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diff --git a/15100.txt b/15100.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..710abb3 --- /dev/null +++ b/15100.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8485 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Voyage Of Governor Phillip To Botany Bay +by Arthur Phillip + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Voyage Of Governor Phillip To Botany Bay + With An Account Of The Establishment Of The Colonies Of Port Jackson + And Norfolk Island (1789) + + +Author: Arthur Phillip + +Release Date: February 18, 2005 [EBook #15100] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VOYAGE TO BOTANY BAY *** + + + + +Produced by Col Choat + + + + + +The Voyage +of +Governor Phillip +to +Botany Bay +with an +Account of the Establishment of the Colonies of +Port Jackson and Norfolk Island; +compiled from Authentic Papers, +which have been obtained from the several Departments +to which are added +the Journals of Lieuts. Shortland, Watts, Ball and Capt. Marshall +with an Account of their New Discoveries, +embellished with fifty five Copper Plates, +the Maps and Charts taken from Actual Surveys, +and the plans and views drawn on the spot, +by Capt. Hunter, Lieuts. Shortland, Watts, Dawes, Bradley, Capt. Marshall, etc. + + +London +Printed for John Stockdale, Piccadilly +1789 + + +TO THE MOST NOBLE +THE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY, +LORD CHAMBERLAIN OF HIS MAJESTY'S HOUSEHOLD, ETC., ETC. +THIS VOLUME, +CONTAINING ALL THAT IS YET KNOWN OF THE +SETTLEMENT AT SYDNEY COVE, +IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, BY +HIS LORDSHIP'S +MUCH OBLIGED, AND +MOST FAITHFUL +HUMBLE SERVANT, +JOHN STOCKDALE. +NOVEMBER 25, 1789. + + +ANECDOTES OF GOVERNOR PHILLIP. + +Arthur Phillip is one of those officers, who, like Drake, Dampier, and +Cook, has raised himself by his merit and his services, to distinction +and command. His father was Jacob Phillip, a native of Frankfort, in +Germany, who having settled in England, maintained his family and educated +his son by teaching the languages. His mother was Elizabeth Breach, who +married for her first husband, Captain Herbert of the navy, a kinsman of +Lord Pembroke. Of her marriage with Jacob Phillip, was her son, Arthur, +born in the parish of Allhallows, Bread-street, within the city of London, +on the 11th of October, 1738. + +Being designed for a seafaring life, he was very properly sent to the +school of Greenwich, where he received an education suitable to his early +propensities. At the age of sixteen, he began his maritime career, under +the deceased Captain Michael Everet of the navy, at the commencement of +hostilities, in 1755: and at the same time that he learned the rudiments +of his profession under that able officer, he partook with him in the early +misfortunes, and subsequent glories of the seven years war. Whatever +opulence Phillip acquired from the capture of the Havannah, certain it is, +that, at the age of twenty-three, he there was made a Lieutenant into the +Stirling-castle, on the 7th of June, 1761, by Sir George Pococke, an +excellent judge of naval accomplishments. + +But of nautical exploits, however they may raise marine officers, there +must be an end. Peace, with its blessings, was restored in 1763. And Phillip +now found leisure to marry; and to settle at Lyndhurst, in the New Forest, +where he amused himself with farming, and like other country gentlemen, +discharged assiduously those provincial offices, which, however unimportant, +occupy respectably the owners of land, who, in this island, require no office +to make them important. + +But sailors, like their own element, are seldom at rest. Those occupations, +which pleased Phillip while they were new, no longer pleased him when +they became familiar. And he hastened to offer his skill and his services to +Portugal when it engaged in warfare with Spain. His offer was readily +accepted, because such skill and services were necessary amidst an arduous +struggle with a too powerful opponent. And, such