed at Batavia. As, however, Mr. Bampton had not since been heard +of, it was more than probable he had fallen a prize to some of the +privateers which were to be met with in those seas. + +His Majesty's birthday did not pass without that distinction which we +all, as Englishmen devoted to our sovereign, had infinite pleasure in +showing it. + +On the 8th the _Speedy_, a storeship commanded by Mr. Melville, who was +here in 1791 in the _Britannia_ whaler, anchored in the cove from +England, with a cargo of stores and provisions for the colony, and +clothing for the New South Wales corps. Mr. Melville sailed a few hours +before the _Indispensable_, and touched at Rio de Janeiro, whence he had +a long passage of several weeks. He made the south cape of this country +the 2nd instant; and arrived here in a leaky and weak condition. + +Good fortune befriended us in the passage of this ship; for she ran +safely through every part where there could be danger, without a gun on +board to defend her from an enemy if she should have met with any. + +On the 14th, a few hours after the signal was made at the South Head, +arrived in the harbour the _Halcyon_, a ship from Rhode Island, commanded +by Mr. Benjamin Page, who was here in the ship _Hope_ at the close of the +year 1792, and who had ventured here again with a cargo of provisions and +spirits* on speculation. + +[* Eight hundred barrels of beef and pork, American cured. About five +thousand gallons of spirits; a small quantity of tobacco, tea, nankeens, +etc.] + +Mr. Page made his passage from Rhode Island in one hundred and fifteen +days, and without touching at any port. His run from the south cape of +New Holland was only five days. The ship he built himself at Providence, +after his return from China in the _Hope_. That ship was only two months +in her voyage from hence to Canton, and Mr. Page did not see any land +until he made the Island of Tinian. This place he now represented as well +calculated to furnish a freight of cattle for this colony. + +Of the convicts that Mr. Page was permitted to ship at this port in his +last voyage, William Murphy behaved so extremely ill, having more than +once endeavoured to excite the crew to mutiny, that at St Helena he +delivered him to the captain of his Majesty's ship _Powerful_, whom he +found there. This proved in the event a circumstance of great good +fortune to Murphy, for, being directly rated on that ship's books (his +abilities as a sail-maker entitling him to that situation), and a French +East Indiamen being captured by the _Powerful_ a very few hours after, he +became entitled to a seaman's share of the produce of her cargo, which +was a very valuable one. + +Bateman he carried on with him to Rhode Island, where he married, but had +more than once exhibited symptoms of returning to habits which he had not +forgotten, and which would soon bring him to disgrace in his new +situation. Shepherd he had put on board a ship bound to Ostend, and spoke +well of his conduct. + +Captain Page at first thought he had come to a bad market with his +provisions; for the day was arrived when we found ourselves enabled to +say that we were not in want of any casual supplies; but by the end of +the month he declared he had not made a bad voyage; his spirits and +provisions were nearly all purchased by individuals; and what he at first +thought an unprofitable circumstance to him (the sight of four ships at +anchor in the cove) proved favourable, for the most of his provisions +were disposed of among the shipping. The whole of the spirits were +purchased by the officers of the settlement and of the garrison at the +rate of six shillings per gallon; and afforded, together with what had +been received from Batavia by the _Britannia_, a large and comfortable +supply of that article for a considerable time. + +It might be safely pronounced, that the colony never wore so favourable +an appearance as at this period: our public stores filled with wholesome +provisions; five ships on the seas with additional supplies; and wheat +enough in the ground to promise the realizing of many a golden dream; a +rapidly increasing stock; a country gradually opening, and improving +every where upon us as it opened; with a spirit universally prevalent of +cultivating it. + +The ships which had lately arrived from England were fraught with the +dismal and ill-founded accounts, which through some evil design continued +to be insidiously propagated, of the wretched unprofitable soil of New +South Wales. It was hoped, however, that when the present appearance and +state of the colony should reach England, every attempt to mislead the +public would cease; and such encouragement be held out as would induce +individuals to settle in the country. + +In the _Halcyon_ arrived an American gentleman (Mr. W. Megee) in the +character of supercargo. This person, on seeing the Toongabbie hills +covered with a most promising crop of wheat, declared that be had never +seen better in America, even at Rhode island, the garden of America; and +on being shown some Indian corn of last year's growth, gave it as his +opinion, that we wanted nothing but large herds of grazing cattle, to be +a thriving, prosperous, and great colony, possessing within itself all +the essential articles of life. + +We ourselves had long been impressed with an idea of the advantage that +grazing cattle would give to the country; every possible care was taken +of the little that was in it, and all means used to promote its increase. +One step toward this was the keeping up the price; an article by which +the proprietor was always certain of making a great profit, was as +certain to be taken the greatest care of, every individual possessing +stock found it his interest to preserve it in the highest order, that it +might be deemed equal to the general high value which stock bore. + +By an account which was taken at the end of this month of the live stock +in the colony, the following numbers appeared to be in the possession of +government and of individuals, viz. + +HORSES + Mares Stallions +Government stock 6 6 +Private stock 5 3 +Total 11 9 + +ASSES + Male Female +Government stock - - +Private stock 2 1 +Total 2 1 + +OXEN + Bulls Cows +Government stock 14 18 +Private stock 1 7 +Total 15 25 + +SHEEP + Ewes Rams and Wethers +Government stock 59 49 +Private stock 257 161 +Total 316 210 + +GOATS + Male Female +Government stock 3 10 +Private stock 167 342 +Total 170 352 + +TOTAL +Government stock 165 +Private stock 946 +Total 1111 + +In this account the hogs (from their being so disposed as not easily to +be ascertained) were not included; but they were supposed to amount to +several hundreds. + +As a reserve in time of great distress, when alone it could be made use +of, this stock was, when compared with our numbers, no very great +dependance; but it was every thing as a stock to breed from, and well +deserving of attention to cherish it and promote its increase. + +On the last day of the month the _Francis_ schooner sailed for Norfolk +Island, whither she was sent merely to apprise Mr. King that the +_Daedalus_ would be dispatched to him immediately after the return of the +schooner, with such stores and provisions as he should require. + +During this month the house of the Rev. Mr. Johnson was broken into at +night, and robbed of sugar, coffee, arrack, Russia sheeting, and other +articles to a large amount. There was little doubt but that some of his +own people had either committed the burglary, or had given information to +others how and when it might be committed, as the part of the house +broken into was that which Mr. Johnson had applied to a store-room. +Several people were taken up, and some of the articles found concealed in +the woods; but those who stole them had address enough to avoid discovery. + +Very shortly after this a most daring burglary was committed in a house +in the old marine quarters occupied by Mr. Kent, who arrived here in the +_Boddingtons_ from Ireland in August last, as agent of convicts on the +part of Government. He had secured the door with a padlock, and after +sun-set had gone up to one of the officers' barracks, where he was +spending the evening, when, before nine o'clock, word was brought him +that his house had been broken into. On going down, he found that the +staple, which was a very strong one, had been forced out, and a large +chest that would require four men to convey it out of the door had been +taken off. It contained a great quantity of wearing apparel, money, +bills, and letters; but, though the theft could not have been long +committed, all the search that twenty or thirty people made for some +hours that night was ineffectual, no trace being seen of it, and nothing +found but a large caulking-iron, with which it was supposed the staple +was wrenched off. The chest was found the next morning behind a barrack +(which had lately been fitted up as a place of divine worship for the +accommodation of the chaplain of the New South Wales corps), and some of +the wearing apparel was brought in from the woods; but Mr. Kent's loss +was very little diminished by this recovery. + +In addition to these burglaries a highway robbery was committed on the +supercargo of the _American_, who was attacked in the dusk of the evening, +close by one of the barracks, by two men, who, in the moment of striking +him, seized hold of his watch, and with a violent jerk wrenched off the +seals, the watch falling on the ground. The place was, however, too +public to risk staying to look for it; and the owner was fortunate enough +to find it himself, but the seals, which were of gold, were carried off. + +All these offences against peace and good order were to be attributed to +the horrid vice of gaming, which was still pursued in this place, and +which, from the management and address of those who practised it, could +not be prevented. The persons of the peace-officers were well known to +them; and, that they might never be detected in the fact, one of the +party, commonly the greatest loser, was always stationed on the look-out +to alarm in time. + +During this month the millwright Buffin completed the mill which he was +constructing in the room of Wilkinson's; and, on its being worked, it was +found to answer still better than the first which he made. The body of +Wilkinson, after being dragged for several days in vain, was found at +last floating on the surface of the pond where he lost his life, and +being brought into Parramatta was there decently interred. + +Of the few who died in this month was one, a male convict, of the name of +Peter Gillies, who came out to this country in the _Neptune_ transport in +the year 1791. His death took place on the morning of the arrival of the +_Speedy_ from England, by which ship a letter was received addressed to +him, admonishing him of the uncertainty of life, recommending him early +to begin to think of the end of it, and acquainting him of the death of +his wife, a child, and two other near relations. He had ceased to breathe +before this unwelcome intelligence reached the hospital. + +July.] The signal for a sail was made at the South Head between seven and +eight o'clock in the morning of the 5th of July; and soon after the +_Hope_, an American ship from Rhode Island, anchored in the cove, having +on board a cargo of salted provisions and spirits on speculation. This +ship was here before with Captain Page, the commander of the _Halcyon_, +and now came in the same employ, the house of Brown and Francis at +Providence. Brown was the uncle of Page, between whom there being some +misunderstanding, Page built and freighted the _Halcyon_ after the +departure of the _Hope_, whose master being ordered to touch at the +Falkland's Islands, Page determined to precede him, in his arrival at +this country, and have the first of the market, in which he succeeded. + +This proved a great disappointment to the master of the _Hope_, who +indeed sold his spirits at three shillings and sixpence per gallon; but +his salted provisions no one would purchase. + +The _Hope_ was seven days in her passage from the South Cape to this +port; and the master said, that off Cape St. George he met with a current +which carried him during the space of three days a degree to the +southward each day. + +On the 8th the _Indispensable_ and _Halcyon_ sailed on their respective +voyages, the former for Bengal, and the latter for Canton. The +_Indispensable_ was a large stout ship, provided with a letter of marque, +well manned and armed; and had been captured from the French at the +beginning of the present war. The master was permitted to receive on +board several persons from the colony, on his representing that he was +short of hands to navigate his ship; and two convicts found means to make +their escape from the settlement. A third was discovered concealed on +board for the same purpose, and being brought on shore, it appeared that +the coxswain of the lieutenant-governor's boat had assisted him in his +attempt; for which he was punished and turned out of the boat, such a +breach of trust deserving and requiring to be particularly noticed. + +By the _Halcyon_ were sent some dispatches to be forwarded by the way of +China to his Majesty's secretary of state for the home department. The +day following the departure of these two ships, the _Fancy_ snow arrived +from Bombay, having on board a small quantity of rice and dholl*, +intended as part of the contract entered into by Captain Bampton, who, we +now learned, had arrived safe at Bombay, after a long passage from this +place of between six and seven months. This vessel was commanded by +Mr. Thomas Edgar Dell, formerly chief mate of Mr. Bampton's ship the +_Shah Hormuzear_, from whom the following information was received. + +[* Thirty-eight tons of rice, and thirty-eight tons of dholl. Captain +Bampton also sent twenty-four bags of seed-wheat.] + +The ships _Shah Hormuzear_ and _Chesterfield_ sailed, as before related, +from Norfolk Island on the 27th of May 1793. On the 2nd of the following +month a reef was seen in latitude 19 degrees 28 minutes S and longitude +158 degrees 32 minutes 15 seconds East. On the 1st of July, being then in +latitude 9 degrees 39 minutes 30 seconds S and longitude 142 degrees 59 +minutes 15 seconds East of Greenwich, they fell in with an island which +obtained the name of Tate's Island, and at which they had the misfortune +to stave a boat as before mentioned. The circumstances of the murder of +Captain Hill, Mr. Carter, Shaw the first mate of the _Chesterfield_, and +the boat's crew, were related by Mr. Dell. It appeared from his account, +that they had landed to search for fresh water, and purposed remaining +one night on the island to barter with the natives, and procure emu +feathers from them. The day after they were put on shore the weather +changed, coming on to blow hard; the ship was driven to leeward of the +bay in which they landed; and it was not until the third day that it was +possible to send a boat after them. Mr. Dell himself was employed on this +occasion, and returned with the melancholy account of his being unable to +discover their lost companions. An armed force was then sent on shore, +but succeeded only in burning the huts and inclosures of the natives. At +a fire they found some incontestable proofs that their friends could not +be living; of three human hands which they took up, one, by some +particular marks, was positively thought by Mr. Dell to have belonged to +Mr. Carter; their great coats were also found with the buttons cut off, a +tinderbox, a lantern, a tomahawk, and other articles from the boat, were +also found; but though they rowed entirely round the island, looking into +every cove or creek, the boat could not be seen. Mr. Dell was, if +possible, to procure two prisoners; but he could not succeed. In the +intercourse, however, which he had with them, they gave him to understand +by signs, that they had killed all who were in the boat, except two: at +least, so Mr. Dell thought; but if it was so, nothing could be hoped from +the exception, nor could any other conclusion be formed, than that they +were reserved perhaps for more deliberate torture and a more horrid end. + +This island was described as abounding with the red sweet potato, sugar +cane, plantains, bamboo, cocoa trees, and mangroves. The natives appeared +stout, and were in height from five feet eight to six feet two inches; +their colour dark, and their language harsh and disagreeable. The weapons +which were seen were spears, lances made of a hard black wood, and clubs +about four feet in length. They lived in huts resembling a hay-cock, with +a pole driven through the middle, formed of long grass and the leaves of +the cocoa tree. These huts might contain six or eight persons each, and +were inclosed with a fence of bamboo. In a corner of some of the huts +which they entered, they perceived a wooden image, intended to resemble a +man; in others the figure of a bird, very rudely carved, daubed with red, +and curiously decorated with the feathers of the emu. Over these images +were suspended from the roof several strings of human hands, each string +having five or six hands on it. In some they found small piles of human +skulls; and in one, in which there was a much larger pile of skulls than +in any other that they had visited, they observed some gum burning before +a wooden image. + +This island was supposed to be about eight miles in length, five in +breadth, and fifteen in circumference; a coral reef seemed to guard it +from all approach, except on the north-west part which formed a bay, +where the ship anchored in thirteen fathoms water. Fresh water was seen +only in one place. + +Mr. Bampton did not arrive at Timor until the 11th of September, having +been detained in the straits by a most difficult and dangerous +navigation. By this passage he had an opportunity of discovering that the +straits which were named after Torres, and supposed to have been passed +first by him in the year 1606, and afterwards by Green in 1722, could +never have existed; for Mr. Bampton now observed, that New Guinea +extended ninety miles to the southward of this supposed track. + +Of the two convicts taken from hence by the _Shah Hormuzear_, John Ascot +was killed by the natives with Captain Hill, and Catharine Pryor, Ascot's +wife, died two days before the ship got to Batavia, of a spotted fever, the +effect of frequent inebriety while at Timor. Ascot was the young man +whose activity prevented the _Sirius_, with the stores and provisions on +board, from being burnt the night after she was wrecked off Norfolk +Island, and thereby saved that settlement from feeling absolute want at +that time. + +Captain Dell was full three months in his passage from Bombay; during the +latter part of which time the people on board suffered great distress from +a shortness of water and fuel. Out of seventy-five persons, mostly +Lascars, with whom he sailed, nine died, and a fever existed among those +who remained on his arrival. + +The people who had broken into Mr. Kent's house were so daring as to send +to that gentleman a letter in miserable verse, containing some invectives +against one Bevan, a prisoner in confinement for a burglary, and a woman +who they supposed had given information of the people that broke into the +clergyman's storeroom, which affair they took upon themselves. The letter +was accompanied by a pocket-book belonging to Mr. Kent, and some of his +papers; but none of the bills which were in it when it was stolen were +returned. + +The insolence of this proceeding, and the frequency of those nocturnal +visits, surprised and put all persons on their guard; but that the enemy +was within our own doors there was no doubt. An honest servant was in this +country an invaluable treasure; we were compelled to take them as chance +should direct from among the common herd; and if any one was found who +had some remains of principle in him, he was sure to be soon corrupted by +the vice which every where surrounded him. + +It became necessary at length for the criminal justice of the settlement +to interfere, and three convicts were tried for burglaries. John Bevan, +though tried on two charges, was acquitted from a want of evidence, and +others, John Flemming and Archibald McDonald, were convicted. The latter +of these two had broken into a soldier's hut the night before the court +sat, and at a time when it was publicly known in the settlement that it +was to sit for the trial of such offenders as might be brought before it. +The state of the colony called loudly for their punishment, and they were +both executed the third day after their conviction. It was afterwards said, +that McDonald was one of the party who broke into the clergyman's house. + +Soon after these executions, Caesar*, still incorrigible, took up again +his former practice of subsisting in the woods by plundering the farms +and huts at the outskirts of the towns. He was soon taken; but on his +being punished, and that with some severity, he declared with exultation +and contempt, that 'all that would not make him better.' + +[* See Chapter VII, from "Toward the end of the month, some convicts +having reported . . ." _et seq_.] + +The _Hope_ sailed this month for Canton, the master being suffered to +take with him one man, John Pardo Watts, who had served his time of +transportation. + +The _Britannia_ was also hired in this month by some of the officers of +the civil and military departments, to procure them cattle and other +articles at the Cape of Good Hope. + +During this month a building, consisting of four cells for prisoners, was +added to the guard-house on the east side of the cove. This had long been +greatly wanted; and, the whole being now inclosed with a strong high +paling, some advantage was expected to be derived from confinement adopted +only as a punishment. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + + +The _Speedy_ sails and returns +Excursion to the western mountains +The _Francis_ returns from Norfolk Island +Corn bills not paid +The _Britannia_ sails for the Cape, and the _Speedy_ on her fishing voyage +Notification respecting the corn bills +The _Resolution_ and _Salamander_ arrive from England +Irish prisoners troublesome +Gales of wind +Natives +_Daedalus_ sails for Norfolk Island +Emancipations +_The Fancy_ sails +A death +Bevan executed +A settler murdered at Parramatta +The _Mercury_ arrives +Spanish ships +Emancipation +Settlers and natives +Civil Court +The _Surprize_ arrives +Deaths +_Resolution_ and _Salamander_ sail +Transactions +The _Daedalus_ returns from Norfolk Island +The _Mercury_ sails for America +The Lieutenant-Governor leaves the Settlement +The _Daedalus_ sails for England, and the _Surprize_ for Bengal +The Experiment arrives +Captain Paterson assumes the government _pro tempore_ +Ration +Deaths in 1794 + + +August.] Mr. Melville sailed on his intended fishing voyage on the second +of this month. He talked of returning in about fourteen days, during +which time he meant to visit Jervis and Bateman Bays to the southward, as +well as to try once more what fortune might attend him as a whaler upon +the coast. He returned, however, on the 8th, without having seen a fish, +or visited either of the bays, having experienced a constant and heavy +gale of wind at ESE since he left the port, which forced him to sail under +a reefed foresail during the whole of its continuance. + +In the evening of the day on which he sailed hence, the people at the +South Head made the signal for a sail; but it was imagined, that as they +had lost sight of the _Speedy_ in the morning, they had perhaps seen her +again in the evening on another tack, as the wind had shifted. But when +this was mentioned to Mr. Melville at his return, he said that it was not +possible for the _Speedy_ to have been seen in the evening of the day she +sailed, as she stood right off the land; and he added, that he himself, +in the close of the evening, imagined he saw a sail off Botany Bay. No +ship, however, making her appearance during the month, it was generally +supposed that the people at the Look-out must have been mistaken. + +A passage over the inland mountains which form the western boundary of +the county of Cumberland being deemed practicable, Henry Hacking, a +seaman (formerly quarter-master in the _Sirius_, but left here from the +_Royal Admiral_), set off on the 20th of the month, with a companion or +two, determined to try it. On the 27th they returned with an account of +their having penetrated twenty miles further inland than any other +European. Hacking reported, that on reaching the mountains, his further +route lay over eighteen or nineteen ridges of high rocks; and that when +he halted, determined to return, he still had in view before him the same +wild and inaccessible kind of country. The summits of these rocks were of +iron stone, large fragments of which had covered the intermediate +valleys, in which water of a reddish tinge was observed to stagnate in +many spots. The soil midway up the ascent appeared good, and afforded +shelter and food for several red kangaroos. The ground every where bore +signs of being frequently visited by high winds; for on the sides exposed +to the south and south-east it was strewed with the trunks of large +trees. They saw but one native in this desolate region, and he fled from +their approach, preferring the enjoyments of his rocks and woods, with +liberty, to any intercourse with them. These hills appearing to extend +very far to the northward an impassable barrier seemed fixed to the +westward; and southward, and little hope was left of our extending +cultivation beyond the limits of the county of Cumberland. + +On the following day the _Francis_ schooner returned from Norfolk Island, +having been absent about eight weeks and three days. Her passage thither +was made in ten days, and her return in thirty-eight days, having met +with very bad weather. + +From Mr. King we learned that his harvest had been prodigiously +productive. He had purchased from the first crops which the settlers +brought to market upwards of eleven thousand bushels of maize; and bills +for the amount were drawn by him in favour of the respective settlers; +but, requiring the sanction of the lieutenant-governor, they were now +sent to Port Jackson. Mr. King had been partly induced to make this +provisional kind of purchase, under an idea that the corn would be +acceptable at Port Jackson, and also in compliance with the conditions on +which the settlers had received their respective allotments under the +regulations of Governor Phillip; that is to say, that their overplus +grain and stock should be purchased from them at a fair market price. +Being, however, well stocked with that article already, the +lieutenant-governor did not think himself justifiable in putting the +crown to so great an expense (nearly three thousand pounds sterling) and +declined accepting the bills. + +Had we been in want of maize, Mr. King could have supplied us with twenty +thousand bushels of it, much of which must now inevitably perish, unless +the settlers would, agreeably to a notification which the governor +intended to send them by the first opportunity, receive their corn again +from the public stores. + +Mr. King had the satisfaction to write that every thing went on well in +his little island, excepting that some discontent appeared among the +marine settlers, and some others, on account of his not purchasing their +second crops of corn. As some proof of the existence of this +dissatisfaction, one marine settler and three others arrived in the +schooner, who had given up their farms and entered into the New South +Wales corps; and it was reported that most of the marine settlers +intended to follow their example. + +This circumstance naturally gave rise to an inquiry, what would be the +consequence if ever Government should, from farming on their own account, +raise a quantity of wheat and maize sufficient for the consumption of +those in the different settlements who were victualled by the crown. If +such a system should be adopted, the settler would be deprived of a +market for his overplus grain, would find himself cut off from the means +of purchasing any of those comforts which his family must inevitably +require, and would certainly quit a country that merely held out to him a +daily subsistence; as he would look, if he was ordinarily wise, for +something beyond that. It might be said, that the settler would raise +stock for the public; but government would do the same, and so prevent +him from every chance of providing for a family beyond the present day. + +As it was desirable that those settlers who had become such from convicts +should remain in this country, the only inducement they could have would +be that of raising to themselves a comfortable independence for the +winter of their own lives and the summer of their progeny. Government +must therefore, to encourage the settler, let him be the farmer, and be +itself the purchaser. The Government can always fix its own price; and +the settler will be satisfied if he can procure himself the comforts he +finds requisite, and lay by a portion of his emoluments for that day when +he can no longer till the field with the labour of his own hands. With +this encouragement and prospect, New South Wales would hold out a most +promising field for the industrious; and might even do more: it might +prove a valuable resource and acceptable asylum for many broken and +reduced families, who, for want of it, become through misfortunes +chargeable to their respective parishes. + +Notwithstanding the weather was unfavourable during the whole of this +month, the wheat every where looked well, particularly at the settlement +near the Hawkesbury; the distance to which place had lately been +ascertained by an officer who walked thither from Sydney in two minutes +less than eight hours. He computed the distance to be thirty-two miles. + +The weather during the whole of this month was very unpleasant and +turbulent. Much rain, and the wind strong at south, marked by far the +greatest part of it. On the 25th, the hot land-wind visited us for the +first time this season, blowing until evening with much violence, when it +was succeeded (as usually happened after so hot a day) by the wind at +south. + +September.] On the 1st of September the _Britannia_ sailed for the Cape +of Good Hope, on a second voyage of speculation for some of the civil and +military officers of the settlement. In her went, with dispatches, Mr. +David Wake Bell, and Mr. Richard Kent (gentlemen who arrived here in the +_Boddingtons_ and _Sugar Cane_ transports, charged with the +superintendance and medical care of the convicts from Ireland). The +_Speedy_ also sailed on her fishing voyage, the master intending not to +consume any longer time in an unsuccessful trial of this coast. Several +persons were permitted to take their passage in these ships; among +others, Richard Blount, for whom a free pardon had some time since been +received from the secretary of state's office. + +Soon after the departure of these ships, the lieutenant-governor, having +previously transmitted with his other dispatches an account of the +transaction to the secretary of state, thought it necessary to issue a +public order, calculated to impress on the minds of those settlers and +others at Norfolk Island who might think themselves aggrieved by his late +determination of not ordering payment to be made for the corn purchased +of them by Lieutenant-governor King, a conviction that although he should +on all occasions be ready to adopt any plan which the lieutenant-governor +might devise for the accommodation or advantage of the inhabitants +at Norfolk Island, yet in this business he made objections, because he +did not consider himself authorised to ratify the agreement. + +He proposed to those who held the bills to take back their corn; or, if +they preferred leaving it in the public stores until such time as an +answer could be received from the secretary of state, he assured them +that they might depend on the earliest communication of whatever might be +his decision; and that if such decision should be to refuse the payment +of the bills, he promised that grain should be returned equal in quantity +and quality to what had been received from them.* + +[* Governor Hunter on his arrival ordered the bills to be paid, which was +afterwards confirmed by the secretary of state.] + +How far the settlers (who in return for the produce of their grounds +looked for something more immediately beneficial to them and their +families, than the waiting eighteen months or two years for a refusal, +instead of payment of these bills) would be satisfied with this order, +was very questionable. It has been seen already, that they were +dissatisfied at the produce of their second crops not being purchased; +what then must be their ideas on finding even the first received indeed, +but not accounted for; purchased, but not paid for? it was fair to +conclude, that on thus finding themselves without a market for their +overplus grain, they would certainly give up the cultivation of their +farms and quit the island. Should this happen, Lieutenant-governor King +would have to lament the necessity of a measure having been adopted which +in effect promised to depopulate his government. + +On the 10th and 11th of this month we had two very welcome arrivals from +England, the _Resolution_ and _Salamander_ storeships. They were both +freighted with stores and provisions for the colony; but immediately on +their anchoring we were given to understand, that from meeting with +uncommon bad weather between the Cape of Good Hope and Van Dieman's Land, +the masters apprehended that their cargoes had sustained much damage. + +The _Resolution_ sailed in company with the _Salamander_ (from whom she +parted in a heavy gale of wind about the longitude of the islands +Amsterdam and St. Paul's) on the 20th of March last; anchored on the 16th +of April at the Isle of May, whence she sailed on the 20th; crossed the +equator on the 3rd of May; anchored on the 25th of the same month in the +harbour of Rio de Janeiro; left it on the 10th of June, and, after a very +boisterous passage, made the southern extremity of New Holland on the +30th of August, having been ninety-three days in her passage from the +Brazils, during which time she endured several hard gales of wind, three +of which the master, Mr. Matthew Lock, reported to have been as severe as +any man on board his ship had ever witnessed. He stated, in the protest +which he entered before the judge-advocate, that his ship was very much +strained, the main piece of the rudder sprung, and most of the sails and +rigging worn out. The _Salamander_ appeared to have met with weather +equally bad; but she was at one time in greater hazard, having broached-to +in a tremendous gale of wind; during which time, according to the tale of +the superstitious seamen, and which they took care to insert in their +protest, blue lights were seen dancing on each masthead and yard in the ship. + +By these ships we learned that the _Surprise_ transport, with male and +female convicts for this country, was left by them lying at Spithead +ready for sea, and that they might be shortly expected. The _Kitty_, +which sailed from this place in June 1793, had arrived safely at Cork on +the 5th of February last, not losing any of her passengers or people in +so long a voyage and in such a season. + +His Majesty's appointment of John Hunter esq to be our governor, in the +room of Captain Phillip who had resigned his office, we found had been +officially notified in the London Gazette of the 5th of February last. +Mr. Phillip's services, we understood, were remunerated by a pension of +five hundred pounds per annum. + +The Irish prisoners were now again beginning to be troublesome; and some +of them being missing from labour, it was directly rumoured that a plan +was in agitation to seize the boat named the _Cumberland_, which had +recently sailed with provisions for the settlers at the Hawkesbury. By +several it was said, that she had actually been attacked without the +Heads, and carried. Notice was therefore immediately sent overland to the +river, to put the people in the boat on their guard, and to return should +she reach that settlement safely: an armed long-boat was also sent +to protect her passage round. After a few days suspense we found, +that while providing against any accident happening to the _Cumberland_, +some of the Irish prisoners at Parramatta had stolen from the wharf at +that place a six-oar'd boat belonging to Lieutenant Macarthur, with which +they got without the harbour undiscovered. She was found however, some +days after, at Botany Bay. The people who were in her made some threats +of resistance, but at length took to the woods, leaving the boat with +nearly every thing that they had provided for their voyage. From the +woods they visited the farms about Sydney for plunder, or rather for +sustenance; but one of them being fired at and wounded, the rest thought +it their wisest way to give themselves up. They made no hesitation in +avowing that they never meant to return; but at the same time owned that +they supposed they had reached Broken Bay instead of Botany Bay, ignorant +whether it lay to the northward or southward of this harbour. The man who +had been wounded died at the hospital the next day; and his companions +appeared but very ill able to provide for themselves, even by those means +which had occasioned our being troubled with them in this country. + +On the 17th, we were visited by a violent gale of wind at southwest, +which blew so strong, that the _Resolution_ was at one time nearly on +shore. At Parramatta, during the gale, a public granary, in which were +upwards of two thousand four hundred bushels of shelled maize or Indian +corn, caught fire, through the carelessness of some servants who were +boiling food for stock close to the building (which was a thatched one), +and all the corn, together with a number of fine hogs the property of an +individual, were destroyed. + +Some severe contests among the natives took place during this month in +and about the town of Sydney. In fact, we still knew very little of the +manners and customs of these people, notwithstanding the advantage we +possessed in the constant residence of many of them among us, and the +desire that they showed of cultivating our friendship. At the Hawkesbury +they were not so friendly; a settler there and his servant were nearly +murdered in their hut by some natives from the woods, who stole upon them +with such secrecy, as to wound and overpower them before they could +procure assistance. The servant was so much hurt by them with spears and +clubs, as to be in danger of losing his life. A few days after this +circumstance, a body of natives having attacked the settlers, and carried +off their clothes, provisions, and whatever else they could lay their +hands on, the sufferers collected what arms they could, and following, +them, seven or eight of the plunderers were killed on the spot. + +This mode of treating them had become absolutely necessary, from the +frequency and evil effects of their visits; but whatever the settlers at +the river suffered was entirely brought on them by their own misconduct: +there was not a doubt but many natives had been wantonly fired upon; and +when their children, after the flight of the parents, have fallen into +the settlers hands, they have been detained at their huts, notwithstanding +the earnest entreaties of the parents for their return. + +On the 26th, the _Daedalus_ sailed for Norfolk Island, having on board a +quantity of the stores and provisions lately received from England, and a +detachment of officers and men of the New South Wales corps to relieve +those on duty there. + +Two female natives, wishing to withdraw from the cruelty which they, with +others of their sex, experienced from their countrymen, were allowed to +embark in the _Daedalus_, and were consigned to the care of the +lieutenant-governor. One of them was sister to Bennillong; the other was +connected with the young man his companion. Perhaps they wished to wait +in peace and retirement the arrival of those who were bound to protect +them. + +At the latter end of the month some warrants of emancipation passed the +seal of the territory, and received the lieutenant-governor's signature. +The objects of this indulgence were, Robert Sidaway, who received an +unconditional pardon in consideration of his diligence, unremitting good +conduct, and strict integrity in his employment for several years as the +public baker of the settlement; and William Leach, who was permitted to +quit this country, but not to return to England during the unexpired term +of his sentence of transportation, which was for seven years. Eight +convicts were pardoned on condition of their serving in the New South +Wales corps until regularly discharged therefrom. James Larra, James +Ruffler, and Richard Partridge (convicts for life), received a conditional +pardon, or (as was the term among themselves on this occasion) were made +free on the ground, to enable them to become settlers; as were also +William Joyce and Benjamin Carver for the same purpose. Joyce had been +transported for fourteen years, and Carver for life. Freedom on the +ground was also given to William Waring, a convict for life. + +It was pleasing to see so many people withdrawing from the society of +vice and wretchedness, and forming such a character for themselves as to +be thought deserving of emancipation. + +On the 29th, the _Fancy_ snow left this port. Mr. Dell, the commander, +purposed running to Norfolk Island, but affected a secrecy with respect +to his subsequent destination. It was generally surmised, however, that +he was bound to some island whereat timber fit for naval purposes was to +be procured; and at which whatever ship Mr. Bampton should bring with him +might touch and load with a cargo for India. The snow was armed, was +about one hundred and seventy tons burden, had a large and expensive +complement of officers and men, a guard of sepoys, and a commission from +the Bombay marine*. New Zealand was by us supposed to be the place; as +force, or at least the appearance of it, was there absolutely requisite. + +[* Mr. Dell had likewise on board a much greater number of cross-cut saws +than were necessary to procure wood for the mere use of the vessel.] + +The wife of Griffin the drummer, whose hoarded guineas were supposed to +have been stolen by Charles, or (as he was more commonly named) Pat Gray, +killed herself with drinking, expiring in a fit of intoxication while the +husband was employed in the lower part of the harbour in fishing for his +family. She left him four children to provide for. + +October.] This month opened with an indispensable act of justice: John +Bevan, a wretched convict, whose name has been frequently mentioned in +this narrative, broke into the house of William Fielder at Sydney, and +being caught in the fact, it was substantiated against him beyond the +chance of escape; he was of course fully convicted, and received sentence +of death. The trial was on the 1st, and at nine in the morning of the 6th +he was executed. At the tree he confessed nothing, but seemed terrified +when he found himself so near the ignominious death that he had so long +merited. On being taken to hear divine service the Sunday preceding his +execution, he seemed not to be in the smallest degree affected by the +clergyman's discourse, which was composed for the occasion; but was +visibly touched at the singing of the psalm intitled the 'Lamentation of +a Sinner.' + +On the evening preceding the day of his execution, information was +received from Parramatta, that Simon Burn, a settler, had been stabbed to +the heart about eight o'clock in the evening before, of which wound he +died in an hour. The man who perpetrated this atrocious act was a convict +named Hill, a butcher by trade. It appeared on the trial, which lasted +five hours, that Hill had borne the deceased much animosity for some +time, and, having been all the day (which, to aggravate the offence, +happened to be Sunday) in company drinking with him, took occasion to +quarrel with a woman with whom he cohabited, and following her into an +empty house, whither she had run to avoid a beating, the deceased, +unhappily for him, interfered, and was by Hill stabbed to the heart; +living, as has been said, about an hour, but having just strength enough +to declare in the presence of several witnesses, that the butcher had +killed him. The prisoner attempted to set up an alibi for his defence; +but the fact of killing was incontrovertibly fixed upon him, as well as +the malice which urged his hand to take away the life of his +fellow-creature, and to send him, with the sin upon his head of having +profaned the Lord's day by rioting and drunkenness, unprepared before his +Maker. + +This poor man was buried by his widow (an Irish woman) in a corner of his +own farm, attended by several settlers of that and the neighbouring +districts, who celebrated the funeral rites in a manner and with orgies +suitable to the disposition and habits of the deceased, his widow, and +themselves. + +Hill was executed on the 16th, and his body dissected according to his +sentence. + +On the 17th the _Mercury_, an American brig, commanded by Mr. William +Barnet, anchored in the cove from Falkland's islands. He had nothing on +board for sale, but brought us the very welcome information of his having +seen the officers of the Spanish ship _Descuvierta_ at that place. Being +in want of biscuit, he made application to the commodore Malaspina for a +supply, proffering to settle the payment in any manner that he should +choose to adopt; but the commodore, after sending him a greater quantity +than he had required, assured him that he was sufficiently satisfied in +having assisted a ship whose people, whether English or American, spoke +the language of those gentlemen from whom himself and the officers of the +ships under his command had received, while in New South Wales, such +attention and hospitality. Mr. Barnet understood the _Atrevida_ was in +the neighbourhood, and that no loss or accident had happened in either +ship since their departure from Port Jackson. The _Mercury_ was bound to +the north-west coast of America, and her master purposed quitting this +port as soon as his people, who were all afflicted with that dreadful sea +distemper the scurvy, should be sufficiently recovered. + +The period of probation which had been allotted by the late governor to +the services of William Stephenson (one of the people serving in the +stores) expiring this month, his pardon was delivered to him accordingly. +No one among the prisoners could be found more deserving of this +clemency; his conduct had been uniformly that of a good man, and he had +shown that he was trustworthy by never having forfeited the good opinion +of the commissary under whom he was placed in the provision-store. + +From the Hawkesbury were received accounts which corroborated the opinion +that the settlers there merited the attacks which were from time to time +made upon them by the natives. It was now said, that some of them had +seized a native boy, and, after tying him hand and foot, had dragged him +several times through a fire, or over a place covered with hot ashes, +until his back was dreadfully scorched, and in that state threw him into +the river, where they shot at and killed him. Such a report could not be +heard without being followed by the closest examination, when it appeared +that a boy had actually been shot when in the water, from a conviction of +his having been detached as a spy upon the settlers from a large body of +natives, and that he was returning to them with an account of their +weakness, there being only one musket to be found among several farms. No +person appearing to contradict this account, it was admitted as a truth; +but many still considered it as a tale invented to cover the true +circumstance, that a boy had been cruelly and wantonly murdered by them. + +The presence of some person with authority was becoming absolutely +necessary among those settlers, who, finding themselves freed from +bondage, instantly conceived that they were above all restrictions; and, +being without any internal regulations, irregularities of the worst kind +might be expected to happen. + +On the morning of the 25th a civil court was assembled, for the purpose +of investigating an action brought by one Joyce (a convict lately +emancipated) against Thomas Daveny, a free man and superintendant of +convicts at Toongabbie, for an assault; when the defendant, availing +himself of a mistake in his christian name, pleaded the misnomer. His +plea being admitted, the business was for that time got over, and before +another court could be assembled he had entered into a compromise with +the plaintiff, and nothing more was heard of it. + +In the evening of the same day the _Surprise_ transport arrived from +England, whence she sailed on the 2nd of last May, having on board sixty +female and twenty-three male convicts, some stores and provisions, and +three settlers for this colony. + +Among the prisoners were, Messrs. Muir, Palmer, Skirving, and Margarot, +four gentlemen lately convicted in Scotland of the crime of sedition, +considered as a public offence, and transported for the same to this +country. + +We found also on board the _Surprise_ a Mr. James Thompson, late +surgeon of the _Atlantic_ transport, but who now came in quality of +assistant-surgeon to the settlement; and William Baker, formerly here a +sergeant in the marine detachment, but now appointed a superintendant of +convicts. + +A guard of an ensign and twenty-one privates of the New South Wales corps +were on board the transport. Six of these people were deserters from +other regiments brought from the Savoy; one of them, Joseph Draper, we +understood had been tried for mutiny (of an aggravated kind) at Quebec. + +This mode of recruiting the regiment must have proved as disgusting to +the officers as it was detrimental to the interests of the settlement. If +the corps was raised for the purpose of protecting the civil +establishment, and of bringing a counterpoise to the vices and crimes +which might naturally be expected to exist among the convicts, it ought +to have been carefully formed from the best characters; instead of which +we now found a mutineer (a wretch who could deliberate with others, and +consent himself to be the chosen instrument of the destruction of his +sovereign's son) sent among us, to remain for life, perhaps, as a check +upon sedition, now added to the catalogue of our other imported vices. + +This ship touched only at Rio de Janeiro, between which port and the +south-west cape of this country the winds which they met with very much +favoured, in the idea of Mr. Campbell the master, the opinion of a +passage being readily made to the Cape of Good Hope, or to India, round +by Van Dieman's Land. + +Among other articles of information now received, we learned that +Governor Hunter, with the _Reliance_ and _Supply_, two ships intended to +be employed in procuring cattle for the colony, might be expected to +arrive in about three months. The governor was to bring out with him a +patent for establishing a court of criminal judicature at Norfolk Island. + +The two natives in England were said to be in health, and anxious for the +governor's departure, as they were to accompany him. They had made but +little improvement in our language. + +The _Surprise_ anchoring in the cove after dark, she saluted at sunrise +the following morning with fifteen guns. + +A theft was committed in the course of the month in one of the out-houses +belonging to Government House, used as a regimental storeroom; the +articles stolen were fifteen shirts and seventeen pair of shoes. In +searching among the rocks and bushes for this property, three white and +two check shirts, one pair of trousers, and one pair of stockings, were +found; but so damaged by the weather as to be entirely useless. These +must have been planted (to use the thiefs phrase) a considerable time; +for every mark or trace which could lead to a discovery of the owner was +entirely effaced. + +The storeships being cleared of their cargoes, a survey was made upon +such part of them as was damaged, which was found to be very +considerable. A serving of slops was immediately issued to the male and +female convicts; the men receiving each one jacket, one waistcoat, one +shirt, one hat, and one pair of breeches; the women one petticoat, one +shift, one pair of stockings, one cap, one neck-handkerchief, one hat, and +one jacket made of raven duck. A distinction was made in the articles of +the slops served to watchmen and overseers, each receiving one coat +instead of a jacket, one pair of duck trousers instead of a pair of +breeches, and one pair of shoes. + +On the 21st died an industrious good young man, Joseph Webb, a settler at +the district named Liberty Plains. He had been working in his ground, and +suddenly fell down in an apoplectic fit. We have seen that another +settler was murdered, and two male convicts were executed. Burn had been +an unfortunate man; he had lost one of his eyes, when, as a convict, he +was employed in splitting paling for government; his farm had never +succeeded; himself and his wife were too fond of spirituous liquors to be +very industrious; and he was at last forced out of the world in a state +and in a manner shocking to human nature. + +November.] Since our establishment in this harbour but few accidents had +happened to boats. On the 1st of this month, however, the longboat of the +_Surprise_, though steered by one of the people belonging to the +settlement, was overset on her passage from the cove to Parramatta, in a +squall of wind she met with off Goat Island, with a number of convicts +and stores on board. Fortunately, no other loss followed than that +occasioned by the drowning of one very fine female goat, the property of +Baker the superintendant. + +On the following day died Mr. Thomas Freeman, the deputy-commissary of +stores and provisions employed at Parramatta. He was in his fifty-third +year, and in this country ended a life the greater part of which had been +actively and usefully employed in the king's service. His remains were +interred in the burial-ground at Parramatta, and were attended by the +gentlemen of the civil department residing in that township. + +On the morning of the 9th the ships _Resolution_ and _Salamander_ left +the cove, purposing to sail on their fishing voyage; soon after which, it +being discovered that three convicts, Mary Morgan and John Randall and +his wife, were missing, a boat was sent down the harbour to search the +_Resolution_, on board of which ship it was said they were concealed. No +person being found, the boat returned for further orders, leaving a +sergeant and four men on board; but before she could return, Mr. Locke +the master, after forcing the party out of his ship, got under way and +stood out to sea. Mr. Irish, the master of the _Salamander_, did +not accompany him; but came up to the town, to testify to the +lieutenant-governor his uneasiness at its being supposed that he could +be capable of taking any person improperly from the colony. + +On the day following it appeared that several persons were missing, and +two convicts in the night swam off to the _Salamander_, one of whom was +supposed to have been drowned, but was afterwards found concealed in her +hold and sent on shore. The _Resolution_ during this time was seen +hovering about the coast, either waiting for her companion, or to pick up +a boat with the runaways. On the 13th, the _Salamander_ got under way, +with a southerly wind; but it falling calm when the ship was between the +Heads, she drifted, and was set with the ebb tide so near the north head +of the harbour as to be obliged to anchor suddenly in eighteen fathoms +water. When anchored they got a kedge-anchor out, and began to heave; but +the surf on the head and the swell from the sea were so great, occasioned +by the late southerly winds, that in heaving the cable parted. +Fortunately the stream-hawser hung her; and a breeze from the northward +springing up, she was brought into the harbour with the loss of an +anchor. This loss being repaired by her getting another from the +_Surprise_, she was enabled to sail finally on the 15th. + +The impropriety of the conduct of the _Resolution's_ master was so +glaring, that the lieutenant-governor caused some depositions to be taken +respecting it, which he purposed transmitting to the navy-board. This man +had been permitted to ship as many persons from the settlement as he +stated to be necessary to complete his ship's company; notwithstanding +which, there was not any doubt of his having received on board, without +any permission, to the number of twelve or thirteen convicts whose terms +of transportation had not been served. No difficulty had ever been found +by any master of a ship, who would make the proper application, in +obtaining any number of hands that he might be in want of, but to take +clandestinely from the settlement the useful servants of the public was +ungrateful and unpardonable. It was to be hoped that government, if the +facts could be substantiated against him, would make his person a severe +example to other masters of ships coming to this port. + +On the 23rd, after an absence of eight weeks and two days, the _Daedalus_ +returned from Norfolk Island. Ten days of this time were passed in going +thither, and sixteen in returning; the intermediate time was consumed in +landing one, and receiving on board the other detachment, with their +baggage. + +Several persons, whose sentences of transportation had expired, and who +preferred residing in New South Wales, together with ten of the marine +settlers, who had given up their grounds in consequence of the late +disappointment which they experienced in respect of their corn bills, and +had entered into the New South Wales corps, arrived in this ship. + +We understood that Phillip Island had been found to answer extremely well +for the purpose of breeding stock. Some hogs which were allowed to be +placed there in August 1793, the property of an individual, had increased +so prodigiously, as to render the raising hogs there on account of +government an object with the lieutenant-governor. + +The _Daedalus_ immediately began preparations for her departure for +England; and Lieutenant-governor Grose signified his intention of +quitting the settlement by that opportunity. + +The lieutenant-governor having set apart for each of the gentlemen who +came from Scotland in the _Surprise_ a brick hut, in a row on the east +side of the cove, they took possession of their new habitations, and soon +declared that they found sufficient reason for thinking their situations +'on the bleak and desolate shores of New Holland' not quite so terrible +as in England they had been taught to expect. + +The _Surprise_ was discharged this month from government employ, and +Mr. Campbell began to prepare for making his passage to Bengal (whither he +was bound) by the south cape of this country. Of the female prisoners who +came out in this ship one was buried on the 21st; she had lain in of a +dead child, and died shortly after of a milk fever. Her husband, a free +man, came out with her to settle in the country. + +Reaping our wheat-harvest commenced this month. + +December.] The people of the _Mercury_ being perfectly recovered from the +disorder which afflicted them when they arrived, that vessel sailed on +the 7th of December for the north-west coast of America. The master had +permission to ship five persons belonging to the colony, and on the day +of his sailing several others were missing from the labouring gangs, and +were supposed to have made their escape in her; but on the following +morning they were all at their respective labours, not having been able +to get on board. + +Some of the seamen belonging to this vessel, preferring the pleasures +they met with in the society of the females and the free circulation of +spirituous liquors which they found on shore, to accompanying Mr. Barnet +to the north-west coast of America, had left his vessel some days +previous to her sailing. Application being made to the lieutenant-governor, +several orders were given out calculated to induce them to return to their +duty, informing them, that if they remained behind they would be +certainly sent to hard labour, and the persons who had harboured them +severely punished. But our settlements had now become so extensive, that +orders did not so readily find their way to the settlers, as runaways and +vagrants, who never failed of finding employment among them, particularly +among those at the river. + +On the 8th a farm of twenty-five acres of ground in the district of +Concord was sold by public auction for thirteen pounds. Four acres were +planted with Indian corn, and half an acre with potatoes; there was +beside a tolerable hut on the premises. This farm was the property of +Samuel Crane, a soldier, who, too industriously for himself, working on +it on the Sunday preceding his death, received a hurt from a tree which +fell upon him, and proved fatal. + +Every preparation for accommodating the lieutenant-governor and his +family being completed on board the _Daedalus_, he embarked in the +evening of the 15th. Previous to his departure, such convicts as were at +that time confined in the cells, or who were under orders for punishment, +were released; several grants of lands were signed, conveying chiefly +small allotments of twenty-five acres each to such soldiers of the +regiment as were desirous of, and made application for that favour; and +some leases of town lots were given. + +With the lieutenant-governor went Mr. White, the principal surgeon of the +colony; Mr. Bain, the chaplain, in whose absence the Rev. Mr. Marsden was +to do his duty; Mr. Laing, assistant-surgeon of the settlement, and mate +of the New South Wales corps; three soldiers; two women, and nine men. +The master of the transport had permission to ship twelve men and two +women, whose sentences of transportation had expired. + +The _Surprise_ sailed on the 17th. Mr. Campbell, being in want of hands, +was allowed to receive on board sixteen men. He had shipped a greater +number; but some, regardless of their own situation, and of the effect +such an act might have on others, had been detected in the act of robbing +the ship, and were turned on shore. + +Mr. Campbell at his departure expressed his determination of trying his +passage to Bengal by the south cape of this country. The route of the +_Daedalus_ was round the southern extremity of New Zealand. + +The lieutenant-governor took with him all the documents which were +necessary to lay before government to explain the state of the different +settlements under his command; such as the commissary's accounts, returns +of stock, remains of provisions, etc, etc.; vouchers, in fact, of that +true spirit of liberality which had marked the whole of his administration +of the public affairs of this settlement. + +Our society was much weakened by this departure of our friends; they +carried with them, however, letters to our connexions, and our earnest +wishes for their speedy, pleasant, and safe passage to England. + +The number of small boats at this time in the settlement was considerable, +although wretchedly put together. Two of them were stolen during the +month by several Irish prisoners, accompanied by some who came out +in the _Surprise_. In it they went down to the Southhead, whence they +took what arms they could find, and made off to sea. In a very few days +they were all brought in from the adjacent bays, and punished for their +rashness and folly. No example seemed to deter these people from thinking +it practicable to escape from the colony; the ill success and punishment +which had befallen others affected not them, till woeful experience made +it their own; and then they only regretted their ill fortune, never +attributing the failure to their own ignorance and temerity. + +In the morning of Wednesday the 24th the signal was made at the +South Head for a vessel (which they had seen the day before). She came in +about three o'clock, and proved to be the _Experiment_, a snow from +Bengal, laden with spirits, sugar, piece-goods, and a few casks of +provisions; the speculation being suggested by Mr. Beyer, the agent for +the _Sugar Cane_ and _Boddingtons_. Those ships had arrived safely at +Bengal, and had sailed thence for England. + +The _Experiment_ had had a passage of three months from Calcutta, one +month of which she had passed since she saw the southern extremity of +this country. + +We learned from Mr. E. McClellan, the master, that a large ship named the +_Neptune_ had been freighted with cattle, etc in pursuance of the +contract entered into with Mr. Bampton, and had sailed from Bombay in +July last, but was unfortunately lost in the river by sailing against the +monsoon. When Mr. Bampton might be expected was uncertain. + +The direction of the colony during the absence of the governor and +lieutenant-governor devolving upon the officer highest in rank then on +service in the colony, Captain William Paterson, of the New South Wales +corps, on Christmas Day took the oaths prescribed by his Majesty's +letters patent for the person who should so take upon him the government +of the settlement. This officer, expecting every day the arrival of +Governor Hunter, made no alteration in the mode of carrying on the +different duties of the settlement now entrusted to his care and +guidance. + +At the latter end of the month a general muster was ordered of all the +male convicts, together with the persons who had served their several +terms of transportation, as well those residing at Sydney and Parramatta, +as those on the banks of the river Hawkesbury. The following ration was +also ordered, the maize being nearly expended, viz. + +To Civil, Military, Free People, and Free Settlers +8 lbs of flour, 7 lbs of beef, or +4 lbs of pork, 3 pints of peas, +6 oz of sugar. + +To Male Convicts +4 lbs of flour 7 lbs of beef, or +4 lbs of pork, 3 pints of peas, +6 ozs of sugar, and 3 pints of rice. + +Women and children were to receive the usual proportion, and a certain +quantity of slops was directed to be issued to the male and female +convicts who came out in the _Surprise_ transport, they being very much +in want of clothing. + +A jail gang was also ordered to be established at Toongabbie, for the +employment and punishment of all bad and suspicious characters. + +Wheat was this month directed to be purchased from the settlers at ten +shillings per bushel. Much of that grain was found to have been blighted +this season. The ground about Toongabbie was pronounced to be worn out, +the produce of the last harvest not averaging more than six or seven +bushels an acre, though at first it was computed at seventeen. The +Northern farms had also failed through a blight. + +Our loss by death in the year 1794 was, two settlers; four soldiers; one +soldier's wife; thirty-two male convicts; ten female convicts; and ten +children; making a total of fifty-nine persons. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + + +Gangs sent to till the public grounds +The _Francis_ sails +Regulations for the Hawkesbury +Natives +Works +Weather +Deaths +Produce at the river +Transactions there +Natives +The _Francis_ arrives from the Cape +The _Fancy_ from New Zealand +Information +The _Experiment_ sails for India +A native killed +Weather +Wheat +Criminal Court +Ration reduced +The _Britannia_ hired to procure provisions +Natives at the Hawkesbury +The _Endeavour_ arrives with cattle from Bombay +Deaths +Returns of ground sown with wheat +The _Britannia_ sails for India +The _Fancy_ for Norfolk Island +Convicts +Casualties + + +1795.] + +January.] From the great numbers of labouring convicts who were +employed in the town of Sydney, and at the grounds about Petersham; of +others employed with officers and settlers; of those who, their terms of +transportation having expired, were allowed to provide for themselves; +and of others who had been permitted to leave the colony, public +field-labour was entirely at a stand. The present commanding officer +wishing to cultivate the grounds belonging to government, collecting as +many labourers as could be got together, sent a large gang, formed of +bricklayers, brickmakers, timber-carriage men, etc. etc. to Parramatta +and Toongabbie, there to prepare the ground for wheat for the ensuing +season. At the muster which had been lately taken fifty people were found +without any employment, whose services still belonged to the public; +most of these were laid hold of, and sent to hard labour; and it appeared +at the same time that some few were at large in the woods, runaways, and +vagabonds. These people began labouring in the grounds immediately after +New Year's day, which as usual was observed as a holiday. + +On the 22nd, the convict women who had children attended at the store, +when they received for each child three yards of flannel, one shirt, and +two pounds of soap. + +On the day following, the colonial schooner sailed for the river, having +on board a mill, provisions, etc. for the settlers there. A military +guard was also ordered, the commanding officer of which was to introduce +some regulations among the settlers, and to prevent, by the effect of his +presence and authority, the commission of those enormities which +disgraced that settlement. For the reception of such quantity of the +Indian corn and wheat grown there this season as might be purchased by +government, a store-house was to be erected under the inspection of the +commissary; and Baker, the superintendant who arrived in the _Surprise_, +was sent out to take the charge of it when finished. The master of the +schooner was ordered, after discharging his cargo, to receive on board +Mr. Charles Grimes, the deputy surveyor-general, and proceed with him to +Port Stephens, for the purpose of examining that harbour. + +About the middle of the month a convict, on entering the door of his hut, +was bit in the foot by a black snake; the effect was, an immediate +swelling of the foot, leg, and thigh, and a large tumour in the groin. +Mr. Thompson, the assistant-surgeon, was fortunately able to reduce all +these swellings by frequently bathing the parts in oil, and saved the +man's life without having recourse to amputation. While we lived in a +wood, and might naturally have expected to have been troubled with them, +snakes and other reptiles were by no means so often seen, as since, by +clearing and opening the country about us, the natives had not had +opportunities of setting the woods so frequently on fire. But now they +were often met in the different paths about the settlements, basking at +mid-day in the sunshine, and particularly after a shower of rain. + +We heard and saw much of the natives about this time. At the Hawkesbury a +man had been wounded by some of the Wood tribe. Two women (natives) were +murdered not far from the town of Sydney during the night, and another +victim, a female of Pe-mul-wy's party (the man who killed McIntyre), +having been secured by the males of a tribe inimical to Pe-mul-wy, +dragged her into the woods, where they fatigued themselves with +exercising acts of cruelty and lust upon her. + +The principal labour performed in January was preparing the ground for +wheat. The Indian corn looked every where remarkably well; it was now +ripening, and the settlers on the banks of the Hawkesbury supposed that +at least thirty thousand bushels of that grain would be raised among them. + +Several native boys, from eight to fourteen years of age, were at this +time living among the settlers in the different districts. They were +found capable of being made extremely useful; they went cheerfully into +the fields to labour, and the elder ones with ease hoed in a few hours a +greater quantity of ground than that generally assigned to a convict for +a day's work. Some of these were allowed a ration of provisions from the +public stores. + +In consequence of the heavy rains, the river at the Hawkesbury rose many +feet higher than it had been known to rise in other rains, by which +several settlers were sufferers. At Toongabbie the wheat belonging to +government was considerably injured. At Parramatta the damage was +extensive; the bridge over the creek, which had been very well +constructed, was entirely swept away; and the boats with their moorings +carried down the river. At Sydney some chimneys in the new barracks +fell in. + +Mr. Jones, the quarter-master sergeant of the New South Wales corps, a +person of much respectability, and whose general demeanor indicated an +education far beyond what is met with in the sphere of life in which he +moved, died this month. + +A convict lad, in the service of Mr. William Smith the store-keeper, died +on the 26th, having swallowed arsenic. It was remarkable in his untimely +end, that he himself placed the poison with a view of destroying the rats +with which the house was infested, and was particularly cautioned against +it. How he came, after that, to take it himself, was not to be accounted +for. + +February.] Early in February, the storehouse at the Hawkesbury being +completed, the provisions which had been sent round in the schooner were +landed and put under the care of Baker. Some officers who had made an +excursion to that settlement, with a view of selecting eligible spots for +farms, on their return spoke highly of the corn which they saw growing +there, and of the picturesque appearance of many of the settlers' farms. +The settlers told them, that in general their grounds which had been in +wheat had produced from thirty to thirty-six bushels an acre; that they +found one bushel (or on some spots five pecks) of seed sufficient to sow +an acre; and that, if sown as early as the month of April or May, they +imagined the ground would produce a second crop, and the season be not +too far advanced to ripen it. Their kitchen gardens were plentifully +stocked with vegetables. The master of the schooner complained that the +navigation of the river was likely to be hurt. The settlers having fallen +many trees into the water, he was apprehensive they would drift ashore on +some of the points of the river where, in process of time, sand, etc. +might lodge against them, and form dangerous obstructions in the way of +craft which might be hereafter used on the river. No doubt remained of +the ill and impolitic conduct of some of the settlers toward the natives. +In revenge for some cruelties which they had experienced, they threatened +to put to death three of the settlers, Michael Doyle, Robert Forrester, +and ---- Nixon; and had actually attacked and cruelly wounded two other +settlers, George Shadrach and John Akers, whose farms and persons they +mistook for those of Doyle and Forrester. These particulars were procured +through the means of one Wilson, a wild idle young man, who, his term of +transportation being expired, preferred living among the natives in the +vicinity of the river, to earning the wages of honest industry by working +for settlers. He had formed an intermediate language between his own and +theirs, with which he made shift to comprehend something of what they +wished him to communicate; for they did not conceal the sense they +entertained of the injuries which had been done them. The tribe with whom +Wilson associated had given him a name, Bun-bo-e, but none of them had +taken his in exchange. As the gratifying an idle wandering disposition +was the sole object with Wilson in herding with these people, no good +consequence was likely to ensue from it; and it was by no means +improbable, that at some future time, if disgusted with the white people, +he would join the blacks, and assist them in committing depredations, or +make use of their assistance to punish or revenge his own injuries. +Mr. Grimes purposed taking him with him in the schooner to Port Stephens. + +There were at this time several convicts in the woods subsisting by +theft; and it being said that three had been met with arms, it became +necessary to secure them as soon as possible. Watchmen and other people +immediately went out, and in the afternoon of the 14th a wretched fellow +of the name of Suffini was killed by one of them. This circumstance drove +the rest to a greater distance from Sydney, and they were reported, some +days afterwards, to have been met on their route to the river. Suffini +would not have been shot at, had he not refused to surrender when called +to by the watchman while in the act of plundering a garden. + +About the latter end of the month the natives adjusted some affairs of +honour in a convenient spot near the brick-fields. The people who live +about the south shore of Botany Bay brought with them a stranger of an +extraordinary appearance and character; even his name had something +extraordinary in the sound--Gome-boak. He had been several days on his +journey from the place where he lived, which was far to the southward. In +height he was not more than five feet two or three inches; but he was by +far the most muscular, square, and well-formed native we had ever seen. +He fought well; his spears were remarkably long, and he defended himself +with a shield that covered his whole body. We had the satisfaction of +seeing him engaged with some of our Sydney friends, and of observing that +neither their persons nor reputations suffered any thing in the contest. +When the fight was over, on our praising to them the martial talents of +this stranger, the strength and muscle of his arm, and the excellence of +his sight, they admitted the praise to be just (because when opposed to +them he had not gained the slightest advantage); but, unwilling that we +should think too highly of him, they assured us, with horror in their +countenances, that Gome-boak was a cannibal.* + +[* Gome-boak, we learned, was afterwards killed among his own people in +some affair to the southward.] + +March.] On the 1st of March the _Francis_ returned from Port Stephens. +Mr. Grimes reported, that he went into two fresh-water branches, up which +he rowed, until, at no very great distance from the entrance, he found +them terminate in a swamp. He described the land on each side to be low +and sandy, and had seen nothing while in this harbour which in his +opinion could render a second visit necessary. The natives were so very +unfriendly, that he made but few observations on them. He thought they +were a taller and a stouter race of people than those about this +settlement, and their language was entirely different. Their huts and +canoes were something larger than those which we had seen here; their +weapons were the same. They welcomed him on shore with a dance, joined +hand in hand, round a tree, to express perhaps their unanimity; but one +of them afterwards, drawing Mr. Grimes into the wood, poised a spear, and +was on the point of throwing it, when he was prevented by young Wilson, +who, having followed Mr. Grimes with a double-barrelled gun, levelled at +the native, and fired it. He was supposed to be wounded, for he fell; but +rising again, he attempted a second time to throw the spear, and was +again prevented by Wilson. The effect of this second shot was supposed to +be conclusive, as he was not seen to rise any more. Mr. Grimes got back +to his boat without any other interruption. + +Mr. House in his way thither ran close along the shore, and saw not any +shelter for a ship or vessel from Broken Bay to Port Stephens. The +schooner was only fourteen hours on her return. + +About this time, the spirit of inquiry being on foot, Mr. Cummings, an +officer of the corps, made an excursion to the southward of Botany Bay, +and brought back with him some of the head bones of a marine animal, +which, on inspection, Captain Paterson, the only naturalist in the +country, pronounced to have belonged to the animal described by M. de +Buffon, and named by him the Manatee. On this excursion Mr. Cummings +received some information which led him to believe that the cattle that +had been lost soon after our arrival were in existence. The natives who +conversed with him were so particular in their account of having seen a +large animal with horns, that he shortly after, taking some of them with +him as guides, set off to seek them, but returned without success, not +having met with any trace that could lead him to suppose they might ever +be found. + +On the 4th the _Britannia_ returned from the Cape of Good Hope, having +been absent six months and three days. Mr. Raven brought alive to his +employers, one stallion, twenty-nine mares, three fillies, and twelve +sheep. He sailed from the Cape with forty mares on board; but those that +died were the worst, and had not been kept up long enough on dry food +before they were embarked. + +It was evident, on visiting the ship, that every attention had been paid +to their accommodation; but horses were generally supposed better +calculated than other cattle to endure the weather usually met with +between the Cape and this country*. + +[* It may be remembered, that in a former voyage to the Cape on a similar +errand, she lost twenty-nine cows.] + +We had the gratification of hearing that our fleet under Earl Howe had +been victorious in a gallant and severe action with the enemy. + +On the 15th, when anxiously expecting an arrival from England, we saw +Mr. Dell come to anchor in the cove from Norfolk Island. + +Though this arrival proved a disappointment to most of us, yet the +information we received by it was rather interesting. We now learned, +that Mr. Dell had been at New Zealand, where he passed three months in +the river named by Captain Cook the Thames, employed in cutting spars, +for the purpose (as was conjectured here at the time of his departure) of +freighting such ship as might arrive from India on Mr. Bampton's account. +In the course of that time they cut down upwards of two hundred very fine +trees, from sixty to one hundred and forty feet in length, fit for any +use that the East India Company's ships might require. The longest of +these trees measured three feet and a half in the butt, and differed from +the Norfolk Island pines in having the turpentine in the centre of the +tree instead of between the bark and the wood. From the natives they +received very little interruption, being only upon one occasion obliged +to fire on them. Like other uncivilised people, these islanders saw no +crime in theft, and stole some axes from the people employed on shore, +gratifying thereby their predilection for iron, which, strange as it may +sound to us, they would have preferred to gold. Unfortunately, iron was +too precious even here to part with, unless for an equivalent; and it +became necessary to convince them of it. Two men and one woman were +killed, the seamen who fired on them declaring (in their usual enlarged +style of relation) that they had driven off and pursued upwards of three +thousand of these cannibals. They readily parted with any quantity of +their flax, bartering it for iron. As the valuable qualities of this flax +were well known, it was not uninteresting to us to learn, that so small a +vessel as the _Fancy_ had lain at an anchor for three months in the midst +of numerous and warlike tribes of savages, without any attempt on their +part to become the masters; and that an intercourse might safely and +advantageously be opened between them and the colonists of New South +Wales, whenever proper materials and persons should be sent out to +manufacture the flax, if the governor of that country should ever think +it an object worthy of his attention. + +From New Zealand the _Fancy_ proceeded to Norfolk Island, and now came +hither in the hope of meeting with, or hearing of Mr. Bampton. + +From that settlement we gained the following information: + +The _Salamander_ touched there, and the _Resolution_ appeared off the +island, but had no communication with the shore. + +A heavy gale of wind, accompanied with a slight shock of the earth, had +done considerable damage, washing away a very useful wharf and crane at +Cascade, but which the governor meant immediately to replace. + +The produce of the wheat this season on government's account amounted to +three thousand bushels, and that of settlers to fifteen hundred. The +Indian corn promised a very plentiful crop; but the settlers were much +discouraged by their bills of the last year remaining still unpaid. Much +of that corn was obliged to be surveyed, and two thousand bushels had +been condemned. + +Swine were increasing so rapidly on Phillip Island, now stocked by +government, that Mr. King thought he should be able for some time to +issue fresh pork during four days in the week. The flour was expended; of +salt meat there was a sufficiency in store for eight months. The whole +number of persons on the island amounted to nine hundred and forty-five. + +A convict well known in this settlement, Benjamin Ingraham, being +detected in the act of housebreaking, put an end to his own existence by +hanging himself, thus terminating by his own hand a life of wretchedness +and villany. + +On the 17th St. Patrick found many votaries in the settlement. Some Cape +brandy lately imported in the _Britannia_ appeared to have arrived very +seasonably; and libations to the saint were so plentifully poured, that +at night the cells were full of prisoners. + +Settlers, and other persons who had Indian corn to dispose of, were this +month informed, that they would receive five shillings per bushel for all +they might bring to the public stores. They were likewise told, that a +preference would be given to those who had disposed of their wheat to +government. + +On the 23rd the _Experiment_ sailed for India. Mr. McClellan had been +with his vessel to the Hawkesbury, where he had taken in sixty large logs +of the tree which we had named the cedar. He had also purchased some of +the mahogany of this country. Whether cedar and mahogany were or were not +to be readily procured at Bengal, ought to have been well known to this +gentleman before he put himself to the trouble, delay, and expence of +procuring such a quantity*; but it was here generally looked upon as a +speculation that would not produce him much profit. + +[* He was to allow one hundred pounds for as many trees; but we +understood that it was to be in the way of barter with articles, sugar, +spirits, etc.] + +On the day of his sailing, suspecting (as was reported) some design to +seize his vessel, he sent on shore three people whom he had shipped here. +They rendezvoused at a hut in the town occupied by one John Chapman +Morris; and, on searching it, in the bed of one of them were found a +dozen of new Indian shirts marked D. W.; twenty-two new pulicate +handkerchiefs; and three pieces of striped gingham. On the possessor +being questioned, he said, that they were sold to him while he was at +Norfolk Island by the steward of Captain Manning's ship, the _Pitt_. As +this was a very improbable story, the house they were in was ordered by +the commanding officer to be pulled down. The property, having been +disclaimed by Mr. McClennan, was lodged with the provost-marshal; and the +parties given to understand, that a reference would be made to Norfolk +Island by the first opportunity. + +On the 26th, some of our people witnessed an extraordinary transaction +which took place among the natives at the brick-fields. A young man of +the name of Bing-yi-wan-ne, well known in the settlement, being detected +in the crisis of an amour with Maw-ber-ry, the companion of another +native, Ye-ra-ni-be Go-ru-ey, the latter fell upon him with a club, and +being a powerful man, and of superior strength, absolutely beat him to +death. Bing-yi-wan-ne had some friends, who on the following day called +Ye-ra-ni-be to an account for the murder; when, the affair being +conducted with more regard to honour than justice, he came off with only +a spear-wound in his thigh. + +The farmers began gathering their Indian corn about the latter end of +this month. The weather during the former and latter part of it was wet. +About the time of the equinox, the tides in the cove were observed to be +very high. + +On the 28th Thomas Webb, a settler, who had removed from his farm at +Liberty Plains to another on the banks of the Hawkesbury, was dangerously +wounded there, while working on his grounds by some of the wood natives, +who had previously plundered his but. About the same time a party of +these people threw a spear at some soldiers who were going up the river +in a small boat. All these unpleasant circumstances were to be attributed +to the ill treatment the natives had received from the settlers. + +At Prospect Hill a woman was bitten by a snake; but by the timely +application of some volatile salts by Mr. Irving, her life was saved. + +April.] It was determined to let the Toongabbie Hills remain fallow for a +season, they being reported to be worn out. Other ground, which had been +prepared, was now sown; a spot called the Ninety Acres, and the hills +between Parramatta and Toongabbie. + +On the 15th, a criminal court was assembled for the trial of John +Anderson and Joseph Marshall, settlers; and John Hyams, Joseph Dunstill, +Richard Watson, and Morgan Bryan, convicts; for a rape committed on the +body of one Mary Hartley, at the Hawkesbury. The court was obliged to +acquit the prisoners, owing to glaring contradiction in the witnesses, no +two of them, though several were examined, agreeing in the same point. +But as such a crime could not be passed with impunity, they were +recommitted, and on the 22nd tried for an assault, of which being very +clearly convicted, the two settlers and Morgan Bryan were sentenced to +receive each five hundred lashes, and the others three hundred each; of +which sentence they received one half, and were forgiven the remainder. +This was a most infamous transaction; and, though the sufferer was of bad +character, would have well warranted the infliction of capital punishment +on one of the offenders, if the witnesses had not prevaricated in their +testimony. They appeared to have cast off all the feelings of civilised +humanity, adopting as closely as they could follow them the manners of +the savage inhabitants of the country. One prisoner, John Rayner, was +also tried for a burglary, and being convicted received sentence of death. + +On the 29th, a liberal allowance of slops was issued to the male and +female convicts in the different settlements, among which were some soap +to the men, and some thread, tape, and soap to the women. + +A shed for the purpose of receiving their Indian corn was this month +begun by the settlers at the river, they and their servants bringing in +the materials, and government supplying the carpenters, tools, nails, etc. + +The farmers now every where began putting their wheat into the ground, +except at the river, where they had scarcely made any preparations, +consuming their time and substance in drinking and rioting; and trusting +to the extreme fertility of the soil, which they declared would produce +an ample crop at any time without much labour. So silly and thoughtless +were these people, who were thus unworthily placed on the banks of a +river which, from its fertility and the effect of its inundations, might +not improperly be termed the _Nile_ of New South Wales. + +May.] From the reduced state of the salted provisions, it became +necessary (such had often been the preamble of an order) to diminish the +ration of that article weekly to each person, and half the beef and half +the pork was stopped at once. In some measure to make this great +deduction lighter, three pints of peas were added. This circumstance +induced the commanding officer, on the day this alteration took place, to +hire the _Britannia_ to proceed to India for a cargo of salted provisions. +Supplies might arrive before she could return; but the war increased the +chances against us. He therefore took her up at fifteen shillings and +sixpence per ton per month; and, in order to save as much salt meat as +was possible, he directed the commissary to purchase such fresh pork as +the settlers and others might bring in good condition to the store, +issuing two pounds of fresh, in lieu of one of salt meat. During the time +this order continued, a barrow was killed and part sent to the store, +which weighed five hundred pounds, and a sow which weighed three hundred +and thirty-six pounds. They had both been fed a considerable time* on +Indian corn, and, according to the rate they sold at (the pork one +shilling per pound, and the corn five shillings per bushel) could neither +of them have repaid the expence of their feed. + +[* The barrow two years and a half, and the sow about two years.] + +On the 21st the colonial schooner returned from the Hawkesbury, bringing +upwards of eleven hundred bushels of remarkably fine Indian corn from the +store there. The master again reported his apprehensions that the +navigation of the river would be obstructed by the settlers, who +continued the practice of falling and rolling trees into the stream. He +found five feet less water at the store-wharf than when he was there in +February last, owing to the dry weather which had for some time past +prevailed. + +At that settlement an open war seemed about this time to have commenced +between the natives and the settlers; and word was received over-land, +that two people were killed by them; one a settler of the name of Wilson, +and the other a freeman, one William Thorp, who had been left behind from +the _Britannia_, and had hired himself to this Wilson as a labourer. The +natives appeared in large bodies, men, women, and children, provided with +blankets and nets to carry off the corn, of which they appeared as fond +as the natives who lived among us, and seemed determined to take it +whenever and wherever they could meet with opportunities. In their +attacks they conducted themselves with much art; but where that failed +they had recourse to force, and on the least appearance of resistance +made use of their spears or clubs. To check at once, if possible, these +dangerous depredators, Captain Paterson directed a party of the corps to +be sent from Parramatta, with instructions to destroy as many as they +could meet with of the wood tribe (Be-dia-gal); and, in the hope of +striking terror, to erect gibbets in different places, whereon the bodies +of all they might kill were to be hung. It was reported, that several of +these people were killed in consequence of this order; but none of their +bodies being found, (perhaps if any were killed they were carried off by +their companions,) the number could not be ascertained. Some prisoners +however were taken, and sent to Sydney; one man, (apparently a cripple,) +five women, and some children. One of the women, with a child at her +breast, had been shot through the shoulder, and the same shot had wounded +the babe. They were immediately placed in a hut near our hospital, and +every care taken of them that humanity suggested. The man was said, +instead of being a cripple, to have been very active about the farms, and +instrumental in some of the murders which had been committed. In a short +time he found means to escape, and by swimming reached the north shore in +safety; whence, no doubt, he got back to his friends. Captain Paterson +hoped, by detaining the prisoners and treating them well, that some good +effect might result; but finding, after some time, that coercion, not +attention, was more likely to answer his ends, he sent the women back. +While they were with us, the wounded child died, and one of the women was +delivered of a boy, which died immediately. On our withdrawing the party, +the natives attacked a farm nearly opposite Richmond Hill, belonging to +one William Rowe, and put him and a very fine child to death, the wife, +after receiving several wounds, crawled down the bank, and concealed +herself among some reeds half immersed in the river, where she remained a +considerable time without assistance: being at length found, this poor +creature, after having seen her husband and her child slaughtered before +her eyes, was brought into the hospital at Parramatta, where she +recovered, though slowly, of her wounds. In consequence of this horrid +circumstance, another party of the corps was sent out; and while they +were there the natives kept at a distance. This duty now became +permanent; and the soldiers were distributed among the settlers for their +protection; a protection, however, that many of them did not merit. + +Pemulwy, or some of his party, were not idle about Sydney; they even +ventured to appear within half a mile of the brickfield huts, and wound a +convict who was going to a neighbouring farm on business. As one of our +most frequent walks from the town was in that direction, this +circumstance was rather unpleasant; but the natives were not seen there +again. + +On Sunday the 31st, about one o'clock, the signal was made at the +South Head for a sail; and about five there anchored in the cove the +_Endeavour_, a ship of eight hundred tons from Bombay, under the command +of Mr. Bampton, having on board one hundred and thirty-two head of +cattle, a quantity of rice, and the other articles of the contract +engaged by Lieutenant-governor Grose, except the salt provisions. She +had been eleven weeks from Bombay. + +The cattle arrived, in general, in good condition; and Mr. Bampton had +been very successful in his care of them. He embarked one hundred and +thirty at Bombay, out of which he lost but one cow, and that died the +morning before his arrival. + +On visiting the ship, the sight was truly gratifying; the cattle were +ranged on each side of the gun-deck, fore and aft, and not confined in +separate stalls; but so conveniently stowed, that they were a support to +each other. They were well provided with mats, and were constantly +cleaned; and when the ship tacked, the cattle which were to leeward were +regularly laid with their heads to windward, by people (twenty in number) +particularly appointed to look after them, independent of any duty in the +ship. The grain which was their food was, together with their water, +regularly given to them, and the deck they stood on was well aired, by +scuttles in the sides, and by wind sails.* + +[* These circumstances are mentioned so particularly, in the hope that +they may prove useful hints to any persons intending, or who may be in +future employed, to convey cattle from India, or any other part of the +world, to New South Wales.] + +Of this number of cattle forty were for draught, sixty for breeding, and +the remainder calves; but some of them so large, as to be valued and +taken at fifteen guineas per head. + +On their landing, we were concerned to find that many of the draught +cattle were very aged; they were, it was true, in health; but younger +animals undoubtedly ought to have been procured; for of little use could +toothless, old, and blind beasts be to us. + +At the settlement at the Hawkesbury, a woman who had been drinking was +found dead in her husband's arms. Webb the settler, who was wounded in +March last, died; and one settler (Rowe) and his child were killed in +this month. + +June.] On the 4th of this month, being the anniversary of his Majesty's +birth, the commissary issued to each of the non-commissioned officers and +privates of the New South Wales corps, one pound of fresh pork and half a +pint of spirits; and to all other people victualled from the store one +gill each. At noon the regiment fired three volleys; and at one o'clock +the _Britannia_ and _Fancy_ twenty-one guns each in honour of the day. + +Preparatory to the departure of the _Britannia_, some returns were +procured, which were necessary to be transmitted with the dispatches then +making up. Among others it appeared, that the following quantity of +ground had been this season sown with wheat: viz. + + Acres +On account of government at and about Parramatta 340 + Individuals at and about ditto 1214 + Individuals at the River* 548½ + Individuals at and about Sydney 618¾ + Total 2721¼ + +[* This was the account given by the settlers; but their conduct gave +little room to believe they had been so industrious: they certainly ought +to have had a greater quantity.] + +On the 18th the _Britannia_ sailed for India. As the state of the +settlement at the time of her departure required every exertion to be +made in procuring an immediate supply of provisions, Mr. Raven was +directed to repair to Batavia, to procure there if possible a cargo of +European salted meat. The necessity of his immediate return was so +urgent, that if he found on his arrival that only half a cargo could be +got, he was to fill up the remainder of the stowage with rice and sugar, +and make the best of his way back. If salted provisions were not to be +got at Batavia, he was to proceed to Calcutta. Should circumstances +run so much against us, as to cause his failure at both these ports, +Mr. Raven was at liberty to return by way of the Cape of Good Hope, as +provisions were at any rate to be procured, if possible. + +On the 21st, the _Fancy_ sailed for Norfolk Island, taking a cargo of +rice and dholl for the use of that settlement; the Rev. Mr. Marsden also +embarked in her to marry and baptise such as stood in need of those rites. + +On the 29th the colonial schooner brought another cargo of Indian corn +(one thousand one hundred and twelve bushels) from the Hawkesbury. For +want of storehouse room, great quantities were left lying before the +door, exposed to, and suffering much by the weather. As it had not been +measured or received by the store-keeper, the loss fell upon the owners. + +The cattle lately arrived seemed to suffer by their change of climate; +one cow and several calves died; perhaps as much from mismanagement, as +by the weather; for, with very few exceptions, it was impossible to +select from among the prisoners, or those who had been such, any who +would feel an honest interest in executing the service in which they were +employed. They would pilfer half the grain entrusted to their care for +the cattle; they would lead them into the woods for pasturage, and there +leave them until obliged to conduct them in; they would neither clean +them nor themselves. Indolent, and by long habit worthless, no dependance +could be placed on them. In every instance they endeavoured to +circumvent; and whenever their exertions were called for, they first +looked about them to discover how those exertions might be turned to +their own advantage. Could it then be wondered at, if little had been +done since our establishment? and must it not rather excite admiration to +see how much had been done? Whatever was to be seen was the effect of the +most unremitting, and perhaps degrading vigilance on the part of those in +whom the executive power had been from time to time vested, and of the +interest that many individuals had felt in raising this country from its +original insignificance to some degree of consequence. + +Among the casualties of the month must be noticed the death of a man +unfortunately drowned in attempting to save the life of a woman who was +overset with himself in a passage-boat, coming from Parramatta. He had +just got her into safety when she pulled him under water, and he +perished. It is extremely hazardous, and requires very great caution in +those who meddle with persons that are drowning. + +On the 27th, two soldiers, going with their arms to Parramatta, stopped +on the road to fire at a mark. One of them, inconsiderately, placing +himself behind the tree which was the mark, and presenting himself in the +unfortunate moment of his companion's firing, received the ball in his +thigh near the groin. He was brought to Sydney as soon as it was +possible, when Mr. Harris the surgeon of the regiment amputated the limb. +The wound was so near the groin, however, that the tourniquet was fixed +with much difficulty and hazard*. + +[* The patient's name was Nicholas Downie. He recovered, after several +weeks care and attention on the part of Mr. Harris; but his comrade +suffered much anxiety during the cure.] + +There was at this time under the care of the surgeon Joseph Hatton, a +settler at the Eastern Farms, an elderly man, who had been dangerously +stabbed in the belly by his wife, a young woman (named before their +marriage Rosamond Sparrow), in a fit of jealousy and passion. On his +recovery, he earnestly requested that no punishment might be inflicted on +her, but that she might be put away from him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + + + +Ration +A Criminal and a Civil Court held +Circumstances of the death of Francis T. Daveney +Salt made +Wilson, Knight, and the natives +The new mill +_Providence_ arrives from England +Four convicts brought from Port Stephens +Public labour +Storm +The _Fancy_ arrives from Norfolk Island +The _Supply_ and _Reliance_ arrive +Governor Hunter's commission read +Transactions +The India ships sail +Another arrival from England +Military promotions +Colonial regulations +The _Providence_, _Supply_, and _Young William_ sail +The _Sovereign_ storeship arrives from England +Criminal court held +Convict executed +Printing-press employed +Ration +Information from Norfolk Island +The Cattle lost in 1788 discovered +Transactions +Bennillong's Conduct after his return from England +Civil Court held +Harvest +Regulations +Natives +Meteorological phenomenon at the Hawkesbury +Mr. Barrow's death +Deaths in 1795 + + +July.] The salted provisions being all expended, except a few casks which +were reserved for the non-commissioned officers and private soldiers of +the corps, on Saturday the 11th of the month the convicts received the +following ration: + +Indian corn 12 pounds (unground); +Rice 5 ditto; +Dholl 3 pints; +Sugar 1½ pound; + +being the first time, since the establishment of the colony, that they +had gone from the store without receiving either salted or fresh +provisions. On the Monday following the military received, + +Salt pork 2 pounds; +Indian corn 12 ditto (unground); +Peas 3 pints; +Rice 3 ditto; +Sugar 6 ounces. + +This being the state of the stores, supplies were ardently to be desired. +It was truly unfortunate, that Mr. Bampton had not been able to procure +any salted provisions at Bombay, but in lieu thereof had brought us a +quantity of rice. We now began to grow grain sufficient for our +consumption from crop to crop, and grain that was at all times preferred +to the imports from India. Dholl and rice were never well received by the +prisoners as an equivalent for flour, particularly when peas formed a +part of the ration; and it was to be lamented that a necessity ever +existed, of forcing upon them such trash as they had from time to time +been obliged to digest. + +The effects of this ration soon appeared; several attacks were made on +individuals; the house occupied by Mr. Muir was broken into, and all or +nearly all that gentleman's property stolen; some of his wearing apparel +was laid in his way the next day; but he still remained a considerable +sufferer by the visit. Some private stock yards were attacked; but +finding them too vigilantly watched, a fellow played off a trick that he +thought would go down with the hungry; he stole a very fine greyhound, +and instead of secretly employing him in procuring occasionally a fresh +meal, he actually killed the dog, and sold it to different people in the +town for kangaroo at nine-pence per pound. Being detected in this +villainous traffic, he was severely punished. + +A criminal court was assembled on the 20th for the trial of Mary Pawson, +a settler's wife at the river, for the crime of arson. On the trial there +was strong evidence of malice in the prisoner against the wife of the +owner of the house; but not any that led directly to convict her of +having set the house on fire. She was therefore acquitted; but the +adjoining settlers disliking such a character in their neighbourhood, the +husband, who had nothing against him but this wife, sold a very good farm +which he possessed on a creek of the river, and withdrew to another +situation, remote and less advantageous. At the same time a notorious +offender, James Barry, was tried for attempting to break into a settler's +house at the Ponds with an intent to steal, the proof of which was too +clear to admit of his escape. He was sentenced to suffer one thousand +lashes, and on the Saturday following received two hundred and seventy +of them. + +On the same day a civil court was held for the purpose of granting +probate of the will of Thomas Daveney, late a superintendant of convicts, +who died on the 3rd of the month. The cause of his death was +extraordinary. He had been appointed a superintendant of the convicts +employed in agriculture at Toongabbie by the late Governor Phillip, who, +considering him trust-worthy, placed great confidence in him. Some time +after Governor Phillip's departure, his conduct was represented to the +lieutenant-governor in such a light, that he dismissed him from his +situation, and he retired to a farm which he had at Toongabbie. He had +been always addicted to the use of spirituous liquors; but he now applied +himself more closely to them, to drown the recollection of his disgrace. +In this vice he continued until the 3rd of May last, on which day he came +to Sydney in a state of insanity. He went to the house of a friend in the +town, determined, as it seemed, to destroy himself, for he there drank, +unknown to the people of the house, as fast as he could swallow, nearly +half a gallon of Cape brandy. He fell directly upon the floor of the room +he was in (which happened to be of brick); where the people, thinking +nothing worse than intoxication ailed him, suffered him to lie for ten or +twelve hours; in consequence he was seized with a violent inflammation +which broke out on the arm, and that part of the body which lay next the +ground; to this, after suppuration had taken place, and several +operations had been performed to extract the pus, a mortification +succeeded, and at last carried him off on the 3rd of July. A few hours +before his death he requested to see the ludge-advocate, to whom he +declared, that it had been told him that he had been suspected of having +improperly and tyrannically abused the confidence which he had enjoyed +under Governor Phillip; but that he could safely declare as he was +shortly to appear before the last tribunal, that nothing lay on his +conscience which could make his last moments in this life painful. At his +own request he was interred in the burying ground at Parramatta. He had +been advancing his means pretty rapidly; for, after his decease, his +stock of goats, consisting of eighty-six males and females, sold by +public auction for three hundred and fifty-seven pounds fifteen +shillings. He left a widow (formerly Catharine Hounson) who had for +several years been deranged in her intellects. + +In addition to the superintendant, there died in this month a woman, Jane +Forbes, the wife of Butler, a settler at Prospect Hill, who fell into the +fire while preparing their breakfast, and received such injury that she +shortly after expired. + +August.] From the scantiness of salted provisions, the article salt was +become as scarce. There came out in the _Surprise_, as a settler, a +person of the name of Boston. Among other useful knowledge* which we were +given to understand he possessed, he at this time offered his skill in +making salt from sea-water. As it was much wanted, his offers were +accepted, and, an eligible spot at Bennillong's Point (as the east point +of the cove had long been named) being chosen, he began his operations, +for which he had seven men allowed him, whose labour, however, only +produced three or four bushels of salt in more than as many weeks. + +[* Having been sent out by government to supply us with salted fish, he +had some time before offered to procure and salt fish for the settlement; +but he required boats and men, and more assistance than it was possible +to supply. He proposed to try Broken Bay.] + +His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales's birthday was duly noticed. At +one o'clock the _Endeavour_ fired twenty-one guns. + +Wilson (Bun-bo-e), immediately after his return from Port Stephens with +the deputy-surveyor, went off to the natives at the river. Another +vagabond, who like himself had been a convict, one Knight, thinking there +must be some sweets in the life which Wilson led, determined to share +them with him, and went off to the woods. About the middle of this month +they both came into the town, accompanied by some of their companions. On +the day following it appeared that their visit was for the purpose of +forcing a wife from among the women of this district; for in the midst of +a considerable uproar, which was heard near the bridge, Wilson and Knight +were discovered, each dragging a girl by the arm (whose age could not +have been beyond nine or ten years) assisted by their new associates. The +two white men being soon secured, and the children taken care of, the mob +dispersed. Wilson and Knight were taken to the cells and punished, and it +was intended to employ them both in hard labour; but they found means to +escape, and soon mixed again with companions whom they preferred to our +overseers. + +About this time the natives were, during two days, engaged in very severe +contests. Much blood was shed, and many wounds inflicted; but no one was +killed. It appeared to afford much diversion; for they were constantly +well attended by all descriptions of people, notwithstanding the risk +they ran of being wounded by a random spear. + +On the 26th that settlement was gratified by the arrival of his Majesty's +ship _Providence_, of twenty-eight guns, commanded by Captain Broughton, +from England. She sailed thence on the 25th of February last, in company +with his Majesty's ships _Reliance_ and _Supply_, which ships she left at +Rio de Janeiro some time in May last. We had the satisfaction of learning +that Governor Hunter was on board the _Reliance_, and might be daily +expected. + +The _Providence_ met with very bad weather on her passage from the Brazil +coast, and was driven past this harbour as far to the northward as Port +Stephens, in which she anchored. There, to the great surprise of Captain +Broughton, he found and received on board four white people, (if four +miserable, naked, dirty, and smoke-dried men could be called white,) +runaways from this settlement. By referring to the transactions of the +month of September 1790, it will be found that five convicts, John +Tarwood, George Lee, George Connoway, John Watson, and Joseph Sutton, +escaped from the settlement at Parramatta, and, providing themselves with +a wretched weak boat, which they stole from the people at the South Head, +disappeared, and were supposed to have met a death which, one might have +imagined, they went without the Heads to seek. Four of these people +(Joseph Sutton having died) were now met with in this harbour by the +officers of the _Providence_, and brought back to the colony. They told a +melancholy tale of their sufferings in the boat; and for many days after +their arrival passed their time in detailing to the crowds both of black +and white people which attended them their adventures in Port Stephens, +the first harbour they made. Having lived like the savages among whom +they dwelt, their change of food soon disagreed with them, and they were +all taken ill, appearing to be principally affected with abdominal +swellings. They spoke in high terms of the pacific disposition and gentle +manners of the natives. They were at some distance inland when Mr. Grimes +was in Port Stephens; but heard soon after of the schooner's visit, and +well knew, and often afterwards saw, the man who had been fired at, but +not killed at that time as was supposed, by Wilson. Each of them had had +names given him, and given with several ceremonies. Wives also were +allotted them, and one or two had children. They were never required to +go out on any occasion of hostility, and were in general supplied by the +natives with fish or other food, being considered by them (for so their +situation only could be construed) as unfortunate strangers thrown upon +their shore from the mouth of the yawning deep, and entitled to their +protection. They told us a ridiculous story, that the natives appeared to +worship them, often assuring them, when they began to understand each +other, that they were undoubtedly the ancestors of some of them who had +fallen in battle, and had returned from the sea to visit them again; and +one native appeared firmly to believe that his father was come back in +the person of either Lee or Connoway, and took him to the spot where his +body had been burnt. On being told that immense numbers of people existed +far beyond their little knowledge, they instantly pronounced them to be +the spirits of their countrymen, which, after death, had migrated into +other regions. + +It appeared from these four men, that the language to the northward +differed wholly from any that we knew. Among the natives who lived with +us, there were none who understood all that they said, and of those who +occasionally came in, one only could converse with them. He was a very +fine lad, of the name of Wur-gan. His mother had been born and bred +beyond the mountains, but one luckless day, paying a visit with some of +her tribe to the banks of the Dee-rab-bun (for so the Hawkesbury was +named) she was forcibly prevented returning, and, being obliged to submit +to the embraces of an amorous and powerful Be-dia-gal, the fruit of her +visit was this boy. Speaking herself more dialects than one, she taught +her son all she knew, and he, being of quick parts, and a roving +disposition, caught all the different dialects from Botany Bay to Port +Stephens. + +We understood that Lieutenant-governor Grose in the _Daedalus_ had +reached Rio de Janeiro in eleven weeks from his sailing hence, and that +all on board were in health. + +Public labour was scarcely anywhere performed in this month, owing to the +extreme badness of the weather which prevailed. The rain and wind were so +violent for some days after the arrival of the _Providence_, that neither +that ship nor the _Endeavour_ had much communication with the shore. +Accounts were received from the Hawkesbury, that several farms on the +creeks were under water; and the person who brought the account was +nearly drowned in his way over a plain named the Race-Ground. Paling +could no where stand the force of the storm. Several chimnies and much +plaster fell, and every house was wet. At Parramatta much damage was +done; and at Toongabbie (a circumstance most acutely felt) a very large +barn and threshing-floor were destroyed. The schooner had been loading +with corn at the river, and, though she left the store on the 11th, did +not reach Sydney until the 20th, having met with much bad weather. During +the storm, the column at the South Head fell in. This, however, could be +more readily repaired than the barn and the threshing-floor at Toongabbie, +which were serious losses, and had cost government a much larger sum than +the beacon. + +Several of the cattle lately arrived perished in this bad weather. + +To eke out the salt meat that was reserved for the military, two Cape +cows, which would not breed, were killed and served out to them during +this month. + +September.] After an absence of eleven weeks, the _Fancy_ arrived on the +3rd from Norfolk Island. Her passage thither was made in six days; but on +her return she ran within one hundred and thirty miles of this port in +three or four days; yet afterwards met with contrary and heavy gales of +wind which kept her out a month. On the 28th of last month she was off +the south head of Broken Bay in a heavy gale of wind, and was, by being +close in with the land in thick weather, in extreme danger. Of a large +quantity of stock (the property of Mr. Balmain, who left Norfolk Island +to take upon him the charge of the general hospital here), but a very +small quantity remained alive after the gale. + +The most favourable accounts were received from that settlement. Plenty +reigned throughout. Every barn was full. Four thousand pounds of fresh +pork having been cured, the lieutenant-governor had forty tons of salt +provisions to spare, which he offered to this colony. The wharf and crane +at Cascade were rather improved than simply repaired, and an overshot +water-mill had been erected at the trifling expence of three ewe sheep to +the constructor, which ground and dressed eighteen bushels of flour in a +day. + +William Hogg, a prisoner well known and approved at this place for his +abilities as a silversmith, and an actor in the walk of low comedy, put +an end to his existence in a very deliberate manner a few days before the +_Fancy_ sailed. Spirits being in circulation after her arrival, he went +to the 'Grog-shop' as long as he had money; but, finding that he had no +credit, he could no longer endure the loss of character which he thought +attached to it; and though he did not 'make his quietus with a bare +bodkin,' yet he found a convenient rope that put him out of the world. + +The 7th of September was marked by the arrival of the governor in chief +of these settlements. The signal was made for two sail between eight and +nine o'clock in the morning. The wind being from the northward, they did +not reach the anchorage until late; his Majesty's ship the _Supply_, +commanded by Lieutenant William Kent, getting in about sun-set; and the +_Reliance_, with the governor on board, about eight at night. Their +passage from Rio de Janeiro was long (fourteen weeks) and very rough, +until the ships came off Van Dieman's Land. Of our late bad weather they +had felt nothing. + +Situated as the colony was in point of provisions, we learned with +infinite concern, that a storeship which had once been under Governor +Hunter's orders, had, from being overloaded, been unavoidably left +behind, and had yet to run the chance of being taken by the enemies' +cruizers; and that by the two ships now arrived we had only gained a few +barrels of provisions salted at Rio de Janeiro; a town clock; the +principal parts of a large wind-mill; two officers of the New South Wales +corps; Mr. S. Leeds an assistant-surgeon, and Mr. D. Payne a master +boat-builder. + +His excellency did not take upon him the exercise of his authority until +the 11th, on which day his Majesty's commission was publicly read by the +judge-advocate, all descriptions of persons being present, His +excellency, in a very pertinent speech, declared the expectations he had +from every one's conduct, touching with much delicacy on that of the +persons lately sent here for a certain offence, (some of whom were +present, but who unfortunately kept at too great a distance to bear him,) +and strongly urging the necessity of a general unanimity in support of +his Majesty's government. He was afterwards sworn in by the +judge-advocate at his office.