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diff --git a/12668-0.txt b/12668-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4b9021a --- /dev/null +++ b/12668-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12161 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12668 *** + +Production note: +---------------- +Notes (*) are shown in square brackets ([]) at the end + of the paragraph in which the note is indicated. +Italics are indicated by underscore characters (_) at the + start and finish of the italicised words + +====================================================================== + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY IN NEW SOUTH WALES, +FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1788, TO AUGUST 1801: +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; +AND AN ACCOUNT OF THE VOYAGE PERFORMED BY CAPTAIN FLINDERS +AND MR. BASS; BY WHICH THE EXISTENCE OF A STRAIT SEPARATING +VAN DIEMAN'S LAND FROM THE CONTINENT OF NEW HOLLAND WAS ASCERTAINED. + +ASBSTRACTED FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR. BASS. + +By LIEUTENANT-COLONEL COLLINS, OF THE ROYAL MARINES, + +LATE JUDGE ADVOCATE AND SECRETARY OF THE COLONY. + +ILLUSTRATED BY ENGRAVINGS. + +VOLUME II. + +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 BY A. STRAHAN, PRINTERS-STREET, + +FOR T. CADELL JUN. AND W. DAVIES, IN THE STRAND. + +1802. + +* * * * * + +TO +THE RIGHT HONOURABLE +ROBERT LORD HOBART + +His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the War Department, +One of the Commissioners for the Affairs of India, etc. + +MY LORD, + +Feeling myself highly flattered by your permission to inscribe the +following pages to your Lordship, I now humbly presume to offer them to +your perusal. + +The colonists of New South Wales will feel with me, who must ever take an +interest in the welfare of the settlement, a high degree of satisfaction +at finding the conduct of their affairs placed under the direction of a +nobleman who has dignified the amiable virtues of private life by the +acquisition of those more splendid talents which characterise a +consummate statesman; thus at once rendering himself the object of +veneration and of gratitude to his country. + +Your Lordship's services in the several high and important situations +which you have filled, are too generally known, and too well remembered, +to make me apprehensive lest my humble tribute of applause should be +mistaken for other than the genuine feelings of one proud of this +opportunity to unite his voice with that of a grateful nation. + +The settlement whose annalist I have been has had much to struggle with. +Its distance from the protecting wing of the parent government, and the +unprecedented war which that government, has so long had to conduct, have +very much repressed its energies, and detracted from its natural vigour. +But, although the distance must ever remain an obstacle, yet now, that +your Lordship can uninterruptedly afford a portion of your valuable time +and great abilities to the consideration of its interests, it will, I +trust, be found to correct its bad habits, and to maintain, with a degree +of respectability, its place among the colonial dominions of our much +beloved and most gracious Sovereign. + +That your Lordship may long be permitted to dispense blessings to New +South Wales and other distant countries, and to assist, instruct, and +adorn your own, is the ardent and anxious wish of him who has the honour +to be, with every sentiment of respect, + +MY LORD, +Your Lordship's +Most obedient, very humble, +and devoted servant, +DAVID COLLINS + +Beaumont Street, +June 26, 1802 + +* * * * * + +ADVERTISEMENT + +London, 17th June 1802 + +The very flattering reception which my former _Account of the English +Colony in New South Wales_ experienced from a candid and liberal +public, has induced me to continue my labours in the character of its +historian; having been favoured with materials for this purpose, on the +authenticity of which I can safely stake my credit. + +Should the reader feel wearied with the detail of crimes and their +consequences, the fault lies not with me. I have only to regret that a +soil of so much promise has not produced better fruit. Such as there was, +I have diligently gathered; and have endeavoured to render it as +palatable as the nature of it would allow me. When we reflect that the +exotics with which this new plantation is supplied are chiefly the refuse +of our domestic nurseries; and duly consider that, however beneficial the +act of transplantation may finally be found, it must for a time retard +the growth, and will generally protract the fruit for a season, however +fertile the original stock, we ought, perhaps, considerably to moderate +our expectations. By patient culture, skillfully directed, in a climate so +propitious, and a soil so favourable, much may yet be effected: after +experience shall have once thoroughly ascertained all the dangers and +difficulties necessary to be surmounted, before most judicious +cultivators can completely avail themselves of the many local advantages +of which the situation is undoubtedly susceptible. + +To relieve the mind as much as possible from the contemplation of +enormities, and the disgustingly wretched picture which vice must ever +exhibit, I have not only interspersed a few notices of rare and curious +objects in Natural History peculiar to the Australian regions; but have +also inserted the two voyages which were made in the little sloop +Norfolk, by Captain Flinders and Mr. Bass, in the order of time in which +they occurred, instead of placing them in an Appendix. + +The Natives too have contributed to assist me in this part of my +undertaking; and some additional light is thrown upon their peculiar +manners and customs in the course of the work. It were to be wished, that +they never had been seen in any other state than that which the subjoined +view of them presents, in the happy and peaceable exercise of their +freedom and amusements. + +* * * * * + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER I + +Recapitulation +A log prison begun +Various impositions practised at the store +October +Regulations and proceedings of the governor +A man found dead +A woman murdered +Discontents among the Irish, followed by an order +Character of the settlers at the river +Houses numbered at Sydney +Bennillong claims protection from the governor +Weather in October +November +Two victuallers arrive from England +Constables elected +The _Francis_ returns from Norfolk Island +Civil appointment +A criminal court held +Executions +One man hung in chains +Effect of this upon the natives +Public works +December +Convicts secreted on board the _Sylph_ +Reflections +A general muster +Regulations +A native child murdered +Weather + +CHAPTER II + +The governor visits Richmond-Hill +His transactions there +A stack of wheat burnt +Sawyers punished +Price of labour regulated +General character of the settlers +The clergyman's attention to the children +Criminal court assembled +Lawrence Davoran +The governor goes to Botany Bay +George's river +Public works +Lightning and its effects + +CHAPTER III + +The wind-mill tried +A civil court assembled +Difficulty respecting the convicts from Ireland +The natives +Some buildings begun +Weather March +Number of men not victualled by the Commissary, who had been convicts +An extraordinary theft +Court of criminal judicature twice held +One man suffers death +Price of labour fixed +The natives attack the settlers +Public works +Weather + +CHAPTER IV + +Report revived of a white woman being with the natives +A shoal seen +Some civil regulations +Natives troublesome +The governor goes on an excursion +Particulars thereof +A valuable tree discovered +Weather +May +The natives burn a house +Consequences +The Supply arrives from the Cape +A ship wrecked to the southward +Three of her people brought in by a fishing boat +Particulars +Two accidents +The _Britannia_ arrives from England +Vessels and assistance sent to the wreck +Public works +Cordage wanted +The _Mercury_ sails +June +The Ganges arrives from Ireland +Transactions +Some runaways taken and brought to trial +The _Reliance_ arrives from the Cape +A strange desertion +Public works +New gaol finished + +CHAPTER V + +The _Francis_ returns from the wreck of the _Sydney Cove_ +The _Eliza_ long-boat missing +Gale of wind +Cattle from the Cape landed +Station altered +Public works +An officer dies +Accident on board the _Schooner_ +The ships sail for China +Coal discovered +Natives +Bennillong +Courts Of justice assembled +The _Supply_ condemned +The _Cumberland_ seized and carried off to sea +Is pursued, but not retaken +More coal found; and a new river +The people left by Capt. Bampton at New Zealand arrive at Norfolk Is. +Several runaway convicts landed there by the _Britannia_ +The _Deptford_ arrives from Madras +Excursion to the Cow-Pastures +Walk from Mount Taurus to the sea coast +Public works +Weather + +CHAPTER VI + +Another boat seized and carried off +Order in consequence +The criminal court thrice assembled +Particulars +Three men stand in the pillory +Perjury explained to the convicts +Natives very troublesome; seize a boat +Various works in hand +An attempt to seize another boat frustrated +Prospect of a fine harvest +Wilson gives himself up +Is made use of +Two mares stolen +The clergyman's servant attempts to rob him +Information sent to India respecting the boats +An amphibious animal discovered +Description +Accident +Works +Police +Weather + +CHAPTER VII + +Bennillong and Cole-be +Various particulars respecting the natives +Ye-ra-nibe killed +A settler's house burnt through malice +Schools at Sydney +Two settlers drink for a wager +The body of a soldier found +Criminal court +The _Francis_ sails for the wreck +Weather +Houses burnt +Public labour +Harvest +Account of live stock and ground in cultivation + +CHAPTER VIII + +Attempt of some Irish convicts to desert in search of a new settlement +Some punished +Steps taken to prevent future desertion +A settler's boat stolen +Particulars +The _Francis_ returns from the southward +Conjectures as to a strait +Natives +A convict providentially saved +Public works +Weather + +CHAPTER IX + +The _Francis_ again sails for the wreck +Bennillong and his wife +Report respecting the wild cattle +An anonymous writing found +Account of a journey to the westward +Description of a new bird +A general muster +Mr Bass returns from an excursion in an open boat to the southward +Particulars of it +Three Irishmen picked up +Public works +Weather in February + +CHAPTER X + +Pe-mul-wy +Strange idea respecting him +Civil court meets; nature of the business brought before it +Advice of the governor to the settlers +The _Francis_ returns from Preservation Island +A trusty person sent to look for a salt hill said to be to the westward +The wild cattle seen +A new animal, the Wombat, found; described +Some Irish runaways give themselves up +A seizure made of timber for government +Transactions +Weather +April +The criminal court meets +Three men executed +Reflections +Accidents among the stock +Discoveries prosecuted +Settlers and their complaints +An old woman accused of dreaming +Works in hand +Weather + +CHAPTER XI + +Some Irishmen providentially saved from perishing +The _Nautilus_ arrives from Otaheite +Missionaries +Order respecting the sawyers +The _Barwell_ arrives with convicts +A judge-advocate sent out +Information +The _Reliance_ and _Schooner_ sail for Norfolk Island +Information sent thither +Natives +Works and weather in May +June +Ground fixed on for the missionaries +The Hunter arrives from Bengal +Regulations +The commander of the _Sydney Cove_ dies +A decked boat arrives from Norfolk Island +Maize harvest completed +Weather + +CHAPTER XII + +Three southern whalers arrive, and an American from the Isle of France +A transport with female convicts arrives from England +_Reliance_ arrives from Norfolk Island +Information +John Raynor executed +Profligacy of the female part of the settlement +August +Civil regulations +The Sabbath neglected +Attendance enforced +Two whalers arrive +Public works +A native girl killed +Consequences +An extraordinary custom among them +September +The _Barwell_ sails for China, and the _Hunter_ for New Zealand +The bones of two horses found +Whalers sail +Public works +Weather +Fears for the approaching harvest + +CHAPTER XIII + +The _Semiramis_ arrives from Rhode Island +The church at Sydney burnt +Reflections +Some vessels sail; the _Norfolk_ for Van Dieman's Land; +The _Francis_ for Norfolk Island +Another fire in the town +A ship arrives from the Cape with cattle +Works in hand +Bennillong +The governor's steward destroys himself +An order respecting the women +A battery erected +Weather +State of the harvest +Irish +The _Francis_ returns; and the _Nautilus_ +The _Eliza_ from Sea +Information +Three deaths +One good character recorded +Disorders +Public works +Great heat +Returns of stock, and land in cultivation + +CHAPTER XIV + +Certificates granted to convicts +Reasons for so doing +Unruly behaviour of the Irish +Agricultural concerns look ill +The _Norfolk_ sloop returns from Van Dieman's Land +Particulars +Twofold Bay described +The natives there +Kent's Group +Furneaux's Islands +Preservation Island +Curious petrifaction there +Cape Barren Island +The wombat described + +CHAPTER XV + +The _Norfolk_ proceeds on her voyage +The Swan Isles; why so named +Waterhouse Isle +Discover Port Dalrymple +Account of the country within it +Natural productions +Animals +Sagacity and numbers of the black swan +Inhabitants; inferior to those of the continent +Range of the thermometer +Pass Table Cape +Circular head +Three Hummock Island +Albatross Island +Hunter's Isles +Proceed to the southward and westward + +CHAPTER XVI + +The _Norfolk_ passes the strait +Observations thereon +Proceeds to the southward +Passes the S. W. Cape; and S. Cape +Remarks on the latter +De Witt's Isles +Storm Bay Passage +Tasman's Head +Fluted Cape +Frederick Henry Bay +Enter the Derwent river, first seen in the ship _Duke_, of Bengal +Observations on the Derwent +Some natives seen +Particulars of one +Venomous snake +One destroys itself +Comparison between New South Wales and Van Dieman's Land +Arrive at Port Jackson +Advantages of the strait + +CHAPTER XVII + +Transactions +Information from Norfolk Island +A burglary committed +The criminal court assembled +A man tried for killing a native +Two men executed +The public gaol burnt +Observations +Stills ordered to be seized +Settlers, their profligacy +A man found dead +Great drought +A flood at the river +Two whalers arrive +Conduct of the labouring convicts +A seaman killed +A woman murdered by her husband +Natives +A Spanish prize arrives +Norfolk Island +Resources in New South Wales +Public works + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The _Buffalo_ arrives from England, and brings cattle from the Cape +A marine settler killed +Natives +A criminal court held +Taylor executed +Lowe punished +A highway robbery +Provisions in store +Ration altered +June, two whalers come in from sea +Ideas of a whale-fishery +Tempestuous weather +Effects +The _Albion_ whaler arrives from England +Her passage +July, a missionary murdered +The murderers tried and executed +Orders published +State of the farms +The _Hillsborough_ arrives from England +Mortality on board +Public works + +CHAPTER XIX + +The governor visits the settlers upon George's river +The _Norfolk_ sloop returns from an excursion to the northward +Account of her proceedings +Enters Shoal Bay +Particulars respecting it +Description of a palm-nut tree +Enters Glass-House Bay +Lieutenant Flinders meets some natives +Has an interview with them +Particulars +Point Skirmish +Proceeds to a river in Glass-House Bay + +CHAPTER XX + +Further proceedings in Glass-House Bay +Red Cliff point +Nets of the natives +Moreton Bay found to be an island +The sloop prepared for an attack of the natives +The Event +Account of an island +Enter Pumice-Stone river +See some natives +The leak in the sloop stopped +Interviews with natives +Mr. Flinders visits the Glass-House peaks +Account of the country +Return down the river +Other interviews with natives +Their manner of fishing +Singing +Dancing +Other particulars of, and some conjectures respecting them +Quit Pumice-Stone river, and Glass House Bay + +CHAPTER XXI + +The _Norfolk_ proceeds to Hervey's Bay +Some account of it +Curlew Island +She returns to Port Jackson +Observations on the currents and tides along the coast +A criminal court assembled +Order respecting the issuing of government notes +Public works +September +A ship arrives from America +The _Buffalo_ sails for the Cape +The governor crosses the Nepean +A calf killed +October +Convicts found on board the _Hillsborough_ and _Hunter_ +The master of the _Hunter_ tried +A young ox stolen +Ration reduced +Price of Grain fixed + +CHAPTER XXII + +The _Reliance_ sails for Norfolk Island +The _Walker_ arrives with Lieutenant-Colonel Paterson from England +Dispatches received +Orders respecting bread +Transactions +Regulations +Storm of wind +December +The _Britannia_ whaler sails for England +Settlers dissatisfied +A Spanish prize arrives +The _Martha_ from Cape Barren Island +A criminal court held +Wheat continued at the former Price +Gaol burnt at Parramatta +Harvest begun +Live stock + +CHAPTER XXIII + +The _Swallow_ Packet arrives on her way to China +Articles sold +The _Minerva_ arrives from Ireland with convicts +The _Fhynne_ from Bengal +Three settlers tried for murdering two natives +Assessment fixed to complete the gaol +February +Military rations +A soldier shoots himself +A whaler from America, with a Spanish vessel, her prize +The _Hunter_ from Calcutta +The _Friendship_ with Irish convicts arrives +Inutility of some of these prisoners +Clothing issued +Tax on spirits to complete the gaol +Transactions +A new magazine begun +March +The _Reliance_ sails for England +A mountain eagle shot +The _Martha_ arrives from Bass Strait +Settlers sell their sheep +Flood occasioned by bad weather +April +Criminal court held +The _Speedy_ arrives from England with Lieutenant-Governor King +The _Buffalo_ from the Cape +Regulations + +CHAPTER XXIV + +Reports of seditious meetings among the Irish convicts +The _Friendship_ sails for Bengal +Letter from Lord Mornington respecting persons resident at Bengal, + formerly in this colony +Correspondence relative to Indian convicts, and persons at Calcutta + wishing to become settlers in New South Wales +Orders +Criminal court held +June +Two men hanged for sheep-stealing +The _Hunter_ sails with Major Foveaux for Norfolk Island +The _Buffalo_ ordered for sea +Public gaol +July +Three men executed +General muster +Cattle purchased +The _Martha_ driven on shore +August +Survey of public stores +Spirits landed and seized +Death of Wilson +September +Rumours of Insurrection +Volunteer corps +Coal found +The _John Jay_ arrives +The governor quits the settlement +Live stock, etc +October +The _Buffalo_ sails for England +Touches at Norfolk Island + +CONCLUSION + +* * * * * + +LIST OF PLATES + +Chart of the three harbours of Botany Bay, Port Jackson and Broken Bay, +showing the ground cultivated by the colonists, marking the late +additions made thereto, and the country from the Cow Pasture plains in a +direct line to the sea coast. +A scene by moonlight +Ornythorhynchus paradoxus +Maenura superba +Wombat +A night scene in the neighbourhood of Sydney +The Mountain Eagle +Natives under a rock in bad weather +The Emu of New South Wales +Plan and elevation of the Church at Parramatta + +* * * * * + + + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY IN NEW SOUTH WALES + + + + +CHAPTER I + + + +Recapitulation +A log prison begun +Various impositions practised at the store +October +Regulations and proceedings of the governor +A man found dead +A woman murdered +Discontents among the Irish, followed by an order +Character of the settlers at the river +Houses numbered at Sydney +Bennillong claims protection from the governor +Weather in October +November +Two victuallers arrive from England +Constables elected +The _Francis_ returns from Norfolk Island +Civil appointment +A criminal court held +Executions +One man hung in chains +Effect of this upon the natives +Public works +December +Convicts secreted on board the _Sylph_ +Reflections +A general muster +Regulations +A native child murdered +Weather + +1796.] +September.] In the former account of the English Colony of New +South Wales, which was brought up to the 29th September, 1796, it will be +seen, that on that day His Majesty's ship the _Reliance_ and the +_Britannia_ hired transport, sailed, with the _Francis_ +colonial schooner, for Norfolk island; whence, being there joined by the +_Supply_, the _Reliance_ was to sail to the Cape of Good Hope, +to return with cattle for the colony, and the _Britannia_ was to +proceed to England. + +The frequent commission of the most atrocious crimes, together with the +dissipated, turbulent, and abandoned disposition of the convicts, which +had more than ever at this time been manifest, determining the governor +to enforce the most rigid discipline, he resolved on constructing a +strong and capacious Log Prison at each of the towns of Sydney and +Parramatta. It being absolutely necessary that these should be erected as +expeditiously as possible, the safety of the inhabitants and security of +their property, rendering any delay extremely dangerous, and the public +gangs being very weak, he called upon every officer, settler, and +housekeeper within the above-mentioned districts, to furnish a certain +number of logs for this purpose, which were to be delivered at Sydney, or +Parramatta, as might be most convenient to each person's residence; and +he had, in a very short time, the satisfaction of seeing the materials +which were required brought in much faster than the carpenters could put +them together. + +Among other crimes committed by these people, must be mentioned a variety +of impositions which were practised to deceive the commissary in the +issue of provisions. To detect these, an order was given about the end of +the month, which directed that every person belonging to each different +mess should attend personally at the store on the next serving-day. The +convicts had always been divided into messes, containing a certain number +of persons; one of whom out of each mess was to attend at the store, and +receive provisions for the whole number belonging to it. + +On the day appointed, it appeared that many were victualled both at +Sydney and Parramatta, and several other impositions were detected and +abolished. + +In a settlement which was still in a great measure dependant upon the +mother country for food, it might have been supposed that these people +would have endeavoured by their own industry to have increased, rather +than by robbery and fraud to have lessened, the means of their support: +but far too many of them were most incorrigibly flagitious. The most +notorious of these were formed into a gaol gang, which was composed of +such a set of hardened and worthless characters, that, although Saturday +was always given up to the convicts for their own private avocations, as +well as to enable them to appear clean and decent on Sunday at church, +this gang was ordered, as an additional punishment, to work on the +Saturday morning in repairing the roads and bridges near the town. + +At the close of this month the stone tower of the Wind Mill, and the +stone foundation of the Log Prison, were much advanced. + +October.] The governor, still turning his thoughts toward rectifying the +abuses which had imperceptibly crept into the colony, arranged in the +beginning of the following month (October) the muster lists which had +lately been taken; and, many more impositions being detected, he ordered +the delinquents to labour, after inflicting on them such punishments as +their respective offences seemed to demand; by which means he was enabled +considerably to increase the number of labouring people in the public +gangs. On his going up to Parramatta, whither he was attended by Captain +Johnston as his aid-de-camp, and Mr. Balmain (the surgeon) as a +magistrate, he recovered at least one hundred men for government work. + +Exclusive of the advantage which attended the recruiting of the public +gangs in this way, another point was established by this examination, the +discovering of several who had been victualled from the stores beyond the +period (eighteen months) which had been fixed and considered by +government as a sufficient time to enable an industrious man to provide +for himself. + +Directing his attention also toward the morality of the settlement, a +point which he could not venture to promise himself that he should ever +attain, he issued some necessary orders for enforcing attendance on +divine service, and had the satisfaction of seeing the Sabbath better +observed than it had been for some time past. But there were some who +were refractory. A fellow named Carroll, an Irishman, abused and ill +treated a constable who was on his duty, ordering the people to church; +saying, that he would neither obey the clergyman nor the governor; for +which, the next day, he was properly punished. + +On the morning of the 16th, the people of a boat which had been sent to +the north shore for wood found a man's hat, and a large hammer lying by +it. One side of the hat had apparently been beaten in with the hammer, +which was bloody; and much blood was also found in the hat, as well as +about the spot where it was discovered. It was immediately conjectured, +that a man who had been working there with some carpenter's tools had +been murdered; and upon its being made known to the governor, he sent +several persons to search for the body, which was found thrown over the +cliff, and near the water side. On its being examined by the surgeons, +the skull was found beaten in, which must have been effected with the +hammer, and occasioned his death. Some suspicion falling upon two people, +they were secured, and an examination was the next day taken before the +magistrates; but nothing transpired that could fix the offence upon them. + +This shocking circumstance was followed shortly after by another equally +atrocious: a murder which was committed by a man on the person of a woman +with whom he cohabited. It appeared that they had both been intoxicated, +and had quarrelled on the night preceding and in the morning of the murder. + +This made the fifth circumstance of the kind which had occurred within +the last twelve months; and so excessively abandoned were the people, +that it was scarcely possible to obtain sufficient proof to convict the +offenders. Strong presumptive proof, indeed, was frequently adduced; but +the kind of evidence necessary to establish the offence was almost +constantly withheld. + +About this time, some dissatisfaction appearing among the Irish convicts +who were ordered to labour, and some threats having been made use of by +them, the governor thought it necessary to inform the inhabitants of the +colony in general, that, after having pointed out a number of people who +had, by false pretences, and various impositions, obtained certificates +of discharge from the commissary's books, he did not expect so soon to +have occasion to enter again upon the same subject. He then, taking +notice of those who had not hesitated to hold a language which implied a +determination to resist all authority, declared, that if any officer, +civil or military, any settler, or other person within the colony, +should, after Monday, the 7th of November, retain in his or their service +any one or more of the persons described in a former order, such persons +should be considered as encouraging a set of lawless and seditious +people, to the total subversion of all order and government, and to the +weakening of His Majesty's authority in the settlement. He next informed +the people whose conduct had occasioned this order, that if they were of +opinion, that to threaten would be the best means of obtaining what they +desired, they might repent that opinion when too late. That there would +not be any difficulty found in furnishing them with a situation in the +colony, or in some of its dependencies, where they would not be able to +disturb the peace of their neighbours; and that if they were troublesome +here, they should certainly be placed in that situation very soon. He +concluded this order by informing all the inhabitants of the colony, +whether in a civil or a military capacity, that he expected, as they +valued His Majesty's authority, or the peace and civil government of the +settlement, that they would exert every effort to preserve good order; +and, to that end, that they should aid and assist the civil power when +and wherever it might be necessary, and report all such persons as they +might know to be in any way acting in opposition to this order. + +It was hoped by the governor, that this order would convince the people +particularly styled defenders, that, if they continued to be troublesome, +they would not very readily escape from the punishment to which their +turbulent and restless conduct might entitle them. + +From the accession of numbers to the public gangs, the different works in +hand at Sydney and Parramatta went rapidly on. At the former of these +places the erection of a granary, 72 feet in length and 22 in breadth, +was begun on the west side of the main street, there not being a building +for the reception of grain yet prepared in that township. + +Boats were sent round to the Hawkesbury, for various articles wanted at +Sydney. From that part of the settlement, the timber most useful for boat +and other buildings was occasionally received; shingles also of a good +sort were brought round; and frequently the boats returned loaded with +grain. It has been shown, in the account of this colony already +published, that the farms upon the fertile banks of that river were +superior, in point of soil, to any near the principal settlement; and +that, had they been in the hands of good and industrious characters, they +would have produced abundant crops, and enriched their owners. But every +day's experience evinced, that the people thus fortunately situated were, +unluckily, some of the most profligate wretches in the colony; and their +distance from the immediate seat of government added much to the +inconvenience. Such of these farms as were situated on the low grounds +were often overflowed after very heavy falls of rain; but this +circumstance was in no way injurious to the farmer, unless it happened +when the grain was ripening. + +Among other local arrangements which took place, and were extremely +useful, must be reckoned the numbering of the houses of the towns of +Sydney and Parramatta, and dividing them into portions; with a principal +inhabitant at the head of each division, who was charged with the peace +and good order of the district in which he lived. + +The frame of the Log Prison at Sydney was got up in the course of this +month, to the great annoyance of the worthless, who seemed to anticipate +the lodging in it which they merited. + +At Parramatta and Toongabbie a very few old stacks of wheat belonging to +government were opened for the purpose of being thrashed out, when they +were found to have been much injured by vermin. + +In the course of this month, Bennillong, who had returned to all the +habits of savage life, claimed the protection of the governor from the +menaces of several of his countrymen, who, he with much agitation +informed him, had assembled in a considerable body near the Brickfields*, +to lie in wait for him; and where, if possible, they intended to kill +him; he having, as they suspected, killed a man near Botany Bay. This he +positively denied having done, and the governor dispatched him to the +place, guarded by some of the military, where he explained to his +countrymen that he had not killed the man in question, or any man; and +that the soldiers were sent with him, to convince them that the governor +would not suffer him, his old friend and fellow voyager (it must be +remembered that Bennillong returned from England with the governor in His +Majesty's ship _Reliance_), to be ill treated by them on any false +pretence; and that he was determined to drive every native away from +Sydney who should attempt it. This threat had a good effect. Many of them +were much alarmed when they saw in what manner and by whom Bennillong was +attended; and to be driven from a place whence they derived so many +comforts, and so much shelter in bad weather, would have been severely +felt by most of them. + +[* Adjacent to the town of Sydney.] + +In the first part of the month the weather was not very good; about the +middle some showers fell very seasonably for the harvest; and towards the +latter part the regular land and sea breezes had set in, which kept the +weather cool and pleasant. + +November.] The month of November opened with the arrival of the _Prince +of Wales_, victualler, from England. She had been close in with Botany +Bay the preceding day; but, there being little wind, the master had been +obliged to stretch out from the land during the night; and the next +morning, a pilot getting on board, she was brought in. She had sailed in +company with the _Sylph_, which also had provisions for the +settlement on board, but which did not arrive until the 17th. They +brought the information, that a Dutch fleet, consisting of ten sail of +ships of war, bound to the East Indies had been captured off the Cape of +Good Hope, by His Majesty's fleet, under Admiral Sir Geo. Keith +Elphinstone (now Lord Keith), which had followed them from England. + +The useful regulation of numbering the different houses in the town of +Sydney, particularly those in the occupation of the convicts, was +followed up by another equally serviceable, which directed the +inhabitants of each of the four divisions of the town (for into that +number it was portioned off) to meet, and from among themselves elect +three of the most decent and respectable characters, who were to be +approved by the governor, and were to serve for the ensuing year as +watchmen, for the purpose of enforcing a proper attention to the good +order and tranquillity of their respective divisions. Many of the +soldiers being allowed to occupy houses for their families in the +vicinity of the barracks, the commanding officer was desired to appoint +his own watchmen for the military division of the town, and to order them +to report to him. + +A few days previous to the arrival of the _Sylph_, the Colonial +schooner returned from Norfolk Island, and brought letters from the +_Reliance_, _Supply_, and _Britannia_, which ships left that +island on the 25th of the last month, and the day following her +arrival (the 14th) Richard Atkins, esq was directed to officiate as +judge-advocate of the colony, in the absence of the gentleman who had +filled that situation since the first establishment of the settlement, +and who had now proceeded to England in the _Britannia_. + +This judicial appointment having taken place, a criminal court was held +on the 23rd, and continued sitting, by adjournment, until the 29th, when +sentence of death was passed upon eight prisoners who were capitally +convicted; one, of the wilful murder of the man whose body had been found +on the north shore the 16th of last month, and seven of robbing the +public store-houses at Sydney, and the settlement at the Hawkesbury. Two +others were found guilty of manslaughter. + +Of these miserable people five were executed pursuant to the sentence of +the court. At Sydney*, Francis Morgan, for wilful murder, with Martin +McEwen (a soldier) and John Lawler (a convict), for robbing the public +stores. Matthew McNally and Thomas Doyle, convicts, suffered at +Parramatta, on the following day, for the same offence. + +[* On the 30th of November, and the others on the 9th and 10th of +December.] + +Having thus satisfied the public justice of the country, the governor +extended the hand of mercy to the three others who had been capitally +convicted of the same crime, viz John McDouall (another soldier), Thomas +Inville, and Michael Doland (convicts), by granting them a conditional +pardon. + +It was much to be lamented, that these people were not to be deterred by +any example from the practice of robbing the public stores, which had of +late been more frequent than heretofore, and for which there could not be +admitted the shadow of an excuse; as the whole of the inhabitants of +every description were at this very time on a full and liberal allowance +of provisions and clothing, neither of which were in any scarcity in the +settlement. But the cause was to be found in the too great indulgence in +the use of spirituous liquors which had been obtained among them for a +considerable time past. The different capital crimes which had lately +been brought before the court of criminal judicature, together with the +various petty offences that daily came under the cognisance of the +magistrates, did not proceed from an insufficiency either of food or +clothing; but from an inordinate desire of possessing, by any means +whatsoever, those articles with which they might be able to procure +spirits, 'that source--as the governor expressed himself in an order +which he published directly after these executions--that source of the +misfortunes of all those whom the laws of their country, and the justice +that was due to others, had launched into eternity, surrounded with the +crimes of an ill-spent life.' + +The court having ordered that Francis Morgan should be hung in chains +upon the small island which is situated in the middle of the harbour, and +named by the natives Mat-te-wan-ye, a gibbet was accordingly erected, and +he was hung there, exhibiting an object of much greater terror to the +natives, than to the white people, many of whom were more inclined to +make a jest of it; but to the natives his appearance was so +frightful--his clothes shaking in the wind, and the creaking of his +irons, added to their superstitious ideas of ghosts (for these children +of ignorance imagined that, like a ghost, this man might have the power +of taking hold of them by the throat), all rendering him such an alarming +object to them--that they never trusted themselves near him, nor the spot +on which he hung; which, until this time, had ever been with them a +favourite place of resort. + +The _Prince of Wales_, having been cleared of her cargo, sailed on +the 23rd for China. Previous to her departure, the master having +complained of the conduct of his ship's company, the governor appointed a +day for their appearing before him; when the differences which subsisted +between them were inquired into by his excellency, and settled to the +satisfaction of all parties. + +The public works in which the people at Sydney had been employed during +this month, consisted in receiving the cargoes of the two victuallers, +and in clearing out the tanks or reservoirs for water, which had become a +necessary work, as they never had been emptied or cleansed since they +were first cut and filled in the year 1792.* + +[* The principal tank contained about 7996 gallons of water. +Vide Vol I, Chapter XVII. "The works during this month . . ."] + +December.] On the 6th of December the _Sylph_, having been +discharged from government employ, proceeded on her voyage to China. On +searching her, two male convicts were found concealed, who were brought +on shore, and punished for their attempt to escape from the place of +their transportation. + +The ill success with which these attempts were attended might have been +expected to deter others from risking the certain punishment which +followed their being detected; but, as some were known to have eluded the +strictest search, every one who could find a friend among the seamen to +conceal him, hoped that he might prove the fortunate one who should +escape. Although they every day saw that no obstacle was thrown in the +way of the convict who had got through the period of his transportation +with credit and a good character, but that he was suffered to depart with +the master of any ship who would receive him, and a certificate given to +him of his being a free man; yet, thoughtless, and dissatisfied with +their present situation, be it what it might, they preferred encountering +the hazard of being discovered and punished, or, even if they reached +another country, the discredit with which they must appear, if it should +be known that they were convicts from 'Botany Bay,' to waiting with +patience until they could be dismissed from the colony with the +reputation of having deserved the state of freedom at which they had +arrived. + + On the 16th of the month, a general muster of all descriptions of +persons took place over every part of the colony at the same hour; for +it had been found, that in mustering one district at a time, a deception +had been successfully practised by some, of running from one place to +another, and answering to their names at each, thereby drawing +provisions from both stores, having previously imposed themselves on the +store-keepers as belonging to their district. This could not, indeed, +have long continued, if the store-keepers had been properly attentive to +the directions which they received; but it was almost impossible to +guard against the artful and well-contrived deceptions which these +people were constantly playing off, to impose upon propriety, +regulation, and good order. + +It being at this time much wished to get four or five hundred acres of +the ground belonging to government in a state to be sown the next season +with wheat, the governor went up to Parramatta, to settle some necessary +concerns there, and to endeavour, if possible, to get strength sufficient +for that purpose. While here, he had the satisfaction of knowing that the +stock of large cattle belonging to government were in excellent +condition, having been sent to Toongabbie, where they had met with better +food and more care than elsewhere. The preservation of these animals was +an object of the greatest importance, as, independent of the large sums +of money with which they had been purchased, their utility as a stock +both for present labour, and future consumption, was incalculable. + +Several of the settlers having last year had occasion, from the failure +of the preceding crop, to borrow seed for sowing their ground again with +wheat, an order was issued on the 21st, reminding those settlers who had +received this assistance from government, that it was expected they +would, out of their first crops, pay this debt, and take up the receipts +which they had given. That if any evasion should be attempted, or any +delay made in the payment, such steps as the law pointed out would be +taken against them, and the defaulters marked as undeserving of the aid +of government on any future occasion; and, what was calculated to meet a +trick which some of them had played, they were finally informed, that if +any among them, in contemplation of getting rid of the debt, had sold +their farms since receiving the grain from government, the land would +still be considered as the debtor, and the purchaser responsible for the +payment. + +The savage inhabitants of the country, instead of losing any part of +their native ferocity of manners by an intercourse with the Europeans +among whom they dwelt, seemed rather to delight in exhibiting themselves +as monsters of the greatest cruelty, devoid of reason, and guided solely +by the impulse of the worst passions. + +Toward the latter end of the month, the governor received information, +that a little native girl, between six and seven years of age, who for +some time had lived at the governor's house, had been most inhumanly +murdered by two of her savage countrymen. The father and mother of this +child belonged to a party of natives who had committed so many +depredations upon the settlers at the Hawkesbury, attended with such acts +of cruelty as to render them extremely formidable: insomuch that it +became necessary to send an armed party in pursuit of them. They were +soon found, and, being fired upon, the father and mother of this little +female were among those who fell. She was with them at the time, and +readily accompanied our people to the settlement, where she was received; +and, being a well disposed child, soon became a great favourite with her +protectors. This, and her being a native of the country near Broken Bay, +excited the jealousy of some of the natives who lived at and about +Sydney, which manifested itself in their putting her to death in the most +cruel manner. The body was found in the woods near the governor's house, +speared in several places, and with both the arms cut off; whence it was +brought in and buried. + +No other conjecture could be formed of this atrocious act than what has +been already mentioned. As she belonged to a tribe of natives that was +hostile to the Sydney people, they could not admit of her partaking in +those pleasures and comforts which they derived from their residence +among the colonists, and therefore inhumanly put her out of the way. The +governor was very much incensed at this proceeding; and, could he have +found the offenders, would have most severely punished them; but they had +immediately withdrawn into the woods. + +Among the public works in hand during this month must be mentioned, the +laying of the last stone of the wind-mill tower at Sydney on the 21st; and +on the following day the workmen began to get up the wood work of the top. + +On the 24th there was a general issue of clothing, and the 26th was +observed as Christmas Day. + +The weather in the first and middle parts of the month had been very bad, +heavy rains (which much retarded the getting in of the harvest) +prevailing, with thunder and lightning, and winds strong at east. The +latter part being moderate, the Colonial schooner took the opportunity to +go round to the Hawkesbury for a cargo of wheat. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + + +The governor visits Richmond-Hill +His transactions there +A stack of wheat burnt +Sawyers punished +Price of labour regulated +General character of the settlers +The clergyman's attention to the children +Criminal court assembled +Lawrence Davoran +The governor goes to Botany Bay +George's river +Public works +Lightning and its effects + +1797.] +January.] The governor, always anxious to promote the good of the +settlement by every means in his power, having determined to visit at this +season that part of it which was situated on the banks of the Hawkesbury, +set off at the latter end of the last month, with a party of officers, by +land to Broken Bay, where they got on board the Colonial schooner, and +continued in her for two days, sailing up that pleasant river; but, +finding her progress too slow, they quitted her for some boats which had +accompanied them; and, by the first of this month, had reached as high up +as some farms which had lately been evacuated in consequence of the +depredations that the owners of them had been exposed to from numerous +parties of natives. The ground hereabout was carefully examined, to see if +it would admit such a number of settlers as might be sufficient for the +purpose of mutual protection; but it was found inadequate to that end, +the limits of it on the banks of the river, where the soil was excellent, +being much too narrow. + +On the first of the month the governor had reached the principal +settlement, having occasionally landed to examine into the state of the +different farms, as well as to settle disputes relative to property, and +differences between the settlers and their hired servants. + +Having had previous notice, a general muster of these people now took +place; which being compared with one taken some time since, many +impositions were detected and rectified. After the muster, they were +reminded that several of them were considerably indebted to government +for the seed from which their present abundant crops had been produced, +and directed forthwith to return into the store a quantity equal to that +which they had borrowed for the purpose. This it was absolutely necessary +to point out and insist upon, as there were but few among them who would +have been found with principle enough to have returned it of themselves. + +While they were here, the governor and his party went up the river, and +ascended Richmond-hill, on the summit of which a large smoke was made at +noon, at which time a similar smoke was made on Prospect-hill, that was +very distinctly seen, and its bearings taken, to ascertain the relative +situation of the two hills. This bearing, which was S 35 degrees 00 +minutes E by compass, gave, with the latitude observed on each, the +distance between the two hills about eighteen miles in a direct line. + +By this bearing, should there be occasion hereafter, a road through the +woods, from the head of the Hawkesbury, might be cut in the shortest and +most direct way to Parramatta. + +At the head of this river, and upon the banks of that named the Nepean, +there was known to be a tract of excellent land, as rich as any on the +banks of the Hawkesbury which was then under cultivation, and where, at +some future period, a settlement might be advantageously established. + +The governor, on his return from this excursion, had the mortification of +seeing a stack, containing about eight hundred bushels of wheat, burnt to +the ground. This happened at Toongabbie, near which place the country was +every where in flames, and where, unfortunately, much wheat belonging to +government was stacked. The fire broke out about eight o'clock in the +evening; the wind was high, the night extremely dark, and the flames had +mounted to the very tops of the lofty woods which surrounded a field +called the ninety acres, in which were several stacks of wheat. The +appearance was alarming, and the noise occasioned by the high wind, and +the crackling of the flames among the trees, contributed to render the +scene truly awful. + +It became necessary to make every effort to save this field and its +contents. The gaol-gang, who worked in irons, were called out, and told, +that if the wheat was saved by their exertion, their chains should be +knocked off. By providing every man with a large bush, to beat off the +fire as it approached the grain over the stubble, keeping up this +attention during the night, and the wind becoming moderate towards +morning, the fire was fortunately kept off, and the promise to the +gaol-gang was not forfeited.* + +[* In the month of December 1792, two days after the wheat +had been reaped and got off the ground at Toongabbie, the whole of the +stubble was burnt, the country being then, as at this time, every where +on fire. See Vol I. Ch. XIX, viz: '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.'] + +Although at this season of the year there were days when, from the +extreme heat of the atmosphere, the leaves of many culinary plants +growing in the gardens have been reduced to a powder, yet there was some +ground for supposing that this accident did not arise from either the +heat of the weather, or the fire in the woods. The grain that was burnt +was the property of government, and the destruction of eight hundred +bushels of wheat made room for that quantity to be received into the +stores from the settlers who had wheat to sell to the commissary; there +were, moreover, at this time, some ill-designing people in the country, +who were known not to have much regard for the concerns of the public. An +enquiry was set on foot to discover, if possible, the perpetrators of +this mischief, but nothing could be made of it. + +Several people who had been hired to saw timber on the public account +having been detected in giving a false statement, and receiving payment +for what they had not cut, were examined before two justices of the +peace; when, the fraud being proved, they were sentenced to make up the +deficiency, and to work for government, without being paid, for six +months. One, the man who measured the work, and who of course had a +confidence reposed in him, received the additional punishment of 200 +lashes, which he amply merited. + +Some representations having been made to the governor from the settlers +in different parts of the colony, purporting that the wages demanded by +the free labouring people, whom they had occasion to hire, was so +exorbitant as to run away with the greatest part of the profit of their +farms, it was recommended to them to appoint quarterly meetings among +themselves, to be held in each district, for the purpose of settling the +rate of wages to labourers in every different kind of work; that, to this +end, a written agreement should be entered into and subscribed by each +settler, a breach of which should be punished by a penalty, to be fixed +by the general opinion, and made recoverable in a court of civil +judicature. It was recommended to them to apply this forfeiture to the +common benefit; and they were to transmit to the head-quarters a copy of +their agreement with the rate of wages which they should from time to +time establish, for the governor's information; holding their first +meeting as early as possible. + +It must appear from this, that every necessary and useful regulation was +suggested that could promote the convenience and advantage of these +people, who being in possession of land that yielded the most ample +returns, nothing but the greatest worthlessness on their part could have +prevented their getting forward, and becoming men of property. That too +many of them were of this description will appear evident, from its being +notorious that their crops were no sooner gathered, than they were +instantly disposed of for spirits, which they purchased at the rate of +three, nay, even four pounds per gallon, and of a spirit often lowered +one fourth or more of its strength with water. It was also equally +notorious, that some of them, when too idle and dissipated to hoe and +properly prepare their ground for seed, have carelessly thrown the grain +over the old stubble, and afterwards chipped it in, as they termed it, +going lightly over the ground with a hoe, and barely covering the seed. +Yet, with no greater assistance than this, the lands thus slovenly +prepared have been known to yield abundant crops. + +On the 11th arrived the _Mercury_, an American brig, from Manilla, +bound to the NW coast of America. Being extremely weak and leaky, the +master put in here to refit, which he requested he might be allowed to +do. He brought no other news than the detention of several English ships +at Manilla, which seemed strongly to indicate the approach of hostilities +between the two nations, the effect, no doubt, of French fraternity with +the Spaniards. + +The infant part of the settlement having at this period become very +numerous, with a view to save them, if possible, from that ruin in which +the infamous examples of their abandoned parents were but too likely to +plunge them, the clergyman, the Reverend Mr. Johnson, began to examine +them publicly every Sunday in their catechism, and other points of +religious duty, at the conclusion of the afternoon service. Some building +that might serve as a school whereto children at a certain age might be +removed from their parents, and receive education, was now become +absolutely necessary; but many other works equally necessary were still +in hand; and the labourers employed to erect them were comparatively so +inefficient, that it was impossible to think of any other work until they +were completed, though both the clergymen offered their services to +superintend the erection of a building for this purpose. + +Such was the weakness of the public gangs, that it often became necessary +to require the assistance of the officers and other persons who were +allowed servants from government. In this way, by calling on each officer +and settler to send in a certain number of men for three days in the +week, the public roads between the different districts were put into good +order. This, besides very much facilitating the carriage of goods by +land, conduced very essentially to the detecting of thieves and vagrants, +who in general were found to be very quick in their motions. + +Among other crimes which had been committed in this colony, that of +forgery was by no means neglected. To this, the currency of the +settlement, consisting almost entirely of paper, had opened a door. On +the 20th one man was found guilty of uttering a bill, knowing it to be +forged, and condemned to suffer death. The prisoner, whose name was +Lawrence Davoran, had been sent from Ireland, with other convicts from +that kingdom, where he had practised as an attorney, and had, it was +said (unfortunately for them, if true) respectable connections by +marriage. He was very far from being a good character. The governor, +however, after ordering the execution to take place on a certain day, +spared his life, on condition of his being transported to Norfolk Island +during the remainder of his wretched existence. + +After celebrating the day on which her majesty's birth was observed with +every demonstration of attachment and respect in his power, the governor +set off on an excursion to Botany Bay, in order to explore George's river +as far up as was practicable, and to examine the soil upon its banks, +which he found to be of good quality, and considerable extent. This +river, which was observed to run in a westerly direction about +twenty-five miles up from Botany Bay, was, in many parts of its branches, +exceedingly picturesque; and navigable, for small craft, for at least +twenty miles up. Some of its creeks or branches reached within a small +distance of Prospect Hill. Between this river and Parramatta, the +governor, on his return, travelled through a thick bushy wood, covering +an excellent soil. + +Erecting the granary, completing the wind-mill, and repairing the public +roads, formed the principal works in hand during this month, in which the +weather had been most uncomfortably hot, accompanied with some severe +thunder storms; in one of which both the flagstaff at the South Head, and +that at the entrance of the Cove, on Point Maskelyne, were shivered to +pieces by the lightning. The vast blazes of fire which were seen in every +direction, and which were freshened by every blast of wind, added much to +the suffocating heat that prevailed. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + + +The wind-mill tried +A civil court assembled +Difficulty respecting the convicts from Ireland +The natives +Some buildings begun +Weather March +Number of men not victualled by the Commissary, who had been convicts +An extraordinary theft +Court of criminal judicature twice held +One man suffers death +Price of labour fixed +The natives attack the settlers +Public works +Weather + + +February.] The wind-mill being nearly finished at the commencement of +this month, it was tried with only two of its sails; when it ground, +with one pair of stones, a bushel of wheat in ten minutes, and, +considering the immense weight of the wood-work, its motion was found +to be easy and convenient. + +It might not have been expected, that occasions for convening the court +of civil judicature could frequently have occurred in an infant +settlement such as this; or that, when assembled, it could have had +business to occupy it above a day; yet one of these courts assembled on +the first, and continued sitting by adjournments until the fourteenth, +for the decision of many civil concerns. Among these was the recovery of +debts, several of which had been contracted very improperly, and which +were likely to involve many in ruin. + +It appeared, that, to obtain spirituous liquors, these people, the +settlers, had incurred debts to so great an amount, as to preclude the +most distant hope of liquidating them, except by selling their farms. +Thus all their former industry must be sacrificed to discharge debts +which were contracted for the temporary gratification of being steeped in +beastly intoxication for a certain length of time. All the cautions which +had occasionally been inserted in the public orders against this +dangerous practice, had not proved of any advantage to those whose +benefit they were intended to promote; and it was observed with concern, +that several scenes of shameful imposition, which had been practised by +the retail dealers in this article, were brought to light by this +investigation. + +Several convicts, who had served their respective terms of +transportation, having applied to be discharged from the victualling +books of the colony, and allowed to provide for themselves, it was +determined, that once during a given time certificates of their having so +served their several sentences should be granted to them, together with +the permission which they solicited. There was not any difficulty in +ascertaining the term of the convicts sent from England, as correct lists +of their several sentences from the Secretary of State's office +accompanied them: but it was not so with those who had been sent from +Ireland, and who were more likely to be dissatisfied with any +disappointment on this rather nice subject, than any other, people in +the settlement. This was an evil of some magnitude; and a representation +of it had been made to the government of that kingdom, but as yet no +answer had been received. + +The season for cropping the ground being near at hand, the settlers were +informed, that such of them as had lent their men to repair the roads +would have them returned for the time that would be required to sow the +grain; after that was performed, they were expected again to come +forward, and finish what they had so well begun. + +The natives excited some little degree of curiosity about this time, a +large party from Broken Bay having assembled in the lower part of the +harbour, whither those belonging to Sydney immediately repaired, for the +purpose, it was reported, of meeting them in fight; but it turned out to +be nothing more than the usual ceremony which a native of Broken Bay +underwent, of having several spears thrown at him, for having, it was +said, killed a person belonging to this part of the country. He went off +unhurt, after sustaining the appearance of much rage and violence from +the friends of the deceased. + +A gang having been for some time employed in making bricks, the +foundation of a building for two assistant surgeons was marked in this +month. This was one of the necessary works already mentioned, as the +miserable quarters which those gentlemen occupied were originally +constructed only of split cabbage trees, and were at this time quite +decayed. + +Some heavy rain fell during the first and latter parts of the month, +which it was hoped would extinguish the still glowing embers of the vast +fires which had surrounded the place, and which, being scattered over the +country every dry and windy day; occasioned new and dreadful +conflagrations. + +There were not any arrivals during the month, except that of the Colonial +schooner from the Hawkesbury, with a cargo of Indian corn, and some wheat +that had been damaged by the weevil, an enemy which had been imported +among the rice from India. + +March.] It appeared by the books in which were entered the certificates +granted to the convicts who had again become free people, that there were +at this time not less than 600 men off the store and working for +themselves in the colony; forming a vast deduction of labouring people +from the public strength, and adding a great many chances against the +safety of private and public property, as well as personal security. + +An extraordinary theft was committed about the middle of the month, which +very forcibly marked the inherent depravity of some of these miscreants. +While the miller was absent for a short time, part of the sails belonging +to the mill were stolen. Now this machine was at work for the benefit of +those very incorrigible vagabonds who had thus, for a time, prevented its +being of use to any one, and who, being too lazy to grind for themselves, +had formerly been obliged to pay one third of their whole allowance of +wheat, to have the remainder ground for them by hand mills, an expense +that was saved to them by bringing their corn to the public mill. + +Twice during this month it became necessary to assemble the court of +criminal judicature: at one of which, a man named Mobbs was capitally +convicted of robbing the public stores, upon the evidence of an +accomplice, who was admitted on the part of the crown. They had stolen at +different times an incredible quantity of clothing, provisions, and +various other articles, and ought to have been much sooner detected. +Mobbs suffered death, and exhibited himself at the gallows as a wicked +and hardened offender. + +For offenders not deserving of capital punishment, Norfolk Island had +been for some time a place of banishment; and the convicts in general +felt this second transportation more severely than the first: +notwithstanding which, they continued to commit offences that they knew +must end in that punishment. Four prisoners, one of them a soldier, were +at this time sentenced to seven years exile to that island, for different +offences; and when viewed in this light, as a place of confinement for +some of her worst members, Norfolk Island might be considered as an +useful appendage to the principal settlement. + +In pursuance of the order which was issued in January last, recommending +the settlers to appoint meetings, at which they should fix the rate of +wages that it might be proper to pay for the different kinds of labour +which their farms should require, the settlers had met, and submitted to +the governor the several resolutions that they had entered into; by which +he was enabled to fix a rate that he conceived to be fair and equitable +between the farmer and the labourer. + +The following prices of labour were now established, viz + £ s d +Falling forest timber, per acre 0 9 0 +Do. in brush ground, do 0 10 6 +Burning off open ground, do 1 5 0 +Do. brush ground, do 1 10 0 +Breaking up new ground, do 1 4 0 +Chipping fresh ground, do 0 12 3 +Chipping in wheat, do 0 7 0 +Breaking up stubble or corn ground, 1 1/4d. per rod, or do 0 16 8 +Planting Indian Corn, do 0 7 0 +Hilling, do do 0 7 0 +Reaping wheat, do 10 10 0 +Threshing do per bushel, do 0 0 9 +Pulling and husking Indian corn, per bushel 0 0 6 +Splitting paling of seven feet long, per hundred 0 3 0 +Do of five feet long do 0 1 6 +Sawing plank, do 0 7 0 +Ditching per rod, three feet wide and three feet deep 0 0 10 +Carriage of wheat, per bushel, per mile 0 0 2 +Do Indian corn, neat 0 0 3 +Yearly wages for labour, with board 10 0 0 +Wages per week, with provisions, consisting of + 4 lib. of salt pork or 6 lib. of fresh, + and 21 lib. of wheat, with vegetables 0 6 0 +A day's wages, with board 0 1 0 +Do without board 0 2 6 +A government man allowed to officers or settlers + in their own time 0 0 10 +Price of an axe 0 2 0 +New steeling do 0 0 6 +A new hoe 0 1 9 +A sickle 0 1 6 +Hire of a boat to carry grain, per day 0 5 0 + +The settlers were reminded, that, in order to prevent any kind of dispute +between the master and servant, when they should have occasion to hire a +man for any length of time, they would find it most convenient to engage +him for a quarter, half year, or year, and to make their agreement in +writing; on which should any dispute arise, an appeal to the magistrates +would settle it. + +A person, who absconding from his work had been ordered to labour a +certain time in irons, having wrought upon the feelings of one of the +magistrates to permit his working without them, and having given strong +assurance of future diligence, was no sooner freed from his incumbrances +than he took to the woods again. The frequent and unrestrained passing +and repassing of idle and disorderly people from one part of the colony +to another, and the mischievous correspondence which was kept up by such +means, was productive of great evil. To check this as much as possible, +all persons, the officers excepted, who were travelling from one district +of the settlement to another, were required to furnish themselves with a +passport, which, on a proper application, they would obtain without any +difficulty. This was to be shown to and inspected by the constables in +each district; and if found without it they were to be imprisoned during +a month for the first offence, and otherwise punished if it was repeated. +But the best local arrangements were set at defiance by those hardened +vagabonds, who seemed daily to increase in number and in infamy. + +While the governor was endeavouring to guard against the injuries that +might be done by these people, the settlers found themselves obliged to +assemble for the purpose of repelling the attacks made upon them by the +natives. The people at the northern farms had been repeatedly plundered +of their provisions and clothing by a large body of savages, who had also +recently killed a man and a woman. Exasperated at such cruel and wanton +conduct, they armed themselves, and, after pursuing them a whole night, +at sun-rise in the morning came up with a party of more than a hundred, +who fled immediately on discovering that their pursuers were armed, +leaving behind them a quantity of Indian corn, some musket balls, and +other things of which the soldiers had been plundered. They continued to +follow, and traced them as far as the outskirts of Parramatta. Being +fatigued with their march, they entered the town, and in about an hour +after were followed by a large body of natives, headed by Pe-mul-wy, a +riotous and troublesome savage. These were known by the settlers to be +the same who had so frequently annoyed them; and they intended, if +possible, to seize upon Pe-mul-wy; who, in a great rage, threatened to +spear the first man that dared to approach him, and actually did throw a +spear at one of the soldiers. The conflict was now begun; a musket was +immediately levelled at the principal, which severely wounded him. Many +spears were then thrown, and one man was hit in the arm; upon which the +superior effect of our fire-arms was immediately shown them, and five +were instantly killed. + +However unpleasant it was to the governor, that the lives of so many of +these people should have been taken, no other course could possibly be +pursued; for it was their custom, when they found themselves more +numerous and better armed than the white people, to demand with insolence +whatever they wanted; and, if refused, to have recourse to murder. This +check, it was hoped, would have a good effect; and Pe-mul-wy, who had +received seven buck shot in his head and different parts of his body, was +taken extremely ill to the hospital. This man was first known in the +settlement by the murder of* John McIntire in the year 1790; since which +he had been a most active enemy to the settlers, plundering them of their +property, and endangering their personal safety. + +[* Vide Vol I Ch. XI viz: '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'.] + +The people belonging to the crown were employed during this month in the +following several works: At Toongabbie, upwards of 100 men were occupied +in agriculture--a wind-mill was to be erected at Parramatta, where +stone-masons and carpenters were preparing the materials. At Sydney, a +gang was employed in making bricks, where also were completing a large +granary and a strong log-prison. All the public brick buildings were +likewise undergoing a repair, being crumbling into ruins; such as the +barracks for the military, storehouses, officers' dwellings and others. +Some people were also repairing the boats belonging to government; and +bricks were bringing in for the barracks of the assistant surgeons (this +part of the public labour was performed by a team of oxen). A new +flag-staff was prepared and erected at the South Head during this month, +the weather of which had for the greater part been very wet. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + + +Report revived of a white woman being with the natives +A shoal seen +Some civil regulations +Natives troublesome +The governor goes on an excursion +Particulars thereof +A valuable tree discovered +Weather +May +The natives burn a house +Consequences +The _Supply_ arrives from the Cape +A ship wrecked to the southward +Three of her people brought in by a fishing boat +Particulars +Two accidents +The _Britannia_ arrives from England +Vessels and assistance sent to the wreck +Public works +Cordage wanted +The _Mercury_ sails +June +The _Ganges_ arrives from Ireland +Transactions +Some runaways taken and brought to trial +The _Reliance_ arrives from the Cape +A strange desertion +Public works +New gaol finished + + +April.] Some reports being again circulated, respecting the situation of +Mary Morgan, the woman said to be detained among the natives to the +northward of Broken Bay, a boat, with some people who had volunteered the +service, was sent to the north part of that harbour where it was said she +had been lately seen with some of her black friends. The people were +directed, if possible, to bring her away, unless she preferred the life +that she now led; upon which more than three years' experience of it +would certainly enable her to decide. They were absent about 10 days, +and returned without success, not even having heard any thing of her.