was his conduct and such +his success, that when the recent interference of France, in 1778, made +it his duty to fight for his king, and to defend his country, the Portugueze +court regretted his departure, but applauded his motive. + +His return was doubtless approved by those who, knowing his value, could +advance his rank: For he was made master and commander into the Basilisk +fireship, on the 2d of September, 1779. But in her he had little opportunity +of displaying his zeal, or of adding to his fame. This step, however, led +him up to a higher situation; and he was made post-captain into the Ariadne +frigate, on the 13th of November, 1781, when he was upwards of three and +forty. This is the great epoch in the lives of our naval officers, because +it is from this that they date their rank. In the Ariadne, he had little +time for active adventures, or for gainful prizes, being appointed to the +Europe of sixty-four guns, on the 23d of December, 1781. During the memorable +year 1782, Phillip promoted its enterprises, and shared in its glories. +And in January, 1783, he sailed with a reinforcement to the East Indies, +where superior bravery contended against superior force, till the policy +of our negotiators put an end to unequal hostilities by a necessary peace. + +The activity, or the zeal of Phillip, was now turned to more peaceful +objects. And when it was determined to form a settlement on that part of +New Holland, denominated New South Wales, he was thought of as a proper +officer to conduct an enterprize, which required professional knowledge, +and habitual prudence. His equipment, his voyage, and his settlement, in +the other hemisphere, will be found in the following volume. When the time +shall arrive that the European settlers on Sydney Cove demand their historian, +these authentic anecdotes of their pristine legislator will be sought for +as curious, and considered as important. + + +ERRATA (These have been corrected in this eBook) +Page, line +1, 15, for enterprizes, read enterprises. +13, penult. for only fifty, read an hundred. +Ibid. ult. for Penryn, read Penrhyn. +75, 7, for Surprize, read Surprise. +87, 14, after 17, dele th. +96, 13, for into, read in. +149, 10, for Kangooroo, read Kanguroo. The orthography of a word + derived only from oral sound is in some degree arbitrary; but + it ought to be consistant. The plates, by mistake, have Kangooroo. +185, 14, for it were were, read if it were. +203, 3, for Fobn, read Thomas. +213, 10, for four, read forty. +228, 23, bis, for Macauley, read Macaulay. +231, 15, for Patri, read Pabi. +252, Margin, for May, read June. +253, Ditto. +255, Margin, for July, read June. +256, Ditto. +232, 18, for Taha, read Toha. +242, 9, for who, read whom. +246, 25, for veer'd, read near'd. + + +N. B. Some of the early impressions of the plates have erroneously Wulpine +Oppossum for Vulpine Opossum. After a few were work'd off the fault was +perceived, and corrected. + + +ADVERTISEMENT. + +The arrangement of materials in this volume being in some respects less +perfect than might be wished, it is necessary that something should be +said to obviate any imputation of negligence. The truth will be the best, +and, as it ought, the only apology. The official papers of Governor Phillip, +which were liberally communicated by Government, formed at first our principal +source of intelligence. These, from their nature, could contain but little +information on subjects of natural history, and many other points, concerning +which the curiosity of every reader would naturally be excited. The efforts +of the publisher to give satisfaction to the public in these respects produced +a gradual influx of materials; and the successive arrival of different vessels +from the Indian seas, occasioned additions to the work, which made it +necessary to engrave new plates. While, therefore, the completion +of the book was anxiously pressed by many who were eager to possess it, +that desirable point has constantly been deferred by the communications of +those who were studious to render it