* An address, signed by the civil and +military officers on occasion of his return among them as governor, was +presented to his excellency a few days after his public appearance in +that important capacity. + +[* Before Captain Paterson gave up his command, all the prisoners in +confinement were pardoned and liberated. Rayner, under sentence of death, +was pardoned by the governor some time after. In consequence of this act +of grace, several runaways gave themselves up.] + +That he might as speedily as possible be acquainted with the state of the +colony, he ordered a general muster to be taken by the commissary, +appointing different days at Sydney, Parramatta, and the Hawkesbury, in +order that correct accounts might be obtained of the number and +distribution of every person (the military excepted) in those districts; +and he purposed in person to inspect the state of the different farms. He +recommended it to all persons who had lands in cultivation to plant with +Indian corn as much of them as might not at that time be under any other +grain; urging them, as it was the proper season, not to let it pass by, +it being an essential article in the nourishment of live stock, the +increase of which was of such importance to the settlement, that he could +not but advise the utmost care and economy in the use of what might then +and in future be in the possession of settlers and other persons. + +Mr. Bampton having given his ship such repairs as he was able in this +port, the _Endeavour_ and _Fancy_ sailed for India on the 18th. He +purposed touching at New Zealand and at Norfolk Island. We found after +their departure, that, notwithstanding so many as fifty persons whose +transportation had expired had been permitted to leave the colony in the +_Endeavour_, nearly as many more had found means to secrete themselves on +board her. As she was to touch at Norfolk Island, hopes were entertained +of getting the runaways back again, as the loss even of one man's labour +was at this time an object of consequence. + +As many labouring people as could be got together were employed during +the month in receiving such articles as had been brought in the king's +ships for the colony. + +The weather during the month was very variable; and three women and two +men died. Of these one was much regretted, as his loss would be severely +felt; this was Mr. J. Irving, who, dying before the governor arrived, +knew not that he had been appointed an assistant to the surgeons with a +salary of fifty pounds per annum. + +October.] The police and civil duties of the town and district of Sydney +were now regulated by civil magistrates. At Parramatta, Lieutenant +McArthur continued to carry on the duties to which he had been appointed +by Lieutenant-Governor Grose, the public service at that place requiring +the inspection and superintendance of an officer. + +On Sunday the 4th of this month the _Young William_, the storeship whose +unavoidable delay in her sailing we had regretted on the arrival of the +governor without her, anchored safe in the cove from England, after a +short passage of four months and nine days, with a cargo of provisions +only. She sailed from Spithead in company with the _Sovereign_, another +storeship, on the 25th of May, taking her route by the way of Rio de +Janeiro, where she anchored on the 12th of July, leaving it on the 21st +of the same month; and meeting with very bad weather nearly the whole of +the voyage, she shipped great quantities of water; and, being very deeply +laden, the vessel was considerably strained. + +By letters received from this ship we learned, that some promotions had +taken place in the New South Wales corps. Captain Nicholas Nepean had +obtained the commission of second major; Lieutenant John McArthur had +succeeded to his company; Lieutenant John Townson had got the company +late belonging to Captain Hill; and Ensigns Clephan and Piper were made +lieutenants, all without purchase. Messrs. Kent and Bell, the naval +agents, who left this country in the _Britannia_ in September 1794, +arrived safely in England in March last. + +In consequence of this arrival the governor had it in his power to issue +a better, though not so ample a ration of provisions as he could have +desired. The supply had not been sufficient to allow him to order more +than four pounds ten ounces and two thirds of an ounce of pork, and four +pounds of flour, to the convicts. The same quantity of salt meat was +ordered for the military; but they received two pounds of flour more than +the prisoners. The other parts of the weekly ration remained nearly the +same as before, except the article of sugar, the convicts receiving six +ounces instead of one pound and a half of that article. + +The report of the general muster which was ordered in the last month +having been laid before the governor, he thought proper to make some +regulations in the assistance afforded by government to settlers and +others holding grants of land. To the officers who occupied grounds was +continued the number of men allowed them by lieutenant-governor Grose; viz +ten for agriculture, and three for domestic purposes. Notwithstanding +this far exceeded the number which had at home been thought necessary, +the governor did not conceive this to be the moment for reducing it, much +as he wanted men. A wheat harvest was approaching; ground was planting +with Indian corn; not a man was unemployed; but he saw and explained that +a reduction must take place; that government could not be supposed much +longer to feed, maintain, and clothe the hands that wrought the ground, +and at the same time pay for the produce of their labour, particularly +when every public work was likely to stand still for want of labourers. +He was sensible that the assistance which had been given had not been +thrown away, and that the small number allowed by government could never +have produced such rapid approaches toward that independence which he +thought, from what he had already seen of the cultivation of the country, +was now much nearer than at his leaving it in 1791 he could have +conceived to be possible. To the settlers* who arrived in the _Surprise_ +he allowed five male convicts; to the superintendants, constables, and +store-keepers, four; to settlers from free people**, two; to settlers +from prisoners, one; and to sergeants of the New South Wales corps, one. + +[* Messrs. Boston, Pearce, and Ellis.] + +[** Such as the marine settlers, those at Liberty Plains, and others who +never had been prisoners.] + +As much inconvenience also was felt, and the end for which government +gave up the services of these convicts to individuals liable to be +defeated by their not residing at their respective farms, the settlers +were directed as much as possible to prevent their servants from having +any intercourse, particularly during the night, with the towns in their +neighbourhood; as most of the robberies which were committed were not +unjustly laid to their account. + +It appeared likewise by this muster, that one hundred and seventy-nine +people subsisted themselves independent of the public stores, and resided +in this town. To many of these, as well as to the servants of settlers, +were to be attributed the offences that were daily heard of, they were +the greatest nuisances we had to complain of; and there was not a doubt +that they were concerned about this time in rolling two casks of meat +from a pile at the store in a very hard storm of wind and rain. Enough to +fill a cask was found concealed in different holes the following morning. + +An indulgence had been allowed to some of the military and others, which +was now found to have produced an evil. Having been permitted to build +themselves huts on each side of and near the stream of water which +supplied the town of Sydney, they had, for the convenience of procuring +water, opened the paling, and made paths from each hut; by which, in +rainy weather, a great quantity of filth ran into the stream, polluting +the water of which every one drank. It therefore became an object of +police; and the governor prohibited removing the paling, or keeping hogs +in the neighbourhood of the stream, under penalty to the offender that +his house should be pulled down. + +On the 13th, the _Providence_ sailed for Nootka Sound. She was followed +by the _Supply_, which sailed on the 16th for Norfolk Island, having on +board three officers of the New South Wales corps, and a detachment of +the regiment to relieve those now on duty there. On the 29th the _Young +William_, having been expeditiously cleared of her cargo, sailed for +Canton. + +Clearing the store-ship, which was completed on the 19th, and stowing in +the public store the provisions she brought out, was the principal labour +of the month. Every effort was made to collect together a sufficient +number of working people to get in the ensuing harvest; and the muster +and regulation respecting the servants fortunately produced some. The +bricklayer and his gang were employed in repairing the column at the +South Head; to do which, for want of bricks at the kiln, the little hut +built formerly for Bennillong, being altogether forsaken by the natives, +and tumbling down, the bricks of it were removed to the South Head. A +person having undertaken to collect shells and burn them into lime, a +quantity of that article was sent down; and the column, being finished +with a thick coat of plaster, and whitened, was not only better guarded +against the weather, but became a more conspicuous object at sea than it +ever had been before. + +November.] On the 5th of November, the _Sovereign_ store-ship arrived +from England; her cargo a welcome one, being provisions. Like the _Young +William_, she touched at Rio de Janeiro, and like her also had met with +very bad weather after she had left that port until her arrival; from +making the south cape of this country to her anchoring she had a passage +of three weeks. In this ship arrived Mr. Thomas Hibbins, the deputy +judge-advocate for Norfolk Island; but unfortunately without the patent +under the great seal for holding the court. One settler also arrived, a +Mr. Kennedy and his family (a sister and three nieces); and Mr. Joseph +Gerald, a prisoner, whose present situation afforded another melancholy +proof of how little profit and honor were the endowments of nature and +education to him who perverted them. In this gentleman we saw, that not +even elegant manners (evidently caught from good company), great +abilities, and a happy mode of placing them in the best point of view, +the gifts of nature matured by education, could (because he misapplied +them) save him from landing an exile, to call him by no worse a name, on +a barbarous shore, where the few who were civilized must pity, while they +admired him. He arrived in a very weak and impaired state of health. We +learned that two other ships with convicts, the _Marquis Cornwallis_ and +the _Maria_, might be expected to arrive in the course of this summer. + +On the 7th, a criminal court was assembled, when the following persons +were tried; viz. Samuel Chinnery (a black) servant to Mr. Arndell*, the +assistant surgeon, for robbing that gentleman; but he was acquitted. +---- Smith and Abraham Whitehouse, for breaking into the dwelling-house +of William Potter, a settler at Prospect Hill, and after cruelly +treating the only person in the house, William Thorn, a servant) +stripping it of all the moveables they could find, and killing and taking +away some valuable stock; these were found guilty, and condemned to die: +and two settlers, and six convicts, for an assault on one Marianne +Wilkinson (attended with like circumstances of infamy as that on Mary +Hartley in April last) of which three were found guilty, and sentenced, +---- Merchant, alias Jones, the principal, to receive one thousand +lashes; the others, Ladley and Everitt, eight hundred each. + +[* This gentleman had, on the arrival of Mr. Leeds, been permitted to +retire from the civil duties of the colony with a salary of fifty pounds +per annum.] + +These unmanly attacks of several men on a single woman had frequently +happened, and had happened to some females who, through shame concealed +the circumstance. To such a height indeed was this dissolute and +abandoned practice carried, that it had obtained a cant name; and the +poor unfortunate objects of this brutality were distinguished by a title +expressive of the insults they had received. + +On the 16th the two prisoners Smith and Whitehouse were led out to +execution. Smith suffered, after warning the crowd which attended him to +guard against breaking the Sabbath. Whitehouse, being evidently the tool +of Smith, and a much younger man, was pardoned by the governor. His +excellency, after the execution, expressed in public orders, his +hope that neither the example he had that day found himself compelled to +make of one offender, nor the lenity which he had shown to another, would +be without their effect: it would always be more grateful to him to spare +than to punish; but he felt it necessary on that occasion to declare, +that if neither the justice which had been done, nor the mercy which had +been shown, tended to decrease the perpetration of offences, it was his +determination in future to put in execution whatever sentence should be +pronounced on offenders by the court of criminal judicature. + +A small printing-press, which had been brought into the settlement by +Mr. Phillip, and had remained from that time unemployed, was now found very +useful; a very decent young man, one George Hughes, of some abilities in +the printing line, having been found equal to conducting the whole +business of the press. All orders were now printed, and a number thrown +off sufficient to ensure a more general publication of them than had +hitherto been accomplished. + +Some time after the arrival of the _Sovereign_ the full allowance of salt +meat was issued, and the hours of public labour regulated, more to the +advantage of government than had for a considerable time, owing to the +shortness of the ration, been the case. Instead of completing in a few +hours the whole labour which was required of a man for the day, the +convicts were now to work the whole day, with the intermission of two +hours and a half of rest. Many advantages were gained by this regulation; +among which not the least was, the diminution of idle time which the +prisoners before had, and which, emphatically terming _their own time_, +they applied as they chose, some industriously, but by far the greater +part in improper pursuits, as gaming, drinking, and stealing. + +The full ration of flour was issued to the Military, on account of the +'hard duty which had lately fallen upon the regiment;' but they were +informed, that the quantity of flour in the public store would not admit +of their receiving such allowance for any length of time. Four pounds +were issued to the prisoners, and some other grain given to them to make +up the difference. + +On the 20th his Majesty's ship _Supply_ returned from Norfolk Island, +having been absent four weeks and four days. She had a long passage back +of seventeen days. When Mr. Kent left the island, the lieutenant-governor +was dangerously ill with the gout in his stomach. We understood that +cultivation was nearly at a stand there. The grounds were so over-run +with two great enemies to agriculture, rats, and a pernicious weed called +cow-itch*, that the settlers despaired of ever being able to get rid of +either. + +[* The Pruriens, a species of the Dolichos.] + +A circumstance happened this month not less extraordinary and unexpected +than the discovery of the four convicts at Port Stephens. + +The contests which had lately taken place very frequently in this town, +and the neighbourhood of it, among the natives, had been attended by many +of those people who inhabited the woods, and came from a great distance +inland. Some of the prisoners gathering from time to time rumours and +imperfect accounts of the existence of the cattle lost in 1788, two of +them, who were employed by some officers in shooting, resolved on +ascertaining the truth of these reports, and trying by different +excursions to discover the place of their retreat. On their return from +the first outset they made, which was subsequent to the governor's +arrival, they reported, that they had seen them. Being, however, at that +moment too much engaged in perfecting the civil regulations he had in +view for the settlement, the governor could not himself go to that part +of the country where they were said to have been found; but he detached +Henry Hacking, a man on whom he could depend. His report was so +satisfactory, that on the 18th the governor set off from Parramatta, +attended by a small party, when after travelling two days, in a direction +SSW from the settlement at Prospect Hill, he crossed the river named by +Mr. Phillip the Nepean; and, to his great surprise and satisfaction, fell +in with a very fine herd of cattle, upwards of forty in number, grazing +in a pleasant and apparently fertile pasturage. The day being far +advanced when he saw them, he rested for the night in their +neighbourhood, hoping in the morning to be gratified with a sight of the +whole herd. A doubt had been started of their being cattle produced from +what we had brought into the country from the Cape; and it was suggested +that they might be of longer standing. The governor thought this a +circumstance worth determining, and directed the attendants who were with +him (Hacking and the two men who had first found them) to endeavour in +the morning to get near enough to kill a calf. This they were not able to +effect; for, while lying in wait for the whole herd to pass (which now +consisted of upwards of sixty young and old) they were furiously set upon +by a bull, which brought up the rear, and which in their own defence they +were compelled to kill. This however answered the purpose better perhaps +than a calf might have done; for he had all the marks of the Cape cattle +when full grown, such as wide-spreading horns, a moderate rising or hump +between his shoulders, and a short thin tail. Being at this time seven or +eight and thirty miles from Parramatta, a very small quantity of the meat +only could be sent in; the remainder was left to the crows and dogs of +the woods, much to the regret of the governor and his party*, who +considered that the prisoners, particularly the sick at the hospital, had +not lately received any meat either salt or fresh. + +[* Captain Waterhouse and Mr. Bass (surgeon) of the _Reliance_, and the +writer of this Narrative.] + +The country where they were found grazing was remarkably pleasant to the +eye; every where the foot trod on thick and luxuriant grass; the trees +were thinly scattered, and free from underwood, except in particular +spots; several beautiful flats presented large ponds, covered with ducks +and the black swan, the margins of which were fringed with shrubs of the +most delightful tints, and the ground rose from these levels into hills +of easy ascent. + +The question how these cattle came hither appeared easy of solution. The +few that were lost in 1788, two bulls and five cows, travelled without +interruption in a western direction until they came to the banks of the +Nepean. Arrived there, and finding the crossing as easy as when the +governor forded it, they came at once into a well-watered country, and +amply stored with grass. From this place why should they move? They found +themselves in possession of a country equal to their support, and in +which they remained undisturbed. We had not yet travelled quite so far +westward; and but few natives were to be found thereabouts; they were +likely therefore to remain for years unmolested, and securely to +propagate their species. + +It was a pleasing circumstance to have in the woods of New Holland a +thriving herd of wild cattle. Many proposals were made to bring them into +the settlement; but in the day of want, if these should be sacrificed, in +what better condition would the colony be for having possessed _a herd of +cattle in the woods_?--a herd which, if suffered to remain undisturbed +for some years, would, like the cattle of South America, always prove a +market sufficient for the inhabitants of the country; and, perhaps, not +only for their own consumption, but for exportation. The governor saw it +in this light, and determined to guard, as much as was in his power, +against any attempts to destroy them. + +On his return he found some very fine ground at the back of Prospect +Hill. The weather during this excursion was so intensely hot, that one +day as the party passed through a part of the country which was on fire, +a terrier dog died by the way. + +Discharging the store-ship, some part of the cargo of which appeared to +be injured by the weather she had met with, formed the principal labour +of the month. On account of the small number of working men which could +be got together, the governor required two able men to be sent in for +this purpose from each farm having ten, to be returned as soon as the +provisions were stowed in the public store. + +It having been the practice for some time past to shoot such hogs +(pursuant to an order which their destructive qualities had rendered +necessary in the lieutenant-governor's time) as were found trespassing in +gardens or cultivated grounds, and the loss of the animals being greatly +felt by the owners, as well as detrimental to the increase of that kind +of stock, the governor directed, that instead of firing at them when +found trespassing, they should be taken to the provost-marshal, by whom +(if the damage done, which was to be ascertained before a magistrate, was +not paid for within twenty-four hours) they were to be delivered to the +commissary as public property, and the damages paid as far as the value +of the animal would admit. + +A combination appearing among the labouring people to raise the price of +reaping for a day, the governor, being as desirous to encourage industry +as to check every attempt at imposition, thought it necessary, on +comparing our's with the price usually paid in England, to direct that +ten shillings, and no more, should be demanded of, or given by any +settler, under pain of losing the assistance of government, for reaping +an acre of wheat. It was much feared that this order would be but little +attended to; and that some means would be devised on both sides to evade +the letter of it. + +We heard nothing of the natives at the river; all was quiet there. About +this settlement their attention had been for some time engrossed by +Bennillong, who arrived with the governor. On his first appearance, he +conducted himself with a polished familiarity toward his sisters and +other relations; but to his acquaintance he was distant, and quite the +man of consequence. He declared, in a tone and with an air that seemed to +expect compliance, that he should no longer suffer them to fight and cut +each other's throats, as they had done; that he should introduce peace +among them, and make them love each other. He expressed his wish that +when they visited him at Government-house they would contrive to be +somewhat more cleanly in their persons, and less coarse in their manners; +and he seemed absolutely offended at some little indelicacies which he +observed in his sister Car-rang-ar-ang, who came in such haste from +Botany Bay, with a little nephew on her back, to visit him, that she left +all her habiliments behind her. + +Bennillong had certainly not been an inattentive observer of the manners +of the people among whom he had lived; he conducted himself with the +greatest propriety at table, particularly in the observance of those +attentions which are chiefly requisite in the presence of women. His +dress appeared to be an object of no small concern with him; and every +one who knew him before he left the country, and who saw him now, +pronounced without hesitation that Bennillong had not any desire to +renounce the habits and comforts of the civilized life which he appeared +so readily and so successfully to adopt. + +His inquiries were directed, immediately on his arrival, after his wife +Go-roo-bar-roo-bool-lo; and her he found with Caruey. On producing a very +fashionable rose-coloured petticoat and jacket made of a coarse stuff, +accompanied with a gypsy bonnet of the same colour, she deserted her +lover, and followed her former husband. In a few days however, to the +surprise of every one, we saw the lady walking unencumbered with clothing +of any kind, and Bennillong was missing. Caruey was sought for, and we +heard that he had been severely beaten by Bennillong at Rose Bay, who +retained so much of our customs, that he made use of his fists instead of +the weapons of his country, to the great annoyance of Caruey, who would +have preferred meeting his rival fairly in the field armed with the spear +and the club. Caruey being much the younger man, the lady, every inch a +woman, followed her inclination, and Bennillong was compelled to yield +her without any further opposition. He seemed to have been satisfied with +the beating he had given Caruey, and hinted, that resting for the present +without a wife, he should look about him, and at some future period make +a better choice. + +His absences from the governor's house now became frequent, and little +attended to. When he went out he usually left his clothes behind, resuming +them carefully on his return before he made his visit to the governor. + +During this month one man and a woman, attempting to cross one of the +creeks at the Hawkesbury by a tree which had been thrown over, fell in, +and were drowned; and one man had died there of the bite of a snake. +Three male convicts* died at Sydney. + +[* One of them, William Locker, from the extraordinary deformity of his +left leg, had been offered £100 for it in England.] + +December.] The court of civil judicature had hitherto been but rarely +assembled. The few debts which had been contracted were not of sufficient +moment, and had seldom remained long enough in doubt, to require an +action to recover them. But now the possibility having been discovered of +acquiring in this country a property worth preserving, it was probable, +when the talents and disposition of the men of landed property (the +settlers) in New South Wales were considered, that many disputes would +occur among them which the civil court alone could decide. + +A court of civil judicature was assembled this month. Some debts were +sworn to, and writs granted. An action for an assault was also tried. +About the latter end of the month of October, a large sow, the property +of Mr. J. Boston, having trespassed with two or three other hogs on a +close belonging to an officer of the New South Wales corps, was shot by a +soldier of the regiment (the officer's servant). The owner, Mr. Boston, +repairing immediately to the spot, on seeing the sow, then near +farrowing, lying dead on the ground, made use of some intemperate +expressions; which being uttered in the hearing of two of the officers +and some other soldiers of the corps, the officers were said by Mr. Boston +to have encouraged and urged the soldiers to beat him. Mr. Boston +had been struck, and, as it appeared on the trial, with a musket, which +at the time was loaded. Mr. Boston laid his damage at five hundred +pounds. The court however, after several days very attentive examination +of the business, gave him a verdict against two of the defendants, with +twenty shillings damages from each. One of these defendants, a soldier, +was advised to appeal from the decision of the court to the governor, +who, after hearing the appeal, confirmed the verdict of the civil court. + +On the 6th the _Francis_ schooner sailed for Norfolk Island. The +governor, being anxious to learn the situation of the lieutenant-governor, +sent her merely with a letter, that if unhappily any accident should have +happened to him, a proper person might be sent in the _Reliance_ to +command the settlement, until a successor could arrive from England. +Having nothing to deliver or receive that could detain him, the master +determined to try in what time his vessel could run thither and back again. + +The harvest was begun in this month. The Cape wheat (a bearded grain +differing much from the English) was found universally to have failed. An +officer who had sown seven acres with this seed at a farm in the district +of Petersham Hill, on cutting it down, found it was not worth the +reaping. This was owing to a blight; but every where the Cape wheat was +pronounced not worth the labour of sowing. + +A quantity of useful timber having been for some time past indiscriminately +cut down upon the banks of the River Hawkesbury, and the creeks +running from it, which had been wasted or applied to purposes for +which timber of less value might have answered, the governor, among other +colonial regulations, thought it necessary to direct, that no timber +whatever should be cut down on any ground which was not marked out on +either the banks or creeks of that river: and, in order to preserve as +much as possible such timber as might be of use either for building or +for naval purposes, he ordered the king's mark to be immediately put on +all such timber, after which any persons offending against the order were +to be prosecuted. This order extended only to _grounds not granted to +individuals_, there being a clause in all grants from the crown, +expressly reserving, under pain of forfeiture, for the use thereof, 'such +timber as might be growing or to grow hereafter upon the land so granted, +which should be deemed fit for naval purposes.' + +It was feared, that the certainty of the existence of our cattle to the +southward being incontrovertibly established, some of our vagabonds might +be tempted to find them out, and satisfy their hunger on them from time +to time, as they might find opportunity. We were therefore not surprised +to hear that two of them had been killed. A very strict inquiry into the +report, however, convinced us that it had been raised only for the +purpose of trying how such a circumstance would be regarded. The governor +thought it necessary therefore to state in public orders, that, + + +Having heard it reported, that some person or persons, who had been +permitted to carry arms for the protection of themselves and property, +had lately employed that indulgence in an attempt to destroy the cattle +belonging to government, which were at large in the woods; and as the +preservation of that stock was of the utmost importance to the colony at +large, he declared, that if it should be discovered that any person +whatever should use any measure to destroy or otherwise annoy them, they +would be prosecuted with the utmost severity of the law. + + +A reward was also held out to any person giving information, and the +order was made as public as possible that no one might plead ignorance +of it. + +The harvest having commenced, the governor on the 22nd signified to the +settlers, that + + +although it had hitherto been the intention and the practice of +government to give them every possible encouragement, as well as others +who had employed themselves in growing corn, by taking off their hands +all their surplus grain at such prices as had from time to time been +thought fair and reasonable, it was not, however, to be expected, as the +colony advanced in the means of supplying itself with bread, that such +heavy expences could be continued. He therefore recommended to them to +consider what reduction in the price of wheat and Indian corn they could +at present submit to, as their offers in that respect would determine him +how far it might be necessary in future to cultivate on the part of +government, instead of taking or purchasing a quantity from individuals +at so great a price. + + +This proposal, he thought, could not be considered otherwise than as fair +and reasonable, when they recollected that the means by which individuals +had so far improved their farms had arisen from the very liberal manner +in which government had given up the labour of so great a number of its +own servants, to assist the industry of others. If this representation +should not have the effect which he hoped and expected, by a reduction of +the present high price of grain, he thought it his duty to propose, that +those who were assisted with servants from government, should at least +undertake to furnish those servants with bread. + +To those who had farms on the banks of the Hawkesbury he thought it +necessary to observe, that, there not being any granaries in that +district belonging to government, the expense of conveying their grain +from thence to this part of the settlement rendered it absolutely +necessary that they should lower their prices; otherwise they must be at +that expence themselves, and bring their surplus corn to market either at +Sydney or Parramatta, where government had stores where in to deposit it, +and where only the commissary could be permitted to receive it. + +A report from the river was current about this time, that the natives had +assembled in a large body, and attacked a few settlers who had chosen +farms low down the river, and without the reach of protection from the +other settlers, stripping them of every article they could find in their +huts. An armed party was directly sent out, who, coming up with them, +killed four men and one woman, badly wounded a child, and took four men +prisoners. It might have been supposed that these punishments, following +the enormities so immediately, would have taught the natives to keep at a +greater distance; but nothing seemed to deter them from prosecuting the +revenge they had vowed against the settlers for the injuries they had +received at their hands. + +A savage of a darker hue, and full as far removed from civilisation, +black Caesar, once more fled from honest labour to the woods, there to +subsist by robbing the settlers. It was however reported, that he had +done one meritorious action, killing Pe-mul-wy, who had just before +wounded Collins (the native) so dangerously, that his recovery was a +matter of very great doubt with the surgeons at our hospital, whose +assistance Collins had requested as soon as he was brought into town by +his friends. A barbed spear had been driven into his loins close by the +vertebrae of the back, and was so completely fixed, that all the efforts +of the surgeons to remove it with their instruments were ineffectual. +Finding, after a day or two, that it could not be displaced by art, +Collins left the hospital determined to trust to nature.* He was much +esteemed by every white man who knew him, as well on account of his +personal bravery, of which we had witnessed many distinguishing proofs, +as on account of a gentleness of manners which strongly marked his +disposition, and shaded off the harsher lines that his uncivilised life +now and then forced into the fore-ground. + +[* And he did not trust in vain. We saw him from time to time for several +weeks walking about with the spear unmoved, even after suppuration had +taken place; but at last heard that his wife, or one of his male friends, +had fixed their teeth in the wood and drawn it out; after which he +recovered, and was able again to go into the field. His wife War-re-weer +showed by an uncommon attention her great attachment to him.] + +On the 27th the _Sovereign_ sailed for Bengal; and on the last day of the +year the signal for a sail was made at the South Head, too late in the +day for it to be known what or whence the vessel was. + +The harvest formed the principal labour this month both public and +private. At Sydney, another attempt being made to steal a cask of pork +from the pile of provisions which stood before the storehouse, the whole +was removed into one of the old marine barracks. The full ration of salt +provisions being issued to every one, it was difficult to conceive what +could be the inducement to these frequent and wanton attacks on the +provisions, whenever necessity compelled the commissary to trust a +quantity without the store. Perhaps, however, it was to gratify that +strong, propensity to thieving, which could not suffer an opportunity of +exercising their talents to pass, or to furnish them with means of +indulging in the baneful vice of gaming. + +At the Hawkesbury, in the beginning of the month, an extraordinary +meteorological phenomenon occurred. Four farms on the creek named Ruse's +Creek were totally cut up by a fall, not of hail or of snow, but of large +flakes of ice. It was stated by the officer who had the command of the +military there, Lieutenant Abbott, that the shower passed in a direction +NW taking such farms as fell within its course. The effect was +extraordinary; the wheat then standing was beaten down, the ears cut off, +and the grain perfectly threshed out. Of the Indian corn the large thick +stalks were broken, and the cobs found lying at the roots, A man who was +too far distant from a house to enter it in time was glad to take shelter +in the hollow of a tree. The sides of the trees which were opposed to its +fury appeared as if large shot had been discharged against them, and the +ground was covered with small twigs from the branches. On that part of +the race-ground which it crossed, the stronger shrubs were all found cut +to pieces, while the weaker, by yielding to the storm, were only beaten +down. The two succeeding days were remarkably mild; notwithstanding which +the ice remained on the ground nearly as large as when it fell. Some +flakes of it were brought to Lieutenant Abbott on the second day, which +measured from six to eight inches long, and at that time were two fingers +at the least in thickness. + +On this officer's representing to the governor the distress which the +settlers had suffered whose farms had lain in the course of the shower +such relief was given them as their situations required. Nothing of this +kind had been felt either at Parramatta or at Sydney. + +There died this month Mr. Barrow, a midshipman belonging to his Majesty's +ship _Supply_. His death, which was rather sudden, was occasioned by an +obstruction in the bowels, brought on by bathing when very much heated +and full. He had attended divine service on the Sunday preceding his +death, and heard Mr. Johnson preach on uncertainty of human life, little +thinking how soon he was himself to prove the verity of the principal point +of his discourse--'That death stole upon us like a thief in the night.' + +Two male convicts died at Sydney. One of them, John Durham, had been for +upwards of two years a venereal patient in the hospital; and died at last +a wretched but exemplary spectacle to all who beheld him, or who knew his +sufferings. There died, during the year 1795, one assistant to the +surgeons; one sergeant of the New South Wales corps; two settlers; +thirteen male convicts; seven female convicts and one child; and one male +convict was executed. Making a total of twenty-six persons who lost their +lives during the year. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + + + +The _Arthur_ arrives from India +_Francis_ from Norfolk Island +A playhouse opened +Her Majesty's birthday kept +Stills destroyed +_Ceres_ storeship arrives +and _Experiment_ from India +Ship _Otter_ from America +Natives +Harvest got in +Deaths +A hut demolished by the military +A Transport arrives with prisoners from Ireland +A criminal court held +Caesar shot +General court martial +_Otter_ takes away Mr. Muir +_Abigail_ from America arrives +A forgery committed +Works +The _Reliance_ +Particulars respecting Mr. Bampton, and of the fate of Captain Hill + and Mr. Carter +A Schooner arrives from Duskey-Bay +Crops bad +Robberies committed +_Supply_ for Norfolk Island +Natives +Bennillong +_Cornwallis_ sails +Gerald and Skirving die + + +1796.] + +January] On the first of this month, the _Arthur_ brig anchored in the +cove from Calcutta. Mr. Barber, who was here in 1794 in the same vessel, +had been induced by the success he then met with to pay us a second +visit, with a cargo similar as to the nature of the articles, but of much +larger value than that which he then sold. He had been thirteen weeks on +his passage, and had heard nothing of the _Britannia_. + +It appeared from the information he brought us, that the Cape of Good +Hope might at that time be in the possession of the English. Trincomale +had surrendered to our arms; but of Batavia he could only say, that a +strong party in the French interest existed there. + +The _Surprise_, Captain Campbell, had arrived at Bengal after a long +passage of eight months from this port. + +In the evening of the following day the colonial vessel returned from +Norfolk Island, having been absent just four weeks. Lieutenant-governor +King continued extremely ill. + +In consequence of the order issued last month respecting a reduction in +the price of wheat, the settlers, having consulted among themselves, +deputed a certain number from the different districts to state to the +governor the hardships they should be subjected to by a reduction in the +price of grain, at least for that season. He therefore consented to +purchase their present crops of wheat at ten shillings per bushel; but at +the same time assured them, that a reduction would be made in the ensuing +season, unless some unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances should occur +to render it unnecessary. + +The officers who held ground offered to give up two of the number of men +the governor had allowed them, and to take two others off the +provision-store, which proposal was directed to be carried into execution. + +Some of the more decent class of prisoners, male and female, having some +time since obtained permission to prepare a playhouse* at Sydney, it was +opened on Saturday the 16th, under the management of John Sparrow, with +the play of The Revenge and the entertainment of The Hotel. They had +fitted up the house with more theatrical propriety than could have been +expected, and their performance was far above contempt. Their motto was +modest and well chosen--'We cannot command success, but will endeavour to +deserve it.' Of their dresses the greater part was made by themselves; +but we understood that some veteran articles from the York theatre were +among the best that made their appearance. + +[* The he building cost upwards of one hundred pounds. The names of the +principal performers were, H. Green, J. Sparrow (the manager), William +Fowkes, G. H. Hughes, William Chapman, and Mrs. Davis. Of the men, Green +best deserved to be called an actor.] + +At the licensing of this exhibition they were informed, that the +slightest impropriety would be noticed, and a repetition punished by the +banishment of their company to the other settlements; there was, however, +more danger of improprieties being committed by some of the audience than +by the players themselves. A seat in their gallery, which was by far the +largest place in the house, as likely to be the most resorted to, was to +be procured for one shilling. In the payment of this price for admission, +one evil was observable, which in fact could not well be prevented; in +lieu of a shilling, as much flour, or as much meat or spirits, as the +manager would take for that sum, was often paid at the gallery door. It +was feared that this, like gambling, would furnish another inducement to +rob; and some of the worst of the convicts, ever on the watch for +opportunities, looked on the playhouse as a certain harvest for them, not +by picking the pockets of the audience of their purses or their watches, +but by breaking into their houses while the whole family might be +enjoying themselves in the gallery. This actually happened on the second +night of their playing. + +The 18th was observed as the day on which her Majesty's birth is +celebrated in England.* The troops fired three volleys at noon, and at +one o'clock the king's ships fired twenty-one guns each, in honour of the +day. + +[* The anniversary of her Majesty's birth might with greater propriety be +kept in the colonies, particularly in New South Wales, on the 19th of +May, the day on which it happened, than at any other time; the same +reasons for observing it at a time distant from the king's not existing +there. This is attended to in India.] + +Among other objects of civil regulation which required the governor's +attention was one to remedy an evil of great magnitude. Some individuals +formed the strange design of making application to the governor for his +licence to erect stills in different parts of the settlement. On inquiry +it appeared, that for a considerable time past they had been in the +practice of making and vending a spirit, the quality of which was of so +destructive a nature, that the health of the settlement in general was +much endangered. + +A practice so iniquitous and ruinous, being not only a direct +disobedience of his Majesty's commands, but destructive of the welfare of +the colony in general, the governor in the most positive manner forbade +all persons on any pretence whatsoever to distil spirituous liquors of +any kind or quality, on pain of such steps being taken for their +punishment as would effectually prevent a repetition of so dangerous an +offence. The constables of the different districts, as well as all other +persons whose duty it was to preserve order, were strictly enjoined to be +extremely vigilant in discovering and giving information where and in +whose possession any article or machine for the purpose of distilling +spirits might then be, or should hereafter be erected in opposition to +this notification of the governor's resolution. Information on this +subject was to be given to the nearest magistrate, who was to send the +earliest notice in his power to the judge-advocate at Sydney. + +In pursuance of these directions several stills were found and destroyed, +to the great regret of the owners, who from a bushel of wheat (worth at +the public store ten shillings) distilled a gallon of a new and poisonous +spirit, which they retailed directly from the still at five shillings per +quart bottle, and sometimes more. This was not merely paid away for +labour, as was pretended, but sold for the purposes of intoxication to +whoever would bring ready money. + +Little or no attention having been paid to the order issued in October +last respecting removing the paling about the stream, the governor found +it necessary to repeat it, and to declare in public orders, 'to every +description of persons, that when an order was given by him, it was given +to be obeyed.' This had become absolutely necessary, as there were some +who, in open defiance of his directions, not only still opened the +paling, but took with dirty vessels the water which they wanted above the +tanks, thereby disturbing and polluting the whole stream below. + +Several attempts had been made by the commissary to ascertain the number +of arms in the possession of individuals; it being feared, that, instead +of their being properly distributed among the settlers for their +protection, many were to be found in the hands of persons who used them +in shooting, or in committing depredations. It was once more attempted to +discover their number, by directing all persons (the military excepted) +who were in possession of arms to bring them to the commissary's office, +where, after registering them, they were to receive certificates signed +by him, of their being permitted to carry such arms. + +Some few settlers, who valued their arms as necessary to their defence +against the natives and against thieves, hastened to the office for their +certificate; but of between two and three hundred stands of arms which +belonged to the crown not fifty were accounted for. + +The many robberies which were almost daily and nightly committed rendered +it expedient that some steps should be taken to put a stop to an evil so +destructive of the happiness and comfort of the industrious inhabitants. +Caesar was still in the woods, with several other vagabonds, all of whom +were reported, by people who saw them from time to time, to be armed; and +as he had sent us word, that he neither would come in, nor suffer himself +to be taken alive, it became necessary to secure him. Notice was +therefore given, that whoever should secure and bring him in with his +arms should receive as a reward five gallons of spirits. The settlers, +and those people who were occasionally supplied with ammunition by the +officers, were informed, that if they should be hereafter discovered to +have so abused the confidence placed in them, as to supply those common +plunderers with any part of this ammunition, they would be deemed +accomplices in the robberies committed by them, and steps would be taken +to bring them to punishment as accessories. + +To relieve the mind from the contemplation of circumstances so irksome to +humanity, on the 23rd the _Ceres_ store-ship arrived from England. It was +impossible that a ship could ever reach this distant part of his +Majesty's dominions, from England, or from any other part of the world, +without bringing a change to our ideas, and a variety to our amusements. +The introduction of a stranger among us had ever been an object of some +moment; for every civility was considered to be due to him who had left +the civilized world to visit us. The personal interest he might have in +the visit we for a while forgot; and from our solicitude to hear news he +was invited to our houses and treated at our tables. If he afterwards +found himself neglected, it was not to be wondered at; his intelligence +was exhausted, and he had sunk into the mere tradesman. + +This ship, whose master's name was Hedley, had on board stores and +provisions for the settlement. She sailed from England on the 5th of +August last; took the route of most other ships which had preceded her, +anchoring at Rio de Janeiro on the 18th of October, whence she sailed on +the 22nd of the same month, and made Van Dieman's Land on the 9th +instant, her passage occupying something more than five months. + +We found that a ship (the _Marquis Cornwallis_) had sailed for Cork to +take in her convicts three weeks before the _Ceres_ left England; and that +it was reported at Rio de Janeiro, that the Cape of Good Hope was in our +possession. + +The _Ceres_, touching at the island of Amsterdam in her way hither, took +off four men, two French and two English, who had lived there three +years, having been left from a brig (the _Emilia_), which was taken on to +China by the _Lion_ man of war. One of the Frenchmen, M. Perron, +apparently deserved a better kind of society than his companions +supplied. He had kept an accurate and neatly-written journal of his +proceedings, with some well-drawn views of the spot to which he was so +long confined. It appeared that they had, in the hope of their own or +some other vessel arriving to take them off, collected and cured several +thousands of seal-skins, which, however, they were compelled to abandon. +M. Perron had subsisted for the last eighteen months on the flesh of seals. + +On the day following this arrival the signal was again made; and before +noon the snow _Experiment_, commanded by Mr. Edward McClellan, who was +here in the same vessel in the year before last, from Bengal, and the +ship _Otter_, Mr. Ebenezer Dorr master, from Boston in North America, +anchored in the cove. + +Mr. McClellan had on board a large investment of India goods, muslins, +calicoes, chintzes, soap, sugar, spirits, and a variety of small +articles, apparently the sweepings of a Bengal bazar; the sale of which +investment he expected would produce ten or twelve thousand pounds. + +The American, either finding the market overstocked, or having had some +other motive for touching here, declared he had nothing for sale; but +that he could, as a favour, spare two hogsheads of Jamaica rum, three +pipes of Madeira, sixty-eight quarter casks of Lisbon wine, four chests +and a half of Bohea tea, and two hogsheads of molasses. He had touched at +the late residence of M. Perron, the island of Amsterdam, and brought off +as many of the sealskins (his vessel being bound to China after visiting +the north-west coast of America) as he could take on board. He had been +five months and three days from Boston, touching no where but at the +abovementioned island. + +We had the satisfaction of hearing, through Mr. McClellan, from the +master of the _Britannia_. He had, according to his instructions, +proceeded to Batavia, where judging from his own observation, and by what +he heard, that it was unsafe to make any stay, he after four or five days +left the port, and by that means fortunately escaped being detained, +which, from information that he afterwards received at Bengal, he found +would have happened to him. He was to leave Calcutta about the end of +December. + +The report of the Cape of Good Hope being in our possession had reached +that place before the _Experiment_ sailed. On this subject we were rather +anxious, as the armed ships which had lately arrived, the _Reliance_ and +_Supply_, were intended to proceed to that port as soon as the season +would admit, for cattle for the colony. + +Bennillong's influence over his countrymen not extending to the natives +at the river, we this month again heard of their violence. They attacked +a man who had been allowed to ply with a passage-boat between the port of +Sydney and the river, and wounded him, (it was feared mortally,) as he +was going with his companion to the settlement; and they were beginning +again to annoy the settlers there. + +Notwithstanding the reward that had been offered for apprehending black +Caesar, he remained at large, and scarcely a morning arrived without a +complaint being made to the magistrates of a loss of property supposed to +have been occasioned by this man. In fact, every theft that was committed +was ascribed to him; a cask of pork was stolen from the millhouse, the +upper part of which was accessible, and, the sentinels who had the charge +of that building being tried and acquitted, the theft was fixed upon +Caesar, or some of the vagabonds who were in the woods, the number of +whom at this time amounted to six or eight. + +The harvest was all well got in during this month. At Sydney, the +labouring hands were employed in unloading the store-ship; for which +purpose three men from each farm having ten were ordered in to public work. + +On the 21st of this month his Majesty's ship the _Reliance_ sailed for +Norfolk Island. In her went Mr. Hibbins, the judge-advocate of that +settlement who arrived from England in the _Sovereign_; and a captain of +the New South Wales corps, to take the command of the troops there. + +On the 7th the surgeon's mate of the _Supply_ died of a dysenteric +complaint. He had attended Mr. Barrow to his grave, who died in December +last. On the evening of the 23rd a soldier of the name of Eades, having +gone over to the north shore to collect thatch to cover a hut which he +had built for the comfort of his family, fell from a rock and was +drowned. He left a widow and five small children, mostly females, to +lament his loss. He was a quiet man and a good soldier. + +February.] The players, with a politic generosity, on the 4th of this +month performed the play of The Fair Penitent with a farce, for the +benefit of the widow Eades and her family. The house was full, and it was +said that she got upwards of twelve pounds by the night. + +A circumstance of a disagreeable nature occurred in the beginning of this +month. John Baughan*, the master carpenter at this place, being at work +in the shed allotted for the carpenters in one of the mill-houses, +overheard himself grossly abused by the sentinel who was planted there, +and who for that purpose had quitted his post, and placed himself within +hearing of Baughan. This sentinel had formerly been a convict, and, while +working as such under Baughan in the line of his business, thought +himself in some circumstance or other ill-treated by him, for which he +'owed him a grudge', and took this way to satisfy his resentment. +Baughan, a man of a sullen and vindictive disposition, perceiving that +the sentinel was without his arms, took them, unobserved by him, from the +post where he had left them, and delivered them to the sergeant of the +guard. + +[* John Baughan, alias Buffin, alias Bingham. He had served the term of +his transportation, and had for a considerable time been employed in the +direction of the carpenters and sawyers at this place.] + +The sentinel being confined, the company to which he belonged, indignant +at the injury done to their comrade, and too much irritated either to act +with prudence, or to consider the conduct they determined to pursue, +repaired the following morning to Baughan's house (a neat little cottage +which he had built below the hospital), where in a few minutes they +almost demolished his house, out-houses, and furniture, and Baughan +himself suffered much personal outrage. + +They were so sudden in the execution of this business, that the mischief +was done before any steps could be taken either by the civil or military +power to prevent it. + +Baughan, after some days had elapsed, swearing positively to the persons +of four of the principals in this transaction, a warrant was made out to +apprehend them; but before it could be executed, the soldiers expressing +themselves convinced of the great impropriety of their conduct, and +offering to indemnify the sufferer for the damage they had done him, who +also personally petitioned the governor in their behalf, the warrant was +withdrawn. + +It was observed, that the most active of the soldiers in this affair had +formerly been convicts, who, not having changed their principles with +their condition, thus became the means of disgracing their fellow-soldiers. +The corps certainly was not much improved by the introduction of +people of this description among them. It might well have been +supposed, that being taken as good characters from the class of +prisoners, they would have felt themselves above mixing with any of them +afterwards; but it happened otherwise; they had nothing in them of that +pride which is termed _l'esprit du corps_; but at times mixed with the +convicts familiarly as former cornpanions; yet when they chose to quarrel +with, or complain of them, they meanly asserted their superiority as soldiers. + +This intercourse had been strongly prohibited by their officers; but +living (as once before mentioned) in huts by themselves, it was carried +on without their knowledge. Most of them were now, however, ordered into +the barracks; but to give this regulation the full effect, a high brick +wall, or an inclosure of strong paling, round the barracks, was +requisite; the latter of these securities would have been put up some +time before, had there not been a want of the labouring hands necessary +to prepare and collect the materials. + +On the 11th of this month the ship _Marquis Cornwallis_ anchored in the +cove from Ireland, with two hundred and thirty-three male and female +convicts of that country. We understood from her commander, Mr. Michael +Hogan, that a conspiracy had been formed to take the ship from him; but, +the circumstances of it being happily disclosed in time, he was enabled +to prevent it, and having sufficient evidence of the existence of the +conspiracy, he caused the principal part of those concerned to be +severely punished, first taking the opinions of all the free people who +were on board. A military guard, consisting of two subalterns and a +proportionate number of privates of the New South Wales corps +(principally drafts from other regiments), was embarked in this ship. The +prisoners were in general healthy; but some of those who had been +punished were not quite recovered, and on landing were sent to the +hospital. It appeared that the men were for the most part of the +description of people termed Defenders, desperate, and ripe for any +scheme from which danger and destruction were likely to ensue. The women +were of the same complexion; and their ingenuity and cruelty were +displayed in the part they were to take in the purposed insurrection, +which was the preparing of pulverised glass to mix with the flour of +which the seamen were to make their puddings. What an importation! + +A few months provisions for these people, and the remainder* of the +mooring chains intended for his Majesty's ships the _Reliance_ and the +_Supply_, together with a patent under the great seal for assembling +criminal courts at Norfolk Island, arrived in this ship. She sailed from +Cork on the 9th of August last, and touched at the island of St. Helena +and the Cape of Good Hope, which latter place, we had the satisfaction of +hearing, had surrendered to his Majesty's arms, and was in our +possession. General Craig, the commander in chief on shore, and Commodore +Blankett, each sent an official communication of this important +circumstance to Governor Hunter, and stated their desire to assist in any +circumstance that might be of service to the settlement, when the season +should offer for sending the ships under his orders to the Cape for +supplies. + +[* Some part had arrived in the _Reliance_ and _Supply_.] + +With infinite regret we heard of the death of Colonel Gordon, whose +attentions to this settlement, when opportunities presented themselves, +can never be forgotten. He was a favoured son of science, and liberally +extended the advantages which that science gave him wherever he thought +they could promote the welfare of his fellow-creatures. + +On Monday the 15th a criminal court was held for the trial of two +prisoners, William Britton a soldier, and John Reid a convict, for a +burglary in the house of the Rev. Mr. Johnson, committed in the night of +Sunday the 7th of this month. The evidence, though strong, was not +sufficient to convict them, and they were acquitted. While this court was +sitting, however, information was received, that black Caesar had that +morning been shot by one Wimbow. This man and another, allured by the +reward, had been for some days in quest of him. Finding his haunt, they +concealed themselves all night at the edge of a brush which they +perceived him enter at dusk. In the morning he came out, when, looking +round him and seeing his danger, he presented his musket; but before +he could pull the trigger Wimbow fired and shot him. He was taken +to the hut of Rose, a settler at Liberty Plains, where he died in +a few hours. Thus ended a man, who certainly, during his life, +could never have been estimated at more than one remove above the brute, +and who had given more trouble than any other convict in the settlement. + +On the morning of the 18th the _Otter_ sailed for the north-west coast of +America. In her went Mr. Thomas Muir (one of the persons sent out in the +_Surprise_ for sedition) and several other convicts whose sentences of +transportation were not expired. Mr. Muir conceived that in withdrawing +(though clandestinely) from this country, he was only asserting his +freedom; and meant, if he should arrive in safety, to enjoy what he +deemed himself to have regained of it in America, until the time should +come when he might return to his own country with credit and comfort. He +purposed practising at the American bar as an advocate; a point of +information which he left behind him in a letter. In this country he +chiefly passed his time in literary ease and retirement, living out of +the town at a little spot of ground which he had purchased for the +purpose of seclusion. + +A few days after the departure of this ship, the _Abigail_, another +American, arrived. As several prisoners had found a conveyance from this +place in the _Otter_, the governor directed the _Abigail_ to be anchored +in Neutral Bay (a bay on the