* +They went into the north arm of Broken Bay, and travelled to the northward +as far as Cape Three Points; between which and the north head of Broken +Bay, is a lagoon within the sea beach, of about twenty miles in length, +and running parallel with the sea coast. + +[* Nor indeed could they very well; for at the time when this +search was making after her in New South Wales she was leading a life in +London, which she most certainly preferred to the society of either the +black or white people in that country. She was taken from the settlement +by Locke, the master of the _Resolution_, in the year 1794. + +Vide Vol I Ch. XXVII Page 332, viz: '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.' and + +Vol. I Ch. XXXII Page 406, viz:'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 ascertained; +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.'] + +A decked long boat, having been sent from Sydney to Norfolk island, in +her passage thither fell in with a considerable shoal bearing from ENE to +WNW distant from the vessel one mile. It extended to the northward as far +as the eye could discern from the masthead, the rocks in many places +appearing above the water. The south end of the shoal is in the latitude +of 29 degrees 52 minutes south, and the longitude of 160 degrees 13 +minutes east, bearing from Lord Howe Island, which they had seen the day +before, north 27 degrees 40 minutes east, distant 39 leagues. This was +supposed to be the same shoal that had been formerly seen by Lieutenant +Shortland* in the _Alexander_, and by the master of the _Golden +Grove_ transport in the year 1786. + +[* Vide Vol I Ch. VII, viz: '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.'] + +In the beginning of this month, the settlers at the Hawkesbury sent round +some grain, in part payment of the debts which were due from them to +government for the seed which had been lent them last year to crop their +grounds. + +In consequence of complaints which were laid before the governor, +relative to some exorbitant demands made by the public bakers upon those +who had occasion to employ them, and of the impositions practised as well +in the quality as in the quantity of the bread returned in lieu of the +flour or grain delivered to them, the judge-advocate and two other +magistrates were directed to hold a meeting for the purpose of enquiring +into the business, as well as for examining and regulating the weights +and measures which were at present in use in the colony. An order was at +the same time issued, recommending to the settlers of every district, +that, as much pains had been taken to establish, agreeably to their +wishes, the rate of wages to be paid for all kinds of labour, they should +now attend strictly to this regulation, and no longer suffer themselves +to be imposed upon. There were strong reasons for suspecting that, +notwithstanding the bond which they had entered into, rigidly to adhere +to the regulations which had been established for their benefit, some +among them were so very deficient of even honest principles as to attempt +by various means to evade the regulation, to the great injury of other +more industrious and more deserving men. In order the more readily to +detect a practice so shameful and iniquitous, the governor judged it +requisite to hold out a reward to those who would come forward and give +such information as should be sufficient to prove the offence, by +offering one-third of the sum forfeited to the informer. The settlers were +also called upon to give information of any labouring man who, on +offering himself for hire, should refuse to accept the regulated wages. +As such person must be incapable of living in this country without work, +he was immediately to be apprehended as a vagrant, who, having no visible +means of providing honestly for his support, must have recourse to +robbery. + +The natives at the Hawkesbury were at this time very troublesome, burning +a dwelling-house and a stack of wheat belonging to a settler there, after +having plundered him of all his other possessions. + +On the 21st, as much wheat as the public granaries at Sydney, Parramatta, +and the Hawkesbury could contain, having been received, they were closed +until the month of August next. + +Towards the latter end of the month, the governor, accompanied by some +gentlemen of the settlement, set off from Parramatta, on an excursion, in +which he meant to obtain some knowledge of the ground between Duck river +and George's river, with respect both to its quality and quantity. This +tract was walked over, and much excellent land was found well provided +with fresh water in chains of large deep ponds. On this ground some of +the marine soldiers, who had enlisted for three years in the New South +Wales corps, having completed their service, were desirous of being +settled. + +This party, on their arrival at the banks of George's river, whither a +boat had been previously sent with some provisions and a tent, found that +at low water it was as fresh as that in the Hawkesbury, where the +settlement stood. + +Having proceeded down the river, they stopped at a point near Botany Bay, +where they met with several parties of natives, among whom was Pe-mul-wy, +who, having perfectly recovered from his wounds, had escaped from the +hospital with an iron about his leg. He saw and spoke with one of the +gentlemen of the party; enquiring of him whether the governor was angry, +and seemed pleased at being told that he was not: notwithstanding which, +there could be but little doubt that his savage brutal disposition would +manifest itself whenever excited by the appearance of an unarmed man. + +Some time in this month a tree was for the first time observed growing on +the banks of the Hawkesbury, the bark of which, when soaked in water, and +beaten, was found to be as good as hemp for cordage, spinning easily, and +being remarkably strong. The tree grew from 50 to 70 feet high; its +diameter was from the smallest size to a foot, and it appeared to be of +quick growth. This was rather a fortunate discovery; for every kind of +cordage belonging to the settlement was almost wholly expended. + +The court of criminal judicature was assembled once in this month, and +three persons who had served their period of transportation were a second +time transported; one for 14 years, for receiving stolen goods knowing +them to be such; and two others for seven years. These two last were +vagabonds who had taken up their abode in the woods, where they lived at +the expense of the industrious, by committing every kind of depredation +on their property. + +The public works continued the same as at the end of the last month. The +foundation of the building for the reception of the assistant surgeons +was laid, and the lower floor of the large granary at Sydney was nearly +completed. + +Much rain fell during this month. On the morning of the 27th, a heavy +squall of wind came on, which, for want of proper care and attention on +the part of those employed at the wind-mill, set it going in such a +violent manner, that while flying round with great velocity, one of the +running stones was broken to pieces; one of which so severely wounded +Davis the millwright in the head, that his life was despaired of. A gang +of carpenters was immediately ordered to repair the damage it had +sustained, and in a few days it was again at work. + +May.] Notwithstanding the example which had lately been made of the +natives, they were exceedingly troublesome to the settlers in Lane Cove, +burning a house and killing some hogs belonging to one of them. This was +certainly committing a wanton injury; for neither the burnt house, nor +the slaughtered animals, which they left on the spot, could be of any +benefit to them. At Kissing Point, another district, they dangerously +wounded a settler and his wife, first burning every article belonging to +them. The settlers in Lane Cove were so much and so perpetually alarmed +by these people, that they collected their whole force, and, a few +soldiers being sent to their assistance, went out in the night; and, +being directed by their fires to the place where they lay, they +discovered a large body of natives, collected, no doubt, for the purpose +of attacking and plundering the settlers. Being unwilling to take any of +their lives, a volley of musketry was fired over their heads, which so +alarmed and terrified them, that they instantly fled, leaving behind them +their spears, etc. and about 20 bushels of Indian corn which they had +stolen. + +It was distressing to observe, that every endeavour to civilise these +people proved fruitless. Although they lived among the inhabitants of the +different settlements, were kindly treated, fed, and often clothed, yet +they were never found to possess the smallest degree of gratitude for +such favours. Even Bennillong was as destitute of this quality as the +most ignorant of his countrymen. It is an extraordinary fact, that even +their children, who had been bred up among the white people, and who, +from being accustomed to follow their manner of living, might have been +supposed to ill relish the life of their parents, when grown up, have +quitted their comfortable abodes, females as well as males, and taken to +the same savage mode of living, where the supply of food was often +precarious, their comforts not to be called such, and their lives +perpetually in danger. As a proof of the little personal safety which +they enjoyed, a young woman, the wife of a man named Ye-ra-ni-be, both of +whom had been brought up in the settlement from their childhood, was +cruelly murdered at the brick-fields by her husband, assisted by another +native, Cole-be, who first beat her dreadfully about the head (the common +mode of chastising their women), and then put an end to her existence by +driving a spear through her heart. + +When spoken to or censured for robbing the maize-grounds, these people, +to be revenged, were accustomed to assemble in large bodies, burn the +houses of the settlers if they stood in lonely situations, and frequently +attempted to take their lives; yet they were seldom refused a little corn +when they would ask for it. It was imagined that they were stimulated to +this destructive conduct by some run-away convicts who were known to be +among them at the time of their committing these depredations. In order +to get possession of these pests, a proclamation was issued, calling on +them by name to surrender themselves within 14 days, declaring them +outlaws if they refused, and requiring the inhabitants, as they valued +the peace and good order of the settlement, and their own security, to +assist in apprehending and bringing them to justice. The governor also +signified his determination, if any of the natives could be detected in +the act of robbing the settlers, to hang one of them in chains upon a +tree near the spot as a terror to the others. Could it have been +foreseen, that this was their natural temper, it would have been wiser to +have kept them at a distance, and in fear, which might have been effected +without so much of the severity which their conduct had sometimes +compelled him to exercise towards them. But the kindness which had been +shown them, and the familiar intercourse with the white people in which +they had been indulged, tended only to make them acquainted with those +concerns in which they were the most vulnerable, and brought on all the +evils which they suffered from them. + +In the evening of the 16th, his Majesty's ship _Supply_ arrived from +the Cape of Good Hope; from which place she sailed about the middle of +last month, with a quantity of young cattle on board for the settlement. +She had met with much bad weather on her passage, and, being exceedingly +infirm, her pumps had been kept constantly at work. She landed 31 cows, +five mares, and 27 ewe sheep, all of them in good health, though much +weakened from the nature of their voyage: eight cows, two bulls, and 13 +sheep had died. + +During the night of this day, a boat which had been fishing at a small +distance to the southward of Botany Bay, brought up to the settlement +three persons, late belonging to a ship called the _Sydney Cove_, +which had sailed from Bengal with a cargo for this port upon +speculation. The governor was informed by Mr. Clarke, the supercargo +(one of the three who had arrived in the fishing boat), that the ship had +sprung a dangerous leak before she had rounded the South Cape, which, as +soon as they had got to the eastward of the southern part of the coast, +increased to so great a degree as to render it absolutely necessary to +haul in for the land. The wind being from the SE they were enabled to +accomplish this, and reached it exactly in time to land the ship, when +she was just dropping from under them, having actually sunk down to the +fore channels, when they ran her upon the ground, which they did on an +island in lat. 40 degrees 37 minutes south. They met with this misfortune +in the middle of last February; soon after which a certain number of them +resolved to attempt the reaching Port Jackson in the ship's long boat, +leaving the commander and about thirty people to stay by the wreck. The +boat being prepared, 17 people embarked in her, and sailed; but meeting +with much bad weather they were again wrecked, being driven on shore on +the coast near Point Hicks. Here they all landed, and endeavoured to +travel northward, but dropped off one by one and lost each other daily, +until the number was reduced to five, the three who had arrived (the +supercargo, a sailor, and a Lascar), the first mate of the ship, who had +undertaken the navigation of the long boat, and the carpenter. These two, +from excessive fatigue, had been unable to proceed any further, and had +stopped the day before their companions in this miserable journey had +been taken up by the fishing boat. + +To look for these unfortunate people, a whale boat was dispatched the +following day, properly provided with such comforts as were necessary for +persons in their weak and wretched condition. The man who had met with +the supercargo was sent in the whale boat, and they proceeded to the spot +which Mr. Clarke had described as that where they had lost sight of their +companions; but, after a long search, they could only find some trifling +articles, which were known to have been in their possession; and, these +being bloody, it was conjectured that they had been killed in this very +helpless condition by the natives, whom, in the course of their long +march, they had found frequently very kind, and at other times extremely +savage. To add to the probability of this having been their end, Mr. +Clarke mentioned the morose, unfeeling disposition of the carpenter, who +often, when some friendly natives had presented him with a few fish, +growled that they had not given him all, and insisted, that because they +were black fellows, it would be right to take it by force. By some +illiberal and intemperate act of this nature, there was too much reason +to believe he had brought on himself, and his ill-fated companion, the +mate (a man cast in a gentler mould), a painful and premature death. + +Mr. Clarke and the two other people who arrived with him were very much +exhausted, and could not probably have borne up much longer against the +toil that attends travelling in such a country as the unsettled part of +New Holland every where presents. All possible attention, however, being +paid to their situation, they quickly recovered their strength and +spirits. + +In the account already published of this colony, several instances were +given of the danger and difficulty that attended travelling through the +woods, in which many people have either wandered till they died, or have +been assassinated by the natives. Every caution that humanity could +suggest had been given; yet even at this day an instance occurred that +proved to how little purpose. A soldier who had taken his passage in a +boat to go to the Hawkesbury prevailed on the crew to land him on the +south shore of Broken Bay, intending to proceed to the settlement by +land, but which he was never able to accomplish. Several parties of +soldiers were sent to look after their comrade, but all returned without +finding him. His end must have been truly deplorable; and not less so was +that of the sergeant-major's daughter, a fine girl of about 10 years of +age, who was burnt to death by a stubble field having taken fire while +she was in the midst of it. The flames were so rapid, that she was +totally unable to escape from them, and perished in this most +extraordinary and terrible manner. + +In the evening of the 27th, the ship _Britannia_ anchored between +the heads from Ireland, having on board 150 male and 50 female convicts +from that kingdom, with an officer and 25 recruits for the New South +Wales corps. She got up to the settlement the following day, and the +prisoners were all landed on the 30th. A part of them were immediately +sent up to Parramatta. + +On the same day the Colonial schooner, and a long-boat named the +_Eliza_, sailed to the southward, to bring away the remainder of the +ship's company belonging to the unfortunate _Sydney Cove_. + +Among other works in which the people were employed in this month, was +the necessary one of erecting paling round the new gaol, now nearly +completed, and round the fresh water, the original enclosure of which had +gone to decay, by which means the stream was so exceedingly polluted, as +to endanger the health of the inhabitants. Some necessary regulations +were published to counteract this evil, and indeed they had long been +loudly called for. + +The want of cordage has been already mentioned. The settlement was +likewise so much distressed for canvas, that, the largest and best boat +being in the Hawkesbury, it became necessary to dismantle another boat, +in order to furnish sails to bring her round, those belonging to her +having been split in some bad weather which she met with in her passage +thither. The people were directed at the same time to procure some of the +bark of the tree lately discovered, to be manufactured into cordage; for +which purpose it was reckoned superior to any of the flax that had been +brought from Norfolk island. + +The _Mercury_ sailed about the middle of the month; and, as some +return for the liberty of refitting his ship, and remaining four months +in the Cove, the master took away a female convict without the governor's +permission. + +Very little rain fell during this month. + +June.] On the 2nd of June, the ship _Ganges_ arrived from Ireland, +with convicts from that kingdom, and a detachment of recruits for the New +South Wales corps. This ship had touched at the Cape of Good Hope, and +was commanded by Mr. Patrickson, who had visited the settlement in the +year 1792, in the _Philadelphia_, a small American brig. The +convicts in this ship were observed to be in much better health than +those on board of the _Britannia_. These people, indeed, complained +so much of having been treated with great severity during the passage, +that the governor thought it right to institute an enquiry into their +complaints. It appeared, that they had been deserving of punishment, but +that it had been administered with too much severity, in the opinion even +of the surgeon who was present. As these punishments had been inflicted +by the direction of the master, without consulting any of the officers on +board as to the measure of them, he was highly censured, as was the +surgeon, who could stand by and see them inflicted without remonstrating +with the master, which he declined because he had not been consulted by +him. + + 'Quis talia fando, temperet a lachrymis?' + +His Majesty's birthday, falling this year on a Sunday, was observed on +the 5th, with all the honour that could be paid to it. The regiment was +drawn out on the parade, and at noon fired three volleys. At one o'clock +a royal salute was fired from the battery and the ships in the Cove; and +all the officers, civil and military, with those belonging to the ships, +spent the day at the government-house. + +Shortly after this the governor visited the settlement at Parramatta, for +the purpose of examining that part of the country which he designed to +cultivate on the public account; and to observe how the convicts who had +lately arrived, the major part of whom had been sent thither, were +provided for. The cattle which had been landed from the _Supply_ had +been also sent thither, and were, with the government stock that was at +Toongabbie, thriving exceedingly. + +The ground that it was proposed to clear on the public account was not +more than two miles and a half from Parramatta, and most advantageously +situated in point of fresh water, having a chain of large and excellent +ponds in its vicinity. The deputy surveyor having accompanied the +governor, the spot was marked out for erecting the necessary buildings; +and the whole was named Portland Place, in honour of his Grace the Duke +of Portland. + +In consequence of the proclamation which was issued in the last month, +one of the run-away convicts delivered himself up to a constable, and +another was taken and lodged in confinement: they appeared to be half +starved; yet their sufferings were not sufficient to prevent similar +desertions from work in others, nor a repetition of the offence in +themselves; such was the strong aversion which these worthless characters +had to any thing that bore the name of work. More labour would have been +performed in this country by 100 people from any part of England or +Scotland, than had at any time been derived from 300 of these people, +with all the attention that could be paid to them. Had 200 families of +decent labouring farmers been sent out as settlers a few years since, and +had a few convicts to assist them been placed wholly under their +direction and authority, the cultivation would have been much farther +advanced; and, in point of provisions, those families would have been +living in luxury. More grain than could be consumed would have been +grown, instead of crops which in some years were barely sufficient to +last until the following harvest. + +These people were brought to trial for a theft which they were stated to +have committed, but of which there was not any positive proof, and they +were acquitted. There was not any doubt of their having associated with +and instructed the natives how to commit, with the least hazard to +themselves, the various depredations which the settlers had sustained +from them; yet there was no proof of this, at least no proof whereby they +might have been capitally punished, nothing short of which would ever be +sufficient to prevent this dangerous intercourse. + +After exciting some apprehensions for her safety, his Majesty's ship the +_Reliance _anchored in the Cove on the 26th, from the Cape of Good +Hope, having had a very stormy passage, with 26 cows, 3 bulls, and about +60 sheep on board, on government account. She had been extremely leaky +all the voyage; and it must be remembered, that the other colonial ship, +the _Supply_, arrived in a very infirm state.* + +[* At her departure from the Cape, it was generally conjectured +that she would never reach the settlement; but her commander, +Lieutenant William Kent, considered and felt the design of his voyage to +be of so much importance to the colony, that he determined to run every +risk; and fortunately, though with great difficulty, he succeeded.] + +A most unexpected and unaccountable desertion took place in the night +after the arrival of the _Reliance_. Two boys belonging to that ship +carried away a small two-oared boat, in which they intended to proceed to +the southward, and there join the natives. Being pursued, they were +brought back, and gave the above account of their scheme; to effect +which, they had provided themselves with a boat-cloak to sleep in, a pair +of pistols, a small quantity of gun-powder, and 50 cakes of portable +soup. That any one who had been accustomed to the habits of civilised +life should find charms in that led by the savages of this country, was +unaccountable; for, admitting that idleness was the inducement, yet +whoever associated with them must accompany them wherever they went, and +they were generally on the move either by day or night. They were seldom +provided with more food than was sufficient for the day; and in their +treacherous visitations at night, for the purposes of revenge, the +European might be easily mistaken for, or confounded with, the savage. +But thus it was, to the great evil of the community to which these +unthinking wretches belonged. + +The inhabitants of the town of Sydney having been assessed to supply +thatch for the roof of the new gaol, and completed their respective +proportions, the building was enclosed during this month with a strong +and high fence. A building such as this had certainly been long wanted. +It was 80 feet in length; the sides and ends were constructed of strong +logs, a double row of which formed each partition. The whole was divided +into 22 cells, the divisions of which were logs. The floor and the roof +were of the same solid materials, over which was a coat 8 inches deep of +stiff clay, and the roof besides was thatched. Every accommodation for +prisoners was to be found in separate buildings in the prison yard, in +which also was a distinct brick building for debtors, fenced off from the +_felon side_ (to use an Old Bailey distinction) by a strong and high +paling. + +This, enclosing a spot of ground which had been marked out on the west +side of the Cove for a ship-yard, landing provisions from the transports, +and completing the granary, formed the principal labour in which the +public gangs were employed this month at Sydney. + +The weather was remarkably dry. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + + +The _Francis_ returns from the wreck of the _Sydney Cove_ +The _Eliza_ long-boat missing +Gale of wind +Cattle from the Cape landed +Station altered +Public works +An officer dies +Accident on board the _Schooner_ +The ships sail for China +Coal discovered +Natives +Bennillong +Courts Of justice assembled +The _Supply_ condemned +The _Cumberland_ seized and carried off to sea +Is pursued, but not retaken +More coal found; and a new river +The people left by Capt. Bampton at New Zealand arrive at Norfolk Is. +Several runaway convicts landed there by the _Britannia_ +The _Deptford_ arrives from Madras +Excursion to the Cow-Pastures +Walk from Mount Taurus to the sea coast +Public works +Weather + + +July.] In the beginning of July, the _Francis_ returned from the wreck of +the _Sydney Cove_, bringing the remainder of her crew, except six, +whom Captain Hamilton, her commander (and the only European belonging to +her, then alive,) had left in charge of the part of her cargo which had +been saved. The _Eliza_ long-boat, which sailed from the island with +them, had on board a few Lascars and some property; but having had to +encounter a very heavy gale of wind, and not arriving with the schooner, +many doubts were entertained of her safety. She was under the direction +of Mr. Armstrong, the master of the _Supply_. + +On the 17th, twelve days after the return of the _Francis_, it came +on to blow exceedingly hard at SE and SSE by which many large trees and +several chimneys were blown down. The gale was attended with a deluge of +rain, and was so heavy, that some of the ships, even in that secure cove, +brought their anchors home. In addition to other damage done at this +time, two of the vanes of the wind-mill were torn off by the violence of +the wind. This gale considerably increased the apprehensions of every. +one concerned for the safety of the long-boat. + +The cattle which arrived in the _Reliance_ were landed, and, +considering that they had experienced much bad weather on the passage, +looked extremely well. The two Colonial ships had been employed eight +months on this voyage to and from the Cape, and had added 51 cows, 3 +bulls, a few horses, and about 90 sheep, to the stock of domestic cattle +in the colony. + +This species of provisions was multiplying largely; but the salt meat was +decreasing so fast, that it became necessary to issue only half the usual +ration of pork. + +The convicts were employed in enclosing the new ship yard, shingling the +barracks for the assistant surgeons, clearing ground at Portland-place, +where seventy men were at work, and completing the repair of the public +roads, in which necessary labour, the settlers again assisted, having +finished the cropping of their grounds for the ensuing season. + +The dry weather had been followed by several days' rain, by which the +appearance of the wheat-grounds was very much improved. + +Ensign Birch, of the New South Wales corps, died on the 5th, and was +buried with military honours. He arrived in the _Britannia_. + +August.] The Colonial schooner, having been dispatched with some stores +which were wanted at Norfolk Island, left the Cove on the 7th; but the +wind failing, she anchored in the lower part of the harbour. While lying +here, some of her people became drunk, and insisted on taking the boat +ashore. This being resisted, one of the crew fired a pistol at a soldier +who was on board, which, it being dark at the time, missed him, but the +ball went through the leg of a seaman belonging to the _Supply_, who +had been lent to the schooner. He was brought up to the hospital, and the +man who fired the pistol was conducted to prison, to answer for his +rashness. + +The _Britannia_ and the _Ganges_ sailed on their respective +voyages. The commander of the latter was permitted to take on board +several convicts who had become free, and some of the marine soldiers who +had been discharged from the New South Wales corps, having completed +their second engagement in that regiment. They had talked of becoming +settlers, and remaining some years longer in the country; but the +restless love of change prevailed, and they quitted the colony by this +opportunity. + +Mr. Clark, the supercargo of the ship _Sydney Cove_, having +mentioned that, two days before he had been met by the people in the +fishing boat, he had fallen in with a great quantity of coal, with which +he and his companions made a large fire, and had slept by it during the +night, a whale-boat was sent off to the southward, with Mr. Bass, the +surgeon of the _Reliance_, to discover where an article so valuable +was to be met with. He proceeded about seven leagues to the southward of +Point Solander, where he found, in the face of a steep cliff, washed by +the sea a stratum of coal, in breadth about six feet, and extending eight +or nine miles to the southward. Upon the summit of the high land, and +lying on the surface, he observed many patches of coal, from some of +which it must have been that Mr. Clarke was so conveniently supplied with +fuel. He also found in the skeletons of the mate and carpenter of the +_Sydney Cove_, an unequivocal proof of their having unfortunately +perished, as was conjectured. + +By the specimens of the coal which were brought in by Mr. Bass, the +quality appeared to be good; but, from its almost inaccessible situation, +no great advantage could ever be expected from it; and indeed, were it +even less difficult to be procured, unless some small harbour should be +near it, it could not be of much utility to the settlement. + +No circumstance deserving of attention had occurred for some time among +the natives. On the 27th of this month, however, one of their young men +stood the trial practised by his countrymen, for having, as it was said, +killed some person in a quarrel. He stood manfully up against all their +spears, and defended himself with great skill and address. Having had two +shields split in his hand, by the spear passing quite through them, his +friends, who were numerous, attacked his opponents, whom they disarmed, +and broke their shields, with many of their spears. + +It had been intended to have thrown some spears at Bennillong at this +time, from its having been reported that a woman, when she was dying, had +declared she dreamed that Bennillong had killed her. Her friends, +therefore, resolved to call him to an account, taking the business up on +the supposition that the woman must have had some cause of complaint +against him, or she would not have dreamed of his doing her an injury. To +this accusation Bennillong pleaded not guilty, declaring that he was an +entire stranger to the woman, and had never in his life offended her; but +there were some who said that he actually wounded this very woman, and +had been the cause of her death. + +To those gentlemen who were acquainted with the temper and disposition of +this savage, there appeared much reason to credit the assertions of his +countrymen; for he was now observed to have become so fond of drinking, +that, whenever invited by any of the officers to their houses, he was +eager to be intoxicated, and in that state was so savage and violent as +to be capable of any mischief. On such occasions he amused himself with +annoying the women and insulting the men, who, from fear of offending his +white friends, spared those notices of his conduct which he so often +merited, and which sooner or later he would certainly meet with. + +The court of criminal judicature was assembled once during this month, +when three prisoners, one of whom was a seaman belonging to the +_Britannia_, were transported to Norfolk Island for seven years. + +The civil court was also assembled, and went through much troublesome and +litigious business, the effect of the spirit of trade which every where +prevailed. + +The _Reliance_ having been cleared of her stores, and being now +quite light, was yet found to make as much water as before; and it +appeared, upon opening the ceiling, that the leak was in the guardboard +streak, abreast of the main-mast, the water rushing in there with great +force. + +A survey had been held upon her consort, the _Supply_, after which +she was pronounced wholly unfit for further sea service. + +The brickmakers, bricklayers, carpenters, and blacksmiths, were all fully +and variously employed at this time. For the latter, a large and +convenient shop, capable of working six or seven forges, was erecting at +Sydney. The different works which were in hand went on with a greater +spirit and more expedition than could have been expected, when the great +want of artificers and labouring people was considered. Some, though but +a few, mechanics had arrived in the last ships. + +September.] This month began with a very vexatious circumstance. A boat +named the _Cumberland_, the largest and best in the colony belonging +to government, was, on her passage to the Hawkesbury, whither she was +carrying a few stores, taken possession of by a part of the boat's crew; +being at the same time boarded by a small boat from the shore, the people +in which seized her and put off to sea, first landing the coxswain and +three others, who were unwilling to accompany them, in Pitt Water in +Broken Bay. Those men proceeded overland to Port Jackson, where they gave +the first information of this daring and piratical transaction. Two +boats, well manned and armed, were immediately dispatched after them, +under the command of Lieutenant Shortland of the _Reliance_. + +One of these boats returned in a few days, without having seen any thing +of them; but Lieutenant Shortland proceeded with the other, a whale boat, +as far as Port Stephens, where he thought it probable they might have +taken shelter; but on the 19th, having been absent thirteen days, he +returned without discovering the smallest trace of them or the boat. His +pursuit, however, had not been without its advantage; for on his return +he entered a river which he named Hunter river, about ten leagues to the +southward of Port Stephens into which he carried three fathoms water, in +the shoalest part of its entrance, finding deep water and good anchorage +within. The entrance of this river was but narrow, and covered by a high +rocky island, lying right off it, so as to leave a good passage round the +north end of the island, between that and the shore. A reef connects the +south part of the island with the south shore of the entrance of the +river. In this harbour was found a very considerable quantity of coal of +a very good sort, and lying so near the water side as to be conveniently +shipped; which gave it, in this particular, a manifest advantage over +that discovered to the southward. Some specimens of this coal were +brought up in the boat. + +About this time a small decked long boat arrived from Norfolk island, and +brought an account that the master of the American snow _Mercury_ +had landed there the remainder of the people who had been left by Captain +Bampton in Dusky Bay. When the _Endeavour_ was wrecked there about +20 months before*, the governor, not having any vessel at Port Jackson +fit for such a purpose, had expressed a wish to the master of the snow, +to this effect, when he was about leaving New South Wales. The master +made no objection, only stipulating that he might be permitted to take +from the wreck such stores as he might be in want of, but to this the +governor could not give his sanction, leaving him only to make what terms +he could with any of the people belonging to her whom he might find +alive. This service he performed under many difficulties, and brought off +all that now remained of these unfortunate people, amounting to 35 in +number, and landed them at Norfolk Island. + +[* Vide Vol I Ch. XXX Page 384, viz: '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.' and + +Vol I Ch. XXX Page 388, viz: '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.'] + +By this conveyance the governor was also informed, that the +_Britannia_ had touched at the Island, and landed several convicts +who had secreted themselves on board her while she lay in this harbour. +Disappointed as these people generally were in their attempts to escape +from the settlement in this manner, yet it had become so certain a +system, that all the vigilance which could be exerted both on shore and +afloat was insufficient to prevent them. As the masters were seldom +refused permission to ship such as were free, it was their business to +receive no more on board than they could feed; and during the run between +Sydney and Norfolk island, the supernumeraries were generally discovered +and brought up from below. Indeed, considering the description of people +who formed the major or part of these deserters, it was not safe to have +many of them on board, being a lawless, abandoned, daring set of +wretches, to whom the commission of every crime was more familiar than +the practice of any one virtue. + +On the 20th of the month, the _Deptford_, a small brig, arrived from +Madras, with a cargo of goods upon speculation for the Sydney market. The +spirit of trade which had for some time obtained in the colony afforded +an opening for adventurers to bring their goods to this settlement. The +voyage from India was short and direct; and, from the nature of their +investments, they were always certain of finding a ready sale, and an +ample return upon the original invoice. But this intercourse was found to +be pregnant with great evil to the colony; for, preferring spirits to any +other article that could be introduced from India, the owners never +failed to make the rum of that country an essential part of every cargo +which they sent upon speculation. And, though every necessary measure was +adopted to prevent all that arrived from being landed, yet, such was the +avidity with which it was sought after, that, if not permitted, it was +generally got on shore clandestinely, and very few ships carried back any +of what they had brought down. To this source might be traced all the +crimes which disgraced, and all the diseases that injured the colony. + +Toward the latter end of the month a party set off on an excursion to the +cow pasture plains. On reaching mount Taurus, a distinct herd of the wild +cattle, 67 in number, was seen. It was conjectured, that this valuable +collection of cattle had so considerably increased, as to find a +convenience in dividing into different herds, thereby preventing those +quarrels which might frequently happen among their males. This was +confirmed by their falling-in with, in another place, a herd, in which +there could not have been fewer than 170 of these animals. A couple of +days were pleasantly occupied in examining this part of the country, +which exhibited the beautiful appearance of a luxuriant and well-watered +pasturage. The latitude of mount Taurus was found to be 34 degrees 16 +minutes S and the river Nepean was discovered to take its course close +round the south side of this hill. Two gentlemen who were of this party +having, at their setting out, proposed to walk from mount Taurus in as +direct a line as the country would admit, to the seacoast, a whale boat +was ordered to wait for them about five leagues to the southward of +Botany Bay. They expected to have reached the coast in one day, but they +did not reckon on having full 25 miles of a rugged and mountainous road +to cross. Making their course a little to the southward of east, they +fell in with the boat very conveniently, and Mr. Bass, one of the +gentlemen, described their route to have laid, the greatest part of the +way, over nothing but high and steep ridges of hills, the land becoming +more rocky and barren as they drew near the sea coast. In each of the +valleys formed by these hills they found a run of fresh water, in some +places of considerable depth and rapidity. The direction of these streams +or runs being to the northward, they were supposed to fall into a harbour +which lay about five or six miles to the southward of Port Solander, and +had obtained the name of Port Hacking, the pilot of that name having had +the honour of the discovery.* + +[* See the chart prefixed to this volume, where the route from Mount Taurus +is laid down.] + +A church clock having been brought to the settlement in the _Reliance_ +when that ship arrived from England, and no building fit for its +reception having been since erected, preparations were now making +for constructing a tower fit for the purpose; to which might be added a +church, whenever at a future day the increase of labourers might enable +the governor to direct such an edifice to be built. + +One mill not being sufficient to grind the flour required by the +inhabitants at Sydney, the stone masons were employed in breaking out and +preparing stone for another at that place. + +The blacksmith's shop, begun in the last month, was nearly completed at +the end of this. + +The weather was observed to be growing warm. Toward the middle of the +month strong southerly winds, with rainy and unsettled weather, +prevailed, particularly at the change of the moon. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + + +Another boat seized and carried off +Order in consequence +The criminal court thrice assembled +Particulars +Three men stand in the pillory +Perjury explained to the convicts +Natives very troublesome; seize a boat +Various works in hand +An attempt to seize another boat frustrated +Prospect of a fine harvest +Wilson gives himself up +Is made use of +Two mares stolen +The clergyman's servant attempts to rob him +Information sent to India respecting the boats +An amphibious animal discovered +Description +Accident +Works +Police +Weather + + +October.] The month of October opened with a repetition of the vexatious +circumstances that marked the opening of the preceding month. In the +night of the 2nd, a boat was taken from Parramatta by some people who got +unobserved out of the harbour. The three men who were put on shore from +the _Cumberland_ at the time she was seized upon, from an +unwillingness to accompany them, being in this party, it was supposed +they were connected in some way with those who were in that boat, and +whom they might know where to find. An armed boat from the _Supply_ +was immediately dispatched after them; but in three days returned, as +unsuccessful as Lieutenant Shortland had unfortunately been in his +search. + +From this circumstance there was reason to suppose that they had stood +off from the land; in which case, as the weather since their departure +had been unusually bad, the wind blowing a gale from the southward, with +much rain, and their boat being a very bad one, it was probable they had +perished. + +In these two boats 15 convicts had made their escape from the settlement; +six of whom had been transported for life; six others were from Ireland, +of whose term of transportation no account had been sent out; and of the +remainder, one had to serve until the 23rd of May 1799, another until the +2nd of April 1801, and the third until the 15th of April 1804. + +Whatever might be the fate of these people, the evil was of great extent; +since all that could be known of them to their fellow prisoners was, that +they had successfully effected their escape. Had Bryan and his party, who +went off with one of the King's boats in the year 1791, instead of +meeting with the compassion and lenity which were expressed in England +for their sufferings, been sent back and tried in New South Wales, for +taking away the boat, and other thefts which they had committed, it was +probable that others might have been deterred from following their +example. + +On this occasion an order was published, stating that, as, for the +private convenience of various individuals, permission had been granted +for the building of boats under certain dimensions, yet those boats had +been frequently found so improperly secured in the night, and left by +their respective owners in situations so favourable to the views of those +ignorant beings who were perpetually looking out for means to escape from +the settlement, the governor therefore found it expedient positively to +prohibit the building of a boat of any kind without having previously +obtained his express permission; and to declare, that if any of the boats +then in use in the settlement should thenceforward be found improperly +secured at night, or left with oars, rudder, masts, or sails on board, +they would be laid on shore and burnt. + +Such was the increase of crimes, that thrice in this month was the court +of criminal judicature assembled. The offences that came under their +cognisance were those of murder, perjury, forgery, and theft. + +Two men were tried for having killed a native youth, well known in the +settlement*; but it appearing to the court that he had been accidentally +shot, they were acquitted. The natives certainly behaved ill, and often +provoked the death which they met with; but there was not any necessity +for wantonly destroying them, a circumstance which it was feared had but +too often occurred. On the acquittal of these prisoners, they were +assured by the governor, that he was determined to make an example of the +first person who should be convicted of having wantonly taken the life of +a native. + +[* By the name of Tom Rowley (after one of the officers of the regiment). +He had accompanied Mr. Raven, in the _Britannia_, to Bengal, in the +year 1795.] + +Another prisoner, John Morris, was tried for the murder of Charles +Martin, by violently kicking and beating him, so that he died the +following day. He was found guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced to be +burned in the hand and imprisoned for 12 months. + +One man was found guilty of uttering a bill knowing it to be forged, and +adjudged to suffer death; and two others, for theft, were ordered to be +transported to Norfolk Island, one for the term of his life, and another +for seven years. + +It appearing on one of these trials, that three of the witnesses had +manifestly and wilfully committed the crime of perjury, they were brought +to trial; and, being found guilty, were sentenced to stand in the +pillory; to which, as an additional punishment, their ears were to be +nailed. Their sentence was put in execution before the public provision +store, when the mob, either to display their aversion to the crime, or, +what might be more probable, to catch at any thing that wore the form of +amusement, pelted them with rotten eggs and dirt. + +These people were three of the worst characters in the colony, Luke +Normington, John Colley, and William Osborne. It amounted nearly to a +mockery and profanation of religion to administer an oath to such +hardened and unprincipled wretches; yet their testimony could not be +refused when called for by a prisoner who was standing under the weight +of a capital charge; but of the credibility of such testimony it was +always in the breast of the court to judge. + +On this occasion the governor deemed it advisable to explain, in public +orders, the nature of this dreadful offence, an offence so certainly +ruinous both to their temporal and eternal welfare. He pointed out to +them, that, as every man who stood convicted of this dangerous breach of +the law was thereby rendered infamous ever after, no one who had a +character to lose (alas! how few were there who would feel themselves +affected by this observation) would associate with such criminals, lest +he should endanger his own reputation, and be considered as a voluntary +approver and partaker in the infamy. + +It may be some relief to turn from the contemplation of such iniquity, +though it should be only to the transactions of savages, differing from +these wretches but in complexion. + +On the 20th of this month the settlement were spectators of a severe +contest which took place between two parties of natives; one of which was +desirous of revenging the death of a friend, who had been killed by some +native of a part of the country from which a young man had just then +accidentally come amongst them. He was therefore immediately devoted to +their vengeance. Finding their determination, he most gallantly stood up, +and, being attacked by numbers, defended himself with the greatest +bravery and address, until, being wounded in several places, he fell. As +he lay upon the ground, several of his opponents treacherously rushed in +upon him, and stabbed him repeatedly with a pointed stick, which they +call a Doo-ul. In this situation he endeavoured to cover himself with his +shield, on which, having risen from the ground, and being again attacked, +he received their spears for some time with great dexterity, until some +one, less brave and more treacherous than the rest, took a station +unobserved on one side, and launched a spear, which went into his back +and there remained. Seeing this, they were proceeding a second time to +rush in upon him, when he had just strength enough left to make his +escape into an adjoining house, where he received shelter, and from the +severity of his wounds immediately fainted. + +The spear was withdrawn, and his wounds dressed, by one of the surgeons +who happened to be present; and in a few days he was able to walk about +again. His brother, who had accompanied him to the field of battle, stood +up in his defence, and was wounded in the leg and thigh. + +The principal sufferer in this affair was known in the settlement by the +name of William and Ann (corrupted by their pronunciation to +Wil-lam-an-nan) which he had adopted from a ship of the same name that +arrived here in the year 1791. + +Several of their women attended upon this occasion, and, as is common +with them, howled and cried alternately during the most of the time; but +when they were enraged, which often happened, they danced, and beat their +sides with their arms; a certain proof of their passions being wrought up +to the highest pitch. + +Shortly after this, these people again exhibited themselves to the notice +of the settlement, but in a very different point of view. On the 31st, an +open boat arrived from the Hawkesbury, with a cargo of Indian corn, +having been boarded in her passage down by a party of natives in canoes. +Assuming an appearance of friendship, they were suffered to come into the +boat, when, watching an opportunity, they threw off the mask, and made an +attempt to seize the small arms. This occasioned a struggle, in which the +boat's crew prevailed, but not before some of these unexpected pirates +had paid for their rashness with their lives. + +It was now discovered, that a boat belonging to a settler, which had been +for some time missing, and was supposed to have been driven out to sea +and lost with her crew and cargo of Indian corn, had actually been taken +by the natives in the river, after murdering the men who were in her. The +boat, on searching, was afterwards found in the possession of some of +these people. + +This was so novel a circumstance that it could scarcely be credited; but +it was no less true; and there was but little doubt, that the white +people who were living amongst them had been the unseen instigators of +this mischief. + +During this month a strong and durable bridge, capable of sustaining any +weight which it might have occasion to bear, was erected over Duck river, +for the convenience of land carriage between the towns of Sydney and +Parramatta. + +The military hospital which stood on the west side of the Cove was taken +to pieces; and, a stone foundation (it had been hitherto fixed on blocks +of wood) having been laid farther from the road side, it was removed +during this month, and put together again in its new situation. + +The wheat every where wore the most promising appearance, and the weather +had been very favourable for bringing it to maturity. + +Decreasing daily as did the number of working men in the employ of +government, yet the governor could not refuse granting certificates to +such convicts as had served their respective times of transportation; and +no less than 125 men were at this time certified by him to be free. Most +of these people had no other view in obtaining this certificate, than the +enabling them when an opportunity offered to quit the settlement, or +following their own pursuits until that time should arrive. + +November.] There being a scarcity of wheat in the public stores, owing to +some local disappointments, the governor was obliged to make a reduction +in the weekly allowance of that article, until the present crops should +be gathered. + +The facility with which the seizure of the _Cumberland_ had been +accomplished, and the subsequent escape of two parties of convicts. +induced 14 others to form a plan for taking away a boat, and making a +similar attempt at liberty. Having made a depot of all the stores which +they meant to carry with them, at a place convenient for the purpose, the +night was fixed for their departure; and they were on the point of +embarking, when, to their great surprise, they found themselves +surrounded by a party of magistrates and constables armed, who took them +and their property into custody. They had not proceeded with all the +caution necessary for such an enterprise, and a hint was given in time to +defeat the execution of their project. + +The following day these unthinking people, instead of being at large on +the ocean, in possession of their fancied freedom, found themselves +severely punished, and sent up to Parramatta there to be set to hard +labour. + +On the subject of these mad and hazardous schemes, the governor first +addressed the convicts in person, and afterwards published in order, +wherein he pointed out the risk that must ever attend such ill-judged +enterprises; into which, he was of opinion, a few weak and ignorant +people had been led by the deep and wicked designs of some who pretended +to a greater share of wisdom, and who would not hesitate to sacrifice any +that might be thought of less consequence to the general design, or less +capable of rendering themselves useful when embarked, by forcing them on +shore, if near the land, among a savage people where death must be +inevitable; or by throwing them overboard, if at sea, to lighten their +miserable vessel, and prevent, if possible, her drowning the whole. + +The Irish convicts who arrived in the last ship manifesting daily a +propensity to desert from their work, a party of soldiers, under the +command of a sergeant, was sent up to Toongabbie, where they were to +remain during the harvest, which commenced in this month at that place +and at Constitution Hill. + +On the 24th, an order was published, in which the people employed in +agriculture were reminded of the many accidents that happened last year +by fire; strongly recommending more attention to the security of their +present crops when taken off the ground, at the same time directing them +to seize and secure as early as possible all such vagrants as they might +meet with, who, being at large at this season, might do them much injury. + +Nine hundred bushels of the last year's crop were brought round from the +Hawkesbury in the _Francis_, and deposited in the public store. +Nothing could promise better than the appearance of the wheat of this +season; but it had ripened suddenly, owing to some heavy rains having +been followed by very hot weather. In the want of sufficient strength the +military were hired to assist in reaping, it being absolutely necessary +that no time should be lost in securing the produce of this year. + +Toward the latter end of the month, James Wilson, who had for some time +taken up his abode in the woods, and was one of those named in the +proclamation of the 13th of May last, surrendered himself to the +governor's clemency. He had been herding with the savages in different +parts of the country, and was obliged to submit to have his shoulders and +breast scarified after their manner; which he described to have been very +painful in the operation. He made his appearance with no other covering +than an apron formed of a Kangaroo's skin, which he had sufficient sense +of decency remaining to think was proper. + +The governor, well knowing, from his former habits, that if he punished +and sent him to hard labour, he would quickly rejoin his late companions, +thought it more advisable to endeavour to make him useful even in the +mode of living which he seemed to prefer; he therefore pardoned him, and +proposed his attempting, with the assistance of his friends, to take some +of the convicts who were at large in the woods; two of whom had, just +before Wilson's appearance, stolen two mares, the property of private +individuals, but which were allowed to be kept during the night in a +stable belonging to government. + +Wilson, among other articles of information, mentioned, that he had been +upwards of 100 miles in every direction round the settlement. In the +course of his travelling he had noticed several animals, which, from his +description, had not been seen in any of the districts; and to the +northwest of the head of the Hawkesbury, he came upon a very extensive +tract of open and well-watered country, where he had seen a bird of the +pheasant species, and a quadruped, which he said was larger than a dog, +having its hind parts thin, and bearing no proportion to the shoulders, +which were strong and large. + +It is not improbable, that Wilson invented these circumstances in the +hope of obtaining some attention, and thereby averting the punishment +which he expected, and well knew that he had long deserved. + +If it be painful to the writer of these sheets to find little else than +crimes and their consequences to record, how much more painful must it +have been to have lived where they were daily committed. Particularly so +must it have proved to the gentleman who was in the chief direction of +the settlement, who found himself either obliged to punish with severity, +or to be fearful even of administering justice in mercy, lest that mercy +should prove detrimental in the end, by encouraging others to offend in +the hope of impunity. + +There can scarcely be recorded a stronger instance of human depravity, +than what the following circumstance, which happened in this month, +exhibits. A convict, who had formerly been a school-companion with the +Rev. Mr. Johnson, had been taken by that gentleman into his service, +where he reposed in him the utmost confidence, and treated him with the +kindest indulgence. He had not been long in his house before Mr. Johnson +was informed that his servant, having taken an impression of the key of +his storeroom in clay, had procured one that would fit the lock. He +scarcely credited the information; but, being urged to furnish him with +an opportunity, he consented that a constable should be concealed in the +house, on a Sunday, when all the family, this servant excepted, would be +attending divine service. The arrangement succeeded but too well. +Concluding that all was safe, he applied his key, and, entering the room, +was proceeding without any remorse to plunder it of such articles as he +wanted; when the constable, seeing his prey within his toils, started +from his concealment, and seized him in the act of taking the property. + +Thus was this wretched being without 'one compunctious visiting of +nature,' detected in the act of injuring the man, who, in the better day +of his prosperity, had been the companion of his youth, and who had +stretched out his hand to shelter him in the present hour of his +adversity! + +The _Deptford_ brig sailing this month for the coast of Coromandel, +the governor took the opportunity of transmitting to Admiral Rainier, or +the commander in chief of his Majesty's ships in the East Indies, a list +of the deserted convicts, and a description of the two boats which had +lately been taken from the colony. As it was, probably, the intention of +those people to steer along the coast of New South Wales to the +northward, until they should reach some of the Dutch settlements among +the Molucca islands, there was a possibility of their being picked up by +some of the King's cruisers; in the event of which, the governor forcibly +urged their being forwarded, by any opportunity which might offer, to his +government, there to be made an example that should, if possible, deter +others from making the like attempts. + +The widow of Ensign Brock's, who died in July last, availed herself of +this opportunity to get, with her family, partly on her way to England. + +Although the settlement had now been established within a month of ten +years, yet little had been added to the stock of natural history which +had been acquired in the first year or two of its infancy. The Kangaroo, +the Dog, the Opossum, the Flying Squirrel, the Kangaroo Rat, a spotted +Rat, the common Rat, and the large Fox-bat (if entitled to a place in +this society), made up the whole catalogue of animals that were known at +this time, with the exception which must now be made of an amphibious +animal, of the mole species, one of which had been lately found on the +banks of a lake near the Hawkesbury. In size it was considerably larger +than the land mole. The eyes were very small. The fore legs, which were +shorter than the hind, were observed, at the feet, to be provided with +four claws, and a membrane, or web, that spread considerably beyond them, +while the feet of the hind legs were furnished, not only with this +membrane or web, but with four long and sharp claws, that projected as +much beyond the web, as the web projected beyond the claws of the fore +feet. The tail of this animal was thick, short, and very fat; but the +most extraordinary circumstance observed in its structure was, its +having, instead of the mouth of an animal, the upper and lower mandibles +of a duck. By these it was enabled to supply itself with food, like that +bird, in muddy places, or on the banks of the lakes, in which its webbed +feet enabled it to swim; while on shore its long and sharp claws were +employed in burrowing; nature thus providing for it in its double or +amphibious character. These little animals had been frequently noticed +rising to the surface of the water, and blowing like the turtle. + +The subjoined engraving is from a drawing made on the spot by Governor +Hunter. + +Among the few circumstances that occurred out of the common course of +events, must be mentioned that of a man belonging to the hospital, who, +in endeavouring to get hold of a boat which was close to the shore, +over-reached himself and fell into deep water, where he was drowned. The +body being immediately found, the means recommended by the Humane Society +in such cases were made use of, but without the desired effect. + +The barracks for the assistant surgeons, and the tower of the intended +church, were nearly completed during this month, and the paling round the +new store-house was begun. The _Reliance_, whose leaks had been +discovered, was strengthened with riders, several people being employed +to bring in timber for that purpose. These formed some of the public +works at Sydney. At Parramatta, Toongabbie, and the other interior +settlements, all were actively employed in securing the abundant crops +which every where promised to reward the industry of the settler and the +labourer. + +The annual election of constables took place in this month. These +municipal regulations were attended at least with the advantage of +introducing something like a system of regularity into the settlement, +than which nothing was more likely to check the relaxation which had +lately prevailed in it. + +The weather in November was, for the first and middle parts, very +unsettled, blowing hard at times with much rain. On one day, there fell a +shower of hail, the stones of which were each as big as a lark's egg. The +latter part of the month was fair, and favourable for reaping the grain. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + + +Bennillong and Cole-be +Various particulars respecting the natives +Ye-ra-nibe killed +A settler's house burnt through malice +Schools at Sydney +Two settlers drink for a wager +The body of a soldier found +Criminal court +The _Francis_ sails for the wreck +Weather +Houses burnt +Public labour +Harvest +Account of live stock and ground in cultivation + + +December.] A circumstance occurred about the beginning of this month, +that excited much interest in the town of Sydney, and great commotion +among the natives. Two of these people, both of them well known in the +settlement, (Cole-be, the friend of Bennillong, and one of the +Ye-ra-ni-bes) meeting in the town, while their bosoms were yet swelling on +occasion of some former difference, attacked each other. Cole-be had +always been remarked for his activity, but Ye-ra-ni-be had more youth +than his adversary, and was reckoned a perfect match for him. On closing +on each other, with their clubs, until which time Cole-be had not gained +any advantage over Ye-ra-ni-be, the handle of Ye-ra-ni-be's shield drew +out, and it consequently fell from his grasp: while stooping to take it +up, the other struck him on the head with a club, which staggered him, +and followed his blow while he was in that defenceless situation. + +Cole-be knew that this would ensure him the appellation of jeerun, or +coward, and that the friends of Ye-ra-ni-be would as certainly take up +his cause. As the consequences might be very serious if he should die of +the blow, he thought it prudent to abscond for a while, and Yera-ni-be +was taken care of by some of his white friends. This happened on the +10th, and on the 16th he died. In this interval he was constantly +attended by some of his male and female associates, particularly by his +two friends, Collins (for Gnung-a Gnung-a still went by the late +judge-advocate's name) and Mo-roo-bra. On one of the nights when a most +dismal song of lamentation had been sung over him, in which the women +were the principal performers, his male friends, after listening for some +time with great apparent attention, suddenly started up, and, seizing +their weapons, went off in a most savage rage, determined on revenge. +Knowing pretty well where to meet with Cole-be, they beat him very +severely, but would not kill him, reserving that gratification of their +revenge until the fate of their companion should be decided. On the +following night, Collins and Mo-roo-bra attacked a relation of Cole-be's, +Boo-ra-wan-ye, whom they beat about the head with such cruelty that his +recovery was doubtful. As their vengeance extends to all the family and +relations of a culprit, what a misfortune it must be to be connected with +a man of a choleric disposition! + +Ye-ra-ni-be was buried the day after his decease by the side of the +public road, below the military barracks. He was placed by his friends +upon a large piece of bark, and laid into a grave, which was formed by +them after our manner (only not so deep), they seeming in this instance +to be desirous of imitating our custom. Bennillong assisted at the +ceremony, placing the head of the corpse, by which he struck a beautiful +war-ra-taw, and covering the body with the blanket on which he died. +Being supplied with some spades, the earth was thrown in by the +by-standers, during which, and indeed throughout the whole of the +ceremony, the women howled and cried excessively; but this was the effect +of the violent gusts of passion into which the men every moment threw +themselves. At this time many spears were thrown, and some blows were +inflicted with clubs; but no serious mischief ensued. On the death of +Cole-be, all seemed determined; for the man whose life he had in so +cowardly a manner taken away was much beloved by his countrymen. + +With this design, a number of natives assembled a few days afterwards +before the barracks, breathing revenge; at which time a young man, a +relation to the object of their vengeance, received so many wounds, that +he was nearly killed; and a lad, who was also related to him +(Nan-bar-ray, the same who formerly lived with Mr. White, the principal +surgeon), was to have been sacrificed; but he was saved for the present +by the appearance of a soldier, who had been sent to the place with him +for his protection; and it was thought that when the present tumult +against his uncle (for Cole-be was the brother of this boy's father) had +subsided, nothing more would be thought of him. + +Cole-be, finding that he must either submit to the trial usual on such +occasions, or live in the continual apprehension of being taken off by a +midnight murder and a single hand, determined to come forward, and suffer +the business to be decided one way or the other. Having signified his +resolution, a day was appointed, and he repaired armed to the place of +rendezvous. The rage and violence shown by the friends of the deceased +were indescribable; and Cole-be would certainly have expiated his offence +with his life, but for the interference of several of the military, +before whose barrack the affair took place. Although active, and +extremely _au fait_ in the use of the shield, he was overpowered, and, +falling beneath their spears, would certainly have been killed on the +spot, but several soldiers rushed in, and prevented their putting him to +death where he lay; he himself, from the many severe wounds which he had +received, being wholly incapable of making any resistance. His friends, +the soldiers, lifted him from the ground, and between them bore him into +the barracks. + +Bennillong, the particular friend and companion of Cole-be, was present +at this meeting; but, it was supposed, without intending to take any part +in it either way. The atrocity of his friend's conduct had been such that +he could not openly espouse his quarrel; perhaps he had no stomach to the +fight; and certainly, if he could avoid it, he would not, by appearing +against him, add to the number of his enemies. He was armed, however, and +unencumbered with clothing of any kind, and remained a silent spectator +of the tumultuous scene, until the moment when the soldiers rushed in to +save the life of Cole-be. His conduct here became inexplicable. On a +sudden, he chose to be in a rage at something or other, and threw a spear +among the soldiers, which dreadfully took effect on one of them, entering +at his back and coming out at the belly, close to the navel. For this he +would instantly have been killed on the spot, had not Mr. Smith, the +provost-marshal, interfered and brought him away, boiling with the most +savage rage; for he had received a blow on the head with the butt-end of +a musket. + +It became necessary to confine him during the night, as well to prevent +the mischief with which he threatened the white people, as to save him +from the anger of the military, and on the following morning he quitted +the town. + +This man, instead of making himself useful, or showing the least +gratitude for the attentions which he received from every one, had become +a most insolent and troublesome savage. As it was impossible sometimes to +avoid censuring him for his conduct, he had been known to walk about +armed, and heard to declare it was for the express purpose of spearing +the governor whenever he saw him. This last outrage of his had rendered +him more hateful than any of his countrymen; and, as the natives who had +so constantly resided and received so many comforts in the settlement +were now afraid to appear in the town, believing that, like themselves, +we should punish all for the misconduct of one, it might rather be +expected that Bennillong could not be far from meeting that punishment +which he certainly provoked and merited. + +During the time that Ye-ra-ni-be was alive, the attendance of the natives +who were then in the town was called to the performance of the ceremony +named Yoo-lahng Era-ba-diang, the particulars of which have been +described in the preceding* part of this account. The place of meeting at +this time was in the middle harbour; and the various exhibitions which +took place were not observed to differ from those of the preceding years. +The season of the year was the same, but not precisely the month, which +confirmed the conjecture of their not being influenced by any particular +motive in the choice of the month of February for the celebration of this +curious and peculiar ceremony. + +[* Vide Appendix to Vol I.] + +Bennillong, who assisted at it, returned without his wife, the lady +having been without much difficulty persuaded by her mother, whom she +accidentally met at the Yoo-lahng, to leave her husband, and return with +her to the place of her residence. Bennillong, notwithstanding the +European polish which he could at times assume, was by no means a +favourite with, or held in much estimation by the females of his own +complexion. If any unfortunate girl was seen to be in his train for any +time, she was well known to be actuated less by inclination than by the +fear of his exercising that right which the stronger always claimed the +privilege of possessing over the weaker sex. + +The business of the settlement now reclaims our notice. + +Some time in this month the house of John Mitcham, a settler in the +district of Concord, was attacked by three villains, and set on fire, +together with a stack of wheat, which he had just completed and secured +against the weather. This unfortunate man was indebted about £33 which +the contents of his wheat-stack would have paid off, but now, besides +being very much beaten, he had the world to begin again, with a load of +debt which this untoward accident would much increase. The man himself +knew not to what cause to attribute it; and he was as ignorant who were +his enemies; for two of them had blackened their faces, and to the third +he was a stranger. + +On its being represented to the governor, he gave information of the +mischief in the public orders; and at the same time called upon every man +who valued the safety of his person, and the security of his property, to +use the utmost vigilance in discovering and bringing to justice these +daring offenders, that the law might have an opportunity of showing its +ability to defend the property of every inhabitant of the colony, by the +punishment of those who dared to attack it. He also observed, as a +further inducement, that the inhabitants could not fail to see the danger +of suffering evils of this kind to pass unnoticed; as the most ignorant +must know, that every reduction in the quantity of wheat must be attended +with a reduction in the weekly ration; a circumstance by which every man, +whether on or off the public store, was affected. The Order concluded +with an offer of conditional freedom, and permission to become a settler, +to any person, who, being a convict, would come forward and give such +information as might serve to convict the offenders before a court of +criminal judicature. + +Dogs had increased to such an extent as to occasion their becoming the +object of a public order, restricting the number kept by each person to +no more than were absolutely necessary for the protection of his house +and premises. Much mischief had been done by them among the hogs, sheep, +goats, and fowls of individuals. + +There were at this time in the town of Sydney three schools for the +education of children; and this being the period of their breaking-up for +the Christmas holidays, the governor was gratified with the sight of 102 +clean and decently dressed children, who came with their several masters +and mistresses, and in form paid their respects to his excellency, who +examined the progress of the elder scholars in writing, specimens of +which he kept for the purpose of comparing with those which they should +present to him on the following Christmas. + +One moment's reflection on the vices that prevailed in the colony will be +sufficient to excite a wish, that some institution could have been +devised for separating the greater part of these (at present, innocent) +members of the community from their vicious parents, where they could +have been educated at the public expense, their propensities to evil +corrected, and that turn given to their attainments which should secure +them a stock of useful knowledge. An arrangement of this nature was every +day becoming more necessary; for there were not less than 300 young +people at this time in the town of Sydney, none of whom, with the +exception of a very few, had been born in England. + +On the eve of Christmas Day two young men, settlers on some land midway +between Sydney and Parramatta, having been boasting of their respective +abilities in drinking, regardless of the solemnity of the time, +challenged each other to a trial of their skill; on which they were so +deliberately bent, that, to prevent their being interrupted, they retired +to the skirts of a neighbouring wood, with a quantity of raw spirits +which they had provided for the purpose. Their abilities, however, were +not equal to their boasting; for one of them died upon the spot, and the +life of the other was fast ebbing when he was taken up. Had another hour +elapsed, he too must have perished, like his wretched companion. They had +not been able to finish all the pernicious spirit which they had +prepared, some of it remaining by them in a case bottle when they were +found. + +On the morning of Christmas Day, the governor was informed that two +seamen belonging to the _Reliance_ had discovered the body of a +soldier (who had been for two days missing from the look-out post on the +South Head, where he was on duty), lying in a mangled state, the head and +hands being cut off. Some words having passed between him and a soldier, +who had been also heard to threaten him, he was suspected of having +committed the murder, and on the 30th was put on his trial for the same. +Nothing, however, appeared before the court that could substantiate the +charge of murder against him; neither was it clearly ascertained that +violent hands had been laid on the deceased. As it had been foreseen that +direct proof would be wanting, it was deemed expedient to obtain what +might be, though not positive, yet of a nature to be nearly as +satisfactory. With this view, the suspected person was directed to handle +and bury the body, which he did without any apparent emotion; nor did the +body bleed at his touch, or exhibit any sign that superstition or +ignorance could turn into an accusation against him; he observing at the +same time, that, as he had never had any quarrel with the deceased, he +could have no objection to perform this last friendly office for him. + +At this court a settler was fined the sum of 40 shillings, and ordered to +labour for six weeks, being convicted of disobeying the public orders of +the colony. + +The commander of the wrecked ship, _Sydney Cove_, having solicited +the governor to spare him the Colonial schooner for the purpose of +visiting the wreck of his ship, and the six men whom he had left upon the +island in charge of what had been landed; though he could very ill part +with the services of the vessel at this time, yet, in consideration of +the melancholy situation of the people, and the chance that there might +be of saving something for the benefit of the underwriters, he consented; +and about the latter end of the month the _Francis_ sailed with +Captain Hamilton to the southward. + +The weather was now becoming exceedingly hot; and as, at this season of +the year, the heat of the sun was so intense that every substance became +a combustible, and a single spark, if exposed to the air, in a moment +became a flame, much evil was to be dreaded from fire. On the east side +of the town of Sydney, a fire, the effect of intoxication or +carelessness, broke out among the convicts' houses, when three of them +were quickly destroyed; and three miles from the town another house was +burnt by some run-away wretches, who, being displeased with the owner, +took this diabolical method of showing it. + +The public labour of the month at Sydney comprised the covering of the +new store-house; finishing the church tower; constructing another +wind-mill, of which the beams of the second floor were laid; completing +the barracks of the assistant surgeons, with necessary offices; digging +the foundation of a house for the master boat-builder; and taking down +one of the old marine barracks, on the site of which the governor +proposed to erect a granary. + +At Parramatta and Toongabbie the wheat was nearly all got in and secured. +At the latter of these places, a capital barn had been erected for its +reception, 90 feet in length, with a complete floor, on which eight or +nine pairs of thrashers could be employed without any inconvenience. + +In order to mark the annual* increase, it may be proper to insert in this +place an account of the live-stock and land in cultivation at the close +of the year, belonging to government, the civil and military officers, +the settlers, and others. + +[* Vide Vol I Ch. XXXII p 411, viz: 'ACCOUNT OF LIVE STOCK IN +THE POSSESSION OF GOVERNMENT AND THE CIVIL AND MILITARY OFFICERS OF THE +SETTLEMENT, ON THE 1ST OF SEPTEMBER 1796'] + +LIVE STOCK + +Horses 26 +Mares 58 +Horned Cattle + Bulls and Oxen 132 + Cows 195 +Hogs 4247 +Sheep + Male 743 + Female 1714 +Goats + Male 781 + Female 1495 + +LAND IN CULTIVATION + +Acres in Wheat 3361½ +Acres for Maize 1527 +Acres in Barley 26½ + +In addition to these, a considerable quantity of garden-ground was in +potatoes, callevances, and vines. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + + +Attempt of some Irish convicts to desert in search of a new settlement +Some punished +Steps taken to prevent future desertion +A settler's boat stolen +Particulars +The _Francis_ returns from the southward +Conjectures as to a strait +Natives +A convict providentially saved +Public works +Weather + +1798.] +January.] The Irish prisoners who had arrived in the last ships from +that country had about this period become so turbulent and refractory, +and so dissatisfied with their situation, that, without the most rigid +and severe treatment, it was impossible to derive from them any labour +whatever. In addition to their natural vicious propensities, they conceived +an opinion that there was a colony of white people, which had been +discovered in this country, situated to the SW of the settlement, from +which it was distant between three and four hundred miles, and in which +they were assured of finding all the comforts of life, without the +necessity of labouring for them. + +It was discovered, that, in consequence of this extraordinary rumour, a +plan had been formed, by means of a correspondence carried on between +these people, from one district to another, of escaping from the colony; +which was to be put in execution so soon as they had completed a +sufficient stock of provisions. The place of general rendezvous was fixed +upon, and they were furnished with a paper of written instructions for +their guidance to this fancied paradise, or to China; in addition to +which, they had been supplied with the figure of a compass drawn upon +paper. + +Having received early information of the intentions of this party, the +governor wrote to a magistrate at Parramatta, desiring that he would go +to Toongabbie, where the principal part of the malcontents were employed, +and point out to them the danger to which so ill-advised a step would +expose them; but, as to attempt to reason with ignorance and obstinacy +was only to waste time, he was to acquaint them, that the governor would +allow any four of them whom they should select from their number, and who +they might think capable of travelling over steep and rocky mountains, +through thick and extensive woods, and fording deep and rapid streams, to +proceed as far as they should find themselves able with such provisions +as they could carry. That further, for the preservation of the lives of +those four men, he would order three other people, who were accustomed to +the woods of this country, and well acquainted with the savages of the +mountains, to accompany and lead them in the direction pointed out in +their written instructions, + +On conversing with these infatuated people, it appeared, that the history +of the supposed settlement had its rise from some strange and +unintelligible account which one of these men, who had left his work, and +resided for some time with the natives, had collected from the mountain +savages. + +A very few days demonstrated the effect of the governor's address to +these ignorant people. He received information, that considerable numbers +of them were assembling for the purpose of proceeding in quest of the new +settlement. He, therefore, directed a party of armed constables, to +waylay and secure as many as they were able; which was effected, and +sixteen were taken and put into confinement. On speaking to them the +following day, they appeared to be totally ignorant whither they were +going; but, observing in them as much obstinacy as ignorance, the +governor justly conceived that he could not use an argument more likely +to convince them of their misconduct, than by ordering a severe corporal +punishment to be inflicted at Sydney on those who appeared to be the +principals in this business; which was accordingly put in execution; +seven of them receiving each two hundred lashes; the remainder, after +being punished at Parramatta, were sent to hard labour and strictly +looked after. + +On enquiry it appeared, that this party was composed of several who were +present when the magistrate addressed them by order of the governor; and +that others had assembled from different farms, which were situated at a +considerable distance from each other. The trouble taken to collect and +mislead these people proved to him that it was the work of some wicked +incendiary, who designed by this means to embarrass the public concerns +of the colony, and thereby throw obstacles in the way of his government. + +Being, on further consideration of the necessity of checking this spirit +of emigration, determined to convince them, by their own experience, of +the danger and difficulties which attended it, the governor caused four +of the strongest and hardiest among them to be chosen by themselves, and +properly prepared for a journey of discovery. They were to be accompanied +by three men, upon whom the governor knew he could depend, and who were +to lead them back, when fatigued and exhausted with their journey, over +the very worst and most dangerous part of the country. This plan was no +sooner settled, than the governor received information on which he could +rely, that a party of these miscreants had concerted with the four +deputies to meet them at a certain place, where they were to murder the +persons intended to be their guides, possess themselves of their arms and +provisions, and then pursue their own route. This diabolical scheme was +counter-acted by the addition of four soldiers to the guides; and on the +14th they set off from Parramatta. + +On the 24th the soldiers returned with three of the deputies, who, having +gained the foot of the first mountains, were so completely sick of their +journey, and of the prospect before them, that they requested to return +with the soldiers, whose mission here terminated, being ordered to leave +them at this place in the direction of the guides; one man only expressed +a resolution to persevere, and penetrate further into the country, and +was left with them for that purpose. + +The history of these people might well be supposed to end here; but their +restless dispositions were not calculated to remain long in peace. + +It will be seen, on recurring to the transactions of the month of October +last, that a boat belonging to a settler had been carried off in the +night, by some people who were supposed to have taken her out to sea, +where, from the weakness of the boat, they must soon have perished: but +they were now heard of again. Owen Cavanagh, a free man, had a boat which +he employed in transporting grain from the Hawkesbury to Sydney. On the +10th of this month, he informed the governor, that, a short time before, +his boat had been boarded in the night, off Mullett Island, by the very +people who had stolen the one from the settler, and carried her off, with +another containing fifty bushels of grain which some other person was +bringing to Sydney. One man, who had, against his wish, been concerned in +the first seizure, now left them, and returned with Cavanagh; and from +him the following account of their proceedings was obtained. Having +effected the capture, they proceeded to the southward, with the intention +of reaching the wreck of the ship _Sydney Cove_. For their guide, +they had a pocket compass, of which scarcely one man of the fourteen who +composed the party knew the use. In this boat they were twice thrown on +shore, and at last reached an island, where, had they not fortunately +found many birds and seals, they must inevitably have perished. From the +inconceivable hardships they underwent, they would to a man have gladly +returned, could they have hoped that their punishment would have been any +thing short of death. Finding it impossible for such a number of +discontented beings to continue of one mind, or to be able to furnish +food in their miserable situation for so many, they judged it necessary, +from a motive of self-preservation, that one half should deceive the +other half; and while these were asleep, those who were prepared took +away the boat, leaving their seven wretched and unsuspecting companions +upon the desolate island, the situation of which this man could not +describe so as to enable the governor at any time to find it. Their +number now being reduced to seven, and thinking themselves in danger near +this port, they had been lurking for some time about Broken Bay, with a +view of capturing a better boat loaded with grain from the Hawkesbury; +which they effected, first by taking the boat of Owen Cavanagh, the +support of whose wife and children it had long been. After securing him, +they took possession of a smaller boat, containing upwards of fifty +bushels of wheat; and, finding Cavanagh's the largest and best of the +two, they ran out about three or four leagues from the land, when they +shifted their prisoners into the smaller boat, and stood off to the +Northward; where it was very probable they would lose their boat, she +being of such a size, that if they should get her on shore by any +accident, they would not be able to launch her again, and must finally +perish. + +Here we find extreme ignorance, accompanied by great cunning, producing +cruelty; for nothing less can be said of their abandoning the miserable +uninformed companions of their crime. Self-preservation was their plea; +but was there not a method left within their reach, which might have +preserved the whole? Might they not have returned to Sydney, and thrown +themselves upon that mercy which they had so often seen exercised in the +settlement. Could it be imagined, that at this day there was existing in +a polished civilised kingdom a race of beings (for they do not deserve +the appellation of men) so extremely ignorant, and so little humanised as +these were, compared with whom the naked savages of the mountains were an +enlightened people? + +Occasional desertions of one or two people at a time had occurred since +the establishment of the settlement; but the first convicts who arrived +from Ireland in the _Queen_ in the year 1791 went off in numerous +bodies, few of whom ever returned. They too were prepossessed with the +possibility of penetrating through the woods to China, and imparted the +same idea to all of their countrymen who came after them, engaging them +in the same act of folly and madness. It was not then to be wondered at, +that Wilson, who lately came in from the woods, should, among other +articles of information, mention his finding more than fifty skeletons, +which the natives assured him had been white men, who had lost their way +and perished. This account was corroborated by different European +articles which were scattered about, such as knives, old shoes, and other +things which were known not to belong to the natives. + +On the 20th the _Francis_ returned with Captain Hamilton from the +southward. Previous to his departure for the wreck of his ship, he had +informed the governor that she had on board nearly 7000 gallons of +spirits, and solicited permission to bring back a part with him in the +schooner. The governor, ever averse to the introduction of spirituous +liquors, would certainly have resisted the application; but, it being +generally known in the colony that a considerable quantity of this +article had been saved from the wreck, and that the island abounded with +kangaroos and birds, he conceived these circumstances not only to have +conduced to those desertions and captures of boats which had been +effected, but as likely to prove farther temptations to similar +practices. He therefore determined to purchase the rum of Captain +Hamilton; and, as there was none in store for the public service, to take +it on account of government. An agreement was accordingly entered into by +the commissary, and 3500 gallons were brought round in the _Francis_. + +Captain Hamilton stated, that of all the other articles which had been +taken on shore from the wreck, a small quantity of coarse cloth alone had +been saved, the remainder having been destroyed by gales of wind and bad +weather. The wreck of the ship was entirely washed away. Of the six +Lascars who had been left with the property, one had died; the other five +were in health, and had lived tolerably well, killing upon a neighbouring +island as many kangaroos and birds as they could use. These poor fellows +had erected a smoke-house, and had salted and smoke-dried as much meat as +would serve them during the ensuing winter. + +These people, though provided only with one small boat, had made some +excursions; and it appeared by their accounts, that this part of the +coast of New South Wales was formed entirely by a group of islands, +extending as far as they had seen to the westward of them, and +interspersed with many shoals. Hence, and indeed from observations which +he had made when on that part of the coast himself, the governor thought +it highly probable that there were many passages or straits quite through +to the ocean westward, making Van Diemen's land, the southernmost part of +New Holland, an island. + +Captain Hamilton had left a cow with his people, but she had died; a mare +that he had been more fortunate with was brought away in the _Francis_. + +Notwithstanding the severe trial which Cole-be had been put to for the +death of Ye-ra-ni-be, the friends of that young man had not thought it +sufficient to atone for his loss. One of them, Mo-roo-bra, in company +with some other natives, meeting with Cole-be, made an attack upon him, +with a determination to put an end to the business and his life together. +Cole-be, not yet recovered of the wounds that he had received in the last +affair, was unable to make much resistance; and, after receiving several +blows on the head, was supposed to have been dispatched; but Mo-roo-bra, +as they were quitting him, seeing him revive, and attempting to rise, +returned to finish this savage business; which so exasperated another +native, that he snatched up a spear, and in a rage threw it with all his +force at Mo-roo-bra. The spear entered his right side, just over the hip +bone, and went inclining downwards quite through the body, penetrating +the bladder in its passage. Of this wound he died in about an hour. On +the same evening this generous fellow was attacked by the friends of the +deceased in the usual way; and, as might be expected, defended himself +with great gallantry. He was, however, speared twice through the thigh, +once through the leg, and received a bad wound in the right hand. The +spear entered at the side of the hand, rather on the back part of it, +came out in the palm, entered again under the ball of the thumb, and came +out on the back of the hand, near the tendon of the forefinger. The very +little inflammation that attended these painful wounds was remarkable. + +Both the officiating magistrates at Sydney being at this time much +indisposed, so great an inconvenience was felt, that the governor found +it necessary, through the want of other magistrates, to take upon himself +the execution of some part of their troublesome office. It must be +observed, that the governor for the time being is a justice of the peace, +by virtue of his Majesty's letters patent. + +Towards the latter end of the month, he went up to Parramatta, attended +by his aid-de-camp, to examine the progress of the works carrying on +there. + +While on this service, an Irish convict, who had escaped from his work, +and had been for some time missing, was brought in. He had wandered about +for several days in search of a road which he expected to have found, and +which was to have conducted him to China, or the new colony; but, his +strength failing with his provisions, he grew faint, and, despairing of +meeting with any relief, he had just sense enough to reverse the written +instructions which had been calculated solely to carry him out, directing +him to keep the sun on a particular part of his body, varying according +to the time of the day. By this method he travelled eastward, and in a +direction that led him nearly to the head of George's river, where a few +people were settled; and, having one morning heard the report of a gun at +a distance, he endeavoured to walk towards it, but was unable to make +himself heard by hallooing, when night overtook him. Being faint and +wearied, he took a little flour, which he still had in his pocket, and +sprinkling it on some fresh water, drank it, and laid himself down to +rest. In the morning, being somewhat refreshed, he again exerted himself +to get forward in the direction whence the report of the gun had revived +him, and soon after heard a man's voice, upon which he hallooed again, +and to his infinite joy was answered. The man, who was one of the +settlers, took him to his house, recruited his spirits, and brought him +into the town. On being questioned how he found his way back, he said, +'that a paper compass which had been given him was of no utility; he +therefore kept his face toward the place where the sun came from; but if +the hord (sic) had not been on his side, he should have been lost, for he +had been two whole days without any food, except a little flour and +water.' + +Among the public works that were carrying on during this month must be +reckoned the laying another floor in the granary at Parramatta; repairing +the military barracks, store-houses, and every brick building belonging +to government, which were so far decayed as to be scarcely able to +support their own weight. These repairs, which they had long been in want +of, and which if sooner attended to would have preserved them from the +ruin they were fast approaching, with the various other buildings that +were so essentially requisite, completely stood in the way of making any +exertions in clearing and cultivating land, and considerably added to the +expenses of the colony. At Sydney the tower of the second wind-mill was +begun; and on the 31st, the building being completed for its reception, +the public clock was set up, and, for the first time, announced the hour +to the inhabitants at Sydney. The shipwrights were employed in +constructing a flat-bottomed vessel for the carriage of planks, posts, +etc. + +Some heavy rain fell in this month, which for the time retarded all +out-door work; but it came very opportunely for the maize, the growth of +which had been rather obstructed by the dry weather which preceded. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + + +The _Francis_ again sails for the wreck +Bennillong and his wife +Report respecting the wild cattle +An anonymous writing found +Account of a journey to the westward +Description of a new bird +A general muster +Mr Bass returns from an excursion in an open boat to the southward +Particulars of it +Three Irishmen picked up +Public works +Weather in February + + +February.] On the 1st of this month the _Francis_ was again dispatched +to the wreck of the _Sydney Cove_. + +When Bennillong accompanied Governor Phillip to England in the year 1792, +he left a young wife to deplore his absence. The manners of savages, in +this instance, were found somewhat to resemble those of civilised life. +The lady surrendered to the importunities of a youthful lover, who, to +say the truth, had in some material points the advantage over Bennillong; +and of him she became so enamoured, that neither the entreaties, the +menaces, nor the presents* of her husband at his return, could induce her +to leave him. From that time, she was considered by every one, Bennillong +excepted, as the wife of Ca-ru-ay. He, finding himself neglected by other +females whose smiles he courted (after the fashion of his country +indeed), sometimes sought to balance the mortification by the forced +embraces of his wife; but, her screams generally bringing her lover or a +friend to her assistance, he was not often successful. In one of these +attempts, at this time, he came off with a severe wound in the head, the +lady and her lover laughing at the rage which it occasioned. + +[* Vide Vol I Ch. XXIX p 367, viz: '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.'] + +The man who killed Mo-roo-bra had undergone a second attack from his +friends; and, though yet suffering from the wounds which he received in +the first affair, made a most excellent defence. + +The governor having been informed, by some of the natives who dwelt in +the neighbourhood of the cow pasture plains, that several of the wild +cattle had been killed, and imagining this mischief to have been done by +some of the Irish convicts (who were nearly as wild themselves as the +cattle), a party of the military, with Hacking, a man well acquainted +with that part of the country, was sent out with orders to surprise, and +if possible to secure them. After being absent some days, they returned +and reported, that, having searched the country round, no traces were +seen of the cattle in any of the places where they had been accustomed to +range, nor did they meet with any white people; but the natives persisted +in asserting their having seen some of them among them, and added that +some of the calves had been run down by them. This was not impossible; +and the idea was somewhat strengthened, by their finding some short +spears pointed with the leg bone of the kangaroo, which were supposed to +be designed for stabbing the calves when caught. Although it was the +opinion of these people, that the cattle had quitted the part of the +country in which they had been so long known to graze, there was yet much +reason to believe that this was not the case; for, on visiting them, they +were not always to be found in one spot. + +It will be sufficient to state the following circumstance, to show the +unpleasant and distressing situation of the principal officer of the +settlement, by the construction that was put on his endeavours to rectify +every abuse that the inhabitants might labour under. + +An infamous and seditious anonymous paper was dropped in the streets, in +which the governor and every officer in the colony were most scurrilously +abused and libelled, and accused of practising extortions in the way of +trade. This would not have been misplaced, had the abuse been confined +to the description of persons who really deserved it, and truth had been +attended to, which would have afforded them ample materials. But, +although it must have been evident to every one who had sense to see it, +that the governor, from the hour of his arrival, had used his utmost +endeavours to put an end to the practice of so much imposition; yet this +libeller inferred, from his not succeeding, that he was become one in the +number of retail traders who disgraced the settlement. + +A reward was immediately offered for the discovery of the offender; but, +as might have been expected, without success. + +The three persons who had been sent out with the Irishmen, that were so +desirous of discovering a country wherein they might live more at their +ease, returned on the 9th, so much exhausted with fatigue that two of +them were scarcely able to move when they arrived. Wilson, who was the +third, having been longer in the habit of travelling through the woods, +kept up their spirits, and thereby enabled them to reach Prospect Hill +about sunset; where, from long abstinence, having had nothing to support +them for several days, except two or three small birds, the refreshment +which they procured had nearly overcome them. Such were the difficulties +attending excursions in the interior of this country. With Wilson, who +knew much of the country, and was well qualified to conduct the party, +the governor sent a lad, a free servant of his, who was capable of giving +an account of the occurrences of the journey; and from him the following +particulars were collected: + +From Mount Hunter (which was the highest land then known in that part of +the country, and distant from the township of Parramatta from about 30 to +34 miles in a SW direction) they took their departure on the 24th of last +month, travelling in a SSW course for 18 miles, 12 of which laid through +a fine open country. There they fell in with the river Nepean, which was +found winding to the southward and westward, close behind the cow pasture +plains. The banks of the river being at this place exceedingly steep and +rocky, they had some difficulty in getting across. On the other side the +ground wore a barren, unpromising appearance; and during the day they saw +only a few kangaroos of a particular kind, having long, black, and brushy +tails; with a few birds, which from the length of the tail feathers, they +denominated pheasants. + +On the 25th they continued in their course, SSW for six miles, through a +country in general open, and apparently of a good black soil. In the +course of the day they saw many kangaroos and several emus; and fell in +with a party of natives, one of whom engaged to accompany them, on +condition of their halting for that night where they then were. +Consenting to this, they had leisure to examine a hill in that +neighbourhood, the face of which appeared white, and proved to be an +immense cliff of salt, a specimen of which they brought in. + +On the 26th, they determined to incline more to the westward, and +travelled 16 miles in a direction WSW over a rocky country, covered with +brush wood, and a prickly kind of vine. They did not meet with any +natives; and that animals existed there, they only saw by their faeces. + +They continued on the 27th travelling in the same direction about 16 +miles; the first six of which were like those of the preceding day. From +thence they got into an open but mountainous country, where they crossed +a small river, and discovered a quantity of coal and limestone. Here +every mile they went the scene improved. The rocky and barren ground was +exchanged for a flat country and beautiful meadows, furnishing pasture +for the kangaroos and emus, several of which they saw. The timber was +observed to run small, and to be thinly scattered about, there being +scarcely ten trees upon an acre of ground. The quality of them was known +in the settlement, where a similar timber was called the Black Wattle. + +On the 28th their course was still WSW and their distance increased 20 +miles in that direction. The land and the timber on it were much the same +as they had seen the preceding day. In one part they ascended a hill, +from which they obtained a view of the country for some distance round. +To the northward it seemed to be open, and thinly clad with timber: to +the north-westward they saw some high mountains, and an appearance of +much good land in that direction: to the westward they observed a deep +break in the land; this they conjectured to be formed by a river, which, +if one, laid in a SE and NW direction. To the southward the land seemed +high, but still open. In the course of this day's journey they met with a +party of the natives, who appeared much terrified, and instantly ran away +from them. One of the party, however, pursued and came up with a woman +and child, whom he detained, from an opinion that the men might be +thereby induced to return; but, although she remained with them the whole +of the night, which she passed in tears and lamentations, not knowing +what fate might await her, the men did not appear. They, therefore, made +her a present of a small hatchet, and in the morning sent her back to her +friends. Wilson, understanding something of the language of these +mountain natives, hoped to have gained some information of the country +from this woman; but she could not comprehend him. + +These natives were all clothed with garments of skins of different +animals, which reached from their shoulders down to their heels. + +On the 29th, they again travelled 24 miles in the same direction. During +the first four miles the country was not good, the ground being rocky and +covered with low shrubs, and here and there intersected with creeks, +which appeared all to run toward some river, probably to that which from +the top of the hill they supposed to be one. At the head of those creeks +they saw several falls of water, one of which fell at the least 40 feet, +and two others not less than 20 feet each. They now walked to the +northward for 12 miles, thinking to get round the heads of the creeks; +but unfortunately they fell in with more. They then determined to keep +their former course of WSW, but found the country rocky and barren. Here +they observed a tree which they had not before noticed, about the size of +an apple-tree; the leaves of which were of a lighter blue than the powder +blue used in washing, and the bark resembling that of the mahogany tree. +They also passed the dung of an animal to appearance as large as that of +a horse. + +The party were now much exhausted, having had nothing to eat for two +days, except one rat, about the size of a kitten. Wilson was able to go +forward; but his companions were very unwell, and began to wish +themselves back. + +On the 30th, they continued for 16 miles in the same direction of WSW. In +the course of the day they fell in with the head of a river, very nearly +as large as the Hawkesbury, appearing to run from SE to NW. Its banks +were so rocky and steep that they would have found infinite difficulty in +descending them; to which they were strongly invited by the appearance of +a level open country on the other side; and Wilson proposed making a +canoe to cross over with; but both the others were so faint and tired, +having had nothing to eat, in addition to the rat, but two small birds +each, that they were afraid to venture. Their shoes being worn out, and +their feet cut and bruised by walking so long, they proposed returning. + +This being agreed to, on the 1st of this month they steered back in a +direction SE by E in which having walked about nine miles, they fell in +with many spacious meadows thinly chequered with trees, extending for at +least some hundred acres. The hills which they met with were as slightly +covered with timber; and what there was, was light. The ground was of a +good quality, except on the tops of the hills, where it was stony. Here, +for want of food, they were much exhausted, and observed many birds which +they had not before seen, but could not approach near enough to shoot. + +On the 2nd, their course was ENE through a delightful country, full of +capacious meadows, extending for some thousands of acres, with only a +single tree here and there. Some of these meadows were watered by ponds +of great length, but they did not perceive any wild fowl on them. From +thence, to the SW the country looked well. In the latter part of the day, +having passed the first ridge of mountains, they fell in with a vast +number of kangaroos, one of which they had the good fortune to kill, and +were much refreshed by it. + +On the morning of the 3rd, they thought they heard the report of two guns +in the SE which they answered; but they were not returned. They were now +in that part of the country which Wilson was acquainted with; but it was +an unfruitful spot, and badly calculated for travellers in their +situation, producing nothing but a few roots and grub worms. They must +even here have perished, had it not been for the great exertions made by +Wilson, who kept up their spirits by assurances of being near Prospect +Hill; which place, after much toil and difficulty, they at length +reached, when despairing of living to see it. + +This is the sum of the information given by these people. With respect to +the direction in which they travelled, that might not be very correct, +nor can much reliance be placed on their judgment of the distances which +they went in each day. Of the face of the country their account may be +more just. Of its inability to support the traveller, their appearance +was a most convincing argument: and this narrative of their journey has +been detailed so much at length, not only because these people had +penetrated farther than any European had ever been before; but to show +the labour, danger, and difficulties, which attended the exploring the +interior of this extensive country. + +On arranging their courses and distances on paper, they appeared to have +travelled in a direction SW three-fourths W about 140 miles from +Parramatta. They brought in with them one of the birds which they had +named pheasants, but which on examination appeared to be a variety of the +Bird of Paradise. + +The size of this curious and handsome bird was that of a common hen; the +colour a reddish black, the bill long, the legs black and very strong. +The tail, about two feet in length, was formed of several feathers, two +of which were the principal, having the interior sides scalloped +alternately of a deeper or lighter reddish brown inclining to orange, +shading gently into a white or silver colour next the stem, crossing each +other, and at the very extremity terminating in a broad black round +finishing. The difference of colour in the scallops did not proceed from +any precise change in the colour itself, but from the texture of the +feather, which was alternately thicker and thinner. The fibres of the +outer side of the stem were narrow and of a lead colour. Two other +feathers of equal length, and of a blueish or lead colour, lay within +those; very narrow, and having fibres only on one side of the stem. Many +other feathers of the same length lay within those again, which were of a +pale greyish colour, and of the most delicate texture, resembling more +the skeleton of a feather than a perfect one. The annexed engraving, +from the pencil of a capital artist, will give a better idea of this +beautiful bird than can be formed from any description. + +A general muster took place on the 14th in every district of the colony, +at which every labouring man, whether free or convict, was obliged to +appear. On the following morning the settlers were called over, previous +to which, the governor, who was present, informed them, that he had heard +of much discontent prevailing among them in consequence of certain heavy +grievances which they said they laboured under. For these, as he was +unacquainted with the nature of them, he was unable to suggest any +remedy; he therefore desired that they might be represented to him in +writing; and, to spare them as much trouble as possible, he would direct +two gentlemen on whom he had much dependance to visit the different +districts, and collect from the respective settlers such of their +distresses and grievances as they were desirous of making known. Before +they were dismissed, he gave them much good advice; and assured them, +that he had already, from his own ideas, offered a plan to the secretary +of state for their benefit, which he hoped would in due time be attended +to. + +After these, the women and children were mustered, and were found to +compose a very considerable part of the settlement. + +With the ripening of the maize fields, the depredations of the natives +returned. On the 19th the governor received a dispatch from Parramatta, +containing an account, that a man had been murdered by them near +Toongabbie, and three others severely wounded; and a few days after two +others were killed in the same manner. It became, from these +circumstances, absolutely necessary to send out numerous well-armed +parties, and attack them wherever they should be met with; for lenity or +forbearance had only been followed by repeated acts of cruelty. + +Toward the latter end of the month, Mr. Bass, the surgeon of the +_Reliance_, returned from an excursion in an open boat to the +southward, after an absence of twelve weeks. This gentleman, who had +little to occupy him while his ship was refitting, disliking an idle +life, possessing with a good constitution a mind and body strong and +vigorous, and being endowed with great good sense, ingenuity, and +observation, requested the governor to allow him a boat, and permit him +to man her with volunteers from the King's ships; proposing to go along +the coast, and make such observations as might be in his power. The +governor readily consenting, he set out, as well provided as the size of +his boat would allow; and in her, against much adverse wind and bad +weather, he persevered, as far to the southward as the latitude 40 +degrees 00 minutes, visiting every opening in the coast; but only in one +place, to the southward and westward of Point Hicks, finding a harbour +capable of admitting ships. There was every appearance of an extensive +strait, or rather an open sea, between the latitudes of 39 degrees and 40 +degrees south, and that Van Diemen's land consisted (as had been +conjectured) of a group of islands lying off the southern coast of the +country. + +It appeared from Mr. Bass's account, that there was but very little good +ground to the southward. His occasional excursions into the interior, +situated as he found himself with an open boat, in which he could carry +but a small stock of provisions, could not be very extensive; he, +however, went far enough to discover that there was but little good land +near the sea; but, had it even been superior to those parts which were +known, the want of harbours, even for small vessels, would lessen its +value much. He regretted that he had not been possessed of a better +vessel, which would have enabled him to circumnavigate Van Diemen's land. + +In the _Francis_, which was at this time on her passage to the +island where the _Sydney Cove_ was wrecked, the governor had sent +Lieutenant Flinders of the _Reliance_, a young gentleman well +qualified for the purpose, who was instructed to make what observations +he was able relative to the anchorage and situation of those islands. + +Mr. Bass, on his return, picked up, on an island near the coast, the +seven men who, it may be remembered, were a part of those who ran off +with a settler's boat, and had been left in this place by their +companions. Being utterly incapable of taking them into his boat, he put +them upon the main land, furnished them with a part of his provisions for +their support, and a gun with some ammunition for their protection. Two +who were ill he took into his boat, and left the other five to begin +their march to the northward, at the distance of upwards of 400 miles +from Port Jackson. They were nearly naked, almost starved, and must +inevitably have perished on the island, had not Mr. Bass discovered a +smoke that they had made to attract his attention; which he, being at no +great distance, took for a smoke made by some natives, and went near to +converse with them. + +During this month the beams of the third floor of the new wind-mill were +laid, and bricks were brought in for the new granary. At Parramatta the +people were employed in preparing for the erection of a granary for +Indian corn; which, when finished, would enable the governor to commute a +substantial building now employed for a store-house for that grain, into +a granary for wheat. Much of this latter article was brought round from +the Hawkesbury in this month. + +Toward the latter end of the month there was an unusually heavy fall of +rain about ten o'clock at night. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + + +Pe-mul-wy +Strange idea respecting him +Civil court meets; nature of the business brought before it +Advice of the governor to the settlers +The _Francis_ returns from Preservation Island +A trusty person sent to look for a salt hill said to be to the westward +The wild cattle seen +A new animal, the Wombat, found; described +Some Irish runaways give themselves up +A seizure made of timber for government +Transactions +Weather +April +The criminal court meets +Three men executed +Reflections +Accidents among the stock +Discoveries prosecuted +Settlers and their complaints +An old woman accused of dreaming +Works in hand +Weather + + +March.] A strange idea was found to prevail among the natives respecting +the savage Pe-mul-wy, which was very likely to prove fatal to him in the +end. Both he and they entertained an opinion, that, from his having been +frequently wounded, he could not be killed by our fire-arms. Through this +fancied security, he was said to be at the head of every party that +attacked the maize grounds; and it certainly became expedient to convince +them both that he was not endowed with any such extraordinary exemption. + +On the 5th, the court of civil judicature was held at Parramatta. Several +writs were issued, and prosecutions for debt entered; and on the 7th the +court adjourned until the 19th. On that day it met, and continued sitting +until the 24th, when all the business before them was concluded. This +consisted chiefly of litigation about debts contracted between the retail +dealers and the settlers. As a proof to what a height this business had +reached, it need only be mentioned, that an appeal was made to the +governor in one prosecution for a debt of £868 16s 10d; which appeal was +however withdrawn, the defendant consenting to pay the debt. + +The governor, having received from the settlers in each district, through +the medium of the two gentlemen whom he sent amongst them for that +purpose (the Rev. Mr. Marsden, and Mr. Arndell), a clear and correct +statement of their grievances and distresses, informed them, that it was +with real concern he beheld the effects of the meeting of each civil +court, which, for the public accommodation, he from time to time had +occasion to assemble. The vast load of debt with which they so frequently +felt themselves burdened, through the imposition and extortion of the +multitude of petty dealers by whom the colony was so much troubled, with +the difficulties under which the industrious man laboured for want of +some other mode of providing the necessaries which he required, were +grievances of which he was determined to get the better; and, as far as +his situation would authorise him, he would adopt every means in his +power to afford them relief. To this end he found it absolutely necessary +to suppress many of those licensed public houses which, when first +permitted, were designed as a convenience to the labouring people; but +which he now saw were the principal cause whence many had candidly +confessed their ruin to have sprung. + +He wished it were possible to dissuade them from heaping such heavy debts +upon themselves by the enjoyment of articles which they could do without, +or by throwing away their money in purchasing, at every public auction, +rags and trifles for which such exorbitant sums were exacted. He urged +them, with a paternal anxiety, to consider, that their folly involved +their whole families in ruin and misfortune, and conjured them to wait +with patience the result of some representations which he had made to +government, as well in their behalf, as in behalf of the settlers upon +Norfolk Island; by which he hoped that ere long they would have an +opportunity of purchasing every European article that they might want at +such a reasonable and moderate price as they, by their industry, would be +very well able to afford from the produce of their labour. + +The island upon which Captain Hamilton had run his ship, and thereby +prevented her sinking with them at sea, was thenceforward to be +distinguished by the name of Preservation Island. From thence the +Colonial schooner had arrived with what remained of the property. As soon +as she was unloaded, the property was put up to sale for the benefit of +the underwriters; when the little effect of the governor's recommendation +of patience was seen, by the most enormous prices being paid for every +article. The money that should have been expended in the cultivation and +improvement of their farms was thus lavishly thrown away; and it +happened, fortunately enough for the underwriters that the wheat of this +last season had been received into the public granary, and immediately +paid for. Twenty-two shillings were paid at this sale for one common cup +and saucer. + +Wishing to obtain some further information respecting the salt-hill seen +by Wilson and his companions in their late excursion, the governor had +sent Henry Hacking thither. At his return he produced some specimens of +various veins of salt which he fell in with in different places, of 10 +and 12 feet in depth. He reported, that he found the country every where +intersected with narrow, but deep and rapid branches of fresh water +rivers, over some of which he was obliged to swim; others he was able to +ford. + +Having been directed to seek for the wild cattle while in their +neighbourhood, he reported, that about five or six miles from the place +where we usually found them, he suddenly fell in with the most numerous +herd that he had yet seen; in which he counted 170 very distinctly, and +afterwards saw a few stragglers. It was some satisfaction to know that +they were perfectly safe. + +By the _Francis_, the governor received one of the animals on which +the people had chiefly lived during their abode on Preservation Island. +It was brought to him alive, but thin and faint for want of food, which, +owing to its state of confinement on board the vessel, it would never +take. It, however, appeared to recover on shore; and, although during the +short time it lived, it was not observed to eat during the day, yet there +was reason to think it was not so abstemious in the night. It was offered +flesh; but this it would not touch, although it was supposed to visit the +nests of the puffin which burrowed on the island. + +This animal had been found to the southward and south-westward, by Wilson +and his companions, who shot one, and, in their want of provisions, might +be said to feast upon it. They observed, that it resembled pork in +flavour, though not in colour, being red and coarse. It was very fat, as +were the kangaroos which they found in the interior; differing in that +point very widely from any kangaroos which had been before seen; not a +particle of fat having ever been found on one of them. + +The mountain natives named this new animal Wombat, and said it was good +eating; but it was wholly unknown to those who were admitted into the +settlement. + +The men who, in the beginning of January last, had boarded and carried +off the boat belonging to Owen Cavanagh, were heard of again. About the +latter end of this month, a report was brought in, that a piratical boat +was infesting the harbour of Broken Bay, and the Hawkesbury. The day +following, the governor received a letter signed by these men, in which +they professed to repent of their former conduct, and implored +forgiveness. They said, they had been wrecked about 400 miles to the +northward, when they with difficulty got on shore, saving as much of the +remains of Cavanagh's boat as enabled them to build a smaller, in which +they had returned, and surrendered themselves to justice; pretending to +have had their eyes opened to the danger with which attempts at desertion +from the colony must ever be attended, and promising to convince the +minds of their ignorant countrymen that every such attempt must be +followed by inevitable ruin. The language of this letter was far above +the capacity of any of the party; and the part of their story which +related to their building a boat capable of carrying the whole number so +great a distance wore very little appearance of probability. The truth +was, they had by some means reached as far as Broken Bay, where they had +been lurking about for some days; meaning, no doubt, to seize the first +boat loaded with grain which they might be able to secure, and then put +off again for as long a time as their provisions would last. They +certainly proposed to live by piracy; but not being able with their small +boat to come up with any of the boats which they pursued, and being no +longer able to exist without provisions, added to the danger they were +always in of being pursued and at length taken, they preferred giving +themselves up. They were armed with five muskets; and certainly had the +will as well as the ability to do a great deal of mischief. They were +placed in confinement, and charges preferred against them for piracy. + +This was absolutely necessary; as the suffering such offences to pass +with impunity would have been productive of the greatest evil. Crimes +would have been multiplied on crimes, which the officers who composed the +court of criminal judicature would certainly have deemed unnecessary. The +utmost vigilance was constantly requisite to guard against robberies both +on the land and water. It was impossible, in such a community as this, to +have a police too strict, or to be sufficiently aware at all times of +such a nest of villains. Many examples had been made; but, after a few +days had elapsed, they were forgotten; and every act of lenity or +indulgence was found to be ruinous to the welfare and comfort of the +whole. It was to be hoped, however, that the introduction of more of the +better, and fewer of the worst sort of characters, would in due time give +the balance a favourable turn. + +In each grant of land to individuals from the crown, there was a clause, +expressly reserving for the use of government such of the timber which +might be growing thereon as should be deemed fit for naval purposes. The +wanton destruction of this timber occasioned the publication of an order +in the month of December 1795, prohibiting the cutting it down. The +practice, however, continuing from time to time (for of what avail were +orders among such a disorderly set of people), the _Sydney_ schooner +was sent round to the Hawkesbury, to make a seizure of a quantity of +timber that had been cut down by individuals for private sale. This +seizure was of some consequence just at this time; as the governor was +building a brig to replace the _Supply_ (from 125 to 150 tons burden), +which had been condemned by survey as totally unfit for the future +service of the settlement, and a large boat, a new Cumberland, in +the room of that which had been taken away by the crew. The colony was at +this time in such want of naval stores of every kind, that the ruin of +all the floating craft, so lately in good condition, was nearly effected. +The bottoms of the boats were destroyed by the worms, for want of pitch, +tar, paint, and oil; and in order to enable the Colonial schooner to +proceed to Norfolk Island (for which place she was preparing to sail, in +company with the _Reliance_), it had been necessary to reduce part +of the _Supply's_ sails, and convert them to her use. + +Arrivals from England, with provisions as well as stores, were now rather +anxiously expected, as 16 months had elapsed since the last were +received. Public works of all kinds went on slowly; the servants of +government being but few in proportion to the labour to be performed by +them, and all kinds of implements bad in quality, and scarce. A few slops +were served to the male convicts in the beginning of this month, they +being nearly naked, and the store unable to supply them with covering. + +The tower of the new wind-mill was, under all these disadvantages, +completed, and the machinery put in hand. This tower was of large +dimensions, being 30 feet in height, and erected on a rock which was +considerably higher than the surrounding ground. The wheel was four feet +in thickness, and the diameter within was 20 feet. + +There was very little intermission of rain, thunder, and lightning, +during the whole of the month. + +April.] This month opened with a necessary act of justice. Five men were +capitally convicted, before the court of criminal judicature, of seizing +two boats, the property of individuals, with an intent of escaping from +the colony. One man was capitally convicted of a robbery; three were +transported to Norfolk Island for 14 years; one for 7; one was adjudged +corporal punishment, and one acquitted. + +Two of the five that were condemned for seizing the boats suffered death +at Sydney, after a week's preparation for that awful moment. Their +companions were respited at the place of execution. They were all +extremely penitent, confessed the justice of their sentence, and +acknowledged how much mischief they had done, and how much more they +meditated, had they not been overtaken by justice. + +One man, for robbery, was executed at Parramatta, George Mitton, who +certainly was a very fit subject for an example. He had been twice +pardoned when under sentence of death; once in Ireland; and once in this +country, by the present governor, for an offence similar to that for +which he now suffered. + +These melancholy instances, had they been properly attended to, must have +shown to the convicts not only the difficulty which accompanied every +attempt to escape privately from the colony, and the danger to which +those who made the trial exposed themselves, but the certainty of meeting +that punishment which the various crimes that they committed on such +occasions so highly merited. The governor, in an order which he now +published, was desirous of calling back to the recollection of these +misguided people, who had been, either through ignorance, or through the +profligacy of their dispositions, so readily prevailed upon to engage in +such dangerous enterprises, that they would find an attention to the +advice which he had so often given them the most effectual means of +ensuring their real happiness. They would also recollect, that an +information was given him on the 19th of January last, in which he +appeared to have foreseen, and had pointed out to those piratical gangs +who wished to make their escape from hence, what would be the fate of +those who were of least use to the general plan of such gangs, that they +would probably, if in danger at sea in their boat, be thrown overboard to +lighten her, or be landed on some part of the coast, where, beyond a +doubt, they would perish. How far this prediction had been verified, +those who were concerned in taking off the settlers' boat, and who might +now be in the settlement, could best tell. It was well known, that they +had treacherously left seven men upon a desolate island far to the +southward, where they must have perished for want, had they not been +discovered in a most miraculous manner. He wished those facts to be +impressed upon the minds of the whole colony; they would then probably +discover in what their real interest consisted, and on what their true +happiness depended. To be honest and industrious had been often hewn to +be the most certain means of procuring those blessings. + +Mitton, before he was executed, confessed in a moment of penitence, that +many robberies had been concerted, and were to have been committed by him +and some others. He mentioned, as their chief instigator upon these +occasions, a woman of the name of Robley (the wife of a blacksmith at +Sydney), who received all the property which they might collect in this +way. Dreading this discovery, she found it convenient to offer to accuse +others, or she would inevitably have been convicted herself. + +It was reported by a native woman from the Hawkesbury, that she had seen +the two mares which were stolen some time since from Parramatta, and that +they were in the neighbourhood of that river. She also mentioned, that +one of the men who went off with them had been killed by the natives, and +that the other had perished with hunger. + +The proprietors of this valuable article of stock were rather unfortunate +in the care of it, notwithstanding the high price which it bore. The +acting commissary lost a very fine mare, through the stupidity of an +Irish servant, who put a short halter round her neck, with a running +knot, by which she was strangled in the night; and information had been +received of the death of two foals belonging to government. This accident +proceeded from want of proper care in those who were appointed to look +after them; but unfortunately, though they were often changed, the change +was never found to be for the better. + +When Hacking was sent to the salt-hill in the preceding month, he was +accompanied by Wilson and another man, who were directed to penetrate as +far into the interior of the country as the provisions which they were +able to carry would permit them. They returned after an absence of three +weeks, and reported that they had been about 140 miles in a direction SW +by S from Prospect Hill. In the course of their journey they travelled +over a vast variety of country, and fell in with more salt-hills. They +also met with many narrow rivers or creeks (with which the country +appeared to be much intersected), and found some very extensive tracts of +open luxuriant ground, as well as much unpromising land. They ascended +several hills of great height, from which their prospect was extensive, +and whence they discovered mountains rising upon mountains to the +westward; all of which appeared exceedingly high. They did not, however, +meet a single native in all their journey (a proof that the human race +was but thinly scattered over the interior part of this extensive +country); but they brought with them another of those beautiful birds +before described. + +Wishing to ascertain the truth of every report that tended to improve our +knowledge of the internal advantages which this country possessed, the +governor sent a small party, with some natives, to determine whether +there was any salt in the neighbourhood of Broken Bay. Captain Waterhouse +(of the _Reliance_), who undertook the search, found the place that +had been described, and also discovered some salt; but it had been +produced by the spray of the sea near which it laid, and which, breaking +over some rocky parts of the shore in bad weather, and draining down +behind, had occasioned the accumulation of a large quantity of that +article among the sand, and upon the adjacent rocks. + +The settlers, although certainly undeserving of the attention which they +met with from the governor, were constantly laying their complaints +before him. He now received a petition from them, in which they +represented the great distress that they laboured under, as well from the +high wages which they gave to hired servants for working their ground, as +from the immense price which they paid for every article necessary to +carry on that business. On this account, they requested that the price of +maize might be continued at the same rate as in the last year. + +The governor, sensible of their distresses, and ever ready to listen to +any reasonable application which those distresses might induce them to +make, gave directions to the commissary to receive it at the price which +they petitioned for. But, as it was no less his duty to diminish the +heavy expenses of the colony, than it was his wish to render the +situation of the industrious farmer easy and comfortable, they were +informed, that they must very shortly look forward to a reduction in the +price of grain of every kind. + +They laboured, however, under another evil, which was the effect of an +unbounded rage for traffic that pervaded nearly the whole settlement. The +delivery of grain into the public storehouses, when open for that +purpose, was so completely monopolised, that the settlers had but few +opportunities of getting the full value for their crops. A few words will +place this iniquitous combination in its proper light. The settler found +himself thrust out from the granary, by a man whose greater opulence +created greater influence. He was then driven by his necessities to +dispose of his grain for less than half its value. To whom did he dispose +of it! to the very man whose greater opulence enabled him to purchase it, +and whose greater influence could get it received into the public store! + +Orders had been repeatedly issued on this very subject, the store-keepers +being most pointedly directed to give the preference to the man whose +grain was the produce of his own labour; and if any favour were shown, to +let it be to the poor but industrious settler who might be encumbered +with a large family. But these necessary and humane directions had been +too often frustrated by circumstances which were carefully kept from the +knowledge of the governor; it was, however, proved to him, that on +occasion of the store at the Hawkesbury being opened for the reception of +1500 bushels of wheat, the whole was engrossed by two or three of these +opulent traders, to the exclusion and injury of others, and the petty +farmers in general. The store-keeper was not dismissed, because a better +might not have been found; but the governor directed, that half the +quantity of wheat thus partially and improperly put in should be taken +away, and room made for the accommodation of the settlers. + +A report prevailed at this time among the labouring people, particularly +the Irish, who were always foremost in every mischief and discontent, +that an old woman had prophesied the arrival of several French frigates, +or larger ships of war, who were, after destroying the settlement, to +liberate and take off the whole of the convicts. The rapidity with which +this ridiculous tale was circulated is incredible. The effect was such as +might have been expected. One refractory fellow, while working in a +numerous gang at Toongabbie, threw down his hoe, advanced before the +rest, and gave three cheers for liberty. This for a while seemed well +received; but, a magistrate fortunately being at hand, the business was +put an end to, by securing the advocate for liberty, tying him up in the +field, and giving him a severe flogging. + +A few days after he had been informed of this circumstance, the governor +visited the working gangs at Toongabbie. On his return to Parramatta, he +met the prophetess upon the road, a very old Scotch woman, who, as soon +as she discovered the governor, held up her hands, and begged that he +would listen to her for a few minutes, while she would endeavour to +contradict the malicious reports which had been propagated in her name. +She said, that she had heard that he was offended with her; which he +assured her depended upon the truth of the information which he had +received. This, she was anxious to convince him, was totally false, and +had proceeded from a bad man, who, as she made a little beer, and sold it +to the labouring people, had called for some one day at her hut, and +entered into conversation with her about the expected arrival of ships +with stores from England. This induced the old woman to recount a dream +which she had had the night before, and from which she was led to hope +that ships would soon arrive. Out of this conversation and dream, a story +had been fabricated, purporting that this harmless old creature had +prophesied many extraordinary things; so that she had the credit of all +the absurd and extravagant additions which some designing and wicked +villains had made to the original story. + +The governor told her that he saw through the whole business, and desired +that she would no longer be uneasy about the impression which the first +account had made upon him. With this condescension she appeared to be +highly gratified; for she had been under much distress and vexation +before she met with this accidental opportunity of showing him from +whence this mischievous story had originated. + +The timber for the new wind-mill was brought in during this month; and the +floor of the government house having given way, the carpenters were +employed to repair it. + +Arrivals from England were now hourly expected, as strong gales had blown +for some time from the southward. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + + +Some Irishmen providentially saved from perishing +The _Nautilus_ arrives from Otaheite +Missionaries +Order respecting the sawyers +The _Barwell_ arrives with convicts +A judge-advocate sent out +Information +The _Reliance_ and _Schooner_ sail for Norfolk Island +Information sent thither +Natives +Works and weather in May +June +Ground fixed on for the missionaries +The Hunter arrives from Bengal +Regulations +The commander of the _Sydney Cove_ dies +A decked boat arrives from Norfolk Island +Maize harvest completed +Weather + + +May.] In the afternoon of the 2nd of this month, certain Irishmen, who +had been for some time employed in searching for a road to China (that +delirium still remaining unsubdued among them), were brought in by one of +the settlers upon George's river. They had been wandering through the +woods, until they were near perishing for want of food, and were +discovered in a most unlooked-for manner. Some people in going from +Botany Bay up George's river had lost their way, the weather being +exceedingly hazy, by following a branch of that river which had never +been looked into. By this mistake, they fell in with these people, whose +ignorance of the country had led them down upon a point of land which was +placed between two waters, where they had been for nine days, unable to +find their way back, and must soon have perished, had it not been for the +accidental mistake of the people in the boat. The account which they gave +of their travels and distresses was not worth giving a place to here, +being nothing more than what might be conjectured. + +It was hoped, however, that their appearance, for they were weak and +languid when brought in, together with their story, would teach their +countrymen a little more wisdom. + +While such vagabonds as these were roaming about the country, the safety +of the stock was much endangered. A fine bull calf belonging to an +officer was about this time taken from the herd; and, though considerable +rewards were offered for the discovery of the offender, nothing +transpired that could lead to it. This was a serious evil; for the care +and attention of years might in one night's time be destroyed, by the +villainy of a few of these lawless people. It was, however, visible that +the improvement which had taken place in the civil police within the last +two years had considerably checked the commission of robberies of every +kind. + +In the evening of the 14th, a small brig, the _Nautilus_, arrived +from the island of Otaheite, in very great distress. This little vessel +had been unfortunate in losing her passage to the NW coast of America, +and had been at Kamschatka, the Sandwich Islands, and Otaheite. Being +exceedingly infirm and worn out, the master found it impossible to effect +the repairs which his vessel wanted at either of those places, and had +touched at Otaheite for such refreshment as the crew required, +determining to endeavour in their very leaky condition to reach this +port, where they hoped to receive such assistance as might enable them to +get to India. + +On their arrival at Otaheite, they found that the missionaries, who had +been sent thither from England for the purpose of propagating the +Christian religion, were not on so comfortable a footing with the natives +as could have been wished, being in a manner shut up within their little +fortress. The natives had made use of threats, and had signified an +intention of taking off their women (several of the missionaries having +been accompanied by their wives and families). The arrival at Otaheite of +this little vessel in some degree relieved them from the anxiety under +which they had for some time laboured, and they determined to quit the +island in her, if it should be practicable. Her commander, Mr. Bishop, +showed them every attention which the shattered state of the brig would +admit; embarked men, women, and children, to the number of 19; and, +though with infinite difficulty, brought them in safety to this port, the +vessel being so extremely leaky, that it required the labour of the whole +company to keep her above water. She was not able to bring them all away, +six or seven remaining upon the island, whose fate was certainly very +precarious. Those who had arrived were treated by the colonists with +every attention, and every possible relief administered to their +distresses. + +The deceptions and impositions which were daily in practice among the +labouring part of the colony, to the great injury of the concerns of +government, rendered it highly expedient that the governor, who had those +concerns to attend to, should be assisted by trusty and active persons in +every situation where public works might be carrying on. Having made some +discoveries of this nature in the department of the sawyers, he issued a +public order, specifying the hours which should be employed in every +branch of public labour. This had by no means been the first attempt to +check the impositions of these people; but it was found, that the private +concerns of those who should superintend the various public works +occupied so much of their time, that their duty was either wholly +neglected or carelessly performed. This created such a relaxation of +discipline, that a repetition of orders and regulations were from time to +time published, to keep the labouring people constantly in mind that they +were the servants of the crown, and remind those who were appointed to +look after them, that they had neglected that duty which should ever have +been their first and principal consideration. + +The expected signal for a vessel was at length made at the South Head on +the morning of the 18th; and in the afternoon the ship _Barwell_ +arrived from England, with male convicts, some stores, and provisions. It +must be supposed, that while the mother country was engaged in such a war +as then subsisted, she would not spare from the service of the state any +other than the most worthless characters, who, instead of assisting in +the public defence against the common enemy, were employed in +perpetrating private injuries. The weakness of the public gangs, however, +was such, that this allotment of villainy was considered as an +acquisition to the general strength, and it was hoped that they might be +employed to advantage. + +The _Barwell_, touching at the Cape of Good Hope, brought an account +of the loss of the _Lady Shore_ transport in her passage to this +settlement, having on board about 60 convicts, three only of whom were +males, and a large assortment of all kinds of stores which had been so +long and so much wanted. There was also a complete company of recruits +for the New South Wales Corps on board, to whom was owing the loss of the +ship; for, after murdering the commander, Mr. Wilcox, and his first mate, +they took possession of the ship, and carried her into Rio de la Plata, +where she was delivered up to the Spaniards. This ship, besides the +public stores, had a great deal of private property on board, and was a +serious loss to the colony. + +It will be seen, by referring to the former account of this settlement, +that an accident happened to his Majesty's ship the _Guardian_, +whereby much public and private property was prevented from reaching the +settlement. This made only the second misfortune that had happened to +ships coming from England in the course of 11 years; and, when it is +considered, that the major part of them were filled with people who would +have run any hazard rather than reach the place of their destination, it +may be matter of surprise and satisfaction that so few had occurred. + +In the _Barwell_ arrived another judge-advocate*, in the room of +Captain Collins, who had resigned that situation. It was also signified, +that two ships, the _Buffalo_ and the _Porpoise_, were fitting +for the service of the colony in the room of the _Reliance_ and the +_Supply_. + +[* Mr. Richard Dore.] + +Instructions had also been received from his Majesty's ministers by the +governor, upon some points on which he had requested orders, particularly +relative to the number of labouring people who had for such a length of +time been allowed to the civil and military officers at the public +expense. By these instructions, the number was now limited to two; and +such others as they might be disposed to employ were to be maintained and +clothed by their employers; or, if fed and clothed at the public expense, +to be paid for to government at a certain rate, which payment might be +made in the produce of the farms that they were employed to cultivate. + +The distance at which the settlement was placed from the mother country +was such, that the victories of one year were succeeded by those of +another before the fame of them reached the colony. By this ship accounts +were first received of the complete victory gained by the superior +abilities of Earl St. Vincent over the Spanish fleet, and of the +brilliant conquest of the Dutch fleet obtained by Lord Duncan. + +Among the convicts who were received by the _Barwell_ were some +useful mechanics; a real acquisition, as the governor would thereby be +enabled to discharge some free people, whom he had been obliged to hire +for various necessary and unavoidable purposes. + +On the 29th, the _Reliance_ and _Francis_ schooner sailed for +Norfolk Island, carrying with them such a proportion of the stores +received by the _Barwell_ as could be spared. On board of the +_Reliance_ were sent 100 casks of salt provisions, and 1200 bushels +of wheat, an article to which the soil and temperature of the island was +not favourable. + +As the governor had received several petitions and complaints from the +settlers there, he caused the following order to be printed and sent +thither for their information: + +From the nature of the difficulties of which the settlers upon Norfolk +island have complained, difficulties which have not until very lately +been known to have an existence, the governor is led to suspect, that the +same rage for traffic, and an intemperate indulgence in some of those +destructive gratifications which have so effectually ruined many of the +most forward and promising settlers in New South Wales, have reached +Norfolk Island. + +His Excellency, from an earnest desire to promote the prosperity of the +island, and the true happiness of its inhabitants, has, since his arrival +in this country, availed himself of every opportunity of forwarding for +their accommodation a share of such little comforts, as accidental ships +may have brought hither. But he is sorry to observe, that, instead of +those attentions being felt as an advantage, they appear only to operate +as an incitement to more extensive dealings; a circumstance which he +foresees must end in the ruin of many of the settlers, for whose welfare +he is extremely anxious. He therefore urges them not to be led away from +their real interest, by speculative ideas, or a desire of indulging in +dangerous gratifications, squandering the whole produce of their hard +labour in trifles, or in scenes of dissipation which must eventually end +in their complete ruin. He desires that they will persevere with patience +in the management of their farms, and the rearing of stock; and assures +them, that he has taken such steps as he hopes will incline the +government to consider the inconveniences which are sustained in this +distant part of the world, and induce them to adopt such measures as will +procure the colonists, before long, every European article that they may +have occasion for at a very moderate expense; and by that means put an +effectual stop to the impositions under which the industrious settlers +have too long laboured. + +Toward the latter end of the month, the settlers at the northern farms +were much annoyed by the natives, who came down in a body, and burnt +several of their houses. This was the more unfortunate, as those farms +appeared to have had some industry bestowed upon them; and it had not +been thrown away; for the land was of a superior quality, and the +surrounding country exceedingly picturesque and well-adapted for +cultivation. + +The bricklayers were not idle during this month at the new granary at +Sydney, and were also employed in erecting a house for the master +boat-builder. The timber carriages drawn by oxen were employed in +bringing in the beams and joists for the new granary; and a gang was sent +up the harbour to cut crooked timber for the boat-builder. The maize +granary at Parramatta was also in a state of forwardness. + +On the 14th there was a squall of wind from the southward, attended with +a shower of hall stones of an uncommon size, many of them measuring six +inches in circumference, and appearing to be an accumulation of smaller +hall stones, which had adhered together by the intensity of the cold in +the higher region of the air, until they became of the above size. Much +rain fell in this month. + +June.] His Majesty's birthday was observed on the 4th, with all the +respect and attention which were so peculiarly its due. + +On the 6th, the governor went up to Parramatta, in order to travel into +the northern district in search of a proper place for settling as farmers +such of the missionaries, lately arrived from Otaheite, as were disposed +to continue in the settlement. He also proposed to fix there some free +settlers* who had been lately sent out by the government, if he should +find a sufficiency of good ground. On a minute examination of the +country, he had every reason to pronounce it superior to any that had +been yet seen, and in quantity equal to the establishment of several +families. The land was not only good and well watered, but every where +easily cleared, and at the convenient distance of five or six miles from +Parramatta. Being satisfied with the eligibility of the situation, he +recommended it to the missionaries; but some of them appeared so +undetermined, that there was reason to believe some officious person had +been giving them advice which might not terminate to their advantage. A +few, however, resolved to settle there, and received such a proportion of +tools, grain, and assistance, as could be spared them. + +[* Of this description of people four had arrived, with their +families, in the _Barwell_.] + +The house of Campbell and Clarke at Calcutta, not discouraged by the fate +of their unfortunate ship, the _Sydney Cove_ (of which they were the +proprietors), fitted out another, a snow, which, in compliment to the +governor, they named the _Hunter_, and sent her down with an +assortment of India goods, and a few cows and horses. She arrived on the +10th of this month; when the governor, to crush as much as possible the +spirit of monopoly which had so long subsisted, gave public notice that a +ship had arrived from Bengal with a cargo of goods for sale; and, in +order that every inhabitant might have an opportunity of purchasing +whatever his circumstances might afford, he gave directions, that no part +of the cargo should be disposed of, until the settlers in the different +districts had stated to him what sums of money they could severally +raise. A day was fixed for them to give in this account; and it was +recommended to them to choose some person capable of managing their +concerns, and in whose hands they could deposit their money, which, it +was to be understood, must be in government notes then in their +possession, and not those which they could purchase upon the strength of +their crops. + +It was also ordered, that no boat or person whatsoever should attempt to +board any ship arriving in the harbour, until she should be properly +secured in the Cove, and the master had been with the governor and +received the port orders. The pilot-boat, or such other as might be sent +with an officer to bring up the public dispatches, were not included in +this regulation, which certainly, with the preceding, seemed calculated +more for general than private advantage. + +Captain Hamilton, the commander of the _Sydney Cove_, survived the +arrival of the _Hunter_ but a few days. He never recovered from the +distresses and hardships which he suffered on the loss of his ship, and +died exceedingly regretted by all who had the pleasure of his +acquaintance. + +Many complaints having been made, that the people who were employed in +bringing grain upon freight from the Hawkesbury to Sydney were in the +habit of practising a variety of impositions upon the farmers, and among +others by the use of false measures, the governor, desirous to put an +early stop to such a species of robbery, directed the magistrates of +Sydney and Parramatta to issue their orders for all measures to be +forthwith brought to the public store at Sydney, there to be proved and +marked; and to signify, that any measure which might be used without such +mark would subject the owner to a prosecution. + +How perpetually was invention at work on the one hand to impose, and on +the other to provide a remedy against the evil! No one, from the picture +of his arduous situation which these and the preceding pages have held +up, will envy the office of the governor, or of those officers who +supported his authority, or think that they cheaply earned the salaries +that they were allowed. + +The necessity of a vessel to keep up a more frequent intercourse with +Norfolk Island, having been much felt by the want of various stores for +the use of the inhabitants, occasioned Captain Townson, the commanding +officer, to construct a small decked boat, sloop rigged, in which he sent +his letters to this port, where she arrived on the 15th; but through the +want of a harbour at that island, a want that must ever be felt, they +were obliged to launch her from the shore, and proceed immediately to +sea, whether she was sufficiently tight or not. The consequence was, that +she proved very leaky; but with two pumps, which they fortunately had +fitted on board her, they were able to keep the water under.* + +[* A man upon the island had sufficient ingenuity to make a +quadrant for navigating this vessel.] + +The maize harvest on the part of government was all got in during this +month; but some of the new buildings were rather retarded by the rain +which fell toward the latter end of it. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + + +Three southern whalers arrive, and an American from the Isle of France +A transport with female convicts arrives from England +_Reliance_ arrives from Norfolk Island +Information +John Raynor executed +Profligacy of the female part of the settlement +August +Civil regulations +The Sabbath neglected +Attendance enforced +Two whalers arrive +Public works +A native girl killed +Consequences +An extraordinary custom among them +September +The _Barwell_ sails for China, and the _Hunter_ for New Zealand +The bones of two horses found +Whalers sail +Public works +Weather +Fears for the approaching harvest + + +July.] The month opened with the arrival of the _Cornwall_, Southern +whaler, the master of which brought an account, that some Spanish +cruisers having appeared off Cape Horn, the whalers of the southern +fishery were directed to pass into these seas during the war. This ship +was directly followed by two others, the _Eliza_ from the Cape of +Good Hope, and the _Sally_. + +This circumstance was likely to be attended with some advantages to the +settlement. The whale fishing on the coast would be effectually tried, +and the position of shoals, or the existence of harbours or rivers, be +ascertained. + +Having in a few days refitted their ships, the three whalers sailed upon +their fishing voyages. + +Previous to their departure, the _Argo_, a small American schooner, +arrived, last from the Isle of France, having on board a cargo of salt +provisions, some French brandy, and other articles, upon speculation; all +of which was brought to a good market. From the circumstance of this +ship's coming from the Mauritius, the governor entertained some jealousy; +and, as it was not impossible or improbable but that, under neutral +colours, a spy might be concealed, he judged it necessary to put the +battery on Point Maskelyne into a more secure and respectable state, and +to construct two redoubts in proper and convenient situations. + +The ready sale which the speculators who called here constantly found for +their cargoes, together with the ruinous traffic which was carried on by +means of the monopolies that existed in opposition to every order and +endeavour to prevent them, would, beyond a doubt, without the +establishment of a public store on the part of government, keep the +settlers and others in a continual state of beggary, and extremely retard +the progressive improvement of the colony. + +On the 18th arrived the _Britannia_ whaler from England, with 94 +female convicts, who were forthwith landed, and some of them were sent to +Parramatta and Toongabbie. The cattle that were brought in the +_Hunter_, and which were sold by auction at this time, were not +greater objects of contest than were these females, the number of women +in the settlements bearing no proportion to the men. + +The _Reliance_ and _Francis_ schooner, which had been sent to +Norfolk Island at the latter end of May, returned the 25th and 27th of +this month, having been absent on that service about 60 days, 27 of which +were taken up by the _Reliance_ on her passage back, she meeting +with blowing weather and much sea the whole way. + +By her, the officer commanding on the island wrote, that a most improper +association had been entered into by the settlers and others which they +termed the Fraternal Society of Norfolk Island; and which, among others, +had for its object the uniting for the purpose of distressing the +government, by withholding the produce of their farms from the store; in +consequence of some misconduct on the part of the store-keepers, who +suffered the same monopoly to take place there, as was complained of in +New South Wales. They wrote at the same time to the governor, positively +denying their giving any name to their meeting but heavily complaining; +that, after much expense and trouble in rearing swine, the store-keepers +would not receive it. + +The governor highly censured this manner of assembling, and, in a printed +notice which he sent thither, pointed out to the inhabitants, that if +they felt themselves labouring under any grievance real or supposed, they +were to submit their complaints respectfully to the officer in the +direction of the settlement, by one or two persons chosen for that +purpose, and not by a numerous body of people. Every other mode of +procuring redress was highly illegal, and could only tend to expose those +who might be concerned to a very considerable degree of danger. + +It was necessary to assemble the court of criminal judicature once in +this month for the trial of an incorrigible offender, John Raynor. who +was convicted of house-breaking, and whose fate had been often merited +and long predicted. He left a letter, previous to his execution, in which +he enumerated the many offences that he had committed, and denied several +with which he had been charged. + +Great complaints were now made of the profligacy of the women; who, +probably from having met with more indulgence on account of their sex +than their general conduct entitled them to, were grown so idle and +insolent, that they were unwilling to do any thing but nurse their +children; an excuse from labour which very few were without. Were their +value to be estimated by the fine children with which they had increased +and multiplied the numbers in the settlement, they certainly would have +been found to deserve every care and attention as useful members of +society; but their vices were too conspicuous and prominent to admit of +much palliation. + +The heavy rains which had fallen in part of this and the preceding month +having very much damaged the public road between Sydney and Parramatta, +two gangs were employed in repairing them. The weather was much colder +than common at this season, and in the interior part of the country there +was a sharp frost during the night. + +August.] An order having been given in the beginning of the month for +assembling the court of civil judicature, a recommendation to the +inhabitants was added, that when any bargain, contract, or agreement, was +made, between any party or parties, on any subject whatsoever, the same +should be reduced to writing, specifying in direct and clear terms what +the nature of such bargain or contract might be, and causing the same to +be properly witnessed, and subscribed by the parties concerned. This +measure was calculated to prevent disputes, litigation, and +misunderstandings, among the inhabitants, as well as to do away the great +inconvenience which the members of the court experienced every time they +were convened, from the loose and careless manner in which business was +brought before them. + +On the 1st day of this month the regulation directed by government, +relative to the number of public servants which the officers were allowed +to retain, was put in force. + +The abandoned and dissipated disposition of most of those who were or had +been convicts, so much to be regretted and so often mentioned, was +particularly manifest in a shameful abuse of the Sabbath, and a profane +ridicule with which every thing sacred was treated. A conduct so +derogatory to every Christian principle had from time to time been +severely reprobated; but it had now arrived at a height that called for +the exertion of every advocate for morality to subdue. Observing, that, +instead of employing the Sunday in the performance of those duties for +which that day was set apart, it was passed in the indulgence of every +abominable act of dissipation, the overseers of the different gangs were +strictly ordered to see their men mustered every Sunday morning, and to +attend with them at church. The superintendants and constables were to +see this order complied with, and that the women (who, to their disgrace, +were far worse than the men) were strictly looked after and made to +attend divine service regularly. And, as example might do something, the +officers were not only to send a certain number of their servants, but +they were also called upon, civil and military, to assist in the +execution of this order; to the meaning of which, the magistrates were +required in a particular degree to pay their attention, in compelling a +due obedience thereto, by preventing the opening of the licensed public +houses during the hours of divine service as well as any irregularity on +the day appropriated to the performance thereof. + +In the evening of the 20th, the _Pomona_ and _Diana_, whalers +belonging to the southern fishery, anchored in the Cove. They brought an +account of much disturbance and disaffection in Ireland. Too much of the +same evil spirit seemed to prevail here among the late importations from +that kingdom. + +Wishing to have that part of the coast examined in which a strait was +supposed to exist (between the latitude of 39 degrees 00 minutes S and +the land hitherto deemed the southern Promontory of New Holland, and +called Van Diemen's land), the governor resolved on sending Lieutenant +Flinders and Mr. Bass of the _Reliance_ on that service, in the +_Norfolk_, the small decked boat which had lately arrived from +Norfolk Island, and began fitting her properly for the voyage. + +The battery on Point Maskelyne was nearly completed in this month. A few +carpenters were employed in laying a floor in Government House, and other +repairs; but several of the public works were nearly at a stand, many of +the sawyers being in the hospital. The powder magazine having been found +upon examination to be in a very insecure and dangerous state, the powder +was taken out and sent on board the _Supply_. This removal was the +more necessary, as an attempt had been made to open the door of the +magazine in the night. The weather was bad; and it was supposed that the +sentinel, whose box was thrown down and broken, had endeavoured to +shelter himself in the magazine. + +The agricultural hands were employed in breaking up ground for maize in +the vicinity of Parramatta, and others were endeavouring to prepare +materials for a water-mill there. + +The natives about this time excited a great deal of interest. + +A young woman (nearly related to Bennillong), who had resided from her +infancy in the settlement, was most inhumanly murdered; and a native of +the Botany Bay district had driven a spear through the body of the lad +Nanbarrey. The name of the good-tempered girl (for such she was) was +War-re-weer; but, to distinguish her from others of the same name, an +addition was given to her in the settlement from a personal defect that +she had. Being blind of one eye, she was called, War-re-weer Wo-gul Mi, +the latter words signifying one eye. The circumstance of this girl's +being killed, and Nanbarrey wounded, occasioned much violence on the part +of their friends and relations, of which number were Cole-be and +Bennillong; the former of whom, falling in with the man who had wounded +the boy, revenged his treatment of him so fully that he died of his +wounds the following morning. Bennillong, in consequence of this, was +attacked, when alone, by two men; when he defended himself with much +address, and would have defied and foiled them both, had they kept fairly +and openly in his front; but one of them, with the treachery common to +those savage people, contrived to skulk behind, and throw a spear into +his side, the weapon penetrating seven inches into the cavity of his +body, and, from its direction, being supposed to have wounded the +intestines. He was taken on board the _Reliance_, where at first the +wound was attended with some unfavourable symptoms, nothing remaining +upon his stomach. + +Gaining every day some further knowledge of the inhuman habits and +customs of these people, their being so thinly scattered through the +country ceased to be a matter of surprise. It was almost daily seen, that +from some trifling cause or other they were continually living in a state +of warfare; to this must be added their brutal treatment of their women, +who are themselves equally destructive to the measure of population, by +the horrid and cruel custom of endeavouring to cause a miscarriage, which +their female acquaintance effect by pressing the body in such a way, as +to destroy the infant in the womb; which violence not infrequently +occasions the death of the unnatural mother also. To this they have +recourse, to avoid the trouble of carrying the infant about when born, +which, when it is very young, or at the breast, is the duty of the woman. +The operation for this destructive purpose is termed Mee-bra. The burying +an infant (when at the breast) with the mother*, if she should die, is +another shocking cause of the thinness of population among them. The fact +that such an operation as the Mee-bra was practised by these wretched +people was communicated by one of the natives to the principal surgeon of +the settlement. + +[* See Vol. I Appendix XI, viz: '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.'] + +The death of the young man who was slain by Cole-be was to be revenged, +and a body of the southern or Tag-a-ry natives gave battle to those of +Sydney for that purpose several days after. The contest was carried on +with much desperation on both sides; three natives were killed, and +several others wounded, among whom was Bennillong, who, having perfectly +recovered of his late dangerous wound, appeared and fought on this +occasion as the friend of Cole-be. + +The weather in the last month was remarked to be uncommonly cold. In the +latter part of this it was excessively sultry, and the wind high, which +set many parts of the country on fire, and destroyed some property. The +surveyor-general's house, and every article in it, was consumed by one of +these conflagrations. + +September.] The _Barwell_ being ready for sea, she dropped down the +harbour on the 12th, and sailed the 17th of this month for China. Captain +Cameron, her commander, was allowed to receive on board about 50 persons +who had completed their period of transportation, and politely offered to +touch at Norfolk Island, for the purpose of landing any people whom the +governor might have occasion to send thither. In this ship Mr. Robert +Campbell, who arrived here in the _Hunter_ from Bengal, took his passage +to China. By this gentleman the governor addressed a letter to the +governor-general of India, informing his lordship, that having +transmitted to the Secretary of State copies of the letters upon the +subject of raising recruits in this country for the army in India, which +had been received in the year 1796*, by the officers who were sent from +Calcutta in the _Britannia_, it was the opinion of his Majesty's +ministers, that the inconveniences attending such a measure would more +than counter-balance the advantages of it, and that permission for that +purpose could not therefore be granted. + +[* See Vol I Ch. XXXI, viz '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.'] + +Indeed, had it been adopted, the army in India could not have been much +benefited; since, if the recruiting officers were nice as to the point of +character, small would be the number of their recruits, and, if not +overnice in this particular, small would be the portion of morality that +they would introduce. + +In order to encourage as far as possible the rearing of swine in the +colony, as well as of every other kind of live stock, a circumstance that +must not only prove a great benefit to the public, but be also highly to +the advantage of those who devoted a part of their time to this useful +purpose, and which, from the advanced state of the private farms, might +now be done with far less trouble and expense than formerly, the settlers +and others were informed, that when any individual should have prepared a +number of such animals fit for the public store, they might make the same +known to the commissary, who, in order to prevent any unnecessary expense +to the feeder, would give immediate notice of the day and place when and +where he would receive them. He was also at liberty to enter into an +agreement or contract for a certain length of time, and on such +conditions as should be agreed, with any person who would engage to +furnish the public store either at Sydney, Parramatta, or the Hawkesbury, +with any certain quantity at stated periods. + +The commander of the _Hunter_ snow, Mr. Fern, having found, like +most of those who had preceded him, that a voyage to New South Wales was +not a bad speculation, resolved on deriving some profit from his return. +It was understood at his departure, which was on the 20th, that he was +bound for New Zealand, for the purpose of cutting spars to load with back +to Bengal.* + +[* Mr. Robert Campbell, who returned some time after to Port +Jackson, mentioned, that Captain Fern proceeded to the river Thames in +New Zealand, where his people cut down a quantity of very fine spars, +sufficient to load his vessel; but, being rather short of hands, he could +not have shipped them, had not the natives with much alacrity and good +humour assisted his people in getting them to the water's side. See Vol I +Ch. XXVIII, viz: '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. . . .'] + +Two men, who had been exploring the country to the northwest of Richmond +Hill and of the river Hawkesbury, fell in with the bones of two mares +which had been stolen some time since from Parramatta. It was very +probable, that the people who stole them had, after some time and +experience, found that travelling was not quite so practicable in this +country as they had imagined, and that, not being able to procure a +supply of food, they had been compelled by hunger to the necessity of +destroying their cattle, and living upon them as long as they could +possibly cat of them; after which they, no doubt, followed such route as +their judgment was capable of pointing out; but, unfortunately for them, +they could not have known which way they went. The bones of the mares, +the heads of which the men brought in to prevent any doubt of their +story, were found at not more than a good day's journey from the +Hawkesbury, which river they had no doubt crossed at one of its branches +higher up, where there are many fordable places. + +Some of the whalers that were in the harbour, proceeding on their +fishery, the town was freed from the nuisance of their seamen, who could +not resist the two temptations, spirits and women, so peculiarly +calculated every where to lead them astray. The masters of the ships made +many complaints that they could not keep their people on board. + +At Sydney the walls of the granary were completed, and part of the roof +got up. The battery also was finished. + +The weather during the month had been so very sultry and dry, that there +was every appearance of being completely disappointed in the sanguine +expectations which had been entertained of a most abundant wheat harvest. +The pasture and garden grounds also were suffering exceedingly through +want of rain. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + + +The _Semiramis_ arrives from Rhode Island +The church at Sydney burnt +Reflections +Some vessels sail; the _Norfolk_ for Van Dieman's Land; +The _Francis_ for Norfolk Island +Another fire in the town +A ship arrives from the Cape with cattle +Works in hand +Bennillong +The governor's steward destroys himself +An order respecting the women +A battery erected +Weather +State of the harvest +Irish +The _Francis_ returns; and the _Nautilus_ +The _Eliza_ from Sea +Information +Three deaths +One good character recorded +Disorders +Public works +Great heat +Returns of stock, and land in cultivation + + +October.] Another adventurer entered the port on the 1st of this month, +viz the _Semiramis_ from Rhode Island, bound to China. She made her +passage in three months and nine days. The master reported, that when he +left the States, they were thought to be on the eve of a rupture with +France. + +Between seven and eight o'clock in the evening of this day, the church on +the east side of the cove was discovered to be on fire. Every assistance, +as far as numbers could be useful, was given, but ineffectually; for the +building being covered with thatch, which was at this time exceedingly +dry and combustible, it was completely consumed in an hour. + +This was a great loss, for during the working days of the week the +building was used as a school, in which from 150 to 200 children were +educated, under the immediate inspection of Mr. Johnson, the clergyman. +As it stood entirely alone, and no person was suffered to remain in it +after the school hours, there was not any doubt that this atrocious act +was the effect of design, and the consequence of the late order which had +been given out and had been rigidly executed, enforcing attendance on +divine service; and in the view of rendering, by the destruction of the +building, the Sabbath a day of as little decency and sobriety as any +other in the week. The perpetrators of this mischief were, however, +disappointed in their expectation; for the governor, justly deeming this +to have been the motive, and highly irritated at such a shameful act, +resolved, if no convenient place could immediately be found for the +performance of public worship, that, instead of Sunday being employed as +each should propose to himself, the whole of the labouring gangs should +be employed on that day in erecting another building for the purpose; it +happened, however, that a large storehouse was just at that time +finished; and, not being immediately wanted, it was fitted up as a +church; and thus not a single Sunday was lost by this wicked design. + +For the discovery of the offender a reward of £30 was offered, together +with absolute emancipation to the informer if a convict, and a +recommendation to the master of any ship to take him or her from the +colony. But it was seen with concern, that rewards and punishments alike +failed in their effect. + +This circumstance must impress upon the mind of every one who may read +this account, to what a dreadful state of profligacy the colony had +arrived, which, alarming as it was, must have been still worse, had it +not been for the civil police which fortunately had been established; for +a more wicked, abandoned, and irreligious set of people had never been +brought together before in any part of the colony. The hope of their +amendment seemed every day to lessen. The spirit of trade (not that +liberal spirit which characterises the British trader, but a mean, +selfish, avaricious passion, that hesitated not at any means to be +gratified) proved the source of every evil under which the settlers +laboured. + +Notwithstanding this picture of their vices, the colony was at this time, +generally speaking, in perfect health. For want of slop clothing and +bedding, indeed, they were much distressed; but on this or any other +account they were little deserving of any commiseration. + +Since the last failure of those ill-considered attempts of the Irish to +escape from the colony, no further schemes of that nature had been +planned; but, as a matter of common justice to them, it was much wished +that regular accounts of the dates of their conviction, and their several +terms of transportation, might be sent out. They had been informed, that +a promise to this effect had been made by government. + +On the 7th, the two Americans, the _Semiramis_, and _Argo_ schooner, +sailed for China. At the same time the _Nautilus_ brig, and +_Norfolk_ long-boat, sailed for Van Diemen's land. The _Nautilus_, +which had been in extreme distress for every kind of repair, was +completely put in order here; and, as the two young men who +had the care and direction of the speculation on which she was fitted out +from India, had been very unfortunate through the infirmities of their +vessel, and other causes, they were determined to try, during this +season, what the seal-fishing among the islands to the southward might +produce. + +On the day following, the _Francis_ sailed for Norfolk Island, with +a few women and some stores for that settlement. As it was intended, that +on her return she should examine the shoal said to have been discovered +to the northward of Lord Howe Island, and make, if possible, and +ascertain the situation of, the island discovered in 1788 by Lieutenant +Shortland in the _Alexander_ transport, and named by him Sir Charles +Middleton island, Lieutenant John Shortland, of the _Reliance_, a +son of the above officer, was sent in the _Francis_, and was charged +with the sole direction of the vessel upon that service. + +In the _Norfolk_ were Lieutenant Flinders and Mr. Bass, who were +instructed to examine the existence of the strait supposed to divide Van +Diemen's land from the continent. + +The rage for trade already spoken of, which prevailed so universally in +the colony, occasioned such a continued scene of contention and +litigation among the people, that much public inconvenience was +experienced in the liberties which were taken of imprisoning the public +servants of the crown for debts contracted with many of the petty +dealers; notwithstanding an order which was given out in the year 1788, +by the late Governor Phillip, in which the colony was informed, that the +convicts (by whom were meant the public servants of the crown) had no +property of their own, their clothing, their time, and their labour, +being the property of government, and not at their own disposal. This +order having worn out of their recollection, it became necessary to renew +it, to prevent that loss of labour on the public works which imprisoning +their persons so improperly must occasion. Notice was therefore given, +that the public servants of the crown were not to be detained from their +duty by imprisoning their persons in this way; and if any person should +be desirous of accommodating them with credit, it must be wholly and +absolutely upon the strength of their own good faith in the integrity of +such people, and not under the idea that they could arrest and imprison +them according to the forms of law; and it was to be generally +understood, that government would by no means dispense with the labour of +its servants for the partial accommodation of any private dealings +whatever. + +On the evening of the 11th, another fire happened in the town of Sydney, +which, but for a great deal of care and activity, might have burnt all +the houses on the east side. A row of buildings which had been lately +erected for the nurses and other persons employed about the hospital, was +set on fire, and totally consumed. The flames very nearly reached the +boat-yard, in which were many concerns of value. + +On the 20th, an American ship, the _Ann and Hope_, anchored in +Botany Bay, unfavourable winds having prevented her getting up so far as +Port Jackson. As the master only wanted a little wood and water, three +days were sufficient to procure them; and at the end of that period he +sailed for China. He certainly was either pressed for time, or had +nothing on board that he could part with, as the ships of his country had +always found it worth their while to refresh at Port Jackson. + +Toward the latter end of the month the governor visited the settlers at +the Hawkesbury; and while he was there made some useful regulations among +the sawyers, who had fixed their own portion of public labour. He gave +notice, that a session should be held quarterly for settling all civil +concerns; and made some other local arrangements, which, if attended to, +would have conduced essentially to the welfare of the settlers, whose +farms he found promising plenty, but whose houses and persons wore the +appearance of poverty and beggary, they converting all the produce of +their farms to the unworthy purpose of purchasing a pernicious spirit +that must ever keep them poor. + +In the evening of the 27th, the ship _Marquis Cornwallis_ arrived +from the Cape of Good Hope, with a cargo of cattle on government account, +consisting of 158 cows and 20 bulls, exclusive of a few on private +account. When they were landed, a few appeared weakly; but, in general, +they were in as good health as any that had been before landed, after a +voyage of such extent; and would certainly prove a vast acquisition to +the colony; part of the cows being a mixed breed between the Cape and +English cattle, and the whole appearing to be under the age of two years +and a half. + +With the _Marquis Cornwallis_ arrived the _Indispensable_, a +southern whaler, commanded by Mr. Wilkinson, who had twice before visited +the settlement; but he sailed again immediately. + +In this month the foundation of a stone building intended for a church +was laid at Sydney. It was to be 150 feet in length, and 52 in breadth. +Preparations were making for a similar building at Parramatta, which was +to be of smaller dimensions than this at Sydney. + +The weather proved much too dry and sultry for the harvest. Some rain +fell toward the latter end of the month; but it was greatly feared that +it came too late to be of much benefit to the wheat or maize. + +November.] Twice had the criminal court of judicature lately met for the +trial of various offenders; one of whom, being clearly convicted of +wilful perjury, stood in the pillory pursuant to his sentence. + +Instead of living peaceably and pleasantly at the governor's house, as he +certainly might always have done, Bennillong preferred the rude and +dangerous society of his own countrymen, visiting the settlement only +when induced by the recollection of the comforts which he could no where +else obtain. Word was now brought in, of his having been again severely +wounded in a contest with some of the natives. This man had lately +received and recovered of several wounds, any one of which would have +been sufficient to have destroyed a European. But these people in general +owed their existence more to their good habit of body (living free from +the use of spirituous liquors and the luxuries of the table) than to any +other cause. Unless this be admitted, it will be difficult to account for +their surviving the desperate wounds which they have been often known to +receive. + +An instance of the fatal effects of misguided conduct, and a too late +sense of criminality, occurred in the tragical end of Nathaniel Franklyn, +the governor's steward. This man, whom he brought from England, had the +whole care and management of the governor's domestic concerns entrusted +to him. He had been repeatedly cautioned by his master against the many +artful and designing acquaintances which he had formed in the town, and +was pointedly desired to be aware of not suffering himself to be +influenced by their opinions. It was proved that he had not had fortitude +enough to withstand their solicitations, but had consented to rob the +governor to a very considerable amount, abusing the confidence he had +placed in him, and making use of his name in a most iniquitous manner. +Of the infamy of his conduct he was at last sensible, and, retiring into +the shrubbery in the garden of the governor's house, shot himself through +the head. + +The wretched state of the settlement appeared but too plainly from this +melancholy circumstance. + +The complaints which were daily made of the refractory and disobedient +conduct of the convict women rendered it absolutely necessary that some +steps should be instantly taken to make them more clearly understand the +nature of their situation in this country, and the duties that they were +liable to perform. The governor, therefore, judged it proper to desire +that every officer or other housekeeper in the settlement, who might have +female servants in their families, would immediately forward to the +judge-advocate's office the names of such as they employed. He also +forbade them to protect from public labour any but those whom they were +permitted to retain; and when at any time they were desirous of +discharging from their employment any servant of this description, they +were to send an intimation thereof, together with a character of the +person, to the same office. As they had never been limited in the number +of women servants which they considered requisite to their domestic +concerns, it was hoped that they would afford every assistance in their +power, which might lead to the detection of imposition, and serve to +correct any abuse of such indulgence. + +To the list of public buildings, which, young as was the settlement, time +had overthrown, was now added the government-house at Parramatta; the +roof of which falling-in in some bad weather, the building was surveyed, +and found so weak and decayed as not to admit of repairs. It was +therefore determined to take this entirely down, and erect a new one; for +which purpose a gang of brickmakers was shortly after sent up there. + +At this place and at Toongabbie additional stock-yards were preparing for +the cattle lately arrived; and materials were collecting for building a +church and water-mill at Parramatta. + +At Sydney the ship's company of the _Supply_ were actively and +usefully employed in constructing a half-moon battery on the east point +of the cove, where stood the house built by Governor Phillip for +Bennillong, in those days when it was thought an object of some moment to +soothe and conciliate the friendship of that savage. + +There was but little variation in the weather, except that on the 25th +there was a violent burst of thunder, attended with partial whirlwinds, +by which several buildings were much damaged. + +December.] At the departure of the ship _Marquis Cornwallis_ for +Bengal, which was on the 3rd of this month, several convicts were taken +from the settlement without permission. This evil could alone be checked +by severe prosecutions and penalties. + +The harvest which was begun in the last, was completed in this month. In +the abundance that was expected, every one was disappointed; for, owing +to a most tedious and unfortunate drought during ten months, the wheat +did not turn out more than one-third of what, from the quantity of ground +sown with that grain, there was a reasonable expectation of its +producing, had the season been moderately favourable. This was the more +seriously felt, as at one time a hope was entertained of reaping grain +sufficient to supply the colony with bread for two years. + +The conclusion of the harvest was productive of a slight disturbance +among the Irish convicts at Toongabbie. Having, each man and woman who +had been employed, received a small quantity of spirits and water, which +had been ordered them, it produced at first cheerfulness and play, but +terminated in riot and ill-humour; a circumstance not uncommon with that +class of people. They were, however, easily separated and sent to their +respective huts. + +On the 19th, the _Francis_ schooner arrived from Norfolk Island, +where all were in good health. Lieutenant Shortland, who had received +directions to search for Sir Charles Middleton Island and shoal, on his +return produced his journal and a chart of the various traverses which he +had made in quest of the island, and compared them with those made +formerly by Lieutenant (now Captain) Ball in his Majesty's armed brig +_Supply_, who had been sent by Governor Phillip expressly on the +same pursuit. The extensive range taken by those two officers in the +search, and their not having met with even any indications of land near +that situation, left little reason to believe in the existence of the +island. That of the shoal was not so doubtful; and, although Mr. +Shortland did not fall in with it, yet, as a shoal had been seen by two +or three different persons near the spot in which that reef was laid +down, there was much reason to believe that a dangerous bank or shoal did +somewhere thereabout exist; but its exact situation in point of latitude +and longitude had not yet been correctly fixed, nor was its extent +supposed to be so great as was at first believed. + +On the evening of the 25th, which had been duly observed as Christmas +Day, the _Nautilus_ arrived from the southward. She had been at +Preservation Island, where, and among the neighbouring islands, she had +been tolerably successful in seal-catching. The master left 14 of his +people on the island of Cape Barren, to provide as many skins and as much +oil as they could against his return. Those with which he now arrived +were in a few days sold by auction. + +The two whalers, the _Indispensable_ and _Britannia_, which had +been fishing on the coast, returned on the 29th for a few days to repair +some defects and refresh their crews. They had cruised chiefly from the +latitude of 32 degrees 00 minutes to 35 degrees 00 minutes, and not +farther from the coast than from 20 to 30 leagues, and thought themselves +rather successful for the time (only two months), the one having got 54, +and the other 60 tons of spermaceti oil. + +The _Eliza_ (more wisely) put into Botany Bay, to wood and water. +She, although much longer at seal had not been so successful, having got +only 45 tons of oil. The master of this ship stated, that he saw off the +NE part of New Caledonia a ship on shore upon a reef, the lower masts of +which were above water, and one of the tops was on the mast. The weather +was thick and hazy, and blew too fresh to allow him to send to examine +her; but a piece of a boat, which he took to be part of a whale boat, +floating near him, he judged the wreck to be that of a whaler. He also +fell in with a very dangerous and extensive shoal, lying NNW about 40 +leagues from Sandy Cape, upon the coast of New South Wales. It was so +large, that, finding himself entered upon it, and unable to get back, it +took him from nine in the morning until six in the evening, going at the +rate of six knots (or miles) an hour, before he ran through it. + +Thus already did the settlement and the public at large derive some +advantage from the fishing on the coast, by the discovery of this shoal. + +There happened three deaths in this month which were out of the common +way: a woman at the Hawkesbury died of the bite of a snake; another woman +was drowned in attempting to land at Norfolk island; and on the 19th +died, very suddenly, Mr. Stephenson, the store-keeper at Sydney. As his +death was not exactly in the common way, so neither had been the latter +part of his life; indeed, all that part of it which he had passed in this +country; for, by an upright conduct, and a faithful discharge of the +duties of the office with which he had been entrusted, he secured to +himself the approbation of his superiors while living, and their good +name at his death. + +Stephenson had been emancipated for his orderly behaviour, and to enable +him to execute the office of store-keeper. + +The annual election of constables recurring about this time, the +magistrates were desired to be very particular in their selection of the +persons returned to them for that purpose; as there was reason to fear, +from the frequent escapes of prisoners from the different gaols, that the +constables had been tampered with, so shamefully to neglect their duty. + +The wheat harvest being over, and the country, as happened generally at +this season of the year, every where on fire, those who were engaged in +farming were reminded of the necessity of their exerting themselves by +every practicable means to secure their crops, when stacked, against +accident by fire. As yet, none had been heard of. In the early part of +the month Farenheit's thermometer at the Hawkesbury stood at 107 degrees +in the shade. + +Many people were at this time much afflicted with inflammations of the +eyes*, attended with extreme pain, and supposed by the medical gentlemen +to be occasioned by the excessive dry and sultry weather which had +prevailed for a considerable time. Dysenteric complaints were also very +common, which were attributed to the water, most of the runs and springs +having been nearly dried up. The tanks which were cut in the rocks below +the stream by order of Governor Phillip had proved of infinite utility. + +[* In the month of April 1794 and 1796, several adults and +children were troubled with an inflammation of the eyes, which was then +attributed to the variable and unsettled weather that had for some time +prevailed. It must be remarked, that the present appearance of this +complaint was in the summer, the former in the winter season.] + +The seamen belonging to the _Supply_ completed their half-moon +battery in this month, and part of that ship's guns were mounted in it. + +In addition to other public works, some people were employed in +white-washing the houses in the town of Sydney, and repairing such of the +buildings as required it; an attention highly necessary at least once in +every year, for the preservation of works, the re-construction of which, +when suffered to fall to decay, was attended with a great expense. + +The live stock and the ground in cultivation had been considerably +increased in this year, as will be seen by comparing the following +account of each with the return of the preceding year. + +LIVE STOCK + +Horses 44 +Mares 73 +Horned Cattle + Bulls and Oxen 163 + Cows 258 +Hogs 2867 +Sheep + Male 1459 + Female 2443 +Goats + Male 787 + Female 1880 + +LAND IN CULTIVATION + +Acres in Wheat 4659 +Acres in Maize 1453 +Acres in Barley 57½ + +It will appear from this account, which is brought down to the month of +August, and taken up from that month in the preceding year, that the +goats had not increased so much as the sheep. Many had of course been +slaughtered; but they were found to be afflicted with diseases which +carried them off in numbers, while the sheep were seen to thrive better. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + + +Certificates granted to convicts +Reasons for so doing +Unruly behaviour of the Irish +Agricultural concerns look ill +The _Norfolk_ sloop returns from Van Dieman's Land +Particulars +Twofold Bay described +The natives there +Kent's Group +Furneaux's Islands +Preservation Island +Curious petrifaction there +Cape Barren Island +The wombat described + +1799.] +January.] On the second of this month, certificates were granted to +such convicts as had completed their several terms of transportation. + +That none might have it in their power to make a plea of any injustice +being exercised upon them with respect to that critical point their +servitude, it had been made a rule, three or four times in the year, to +issue discharge certificates to such as were found, on consulting the +proper documents, to be entitled to them; and, if desirous of being at +their own disposal, to strike them off from the victualling books. Many +convicts having been sent out, who had not more than two years to serve +after their arrival, proved, by claiming their discharge, a considerable +drawback on field-labour, as well in Norfolk Island as in New South +Wales. But this was not the only evil. In this way there were let loose +upon the public a number of idle and worthless characters, who, not +having any means of getting out of the country, became a dangerous and +troublesome pest. They refused all kind of labour, but continued to form +connections with the equally worthless part of the other inhabitants, +who, from their domestic situations, had an opportunity of affording the +best information where robberies and burglaries could be most readily +committed. They also consumed a vast proportion of the provision which +was raised in the colony. Still, as the law had spent its force against +them, there was no denying them the restoration of their rights as free +people. The convicts in general had suffered much through want of +clothing and bedding. Indeed, during the late harvest, several gangs were +seen labouring in the fields, as free of clothing of any kind as the +savages of the country. This had made them insolent; and anonymous +letters were dropped, in which were threatenings of what would be done at +the proper season. + +At this time, when the certificates were granted, a numerous body of the +Irish convicts, many of whom had but lately arrived, insisted that 'their +times were out,' and could not be persuaded that they were mistaken by +any remonstrance or argument. They grew noisy and insolent, and even made +use of threats; upon which a few of the most forward and daring were +secured, and instantly punished; after which they were ordered to go +peaceably back to their work. They had also taken up the idea that +Ireland had shaken off its connection with England, and that they were no +longer to be considered as convicts under the British government. This +was a most pernicious idea to be entertained by such a lawless set of +people, and required the strong arm of government to eradicate it. + +Agricultural concerns at this time wore a most unpromising appearance. +The wheat proved little better than straw or chaff, and the maize was +burnt up in the ground for want of rain. From the establishment of the +settlement, so much continued drought and suffocating heat had not been +experienced. The country was now in flames; the wind northerly and +parching; and some showers of rain, which fell on the 7th, were of no +advantage, being immediately taken up again by the excessive heat of the +sun. + +On the 12th, the _Norfolk_ sloop arrived, with Lieutenant Flinders +and Mr. Bass, from the examination of Van Diemen's land. + +As the result of this little voyage was the complete knowledge of the +existence of a strait separating Van Diemen's land from the continent of +New Holland, it may not be improper to enter with some degree of +minuteness into the particulars of it; and the writer of these pages +feels much gratification in being enabled to do this, from the accurate +and pleasing journal of Mr. Bass, with the perusal and use of which he +has been favoured. + +The _Norfolk_ sailed, as has been already stated, upon this voyage +of discovery about the 7th of October last, with Lieutenant Flinders and +Mr. Bass; and on the 11th, when nearly off Cape Howe, being met by a +fresh gale at SW they bore up, and anchored in Twofold Bay. This bay had +been visited by Mr. Bass when he was on the coast in the whale boat; but +he had not at that time so good an opportunity of examining it as he +desired, and now had. He found Twofold Bay situated at the southern end +of a short chain of hummocky hills, one part of which is much more +conspicuous than the rest, and lies immediately behind the bay. The land +on the west side, being a part of this chain of hills, is high and rocky. +The shore is divided into steep cliff heads, with small intermediate +beaches; the one formed by the most prominent of the ridges, the others +by the sand thrown up at the foot of their valleys. Behind the beaches +are ponds of brackish water. + +The abruptness and sudden rise of the hills for the most part permit the +vegetable earth to be washed down into the vallies as fast as it is +formed. Some of the more gradual slopes retain a sufficiency of it to +produce a thick coat of tolerably succulent grass; but the soil partakes +too much of the stony quality of the higher parts to be capable of +cultivation. + +The dark luxuriant foliage of the valleys points out the advantages which +they had received from the impoverished hills. Their soil is rich and +deep, but their extent is narrow and limited. Some three or four hundred +acres of excellent soil might be found upon the edges of the ponds, and +by the sides of the occasional drains that supply them with the fresh +part of their water. + +Both hill and valley produce large timber and brush-wood of various +heights; upon the hills, the brush grows in small clumps; while in the +valleys it not only covers the whole surface, but is also bound together +by creeping vines, of every size between small twine and a seven inch +hawser. + +In the SW corner of the bay, is a lagoon, or small inlet, that +communicates with the sea, through the beach at the back of which it +lies. The chain of hills here runs back to some little distance from the +water, and leaves a few square miles of rather good ground, through which +the inlet was found to take its course in a winding direction to the SW +for six or eight miles, where it ends in small swamps and marshes. Large +boats might enter this place at a third flood, and proceed to the farther +part of it. Upon its banks from five to seven hundred acres of a light +sandy soil might be picked out, in patches of from fifty to a hundred +acres each; but on the side next the mountain it soon became stony, and +on that next the lagoon it was wet and salt. + +The country along the back of the bay lies in rounded stony hills +scarcely fit for pasturage, but covered with timber, and patches of short +brush. + +On the south side was another shallow inlet, larger than that on the SW +running in by the end of a beach, and winding along to the SSW with +little or no cultivable or low ground upon its borders. The returning +tide did not allow time enough to proceed to the head of it. + +On the eastern side, the hills being neither steep nor prominent, some +extensive slopes of tolerably good, though sandy soil, have been formed. +Several which extended to the water, being well covered with grass and +thinly set with timber, had a pleasing appearance from the bay, and +resembled some of the most beautiful parts of Mount Edgecumbe, near +Plymouth. Speaking generally of the land round the bay, it might be said +to be much more barren that productive; that there are several patches of +tolerably good, and some few of excellent soil; but by far the greater +part is incapable of cultivation, and fit only for pasturage. + +The most common timber is a sort of gum tree, the bark of which along the +trunk is that of the iron bark of Port Jackson; and its leaf, that of the +blue gum tree; but its branches toward the head are of a yellow colour, +smooth, and resembling the barked limbs of trees. The wood is longer +grained, and more tough, splitting easier and more true than any other +species of the gum tree. + +The natives are, in person, similar to those living about Port Jackson, +but their language was perfectly unintelligible. They used canoes, of +which they seemed very careful; for on his rowing round the point of Snug +Cove, when Mr. Bass was on his first visit to this bay in the whale boat, +a party of them paddled hastily on shore, taking their canoes upon their +heads, and running off with them into the woods. They, however, did not +appear so shy of their visitors now as they had formerly been; and there +was reason to believe that a friendly intercourse might have been easily +established with them. + +Not meeting with any grass trees, and the few spears that were seen being +made of solid wood, it may be conjectured that the light grass reed +spear used by the natives of Port Jackson is unknown among these people, +as well as the use of the throwing-stick. + +But very few marks of the kangaroo were seen. Both quadrupeds and birds +appeared to be less numerous here than in other places. The dogs found a +porcupine ant-eaters, but they could make no impression on him; he +escaped from them by burrowing in the loose sand, not head foremost, but +sinking himself directly downwards, and presenting his prickly back +opposed to his adversaries. + +There were a few ducks, teal, herons, cranes, and a bird named from its +bill the Red-bill, upon the lagoons, with some small flights of curlew +and plover of a beautiful feather. + +The rocks consist of hardened clay, in which are mixed great numbers of +small stones, variously tinged, some with red, others with yellow. Small +portions of calcareous spar lie scattered about the surface of the rocky +ground; strata of which are deposited irregularly in fissures formed in +the body of the rocks themselves. + +Leaving Twofold Bay upon a favourable shift of wind, the sloop proceeded +to the southward, and on the 17th made a small cluster of islands, in +latitude 38 degrees 16 minutes, which now bears the name of Kent's Group +(a compliment to the commander of his Majesty's ship _Supply_). +These are six or seven in number, and of various sizes. Their height is +very considerable, and as irregular in figure as can well be imagined in +land whose hummocks are no one of them more lofty than another. This +small group appears to be formed of granite, which is imperfectly +concealed by long straggling dwarfish brush, and some few still more +diminutive trees, and seems cursed with a sterility that might safely bid +defiance to Chinese industry itself. Nature is either working very slowly +with those islands, or has altogether ceased to work upon them, since a +more wild deserted place is not easily to be met with. Even the birds +seemed not to frequent them in their usual numbers. There was, in short, +nothing that could tempt our explorers to land. + +Having passed Kent's Group standing to the southward, the next morning +Furneaux's Islands were in sight, and on the following day they anchored +at Preservation Island, which is one of them. These islands, from what +was seen of them during this run along their shore, and what had been +seen of them before by Mr. Bass, appear to consist of two kinds, +perfectly dissimilar in figure, and most probably of very unequal ages, +but alike in the materials of which they are formed. Both kinds are of +granite; but the one is low, and rather level, with a soil of sand +covered with low brush and tufted grass: the other is remarkably high, +bold, and rocky, and cut into a variety of singular peaks and knobs. Some +little vegetable soil lies upon these, and the vegetation is large; trees +even of a tolerable size are produced in some places. There are attached +to some parts of these high islands slips of low sandy land, of a similar +height with the lower islands, and probably coeval with them. + +Preservation Island, which takes its respectable name from having +preserved the crew of the ship _Sydney Cove_, arranges itself in the +humble class of islands, and is of a very moderate height. A surface of +sand, varying in depth, and mixed in different scanty proportions with +vegetable soil, scarcely hides from view the base, which is of granite. +In several places vast blocks of this stone lie scattered about, as free +from vegetation and the injuries of weather as if they had fallen but +yesterday: and, what is remarkable, most of them, probably all, are +evidently detached from the stone upon which they rest, so entirely that +they might be dragged from the places where they lie, if it were thought +worth while to apply a power sufficient to produce so useless an effect. +It should seem then that these loose blocks have fallen from some place +higher than that upon which they were found; but that is impossible, for +they are higher than any other part of the island. And the supposition +that the injuries of the air and the rain caused the removal of that part +of the granite which might originally have been of a corresponding height +with these remaining blocks, seems hardly admissible in the present +instance. Perhaps subterraneous or volcanic fire may have caused this +curious appearance. + +The great bulk of these blocks renders them so conspicuous, that the +attention is first struck with them upon approaching the island. But, +besides granite, there is on the north side, where the island is +particularly low and narrow, a slip of calcareous earth, of a few hundred +yards in length, which discovers itself near the broken surface of the +water. It is not for the most part pure, for broken pieces of the granite +are mixed with it in various proportions. Some parts are a mere mass of +these broken pieces cemented together by the calcareous matter; whilst +others are an almost perfect chalk, and are capable of being burnt into +excellent lime. Broken sea shells and other exuviae of marine animals are +apparent throughout the whole mass. + +Upon the beach at the foot of this chalky rock, was found a very +considerable quantity of the black metallic particles which appear +in the granite as black shining specks, and are in all probability +grains of tin. + +To find this small bed of the remains of shell animals, of which chalk is +formed wherever found, in such an unexpected situation, excited some +surprise; and Mr. Bass endeavoured to investigate the cause of this +deposit, by examining the form of the neighbouring parts of the island. + +The result of his inquiries and conjectures amounted to this: that as +traces of the sea, and of the effects of running waters, were plainly +discernible in many parts of the island, and more particularly in the +vicinity of this deposit of chalk and granite, it seemed highly probable +that it had been formed by two streams of the tide, which, when the +island was yet beneath the surface of the sea, having swept round a large +lump of rocks, then met and formed an eddy, where every substance would +fall to the bottom. The lump of rocks is now a rocky knoll, which runs +tapering from the opposite side of the island toward the chalk. On each +side of it is a gap, through which the two streams appear to have passed. + +The vegetation on the island seems brown and starved. It consists of a +few stunted trees; several patches of brush, close set and almost +impenetrable; large tufts of sour and wiry grass, and abundance of low +saltish plants, chiefly of the creeping kind. + +A small spot upon the east end of the island presented a phenomenon which +seemed not easily explicable by any known laws of that class of natural +history to which it alone was referable. + +Amidst a patch of naked sand, upon one of the highest parts of the +island, at not less than 100 feet above the level of the sea, within the +limits of a few hundred yards square, were lying scattered about a number +of short broken branches of old dead trees, of from one to three inches +in diameter, and seemingly of a kind similar to the large brush wood. +Amid these broken branches were seen sticking up several white stony +stumps, of sizes ranging between the above diameters, and in height from +a foot to a foot and a half. Their peculiar form, together with a number +of prongs of their own quality, projecting in different directions from +around their base, and entering the ground in the manner of roots, +presented themselves to the mind of an observer, with a striking +resemblance to the stumps and roots of small trees. These were extremely +brittle, the slightest blow with a stick, or with each other, being +sufficient to break them short off; and when taken into the hand, many of +them broke to pieces with their own weight. + +On being broken transversely, it was immediately seen that the internal +part was divided into interior or central, exterior or cortical. The +exterior part, which in different specimens occupied various proportions +of the whole, resembled a fine white and soft grit-stone; but acids being +applied, showed it to be combined with a considerable portion of +calcareous matter. The interior or central part was always circular, but +seldom found of the same diameter, or of the same composition, on any two +stumps. In some the calcareous and sandy matter had taken such entire +possession, that every fragment of the wood was completely obliterated; +but yet a faint central ring remained. In others was a centre of chalk, +beautifully white, that crumbled between the fingers to the finest +powder; some consisted of chalk and brown earth, in various quantities, +and some others had detained a few frail portions of their woody fibres, +the spaces between which were filled up with chalky earth. + +It appeared, that when the people of the _Sydney Cove_ first came +upon the island, the pieces of dead branches that at this time were lying +round the stumps, then formed, with them, the stem and branches of dead +trees complete. But by the time Mr. Bass visited the place, the hands of +curiosity, and the frolics of an unruly horse that was saved from the +wreck, had reduced them to the state already described. + +Mr. Bass had been told from good authority, that when the trees were in a +complete state, the diameter of the dead wood of the stem that rose +immediately from the stoney part was equal to the diameter of that part; +and also that a living leaf was seen upon the uppermost branches of one +of them. But he could never learn whether the stony part of the stem was +of an equal height in all the trees. + +To ascertain to what depth the petrification had extended, Mr. Bass +scratched away the sand from the foot of many of the stumps, and in no +instance found it to have proceeded more than three or four inches +beneath the surface of the sand, as it then lay; for at that depth the +brown and crumbling remains of the root came into view. There were, +indeed, parts of the roots which had undergone an alteration similar to +that which had taken place in the stems: but these tended to establish +the limits of the petrifying power; for they had felt it only either at +their first outset from the bottom of the stems, or when, being +obstructed in their progress, they had of necessity arched upwards toward +the surface. + +In attempting to account for the cause that had operated to produce this +change in the structure of the lower parts of the stems of these trees, +Mr. Bass feels the utmost diffidence. He found that all his conjectures +which were best supported by existing facts, led him to place them among +petrifications; although no strict analogy could be seen between them and +the subjects usually met with of this kind. + +Admitting them, however, as petrifications, it is certain that there must +once have existed a pond in which the petrifying water was contained; but +the ground in their neighbourhood retained no positive traces of any such +receptacle. There were, indeed, near them, some few lumps or banks +consisting of sand, and a little vegetable earth which was held together +by dead roots of small trees, and elevated above the rest of the ground, +to the height of five, six, or eight feet; but the relative position of +these with each other was so confused and irregular, that nothing but the +necessity of a once existing reservoir could ever lead any one to +conjecture that these might have been parts of its bank. Mr. Bass, +however, rather concluded that this must have been the case, and that the +remainder of the bank had been torn away, and the pond itself annihilated +by some violent effort of an unknown power. + +Notwithstanding the narrow limits of the island, abundance of small +kangaroos were found to inhabit its brushy parts; but so many had been +destroyed by the people of the _Sydney Cove_, that they had now +become scarce. + +The sooty petrel had appropriated a certain grassy part of the island to +herself, and retained her position with a degree of obstinacy not easily +to be overcome. For although it so happened, that the storehouse for the +wrecked cargo was erected upon the spot, and the people for more than a +year drew the favourite part of their food from these birds, and were +besides continually walking over their habitations, yet at the end of +that time the returning flights in the evening were as numerous as they +had been observed to be upon their first arrival. + +When Mr. Hamilton, the commander of the _Sydney Cove_, quitted the +house, he left two hens sitting upon their eggs, some breeding pigeons, +and a bag of rice; but no traces were now to be discovered either of the +birds or their food. It is probable, that so long as this little colony +continued within doors, it did well; but that, when forced by its +necessities to go abroad in quest of food, it fell a quiet sacrifice to +the rapacity of the hawks. + +Several snakes with venomous fangs were found here; but, no person having +been bitten by them, the degree of their power was unknown. + +The water of the island was thought to have been injurious to the health +of the people of the _Sydney Cove_. It was supposed to contain +arsenic, which was highly probable from an experiment that was made with +the metallic particles, which were taken to be tin. A large fume of what +bore many marks of arsenic arose from the crucible during the time of +smelting it. Water was very scarce while these people were upon the +island; but, owing to some unusual falls of rain, several little runs and +swamps were found by Mr. Bass; and a low piece of ground where they had +deposited their dead was now a pond of an excellent quality. + +Although he had seen but few of the low islands of Furneaux, yet Mr. Bass +had not any doubt but that this account of Preservation Island would in +general answer for the description of any of them. + +He next proceeds to describe what little he saw of Cape Barren Island, +which he understood, from the people of the _Nautilus_ snow, who had +been there sealing, was an exact specimen of those of the higher kind, so +far as they had observed of them. + +Cape Barren Island, which takes its name from the cape so called by +Captain Furneaux, is a small island when compared with that lying to +the northward of it. From what was seen of it in the sloop, it could only +be conjectured that these two were separate islands; but Mr. Bishop had +passed in the _Nautilus_ through the channel that divides them. + +Mr. Bass did not land upon the large island, and it is only of the +southern end of Cape Barren Island that he could speak from his own +particular observation. + +This island is one of those of the higher kind that consist of both high +and low land. The high part is composed of granite, in many places almost +bare, in others poorly clothed with moderate sized gum trees, which draw +their support through some small quantity of vegetable earth lodged by +the broken blocks and fragments of the stone, and some straggling +brush-wood shooting up round the trees, and completing the appearance of +a continued vegetation. + +The base of the low part is granite; its surface chiefly sand; its +produce, variety of brush, with some few small gum trees, and a species +of fir, that grows tall and straight to the height of 20 or 25 feet. +There are within the body of the brush several clear spots, where the +ground is partly rocky or sandy, partly wet and spongy. These are +somewhat enlivened by beautiful flowering heath, and low shrubs, but have +upon the whole a dark sombrous aspect, too much resembling the barren +heaths of Hampshire. + +A grass tree grows here, similar in every respect to that about Port +Jackson, except that no reed, neither living nor dead, could be found to +belong to it. It is certain, however, that there must be a reed, or a +flowering part of some kind. In the brushes, where the sandy soil is +somewhat ameliorated by the decay of vegetation, a few tufts of +indifferent grass might be seen; but the greater part of it was the +coarse wiry sort that grows in hassocks. + +It is singular, that a place wherein food seemed to be so scarce should +yet be so thickly inhabited by the small brush kangaroo, and a new +quadruped, which was also a grass-eater. + +This animal, being a new one, appears to deserve a particular +description. The Wombat (or, as it is called by the natives of Port +Jackson, the Womback) is a squat, thick, short-legged, and rather +inactive quadruped, with great appearance of stumpy strength, and +somewhat bigger than a large turnspit dog. Its figure and movements, if +they do not exactly resemble those of the bear, at least strongly remind +one of that animal. + +Its length, from the tip of the tail to the tip of the nose, is thirty-one +inches, of which its body takes up twenty-three and five-tenths. The head +is seven inches, and the tail five-tenths. Its circumference behind the +forelegs, twenty-seven inches; across the thickest part of the belly, +thirty-one inches. Its weight by hand is somewhat between twenty-five and +thirty pounds. The hair is coarse, and about one inch or one inch and +five tenths in length, thinly set upon the belly, thicker on the back and +head, and thickest upon the loins and rump; the colour of it a light +sandy brown, of varying shades, but darkest along the back. + +The head is large and flattish, and, when looking the animal full in the +face, seems, excluding the ears, to form nearly an equilateral triangle, +any side of which is about seven inches and five tenths in length, but +the upper side, or that which constitutes the breadth of the head, is +rather the shortest. The hair upon the face lies in regular order, as if +it were combed, with its ends pointed upwards in a kind of radii, from +the nose their centre. + +The ears are sharp and erect, of two inches and three-tenths in length, +stand well asunder, and are in nowise disproportionate. The eyes are +small, and rather sunken than prominent, but quick and lively. They are +placed about two inches and five tenths asunder, a little below the +centre of the imaginary triangle towards the nose. The nice co-adaptation +of their ciliary processes, which are covered with a fine hair, seems to +afford the animal an extraordinary power of excluding whatever might be +hurtful. + +The nose is large or spreading, the nostrils large, long, and capable of +being closed. They stand angularly with each other, and a channel is +continued from them towards the upper lip, which is divided like the +hare's. The whiskers are rather thick and strong, and are in length from +two to three inches and five tenths. + +The opening of its mouth is small; it contains five long grass-cutting +teeth in the front of each jaw, like those of the kangaroo; within them +is a vacancy for an inch or more, then appear two small canine teeth of +equal height with, and so much similar to, eight molars situated behind, +as scarcely to be distinguishable from them. The whole number in both +jaws amount to twenty-four. + +The neck is thick and short, and greatly restrains the motions of the +head, which, according to the common expression, looks as if it was stuck +upon the shoulders. + +From the neck the back arches a little as far as the loins, whence +it goes off at a flat slope to the hindmost parts, where not any tail +is visible. A tail, however, may be found by carefully passing the +finger over the flat slope in a line with the backbone. After separating +the hairs, it is seen of some five tenths of an inch in length, and +from three to one tenth of an inch in diameter, naked, except for a few +short fine hairs near its end. This curious tall seemed to hold a much +bolder proportion in the young than in the full-grown animal. + +The fore legs are very strong and muscular: their length, to the sole of +the paw, is five inches five tenths, and the distance between them is +five inches and five tenths. The paws are fleshy, round, and large, being +one inch and nine tenths in diameter. Their claws are five in number, +attached to as many short digitations. The three middle claws are strong, +and about eight or nine tenths of an inch in length; the thumb and little +finger claws are also strong, but shorter than the others, being only +from six to seven tenths of an inch. The fleshy root of the thumb claw is +smaller and more flexible than the others. The sole of the paw is hard, +and the upper part is covered with the common hair, down to the roots of +the claws which it overhangs. The hind legs are less strong and muscular +than the fore; their length, to the sole, is five inches and five tenths; +the distance between, seven inches and five tenths. The hind paw is +longer than the fore, but not less fleshy; its length is two inches and +seven tenths, its breadth two inches and six tenths. The claws are four +in number: the three inner ones are less strong, but about two tenths of +an inch longer than the longest of the fore claws; and there is a fleshy +spur in the place of a thumb claw. The whole paw has a curve, which +throws its fore part rather inward. + +In size the two sexes are nearly the same, but the female is perhaps +rather the heaviest. + +In the opinion of Mr. Bass, this Wombat seemed to be very economically +made; but he thought it unnecessary to give an account of its internal +structure in his journal. + +This animal has not any claim to swiftness of foot, as most men could run +it down. Its pace is hobbling or shuffling, something like the awkward +gait of a bear. In disposition it is mild and gentle, as becomes a +grass-eater; but it bites hard, and is furious when provoked. Mr. Bass +never heard its voice but at that time; it was a low cry, between a +hissing and a whizzing, which could not be heard at a distance of more +than thirty or forty yards. He chased one, and with his hands under his +belly suddenly lifted him off the ground without hurting him, and laid +him upon his back along his arm, like a child. It made no noise, nor any +effort to escape, not even a struggle. Its countenance was placid and +undisturbed, and it seemed as contented as if it had been nursed by Mr. +Bass* from its infancy. He carried the beast upwards of a mile, and often +shifted him from arm to arm, sometimes laying him upon his shoulder, all +of which he took in good part; until, being obliged to secure his legs +while he went into the brush to cut a specimen of a new wood, the +creature's anger arose with the pinching of the twine; he whizzed with +all his might, kicked and scratched most furiously, and snapped off a +piece from the elbow of Mr. Bass's Jacket with his grass-cutting teeth. +Their friendship was here at an end, and the creature remained implacable +all the way to the boat, ceasing to kick only when he was exhausted. + +[* The kangaroo, and some other animals in New South Wales, were +remarkable for being domesticated as soon as taken.] + +This circumstance seemed to indicate, that with kind treatment the Wombat +might soon be rendered extremely docile, and probably affectionate; but +let his tutor beware of giving him provocation, at least if he should be +full grown. + +Besides Furneaux's Islands, the Wombat inhabits, as has been seen, the +mountains to the westward of Port Jackson. In both these places its +habitation is under ground, being admirably formed for burrowing, but to +what depth it descends does not seem to be ascertained. According to the +account given of it by the natives, the wombat of the mountains is never +seen during the day, but lives retired in his hole, feeding only in the +night; but that of the islands is seen to feed in all parts of the day. +His food is not yet well known; but it seems probable that he varies it, +according to the situation in which he may be placed. The stomachs of +such as Mr. Bass examined were distended with the coarse wiry grass, and +he, as well as others, had seen the animal scratching among the dry ricks +of sea-weed thrown up upon the shores, but could never discover what it +was in search of. Now the inhabitant of the mountains can have no +recourse to the sea-shore for his food, nor can he find there any wiry +grass of the islands, but must live upon the food that circumstances +present to him. + +The annexed representation of this new and curious addition to the +animals of New South Wales was taken from a living subject, which was a +female, and had the characteristic mark which classed it with the opossum +tribe, the pouch or bag for its young. + +Cape Barren Island, besides the kangaroo and wombat, is inhabited by the +porcupine ant-eater; a rat with webbed feet; paroquets, and small birds +unknown at Port Jackson, some few of which were of beautiful plumage. +Black snakes with the venomous fangs were numerous upon the edges of the +brush. The rocks toward the sea were covered with fur-seals of great +beauty. This species of seal seemed to approach nearest to that named by +naturalists the Falkland Island Seal. + +'In point of animated life nature seems (says Mr. Bass) to have acted so +oddly with this and the neighbouring islands, that if their rich stores +were thoroughly ransacked, I doubt not but the departments of natural +history would be enlarged by more new and valuable specimens than they +ever before acquired from any land of many times their extent.' + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + + +The _Norfolk_ proceeds on her voyage +The Swan Isles; why so named +Waterhouse Isle +Discover Port Dalrymple +Account of the country within it +Natural productions +Animals +Sagacity and numbers of the black swan +Inhabitants; inferior to those of the continent +Range of the thermometer +Pass Table Cape +Circular head +Three Hummock Island +Albatross Island +Hunter's Isles +Proceed to the southward and westward + + +Leaving Furneaux's Islands, the _Norfolk_ proceeded toward the North +coast of Van Diemen's land; and on the 1st of November she anchored for a +tide at the largest of the Swan isles, two small islands so named by +Lieutenant Flinders, when he was here in the _Francis_, because a +European who belonged to the _Sydney Cove_ had assured him that he +had met with vast numbers of breeding swans upon them. + +The isle at which the sloop anchored bore a great resemblance to +Preservation Island, being low, sandy, and barren, but differed from it +in the composition of its rocks, or that substance which formed the basis +of its support. This had not any affinity to granite, nor did Mr. Bass +remember to have seen any of a similar kind upon any part of New South +Wales. It was of various colours, but generally either a light brown, or +a sort of grey. It seemed to be lamellated, but the lamellae were placed +vertically, sometimes radiated with a diameter of four or five feet, and +sometimes they were placed parallel. Upon breaking the stone, the +fracture was vitreous, or like that of glass, and it scintillated on +steel being applied. Rust of iron was visible in several parts, the +stone breaking easily in those parts into plates correspondent to the +length and direction of the rust; but where that was not, it broke with +great difficulty. On the first view, the stone looked like a clay; but as +it produced fire with steel, there must have been a large portion of +flint in it. It appeared to contain iron in rather a large quantity, and +probably some other metallic substances. + +Notwithstanding the information given by the European, not a single swan +was found upon the island; but several geese were breeding there, and the +sooty petrel possessed the grassy parts; the swans of the sailor, in this +instance, therefore, turned out to be geese. This bird had been seen +before upon Preservation Island, and was either a Brent or a Barnacle +goose, or between the two. It had a long and slender neck, with a small +short head, and a rounded crown; a short, thick arched bill, partly +covered with a pea-green membrane which soon shrivelled up, and came +away in the dried specimens. Its plumage was, for the most part, of a +dove colour, set with black spots. It had a deep, hoarse, clanging, and, +though a short, yet an inflected voice. In size it was rather less than +our tame geese, and lived upon grass. The flesh was excellent. + +Early in the morning of the first of November they left the Swan Isles, +steering to the westward along shore. At nine o'clock the north coast of +Van Diemen's land lay extended from about SE by E to West, the nearest +part of it being distant two and a half or three miles. Its general +trending seemed to be about ESE and WNW with a small island lying off the +western extreme. The shores were chiefly beaches, the front land was of a +moderate height, the back was mountainous. One ridge of mountains that +bore south was very high and rugged, and from the white patches in it was +concluded to be rocky and barren. + +If any judgment could be hazarded of the quality of the country, at the +distance the sloop was at, it might be supposed, from the beauty of the +lower head-land, to be somewhat above mediocrity. Extensive tracts of +open ground that come down towards the sea in gradual green slopes were +varied by clumps of wood and large single trees. + +A column of smoke that arose some few miles inland, was the only sign of +its being inhabited. + +At noon the latitude was 40 degrees 44 minutes 08 seconds, the peak of +Cape Barren Island then in sight. At this time they were two miles to +the westward of the small island, which was low and rocky, lying about +two miles and a half off a sharp, sandy point, with which it was nearly +connected by some lumps of rock that almost closed up the passage. +A long curved line of ripple extended to the northward. + +The aspect of the low land here became less pleasing, the mountains +approaching nearer to the sea, and the country appearing to be more +wooded. The coast seemed inclined to a more southerly direction, and the +western extremity, which bore SW by W, appeared broken, like Islands. +At five in the afternoon they anchored two miles and a half to the +westward of the small island, it being calm, and the tide of ebb setting +the vessel to the Northward. + +They weighed at nine the next morning with an easterly wind, and steered +in towards a small break that presented itself in the bottom of an +extensive but not deep bay, or rather bight, lying between the two +extremes then in view. The break was not sufficiently distinct to have +justified in itself alone a reasonable supposition of an inlet, but that +it was corroborated by the direction of the ebb tide, which, while the +sloop was at anchor, was observed to come from the SSW or directly out of +the bight, running at the rate of two miles and a half per hour. By noon, +it being ascertained that there was not any inlet, they bore away to the +Westward along the land. + +Their distance from the shore did not exceed a mile and a half. The back +country consisted of high hummocky mountains, whose parallel edges were +lying elevated one above another to a considerable distance inland. The +land in front was woody and bushy, of a moderate height, but sandy. + +At three in the afternoon they ran through between a sandy point, with +shoal water off it, and two islands. One of these, named Waterhouse Isle, +is between two and three miles in length, rather high, but level, and +covered with large wood. The other is small, low, rocky, and almost bare. +The coast now trended to the SSW the land sloping up gradually from the +sea to a moderate height, with more open than wooded ground, and but +little brush; but the soil appeared sandy, and the grass but thinly +grown. The hummocky mountains still retained their general figure in the +more interior parts. + +As they proceeded, the shore no longer preserved any regular line of +direction, but fell back into sandy bights. Hauling off for the night, a +little to the westward of a small rocky and barren island, lying about +four miles from the land, at six o'clock the following morning they came +in with it again, near where they had left it the preceding evening, and +began their course along the shore, which trended to the SSW in an +irregular manner, with a sandy country at its back. + +At eleven o'clock they passed within a mile of a high grassy cape, which +is the seaward extremity of a ridge, that, rising up by a gentle ascent, +retreats and joins some chains of lofty mountains. A small rocky island +lay two miles from it to the WSW. At noon the latitude was 40 degrees 55 +minutes 25 seconds, and the longitude 147 degrees 16 minutes 30 seconds. + +Early in the afternoon a gap in the land situated at the back of a deep +narrow bight, which had for some time attracted attention, began to +assume the appearance of an inlet, which they bore away to examine; and, +after running three miles, they found they had shut in the line of the +coast on each side, and were impelled forward by a strong inset of tide. +Continuing their course for the gap, some back points within the entrance +soon became distinguishable, and the rapidity of the flood tide was +observed to increase with the increasing contiguity of the shores. When +the sloop was on the point of entering the harbour, which appeared to be +fairly open before her, the water shoaled suddenly, and she struck the +ground and lay fast; but fortunately the strong flood in a few minutes +dragged her over into deep water, and shot her into the entrance with +uncommon velocity. + +Having advanced within the entrance, the harbour began to expand itself +in a kind of large basin. Its shores were broken into points and +projections, between some of which the great strength of the flood tide +led them to expect it would branch off into arms. The land lying +immediately upon its borders was low, but not flat; well wooded; and +those points near which the sloop passed were clothed with a very unusual +degree of verdure. The sun being down, the vessel was anchored for the +night, and the next day they proceeded with their researches. + +They were employed during sixteen days in the examination of this place; +and the result of the observations which were made by Mr. Bass in +different parts of it, and the neighbouring country, are thrown by that +gentleman into one general account. + +This harbour, or inlet, which was named by the governor Port Dalrymple, +in compliment to Alexander Dalrymple, esq takes its course from the SE +between two chains of rounded mountains, stretching inland from the sea +with an almost imperceptible increase of elevation; and, after gradually +approximating each other, seemed to unite, at the distance of between +thirty and forty miles, in a body of rugged mountains more lofty than +themselves. These two chains in their relative positions formed an acute +angle, being at their greatest distance asunder, as measured along the +sea coast, only sixteen miles. + +Being limited in point of time (twelve weeks having been deemed by the +governor sufficient for the execution of this service), the apprehension +of losing a wind favourable for the prosecution of the principal object +of the voyage, that of sailing through the strait, deterred them from +attempting to reach the head of the river; but it was hardly to be +doubted, that its principal source proceeded from some part near the +point of union of the two chains of mountains. Allowing this supposition, +a great part of its stream must be perfectly fresh; for at the place +where they ended their examination, which was not more than half the +whole supposed distance or length of the river, it had become half fresh +half salt, although its breadth was from half a mile to a mile and a +half, and its depth eight or nine fathoms. + +The country which Mr. Bass had an opportunity of observing, was a certain +portion of that lying within the angle formed by the two chains of +mountains, and more especially of the parts which lay contiguous to the +water, rather than of those situated in the vicinity of the chains. + +The quality of the ground, taking it in the aggregate, was much superior +to that of the borders of any of the salt water inlets of New South +Wales, Western Port excepted (seen by Mr Bass on his first excursion in +the whale boat). The vegetable mould was, however, found to be of no +great depth, and was sometimes, perhaps advantageously, mixed with small +quantities of sand. + +The best of the soil was found upon the sides of sloping hills, and in +the broad valleys between them. Some parts that were low and level had a +wet and peat-like surface, bounded by small tracts of flowering shrubs +and odoriferous plants, that perfumed the air with the fragrance of their +oils.