more valuable; and the word Finis, has +seemed to fly from us, like Italy before the wandering Trojans. From the +combination of these circumstances it has arisen, that every separate part +has been hurried on in the execution; and yet, in the finishing of the +whole, more time has elapsed, than would have been necessary to complete +a much more ample volume. The defects that proceed from these causes, it +is hoped, the reader will forgive, and accept with complacency a volume +in which, it is confidently hoped, nothing material has been omitted that +is connected with its principal object, the formation of a settlement +promising both glory and advantage to this country; in which several +important discoveries are announced; no small accession is made to the +stores of natural history; and interesting notices are communicated of +countries visited before, and persons in whose fate the public has long +felt an interest. + +The publisher thinks it his duty, in this place, to return thanks to the +following noblemen and gentlemen, for their kind assistance and free +communications. The Marquis of Salisbury, Viscount Sydney, Lord Hood, +Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. Mr. Rose, Mr. Nepean, Mr. Stephens, Sir Charles +Middleton, Sir Andrew Snape Hammond, Mr. Dalrymple, and Mr. Chalmers: but, +to Mr. Latham particularly, the most grateful acknowledgements are due, +for having furnished many drawings and accurate descriptions, which stamp +a value on the natural history contained in this work, and must for ever +render it an object of attention to all lovers of that science: and to +Lieutenant Shortland, Lieutenant Watts, and Captain Marshall, of the +Scarborough transport, the public owe whatever important discoveries and +useful knowledge may be found in their journals, which they communicated +with a disinterestedness that the publisher will be always happy to +acknowledge. + + +ACCOUNT OF THE VIGNETTE. + +The elegant vignette in the title-page, was engraved from a medallion which +the ingenious Mr. Wedge-wood caused to be modelled from a small piece of +clay brought from Sydney Cove. The clay proves to be of a fine texture, +and will be found very useful for the manufactory of earthern ware. The +design is allegorical; it represents Hope encouraging Art and Labour, +under the influence of Peace, to pursue the employments necessary to give +security and happiness to an infant settlement. The following verses upon +the same subject, and in allusion to the medallion, were written by the +author of The Botanic Garden, and will speak more powerfully for themselves +than any encomium we could bestow. + + +VISIT OF HOPE TO SYDNEY-COVE, NEAR BOTANY-BAY. + +Where Sydney Cove her lucid bosom swells, +Courts her young navies, and the storm repels; +High on a rock amid the troubled air +HOPE stood sublime, and wav'd her golden hair; +Calm'd with her rosy smile the tossing deep, +And with sweet accents charm'd the winds to sleep; +To each wild plain she stretch'd her snowy hand, +High-waving wood, and sea-encircled strand. +"Hear me," she cried, "ye rising Realms! record +"Time's opening scenes, and Truth's unerring word.-- +"There shall broad streets their stately walls extend, +"The circus widen, and the crescent bend; +"There, ray'd from cities o'er the cultur'd land, +"Shall bright canals, and solid roads expand.-- +"There the proud arch, Colossus-like, bestride +"Yon glittering streams, and bound the chasing tide; +"Embellish'd villas crown the landscape-scene, +"Farms wave with gold, and orchards blush between.-- +"There shall tall spires, and dome-capt towers ascend, +"And piers and quays their massy structures blend; +"While with each breeze approaching vessels glide, +"And northern treasures dance on every tide!"