north shore, a little below Rock Island), +where he imagined the communication would not be so easy as the ships of +that nation had found it in Sydney Cove. Her master, Christopher +Thornton, gave out that he was bound to Manilla and Canton, having on +board a cargo for those places. For part of that cargo, however, he met +with purchasers at this place, notwithstanding the glut of articles which +the late frequent arrivals must have thrown in. He expected to have found +here a snow, named the _Susan_, which he knew had sailed from Rhode +Island with a cargo expressly laid in for this market. He came direct +from that port without touching any where. + +The frequent attacks and depredations to which the settlers situated on +the banks of the Hawkesbury, and other places, were exposed from the +natives, called upon them, for the protection of their families, and the +preservation of their crops, mutually to afford each other their +assistance upon every occasion of alarm, by assembling without delay +whenever any numerous bodies of natives were reported to be lurking about +their grounds; but they seldom or never showed the smallest disposition +to assist each other. Indolent and improvident even for their own safety +and interest, they in general neglected the means by which either could +be secured. This disposition being soon manifested to the governor, he +thought it necessary to issue a public order, stating his expectations +and directions, that all the people residing in the different districts +of the settlemerits, whether the alarm was on their own farms, or on the +farm of any other person, should upon such occasions immediately render +to each other such assistance as each man if attacked would himself wish +to receive; and he assured them, that if it should be hereafter proved, +that any settlers or other persons withdrew or kept back their assistance +from those who might be threatened, or who might be in danger of being +attacked, they would be proceeded against as persons disobeying the rules +and orders of the settlement. Such as had fire-arms were also positively +enjoined not wantonly to fire at, or take the lives of any of the +natives, as such an act would be considered a deliberate murder, and +subject the offender to such punishment as (if proved) the law might +direct to be inflicted. It had been intimated to the governor, that two +white men (Wilson and Knight) had been frequently seen with the natives +in their excursions, and were supposed to direct and assist in those acts +of hostility by which the settlers had lately suffered. He therefore +recommended to every one who knew or had heard of these people, and +particularly to the settlers who were so much annoyed by them, to use +every means in their power to secure them, that they might be so disposed +of as to prevent their being dangerous or troublesome in future. The +settlers were at the same time strictly prohibited from giving any +encouragement to the natives to lurk about their farms; as there could +not be a doubt, that if they had never met with the shelter which some +had afforded them, they would not at this time have furnished so much +cause to complaint. + +Those natives who lived with the settlers had tasted the sweets of a +different mode of living, and, willing that their friends and companions +should partake, either stole from those with whom they were living, or +communicated from time to time such favourable opportunities as offered +of stealing from other settlers what they themselves were pleased with. + +At this time several persons who had served their term of transportation +were applying for permission to provide for themselves. Of this +description were Wilson and Knight; but they preferred a vagrant life +with the natives; and the consideration that if taken they would be dealt +with in a manner that would prevent their getting among them again, now +led them on to every kind of mischief. They demonstrated to the natives +of how little use a musket was when once discharged, and this effectually +removed that terror of our fire-arms with which it had been our constant +endeavour to inspire them. + +Several articles having been brought for sale in the _Marquis +Cornwallis_, a shop was opened on shore. As money, or orders on or by any +of the responsible officers* of the colony, were taken at this shop for +goods, an opportunity was afforded to some knowing ones among the +prisoners to play off, not only base money, as counterfeit Spanish +dollars and rupees, but forged notes or orders. One forged note for ten +pound ten shillings, bearing the commissary's name, was passed at the +shop, but fortunately discovered before the recollection of the persons +who offered it was effaced, though not in time to recover the property. +The whole party was apprehended, and committed for trial. + +[* Such as the commissary, paymaster of the corps, and officers who paid +companies.] + +Discharging the storeships formed the principal labour of this month; +which being completed, the assistants required from the farms to unload +them were returned. + +The bricklayers' gang were employed in erecting a small hut for the +accommodation of an officer within the paling of the guardhouse at +Sydney, the main guard being now commanded by a subaltern officer. + +Mr. Henry Brewer, the provost-marshal of the territory, worn out with age +and infirmities, being incapable of the duties of his office, which now +required a very active and a much younger man to execute, and at this +time very much indisposed, the governor appointed to that situation +Mr. Thomas Smyth, then acting as a storekeeper at this place, until +Mr. Brewer should be able to return to the duties of it. + +During one or two hot days in this month the shrubs and brushwood about +the west point of the cove caught fire, and burnt within a few yards of +the magazine. On its being extinguished, the powder was removed for a few +days on board the _Supply_, until some security against any future +accident of that kind could be thrown up round the building. + +March.] Late in the evening of the 5th of March his Majesty's ship the +_Reliance_ returned from Norfolk Island. In her came Mr. D'Arcy +Wentworth. This person arrived at New South Wales in the _Neptune_ +transport, and went immediately to Norfolk Island, where he was employed, +first as a superintendant of convicts, and afterwards as an assistant to +the surgeon at the hospital there, having been bred to that profession. + +By letters received from Mr. Bampton, who sailed from his place in the +_Endeavour_ in the month of September last, we now heard, that on his +reaching Dusky Bay in New Zealand his ship unfortunately proved so leaky, +that with the advice and consent of his officers and people she was run +on shore and scuttled. By good fortune the vessel which had been built by +the carpenter of the _Britannia_ (when left there with Mr. John Leith the +mate, and others, in that ship's first voyage hence to the Cape of Good +Hope) being found in the same state as she had been left by them, they +completed and launched her, according to a previous agreement between the +two commanders. It may be remembered, that in addition to the large +number of persons which Mr. Bampton had permission to ship at this port, +nearly as many more found means to secrete themselves on board his ship +and the _Fancy_. For these, as well as his officers and ship's company, +he had now to provide a passage from the truly desolate shores of New +Zealand. He accordingly, after fitting as a schooner the vessel which he +had launched, and naming her the _Providence_, sailed with her and the +_Fancy_ for Norfolk Island, having on board as many of the officers and +people who reached Dusky Bay with him as they could contain, leaving the +remainder to proceed in a vessel which one Hatherleigh (formerly a +carpenter's mate of the _Sirius_, who happened to be with him) undertook +to construct out of the _Endeavour's_ long-boat. The _Fancy_ and +_Providence_ arrived safe at Norfolk Island, whence they sailed for China +on the 31st day of January last. + +This unlucky termination of the voyage of the _Endeavour_ brought to our +recollection the difficulties and dangers which Mr. Bampton met with in +the _Shah Hormuzear_, when, on his return to India from this country, he +attempted to ascertain a passage for future navigators between New +Holland and New Guinea. + +In the course of this narrative, the different reports received +respecting the fate of the boat which landed on Tate Island have been +stated. In a Calcutta newspaper, brought here by Mr. McClellan in the +_Experiment_, we now found a printed account of the whole of that +transaction, which filled up that chasm in the story which the parties +themselves alone could supply. + +By referring to the account given in the month of July 1794, as +communicated by Mr. Dell, it will appear, that the ship, having been +driven to leeward of the island after the boat left her, was three days +before she could work up to it. When Mr. Dell went on shore to search for +Captain Hill and his companions, he could only, at his return, produce, +what he thought incontestable proofs of their having been murdered; such +as their greatcoats, a lanthorn, tomahawk, etc. and three hands, one of +which, from a certain mark, was supposed to have belonged to Mr. Carter. +Of the boat, after the most diligent search round the island, he could +find no trace. By the account now published, and which bore every mark of +authenticity, it appeared, that when the boat, in which these unfortunate +gentlemen were, had reached the island (on the 3rd of July 1793), the +natives received them very kindly, and conducted them to a convenient +place for landing. After distributing some presents among them, with +which they appeared very much satisfied, it was proposed that Mr. Carter, +Shaw (the mate of the _Chesterfield_), and Ascott, should proceed to the +top of a high point of land which they had noticed, and that Captain Hill +should stay by the boat, with her crew, consisting of four seamen +belonging to the _Chesterfield_. + + The inland party, taking the precaution to arm, and provide themselves +with a necessary quantity of ammunition, set off. Nothing unfriendly +occurred during their walk, though several little circumstances +happened, which induced Ascott to suspect that the natives had some +design on them; an idea, however, which was scouted by his companions. + +On their return from the hill, hostile designs became apparent, and the +natives seemed to be deterred from murdering them merely by the activity +of Ascott, who, by presenting his musket occasionally, kept them off; +but, notwithstanding his activity and vigilance, the natives at length +made their attack. They began by attempting to take Ascott's musket from +him, finding he was the most likely to annoy them; directly after which, +Mr. Carter, who was the foremost of the party, was heard to exclaim, 'My +God, my God, they have murdered me.' Ascott, who still retained his +musket, immediately fired, on which the natives left them and fled into +the bushes. Ascott now had time to look about him, and saw what he justly +deemed a horrid spectacle, Mr. Carter lying bleeding on the ground, and +Mr. Shaw with a large wound in his throat under the left jaw. They were +both however able to rise, and proceed down the hill to the boat. On +their arrival at the beach they called to their companions to fire; but, +to their extreme horror, they perceived Captain Hill and one of the +seamen lying dead on the sand, cut and mangled in a most barbarous +manner. Two others of the seamen they saw floating on the water, with +their throats cut from ear to ear. The fourth sailor they found dead in +the boat, mangled in the same shocking manner. With much difficulty these +unhappy people got into their boat, and, cutting her grapnel, pulled off +from this treacherous shore. While this was performing, they clearly saw +the natives, whom in their account they term voracious cannibals, +dragging the bodies of Captain Hill and the seamen from the beach toward +some large fires, which they supposed were prepared for the occasion, +yelling and howling at the same time most dismally. + +These wretched survivors of their companions having seen, from the top of +the hill whither their ill-fated curiosity had led them, a large +sand-bank not far from the island, determined to run under the lee of it, +as they very reasonably hoped that boats would the next morning be sent +after them from the ship. They experienced very little rest or ease that +night, and when daylight appeared found they had drifted nearly out of +sight of the island, and to leeward of the sand-bank. + +Deeming it in vain to attempt reaching the bank, after examining what was +left in the boat, (a few of the trifles which they had put into her to +buy the friendship of the natives, and Ascott's greatcoat, but neither a +compass nor a morsel of provisions,) they determined, by the advice of +Shaw, who of these three miserable people was the only one that +understood any thing of navigation, to run direct for Timor, for which +place the wind was then happily fair. To the westward, therefore, they +directed their course, trusting (as the printed account stated) to that +Providence which had delivered them from the cannibals at Tate Island.* + +[* The narrative of this most horrible affair, as printed at Calcutta, +was reprinted entire in the _European Magazine_ for May and June 1797.] + +Without provisions, destitute of water, and almost without bodily +strength, it cannot be doubted that their sufferings were very great +before they reached a place of safety and relief. They left the island on +the 3rd of July, the day on which their companions were butchered. On the +7th, having the preceding day passed a sand-bank covered with birds, they +providentially, in the morning, found two small birds in the boat, one of +which they immediately divided into three parts, and were considerably +relieved by eating it. On the 8th they found themselves with land on +both sides. Through these straits they passed, and continued their course +to the westward. All that could be done with their wounds was to keep +them clean by opening them occasionally, and washing them with salt +water. On the 11th they saw land, and pushed their boat into a bay, all +agreeing that they had better trust to the chance of being well received +on shore, than to that of perishing in the course of a day or two more at +sea. Here they procured some water and a roasted yam from the natives, +who also gave them to understand that Timor was to the southward of them. +Not thinking themselves quite so safe here as they would be at Coupang, +they again embarked. They soon after found a proa in chase of them, which +they eluded by standing with their boat over a reef that the proa would +not encounter. On the morning of the 13th they saw a point of land ahead, +which, with the wind as it then was, they could not weather. They +therefore ran into a small bay, where the natives received them, calling +out 'Bligh! Bligh!' Here they landed, were hospitably received, and +providentially saved from the horror of perishing by famine. + +This place was called by the natives Sarrett, and was distinct from Timor +Land, which was the first place they refreshed at. They were also +informed, that there was another small island to the northward, called by +them Fardatte, but which in some charts was named Ta-na-bor. They also +understood that a proa came yearly from Banda to trade at Tanabor, and +that her arrival was expected in the course of seven or eight months. + +They were much gratified with this information, and soon found that they +had fallen into the hands of a hospitable and humane race of people. + +On the 25th of July Mr. Carter's wound was entirely healed, after having +had thirteen pieces of the fractured skull taken out. But this gentleman +was fated not long to survive his sufferings. He remained in perfect +health until the 17th of November, when he caught a fever, of which he +died on the 10th of December, much regretted by his two friends (for +adversity makes friends of those who perhaps, in other situations, would +never have shaken hands). + +The two survivors waited in anxious expectation for the arrival of the +annual trading proa from Banda. To their great joy she came on the 12th +of March 1794. + +For Banda they sailed on the 10th of April, and arrived there on the 1st +of May following, where they were received with the greatest hospitality +by the governor, who supplied them with every thing necessary for people +in their situation, and provided them with a passage on board an Indiaman +bound to Batavia, where they arrived on the 10th of the following +October; adding another to the many instances of escape from the perils +which attend on those whose hard fate have driven them to navigate the +ocean in an open boat. + +Hard indeed was the fate of Captain Hill and Mr. Carter. They were +gentlemen of liberal education, qualified to adorn the circles of life in +which their rank in society placed them. How lamentable thus to perish, +the one by the hands and rude weapons of barbarous savages, cut off in +the prime of life and most perfect enjoyment of his faculties, lost for +ever to a mother and sister whom he tenderly loved, his body mangled, +roasted, and devoured by cannibals; the other, after escaping from those +cannibals, to perish* in a country where all were strangers to him, +except his two companions in misery Shaw and Ascott, to give up all his +future prospects in life, never more to meet the cheering eye of +friendship or of love, and without having had the melancholy satisfaction +of recounting his perils, his escape, and sufferings, to those who would +sympathise with him in the tale of his sorrows. + +[* It is evident, if this account be true, that Mr. Dell must have been +mistaken in his opinion of having carried on board the _Shah Hormuzear_ a +hand which, from a certain mark on it, he knew to have belonged to Mr. +Carter.] + +On the 17th the vessel built by the shipwright Hatherleigh at Dusky Bay +arrived, with some of the people left behind by Mr. Bampton. They were so +distressed for provisions, that the person who had the direction of the +vessel could not bring away the whole; and it was singularly fortunate +that he arrived as he did, for with all the economy that could be used, +his small stock of provisions was consumed to the last mouthful the day +before he made the land. + +This vessel, which the officer who commanded her (Waine, one of the mates +of the _Endeavour_) not unappropriately named the _Assistance_, was built +entirely of the timber of Dusky Bay, but appeared to be miserably +constructed. She was of near sixty tons burden, and was now to be sold* +for the benefit of Mr. Bampton. + +[* Notwithstanding all her imperfections, she was valued at and sold for +two hundred and fifty pounds.] + +The situation of the people still remaining at Dusky Bay was not, we +understood, the most enviable; their dependence for provisions being +chiefly on the seals and birds which they might kill. They had all +belonged to this colony, and one or two happened to be persons of good +character. + +On the 10th the American sailed for the north-west coast of America. In +her went Mr. James Fitzpatrick Knaresbro', a gentleman whose hard lot it +was to be doomed to banishment for life from his native country, Ireland, +and the enjoyment of a comfortable fortune which he there possessed. He +arrived here in the _Sugar Cane_ transport, in the year 1793, and had +lived constantly at Parramatta with the most rigid economy and severe +self-denial even of the common comforts of life. + +It was seen with concern that the crops of this season proved in general +bad, the wheat being almost every where mixed with a weed named by the +farmers Drake. Every care was taken to prevent this circumstance from +happening in the ensuing season, by cleaning with the greatest nicety not +only such wheat as was intended for seed, but such as was received into +the public store from settlers. It was occasioned by the ground being +overwrought, from a greediness to make it produce golden harvests every +season, without allowing it time to recruit itself from crop to crop, or +being able to afford it manure. Had this not happened, the crops would +most likely have been immense. + +At the Hawkesbury, where alone any promise of agricultural advantages was +to be found, the settlers were immersed in intoxication. Riot and madness +marked their conduct; and this was to be attributed to the spirits that, +in defiance of every precaution, found their way thither. + +Early in the month a store-room belonging to Captain Paterson was broken +into, and articles to a large amount stolen thereout. A sentinel was +stationed in the front of the house; notwithstanding which, the thieves +had time to remove, through a small hole that they made in a brick wall, +all the property they stole. + +In the course of the month Captain Townson, another officer of the corps, +was also robbed. He had that morning received in trust sixty pounds in +dollars; these, together with his watch, were stolen from him in the +following night. His servants were suspected, as were also Captain +Paterson's; but nothing could be fixed upon them that bore the resemblance +of proof. + +Robberies were more frequent now than they had been for some time past, +scarcely a night passing without at least an attempt being made. On the +17th, the festival of St. Patrick, the night-watch were assaulted by two +fellows, Matthew Farrel and Richard Sutton, (better known by the title of +the Newgate Bully,) while the latter was pursued by them from a house +which he was endeavouring to break into, to the house of Farrel, who +tried to secrete him, and afford him protection. + +A woman was stopped in the street at night, and a piece of callico +forcibly taken from her. A convict being taken up as the man who had +robbed her, she at first was positive to his person, but when brought +before a magistrate, on recollecting that his life might be in danger, +she was ready to swear that, it being very dark at the time, it was not +possible she should know his features. Thus difficult was it too often +found to bring these people to justice. + +On the 24th his Majesty's ship _Supply_ sailed for Norfolk Island. The +patent for holding criminal courts there, which was brought hither by the +_Cornwallis_, was sent by this conveyance, together with R. Sutton (the +Newgate Bully) and some other very bad characters, who, it was not +unlikely, would soon entitle themselves to the benefit of the patent +which accompanied them. + +Hogs again became such a public nuisance, by running loose in the town, +without rings or yokes, that another order respecting them was given out, +directing the owners either to shut them up, or appoint them to be +watched when at large. + +Reports were again received this month of fresh outrages committed by the +natives at the river. The schooner which had been sent round with +provisions saw some of these people off a high point of land named +Portland Head, who menaced them with their spears, and carried in their +appearance every mark of hostility. The governor being at this time on an +excursion to that settlement (by water), one of his party landed on the +shore opposite Portland Head, and saw at a short distance a large body of +natives, who he understood had assembled for the purpose of burning the +corpse of a man who had been killed in some contest among themselves. + +About this time Bennillong, who occasionally shook off the habits of +civilized life, and went for a few days into the woods with his sisters +and other friends, sent in word that he had had a contest with his bosom +friend Cole-be, in which he had been so much the sufferer, that until his +wounds were healed he could not with any pleasure to himself appear at +the governor's table. This notification was accompanied with a request, +that his clothes, which he had left behind him when he went away, might +be sent him, together with some victuals, of which he was much in want. + +On his coming among us again, he appeared with a wound on his mouth, +which had divided the upper lip and broke two of the teeth of that jaw. +His features, never very pleasing, now seemed out of all proportion, and +his pronunciation was much altered. Finding himself badly received among +the females (although improved by his travels in the little attentions +that are supposed to have their weight with the sex) and not being able +to endure a life of celibacy, which had been his condition from the day +of his departure from this country until nearly the present hour, he made +an attack upon his friend's favourite, Boo-ree-a, in which he was not +only unsuccessful, but was punished for his breach of friendship, as +above related, by Cole-be, who sarcastically asked him, 'if he meant that +kind of conduct to be a specimen of English manners?' + +The _Ceres_, having been discharged from government employ, sailed in the +beginning of the month for Canton. Being well manned, the master was not +in want of any hands from this place; but eight convicts found means to +secrete themselves on board a day or two before she sailed. They were +however, by the great vigilance of Mr. Hedley, discovered in time to be +sent back to their labour. Among them we were not surprised to find two +or three of the last importation from Ireland. + +We lost four persons by death during this month. On the 6th died of a +severe dysentery, Richard Hudson, the sergeant-major of the New South +Wales corps. At three in the morning of the 16th Mr. Joseph Gerald +breathed his last. A consumption which accompanied him from England, and +which all his wishes and efforts to shake off could not overcome, at +length brought him to that period when, perhaps, his strong enlightened +mind must have perceived how full of vanity and vexation of spirit were +the busiest concerns of this world; and into what a narrow limit was now +to be thrust that frame which but of late trod firmly in the walk of +life, elate and glowing with youthful hope, glorying in being a martyr to +the cause which he termed that of Freedom, and considering as an honour +that exile which brought him to an untimely grave.* He was followed in +three days after by another victim to mistaken opinions, Mr. William +Skirving. A dysentery was the apparent cause of his death, but his heart +was broken. In the hope of receiving remittances from England, which +might enable him to proceed with spirit and success in farming, of which +he appeared to have a thorough knowledge, he had purchased from different +persons, who had ground to sell, about one hundred acres of land adjacent +to the town of Sydney. He soon found that a farm near the sea-coast was +of no great value. His attention and his efforts to cultivate the ground +were of no avail. Remittances he received none; he contracted some little +debts, and found himself neglected by that party for whom he had +sacrificed the dearest connexions in life, a wife and family; and finally +yielded to the pressure of this accumulated weight. Among us, he was a +pious, honest, worthy character. In this settlement his political +principles never manifested themselves; but all his solicitude seemed to +be to evince himself the friend of human nature. _Requiescat in pace_! + +[* He was buried in the garden of a little spot of ground which he had +purchased at Farm Cove. Mr. F. Palmer, we understood, had written his +epitaph at large.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + + + +Slops served +Orders +Licences granted +The _Supply_ returns from Norfolk Island +The _Susan_ from North America and the _Indispensable_ from England +A Criminal and Civil Court held +Sick +Thefts committed +The _Britannia_ arrives from Bengal +Mr. Raven's opinion as to the time of making a passage to India +A Civil Court +The _Cornwallis_ and _Experiment_ sail for India +Caution to masters of ships +A Wind-mill begun +Thefts committed +State of the settlers +The Governor goes to Mount Hunter +Regulations +Public works +Deaths + + +April.] In the beginning of this month a very liberal allowance of slops +was served to the prisoners male and female. As it had been too much the +practice for these people to sell the clothing they received from +government as soon as it was issued to them, the governor on this +occasion gave it out in public orders, that whenever it should be proved +that any person had either sold or otherwise made away with any of the +articles then issued, the buyer and seller or receiver thereof would both +subject themselves to corporal or other punishment. Orders, however, had +never yet been known to have much weight with these people. + +Thefts were still nightly committed. At the Hawkesbury the corn store was +broken into, and a quantity of wheat and other articles stolen; and two +people were apprehended for robbing the deputy-surveyor's fowl-house. All +these depredations were chiefly committed by those public nuisances the +people off the stores. + +Toward preventing the indiscriminate sale of spirits which at this time +prevailed in all the settlements, the governor thought that granting +licences to a few persons of good character might have a good effect. Ten +persons were selected by the magistrates, and to them licences for twelve +months, under the hands of three magistrates, were granted. The +principals were bound in the usual penalties of twenty pounds each, and +obliged to find two sureties in ten pounds: and as from the very frequent +state of intoxication in which great numbers of the lower order of people +had for some time past been seen, there was much reason to suspect that a +greater quantity of spirituous liquors had been landed from the different +ships which had entered this port than permits had been obtained for, it +became highly necessary to put a stop, as early as possible, to a +practice which was pregnant with all kinds of mischief. The governor +judged it necessary, the more effectually to suppress the dangerous +practice of retailing spirits in this indiscriminate way, not only to +grant licences under the restrictions abovementioned, but to desire the +aid of all officers, civil and military, and in a more particular manner +of all magistrates, constables, etc. as they regarded the good of his +Majesty's service, the peace, tranquillity, and good order of the colony, +to use their utmost exertions for putting an end to a species of traffic, +from which the destruction of health and the ruin of all industry were to +be expected; and urged them to endeavour to discover who those people +were, that, self-licenced only, had presumed to open public houses for +this abominable purpose. + +He also informed those who might, after knowing his intentions, be daring +enough to continue to act in opposition to them, that the house of every +offender should be pulled down as a public nuisance, and such other steps +be taken for his further punishment as might be deemed necessary. + +In the evening of the 18th his Majesty's ship _Supply_ returned from +Norfolk Island, having been absent only three weeks and four days, the +quickest passage that had yet been made to and from that island. At night +word was sent up from the Look-out, that another vessel was off, and on +the following evening the snow _Susan_ arrived from Rhode Island, having +been at sea two hundred and thirty-one days, not touching any where on +her passage. + +The Americans were observed to make these kind of voyages from motives of +frugality, sailing direct for this port; but they were at the same time +observed to bring in their people extremely healthy. On our enquiring +what methods they took so to secure the health of their seamen, they told +us that in general they found exercise the best preventive against the +scurvy, and considered idleness as the surest means of introducing it. In +addition to exercise, however, they made frequent use of acids in the +diet of their seamen, and of fumigations from tobacco in their +between-decks. Certain it was that none of our ships, which touched in +their way out at other ports, arrived so generally healthy. + + A Mr. Trotter was the master of this vessel. He was an Irishman by +birth, but but had for some time been a citizen of the United States. +Strong currents and foul winds had been his enemies in the late voyage. +His cargo consisted of spirits, broad-cloth, and a variety of useful and +desirable articles, adapted to the necessities of this country. + +On the last day of this month the _Indispensable_ transport arrived from +England, with one hundred and thirty-one female convicts, and a small +quantity of provisions on board for their consumption. + +Mr. Wilkinson, who commanded this ship, we found, to our great regret, +had not touched at the Cape of Good Hope; he had stopped only at the port +of Rio de Janeiro. This was unfortunate, as it was intended that the +king's ships should sail early in the ensuing month of September for that +part of the world. That the war still raged in Europe we heard with +concern, feeling as every humane mind must do for the sufferings of its +fellow-creatures; but it was in the highest degree gratifying to us to +know that our situation was not wholly forgotten at home, proof enough of +which we experienced in the late frequent arrivals of ships from England. + +At a criminal court which was held in this month four prisoners were +tried for forging, and uttering with a forged endorsement, the note which +had been passed at Mr. Hogan's store in February last, when James +McCarthy was convicted of the same, and received sentence of death; the +others who were tried with him were acquitted. This trial had been +delayed some time, McCarthy having found means to break out of the cells, +and remain for some weeks sheltered at the Hawkesbury, the refuge of all +the Sydney rogues when in danger of being apprehended. + +Three prisoners were tried for stealing some articles out of the store at +the river, one of whom was found guilty, viz James Ashford, a young lad +who had been formerly drummed out of the New South Wales corps. He was +sentenced to seven years labour at Norfolk Island. One soldier was +accused by an old man, a settler at the river, of an unnatural crime, but +acquitted. + +Two people off the store were found guilty of stealing some geese, the +property of Mr. Charles Grimes, the deputy-surveyor, and sentenced to +receive corporal punishment. Another of the same class was found guilty +of cutting and wounding a servant of the commissary, who had prevented +his committing a theft, and was sentenced to receive eight hundred +lashes; and one man, George Hyson, for an attempt to commit the +abominable crime of bestiality, was sentenced to stand three times in the +pillory, an hour each time. + +How unpleasing were the reflections that arose from this catalogue of +criminals and their offences! No punishment however exemplary, no reward +however great, could operate on the minds of these unthinking people. +Equally indifferent to the pain which the former might occasion, and the +gratification that the other might afford, they blindly pursued the +dictates of their vicious inclinations, to whatever they prompted; and +when stopped by the arm of justice, which sometimes reached them, they +endured the consequences with an hardened obstinacy and indifference that +effectually checked the sensations of pity which are naturally excited by +the view of human sufferings. + +A civil court also was assembled this month, by which some writs and some +probates of wills were granted. + +At the Hawkesbury, where the settlers were consuming their subsistence in +drunkenness, a very excellent barrack was erecting for the use of the +commandant, on a spot which had been selected sufficiently high to +preclude any danger of the building being affected by a flood. + +In this and the preceding month many people, adults as well as children, +were again afflicted with inflammations in the eyes. Having been visited +by this disorder in the month of April 1794, about which time we had the +same variable weather as was now experienced, we attributed its +appearance among us at this time to the same cause. The medical gentlemen +could not account for it on any other principle. One man, Sergeant-major +Jones of the New South Wales corps, died. + +May.] Sixty of the women received by the _Indispensable_ were sent up to +Parramatta, there to be employed in such labour as was suited to their +sex and strength. The remainder were landed at this place. + +On the 4th the governor notified in public orders his appointment of Mr. +D'Arcy Wentworth to the situation of assistant-surgeon to the settlement, +in the room of Mr. Samuel Leeds, the gentleman who came out with Governor +Hunter, he being permitted to return to England for the recovery of his +health. + +Daily experience proved, that those people whose sentences of +transportation had expired were greater evils than the convicts +themselves. It was at this time impossible to spare the labour of a +single man from the public work. Of course, no man was allowed to remove +himself from that situation without permission. But, notwithstanding this +had been declared in public orders, many were known to withdraw +themselves from labour and the provision-store on the day of their +servitude ceasing. On their being apprehended, punished for a breach of +the order, and ordered again to labour, they seized the first opportunity +of running away, taking either to the woods to subsist by depredations, +or to the shelter which the Hawkesbury settlers afforded to every +vagabond that asked it. + +By these people we were well convinced every theft was committed. Their +information was good; they never attempted a house that was not an object +of plunder; and wherever there was any property they were sure to pay a +visit. The late robberies at the clergyman's and at Captain Townson's +were among the most striking instances. + +It was on these occasions generally conjectured, that the domestics of +the house must aid and assist in the theft; for the perpetrator of it +always seemed to know where to lay his hand on the article for which he +thus risked his neck; and we never found them make an attempt on the +house of a poor individual. + +On Wednesday the 11th, to the great satisfaction of the settlement at +large, the _Britannia_ storeship arrived safe from Calcutta and Madras, +entering this port for the fifth time with a valuable cargo on board. + +She was now freighted with salted provisions, and a small quantity of +rice on account of government, procured by order of the presidencies of +Calcutta and Madras. On private account, the different officers of the +civil and military departments received the various commissions which +they had been allowed to put into the ship; and one young mare, five +cows, and one cow-calf, of the Bengal breed, were brought for sale. + +On board of this ship arrived two officers of the Bengal army, Lieutenant +Campbell and Mr. Phillips, a surgeon of the military establishment for +the purpose of raising two hundred recruits from among those people who +had served their respective terms of transportation. They were to be +regularly enlisted and attested, and were to receive bounty-money; and a +provisional engagement was made with Mr. Raven, to convey them to India, +if no other service should offer for his ship. + +On the first view of this scheme it appeared very plausible, and we +imagined that the execution of it would be attended with much good to the +settlement, by ridding it of many of those wretches whom we had too much +reason to deem our greatest nuisances: but when we found that the +recruiting officer was instructed to be nice as to the characters of +those he should enlist, and to entertain none that were of known bad +morals, we perceived that the settlement would derive less benefit from +it than was at first expected. There was also some reason to suppose, +that several settlers would abandon their farms, and, leaving their +families a burden to the store, embrace the change which was offered them +by enlisting as East India soldiers. It was far better for us, if any +were capable of bearing arms and becoming soldiers, to arm them in +defence of their own lives and possessions, and, by embodying them from +time to time as a militia, save to the public the expense of a regiment +or corps raised for the mere purpose of protecting the public stores and +the civil establishment of the colony. + +Recruiting, therefore, in this colony for the Bengal army, being a +measure that required some consideration, and which the governor thought +should first have obtained the sanction of administration, he determined +to wait the result of a communication on the subject with the secretary +of state, before he gave it his countenance. At the same time he meant to +recommend it in a certain degree, as it was evident that many good +recruits might be taken, without any injury to the interests of the +settlement, from that class of our people who, being no longer prisoners, +declined labouring for government, and, without any visible means of +subsisting, lived where and how they chose. + +The _Britannia_, in her passage to Batavia, anchored in Gower's Harbour, +New Ireland (on the 16th of July), where she completed her wood and +water, and sailed on the 23rd. On the 2nd of September following she +arrived at Batavia; and it appearing to Mr. Raven (as before observed) +but too probable that he should be detained by the government if he +ventured to wait even for their determination respecting supplying the +provisions, he sailed on the 7th for Bengal, arriving in the Ganges on +the 12th of October. Not being able to procure at Calcutta the full +quantity of provisions that his ship could contain, he sailed for Madras +on the 1st of February, where he anchored on the 15th. There he completed +his cargo, and sailed, with five homeward-bound Indiamen, on the 27th +of the same month. His passage to this country was long and tedious, +owing to the prevalence of light and contrary winds; but we were all well +pleased to be in possession of the comforts he brought us from that part +of the world, and to congratulate him on his personal escape from the +sickly and now inimical port of Batavia, as well as from the cruisers of +the enemy, with which he had reason to suppose he might fall in on the +Indian coast. + +On his return from this his second voyage to India, Mr. Raven gave it as +his opinion, that the passage to be pursued from New South Wales to +India depended wholly upon the season in which the ship might leave Port +Jackson. From the month of November to April, or rather from October to +the beginning of March, which ought to be the latest period that any ship +should attempt a northern passage, he recommended making Norfolk Island; +and thence, passing between the Loyalty islands* and New Caledonia, to +keep as nearly as circumstances would allow in the longitude of 165 +degrees East; until the ship should reach the latitude of 8 degrees +South; and then shape a course to cross the equator in 160 degrees East; +after which the master should steer to the NW by N or NNW until in the +latitude of 5 degrees 20 minutes or 5 degrees 30 minutes North; in which +latitude Mr. Raven would run down his longitude, and pass the south end +of Mindanao, and between that island and Bascelan; and thence through the +straits of Banguey into the China Sea. In running this passage, it would +be necessary to pay attention to Mr. Dalrymple's charts of those islands, +etc. which Mr. Raven found very accurate. + +[* The Loyalty Islands are situated between New Caledonia and the New +Hebrides, and extend from about 21 degrees 30 minutes to 20 degrees 50 +minutes S and from the longitude of 168 degrees to 167 degrees E. +Mr. Raven supposed them to be a large group of islands, which, being +pressed for time, he could not stop to survey. All that he had +opportunity to determine was, the longitude and latitude of some of the +head-lands. Many fires were seen on them in the night; the whole appeared +to be full of wood, and in some places in high cultivation. These +islands, certainly a discovery belonging to Mr. Raven, may be thought +worthy of being explored at some future day, and become an object of +consequence to the settlement in New South Wales.] + +If leaving Port Jackson any time between the beginning of March and the +1st of September, Mr. Raven would prefer passing through a strait in the +longitude of 156 degrees 10 minutes E or thereabout; and from the +latitude of 7 degrees 06 minutes E to 6 degrees 42 minutes S which +divides some part of the islands of the New Georgia of Captain Shortland; +thence through St. George's Channel to the northward of New Guinea, +through Dampier's Strait, down Pitt's Passage, to the southward of +Boutton, and through the Straits of Salayer, into the Banda or Amboyna +Sea. This passage the _Britannia_ performed in sixty-five days from Port +Jackson to Batavia; which, had it not been for calms she met with off the +coast of New Guinea, would in all probability have been performed in six +weeks, or thereabout. + +Mr. Raven furnished these observations in the hope that they might +benefit the settlement, by proving useful to the commanders of any ships +which the governor might have occasion to send into those seas on the +service of the colony. + +The governor, convinced that an example was necessary to check the +present practice of villainy, had ordered James McCarthy, the prisoner +under sentence of death for forgery, to be executed on Saturday the 14th +of this present month; but yielded to the request of Mr. Johnson (the +clergyman who attended the prisoner) to spare his life, it appearing +evidently on the trial, that, guilty though he certainly was, he had in +the present instance been rather the victim of the vice of others, than +of his own. He was accordingly pardoned, on condition of his serving for +seven years at hard labour at Norfolk Island. + +About this time the _Marquis Cornwallis_ and _Experiment_ sailed for +India. Previous to their departure, Mr. Hogan, the commander of the +former, had requested an examination might be taken as to the +circumstances of his conduct toward the convicts and others on board his +ship during their passage from Ireland to this country. The examination +upon oath was made by the judge-advocate, assisted by two other +magistrates, to whom it appeared, that Mr. Hogan, but for the fortunate +and timely discovery of it, would with his ship have fallen a sacrifice +to as daring and alarming a conspiracy as, perhaps, ever had been entered +into by a set of desperate wretches on board of any ship; and that +nothing was left for him, to save himself from the danger of a similar +circumstance occurring during the voyage, but to inflict immediate +punishment, on the persons who were concerned in it. + +A civil court was assembled nearly about the same time, to try an +assault, the action for which was brought by Mr. Matthew Austin (a +gentleman who came out in the _Marquis Cornwallis_, as a superintending +surgeon of the convicts in that ship, on the part of government) against +Mr. Michael Hogan the commander, Mr. John Hogan the surgeon, and Henry +Hacking the pilot. The circumstances of the assault being proved, the +court adjudged Mr. M. Hogan to pay damages to the amount of fifty pounds; +the others were acquitted. + +On Mr. McClellan's arrival from Bengal, he reminded us, that some +property had been found concealed in the bed of one of our people, which +property had been shown to him at the time, under a supposition that it +might have been stolen from his ship. On his return to India, he found +that a small bale, containing the very articles which had been shown him +here, had been put on board him at Bengal, to be delivered as a present +to a gentleman at Batavia, the initials of whose name were marked on the +bale. On his stating these circumstances to the judge-advocate, that part +of the property which had been found, and placed in the custody of the +provost-marshal, was given up to Mr. McClellan. Rogers, who had been +either the principal or the receiver, perhaps foreseeing that the offence +might sooner or later be brought home to him, had taken himself off in +the _Endeavour_, and was one of those persons who had been unavoidably +left behind at Dusky Bay by Mr. Waine when he quitted that place in the +_Assistance_. + +From the address with which this business must have been managed, masters +of ships might see the necessity that existed for their keeping a +vigilant eye over the people whom they admitted on their decks, and be +perfectly assured, that many visited them for the express purpose of +discovering what vigilance was observed by the master, his mates, and +people. Many instances of this kind had occurred, although it might have +been readily supposed, that a stranger would have been on his guard, and +never have lost the idea of the description of people by whom he was +likely to be visited. A large quantity of tobacco had been stolen out of +the _Bellona_ storeship shortly after she arrived here; half a cask of +gunpowder had been stolen out of the _Britannia_, at the very time that +the master was entertaming some of the gentlemen of the settlement in the +cabin; Mr. Page, the master of the American ship _Hope_, was robbed of +several articles, and the buckles out of his shoes, which stood in the +cabin wherein he lay asleep; and this theft of the bale from on board the +_Experiment_ was an additional instance of the management and ability +displayed by our people in conducting an affair of that kind. + +From this recapitulation of some of the offences which had been committed +on board of ships while riding in this cove (to which many others might +have been added), let the masters of those which may hereafter be sent +out, and who may have perused this account, be cautious who they receive +on board during the day, let their pretext of business, or coming from an +officer, be what it may; never should they be suffered to mix with their +seamen, nor to see where the stores of the ship are placed; nor should a +boat be ever permitted to come alongside during the night, and in that +case the people should not be allowed to come into the ship. The masters +of ships were long since forbidden to receive any convict on board +without a pass signed by the judge-advocate, who, from his official +situation, was the best qualified to know the character of those who +might apply; but the decks of ships were often filled with convicts, who +went off with merely the sanction of the masters they lived with, +although known perhaps at the time to be as suspicious characters as any +in the settlement. + +Among the Irish prisoners who arrived in the _Marquis Cornwallis_ was one +who professed to understand the business of a millwright, and who +undertook with very little assistance to construct a mill at this place. +He appeared rough and uncouth in his manners; but our want of a mill was +so great, that it was determined to try what his abilities were, and +place some hired artificers under his direction. A spot was chosen on the +summit of the ground which forms the western side of the cove, and, +saw-pits being dug for him, he began the work. + +With a mill once erected competent to the grinding of all our wheat, a +reduction in the ration of flour would not be felt. So sensible of this +advantage had the governor been, that he brought out with him the most +material parts of a windmill, with a model, by which any millwright he +might find here would be enabled to set up the different parts; and Thorp +the millwright was employed in collecting and preparing the timber +necessary for putting up this mill at Parramatta. + +The weather was very variable during the month. The cattle brought by +Mr. Raven, though in Smithfield they would not all together have been worth +fifty pounds, were sold by auction at enormous prices. The mares went at +one hundred pounds, one of the cows at eighty-four pounds, and the others +at prices something inferior. + +June.] His Majesty's birthday was observed by the settlement with that +attention which, as English subjects, we were proud to pay to it. The +_Susan_ (with American colours flying), though provided with only six or +eight guns, contrived to fire at one o'clock with the king's ships, a +well-timed salute of twenty-one guns in honour of the day. + +On this occasion the governor pardoned all culprits, except James +McCarthy, who was under orders for Norfolk Island. It might be looked +upon as a sort of encouragement to the commission of crimes, thus by a +periodical pardon to render punishment less certain. If men were led to +suppose, that on the King's birthday all culprits would be pardoned, they +would be emboldened to offend, at least for a month or two previous to +that time; but the governor did not mean to extend this act of mercy +beyond the present occasion, being the first birthday of his sovereign +that had occurred since his arrival. + +Several daring thefts were committed early in this month. William Waring, +a prisoner who had been allowed to cultivate a farm of thirty acres on +the banks of the Hawkesbury, having occasion to move a cask of salted +provisions, which he had purchased from the master of a ship riding in +this cove, entrusted it to the care of two people his servants, to convey +it from his farm to that of a neighbouring settler. The temptation was +too great to be resisted, and the cask was stolen out of the boat, while +the servants landed for the night at some farm by the way. They pretended +to have no concern in it; but as that was too improbable to be believed, +they were ordered to make restitution by their labour. + +About the same time the brick hut occupied by Thomas Clark, a +superintendant of convicts, was broken into; and, notwithstanding the +door of the room in which he slept with his wife was open, they plundered +the house of several articles to a great amount. + +Some runaways from the jail gang at this place were suspected; and our +watch, being dispatched immediately on receipt of this information, were +very near falling in with the thieves; but these latter descried them in +time to make their escape. Information being afterwards received, that +two runaway vagabonds were concealed at a house near the brick-fields, +some of the watch repaired to the spot, and found two notorious +offenders, James McManus and George Collins. These two people had +repeatedly broken out of the jall-hut, and one of them, McManus, had some +time since been fired at and wounded in an attempt to commit a burglary. +On the present occasion, he had sufficient address to effect his escape +from the watch; the other was secured and brought in. The hut in which +they were found was pulled down the following morning, to deter others +(if possible) from harbouring thieves and vagabonds. + +The settlers in the different districts, and particularly those at the +Hawkesbury, had long been supposed to be considerably in debt; and it was +suspected, that their crops for two or more seasons to come were pledged +to pay these debts. As this was an evil of great magnitude, the governor +set on foot such an inquiry as he thought would ascertain or contradict +the report. By this inquiry, it appeared, that the settlers at the +districts of Prospect Hill, the Ponds, the Field of Mars, the Eastern +Farms, and Mulgrave Place on the banks of the river Hawkesbury, stood +indebted in the sum of £5098. The inquiry was farther directed as well to +the appearance of the farms, and the general character of the settlers, +as to their debts. Many were reported to be industrious and thriving; but +a great number were stated to be idle, vicious, given to drinking, +gaming, and other such disorders as lead to poverty and ruin. One man, a +settler at the Eastern Farms, Edward Elliot, had received a ewe sheep +from the late Governor Phillip before his departure in the year 1792. He +had resisted many temptations to sell it, and at the time this inquiry +took place was found possessing a stock of twenty-two sheep, males and +females. He had been fortunate in not meeting with any loss, but had not +added to his stock by any purchase. This was a proof that industry did +not go without its reward in this country. Other instances were found to +corroborate this observation. + +At the settlement of the Hawkesbury one man had been drowned, and another +killed by the natives. + +The gentlemen who conducted the inquiry found most of the settlers there +oftener employed in carousing in the fronts of their houses, than in +labouring themselves, or superintending the labour of their servants in +their grounds. There was at this time a considerable quantity of spirits +in the colony from the _Susan_, the _Britannia_, and _Indispensable_, and +no doubt much of it had found its way to the settlers; but that they +could be so lost to their own true interests, could be only accounted for +by recollecting their former habits of life, in which the frequent use of +intoxicating liquors formed a part of their education. + +With a view to check the drunkenness that prevailed in the different +districts, the governor had directed licences for retailing spirituous +liquors to be given to certain deserving characters in each; but it was +not found to answer the effect he expected. Instead of the settlers being +disposed to industry, they still indulged themselves in inebriety and +idleness, and robberies now appeared to be committed more frequently than +formerly. He therefore judged it necessary to direct, that none of those +persons who had obtained licences should presume to carry on a traffic +with settlers or others who might have grain to dispose of, by paying for +such grain in spirits. He assured them, that should any persons he +thereafter discovered to have carried on so destructive a trade, their +licences would immediately be recalled, and such steps taken for their +further punishment as they might be thought to deserve. He also desired +it might be understood, that trading with spirits to the extent which he +found practised was strictly forbidden to others, as well as to those who +had licensed public houses. + +The practice of purchasing the crops of the settlers for spirits had too +long prevailed in the settlement; and the governor thought it absolutely +necessary, by all the means in his power, to put an end to it; for it was +not possible that a farmer who should be idle enough to throw away the +labour of twelve months, for the gratification of a few gallons of +poisonous spirits, could expect to thrive, or enjoy those comforts which +were only to be procured by sobriety and industry. From such characters +he determined to withdraw the assistance of government, since when left +to themselves they would have less time to waste in drunkenness and riot. + +In the night of the 19th of this month some thieves broke into the house +of William Miller, (a young man who, on account of his good behaviour, +had been allowed to exercise the trade of a baker,) and stole articles to +the amount of fifty-six pounds, mostly property not belonging to himself. +Suspicion falling upon some people off the store, they were apprehended; +but in the morning the greater part of what had been stolen was found +placed in a garden where it could be easily discovered, and restored to +the owner. + +On the day following, the governor, with a small party, undertook a +second excursion to the retreat of the cattle. A few days previous to the +governor's departure, Mr. Bass, the surgeon of the _Reliance_, and two +companions, set off in an attempt to round the mountains to the westward; +but having soon attained the summit of the highest, they saw at the +distance of forty or fifty miles another range of mountains, extending to +the northward and southward. Mr. Bass reported, that he passed over some +very fine land, and he brought in some specimens of a light wood which he +met with. + +The governor was not long absent. He saw the cattle ranging as before, +although not exactly in the same spot, in the finest country yet +discovered in New South Wales, and ascended a hill which from every point +of view had appeared the highest in our neighbourhood. He fixed, by means +of an artificial horizon, its latitude to be 34 degrees 09 minutes S nine +miles to the southward of Botany Bay. The height of this hill, which +obtained the name of Mount Hunter, was supposed to be near a mile from +the base; and the view from the summit was commanding, and full of grand +objects, wood, water, plains, and mountains. Every where on that side of +the Nepean, the soil was found to be good, and the ground eligible for +cultivation. The sides of Mount Hunter, though very steep, were clothed +with timber to the summit, and the ground filled with the Orchis root. + +The knowledge derived from this excursion was, that the cattle had not +been disturbed, and that they had increased; ninety-four were at this +time counted. + +About the same time the people of a fishing-boat returned from a bay near +Port Stephens, into which they had been driven by bad weather, and +brought in with them several large pieces of coal, which they said they +found at some little distance from the beach, lying in considerable +quantity on the surface of the ground. These people having conducted +themselves improperly, while on shore, two of them were severely wounded +by the natives, one of whom died soon after he reached the hospital. + +The _Francis_ schooner sailed on the 21st with dispatches for Norfolk +Island; the king's ships, the _Reliance_ and _Supply_, began the +necessary preparations for their intended voyage to the Cape of Good +Hope, and the first day of September was fixed for their departure. + +Toward the latter end of the month two men from each officer were ordered +to join the public gangs, it being found wholly impracticable to erect +without more assistance any of the buildings which had now become +indispensably necessary. Storehouses were much wanted; the barracks were +yet unfinished; houses were to be built for the assistant-surgeons, those +which had been erected soon after our arrival being now no longer +tenable. A church too, of more substantial materials than lath and +plaster, was wanted here and at Parramatta; as well as court-houses, or +places where the courts of civil and criminal judicature might be held, +and where the magistrates might meet to do the public business. + +At Sydney, the bricklayers' gang was employed during this month in +erecting a temporary court-house of lath and plaster; as it was uncertain +when one to be built of bricks could be begun; and great inconvenience +was felt by the judge-advocate and other magistrates in being obliged to +transact business at their own houses. + +We had at last the satisfaction of seeing usefully employed some of the +cattle brought hither in the _Endeavour_. A careful person being found to +conduct them, the timber-carriage was now, instead of men, drawn by six +or eight stout oxen; and all the timber which was wanted for building, or +other purposes, was brought to the pits by them, both here and at +Parramatta. This was some saving of men, but eight people were still +employed with each carriage. + +The carpenters continued erecting the temporary shed for provisions; the +town gang was employed delivering the storeships; and at Toongabbie some +women were employed in making hay, intended to be put on board the king's +ships for the cattle to be purchased at the Cape for the colony. + +One man, Matthew Farrel, died in this month. He had been hurt in an +affray with some watchmen in the night of the 17th of March last. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + + + +Two men killed; consequent regulations +The _Britannia_ hired to proceed to England +Report of the natives +The _Francis_ arrives from Norfolk Island +Public works +Deaths +A criminal court assembled +A settler executed for murder +The _Susan_ sails +A civil court held +An American ship arrives from Boston +A long-boat lost +Deaths +Weather +A temporary church opened at Parramatta +Appointments +The _Supply_ sails for Norfolk Island and the Cape +Account of stock +Land in cultivation, and numbers in the colony +A murder committed +_Britannia_ sails for England +General observations + + +July.] Among the many evils that were daily seen flowing from that state +of dissipation which had found its way into the different settlements, we +had to regret that two men lost their lives by the hand of violence. On +Tuesday the 4th of this month, John Smith, a seaman belonging to the +_Indispensable_, was shot at Sydney in the house of Mr. Daniel Payne, the +master boat-builder, by a convict-servant of his; and on the same day, at +the Hawkesbury, David Lane was shot by his master, John Fenlow, a settler +at that place. The latter of these unfortunate men lived but a few hours; +Smith the seaman was taken to the hospital, where he languished until the +9th, and then died. Fenlow and the convict were taken into custody, and +would have been immediately brought to trial; but, through the carelessness +of one of the watchmen, Fenlow found means, though incumbered with heavy +irons, to escape from the cells, and was not retaken until the latter end +of the month, when some natives discovered him lurking near his own grounds +at the river, and, giving information, he was easily apprehended and +secured. + +These transactions were productive of some internal regulations which had +long been wanting. Several settlers, with whose conduct the governor had +had but too much cause to be displeased, were at length deprived of all +assistance from government, and left to the exercise of their own +abilities, pursuant to a notice which they received to that effect in the +last month. Several other settlers also, who had been victualled from the +public stores long beyond the period allowed them by the crown, were +struck off from the victualling books. All persons off the stores, who of +course did not labour for government, were ordered forthwith to appear at +Sydney, in order to their being mustered and examined relative to their +respective terms of transportation; when certificates were to be given to +such as were regularly discharged from the commissary's books, and the +settlers were directed not to employ any but such as could produce this +certificate. Frequent visits were directed to be made by the magistrates, +for the purpose of settling such differences as might arise among the +settlers and other persons; and the governor signified his determination +of inspecting their conduct himself from time to time, and of punishing +such as were proved to afford shelter or employment to the thieves and +vagabonds who ran to the river and other districts from this town and +Parramatta. + +These regulations being made known as publicly and generally as was +possible, in order that none might plead ignorance, the town of Sydney +was shortly filled with people from the different settlements, who came +to the judge-advocate for certificates of their having served their +respective sentences. Among these were many who had run away from public +labour before their time had expired; some who had escaped from +confinement with crimes yet unpunished hanging over their heads; and some +who, being for life, appeared by names different from those by which they +were commonly known in the settlement. By the activity of the watchmen, +and a minute investigation of the necessary books and papers, they were +in general detected in the imposition, and were immediately sent to hard +labour in the town and jail gangs. + +To the latter of these gangs additions were every day making; scarcely a +day or a night passed but some enormity was committed or attempted either +on the property or persons of individuals. Two notorious characters, Luke +Normington and Richard Elliott, were detected on the night of the 13th in +a very suspicious situation in the commissary's stock-yard, which was +well filled at the time with sheep and other stock. These were sent to +the jail-gang, in company with one Sharpless, a convict, who, after +marrying a woman that was a perfect antidote to desire, pretended to be +jealous, and gave her such a dreadful beating, that her life was for some +time in danger. + +Stock of all denominations was at this time fast increasing in the +different districts. An officer of the New South Wales corps, having +obtained the governor's sanction for his quitting the colony in one of +the ships now preparing for the Cape of Good Hope, sold to government a +flock of goats, consisting of about one hundred animals, for £490 10s. +This was a valuable acquisition, and promises of stock to several +deserving settlers were now performed. + +The _Britannia_, being now cleared of the cargo she brought from Bengal +on government account, was fitting again for sea, when Mr. Raven, the +master, proffered her to the governor for the purpose of going direct to +England, if his excellency should have any occasion to employ her in such +a voyage. There were at this time several soldiers in the New South Wales +corps wholly unfit for service; the governor had for some time intended +to send home Mr. Clark, a superintendant of convicts, whose engagement +with the crown had expired; and James Thorp, a person who had been sent +out with a salary of £105 per annum, as a master millwright, but who was +at this time unemployed in the settlement. To ease government at once of +these expences, the governor thought it adviseable to charter the +_Britannia_, for the purpose of taking home such invalids and passengers +as might be ordered, at the rate of fifteen shillings per ton per month; +the charter to be in force on the first day of the ensuing month. + +The public stores were opened during this month at Parramatta and the +river for receiving Indian corn; which was taken in at five shillings per +bushel for this season; but it was generally supposed, that there would +not be occasion to give that price for it again. + +Fresh pork was at this time purchased by the commissary at one shilling +per pound, and issued as a ration, in the proportion of two pounds of +fresh for one of salt meat. + +It having been represented to the governor, that several people in the +town of Sydney employed themselves in building boats for sale, and +without obtaining any permission, a liberty which had crept into the +settlement in opposition to all former orders and regulations on that +head; and as it was well known that, notwithstanding the great +convenience which must attend the having boats for various uses in this +extensive harbour, many abuses were carried on through their means; it +was ordered, that no boat whatever, of any size or description, should be +built until applicationhad been made to the governor, and permission in +writing obtained, either signed by the governor for the time being, or by +some person properly authorised by him. It was also ordered, that all +boats at that time in the possession of individuals should be forthwith +taken to the master boat-builder, where a number was to be cut on the +stern, and a register of such number was to be kept by the +provost-marshal. All boats found without a number were to be liable to +seizure. + +The natives appeared less troublesome lately than they had been for some +time past. The people of a fishing-boat, which had been cast on shore in +some bad weather near Port Stephens, met with some of these people, who +without much entreaty, or any hope of reward, readily put them into a +path from thence to Broken Bay, and conducted them the greatest part of +the way. During their little journey, these friendly people made them +understand, that they had seen a white woman among some natives to the +northward. On their reporting this at Sydney, this unfortunate female was +conjectured to be Mary Morgan, a prisoner, who it was now said had failed +in her attempt to get on board the _Resolution_ store-ship, which sailed +from hence in 1794. There was indeed a woman, one Ann Smith, who ran away +a few days after our sitting down in this place, and whose fate was not +exactly ascertaineds; if she could have survived the hardships and +wretchedness of such a life as must have been hers during so many years +residence among the natives of New Holland, how much information must it +have been in her power to afford! But humanity shuddered at the idea of +purchasing it at so dear a price. + +Toward the latter end of the month, there not remaining any more flour in +the store than what was necessarily reserved for the use of his Majesty's +ships _Reliance_ and _Supply_ to carry them to the Cape of Good Hope, +nine pounds of wheat were added to the allowance of that article (three +pounds) served to the civil, military, and free people. + +A court of civil judicature was held on the 27th and 28th, when several +debts were sworn to, and writs taken out. + +In the night of the 29th, the _Francis_ schooner returned from Norfolk +island, having been absent five weeks and three days. From her we +learned, that the criminal court of judicature had been assembled, and +one man, a convict, had suffered death, being convicted of a most daring +burglary, which he and two others his accomplices effected with some +circumstances of cruelty. The accomplices were sentenced to hard labour +on Phillip Island for a certain term of years. + +It was observed that the gangs at this place employed in different public +works were seldom to be seen in the afternoon. On inquiry, it appeared +that, notwithstanding the orders which had been given for the regulation +of the public labour, the superintendants had taken it upon themselves to +task the working people in such manner as they thought proper, and upon +no other authority than their own will. By this abuse the work of +government was almost wholly neglected, and the time of the labourers +applied to the use of private individuals. + +To remedy this evil, the governor repeated the order in which the hours +of public labour were pointed out, and informed the superintendants and +overseers, that if they should be known to take the liberty of applying +to any other use or purpose the time designed to be employed for the +public, they would be instantly dismissed from their employments, as +persons who could not be depended upon; and they might rest assured, that +any one, who had been proved unworthy the trust he had placed in him, +would never be restored to a situation of which he was so little tenacious. + +During this month died Mr. Henry Brewer, the provost-marshal of the +territory, at the age of fifty-seven years. He came out with Governor +Phillip as his clerk, and on our landing was appointed to act as +provost-marshal in the room of the person appointed by the crown, +Mr. Alexander, who never came out. Mr. Brewer afterwards received his +Majesty's commission appointing him to the vacancy. There also died +Andrew Fishburn, a private in the New South Wales corps, but formerly +belonging to the marine detachment serving in this country, who had been +very useful as a carpenter in the settlement; a soldier, who came out in +the _Cornwallis_; one male convict, who died suddenly; one unfortunate +man, John Williams, who was crushed to death by the wheel of a +timber-carriage going over his head; and the settler's servant who was +killed at the Hawkesbury; beside the seaman belonging to the +_Indispensable_ who was shot. + +August.] A court of criminal judicature was assembled early in the month +for the trial of several offenders who were at that time in confinement +under different charges. + +Four prisoners were tried for a burglary in the house of William Miller, +but acquitted through a defect in evidence. David Lloyd was tried for the +wilful murder of John Smith, the seaman belonging to the ship +_Indispensable_. It appeared, that the seaman had repaired in a state of +intoxication to the house of Mr. Payne, for the express purpose of taking +from a female convict, (then living as a servant at Mr. Payne's, and with +whom he, the seaman, had cohabited during the passage) some clothes +which he had given her. A riot, the natural consequence of such a +proceeding, ensued; and the prisoner endeavoured to make it appear that +he had been compelled in his own defence to fire the pistol which caused +the death of the seaman. The court admitted that the prisoner had not any +of that malice in his heart against the deceased which is necessary to +constitute the crime of murder, and therefore acquitted him of that +charge; but found him guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced him to +receive six hundred lashes. John Fenlow was tried for the wilful murder +of his servant, David Lane. This charge was fully made out, and the +prisoner received sentence to die. Matthew Farrel, who (with Richard +Sutton, the Newgate Bully) assaulted the watch on the night of the 17th +of March last, having in the course of that contest received a wound on +the temple which proved incurable, and occasioned his death some time +after, the watchmen were now brought forward to account for the death of +the deceased. This they did very satisfactorily, and were discharged. +Four vagabonds, who had repeatedly broken out of prison, and run away +from the jall-gang, were tried as incorrigible rogues, and being found +guilty, were sentenced to three years hard labour at Norfolk Island; and +one man was tried for a rape, but acquitted. Fenlow, being tried on the +Saturday, was executed on the following Monday. His body being delivered +to the surgeons for dissection pursuant to his sentence, a stone was +found in his gall bladder, of the size of a lark's egg. This unhappy man +was remarkable for an extreme irascibility of temper: might it not have +been occasioned by the torment that such a substance must produce in so +irritable a situation? He however, the night before his execution, +confessed that the murder which he committed was premeditated. +Notwithstanding which, he had, the day before he was tried, prepared an +opening through the brick wall of his cell, purposing, if it had not been +discovered in time, to have availed himself of it to escape after his +trial. It could scarcely be supposed, that among the description of +people of which the lower class was formed in this place, any would have +been found sufficiently curious to have attended the surgeons on such an +occasion; but they had no sooner signified that the body was ready for +inspection, than the hospital was filled with people, men, women, and +children, to the number of several hundreds; none of whom appeared moved +with pity for his fate, or in the least degree admonished by the sad +spectacle before their eyes. + +On Monday the 8th the snow _Susan_ sailed on her voyage to Canton. Two +women, Sarah Nitchell and Elizabeth Robinson, and a few men, were allowed +to quit the colony in this vessel. + +His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales's birthday was duly distinguished +by us on the 12th of this month. Such days had never been neglected by +the colonists of New South Wales. + +A civil court was again held on the day following, when several persons +who had been arrested by writs issued from the last court were brought +up; many of whom, being settlers, gave assignments on their coming crops +of wheat for the different sums in which they were indebted. Several +other debts were sworn to, and writs issued. Had those defendants who +were thus suffered to give assignments on their crops then in the ground +been thrown into prison at the suit of the different plaintiffs, their +ruin would have been certain, and the debt would have remained +unsatisfied. This method was tried, as being something more beneficial to +both parties; but they were in general of such a thoughtless worthless +description, that even this indulgence might induce them to be, if +possible, more worthless and thoughtless than before, as, to use their +own expression, they had now 'to work for a dead horse.' + +On the 23rd (the signal for a sail having been made at the South Head, +the day before), there anchored in the stream, just without the two +points of Sydney Cove, the ship _Grand Turk_, from Boston, after a +passage of five months from that port. She had been twenty-three days +from Van Dieman's Land, meeting with a current, during several days, that +set her each day twenty-one miles either to the SE or NE. We found on +board as supercargo, Mr. McGee, who was here before in the _Halcyon_ with +Mr. Benjamin Page. He brought news from Europe as late as January last, +by which we learned that the war still raged. Mr. McGee had on board for +sale, spirits, tobacco, wine, soap, iron, linseed oil, broadcloth, etc., +etc., for this market, Manilla, and Canton. The tobacco (eighteen +hogsheads) were immediately bought for one shilling and three half-pence +per pound, and government purchased some of his spirits at seven +shillings per gallon. + +During this month a long-boat belonging to his Majesty's ship _Reliance_, +which had been sent to Botany Bay in July to procure fish, was given up +for lost, with five or six seamen. They were known to have quitted Botany +Bay, and, not having been heard of for some weeks, were conjectured to +have taken the boat away to the northward, where, being without compass +or provisions, except the few fish they had caught, it was more than +probable they had perished. + +The jail-gang at this time, notwithstanding the examples which had been +made, consisted of upwards of twenty-five persons; and many of the female +prisoners were found to be every whit as infamous as the men. + +One settler was executed this month, and one soldier lost his life by a +tree falling on him at the Hawkesbury. + +The first and middle parts of the month were wet. The branch of the +harbour named Duck River was so swollen as to overflow its banks, which +were very steep. + +September.] A temporary church, formed out of the materials of two old +huts, was opened at Parramatta by the Rev. Mr. Marsden on the first +Sunday in this month. Decent places of worship were now to be seen at the +two principal settlements. At the time when we were visited by the +Spanish ships Mr. Johnson preached wherever he could find a shady spot. +The priest belonging to the commodore's ship, observing that we had not +any church built, lifted up his eyes with astonishment, and declared, +that had the place been settled by his nation, a house for God would have +been erected before any house for man. + +The ships being now on the point of sailing, the _Britannia_ for England, +and the _Relianc _ and _Supply_ for the Cape of Good Hope, the following +appointments were notified in the public orders: _viz_ Captain George +Johnston, of the New South Wales corps, was appointed aid-de-camp to the +governor. The Rev. Mr. Johnson and William Balmain Esq were nominated the +acting magistrates in the district of the town of Sydney. Mr. James +Williamson (a gentleman who came from England with the governor) was to +do the duty of commissary in the absence of Mr. Palmer, who was returning +to England on leave. Mr. Thomas Smyth was appointed provost-marshal, in +the room of Mr. Henry Brewer, by warrant bearing date the day after his +decease. Mr. Thomas Moore, carpenter of the ship _Britannia_, was +appointed master boat-builder in the room of Mr. Daniel Payne. William +Stephenson was placed under the commissary as a store-keeper, in the room +of Mr. Thomas Smyth; and George Barrington, whose conduct, still uniform +and upright, recommended him to the notice of the governor, was, after +receiving an absolute pardon under the seal of the territory, appointed a +superintendant of convicts, with a salary of fifty pounds per annum, in +the room of Mr. Thomas Clark, returning to England.* + +[* Mr. Richard Atkins had some time before been nominated by the +secretary of state to do the duty of judge-advocate, whenever Captain +Collins should return to England.] + +On the 20th, his Majesty's ship _Supply_ sailed for Norfolk Island and +the Cape of Good Hope, having on board part of the military relief +intended for that settlement, and part of a thousand bushels of wheat +which had been written for from thence. + +On the following day the ships _Indispensable_ and _Grand Turk_ sailed +for Canton. The American had not succeeded in his speculation so well as +he had expected; the market was over-stocked with goods, and by the +governor's regulations he was compelled to take away, with many other +articles, his ground-tier full of spirits, which he hoped to have sold +here. + +The invalids and passengers who were returning to England in the +_Britannia_ being embarked, that ship, the _Reliance_, and the _Francis_ +schooner, hauled out of the cove preparatory to their departure. + +As a proof that stock was not falling in its value, Mr. Palmer, the +commissary, sold two Cape cows and one steer for £189 sterling. The stock +in the colony at this time was of considerable extent and value, as will +appear by the following account of it, which was taken for the purpose of +being transmitted to government: + +ACCOUNT OF LIVE STOCK IN THE POSSESSION OF GOVERNMENT AND THE CIVIL +AND MILITARY OFFICERS OF THE SETTLEMENT, ON THE 1ST OF SEPTEMBER 1796 +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +To whom Mares Cows Bulls Oxen Sheep Goats Hogs +belonging and and and + Horses Cow-calves Bull-calves +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +To government 14 67 37 46 191 111 59 +Officers +civil and military 43 34 37 6 1310 1176 889 +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +Total of government +and officers 57 101 74 52 1501 1287 948 +To settlers - - - - 30 140 921 +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +General total 57 101 74 52 1531 1427 1869 +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +The wild cattle to the westward of the river Nepean were not included in +this account. + +All kinds of poultry were numerous. + +The following account of the land in cultivation was taken at +the same time: +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +To whom belonging Land in Observations + Cultivation + (Acres) +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +To government 1700 (By our weakness in public labourers, + (and wanting many necessary buildings, + (the land cleared by government was + (unemployed this year. +Officers civil and military 1172 (About four fifths of which were at + (this time sown with wheat. + +Total of government +and officers 2872 + +To settlers 2547 {Of which much timber was cut down + {but not burnt off. + General total 5419 + +It was satisfactory to those gentlemen who were now about to quit the +colony to reflect that they left it not only with a prospect of plenty +before it, but with stores and granaries abundantly filled at the time. +Of these, the judge-advocate and the commissary, who had been in the +settlement from its establishment, had witnessed periods of distress and +difficulty; but they had the gratification of seeing them fairly +surmounted, and the probability of their ever recurring thrown to a very +great distance. In the houses of individuals were to be found most of the +comforts, and not a few of the luxuries of life. For these the island was +indebted to the communications it had had with India, and other parts of +the world; and the former years of famine, toil, and difficulty, were now +exchanged for years of plenty, ease, and pleasure. + +The following state of the settlement was made up to the 31st of last +month: + +SALT PROVISIONS AND GRAIN IN STORE. + +Quality To last at the established ration + Weeks Days +Beef 31 1 +Pork 44 6 + + Total of salt meat 76 0 (75 weeks + 7 days) + +Peas 22 - +Wheat 29 1 +Maize 41 4 +Sugar 4 - + +To consume this quantity of food, +there were victualled at Sydney 2219 persons +At Parramatta 965 +At the Hawkesbury 454 +Making a total of 3638 + +There were 321 people off the public stores, which, added to the 3638 who +were victualled, gave a general total of 3959 persons in the different +settlements, of all descriptions and ages; not including those at Norfolk +Island, in which settlement were 119 persons; to which add 3959 persons +in New South Wales; there will be found 4848 persons under the British +government in New South Wales and its dependencies. + +A few days previous to the sailing of the ships, information was received +of a most inhuman murder having been perpetrated on the body of +---- Williams, a settler's wife, at the district of the Ponds. A female +neighbour of their's was accused by an accomplice of having committed +this diabolical act, for the purpose of enriching herself with the +property which she knew this unfortunate woman had in the house. She was +immediately apprehended, and search made for the property which had been +taken away. Some of this was found, and there was little doubt but the +avenging arm of Justice would soon fall upon the head of the murderer. + +On the 29th his Majesty's ship _Reliance_, the _Britannia_ hired +transport, and the _Francis_ schooner, sailed from Port Jackson. They +were all to touch at Norfolk Island, whence the ships were to proceed to +the Cape of Good Hope, and the schooner was to return to New South Wales. +The _Britannia's_ call at Norfolk Island was for the purpose of taking on +board lieutenant-governor King, who, from a long state of ill health, had +found himself compelled to apply to Governor Hunter for leave to return +to England, to which the governor had consented. + +On board of the _Reliance_ were the commissary, the remainder of the +military relief, and such part of the thousand bushels of wheat as the +_Supply_ did not receive. In the transport were Captain Paterson; +Lieutenants Abbott and Clephan; one sergeant and seventeen privates +(invalids) of the New South Wales corps, with their wives and children; +the judge-advocate of the settlement, who was charged with dispatches from +the governor; Mr. Leeds, an assistant-surgeon; Thomas Clark, late a +superintendant of convicts; James Thorp, the master millwright; and +several other persons, male and female, who had been allowed a passage to +England by the governor. + +The following were the prices of various articles, as they were sold at +Sydney about the time the ships sailed, viz + +Stock Groceries +----- --------- +Cows £80 Hyson tea per lb £1 4s +Horses £90 Coffee, ditto, 2s +Sheep £7 10s Sugar (soft), ditto, 1s +Goats £4 Soap, ditto, 2s +Turkeys £1 1s Virginia leaf-tobacco, ditto, 5s +Geese £1 1s Brazil roll, ditto, 7s +Fowls, full grown, 5s Black pepper, ditto, 4s +Ducks 5s Ginger, ditto, 3s +Fresh pork per lb 1s 3d Pipes per gross £1 10s +Mutton 2s WINE AND SPIRITS +Goat per lb 1s 6d Red port per bottle 5s +Kangaroo 6d Madeira, per bottle, 4s +Barley, per bushel, 10s Cape wine, ditto, 3s +Peas, ditto, 7s Rum, ditto, 5s +Maize, ditto, 5s Gin, ditto, 6s +Ditto ground, ditto, 5s Porter, ditto, 2s +Cheese per lb 3s Beer made at Sydney 1s 6d +Butter, ditto, 3s INDIA GOODS +White-wine vinegar per gallon 6s Long cloth per yard from 3s to 6s +Fish 2½d Callicoes, ditto, from 1s 6d to 2s 6d +Eggs per dozen 2s Muslins, ditto, from 7s to 12s +Salted pork per lb 1s Nankeen per piece 10s +Salted beef, ditto, 8d Coarse printed callicoes, ditto, £1 5s +Potatoes per cwt 12s Silk handkerchiefs, ditto, 12s +Ditto per lb 3d ENGLISH GOODS +Flour, ditto, 7½d Black hats from 15s to £2 +Wheat-meal, sifted, 4½d Shoes per pair from 9s to 13s +Ditto, unsifted, 3½d Cotton Stockings from 6s to 12s +Wheat per bushel 12s Writing paper per quire 6s + +The beer mentioned in the preceding account as being made at Sydney was +brewed from Indian corn, properly malted, and bittered with the leaves +and stalks of the love-apple, (Lycopersicum, a species of Solarium) or, +as it was more commonly called in the settlement, the Cape gooseberry. +Mr. Boston found this succeeded so well, that he erected at some expense +a building proper for the business, and was, when the ships sailed, +engaged in brewing beer from the abovementioned materials, and in making +soap. + +At this time the following prices were demanded and paid for labour and +work done at Sydney and the different settlements, viz. £. s. d. + +A carpenter for a day's work 0 5 0 +A labourer for a day's work 0 3 0 +For clearing an acre of ground 3 0 0 +For breaking up an acre of ground 1 0 0 +For threshing a bushel of wheat 0 1 6 +For reaping an acre of wheat 0 10 0 +For felling an acre of timber 0 17 0 +The price of ground was from 12s to £1 an acre +For making a pair of men's shoes 0 3 6 +For making a pair of women's shoes 0 3 0 +For making a coat 0 6 0 +For making a gown 0 5 0 + +For washing, three-pence for each article was paid; and the person who +washed found soap, etc. If a woman was hired, she had one shilling and +six-pence for the day, and her meals. + +It must here be remarked, that the mechanic and the labourer were +generally contented to be paid the above prices in such articles as they +or their families stood in need of, the values of which had not as yet +been regulated by any other authority, or guided by any other rule, than +the will of the purchaser. + +The want at this time of several public buildings in the settlement has +already been mentioned. To this want must be added, as absolutely +necessary to the well-being and comfort of the settlers and the +prosperity of the colony in general, that of a public store, to be opened +on a plan, though not exactly the same, yet as liberal as that of the +island of St Helena, where the East India Company issue to their own +servants European and Indian goods, at ten per cent advance on the prime +cost. Considering our immense distance from England, a greater advance +would be necessary; and the settlers and others would be well satisfied, +and think it equally liberal, to pay fifty per cent on the prime cost of +all goods brought from England; for at present they pay never less than +one hundred, and frequently one thousand per cent on what they have +occasion to purchase. It may be supposed that government would not choose +to open an account, and be concerned in the retail of goods; but any +individual would find it to his interest to do this, particularly if +assisted by government in the freight; and the inhabitants would gladly +prefer the manufactures of their own country to the sweepings of the +Indian bazars. + +The great want of men in the colony must be supplied as soon as a peace +shall take place; but the want of respectable settlers may, perhaps, be +longer felt; by these are meant men of property, with whom the gentlemen +of the colony could associate, and who should be thoroughly experienced +in the business of agriculture. Should such men ever arrive, the +administration of justice might assume a less military appearance, and +the trial by jury, ever dear and most congenial to Englishmen, be seen in +New South Wales. + +That we had not a thorough knowledge of the coast from Van Dieman's Land +as far as Botany Bay, though to be regretted, was not to be wondered at. +As a survey of the coast cannot very conveniently be made by any of the +ships belonging to the settlement, it must be the business of government +to provide proper vessels and persons for this service; and it is to be +hoped that we shall not be much longer without a knowledge of the various +ports, harbours, and rivers, and of the soil and productions of the +country to the southward of the principal settlement. + +* * * * * + +The _Account of the English Colony of New South Wales_ must here be +closed for a time, the writer being embarked in the _Britannia_ on his +return to England. On reviewing the pages he has written, the question +involuntarily arises in his mind, In what other colony under the British +government has a narrator of its annals had such circumstances to record? +No other colony was ever established under such circumstances. He has, it +is true, occasionally had the gratification of recording the return of +principle in some, whose want of that ingredient, so necessary to +society, had sent them thither; but it has oftener been his task to show +the predilection for immorality, perseverance in dissipation, and +inveterate propensity to vice, which prevailed in many others. The +difficulty under such disadvantages of establishing the blessings of a +regular and civil government must have occurred to every well-informed +mind that has reflected on our situation. The duties of a governor, of a +judge-advocate, and of other magistrates and civil officers, could not be +compared with those in other countries. From the disposition to crimes +and the incorrigible characters of the major part of the colonists, an +odium was, from the first, illiberally thrown upon the settlement; and +the word 'Botany Bay' became a term of reproach that was indiscriminately +cast on every one who resided in New South Wales. But let the reproach +light on those who have used it as such. These pages were written to +demonstrate, that the bread of government has not been eaten in idleness +by its different officers; and that if the honour of having deserved well +of one's country be attainable by sacrificing good name, domestic +comforts, and dearest connections in her service, the officers of this +settlement have justly merited that distinction. + +CONCLUSION: + +COMPRISING + +Particulars of the _BRITANNIA'S_ VOYAGE to ENGLAND; with Remarks on the +STATE of NORFOLK ISLAND, and some Account of NEW ZEALAND. + +The _Britannia_ sailed from Port Jackson, in company with his Majesty's +ship _Reliance_ and the _Francis_ colonial schooner, on the 29th of +September. + +On the 4th of October, we had Ball Pyramid off Lord Howe's Island distant +about five leagues, and were from that day until the 15th, owing to light +and contrary winds, before we reached Norfolk Island; where we found his +Majesty's ship _Supply_, which had been there several days. On the +following morning we had communication with the shore. + +The interval between the 16th and 23rd was occupied in receiving on board +the _Britannia_ Lieutenant-governor King and his family, who were +returning to England. On the 25th the colonial schooner, which had +attended for that purpose, received Captain King's letters to Governor +Hunter, and the three ships made sail from the island. + +During the time we were there, the weather fortunately proved extremely +favourable for communicating with the shore, and large quantities of +stock and grain were received on board, in addition to what we brought +from Port Jackson, and sufficient for a much longer passage than we had +any reason to expect in the run to the Cape of Good Hope. + +With the following Particulars of the State of NORFOLK ISLAND to the time +when the ships left it, the Writer has been favoured by +LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR KING. + +COURT OF JUDICATURE + +A court of criminal judicature existed there similar to that in New South +Wales, differing only in being composed of five instead of seven members. +No civil court, however, had been established. + +NUMBER OF INHABITANTS + +The civil department consisted of a lieutenant-governor, a deputy +judge-advocate, a deputy provost-marshal, and deputy commissary; a +surgeon, a store-keeper, and four subordinate officers. + +The military consisted of a company of the New South Wales corps. + +The settlers were, four seamen who belonged to his Majesty's ship +_Sirius_; fifteen marines who were discharged at the relief of that +detachment; fifty-two settlers from among those whose respective terms of +transportation had expired; three officers, and others who held ground by +grant or lease, or had purchased allotments from settlers; fourteen from +those whose terms of transportation were unexpired, but who held +allotments exceeding five acres. The whole number (exclusive of the +officers), with their families, was about two hundred and forty. + +One hundred and forty-nine men, and sixty-three women, whose terms of +sentence had expired, supported themselves by hiring ground from +settlers, working for individuals, or at their different callings, (some +few were employed as overseers) and labouring for the public; for which +they were clothed and fed from the stores, and received such other +encouragement as their behaviour merited. The number of this class, with +their women and children, was about one hundred and thirty. + +MALE CONVICTS + +The numbers of these who remained under the sentence of the law were as +follow: + +For life 36 +From 10 to 5 years 10 +From 5 to 3 4 +From 3 to 1 26 +From 1 year to 6 months 60 + --- +Total 136 + +of which number fifty-seven were assigned to settlers and others, on +condition of being maintained by them; the rest were occupied as +hereafter stated; from which it will be obvious, that no progress in +cultivation for the crown could be made, as not more than thirty men were +employed in cultivating ground for the public advantage, and even these +were much interrupted by incidental work, and by attending the artificers +in carrying on the different buildings which were indispensable. + +STATE OF CULTIVATION + +The island contains about eleven thousand acres of ground. In the level +parts where the earth cannot be washed away by the heavy rains, the soil +varies from a rich brown mould to a light red earth, without any +intermixture of sand. These are again varied by some extensive pieces of +light black mould and fine gravel, which are found to produce the best +wheat. The rains which fall during the winter months wash the mould from +the sides of the steep hills into the bottoms, leaving a grey marly +substance, which will not admit of cultivation in that state. This, +however, is the case only among the very steep hills that are cleared of +timber, and have been four or five years in cultivation. Those of an easy +ascent preserve their depth of soil, and many of them have borne six +successive crops of wheat. From the quantity of soil thus washed away from +the sides of the steep hills into the bottom (some of which were only a +water-way between the hills), there were level spots of ground covered to +a great depth with the richest mould. Of the eleven thousand acres of +ground in this island, there are not two hundred that might not be +cultivated to the greatest advantage, if cleared of timber, and allowed a +sufficiency of labourers, of cattle, and of ploughs. + +APPROPRIATION OF THE LAND + +The ground cleared of timber for the public use, and that marked out for +the settlers lots, comprised one half of the island, and was distributed +in the following manner: + + Acres + Number cleared of + of Acres Timber + +Ground allotted to settlers on grant or lease 3,239 920 +Ground allotted to officers by grant, lease, +or permission 132 132 +Ground allotted to individuals of different +descriptions 100 100 +Ground reserved for government, and contiguous +to the above allotments 1,400 - +Ground cleared of timber, and occupied for the +public benefit 376 376 + ----- ----- +Total quantity of ground occupied as above 5,247 1,528 + +Supposed contents of the island, about 11,000 +Supposed quantity of ground unoccupied, about 5,753 +Supposed quantity of ground not cleared of +timber 9,472 + +Most of the ground cleared of timber was under cultivation in 1793 and +1794, and produced above thirty-four thousand bushels of grain; but, from +the sudden and effectual check given to private industry during the year +1794, and the great proportion of the labourers working for their own +support and other ways disposed of, not more than a third of the +government-ground, and a fifth of the ground belonging to individuals, +was in any state of cultivation during the last year. That portion of the +ground thus neglected became over-run with rank and strong weeds, which +formed a great cover to the numerous rats; beside that the injury done to +the soil by the growth of these weeds was very much to be deplored. The +humane attention, however, shown to the wants of the industrious +individual by Governor Hunter, in directing the maize bills to be paid, +it was hoped would not only relieve many deserving people, but also +revive that industrious disposition which the settlers had in general +manifested. + +The small number of convicts at public work, and the labour necessary for +preparing the ground to receive wheat, did not admit of more than one +hundred acres of wheat, and eighteen of maize being sown last year for +the crown; the produce of which had been abundant; but the quantity was +much reduced by the weeds that grew with it, and from an attack by +lightning when in blossom. + +Cultivation was confined to maize, wheat, potatoes, and other +garden-vegetables. The heat of the climate, occasional droughts, and +blighting winds, rendered wheat an uncertain crop; nor could it be +averaged at more than eighteen bushels an acre, though some had yielded +twenty-five. + +Owing to the quick and constant growth of rank weeds few individuals +could sow more wheat than was necessary to mix with their maize, which +hitherto had rarely exceeded five acres each family. Some few indeed +among the settlers, who were remarkably industrious, or who had greater +advantages than others, had generally from five to eleven acres in wheat; +but the number of these was very small. + +The harvests of maize were constant, certain, and plentiful; and two +crops were generally procured in twelve months. The produce of one crop +might be averaged at forty-five bushels per acre, and many had yielded +from seventy to eighty. + +By the statement before given it appears, that there were five thousand +two hundred and forty-seven acres occupied; of which only one thousand +five hundred and twenty-eight were cleared of timber: that there also +remained five thousand seven hundred and fifty-three neither occupied nor +cleared, making in the whole nine thousand four hundred and seventy-two +acres not cleared of timber. If six thousand of the nine thousand four +hundred and seventy-two acres not cleared could be put under cultivation +in addition to the one thousand five hundred and twenty-eight already +cleared of timber, its produce at one crop only, and allowing no more +than thirty bushels of maize to the acre, would be two hundred and +twenty-five thousand eight hundred and forty bushels of grain; and even +this might be doubled, if, as before said, there were labourers to +procure a second crop. + +The remaining three thousand four hundred and seventy-two acres might be +reserved for fuel, building-timber, and other purposes. + +From these data some calculation may be made of the number of people that +the island might be made to maintain. + +The following is a statement of the stock belonging to government and +individuals on the 18th October 1796: + +To whom belonging + Male---Female---Male and Female +Cattle +------ +Government 3 3 +Individuals - - + +Horses +------ +Government - - +Individuals 1 2 + +Asses +----- +Government 2 4 +Individuals 0 0 + +Sheep +----- +Government 22 +Individuals 148 + +Goats +----- +Government 55 +Individuals 328 + +Swine +----- +Government 710 +Individuals 4125 + +Poultry very great abundance +------- + + +Exclusive of the above stock, five hundred and ninety-two thousand four +hundred and eighty pounds of swine's flesh and mutton had been expended +on the island and exported from it; all which were produced from the +following quantity received from November 1791 to October 1796. + + Cattle Horses Asses Sheep Goats Swine +(Male/Female) M F M F M F M F M F M F +Total received 1 2 1 1 1 3 2 21 2 11 4 157 + +When the settlers were informed that payment for the maize lodged in the +stores in January 1794 could not be made until orders were received from +England, and that no more grain could be received, but that the purchase +of fresh pork would be continued, the course of their industry became +changed, though raising grain still continued necessary for rearing their +stock. + +On most part of the nine thousand four hundred and seventy-two acres not +cleared of timber the trees and underwood were covered with succulent +herbage, which, with the fern and other soft roots, afford the best food +for swine. Several individuals had taken advantage of this convenience, +by inclosing from ten to one hundred acres of the uncleared parts, into +which they turned their swine, whereof many had from twenty to one +hundred and fifty, that required nothing more than a sufficiency of maize +to accustom them to their owner's call. + +Another resource of animal food was on Phillip Island, which abounded +with the best feed for swine. On it were at least three hundred and +seventeen swine belonging to government, which were unconfined, and +required no other attendance than the being called together occasionally +by a man who resided there with his family. But those which were first +sent, and their progeny, were so wild, that it was not thought an easy +matter to take them. Several large hogs and boars had been brought from +thence which had weighed, when fattened, from one hundred and eighty to +three hundred and six pounds. + +Salting pork in the cool months had been successfully tried; but it would +not answer in the summer. It was intended that the swine belonging to +government which could be killed during the winter should be salted down, +as a sufficiency of salt was making to answer that purpose. + +From these resources it might fairly be presumed, that if no unforeseen +mortality should attack the stock, the settlers and other individuals +would be able to continue supplying the stores with half the ration of +animal food, and that government in the course of twelve months might +furnish the other half. And farther, that if the industry of the settlers +and other individuals were encouraged by their overplus grain and animal +food being purchased at a fair price, the produce of the grounds cleared +would be more than sufficient for the maintenance of the present +inhabitants, three hundred and thirty-seven of whom supported themselves +without any expense to the crown: and this might be further secured, if +cattle and sheep could be sent there, as the former were much wanted for +labour, and the latter for a change of food; for it is certain that sheep +breed there as well as in any part of the world, and have not as yet been +subject to the distempers common to that kind of stock. The Bengal ewes +yean twice in the thirteen months, and have commonly two, often three, +and sometimes four lambs at a yeaning; and these have increased so much, +by being crossed with the Cape ram, that a lamb six weeks old is now as +large as one of the old ewes. + +The goats too are extremely prolific, and generally breed thrice in the +year, having commonly from two to four kids at a time. + +Any number of sheep and goats, and a large quantity of cattle might be +bred here, as the cleared ground affords the best of pasture for those +species of stock. But it will be a long time before the present stock +will be of much use, unless more are sent thither. + +The want of artificers of all descriptions, and the scarcity of labourers +at public work, much retarded the construction of a number of necessary +buildings. The island possessed the best of stone, lime, and timber; but, +unfortunately, there never had been but one mason (a marine settler) on +the island. + +At Cascade Bay a great advantage had been obtained in the construction of +a very strong wharf, one hundred and twenty-six feet long, which connects +the shore with the landing rock. At the end of it is a swinging crane and +capstern, by which boats are loaded and unloaded with the heaviest +articles; and in bad weather are hoisted up with perfect safety. + +Near this wharf, a large storehouse, and barracks for the guard, are +built. One of the great advantages attending this work is, that no risk +need be run by ships keeping in Sydney Bay, as the landing is generally +good at Cascade Bay, when it becomes in the least degree hazardous at the +former place. And here it may be noticed, that no casualty by boats had +happened since the lieutenant-governor's arrival in 1791. + +The utility of a well-constructed water-mill is sufficiently obvious. +From an addition of three feet to the height of the dam, it ground twenty +bushels of wheat daily; which had removed the great inconvenience of +every man being obliged to grind his own ration before it could be +dressed. The abundance of mill-stones, and the quantity of wood fit for +millwrights' work, with the convenient situation of the different +streams, will admit of any number of water-mills being erected. + +Two well-finished wind-mills had also been erected by settlers, which +answered extremely well. + +Not more than ten settlers had been able to erect dwellings better than +log-huts, which are neither warm nor durable. Better, indeed, could +hardly be expected, when it was considered how much their labour and +attention must have been employed in raising food for their families, and +in procuring such articles of accommodation as they needed. Many, +however, of this as well as of other descriptions were building +comfortable framed and weather-boarded habitations at their own expense. + +Of schools there were two, viz one for young children, who were +instructed by a woman of good character; and the other kept by a man, who +taught reading, writing, and arithmetic, for which he was well qualified, +and was very attentive. A third institution on a permanent footing was +added, for the reception of such orphan female children as had lost or +been deserted by their parents. Most of these were of such an age as to +require a strict hand and careful eye over them. Unfortunately they, as +well as the other children, were destitute of every article of clothing, +except such as the store afforded, which was by no means calculated for +children in that warm climate. By the application of fines imposed for +breaches of the peace, etc. and a subscription raised among the officers, +the orphan children had for some time past been clothed, and about +twenty-eight pounds remained to be applied in the same manner. + +HOURS OF LABOUR + +To explain this article, it will be necessary to state the different +descriptions that compose the inhabitants; to do which in a perspicuous +form the following classification has been adopted: + +Class Description Numbers By whom + supported +--------------------------------------------------------------------- +1st Civil and military 83 government + +2nd Settlers, by grant or lease, and freemen who + are under-tenants to the settler 104 labour + Freemen who are hired by the year, etc or + who hire themselves out daily 138 ditto + Convicts who are taken off the stores by + officers, etc 5 ditto +3rd Ditto assigned to officers, etc 67 government +4th Ditto employed as overseers, artificers, + watchmen, etc for the public benefit, many + of whom are invalids 106 ditto + Ditto cultivating ground for the public use, + and other incidental work 30 ditto + +Total males 533 + +5th Women belonging to civil and military, and + at public labour 40 ditto + Ditto, who belong to the second class of men 125 labour +6th Children belonging to the first and fourth + classes 116 government + Ditto to the second and third classes 73 labour + +Total females and children 354 + +From the foregoing statement it appears, that not more than one hundred +and thirty-six men, composing the fourth class, are employed in carrying +on public work, of which number only twenty-eight can be employed (when +other works of public necessity do not intervene) in raising grain, etc. +without expense to the crown, for the first, third, fourth, and a part of +the fifth and sixth classes; making together four hundred and forty-two +persons. + +Those of the fourth class who labour as carpenters, sawyers, blacksmiths, +etc. work from daylight till eight o'clock; from nine till noon; and from +two in the afternoon till sun-set; and as long as they do their work +properly, they have Fridays and Saturdays to themselves, which they +employ in working at their grounds, or in building, etc. for settlers and +others who can employ them. As those works are in fact of a private +nature, although in the end they become more or less of public utility, +the artificers are indulged with the use of government-tools and such +materials as can be spared. + +Those employed in cultivation, and other incidental labour, for the +public benefit, work at all seasons from daylight until one o'clock, +which is found much more advisable than dispersing them at the hours for +meals, and collecting them again to resume their labour. As very few of +this description have any persons to dress their meal, or grind their +maize, they have by this management a great part of the day at their own +disposal; and from the 21st of September to the 21st of February no +public work is done on Saturdays. Those of this description who are +industrious employ a great part of their leisure time in cultivating +pieces of ground for their own use, or labouring for others. + +The second and a part of the fifth and sixth classes, making together +three hundred and thirty-one persons, support themselves by the produce +of their labour without expense to the crown; as the clothing with which +they and the settlers are occasionally furnished from the stores is paid +for in grain or stock. + +ORDINARY PRICE OF LABOUR + +To a convict taken off the stores by an officer or settler, from £5 to £5 +per annurn + +To a freeman hired by the year, victualled and clothed, from £10 to £12 +per annum. + +A day's work for a labourer, with victuals, is 3s; without, 5s + +Cutting down and burning off an acre of wood, £2 + +Cutting down and burning off an acre of weeds, £1 10s + +Threshing one bushel of wheat, 10lbs.; equal to 1s 8d. + +Other works are in proportion. The mode of payment for labour is various, +and depends entirely on the employer's circumstances; but it is in +general made by what arises from the grain or fresh pork put into the +stores by settlers, etc.; sometimes (but very rarely) in cash; and often +by equal labour, or by produce, which is rated as underneath. + +And, in order to prevent disputes respecting the payment, these +agreements, as well as all others, are entered in a book kept by a person +for that purpose, and properly witnessed. + +AVERAGE PRICES OF PROVISIONS RAISED ON THE ISLAND, EITHER FOR SALE, +FOR BARTER, OR IN PAYMENT FOR LABOUR. + +Plentiful Articles. + +Fresh pork 6d per lb +Pickled ditto 8d +Wheat from 7s 6d to 10s per bushel +Maize from 1s 6d to 5s +Potatoes from 1s to 3s 6d per cwt +Full-grown fowls from 6d to 1s each +Ditto ducks 10d to 1s 3d each +Ditto turkeys 7s 6d each + +Scarce Articles. + +Geese 10s each +Female goats £8 each +Goats' flesh or mutton to government 9d per lb +Ditto to individuals 1s 6d ditto + +NB When the latter is taken into the stores for the sick, it is issued as +five pounds of mutton for seven pounds of salt beef stopped in the +stores; by which method government does not pay more than six-pence per +pound as for fresh pork. + +ACCOUNT OF GRAIN RAISED BY THOSE EMPLOYED IN CULTIVATING GROUND +FOR THE PUBLIC USE; AND THAT RAISED BY OFFICERS, SETTLERS, +AND OTHERS, ON NORFOLK ISLAND, FROM THE 6TH OF MARCH 1788 +(WHEN IT WAS FIRST SETTLED) TO OCTOBER 1796. + +Year By whom Quantity Bushels of maize + raised of maize and wheat purchased + and wheat from individuals + in bushels for the public use + +From March 1788 to May 1789 government 46 + individuals 10 +May 1789 to May 1790 government 450 + individuals 50 +The lieutenant-governor was absent this year +From May 1791 to May 1792 government 1688 + individuals 391 40 +May 1792 to May 1793 government 4549 + individuals 6900 3610½ +May 1793 to May 1794 government 6000 + individuals 28,676 11,688 +May 1794 to May 1795 government 3300 + individuals 14,000 none. +May 1795 to May 1796 government 1803 + individuals 11,500 389 + +ACCOUNT OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS FROM NOVEMBER 12TH, 1791, +TO SEPTEMBER 31st, 1796. + +Births +====== + +Civil 10 +Military 3 +Convicts 178 +Total 191 + +Civil 1 +Military 4 +Convicts 94 +Children 38 +Total 137 + + +From 1 month to 2 years 38 have died + 2 years to 18 2 + 18 to 30 36 + 30 to 45 30 + 45 to 65 31 + --- +Total 137 + +Teething 23 have died +Dysentery 45 +Cholera morbus 1, + obstipation 1 2 +Fevers 7, +consumptions 8 15 +Debility 22 +Lues venerea 5 +Dropsy 3, +putrid sore throat 1 4 +Convulsions and epilepsy 4 +Surfeit 2, scalded 1, +abscess and canker 2 5 +Eruptions, scald head, +and mortifications 3 +Iliac passion 1 +Shot 1, casualties 2, + executed 1, suicide 2 6 +Ophthalmia 2 + --- +Total 137 + +STATE OF THE FLAX MANUFACTORY + +Not more than nine men and nine women can be employed in preparing and +manufacturing the flax, which barely keeps them in practice. There is +only one loom on the island, and the slay or reed is designed for coarse +canvas; nor do they possess a single tool required by flax-dressers or +weavers, beyond the poor substitutes which they are obliged to fabricate +themselves. If there were introduced proper slays or reeds, brushes, and +other articles indispensably necessary for flax-dressing and weaving, +with more people to work the flax and a greater number of weavers, this +island would soon require very little assistance in clothing the +convicts; but, for the want of these necessary articles, the only cloth +that can be made is a canvas something finer than No 7, which is thought +to be equally strong and durable as that made from European flax. + +This useful plant needs no cultivation. An experiment has been made to +cultivate it, and answered extremely well; but the produce was not so +much superior to that growing in a natural state as to make it advisable +to bestow any pains on its culture. + +Before the arrival of the two New Zealanders in May 1793, no effectual +progress had been made in its manufacture; nor was it without much +entreaty that our visitors were induced to furnish the information we +required. And indeed, as this work is principally performed by the women +in New Zealand, our friends were by no means competent to give us the +fullest instructions. Sufficient, however, was obtained from them to +improve upon. Since that time those women that could be spared from other +work, not exceeding from six to twelve, had been employed in preparing +the flax; and a flax-dresser, weaver, and three other assistants, in +manufacturing it into canvas, rope, etc. + +When the leaves are gathered, the hard stalk running through the centre +is taken out with the thumb-nail; and the red edges of the leaf are also +stripped off. The two parts are then separated in the middle, making four +slips of about three-quarters of an inch wide, and the length of from +eighteen inches to three or four feet. These slips are cut across the +centre with a muscle-shell, but not so deep as to separate the fibres, +which is the flax. The slips thus prepared are held in the left hand, +with the thumb resting on the upper part of the slip just above the cut. +The muscle-shell held in the right hand is placed on the upper part just +below the cut, with the thumb resting on the upper part. The shell is +drawn to the end of the slip, which separates the vegetable covering from +the flaxen filaments. The slip is then trimmed, and the same operation is +performed on the remaining part, which leaves the flax entire. If it be +designed for fishing-lines, or other coarse work, nothing more is done to +it; but if intended for cloth, it is twisted and beaten for a +considerable time in a clear stream of water; and when dried, twisted +into such threads as the work requires. It has been before observed, that +the New Zealand instructors were not very conversant in the mode of +preparing the flax; but on what was learnt from them it was our business +to improve. Instead of working it as soon as gathered, our people found +it work better for being placed in a heap in a close room for five days +or a week, after which it became softer and pleasanter to work. They also +found it easier, and more expeditious, to scrape the vegetable covering +from the fibres, which is done with three strokes of a knife. It is then +twisted, and put into a tub of water, where it remains until the day's +work is finished. The day following it is washed and beaten in a running +stream. When sufficiently beaten it is dried, and needs no other +preparation, until it is hackled and spun into yarn for weaving. + +The numbers employed at this work were as follow: + +Invalids gathering the flax 3 men +Preparing it 7 women +Beating and washing it 3 who are invalids +Flax-dresser 1 +Spinners 2 women +Weaver and assistant 2 men + -- +Total 18 + +by whose weekly labour sixteen yards of canvas of the size of No 7 was +made. It is to be remarked, that the women, and most of the men, could be +employed at no other work; and that the labour of manuring and +cultivating the ground; the loss of other crops; the many processes used +in manufacturing the European hemp, and the accidents to which it is +liable during its growth, are all, by using this flax, avoided, as it +needs no cultivation, and grows in sufficient abundance on all the cliffs +of the island (where nothing else will grow) to give constant employment +to five hundred people. Indeed, should it be thought an object, any +quantity of canvas, rope, or linen, might be made there, provided there +were men and women, weavers, flax-dressers, spinners, and rope-makers, +with the necessary tools; but destitute as our people were of these aids, +all that could be done was to keep in employ the few that could be spared +from other essential work. If a machine could be constructed to separate +the vegetable covering from the flaxen filaments, any quantity of this +useful article might be prepared with great expedition. + +The New Zealanders mentioned in the preceding account of the Flax +Manufactory at Norfolk Island, remained, as has been already shown, six +months at that settlement. As they resided at the Lieutenant-governor's, +and under his constant observation some information respecting New +Zealand, and its inhabitants, was procured, which was obligingly +communicated by Governor King, in substance as follows: + +Hoo-doo Co-co-ty To-wa-ma-how-ey is about twenty-four years of age; five +feet eight inches high; of an athletic make; his features like those of +an European, and very interesting. He is of the district of Teer-a-witte, +which, by the chart of Too-gee the other New Zealander, is a district of +the same name, but does not lie so far to the southward as the part of +Ea-hei-no-mawe, called Teer-a-witte by Captain Cook; for we are certain +that Too-gee's residence is about the Bay of Islands; and they both agree +that the distance between their dwellings is only two days journey by +land, and one day by water.