* These retained in general the appearance of those in New South +Wales, while they were in reality very different. The rich and vivid +colouring of the more northern flowers, and that soft and exquisite +gradation of their tints, for which they are so singularly distinguished +hold with those here, but in a less eminent degree. The two countries +present a perfect similarity in this, that the more barren spots are the +most gaily adorned. The curious florist, and scientific botanist, would +find ample subject of exultation in their different researches in Port +Dalrymple. + +[* In this particular they differ from the flowering shrubs of +New South Wales; none or very few of which were ever found, beautiful +as they were in other respects, to possess the smallest particle of +odour.] + +Except in these places, the grass grows not in tufts, but covers the land +equally with a short nutritious herbage, better adapted, possibly, to the +bite of small than of large cattle. The food for the latter grows in the +bottoms of the valleys and upon the damp flats. A large proportion of the +soil promised a fair return to the labours of the cultivator, and a +lesser ensures an ample reward; but the greater part would perhaps be +more advantageously employed, if left for pasturage, than if thrown into +cultivation; it would be poor as the one, but rich as the other. + +Water was found in runs more than in ponds, and, though not abundant, was +far from being scarce. + +The west side of the river furnishes the largest quantity of the best +ground, because the mountains on that side are at a greater distance than +those on the east. The country lying near the west arm is chiefly rather +flat, and might be converted to many useful purposes, both in agriculture +and in pasturage, for which last it is probably well calculated. If it +should ever be proposed to make a settlement here, this part seems to +merit very particular attention. + +The best land seems to be that fine hilly country which lies at the back +of an island named Middle-island; but access to it is not easy on account +of a large shoal extending along its front, which is dry at low water, as +far out as the island itself. The shape of the land is very pleasingly +variegated with hill and valley; the soil is in general a rich black +mould, shallow, and even sometimes a little stony upon the hills, but in +the valleys is of abundant depth and richness. A close coat of grass of a +uniform thickness over-spreads it every where. It appears to be watered +only by swampy ponds, which in many places are at some distance from each +other; but it is hardly to be doubted, that wells sunk in the valleys +would furnish water sufficient for all domestic purposes. + +In sailing up the river, the points and shores present an appearance of +fertility that astonishes an eye used to those of the rocky harbours of +New South Wales. They are mostly grassed as well as wooded close down to +the water side, the wood, perhaps, thin; the grass every where thick, +every where a dark luxuriant vegetation, that, either from the thinness +of the wood, or the gradual rounding of the hills and points, is visible +to a very considerable extent of ground. + +The tides run so uncommonly rapid, that if the port were colonised, and +the principal town built, as it no doubt would be, near the entrance, the +produce of the villages and farms scattered along its banks might be +brought to market with the greatest ease, expedition, and certainty. + +The heavy timber is chiefly gum tree of various species; of which two are +different from any that have been yet seen in this country. Nothing new +was observed in the quality of the wood; but, from the few trees that +were felled, it was thought to be more sound at heart than they are +usually met with. The she oaks were more inclined to spread than grow +tall. The smaller trees and shrubs resemble, with some variety, those of +the continent.* The tree producing the yellow gum is of a very diminutive +size; but, unlike that of Cape Barren island, it bears a reed +correspondent to itself. These were going into flower, and their length +was only from nine inches to two feet.** + +[* Mr. Pennant allows its claim to this distinction. Vide Pennant's +'Outlines of the Globe.'] + +[** This dwarf gum tree is of much use to the natives of New +South Wales, as may be seen by the following distribution of its +properties. The gum from the body of the tree, which they term +Goolgad-ye, is used for repairing their canoes. Of the reed they make a +fiz-gig, which they call Moo-ting. Of the grass or rushes which grow at +the top of the tree, they make torches, named Boo-do. A gum which they +extract from these rushes, and which is named Wangye, they use in +fastening the joints of their spears; and from the centre of the tree +they procure a loathsome worm, which they call Boo-roo-gal, and deem a +great luxury. The tree itself is named Ye-gal.] + +The few rocky shores of the river presented nothing remarkable, being +generally either of a rough iron-stone, or a soft grid-stone. + +The grey kangaroo of a very large size, abounded in the open forest; the +brushes were tenanted by the smaller black kind, or, as it is named by +the natives of Port Jackson, the Wal-li-bah. + +The plumage of the parrots forms a gloomy contrast with the rich lustre +of those near the settlement, their colours being rather grave than gay. +The melancholy cry of the bell-bird (dil boong, after which Bennillong +named his infant child) seems to be unknown here. Many aquatic birds, +both web-footed and waders, frequent the arms and coves of the river; but +the black swans alone are remarkable in point of number. Mr. Bass once +made a rough calculation of three hundred swimming within the space of a +quarter of a mile square; and heard the 'dying song' of some scores; that +song, so celebrated by the poets of former times, exactly resembled the +creaking of a rusty sign on a windy day! Not more than two thirds of any +of the flocks which they fell in with could fly, the rest could do no +more than flap along upon the surface of the water, being either +moulting, or not yet come to their full feather and growth, which they +require two years to attain. They swam and flapped alternately, and went +along surprisingly fast. It was some times a long chase, but the boat +generally tired them out. When in danger, and speed makes no part of +their escape, they immerse their bodies so far, that the water makes a +passage between their neck and back, and in this position they would +frequently turn aside a heavy load of shot. They seemed to be endowed +with much sagacity; in chase they soon learned the weakest point of their +pursuers, and, instead of swimming directly from them, as they did at +first, always endeavoured in the most artful manner to gain the wind, +which could only be prevented by anticipating their movements, and by a +dexterous management of the boat. + +The swan is said to feed upon fish, frogs, and water-slugs; but in the +gizzards of many that at different times and in different places were +examined by Mr. Bass, nothing ever appeared but small water plants, +mostly a kind of broad leaved grass, and some little sand. To their +affection for their young he had seen some lamentable sacrifices; but of +their fierceness, at least when opposed to man, or their great strength, +he had seen no instance. + +Among other reptiles were found the snake with venomous fangs, and some +large brown guanoes. + +This country is inhabited by men; and, if any judgment could be formed +from the number of huts which they met, in about the same proportion as +in New South Wales. Their extreme shyness prevented any communication. +They never even got sight of them but once, and then at a great distance. +They had made fires abreast of where the sloop was at anchor; but as soon +as the boat approached the shore they ran off into the woods. Their +huts, of which seven or eight were frequently found together like a +little encampment, were constructed of bark torn in long stripes from +some neighbouring tree, after being divided transversely at the bottom, +in such breadths as they judge their strength would be able to disengage +from its adherence to the wood, and the connecting bark on each side. It +is then broken into convenient lengths, and placed, slopingwise, against +the elbowing part of some dead branch that has fallen off from the +distorted limbs of the gum tree; and a little grass is sometimes thrown +over the top. But, after all their labour, they have not ingenuity +sufficient to place the slips of bark in such a manner as to preclude the +free admission of the rain. It is somewhat strange, that in the latitude +of 41 degrees, want should not have sharpened their ideas to the +invention of some more convenient habitation, especially since they have +been left by nature without the confined dwelling of a hollow tree, or +the more agreeable accommodation of a hole under the rock. + +The single utensil that was observed lying near their huts was a kind of +basket made of long wiry grass, that grows along the shores of the river. +The two ends of a large bunch of this grass are tied to the two ends of a +smaller bunch; the large one is then spread out to form the basket, while +the smaller answers the purpose of a handle. Their apparent use is, to +bring shell fish from the mud banks where they are to be collected. The +large heaps of mussel shells that were found near each hut proclaimed the +mud banks to be a principal source of food. The most scrupulous +examination of their fire places discovered nothing, except a few bones +of the opossum, a squirrel, and here and there those of a small kangaroo. +No remains of fish were even seen. + +The mode of taking the opossum seemed to be similar to that practised in +New South Wales*, except that it is probable they use a rope in ascending +the tree; for once, at the foot of a notched tree, about eight feet of a +two inch rope made of grass was found with a knot in it, near which it +appeared to have broken. + +[* Vide Vol I Appendix II.] + +A canoe was never met with, and concurring circumstances showed +that this convenience was unknown here; nor was any tree ever observed +to be barked in the manner requisite for this purpose; though birds +bred upon little islands to which access might be had in the smallest +canoe. Those made of solid timber seemed to be wholly out of the +question. The roughness of the notches left by the stone hatchet upon +the bark of the trees bore no very favourable testimony to its +excellence. They were rather the marks of a rough than of a sharp-edged +tool, and seemed more beaten than cut, which was not the case with the +marks left by the mo-go, or stone hatchet, of New South Wales. + +Hence, from the little that has been seen of the condition of our own +species in this place, it appears to be much inferior in some essential +points of convenience to that of the despised inhabitants of the +continent. How miserable a being would the latter be, his canoe taken +from him, his stone hatchet blunted, his hut pervious to the smallest +shower of rain, and few or no excavations in the rocks to fly to! But +happiness, like every thing else, exists only by comparison with the +stage above and the stage below our own. The circumstances which +occasioned this difference between the people of two countries so near to +each other, and so much alike in their natural productions, must remain +hidden from our observation, until perhaps some permanent European +settlement shall be made in Van Diemen's land. + +The range of the thermometer, taken in various parts of the port, was at +night from 49 degrees to 52 degrees, and at noon from 58 degrees to 64 +degrees. + +On the 20th of November they left Port Dalrymple with a light breeze at +NE and proceeded very slowly to the westward. At daylight the following +morning, the wind shifted to the W by N which drove them back to +Furneaux's islands, where, the gale continuing at west, they were kept +until the 3rd of December, when they were enabled to proceed to the +westward. The land here trended to the WNW as far as was visible through +the haze, which allowed them only to distinguish that it was high and +uneven. At noon the latitude was 40 degrees 58 minutes, and the longitude +146 degrees 44 minutes. Their progress was slow, and unavoidably at too +great a distance from the shore to form any just idea of the country; but +what was seen of it appeared high and mountainous, the mountains forming +into hummocks and low peaks, to which a few large shapeless knobs added a +great singularity of appearance. On the haze clearing away, and the shore +being distinctly seen, it appeared rocky, but wooded nearly down to the +water's edge. Here and there were seen spaces of open ground, some of +which sloped toward the sea, and had a few large trees growing +irregularly upon them. A remarkable peaked mountain, some few miles +inland, might have been thought, from its shape and height, to have been +once a volcano. A very singular lump of high level, or table land, lay at +a few miles to the westward in the coast line; and at some distance +beyond it, a point appeared with three knobs of land lying off it, +resembling islands. This land was named Table Cape. + +To the extreme eastern point of this land, a fine easterly breeze had +brought them at daylight of the 6th; when they found that what they had +on the preceding evening taken to be islands were three lumps or ridges +of the point itself, lessening in bulk as they advanced toward its +seaward extremity. The very uncommon figure of this point may perhaps be +best conceived by comparing it to a spear with several barbs. It was +extremely barren and rocky. Beyond the point, the coast trended more +northerly, but fell back into an extensive bay, with a sandy beach in its +rear. The western point of this bay was formed by a high, steep, and +round bluff, named Circular Head, that might easily be taken for an +island, but was a peninsula. The land behind was of moderate height, and +rose gradually from the sea. It was clothed in a poor coat of either +grass or short brush; among which were seen some dwarf gum trees, that +appeared to be in a sickly and dying state, apparently for want of +sufficient soil to expand in. + +Towards noon, soon after passing Circular Head, the outermost land in +sight stretched so far to the northward, that the course to clear it was +NNW. It formed like two hummocks, and in steering for it they were +compelled to leave a large bight unexamined. The coast at its back was +too distant to form any judgment of it, except in the general outline. +Its westernmost part seemed broken and intersected, like islands and +gaps; but, as the wind blew fresh and directly into it, they passed on. + +Nothing new presented itself on the following day, but some small flights +of sooty petrels. + +On the 8th, being threatened with a gale, they came to anchor under the +land, off a small beach on its NE part, where the SW wind could not +molest the vessel. Here Mr. Bass landed to examine the country, but found +it impenetrable. The tall sturdy brush wood grew so close that their dogs +could hardly make their way through it. Large patches appeared to have +been burnt many months ago, but the small brush and creeping vines only +were destroyed; the closeness of the blackened saplings were still +irresistible. A few starved gum trees erected their sickly heads above +the brush, and the whole wore an aspect of poverty which the sandy soil +confirmed. And yet this place was inhabited by men, as was shown by the +old fire places strewed round with shells of the sea ear. The rocks were +composed of quartz, probably a species of granite, but much unlike that +which formed Furneaux's Islands. + +Leaving this place on the 9th, they steered for the outermost land in +sight, which bore to the southward of west, and was distant three or four +leagues. After rounding the seaward end of the land under which they had +anchored, its shores fell back, and at last discovered to them that it +was an island of from fifteen to twenty miles in circuit, and situated +between four and five from the main. It was with the greatest +astonishment that they recollected the fire places and sea shells which +they had the preceding evening seen upon the island. That the inhabitants +of this part of Van Diemen's land should possess canoes capable of +crossing over four or five miles of open sea, while those of Port +Dalrymple were without any, seemed highly improbable. The island itself +was certainly unequal to the maintenance of any settled inhabitants, and +yet there were unequivocal vestiges of men upon it. Long and frequent +reflection upon facts in themselves so contradictory had never produced +any rational solution of the difficulty. This island took the descriptive +name of Three Hummock Island. + +For several hours during the early part of the morning, a vast stream of +sooty petrels issued from the deep bight which had been left unexplored, +and passed the vessel on their way to the westward. There must have been +some millions of birds. Thence they were well assured there was at least +one island in that bight, if not more than one, as they had imagined. + +Having passed within a mile of a pointed part of the main, which in +height and starved vegetation very much resembled Three Hummock island, +towards noon they came up with some land, which proved to be a small +island, high and very steep; and a long swell, which had just before made +its first appearance, broke violently upon it, making a furious surf on +all sides. Its summit was whitened over with birds. With some difficulty +a landing was effected at the foot of a chasm filled up with loose +stones; and, after a slight rencontre with some seals that stood above, +they reached the top. The birds they found were albatrosses innumerable. +The spread of their wings was from seven to nine feet. Their colour was +more white than black, and the appearance of their visitors did not +occasion much disturbance among them, even when they approached close to +them. This was the season of their breeding. The females sat upon nests +not more than a foot and a half apart, built of muddy earth, bound with +coarse grass, raised about four inches from the ground, and formed into a +concavity of nearly that depth, with a diameter of five or six inches. +One young bird only was in each nest: it was of the size of a small +pullet, but at that time covered with a beautifully white down. The +shapeless lump at some distance resembled a ball of cotton. Some nests +held an addled egg of a dingy white colour, and equal in size to that of +a goose. The nests were so near each other, and the birds so conscious of +the great strength of their sharp bills, that in going through them the +voyagers were obliged to make use of their seal clubs, to procure +themselves a passage. Even the young ones spouted plentiful mouthfuls of +a not inodorous oil upon them. + +The island, which obtained the name of Albatross Island, was a mere mass +of stone, without any other vegetation than a few tufts of coarse grass. +Besides albatrosses, it afforded shelter to a few scores of hair seals, +and the large gull. The latitude was 40 degrees 24 minutes, the longitude +145 degrees 02 minutes. + +Several other islands were seen to the southward, and the coast of the +main seemed trending in the same direction. A deep bight lay at the back +of these islands, with points and openings visible in its most distant +part. There was reason to believe, that the sea here had a communication +through into the unexplored bight to the eastward of Three Hummock +Island; in which case the pointed part of the main, whose vegetation bore +so great a resemblance to that of Three Hummock island, would also be an +island. They passed sufficiently near to determine that they were high, +steep, and difficult of access. Their tops and sloping parts were grown +over with either coarse grass or short brush; but not any trees appeared. +The largest might be seven or eight miles in circuit, the smaller were +mere masses of rock of various sizes; and the whole cluster, in number +about twelve, including Three Hummock Island, obtained the name of +Hunter's Isles. + +A fresh gale at ENE and a heavy swell from the SW drove the vessel fast +to the southward and westward; and on the 11th, the gale having +moderated, they stretched in for the land, a large extent of which was +indistinctly visible through a light haze that hung about the horizon. At +noon the latitude was 41 degrees 13 minutes, and the longitude 148 +degrees 58 minutes. With a fresh breeze at NNE they bore away along the +shore, which trends to the SE by E and was distant three or four miles. + +From a shore of beach, with short rocky points at intervals, the land +rose gradually to a considerable height, the aspect of which was barren +and brushy, and the soil sandy. Several short reefs of rocks lay in front +of the beaches, and broke the long swell into a surf of a tremendous +appearance. + +Dreading a gale of wind from the west, which was threatening, and might +have proved fatal to their little vessel, they hauled out to the SSW; but +the weather remained moderate. + +On the following morning the wind flew round to the northward, and they +continued their route along the shore. Early in the forenoon they passed +a singularly formed point, with a number of lumps of rock lying some two +or three miles off it to the SW. It resembled an artificial pier, or +mole, with warehouses upon it, and a lighthouse on the end next the +water. Large masses of detached oblong rocks gave the appearance of +warehouses, and a remarkably long one standing upon its end, that of the +light-house. + +Their latitude at noon was 42 degrees 02 minutes and the longitude 145 +degrees 16 minutes; the coast still trended to the SSE and the land began +to change that uniformly regular figure which it had hitherto preserved. +It was becoming mountainous and uneven, but was still barren. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + + +The _Norfolk_ passes the strait +Observations thereon +Proceeds to the southward +Passes the S. W. Cape; and S. Cape +Remarks on the latter +De Witt's Isles +Storm Bay Passage +Tasman's Head +Fluted Cape +Frederick Henry Bay +Enter the Derwent river, first seen in the ship _Duke_, of Bengal +Observations on the Derwent +Some natives seen +Particulars of one +Venomous snake +One destroys itself +Comparison between New South Wales and Van Dieman's Land +Arrive at Port Jackson +Advantages of the strait + + +Mr. Bass and his fellow voyager, Lieutenant Flinders, did not hesitate +now to think that they had passed through the strait, and from the +Pacific had entered the southern Indian ocean; for what within the extent +of a vast sea could give birth to the monstrous swell that was rolling in +before their eyes? and the coast was evidently trending towards the SW +cape. + +Mr. Bass says (with all the feeling and spirit of an explorer), that 'he +already began to taste the enjoyment resulting from the completion of +this discovery, which had been commenced in the whale-boat, under a +complication of anxieties, hazard, and fatigue, known only to those who +conducted her;' modestly sharing the praises, to which he alone was +entitled, with those who accompanied him. + +It was worthy of remark (Mr. Bass says), that the northern shore of the +strait from Wilson's Promontory (seen in the whale-boat) to Western Port +resembled the bluff bold shore of an open sea, with a swell rolling in, +and a large surf breaking upon it; while the southern shore, or what is +the coast of Van Diemen's land, appeared like the inner shore of a +cluster of islands, whose outer parts break off the great weight of the +sea. The cause of this is immediately obvious, on recollecting that the +swell of the Indian ocean enters the strait from the southward of west. +The greater part of the southern shore lies in a bight, whose western +extreme is Hunter's Isles, and the NW Cape of Van Diemen's land. Now as +the swell comes from the southward, as well as the westward, it must, +after striking upon the northwest part of the southern shore, evidently +run on in a direction somewhat diagonal with the two sides of the strait, +until it expands itself upon the northern shore, where both swell and +surf are found. But to the southward of this diagonal line the swell must +quickly take off, and totally disappear, long before it can reach the +shore to make a surf. Hence arises the difference. + +That the swell of the Indian ocean comes, by far the greater part of the +way, from the southward of west, can hardly be doubted, since it is well +known that the prevailing winds are from that quarter. + +Early in the afternoon (of the 11th) a piece of land stood out from the +line of the coast like an island, but it was soon found to be joined to +the main by a sandy beach. The shore beyond it looked rugged and craggy, +and the land equalled the most sterile and stoney that had been seen. At +night the vessel stood off to the westward from abreast of a pyramidal +rock lying close to the main. At daylight the following morning, they +came in again with the land at the same place, and ran along the shore +with a fresh breeze at NW, the coast trending in a waving line to the SSE. + +Towards noon the coast began to rise into chains of lofty mountains, +which ran along in nearly the same line as the coast. The latitude was 43 +degrees 07 minutes, the longitude 145 degrees 42 minutes. A large smoke +that got up astern of the vessel was the first sign of inhabitants that +had been seen upon this west coast, the appearance of which was miserably +barren. + +On the morning of the 13th they found that they had been carried in the +night to leeward of a break in the land, which had been seen the +preceding evening, and had the appearance of being the entrance to a +harbour. The north point of this imaginary inlet was named Point +St. Vincent. The coast here trended to the eastward, the land of which +was mountainous and steep to the sea. Some islands were in sight ahead, +lying near the land. + +At 8 in the evening they passed the SW cape of Van Diemen's land, +hitherto known as that of New Holland. It is a narrow piece of land, +projecting from the higher land at no great distance, with two flattish +hummocks, that gave it some little resemblance to the Ram Head near +Plymouth. Having passed the Cape, they hauled up, and went between the +islands, which are De Witt's Isles, and the main. At sunset they were +about a mile and a half from the South Cape. + +The south west and south Capes lie nearly east and west of each other, +and are distant about fifteen leagues. The intermediate coast forms the +southern boundary of Van Diemen's land; but if taken upon the more +extensive scale of the whole southern hemisphere, it appears, as the +south point of New Holland, to be of equal respectability with the +extremity of Terra del Fuego, and of the Cape of Good Hope, the south +points of the continents of America and Africa. + + The relative situations of these three points, when viewed upon +a chart drawn on the plane of the equator, or upon an artificial globe, +are particularly striking. They will be found to lie at nearly equal +distances from each other in the circumference, and each extending +itself so directly towards the south, that, if continued on in the +same line, they would certainly meet somewhere near the pole. The effect +that is produced upon the whole globe, by this peculiar disposition of +three of its most prominent points, seems indeterminable. + +Like that of Terra del Fuego, the extremity of Van Diemen's land presents +a rugged and determined front to the icy regions of the south pole; and, +like it, seems once to have extended further south than it does at +present. To a very unusual elevation is added an irregularity of form, +that justly entitles it to rank among the foremost of the grand and +wildly magnificent scenes of nature. It abounds with peaks and ridges, +gaps and fissures, that not only disdain the smallest uniformity of +figure, but are ever changing shape, as the point of view shifts. Beneath +this strange confusion, the western part of this waving coast-line +observes a regularity equally remarkable as the wild disorder which +prevails above. Lofty ridges of mountain, bounded by tremendous cliffs, +project from two to four miles into the sea, at nearly equal distances +from each other, with a breadth varying from two miles to two and a half. +The bights or bays lying between them are backed by sandy beaches. These +vast buttresses appear to be the southern extremities of the mountains of +Van Diemen's land; which, it can hardly be doubted, have once projected +into the sea far beyond their present abrupt termination, and have been +united with the now detached land, De Witt's Isles. + +If a corresponding height of similar strata was observable on the islands +and on the main, it would amount to a proof that they were originally +connected; but this proof was wanting. The same kind of strata appeared +in both; but, as far as could be determined in passing hastily by, the +necessary correspondence seemed to be deficient. They did not land upon +either the islands or the main; but two kinds of rock, one with strata +and the other without, were plainly discernible. That without strata +formed by far the largest part; it appeared whitish and shining, was +certainly a quartz, and probably a granite. The layers of the rock with +strata were of various dark colours, and perfectly distinct. + +It was evident, that land so much exposed to the violence of extensive +oceans must have undergone some very material changes, by the incessant +attrition of their vast waves. Two of the isles, either from this or a +more sudden cause, have so far deviated from their centre, that their +parallel strata form angles of between sixteens and eighteen degrees in +one instance, and in another between twenty-five and thirty degrees, with +the horizontal line. But it is difficult to explain, by the action of +water, how a large block of the white stone without strata is caused to +overhang an almost perpendicular corner of one of the islands, which +beneath that block consists of the dark coloured stone lying in strata. + +De Witt's Isles, (so named, probably, by Tasman) twelve in number, are of +various sizes. The two largest are from three to four miles in circuit. +Their sides are steep, but their height is inferior to that of the main. +The largest is the lowest. The smaller isles are little more than large +lumps of rock, of which that named by Captain Cook the mew stone is the +southernmost. Their aspect, like that of the main, bespeaks extreme +sterility; but, superior to the greater part of it, they produce a +continued covering of brush; and upon the sloping sides of some of their +gullies are a few stinted, half dead gum trees. + +They could not account for the vestiges of fires that appeared upon the +two inner large islands; the innermost in particular, which lay at some +distance from the nearest point of the main, was burnt in patches upon +different parts of it. It must have been effected either by lightning, or +by the hand of man; but it was so much unlike the usual effects of the +former, that, with all its difficulties, they chose to attribute it to +the latter cause. + +A great smoke that arose at the back of one of the bights showed the main +to be inhabited; but they could not suppose the people of this place to +be furnished with canoes, when those of Adventure Bay, in their +neighbourhood, were unprovided with them. Nothing, therefore, was left to +their choice, but to allow that they might transport themselves over, +either upon logs of wood, or by swimming across: and, as the most +probable reward of such an exertion would be the capture of birds, whilst +breeding, or the seizure of their eggs, the utility of spreading fires in +facilitating such operations is obvious. + +The south cape may be easily distinguished from any other projection in +its vicinity. Besides being the southernmost, it is a promontory making +like a foreland, and sloping very gradually as it runs towards the sea, +where it ends in a perpendicular cliff. + +About sunset the fresh NW wind died away suddenly; and a strong squall +from the westward, with thunder, lightning, and heavy rain, soon carried +them round the south cape, and, by dark, brought them off what was +formerly called Storm Bay, where they hauled to the wind with the sloop's +head up the bay, intending, in the morning, to proceed by this Storm Bay +passage into the Derwent river. + +The night was squally, and by day light the next morning (the 14th), it +was found that the vessel had drifted across the mouth of Storm Bay, or +more properly Storm Bay Passage. Tasman's Head, its eastern point, bore +NE distant three miles. Being too far to leeward to fetch up the passage, +and the gale continuing, they bore away round Tasman's Head, and hauled +up along shore for Adventure Bay. + +Nothing remarkable was observed about Tasman's Head, except two +small islands lying off it, at the distance of half or three quarters +of a mile; and close to them were the two conical basaltic rocks +named by Captain Furneaux the Friars. The vegetation upon the inner +most of the two small islands had been burnt in a manner similar to that +on the De Witt's isles. If it were possible to account for those fires in +any other way than by the agency of man, it would be more satisfactory, +than to suppose that people, always believed to be without canoes, had +crossed over from a rather steep and rocky head, to an island equally +rocky, but more steep. + +Having passed Fluted Cape, a fine piece of basalt, and Penguin island, +they fetched up under Cape Frederick Henry, the north point of Adventure +Bay; but, as the wind blew strong directly off it, and the sloop was +light and leewardly, they bore away round the Cape Frederick Henry, +hauling upon the north side of it into the bay of that name, purposing to +go into the Derwent river, discovered a few years since by Mr. Hayes, +master of the ship _Duke_, of Bengal: but, finding that they were +likely to lose ground by tacking, they stood into Henshaw's bay (so named +by Hayes), and were greatly surprised to find that, instead of its being +a mere shallow bight, as laid down in Mr. Hayes's chart, it extended many +miles to the northward. The whole now bears the name of Frederick Henry +Bay; that given by Hayes is lost. In this very extensive bay they +remained a week, traversing and measuring various parts of its shores. + +The surrounding country was found to be miserable, presenting but very +little that was fit even for pasturage, and none good enough for +cultivation, except near a shallow lagoon on the west side, on the border +of which were seven or eight hundred acres of low ground, of a black +mould, rather sandy, which might be cultivated with great advantage. +Contiguous to the best part, was a large fresh water swamp, overgrown +with reeds and bulrushes. + +In the evening of the 21st they entered the mouth of the Derwent. + +In passing between two islands, the heads of the seaweed, which, from its +size, is named the Gigantic, were showing themselves above the surface in +six or eight fathoms water: a diminutive plant when compared with those +of the kind seen in higher latitudes, but of vast magnitude in comparison +with the generality of seaweeds. + +On their various movements in the Derwent, Mr. Bass is silent, confining +his narrative to a general account of what he learned and saw of the +neighbouring country. + +If the Derwent river have any claim to respectability, it is indebted for +it more to the paucity of inlets into Van Diemen's land, than to any +intrinsic merits of its own. After a sleepy course of not more than +twenty-five or twenty-seven miles to the NW it falls into Frederick Henry +Bay. Its breadth there is two miles and a quarter, and its depth ten +fathoms. A few hundred yards above its mouth, it is joined, on the west +side, by the Storm Bay Passage, and this union makes an island of that +slip of land which is Adventure Bay. This island, the Derwent river, and +the Storm Bay Passage, were the discovery of Mr. Hayes, of which he made +a chart; wherein it was found, by the minute examination of the whole +scene which it now underwent, that the smallest runs had been magnified +into rivers, and coves into bays and ports. Such glaring errors could not +be suffered to exist; but the name, where it was possible, was retained, +though the geographical term was necessarily altered. + +This dull lifeless stream, the Derwent, is so little affected by the +tides, that its navigation is extremely tedious with a foul wind. It +takes its way through a country that on the east and north sides it +hilly, on the west and north mountainous. The hills to the eastward arise +immediately from the banks; but the mountains to the westward have +retired to the distance of a few miles from the water, and have left in +their front hilly land similar to that on the east side. All the hills +are very thinly set with light timber, chiefly short she oaks; but are +admirably covered with thick nutritious grass, in general free from brush +or patches of shrubs. The soil in which it grows is a black vegetable +mould, deep only in the valleys, frequently very shallow, with +occasionally a small mixture of sand or small stones. Many large tracts +of land appear cultivable both for maize and wheat, but which, as pasture +land, would be excellent. + +The hills descend with such gentle slopes, that the valleys between them +are extensive and flat. Several contain an indeterminate depth of rich +soil, capable of supporting the most exhausting vegetation, and are +tolerably well watered by chains of small ponds, or occasional drains, +which empty themselves into the river by a cove or creek. + +One mountain to the west, lying about three miles from the water, and so +remarkably conspicuous as to be seen from every part of the Derwent and +its vicinity, Mr. Bass ascended; and he was much surprised to find it +abounding with fine tall gum-tree timber uncommonly straight. + +The shore on the east side of the river, proceeding up, is covered with a +good but shallow soil, and lightly wooded; cultivable for the greater +part with any kind of grain, and the whole fit for pasturage, though, +perhaps, not sufficiently watered for large cattle which require much +drink. + +On the west side the country rises too suddenly into stony hills to be in +general so good as in most other places. It would, however, afford +tolerable pasturage; and a few patches of eighty or one hundred acres +each were excellent arable land. + +The shore here, as in many other parts of the river, exhibited signs of +internal or subterraneous disturbance. The strata of cliffs were broken +and disjoined, lying sloping in different directions. Near a small point +several pieces of petrified wood, and lumps of stone of every kind and +every size, were enveloped, or rather stuck into the matter of the rock, +which, although in colour much like a yellow tinged clay, yet had the +usual rough porous surface peculiar to substances that have been in a +state of fusion. It was here, as in other places, hard, but did not +scintillate with steel, and was divided, by lines of a still harder +iron-tinged stone, into squares and parallelograms of various sizes. From +one of these intersecting lines, Mr. Bass took a small lump of this +ferruginous stone, that seemed to have bubbled up, and to have hardened +in the form of an ill-shaped bunch of small grapes. Some of the +neighbouring cliffs, for several yards, were formed into basaltic +columns. + +In walking across one of the steep heads between two small bays, he met +with a large deep hole in the ground, that appeared to have been +occasioned by the falling-in of the earth which had formerly occupied its +space. Its extent was about twenty-two yards by seventeen; its depth +perhaps sixty feet. The sides were not excavated, but rather smooth and +perpendicular. They were rocks of the same yellow tinge as those of the +shore. A little surf that washed up within it showed a communication with +the river, by a narrow subterraneous passage of some ten or sixteen feet +in height, and, according to the distance of the hole from the edge of +the cliff, about thirty-five yards in length. Appearances seemed to +agree, that the period at which this earth fell in could not be very +remote. + +Continuing on the west side from Point William to Shoal Point (places +named by Mr. Hayes), the land is too stony upon the hills for +cultivation, but is proper for pasturage. The valleys are, as usual, +adapted to grain. + +The land round Prince of Wales's Cove is rather level, and frequently +clayey: the worst of it produces excellent food for cattle, even up to +the foot of the high mountain lying at its back. Being a stiff close +soil, it is perhaps adapted to the growth of grape vines, rather than of +grain. About three hundred acres of open ground, called by Mr. Hayes King +George's Plains (could this have been in derision?) seem well calculated +for this purpose, and for this only. + +The land at the head of Risdon creek, on the east side, seems preferable +to any other on the banks of the Derwent. The creek runs winding between +two steep hills, and ends in a chain of ponds that extends into a fertile +valley of great beauty. For half a mile above the head of the creek, the +valley is contracted and narrow; but the soil is extremely rich, and the +fields are well covered with grass. Beyond this it suddenly expands, and +becomes broad and flat at the bottom, whence arise long grassy slopes, +that by a gentle but increasing ascent continue to mount the hills on +each side, until they are hidden from the view by the woods of large +timber which overhang their summits. With this handsome disposition of +the ground, the valley extends several miles to the SE in the figure of a +small segment of a circle. The tops of its hills, though stony, produce +abundance of tall timber, which, as it descends the slopes, diminishes in +size, and thins off to a few scattered she oaks and gum trees, +interspersed with small coppices of the beautiful flowering fern. + +The soil along the bottom, and to some distance up the slopes, is a rich +vegetable mould, apparently hardened by a small mixture of clay, which +grows a large quantity of thick, juicy grass, and some few patches of +close underwood. + +Herdman's Cove, (so named by Lieutenant Flinders from the surrounding +country) above Risdon Creek, has a large tract of good pasture land lying +at its head. The country, which is unusually thin of timber, is finely +rounded into grassy hills of various moderate ascent. The soil consists +of more brown earth than black vegetable mould; upon the sides and tops +of the hills, it is frequently stony; but in some of the valleys rich and +fine, and capable of profitable cultivation. A chain of ponds +intersecting the hills afforded an almost continual stream of fresh water +into the head of the Cove. + +As it was not supposed that the sloop could proceed above Herdsman's +Cove, Mr. Bass and his companion went up the river in her boat, imagining +that one tide would enable them to reach its source; but in this they +were mistaken, falling, as they believed, several miles short of it. +Where the returning tide met them, the water had become perfectly fresh; +the stream was two hundred and thirty yards in breadth, and in depth +three fathoms. It was wedged in between high grassy hills that descended +to the river upon a quick slope, and had a grand appearance. But the only +cultivable land that they saw was some few breaks in the hills, and some +narrow slips that were found at their foot close to the water's side. + +In their way up, a human voice saluted them from the hills; on which they +landed, carrying with them one of several swans which they had just shot. +Having nearly reached the summit, two females, with a short covering +hanging loose from their shoulders, suddenly appeared at some little +distance before them, snatched up each a small basket, and scampered off. +A man then presented himself, and suffered them to approach him without +any signs of fear or distrust. He received the swan joyfully, seeming to +esteem it a treasure. + +His language was unintelligible to them, as was theirs to him, although +they addressed him in several of the dialects of New South Wales, and +some few of the most common words of the South Sea islands. With some +difficulty they made him comprehend their wish to see his place of +residence. He pointed over the hills, and proceeded onwards; but his pace +was slow and wandering, and he often stopped under pretence of having +lost the track; which led them to suspect that his only aim was to amuse +and tire them out. Judging, then, that in persisting to follow him they +must lose the remaining part of the flood tide, which was much more +valuable to them than the sight of his hut could be, they parted from him +in great friendship. + +The most probable reason of his unwillingness to be their guide seemed, +his not having a male companion near him; and his fearing that if he took +them to his women, their charms might induce them to run off with them--a +jealousy very common with the natives of the continent. + +He was a short, slight made man of a middle age, with a countenance more +expressive of benignity and intelligence than of that ferocity or +stupidity which generally characterised the other natives; and his +features were less flattened, or negro-like, than theirs. His face was +blackened, and the top of his head was plastered with red earth. His +hair was either naturally short and close, or had been rendered so +by burning, and, although short and stiffly curled, they did not think +it woolly.* He was armed with two ill made spears of solid wood. + +[* Mr. Raven, on his return to England in the _Buffalo_, putting into +Adventure Bay, close by where this man was seen, cut off some undoubted +wool from the head of a native that he fell in with there. This +circumstance was unknown to Mr. Bass.] + +No part of their dress attracted his attention, except the red silk +handkerchief round their necks. Their fire arms were to him objects +neither of curiosity nor fear. + +This was the first man they had spoken with in Van Diemen's land, and his +frank and open deportment led them not only to form a favourable opinion +of the disposition of its inhabitants, but to conjecture that if the +country was peopled in the usual numbers, he would not have been the only +one whom they would have met. A circumstance which corroborated this +supposition was, that in the excursions made by Mr. Bass into the +country, having seldom any other society than his two dogs, he could have +been no great object of dread to a people ignorant of the effects of fire +arms, and would certainly have been hailed by any one who might have seen +him. + +They fell in with many huts along the different shores of the river, of +the same bad construction as those of Port Dalrymple, but with fewer +heaps of mussel shells lying near them. The natives of this place, +probably, draw the principal part of their food from the woods; the bones +of small animals, such as opossums, squirrels, kangaroo rats, and +bandicoots, were numerous round their deserted fire-places; and the two +spears which they saw in the hands of the man were similar to those used +for hunting in other parts. Many trees also were observed to be notched. + +No canoes were ever seen, nor any tree so barked as to answer that +purpose. And yet all the islands in Frederick Henry Bay had evidently +been visited. + +Besides the small quadrupeds already mentioned, they observed the grey +and red kangaroo, but not in any numbers, and once they heard the tread +of an emu. + +The feathered tribes were apparently similar to those of Port Dalrymple. +Here again they daily ate their swan, the flocks of which even exceeded +those that they had before met with. + +The most formidable among the reptiles was the black snake with venomous +fangs, and so much in colour resembling a burnt stick, that a close +inspection only could detect the difference. Mr. Bass once, with his eyes +cautiously directed towards the ground, stepped over one which was lying +asleep among some black sticks, and would have passed on without +observing it, had not its rustling and loud hiss attracted his attention +the moment afterwards. + +He determined on taking him alive, in order to try the effect of his bite +upon a hawk which was at that time in the sloop. In the contest, he +turned round and bit himself severely; in a few minutes after which he +was mastered. His exertions, however, were still vigorous, and Mr. Bass +expected, as he began to recover himself, that they would increase; but +in less than ten minutes he died. Having never before known a snake of +this size to be killed by a few very slight blows with a stick so rotten +as scarcely to bear the weight of its own blow, he was at a loss to +conceive how death had so suddenly succeeded so much vigour in an animal +so tenacious of life. Was it possible that his own bite could have been +the cause? When, three hours afterwards, the skin was stripped off, the +flesh for some distance round the marks of his teeth, was found inflamed +and discoloured. + +The account of the Derwent river being now closed, and the whole of what +was learned of Van Diemen's land related, it may not be improper, says +Mr. Bass, to point out the manner in which this country and New South +Wales appear to differ in their most essential quality, that of their +soil. + +In adjusting their comparative fertility, the contrasted disposition of +their soils is much more prominent than any inequality in their quantity. +They are poor countries; but, as far as the eye of discovery has yet +penetrated into either, the cultivable soil of the latter is found lying +in a few distinct patches of limited extent, and of varying quality; +while the soil of the former, being more equally spread, those spots of +abundant richness, or large wilds of unimproveable sterility, are much +less frequently seen. + +Although Van Diemen's land seems to possess few or none of those vast +depths of soil with which the happiest spots of New South Wales are +blessed; yet it seldom sickens the heart of its traveller with those +extensive tracts which at once disarm industry, and leave the warmest +imagination without one beguiling project. + +In point of productive soil Mr. Bass gives the preponderance to Van +Diemen's land. + +In one particular, which to the inhabitants of a civilized country is of +the utmost importance, both countries are but too much alike: each is +amply stored with water for the common purposes of life; but deficient in +those large intersections of it which, in other more fortunate countries, +so much facilitate the operations of man, and lead commerce to the door +of even the most inland farmer. + +Two rivers only, Port Dalrymple and the Derwent, are known to descend +from Van Diemen's land; and by Point St Vincent possibly there may be a +third. But two rivers, or even three, bear but a scanty proportion to the +bulk of the island. + +On the 3rd of January they left the Derwent, and proceeded to the +northward, coasting the east side of Frederick Henry Bay, which was for +the most part high and steep to the sea. The figure of the shore, between +what is now called Cape Basaltes and Cape Pillar, exhibited one of those +great works of nature which seldom fall to excite surprise: it was all +basaltic. The cape is a vast high wedge, which projects into the sea, +surmounted by lofty single columns. + +After passing Cape Pillar, some islands came in sight to the northward; +but they did not fetch them, owing to the wind hanging in that quarter. +On the following day, they reached within five or six miles of one of +them, which in its general appearance bore some resemblance to Furneaux's +Islands. This group must be either Maria's or Schouten's islands, or +both; but it was not determined to which they belonged. + +On the 7th, having until that day had but indistinct views of the land, +they saw Cape Barren Island. They did not pass through the channel, or +passage, which divides Furneaux's islands, but discovered why Captain +Furneaux named the place the Bay of Shoals. + +Early on the morning of the 8th they were among the islands lying off the +Patriarchs. They were three in number; the largest of which was high, +rocky, and barren, with a basis of granite, which, like that of +Preservation Island, laid scattered about in large detached blocks. +Mr. Bass landed upon the outermost, and found it well inhabited. The +various tribes had divided it into districts. One part was white with +gannets, breeding in nests of earth and dried grass. Petrels and penguins +had their underground habitations in those parts of the island which had +the most grass. The rocks of the shore, and blocks of granite, were +occupied by the pied offensive shag and common gull; geese, red-bills and +quails, lived in common, and the rest was appropriated to the seals, who +seemed to be the lords of the domain. Mr. Bass remarked with surprise, +that though the principal herd scampered off like sheep, as is usual on +the first approach, yet the males, who possessed a rock to themselves, +where they sat surrounded by their numerous wives and progeny, on his +drawing near them, hobbled up with a menacing roar, and fairly commenced +the attack, while the wives seemed to rest their security upon the +superior courage and address of their lord; for, instead of retreating +into the water in the utmost consternation, they only raised themselves +upon their fore fins, as if ready for a march, keeping their eye upon +him, and watching the movements of his enemy. + +The seal is reckoned a stupid animal; but Mr. Bass noticed many signs of +uncommon sagacity in them; and was of opinion that, by much patience and +perseverance, a seal might be trained to fish for man; in which there is +nothing, at first sight, more preposterous than the attempt to make a +hawk his fowler. + +The seal appeared to branch off into various species. He did not +recollect to have seen them precisely alike upon any two islands in the +strait. Most of them were of that kind called by the sealers hair seals; +but they differed in the shape of the body, or of the head, the situation +of the fore fins, the colour, and very commonly in the voice, as if each +island spoke a peculiar language. + +Having collected as much stock as was necessary, they stood to the +northward, and on the 12th reached Port Jackson. + +On delivering the account of this voyage to the governor, he named the +principal discovery, which was the event of it, Bass Strait, as a tribute +due to the correctness of judgment which led Mr. Bass, in his first visit +in the whale boat, to suppose that the south-westerly winds which rolled +in upon the shores of Western Port, could proceed only from their being +exposed to the Southern Indian Ocean. + +The most prominent advantage which seemed likely to accrue to the +settlement from this discovery was, the expediting of the passage from +the Cape of Good Hope to Port Jackson; for, although a line drawn from +the Cape to 44 degrees of south latitude, and to the longitude of the +south Cape of Van Diemen's land, would not sensibly differ from one drawn +to the latitude of 40 degrees, to the same longitude; yet it must be +allowed, that a ship will be four degrees nearer to Port Jackson in the +latter situation, than it would be in the former. But there is, perhaps, +a greater advantage to be gained by making a passage through the strait, +than the mere saving of four degrees of latitude along the coast. The +major part of the ships that have arrived at Port Jackson have met with +NE winds on opening the sea round the South Cape and Cape Pillar, and +have been so much retarded by them, that a fourteen days' passage to the +port is reckoned to be a fair one, although the difference of latitude is +but ten degrees, and the most prevailing winds at the latter place are +from SE to S in summer, and from WSW to S in winter. If by going through +Bass Strait these NE winds can be avoided, which in many cases would +probably be the case, there is no doubt but a week or more would be +gained by it; and the expense, with the wear and tear of a ship for one +week, are objects to most owners, more especially when freighted with +convicts by the run. + +This strait likewise presents another advantage. From the prevalence of +the NE and easterly winds off the South Cape, many suppose that a passage +may be made from thence to the westward, either to the Cape of Good Hope, +or to India; but the fear of the great unknown bight between the South +Cape and the SW Cape of Lewen's land, lying in about 35 degrees south and +113 degrees east, has hitherto prevented the trial being made. Now the +strait removes a part of this danger, by presenting a certain place of +retreat, should a gale oppose itself to the ship in the first part of the +essay; and should the wind come at SW she need not fear making a good +stretch to the WNW, which course, if made good, is within a few degrees +of going clear of all. There is besides King George the Third's Sound, +discovered by Captain Vancouver, situate in the latitude of 35 degrees 03 +minutes south, and longitude 118 degrees 12 minutes east; and it is to be +hoped, that a few years will disclose many others upon the coast, as well +as the confirmation or futility of the conjecture*, that a still larger +than Bass Strait dismembers New Holland. + +[* To verify or confute this conjecture, Lieutenant, now Captain +Flinders (from whose journal these observations on the advantages +of the strait are taken), has lately sailed in his Majesty's ship +_Investigator_. He is accompanied by several professional men of +great abilities, selected by that liberal and distinguished patron of +merit Sir Joseph Banks, from whose exertions, joined with those of the +commander, navigation and natural history have much information and +gratification to expect. The _Investigator_ is to be attended by the +_Lady Nelson_, a small vessel of fifty tons burden, built under the +inspection and according to the plan of that truly respectable and +valuable man, and scientific officer, Commissioner Schank, whose +abilities are too well known to require any eulogium from this pen.] + +The vessel that has the credit of having first circumnavigated Van +Diemen's land was built at Norfolk Island, of the fir of that country, +which was found to answer extremely well. Being only five-and-twenty tons +in burden, her comforts and accommodation must have been very +inconsiderable, but great when compared with those which could have been +found in a whale boat. Yet in a whale boat did Mr. Bass, as has been +already shown, run down the eastern coast of New South Wales from Port +Jackson to the entrance of the strait. Captain Flinders has not the +gratification of associating this gentleman with him in his present +expedition, he having sailed on another voyage and a different pursuit. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + + +Transactions +Information from Norfolk Island +A burglary committed +The criminal court assembled +A man tried for killing a native +Two men executed +The public gaol burnt +Observations +Stills ordered to be seized +Settlers, their profligacy +A man found dead +Great drought +A flood at the river +Two whalers arrive +Conduct of the labouring convicts +A seaman killed +A woman murdered by her husband +Natives +A Spanish prize arrives +Norfolk Island +Resources in New South Wales +Public works + + +We must now return to the other concerns of the settlement, from which we +have been so long absent. + +Some pleas of debt having been decided by the civil magistrates, to +relieve them from that duty, and enable them to attend to that only of +the justice of the peace, an order was issued, declaring that such pleas +belonged to the court of civil jurisdiction solely, as was clearly +expressed in the letters patent for establishing that court; but they +were at the same time requested to use their utmost endeavours, as far as +their influence as magistrates could be effectual, in recommending the +settling of trifling debts by arbitration, and thereby prevent much +vexatious litigation. + +Agricultural concerns wore as unpromising an appearance in this as in the +last month. The governor, in a visit which he made to Parramatta, found +that the pasture over the whole country had been entirely burnt up; in +consequence of which the grazing cattle were in great distress; and, from +the lamentable continuance of the drought, the maize was every where +likely to fail: a misfortune that would ruin the stock of hogs, and +reduce the settlement considerably in the article of bread. + +That he might ascertain what quantity of grain he had to depend on, all +those who cultivated ground were directed to give in by a certain time a +return of the wheat and other grain in their possession. + +By the _Diana_ whaler, which arrived from Norfolk Island, information +was received, that the wheat harvest had been more productive there than +usual; but the maize was likely to fall short from a similar want of rain. + +Wheat at this time bore a high price in Norfolk Island, the settlers who +had raised refusing to sell it, on account of the high rate of wages, at +less than fifteen shillings per bushel. + +On the night of the 24th, the acting commissary's house was broken into, +and robbed of articles to a considerable amount. The thieves appeared to +have got in at the office window, and loosened the bricks of a partition +wall; by which opening they got into the store-room, and, forcing the +locks off the chests and trunks, carried away every thing that they could +manage. + +One evil among others which attended the frequent arrival of ships in the +port was, the ready market which these plunderers found for disposing of +their stolen goods; the seamen not hesitating to become the purchasers on +leaving the place. + +The criminal court of judicature was assembled at the close of the month; +when one man, a sergeant of the New South Wales corps, was condemned for +forgery, but recommended to the governor's mercy by the court; another +was condemned for a burglary, and a third sentenced to receive a severe +corporal punishment, for having shot a native (man) at Botany Bay. Could +the evidence of some of these people have been taken, it was supposed +that he would have been capitally convicted, in which case he would +certainly have suffered, the governor being determined to put that +article of his Majesty's instructions in force, which, in placing these +people under the protection of the British Government, enjoined the +punishing any injury done to their persons or property, according to the +degree and nature of the offence. + +When this man was brought out to be punished, several of the natives were +assembled for the purpose; and he received in their presence as much of +his sentence as he could bear, they witnessing his sufferings with the +most perfect indifference. + +The weather was exceedingly hot during the whole of January. + +February.] Deplorable was the catalogue of events that presented itself +in this month: executions, robberies, and accidents. + +On the 8th a prisoner, who had been condemned to die by the last court, +suffered the sentence of the law. The recollection of his untimely end, +and his admonitions from the fatal tree, could not have departed from the +minds of those who saw and heard him, when another court sent another +offender to the same tree and for the same crime. Samuel Wright had been +once before respited at the gallows. On the morning of his execution, the +wretched man attempted to cut his throat; but as he only very slightly +wounded himself, it may be supposed that he merely hoped, by delaying the +execution, to gain time to effect an escape. + +Before this court, was brought part of a nest of thieves, who had lately +stolen property to the amount of several hundred pounds; but none of them +were capitally convicted, being sentenced either to be transported to +Norfolk Island, or corporally punished. + +It might be supposed, that these executions and punishments would have +operated as a check to the commission of offences; but they appeared to +be wholly disregarded, and enormity had not yet attained its full height. + +On the night of the 11th, between the hours of eleven and twelve, the +public gaol at Sydney, which cost so much labour and expense to erect, +was set on fire, and soon completely consumed. The building was thatched, +and there was not any doubt of its having been done through design. But, +if this was the fact, it will be read with horror, that at the time there +were confined within its walls twenty prisoners, most of whom were loaded +with irons, and who with difficulty were snatched from the flames. +Feeling for each other was never imputed to these miscreants; and yet if +several were engaged in the commission of a crime they have seldom been +known to betray their companions in iniquity. + +To complete this catalogue of offences, a few days after, some Irish +convicts, with their faces blackened, attacked the house of an +industrious man (one of the missionaries), whom they severely wounded in +several places and plundered of all his property. + +Were it not evident that certain punishment awaited the conviction of +offenders, it might be supposed that a relaxation of the civil authority +had begotten impunity; but far otherwise was the fact: the police was +vigilant, the magistrates active, and the governor ever anxious to +support them, and with incessant diligence endeavouring to establish good +order and morality in the settlement. But, such was the depravity of +these people, from the habitual practice of vice, that they were become +alike fearless of the punishments of this or of the world to come. + +Notwithstanding the settlement had before it the serious prospect of +wanting grain, and the consequent destruction of much useful stock, it +was known that several people had erected stills, and provided materials +for the purpose of distilling spirituous liquors; a pernicious practice +which had long been forbidden by every officer who had had the direction +of the colony. Former orders on this subject were now repeated, and +persons of all descriptions were called upon to use every means in their +power, in aid of the civil magistrate, to seize and destroy such stills +and materials as they might find. + +Presuming on the late inefficient harvest, the settlers requested again +to be supplied with seed wheat from the store, but were refused. It was +well known, that they sold for spirits, to the last bushel of their crop, +and left their families without bread. Then they pleaded poverty and +distress, and their utter inability to repay what they had borrowed. When +seed has been lent them, they have not infrequently been seen to sell it +at the door of the store whence they had received it! + +On the last day of the month a man belonging to the military was found +dead, sitting upright against the outside of the barrack paling. It was +known, that he had been much intoxicated the preceding night; and it was +supposed that, being unable to reach his hut, he had sat himself down, +and, falling asleep, passed from this life without a struggle. + +The great drought and excessive heat had affected the water. Such ponds +as still retained any were reduced so very low, that most of them were +become brackish, and scarcely drinkable. From this circumstance, it was +conjectured, that the earth contained a large portion of salt, for the +ponds even on the high grounds were not fresh. The woods between Sydney +and Parramatta were completely on fire, the trees being burnt to the +tops, and every blade of grass was destroyed. + +To defeat as much as possible the intentions of those who were concerned +in setting fire to the gaol, a strong and permanent building of stone, +with very substantial walls, was begun in this month, and was well +calculated to defy every such attempt in future. + +March.] The dry weather which had so long prevailed, to the great +detriment of the cultivated and pasture grounds, was succeeded by rain +for two or three days, which greatly refreshed the gardens that were +nearly wholly burnt up, and every where revived the perishing vegetation. +At the Hawkesbury, however, an accident occurred, which, although not so +ruinous to the colony at large as the drought, proved most destructive to +the settlers in that district. This river suddenly, and in the course of +a very few hours, swelled to the height of fifty feet above its common +level, and with such rapidity and power as to carry every thing before +it. The government store-house, which had been erected at the first +settling of this part of the country, was not out of the reach of this +inundation, and was swept away, with all the provisions that it +contained. Many of the inhabitants were taken off from the ridges of +their houses, by a few boats which they fortunately had among them, just +in time to save their lives; for most of the dwellings were inundated, +and the whole country appeared like an extensive lake. Many hogs, other +live stock, poultry, with much of the produce of the last unfortunate +harvest, and the domestic effects of the people, were hurried away by the +torrent. Fortunately only one life was lost. + +This was a most serious calamity; and, no cause having appeared to +indicate an approaching overflow of the river, the settlers were not +prepared for such a disaster. It was said, that the natives foresaw it, +and advised the inhabitants; but this wanted confirmation. If true, the +trait was a favourable one. There could, however, be no doubt, that, +unperceived by our people, a heavy fall of rain had taken place in the +interior of the country, among the mountains, and which, from the parched +state of the land for such a length of time, had in no part been +absorbed, but ran down the sides of the hills, as from mountains of solid +rock, filling all the low grounds, and branches of the river, which, +being in form suddenly serpentine, could not give vent so fast as the +waters descended. + +It was hoped and believed, that this uncommon inundation would, in the +end, prove highly beneficial to the grounds so overflowed, causing them +for a season or more to produce with such abundance as to recover the +loss which the sufferers had sustained. In a few days this extraordinary +collection of water had found its way to the sea, and, the river +regaining its usual level, the settlers set about new cropping their +grounds; for which purpose they made application for seed wheat, that +certainly could not be refused; their other application, for bedding and +clothing, it was not so easy to comply with, from the poverty of the +public stores in these articles. + +This fertile spot had, in some seasons, produced from fifteen to twenty +thousand bushels of wheat, and might justly be termed the granary of New +South Wales. + +To relieve the inhabitants in some degree from the contemplation of these +distresses, the _Rebecca_, a whaler, came into the Cove from the +Cape of Good Hope, bringing authentic accounts of Lord Nelson's memorable +and brilliant victory over the French fleet at the mouth of the Nile. +This decisive battle was announced to the settlement in a public order, +and by a discharge of all the artillery in the colony. + +The master of the _Rebecca_, having brought out a few articles for +sale, chartered the _Nautilus_ to take them to Norfolk island, +thinking to find a better market for them there than at this place, where +the late unsuccessful harvest had neither filled the granary of the +public nor the pocket of the settler. She sailed with this cargo in the +course of a few days. + +On the 9th, the _Britannia_ whaler came in from sea, to repair some +damages which she had sustained in bad weather. She had been rather +successful in her fishery, having procured twenty-five tons of spermaceti +oil since her departure; and the master reported, that, had the weather +been more moderate, he should have been enabled to have more than half +filled his ship. + +The criminal court was only once assembled during this month; when one +man was condemned to death for a burglary, and another* transported for +fourteen years to Norfolk Island. + +[* This man, Isaac Nichols, an overseer, had been accused of +receiving stolen goods; but from some circumstances which occurred on the +trial, the sentence was respited until his Majesty's pleasure could be +taken.] + +The civil court was also assembled for the decision of private causes, in +which it was engaged during a week. + +Among other public works in hand were, the raising the walls of the new +gaol, laying the upper floor of the wind-mill, and erecting the churches +at Sydney and Parramatta. Most of these buildings did not advance so +rapidly as the necessity for them required, owing to the weakness of the +public gangs; and indeed scarcely had there ever been a thorough day's +labour, such as is performed by a labouring man in England, obtained from +them. They never felt themselves interested in the effect of their work, +knowing that the ration from the store, whatever it might be, would be +issued to them, whether they earned it or not; unlike the labouring man +whose subsistence, and that of his family, depends upon his exertions. +For the individual who would pay them for their services with spirits, +they would labour while they had strength to lift the hoe or the axe; but +when government required the production of that strength, it was not +forthcoming; and it was more to be wondered, that under such +disadvantages so much, rather than that so little, had been done. The +convicts whose services belonged to the crown were for the most part a +wretched, worthless, dissipated set, who never thought beyond the present +moment; and they were for ever employed in rendering that moment as easy +to themselves as their invention could enable them. + +Of the settlers and their disposition much has been already said. The +assistance and encouragement which from time to time were given them, +they were not found to deserve. The greater part had originally been +convicts; and it is not to be supposed, that while they continued in that +state their habits were much improved. With these habits, then, they +became freemen and settlers; the effect of which was, to render them +insolent and presuming; and most of them continued a dead weight upon the +government, without reducing the expenses of the colony. + +These expenses were certainly great, and had been considerably increased. +The settlement was at this time much in want of many necessary articles +of life; and when these were brought by speculators and traders who +occasionally touched there, they demanded more than five hundred per cent +above what the same articles could have been sent out for from England, +with every addition of freight, insurance, etc. They saw the wants of the +colony, and availed themselves of its necessities. + +April.] On the first of this month the criminal court sat for the trial +of a soldier belonging to the regiment, who had a few days before stabbed +a seaman of the _Reliance_, who insulted him when sentinel at one of +the wharfs at Sydney. The man died of the wound; the soldier, being +called upon to answer for his death, proved to the satisfaction of the +court, that it had been occasioned by the intemperance of the seaman, and +he was accordingly found to have committed a justifiable homicide. + +This accident was the effect of intoxication, to which a few days after +another victim was added, in the person of a female, who was either the +wife or companion of Simon Taylor, a man who had been considered as one +of the few industrious settlers which the colony could boast of. They had +both been drinking together to a great excess; and in that state they +quarrelled, when the unhappy man, in a fit of madness and desperation, +put an untimely end to her existence. He was immediately taken into +custody, and reserved for trial. + +To this pernicious practice of drinking to excess, more of the crimes +which disgraced the colony were to be ascribed than to any other cause; +and more lives where lost through this than through any other +circumstance; for the settlement had ever been free from epidemical or +fatal diseases. How much then was the importation of spirits to be +lamented! How much was it to be regretted, that it had become the +interest of any set of people to vend them! + +Several robberies which at this time had been committed were to be +imputed to the same source. + +A new enemy to agriculture made its appearance in this month. A +destructive grub-worm was discovered in several parts of the cultivated +ground; and at the Hawkesbury a caterpillar had commenced its ravages +wherever it found any young grain just shooting out of the earth. This +occasioned some delay in sowing the government ground. + +It having been for several days reported, that the crews of two boats, +which had been permitted to go to Hunter's River for a load of coals, had +been cut off by the natives, the governor ordered his whale boat to be +well armed, and to proceed thither in quest of the boats and their crews; +sending in her Henry Hacking, a person on whom he could depend. Upon his +return, he informed the governor, that on his arrival he found an attempt +had been made to burn the smaller boat, which had had three men in her, +who were each provided with a musket. The boat was there, but the men +were not to be found. Going immediately in search of them, he fell in +with a large body of natives all armed. On desiring them to inform him +what was become of the white men, they told him they were gone to Sydney. +This did not satisfy him, as he found they had taken away the sails of +the boats, the men's blankets, and every thing that they had with them. +He then threatened to kill them if they did not instantly inform him, and +presented his musket at them. This they laughed at, and said, that if he +did not go away, and leave them a small two-oared boat which he had +brought with him, and the whale boat, they would destroy every white man +there, and poised their spears in a threatening manner. He again levelled +his piece at them, and snapped it without priming, in the hope of +alarming them; but they were not so easily frightened, and became most +noisy and violent. Finding that an attack was almost certain, he charged +his gun with buck shot, and ordered them to leave the place; but, their +clamour increasing, he fired, and four of them fell, one of whom got up +again and ran off, the other three remaining upon the ground, probably +mortally wounded. The whole body disappeared, and no more was seen of +them, leaving Hacking to fill his boat and effect his retreat unmolested. + +Our people having frequently visited this river for coals, and always +treating with kindness and civility the natives whom they met, this +behaviour was not to be accounted for, except by its being allowed that +all savages are under the dominion of a sudden impulse; which renders it +impossible to know when to trust them. + +As the men belonging to the boat were not heard of for a considerable +time, it was feared they had been murdered by the natives; but they +fortunately reached the settlement safe. + +On the morning of the 24th, the _Nautilus_ returned from Norfolk +Island, and with her came in a Spanish ship, a prize to two whalers, +which they had captured off Cape Blanco on the coast of Peru. She was +bound from Lima to Guiaquill. + +A court of vice-admiralty having been assembled, she was condemned as a +legal prize, and part of her cargo* was in a few days sold by public +auction. + +[* This consisted of sugar, flour, and an ardent spirit similar +to the _aqua ardente_ of the Brazils. The governor would not allow +this article to be sold by auction.] + +This was a new circumstance in the annals of the settlement, and wore the +appearance of rendering it of more consequence than it had hitherto been. +Did it not go to prove, that at some future period, in the event of a +Dutch or Spanish war, it might become a place of much importance, by +offering a reception to the prizes of our cruisers, a court whereat they +could be condemned, and a market for their cargoes? + +Two days afterwards the _Norfolk_ returned from Norfolk Island, +where the maize harvest had entirely failed, owing to the long drought +which had prevailed there. + +Every year's experience proved, that this island never would be of the +utility which might be expected from the very great expense that was +incurred on its account. It was probable, that this expense had not been +adverted to in England; for all the bills drawn there were sent to New +South Wales to be consolidated into bills upon the treasury; by which +means the expenses of the principal settlement appeared to be far more +considerable than in fact they were. The boast of its containing timber +and flax fit for naval purposes, sufficient to construct and equip a +navy, falls to the ground, when it is considered that the whole island +does not contain a single harbour, cove, or inlet, fit to shelter a boat, +much less a ship; but that it is surrounded by a dangerous coral reef, +which has proved the loss of one King's ship, and many lives. Besides, +the soil of New South Wales produces timber and flax perfectly calculated +for all naval purposes, and in sufficient abundance. The single advantage +that this island presents is, as has been mentioned before, its proving a +place of punishment to such notorious offenders in the seat of government +as there escape the gallows; and for this purpose a small civil and +military establishment might be maintained at a much less expense than +the present. + +If an idea may be hazarded, Van Diemen's Island holds out in every +respect a more advantageous spot for a settlement, than this parched, +unattainable island; and were it not for the expense already incurred +there, it would be advisable to remove the whole of that settlement +thither; where, from the account given by Captain Flinders, and Mr. Bass, +they would be as likely to remain unmolested by natives as they are at +Norfolk Island, and would possess the superior benefits of a temperate +climate and capacious harbour. + +In addition to the advantages likely to be obtained in New South Wales by +the culture of the flax plant, the breed of sheep had been considerably +improved by crossing the smaller Bengal with the larger Cape sheep. The +fleece produced from this mixture was excellent; and a specimen of +woollen cloth fabricated of it was sent to England. One end of a web of +linen, wove from the wild flax of the country, was crossed with a thread +spun from the bark of a tree; and a web from that bark was crossed, in +the specimen sent home, by a thread of wool. All these were made under +many difficulties; but they answered the purpose of showing what might be +done, with proper tools, at a future period. There was not any doubt, but +that the flax plant would considerably improve by cultivation; and the +manufacture of woollens promised to be of great benefit to the +settlement, whenever a sufficiency of the raw materials was collected. +Necessity has been long known as the parent of resources, and the poverty +of the public stores in the article of clothing had prompted these +experiments of the wool, the flax, and the bark. + +The discovery of the vast strata of coal must be reckoned among the new +lights thrown upon the resources of the colony. The facility that this +presents in working the iron ore* with which the settlement abounded, +must prove of infinite utility whenever a dock-yard shall be established +here; and the time may come, when the productions of the country may not +be confined within its own sphere. + +[* Some of this iron ore, which has been smelted in England, has been +reported to be equal, if not superior, to Swedish iron.] + +In addition to other public works already in hand, the governor directed +a piece of ground, consisting of about seventy acres, and three-miles +distant from Sydney, to be inclosed for the use of the stock in that +district. + +The foundation of the walls of a government house at Parramatta was laid, +and the sowing the public wheat grounds begun; but, through want of +labouring people, less was sown this than in the last year. + +The weather had been in general moderate and seasonable. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + + +The _Buffalo_ arrives from England, and brings cattle from the Cape +A marine settler killed +Natives +A criminal court held +Taylor executed +Lowe punished +A highway robbery +Provisions in store +Ration altered +June, two whalers come in from sea +Ideas of a whale-fishery +Tempestuous weather +Effects +The _Albion_ whaler arrives from England +Her passage +July, a missionary murdered +The murderers tried and executed +Orders published +State of the farms +The _Hillsborough_ arrives from England +Mortality on board +Public works + + +May.] On the third day of this month his Majesty's ship _Buffalo_ +arrived from England, but last from the Cape of Good Hope, whence she +brought sixty-six head of cattle, which, considering the length of the +voyage, were landed in good condition. She had also on board some tools +and articles of hardware for the use of the colony; but, unfortunately, +no bedding or clothing of any kind. + +This ship arrived under the command of Mr. William Raven, whose services +to the colony in the private ship _Britannia_ cannot easily be +forgotten; and was sent out to replace the _Supply_, which had been +condemned as unserviceable, and whose commander, Lieutenant William Kent, +was with her officers and crew to be removed into the _Buffalo_; the +governor being directed to furnish Mr. Raven with a passage to England. + +Although this ship was named the _Buffalo_, yet her head was the +carved figure of a kangaroo, which very much amused the natives, who +could have had no idea of seeing the animals of their country represented +in wood. + +Some of these people, ever hostile to the settlers, had lately speared +one of them, a marine settler (as those were styled who had formerly +belonged to the marine detachment) at George's river, so effectually, +that he died of his wounds. The natives belonged to the tribe of which +Pe-mul-wy was the leader. + +Savage as these beings certainly were toward our people, and to each +other, yet they could unbend, and divert themselves with the softer +amusements of singing and dancing. The annexed engraving represents a +party thus occupied, and gives a correct view of their persons and +manners. The figure leaning upon his shield, the attitude of the women +dancing, and the whole group, are accurate delineations of a party +assembled by the light of a fire at the mouth of one of their excavated +rocks. + +It might be supposed, that with this exercise, and the company of their +females, their angry and turbulent passions would be at rest, and that +the idea of murder could not enter their minds; yet have they been known +to start away, in search of some unsuspecting object of their revenge or +hatred, who before the morning has received a dozen spears through his +body: and this is man in his uncultivated state! + +Several offenders having been secured for trial, it became necessary to +assemble the court of criminal judicature; and on the 16th Simon Taylor +was brought before it, accused of the murder of his wife; of which +offence being clearly convicted, he received sentence of death, and was +executed on the 20th at Parramatta. This unhappy man was thoroughly +sensible of the enormity of his guilt, and in his last moments admonished +the spectators against indulging in drunkenness, which had brought him to +that untimely and disgraceful end. + +At the same court, one man, Robert Lowe, was adjudged corporal +punishment, and one year's hard labour, for embezzling some of the live +stock of Government, which had been entrusted to his care. He was a free +man, and had been one of the convicts who were with Captain Riou in the +_Guardian_, when her voyage to New South Wales was unfortunately +frustrated by her striking upon an island of ice; on account of which, +and of their good conduct before and after the accident, directions had +been given for their receiving conditional emancipation, and being +allowed to provide for their own maintenance. Few of these people, +however, were in the end found to merit this reward and indulgence, as +their future conduct had proved; and this last act of delinquency pointed +out the necessity of a free person being sent out from England to +superintend the public live stock, with such an allowance as would make +him at once careful of his conduct, and faithful in the execution of his +trust. + +It should seem that the commission of crimes was never to cease in this +settlement. Scarcely had the last court of judicature sent one man to the +gallows, when a highway robbery was committed between the town of Sydney +and Parramatta. Three men rushed from an adjoining wood, and, knocking +down a young man who was travelling to the last mentioned town, rifled +his pockets of a few dollars. On his recovering, finding that only one +man remained, who was endeavouring to twist his handkerchief from his +neck, he swore that no one person should plunder him, and had a struggle +with this fellow, who, not being the strongest of the two, was secured +and taken into Parramatta. A court was immediately assembled for his +trial; but the evidence was not thought sufficient to convict him, and he +was consequently acquitted. The want of any corroborating circumstance on +the part of the prosecutor compelled the court to this acquittal. + +A quantity of fresh pork having been for some time received into the +store, there were found at this period six months salt provisions +remaining; which, without this supply would have been all consumed, and +the colony left without animal food, save in the article of live stock, a +resource on which it could not have been prudent to have touched as a +supply, except in a case of the last necessity. + +Every encouragement was given to the curing of pork upon Norfolk Island; +but the casks in which the salt meat was sent from England were in +general so extremely feeble by the time they arrived, that scarcely one +in a hundred was fit for that purpose a second time. Could any timber, +fit for this use, have been found in the country, yet a supply of hoops +and salt pans would have been necessary; and, unless it was cured in the +winter season, and the method observed by Captain Cook was practised at +Norfolk island, it remained a doubt whether it could be accomplished to +any considerable extent. + +The price of fresh pork having been raised in consequence of the failure +of the late harvest, as a temporary relief to those who had suffered by +that misfortune, the commissary was, at the close of this month, directed +to return to the price formerly established, viz nine-pence per pound. + +The state of the public stores with respect to salt provision having been +carefully examined, it became necessary to make a small reduction of the +ration in time, in order to prevent a greater. It was accordingly +ordered, that the following proportions should be issued, per man per +week; viz + +Beef 5 pounds +or +Pork 3 pounds +Wheat 12 pounds +Sugar 6 ounces + +and this they were informed was not to continue longer than the arrival +of a storeship with a supply of salted provision. + +The commissary was also directed to issue to such men as might be +entitled, as much blue gurrah (an East India article not much better than +bunting) and thread as would make a frock and a pair of trousers, and a +proportion to the women and children. These gurrahs had been brought from +India in some of the speculative voyages to this country, and were now +found useful in covering the nakedness of the people. + +By the arrival of the _Buffalo_, the governor at length had it in +his power to inform those people who had been convicted in Ireland, and +by the laws of that kingdom had been transported to New South Wales, that +he had received from thence a correct statement of the several sentences +of those who had been brought in the _Queen_; and an assurance, through the +secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, that the lists of those who had been +sent out since that period should be forwarded by the next vessel which +might sail from Ireland for this colony. + +Those, therefore, who were remaining alive of the convicts received by +the _Queen_, might learn the extent of their conviction, by applying +at the commissary's office. Such as might appear to have been sent out +for life were told they need not despair of being, in due time, again the +masters of their own labours; as every one must have seen, that a decent, +orderly, industrious and obedient conduct, had frequently recommended +many of their description to public favour. + +June.] On the 2nd of this month, the _Diana_ and _Eliza_ +whalers came in to refit, and to refresh their crews. They had each +procured about twenty-five tons of spermaceti oil since they left the +port, and had spoke the _Britannia_, which had been more successful, +she having, in all, one hundred and ten tons of oil on board. + +About this time the _Indispensable_ sailed on her fishing voyage. +This ship had been careened and completely repaired in the Cove. + +From the experience of the masters of these whalers, there was every +reason to believe, that ships resorting hither, properly fitted for the +variable weather which they are liable to meet with upon the coast, would +most certainly succeed. The ships that had arrived, in general, were not +prepared for the weather of this ocean, but were fitted for the more +certain and serene skies of the coast of Peru; which occasioned their so +frequently running into port to refit. In this, such assistance as the +colony could supply was always readily afforded them; and it might be +worthy the attention of the houses of Messrs. Champion, Enderby, and +others, owners of ships in the whale fishery, to establish a depot or +warehouse at Sydney, well supplied with naval stores, where their +business could be transacted by their own people, and their ships +refitted with their own materials. + +If try-pots were fixed at some convenient place near the entrance of the +harbour, and many such offer, where their warehouse might also be +established, the fishing ground not being far from the coast, might not a +ship run in with the whale in blubber, leave it to be tried out, and in +the mean while put to sea in quest of more? If any time would be saved by +this mode of proceeding, it surely would be worth adopting; but of this +these gentlemen must be the better judges. + +In the evening on the fourth of June, which had been observed as His +Majesty's birthday with every demonstration of loyalty and respect, the +weather became very tempestuous, and continued for three days blowing a +heavy gale from the southward, attended with a deluge of rain; by which +several buildings belonging to Government, which had been erected with +great labour, were much damaged; among others, was unfortunately the +tower of the new mill at Sydney, of which the roof was fitting. The +south-side of this building was so much injured, that it became necessary +to take the whole down; which was done, and the foundation laid a second +time. + +This gale having subsided, it returned about the middle of the month, +blowing again from the southward with increased violence, and attended +with another deluge of rain. In its effects it was more destructive than +the preceding, doing much damage to various public and private buildings. +The south side of the church tower was entirely destroyed, but the clock +was saved. The Government house at Parramatta, which was nearly finished, +received some material injury, but was not wholly destroyed. A man, in +crossing a gully between Sydney and Parramatta, was, in attempting to +ford it, carried away by the violence of the torrent, and drowned. The +cattle suffered much, and a few of the public as well as private stock +perished. + +The ravages of this storm were so great, that the settlement was thrown +back nearly twelve months in those works which at the time were expected +very shortly to be completed. The weather, from the beginning of this +month, had never since the establishment of the colony been observed to +be so severe. The settlement had indeed, between the fires of the summer, +and the floods and gales of the winter, suffered very considerably. Added +to these, at this time, were the inconveniences arising from an +unproductive harvest, from an exhausted store in the very essential +articles of clothing and bedding, from the hostile disposition of many of +the natives, and from the annihilation of morality, honesty, and industry +in the major part of the colonists. + +As this picture is not exaggerated, the situation and feelings of the +rational part of the settlement were certainly not to be envied. + +Every exertion was immediately made to remedy the misfortunes occasioned +by the late tempestuous weather, and it was hoped that most of them would +be surmounted by the end of the present year. The erecting of the stone +prison at Sydney being found to create much expense, as well as require +much time, the governor called a meeting of the officers, principal +inhabitants, and landholders, and proposed an assessment to be furnished +by each, as well of money, as of labour; which was readily agreed to on +their part; and that necessary building was thenceforth carried on at +their expense, the public stores only furnishing such iron as might be +requisite. + +On the evening of the 29th, the ship _Albion_ arrived from England, +having made the quickest passage of any that had yet come to this +country, being only three months and fifteen days on her voyage. She +brought out 900 tierces of salt pork, some dispatches, and a few letters, +by which the governor was taught to expect the arrival of two transports +with convicts, and of a king's ship, the _Porpoise_, which was to +replace the _Reliance_. + +The extraordinary passage made by this ship drew the attention of those +who were judges, to her construction. This was her first voyage, having +been launched on the 25th of October 1798, from the yard of Messrs. +Barnard and Roberts at Deptford, where she was built. The length of her +keel for tonnage, was 86 feet; her extreme breadth, 27 feet 6 inches; her +depth in hold, 12 feet; her height between decks, 6 feet, and her +admeasured burden, 362 tons. She was remarkably clean in her run; and, +although extremely deep in the water when she sailed from Spithead, gave +early proof of her capacity in sailing. + +Mr. Ebor Bunker, who had been at Port Jackson before in the _William +and Ann_ transport, commanded the _Albion_, and was now selected +by her owners, Messrs. Champions, to give the whale fishing upon the +coast a complete and fair trial. For this purpose the ship was fitted out +with the accustomed liberality of those gentlemen in the amplest manner, +with every store that could be necessary for her own use, and every +comfort for her people. + +Fortunate it would have proved for the settlement in general, had these +and such respectable gentlemen been among the first of those whose +speculative views had induced them to embark their property in these +undertakings: it would then have escaped the extortions which had been +but too successfully practised by many others. + +The labouring people were principally employed during this month, in +repairing the devastations occasioned by the late tempestuous weather. + +July.] Another instance occurred of the little effect which even capital +punishments had in this profligate settlement. On the evening of the 2nd +of this month, a most horrid murder was committed upon Mr. Samuel Clode, +one of the missionaries, who had flown for refuge from the savages of +Otaheite to this government. This act of more than savage barbarity was +committed at the brickfields, in the house of one Jones, a soldier. His +brains were beaten out at the back of his head, with an axe, and his +throat so cut as nearly to sever the head from the body, which was then +dragged to a sawpit, at that time full of water, and, being thrown in, +was covered over with bushes. Here it remained only until the following +morning, when it was discovered by a labouring man, who went to get his +hoe; which, to prevent its being stolen, he had been in the habit of +concealing in the sawpit. Such are the directions of Providence! + +Suspicion falling upon four persons, they were taken up; and, the +criminal court being immediately convened, three of the number, Thomas +Jones (a soldier), a woman (his wife), and John Albury (a free man), +were, on the clearest evidence, convicted of the murder, and adjudged to +suffer death. + +It appeared upon the trial, that the trifling sum of ten pounds, which +Jones had been indebted to Mr. Clode, prompted him to his destruction. To +effect this, he signified to that truly unfortunate gentleman, that if he +would call at his hut in the evening he would pay him. Not suspecting any +evil design in this request, he called at the appointed time, and, while +leaning over a table to draw up a receipt, received the first blow with +the axe, from the hand of Jones (Albury's resolution, for it was agreed +that he should give it, failing at the moment), who, from the pecuniary +transaction between them, must have been under an obligation, which he +took this dreadful method of discharging. + +Being convicted on the 4th, they were executed on the 6th, upon the spot +where the murder had been committed. The house was pulled down and burnt, +and the bodies of the two men were hung in chains near the place. That of +the woman was delivered to the surgeons for dissection. + +The abandoned state in which the settlement was at this time cannot be +better understood than by a perusal of the following orders, which were +issued. + +"From the late increased number of nocturnal robberies, there is much +reason to suspect that the petty constables and divisional watchmen are +either extremely negligent in the performance of their duty, or that they +suffer themselves to be prevailed on by the house-breakers to be less +vigilant than that duty requires, and to connive at their depredations on +the inhabitants. A continuance of this unpardonable remissness upon their +part must dispose the more respectable inhabitants to believe them +partakers with the thieves. It is, therefore, hereby particularly +recommended by the governor to every officer in the colony, as they value +the security of their property, to give their utmost assistance to those +immediately concerned in the executive part of the civil police, in +putting, as speedily as possible, a stop to so very great an evil. It is +also particularly recommended to the principal inhabitants of the towns +of Sydney and Parramatta, that they select a few of the most respectable +of their number, in each division of these towns, whom they may authorise +to consider of the most effectual means of detecting the robbers, and +bringing them to trial; whether by such rewards as they may be enabled to +offer, or by small divisional patrols for the night service, and who +shall take that duty by turns, and be under the immediate direction of a +reputable inhabitant, of their own choice, or an officiating constable +selected from among the most sober and vigilant of that description of +persons." + +Proposals for this purpose were to be sent in writing to the +judge-advocate's office, and a bench of magistrates were to approve or +alter them, as they should think proper. + +This order was published on the 2nd, and on the 3rd the following +appeared: + +"The continual complaints which are made of the conduct of the female +convicts require the most rigid and determined discipline with such +characters, who, to the disgrace of their sex, are far worse than the +men, and are generally found at the bottom of every infamous transaction +that is committed in the colony. It is hereby most strenuously +recommended to the magistrates in general, that on proof being brought +before them of any improper conduct in those dangerous and mischievous +characters, or of any disobedience of orders, or neglect of such duty as +they may be directed to perform, they may be ordered such exemplary +punishment, either corporal or otherwise, as the nature of their crime +may call for. This measure will appear the more necessary, when it is +recollected, that formerly, when such punishments were had recourse to, +these women gave much less trouble, and were far more orderly in their +conduct." + +The superintendants were directed not to allow them to leave their work +at their own pleasure, but to attend them, and see that they were +employed during those hours which were allotted for their labour. The +former of these orders seemed to have been attended with some effect; for +in a few days several idle people, who, being out of their time, were +employed only in wandering from one district to another, without any +visible means of getting their bread, were apprehended, and, being +examined before the sitting magistrate, were ordered to labour in the +gaol gang. + +Still alarming depredations were nightly committed upon the live stock of +individuals, and were doubtless effected by those wandering pests to +society; the regulations which had long since been established as a check +to such an evil being wholly disregarded. It was discovered, that hogs +were stolen, and delivered on the victualling days at the public store, +without any enquiry being made, as to whose property they were, or by +whom delivered, any person's name which they chose to give in being +considered by the store-keeper as sufficient to authorise him to receive +it, although printed vouchers for the delivery of such pork (and grain +likewise) were left at the store, for the purpose of being signed by the +party offering it. This certainly operated as an encouragement to the +commission of these thefts; and it became necessary to order, that such +persons as attended the receipt of any of these articles at the store +should direct whoever delivered them to sign the voucher of the quantity +received by him, the governor being determined never to approve of any +bill laid before him for that purpose, unless the commissary should +produce the voucher, properly signed, by the person in whose name such +bill was made out. + +About the middle of this month a general muster was made of all the +inhabitants in the different districts of the settlement; and the +governor, attending in person, collected from the settlers an accurate +state of their farms and grounds in cultivation. This he did with a view +of transmitting, in his next dispatches to Government, such an account of +these people as, from being taken under his immediate inspection, might +be depended upon. From the 14th to the 24th were taken up in this +enquiry, from the result of which it appeared that there were in the +district of the River Hawkesbury: 2544 and a half acres in wheat, 907 +acres for maize; in the district of Parramatta: 1259 and a half acres in +wheat, 663 and a half acres for maize; in the Sydney districts: 538 and +a half acres in wheat, 365 and a half acres for maize; making a total of +4392 acres and a half in wheat, and 1436 acres for maize, in the three +principal districts of the settlements. + +At the Hawkesbury, the greatest quantity of ground in cultivation by any +individual, who had from a convict become a settler, was fifty-one acres, +forty-six of which were in wheat. Two others had fifty each, forty of +which were in wheat. A man of the name of Flood (who, had been left by +Mr. Hogan, when here in the ship _Marquis Cornwallis_ in 1796, in +the care of some ground which that gentleman had purchased) had at this +time two hundred, and an agent of Mr. Palmer the commissary, had within +seven of three hundred, acres in wheat. There were but few sheep in the +possession of the settlers of this district, and about two hundred and +forty goats. Hogs were more numerous, there being, after all the +slaughter which had lately taken place among these animals, nearly two +thousand remaining. The fertility of this spot had invited about one +hundred and eighty persons to become holders of land thereon; and when +they shall have erected their dwelling-houses and barns on ground +inaccessible to the overflowings of the river (which, from its vicinity +to the immense body of mountains to the westward, and its own irregularly +winding form, must often occur), they will not find their time or +exertions to have been misapplied. + +The settlers in and about Parramatta had not so much ground in +cultivation, and were fewer in number than those of the Hawkesbury +district. A widow woman of the name of Daveny, whose husband had been a +superintendant of convicts, had fifty acres in wheat, and twenty-three in +maize. Among the individuals who had attended to the rearing of stock +must be mentioned with the credit which he merits, Edward Elliot, who, +having firmly withstood every temptation that was placed in his way to +induce him to sell them, had at this time a stock consisting of 116* +sheep, derived from one ewe, which had been allowed him by Governor +Phillip in December 1792. It, perhaps, may be read with some +satisfaction, that George Barrington appeared to have twenty acres of +ground in wheat, and to be the possessor of thirteen sheep, fifty-five +goats, and two mares. His conduct continued such as it had been from the +first; but his health was visibly declining, his unremitted attention to +the duties of his office proving too much for an asthmatic habit, which +he brought with him from England. + +[* Vide Vol I Ch. XXXI p 401, viz: '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.'] + +There were nine hundred and three goats, three hundred and thirty-two +sheep, and about four hundred hogs, in this district, the settlers of +which were one hundred and four in number. + +It has been shown, that the cultivated ground in the district of the +principal settlement was far less than in either that of the river, or +Parramatta. At each of these, the soil was greatly superior, and had +therefore been more desired by settlers; it must moreover be observed, +that most of the farms in the neighbourhood of Sydney were taken before +much knowledge had been obtained of the superior richness of the soil in +the interior, over that near the coast. The greatest quantity of ground +in cultivation by any individual was thirty-three acres. Their stock of +sheep amounted only to thirty-eight, of goats to two hundred and +ninety-two; and there were remaining among them about three hundred and +sixty hogs. The number of settlers was seventy-one. In this statement, +the farms and stock of the officers of the civil and military department, +and of some of the free settlers, were not included. + +This certainly was not an unpromising view of the agricultural part of +the settlement. Much might be expected from the exertions of three +hundred and fifty-five people, and the greatest advantage would have been +derived from their labours had they been less prone to dissipation and +useless traffic--a traffic which most of them entered into solely with a +view to indulging themselves in their favourite propensity of drinking. + +Independent of the wild herd of cattle to the westward, the live stock +belonging to the Crown, and to individuals, was annually increasing to a +great amount; but it was not yet sufficiently numerous to admit of +supplying the colony with animal food. To begin too early to apply it to +that use, would only have retarded the time when the colony would be +independent of any other country for provisions; and none but superfluous +males were ever killed. + +On the 26th of this month the _Hillsborough_ transport arrived from +England, whence she had sailed with three hundred male convicts on board; +but, from the raging of a gaol fever, that made its appearance soon after +her departure, ninety-five had died during the voyage, and six more were +added to the number in a few days after they were landed. + +It was impossible that any ship could have been better fitted by +Government for the accommodation of prisoners during such a voyage than +was the _Hillsborough_; but, unfortunately, they brought with them, +perhaps lurking in their clothing, a disease which bade defiance to all +the measures that could be taken for their comfort and convenience. + +The hospitals were immediately filled with the survivors, from whom no +labour could, for a length of time, be expected; and they were supplied +with fresh meat. + +None of the military having been embarked in this ship, the owners had +put on board a certain number of people, to act as a guard; and on the +commissary's mustering them and the ship's company, pursuant to a request +to that purpose from the commissioners of the Transport Board, it +appeared, that the terms of the charter-party had been strictly complied +with. + +The erecting of the public gaol advancing but slowly, the constables of +the different divisions of the town of Sydney were directed to give +information to the inhabitants of their respective divisions, that, as +this building was a work in which they were all interested, they were to +furnish from each of the four divisions, viz from King's, Nepean's, +Banks's, Maskelyne's (such being their names), and from that of the +Brickfields, five men each day, with a watchman to attend them. These +were to be relieved by a like number of men every day, and this +assistance was to be continued so long as the gentlemen who had the +direction of the work should have occasion for them. + +Had the convicts who arrived in the _Hillsborough_ been in a condition +to labour, this requisition would have been unnecessary. + +The _Albion_ was cleared during this month of the provisions which +she brought out for the colony, and prepared to proceed upon her fishing +voyage. + +The _Buffalo_ was also getting ready to go to the Cape of Good Hope +for cattle. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + + +The governor visits the settlers upon George's river +The _Norfolk_ sloop returns from an excursion to the northward +Account of her proceedings +Enters Shoal Bay +Particulars respecting it +Description of a palm-nut tree +Enters Glass-House Bay +Lieutenant Flinders meets some natives +Has an interview with them +Particulars +Point Skirmish +Proceeds to a river in Glass-House Bay + + +August.] In the beginning of this month the governor spent some days in +an excursion from Prospect-Hill to the settlement which he had +established on the banks of George's river. Having before examined the +country between Parramatta and that river, he now traced it in another +direction, and had the gratification of finding it equally favourable to +cultivation with what he had before observed. The distance from the hill +was about five miles, over excellent ground, well adapted both for +cultivation and pasturage, and equal to any on the banks of the Nile of +New South Wales. The settlers whom he had placed there were all doing +well, had not any complaints to make, and had not been molested lately by +the natives. On quitting them he proceeded down the river to Botany Bay, +and thence walked overland to Sydney, between which places there was +nothing but barren and uneven ground, but every where covered with the +most beautiful flowering heath. + +Shortly after his return, the _Norfolk_ sloop came in from the +northward, having been absent about six weeks upon a particular service, +the following account of which is taken from the Journal of Lieutenant +Flinders, which he delivered to the governor after his arrival. + +The governor being very desirous of gaining some information respecting +the coast to the Northward of Port Jackson, particularly of two large +openings marked by Captain Cook, the Northernmost of which he named +Hervey Bay, and appeared to lie about the latitude of 24 degrees 36 +minutes south, he directed Lieutenant Flinders, who had been employed +before with Mr. Bass in the circumnavigation of Van Diemen's Island, to +proceed in the _Norfolk_ sloop to the northward, and examine them +with as much accuracy as the limited time of six weeks would admit. He +was also directed, if on his return he should find that he had some time +to spare, to enter Hunter's river, there to make what observations he +could relative to its extent, the quantity of coal to be found there, and +the nature of the country. + +The vessel was manned with volunteers from the two king's ships, and +Lieutenant Flinders was accompanied by Bong-ree, a native of the +north side of Broken Bay, who had been noted for his good disposition, and +open and manly conduct. To guard against accidents, they were supplied +with provisions for eleven weeks, and on this service they sailed on the +8th of the last month, July, and proceeded to the Northward. + +At half past seven in the morning of Sunday the 9th they sounded, but +without finding ground with fifteen fathoms of line, at the distance of +half a mile from a small reef of black rocks, which ran off from a +sugar-loaf point. There were two very low, and therefore dangerous rocks, +lying at S 20 degrees E three or four miles, and SE about two miles from +this point. Captain Cook passed this part of the coast in the night, and +therefore did not see the rocks; but they required to be particularly +looked out for by any vessel coming near the land.* The latitude of the +point is about 32 degrees 27 minutes S, Cape Hawke lying N 1 degree or 2 +degrees E from it; and the intermediate coast was mostly beach, but +divided at intervals by short stony heads. + +[* This and other nautical observations made by Lieutenant Flinders +are inserted, as it is presumed they (never having been published) +may be of use to such ships as may hereafter be employed in the whale +fishery upon the coast.] + +Sounding with ten fathoms of line at half a mile distance from the shore +of Cape Hawke, they got ground. The two hills here mentioned by Captain +Cook were found to stand upon the pitch of the Cape, and were covered +with brush down to the low cliffs. The strata in these cliffs lay forty +or fifty degrees from the horizontal line. From the Cape the coast falls +back, forming a kind of double bay. The land was low, and rose, but very +gradually, ridge over ridge inland to a moderate height, the country +looking pleasant enough from the sea; but the trees appeared small, and +mixed with brushwood. + +At daylight in the morning of the 10th they perceived the vessel to have +been carried by an extraordinary current considerably to the southward of +their expected situation, and at noon their latitude gave them a +difference of thirty-three miles, which current they attributed to their +being five or six leagues off the shore; for in the preceding twenty-four +hours, when she was close in with the shore, the difference between the +observation and the log was eight miles in her favour. + +They found this morning that the sloop had unfortunately sprung a very +bad leak, which admitted so much water as kept one pump constantly at +work. By its coming on suddenly, it was judged not to have been +occasioned by any straining of the vessel. It was, however, a serious +cause of alarm; and the maize with which the sloop had been before loaded +was continually choking up the pumps. + +The Solitary Isles were seen on the 11th. It had been Mr. Flinders's +intention to have landed upon some of these islets, had any inducement +presented itself; but on them he saw not either seal or bird. They seemed +to be covered with short brush; and two of them having been lately burnt +proved that they were visited by natives. In the colour of the rock, and +in their general appearance, they much resembled the small islands lying +off Tasman's heads, and might with equal propriety be termed the +Miserable as the Solitary Isles. Some breakers lying between them, +Mr. Flinders thinks it would be dangerous for a ship to pass within any of +them until they should be better known. At noon the observed latitude was +29 degrees 57 minutes 25 seconds south. The country still retained the +same woody, hilly, and irregular, though not unpleasing, appearance; but +in running along the shore it manifestly grew worse, having more tendency +to sand. The small projections of land which appeared as they sailed +along often presented the delusive appearance of openings behind them; +and they were the more inclined to entertain these hopes, as Captain Cook +passed along this part of the coast in the night. + +At half past two a small island opened off from a low rocky point, behind +which there was a small river running into the SW; but breakers seemed to +extend mostly across the entrance. If there was any passage, it would be +found on the south side of the island. + +At half past three, a peaked hill, standing four or five miles inland, +and more conspicuous than usual, bore true East. Before five, the vessel +stood in for what appeared to be an opening, and about dusk was in the +entrance to a wide shoal bay; soon after which she anchored in two and a +half fathoms, on a hard sandy bottom. + +The objects in view that induced Mr. Flinders to enter this bay were, +that he might have daylight to run along the remaining part of the coast, +which had been passed by Captain Cook in the night, and to ascertain a +place of safety to run for, should the wind come dead on the coast on his +return. The leak in the sloop was also a material part of the inducement; +for should the place turn out to be of consequence enough to be worth +expending a few days in its examination, and a convenient place offer +itself for laying her on shore, he intended in the interval to get it +stopped. + +On examining this bay in his boat, he found it to be very shallow; the +north point of the entrance into it was only a projecting spot of sandy +ground. Having returned to the sloop about noon, he landed on the south +head for the purpose of observing for the latitude. The sun being more +than half an hour distant from the meridian gave him time to examine +three huts which stood at a little distance. They were of a circular +form, and about eight feet in diameter. The frame was composed of the +stronger tendrils of the vine, crossing each other in all directions, and +bound together by strong wiry grass at the principal intersections. The +covering was of bark of a soft texture, resembling the bark of what is +called the Tea-tree at Port Jackson, and so compactly laid on as to keep +out the wind and rain. The entrance was by a small avenue projecting from +the periphery of the circle, not leading directly into the hut, but +turning sufficiently to prevent the rain from beating in.* The height of +the under part of the roof is about four and a half, or five feet, and +those that were entered had collected a coat of soot, from the fires +which had been made in the middle of the huts. They much resembled an +oven. One of them was a double hut, comprising two recesses under one +entrance, intended most probably for kindred families, being large enough +to contain twelve or fifteen people. Bong-ree readily admitted that they +were much superior to any huts of the natives which he had before seen. +He brought away a small hand basket, made of some kind of leaf, capable +of containing five or six pints of water, and very nearly resembling +those used at Coupang in the island of Timor for carrying toddy, which +Mr. Flinders had noticed there. + +[* How much superior in contrivance to those about Port Jackson, or in +Van Diemen's Island!] + +The meridional altitude of the sun gave 29 degrees 26 minutes 28 seconds +S for the latitude of the entrance into the bay. + +Many white cockatoos and paroquets were seen about here, and a crow +whose note was remarkably short and hasty. Numbers of pelicans, with some +gulls and red bills, frequented the shoals, and the country itself was +very sandy wherever they landed. The palm nut-tree which grows here was +the third kind of palm mentioned by Captain Cook as being produced on the +eastern coast of New South Wales.* This, he says, was found only in the +northern parts; and as Bong-ree, who was tolerably well acquainted with +the country as far as Port Stephens, never saw or heard of it before, +this was probably one of the most southern situations in which it would +be found. + +[* Vide Hawkesworth's Voyages, Vol III p 624.] + +The individual nuts were seen scattered about the fire-places of the +natives; and it was observed, that the lower end of them had been chewed +and sucked in the manner that artichokes are eaten. This method, on +procuring some that were ripe, was afterwards practised. + +The taste was rather pleasant at first, but left an astringency behind +that scarcely tempted one to try a second time. The eatable part of the +nut in this way was so small, as to be not worth the trouble of sucking +it out from the fibres. They were about the size of a walnut; within the +outer skin was a hard shell like that of the cocoa nut; and within this, +two, or perhaps more, almond-like kernels. The nut, as taken from the +tree, was an assemblage of these kernels set into a cone, and was from +the size of a man's two fists, to that of his head. Its size, and the +furrows or indentations upon the surface, appeared on the first view like +the exterior form of the bread fruit, but a pine apple may be a better +object of comparison. The stem of the tree was short, and none were +observed to be two feet or even eighteen inches in diameter. The branches +did not ramify into twigs, but preserved their size to the extreme, where +the leaves were produced surrounding the fruit. One or two smaller +branches here and there struck off from the main branch, and produced +their leaves in the same way, without fruit. The height of the tree all +together might be from fifteen to twenty-five or thirty feet. Suckers or +branches of all sizes were seen shooting out below those bearing fruit, +and, growing downwards along the stem, entered the ground, where they not +only formed roots, but became supporters to the tree. + +Mr. Flinders thought this fruit might be the mellori of the Nicobar +Islands. The description given of the mellori* in the third volume of +the Asiatic Researches corresponded with it in every particular, as far +as his examination went; but not having at that time any idea of the +value of the tree, and the subject being foreign to his pursuit, he did +not give it much attention. + +[* The manner of cooking this fruit, mellori, is given in the description, +and may be found in the Annual Register for 1794.] + +This bay not appearing to deserve more than a superficial examination, +Mr. Flinders did not think it worth consuming much of his time, and +therefore got under way at one o'clock in the afternoon of the 12th. + +He could not give any particular mark that would point out the situation +of Shoal Bay, except its latitude, and the somewhat remarkably peaked +hill lying about four leagues to the southward of it. Were any vessel +ever likely to visit it, it would be necessary to observe, that either of +two heads, which bore from the vessel SW by W and W by N behind which +there was some appearance of an inlet, might be mistaken for the south +head of the bay. + +On Saturday the 13th, about ten in the morning, they were three miles +distant from Cape Byron, and at the same time the peak of Mount Warning +was just appearing over it. Having hauled more off the shore soon after +noon, to avoid the reef lying off Point Danger, on the following morning +they found themselves at a considerable distance from the land. They now +steered west for a large space, where no land was visible, and, +perceiving breakers off the south point of the opening, were satisfied +that this was Moreton Bay. Passing between these breakers and Point +Lookout, they got ground in twenty fathoms water. As they drew nearer, +there appeared to be a very large extent of water within the opening; but +Mr. Flinders suspected that there was not any passage for a vessel in the +direction he was then steering, along the shore for the northern extreme +of the land. The country to the sea-ward was wretchedly sandy. At dusk +Cape Moreton bore west, distant two or three miles; and the highest +Glass-House, whose peak was just presenting itself over the distant land, +had opened round it at W 3 degrees or 4 degrees N. Two hummocks +resembling haycocks, distinct from any other land, opened soon after a +few degrees to the southward. + +The vessel was now hauled in round Cape Moreton, to go into Glass-House +Bay. They steered west till eight o'clock, when, having little wind, and +that little being from the southward, they dropped anchor for the night. +Weighing again the next morning, the 14th, they worked near the eastern +shore until noon, at which time their latitude was 27 degrees 00 minutes +29 seconds south; and Cape Moreton bearing E 10 degrees N two or three +miles would be in the same latitude, allowing the variation to be 10 +degrees east. This differs four miles and a half from its situation in +Captain Cook's Narrative. + +While ranging within a mile of the shore, ten natives were counted, half +of whom were probably women, from their keeping behind the others. The +men made many antic gestures to our people. One had a green branch in his +hand, which he waved to and fro at the extent of his arm, from the ground +on one side of him to that on the other; and some of them would run into +the water occasionally, and beat the surf with sticks. They appeared to +be friendly, using nearly the same word in calling our people that would +have been made use of by a Port Jackson native, and seemed desirous that +they should proceed up the bay. + +At eight in the evening they anchored in eleven fathoms water, about two +miles from a low sandy shore on the west side of the bay. + +At daylight on Tuesday the 16th, they again weighed to turn up the bay, +having the wind still from the southward. In their progress, they met +with various depths of water; and, perceiving an opening in the low +western land, Mr. Flinders wished to anchor near it, but was prevented by +shoal water. At a quarter past eight in the morning they anchored in +three fathoms water for the night. + +After breakfast Mr. Flinders went in his boat toward the opening, taking +Bong-ree the native with him. As they approached the sandy point on the +east side of the opening, some dogs came down upon the beach, and soon +after several natives made their appearance, most of them carrying +fishing nets over their shoulders. They lay upon their oars some time, +conversing with them by signs, and repeating the words which they made +use of. As they seemed to be friendly, Bong-ree wished to make them a +visit; and, seeing nothing among them but the pieces of fire-wood which +the natives usually carry with them, the boat was backed in, and he +jumped on shore, naked, and as unarmed as they themselves appeared. + +He quickly made an exchange with the yarn belt from his waist, for a +fillet made of kangaroo hair. The muskets were kept at hand in the boat, +to be prepared against any treachery; but, every thing seeming to go on +well, the natives appearing rather shy than otherwise, Mr. Flinders +joined his companion, taking his gun with him. By making friendly signs, +laying down the gun, and offering them a woollen cap, he was suffered to +approach, and one took the cap; but when Mr. Flinders made signs that he +expected to have his net bag in return, he gave him to understand that he +must first give him his hat. This hat was made of the white filaments of +the cabbage-tree, and seemed to excite the attention and wishes of the +whole party. + +As the hat was not given to him, he came forward, first throwing the cap +that he had received upon the bank behind him, to secure it, and seemed +very anxious for either the hat or gun, or both. Every thing, however, +was carried on very amicably; and Mr. Flinders, with his native, +retreated slowly toward the boat, but turned again, upon finding that +they pressed close after them. One of them then, laughing, and talking at +the same time to Mr. Flinders, attempted to take the hat off his head +with a long hooked stick; which, on his discovering, created a laugh. +Behind him another was stretching out a long arm to the same object, but +was fearful of coming near enough to reach it. + +On our people getting into the boat, and shoving her off into deep water, +they did not seem pleased, but tried to persuade them to land again. +Finding they could not succeed, one of them threw his piece of fire-wood +at them; but it falling short, the matter was treated as a joke, and +laughed at. On this, another ran into the water, and threw his also, but +it likewise fell short: he then took the hooked stick, and slipping off +the hook, which it seems was only lashed or tied on, produced a spear, +with which he ran up to the middle in water, and threw at them by hand. +It passed over the centre of the boat, about a foot and a half above the +gunwale, but touched no one. + +After this impudent and unprovoked attack, Mr. Flinders snapped his gun +at the man who threw the spear; but the flint having received some wet +when it was laid upon the beach, it missed fire. It was loaded with buck +shot, and he was strongly tempted to fire among the cluster of natives +who were standing upon the beach; but, recollecting himself, he tried +again at the offender, who was still standing in the water, with his back +turned toward them, and calling to his companions. The gun again missed +fire. + +While this was transacting, the major part of the natives were observing +Mr. Flinders's motions with much unconcern. On the third trial, however, +it went off. The man in the water fell flat, as did every individual +among them; but those on shore rose almost instantaneously, and scrambled +away toward the bank, some upright, and some upon their hands and feet. +One of the people in the boat then fired among them, and they fell again +upon their faces; but they all got up, and flew immediately behind the +bank into the wood. Even the man in the water rose up, and made off, but +his progress was much slower than that of the others, and he stooped a +great deal, carrying one hand behind him upon his back. From hence it was +conjectured that he was wounded, and he looked every now and then over +his shoulder, as if expecting to see the spear that he supposed must be +sticking in his back.* According to Bong-ree's account, another native +had his arm broken by the second shot. + +[* A certain proof of his total ignorance of the effect of fire arms, +he thus unhappily being the first victim to their use in this part of +the country.] + +As this very wanton attack had unfortunately obliged the party to fire +upon these people, in order to maintain that superiority which they meant +upon all occasions to assert, Mr. Flinders thought it might be the means +of preventing much future mischief, to give them a more extensive idea of +his power, and thereby deter them from any future attempt in his +intercourse with them. For as this bay was to be examined, and the leak +which the sloop had sprung was to be stopped here, it became more than +probable that they would often meet; and he was well satisfied of the +great influence which the awe of a superior power has in savages, to +create respect, and render their communications with each other friendly. + +In this view, with two musket balls in his gun, he fired at a man who was +looking at them from among the trees, and who, being about two hundred +yards off, perhaps thought himself secure. One of these balls touched the +edge of the bank in a right line for him, the other passed over, but +whether it took effect could not be seen. They afterwards landed, +intending to bring away the nets, which it was supposed they had in their +flight and alarm forgotten. On going upon the bank, previously to +ascertain the position of the enemy, he saw several of them running +different ways among the trees, apparently with a design of coming round +upon them; and, not knowing their force or numbers, Mr. Flinders directed +the native and a man who had also landed to return to the boat. But from +information since gained from Bong-ree, whose eyes were better than those +of Mr. Flinders, he believed they were running to conceal themselves. +They had not left their nets. + +From the low sandy point where this affair happened, and which obtained +the name of Point Skirmish, they proceeded up the opening, which proved +to be a river leading to the Glass-House peaks. These peaks stood upon +the low flat ground, considerably within the mountains, and, as far as +could be judged, had every appearance of being volcanic. That they were +so, indeed, was in some measure corroborated by the quantity of pumice +stone which was lying at high-water mark upon the eastern shore of the +river, on which Mr. Flinders had landed to mark the nature and appearance +of the country, not being able from the strength of the ebb tide to +proceed far in his boat. + +Among the largest and most common trees, there was one differing from any +that grew at Port Jackson. The leaves of this tree were of a darkish hue, +and bore some resemblance to the pine. The wood, when cut, smelt strongly +of turpentine, which exuded in places where the bark had been wounded. +The external part of the wood was white, but the body was of a reddish +brown, the bark somewhat resembling that of a tree at Port Jackson called +the iron bark. + +The blue gum, she-oak, and cherry tree of Port Jackson were common here, +and also one with the leaves of the gum tree, but with the soft bark of +the tea tree. The soil where it grew was very sandy; but, fearing that +the natives might surprise them while among the trees, Mr. Flinders did +not go far from the beach; it was, however, covered with very tall and +not innutritious grass. + +Five or six huts, from twelve to fifteen feet in length, were seen +standing near each other. They resembled a covered arch-way, rounded at +the far end. The roofs, and the manner of securing them, were nearly the +same as those which they had seen in Shoal Bay; but these had not any +curved entrance to keep out the weather, nor was the hut any smaller in +that part than elsewhere, but the sides and roof were equally calculated +to shelter the inhabitants from a storm. In one of them was found a small +and very light shield, and in another an old net, which had a bag to it, +and was knotted and made in the same way as it would have been if made by +an European seine maker. It appeared to be intended for a scoop net. +There were marks of a large kangaroo having passed, and many traces of +dogs were visible on the beach. + +In returning to the sloop they passed a dry shoal lying at the entrance +of the river, the deep channel into which was between this shoal and +Point Skirmish, where they found from three to six fathoms water. + +Before he left the sloop Mr. Flinders had given directions to examine a +part on the starboard side, where he suspected the leak to be; and on his +return was informed, that it was found to have been occasioned by the +starting of a plank from the timber about three or four streaks from the +keel. The caulker had filled it up with oakum from the inside, since +which she had made but little water lying at an anchor. + +From the situation in which the sloop lay, the bay had not any appearance +of closing round, but seemed to promise a large river at its head, and a +communication with Moreton Bay, if not something more interesting. At +three in the afternoon they got under weigh to proceed up this river, +with a light air from the northward, standing to the southward until +dark, at which time they anchored, about three miles from the western +shore, in five fathoms, on a soft muddy bottom, whereas the ground before +had always been sandy. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + + +Further proceedings in Glass-House Bay +Red Cliff point +Nets of the natives +Moreton Bay found to be an island +The sloop prepared for an attack of the natives +The Event +Account of an island +Enter Pumice-Stone river +See some natives +The leak in the sloop stopped +Interviews with natives +Mr. Flinders visits the Glass-House peaks +Account of the country +Return down the river +Other interviews with natives +Their manner of fishing +Singing +Dancing +Other particulars of, and some conjectures respecting them +Quit Pumice-Stone river, and Glass House Bay + + +At daylight in the morning of Wednesday the 17th, the sloop was got under +weigh, and turned up with a southerly breeze, as long as the flood tide +lasted, anchoring about half past ten o'clock, a mile and a half from a +point with red cliffs. A little to the westward of this point, Mr. +Flinders found the latitude to be 27 degrees 16 minutes 25 seconds south. +The rocks here were of stone, strongly impregnated with iron, having some +small pieces of granite and crystal scattered about the shore. + +From Red-cliff Point, they pulled over to a green head-land, about two +miles to the westward. The small reefs which lay off this head presented +a miniature of those which form such a barrier to the northern shore of +New South Wales, and render it almost inaccessible. + +In a house which stood upon the west side of the head, they found a net, +or seine, about fourteen fathoms long, the meshes of which were much +larger than any English seine, and the twine much stronger; but its depth +was much less, being not more than three feet. At each end it had a +pointed stick of about the same length. Upon the shoal near the house, +there was more than one inclosure of a semicircular form, and the sticks +and branches of which it was made were set and interwoven so close, that +a fish could not pass between. This net Mr. Flinders supposed was to be +placed diametrically across the semicircle at high water, and thus secure +all the fish that might get within the inclosure, until the falling tide +should leave them dry. He brought away the net, as a proof of the +superior ingenuity of these over the natives of Port Jackson, leaving +them in return a hatchet, the only present which he had to make them; and +that they might the sooner learn the great use of their new acquisition, +and be consoled for the loss of their net, he cut down some branches and +laid them before the hut. + +The wood, which at high water was collected for their fire, proved, when +cut up, to be cedar, and of a fine grain. The remains of a canoe made of +the stringy bark were lying upon the shore, near the house whence the net +had been taken. + +There were traces of dogs, kangaroos, and emus upon the beach. Two hawks +of a moderate size were shot, but their plumage was unlike that of any +known at Port Jackson. That which was the most remarkable was of an +unvariegated dull red colour in the body, with a milk-white neck, breast, +and head. + +In the afternoon they made some further progress with the sloop, +anchoring for the night on a soft muddy bottom. + +On the following morning they got under weigh with a flood tide, and a +moderate breeze from the northward. In their progress, they passed two +islands, of from three to four miles each in circuit. The northernmost +was the largest, and seemed well covered with wood, the greater part of +which was probably mangrove, the island being nearly level with the +water's edge. The foliage of the trees upon the southern island was +equally dark and luxuriant with this, but the interior part of it was +higher. There were two other smaller islands, nearly on a level with the +first, and covered with wood, but the southernmost was very small. + +In passing between the two islands they had deep water; but on its +suddenly shoaling they tacked and stood to the westward. In this +situation the entrance from Moreton Bay was open, the south side of which +bore N 68 degrees E six or eight miles, and the west side of what will +now be Moreton Island bore N 2 degrees W. Another island. apparently +larger than either of the four above mentioned, bore from the same place +from S 55 degrees to 34 degrees E at the distance of about five miles. +Reckoning the northernmost of the four islands to be the first in number, +they made their course good for the third island, after tacking; and the +water deepened almost immediately to six fathoms. + +At this time their attention was much attracted by a party of natives +from these islands, who appeared to be standing up in their canoes, and +pulling toward them, with all their strength, in very regular order. They +seemed to have long poles or spears in their hands, with which also they +appeared to be paddling, the whole of them shifting their hands at the +same instant, after the manner of the South Sea islanders. As about +twenty of them were counted, and seemed to be coming on with much +resolution, our people prepared for whatever might be the event. The +sloop was put under easy sail, her decks cleared of every incumbrance, +and each man was provided with a competent number of musket balls, pistol +balls, and buck shot, which were to be used as the distance might +require; for it was intended that not a man should escape if they +commenced an attack. + +Being thus prepared, they bore away toward them, finding that with all +their exertions they did not approach much nearer to the vessel. But what +was their surprise on discovering, that, instead of advancing in canoes +to attack them, they were standing upon a large flat, that surrounded the +third island, driving fish into their nets, and that they had but two +canoes among them. They were standing in a line, splashing in the water +with long sticks, first for some time on one side, and then all shifting +to splash on the other. Thus this hostile array turned out to be a few +peaceable fishermen: peaceable indeed; for on the approach of the vessel +they sunk their canoes upon the flat, and retreated to the island, where +they made their fires. + +The flood tide having ceased to run, they anchored at noon, and by the +sun's meridional altitude, in 27 degrees 27 minutes 16 seconds south +latitude. The third island, on which the natives were, bore W 4 degrees S +one and a half or two miles distant, and the centres of the two northern +ones N 40 degrees and N 15 degrees W. The entrance from Moreton Bay +bearing N 68 degrees E from this anchorage, corroborated its latitude by +the observation of the 14th, which was taken on the sea side of it +although it differed considerably from that given by Captain Cook. This +difference may perhaps be thus accounted for. That great navigator +finding, by the meridional observation taken on the day following the +evening on which he passed this part of the coast, that a northerly +current had prevailed in the last twenty-four hours, probably allowed a +proportional part of it, to correct the situation of Point Lookout, as +given by the log; whereas in reality the northerly current might have +commenced only at the time that he opened the Moreton Bay entrance, and +became exposed to the outset from it. And it was by no means improbable, +that, instead of a northerly, he might have had a southerly set, from the +previous noon, when the latitude was 27 degrees 46 minutes to the time +when he opened the entrance; in the same manner as it had prevailed the +day before; when the observation was 17 minutes south of the log. + +From the situation of the sloop at this anchorage, Glass-House-Bay seemed +to be closed round, except at one small opening which bore S 27 degrees +E. To turn up this opening, they got under sail as soon as the ebb tide +slacked. On standing near the south part of the shoal that appeared to +surround the island to which the natives had retired, one of them came +down abreast of the sloop, making the same gestures, and running +backwards and forwards, as others had done before; but little attention +was paid to him, Mr. Flinders being more intent on getting as far up the +bay as possible while the tide favoured him. A little before midnight he +was obliged to anchor, finding that the deep water had contracted into a +narrow channel. + +On the following day Mr. Flinders landed upon an island that lay in his +passage, with instruments for taking angles, and observing the latitude. +Footsteps of dogs, and those recent, were numerous upon the beach; but +traces of men were scarcely visible: there were, however, several +fire-places, and many other marks of the island having lately been +visited. This island was two or three miles in circumference. The central +part was higher than the skirts, and was covered with a coat of fine +vegetable mould of a reddish colour. On the SE side of the island this +elevated part descended suddenly in a steep bank, where the earth was as +red as blood; and, being clayey, some portions of it were nearly hardened +into rock. The trees upon it, among which was the new pine, were large +and luxuriant. The exterior part of the island upon the west side was a +flat, over which the tide seemed to rise, and was abundantly covered with +large mangrove trees. On the SW and NE sides it was mostly low and sandy, +and here the palm nut tree was produced. Probably these nuts formed the +principal inducement for the natives to visit this island; and there was +abundant testimony under the trees that they were not suffered to fall +off and rot. They met with some boughs so ranged as to keep off the +southerly winds; and from the fireplaces which they were placed to +defend, it was inferred that not less than five or six natives had made +this their place of residence, probably a temporary one only, as they did +not meet with any huts regularly constructed. + +The black and the white cockatoo, the beautiful lilac-headed paroquet, +and the bald-headed mocking bird of Port Jackson, were seen here; but +there were not any marks of resident quadrupeds, rats excepted. + +The latitude of this island, deduced from the sun's altitude taken at +noon, was 27 degrees 34 minutes 59 seconds S making the depth of this bay, +from Cape Moreton, to be thirty-four miles; for beyond this island the bay +was contracted into a river, of considerable width indeed, but it appeared +to be so shoal, or, if there was any deep channel, to be so difficult of +access, that Mr. Flinders gave up all idea of pursuing it further, +especially as the winds were obstinately adverse: he therefore returned +on board, with the intention of running into the river near the +Glass House peaks, there to lay the sloop on shore, and procure a supply +of fresh water, if a convenient situation could be found. + +The following day was passed in endeavouring to get into the river, +which, from the pumice-stone found upon its shores, obtained the name of +Pumice-Stone River, anchoring at sun-set within two miles of its +entrance. + +Early the next morning (Sunday the 21st), Mr. Flinders went in his boat +to examine the river, and the entrance into it. On approaching Point +Skirmish, five or six natives came down to the boat unarmed, and, by +friendly gestures and offers of their girdles and small nets, endeavoured +to persuade him to land. He could not satisfy himself whether they had +any treacherous design in this, or whether their presenting themselves +unarmed proceeded from any confidence which they might have felt, that +neither himself nor his people would hurt them if they were not the +aggressors. In this point of view, the offer of their girdles and nets +might have been meant as an atonement for their former conduct; he did +not, however, choose to trust them, but proceeded to examine the river. + +Although the shoals in the river were very intricate; yet, finding that +there was depth of water sufficient to admit the sloop, he determined to +get her into it. + +Upon these shoals were several pelicans; and they had not proceeded far +with their boat before they were greeted with the well-known creaking +note of the swan. These now engaged a great part of their attention, and +before they left the river eight of them were killed. + +When they had nearly reached the end of their excursion, two natives came +down to the beach, and seemed desirous for them to land. There being a +dry sand at a sufficient distance to be out of the reach of spears, they +put ashore upon it. About the same time, Mr. Flinders taking up his gun +to fire at two red-bills, the natives ran into the woods; but on +Bong-ree's advancing that way they returned, and he made a friendly +exchange for their hair fillets and belts, giving them a white woollen +cap in return, and came to the boat for a piece of white cloth and some +biscuit for them, to make the exchange equal. During this time Mr. +Flinders was on shore upon the sand bank with a gun, to cover him in case +their behaviour should be unfriendly. On his advancing toward them, they +were very vociferous for him to remain at a distance, and would in no +wise admit of his approaching without laying down his gun. This place was +about six miles from Point Skirmish; but it was evident that the fame and +dread of their fire-arms had reached thus far, and were most probably +increased by the shooting of the swans, which they must have witnessed. + +In returning down the river, they were called to by a man on the west +side, who had a spear in his hand; but two women and several children +being behind argued rather against any premeditated hostility. The women +and children retired on their approaching the shore; but they were +observed to be peeping at them from behind the bushes. This man made +great exclamations for the musket to be laid down, calling out 'woo-rah, +woo-rah,' as others had done, and seemed pleased when it was complied +with; but he could not have heard many particulars of their weapons, for, +on pointing a musket toward him to try the experiment, he did not appear +to be sensible of the danger to himself in that case. As he did not +choose to quit his spear, and the sun was descending, they did not land, +but backed in near enough to throw him a yarn stocking, which they showed +him was to be worn as a cap with a tail to it, and then parted good +friends. + +Monday the 22nd was passed in getting the sloop into the river, which +with some difficulty was accomplished, having to find out a channel +through an infinity of shoals, some of which were covered with mangroves. +Finding a proper place to lay the sloop on shore, Mr. Flinders took the +necessary measures; and on Thursday the 25th, having completely stopped +the leak, by filling up the seam with oakum, nailing the plank to afresh, +and covering the whole with tarred canvas and sheet lead, he re-stowed +his vessel, which had been cleared of every thing, a few tons of ballast +excepted, and was again in a condition to prosecute his intended +excursion to the Glass-House peaks. + +In a spare interval of a few hours before high water, (the day he laid +the sloop ashore) he attempted to get some swans, but met with none that +could not fly. He saw several large fish, or animals that came up to the +surface of the water to blow, in the manner of a porpoise, or rather of a +seal, for they did not spout, nor had they any dorsal fin. The head also +strongly resembled the bluff-nosed hair seal, but their size was greater +than any which Mr. Flinders had seen before. He fired three musket balls +into one, and Bong-ree threw a spear into another; but they sunk, and +were not seen again. These animals, which perhaps might be sea lions, +were not observed any where but in this river. + +Not finding any fresh water wherewith to fill up their casks, they had +dug a hole in a low situation about a hundred yards inland. The first +spit consisted of vegetable earth, mixed with a large portion of black +sand; the three following feet were composed of different layers of sand, +and then they came to the hardened black clay of which the rocks on some +parts of the banks were formed. Here the water began to ooze in at the +sides of the hole, which in the course of thirty-six hours was filled, +but with very thick water. Luckily there was not any occasion to use it; +for one of the people, incautiously straying into the wood, met with a +hole of very good water, at which they completed their stock. + +While they were employed in making up the sails, which had been loosed in +the first part of the morning to dry, three natives made their appearance +upon the beach, a short distance below the vessel, and unarmed as before. +Bong-ree went up to them in his usual undaunted manner; but they would +not suffer Mr. Flinders or any of his party to approach them, without +first laying down their muskets. Presents were made them of yarn caps, +pork, and biscuit, all of which they eagerly took, and made signs for +Bong-ree to go with them, and they would give him girdles and fillets, to +bind round his head and the upper parts of his arms. So long as their +visitors consisted only of two, the natives were lively, dancing and +singing in concert in a pleasing manner; but, the number of white men +having imperceptibly increased to eight, they became alarmed and +suspicious, seeming to look with a jealous eye upon a shot belt which Mr. +Flinders wore, and which, though they did not rightly know how, might +some how or other be a deadly weapon. + +Observing this, he gave it to one of the people to take away; but this he +afterwards thought was wrong, as tending to make them suspicious of every +thing they saw, and thus be a means of destroying their friendly +intercourse. By this shot belt they seemed to recognise Mr Flinders as +the person who had fired upon them before, and were more desirous that he +should keep at a distance than any other person. Three of the sailors, +who were Scotch, were desired to dance a reel, but, for want of music, +they made a very bad performance, which was contemplated by the natives +without much amusement or curiosity. Finding they could not be persuaded +to visit the sloop, our people parted with them, but in a very friendly +manner. + +Having weighed the anchors (Thursday the 25th) they turned two or three +miles further up the river in the afternoon, for the convenience of being +nearer to the Glass-House peaks, which he now intended to visit. In the +deepest parts of the river, there were from four to six fathoms water; +but the channel was much divided, and narrow. They anchored near that +place on the western shore where the man who had a family with him had +called to them; and at this time they saw a fire, and heard several +younger female voices in the same place. + +On the following morning Mr. Flinders took the boat up a small branch +that pointed toward the peaks, but afterwards, joining the same stream, +formed two low mangrove islands, leaving the Glass Houses at some distance +on the left hand. About half past nine he left the boat, accompanied by +two seamen and the native. Steering NW by W through a low swampy country, +brought them to the side of a creek, the banks of which were low, muddy, +and covered with mangroves. This creek carried them by the south west +near the head of it, where the stream, passing through a rocky swamp, +permitted them to wade over it. Thence they steered between N 50 degrees +and 60 degrees West, getting a sight of the flat-topped peak at times, +which, appearing to be considerably nearer than the highest Glass-House, +was that which he first meant to visit; but observing that one of the +round mounts with sloping sides was still nearer, he altered his course +for it; and, after walking about nine miles from the boat, reached the +top. + +The country through which they had passed was low, swampy, and brushy, +and in the latter part of the way somewhat uneven. In those parts which +were swampy, the surface was full of winding holes, where the water, +lodging, rendered walking both difficult and tiresome. The places that +were somewhat higher were either sandy or stony, and in these the grass +tree (or gum rush) abounded; but, in general, the trees were the same as +before mentioned, except that the pine was not observed to be among them. + +The mount was a pile of stones of all sizes, mostly loose near the +surface. The decayed vegetable matter that was lodged in the cavities +produced a thick covering of long, but rather spindly grass, very fit for +thatch from its length. The ascent was difficult, and similar to that up +Mount Direction, which stands on the east bank of the Derwent river in +Van Diemen's Land. The trees upon the mount were the same as on the level +ground, but taller and more straight. + +From the summit of this mount, the view of the bay and neighbouring +country was very extensive. The uppermost part of the bay appeared at S +24 degrees E and most probably communicated with a line of water which +was visible at S 12 degrees E where there were several distinct columns +of smoke. This last bearing, which Mr. Flinders apprehended to be near +the head of the river, he was not permitted to enter with the sloop, from +the intricacy of the channel, and the shortness of the time which +remained for his excursion. + +Near the head of Pumice-Stone river there was a large spread of water, +bearing S 72 degrees E and seeming to divide off into small branches. +There were other small branches falling into this below, the whole +forming into channels, which, ramifying through the low country, drew off +whatever water might collect within the ridge of the back mountains. +These appeared to be within the distance of between ten and twenty miles, +lying in a north and south direction; and the intermediate country to be +nearly as low as that which they had walked over. There was a large smoke +near the foot of them. + +From this mount, the way was over an irregular country, the higher parts +of which were sandy and stony, the lower swampy as before. At about two +thirds of the distance between it and the flat-topped peak (one mile and a +half), they were induced by a stream of water to rest for the night, the +sun being then below the trees. At seven the next morning they found +themselves under the steep cliffs of the flat-topped peak. The stone of +which this was composed was of a whitish cast, close-grained and hard, but +not heavy. It was not stratified, but there were many fissures in it. At +a little distance from the peak there were some pieces of a +reddish-coloured stone, and some small pieces of granite scattered about. + +Mr. Flinders was somewhat surprised at not meeting with any volcanic +appearances, as the pumice stone in the river, and the situation of these +stupendous peaks, standing upon low flat ground, led him to form some +anxious expectations upon that head. But it must be observed, that, +although he could not distinguish any traces of scoria, lava, basaltes, +or other igneous remains, yet they might still exist, more especially +about the high Glass-House, which he did not visit. + +As the steepness of its sides utterly forbade all idea of reaching the +summit of the flat-topped peak, he directed his course downwards to the +river, steering SSE to go clear of the head of the creek, and of the +swamps in its vicinity; but this direction took him a great way inland; +and upon his altering the course to reach the place where he had left the +boat, he had to cross a broad stream of fresh water which fell in lower +down, and to walk near three miles to reach the water side. He, however, +hit the place with unexpected readiness, and was very acceptably +presented with a black swan, which the people in the boat had caught, and +which was at the moment ready for satisfying the appetites of his party, +which were not trifling, for a more laborious and tiresome walk of the +same length would seldom be experienced. + +The traces of men and animals were very few, and but rarely met with in +the upper parts of this excursion; but Mr. Flinders found a new species +of pheasant, about the size of an English magpie. The emu was not seen, +although its voice had been so often heard, as to induce him to suppose +that bird must be numerous. The more inland part of the country was +something higher and better than in the neighbourhood of the salt water; +but no where did he meet with any that was calculated for the production +of wheat. + +Having reached the sloop in the evening, as soon as the ebb tide +permitted, the following morning, Sunday the 28th, they got under weigh +to turn down the river, with the wind at SSE. There were many natives on +the shore abreast of them, who seemed particularly anxious to be visited, +dancing and