-- +Then ceas'd the nymph--tumultuous echoes roar, +And JOY's loud voice was heard from shore to shore-- +Her graceful steps descending press'd the plain, +And PEACE, and ART, and LABOUR, join'd her train. + + +VIEW of the FLEET and ESTABLISHMENT sent out with +GOVERNOR PHILLIP to NEW SOUTH WALES. + +Captain ARTHUR PHILLIP of the Navy, Governor and Commander in Chief of +the territory of New South Wales, and of his Majesty's ships and vessels +employed on that coast. + +Major Robert Ross, Lieutenant Governor. +Richard Johnson, Chaplain. +Andrew Miller, Commissary. +David Collins, Judge Advocate. +John Long, Adjutant. +James Furzer, Quarter-Master. +*George Alexander, Provost Martial. +John White, Surgeon. +Thomas Arndell, Assistant Ditto. +William Balmain, Ditto Ditto. + +His Majesty's ship Sirius, +Captain Arthur Phillip. +Captain John Hunter. + +His Majesty's armed tender Supply, +Lieutenant H. L. Ball. + +Six transports carrying the convicts. +Alexander 210 men convicts. women convicts. +Scarborough 210 men convicts. +Friendship 80 men convicts. 24 +Charlotte 100 men convicts. 24 +Prince of Wales -- -- 100 +Lady Penrhyn -- -- 102 + +Each transport had a detachment of marines on board. + +Three store ships: + +The Golden Grove, Fishburn, and Borrowdale; +With provisions, implements for husbandry, cloathing, +etc. for the convicts. + +Lieutenant John Shortland, agent for the transports. + +The garrison is formed from the marines. + + +Distribution of the Detachment of MARINES for NEW SOUTH +WALES, with the Number embarked on board of each of +the Transports upon that Service. + +Ships |Names |Captains |Subs|Serj-|Corp-|Drum and|Privates|Embarked| +Names |of Officers | | |eants|orals|fife | | | + +Lady Captain Campbell 1 2 0 0 0 3 Portsmouth +Penrhyn Lieut G. Johnston + Lieut. Wm Collins + +Scarb- Captain Shea 1 2 2 2 1 26 Portsmouth +orough Lieutenant Kellow + Lieutenant Morrison + +Friend- Capt. Lieut. Meredith 1 2 2 3 1 36 Plymouth +ship Lieutenant Clarke + Lieutenant Faddy + +Charl- Captain Tench 1 2 3 3 1 34 Plymouth +otte Lieutenant Cresswell + Lieutenant Poulden + +Alex- Lieutenant J. Johnston 0 2 2 2 1 30 Woolwich. +ander Lieutenant Shairp + +Prince Lieutenant Davy 0 2 2 2 1 25 +of Lieutenant Timmins +Wales Provost Martial + --------------------------------------- + 4 12 11 12 5 154 +put on board his Majesty's ship 0 0 1 0 3 6 +Sirius, as supernumeraries. + --------------------------------------- +Total of the detachment 4 12 12 12 8 160 + --------------------------------------- + +Forty women, wives to the Marines, permitted to go out with the Garrison. + + +CONTENTS + +Chapter I. + +Public utility of voyages--Peculiar circumstances of this--New Holland +properly a continent--Reasons for fixing our settlement +there--Transportation to America, its origin, advantages, and +cessation--Experiments made--The present plan adopted--Disadvantages of +other expedients. + +Chapter II. + +Preparation of the fleet ordered to Botany Bay.--Particulars of its +arrangement.--Departure and passage to the Canary Isles. + +Chapter III. + +Reasons for touching at the Canary Isles--Precautions for preserving +Health--Their admirable Success--Some Account of the Canaries--Fables +respecting them--Attempt of a Convict to escape--Departure. +Report of the Marines and Convicts under medical treatment, June 4, 1787 + +Chapter IV. + +Attempt to put in at Port Praya--Relinquished--Weather--Sail for Rio de +Faneiro--Reasons for touching at a South American port--The Fleet passes +the Line--Arrives at Rio de Faneiro--Account of that Place--Transactions +there--Departure. + +Chapter V. + +Prosperous passage from Rio to the Cape--Account of the Harbours there--The +Cape of Good Hope not the most Southern point--Height of Table Mountain +and others--Supineness of the European nations in neglecting to occupy the +Cape--Live stock laid in--Departure--Separation of the fleet--Arrival of the +Supply at Botany Bay. + +Chapter VI. + +First interview with the natives--the bay examined--arrival of the whole +fleet--Port Jackson examined--second interview with the natives--and +third--Governor Phillip returns to Botany Bay--and gives orders for the +evacuation of it. + +Chapter VII. + +Removal from Botany Bay--Arrival of two French ships--Account of +them--Preparations for encampment--Difficulties--Scurvy breaks out--Account +of the red