* That part called by Captain Cook +Teer-a-witte is at a very considerable distance from the Bay of Islands. + +[* Since the return of the _Fancy_ from New Zealand, it appears that +Too-gee's residence is at Doubtless Bay, in which place the _Fancy_ +anchored, and Too-gee with his wife went on board; but he said that he +would not return to Norfolk Island until Lieutenant-governor King came to +fetch him. Two lads, at Too-gee's recommendation, were going thither; but +as they became sea-sick were set on shore again. Hoo-doo's residence must +be between the Bay of Islands and Doubtless Bay, according to the +information given by Too-gee to the master of the _Fancy_.] + +Hoo-doo is nearly related to Po-vo-reek, who is the principal chief of +Teer-a-witte. He had two wives and one child, about whose safety he +seemed very apprehensive; and almost every evening at the close of the +day, he, as well as Too-gee, lamented their separation in a sort of +half-crying and half-singing, expressive of grief, and which was at times +very affecting. + +Too-gee Te-ter-re-nu-e Warri-pe-do is of-the same age as Hoo-doo; but +about three inches shorter; he is stout and well made, and like Hoo-doo +of an olive complexion, with strong black hair. Both are tattooed on the +hips. Too-gee's features are rather handsome and interesting; his nose is +aquinine, and he has good teeth. He is a native of the district of +Ho-do-doe, (which is in Doubtless Bay,) of which district Too-gee's +father is the Etang-a-roah, or chief priest; and to that office the son +succeeds on his father's death. Beside his father, who is a very old man, +he has left a wife and child; about all of whom he is very anxious and +uneasy, as well as about the chief, (Moo-de-wy,) whom he represents as a +very worthy character. Too-gee has a decided preference to Hoo-doo both +in disposition and manners; although the latter is not wanting in a +certain degree of good-nature, but he can at times be very much of the +savage. Hoo-doo, like a true patriot, thinks there is no country, people, +nor customs, equal to his own; on which account he is much less curious +as to what he sees about him than his companion Too-gee, who has the +happy art of insinuating himself into every person's esteem. Except at +times, when he is lamenting the absence of his family and friends, he is +cheerful, often facetious, and very intelligent. And were it not for the +different disposition of Hoo-doo, the most favourable opinion might be +formed of the New Zealanders in general. It is not, however, meant to be +said, that if Too-gee were not present, an indifferent opinion would have +been formed of Hoo-doo; on the contrary, the manners and disposition of +the latter are far more pleasing than could have been expected to be +found in a native of that country. + +At the time they were taken from New Zealand, Too-gee was on a visit to +Hoo-doo; and the mode of their capture was thus related by them*: The +_Daedalus_ appeared in sight of Hoo-doo's habitation in the afternoon, +and was seen the next morning, but at a great distance from the main +land. Although she was near two islands which are inhabited, and which +Toogee in his chart calls Ko-mootu-Kowa, and Opan-a-ke, curiosity, and +the hopes of getting some iron, induced Povoreek the chief, Too-gee, and +Hoo-doo, with his brother, one of his wives, and the priest, to launch +their canoes. They went first to the largest of the two islands, where +they were joined by Tee-ah-wor-rack, the chief of the island, by +Komootookowa, who is Hoo-doo's father-in-law, and by the son of that +chief who governs the smaller island, called Opan-a-ke. They were some +time about the ship before the canoe in which were Too-gee and Hoo-doo +ventured alongside, when a number of iron tools and other articles were +given into the canoe. The agent, Lieutenant Hanson, (of whose kindness +they speak in the highest terms,) invited and pressed them to go on +board, with which Too-gee and Hoo-doo were anxious to comply immediately, +but were prevented by the persuasion of their countrymen. At length they +went on board, and, according to their own expression, they were blinded +by the curious things they saw. Lieutenant Hanson prevailed on them to go +below, where they ate some meat. At this time the ship made sail. One of +them saw the canoes astern; and when they perceived that the ship was +leaving them, they both became frantic with grief, and broke the cabin +windows with an intention of leaping overboard, but were prevented. While +those in the canoes remained within hearing, they advised Povereek to +make the best of his way home, for fear that he also should be taken. + +[* This account has since been corroborated by Lieutenant Hanson.] + +For some time after their arrival at Norfolk Island they were very +sullen, and as anxiously avoided giving any information respecting the +flax, as our people were desirous of obtaining it. The apprehension of +being obliged to work at it was afterwards found to have been a principal +reason for their not complying so readily as was expected. By kind +treatment, however, and indulgence in their own inclinations, they soon +began to be more sociable. They were then given to understand the +situation and short distance of New Zealand from Norfolk Island, and were +assured that as soon as they had taught our women 'emou-ka ea-ra-ka-ke,' +(i.e. to work the flax), they should be sent home again. On this +promise they readily consented to give all the information they +possessed, and which turned out to be very little. This operation was +found to be among them the peculiar province of the women; and as Hoo-doo +was a warrior, and Too-gee a priest, they gave the governor to understand +that dressing of flax never made any part of their studies. + +When they began to understand each other, Too-gee was not only very +inquisitive respecting England, etc. (the situation of which, as well as +that of New Zealand, Norfolk Island, and Port Jackson, he well knew how +to find by means of a coloured general chart); but was also very +communicative respecting his own country. Perceiving he was not +thoroughly understood, he delineated a sketch of New Zealand with chalk +on the floor of a room set apart for that purpose. From a comparison +which Governor King made with Captain Cook's plan of those islands, a +sufficient similitude to the form of the northern island was discoverable +to render this attempt an object of curiosity; and Too-gee was persuaded +to describe his delineation on paper. This being done with a pencil, +corrections and additions were occasionally made by him, in the course of +different conversations; and the names of districts and other remarks +were written from his information during the six months he remained +there. According to Too-gee's chart and information, Ea-hei-no-maue, the +place of his residence, and the northern island of New Zealand, is +divided into eight districts governed by their respective chiefs, and +others who are subordinate to them. The largest of those districts is +T'Souduckey, the inhabitants of which are in a constant state of warfare +with the other tribes, in which they are sometimes joined by the people +of Moo-doo When-u-a, Tettua Whoo-doo, and Wangaroa; but these tribes are +oftener united with those of Choke-han-ga, Teer-a-witte, and Ho-do-doe +against T'Souduckey (the bounds of which district Governor King inclines +to think is from about Captain Cook's Mount Egmont, to Cape Runaway). +They are not, however, without long intervals of peace, at which times +they visit, and carry on a traffic for flax and the green talc-stone, of +which latter they make axes and ornaments. Toogee obstinately denied that +the whole of the New Zealanders were cannibals*; it was not without much +difficulty that he could be persuaded to enter on the subject, or to pay +the least attention to it; and whenever an inquiry was made, he expressed +the greatest horror at the idea. A few weeks after, he was brought to +own, that all the inhabitants of Poo-nam-moo (i.e. the southern island) +and those of T'Souduckey ate the enemies whom they took in battle, which +Hoo-Doo corroborated, for his father was killed and eaten by the +T'Souduckey people. 'Notwithstanding the general probity of our visitors, +particularly Too-gee, (says Captain King,) I am inclined to think that +horrible banquet is general through both islands.' + +[* During the _Fancy's_ stay in the river Thames, they had many and +almost daily proofs of Too-gee's want of veracity on this head.] + +Too-gee described a large fresh-water river on the west side of +Ea-hei-no-maue; but he said it was a bar river, and not navigable for +larger vessels than the war canoes. The river, and the district around +it, is called Cho-ke-han-ga. The chief, whose name is To-ko-ha, lives +about half-way up on the north side of the river. The country he stated +to be covered with pine-trees of an immense size. Captain King says, that +he made Too-gee observe, that Captain Cook did not in his voyage notice +any river on the west side, although he coasted along very near the +shore. On this Too-gee asked with much earnestness, if Captain Cook had +seen an island covered with birds. Gannet Island being pointed out, he +immediately fixed on Albatross Point as the situation of the river, which +Captain Cook's account seems to favour, who says, 'On the north side of +this point (Albatross) the shore forms a bay, in which there appears to +be anchorage and shelter for shipping.' Governor King on this subject +remarks as follows: + +The probable situation of this river (if there be one) being thus far +ascertained, leads me to suppose, that the district of T'Souduckey +extends from Cape Runaway on the east side, to Cape Egmont on the west, +and is bounded by Cook's Strait on the south side, which is nearly one +half of the northern island. Of the river Thames I could not obtain any +satisfactory account; but I have great reason to suppose, that the river +he has marked in the district of Wonga-ro-ah is the Thames. Toogee's +residence appears to be on the north side of the Bay of Islands, in the +district called by him Ho-do-do, which he says contains about a thousand +fighting men, and is subject to the following chiefs; i.e. Te-wy-te-wye, +Wy-to-ah, Moo-de-wye, Wa-way, To-mo-co-mo-co, Pock-a-roo, and Tee-koo-ra, +the latter of whom is the principal chief's son. The subordinate +distinctions of persons at New Zealand are as follow: (We are told, that +the inferior classes are perfectly subordinate to their superiors; and +such I suppose to be the case by the great deference always paid by +Too-gee to Hoo-doo.) + +Etang-a-teda Eti-ket-ti-ca, a principal chief, or man in very great +authority. His superior consequence is signified by a repetition of the +word eti-ket-ti-ca. This title appears hereditary. + +Etanga-roah, or E-ta-hon-ga, a priest, whose authority in many cases is +equal, and in some superior to the etiketica. + +Etanga-teda Epo-di, a subordinate chief or gentleman. + +Ta-ha-ne Emo-ki, a labouring man.' + +* * * * * + +Respecting the customs and manners of these people, the governor favoured +the writer with the following particulars: + +The New Zealanders inter their dead; they also believe that the third day +after the interment the heart separates itself from the corpse; and that +this separation is announced by a gentle breeze of wind, which gives +warning of its approach to an inferior Ea-tooa (or dinity) that hovers +over the grave, and who carries it to the clouds. In his chart Too-gee +has marked an imaginary road which goes the lengthways of Ea-hei-no-maue, +viz from Cook's Strait to the North Cape, which Too-gee calls Terry-inga. +While the soul is received by the good Ea-tooa, an evil spirit is also in +readiness to carry the impure part of the corpse to the above road, along +which it is carried to Terry-inga, whence it is precipitated into the sea. + +Suicide is very common among the New Zealanders, and this they often +commit by hanging themselves on the slightest occasions; thus a woman who +has been beaten by her husband will perhaps hang herself immediately. In +this mode of putting an end to their existence, both our visitors seemed +to be perfect adepts, having often threatened to hang themselves, and +sometimes made very serious promises of putting it into execution if they +were not sent to their own country. As these threats, however, were used +in their gloomy moments, they were soon laughed out of them. + +It could not be discovered that they have any other division of time than +the revolution of the moon, until the number amounted to one hundred, +which they term "Ta-iee E-tow," i.e. one Etow or hundred moons; and it is +thus they count their age, and calculate all other events. + +Hoo-doo and Too-gee both agreed that a great quantity of manufactured +flax might be obtained for trifles*, such as axes, chisels, etc., and +said, that in most places the flax grows naturally in great quantities; +in other parts it is cultivated by separating the roots, and planting +them out, three in one hole, at the distance of a foot from each other. +They give a decided preference to the flax-plant that grows here, both +for quantity and size. + +[* This circumstance all the people belonging to the _Fancy_ fully +confirmed; for during the three months that vessel lay in the Thames, +they replaced all their running-rigging by ropes made of the flax-plant.] + +It may be expected (says Governor King) that after a six months +acquaintance between us and the two New Zealanders, we should not be +ignorant of each other's language. Myself and some of the officers (who +were so kind as to communicate the observations they obtained from our +visitors) could make our ideas known, and tolerably well understood by +them. They too, by intermixing what English words they knew with what we +knew of their language, could make themselves sufficiently understood by +us. During the time they were with us I did not possess any account of +Captain Cook's voyages; but since their departure, I find from his first +voyage, that it has great similitude to the general language spoken in +those seas. The vocabulary which I have appended to these memoranda was +collected by myself and the surgeon, and is, I believe, very correct, +particularly the numerals. Much other information was given us by our two +friends; but as it may be liable to great errors, I forbear repeating it. + +It has been already said* [Footnote refers to Page 347 of the book, but +there was no reference to this subject on that page. Ed.], that Governor +King went himself to New Zealand to return Hoo-doo and Too-gee to their +country and friends. The following are the governor's remarks on his +voyage thither: + +Having rounded the north cape of New Zealand on the 12th of November +1793, the fourth day after leaving Norfolk, we saw a number of houses and +a small hippah on an island which lies off the north cape, and called by +Too-gee, Moo-de Moo-too. Soon after we opened a very considerable hippah +or fortified place, situated on a high round hill, just within the cape, +whence six large canoes were seen coming toward the ship. As soon as they +came within hail, Too-gee was known by those in the canoes, which were +soon increased to seven, with upwards of twenty men in each. They came +alongside without any intreaty, and those who came on board were much +rejoiced to meet with Too-gee whose first and earnest inquiries were +after his family and chief. On those heads he received the most +satisfactory intelligence from a woman, who, as he informed us, was a +near relation of his mother. His father and chief were still inconsolable +for his loss; the latter (whom Too-gee always mentioned in the most +respectful manner) had been about a fortnight past on a visit to the +chief of the hippah above mentioned, where he remained four days; and +Te-wy-te-wye, the principal chief of Too-gee's district, was daily +expected. With this information he was much pleased. It was remarked, +that although there were upward of a hundred New Zealanders on board and +alongside, yet Too-gee confined his caresses and conversation to his +mother's relation, and one or two chiefs, who were distinguished by the +marks (a-mo-ko) on their faces, and by the respectful behaviour which was +shown them by the emokis (i.e. the working men who paddled the canoes, +and who at times were beaten most unmercifully by the chiefs. To those +who by Too-gee's account were epodis (subaltern chiefs), and well known +to him, I gave some chissels, hand-axes, and other articles equally +acceptable. A traffic soon commenced. Pieces of old iron hoop were given +in exchange for abundance of manufactured flax, cloth, patoo-patoos, +spears, talc ornaments, paddles, fish-hooks, and lines. At seven in the +evening they left us, and we made sail with a light breeze at west, +intending to run for the Bay of Islands (which we understood was +Too-gee's residence,) and from which we were twenty-four leagues distant. +At nine o'clock a canoe with four men came alongside, and jumped on board +without any fear. The master of the _Britannia_ being desirous to obtain +their canoe, the bargain was soon concluded (with Too-gee's assistance) +much to the satisfaction of the proprietors, who did not discover the +least reluctance at sleeping on board, and being carried to a distance +from their homes. Our new guests very satisfactorily corroborated all the +circumstances that Too-gee had heard before. After supper Too-gee and +Hoo-doo asked the strangers for the news of their country since they had +been taken away. This was complied with by the four strangers, who began +a song, in which each of them took a part, sometimes using fierce and +savage gestures, and at other times sinking their voices, according to +the different passages or events that they were relating. Hoo-doo, who +was paying great attention to the subject of their song, suddenly burst +into tears, occasioned by an account which they were giving of the +T'Souduckey tribe having made an irruption on Teer-a-witte (Hoo doo's +district) and killed the chief's son with thirty warriors. He was too +much affected to hear more; but retired into a corner of the cabin, where +he gave vent to his grief, which was only interrupted by his threats of +revenge. + +Owing to calm weather, little progress was made during the night. At +daylight on the 13th, a number of canoes were seen coming from the +hippah; in the largest of which was thirty-six men and a chief, who was +standing up making signals with great earnestness. On his coming +alongside, Too-gee recognised the chief to be Ko-to-ko-ke, who is the +etiketica, or principal chief of the hippah whence the boats had come the +preceding evening. The old chief, who appeared to be about seventy years +of age, had not a visible feature, the whole of his face being tatooed +with spiral lines. At his coming on board he embraced Too-gee with great +affection; Too-gee then introduced me to him; and after the ceremony of +'ehong-i,' i.e. joining noses, he took off his ah-a-how, or mantle, and +put it on my shoulders. In return I gave him a mantle made of green +baize, and decorated with broad arrows. Soon after seven, other canoes, +with upwards of twenty men and women in each, came alongside. At +Too-gee's desire the poop was 'eta-boo,' i.e. all access to it by any +others than the old chief forbidden. Not long before Ko-to-ko-ke came on +board, I asked Too-gee and Hoo-doo if they would return to Norfolk Island +or land at Moo-dee When-u-a in case the calm continued, or the wind came +from the southward, of which there was some appearance. Too-gee was much +averse to either. His reason for not returning to Norfolk was the natural +wish to see his family and chief; nor did he like the idea of being +landed at Moo-dee When-u-a, as, notwithstanding what he had heard +respecting the good understanding there was between his district and that +of Moo-dee When-u-a, the information might turn out to be not strictly +true. Nothing more was said about it; and it was my intention to land +them nearer to their homes, if it could be done in the course of the day, +although it was then a perfect calm. Soon after the chief came on board +they told me with tears of joy that they wished to go with Ko-toko-ke, +who had fully confirmed all they had heard before, and had promised to +take them the next morning to Too-gee's residence, where they would +arrive by night. To wait the event of the calm, or the wind coming from +the northward, might have detained the ship some days longer. Could I +have reached in four days from leaving Norfolk the place where Too-gee +lived, I certainly should have landed him there; but that not being the +case (as this was the fifth day) I did not consider myself justifiable in +detaining the ship longer than was absolutely necessary to land them in a +place of safety, and from which they might get to their homes. + +Notwithstanding the information Too-gee had received, and the confidence +he placed in the chief, I felt much anxiety about our two friends, and +expressed to Too-gee my apprehensions that what he had heard might be an +invention of Ko-to-ko-ke's and his people to get them and their effects +into their power. I added, that as the ship could not be detained longer, +I would rather take them back than leave them in the hands of suspicious +people. To this Too-gee replied with an honest confidence, that +'etiketica no eteka,' i.e. a chief never deceives. I then took the chief +into the cabin, and explained to him, assisted by Too-gee (who was +present with Hoo-doo), how much I was interested in their getting to +Ho-do-do; and added, that in two or three moons I should return to +Ho-do-do, and if I found Too-gee and Hoo-doo were safe arrived with their +effects, I would then return to Moo-dee When-u-a and make him some very +considerable presents, in addition to those which I should now give him +and his people for their trouble in conducting our two friends to their +residence. I had so much reason to be convinced of the old man's +sincerity, that I considered it injurious to threaten him with punishment +for failing in his engagement. The only answer Ko-to-ko-ke made was, by +putting both his hands to the sides of my head (making me perform the +same ceremony) and joining our noses; in which position we remained three +minutes, the old chief muttering what I did not understand. After this he +went through the same ceremony with our two friends, which ended with a +dance, when the two latter joined noses with me, and said that +Ko-to-ko-ke was now become their father, and would in person conduct them +to Ho-do-doe.* While I was preparing what I meant to give them, Too-gee +(who I am now convinced was a priest) had made a circle of the New +Zealanders round him, in the centre of which was the old chief, and +recounted what he had seen during his absence. At many passages they gave +a shout of admiration. On his telling them, that it was only three days +sail from Norfolk to Moo-doo When-u-a, whether his veracity was doubted, +or that he was not contented with the assertion alone, I cannot tell, but +with much presence of mind he ran upon the poop, and brought a cabbage, +which he informed them was cut five days ago in my garden. This +convincing proof produced a general shout of surprise. + +[* Which was very faithfully performed.] + +Every thing being now arranged, and ready for their departure, our two +friends requested that Ko-to-ko-ke might see the soldiers exercise and +fire. To this I could have no objection, as the request came from them; +but I took that opportunity of explaining to the chief (with Toogee's +help) that he might see, by our treatment of him and his two countrymen, +that it was our wish and intention to be good neighbours and friends with +all Ea-hei-no-mau-e; that these weapons were never used but when we were +injured, which I hoped would never happen; and that no other consideration +than the satisfying of his curiosity could induce me to show what those +instruments were intended for. + +About one hundred and fifty of the New Zealanders were seated on the +larboard side of the deck, and the detachment paraded on the opposite +side. After going through the manual, and firing three volleys, two great +guns were fired, one loaded with a single ball, and the other with +grape-shot, which surprised them greatly, as I made the chief observe the +distance at which the shot fell from the ship. The wind had now the +appearance of coming from the southward; and as that wind throws a great +surf on the shore, they were anxious to get away. Too-gee and Hoo-doo +took an affectionate leave of every person on board, and made me remember +my promise of visiting them again, when they would return to Norfolk +Island with their families. The venerable chief, after having taken great +pains to pronounce my name, and made me well acquainted with his, got +into his canoe and left us. On putting off from the ship, they were +saluted with three cheers, which they returned as well as they could, by +Toogee's directions. It was now seven in the morning of the 13th: at nine +a breeze came from the north, with which we stood to the eastward. After +a passage of five days from New Zealand (having had light winds) and ten +days absence from Norfolk Island, I landed at three o'clock in the +afternoon of the 18th. + +The little intercourse that I had with the New Zealanders (as I was only +eighteen hours off that island, twelve of which were in the night) does +not enable me to say much respecting them, or to form any decisive +opinion of them, as much of their friendly behaviour in this slight +interview might be owing to our connexion with Too-gee and Hoo-doo, and +their being with us. These two worthy savages (if the term may be +allowed) will, I am confident, ever retain the most grateful remembrance +of the kindnesses they received on Norfolk Island; and if the greater +part of the countrymen have but a small portion of the amiable +disposition of Too-gee and Hoo-doo, they certainly are a people between +whom and the English colonists a good understanding may with common +prudence and precaution be cultivated. I regret very much that the +service on which the _Britannia_ was ordered did not permit me to detain +her longer; as in a few days, with the help of our two friends, much +useful information might have been obtained respecting the quantity of +manufactured flax that might be procured, which I think would be of high +importance if better known. The great quantity that was procured in +exchange for small pieces of iron hoop is a proof, that an abundance of +this valuable article is manufactured among them. + +The articles that I gave Too-gee and Hoo-doo consisted of hand-axes; a +small assortment of carpenters' tools, six spades, some hoes, with a few +knives, scissors, and razors; two bushels of maize, one of wheat, two of +peas, and a quantity of garden feeds; ten young sows, and two boars, +which Too-gee and the chief faithfully promised should be preserved for +breeding, a promise which I am inclined to think they will strictly +observe.* + +[* The first place the _Fancy_ made at New Zealand was Doubtless Bay, +which the master describes as a very dangerous place for a vessel to go +into, and still worse to lie at, as it is open to the easterly winds. On +their coming to an anchor, which was not till late in the evening (in +December 1795), several canoes came round the vessel, but did not venture +alongside until Too-gee was inquired for, when the New Zealanders +exclaimed 'My-ty Governor King! My-ty Too-gee! My-ty Hoo-doo!' Some went +on board, and others put in to shore, returning soon after with Too-gee +and his wife. He had not forgotten his English, at least the more common +expressions. He informed Captain Dell, that he had one pig remaining +alive, and some peas growing; but what became of the rest of his stock he +did not say. As Doubtless Bay was found a bad place to remain in, the +_Fancy_ endeavoured to get out, but was obliged to return, when the two +lads who wished to see Norfolk Island, being sea-sick, left her.] + +A SHORT VOCABULARY OF THE NEW ZEALAND LANGUAGE + +NEW ZEALAND ENGLISH +----------- ------- + +E-ha-ha Fire +E-when-ua Earth, or ground +E-wy Water +E-mu-da Flame of thefire +E-dou-ma-te Summer +E-ho-ho-tou-ke Winter +E-ma-ran-gi North +E-sow-how-oo-doo South +E-ton-ga East +E-te-hu West +E-te-te-do To see +E-don-go To hear +E-do-rni-do-mi To feel +E-hon-gi To smell +E-mei-te To taste +He-te-te-show or +Ye-te-de-how New moon +E-po-po-e-e-nue Full moon +E-de-de-ke Last quarter of the moon +E-ma-ra-ma The moon +E-da Sun +E-pu-ta Sun-rise +E-a-wa-tere Noon +E-a-hi-au, or E-po Sunset +E-wha-tu Star +Ye-rew-a-new-a Rainbow +E-Ma-tan-gee Wind +E-bu-a Rain +E-ue-da Lightning +E-wet-e-te-cla Thunder +Em-ma-ha-ne Hot +Ma-ka-ree-dee Cold +E-ko-how Fog +E-po-ka-ka Dew +E-paw-ha Smoke +E-mo-an-na Salt water or the sea +E-a-o The day +E-po The night +E-co-pec-ce To freeze, or ice +E-wha-tu Snow +In-an-hal Yesterday +N'A-goo-nal To-day +A-po-po To-morrow +A-ta-hy-da Day after to-morrow +A-wa-ka Day following +A-wa-ke-ett ue Four days hence +E-hon-gi The ceremony of joining noses as a salute +Yen-gang The head +He'-ho-do-ho-do The hair of the head +Eta-din-ga The ear +Etoude-Eta-din-ga Deaf +E-da-ha The Forehead +Ca-no-wei or +E-ca-no-che The eye +E-pu-di E'Ca-no-wei Blind +Pa-pa-reen-gi The cheek +Ec-Eee-shu The nose +E-cou-wye The beard +E-ka-ke The neck +Po-co-fee-fee or +Edinga-ringa The arm +E-dal-ee The breast +He-ooo (lengthened out) The nipple +E-pee-too The navel +Eu-wa The thigh +E-tu-di-po-na or +Ewa-wye The leg +E-mata-ka-ra The fingers +E-coro-E-te Finger-nails +He-i-a-dar-re The skin +Ing-oo-too The lips +E-wa-ha The mouth +In-ni-show The teeth +Ecoro-coro The throat +E-pa-ro The hand +E-co-pu The belly +E-to-to Blood +E-tu-di-po-na Knees +E-da-pa-ra-pa The feet +E-too-o-ra The back +E-cu-mo The backside +E-kau-wal The chin +E-ki The mouth +E-u-de The penis +E-ai The vulva +E-tek-ke To copulate +E-ma-mi To go to make water +E-tu-tal To go to stool +Pa-ke-da Bald-headed +E-sha-pu Pregnant +E-ko-ki A cripple +E-ka-ta To laugh +E-tan-ge To cry +E-too-ha To spit +E-co-we-ra To breathe +E-ma-my To groan +E-sha, (sounded +expressive of the +action) To sigh +Te-zee-ou-wa, (sounded +expressive of) Sneezing* + +[* A compliment is paid by the New Zealanders when one of the company +sneezes, by repeating the following lines: +'Tee-zee, Tee-zee, Pa-way, Pa-way, +wa-cou-te-ma-he co-to-ko-eee, +drawn out very long. +'Tu-tu-ro a-te na tan-ga-ta kiti-po, +Tu-tu-ra ma-hie na-ta-na-ta kit-eao +Tee-zee, Tee-zee, etc.' as in the first line. +All which means wishes for health from night to morning, and that +no bones may be broken by the shock of sneezing.] + +E-co-show To hiccough +E-mo-a To sleep +E-ta-ko-te To lie down to sleep +E-a-ra To rise from sleep +E-kow-hae-ra To yawn +E-to-u To break wind +E-ku-pa To belch +E-du-a-ke To puke +E-da-hee Fat +Eet pronounced +as Eat Lean +E-o-ra In health +E-mat-tee means +also death Sick +E-pi Handsome, also clean +E-ke-no Ugly, also dirty +E-ni-a-ymi Pain in general +In-ni-shou E-to-on-ga Tooth-ache +E-hu-de Head-ache +E-de-ka-ra-ka An itching +E-huf-fe Love +He-de-de Hatred, or being dissatisfied +He-ma-ta-kd Fear +E-ka-tou Joy +E-ko-ko-pe Shame +E-kow-wa Loathing +E-wa-ra-wa-ra An error or mistake +E-ko-cut A cut +E-mo-to A blow +E-hou-dang-e To faint +He-kye To eat +E-e-nue To drink +E-matta-he-a-kye Hungry +Ka-ke Satisfied +E-i-ra To walk +E-o-mu To run +E-da-re To jump +E-ka-ou To swim +E-tu-ta-ke To meet any one +Ke-o-ro-mi To make haste +E-no-ho To sit down +E-tu Standing up +E-mo-ki To work +Ka-ko-p-1 To shut a door +Eu-wa-ke To open +E-de-ding-ee To sell +E-o-mi To give or reach +Wha-ka-de-de I'll give you +Z'Shocke-e-mai Ditto +E-wa-k-a-tu To plant +E-o-hoo-tee To pluck up +E-da-fe To tie or bind +E-wa-wat-te Untie +E-ma-ca To throw away +E-te-te-do To look or observe +E-ko-re To break any thing, as a plate +E-what-te To break any thing, as a stick +E-hi-yi To tear, as paper +Car-co-ree To pull down or destroy, + as a building, ship, etc +E-ko-cout To cut +Ing-ha-roo To see or look for +E-hu-na To hide +Ea-ke-tere To find +E-ke-no To stain or dirty any thing +E-moo-roo To clean +Eo-roo-ee To wash +E-yhang-a To build a house or boat +E-ka-wa Ill-tasted, bitter +He-i-de-mal! Come here! +Sey-ede or E-i-ra To go +E-ko-re-roo To converse +Pat-too pat-too To beat, also the name of a principal weapon +E-te-ka To tell a lie +E-po-no To tell truth +E-wa-ka A canoe +E-shoo To paddle a canoe +E-1-ka A fish +E-a-ho To catch a fish +E-wa-du A fish-hook made of wood +E-ma-ka A fishing-line +E-nue Big, large +E-mo-ro-ee-te Small +My-ty Good +Mack-row-a Bad +Ki-e-dow Fit to eat +E-whan-na To kick +E-ha-ka To dance +E-wy-ette To sing +E-wa-du To dream +E-ta-po-ke To drown +E-ka-ya To steal +E-ta-ro-na To hang one's self +E-ee-ta I understand +Na? Do you mean this? +Ha ya-ha What is this? +Ko-ai Who is this? +An-ga There +Pah-hee A ship, or very large canoe +E-whar-re A house +E-ta-o A spear +E-da-kow A tree, or piece of wood +E-ma-ta A sharp stone with which they cut their hair +Pas-aa-te-ra A stone +E-ko-ha-tue A rock +E-ho-ne Sand-beach +E-a-wha A harbour +E-pa-pa A board +E-to-ki An axe +E-whow A chissel, nail, or iron +E-va-te-to-ka A door +E-pu-ki A hill +E-poo-poo Shells +E-wak-e-te-ca Ear-rings +Etu-pu The flax plant when growing +E-mu-ka The flax when dressed +E-mu-ka Yera-ka-kee The operation of drawing the flax + from the plant +Eka-ka-how Cloth wove from the flax +A-mo-ko The marks on their face and different parts + of their bodies +To-ko-hal-ya? How many? +E-ma-ha A great many, speaking of things +Ka-ta-puk-e-mai A great many, speaking of people +Yen-ge-enge, +(and sounded hard) Tired +Eto-ho-ro-ha A whale +E-he-nue Whale oil, or any other fat +Emata-to-too-roo Thick +E-da-ede-hi Thin +E-do-aw High or tall, and long +E-po-to Short +E-wa-nue Wide +E-wa-ete Narrow +E-ti-ma-ha Heavy +E-ma-ma Light +E-de-ding-e Full +E-ma-din-ge Empty +E-ma-row Hard +Ing-now-a-rey Soft +E-ka-ra-de A dog +E-kere A rat +E-manu A bird +E-wy-you Milk +E-whairo Red +E-ema White +E-man-goe All dark colours +Ka-de-da Green +Ka-nap-pa Blue +Ta-ah-ne-a sounded long A man +Wha-hel-ne A woman +E-co-ro-wa-ke An old man +E-du-a-hel-ne An old woman +E-Ta-ma-ree-kee A young man +E-Ta-ma-hei-ne A young woman +Ta-ma-i-ete A male child +E-co-tero An infant +Ma-tu-a-Ta-a-ne Father +Ma-tu-a-wa-hei-ne Mother +Tu-a-hel-ne Sister +Tu-a-Can-na Elder brother +Tei-ne Younger brother +E-mi-yan-ga Twins +Pah-pah Children call their father +Hah-ty-yee Children call their mother + +E seems to be used as the article, pronounced as in the English. +A is always sounded long, as in the French. + +NUMERALS +Ta-hie One +Du-o Two +Too-roo Three +Wha Four +Dee-mah Five +0-no Six +Whee-too Seven +Wha-roo Eight +E-wha Nine +Ng-a-hu-du Ten +Ca-te-cow signifies One Ten +Ma-ta-hie Eleven +Ma-duo Twelve, and so on, the numeral being +preceded by Ma, until nineteen (Ma-Ew-ha) then . . . +Ca-te-cow, Ca, du-o Twenty +Ca-te-cow, Ca, Too-roo Thirty +Ca-te-cow, Ca, Wha Forty +and so on to . . . +Ca-te-cow, Ca, E-wha Ninety +Kah-row A hundred +Carow, Ca, Ta-hie One hundred +Carow, Ca, Du-o Two hundred +and so on to nine hundred +Kom-ma-roo A thousand +Com-ma-no, Ca, Tahie One thousand +Com-ma-no, Ca-du-o Two thousand +and so on to nine thousand. +Ca-tee-nee Ten thousand +which appearsto be the extent of their numerals. + +{Thus far Lieutenant-Governor King.} + +From the 25th of October, the day on which the ships made sail from +Norfolk Island, till the 31st of the same month, nothing material +occurred. On that day Mr. Raven stated to Captain Waterhouse, the +commander of the _Reliance_, the necessity there was for the +_Britannia's_ making the best of her way to England; and as he thought +she sailed rather better than that ship, he requested permission to part +company, which Captain Waterhouse not objecting to, we separated and made +sail from them. + +On the 5th of November we passed an island named by Lieutenant Watts (who +first saw it in the _Lady Penrhyn_ transport) Macauley Island. + +Sunday the 6th was passed in examining an island, which Mr. Raven was +decidedly of opinion had never been seen before. It was situated in the +latitude of 29 degrees 15 minutes and longitude of 181 degrees 56 minutes +E. We found the land high, and it appeared to be well covered with wood. +On the south-west side of it is a bay in which, from the colour of the +water, Mr. Raven thought there was good anchorage; but at this time there +was too much surf breaking on the beach to render it prudent to send a +boat in. The aspect on this side of the island was romantic and inviting; +but on the other side the shore was bold, and in many parts rugged and +bare. The whole appeared to consist, like Norfolk Island, of hills and +dales. We conjectured that there was fresh water in the bay on the +south-west side. The knowledge of the existence of this island can be of +no other importance, than to cause navigators sailing in that route to +keep a good look-out, particularly in the night-time, as many straggling +rocks lie off the north side. + +From the circumstance of its being seen on a Sunday it obtained the name +of Sunday island. + +Leaving this, we proceeded toward Cape Horn; but it was not till the 16th +of December that we saw the southern part of the vast continent of +America. Mr. Raven intended to have made the Jasons, and touched at +Falkland's Islands in the hope of procuring some information respecting +the Cape of Good Hope; but, after passing Cape Horn, and finding the wind +hang to the northward, he altered his course for the Island of St Helena, +or the Cape of Good Hope, as circumstances might direct. + +On the 21st, in latitude 51 degrees 56 minutes S and longitude 306 +degrees 25 minutes E to our great surprise, we fell in with and joined our +companions the _Reliance_ and _Supply_. We found that, by keeping nearer +to the north end of New Zealand than we had done, they had met with more +favourable winds. We now proceeded together toward the Cape of Good Hope. + +On the 23rd, being about the latitude of 50 degrees S we fell in with +several islands of ice; which, however, we cleared without any accident, +and stood more to the northward. Mr. Raven was of opinion, that ice would +always be found in or about those latitudes, and recommended that all +ships, after passing Cape Horn, should keep more to the northward than we +did. + +On the 9th of January we crossed the three hundred and sixtieth degree of +east longitude. Our weather now was much too moderate; for it was not +till the 15th of January that we saw the coast of Africa. Some necessary +precautions were taken by the king's ship on coming in with it; and, +finding every thing as we wished, on the next day we completed our long +voyage of sixteen weeks from Port Jackson by anchoring safely in Table Bay. + +Here, almost the whole of our ship's company having been pressed, or +voluntarily entered into the king's service, and with difficulty getting +some necessary repairs done to the ship, we were compelled most +reluctantly to remain for eight weeks. The place was very unhealthy, and +lodging and every article of comfort extravagantly high. + +A few days before we sailed, the ship _Ganges_, commanded by Mr. +Patrickson, arrived with convicts from Cork. She sailed from Ireland with +another ship, the _Britannia_, having on board a similar cargo; but the +master, intending to touch at Rio de Janeiro, had parted company with the +_Ganges_ off Palma. We learned by the _Ganges_, that two storeships, the +_Sylph_ and _Prince of Wales_, had sailed in June last for New South +Wales. Much as Governor Hunter wanted labourers, the provisions would be +more welcome to him than the Irish convicts, who had hitherto always +created more trouble than any other. + +Before we sailed we had the satisfaction of seeing seventy head of very +fine young Cape cattle purchased by Mr. Palmer, the commissary for the +colony, to be sent thither in the _Reliance_ and _Supply_; the latter of +which ships sailed with her proportion a few days before we left Table +Bay. These ships would return well stored with useful articles for the +settlement, and comforts for every officer in it. + +We left the Cape on the 16th of March, and arrived at the pleasant island +of St Helena on the 26th of the same month. Here we remained till the +17th of April, having waited some time for a convoy, and sailed at last +without any, in company with the ship _Brothers_, a South-Sea whaler, who +was returning loaded. + +During our stay at St Helena we made several excursions into the interior +part of the island. A visit from the French was daily expected; but we +saw with pleasure preparations made for their reception that caused every +one to treat the probability of their coming as an event more to be +wished for than dreaded. From the hospitality of Governor Brooke and his +family, and the pleasant society of this place, we felt a regret at +leaving the island, which nothing but the prospect of soon reaching our +own happy shores alleviated. + +Every one now was anxious for the successful termination of the passage +before us. On the 27th of April we crossed the equator in the longitude +of 19 degrees 02 minutes W. On the 4th of May we spoke the ship +_Elizabeth_, (an American,) Isaac Stone master. They had only been +twenty-eight days from Dover, and gave us the first intelligence we +received of the victory obtained by our fleet under Earl St. Vincent over +that of the Spaniards. + +On the 7th of June we spoke a schooner under American colours, the +_Federal George_ of Duxbury from Bourdeaux, bound to Boston. The master +informed, us that the channel was full of the enemy's cruisers, who were +looking out for our West-India fleet, then expected home. Though we felt +persuaded that our cruisers would counteract their designs, Mr. Raven +determined, from this information, and from the wind having long hung to +the eastward, to stand to the northward. From this time to the 18th our +weather was very unfavourable, and our wind mostly contrary. On the 18th +we saw the rock laid down in the charts by the name of Isle Rokal, being +then in the latitude of 57 degrees 51 minutes N and longitude 13 degrees +56 minutes W. The rock then bore N 23 degrees distant eight miles and a +half. Our foul wind continued many days; but on the 23rd we found +ourselves off Innishone on the north part of Ireland. Here a man came +off, who, to our inquiries respecting the progress of the war, answered, +that he knew nothing about war, except that the strongest party always +got the better of the weakest, thus uttering a truth in the midst of the +profoundest ignorance. We now determined to steer for Liverpool, at which +port, after much anxiety, we arrived in safety on the 27th. + +On the 29th the judge-advocate delivered at the Duke of Portland's office +the dispatches with which he was charged. + +He now learned, that previous to his arrival in London there had sailed +for New South Wales, exclusive of the ships _Sylph_ and _Prince of +Wales_, _Ganges_ and _Britannia_, the _Lady Shore_ transport, having on +board two male and sixty-six female convicts. On the 6th of last November +the _Barwell_ sailed, having on board Mr. Dore, the present +judge-advocate of that territory, and two hundred and ninety-eight male +convicts. The _Britannia_, a ship belonging to the house of Enderby and +Co. sailed on the 17th of last February with ninety-six female convicts +on board. This ship went out with orders to try the whale-fishery on the +coast of New South Wales for one season. If this should succeed, the +settlement and the public at large will owe much to the spirited +exertions of the house of Enderby to promote a beneficial commerce from +that country. + +The king's ships on that station being ill calculated for the services +expected from them, having on board expensive complements of men and +officers, and consequently but little room for cattle; and being beside +so defective and impaired by time as to be unsafe to navigate much +longer; two others have been provided, newer and more capable of +rendering service to the colony. One of them, the _Buffalo_, commanded by +Mr. William Raven, late master of the _Britannia_, is on the point of +sailing, and is to take cattle to New South Wales from the Cape of Good +Hope. The other is named the _Porpoise_, and has the same service to +perform. A ship, called the _Minerva_, is also proceeding to Cork to take +in a number of Irish convicts. + +* * * * * + +Letters have been received from New South Wales, dated about six weeks +after the author sailed from that colony. Governor Hunter had received by +the _Sylph_ and _Prince of Wales_ storeships two thousand six hundred and +fifty casks of salted provisions. Several persons had been tried by the +court of criminal judicature for robbing the public stores, and had been +found guilty. One man had been executed for murder, and his body hung in +chains on Rock Island, a small spot at the mouth of Sydney Cove, and by +which every boat and ship coming into the cove must necessarily pass. The +governor was on the point of visiting Portland Head, some high land on +the banks of the Hawkesbury, where he purposed establishing a settlement. + +Had that river and its fertile banks been discovered before the +establishment at Sydney Cove had proceeded too far to remove it, how +eligible a place would it have been for the principal settlement! A +navigable river possesses many advantages that are unknown in other +situations. Much benefit, however, was to be derived from this even as an +inferior settlement. Its extreme fertility would always insure a certain +supply of grain; and the settlers on its banks must produce a quantity +equal to the consumption of the civil and Military, and of their own +families; and thus, while rendering a service to the state, they might in +time become opulent farmers. Yet our pity is excited, when it is +considered, that they are of so unworthy a description as has clearly +been made appear in the preceding narrative. That a river justly termed +the Nile of New South Wales should fall into such hands is to be +lamented. In process of time, however, their productive farms will have +yielded them all that they aspire to, and may then fall into the +possession of persons who will look beyond the mere gratification of the +moment, and cause the settlements in New South Wales to stand as high in +the public estimation as any colonies in his Majesty's dominions. + + + + +APPENDICES + + + +GENERAL REMARKS + + +The reader of the preceding narrative will have seen, that after many +untoward occurrences, and a considerable lapse of time, that friendly +intercourse with the natives which had been so earnestly desired was at +length established; and having never been materially interrupted, these +remote islanders have been shown living in considerable numbers among us +without fear or restraint; acquiring our language; readily falling in +with our manners and customs; enjoying the comforts of our clothing, and +relishing the variety of our food. We saw them die in our houses, and the +places of the deceased instantly filled by others, who observed nothing +in the fate of their predecessors to deter them from living with us, and +placing that entire confidence in us which it was our interest and our +pleasure to cultivate. They have been always allowed so far to be their +own masters, that we never, or but rarely, interrupted them in any of +their designs, judging that by suffering them to live with us as they +were accustomed to do before we came among them, we should sooner attain +a knowledge of their manners and customs, than by waiting till we had +acquired a competent skill in their language to converse with them. On +this principle, when they assembled to dance or to fight before our +houses, we never dispersed, but freely attended their meetings. To them +this attention of ours appeared to be agreeable and useful; for those who +happened to be wounded in their contests instantly looked out for one of +our surgeons, and displayed entire confidence in his skill, and great +bravery in the firmness with which they bore the knife and the probe. + +By slow degrees we began mutually to be pleased with, and to understand +each other. Language, indeed, is out of the question; for at the time of +writing this (September 1796) nothing but a barbarous mixture of English +with the Port Jackson dialect is spoken by either party; and it must be +added, that even in this the natives have the advantage, comprehending, +with much greater aptness than we can pretend to, every thing they hear +us say. From a pretty close observation, however, assisted by the use of +the barbarous dialect just mentioned, the following particulars +respecting the natives of New South Wales have been collected. + + + +APPENDIX 1--GOVERNMENT AND RELIGION + + +GOVERNMENT + +We found the natives about Botany Bay, Port Jackson, and Broken Bay, +living in that state of nature which must have been common to all men +previous to their uniting in society, and acknowledging but one +authority. These people are distributed into families, the head or +senior of which exacts compliance from the rest. In our early intercourse +with them (and indeed at a much later period, on our meeting with +families to whom we were unknown) we were always accosted by the person +who appeared to be the eldest of the party, while the women, youths, and +children, were kept at a distance. The word which in their language +signifies father was applied to their old men; and when, after some time, +and by close observation, they perceived the authority with which +Governor Phillip commanded, and the obedience which he exacted, they +bestowed on him the distinguishing appellation of (Be-anna) or Father. +This title being conferred solely on him (although they perceived the +authority of masters over their servants) places the true sense of the +word beyond a doubt, and proves, that to those among them who enjoyed +that distinction belonged the authority of a chief. + +When any of these came into the town, we have been immediately informed +of their arrival, and they have been pointed out to our notice in a +whisper, and with an eagerness of manner which, while it drew our +attention, impressed us with an idea that we were looking at persons to +whom some consequence was attached even among the savages of New Holland. +Another acceptation of the word Be-anna, however, soon became evident; +for we observed it to be frequently applied by children to men who we +knew had not any children of their own. On inquiry we were informed, that +in case a father should die, the nearest of kin, or some deputed friend, +would take the care of his children; and for this reason those children +styled them Be-anna, though in the lifetime of their natural parent. This +Bennillong (the native who was some time in England) confirmed to us at +the death of his first wife, by consigning the care of his infant +daughter Dil-boong (who at the time of her mother's decease was at the +breast) to his friend Governor Phillip, telling him that he was to become +the Be-anna or Father of his little girl. Here, if the reader pauses for +a moment to consider the difference between the general conduct of our +baptismal sponsors (to whose duties this custom bears much resemblance) +and the humane practice of these uncivilised people, will not the +comparison suffuse his cheek with something like shame, at seeing the +enlightened Christian so distanced in the race of humanity by the +untutored savage, who has hitherto been the object of his pity and +contempt? But sorry am I to recollect, and as a faithful narrator to be +impelled to relate, one particular in their customs that is wholly +irreconcilable with the humane duties which they have prescribed to +themselves in the above instance; duties which relate only to those +children who, in the event of losing the mother, could live without her +immediate aid. A far different lot is reservea ror such as are at triat +time at the breast, or in a state ot absolute helplessness, as will be +seen hereafter. + + +We have mentioned their being divided into families. Each family has a +particular place of residence, from which is derived its distinguishing +name. This is formed by adding the monosyllable Gal to the name of the +place: thus the southern shore of Botany Bay is called Gwea, and the +people who inhabit it style themselves Gweagal. Those who live on the +north shore of Port Jackson are called Cam-mer-ray-gal, that part of the +harbour being distinguished from others by the name of Cam-mer-ray. Of +this last family or tribe we have heard Bennillong and other natives +speak (before we knew them ourselves) as of a very powerful people, who +could oblige them to attend wherever and whenever they directed. We +afterwards found them to be by far the most numerous tribe of any within +our knowledge. It so happened, that they were also the most robust and +muscular, and that among them were several of the people styled +Car-rah-dy and Car-rah-di-gang, of which extraordinary personages we +shall have to speak particularly, under the article _Superstition_. + +To the tribe of Cam-mer-ray also belonged the exclusive and extraordinary +privilege of exacting a tooth from the natives of other tribes inhabiting +the sea-coast, or of all such as were within their authority. The +exercise of this privilege places these people in a particular point of +view; and there is no doubt of their decided superiority over all the +tribes with whom we were acquainted. Many contests or decisions of honour +(for such there are among them) have been delayed until the arrival of +these people; and when they came, it was impossible not to observe the +superiority and influence which their numbers and their muscular +appearance gave them over the other tribes. + +These are all the traces that could ever be discovered among them of +government or subordination; and we may imagine the deference which is +paid to the tribe of Cam-mer-ray to be derived wholly from their +superiority of numbers; but this superiority they may have maintained for +a length of time before we knew them; and indeed the privilege of +demanding a tooth from the young men of other families must have been of +long standing, and coeval with the obedience which was paid to them: +hence their superiority partakes something of the nature of a constituted +authority; an authority which has the sanction of custom to plead for its +continuance. + +RELIGION + +It has been asserted by an eminent divine*, that no country has yet been +discovered where some trace of religion was not to be found. From every +observation and inquiry I could make among these people, from the first +to the last of my acquaintance with them, I can safely pronounce them an +exception to this opinion. I am certain that they do not worship either +sun, moon, or star; that, however necessary fire may be to them, it is +not an object of adoration; neither have they respect for any particular +beast, bird, or fish. I never could discover any object, either +substantial or imaginary, that impelled them to the commissioin of good +actions, or deterred them from the perpetration of what we deem crimes. +There indeed existed among them some idea of a future state, but not +connected in any wise with religion; for it had no influence whatever on +their lives and actions. On their being often questioned as to what +became of them after their decease, some answered that they went either +on or beyond the great water; but by far the greater number signified, +that they went to the clouds. Conversing with Bennillong after his return +from England, where he had obtained much knowledge of our customs and +manners, I wished to learn what were his ideas of the place from which +his countrymen came, and led him to the subject by observing, that all +the white men here came from England. I then asked him where the black +men (or Eora) came from? He hesitated; did they come from any island? His +answer was, that he knew of none: they came from the clouds (alluding +perhaps to the aborigines of the country); and when they died, they +returned to the clouds (Boo-row-e). He wished to make me understand that +they ascended in the shape of little children, first hovering in the tops +and in the branches of trees; and mentioned something about their eating, +in that state, their favourite food, little fishes. + +[* Blair's Sermons, vol i Sermon I] + +If this idea of the immortality of the soul should excite a smile, is it +more extraordinary than the belief which obtains among some of us, that +at the last day the various disjointed bones of men shall find out each +its proper owner, and be re-united? The savage here treads close upon the +footsteps of the Christian. + +The natives who inhabit the harbour to the northward, called by us Port +Stephens, believed that five white men who were cast away among them (as +has been before shown) had formerly been their countrymen, and took one +of them to the grave where, he told him, the body he at that time +occupied had been interred. If this account, given us by men who may well +be supposed to deal in the marvellous, can be depended upon, how much +more ignorant are the natives of Port Stephens, who live only thirty +leagues to the northward of us, than the natives of and about Port +Jackson! + +The young people who resided in our houses were very desirous of going to +church on Sundays, but knew not for what purpose we attended. I have +often seen them take a book, and with much success imitate the clergyman +in his manner (for better and readier mimics can no where be found), +laughing and enjoying the applause which they received. + +I remember to have seen in a newspaper or pamphlet an account of a native +throwing himself in the way of a man who was about to shoot a crow; and +the person who wrote the account drew an inference, that the bird was an +object of worship: but I can with confidence affirm, that so far from +dreading to see a crow killed, they are very fond of eating it, and take +the following particular method to ensnare that bird: a native will +stretch himself on a rock as if asleep in the sun, holding a piece of +fish in his open hand; the bird, be it hawk or crow, seeing the prey, and +not observing any motion in the native, pounces on the fish, and, in the +instant of seizing it, is caught by the native, who soon throws him on +the fire and makes a meal of him. + +That they have ideas of a distinction between _good_ and _bad_ is evident +from their having terms in their language significant of these qualities. +Thus, the sting-ray was (wee-re) bad; it was a fish of which they never +ate. The patta-go-rang or kangaroo was (bood-yer-re) good, and they ate +it whenever they were fortunate enough to kill one of these animals. + +To exalt these people at all above the brute creation, it is necessary to +show that they had the gift of reason, and that they knew the distinction +between _right_ and _wrong_, as well as between what food was good and +what was bad. Of these latter qualities their senses informed them; but +the knowledge of right and wrong could only proceed from reason. It is +true, they had no distinction in terms for these qualities--wee-re and +bood-yer-re alike implying what was good and bad, and right and wrong. +Instances however were not wanting of their using them to describe the +sensations of the mind as well as of the senses; thus their enemies were +wee-re; their friends bood-yer-re. On our speaking of cannibalism, they +expressed great horror at the mention, and said it was wee-re. On seeing +any of our people punished or reproved for ill-treating them, they +expressed their approbation, and said it was bood-yer-re, it was right. +Midnight murders, though frequently practised among them whenever passion +or revenge were uppermost, they reprobated; but applauded acts of +kindness and generosity, for