singing to attract attention, and express their own +good-will; and, when they could not prevail upon our people to land. +followed the sloop along the banks, their hopes seeming to revive by the +trips which in tacking they occasionally made towards the shore. + +The intricacy of the channels proving a great impediment to their +progress, they could not get out of the river in one tide, but anchored +about a mile short of the entrance. Three swans, that the boat caught in +coming down, made the number of eighteen which had been procured in this +river. + +Shortly after anchoring, Mr. Flinders took some people with axes on shore +to cut a log of the pine* for the workmen at Port Jackson, who might +ascertain the kind and worth of the wood. There was a house and several +natives near the place, with whom Bong-ree was in conversation when the +tree fell, the crash and report of which startled them a good deal, and +might probably assist in giving them a higher idea of the power of their +visitors. These people were still very averse from the appearance or +approach of a musket, keeping a watchful eye upon their least movement. +The gallant and unsuspecting native, Bong-ree, made them a present of one +of his spears, and a throwing-stick, of which he showed them the use, for +they appeared to be wholly ignorant of the latter, and their weapons of +the former kind were inferior to his. + +[* This pine was pronounced to be of the same species as that found in the +middle harbour of Port Jackson, but was much superior to it in size.] + +Very bad weather detained Mr. Flinders here for two days, during which +they were occasionally visited by the natives, who came down upon both +sides of the river, and entertained them with singing and dancing: their +singing, indeed, could not be distinctly heard, being nearly lost in the +wind. Not a spear was at any time seen among them. + +While lying here, Mr. Flinders had some opportunity of observing their +manner of fishing, which was perfectly new to his companion Bong-ree. The +party on the east shore, near which the vessel lay, went out each morning +at daylight along the side of the river with nets on their shoulders; and +this, as far as a distant view would allow of observation, appeared to be +the mode in which they used them. Whichever of the party sees a fish, by +some dextrous manoeuvre, gets at the back of it, and spreads out his +scoop net: others prevent its escaping on either side, and in one or +other of their nets the fish is almost infallibly caught. With these nets +they saw them run sometimes up to their middle in water; and, to judge +from the event, they seemed to be successful, as they generally soon made +a fire near the beach, and sat down by it; not doubt, to regale with +their fish, which was thus no sooner out of the water than it was on the +fire. + +The rain ceasing on Tuesday afternoon, a party went to the eastern shore +to procure fire-wood, and to comply with the desire which the natives had +so often expressed of seeing them land among them. On approaching them, +they carried their nets away into the wood; but three of them, who +remained, suffered the white people to advance without laying down their +muskets, which had never happened before. They were still timorous; but, +on being encouraged and requested by signs to sing, they began a song in +concert, which actually was musical and pleasing, and not merely in the +diatonic scale, descending by thirds, as at Port Jackson: the descent of +this was waving, in rather a melancholy soothing strain. The song of +Bong-ree, which he gave them at the conclusion of theirs, sounded +barbarous and grating to the ear; but Bong-ree was an indifferent +songster, even among his own countrymen. + +These people, like the natives of Port Jackson, having fallen to the low +pitch of their voices, recommenced their song at the octave, which was +accompanied by slow and not ungraceful motions of the body and limbs, +their hands being held up in a supplicating posture, and the tone and +manner of their song and gestures seemed to bespeak the good will and +forbearance of their auditors. Observing that they were attentively +listened to, they each selected one of our people, and placed his mouth +close to his car, as if to produce a greater effect, or, it might be, to +teach them the song, which their silent attention might seem to express a +desire to learn. In return for the pleasure they had afforded, Mr. +Flinders gave them some worsted caps, and a pair of old blanket trousers, +with which they were much gratified. Several other natives soon made +their appearance, probably those who had carried away the nets. It was +some little time before they could overcome their dread of approaching +the strangers with their firearms; but, encouraged by the three who were +with them, they came up, and a general song and dance was commenced. +Their singing was not confined to one air; they gave three, but the first +was the most pleasing. + +Of those who last came, three were remarkable for the largeness of their +heads; and one, whose face was very rough, had much more the appearance +of a baboon than of a human being. He was covered with oily soot; his +hair matted with filth; his visage, even among his fellows, uncommonly +ferocious; and his very large mouth, beset with teeth of every hue +between black, white, green, and yellow, sometimes presented a smile, +which might make one shudder. + +Among other friendly interchanges, they learned the names of Mr. Flinders +and his party. Him they called *'Mid-ger Plindah,' and his brother Samuel +they named Dam-wel. Three of their names were Yel-yel-bah, Ye-woo, and +Bo-ma-ri-go. The resemblance of this last to Porto Rico imprinted it on +Mr. Flinders's recollection. When these people joined the party, the +strangers were shown, and their names severally told to them, until they +had gotten the pronunciation. This ceremony was reciprocal, and accorded +with what Captain Cook had said before of an inhabitant of Endeavour +river, 'he introduced the strangers by name, a ceremony which upon such +occasions was never omitted.' The difference of latitude between these +two places is 11 degrees 39 minutes, or seven hundred miles. + +[* In these particularities, their language resembled that of +the Port Jackson natives. It may be seen in the former account, that Mr. +Ball was named Mid-ger Bool, and that none of them could ever pronounce +the letters f or s. Even Bennillong, on his return from England, still +used caw-be for coffee. Many other instances might be adduced.] + +With regard to the comparative size of these people, they were evidently +somewhat lower than the common standard of Englishmen, and perhaps less +in every respect, except in the disproportionate size of the head; and +indeed this was not general. In the features of the face, particularly in +the elongation of the lower ones, in the small calf to the leg, and the +curve of the thigh, they bore a general resemblance to the natives of +Port Jackson; but there was not one in all this group, whose countenance +had so little of the savage, or the symmetry of whose limbs expressed +strength and agility, so much, as those of their companion Bong-ree. + +A hawk presenting himself in an interval of conversation, Mr. Flinders +thought it a fair opportunity of showing his new friends a specimen of +the effect and certainty of his fire-arms. He made them comprehend what +was intended; but, while shifting the buck shot which were in the musket +for a charge of small shot, their agitation was so great, that they +seemed to be on the point of running into the woods; however, an +expedient to keep them was devised; the seamen placed them in a cluster +behind themselves, and in this situation they anxiously saw Mr. Flinders +approach toward the bird, and fire. What must have been his sensations at +this moment! for the hawk flew away, though not indeed unhurt, as the +natives noticed that the leg was broken. This disappointment brought to +his recollection how ineffectual had been some former attempts of his to +impress them with an idea of the superior refinement of his followers. +Bong-ree, his musician, had annoyed his auditors with his barbarous +sounds, and the clumsy exhibition of his Scotch dancers unaccompanied +with the aid of music, had been viewed by them without wonder or +gratification. + +It is almost unnecessary to say that these people go naked. They, +however, wore belts round the waist, and fillets about the head and upper +parts of the arm. These were formed of hair, twisted into yarn-like +threads, and then into bandages, mostly reticulated. Indeed the +inhabitants of this bay appeared to possess in general a very pointed +difference from, if not a superiority over, those of New South Wales, +particularly in their net-works. A seine eighty feet in length, and the +scoop nets which they use, have been mentioned. To these may be added the +bag in which they seemed to carry their portable property, and which was +most probably of the same kind as those mentioned by Captain Cook; but +they were seen of different sizes, and two that Mr. Flinders procured +were very differently worked. They were in general shaped somewhat like a +breast plate; and, being suspended from the necks of the possessors, led +him, previous to his first interview with them, to suppose they were some +kind of defence for the more vital parts. There was no doubt but that +they were provided with nets for catching very large fish, or animals, as +the fragments of a rotten one lying on the shore were picked up, the +meshes of which were wide enough to admit the escape of a moderate sized +porpoise; and the line of which it was made was from three quarters to an +inch in circumference. Probably the large animals which Mr. Flinders took +to be sea lions might be the objects for which these large nets were +fabricated. + +Mr. Flinders was of opinion, that this mode of procuring their food would +cause a characteristic difference between the manners, and perhaps the +dispositions, of these people, and of those who mostly depend upon the +spear or fiz-gig for a supply. In the one case, there must necessarily be +the co-operation of two or more individuals; who therefore, from mutual +necessity, would associate together. It is fair to suppose, that this +association would, in the course of a few generations, if not much +sooner, produce a favourable change in the manners and dispositions even +of a savage. In the other case, the native who depends upon his single +arm, and, requiring not the aid of society, is indifferent about it, but +prowls along, a gloomy, unsettled, and unsocial being. An inhabitant of +Port Jackson is seldom seen, even in the populous town of Sydney, without +his spear, his throwing-stick, or his club. His spear is his defence +against enemies. It is the weapon which he uses to punish aggression and +revenge insult. It is even the instrument with which he corrects his wife +in the last extreme; for in their passion, or perhaps oftener in a fit of +jealousy, they scruple not to inflict death. It is the play-thing of +children, and in the hands of persons of all ages. It is easy to perceive +what effect this must have upon their minds. They become familiarised to +wounds, blood, and death; and, repeatedly involved in skirmishes and +dangers, the native fears not death in his own person, and is consequently +careless of inflicting it on others. + +The net also appearing to be a more certain source of food than the +spear, change of place will be less necessary. The encumbrance too of +carrying large nets from one place to another will require a more +permanent residence; and hence it would naturally follow, that their +houses would be of a better construction. Those which had been met with +in Shoal Bay and Glass-House Bay were certainly far superior to any that +had been seen in the neighbourhood of Port Jackson; and this superiority +Mr. Flinders attributed to the different mode of procuring fish which had +been adopted by the inhabitants. He likewise supposed that the use of +nets, and consequently whatever resulted from such use, arose from the +form of the bay, which, being shoal for a considerable distance from the +shores, gave the greatest advantage to nets, over every other method, +more especially the setting and scoop nets. Pumice Stone river, being +full of shoals, required the same manner of fishing; and it was observed +that most, if not all, of the islands in the bay were surrounded by +extensive shoals, which, by extending the necessity, would assist in +bringing nets into more general use. + +At one time they saw near twenty natives engaged in fishing upon one of +these flats, the greater part of whom were employed in driving fish into +a net which was held by their companions. That they were so engaged, they +convinced our people by one of the party holding up a fish to them while +he was standing in the water. + +During the time the sloop was in Glass-House Bay, they scarcely saw any +of the women. + +Of their canoes but little could be reported. The only one which Mr. +Flinders had any opportunity of examining was on the east side of +Pumice-Stone river. This was formed of the stringy bark, and was much +larger than any used at Port Jackson. The ends of it were tied up in the +same manner; but it was misshapen and clumsy. Not any of the natives ever +attempted to approach the sloop in canoes, although at times eight or ten +were seen standing together, who appeared very desirous of having a +communication with it. + +On the day the sloop was laid ashore in the river, the rise of the tide +was but three feet and nine inches. The tides were then neaped, and the +remark made by Captain Cook, that 'they had only one high tide in +twenty-four hours' seemed to apply in this bay; for, although the sloop +was got up as high as the strength of the crew would admit, yet she +righted a full hour and a half before the night tide had done flowing, +and shortly after one man haled her off. The superior rise of the night +tide was well known, and advantage taken of it, at Port Jackson: it also +rose the highest at Western Port, round the southern promontory of New +South Wales. The time of high-water in the river preceded the moon's +passage over the meridian by two hours and a half, and Mr. Flinders did +not think the highest rise of the tide was more than seven, or less than +five, feet. + +On Wednesday the 31st, having a moderate breeze at S by W with fine +weather, they got under weigh with the weather tide, and beat out of the +river. Having passed fifteen days in Glass-House Bay, Mr. Flinders was +enabled to form his judgment of it. It was so full of shoals, that he +could not attempt to point out any passage that would lead a ship into it +without danger. The east side of the Bay had not been sounded; if any +existed, it would probably be found on that side. + +Mr. Flinders named the land upon which Cape Moreton was situated Moreton +Island, supposing it to be that which Captain Cook would have given it, +had he known of its insulated form. It appeared to be a strip of land +whose greatest extent east and west was not more than four or five miles; +but, according to the observations for the latitude, its north and south +extent was about twenty-two miles. The ridge of land which ran along the +middle of the island was nearly of the same height with the Cape; and, +although it appeared to be composed of great piles of sand heaped +together upon a base mostly of stone, it was yet interspersed with small +trees calculated to mislead a distant observer, who would probably think +that some parts of it were not among the most barren spots in the +universe. + +In passing out of the bay they saw a large turtle lying asleep upon the +water; whence it became not improbable, that the capture of these animals +might form a part of the labours of the inhabitants, and of the intention +with which their larger nets were made. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + + +The _Norfolk_ proceeds to Hervey's Bay +Some account of it +Curlew Island +She returns to Port Jackson +Observations on the currents and tides along the coast +A criminal court assembled +Order respecting the issuing of government notes +Public works +September +A ship arrives from America +The _Buffalo_ sails for the Cape +The governor crosses the Nepean +A calf killed +October +Convicts found on board the _Hillsborough_ and _Hunter_ +The master of the _Hunter_ tried +A young ox stolen +Ration reduced +Price of Grain fixed + + +In his passage to Hervey's Bay, the next place of his destination, Mr. +Flinders was not more than two days; passing the Wide Bay of Captain Cook +on the 1st and Sandy Cape on the 2nd of August. The southerly wind of +the day veering round in the evening to the eastward compelled him during +the night to keep at a distance from the land; but, returning to it in +the morning, he found that Captain Cook's description of the coast +applied exceedingly well, so far as the distance of the sloop from the +shore would enable him to judge. + +During this short run he passed one of those spotted flat-tailed snakes +which were first noticed by Captain Cook in this latitude, and which +appeared to be of the kind observed by Captain Dampier on the north west +coast of New Holland. Mr. Flinders had observed the same sort of snake +among the islands between New Guinea and New Holland, when on board His +Majesty's ship _Providence_; it was therefore probable, that it +might be found upon most parts of this coast, which were situated within, +or in the verge of, the Tropic. + +In this bay Mr. Flinders remained until the 7th, during which time he had +sailed round the interior of it, but without being able to enter any +opening that might have led him to a river. It was deep and extensive, +the soundings in it very irregular, and in several places he was +prevented by breakers from approaching the shore. + +Hauling up for an opening which he was desirous of examining, he came to +a small sandy islet, which lay at the mouth of it. Being unable to find a +passage into the opening with the sloop, he came to an anchor, and went +ashore upon this island, which was surrounded with shoal water. The base +of it he found to be a hard stone, over which was a covering of sand, +mixed with pieces of coral and shells. There was a little cluster of +palms upon it, and some other small trees. Two or three large trees were +lying upon the shore, thrown down either by wind or the flood, assisted +by the weight of the trees themselves, which the depth of soil was not +sufficient to support. They were a tough, hard, and close-grained wood. +Being about half ebb, the surrounding shoal was dry. On it were some +thousand curlews and gulls, and some pelicans; but all too shy to allow +of his approach within musket shot. Upon one of the trees was stuck the +cap of a small whale's skull, and in one of the sockets of the eyes was a +bird's nest apparently of the last season. + +This islet must at times be visited by natives; for they found three +spears, and near them was hidden a small shield, of the same form and +substance as that seen in Pumice-Stone river. The spears were of solid +wood, of twelve feet in length, and could not have been used with a +throwing-stick. One of them was barbed with a small piece of some +animal's bone. + +From the trending of the shores of this harbour, it was divided into two +bays, an upper and a lower bay; the former of which was the smallest, +and, in comparison with the latter, resembled the cod to a seine. The +shore on the east side of this bay (the upper) was high, and bounded by +white, steep cliffs; whence Mr. Flinders was induced to hope that a deep +channel might be found there, being unwilling to believe that there was +not a good passage even to the head of a sheet of water of six or seven +miles square, and into which most probably one or more streams of water +emptied themselves. + +With the intention of attempting the eastern passage into this upper bay, +he returned on board from his visit to the islet (which he named +Curlew-Islet, and which is in the latitude of 25 degrees 17 minutes S) +and got the sloop under weigh; but was obliged to give up the idea, on +finding the shoal water so extensive as to make it probable that it +joined a line of breakers; and, the sun being near the horizon, to get +clear of the shoal water before dark became a principal concern, and +together induced him to shape a course for a sloping hummock on the west +side of the bay. + +The soundings deepened gradually to six fathoms; but, shoaling again to +three and even two fathoms, Mr Flinders suspected that the flood tide +might have set the vessel to the southward toward the shore; this, +however, did not appear to have happened; for at daylight the following +morning her situation was what he supposed it would be, the sloping +hummock bearing W 5 degrees N and their distance off shore about two +miles, the wind having remained at SW during the whole night. + +Keeping along the shore until nine o'clock, the water shoaled to nine +feet, and obliged them to haul off to the NE. Being now to the northward +of where Captain Cook had laid down the coast line, and the land being +visible at W 10 degrees N from the deck, and as far as NW from the mast +head, he judged it unnecessary to pursue the research any longer, under +the supposition of there being a double bay, and therefore continued his +course for the extreme of Break Sea Spit, the sloping hummock bearing S 9 +degrees E at the time of altering the course. + +The coast round Hervey's Bay was, in general, low near the shore, and on +the west side the low land extended to some distance inwards. On that +side the land wore a different appearance from that of Sandy Cape, there +being few marks of sand, and the shore was mostly rocky. Advancing toward +the head, the beaches presented themselves, and continued with little +interruption into the upper bay. A large island lying off the entrance to +the upper bay showed no marks of sand, but was well covered with wood and +verdure. In height, it was equal to the higher parts of the main, and +being four or five miles in length, seemed to be a fine island. On the +eastern shore the sand was more or less apparent every where increasing +in quantity toward the cape. The white cliffs that were noticed before +very probably contained chalk; the upper stratum, two or three feet in +thickness, being of a superior whiteness in those which were best seen. + +With respect to fertility, the general aspect only can be spoken of. +About the head of the bay, the trees were of a fair growth; grass seemed +sufficiently abundant, and there were few appearances of sand. Some parts +of it Mr. Flinders thought were stony. + +Of the inhabitants he could only observe, that their smokes were numerous +about the bay, and that they at times frequented Curlew islet. + +Of the animal, vegetable, or fossil productions of the bay, he could not +speak, the shortness of his stay not permitting any examination. + +From the appearance of the tide the day that he landed upon the islet, it +had been high water between twelve and one o'clock, which was between +three and four hours before the moon came upon the meridian. + +The mean of nine amplitudes taken in this bay gave the variation 9 +degrees 44 minutes east; and of two sets of azimuths 9 degrees 15 minutes +east; from both, the mean variation of the azimuth compass was 9 degrees +30 minutes east. + +Having cleared the point of Break Sea Spit, on Thursday the 8th he +proceeded on his return to Port Jackson. Passing the land between Smoky +Cape and the Solitary Isles in the day which had been before passed in +the night, he observed that it seemed to be higher than most parts of its +coast in the neighbourhood, Mount Warning excepted; and even there it was +not so high near the shore. The view that he had of the land at sunset, +when Smoky Cape bore S 25 degrees W distant five or six leagues, induced +Mr. Flinders to think it probable that there might be an opening to the +northward of it. + +In the afternoon of Sunday the 18th, there being but little wind, and the +weather fine, they were attended by several very large spermaced whales. +They were not more than twice the sloop's length from her, coming up on +either side at times very near her; and remained playing, or perhaps +feeding, in this way for more than two hours. + +Their appearance was followed in the evening by a gale from the SW which +reduced them to their storm sails, and compelled them to keep off and on +during the night. The wind, however, moderating the next day, and a +southerly current having been in their favour, Mr. Flinders concluded his +labours at dusk in the evening of the 20th; at which time he secured his +little vessel alongside his Majesty's ship the _Reliance_ in Port +Jackson. + +The observations which were made by Mr. Flinders on the set of the +current at different parts of the coast, being directly opposite to the +remarks of Captain Cook, it may be proper to state them. That great and +able seaman says, in his notice of the current on this coast, that 'It +always ran with more force in shore than in the offing.' Now, in going to +the northward the sloop was kept as near in shore as circumstances would +permit; but the whole sum of southing produced in eight entire days, from +latitude 33 degrees 45 minutes to 24 degrees 22 minutes south, was +sixty-five miles, almost the whole of which were lost off the Three +Brothers and Smoky Cape, when their distance from the shore was more +than in general it used to be. To counteract this, they had twenty-five +miles of northing, reducing the current to thirty miles in eight days, +which could scarcely be called a current. + +On the other hand, their average distance from the shore, when on their +return, was about twelve leagues, or barely within sight of the land; and +in running the same difference of latitude in twelve days the sum of the +southing was two hundred and eleven miles, and the northing but one mile +and a half. Out of this, thirty-four miles were gained in one day when +their distance off the shore was the greatest, being between twenty and +twenty-five leagues. + +From these data it should appear, that the current was strongest at the +distance of five, and from thence to twenty or more leagues; and within +that, there was some set to the northward. But Mr. Flinders thought it +most probable, that the southerly current would prevail nearer to such +projecting points of land as Point Danger, Smoky Cape, Red Point, and the +Heads of Jervis Bay; perhaps close to them, at such times when its +strength was greatest, for in that respect it had been found to vary +much: it was even believed at Port Jackson, that the current changes its +direction totally during some short space of time. + +Of the tides it was scarcely necessary to say any thing; for, by a +comparison of the times of high water at Bustard Bay-and at Port Jackson, +it should seem that the flood came from the southward; and would +therefore produce little or no set along the coast either way, in the +greatest part of that space. It was probable, however that, to the +southward of Smoky Cape, the flood would draw somewhat from the +northward; for there the land trended to the westward of south; and +likewise the nearer the coast lies east and west, the more set would be +produced by the tide along it; as from Cape Howe to Wilson's Promontory +for instance. Again, from Break Sea Spit, the coast trends to the +westward of north, which has a tendency to draw the flood from the SE and +this was shown by Captain Cook to be the case. + +We must here take leave of Captain Flinders, whose skill in exploring +unknown coasts and harbours, so amply manifested in this excursion, +creates an additional interest in the success of his present undertaking. + +The courts of criminal judicature being assembled on the 29th of the +month, one man, Job Williams, was capitally convicted of a burglary; and +several others, free people, were ordered to be transported to Norfolk +Island. Williams afterwards received a pardon, some favourable +circumstances having been laid before the governor, which induced him to +extend the mercy vested in him by His Majesty's authority. + +The difficulties which were still placed in the way of the commissary in +preparing his accounts to be sent home, through the settlers and other +persons, who had not come forward, as they were some time since directed, +to sign the requisite vouchers for the sums paid them for the grain or +pork which they had delivered at the public stores, the commissary was +directed not to make immediate payment in future, but to issue the +government notes quarterly only, when every person concerned would be +obliged to attend, and give the proper receipts for such sums as might be +then paid them. This was a most useful regulation, and had been long +wanted. + +The convicts brought out by the _Hillsborough_ being mostly recovered +from the disease and weakness with which they landed, some additional +strength was gained to the public gangs, and the different works +in hand went on with more spirit than they had done for some time +past. In addition to the battery which, under the direction of Lieutenant +Kent, had been constructed by the seamen of the _Supply_ on the east +point of the cove, the work on Point Maskelyne had been raised and +completed with embrasures; some guns were placed in a commanding +situation above the wind-mill on the west side; and a work had been +erected upon Garden-Island; so that, in point of defence, the settlement +at this time wore a respectable appearance. + +The weather had for some time past been moderate and temperate. + + September.] In the night of the 6th of September, the American ship +_Resource_ arrived, after a passage of four months from Rhode +Island, bound to China. Mr. Magee, who was last here in the _Grand +Turk_ was on board the _Resource_. Having refreshed the people, +who certainly required some rest after such a voyage, she sailed again +on the 14th; but, to the great injury of such Americans as might visit +the settlement after him, the master took away several people, among +whom were some seamen belonging to the King's ships on this station. To +recruit their numbers, as well as to refresh those he had on board, were +probably his motives for coming in; but such conduct was deserving of a +representation to the American minister, which the governor accordingly +determined to make. + +On the morning of the 15th, his Majesty's ship _Buffalo_ sailed for +the Cape of Good Hope, thence to return with cattle for the colony. It +had been wished to have sent a cargo of coals by her to the Cape; but the +repairs which she required had taken up so much time, that to have loaded +her with that article would have thrown her departure too far into the +season for sailing to the Cape, to admit of her return within the summer +months, a measure absolutely necessary for preserving her cattle. This +would otherwise have been an object too desirable to have been neglected. + +The _Buffalo_ was commanded and manned by the officers and ship's +company of the _Supply_. Dispatches were sent to England by this +opportunity, and contained, among others, a requisition for such +materials as were wanting to carry into effect the endeavour to +manufacture woollens and linens, viz a large quantity of reeds from 400 +to 1600; two complete sets of hackles; one gross of tow and wool cards, +with a quantity of log wood, red wood, copperas, and allum. + +Having dispatched this ship, the governor set off on a visit to the wild +cattle. Leaving Parramatta on the 24th, he crossed the Nepean the +following day, but much further to the northward than he had done before. +In this direction he and his party traversed a new tract of country, +which was not only beautiful to the eye*, but highly calculated for +cultivation and pasturage. + +[* What a contrast and relief must an excursion of this kind afford, +to the living in the unvarying repetition of criminal courts, and +their attendant crimes and punishments!] + +On their arrival at the Cow-pasture Plains, they fell in with a herd of +the cattle, about twenty in number, and so extremely fierce, that, had +it not been for the dogs which were with them, they would probably have +been attacked. Some natives, who had accompanied the governor, were so +alarmed, that they availed themselves of their expertness in climbing +trees, and left their friends to provide for their own safety how they +could. These dogs having been hunted at the cattle, much against the +governor's wish, by some of the party, who did it, as not thinking their +situation perfectly safe, the animals were dismayed at the unusual +appearance and went off, but a bull calf, about six months old, was +detained by the dogs. Him the governor directed to be let loose; but here +a strange circumstance occurred. Having three horses with the party, the +calf would not quit them; but, running between their legs, cried out for +the flock, which, from his bellowing, there was reason to apprehend would +return, to the great danger of the party; one of the gentlemen was +therefore obliged to stop his cries by shooting him through the head, and +the whole regaled upon veal, a rare dish in this country. + +On quitting the Cow-pasture Plains, the party crossed the river again, +higher up than they had formerly done; and were led for about four miles +over a mountainous country, but adapted either for tillage or pasture. +They then crossed a fine tract of level country, rich in the most +luxuriant grass, and uncommonly well watered, chains of ponds being found +every two or three miles. + +October.] On their return they found that the _Eliza_ whaler had +arrived from sea, not wanting more than thirty tons of oil to complete +her cargo. + +A number of the public labouring servants of the crown having lately +absconded from their duty, for the purpose either of living by robbery in +the woods, or of getting away in some of the ships now about to sail, +that none of those concerned in the concealing them might plead +ignorance, public notice was given 'that any officer or man belonging to +the above ships, who should be known to have countenanced or assisted the +convicts above alluded to in making their escape, would be taken out of +the ship, and punished with the utmost severity of the law; and as the +most strict and scrupulous search would take place on board, for every +convict which should be found concealed, or suffered to remain on board +without regular permission, so many of the ship's company should be taken +out and detained for daring to encourage such escape. Such of the above +public servants as might have taken to concealments on shore for the +purpose of avoiding their work, or making their escape from the colony, +if they did not return within a week to their respective stations, might, +upon discovery, expect the most exemplary punishment; but they would be +pardoned for the present attempt if they returned immediately.' + +On the day this order was issued, the _Hillsborough_, which was +moving out of the Cove, and preparing for sea, was strictly searched, and +several convicts being found on board, they were brought on shore, and +each received a severe corporal punishment. One of them was excused, on +condition of his declaring who the people were that had encouraged their +concealment, and prepared hiding places for them. He accordingly deposed +to two of the seamen, who were also brought on shore, punished, and +afterwards drummed to the wharf, and sent back to their ship. The +foregoing order was then published. + +How well it was attended to, and what effect the punishment of the seamen +and convicts produced, were instantly seen. The _Hunter_*, +preparatory to a voyage to Bengal, where she was to freight with goods +for the colony, went out of the harbour. A woman named Ann Holmes being +missing, the governor ordered an armed boat from the _Reliance_ to +follow the ship, with some of the constables, and search her; with +directions, if any persons were found on board who had not permission to +depart, to bring her into port again. Having found the woman, the ship +was brought up the harbour and secured. + +[* This ship had been a Spanish prize, and was the property +of Mr. Hingston, late master of the _Hillsborough_, and two others, +free people belonging to the settlement.] + +Several of her crew having behaved in a most insolent and mutinous manner +to the officer of the _Reliance_, having armed themselves against +the constables with cutlasses, and one of them having presented a musket +at the chief constable, they were secured, ordered to be punished on +board their own ship, and afterwards turned on shore. But it was +necessary to do something more than this; and, a criminal court being +assembled for the purpose, the master of the ship was brought to trial, +charged with aiding and abetting a female convict to make her escape from +the colony. As the offence consisted in aiding a convict, it was +requisite to prove that such was the person found on board his ship; but, +upon referring to a list of the prisoners who were embarked in the +_Royal Admiral_, the ship in which Arm Holmes had been sent out to +New South Wales, no specific term of transportation was found annexed to +her name. On the question then, whether the master had aided a convict in +making an escape, he was acquitted, it not being possible by any document +to prove that Holmes was at that moment a convict. But the master was +reprehensible in concealing any person whatever in his ship, and ought to +have felt the awkwardness of his situation, in being brought before a +court for the breach of an order expressly issued a short time before to +guard him and others against the offence that he had committed. + +When the _Hillsborough_ was searched, not less than thirty convicts +were found to have been received on board, against the orders and without +the knowledge of the officers, and secreted by the seamen. This ship and +the _Hunter_, shortly after these transactions, sailed on their +respective voyages. + +But although, by the measures which had been adopted, it was supposed +that none of these people had escaped in the ships, yet many were still +lurking in the woods. About this time a young ox was missing from the +government stock-yard at Toongabbie, and there was every reason to +suppose had been driven away and slaughtered by some of those wretches. +In the hope of discovering the offender, a notice was published, holding +out a conditional emancipation, and permission to become a settler, to +any convict for life, who would come forward with the information +necessary to convict the persons concerned in this destructive kind of +robbery; and an absolute emancipation, with permission to quit the +colony, to any one transported only for a limited time; but nothing was +ever adduced that could lead to a discovery. + +The scarcity of wheat at this time in the public stores rendering it +necessary to deduct two pounds from the twelve which were issued, +addition was made to the weekly allowance of salt meat, eight pounds and +a half of beef being issued in lieu of five, and five pounds of pork in +lieu of three. This alteration was to continue until the new crops +came in. + +These wearing at present a very promising appearance, and the various and +unforeseen misfortunes which had from time to time attended the exertions +of the industrious in agriculture, being, it was hoped, now at an end, +the governor, conceiving it to be no longer consistent with his duty to +continue the original prices of grain, directed that in future the +following should be given, viz, for wheat, per bushel, 8 shillings; for +the present barley, per bushel, 6 shillings; and for maize, per bushel, 4 +shillings which prices were to commence on the 1st day of January 1800. + +The scarcity of wheat in the public store was occasioned by the unbounded +extravagance of the labouring people, who had, in consequence of the last +unproductive season, reduced those who supported themselves to very great +distress; and several persons, who some time since would gladly have sent +their wheat to the store at the established price, had now refused it, +when the store was capable of receiving it; and, taking advantage of the +scarcity which they themselves had occasioned, had raised the price of +wheat to £1 10s per bushel: a shameful extortion! + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + + +The _Reliance_ sails for Norfolk Island +The _Walker_ arrives with Lieutenant-Colonel Paterson from England +Dispatches received +Orders respecting bread +Transactions +Regulations +Storm of wind +December +The _Britannia_ whaler sails for England +Settlers dissatisfied +A Spanish prize arrives +The _Martha_ from Cape Barren Island +A criminal court held +Wheat continued at the former Price +Gaol burnt at Parramatta +Harvest begun +Live stock + + +November.] On the 2nd of the month, his Majesty's ship the _Reliance_ +sailed with the relief of the military on duty at Norfolk Island; +and in the afternoon of the following day the ship _Walker_ anchored +in the Cove from England. On board of this ship were Lieutenant-Colonel +Paterson, and Captain Abbot, of the New South Wales corps. + +Dispatches were at this time received, whereby the governor, being +directed to cause a register to be kept of all ships entering inwards and +clearing outwards of the harbour, he appointed Richard Atkins, esq to the +service; and it became an article in the port orders which were +delivered to the masters of ships upon their arrival, that they were not +upon any account to break bulk, or attempt to land any article whatever, +until such time as an account of the ship, her commander, cargo, etc. had +been laid before the governor. It was at the same time signified, that no +boat, or any person whomsoever, except the pilot, such officer as might +be sent by the governor, and the person appointed to fill up the +register, should ever board strange ships entering the port, until the +above information had been regularly and fully obtained. It was +conjectured, that this measure of registering ships was preparatory to +the establishment of duties and a custom-house. + +By the _Walker_ four iron twelve pounders were received, and +information that copper coinage to the amount of £550 was in the +_Porpoise_, whose arrival might be daily looked for. The circulation +of this money would be attended with the most comfortable accommodation +to the people in their various dealings with each other; and it might be +so marked, as to prevent any inducement to take it out of the colony, if +it should ever be found convenient by government to order a silver +coinage for the use of the settlement, if it was fixed at not more than +half or two thirds of the intrinsic value of what it might pass for, so +as to render the loss considerable to any one attempting to carry it +away, it would be felt as a considerable advantage, and would effectually +prevent the forgeries to which a paper currency was liable. + +With the _Walker_ came in the _Britannia_ from her last successful +cruise, having now completed her cargo of oil. The _Walker_ was designed +for the whale fishery. + +A complaint having been made by some of the inhabitants of the town of +Sydney respecting the quality of that very necessary article, the bread +that was delivered to them, the governor directed a meeting of officers +to assemble for the purpose of investigating it; when it appeared, that +the bakers received the wheat as it was issued, engaging to give in lieu +a certain quantity of bread; but, not having stipulated as to the +quality, returned a loaf in which there was so much more chaff and bran +than flour, that the convicts feelingly, and not unaptly, termed them +scrubbing brushes. The bakers were heard, and such directions given as +were necessary to remove the evil complained of. + +The arrival of Lieutenant-Colonel Paterson had introduced some +alterations and regulations in the corps of which he had now taken the +command. Among others, his Majesty having been graciously pleased to +augment the pay of the non-commissioned officers, drummers, and privates +of the army, since the 25th day of May 1797, under certain regulations +with respect to stoppages, the regiment was now to receive the benefit of +such increase of pay. From this, three pence halfpenny per diem was to be +deducted, as a payment for the ration which was issued to them, and which +the commissary was now directed to serve, agreeable to the ration +established by his Majesty's command for such of his troops as were +serving in Jamaica, Gibraltar, and New South Wales. + +Colonel Paterson having also been instructed to complete the different +companies of the corps, if he could obtain a sufficient number of proper +characters, a public notice was given, informing such free people as +could bring with them recommendations that would satisfy the colonel they +were deserving of being taken into his Majesty's service, that they would +be received, and attested for the regiment. + +The very little attention which had long been, and continued to be shown +to the duties of religion, and the want of that decency and respect which +were due to the return of the Sabbath, were now so glaringly conspicuous, +that it became necessary to repeat the orders which had indeed often been +given upon that subject, and again to call upon every person possessed of +authority to use that authority in compelling the due attendance of the +convicts at church, and other proper observance of the Sabbath. The women +were also directed to be more punctual in their appearance; for these +still availed themselves of the indulgence which as women they had been +treated with, seldom thinking themselves included in the restrictions +that were laid upon others. + +The wheat crops, at this time nearly ready for the reaper, wore the most +promising appearance, the stalks every where, particularly at the +Hawkesbury, bending beneath the weight of the richest ears of corn ever +beheld in this or indeed any other country. But, like other countries, a +crop was never to be reckoned in this, until it was gathered into the +barn. About the middle of the month there fell a very heavy storm of +thunder, lightning, and rain, attended also with a shower of hall from +the SE that beat all the fruit off the trees, and destroyed the gardens +in and about the town of Sydney, though it was not felt more than two +miles from that place. A heavy gale of wind and rain took place at the +Hawkesbury the day preceding the storm at Sydney, which laid much of the +wheat, and beat down one end of the public store. This destructive +weather, having subsided for a day, recommenced on the 20th, and +continued without intermission until the 25th, when it again cleared up; +and, to increase the vexation, myriads of caterpillars were found +destroying the young maize. + +That it might be exactly known what was the produce of this year's +harvest, proper people were appointed, by order of the governor, to visit +each district; and, from the respective owners, to collect an account of +what each farm had produced. + +The building of the public gaol at Sydney was not yet completed; nor, +although a meeting of the officers had been lately held to consider of +the means, was any mode devised of defraying the still heavy expense +thereof. It had been suggested to raise a fund on the importation of +merchandise; but nothing conclusive was yet determined upon. + +December.] The _Britannia_ whaler having, as was before stated, +arrived a full ship, and being again ready for sea, on the 2nd of this +month sailed for England. In her, Mr. Raven, who brought out the +_Buffalo_, and some of his officers took their passage; and agreement +having been made with Mr. Turnbull, the master, to furnish them, six +in number, with a passage for the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds.* +The _Walker _sailed at the same time on her fishing voyage. + +[* Mr. Raven was charged with dispatches; which, from his earnest +desire not to lose any time in delivering, he unfortunately lost. +When the ship was within sight of the Isle of Wight, he got into a boat, +which was captured by a small privateer, and was carried into France with +his dispatches, not having had time to sink them. He was soon liberated +himself, but was not able to obtain even the private letters that he had +with him.] + +The settlers, being dissatisfied with the reduction in the price of grain +which had been ordered, presented petitions to the governor, in which +they stated the various hardships that for a considerable time past they +had laboured under, in the hope that he might be induced to receive the +crops of the present season at the usual price. Having taken their +petitions into consideration, he desired them to recollect, that near +four years since he had given them notice, that the high price of grain +could not be continued longer than that season; and though he had not any +doubt of their having sustained the losses which they represented, and +they must be sensible he had used every means in his power to remove and +relieve their misfortunes; yet his duty to government compelled him to +adhere to the reduction of which they complained. At the same time he +could not avoid observing, that some of these misfortunes had in many +instances proceeded from a want of that attention to their own interest, +which every man possessing common discretion would have shown; many of +them having parted with their last bushel for the gratification of the +moment, thereby reducing their families to distress and nakedness. + +He likewise informed them, that he had much pleasure in finding that +government had a serious intention, as early as the public concerns of +the nation would admit, of administering every possible relief, by +supplying the inhabitants with such necessaries and comforts as they +might require at a moderate price. He was, however, obliged to direct the +commissary to receive the grain of this season at the prices ordered by +him in the month of October. + +In the evening of the day on which the _Britannia_ sailed, the +_Plumier_, a Spanish ship, anchored in the cove. She was a prize to +three whalers, who had taken her near Cape Corientes, on the coast of +Peru. Her cargo consisted chiefly of bad spirits and wine, which, on her +being condemned by the Court of Vice-admiralty as a lawful prize, were +removed into the _Supply_, and an order was given out, strictly +forbidding the landing of any spirits, wine, or even malt liquor, until +a regular permit had been first obtained. This restriction upon wine and +malt liquor was occasioned by spirituous liquors having been landed under +that description. + +At length the commissary was enabled to issue some slop-clothing to the +convicts, a quantity having been received by the _Walker_; but, +unfortunately, much of what had been put on board arrived in a very +damaged state, as appeared by a survey which was immediately taken. + +On the 14th the _Martha_ schooner anchored in the cove from Bass +Strait, whence she had brought with her one thousand seal skins and +thirty barrels of oil, which had been procured there among the islands. + +The court of criminal judicature being assembled on the 16th, two mates +of the _Walker_ were brought before it, and tried for using menaces +to a person who had stopped their boat when attempting to land spirits +without a permit; but as he had not any special authority for making the +seizure, or detaining the boat, they were acquitted. + +One man, John Chapman Morris, was found guilty of forgery by the the same +court, and received sentence of death; but as this had been determined by +the majority of one voice only, whereas the letters patent for +establishing the court expressly say that five of the members are to +concur in a capital case, this business must, as provided also by the +patent, be referred to the King in council. It was hoped that this +circumstance would but seldom occur, as the object of it must, during the +reference, remain a prisoner, with all the miserable sensations that a +person would experience under sentence of death. The time that he must +linger in this uncomfortable situation could not well be less than +fifteen or eighteen months; and, admitting that the length of it might +have deadened the acuteness of his first sensations, and rendered him +thoughtless as to the event, yet how would that acuteness be aggravated, +should, unhappily for him, the sentence be at last confirmed by the royal +approbation!* + +[* It may be pleasing to the reader to learn, that both Isaac +Nichols (see Chapter XVII viz: "The criminal court was only once +assembled during this month; when one man was condemned to death for a +burglary, and another transported for fourteen years to Norfolk Island. +This man, Isaac Nichols, an overseer, had been accused of receiving +stolen goods; but from some circumstances which occurred on the trial, +the sentence was respited until his Majesty's pleasure could be taken.") +and this man, have recently received his Majesty's pardon.] + +The body of the settlers having again represented their total inability +to bear any reduction in the price of the wheat of this season, on +account, not only of their former heavy losses, but of the exorbitant +price of all those necessaries of life which they required for paying +their labourers, the governor at length consented to receive the wheat +only at the former price of ten shillings per bushel, and they were at +the same time told to prepare for the reduction that would certainly take +place in the next season. He also permitted a certain quantity of wine +and spirits from the prize to be landed, for the immediate accommodation +of those who had their crops to secure, and to prevent the impositions to +which they were subject in being obliged to procure them from a second or +third hand. + +On the 24th the _Reliance_ and _Francis_ schooner returned from +Norfolk Island, with the relief of the military, having been absent on +that service between seven and eight weeks. + +About ten o'clock of the night of the same day, the log gaol at +Parramatta was wilfully and maliciously set on fire, and totally +consumed. The prisoners who were confined were with difficulty snatched +from the flames, but so miserably scorched, that one of them died in a +few days. This building was a hundred feet in length, remarkably strong, +and had been constructed with much labour and expense. + +The rewards which had been formerly held out upon similar occasions were +now offered to any man or woman who would come forward with evidence +sufficient to convict such diabolical incendiaries before the court of +criminal judicature; and the inhabitants were called upon by that duty +which every man owed to society, as well as to his own individual +interest, to use every means in their power to discover the perpetrators +of such horrid mischief, which in its extent, involved the lives of their +fellow-creatures. + +This was the second time such a circumstance had happened in the +settlement, a circumstance that even staggers credulity. What interest, +what motive could drive these wretches to such an action? The destruction +of the building, they must know, would be instantly followed by the +erection of another, at which they themselves must labour! Could it be +for the purpose of throwing obstacles in the way of government: that +government, which had ever been mild and not coercive, which had ever +stood forward to alleviate their miseries, and often extended the arm of +mercy, when their crimes cried aloud for that of punishment? and yet on +no other principle can it be accounted for.* + +[* May the annalist whose business it may be to record in future +the transactions of the colony find a pleasanter field to travel +in, where his steps will not be every moment beset with murderers, +robbers, and incendiaries.] + +The harvest was now begun, and constables were sent to the Hawkesbury +with directions to secure every vagrant they could meet, and bring them +to Sydney, unless they chose to work for the settlers, who were willing +to pay them a dollar each day and their provisions: for at this time, +there were a great number of persons in that district, styling themselves +free people, who refused to labour unless they were paid the most +exorbitant wages. + +The following was the state of the live stock and ground in cultivation +in the different districts, as appeared from reports collected at the +latter end of the month of August last: viz + +LIVE STOCK + +Horses 39 +Mares 72 +Horned Cattle + Bulls and Oxen 188 + Cows 512 +Hogs 3139 +Sheep + Male 1846 + Female 2875 +Goats + Male 842 + Female 1746 + +LAND IN CULTIVATION + +Acres of Wheat 5465 +Acres of Maize 2302 +Acres of Barley 82 +Acres of Oats 8 + +By this account it will appear, that there was a considerable increase of +live stock, except in the article of horses, and female goats. A great +addition had been also made to the ground in cultivation, the whole +amounting at the above period (August) to 7857 acres; making an increase +of 1745 acres, in twelve months. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + + +The _Swallow_ Packet arrives on her way to China +Articles sold +The _Minerva_ arrives from Ireland with convicts +The _Fhynne_ from Bengal +Three settlers tried for murdering two natives +Assessment fixed to complete the gaol +February +Military rations +A soldier shoots himself +A whaler from America, with a Spanish vessel, her prize +The _Hunter_ from Calcutta +The _Friendship_ with Irish convicts arrives +Inutility of some of these prisoners +Clothing issued +Tax on spirits to complete the gaol +Transactions +A new magazine begun +March +The _Reliance_ sails for England +A mountain eagle shot +The _Martha_ arrives from Bass Strait +Settlers sell their sheep +Flood occasioned by bad weather +April +Criminal court held +The _Speedy_ arrives from England with Lieutenant-Governor King +The _Buffalo_ from the Cape +Regulations + +1800.] +January.] On the third day of this month, the _Swallow_, +East-India packet, anchored in the cove, on her voyage to China. She +brought information of the capture of the Dutch fleet in the Texel, and +the surrender of the forts upon the Helder. This intelligence was +announced to the settlement in a public order, and by a discharge of the +cannon on the batteries. The _Swallow_ on her anchoring saluted the +fort, which was returned. + +In addition to this welcome news, she had on board a great variety of +articles for sale, which were intended for the China market; but the +master thought and actually found it worth his while to gratify the +inhabitants, particularly the females, with a display of many elegant +articles of dress from Bond Street, and other fashionable repositories of +the metropolis. She remained here nearly three weeks, taking her +departure for China on the 21st. + +Previous to her sailing (on the 11th) the _Minerva_ transport +arrived from Ireland, with a cargo, not of elegancies from Bond Street, +but 162 male and 26 female convicts from the gaols of that kingdom: all +of whom were in perfect health, their treatment and management on board +doing the highest credit to the master, the surgeon, and his officers; +three only having died during the passage. She was chartered for Bengal; +and, as the season was early for her proceeding upon that voyage, the +governor, being desirous of dividing this description of people as much +as possible, would have sent her on with them to Norfolk Island; but no +provision having been made, as had sometimes been the case, for her +proceeding thither under the charter-party, he did not choose to give the +sum which the master demanded. And having learned that another ship, the +_Friendship_, had sailed at the same time from Ireland, he determined +to land the convicts and wait her arrival. + +It was much wished that a clause should be inserted in every +charter-party, enabling the governor to send the convicts to Norfolk +Island in the ship that brought them out, if he should see occasion; as +the difficulty with which they were got together for that purpose, when +once landed, was inconceivable. + +The _Minerva_, having touched at Rio de Janeiro, had brought many +articles for sale, as well from that Port as from England, most of which +were much wanted by the inhabitants; but the prices required for them +were such as to drain the colony of every shilling that could be got +together. + +With the _Minerva_ arrived the _Fhynne_, a small snow from Bengal, +under Danish colours, which had been chartered by the officers of +the colony civil and military, through the means of an agent whom they +had sent thither for that purpose. She was freighted on their account +with many articles of which they were much in want; and as more labour +could be obtained for spirits than for any other mode of payment, an +article so essential to the cultivation of their estates was not +forgotten. + +On the evening of the 18th (which had been observed as the birthday of +her Majesty) a convict, in attempting to go alongside the _Minerva_, +although repeatedly told to keep off, was shot by the sentinel, who was +afterwards tried, and acquitted, having only executed his orders. + +The decision of this affair was prompt, and unattended with any doubt or +difficulty; but not so was another business that had engaged the +attention of the criminal court. The natives having murdered two men who +possessed farms at the Hawkesbury, some of the settlers in that district +determined to revenge their death. There were at this time three native +boys living with one Powell, a settler, and two others, his neighbours. +These unoffending lads they selected as the objects of their revenge. +Having informed them, that they thought they could find the guns +belonging to the white men, they were dispatched for that purpose, and in +a short time brought them in. Powell and his associates now began their +work of vengeance. They drove the boys into a barn, where, after tying +their hands behind their backs, these cowardly miscreants repeatedly +stabbed them, until two of them fell and died beneath their hands. The +third, making his escape, jumped into the river, and, although in +swimming he could only make use of his feet, yet under this disadvantage, +and with the savage murderers of his companions firing at him repeatedly, +he actually reached the opposite bank alive, and soon joined his own +people. + +The governor, on being made acquainted with this circumstance, +immediately sent to the place, where, buried in a garden, the bodies of +these unfortunate boys were found, stabbed in several places, and with +their hands tied as has been described. Powell and his companions in this +horrid act were taken into custody, and, a court being convened, they +were tried for the wilful murder of two natives. + +The evidence that was brought before the court clearly established that +the deceased had come to their death by the means of the prisoners; and +the members of it were unanimously of opinion that they were guilty of +killing two natives; but, instead of their receiving a sentence of +death, a special reference was made to his Majesty's minister, and the +prisoners were admitted to bail by the court. + +The prisoners, in their defence, brought forward a crowd of witnesses to +prove that a number of white people had at various times been killed by +the natives; but, could these people have been sufficiently understood, +proofs would not have been wanting on their side, of the wanton and +barbarous manner in which many of them had been destroyed. + +Entertaining doubts as to the light in which the natives were to be held, +the court applied to the governor for such information as he could +furnish upon this subject; and he accordingly sent them the orders which +from time to time had been given respecting these people, and a copy of +an article in his Majesty's instructions to the governor, which in strong +and express terms places them under the protection of the British +government, and directs, that if any of its subjects should wantonly +destroy them, or give them unnecessary interruption in the exercise of +their several occupations, they were to be brought to punishment +according to the degree and nature of their offence. + +In this instance, however, the court were divided in their sentiments +respecting the nature of the offence, and submitted the whole business, +with their doubts, to his Majesty's minister. As they could not see their +way distinctly, they certainly were right to apply for assistance; but, +as it was impossible to explain to the natives, or cause them to +comprehend the nature of these doubts, it was to be expected that they +would ill brook the return of the prisoners to their farms and +occupations, without having received some punishment: a circumstance +wholly inconsistent with their own ideas and customs; and, indeed, they +loudly threatened to burn the crops as soon as it could be effected.* +Fire, in the hands of a body of irritated and hostile natives, might, +with but little trouble to them, ruin the prospect of an abundant +harvest; and it appeared by this threat, that they were not ignorant of +having this power in their hands; it was, therefore, certainly very +essential to the comfort and security of the settlers in particular, that +they should live with them upon amicable terms. + +[* Fortunately, though greatly incensed, they did not put this threat +in execution.] + +Towards the latter end of the month, the _Walker_ whaler came in +from sea, not having met with any success, though cruising in the height +of the summer season. She had spoke the _Albion_, which, though out +a longer time, had been equally unsuccessful. + +The public gaol at Sydney still wanting much of its completion, from the +insufficiency of the sums which had been raised to carry it on; and it +appearing that most of the officers had already paid to the amount of +forty pounds each as an individual share of the expense, it became +indispensably requisite that some means should be immediately adopted to +finish the building; and, as the price of wheat had, at the urgent and +repeated solicitation of the settlers, been for this season continued at +ten shillings per bushel, it was proposed to raise a sum for this +purpose, by each person leaving in the hands of the commissary sixpence +for every bushel of wheat they should put into the store. This +contribution would be the least felt, and was to cease so soon as a sum +sufficient for the purpose was collected. + +There not being at this time more than five months' provision in the +store at full allowance, it became necessary to issue only two-thirds of +the weekly ration; and this was ordered to commence on the first of the +ensuing month. A trifling addition was made to the quantity in store, by +the purchase of about seventy casks of salt provisions which the master +of the _Minerva_ had for sale. + +The _Francis_ and the _Norfolk_ brought round from the river a +quantity of timber and plank for the vessel that was building at Sydney, +and for other purposes. + +February.] On the first of the month the proposed alteration in the +ration took place. It has been said, that Colonel Paterson brought out +with him a new arrangement of the military ration. This, as directed by +his Majesty's regulation, consisted of, per man per diem, + +PER MAN PER DIEM. + +Flour or bread 1½ lb +Beef 1 lb +or +Pork ½ lb +Peas ¼ pint +Butter or Cheese 1 oz +Rice 1 oz + +When the small species cannot be issued, 1½ lb of bread or flour, and +1½ lb of beef, or 10 oz of pork, make a complete ration. The quantity of +salt provisions at this time remaining in the store, not admitting of +exempting the regiment from a reduction of the ration, they were informed +that, until the store could afford to victual them again agreeable to the +regulation, they would receive the same ration as the civil department; +but that no stoppages from their pay would on that account take place. + +One of these people, a quiet well-disposed young man, fell a victim to an +attachment which he had formed with an infamous woman; who, after +plundering him of every thing valuable that he possessed, turned him out +of the house, to make room for another. This treatment he could not live +under; and, placing the muzzle of his gun beneath his chin, he drew the +trigger with his foot, and, the contents going through his neck, +instantly expired. + +On the 13th, the _Betsey_ whaler arrived from the west coast of +America with 350 barrels of oil. She was extremely leaky, and much in +want of repair. At the same time came in the _Hunter_ bark from +Calcutta, with a cargo on speculation; and on the day following, a +Spanish brig which had been captured by the whaler. + +Early in the morning of the 16th, the _Friendship_ transport arrived +from Ireland with convicts. She had been fifty days in her passage from +the Cape of Good Hope, where she left his Majesty's ship _Buffalo_ +taking on board cattle for the settlement. The convicts arrived in very +good health, though the ship had been sickly previous to her reaching the +Cape. + +Many of the prisoners received by this ship and the _Minerva_ were +not calculated to be of much advantage to the settlement; and but little +addition was made by their arrival to the public strength. Several of +them had been bred up in the habits of genteel life, or to professions in +which they were unaccustomed to hard labour. Such must become a dead +weight upon the provision store; for, notwithstanding the abhorrence +which must have been felt for the crimes for which many of them were +transported, yet it was impossible to divest the mind of the common +feelings of humanity, so far as to send a physician, the once respectable +sheriff of a county, a Roman Catholic priest, or a Protestant clergyman +and family, to the grubbing hoe, or the timber carriage. Among the lower +classes were many old men, unfit for any thing but to be hut-keepers, who +were to remain at home to prevent robbery, while the other inhabitants of +the hut were at labour. + +Some clothing had been received by these ships and the _Walker_, +but, unfortunately, not any bedding. The governor therefore purchased a +thousand bad rugs, which had been manufactured in some of the Spanish +settlements on the west coast of America, and were in the prize which +last arrived. These, with a complete suit of the clothing to each, were +now issued to the convicts. + +The settlers of several of the districts declining to come forward to +assist with the small assessment of sixpence per bushel on their wheat, +which had been proposed toward the completion of the public gaol, it +became necessary to adopt some other expedient; and, as an article of +luxury was considered a fitter subject than any other for taxation, an +order was published, directing that on a permit being applied for to +land spirits, wine, beer, or other strong drink, from ships having those +articles for sale, the person desiring it was to make his first +application to the gentlemen of the committee appointed to carry on the +above building; to whom security was to be given for the payment of one +shilling per gallon on the purchase of spirits, sixpence per gallon on +the purchase of wine, and threepence per gallon on the purchase of porter +or strong beer; these sums, if the permits were granted, which depended +on the character of the person applying, were to be paid into the hands +of the committee, and appropriated to the above purpose. + +It having been for some time observed, indeed more particularly since the +late arrivals from Ireland, that a number of idle and suspicious persons +were frequently strolling about the town of Sydney at improper hours of +the night, and several boats having been taken away, and much property +stolen out of houses; in order to put a stop to such practices, the +sentinels on duty were directed not to suffer any person, the civil and +military officers of the settlement excepted, to pass their posts after +ten o'clock at night, without they could give the countersign; in which +case the sentinel was to detain them until the relief came round; when, +if the corporal should not be satisfied with the account which they might +give, they were to be taken to the guardhouse, and there detained, until +released by proper authority. The patrol of constables were also directed +to be very strict in their rounds, and apprehend such improper or +suspicious persons as they might meet in the town during the night. + +Shortly after the publication of this order, several of the Irish +prisoners having assembled at a private house, and making more noise than +was proper during the night, were taken up, and lodged in the gaol until +the morning; when they were liberated with assurances of being punished +if brought there a second time. + +Among other public and necessary works which were in hand at this time, +must be noticed the construction of a new powder magazine. The former +building had been placed at too great a distance from the principal +battery, in a dangerous and insecure situation. The foundation of the new +one was now dug in a more eligible spot, and where it could be much +better secured; which had been rendered necessary from the turbulent +disposition of the people lately arrived from Ireland. + +March.] His Majesty's ship the _Reliance_ being completely worn out, +and no longer capable of rendering any service to the settlement, it +became necessary to give her such repairs as would enable her to reach +England. In order, therefore, to ease the crown of such useless expense, +she was fitted for sea, and sailed on the 3rd of this month on her +homeward-bound voyage.* + +[* The _Reliance_ touched at the Cape of Good Hope and the Island +of St. Helena, whence she brought some Indiamen safe home under +her convoy. She arrived at Plymouth on the 26th of August, 1800. +Nothing remarkable occurred during the voyage, except the discovery of an +island, which, from its approach to the Antipodes of London, Captain +Waterhouse named Penantipode island. He determined its latitude by one +double altitude, and chronometer, to be 49 degrees 49 minutes 30 seconds S +and its longitude, 179 degrees 20 minutes E. It was seen in the middle of +the night; and as the nearest of the double altitudes by which its +latitude was determined was nearly an hour past noon, hence, and from the +change of place in the interval of four hours, the latitude ought not to +be depended on nearer than from 5 minutes to 10 minutes. The error of the +chronometer being uncertain at the time, no correction was applied to the +longitude, which may very probably be within half a degree, or much +nearer. When this island was seen, it was blowing a gale of wind. There +were seals on it, and it did not appear quite so large as Norfolk Island.] + +Captain Waterhouse, in an excursion which he made to the north arm of +Broken Bay, wounded and secured a bird, of a species never seen before in +New South Wales, at least by any of the colonists. It was a large eagle, +which gave a proof of his strength, by driving his talons through a man's +foot, while lying in the bottom of the boat, with his legs tied together. +it stood about three feet in height, and during the ten days that it +lived was remarkable for refusing to be fed by any but one particular +person. Among the natives it was an object of wonder and fear, as they +could never be prevailed upon to go near it. They asserted, that it would +carry off a middling-sized kangaroo. Captain Waterhouse hoped to have +brought it to England; but it was one morning found to have divided the +strands of a rope with which it was fastened, and escaped. A drawing had +been made of it while in our hands, of which the annexed engraving is a +copy. + +The _Martha_ schooner, having some time back sailed again to the +southward, returned on the 6th with a cargo of oil and seal skins. The +_Nautilus_ having left some of her people upon Cape Barren Island, +it appeared by their accounts, that the most productive time for the +seals among those islands was from November to May. They stated, that +they had much fine weather during the winter months, and met with very +little frost or severe cold. Cape Barren is in 40 degrees 26 minutes 20 +seconds S latitude. + +About this time many of the Irish prisoners lately arrived were afflicted +with dysenteric complaints, of which several died. + +Much has been said of the little indulgence to which some of the settlers +were, from their own misconduct, entitled. An instance of misbehaviour +occurred in a description of these people from whom it could scarcely +have been expected. The settlers who were fixed on the banks of George's +river had formerly served in the marine detachment, and afterwards in the +New South Wales corps. By their entreaties having prevailed upon the +governor to supply them with some live stock, they were furnished each +with a ewe sheep, of which they were no sooner possessed than they sold +them. This coming to the governor's knowledge, he directed them to be +seized, and instantly returned into the flock belonging to government. +Such conduct on their part certainly precluded them from ever soliciting +similar assistance again. + +Accounts of a most alarming nature were received toward the latter end of +the month from George's river and the Hawkesbury. The weather had, +unfortunately for the maize now ripe, been uncommonly bad for three +weeks, the wind blowing a heavy gale, accompanied with torrents of rain +that very soon swelled the river Hawkesbury, and the creeks in George's +river, beyond their banks; laying all the adjacent flat country, with the +corn on it, under water. Much damage, of course, followed the desolation +which this ill-timed flood spread over the cultivated grounds; and, +although fewer than could have been expected, some lives were lost. + +The prospect of an abundant maize harvest was wholly destroyed, and every +other work was suspended for a while, to prepare the ground a second +time this season for wheat. The settlement was yet too young to be able +to withstand such a succession of ill-fortune without its being felt, in +some degree, an inconvenience and expense to the mother country. Had the +settlers themselves in general been of a more industrious turn, they +would have been better prepared for such accidents; and it was much to be +lamented, that, in establishing them on the banks of the Hawkesbury, they +had not with more attention considered the manifest signs of the floods +to which the river appeared to the first discoverers to be liable, and +erected their dwellings upon the higher grounds; or that the inundations +which had lately happened had not occurred at an earlier period, when +there were but few settlers. These indeed had been such as formerly no +one had any conception of, and exceeded in horror and destruction any +thing that could have been imagined. + +That the ground might with all possible expedition be prepared for wheat, +all descriptions of persons were called upon to give their assistance; +and there being at this, as at every other time, a number of idle persons +wandering about the colony, who refused to labour unless they were paid +exorbitant wages, these were again directed to be taken up, and, if found +to prefer living by extortion or robbery, to working at a reasonable +hire, to be treated as vagrants, and made to labour for the public. + +During this month, the _Walker_ went to sea upon the fishery; and +the _Martha _snow went to Norfolk Island, with some articles for +sale, the property of her owners. + +April.] On the first day of this month, the court of criminal judicature +was convened for the trial of several offenders. Robberies had of +late been very frequent, both on household property and live stock. +At this court, two men were found guilty of robbery, and one women, +Mary Graham, of forgery. Several were sentenced to receive corporal +punishment, and some were ordered to be transported to Norfolk Island. +The governor extended his Majesty's pardon to the woman and one of the +men, leaving the other to his fate, and the day was appointed for his +execution; but, the military officers soliciting in a body that the life +of this man should be spared, the governor consented. He however directed +that both the prisoners, being yet unacquainted with the pardon that was +to be granted them, should be taken to the place of execution with their +coffins, where the warrant for that execution should be read, and every +appearance observed that could give solemnity to the moment, and impress +the minds of the spectators with awe. These directions were followed. The +ropes being put about their necks, the provost marshal produced the +pardon and read it. One of the men appeared much affected; but the other +declared that he was never in his life so well prepared for death, and +scarcely seemed to desire a prolongation of existence. + +On the 14th the _Hunter_ bark sailed for Norfolk Island, whence she +was supposed to be bound for Amboyna and Bengal; and on the 16th the +_Speedy_ whaler arrived from England, with fifty female convicts; +and, what were much more welcome and profitable, eight hundred and +thirty-two casks of salt provisions, which enabled the governor once more +to issue a full ration. + +In this ship arrived Captain Phillip Gidley King, the lieutenant-governor +of Norfolk Island; and those marks of respect which were due to his rank +and situation as a lieutenant-governor were directed to be paid to him +by all guards, sentinels, etc. + +On the evening of the same day, his Majesty's ship the _Buffalo_ +returned from the Cape of Good Hope, having on board 85 cows and 20 +breeding mares for the settlement. This voyage was performed in seven +months, the _Buffalo_ having sailed from Port Jackson on the 15th of +last September. She made her passage thither in three months, having +arrived in Table Bay on the 16th of December. This, therefore, will be +found to be the proper season for going to the Cape by the way of Cape +Horn. + +The quantity of spirits at this time in the colony occasioned much +intoxication and consequent irregularity. The settlers at the river were +so lost to their own interest as to neglect the sowing of their grounds: +a circumstance which, but for the timely interference of the governor, +would have ended in their ruin. Immediately on hearing their situation, +he forbade the sending any more spirits to that profligate corner of the +colony, as well as the retailing what had been already sent thither, +under pain of the offenders being prosecuted for such disobedience of his +orders. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + + +Reports of seditious meetings among the Irish convicts +The _Friendship_ sails for Bengal +Letter from Lord Mornington respecting persons resident at Bengal, + formerly in this colony +Correspondence relative to Indian convicts, and persons at Calcutta + wishing to become settlers in New South Wales +Orders +Criminal court held +June +Two men hanged for sheep-stealing +The _Hunter_ sails with Major Foveaux for Norfolk Island +The _Buffalo_ ordered for sea +Public gaol +July +Three men executed +General muster +Cattle purchased +The _Martha_ driven on shore +August +Survey of public stores +Spirits landed and seized +Death of Wilson +September +Rumours of Insurrection +Volunteer corps +Coal found +The _John Jay_ arrives +The governor quits the settlement +Live stock, etc +October +The _Buffalo_ sails for England +Touches at Norfolk Island + + +May.] The governor having received information from several of the +officers, that they had good grounds for suspecting that some of the +convicts lately arrived from Ireland had not left behind them the +principles which occasioned their being sent from that kingdom, but were +carrying on seditious correspondences, and holding unlawful meetings; in +order to discover whether there was any foundation for this conjecture, +he called in the assistance of Lieutenant-Governor King, Colonel +Paterson, Major Foveaux, and the several magistrates of the district; +when it was determined to make a sudden and general search among the +persons suspected in all parts of the colony at one and the same hour, +and to secure their papers and seal them up. + +This was put in execution upon the 15th; but nothing was found in their +several dwellings which could furnish the smallest suspicion of the +conduct imputed to them. + +On the following day, a convict, who had endeavoured with some +earnestness to propagate a report that many pikes had been fabricated, +and, to prevent discovery, had been sunk in a particular part of the +harbour, was examined before some of the magistrates; when he confessed +that he knew nothing of what he had asserted; saying, that he was +intoxicated at the time. He was severely punished for his design, which +perhaps he chose rather to endure, than impeach his confederates. + +From the secrecy with which this business might be conducted, the +magistrates succeeded no better in an examination which was taken before +them, on an information that Harold, the Roman Catholic priest, had been +concerned in some seditious conversations; nothing appearing whereby he +could be criminated. The governor, however, judged it necessary, in +consequence of these conjectures, to extract the heads of the late acts +against seditious correspondence or unlawful assemblies of the people, +altering them to meet the situation of the settlement, and published them +in the form of a proclamation, that none might plead ignorance of the +existence of such laws. This proclamation, beside being made public in +the usual manner, was read on Sunday the 24th, in church, after the +performance of divine service. + +The _Friendship_ having sailed early in the month for Bengal, that +opportunity was taken of sending dispatches to England, and to the +Governor-General of India; who, by the _Hunter_, had sent a letter +to the governor, inclosing a list of persons from New South Wales who +were then resident in Calcutta, and desiring to be informed whether any +of them had left the territory without having previously obtained +permission for that purpose, or served the regular term of their +transportation; in which latter case, it was the intention of that +government to return them to the colony by the first opportunity. On +comparing the list with the colonial books, there were not any found of +this description, and all were accounted for, except two or three names +which did not appear in the books; and of course, as they had once been +on them, their owners must have adopted others, with the new character +that they were going to assume in that country. The whole number of +persons that appeared to have established themselves at Calcutta was not +more than fifteen; nevertheless, small as that number was, the fear that +worthless characters should find their way into that government was +strongly expressed in their public letter. Indeed, what community, where +honesty and morality were cultivated, would not deprecate even the +possibility of such characters mixing with them, with as much earnestness +as a people in health would dread the importation of a plague or a yellow +fever! + +It appeared, that at the same time some propositions had been made, and a +correspondence entered into between the secretary of the Bengal +government and the gentleman who had been employed as the private agent +of the officers of the settlement, respecting the transportation of +Indian convicts to New South Wales. As this was a measure, though open to +no objection whatever, which must be submitted to administration before +it could be adopted, the correspondence which had passed on this occasion +was sent home. It was proposed by the government of Bengal to victual and +maintain their convicts for one year after their landing; after which +they were to be supported by the settlement. As such a description of +people might be very usefully employed there, and would be far more +manageable than the convicts from England or Ireland, it was hoped that +the plan might meet the approbation of his Majesty's ministers. + +It should seem that some favourable ideas of the settlement had obtained +in India; for by the same conveyance three gentlemen of respectability +addressed the governor, stating to him their desire of embarking their +families and property, and becoming settlers; but as they required a ship +to be sent for them, to be furnished with a certain number of convicts +for a limited time, and a quantity of live stock, all of which must be +attended with a considerable expense to the crown, the governor, though +well aware of the advantages which the colony would derive from having +such persons resident among them, found himself compelled to lay their +proposals before the secretary of state. + +To put a stop, if possible, to the encouragement which was given by +settlers and others to the vagrants who infested the different districts; +it was ordered, that when any one wished to travel from one place to +another, he was to apply to a magistrate for a pass, in which the +business he was going on was to be inserted; and all persons found +without this written permission were to be taken before a magistrate to +answer for their wilful disobedience of the regulations of the +settlement.' + +Application having been made to the commissary to receive fresh pork into +the public stores, he was directed to comply therewith; but there was +reason to believe that such compliance would be attended with the +indiscriminate destruction of breeding and young sows. It was therefore +ordered, that if any person should be known to offer any meat of that +description to the store, it was not to be received; and the owner was to +be informed against, as being no longer deserving of encouragement or any +indulgence whatever. + +The criminal court of judicature was assembled on the 26th of the month, +and continued sitting by adjournment for three days; whereat six +prisoners were capitally convicted, two of whom were condemned for +sheep-stealing. As it was absolutely necessary to make some examples, +these men were ordered for execution; the others were pardoned, upon +condition of being transported for life to Norfolk island. + +In the course of this month died Mr. John Livingstone, the master +carpenter at Parramatta. This person came out from England in the +_Sirius_ with Governor Phillip, and had rendered much essential +service to the colony in the line of his profession. He had long been of +a consumptive habit. + +The principal labour of the month consisted in preparing for wheat the +ground that the inundation had devastated. + +June.] The month opened with the execution of one of the prisoners +condemned for sheep-stealing. He suffered on the 2nd, and on the 8th his +companion in iniquity and wretchedness underwent the same punishment. At +the moment of his execution he gave information of a daring gang of +villains with whom he had been connected. + +His Majesty's birthday was observed by a discharge of all the artillery +in the settlement, and three vollies from the regiment upon their parade. + +On the 8th, the owners of the _Hunter_ bark having altered her +destination, she returned from Norfolk Island, and was immediately +chartered to take thither an officer and a few soldiers, together with +some convicts and stores. + +The _Belle Sauvage_, an American ship from Rhode Island, which had +anchored for a few days in Neutral Bay, to refit, and refresh her crew, +sailed again on the 15th, without taking any person from the settlement. +As this Port was conveniently situated for these ships to stop at and +refresh after the long voyages which they were in the habit of making in +their route to China, or the north-west coast of America, it certainly +was to the interest of the masters and their respective owners not to +infringe upon any of the local regulations of the colony. + +The number of robbers and sheep-stealers still increasing notwithstanding +the late executions, it was deemed necessary to pursue some other steps +to get the better of this evil; and a proclamation was read in church on +Sunday the 15th, preparatory to issuing a process of outlawry against +these public depredators, whom all persons were commanded to aid and +assist in securing. + +In consequence of this proclamation, three men were taken up, and, being +tried and found guilty of sheep-stealing, received sentence of death. + +On the 29th, the _Hunter_ sailed for Norfolk Island, having on board +Major Foveaux of the New South Wales corps, who was proceeding thither to +take the command of that settlement. At the same time were sent those +prisoners who had been sentenced thither for transportation, and some +soldiers to augment the detachment of the regiment on duty there. + +The governor having, by the arrival of the _Speedy_ in April last +received a letter from the secretary of state, he gave directions for +preparing his Majesty's ship _Buffalo_ for sea; which was accordingly +begun; and various accounts were ordered to be made out preparatory +to their being forwarded to England. + +Information having been laid before the governor by the officers who were +appointed a committee for superintending the erection of the public gaol +at Sydney, that several persons had resisted the payment of the necessary +assessments which had been ordered to defray the expenses of the +building; it was ordered, that those assessments should be immediately +paid into the hands of the persons directed to collect them, or, in case +of a further refusal to a measure which had been entered upon at a +general meeting of the landholders, etc., in the colony, such steps as +should be adjudged necessary would be instantly pursued. Such being the +conduct of these people, even in a measure where their own personal +interests were so essentially concerned, can it be wondered at, that so +much profligacy prevailed in every part of the settlement? + +July.] The prisoners who were left for execution at the end of the last +month suffered death, two of them at Sydney on the 3rd and the third at +Parramatta on the 5th of this month. If examples of this kind could +strike terror into the minds of the spectators, they certainly had not +lately been without these salutary though dreadful lessons. + +A general muster was taken, during the month, of the inhabitants of the +several districts, attended by Lieutenant-Governor King, and other +officers of the settlement; and the _Buffalo_ dropped down the +harbour, that she might with more ease prepare for her voyage; as it was +impossible, without having recourse to punishment, to keep the people to +their duty on board while lying in the midst of temptation in Sydney +Cove. + +Several gentlemen being now preparing to return to England, having +obtained the governor's permission for that purpose; much live stock was +sold, and a considerable addition was made to that belonging to the crown +by the purchase of some of the large horned cattle. + +The _Martha_, having been allowed to go to Hunter river for coals in +the beginning of the month, on her return, having anchored in some very +bad weather in the north part of the harbour, Little Manly Bay, was by +the parting of her cable driven on a reef of rocks, where her bottom was +beat out. With the assistance of the officers and crew of the +_Buffalo_, she was got off, and, being floated with casks, was +brought up to Sydney, where her damages were found not to be irreparable. + +By the master's account it appeared, that he had not been in the river, +but in a salt water inlet, about five leagues to the southward of the +river, having a small island at its entrance. He was conducted by some +natives to a spot at a small distance from the mouth, where he found +abundance of coal. + +Several certificates were granted during this month, to persons who had +served their terms of transportation; and, in order to concentrate as +much as possible the effective strength of the New South Wales corps +(which appeared to be necessary from the turbulent disposition of the +Irish prisoners), the presence of an officer was dispensed with at the +Hawkesbury. Mr. Charles Grimes, the deputy surveyor, was appointed to +reside there, and to take upon him the duties of a justice of the peace. + +August.] Early in this month, the _Albion_ whaler ran into Broken +Bay, to complete her wood and water. She had on board 600 barrels of oi1; +but had not been able, through bad weather, to secure more than a fourth +part of the whales which they had killed. They had seen an immense number +of these fish. + +A survey was at this time taking of the public stores and provisions, in +order to their being delivered over to the deputy commissary, as +Mr. Williamson, the acting commissary, was about to return in the +_Buffalo_ to England. + +Toward the latter end of the month, an attempt was made, at three o'clock +in the afternoon, to land without a permit 1016 gallons of wine and +spirits, which were seized at the wharf by the sentinel. If the person +who made this attempt had been advised to so incautious and daring a +proceeding, it could only have been with a view to try the integrity of +the sentinels, or the vigilance of the police. + +In defiance of the various orders which had been given to enforce a due +attendance on Sunday at divine service, that day still continued to be +marked by a neglect of its sacred duties. An order was again given out on +the 25th, pointing out the duties of the superintendants, constables, and +overseers, in this particular instance; and assuring them that a further +neglect on their part would be followed by their dismissal from their +respective situations. + +Information had some time before this been received of the death of +Wilson, known among the natives by the name of Bun-bo-e. This young man, +while a convict, and after he had served the period of his +transportation, preferred the life of a vagabond to that of an +industrious man. He had passed the greater part of his time in the woods +with the natives, and was suspected of instructing them in those points +where they could injure the settlers with the greatest effect, and most +safety to themselves. In obedience, however, to a proclamation from the +governor, he surrendered himself, and promising amendment, as nothing but +a love of idleness could be fixed upon him, was forgiven; and, being +supplied with a musket and ammunition, he was allowed to accompany such +parties as made excursions into the woods, and at other times to shoot +kangaroos and birds. By him, the first bird of paradise ever seen in this +country had been shot; and it was his custom to live upon the flesh of +such birds as he killed, bringing in with him their skins. + +With the wood natives he had sufficient influence to persuade them that +he had once been a black man, and pointed out a very old woman as his +mother, who was weak and credulous enough to acknowledge him as her son. +The natives who inhabit the woods are not by any means so acute as those +who live upon the sea coast. This difference may perhaps be accounted for +by their sequestered manner of living, society contributing much to the +exercise of the mental faculties. Wilson presumed upon this mental +inability; and, having imposed himself upon them as their countryman, and +created a fear and respect of his superior powers, indulged himself in +taking liberties with their young females. However deficient they might +be in reasoning faculties, he found to his cost that they were +susceptible of wrongs; for, having appropriated against her inclinations +a female to his own exclusive accommodation, her friends took an +opportunity, when he was not in a condition to defend himself, to drive a +spear through his body, which ended his career for this time, and left +them to expect his return at some future period in the shape of another +white man. + +By a reference to the first volume of this work, it will be seen, that +the natives who inhabited Port Stephens, a harbour to the northward of +the settlement, entertained a similar idea of four white men who had been +thrown by chance among them; and Wilson, having heard the circumstance, +endeavoured to avail himself of it in his intercourse with the wood +natives. + +The natives of the coast, whenever speaking of those of the interior, +constantly expressed themselves with contempt and marks of +disapprobation. Their language was unknown to each other, and there was +not any doubt of their living in a state of mutual distrust and enmity. +Those natives, indeed, who frequented the town of Sydney, spoke to and of +those who were not so fortunate, in a very superior tone, valuing +themselves upon their friendship with the white people, and erecting in +themselves an exclusive right to the enjoyment of all the benefits which +were to result from that friendship. That they should prefer the shelter +which they found in the houses of the inhabitants to the miserable +protection from weather which their ill-constructed huts afforded, or +even to that which they could meet with under a rock, will be allowed to +have been natural enough, when we present the reader with a view of a +man, his wife, and child, actually sketched on the spot, by a person who +met with them thus endeavouring to obtain shelter under a projection of a +rock, during a heavy storm of rain and wind. + +September.] In the beginning of this month, rumours being circulated, +that the prisoners lately sent from Ireland for the crime of sedition, +and for being concerned in the late rebellion in that country, had formed +a plan for possessing themselves of the colony, that their arms (pikes +manufactured since their arrival) were in great forwardness, and their +manner of attack nearly arranged; a committee of officers was appointed +by the governor to examine all suspected persons, and ascertain whether +any such murderous design existed. + +In the course of their inquiries, the committee saw occasion to imprison +Harold, the Roman Catholic priest, who from his language and behaviour +was suspected of being concerned in the intended insurrection. He then +confessed, that the reports of it were founded in truth, and engaged to +discover where the weapons were concealed, of which it was said many +hundreds had been fabricated. In his confession he implicated several of +his countrymen, who, on being questioned, in their turn accused several +others; and the committee adjudged them all to be deserving of +punishment; but Harold was never able to fulfil his engagement of +producing the weapons. These he first said were buried in the ground +belonging to a settler, which he pointed out; but on minutely searching +every part of it, nothing like a pike could be found. Failing in this, he +then said they were sunk in the lower part of the harbour; but even here +they could not be discovered. He tampered with an Irishman, to make a few +that he could produce in support of his assertion; but the man had, +unfortunately for him, been transported for having been a dealer in +pikes, and declared that he would not involve himself a second time for +them. He at last found a man to fabricate one out of an old hinge of a +barn door, but this bore too evidently the marks of imposition to go down +with every one; and his tale met with little or no credit. There was +evidently a design to create an alarm; and this man Harold, from +declaring that he alone, through his influence as their priest, was able +to come at the facts, was supposed to be aiming solely at making himself +of consequence in the colony. He had applied to the governor for +permission to officiate as their priest; and if well affected to the +government, of which there were but too many doubts, he might have been +of much use to the colony in that capacity. + +In consequence of these alarms, and as much as possible to do away their +effects, by increasing the armed force of the colony, a certain number of +the most respectable inhabitants were formed into two volunteer +associations of fifty men each, and styled the Sydney and Parramatta +Loyal Associated Corps. Each was commanded by a Captain, with two +Lieutenants, and a proportionate number of non-commissioned officers. The +whole were supplied with arms and ammunition, of which they were +instructed in the use by some sergeants of the New South Wales corps, and +their alarm-post was fixed at the front of Government House.* + +[* As these were formed upon the footing of the volunteer corps +in England, it is to be wished that they may as fully entitle +themselves to the praise and thanks of the community which they were +raised to defend, as those honourable associations have merited and +gained from theirs.] + +It having been reported, that coal had been found upon the banks of +George's river, the governor visited the place, and on examination found +many indications of the existence of coal, that useful fossil, of which, +shortly after, a vein was discovered on the west-side of Garden Island +cove. + +On the 21st, the American ship _John Jay_ arrived, after a passage +of four months and four days, from Rhode Island, bound to China. She had +on board a quantity of salt beef and pork, which was purchased by +government, at the rate of seven-pence three farthings per pound, for the +purpose of issuing to such people as were off the stores, or who had the +labour of convicts assigned to them, at the same price. This was a great +accommodation. + +The _Buffalo_ being now ready for sea, the governor, who had +determined to return in that ship to England, having arranged various +matters relative to the settlement, and the lieutenant governor of +Norfolk island being on the spot, left the direction of the colony in his +hands, and embarked on Sunday the 28th, having previously reviewed the +New South Wales corps, of whom his excellency took leave in the following +order: + +"The governor, having this day reviewed that part of His Majesty's New +South Wales corps doing duty at Sydney, cannot omit this opportunity of +expressing the satisfaction he has received from their very handsome and +military appearance, which does so much honour to Lieutenant Colonel +Paterson, and the commissioned officers under his command. The expertness +with which the various military motions were performed is highly to the +credit of the whole body, and in which the non-commissioned officers have +a very distinguished share. The governor cannot lose the present +opportunity (as it may possibly be the last) of assuring the troops +generally, that the confidence which he has long reposed in their +promptitude upon every occasion that might require their particular +exertion, has ever inclined him to consider with contempt the threatnings +said to have been held out by a number of discontented and misled people: +well satisfied that the active assistance of the New South Wales corps, +added to those precautions and exertions which have and he trusts will +continue to distinguish the civil power, will ever be found a complete +security for the peace and tranquillity of this settlement, and of His +Majesty's government in this remote part of the British dominions." + +The governor's embarkation was attended with every mark of respect, +attachment, and regret. The road to the wharf, where the _Buffalo's_ +boat was in waiting, was lined on each side with troops, and he was +accompanied thither by the officers of the civil and military departments +with a numerous concourse of the inhabitants; who manifested by their +deportment the sense they entertained of the regard which he had ever +paid to their interests, and the justice and humanity of his government. + +The following was the state of the live stock, and ground in cultivation, +at the time of the governor's departure: viz + +LIVE STOCK +Horses 60 +Mares 143 +Horned Cattle + Bulls and Oxen 332 + Cows 712 +Hogs 4017 +Sheep + Male 2031 + Female 4093 +Goats + Male 727 + Female 1455 + +LAND IN CULTIVATION +Acres of Wheat 4665¾ +Acres for Maize 2930 +Acres of Barley 82 + +And a considerable quantity of garden ground, in potatoes, etc and vines. + +The poverty of the settlers and the high price of labour occasioned much +land to be unemployed this year. Many of the inferior farmers were nearly +ruined by the high price they were obliged to give for such necessaries +as they required from those who had been long in the habit of +monopolising every article brought to the settlement for sale; a habit of +which it was found impossible to get the better, without the positive and +immediate interference of the government at home. + +Many representations had been made on this distressing subject; and they +seemed in some degree to have been attended to, as in several of the last +arrivals from England, certain articles, consisting of implements of +husbandry, clothing, and stores, had been consigned to the governor, to +be retailed for the use of the colonists: and it was understood that this +system, so beneficial to the settlement, was to be pursued in all the +ships which were in future to carry out convicts or stores to that +country. + +October.] The _Buffalo_ sailed for England on the 21st of October*, +and as the governor had intended to touch and land at Norfolk Island, for +the purpose of learning, from his own observation, something of the state +of that settlement, some few of the Irish prisoners, who were suspected +of laying plans of insurrection and massacre, were taken in the +_Buffalo_, and landed there. This settlement wore a most unpromising +appearance. All the buildings were in a state of rapid decay, and but few +symptoms of industry were visible. Of stock, only a few hogs and a small +quantity of vegetables were to be procured. On Phillip Island, which had +formerly fed a great number of hogs, not one was to be found alive, they +having, for want of better food, destroyed each other. A few fields of +wheat, which were ready for reaping, looked tolerably well; but on the +whole Norfolk Island by no means promised to repay the expense which it +annually cost the government. + +[* The _Buffalo_ arrived at Spithead, with a convoy which she brought +from St. Helena, on the 24th of May 1801, having made the passage by +Cape Horn in seven months.] + +On board of the _Buffalo_ were two of the birds denominated by +Dampier black-swans, and three of those which in New South Wales were +styled emus. However much in shape the former resembled the European +swan, yet, as they are of a different species, they are not properly +entitled to the appellation of swan, that name being appropriate solely +to the European species. These birds had with very great care been +brought alive to England, and were given by Lieutenant William Kent, the +proprietor, to Earl St. Vincent, who presented them as rarae aves and +literally 'nigro simillimae cygno' to her Majesty, by whom they were sent +to Frogmore. They were of different sexes; but unfortunately one of them +soon died in moulting; and the other having, after that operation, with +his health, also recovered the perfect use of his wings, availed himself +of the liberty they gave him (the precaution of cutting them not having +been taken), and was shot by a nobleman's game-keeper as it was flying +across the Thames. + +The other birds were given by the same gentleman to Sir Joseph Banks; and +they are now enjoying their freedom in the Earl of Exeter's park at +Burleigh. These birds have been pronounced by Sir Joseph Banks, of whose +judgment none can entertain a doubt, to come nearer to what is known of +the American ostrich, than to either the emu of India, or the ostrich of +Africa. (The subjoined engraving is from a drawing made in New South +Wales, and shows the height to which they can erect themselves.) + + + + +CONCLUSION + + + +The documents upon which the foregoing pages have been formed going no +farther than the departure of the _Buffalo_ for England, we must +here quit the regular detail of the transactions of the colony. + +We learn from those who have conversed on the concerns of the settlement +with governor Hunter since his return, that he possesses the most minute +acquaintance with all its regulations, whether commercial, agricultural, +or legal. On those particular subjects, we understand he had from time to +time afforded the most ample information to government; and, as he is now +upon the spot, we hope that he may be able to show the advantages which +this distant colony will derive from a more frequent intercourse with the +mother-country. It must be gratifying to all who may be in any way +acquainted with the settlement, and are not strangers to the misfortunes +under which it has sometimes suffered, to find at this time in government +a determination to show it a greater degree of attention in future, than, +from unavoidable circumstances, it could formerly boast. + +As notice has not been regularly taken of the public works in hand at the +close of each month, as was observed in the preceding volume, a view of +the whole that had been undertaken during Governor Hunter's +administrations of the affairs of the settlement, is annexed. + +A large brick building which had been erected by Governor Phillip at +Parramatta, 100 feet in length, being much decayed, was completely +repaired; two floors laid throughout; and an addition of 60 feet made to +it, for the purpose of converting it into a granary for the reception of +wheat; there not being any building for this use in the colony. + +A strong wind-mill tower of stone, erected upon the hill above the town +of Sydney. The mill completed and set at work. + +An entire suite of apartments built of brick at Sydney, between the +hospitals and the dwelling-house of the principal surgeon, for the use of +the two assistant-surgeons; their former wretched huts having gone to +decay. + +A strong double logged gaol, 80 feet long, with separate cells for +prisoners, was constructed at Sydney. This building was burnt. + +A similar gaol was erected at Parramatta, 100 feet in length, and paled +round with a strong high fence, as was that at Sydney. This was also +destroyed by fire. + +Two log granaries, each 100 feet long, one for wheat and another for +maize, were erected at the Hawkesbury on a spot named the Green Hills, +and enclosed with paling. + +Thoroughly repaired, coated with lime (manufactured from burnt shells), +and white-washed both government houses, the military barracks, officers' +dwellings, storehouses, and granaries, and all the public buildings, to +preserve them from the decay to which they were rapidly advancing. + +The government huts at Parramatta, which had been built by Governor +Phillip for the immediate reception of convicts on their arrival, having +been long neglected and disused, and fallen to ruin, were completely +repaired and made fit for the use for which they were designed. Many had +fallen down. + +A barn of 90 feet in length was built at Toongabbie, in which nine pair +of threshers could work. The original barn at this place built by +Governor Phillip had fallen down. + +Constructed eight embrasures to the battery on point Maskelyne, and +raised a redoubt with eight embrasures on the east point of the cove, and +mounted them with cannon. Two guns were also mounted on the high part of +Garden Island. + +Made good the public roads, and repaired them at various times, and threw +bridges over the gullies. + +An excellent framed bridge was built over Duck-river, capable of bearing +the weight of several heavy loaded carriages at one time. + +At Sydney a good granary, 72 feet in length by 21 in width, with two +floors, was built out of the ruins of a mill-house, which had been +erected with much labour and expense by Lieutenant-governor Grose, +there not being a building of that description at Sydney. + +Built a framed and weather-boarded house on the Green-hills at the +Hawkesbury, for the residence of the commanding officer of that district. +This house was shingled, and furnished with a cellar, a kitchen, and +other accommodations, and surrounded with paling. + +Erected a second strong wind-mill tower at Sydney, 36 feet in height. +This tower, before it was covered in, was so damaged by a storm which +continued during three days, that it was taken down, and was rebuilt and +completed. + +A weather-boarded store-house with two wings was built at Sydney, and on +the burning of the church was converted into a temporary place of +worship. + +At Parramatta a weather-boarded granary, 140 feet in length, was built +for the reception of maize. This building was shingled. + +Built a complete smith's shop for forges at Sydney. + +Erected at Sydney an excellent brick granary, 100 feet long and 22 wide, +with three floors. An addition was made to this building about 70 feet in +length, for a kiln for drying the grain. + +Built a range of barracks at Sydney for three officers. + +Erected a handsome church at Parramatta, 100 feet in length and 44 in +width, with a room 20 feet long, raised on stone pillars, and intended +for a vestry or council room. (See the Plate.) + +Began the foundation of a church at Sydney, but of larger dimensions. +Built a tower steeple at the same place for a town clock; and some time +afterwards, having been much damaged by the same storm that injured the +wind-mill, it was repaired at the south angle, and the whole made good +with plaster, and coated with lime. + +Built an apartment of brick in the yard of the old gaol, before it was +burnt, for debtors, containing three rooms. + +Paled in a naval yard on the west side of the cove, and erected within it +a joiner's and a blacksmith's shop, with sheds for the vessels while +repairing, and for the workmen; with a steamer, a storehouse, a warder's +lodge, and an apartment for the clerk. + +Build a commodious stone-house, near the naval yard, for the master +boat-builder. + +Began and nearly finished a handsome and commodious stone gaol at Sydney; +with separate apartments for debtors, and six strong and secure cells for +condemned felons. + +A large and elegant government house was erected at Parramatta, the first +being too small, and the framing so much gone to decay that the roof fell +in. The present building is spacious and roomy, with cellars and an attic +storey. + +Built a neat thatched hut in the government garden at Parramatta, for the +gardener. + +Built a new dispensary, and removed the pannelled hospital to a more +convenient situation, raising it upon a stone foundation. At the same +time was erected a new hospital store. + +Prepared the foundation of a new powder magazine. + +Raised a frame, and thatched the roof of an open barn at the Ninety +Acres, and laid a threshing floor. + +Fenced and surrounded the military barracks with lofty paling. + +Paled in a cooperage adjoining the provision store at Sydney. Cleansed +from filth the public tanks at the same place, and surrounded them and +the spring-head with paling. + +Enlarged by a scalene building running the whole length of each house, +the dwellings of the principal surgeon, the senior assistant-surgeon, and +the deputy-surveyor; which gave an additional accommodation of two rooms +to each house. + +Built a military hospital and dispensary at Sydney, and an officer's +guard room at the main guard. + +Built sheds for the boats belonging to government when hauled on shore. + +Repaired a house for a school at Sydney, plastered, white-washed, and +coated it with lime. + +Erected houses within the precincts of the hospital at Sydney, for the +nurses and attendants while on duty. + +Laid a new foundation, rebuilt part of the walls, and completely repaired +the wet provision store at Parramatta, it being in a very ruinous +condition. + +Enclosed several stock yards for cattle, and repaired the old sheds at +Parramatta, Toongabbie, and Portland Place. In the latter district, the +timber of 120 acres was cut down, and nearly half (that of 50 acres) +burnt off, a small township marked out, and a few huts built. + +Raised also a variety of inferior buildings. + +The inclosures of the park and burial ground having been suffered to go +to decay, a gang of carpenters and labourers were for a considerable time +employed in preparing pickets and railing, and putting them up. + +The judge-advocate's house at Sydney was enlarged and completely +repaired, several alterations made, and out-houses built. + +Exclusive of erecting and repairing the foregoing public works, small +detachments were daily employed in preserving in good order and condition +the various buildings belonging to the crown, particularly those occupied +by that class of inhabitants subordinate to the commissioned officers. +And, as these repairs were considered as essentially necessary to prevent +such buildings from going to decay, they had been invariably attended to +under Governor Hunter. + +Had the strength of the public gangs permitted their being further +employed, it was intended to have erected a large water-mill at +Parramatta, of which some part of the machinery and water-works were +prepared. + +A court-house at the same place, and two new stores, with a guardhouse at +the Green Hills. The stores were to be built of brick, and the +guard-house of weather-boards. + +It was likewise intended to build a strong log-prison or lock-up-house at +the Hawkesbury, not to be thatched as formerly, but to be either tiled or +shingled. + +In the district of Portland Place, a stock-yard, consisting of about 30 +acres, was inclosed with posts and rails. It included four chains of +fresh-water ponds. Buildings were also designed to be erected within it; +and it was meant to continue clearing the ground there, it being +remarkably good, and at a convenient distance from Parramatta. + +Another stock-yard was designed for government, at Pendent Hills, in +Dundas district; but the inclosure was not begun. + +In the naval department, a vessel in frame was left on the stocks. She +was designed to be of about 150 or 160 tons burden, and capable of taking +the relief of the military to and from Norfolk island. + +A boat named the _Cumberland_ was on the stocks, and nearly +finished, of about 27 tons burden, intended to be schooner rigged and +armed, for pursuing deserters; who were, at the time when her keel was +laid, in the practice of carrying away the boats of the settlement. + +The lighter or hoy called the _Lump_, for want of tar to pay her +bottom, was worm-eaten; but, being a serviceable boat, it was intended to +repair and double her. + +In addition to these buildings (which must have contributed to render the +town of Sydney, the principal seat of the government, a picturesque and +pleasing object to strangers, as well as tended to the infinite +accommodation of all the inhabitants) Lieutenant Kent, the commander of +the _Supply_, had, at a very great expense, built a handsome, large, +and commodious mansion-house, on a spot of ground which he held on lease +in the front of the cove, forming a principal and striking object from +the water. This house, on that officer's departure for England in the +_Buffalo_, was purchased for an orphan school. + +Nothing has been said in this account of the public labour, of preparing +the government ground annually for seed and cropping it, or of gathering +the harvest when ripe. But these must be taken into the account, as well +as threshing the corn for delivery, and unloading the store ships on +their arrival; which latter work must always be completed within a +limited time, pursuant to their charters. It has been said before, that +it was impossible to obtain a fair day's work from the convicts when +employed for the public: the weather frequently interfered with outdoor +business, and occasioned much to be done a second time. Under all these +disadvantages, and with a turbulent, refractory body of prisoners, we are +warranted in saying, on thus summing up the whole of the public labour +during the last four years, that more could not have been performed; and +it is rather matter of wonder that so much had been obtained with such +means. + +The following is a statement of the ground granted and leased to +individuals by the different persons who were thereto authorised, from +the 22nd of February 1792, the date of the first, to the 25th of +September 1800, the date of the last grant. + +----------------------------------------------------------------- + Granted by: Phillip Grose Paterson Hunter Total +DISTRICTS WHERE GRANTED +----------------------------------------------------------------- +At Parramatta 460 845 100 741 2,146 +At Toongabbie - 420 160 4,734 5,314 +At Sydney - 349 80 40 469 +At the Northern Boundary Farms 370 80 125 150 725 +At the Ponds 660 200 20 80 960 +At Prospect Hill 810 275 - 835 1,920 +At the Eastern Farms 450 170 190 1,516 2,326 +At the Field of Mars 590 905 760 1,420 3,675 +At Mulgrave Place - 2,040 2,475 6,820 11,335 +At Liberty Plains - 530 100 830 1,480 +At Concord - 710 325 140 1,175 +At York Place - - 50 330 360 +At Bu-la-nam-ing - 565 30 1,516 2,111 +At Petersham Hill - 2,140 410 2,015 4,565 +At Hunter's Hill - 850 - 74 924 +In Port Jackson Harbour - 390 140 195 725 +At Banks Town - - - 3,247 3,247 +At Dundas District - - - 700 700 +At Norfolk Island 49 205 - 3,267 3,521 +----------------------------------------------------------------- +Total granted by each 3,389 10,674 4,965 28,650 47,678 +----------------------------------------------------------------- + +DISTRICTS WHERE LEASED + +In the township of Sydney 30 27 2 43¼ 102¼ +In the township of Parramatta - - - 47 47 +In the township of Toongabbie - - - 30 30 +At Mulgrave Place - - - 12 12 +At Norfolk Island - - - 265 265 +----------------------------------------------------------------- +Total leased by each 30 27 2 397¼ 456¼ +----------------------------------------------------------------- + +It may not be altogether uninteresting to those who may wish for +information respecting the concerns of this settlement, to find a +register of the shipping which has visited New South Wales from various +parts of the globe; whereby it will be seen, that, in however +insignificant or contemptible a point of view the colony may in general +have been held, individuals have found in it either a port of refreshment +after the fatigues of a long voyage, or an advantageous market for their +speculations. The arrivals will be confined to the harbour of Port +Jackson; only mentioning in this place that of the two ships _Le +Boussole_ and _L'Astrolabe_, at Botany Bay, in January 1788, +under the command of the ever-to-be-regretted and unfortunate M. de la +Perouse, who followed in the path of our immortal circumnavigator, +Captain Cook (with whose name every writer must be proud to adorn his +page), and who, like him, has left his country, indeed the whole world, +to lament his loss. + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Date of Date of Whither +Names-of-Ships Arrival Whence Cargo Departure bound +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 1788 [* See note at end of table] +His Majesty's armed 25 Jan. England 17 Apr. Batavia +tender, Supply 1790 +H.M. ship Sirius 26 - - 1 Oct. C of G Hope + 1788 +Alexander, transport 26 - - Convicts +Scarborough 26 - - - +Charlotte 26 - - - +Lady Penrhyn 26 - - - +Friendship 26 - - - +Prince of Wales 26 - - - - +Fishburn, store-ship 26 - - Provisions, etc +Golden Grove 26 - - - +Borrowdale 26 - - + 1789 +H.M. ship Sirius 6 May CofG Hope Lost at + Norfolk Is. + 1790 +Lady Juliana, trans. 3 Jun. England Convicts +Justinian, storeship 20 - - Provisions, etc. +Surprise, transport 26 - - Convicts +Neptune 28 - - - +Scarborough 28 - - - + +H.M. a t. Supply 19 Sep. Batavia Provisions +Waaksamheyd +Dutch store-ship 17 Dec. - - + 1791 +Mary Arm, transport 9 July England Convicts +Matilda 1 Aug. - - +Atlantic 20 - - +Salamander 21 - - +William and Arm 28 - - +H.M.S. Gorgon 21 Sep. - Stores/Provisions +Active, transport 26 - Convicts +Queen 26 Ireland - +Albemarle 13 Oct. England - +Britannia 14 Oct. England - +Admiral Barrington 16 - - + 1792 +Pitt 14 Feb. - - +Atlantic, store-ship 20 Jun. Bengal Provisions +Britannia 26 Jul. England - 1792 + 24 Oct. C of G Hope +Royal Admiral 7 Oct. - Convicts +Philadelphia, brig 1 Nov. Philad- Speculation +American elphia +Kitty, transport 18 England Convicts +Hope, American Dec. RhodeIs Speculation +Chesterfield, whaler - CofG H To repair + 1793 +Bellona, transport 15 Jan. England Convicts +Shah Hormuzear 24 Feb. Speculation +El Descuvierta Spa. 12 Mar. Manilla To refresh +L'Atrevida Cor. 12 Mar. Manilla To refresh +Daedalus, store-ship 20 Apr. NWCoast Provisions, 1793 Nootka + of America etc. 1 Jul. Sound +Britannia Jun. CofGHopeCattle, etc. 8 Sep. Bengal + private property +Boddingtons, trans. 7 Aug. Ireland Convicts +Sugar-cane 17 Sep. - - +Fairy, American 29 Oct. Boston To refresh + 1794 +William, store-ship 10 March England Provisions +Arthur 10th Bengal Speculation +Daedalus, store-ship 3 Apr. America Provisions +Indispensable 24 May England - +Britannia l Jun. Batavia - 1 Sep. C of G Hope +Speedy 8 England - +Halcyon, American 14 RhodeIs.Speculation +Hope, American 5 Jul. +Fancy 9 Bombay Provisions +Resolution, st.sh. 10 Sep. England +Salamander 11 +Mercury, American 17 Oct. Rhode Is. +Surprise, transport 25 England Convicts +Experiment 24 Dec. Bengal Speculation + 1795 +Britannia 4 Mar. CofGHopeStock for 18 Jun. India + the officers +Endeavour, st. sh. 31 May Bombay Cattle +H.M.S. Providence 26 Aug. England - + 1796 +H.M.S. Reliance) 7 Sep. England Stores 29 Sep. C of G Hope +H.M.S. Supply ) 20 +Young William,st.sh. 4 Oct. - +Sovereign 5 Nov. - + 1796 +Arthur 1 Jan. Bengal Speculation +Ceres, store-ship 23 England Provisions +Experiment 24 Bengal Speculation +Otter, American 24 Boston To refresh +Marquis Cornwallis, 11 Feb. Ireland Convicts + transport +Abigail, American Feb. RhodeIs.Speculation +Assistance 17 Mar. Dusky Bay +Susan, American 19 Apr. RhodeIs.Speculation +Indispensable,trans. 30 England Convicts +Britannia, st. sh. 11 May CalcuttaProvisions +Grand Turk,American 23 Aug. Boston Speculation +Prince of Wales, 2 Nov. England +store-ship +Sylph 17 + 1797 +Mercury, American 11 Jan. Manilla To refit +H.M.S. Supply 16 May CofGHopeCattle Condemned +Britannia,transport 27 Ireland Provisions +Ganges 2 Jun. +H.M.S. Reliance 26 CofGHopeCattle +Deptford 20 Sep. Madras Speculation + 1798 +Nautilus 14 May OtaheiteMissionaries +Barwell, transport 18 England Convicts +Hunter 10 Jun. Bengal Speculation +Cornwall, whaler 2 Jul. CofGHopeTo refit +Eliza 4 +Argo, American sch. 7 MauritiusSpeculation +Sally, whaler 8 Jul. CofGHopeTo refit +Britannia, transp. 18 England Convicts +Pomona, whaler 20 Aug. CofGHopeTo refit +Diana 20 +Semiramis, American 1 Oct. Rhode Is. +Marquis Cornwallis 27 CofGHopeCattle +store-ship +Indispensable,whaler 27 - To refit + 1799 +Rebecca, American 5 Mar. - Speculation +Nostra Senora de 24 Apr. Cape Blanco Various +Bethlehem, prize articles + 1799 +H.M.S. Buffalo 26 CofGHopeCattle 15th Sep. C of G Hope +Albion, store-ship 29 Jun. England Provisions +Hillsborough, trans. 26 Jul. Convicts +Resource, American 6 Sep. RhodeIs.To refit +Walker, store-ship 3 Nov. England Provisions +El Plumier, prize 2 Dec. Cape Various + Corientes articles + 1800 +Swallow, packet 3 Jan. England To refit +Minerva, transport 11 Ireland Convicts +Fhynne, Danish 11 Feb. Bengal Speculation +colours +Betsey, whaler 13 W. CoastTo refit + America +Friendship, transp. 16 Ireland Convicts +Speedy, transport 15 Apr. England - +H.M.S. Buffalo 15 CofGHopeCattle +Belle Sauvage 7 Jun. RhodeIs.To refit +American + +[* These departures are noticed, to show in what time the principal +passages have been made to and from the different ports with which the +colony had intercourse, by comparing the time of sailing with the return.] + +Of these ships 37 sailed from England with convicts, male and female, for +the settlement, having about 5000 persons of that description on board, +of which something more (157) than one fifth were females. + +The following ships had sailed from England and Ireland for New South +Wales; but none of them had arrived previous to the departure of the +_Buffalo_, viz + +24th August 1799 Luz. St. Ann, transport, with 167 Convicts. +17th March 1800 H.M.S. the Porpoise. + She arrived the 7th Nov. following. +23d May 1800 Royal Admiral, transport, 300 convicts. +18th November Earl Cornwallis, - 327 +21st June 1801 Nile, - 96 +- Canada, - 103 +28th November Minorca, - 101 +12th February 1802 Hercules, - ) 330 +- Atlas, - ) + Coromandel, - ) 250 + Perseus, ) + Rollo, - ) 250 + Atlas, - ) + +Having been favoured with a more minute and ornithological description of +the elegant and novel bird mentioned in page 65* of the preceding sheets +since they were sent to the press, it is here given. + +[* . . . They brought in with them one of the birds which they had +named pheasants, but which on examination appeared to be a variety of the +Bird of Paradise.] + +The bill of this bird, which has been named the _Maenura superba_, +is straight, having the nostrils in the centre of the beak. The base of +the upper mandible is furnished with hairs like feathers turning down; +the upper mandible is at the base somewhat like that of the pigeon. The +eye is a dark hazel, with a bare space around it. The throat and chin are +of a dark rufous colour: the rest, with the body, of a dusky grey. The +feathers on the rump are longer than those of the body, and more divided. +The colour of the wings, which are concave, is dark rufous. The legs and +claws are large in proportion to the bird, particularly the claws. The +outward toe is connected with the middle one as far as the first joint. +The tail is long, and composed of three different sorts of feathers, of +which the upper side is of a dark grey, with ferruginous spots. The first +two lower feathers, which are a little curved, in two directions, are +beneath of a pearly colour, enriched with several crescent shaped spaces, +of a rich rufous and black colour. The laminae are unwebbed, turned round +toward the extremity, and ornamented with a black bar, the breadth of an +inch, and fringed at the end. The shaft of the second, which is likewise +long, is fringed with long hair-like filaments; and the third, which is +also long and curved, is plumed on the inner side only, except at the +extremity, where there are a few separated filaments of a dark grey +colour. + +The female _Maenura superba_ differs very little from the male, +except in the tail, which is composed of twelve feathers a little curved +and plumed, having the upper side dark rufous and grey, and the under of +a pearly colour. + +The following curious particulars of these birds were observed by persons +resident in the country, and who were eye-witnesses of what is here told. + +They frequent retired and inaccessible parts of the interior; have been +seen to run remarkably fast, but their tails are so cumbrous that they +cannot fly in a direct line. They sing for two hours in the morning, +beginning from the time when they quit the valley, until they attain the +summit of the hill; where they scrape together a small hillock, on which +they stand, with their tall spread over them, imitating successively the +note of every bird known in the country. They then return to the valley. + +The drawing from which the engraving is made was taken from a beautiful +stuffed _Maenura superba_ in the collection of Mr. Arthur Harrison +(who also is in possession of a female _Maenura superba_), and which +was presented to that gentleman by Governor Hunter. + +The peculiar conformation of the amphibious animal mentioned on page 45 +of this Volume*, having attracted the attention of Everard Home, esq a +paper, containing the result of a minute examination of the external and +internal parts of two specimens which had been preserved in spirits, and +sent from Port Jackson to Sir Joseph Banks was drawn up by Mr. Home, and, +having been read before the Royal Society (on Thursday the 17th December +1801), was afterwards published in the Philosophical Transactions. From +that paper, which was most obligingly and politely sent to me by Mr. +Home, I have, through the liberality of the President of that learned +body, been allowed to select such particulars of this curious animal, as +will, I think, be acceptable to the readers of this work; who no doubt +will join with me in rejoicing that an animal, hitherto unknown to +science, should have fallen under the observation and examination of a +gentleman so eminently qualified to develop the secrets of nature. + +[* viz: "Although the settlement had now been established +within a month of ten years, yet little had been added to the stock of +natural history which had been acquired in the first year or two of its +infancy. The Kangaroo, the Dog, the Opossum, the Flying Squirrel, the +Kangaroo Rat, a spotted Rat, the common Rat, and the large Fox-bat (if +entitled to a place in this society), made up the whole catalogue of +animals that were known at this time, with the exception which must now +be made of an amphibious animal, of the mole species, one of which had +been lately found on the banks of a lake near the Hawkesbury. In size it +was considerably larger than the land mole. The eyes were very small. The +fore legs, which were shorter than the hind, were observed, at the feet, +to be provided with four claws, and a membrane, or web, that spread +considerably beyond them, while the feet of the hind legs were furnished, +not only with this membrane or web, but with four long and sharp claws, +that projected as much beyond the web, as the web projected beyond the +claws of the fore feet. The tail of this animal was thick, short, and +very fat; but the most extraordinary circumstance observed in its +structure was, its having, instead of the mouth of an animal, the upper +and lower mandibles of a duck. By these it was enabled to supply itself +with food, like that bird, in muddy places, or on the banks of the lakes, +in which its webbed feet enabled it to swim; while on shore its long and +sharp claws were employed in burrowing; nature thus providing for it in +its double or amphibious character. These little animals had been +frequently noticed rising to the surface of the water, and blowing like +the turtle."] + +The natural history of this animal, which has obtained the name of +_Ornithorhynchus paradoxus_ is at present very little known. The +following particulars were communicated to Mr. Home by Governor Hunter, +who, during his residence in New South Wales, had opportunities of seeing +the animal alive. + +The Ornithorhynchus is only found in fresh-water lakes, of which there +are many in the interior parts of the country, some three quarters of a +mile long, and several hundred yards broad. It does not swim upon the +surface of the water, but comes up occasionally to breathe, which it does +in the same manner as the turtle. The natives sit upon the banks, with +small wooden spears, and watch them every time they rise to the surface, +till they get a proper opportunity of striking them. This they do with +much dexterity, and frequently succeed in catching them this way. + +Governor Hunter saw a native watch one for above an hour before he +attempted to spear it, which he did through the neck and fore leg: when +on shore, it used its claws with so much force that they were obliged to +confine it between two pieces of board, while they were cutting off the +barbs of the spear, to disengage it. When let loose, it ran upon the +ground with as much activity as a land tortoise; which is faster than the +structure of its fore feet would have led us to believe. It inhabits the +banks of the lakes, and is supposed to feed in the muddy places which +surround them; but the particular kind of food on which it subsists is +not known. + +The male is 17½ inches in length, from the point of the bill to the +extremity of the tail. The bill is 2¼ inches long; and the tail, +measuring from the anus, 4½ inches. + +The body of the animal is compressed, and nearly of the same general +thickness throughout, except at the shoulders, where it is rather +smaller. The circumference of the body is 11 inches. There is no fat +deposited between the skin and the muscles. + +In the female, the size of the body is rendered proportionally larger +than that of the male, by a quantity of fat lying every where under the +skin. + +The male is of a very dark brown colour, on the back, legs, bill, and +tall; the under surface of the neck and belly is of a silver grey. In the +female the colour is lighter. + +The hair is made up of two kinds; a very thick fur, one half of an inch +long, and a very uncommon kind of hair, three quarters of an inch long. +The portion next the root has the common appearance of hair; but for a +quarter of an inch towards the point it becomes flat, giving it some +faint resemblance to very fine feathers: this portion has a gloss upon +it; and when the hair is dry, the different reflections from the edges +and surfaces of these longer hairs give the whole a very uncommon +appearance. The fur and hair upon the belly is longer than that upon the +back. + +Externally there is no appearance of the organs of generation in either +sex; the orifice of the anus being a common opening to the rectum and +prepuce in the male, and to the rectum and vagina in the female. + +There was no appearance that could be detected, of nipples; although the +skin on the belly of the female was examined with the utmost accuracy for +that purpose. + +The head is rather compressed. The bill, which projects beyond the mouth, +in its appearance resembles that of the duck; but is in its structure +more like that of the spoonbill, the middle part being composed of bone, +as in that bird: it has a very strong cuticular covering. + +The nostrils are two orifices, very close to each other, near the end of +the bill; the upper lip projecting three quarters of an inch beyond them. + +The eyes are very small; they are situated more upon the upper part of +the head than is usual, and are directly behind the loose edge of the +cuticular flap belonging to the bill. The eyelids are circular orifices +concealed in the hair, and, in the male, are with difficulty discovered; +but in the female there is a tuft of lighter hair, which marks their +situation. + +The external ears are two large slits, directly behind the eyes, and +much larger than the orifices of the eyelids. + +The teeth, if they can be so called, are all grinders; they are four in +number, situated in the posterior part of the mouth, one on each side of +the upper and under jaw, and have broad flat crowns. They differ from +common teeth very materially, having neither enamel nor bone, but being +composed of a horny substance only, embedded in the gum, to which they +are connected by an irregular surface in the place of fangs. When cut +through, which is readily done by a knife, the internal structure is +fibrous like the human nail: the direction of the fibres is from the +crown downwards. + +Between the cheek and the jaw, on each side of the mouth, there is a +pouch, as in the monkey tribe, lined with a cuticle. When laid open, it +is 1½ inches long, and the same in breadth. In the female it contained +a concreted substance, the size of a very small nut, one in each pouch: +this, when examined through the microscope, was found to be made up of +very small portions of broken crystals. + +Besides these grinding teeth, there are two small pointed horny teeth +upon the projecting part of the posterior portion of the tongue, the +points of which are directed forwards, seemingly to prevent the food from +being pushed into the fauces during the process of mastication; which +circumstance Mr. Home thinks peculiar to this animal: in the tongue of +the flamingo there is a row of short teeth on each side, but not in any +other bird that he has seen. + +The fore legs are short, and the feet webbed. On each foot there are five +toes, united by the web, which is very broad, and is continued beyond the +points of the toes nearly an inch. On each toe there is a rounded +straight nail, which lies loose upon the membrane forming the web. + +The hind legs are nearly of the same length as the fore legs, but +stronger. Each foot has five toes with curved claws, and webbed; but the +web does not extend beyond the points of the toes. + +In the male, just at the setting-on of the heel, there is a strong +crooked spur, half an inch long, with a sharp point, which has a joint +between it and the foot, and is capable of motion in two directions. When +the point of it is brought close to the leg, the spur is almost +completely concealed among the hair; when directed outwards, it projects +considerably, and is very conspicuous. It is probably by means of these +spurs, or hooks, that the female is kept from withdrawing herself in the +act of copulation; since they are very conveniently placed for laying +hold of her body on that particular occasion. This spur is peculiar to +the male. + +The tail, in its general shape, is very similar to that of the beaver. + +Of the internal parts, the tongue is two inches long, lying in the hollow +between the two jaws, but not projecting any way into the bill, being +confined to its situation, except a very small portion at the tip. + +The ribs are sixteen in number, and are united by a very elastic +ligamentous substance, which admits of their being pulled to some +distance; so that the capacity of the chest can undergo a very unusual +degree of change. + +The heart is situated in the middle line of the chest, its apex pointing +to the sternum, and is inclosed in a strong pericardium: it is made up of +two aurieles and two ventricles. + +The lungs are large in size, corresponding to the capacity of the chest. +Instead of a portion of them being above the heart, as in other animals, +the heart may be said to be above the lungs; for they only embrace its +sides, and do not surround its upper surface, but extend downwards into +the more moveable part of the cavity of the chest. + +The stomach is smaller than in most other animals; in this respect +resembling the true stomach of birds. + +The liver is composed of four lobes, besides the small lobe, or lobulus +spigelii. The gall bladder is in the usual situation, and of the common +size. + +The skull is rather flattened upon the upper surface: its cavity is +capacious, and there is a boney process projecting from the cranium, in +place of the falx or dura mater. This Mr. Home believes is not the case +in any other quadruped. + +The olfactory nerves are small, and so are the optic nerves; but the +fifth pair, which supply the muscles of the face, are uncommonly large. +From this circumstance, we should be led, Mr. Home says, to believe, that +the sensibility of the different parts of the bill is very great, and +therefore that it answers the purpose of a hand, and is capable of nice +discrimination in its feeling. + +The eye is very small, and is nearly spherical. There is a membrana +nictitans; and the eyelid is very loose upon the eyeball: it is probably +capable of great dilatation and contraction. + +The membrana tympani is larger than in other quadrupeds of the same size. + +The organs of generation in this animal have several peculiarities of a +very extraordinary nature. + +The male organs do not appear externally; so that the distinguishing mark +of the sex is the spur on the hind leg. + +The testicles are situated in the cavity of the abdomen, immediately +below the kidneys: they are large for the size of the animal. The +epididymis is connected with the body of the testicle by a broad +membrane, which admits of its lying very loose. + +The penis in this animal does not, as in other quadrupeds, give passage +to the urine. It is entirely appropriated to the purpose of conveying the +semen; and a distinct canal conducts the urine into the rectum, by an +opening about an inch from the external orifice of the intestine. The gut +at this part is defended from the acrimony of the urine, by the mucus +secreted by two glands, which, probably for this reason, are very large +in the male, but small in the female. + +The penis is short and small in its relaxed state; and its body does not +appear capable of being very much enlarged when erected. The prepuce is a +fold of the internal membrane of the verge of the anus, as in the bird; +and the penis, when retracted, is entirely concealed. + +The glans penis is double; one glans having its extremity directed to the +right, the other to the left: and as they supply two distinct cavities +with semen, they may be considered as two penises. This is an approach to +the bird kind, many species of which have two. There was no appearance of +vesiculae feminales. + +The female organs open into the rectum, as in the bird. The vagina is 1½ +inches long: its internal membrane is rugous, the rugae being in a +longitudinal direction. At the end of the vagina, instead of an os +tincae, as in other quadrupeds, is the meatus urinarius; on each side of +which is an opening leading into a cavity, resembling the horn of the +uterus in the quadruped, only thinner in its coats. Each of these +cavities terminates in a fallopian tube, which opens into the capsule of +an ovarium. The ovaria are very small; they were not in a very perfect +state of preservation, but bore a general resemblance to those of other +quadrupeds. + +This structure of the female organs is unlike any thing hitherto met with +in quadrupeds; since in all of them that I examined, says Mr. Home, there +is the body of the uterus, from which the horns go off as appendages. The +opossum differs from all other animals in the structure of these parts, +but has a perfectly formed uterus; nor can I suppose it wanting in any of +the class Mammalia. + +This animal, having no nipples, and no regularly formed uterus, Mr. Home +says, he was led to examine the female organ in birds, to see if there +was any analogy between the oviducts in any of that class, and the two +membranous uteri of this animal; but none could be observed; nor would it +be easy to explain how an egg could lie in the vagina to receive its +shell, as the urine from the bladder must pass directly over it. Finding +they had no resemblance to the oviducts in birds, Mr. Home was led to +compare them with the uteri of those lizards which form an egg, that is +afterwards deposited in a cavity corresponding to the uterus of other +animals, where it is hatched; which lizards may therefore be called +ovi-viviparous; and I find, says Mr. Home, a very close resemblance +between them. In these lizards there are two uteri, that open into one +common canal, or vagina, which is extremely short; and the meatus +urinarius is situated between these openings. The coats of these uteri +are thinner than those of the uteri of quadrupeds of the same size. + +In the ovi-viviparous dog-fish, the internal organs of the female have a +very similar structure. There is therefore every reason to believe, that +this animal also is ovi-viviparous in its mode of generation. + +* * * + +It appears, by accounts which have been received from New South Wales, +that the voyage of the small brig _Lady Nelson_, commanded by +Lieutenant Grant, was (notwithstanding her size, being only 60 tons +burden, and the distance she had to sail) effected without her meeting +with any material accident; she arriving in December 1801. Her commander +was so perfectly acquainted with her good qualities, that he ventured to +make the land of New Holland, in latitude 38 degrees 00 minutes south, +coasting for some distance toward the eastward, and sailing through Bass +Strait, in his way up to Port Jackson. + +It does not appear, that this passage of the _Lady Nelson_ through +the Strait added any thing new to the discoveries which had been +previously made by Captain Flinders and Mr. Bass, in the little sloop +_Norfolk_, except that of having made the land about four degrees +further to the westward than had been seen by those gentlemen. + +By means of a few such vessels as the _Lady Nelson_, well commanded, +and furnished with instruments requisite for carrying on a maritime +survey, the necessary knowledge of the coast of that extensive country +would soon be obtained. Governor Hunter, who is well known to be +thoroughly qualified in this essential part of maritime education, has +been frequently heard to say, that with a few small vessels, perhaps +three or four, if he could have obtained them, or if his instructions +would have permitted his building them, he would in the course of a short +period have gained some acquaintance with all that part of the coast +which Captain Cook had not an opportunity of examining minutely. + +Large vessels, in his opinion, were not wanted for such a survey, nor +were they fit for the purpose. A deposit of the stores necessary for this +service could be made at the principal settlement, where such vessels, +whenever requisite, might refit or repair. Large ships are proper to be +employed only when they are to survey an unknown coast, where supplies +are not to be had; this rendering it expedient that they should be +sufficiently capacious to carry a considerable stock of provisions and +stores for all their purposes. The small vessel, if caught upon a lee +shore, and unable to work off, has a chance of finding security for +anchorage where a large ship cannot; and if no such shelter offer, she +has in her favour a greater probability of saving her crew by running on +shore; her light draught of water admitting her to approach the land much +nearer than could the large vessel. + +* * * + +Dispatches have been recently received at Lord Hobart's office from New +South Wales, dated in August 1801, by which it appears, that the quantity +of salt provisions remaining in store in the beginning of the year, being +very inconsiderable, and it being possible that accidents might happen to +ships sent from England with meat, the governor had judged it necessary +to send the _Porpoise_ to the island of Otaheite, for the purpose of +salting pork for the use of the colony: and as it was absolutely +necessary to send thither a quantity of salt for this purpose (an article +which the colony could not furnish), he fortunately was enabled to +purchase about fifteen tons of salt from the master of a whaler which put +in there from one of the Cape de Verd islands. On this voyage the +_Porpoise_ sailed in the month of May 1801, and her commander, +Lieutenant Scott, was furnished, in addition to very ample instructions +for his guidance, with a letter from the governor to Pornarre, the king +of Otaheite, urging him to give Mr. Scott every protection and assistance +in the execution of the business on which he was sent to the island, and +recommending particularly to his care such of the missionaries as resided +in the place. It was pointed out to him how much this conduct would +ensure his majesty the favourable opinion of King George; and Mr. Scott +was provided with a quantity of such articles for barter as were likely +to please the eye as well as be useful to the people whom he might have +to deal with; among which were some red and yellow cloth, some tomahawks, +axes, knives, scissors, shirts, jackets, etc.: and, as nothing was more +likely to ensure success than a handsome present to his Majesty, a mantle +and some other articles of dress decorated with red feathers, together +with six muskets and some ammunition, were given to Mr. Scott to be +presented to the king. + +Directions were also sent to the lieutenant-governor at Norfolk Island, +to salt a quantity of pork for the use of the principal settlement. + +The governor had likewise entered into a contract with a merchant in +India, to freight a ship with cattle and rice, after the arrival of which +he was of opinion that further supplies of cattle might be unnecessary, +the stock in the country, independent of the wild herd, being very +considerable. That herd was grown very furious, and, having got among the +mountains to the westward, rendered any attempts to take them dangerous +and useless. + +The _Lady Nelson_ brig had been in Bass Strait, and surveyed Western +port, where she found a very good harbour. She had also been, in company +with the _Francis_ (colonial schooner), to Hunter river, where they +took in between them 45 tons of coal, which were exchanged with the +master of the _Cornwallis_, for a quantity of nails and iron, +articles that were much wanted; thus, for the first time, making the +natural produce of the country contribute to its wants. + +The _Francis_ being nearly worn out, the governor had purchased a +vessel called the _Harbinger_, to be employed in going to and from +Norfolk Island, the service of the _Porpoise_ being required for +longer voyages. The _Supply_, which had been long since condemned, +was fitting up as a hulk to receive such convicts as were incorrigible, +in which capacity she might still be very useful. It was intended that +the _Lady Nelson_ should, at the proper season, be employed in an +accurate survey of Bass Strait. + +Accounts having been received of the Union between the Two Kingdoms, that +event was celebrated on the 4th of June 1801, and on that occasion the +new union flag was for the first time displayed in New South Wales. The +governor took that opportunity of releasing several of the Irish +insurgents who had been in confinement. + +It appeared, on examining the registers of the several terms of +transportation of the convicts, that the clerks, who necessarily had had +access to them, had altered the sentences of about two hundred prisoners, +receiving a gratuity from each equal to ten or twelve pounds. This was a +very serious evil; and proper steps to guard against it in future have +been taken both at home and in the colony. + +That necessary institution, the Orphan School, had been carried into +effect, and the house which had been purchased for the reception of the +children was occupied by them. + +It appeared, upon collecting the accounts of the expenses attending the +erecting of the county gaol, that that building had cost the sum of £3954 +the greatest part of which had been paid by assessments upon individuals. + +Every encouragement was given to promote the growth of wool fit for the +purpose of manufacturing, and three hundred and six yards of blanketing +had been made from what had been produced in the year preceding the date +of the dispatches, from the flocks belonging to government and to +individuals. In five months four hundred and seventy-two yards of flax +had been manufactured into linen. + +The colony continued healthy. In July 1801 there were one hundred and +eighteen persons on the surgeon's list. + +The spirit of adventure, which still manifested itself in the arrival of +ships upon speculation, received some check in the governor's sending +back three vessels that had arrived from Bengal, on board of which were +not less than fifty-four thousand gallons of spirits and wine. + +A quantity of copper coin having been received, the governor published a +table of all the specie legally in circulation within the colony, +affixing the following rates to each, at which they should be considered +and be a legal tender in all payments or transactions within the +territory, viz. + +TABLE OF SPECIE + +A guinea £1 2 0 A rupee £0 2 6 +A johannes 4 0 0 A Dutch guilder 0 2 0 +A half ditto 2 0 0 An English shilling 0 1 1 +A ducat 0 9 6 A copper coin of 1 oz 0 0 2 +A gold mohur 1 17 6 A ditto of ½ oz 0 0 1 +A pagoda 0 8 0 A ditto of ¼ oz 0 0 0½ +A Spanish dollar 0 5 0 + +And as the supply of copper was sent to relieve the inconvenience under +which persons who wanted to make small payments laboured, no sum +exceeding £5 was to be deemed a legal tender in this money. It was also +declared, that the exporting or importing (except from the treasury) of +any sum of the copper coin exceeding £5 should be punished by a +forfeiture and fine of treble the value of the sum so exported or +imported. + +Several ships had arrived from India, England, and America, most of which +had brought, upon speculation, cargoes consisting of wine, spirits, +tobacco, teas, sugar, hardware, wearing apparel, etc, etc. the sale of +which was, with the governor's approbation, advertised by the commissary, +and publicly sold to all descriptions of people. + +It appears, that from these ships + +59,294 gallons of spirits ) had been imported. +30,896 gallons of wines ) + +26,974 gallons of spirits ) had been landed. +8,896 gallons of wines ) + +And, +32,320 gallons of spirits ) had been sent away. +22,000 gallons of wines ) + +Three ships had arrived with convicts, viz. +The _Royal Admiral_, on the 22nd of November 1800. +_Luz. St. Anne_, on the 21st of February 1801. +_Earl Cornwallis_, on the 12th of June following. + +On the 30th of June 1801, there were in the settlement, five thousand +five hundred and forty-seven persons of all descriptions, of whom seven +hundred and seventy-six were children. At Norfolk Island the whole number +of persons was nine hundred and sixty-one, making a total of six thousand +five hundred and eight persons under the authority of the governor. + +At Norfolk Island it was fortunately discovered, on the 14th of December +1800, that a plot had been formed by some of the convicts to murder the +officers, and, getting possession of the island, to liberate themselves. +Two of the ringleaders were immediately executed. + +Major Foveaux, the lieutenant-governor, had found, what had been so much +wanted and hitherto unknown, a good landing-place for boats and small +craft, in Anson's Bay, where there were four and five fathoms of water +within a few yards of the shore, which was a fine sandy beach, and the +passage free from rocks or shoals. + +The following was the state of the live stock, and ground in cultivation, +in New South Wales: + +LIVE STOCK BELONGING TO INDIVIDUALS +In June 1801 Sheep Cattle Horses Goats Hogs + 6269 362 211 1259 4766 + +BELONGING TO GOVERNMENT +In August 1801 Sheep Cattle Horses + 488 931 32 + +GROUND IN CULTIVATION + Acres of Wheat Acres for Maize +Government 467 300 +Individuals 4857¼ 3564 +Total 5333¼ 3864 + +A stack, containing 1000 bushels of grain, the property of an individual, +had been unfortunately destroyed by fire. + +The Hawkesbury had again inundated the adjacent country; and many of the +settlers, who had farms on its banks, had in despair totally abandoned +them. + +With this information I must here conclude my labours; and, as the +annalist of the English Colony in New South Wales, probably take my leave +for ever of that country, in whose service I spent the first nine years +of its infancy, during all the difficulties and hardships with which, in +that rude state, it had to contend: a country which has eventually proved +the destruction of my brightest prospects; having, by my services there, +been precluded from succeeding to my proper situation in the professional +line to which I was bred; without any other reward as yet to boast of, +than the consciousness of having ever been a faithful and zealous servant +to my employers, and knowing that the peculiar hardship of my case has +been acknowledged by every gentleman, in and out of office, to whom it +has been communicated. + + + +THE END + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of An Account of the English Colony in +New South Wales, Vol. 2, by David Collins + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12668 *** |