and yellow gum trees. + +Chapter VIII. + +Description of Port Jackson and the adjacent country--The Governor's +commission read--his Speech--his humane resolutions respecting the +Natives--difficulties in erecting huts and other buildings--departure of +Lieutenant King to Norfolk Island. Instructions for P. G. King, Esq; +Superintendant and Commandant of the Settlement of Norfolk Island + +Chapter IX. + +A Criminal Court held--Broken Bay explored by Governor Phillip--Interviews +with the Natives--Peculiarities remarked--Friendly behaviour and +extraordinary courage of an old man. + +Chapter X. + +Departure of the French Ships--Death of M. Le Receveur--Return of the +Supply from Norfolk Island--Description of that Place--Howe Island +discovered. Particulars of the life of P. G. King, Esq + +Chapter XI. + +Three of the transports cleared--Two excursions made into the country, on +the fifteenth of April, and on the twenty-second--Huts of the +natives--Sculpture, and other particulars. Description of the Kanguroo. +Dimensions of the stuffed Kanguroo, in the possession of Mr. Stockdale. +Account of the live stock in the settlement at Port Jackson, May 1, 1788 + +Chapter XII. + +The Supply returns from Lord Howe Island--Some convicts assaulted by the +natives--excursion of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay by Land--interview +with many natives--the fourth of June celebrated--some account of the +climate. Return of Sick, &c. June 30, 1788 + +Chapter XIII. + +Particular description of Sydney Cove--Of the buildings actually +erected--and of the intended town--A settlement made at the head of the +harbour. + +Chapter XIV. + +Fish violently seized by the natives--Another expedition of the +Governor--Further account of the manners and manufactures of the native +inhabitants of New South Wales--Difficulty of obtaining any intercourse. +Remarks and Directions for sailing into PORT JACKSON, by Capt. J. HUNTER, +of the SIRIUS. Height of neap and spring tides, at full and change of the moon. + +Chapter XV. + +Some Specimens of Animals from New South Wales; description of The spotted +Opossum; Vulpine Opossum; Norfolk Island Flying-Squirrel. Blue Bellied Parrot; +Tabuan Parrot; Pennantian Parrot; Pacific Parrakeet; Sacred King's-fisher; +Superb Warbler, male; Superb Warbler, female; Caspian Tern; Norfolk Island +Petrel; Bronze-winged Pigeon; White-fronted Heron; Wattled Bee-Eater; +Psittaceous Hornbill; dimensions of a large Kanguroo. + +Chapter XVI. + +Papers relative to the settlement at Port Jackson.--General return of +marines.--Return of officers.--Artificers belonging to the Marine +Detachment.--List of officers and privates desirous of remaining in the +country.--Return of provisions.--Return of Sick. + +Chapter XVII. + +Nautical directions, and other detached remarks, by Lieutenant Ball, +concerning Rio de Janeiro, Norfolk Island, Ball Pyramid, and Lord Howe +Island. + +Chapter XVIII. + +Concise account of Lieutenant Shortland--His various services--Appointed +agent to the transports sent to New South Wales--Ordered by Governor +Phillip to England, by Batavia--Journal of his voyage--New discoveries. + +Chapter XIX. + +August 1788 to February 1789 + +Appearance of the scurvy--The boats land at one of the Pelew +Islands--Account of the Natives who were seen, and conjectures concerning +them--Distresses--The Friendship cleared and sunk--Miserable condition of +the Alexander when she reached Batavia.--Conclusion. + +Chapter XX. + +Lieutenant Watts's Narrative of the Return of the Lady Penrhyn Transport; +containing an Account of the Death of Omai, and other interesting +Particulars at Otaheite. + +Chapter XXI. + +The Scarborough leaves Port Jackson--Touches at Lord Howe's Island--Joins +the Charlotte--Falls in with a large Shoal--Discover a number of +Islands--Short account of the Inhabitants--Canoes described--Ornaments-- +Discover Lord Mulgrave's Islands--Arrival at Tinian--Sick people sent on +shore--Departure from Tinian--Arrival in Mocao Roads. + +CHAPTER XXII. + +Supplemental Account of Animals from New South Wales, containing, Descriptions +of the Bankian Cockatoo; Red-shouldered Parrakeet; Crested Goat Sucker; +New Holland Cassowary; White Gallinule; Dog from New South Wales; Spotted +Martin; Kanguroo Rat; Laced Lizard; Port Jackson Shark; Bag Throated Balistes; +Unknown Fish from New South Wales; Watts's Shark; Great Brown +Kingsfisher.