of both these they were capable. A man who +would not stand to have a spear thrown at him, but ran away, was a +coward,jee-run, and wee-re. But their knowledge of the difference between +right and wrong certainly never extended beyond their existence in this +world; not leading them to believe that the practice of either had any +relation to their future state; this was manifest from their idea of +quitting this world, or rather of entering the next, in the form of +little children, under which form they would re-appear in this. + + + +APPENDIX II-STATURE AND APPEARANCE + + +We observed but few men or women among them who could be said to be tall, +and still fewer who were well made. I once saw a dwarf, a female, who, +when she stood upright, measured about four feet two inches. None of her +limbs were disproportioned, nor were the features of her face unpleasant; +she had a child at her back, and we were told came from the south shore +of Botany Bay. I thought the other natives seemed to make her an object +of their merriment. In general, indeed almost universally, the limbs of +these people were small; of most of them the arms, legs, and thighs were +thin. This, no doubt, is owing to the poorness of their living, which is +chiefly on fish; otherwise the fineness of the climate, co-operating with +the exercise which they take, might have rendered them more muscular. +Those who live on the sea-coast depend entirely on fish for their +sustenance; while the few who dwell in the woods subsist on such animals +as they can catch. The very great labour necessary for taking these +animals, and the scantiness of the supply, keep the wood natives in as +poor a condition as their brethren on the coast. It has been remarked, +that the natives who have been met with in the woods had longer arms and +legs than those who lived about us. This might proceed from their being +compelled to climb the trees after honey and the small animals which +resort to them, such as the flying squirrel and opossum, which they +effect by cutting with their stone hatchets notches in the bark of the +tree of a sufficient depth and size to receive the ball of the great toe. +The first notch being cut, the toe is placed in it; and while the left +arm embraces the tree, a second is cut at a convenient distance to +receive the other foot. By this method they ascend very quick, always +cutting with the right hand and clinging with the left, resting the whole +weight of the body on the ball of either foot. + +In an excursion to the westward with a party, we passed a tree (of the +kind named by us the white gum, the bark of which is soft) that we judged +to be about one hundred and thirty feet in height, and which had been +notched by the natives at least eighty feet, before they attained the +first branch where it was likely they could meet with any reward for so +much toil. + +The features of many of these people were far from unpleasing, +particularly of the women: in general, the black bushy beards of the men, +and the bone or reed which they thrust through the cartilage of the nose, +tended to give them a disgusting appearance; but in the women, that +feminine delicacy which is to be found among white people was to be +traced even upon their sable cheeks; and though entire strangers to the +comforts and conveniencies of clothing, yet they sought with a native +modesty to conceal by attitude what the want of covering would otherwise +have revealed. They have often brought to my recollection, "The bending +statue which enchants the world," though it must be owned that the +resemblance consisted solely in the position. + +Both women and men use the disgusting practice of rubbing fish-oil into +their skins; but they are compelled to this as a guard against the +effects of the air and of mosquitoes, and flies; some of which are large, +and bite or sting with much severity. But the oil, together with the +perspiration from their bodies, produces, in hot weather, a most horrible +stench. I have seen some with the entrails of fish frying in the burning +sun upon their heads, until the oil ran down over their foreheads. A +remarkable instance once came under my observation of the early use which +they make of this curious unguent. Happening to be at Camp Cove at a +time when these people were much pressed with hunger, we found in a +miserable hut a poor wretched half-starved native and two children. The +man was nearly reduced to a skeleton, but the children were in better +condition. We gave them some salted beef and pork, and some bread, but +this they would not touch. The eldest of the children was a female; and a +piece of fat meat being given to her, she, instead of eating it instantly +as we expected, squeezed it between her fingers until she had nearly +pressed all the fat to a liquid; with this she oiled over her face two or +three times, and then gave it to the other, a boy about two years of age, +to do the like. Our wonder was naturally excited at seeing such knowledge +in children so young. To their hair, by means of the yellow gum, they +fasten the front teeth of the kangaroo, and the jaw-bones of large fish, +human teeth, pieces of wood, feathers of birds, the tail of the dog, and +certain bones taken out of the head of a fish, not unlike human teeth. +The natives who inhabit the south shore of Botany Bay divide the hair +into small parcels, each of which they mat together with gum, and form +them into lengths like the thrums of a mop. On particular occasions they +ornament themselves with red and white clay, using the former when +preparing to fight, the latter for the more peaceful amusement of +dancing. The fashion of these ornaments was left to each person's taste; +and some, when decorated in their best manner, looked perfectly horrible. +Nothing could appear more terrible than a black and dismal face, with a +large white circle drawn round each eye. In general waved lines were +marked down each arm, thigh, and leg; and in some the cheeks were daubed; +and lines drawn over each rib, presented to the beholder a truly +spectre-like figure. Previous either to a dance or a combat, we always +found them busily employed in this necessary preliminary; and it must be +observed, that when other liquid could not be readily procured, they +moistened the clay with their own saliva. Both sexes are ornamented with +scars upon the breast, arms, and back, which are cut with broken pieces +of the shell they use at the end of the throwing stick. By keeping open +these incisions, the flesh grows up between the sides of the wound, and +after a time, skinning over, forms a large wale or seam. I have seen +instances where these scars have been cut to resemble the feet of +animals; and such boys as underwent the operation while they lived with +us, appeared to be proud of the ornament, and to despise the pain which +they must have endured. The operation is performed when they are young, +and until they advance in years the scars look large and full; but on +some of their old men I have been scarcely able to discern them. As a +principal ornament, the men, on particular occasions, thrust a bone or +reed through the _septum nasi_, the hole through which is bored when they +are young. Some boys who went away from us for a few days, returned +dignified with this strange ornament, having, in the mean time, had the +operation performed upon them; they appeared to be from twelve to fifteen +years of age. The bone that they wear is the small bone in the leg of the +kangaroo, one end of which is sharpened to a point. I have seen several +women who had their noses perforated in this extraordinary manner. + +The women are, besides, early subjected to an uncommon mutilation of the +two first joints of the little finger of the left hand. The operation is +performed when they are very young, and is done with a hair, or some +other slight ligature. This being tied round at the joint, the flesh soon +swells, and in a few days, the circulation being destroyed, the finger +mortifies and drops off. I never saw but one instance where the finger +was taken off from the right hand, and that was occasioned by the mistake +of the mother. Before we knew them, we took it to be their marriage +ceremony; but on seeing their mutilated children we were convinced of our +mistake; and at last learned, that these joints of the little finger were +supposed to be in the way when they wound their fishing lines over the +hand. On our expressing a disgust of the appearance, they always +applauded it, and said it was very good. They name it Mal-gun; and among +the many women whom I saw, but very few had this finger perfect. On my +pointing these out to those who were so distinguished, they appeared to +look at and speak of them with some degree of contempt. + +The men too were not without their mutilation. Most of those who lived on +the sea-coast we found to want the right front tooth; some, whom we met +in the interior part of the country, had not been subjected to the +authority of the tribe of Cam-mer-ray-gal; but a particular account of +the ceremonies used on this occasion will be given under the article +_Customs and Manners_. + +I noticed but few deformities of person among them; once or twice I have +seen on the sand the print of inverted feet. Round shoulders or +humpbacked people I never saw. Some who were lame, and assisted +themselves with sticks, have been met with; but their lameness might +proceed from spear wounds, or by accident from fire; for never were women +so inattentive to their young as these. We often heard of children being +injured by fire, while the mother lay fast asleep beside them, these +people being extremely difficult to awaken when once asleep. A very fine +little girl, belonging to a man well known and much beloved among us, of +the name of Cole-be, had two of its toes burnt Off, and the sinews of the +leg contracted in one night, by rolling into a fire out of its mother's +arms, while they both lay asleep. + +Their sight is peculiarly fine, indeed their existence very often depends +upon the accuracy of it; for a short-sighted man (a misfortune unknown to +them, and not yet introduced by fashion, nor relieved by the use of a +glass) would never be able to defend himself from their spears, which are +thrown with amazing force and velocity. I have noticed two or three men +with specks on one eye, and once at Broken Bay saw in a canoe an old man +who was perfectly blind. He was accompanied by a youth who paddled his +canoe, and who, to my great surprise, sat behind him in it. This may, +however, be in conformity to the idea of respect which is always paid to +old age. + +The colour of these people is not uniform. We have seen some who, even +when cleansed from the smoke and filth which were always to be found on +their persons, were nearly as black as the African negro; while others +have exhibited only a copper or Malay colour. The natural covering of +their heads is not wool as in most other black people, but hair; this +particular may be remembered in the two natives who were in this country, +Bennillong and Yem-mer-ra-wan-nie. The former, on his return, by having +some attention paid to his dress while in London, was found to have very +long black hair. Black indeed was the general colour of the hair, though +I have seen some of a reddish cast; but being unaccompanied by any +perceptible difference of complexion, it was perhaps more the effect of +some outward cause than its natural appearance. + +Their noses are flat, nostrils wide, eyes much sunk in the head, and +covered with thick eyebrows; in addition to which, they wear tied round +the head, a net the breadth of the forehead, made of the fur of the +opussum, which, when wishing to see very clearly, I have observed them +draw over the eyebrows, thereby contracting the light. Their lips are +thick, and the mouth extravagantly wide; but when opened discovering two +rows of white, even, and sound teeth. Many had very prominent jaws; and +there was one man who, but for the gift of speech, might very well have +passed for an orangoutang. He was remarkably hairy; his arms appeared of +an uncommon length; in his gait he was not perfectly upright; and in his +whole manner seemed to have more of the brute and less of the human +species about him than any of his countrymen. Those who have been in that +country will, from this outline of him, recollect old We-rahng. + + + +APPENDIX III--HABITATIONS + + +Their habitations are as rude as imagination can conceive. The hut of the +woodman is made of the bark of a single tree, bent in the middle, and +placed on its two ends on the ground, affording shelter to only one +miserable tenant. These they never carry about with them; for where we +found the hut, we constantly found the tree from which it had been taken +withered and dead. On the sea-coast the huts were larger, formed of +pieces of bark from several trees put together in the form of an oven with +an entrance, and large enough to hold six or eight people. Their fire was +always at the mouth of the hut, rather within than without; and the +interior was in general the nastiest smoke-dried place that could be +conceived. Their unserviceable canoes were commonly broken up and applied +to this use. Beside these bark huts, they made use of excavations in the +rock; and as the situations of these were various, they could always +choose them out of the reach of wind and rain. At the mouths of these +excavations we noticed a luxuriancy of soil; and on turning up the +ground, found it rich with shells and other manure. These proved a +valuable resource to us, and many loads of shells were burnt into lime, +while the other parts were wheeled into our gardens. + +When in the woods I seldom met with a hut, but at the mouth of it was +found an ant's nest, the dwelling of a tribe of insects about an inch in +length, armed with a pair of forceps and a sting, which they applied, as +many found to their cost, with a severity equal to a wound made by a +knife. We conjectured, that these vermin had been drawn together by the +bones and fragments of a venison feast, which had been left by the +hunter. + +In their huts and in their caves they lie down indiscriminately mixed, +men, women, and children together; and appear to possess under them much +the same enjoyment as may be supposed to be found by the brute beast in +his den, shelter from the weather, and, if not disturbed by external +enemies, the comfort of sleep. + +The extreme soundness with which they sleep invites jealousy, or revenge +for other wrongs, to arm the hand of the assassin. Several instances of +this kind occurred during our acquaintance with them, one of which was +too remarkable to pass unnoticed: Yel-lo-way, a native, who seemed +endowed with more urbanity than the rest of our friends, having possessed +himself (though not, as I could learn, by unfair means) of Noo-roo-ing +the wife of Wat-te-wal, another native well known among us, was one night +murdered in his sleep by this man, who could not brook the decided +preference given by Noo-roo-ing to his rival. This murder he several +months after repaid in his own person, his life being taken by Cole-be, +one of Yel-lo-way's friends, who stole upon him in the night, and put him +to death while asleep. It was remarkable, that Cole-be found an infant +lying in his arms, whom he first removed, before he drove the fatal spear +into the father; he afterwards brought the child with him into the town. +Yel-lo-way was so much esteemed among us, that no one was sorry he had +been so revenged. + +Being themselves sensible of the danger they ran in the night, they +eagerly besought us to give them puppies of our spaniel and terrier +breeds; which we did; and not a family was without one or more of these +little watch-dogs, which they considered as invaluable guardians during +the night; and were pleased when they found them readily devour the only +regular food they had to give them, fish. + + + +APPENDIX IV--MODE OF LIVING + + +The natives on the sea-coast are those with whom we happened to be the +most acquainted. Fish is their chief support. Men, women, and children +are employed in procuring them; but the means used are different +according to the sex; the males always killing them with the fiz-gig, +while the females use the hook and line. The fiz-gig is made of the +wattle; has a joint in it, fastened by gum; is from fifteen to twenty +feet in length, and armed with four barbed prongs; the barb being a piece +of bone secured by gum. To each of these prongs they give a particular +name; but I never could discover any sensible reason for the distinction. + +The lines used by the women are made by themselves of the bark of a small +tree which they find in the neighbourhood. Their hooks are made of the +mother-of-pearl oyster, which they rub on a stone until it assumes the +shape they want. It must be remarked, that these hooks are not barbed; +they nevertheless catch fish with them with great facility. + +While fishing, the women generally sing; and I have often seen them in +their canoes chewing muscles or cockles, or boiled fish, which they spit +into the water as a bait. In these canoes, they always carry a small fire +laid upon sea-weed or sand; wherewith, when desirous of eating, they find +a ready material for dressing their meal. This fire accounted for an +appearance which we noticed in many of the women about the small of the +back. We at first thought it must have been the effect of stripes; but +the situation of them was questionable, and led us to make inquiry, when +we found it to be the effect of the fires in the canoes. + +In addition to fish, they indulge themselves with a delicacy which I have +seen them eager to procure. In the body of the dwarf gum tree are several +large worms and grubs, which they speedily divest of antennae, legs, etc. +and, to our wonder and disgust, devour. A servant of mine, an European, +has often joined them in eating this luxury; and has assured me, that it +was sweeter than any marrow he had ever tasted; and the natives +themselves appeared to find a peculiar relish in it. + +The woods, exclusive of the animals which they occasionally find in their +neighbourhood, afford them but little sustenance; a few berries, the yam +and fern-root, the flowers of the different banksia, and at times some +honey, make up the whole vegetable catalogue. + +The natives who live in the woods and on the margins of rivers are +compelled to seek a different subsistence, and are driven to a harder +exercise of their abilities to procure it. This is evinced in the hazard +and toll with which they ascend the tallest trees after the opossum and +flying squirrel. At the foot of Richmond Hill, I once found several +places constructed expressly for the purpose of ensnaring animals or +birds. These were wide enough at the entrance to admit a person without +much difficulty; but tapering away gradually from the entrance to the +end, and terminating in a small wickered grate. It was between forty and +fifty feet in length; on each side the earth was thrown up; and the whole +was constructed of weeds, rushes, and brambles: but so well secured, that +an animal once within it could not possibly liberate itself. We supposed +that the prey, be it beast or bird, was hunted and driven into this toil; +and concluded, from finding one of them destroyed by fire, that they +force it to the grated end, where it is soon killed by their spears. In +one I saw a common rat, and in another the feathers of a quail. + +By the sides of lagoons I have met with holes which, on examining, were +found excavated for some space, and their mouths so covered over with +grass, that a bird or beast stepping on it would inevitably fall in, and +from its depth be unable to escape. + +In an excursion to the Hawkesbury, we fell in with a native and his child +on the banks of one of the creeks of that noble river. We had Cole-be +with us, who endeavoured, but in vain, to bring him to a conference; he +launched his canoe, and got away as expeditiously as he could, leaving +behind him a specimen of his food and the delicacy of his stomach; a +piece of water-soaked wood (part of the branch of a tree) full of holes, +the lodgment of a large worm, named by them cah-bro, and which they +extract and eat; but nothing could be more offensive than the smell of +both the worm and its habitation. There is a tribe of natives dwelling +inland, who, from the circumstance of their eating these loathsome worms, +are named Cah-bro-gal. + +They resort at a certain season of the year (the month of April) to the +lagoons, where they subsist on eels which they procure by laying hollow +pieces of timber into the water, into which the eels creep, and are +easily taken. + +These wood natives also make a paste formed of the fern-root and the +large and small ant bruised together; in the season they also add the +eggs of this insect. + + + +APPENDIX V--COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE + + +How will the refined ear of gallantry be wounded at reading an account of +the courtship of these people! I have said that there was a delicacy +visible in the manners of the females. Is it not shocking then to think +that the prelude to love in this country should be violence? Yet such it +is, and of the most brutal nature of these unfortunate victims of lust +and cruelty (I can call them by no better name) are, I believe, +always selected from the women of a tribe different from that of the +males (for they ought not to be dignified with the title of men) and with +whom they are at enmity. Secrecy is necessarily observed, and the poor +wretch is stolen upon in the absence of her protectors; being first +stupified with blows, inflicted with clubs or wooden swords, on the head, +back, and shoulders, every one of which is followed by a stream of blood, +she is dragged through the woods by one arm, with a perseverance and +violence that one might suppose would displace it from its socket; the +lover, or rather the ravisher, is regardless of the stones or broken +pieces of trees which may lie in his route, being anxious only to convey +his prize in safety to his own party, where a scene ensues too shocking +to relate. This outrage is not resented by the relations of the female, +who only retaliate by a similar outrage when they find it in their power. +This is so constantly the practice among them, that even the children +make it a game or exercise; and I have often, on hearing the cries of the +girls with whom they were playing, ran out of my house, thinking some +murder was committed, but have found the whole party laughing at my +mistake. + +The women thus ravished become their wives, are incorporated into the +tribe to which the husband belongs, and but seldom quit him for another. + +Many of the men with whom we were acquainted did not confine themselves +to one woman. Bennillong, previous to his visit to England, was possessed +of two wives (if wives they may be called), both living with him and +attending on him wherever he went. One named Ba-rang-a-roo, who was of +the tribe of Cam-mer-ray (Bennillong himself was a Wahn-gal), lived with +him at the time he was seized and brought a captive to the settlemerit +with Cole-be; and before her death he had brought off from Botany Bay, by +the violence before described, Go-roo-bar-roo-bool-lo, the daughter of an +old man named Met-ty, a native of that district; and she continued with +him until his departure for England. We were told, on the banks of the +Hawkesbury, that all the men there, and inland, had two wives. Cole-be, +Bennillong's friend, had two female companions; and we found, indeed, +more instances of plurality of wives than of monogamy. I do not recollect +ever noticing children by both; and observed, that in general, as might +be expected, the two women were always jealous of and quarrelling with +each other. I have heard them say, that the first wife claimed a priority +of attachment and exclusive right to the conjugal embrace; while the +second or latter choice was compelled to be the slave and drudge of both. + +Chastity was a virtue in which they certainly did not pride themselves; +at least, we knew women who, for a loaf of bread, a blanket, or a shirt, +gave up any claim to it, when either was offered by a white man; and many +white men were found who held out the temptation. Several girls, who were +protected in the settlement, had not any objection to passing the night +on board of ships, though some had learned shame enough (for shame was +not naturally inherent in them) to conceal, on their landing, the spoils +they had procured during their stay. They had also discovered that we +thought it shameful to be seen naked; and I have observed many of them +extremely reserved and delicate in this respect when before us; but when +in the presence of only their own people, perfectly indifferent about +their appearance. + + + +APPENDIX VI--CUSTOMS AND MANNERS + + +During the time of parturition these people suffer none but females to be +present. War-re-weer, Bennillong's sister, being taken in labour in the +town, an opportunity offered of observing them in that critical juncture, +of which some of our women, who were favourites with the girl, were +desired to avail themselves; and from them we learned, that during her +labour one female, Boo-roong, was employed in pouring cold water from +time to time on the abdomen, while another, tying one end of a small line +round War-re-weer's neck, with the other end rubbed her own lips until +they bled. She derived no actual assistance from those who were about +her, the child coming into the world by the sole efforts of nature; +neither did any one receive it from her; but, having let it drop, one of +our women divided the umbilical cord; after which, she retired to a small +hole which had been prepared for her, over which she sat until the +after-birth took place. The person who cut the navel-string washed the +child, which she readily permitted, though Boo-roong and the other +natives objected to it. She appeared much exhausted, and, being faint, +fell across a fire that was in the place, but without receiving any +injury. + +I saw Bennillong's wife a few hours after she had been delivered of a +child. To my great surprise she was walking about alone, and picking up +sticks to mend her fire. The infant, whose skin appeared to have a +reddish cast, was lying in a piece of soft bark on the ground, the +umbilical cord depending about three inches from the navel. I remained +with her for some time, during which she was endeavouring to get it off, +to effect which she made use of the small bone of the leg of the +kangaroo, round the point of which Bennillong had rolled some punk, so +that it looked not unlike the button of a foil. She held it every now and +then to the fire, then applied and pressed it to the navel until it +cooled. This was persevered in, till the mother thought the cord +sufficiently deadened, and then with a shell she separated it.* + +[* I here find in my papers a note, that for some offence Bennillong had +severely beaten this woman in the morning, a short time before she was +delivered.] + +The infant thus produced is by the mother carried about for some days on +a piece of soft bark; and, as soon as it acquires strength enough, is +removed to her shoulders, where it sits with its little legs across her +neck; and, taught by necessity, soon catches hold of her hair to preserve +itself from falling. + +The reddish cast of the skin soon gives place to the natural hue, a +change that is much assisted by the smoke and dirt in which, from the +moment of their existence, these children are nurtured. The parents begin +early to decorate them after the custom of the country. As soon as the +hair of the head can be taken hold of, fish-bones and the teeth of +animals are fastened to it with gum. White clay ornaments their little +limbs; and the females suffer the extraordinary amputation which they +term mal-gun before they have quitted their seat on their mother's +shoulders. + +In about a month or six weeks the child receives its name. This is +generally taken from some of the objects constantly before their eyes, +such as a bird, a beast, or a fish, and is given without any ceremony. +Thus Bennillong's child Dilboong was so named after a small bird, which +we often heard in low wet grounds and in copses. An elderly woman who +occasionally visited us was named Mau-ber-ry, the term by which they +distinguish the gurnet from other fish. Bennillong told me, his name was +that of a large fish, but one that I never saw taken. Bal-loo-der-ry +signified the fish named by us the leathern-jacket; and there were two +girls in the town named Pat-ye-ga-rang, a corruption of Pat-ta-go-rang, +the name of the large grey kangaroo. Other instances might be adduced; +but these are sufficient to show the prevalence of the custom. + +At an early age the females wear round the waist a small line made of the +twisted hair of the opossum, from the centre of which depend a few small +uneven lines from two to five inches long, made of the same materials. +This they term bar-rin, and wear it until they are grown into women and +are attached to men. + +The union of the sexes takes place at an earlier period than is usual in +colder regions. We have known several instances of very young girls +having been much and shamefully abused by the males. + +From their earliest infancy the boys are accustomed to throwing the +spear, and to the habit of defending themselves from it. They begin by +throwing reeds at each other, and are soon very expert. They also, from +the time when they can run, until prompted by manhood to realize their +sports, amuse themselves with stealing the females, and treat them at +this time very little worse than they do then. + +Among their juvenile exercises I observed that of throwing up a ball, and +passing it from one to another. They also provide themselves with small +sticks, and range themselves in a row, when the one at the upper end +rolls a ball or any other round substance along the front of his +companions, every one of whom endeavours to strike it as it passes. This +is a favourite exercise with them, and of course they excel at it. + +Between the ages of eight and sixteen, the males and females undergo the +operation which they term Gnah-noong, viz that of having the _septum nasi_ +bored, to receive a bone or reed, which among them is deemed a great +ornament, though I have seen many whose articulation was thereby +rendered very imperfect. Between the same years also the males receive +the qualifications which are given to them by losing one of the front +teeth. This ceremony occurred twice during my residence in New South +Wales; and in the second operation I was fortunate enough to attend them +during the whole of the time, attended by a person well qualified to make +drawings of every particular circumstance that occurred. A remarkable +coincidence of time was noticed as to the season in which it took place. +It was first performed in the beginning of the month of February 1791; +and exactly at the same period in the year 1795 the second operation +occurred. As they have not any idea of numbers beyond three, and of +course have no regular computation of time, this can only be ascribed to +chance, particularly as the season could not have much share in their +choice, February being one of the hot months. + +On the 25th of January 1795 we found that the natives were assembling in +numbers for the purpose of performing this ceremony. Several youths well +known among us, never having submitted to the operation, were now to be +made men. Pe-mul-wy, a wood native, and many strangers, came in; but the +principals in the operation not being arrived from Cam-mer-ray, the +intermediate nights were to be passed in dancing. Among them we observed +one man painted white to the middle, his beard and eye-brows excepted, +and all together a frightful object. Others were distinguished by large +white circles round the eyes, which rendered them as terrific as can well +be imagined. It was not until the 2nd of February that the party was +complete. In the evening of that day the people from Cam-mer-ray arrived, +among whom were those who were to perform the operation, all of whom +appeared to have been impatiently expected by the other natives. They +were painted after the manner of the country, were mostly provided with +shields, and all armed with clubs, spears, and throwing sticks. The place +selected for this extraordinary exhibition was at the head of Farm Cove, +where a space had been for some days prepared by clearing it of grass, +stumps, etc.; it was of an oval figure, the dimensions of it 27 feet by +18, and was named Yoo-lahng. + +When we arrived at the spot, we found the party from the north shore +armed, and standing at one end of it; at the other we saw a party +consisting of the boys who were to be given up for the purpose of losing +each a tooth, and their several friends who accompanied them. + +They then began the ceremony. The armed party advanced from their end of +the Yoo-lahng with a song or rather a shout peculiar to this occasion, +clattering their shields and spears, and raising a dust with their feet +that nearly obscured the objects around them. On reaching the farther end +of the Yoo-lahng, where the children were placed, one of the party +stepped from the crowd, and seizing his victim returned with him to his +party, who received him with a shout louder than usual, placing him in +the midst, where he seemed defended by a grove of spears from any +attempts that his friends might make to rescue him. In this manner the +whole were taken out, to the number of fifteen; among them appeared +Ca-ru-ey, a youth of about sixteen or seventeen years of age, and a young +man, a stranger to us, of about twenty-three. + +The number being collected that were to undergo the operation, they were +seated at the upper end of the Yoo-lahng, each holding down the head; his +hands clasped, and his legs crossed under him. In this position, awkward +and painful as it must have been, we understood they were to remain all +night; and, in short, that until the ceremony was concluded, they were +neither to look up nor take any refreshment whatsoever. + +The carrahdis now began some of their mystical rites. One of them +suddenly fell upon the ground, and throwing himself into a variety of +attitudes, accompanied with every gesticulation that could be extorted by +pain, appeared to be at length delivered of a bone, which was to be used +in the ensuing ceremony. He was during this apparently painful process +encircled by a crowd of natives, who danced around him, singing +vociferously, while one or more beat him on the back until the bone was +produced, and he was thereby freed from his pain. + +He had no sooner risen from the ground exhausted, drooping, and bathed in +sweat, than another threw himself down with similar gesticulations, who +went through the same ceremonies, and ended also with the production of a +bone, with which he had taken care to provide himself, and to conceal it +in a girdle which he wore. + +We were told, that by these mummeries (for they were in fact nothing else) +the boys were assured that the ensuing operation would be attended with +scarcely any pain, and that the more these carrahdis suffered, the less +would be felt by them. + +It being now perfectly dark, we quitted the place, with an invitation to +return early in the morning, and a promise of much entertainment from the +ensuing ceremony. We left the boys sitting silent, and in the position +before described, in which we were told they were to remain until morning. + +On repairing to the place soon after daylight, we found the natives +sleeping in small detached parties; and it was not until the sun had +shown himself that any of them began to stir. We observed that the people +from the north shore slept by themselves, and the boys, though we heard +they were not to be moved, were lying also by themselves at some little +distance from the Yoo-lahng. Towards this, soon after sunrise, the +carrahdis and their party advanced in quick movement, one after the +other, shouting as they entered, and running twice or thrice round it. +The boys were then brought to the Yoo-lahng, hanging their heads and +clasping their hands. On their being seated in this manner, the +ceremonies began, the principal performers in which appeared to be about +twenty in number, and all of the tribe of Cammeray. + +The exhibitions now performed were numerous and various; but all of them +in their tendency pointed toward the boys, and had some allusion to the +principal act of the day, which was to be the concluding scene of it. The +ceremony will be found pretty accurately represented in the annexed +Engravings. [The HTML version of this ebook contains the engravings. Ed.] + +No. 1 Represents the young men, fifteen in number, seated at the head of +the Yoo-lahng, while those who were to be the operators paraded several +times round it, running upon their hands and feet, and imitating the dogs +of the country. Their dress was adapted to this purpose; the wooden +sword, stuck in the hinder part of the girdle which they wore round the +waist, did not, when they were crawling on all fours, look much unlike +the tail of a dog curled over his back. Every time they passed the place +where the boys were seated, they threw up the sand and dust on them with +their hands and their feet. During this ceremony the boys sat perfectly +still and silent, never once moving themselves from the position in which +they were placed, nor seeming in the least to notice the ridiculous +appearance of the carrahdis and their associates. + +We understood that by this ceremony power over the dog was given to them, +and that it endowed them with whatever good or beneficial qualities that +animal might possess. + +The dogs of this country are of the jackal species; they never bark; are +of two colours, the one red with some white about it; the other quite +black. They have an invincible predilection for poultry, which the +severest beatings could never repress. Some of them are very handsome. + +No. 2 Represents the young men seated as before. The first figure in the +plate is a stout robust native, carrying on his shoulders a +pat-ta-go-rang or kangaroo made of grass; the second is carrying a load +of brush-wood. The other figures, seated about, are singing, and beating +time to the steps of the two loaded men, who appeared as if they were +almost unable to move under the weight of the burthen which they carried +on their shoulders. Halting every now and then, and limping, they at last +deposited their load at the feet of the young men, and retired from the +Yoo-lahng as if they were excessively fatigued by what they had done. It +must be noticed, that the man who carried the brush-wood had thrust one +or two flowering shrubs through the _septum nasi_. He exhibited an +extraordinary appearance in this scene. + +By this offering of the dead kangaroo was meant the power that was now +given them of killing that animal; the brush-wood might represent its +haunt. + +No. 3 The boys were left seated at the Yoo-lahng for about half an hour; +during which the actors went down into a valley near the place, where +they fitted themselves with long tails made of grass, which they fastened +to the hinder part of their girdles, instead of the sword, which was laid +aside during the scene. Being equipped, they put themselves in motion as +a herd of kangaroos, now jumping along, then lying down and scratching +themselves, as those animals do when basking in the sun. One man beat +time to them with a club on a shield, while two others armed, attended +them all the way, pretending to steal upon them unobserved and spear them. + +This was emblematical of one of their future exercises, the hunting of +the kangaroo. + +The scene was altogether whimsical and curious; the valley where they +equipped themselves was very romantic, and the occasion extraordinary and +perfectly novel. + +No. 4 On the arrival of this curious party at the Yoo-lahng, it passed by +the boys, as the herd of Kangaroo, and then quickly divesting themselves +of their artificial tails, each man caught up a boy, and, placing him on +his shoulders, carried him off in triumph toward the last scene of this +extraordinary exhibition. + +It must be remarked, that the friends and relations of the young people +by no means interfered, nor attempted to molest the north shore natives +in the execution of their business. + +No. 5 After walking a short distance, the boys were let down from the +shoulders of the men, and placed in a cluster, standing with their heads +inclined on their breasts, and their hands clasped together. Some of the +party disappeared for above ten minutes to arrange the figure of the next +scene. I was not admitted to witness this business, about which they +appeared to observe a greater degree of mystery and preparation than I +had noticed in either of the preceding ceremonies. We were at length +desired to come forward, when we found the figures as placed in the plate +No. 5. + +The group on the left are the boys and those who attended them; fronting +them were seen two men, one seated on the stump of a tree bearing another +man on his shoulders, both with their arms extended: behind these were +seen a number of bodies lying with their faces toward the ground, as +close to each other as they could lie, and at the foot of another stump +of a tree, on which were placed two other figures in the same position as +the preceding. + +As the boys and their attendants approached the first of these figures, +the men who formed it began to move themselves from side to side, lolling +out their tongues, and staring as wide and horribly with their eyes as +they could open them. After this mummery had continued some minutes, the +men separated for them to pass, and the boys were now led over the bodies +lying on the ground. These immediately began to move, writhing as if in +agony, and uttering a mournful dismal sound, like very distant thunder. +Having passed over these bodies, the boys were placed before the second +figures, who went through the same series of grimaces as those who were +seated on the former stump; after which the whole moved forward. + +A particular name, boo-roo-moo-roong, was given to this scene; but of its +import I could learn very little. I made much inquiry; but could never +obtain any other answer, than that it was very good; that the boys would +now become brave men; that they would see well, and fight well. + +No. 6 At a little distance from the preceding scene the whole party +halted; the boys were seated by each other, while opposite to them were +drawn up in a half circle the other party, now armed with the spear and +the shield. In the centre of this party, with his face toward them, stood +Boo-der-ro, the native who had throughout taken the principal part in the +business. He held his shield in one hand, and a club in the other, with +which he gave them, as it were, the time for their exercise. Striking the +shield with the club, at every third stroke the whole party poised and +presented their spears at him, pointing them inwards, and touching the +centre of his shield. + +This concluded the ceremonies previous to the operation; and it appeared +significant of an exercise which was to form the principal business of +their lives, the use of the spear. + +No. 7 They now commenced their preparations for striking out the tooth. +The first subject they took out was a boy of about ten years of age: he +was seated on the shoulders of another native who sat on the grass, as +appears in this Plate. + +The bone was now produced which had been pretended to be taken from the +stomach of the native the preceding evening; this, being made very sharp +and fine at one end, was used for lancing the gum, and but for some such +precaution it would have been impossible to have got out the tooth +without breaking the jaw-bone. A throwing-stick was now to be cut about +eight or ten inches from the end; and to effect this, much ceremony was +used. The stick was laid upon a tree, and three attempts to hit it were +made before it was struck. The wood being very hard, and the instrument a +bad tomahawk, it took several blows to divide it; but three feints were +constantly made before each stroke. When the gum was properly prepared, +the operation began; the smallest end of the stick was applied as high up +on the tooth as the gum would admit of, while the operator stood ready +with a large stone apparently to drive the tooth down the throat of his +patient. Here their attention to the number three was again manifest; no +stroke was actually made until the operator had thrice attempted to hit +the throwing-stick. They were full ten minutes about this first +operation, the tooth being, unfortunately for the boy, fixed very firm in +the gum. It was at last forced out, and the sufferer was taken away to a +little distance, where the gum was closed by his friends, who now +equipped him in the style he was to appear in for some days. A girdle was +tied round his waist, in which was stuck a wooden sword; a ligature was +put round his head, in which were stuck slips of the grass-gum tree, +which, being white, had a curious and not unpleasing effect. The left +hand was to be placed over the mouth, which was to be kept shut; he was +on no account to speak; and for that day he was not to eat. + +In like manner were all the others treated, except one, a pretty boy +about eight or nine years of age, who, after suffering his gum to be +lanced, could not endure the pain of more than one blow with the stone, +and breaking from them made his escape. + +During the whole of the operation the assistants made the most hideous +noise in the ears of the patients*, sufficient to distract their +attention, and to drown any cries they could possibly have uttered; but +they made it a point of honour to bear the pain without a murmur. + +[* Crying e-wah e-wah, ga-ga ga-ga, repeatedly.] + +Some other peculiarities, however, were observed. The blood that issued +from the lacerated gum was not wiped away, but suffered to run down the +breast, and fall upon the head of the man on whose shoulders the patient +sat, and whose name was added to his. I saw them several days afterwards, +with the blood dried upon the breast. They were also termed Ke-bar-ra, a +name which has reference in its construction to the singular instrument +used on this occasion, Ke-bah in their language signifying a rock or +stone. I heard them several months after address each other by this +significant name. + +No. 8 This Plate represents the young men arranged and sitting upon the +trunk of a tree, as they appeared in the evening after the operation was +over. The man is Cole-be, who is applying a broiled fish to his relation +Nan-bar-ray's gum, which had suffered from the stroke more than any of +the others. + +Suddenly, on a signal being given, they all started up, and rushed into +the town, driving before them men, women, and children, who were glad to +get out of their way. They were now received into the class of men; were +privileged to wield the spear and the club, and to oppose their persons +in combat. They might now also seize such females as they chose for wives. + +All this, however, must be understood to import, that by having submitted +to the operation, having endured the pain of it without a murmur, and +having lost a front tooth, they received a qualification which they were +to exercise whenever their years and their strength should be equal to it. + +Bennillong's sister, and Da-ring-ha, Cole-be's wife, hearing me express a +great desire to be possessed of some of these teeth, procured three of +them for me, one of which was that of Nan-bar-ray, Cole-be's relation. + +I found that they had fastened them to pieces of small line, and were +wearing them round their necks. They were given to me with much secrecy +and great dread of being observed, and with an injunction that I should +never let it be known that they had made me such a present, as the +Cam-mer-ray tribe, to whom they were to be given, would not fail to +punish them for it; and they added that they should tell them the teeth +were lost. Nan-bar-ray's tooth Da-ring-ha wished me to give to Mr. White, +the principal surgeon of the settlement, with whom the boy had lived from +his being brought into it, in the year 1789, to Mr. White's departure; +thus with gratitude remembering, after the lapse of some years, the +attention which that gentleman had shown to her relative. + +Having remained with them while the operation was performed on three or +four of the boys, I went into town, and returned after sun-set, when I +found the whole equipped and seated on the trunk of the tree, as +described in the Plate. It was then that I received the three teeth, and +was conjured by the women to leave the place, as they did not know what +might ensue. In fact, I observed the natives arming themselves; much +confusion and hurry was visible among them; the savage appeared to be +predominating; perhaps the blood they had drawn, and which was still wet +on the heads and breasts of many of them, began to make them fierce; and, +when I was on the point of retiring, the signal was given, which animated +the boys to the first exercise of the spirit which the business of the +day had infused into them, (for I have no doubt that their young bosoms +were warmed by the different ceremonies which they had witnessed, of +which they had indeed been something more than mere spectators, and which +they knew had been exhibited wholly on their account,) and they rushed +into the town in the manner before described, every where as they passed +along setting the grass on fire. + +On showing the teeth to our medical gentleman there, and to others since +my return to England, they all declared that they could not have been +better extracted, had the proper instrument been used, instead of the +stone and piece of wood. + +On a view of all these circumstances, I certainly should not consider +this ceremony in any other light than as a tribute, were I not obliged to +hesitate, by observing that all the people of Cam-mer-ray, which were +those who exacted the tooth, were themselves proofs that they had +submitted to the operation. I never saw one among them who had not lost +the front tooth. I well recollect Bennillong, in the early period of our +acquaintance with him and his language, telling us, as we then thought, +that a man of the name of Cam-mer-ra-gal wore all the teeth about his +neck. But we afterwards found that this term was only the distinguishing +title of the tribe which performed the ceremonies incident to the +operation. Bennillong at other times told us, that his own tooth was +bour-bil-liey pe-mul, buried in the earth, and that others were thrown +into the sea. It is certain, however, that my female friends, who gave me +the teeth, were very anxious that the gift should not come to the +knowledge of the men of Cam-mer-ray, and repeatedly said that they were +intended for them. + +In alluding to this ceremony, whether by pointing to the vacancy +occasioned by the lost tooth, or by adverting to any of the curious +scenes exhibited on the occasion, the words Yoo-lahng erah-ba-diahng were +always used; but to denote the loss of any other tooth the word +bool-bag-ga was applied. The term Yoo-lahng erah-ba-diahng must therefore +be considered as applying solely to this extraordinary occasion; it +appears to be compounded of the name given to the spot where the +principal scenes take place, and of the most material qualification that +is derived from the whole ceremony, that of throwing the spear. I +conceive this to be the import of the word erah-ba-diahng, erah being a +part of the verb to throw, erah, throw you, erailley, throwing. + +Being thus entered on 'the valued file,' they quickly assume the +consequence due to the distinction, and as soon as possible bring their +faculties into action. The procuring of food really seems to be but a +secondary business with them; the management of the spear and the shield, +dexterity in throwing the various clubs they have in use among them, +agility in either attacking or defending, and a display of the constancy +with which they endure pain, appearing to rank first among their concerns +in life. The females too are accustomed to bear on their heads the traces +of the superiority of the males, with which they dignify them almost as +soon as they find strength in the arm to imprint the mark. We have seen +some of these unfortunate beings with more scars upon their shorn heads, +cut in every direction, than could be well distinguished or counted. The +condition of these women is so wretched, that I have often, on seeing a +female child borne on its mother's shoulders, anticipated the miseries to +which it was born, and thought it would be a mercy to destroy it. +Notwithstanding, however, that they are the mere slaves of the men, I +have generally found, in tracing the causes of their quarrels, that the +women were at the head of them, though in some cases remotely. They +mingled in all the contests of the men; and one of these, that was in the +beginning attended with some ceremony, was opened by a woman: + +We had been told for some days of their making great preparations for a +fight, and gladly heard that they had chosen a clear spot near the town +for the purpose. The contending parties consisted of most of our Sydney +acquaintance, and some natives from the south shore of Botany Bay, among +whom was Gome-boak, already mentioned in Chapter XXVIII ["About the +latter end of the month . . ."]