--Additional Account of the Kanguroo--Anecdote of Captain Cook +and Otoo, by Mr. Webber.--Dr. Blane's Account of the good Effects of the +Yellow Gum.--Botany Bay Plants.--Lieut. Watts's Account of the Weather at +Botany Bay and Port Jackson.--Conclusion. + +CONTENTS OF THE APPENDIX. + +Table I. Route of the Alexander, Lieutenant Shortland, from the Cape + of Good Hope to Botany Bay +Table II. Route of the Supply, Lieut. Ball, after parting with the + Alexander, to Botany Bay +Table III. Route of the Supply, Lieut. Ball, from Port Jackson to Norfolk + Island +Table IV. Route of the Supply from Norfolk Island to Port Jackson +Table V. Route of the Supply from Port Jackson to Lord Howe Island, + and from thence to Port Jackson +Table VI. Route of the Alexander, Lieut. Shortland, from Port Jackson + to Batavia +Table VII. Route of the Lady Penrhyn, Capt. Sever, from Port Jackson + to Otaheite +Table VIII.Route of the Lady Penrhyn, Capt. Sever, from Otaheite to China +Table IX. Route of the Scarborough, Capt. Marshall, from Port Jackson to China +List of the Convicts sent to New South Wales + + +A LIST OF THE SUBSCRIBERS + +A. + +ANDREWS, James Pettit, Esq. F. A. S. +Apsley, Viscount, M. P. +Aubrey, Sir John, Bart. M. P. +Allen, Robert, Esq. +Aylesford, Earl of +A'Court, William Pierce Ashe, Esq. M. P. +Aldersey, William, Esq. +Andrews, Sir Joseph, Bart. +Addington, Right Hon. Henry, Speaker of the House of Commons +Arden, John, Esq. Arden Hall +Addington, John Hiley, Esq. M. P. +Arden, Sir Richard Pepper, M. P. Master of the Rolls +Anson, George, Esq. M. P. +Adams, Mr. James Blake +Arnold, George, Esq. +Astley, Sir Edward, Bart. M. P. +Annesley, Hon. Richard +Appleyard, Mr. 6 copies +Allen, Thomas, Esq. +Ashton, Nicholas, Esq. +Aisley, Stephen, Esq. Kensington + +B. + +Bath, Marchioness of +Bickingham, Mr. +Baber, Edward, Esq. +Bathurst, Thomas, Esq. +Blackburne, John, Esq. M. P. +Breadalbane, Earl of +Belgrave, Lord, M. P. +Buccleugh, Duke of +Barwell, Thomas Smith, Esq. +Barker, Francis, Esq. +Bootle, R. Wilbraham, Esq. M. P. +Bissett, Maurice, Fsq. +Banks, Sir Joseph, Bart. +Bolton, Duke of +Butler, Rev. Mr. +Black, Captain Alexander +Bosville, William, Esq. +Buckingham, Marquis of +Barwell, Richard, Esq. M. P. +Bland, General +Beaufort, Duke of +Bearcroft, Edward, Esq. M. P. +Bath, Marquis of +Black, Mr. 4 copies +Bond, Mr. +Berkeley, Earl +Beresford, Right Hon. John +Bull, Mr. bookseller, Bath, 6 copies +Baleman, Mr. +Beach, Captain +Baldwin, Mr. bookseller, 20 copies +Brown, Mr. bookseller +Blamire, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Booker, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Beckett, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Binns, Mr. bookseller, Leeds +Breadhower, Mr. bookseller, Portsmouth +Burbage, Mr. bookseller, Nottingham +Baker, Mr. Bookseller, Southampton, 3 copies +Blackwell, Sir L. Bart. +Bevor, Dr. +Boucher, Rev. Mr. +Brown, Richard +Barry, Mr. Library, Hastings +Bell, Mr. bookseller, 3 copies +Buckland, Mr. bookseller, 5 copies +Byfield, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Bindley, James, Esq. F. S. A. +Boosey, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Bagshaw, John, Esq. +Bew, Mr. bookseller, 12 copies +Barnet, Mr. Thomas + +C. + +Cottrell, John, Esq. +Clements, John, Esq. +Chalmers, George, Esq. +Chatham, Earl of +Calthorpe, Sir Henry Gough, Bart. +Call, John, Esq. M. P. +Clayton, George, Esq. +Campbell, Major +Chesterfield, Earl of +Cox, Mr. +Crauford, Mr. A. 2 copies +Charlival, Countess of +Chiswell, R. M. T. Esq. +Chetwynd, Hon. Richard +Chichester, Sir John, Bart. +Crespigny, P. C. Esq. +Carysfort, Earl of +Collins, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Cadell, Mr. bookseller, 20 