. We repaired to the spot an hour +before sun-set, and found them seated opposite each other on a +level piece of ground between two hills. As a prelude to the business, +we observed our friends, after having waited some time, stand up, and +each man stooping down, take water in the hollow of his hand (the place +just before them being wet) which he drank. An elderly woman with a cloak +on her shoulders (made of opossum skins very neatly sewn together) and +provided with a club, then advanced from the opposite side, and, uttering +much abusive language at the time, ran up to Cole-be, who was on the +right, and gave him what I should have considered a severe blow on the +head, which with seeming contempt he held out to her for the purpose. She +went through the same ceremony with the rest, who made no resistance, +until she came up to Ye-ra-ni-be, a very fine boy, who stood on the left. +He, not admiring the blows that his companions received, which were +followed by blood, struggled with her, and had he not been very active, I +believe she would have stabbed him with his own spear, which she wrested +from him. The men now advanced, and gave us many opportunities of +witnessing the strength and dexterity with which they threw their spears, +and the quickness of sight which was requisite to guard against them. The +contest lasted until dark, when throwing the spear could no longer be +accounted fair, and they beat each other with clubs, until they left off +by mutual consent. In this part of the contest many severe wounds were +given, and much blood was drawn from the heads of each party; but nothing +material happened while they had light enough to guard against the spear. + +In the exercise of this weapon they are very expert. I have seen them +strike with certainty at the distance of seventy measured yards. They are +thrown with great force, and where they are barbed are very formidable +instruments. The wo-mer-ra, or throwing-stick, is always made use of on +such occasions. This is a stick about three feet long, with a hook at one +end (and a shell at the other, secured by gum), to receive which there is +a small hole at the head of the spear. Both are held in the right hand. +the fingers of which are placed, two above the throwing-stick, and two +between it and the spear, at about the distance of two feet from the +hook. After poising it for some time, and measuring with the eye the +distance from the object to be thrown at, the spear is discharged, the +throwing-stick remaining in the hand. Of these instruments there are two +kinds; the one, named Wo-mer-ra, is armed with the shell of a clam, which +they term Kah-dien, and which they use for the same purposes that we +employ a knife. The other, which they name Wig-goon, has a hook, but no +shell, and is rounded at the end. With this they dig the fern-root and +yam out of the earth, and it is formed of heavy wood, while the wo-mer-ra +is only part of a wattle split. They have several varieties of spears, +every difference in them being distinguished by a name. Some are only +pointed; others have one or more barbs, either shaped from the solid +piece of wood of which the spear is made, or fastened on with gum; and +some are armed with pieces of broken oyster-shell for four or five inches +from the point, and secured by gum. All these barbed spears are +dangerous, from the difficulty of extracting them. Of shields they have +but two sorts. One, named E-lee-mong, is cut from the bark of the gum +tree, and is not so capable of resisting the spear as the Ar-rah-gong, +which is formed of solid wood, and hardened by fire. This shield is not +so much in use as the e-lee-mong, as I imagine from its greater weight, +and perhaps also from the superior difficulty they meet with in procuring +it. Of clubs they use several sorts, some of which are of very large +dimensions. They have one, the head of which is flat, with a sharp point +in the centre. The flat part is painted with red and white stripes from +the centre, and does not look unlike what they term it, Gnal-lung-ul-la, +the name given by them to a mushroom. They have yet another instrument, +which they call Ta-war-rang. It is about three feet long, is narrow, but +has three sides, in one of which is the handle, hollowed by fire. The +other sides are rudely carved with curved and waved lines, and it is made +use of in dancing, being struck upon for this purpose with a club. An +instrument very common among them must not be omitted in this account of +their weapons of hostility, for such, I fear, some of our miserable +straggling convicts have found it to their cost, though it generally is +applied to more peaceful purposes. This is the Mo-go*, or stone-hatchet. +The stone is found in the shallows at the upper part of the Hawkesbury, +and a handle being fixed round the head of it with gum, the under part is +brought by friction to an edge fine enough to divide the bark of such +trees as they take their canoes or hunters huts from, and even the +shields which are cut from the body of the tree itself. There is no doubt +of their readily applying this as a weapon, when no other offers to their +necessities. + +[* A representation of this and other instruments is given in plate 11.] + +It must be observed, that the principal tribes have their peculiar +weapons. Most of us had made collections of their spears, throwing-sticks, +etc. as opportunities occurred; and on showing them to our Sydney +friends, they have told us that such a one was used by the people who +lived to the southward of Botany Bay; that another belonged to the tribe +of Cam-mer-ray. The spear of the wood tribes, Be-dia-gal, Tu-ga-gal, and +Boo-roo-bir-rong-gal, were known from being armed with bits of stone, +instead of broken oyster-shells. The lines worn round the waist by the +men belonged to a peculiar tribe, and came into the hands of others +either by gift or plunder. The nets used by the people of the coast for +carrying their fish, lines, etc differed in the mesh from those used by +the wood natives; and they extend this peculiarity even to their dances, +their songs, and their dialect. + +Among other customs which these people invariably practise, is one that +is highly deserving of notice, as it carries with it some idea of +retributive justice. + +The shedding of blood is always followed by punishment, the party +offending being compelled to expose his person to the spears of all who +choose to throw at him; for in these punishments the ties of +consanguinity or friendship are of no avail. On the death of a person, +whether male or female, old or young, the friends of the deceased must be +punished, as if the death were occasioned by their neglect. This is +sometimes carried farther than there seems occasion for, or than can be +reconcilable with humanity. + +After the murder of Yel-lo-way by Wat-te-wall his widow Noo-roo-ing being +obliged, according to the custom of her country, to avenge her husband's +death on some of the relations of the murderer, meeting with a little +girl named Go-nang-goo-lie, who was some way related to Wat-te-wal, +walked with her and two other girls to a retired place, where with a club +and a pointed stone they beat her so cruelly, that she was brought into +the town almost dead. In the head were six or seven deep incisions, and +one ear was divided to the bone, which, from the nature of the instrument +with which they beat her, was much injured. This poor child was in a very +dangerous way, and died in a few days afterwards. The natives to whom +this circumstance was mentioned expressed little or no concern at it, but +seemed to think it right, necessary, and inevitable; and we understood +that whenever women have occasion for this sanguinary revenge, they never +exercise it but on their own sex, not daring to strike a male. +Noo-roo-ing, perceiving that her treatment of Go-nang-goo-lie did not +meet our approbation, denied having beaten her, and said it was the other +girls; but such men as we conversed with on the subject assured us it was +Noo-roo-ing, and added, that she had done no more than what custom +obliged her to. The little victim of her revenge was, from her quiet +tractable manners, much beloved in the town; and what is a singular trait +of the inhumanity of this proceeding, she had every day since Yel-loway's +death requested that Noo-roo-ing might be fed at the officer's hut, where +she herself resided. Savage indeed must be the custom and the feelings +which could arm the hand against this child's life! Her death was not +avenged, perhaps because they considered it as an expiatory sacrifice. + +Wat-te-wal, who committed the crime for which this little girl suffered +so cruelly, escaped unhurt from the spears of Bennillong, Cole-be, and +several other natives, and was afterwards received by them as usual, and +actually lived with this very woman for some time, till he was killed in +the night by Cole-be, as before related. + +This Wat-te-wal was in great union with Bennillong, who twice denied his +having committed offences which he knew would forfeit our favour. In this +last instance Bennillong betrayed more duplicity than we had given him +credit for. On asking him with some earnestness if Wat-te-wal had killed +Yel-loway, he assured us with much confidence that it was not Wat-te-wal +who had killed him, but We-re-mur-rah. Little did we suspect that our +friend had availed himself of a circumstance which he knew we were +unacquainted with, that Wat-te-wal had more than one name. By giving us +the second, he saved his friend, and knew that he could at all times +boldly maintain that he had not concealed his name from us, We-re-murrah +being as much his name as Wat-te-wal, though we had never known him by +it. On apprising him some time afterwards, that we had discovered his +artifice, and that it was a meanness we did not expect from him, he only +laughed and went away. + +The violent death of Yel-lo-way we have seen followed by a cruel +proceeding, which terminated in the death of the murderer's relation, +Go-nang-goolie. I shall now show what followed where the person died a +natural death. + +Bone-da, a very fine youth, who lived at my house for several months, +died of a cold, which, settling in his face, terminated in a +mortification of his upper and lower jaws, and carried him off. We were +told that some blood must be spilt on this occasion; but six weeks +elapsed before we heard of any thing having happened in consequence of +his decease. About that time having passed, however, we heard that a +large party of natives belonging to different tribes, being assembled at +Pan-ner-rong* (or, as it is named with us, Rose Bay), the spot which they +had often chosen for shedding blood, after dancing and feasting +over-night, early in the morning, Mo-roo-ber-ra, the brother, and +Cole-be, another relation of Bone-da, seized upon a lad named +Tar-ra-bil-long, and with a club each gave him a wound in his head, which +laid the skull bare. Dar-ring-ha, the sister of Bone-da, had her share in +the bloody rite, and pushed at the unoffending boy with a doo-ull or +short spear. He was brought into the town and placed at the hospital, +and, though the surgeon pronounced from the nature of his wounds that his +recovery was rather doubtful, he was seen walking about the day +following. On being spoke to about the business, he said he did not weep +or cry out like a boy, but like a man cried Ki-yah when they struck him; +that the persons who treated him in this unfriendly manner were no longer +his enemies, but would eat or drink or sit with him as friends + +[* Pan-ner-rong in the language of the country signifies Blood.] + +Three or four days after this, Go-roo-bine, a grey-headed man, apparently +upwards of sixty years of age, who was related to Bone-da, came in with a +severe wound on the back part of his head, given him on account of the +boy's decease; neither youth nor old age appearing to be exempted from +those sanguinary customs. + +When Ba-rang-a-roo, Bennillong's wife, died, several spears were thrown +by the men at each other, by which many were wounded; and Bennillong had +a severe contest with Wil-le-mer-ring, whom he wounded in the thigh. He +had sent for him as a car-rah-dy to attend her when she was ill; but he +either could not or would not obey the summons. Bennillong had chosen the +time for celebrating these funeral games in honour of his deceased wife +when a whale feast had assembled a large number of natives together, +among whom were several people from the northward, who spoke a dialect +very different to that with which we were acquainted. + +Some officers happening once to be present in the lower part of the +harbour when a child died, perceived the men immediately retire, and +throw their spears at one another with much apparent anger, while the +females began their usual lamentations. + +When Dil-boong, Bennillong's infant child, died, several spears were +thrown, and Bennillong, at the decease of her mother, said repeatedly, +that he should not be satisfied until he had sacrificed some one to her +_manes_. + +Ye-ra-ni-be Go-ru-ey having beaten a young woman, the wife of another +man, and she having some time after exchanged a perilous and troublesome +life for the repose and quiet of the grave, a contest ensued some days +after, on account of her decease, between Bennillong and Go-ru-ey, and +between the husband and Go-ru-ey, by both of whom he was wounded. +Bennillong drove a spear into his knee, and the husband another into his +left buttock. This wound he must have received by failing to catch the +spear on his shield, and turning his body to let it pass beside him; +other spears were thrown, but he alone appeared to be the victim of the +day. Signifying a wish to have his wounds dressed by the surgeon, he was +in the evening actually brought up to the hospital by the very man who +had wounded him. + +The bay named Pan-ner-rong was the scene of this extraordinary transaction. + +Not a long time before I left the country, I witnessed another contest +among them, which was attended with some degree of ceremony. The +circumstance was this. A native of the Botany Bay district, named +Collindiun, having taken off by force Go-roo-boo-roo-bal-lo, the former +wife of Bennillong, but now the wife of Car-ru-ey, and carried her up the +harbour, Car-ru-ey with his relation Cole-be, in revenge, stole upon this +Collindiun one night while he lay asleep, and each fixed a spear in him. +The wounds, though deep and severe, yet did not prove mortal, and on his +recovery he demanded satisfaction. He came accompanied by a large party +of natives from the south shore of Botany Bay, and rather reluctantly, +for he had wished the business to be decided there, rather than among +Car-ru-ey's friends, as many of his associates in arms were entire +strangers to us. Thirsting after revenge, however, he was prevailed with +to meet him on his own ground, and the Yoo-lahng formerly used for a +different purpose was the place of rendezvous. + +At night they all danced, that is to say, both parties, but not mixed +together; one side waiting until the other had concluded their dance. In +the manner of dancing, of announcing themselves as ready to begin, and +also in their song, there was an evident difference. + +Our friends appeared to have some apprehension of the event not proving +favourable to them; for perceiving an officer there with a gun, Car-ru-ey +strenuously urged him, if any thing should happen to him, to shoot the +Botany Bay black fellows. The women, to induce us to comply with his +request, told us that some of the opposite party had said they would kill +Car-ru-ey. Some other guns making their appearance, the strangers were +alarmed and uneasy, until assured that they were intended merely for our +own security. + +The time for this business was just after ten in the forenoon. We found +Car-ru-ey and Cole-be seated at one end of the Yoo-lahng, each armed with +a spear and throwing-stick, and provided with a shield. Here they were +obliged to sit until some one of their opponents got up; they also then +arose and put themselves _en garde_. Some of the spears which were thrown +at them they picked up and threw back; and others they returned with +extraordinary violence. + +The affair was over before two o'clock; and, what was remarkable, we did +not hear of any person being wounded. We understood, however, that this +circumstance was to produce another meeting. + +In this as in all the contests I ever witnessed among them, the point of +honour was rigidly observed. But spears were not the only instruments of +warfare on these occasions. They had also to combat with words, in which +the women sometimes bore a part. During this latter engagement I have +seen them, when any very offensive word met their ears, suddenly place +themselves in the attitude of throwing the spear, and at times let it +drop on the ground without discharging; and others threw it with all +their strength; but always scrupulously observing the situation of the +person opposed, and never throwing at him until he covered himself with +his shield. The most unaccountable trait in this business was, the party +thrown at providing his enemy with weapons; for they have been repeatedly +seen, when a spear has flown harmless beyond them, to pick it up and +fling it carelessly back to their adversary. This might proceed from +contempt, or from there being a scarcity of spears; and I have thought +that when, instead of flinging it carelessly back, they have thrown it +with much violence, it was because it had been thrown at them with a +greater visible degree of malevolence than the others. + +This rigid attention to the point of honour, when fairly opposed to each +other, is difficult to reconcile with their treacherous and midnight +murders. + +Their mode of retaliating an insult or injury was extraordinary. +Children, if when at play they received a blow or a push, resented it by +a blow or a push of equal force to that which they felt. This retaliating +spirit appeared also among the men, of a remarkable instance of which +several of us were witnesses. A native of the name of Bur-ro-wan-nie had +some time before been beaten by two natives of the tribe of Gwe-a, at the +head of Botany Bay. One of these being fixed on, he was in return to be +beaten by Bur-ro-wan-nie. For this purpose a large party attended +over-night at the head of the stream near the settlement to dance; at +which exercise they continued from nine till past twelve o'clock. The man +who was to be beaten danced with the rest until they ceased, and then +laid himself down among them to sleep. Early in the morning, while he was +yet on the ground, and apparently asleep at the foot of a tree, Cole-be +and Bur-ro-wan-me, armed each with a spear and a club, rushed upon him +from among some trees. Cole-be made a push at him with his spear, but did +not touch him, while the other, Bur-ro-wan-me, struck him with his club +two severe blows on the hinder part of the head. The noise they made, if +he was alseep, awaked him; and when he was struck, he was on his legs. He +was perfectly unarmed, and hung his head in silence while Cole-be and his +companion talked to him. No more blows were given, and Bennillong, who +was present, wiped the blood from the wounds with some grass. As a proof +that Bur-ro-wan-nie was satisfied with the redress he had taken, we saw +him afterwards walking in the town with the object of his resentment, +who, on being asked, said Bur-ro-ween-nie was good; and during the whole +of the day, wheresoever he was seen, there also was this poor wretch with +his breast and back covered with dried blood; for, according to the +constant practice of his countrymen, he had not washed it off. In the +evening I saw him with a ligature fastened very tight round his head, +which certainly required something to alleviate the pain it must have +endured. + +In some of these contests they have been seen on the field of battle +attended by a person who appeared to be the friend of both parties. In a +single combat which Mo-roo-ber-ra had with Bennillong, they were attended +by Cole-be, who took a position on one side about half-way between them, +armed with a spear and throwing-stick, but unprovided with a shield. This +I saw he frequently shook, and talked a great deal, but never threw it. +While in this situation he was styled Ca-bah-my. + +I had long wished to be a witness of a family party, in which I hoped and +expected to see them divested of that restraint which perhaps they might +put on in our houses. I was one day gratified in this wish when I little +expected it. Having strolled down to the Point named Too-bow-gu-lie, I +saw the sister and the young wife of Bennillong coming round the Point in +the new canoe which the husband had cut in his last excursion to +Parramatta. They had been out to procure fish, and were keeping time with +their paddles, responsive to the words of a song, in which they joined +with much good humour and harmony. They were almost immediately joined by +Bennillong, who had his sister's child on his shoulders. The canoe was +hauled on shore, and what fish they had caught the women brought up. I +observed that the women seated themselves at some little distance from +Bennillong, and then the group was thus disposed of--the husband was +seated on a rock, preparing to dress and eat the fish he had just +received. On the same rock lay his pretty sister War-re-weer asleep in +the sun, with a new born infant in her arms; and at some little distance +were seated, rather below him, his other sister and his wife, the wife +opening and eating some rock-oysters, and the sister suckling her child, +Kah-dier-rang, whom she had taken from Bennillong. I cannot omit +mentioning the unaffected simplicity of the wife: immediately on her +stepping out of her canoe, she gave way to the pressure of a certain +necessity, without betraying any of that reserve which would have led +another at least behind the adjoining bush. She blushed not, for the +cheek of Go-roo-bar-roo-bool-lo was the cheek of rude nature, and not +made for blushes. I remained with them till the whole party fell asleep. + +They have great difficulty in procuring fire, and are therefore seldom +seen without it. Bennillong, or some other native, once showed me the +process of procuring it. It is attended with infinite labour, and is +performed by fixing the pointed end of a cylindrical piece of wood into a +hollow made in a plane: the operator twirling the round piece swiftly +between both his hands, sliding them up and down until fatigued, at which +time he is relieved by another of his companions, who are all seated for +this purpose in a circle, and each one takes his turn until fire is +procured. + +Most of their instruments are ornamented with rude carved-work, effected +with a piece of broken shell, and on the rocks I have seen various +figures of fish, clubs, swords, animals, and even branches of trees, not +contemptibly represented. + + + +APPENDIX VII--SUPERSTITION + + +Like all other children of ignorance, these people are the slaves of +superstition. + +I think I may term the car-rah-dy their high priest of superstition. The +share they had in the tooth-drawing scenes was not the only instance, +that induced me to suppose this. When Cole-be accompanied Governor +Phillip to the banks of the Hawkesbury, he met with a car-rah-dy, +Yel-lo-mun-dy, who, with much gesticulation and mummery, pretended to +extract the barbs of two spears from his side, which never had been left +there, or, if they had, required rather the aid of the knife than the +incantations of Yel-lo-mun-dy to extract them; but his patient was +satisfied with the car-rah-dy's efforts to serve him, and thought himself +perfectly relieved. + +During the time that Boo-roong lived at the clergyman's house she paid +occasional visits to the lower part of the harbour. From one of these she +returned extremely ill. On questioning her as to the cause, for none was +apparent, she told us that the women of Cam-mer-ray had made water in a +path which they knew she was to cross, and it had made her ill. These +women were inimical to her, as she belonged to the Botany Bay district. +On her intimating to them that she found herself ill, they told her +triumphantly what they had done. Not recovering, though bled in the arm +by Mr. White, she underwent an extraordinary and superstitious operation, +where the operator suffers more than the patient. She was seated on the +ground, with one of the lines worn by the men passed round her head once, +taking care to fix the knot in the centre of her forehead; the remainder +of the line was taken by another girl, who sat at a small distance from +her, and with the end of it fretted her lips until they bled very +copiously; Boo-roong imagining all the time that the blood came from her +head, and passed along the line until it ran into the girl's mouth, +whence it was spit into a small vessel which she had beside her, half +filled with water, and into which she occasionally dipped the end of the +line. This operation they term be-an-ny, and is the peculiar province of +the women. + +Another curious instance of their superstition occurred among some of our +people belonging to a boat that was lying wind-bound in the lower part of +the harbour. They had procured some shell-fish, and during the night were +preparing to roast them, when they were observed by one of the natives, +who shook his head and exclaimed, that the wind for which they were +waiting would not rise if they roasted the fish. His argument not +preventing the sailors from enjoying their treat, and the wind actually +proving foul, they, in their turn, gave an instance of superstition by +abusing the native, and attributing to him the foul wind which detained +them. On questioning Ye-ra-ni-be respecting this circumstance, he assured +me that the natives never broil fish by night. + +In a reach of the Hawkesbury, about midway up some high land, stands a +rock which in its form is not unlike a sentry-box. Respecting this rock, +they have a superstitious tradition, that while some natives were one day +feasting under it, some of the company whistling, it happened to fall +from a great height, and crushed the whole party under its weight. For +this reason they make it an invariable rule never to whistle under a rock. + +Among their other superstitions was one which might be naturally expected +from their ignorance, a belief in spirits. + +Of this belief we had at different times several accounts. Bennillong, +during his first acquaintance with us, described an apparition as +advancing to a person with an uncommon noise, and seizing hold of him by +the throat. It came slowly along with its body bent, and the hands held +together in a line with the face, moving on till it seized the party it +meant to visit. We were told by him and others, and that after we +understood each other, that by sleeping at the grave of a deceased +person, they would, from what happened to them there, be freed from all +future apprehensions respecting apparitions; for during that awful sleep +the spirit of the deceased would visit them, seize them by the throat, +and, opening them, take out their bowels, which they would replace and +close up the wound. We understood that very few chose to encounter the +darkness of the night, the solemnity of the grave, and the visitation of +the spirit of the deceased; but that such as were so hardy became +immediately car-rah-dys, and that all those who exercised that profession +had gone through this ceremony. + +It is very certain, that even in the day-time they were strangely +unwilling to pass a grave; but I believe that their tale of being seized +by the throat by a ghost was nothing more than their having felt the +effects of what we term the night-mare during an uneasy sleep. + +To the shooting of a star they attach a degree of importance; and I once, +on an occasion of this kind, saw the girl Boo-roong greatly agitated, and +prophesying much evil to befal all the white men and their habitations. + +Of thunder and lightning they are also much afraid; but have an ideal +that by chanting some particular words, and breathing hard, they can +dispel it. Instances of this have been seen. + + + +APPENDIX VIII--DISEASES + + +Their living chiefly on fish (I speak of those whom we found on the sea +coast) produces a disorder which greatly resembles the itch; they term it +Djee-ball djee-ball; and at one time, about the year 1791, there was not +one of the natives, man, woman, nor child, that came near us, but was +covered with it. It raged violently among them, and some became very +loathsome objects. + +The venereal disease also had got among them; but I fear our people have +to answer for that; for though I believe none of our women had connection +with then, yet there is no doubt but that several of the black women had +not scrupled to connect themselves with the white men. Of the certainty +of this an extraordinary instance occurred. A native woman had a child by +one of our people. On its coming into the world she perceived a +difference in its colour; for which not knowing how to account, she +endeavoured to supply by art what she found deficient in nature, and +actually held the poor babe, repeatedly, over the smoke of her fire, and +rubbed its little body with ashes and dirt, to restore it to the hue with +which her other children had been born. Her husband appeared as fond of +it as if it had borne the undoubted sign of being his own, at least so +far as complexion could ascertain to whom it belonged. Whether the mother +had made use of any address on the occasion, I never learned. + +It was by no means ascertained whether the lues venerea had been among +them before they knew us, or whether our people had to answer for having +introduced that devouring plague. Thus far is certain, however, that they +gave it a name, Goo-bah-rong; a circumstance that seems rather to imply a +pre-knowledge of its dreadful effects. + +In the year 1789 they were visited by a disorder which raged among them +with all the appearance and virulence of the small-pox. The number that +it swept off, by their own accounts, was incredible. At that time a +native was living with us; and on our taking him down to the harbour to +look for his former companions, those who witnessed his expression and +agony can never forget either. He looked anxiously around him in the +different coves we visited; not a vestige on the sand was to be found of +human foot; the excavations in the rocks were filled with the putrid +bodies of those who had fallen victims to the disorder; not a living +person was any where to be met with. It seemed as if, flying from the +contagion, they had left the dead to bury the dead. He lifted up his +hands and eyes in silent agony for some time; at last he exclaimed, 'All +dead! all dead!' and then hung his head in mournful silence, which he +preserved during the remainder of our excursion. Some days after he +learned that the few of his companions who survived had fled up the +harbour to avoid the pestilence that so dreadfully raged. His fate has +been already mentioned. He fell a victim to his own humanity when +Boo-roong, Nan-bar-ray, and others were brought into the town covered +with the eruptions of the disorder. On visiting Broken Bay, we found that +it had not confined its effects to Port Jackson, for in many places our +path was covered with skeletons, and the same spectacles were to be met +with in the hollows of most of the rocks of that harbour. + +Notwithstanding the town of Sydney was at this time filled with children, +many of whom visited the natives that were ill of this disorder, not one +of them caught it, though a North-American Indian, a sailor belonging to +Captain Ball's vessel, the _Supply_, sickened of it and died. + +To this disorder they also gave a name, Gal-gal-la; and that it was the +small-pox there was scarcely a doubt; for the person seized with it was +affected exactly as Europeans are who have that disorder; and on many +that had recovered from it we saw the traces, in some the ravages of it +on the face. + +As a proof of the numbers of those miserable people who were carried off +by this disorder, Bennillong told us, that his friend Cole-be's tribe +being reduced by its effects to three persons, Cole-be, the boy +Nan-bar-ray, and some one else, they found themselves compelled to unite +with some other tribe, not only for their personal protection, but to +prevent the extinction of their tribe. Whether this incorporation ever +took place I cannot say; I only know that the natives themselves, when +distinguishing between this man and another of the same name at Botany +Bay, always styled him Cad-i Cole-be; Cad-i being the name of his +district; and Cole-be, when he came into the field some time after, +appeared to be attended by several very fine boys who kept close by his +side, and were of his party. + +Whenever they feel a pain, they fasten a tight ligature round the part, +thereby stopping the circulation, and easing the part immediately +affected. I have before mentioned the quickness with which they recovered +from wounds; but I have even known them get the better in a short time of +a fractured skull. That their skulls should be fractured will be no +wonder, when it is recollected that the club seems to be applied alone to +the head. The women who are struck with this weapon always fall to the +ground; but this seldom happens to the men though the blows are generally +more severe. + + + +APPENDIX IX--PROPERTY + + +Their spears and shields, their clubs and lines, etc are their own +property; they are manufactured by themselves, and are the whole of their +personal estate. But, strange as it may appear, they have also their real +estates. Bennillong, both before he went to England and since his return, +often assured me, that the island Me-mel (called by us Goat Island) close +by Sydney Cove was his own property; that it was his father's, and that +he should give it to By-gone, his particular friend and companion. To +this little spot he appeared much attached; and we have often seen him +and his wife Ba-rang-a-roo feasting and enjoying themselves on it. He +told us of other people who possessed this kind of hereditary property, +which they retained undisturbed. + + + +APPENDIX X--DISPOSITIONS + + +From the different circumstances that have been related of these people +in the foregoing account, a general idea of their character and +disposition may be gathered. They are revengeful, jealous, courageous, +and cunning. I have never considered their stealing on each other in the +night for the purposes of murder as a want of bravery, but have looked on +it rather as the effect of the diabolical spirit of revenge, which thus +sought to make surer of its object than it could have done if only +opposed man to man in the field. Their conduct when thus opposed, the +constancy with which they endured pain, and the alacrity with which they +accepted a summons to the fight, are surely proofs of their not wanting +courage. They disclaim all idea of any superiority that is not personal; +and I remember when Bennillong had a shield, made of tin and covered with +leather, presented to him by Governor Phillip, he took it with him down +the harbour, whence he returned without it, telling us that he had lost +it; but in fact it had been taken from him by the people of the north +shore district and destroyed; it being deemed unfair to cover himself +with such a guard. + +They might have been honest before we came among them, not having much to +covet from one another; but from us they often stole such things as we +would not give them. While they pilfered what could gratify their +appetites, it was not to be wondered at; but I have seen them steal +articles of which they could not possibly know the use. Mr. White once +being in the midst of a crowd of natives in the lower part of the +harbour, one of them saw a small case of instruments in his pocket, +which, watching an opportunity, he slyly stole, and ran away with; but, +being observed, he was pursued and made to restore his prize. We were +very little acquainted with them at this time, and therefore the native +could not have known the contents of the case. Could he have been watched +to his retreat, I have no doubt but he would have been seen to lay the +case on his head, as an ornament, the place to which at first every thing +we gave them was usually consigned. + +That they are not strangers to the occasional practice of falsehood, is +apparent from the words truth and falsehood being found in their +language; but, independent of this, we had many proofs of their being +adepts in the arts of evasion and lying; and I have seen them, when we +have expressed doubts of some of their tales, assure us with much +earnestness of the truth of their assertions; and when speaking to us of +other natives they have as anxiously wished us to believe that they had +told us lies. + +Their talent for mimicry is very great. It was a favourite diversion with +the children to imitate the peculiarities in any one's gait, and they +would go through it with the happiest success. + +They are susceptible of friendship, and capable of feeling sorrow; but +this latter sensation they are not in the habit of encouraging long. When +Ba-loo-der-ry, a very fine lad who died among us, was buried, I saw the +tears streaming silently down the sable cheek of his father Mau-go-ran; +but in a little time they were dried, and the old man's countenance +indicated nothing but the lapse of many years which had passed over his +head. + +With attention and kind treatment, they certainly might be made a very +serviceable people. I have seen them employed in a boat as usefully as +any white person; and the settlers have found some among them, who would +go out with their stock, and carefully bring home the right numbers, +though they have not any knowledge of numeration beyond three or four. + +Their acquaintance with astronomy is limited to the names of the sun and +moon, some few stars, the Magellanic clouds, and the milky way. Of the +circular form of the earth they have not the smallest idea, but imagine +that the sun returns over their heads during the night to the quarter +whence he begins his course in the morning. + +As they never make provision for the morrow, except at a whale-feast, +they always eat as long as they have any thing left to eat, and when +satisfied, stretch themselves out in the sun to sleep, where they remain +until hunger or some other cause calls them again into action. I have at +times observed a great degree of indolence in their dispositions, which I +have frequently seen the men indulge at the expence of the weaker vessel +the women, who have been forced to sit in their canoe, exposed to the +fervour of the mid-day sun, hour after hour, chanting their little song, +and inviting the fish beneath them to take their bait; for without a +sufficient quantity to make a meal for their tyrants, who were lying +asleep at their ease, they would meet but a rude reception on their +landing. + + + +APPENDIX XI--FUNERAL CEREMONIES + + +The first peculiarity noticeable in their funeral ceremonies is the +disposal of their dead; their young people they consign to the grave; +those who have passed the middle age are burnt. Bennillong burnt the body +of his first wife Ba-rang-a-roo, who, I suppose, was at the time of her +decease turned fifty. I have attended them on both occasions. The +interment of Ba-loo-der-ry was accompanied with many curious ceremonies. +From being one day in apparent perfect health, he was brought in the next +extremely ill, and attended by Bennillong, whom we found singing over +him, and making use of those means which ignorance and superstition +pointed out to him to recover his health. Ba-loo-der-ry lay extended on +the ground, appearing to be in much pain. Bennillong applied his mouth to +those parts of his patient's body which he thought were affected, +breathing strongly on them, and singing: at times he waved over him some +boughs dipped in water, holding one in each hand, and seemed to treat him +with much attention and friendship. On the following morning he was +visited by a car-rah-dy, who came express from the north shore. This man +threw himself into various distortions, applied his mouth to different +parts of his patient's body, and at length, after appearing to labour +much, and to be in great pain, spit out a piece of a bone about an inch +and a half long (which he had previously procured). Here the farce ended, +and Ba-loo-der-ry's friends took the car-rah-dy with them and entertained +him with such fare as they had to give him. He was at this time at our +hospital; during the night his fever increased, and his friends, thinking +he would be better with them, put him into a canoe, intending to take him +to the north shore; but he died as they were carrying him over. This was +immediately notified to us by a violent clamour among the women and +children; and Bennillong soon after coming into the town, it was agreed +upon between him and the governor that the body should be buried in the +governor's garden. + +In the afternoon it was brought over in a canoe, and deposited in a hut +at the bottom of the garden, several natives attending, and the women and +children lamenting and howling most dismally. The body was wrapped up in +the jacket which he usually wore, and some pieces of blanketting tied +round it with bines. The men were all armed, and, without any +provocation, two of them had a contest with clubs; at the same time a few +blows passed between some of the women. Boo-roong had her head cut by +Go-roo-ber-ra, the mother of the deceased. Spears were also thrown, but +evidently as part of a ceremony, and not with an intention of doing +injury to any one. At the request of Bennillong, a blanket was laid over +the corpse, and Cole-be his friend sat by the body all night, nor could +he be prevailed on to quit it. + +They remained rather silent till about one in the morning, when the women +began to cry, and continued for some time. At daylight Bennillong brought +his canoe to the place, and cutting it to a proper length, the body was +placed in it, with a spear, a fiz-gig, a throwing-stick, and a line which +Ba-loo-derry had worn round his waist. Some time was taken up in +adjusting all this business, during which the men were silent, but the +women, boys, and children uttered the most dismal lamentations. The +father stood alone and unemployed, a silent observer of all that was +doing about his deceased son, and a perfect picture of deep and +unaffected sorrow. Every thing being ready, the men and boys all assisted +in lifting the canoe with the body from the ground, and placing it on the +heads of two natives, Collins and Yow-war-re. Some of the assistants had +tufts of grass in their hands, which they waved backwards and forwards +under the canoe, while it was lifting from the ground, as if they were +exorcising some evil spirit. As soon as it was fixed on the heads of the +bearers, they set off, preceded by Bennillong and another man, +Wat-te-wal, both walking with a quick step towards the point of the cove +where Bennillong's hut stood. Mau-go-ran, the father, attended them armed +with his spear and throwing-stick, while Bennillong and Wat-te-wal had +nothing in their hands but tufts of grass, which as they went they waved +about, sometimes turning and facing the corpse, at others waving their +tufts of grass among the bushes. When they fronted the corpse, the head +of which was carried foremost, the bearers made a motion with their heads +from side to side, as if endeavouring to avoid the people who fronted +them. After proceeding thus to some little distance, Wat-te-wal turned +aside from the path, and went up to a bush, into which he seemed to look +very narrowly, as if searching for something that he could not find, and +waving about the tufts of grass which he had in either hand. After this +fruitless search, they all turned back, and went on in a somewhat quicker +pace than before. On their drawing near the spot where the women and +children were sitting with the other men, the father threw two spears +towards, but (evidently intentionally) short of them. Here Bennillong +took his infant child, Dil-boong in his arms, and held it up to the +corpse, the bearers endeavouring to avoid it as before described. Be-dia +Be-dia, the reputed brother of the deceased, a very fine boy of about +five years of age, was then called for, but came forward very +reluctantly, and was presented in the same manner as the other child. +After this they proceeded to the grave which had been prepared in the +governor's garden. Twice they changed the bearer who walked the foremost, +but his friend Collins carried him the whole of the way. At the grave +some delay took place, for unfortunately it was found not to be long +enough; but after some time, it being completed according to their +wishes, Yel-lo-way levelled the bottom with his hands and feet, and then +strewed some grass in it, after which he stretched himself at his length +in it, first on his back, and then on his right side. Bennillong had +earnestly requested that some drums might be ordered to attend, which was +granted, and two or three marches were beat while the grave was +preparing; Bennillong highly approving, and pointing at the time first to +the deceased and then to the skies, as if there was some connexion +between them at that moment. When the grave was ready, the men to the +number of five or six got in with the body, but being still somewhat too +short, the ends of the canoe were cut, in doing which the bines were +loosened and the corpse exposed to view. It appeared to be in a very +putrid state. Every thing was however adjusted, and the grave was filled +in by the natives and some of our people. + +On laying the body in the grave, great care was taken so to place it, +that the sun might look at it as he passed, Bennillong and Cole-be taking +their observations for that purpose, and cutting down every shrub that +could at all obstruct the view. He was placed on his right side with his +head to the NW. + +The native Yow-war-re appeared to have much to do in this ceremony. When +the grave was covered in, and laid up round, he collected several +branches of shrubs, and placed them in a half circle on the south side of +the grave, extending them from the foot to the head of it. He also laid +grass and boughs on the top of it, and crowned the whole with a large log +of wood. This log appeared to be placed there for some particular +purpose; for having fixed it he strewed some grass over it, and then laid +himself on it at his length for some minutes, with his face towards the +sky. Every rite being performed, the party retired, some of the men first +speaking in a menacing tone to the women, and telling Boo-roong not to +eat any fish nor meat that day. We understood that at night two of the +men were to sleep at the grave, but I have reason to think that they did +not. Cole-be and Wat-te-wal were painted red and white over the breast +and shoulders, and on this occasion were distinguished by the title of +Moo-by; and we learned from them that while so distinguished they were to +be very sparing in their meals. + +They enjoined us on no account to mention the name of the deceased, a +custom they rigidly attended to themselves whenever any one died; and in +pursuance of this custom, Nan-bar-ray, one of whose names was +Ba-loo-der-ry, had actually relinquished that, and obtained another name. + +The ceremony of sleeping at the grave of the deceased, we knew, was +observed by Bennillong after the death of his little child Dil-boong, he +and two or three other natives passing the night in the governor's +garden, not very far from the spot where it was buried. + +Such were the ceremonies attendant on the interment of Ba-loo-derry. When +Ba-rang-a-roo Da-ring-ha, Bennillong's wife, died, he determined at once +to burn her, and requested Governor Phillip, Mr. White, and myself, to +attend him. He was accompanied by his own sister Car-rang-ar-rang, +Collins, Ca-ru-ey, Yem-mer-ra-wan-nie, and one or two other women. + +Collins prepared the spot whereon the pile was to be constructed, by +excavating the ground with a stick, to the depth of three or four inches, +and on this part so turned up were first placed small sticks and light +brushwood; larger pieces were then laid on each side of these; and so on +till the pile might be about three feet in height, the ends and sides of +which were thus formed of large dry wood, while the middle of it +consisted of small twigs and branches, broken for the purpose and thrown +together. When wood enough had been procured, some grass was spread over +the pile, and the corpse, covered with an old blanket, was borne to it by +the men, and placed on it with the head to the northward. A basket with +the fishing apparatus and other small furniture of the deceased was +placed by her side; and, Bennillong having laid some large logs of wood +over the body, the pile was lighted by one of the party. Being +constructed of dry wood, it was quickly all in a flame, and Bennillong +himself pointed out to us a black smoke, which proceeded from the centre +of the pile where the body lay, and signified that the fire had reached it. + +We left the spot long before the last billet was consumed, and Bennillong +appeared during the day more cheerful than we had expected, and spoke +about finding a nurse from among the white women to suckle his child. + +The following day he invited us to see him rake the ashes of his wife +together, and we accompanied him to the spot, unattended by any of his +own people. He preceded us in a sort of solemn silence, speaking to no +one until he had paid Ba-rang-a-roo the last duties of a husband. In his +hand he had the spear with which he meant to punish the car-rah-dy +Wil-le-me-ring for non-attendance on his wife when she was ill, with the +end of which he raked the calcined bones and ashes together in a heap. +Then, laying the spear upon the ground, he formed with a piece of bark a +tumulus that would have done credit to a well-practised grave-digger, +carefully laying the earth round, smoothing every little unevenness, and +paying a scrupulous attention to the exact proportion of its form. On +each side the tumulus he placed a log of wood, and on the top of it +deposited the piece of bark with which he had so carefully effected its +construction. When all was done he asked us 'if it was good,' and +appeared pleased when we assured him that it was. + +His deportment on this occasion was solemn and manly; an expressive +silence marked his conduct throughout the scene; in fact we attended him +as silently, and with close observation. He did not suffer any thing to +divert him from the business he had in hand, nor did he seem to be in the +least desirous to have it quickly dispatched, but paid this last rite +with an attention that did honour to his feelings as a man, as it seemed +the result of an heartfelt affection for the object of it, of whose +person nothing now remained but a piece or two of calcined bone. When his +melancholy work was ended, he stood for a few minutes with his hands +folded over his bosom, and his eye fixed upon his labours in the attitude +of a man in profound thought. Perhaps in that small interval of time many +ideas presented themselves to his imagination. His hands had just +completed the last service he could render to a woman who, no doubt, had +been useful to him; one to whom he was certainly attached (of many +instances of which we had at different times been witness) and one who +had left him a living pledge of some moments at least of endearment. +Perhaps under the heap which his hands had raised, and on which his eyes +were fixed, his imagination traced the form of her whom he might formerly +have fought for, and whom he now was never to behold again. Perhaps when +turning from the grave of his deceased companion, he directed all his +thoughts to the preservation of the little one she had left him; and when +he quitted the spot his anxiety might be directed to the child, in the +idea that he might one day see his Ba-rang-aroo revive in his little +motherless Dil-boong. + +Cole-be's wife, who bore the same names as the deceased, lost them both +on this occasion, and was called by every one Bo-rahng-al-le-on. This +peculiarity was also observed by them with respect to a little girl of +ours, of whom Ba-rang-a-roo was so fond as to call her always by her own +name. On her decease she too was styled Bo-rahng-al-le-on. + +Cole-be's wife, the namesake of the Ba-rang-a-roo I have just mentioned, +did not survive her many months. She died of a consumption, brought on by +suckling a little girl who was at her breast when she died. This +circumstance led to the knowledge of a curious but horrid custom which +obtains among these people. The mother died in the town, and when she was +taken to the grave her corpse was carried to the door of every hut and +house she had been accustomed to enter during the latter days of her +illness, the bearers presenting her with the same ceremonies as were used +at the funeral of Ba-loo-der-ry, when the little girl Dil-boong and the +boy Be-dia were placed before his corpse. + +When the body was placed in the grave, the bye-standers were amazed to +see the father himself place the living child in it with the mother. +Having laid the child down, he threw upon it a large stone, and the grave +was instantly filled in by the other natives. The whole business was so +momentary, that our people had not time or presence of mind sufficient to +prevent it; and on speaking about it to Cole-be, be, so far from thinking +it inhuman, justified the extraordinary act by assuring us that as no +woman could be found to nurse the child it must die a much worse death +than that to which he had put it. As a similar circumstance occurred a +short time after, we have every reason to suppose the custom always +prevails among them; and this may in some degree account for the thinness +of population which has been observed among the natives of the country.* + +[* Cole-be's child was about four or five months old, and seemed to have +partaken of its mother's illness. I think it could not have lived.] + +I have said that these women were namesakes. Bennillong's wife was called +Ba-rang-a-roo Daring-ha; Cole-be's, Daring-ha Ba-rang-a-roo. A +peculiarity in their language occurs to me in this place. The males of +the same name call each other Da-me-li, the women call each other +Da-me-li-ghen. + +I have mentioned their taking particular names on certain occasions. The +mutual friend who attends them to the field is styled Ca-bah-my; the +persons who at their funerals are painted red and white, are named Moo-by; +the namesake of a deceased person, if a male, is styled Bo-rahng; if a +woman, Bo-rahn-gal-le-on. When Nor-roo-ing came into the town to acquaint +us with the death of Yel-lo-way, she was perfectly a dismal sorrowing +figure. She had covered herself entirely with ashes, was named while she +continued so Go-lahng, and refused all kinds of sustenance. + +The annexed Plate represents the burning of the corpse of a native who +was killed by a limb of a tree falling on him. He was brought to the spot +with all the preceding ceremonies. His head was laid to the northward, +and in his hands were deposited his spear and his throwing-stick. His +ashes were afterwards raked together, and a tumulus erected over them, +similar to that which Bennillong had raised over his wife. + + + +APPENDIX XII--LANGUAGE + + +In giving an account of an unwritten language many difficulties occur. +For things cognizable by the external senses, names may be easily +procured; but not so for those which depend on action, or address +themselves only to the mind: for instance, a spear was an object both +visible and tangible, and a name for it was easily obtained; but the use +of it went through a number of variations and inflexions, which it was +extremely difficult to ascertain; indeed I never could, with any degree +of certainty fix the infinitive mood of any one of their verbs. The +following sketch is therefore very limited, though, as far as it does +proceed, the reader may be assured of its accuracy. + +Their language is extremely grateful to the ear, being in many instances +expressive and sonorous. It certainly has no analogy with any other known +language (at least so far as my knowledge of any other language extends), +one or two instances excepted, which will be noticed in the specimen. The +dialect spoken by the natives at Sydney not only differs entirely from +that left us by Captain Cook of the people with whom he had intercourse +to the northward (about Endeavour river) but also from that spoken by +those natives who lived at Port Stephens, and to the southward of Botany +Bay (about Adventure Bay), as well as on the banks of the Hawkesbury. We +often heard, that people from the northward had been met with, who could +not be exactly understood by our friends; but this is not so wonderful as +that people living at the distance of only fifty or sixty miles should +call the sun and moon by different names; such, however, was the fact. +In an excursion to the banks of the Hawkesbury, accompanied by two Sydney +natives, we first discovered this difference; but our companions +conversed with the river natives without any apparent difficulty, each +understanding or comprehending the other. + +We have often remarked a sensible difference on hearing the same word +sounded by two people; and, in fact, they have been observed sometimes to +differ from themselves, substituting often the letter _b_ for _p_, and +_g_ for _c_, and _vice versa_. In their alphabet they have neither _s_ +nor _v_; and some of their letters would require a new character to +ascertain them precisely. + +What follows is offered only as a specimen, not as a perfect vocabulary +of their language. + +NEW SOUTH WALES ENGLISH +--------------- ------- + +NAMES CHIEFLY OF OBJECTS OF SENSE + +Co-ing The sun +Yen-na-dah The moon +Bir-rong A star +Mo-loo-mo-long The Pleiades +War-re-wull The Milky Way +Ca-ra-go-ro A cloud +Boo-do-en-ong +general name +Cal-gal-le-on The Magellanic +the greater clouds +Gnar-rang-al-le-on +the lesser +Tu-ru-p A star falling +Co-ing bi-bo-ba Sun-rising +Bour-ra The sky +Co-ing bur-re-goo-lah Sun-setting +Gnoo-wing Night +Carn-mar-roo +Tar-re-ber-re Day +Gwe-yong Fire +Cad-jee Smoke +Gil-le A spark +Per-mul Earth +Ta-go-ra Cold +Yoo-roo-ga Heat +Men-nie-no-long Dew +Pan-na, and Wal-lan Rain +Ba-do Water +Chi-a-ra Name +Car-rig-er-rang The sea +Go-nie A hut +Now-ey A canoe +Beng-al-le A basket +Car-rah-jun A fishing-line +Gnam-mul A sinker [A small stone to sink the line] +Bur-ra A hook +Ke-ba A stone or rock +Bwo-mar A grave +Bow-wan A shadow +Ma-hn A ghost +Wir-roong Scars on the back +Cong-ar-ray Scars on the breast +jee-run A coward +Can-ning A cave +Me-diong A sore [On noticing a hole in any part of + our dress they term it Me-diong] +Ya-goo-na To-day +Bo-ra-ne Yesterday +Par-ry-boo-go To-morrow +Mul-lin-ow-ool In the morning +Jen-ni-be Laughter +Boo-roo-wang An island [This word they applied + to our ships] +Gno-rang A place +E-ring A valley +Boo-do A torch made of reeds +Mi-yal A stranger [This word has reference to sight; + Mi, the eye.] +Ar-rung-a A calm +Moo-roo-bin Woman's milk +Ew-ing Truth +Ca-bahn An egg +Yab-bun Instrumental music +Yoo-long or Cleared ground for public ceremonies +Yoo-lahng + +ADJECTIVES + +Bood-jer-re Good +Wee-re Bad +Mur-ray Great +Gnar-rang Small +Coo-rar-re Long +Too-mur-ro Short +Go-jy Rotten +Go-jay-by +Bin-nice Pregnant +Par-rat-ber-ri Empty +Bo-ruck Full +Pe-mul-gine Dirty +Bar-gat Afraid + Frightened +Ba-diel Ill +Moo-la Sick +Boo-row-a Above or upward +Cad-i Below or under +Bar-bug-gi Lost +War-rang-i Right +Doo-room-i Left +Goo-lar-ra Angry +Yu-ro-ra Passionate +Wo-gul, and Wo-cul One +Yoo-blow-re, and Boo-la Two +Brew-y Three +Mur-ray-too-lo A great many +Gnal-le-a Both +Moo-jel Red +Ta-bo-a White +Gna-na Black +Bool-gi-ga Green +Moo-ton-ore Lame +Yu-roo, and +Yu-roo-gur-ra Hungry +Mo-rem-me Yes +Beall No +Mar-rey Wet + +PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY + +Ca-ber-ra Head +Gnul-lo Forehead +Mi Eye +Yin-ner-ry Eye-brow +No-gro, or No-gur-ro Nose +Kar-ga Mouth +Wil-ling Lips +Da-ra Teeth +Tal-lang Tongue +Wal-lo Chin +Go-ray Ear +Cad-le-ar Neck +Cad-le-ang Na-bung Breast or Nipple +Yar-rin Beard [This they often singe, and describe it + as a painful operation] +De-war-ra Hair [This is commonly full of vermin, which + I have seen them eat, and change from + one soil (sic) to another.] +Bar-rong Belly +Go-rook Knee +Dar-ra Leg +Ma-no-e Foot +Tam-mir-ra Hand +Ber-rll-le Fingers +Car-rung-un Nail +Bib-be Ribs +Ba-rongle Vein +Pa-di-el Flesh or lean +Bog-gay, or Pog-gay Fat +Tar-rang Arm +0-nur Elbow +Wy-o-man-no Thumb +Dar-ra-gal-lic Fore-finger +Ba-roo-gal-lie Middle or ring'd +Wel-leng-al-lie Little finger + +CONSANGUINITY + +Eo-ra The name common for the natives +Mu-la A man +Din A woman +Din-al-le-ong Women [One of the few instances I could ever + discover of a plural or dual number] +Gin-al-le-ong +Be-an-na; this they +shorten to +Be-an and +Be-a, and +when in pain, +they exclaim +Be-a-ri A father +Wy-an-na, and Mother +Wy-ang +Go-mang Grandfather +Ba-bun-na Brother +Ma-mun-na Sister +Go-roong A child +We-row-ey A female child +Wong-er-ra A male ditto +Na-bung-ay wui-dal-liez Infant at the breast +[Compounded of Na-bung its breast, and Wai-dal-liez relating to drinking] +Bore-goo-roo Child eight months old +Guy-a-nay-yong An old man +Mau-gohn A wife +Mau-gohn-nal-ly A temporary ditto +Go-rah-gal-long A handsome man +Go-rah-gal-long- + al-le-ong A handsome woman +Ma-lin, Nurkine, +Mud-gin +Gnar-ra-mat-ta A relation [To these I never could affix + precise meanings] +Cow-ul Male of animals +We ring Female of ditto +Do-roon A son +Do-roon-e-nang A daughter +Go-mul A term of friendship +Cam-mar-rade, Terms of affection used by girls +and Ca-mong-al-lay + +SPEARS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS + +Goong-un A spear with four barbs cut in the wood, + which they do not throw, but strike with + hand to hand +Noo-ro Ca-my A spear with one barb, fastened on +Ca-my A spear with two barbs--This word is + used for spear in general +Bil-larr A spear with one barb, cut from the wood +Wal-lang-al-le-ong A spear armed with pieces of shell +Can-na-diul A spear armed with stones +Ghe-rub-bine A spear without a barb +Doci-ull A short spear +No-roo-gal Ca-my Holes made by a shield +E-lec-mong A shield made of bark +Ar-ra-gong A shield cut out from the solid wood +Moo-ting +Cal-larr Fizgigs +Car-rab-ba Prong of the moo-ting +Dam-moo-ne Prong of the cal-larr. +Woo-dah, Names of clubs. +Can-na-tal-ling, +Doo-win-null, +Can-ni-cull, +Car-ru-wang, +Wo-mur-rang. +Gnal-lung-ul-la, +Tar-ril-ber-re, +Mo-go, Stone hatchet. +We-bat, Handle of ditto. +Wo-mer-ra, Throwing-stick + +PRONOUNS, ADVERBS, AND MODE OF ADDRESS + +Gni-a, I, or myself +Gnee-ne, You. +Gnee-ne-de, Yours. +Dan-nai, Mine. +Dar-ring-al, His. +Gna-ni, Whose. +Wan, Where. +De, There. +Diam, Here. +Diam o waw? Where are you? +Diam o diam o, Here I am. +Gnalm Chiara, gnahn? What is your name? +Bir-rong, Appertaining. + +WINDS + +Bow-wan, North. +Bal-gay-al-lang, South. +Boo-roo-wee, East. +Bain-mar-ray, West. +Doo-loo-gal, North-west. +Yare-ba-lahng, South-west. +Go-me-mah, North-east. +Gwar-ra, A high wind + +INFLEXIONS OF THE VERBS. + +Gnia-na, Sighing. +Bwo-me, Breathing. +Dere-rign-ang, Sneezing. +Car-re-nar-re-bil-le, Coughing. +Yen-no-ra, Walking. +Yen-mow, I will walk or go. +Yenn, Go or walk. +Yen-ma-nia, We will walk or go. +Yen-wor-ro, He is gone. +Yen-nim-me, You are going. +Yen-nool, Relating to walking. +Yen-noong, +Yen-nore-yen, +Yen-nang-allea, Let us both walk. +AI-locy, Stay. +Wo-roo-wo-roo, Go away. +War-re-war-re, +Pat-ta-diow, I have eaten. +Pat-td-die-mi, You have eaten. +Pat-ty, He has eaten. +Pat-ta-bow, I will eat. +Pat-td-baw-me, You will eat, or will you eat? +Pat-ta-ne, They eat. +Wul-da-diow, I have drank. +Wul-da-dic-mi, You have drank. +Nwya jee-ming-a, Give me. +Py-yay, Killed. +Jung-ara py-yay, Killed by dogs. +Par-rat-ben-ni-diow I have emptied. +Py-ya-bow, I will strike or beat. +Py-yee, He did beat. +E-ra-bow, I will throw. +E-ra, Throw you. +E-rail-leiz, Throwing. +Mahn-me-diow. I have taken it. +Mahn-iow, Shall I, or I shall take. +Goo-ra, Sunk. +Ton-ga-bil-lie, Did cry. +Wau-me, Scolding or abusing. +Wau-me-bow I will scold or abuse +Wau-me-diow I have scolded or abused +Wau-me-diang-ha They have scolded or abused +Nang-er-ra He sleeps +Nang-a +Nang-a-bow I will sleep +Nang-a-diow I have slept +Nang-a-diem-me You have slept +Nang-a-bau-me? Will you sleep? +Go-ro-da He snores +Gna-na le-ma She or he breathes +Al-lo-wan He lives or remains +Al-lo-wah Stay here, or sit down +Wal-loo-me-yen-wal-loo? Where are you going? +War-re-me-war-re Where have you been? +Gna-diow You have seen +Gna-diem-me I have seen +Gna-bow I will see +Gna See +Era-mad-jow-in-nia Forced from him +Car-rah-ma Stealing +Wor-ga-wee-na He whistles, or whistling +Goo-lar-ra py-yel-la Snarling with anger +Man-nie mong-alla Surprised +Yare-ba Tired +Pe-to-e Sought for +Man-nie mal-lee He was startled +Nwya-bow-in-nia I will give you + Wan-ye-wan-yi He lies +Ma-row-e He creeps +Bang-a-ja-bun He did paddle +Noy-ga Howling as a dog +Toll Biting +Co-e, Cow-e Cwoi, +Cow-ana Come here +Wad-be Swimming +Bo-gay Diving + +Ta-yo-ra, Me-diang-a Severely cold. Me-diang-a is compounded of + Me-diong, a sore +Mul-la-ra Married. Compounded of Mulla, a man + +BEASTS + +Jung-o Common name +Pat-a-go-rang A large grey kang-oo-roo +Bag-gar-ray Small red ditto +Wal-li-bah Black ditto +Tein-go +Din-go +Wor-re-gal Dog +Boo-roo-min Grey vulpine opossum +Go-ra-go-ro Red ditto +Wob-bin Flying squirrel +Ga-ni-mong Kang-oo-roo rat +Wee-ree-a-min Large fox rat +Wee-ree-am-by +Bo-gul Rat or mouse +Me-rea-gine Spotted rat + +BIRDS + +Ma-ray-ong Emu +Go-ree-all A parrot +Mul-go A black swan +Car-rang-a bo mur-ray A pelican. When they see this bird over their + heads, they sing the following words: +Yoo-rong-i A ivild duck. +Goad-gang, A wild pigeon +Wir-gan Bird named by us the Friar +Gnoo-roo-me +ta-twa-natwa na-twa--Gno-roo me ta-twa na-twa, +na-twa, tar-ra wow, tar-ra wow* + +[* On seeing a shoal of porpoises, they sing while the fish +is above water, Note-le-bre la-la, No-te-le-bre la-la, until +it goes down, when they sing the words No-tee, No-tee, until +it rises again] + +Go-gan-ne-gine the Laughing jack-Ass +Po-book Musquito hawk +Wau-gan Crow +Jam-mul jam-mul Common hawk +Gare-a-way White cockatoo +Ca-rate Black ditto +Ur-win-ner-ri-wing Curlew + +INSECTS, REPTILES + +Mar-rae-gong A spider +Mi-a-nong A fly +Go-ma-go-ma A beetle +Gil-be-nong A grasshopper +Bur-roo-die-ra A butterfly +Go-na-long Caterpillar +Can-nar-ray Centipede +Calm Snake +Po-boo-nang A black ant + +* * * * * + +PECULIARITIES OF LANGUAGE + +To the men when fishing they apply the word Mah-ni; to the women, Mahn. + +They make some distinction in another instance when speaking of crying, +they say the men Tong-i; the women Tong-e. + +The following difference of dialect was observed between the natives at +the Hawkesbury and at Sydney. + +COAST INLAND ENGLISH +Ca-ber-ra Co-co Head +De-war-ra Ke-war-ra Hair +Gnul-lo Nar-ran Forehead +Mi Me Eye +Go-ray Ben-ne Ear +Cad-lian Gang-a Neck +Ba-rong Ben-di Belly +Moo-nur-ro Boom-boong Navel +Boong Bay-ley Buttocks +Yen-na-dah Dil-luck Moon +Co-ing Con-do-in Sun +Go-ra Go-ri-ba Hail +Go-gen-ne-gine Go-con-de Laughing jack-ass + +* * * * * + +WORDS OF A SONG + +Mdng-en-ny-wau-yen-go-nah, bar-ri-boo-lah, bar-re-mah. This they begin at +the top of their voices, and continue as long as they can in one breath, +sinking to the lowest note, and then rising again to the highest. The +words are the names of deceased persons. + +E-i-ah wan-ge-wah, chian-go, wan-de-go. The words of another song, sung +in the same manner as the preceding, and of the same meaning. + +I met with only two or three words which bore a resemblance to any other +language. + +The middle head of Port Jackson is named Ca-ba Ca-ba--in Portuguese Caba +signifies a head. Cam-ma-rade, a term of affection used among girls, has +a strong resemblance to the French word Cammerade; and may not some +similitude be traced between the word E-lee-mong, a shield, and the word +Telamon, the name given to the greater Ajax, on account of his being lord +of the seven-fold shield? How these words came into their language must +be a mystery till we have a more intimate knowledge of it than I can +pretend to. + +* * * * * + +I could have enlarged very much the foregoing account of the natives of +New South Wales; but, both in describing their customs and in detailing +their language, I have chosen to mention only those facts about which, +after much attention and inquiry, I could satisfy my own mind. That they +are ignorant savages cannot be disputed; but I hope they do not in the +foregoing pages appear to be wholly incapable of becoming one day +civilized and useful members of society. + +* * * * * + +POSTSCRIPT + +Since the preceding account was printed, letters have been received from +New South Wales of as late date as the 20th of August 1797. By these it +appears, that his Majesty's ship _Reliance_, in her passage from the Cape +of Good Hope to Port Jackson, met with uncommon bad weather, which kept +her out eleven weeks and one day. About the latitude of 41 degrees S and +77 degrees E longitude, the sea suddenly became violently agitated, and +at last broke on board the ship, staving a boat which was over the stern, +and doing considerable damage to the ship. Captain Waterhouse, however, +landed safely thirty-nine head of black cattle, three mares, and near +sixty sheep. + +Information was also received through the same channel, that a ship +called the _Sydney Cove_ had been fitted out for Port Jackson from +Bengal; but springing a leak at sea, she was run ashore on the +southernmost part of the coast of New Holland: seventeen of the crew +attempted to get to Port Jackson in their long-boat, but were driven on +shore, and lost their boat. They then attempted to reach it by land, in +which hazardous undertaking only three of them succeeded, the other either +dying on the route or being killed by the natives. They were eighty days +in performing this journey, and reported that in their way they had found +great quantities of coal. This was afterwards confirmed by the surgeon of +the _Reliance_, who went down to the wreck, and brought specimens of it +back with him, having found immense strata of this useful article. Some +part of the cargo was got on shore and housed where the ship was stranded. + +When these letters left the colony, it continued in as flourishing a +state as when the _Britannia_ sailed. May it continue to prosper! + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of An Account of the English Colony in +New South Wales, Vol. 1, by David Collins + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12565 *** |