copies +Cornell, Mr. bookseller, 3 copies +Clarke, Mr. bookseller, Manchester +Collins, Mr. bookseller, Salisbury +Constable, Golding, Esq. +Cook, Mr. bookseller, Godalming, 2 copies. +Clarke, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Cuthell, Mr. bookseller, 3 copies +Charlton, St. John, Esq. +Cooper, Dr. + +D. + +Dickens, Francis, Esq. M. P. +De Salis, Rev. Dr. +Dodswell, T. Esq. Pool-court +De Lancy, Colonel +Donowell, Mr. architect +Dalrymple, Alexander, Esq. +Dayrell, Edmund, Esq. +Davies, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Debrett, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Dalling, Sir John, Bart. +Dartmouth, Earl of +De Freire, Chevalier, 2 copies +Dacre, Lord +Davison, Alexander, Esq. +Dilly, Mr. bookseller, 50 copies +Dangerfield, Mr. bookseller +Drewry, Mr. bookseller, Derby +Dover, Lord +Dawes, John, Esq. M. P. +Delaval, Lord +Drummond, John, Esq. M. P. + +E. + +Effingham, Earl of +Essex, Earl of +East, Gilbert, Esq. +Eliott, Lord +Egerton, Colonel William, M. P. +Enderby, Mr. Samuel +Eardley, Lord +Elliott, William, Esq. +Erving, George, Esq. +Edwards, Captain +Eyre, Edward, Esq. +Evans, Mr. bookseller, 30 copies +Egertons, Messrs. booksellers, 12 copies +Edwards, Mr. bookseller, 20 copies +Edwards, Mr. bookseller, Halifax +Enderby, Mr. Charles +Ernst, Anthony, Esq. jun. Camberwell +Enderby, Mr. George +Edmiston, Rev. William +Elmsley, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies + +F. + +Fairford, Lord +Finch, Hon. William +Ford, Richard, Esq. M. P. +Fitzgerald, Lord Robert +Fane, Francis, Esq. M. P. +Frost, John, Esq. +Frederic, Sir John, Bart. M. P. +Fletcher, Mr. bookseller, Oxford, 6 copies +Fortescue, Earl of +Forster, Mr. bookseller, 12 copies +Forsyth, William, Esq. Kensington +Faulder, Mr. bookseller, 31 copies +Fife, Earl of +Fetherston, Thomas, Esq. Lincoln's-inn +Ferrier, Robert England, Esq. +Faden, Mr. bookseller, 3 copies + +G. + +Goulding, Mr. Geo. bookseller, 25 copies +Glover, Richard, Esq. +Grigby, Joshua, Esq. M. P. +Greame, Charles, Esq. +Graham, Sir James, Bart. M. P. +Gregory, Rev. Edward Langar +Grenville, Hon. Mrs. +Gardner, Mr. bookseller, 25 copies +Gernay, Mr. bookseller, Dublin, 50 copies +Goodwyn, Henry, Esq. +Goodwin, Henry, Esq. jun. +Grey de Wilton, Lord +Grote, George, Esq. + +H. + +Hopetoun, Earl of +Hawke, Lord +Hanmer, Job, Esq. Holbrook Hall +Harpur, Sir Harry, Bart. +Hunt, Joseph, Esq. +Hood, Lord, M. P. +Houghton, Sir Henry, Bart. M. P. +Hayes, Mr. Charles +Hetherington, J. Esq. +Hodges, Mr. +Humphries, Captain James +Hannay, John, Esq. +Herman, Francis Anthony, Esq. +Hanrot, Mr. +Hamilton, Duke of +Hardinge, George, Esq. M. P. +Hannay, Sir Samuel, Bart. M. P. +Hill, Mr. bookseller, 12 copies +Hughes, Mr. +Hobart, Major, M. P. +Howard de Walden, Lord +Hoare, Charles, Esq. +Hawkins, Christopher, Esq. M. P. +Hinuber, Mr. +Haydon and son, booksellers, Plymouth, 5 copies +Hooper, Mr. +Hookham, Mr. bookseller, 25 copies +Hastings, Warren, Esq. +Hill, Sir Richard, Bart. M. P. +Harlow, Mrs. bookseller, 12 copies +Hall, Micah, Esq. + +I. + +Johnston, Peter, Esq. +Jenkyns, Mr. +Irwin, ----, Esq. +Jackson, William, jun. Esq. Exeter +Jolliffe, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Inchiquin, Earl of, M. P. +Johnson, Mr. bookseller, 20 copies + +K. + +Keith, Captain, R. N. +Kingsmill, Captain, R. N. M. P. +Kynaston, John, Esq. M. P. +Kent, Sir Charles, Bart. M. P. +Kensington, Charles, Esq. +Kirby, Mr. bookseller +King, Mr. bookseller, 4 copies +Knight and Son, booksellers, 3 copies + +L. + +Lewisham, Lord +Lambert, J. Esq. +Law, Edward, Esq. +Lane, Mr. bookseller, 2 copies +Lane, Mrs. +Loveden, Edward Loveden, Esq. M. P. +Long, ------, Esq. Aldermaston +Latrobe, Mr. Benjamin Henry +Lucas, Mr. William +Lovaine, Lord +Long, Samuel, Esq. +Lee, Mr. James, Hammersmith +Longmate, Mr. engraver +Lindergreen, Andrew, Esq. +Leinster, Duke of +Lodge, John, Esq. +Lister, Thomas, Esq. M. P. +Long, Sir James Tylney, Bart. M. P. +Le Mesurier, Paul, Esq. M. P. +Lowndes, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Longman, Mr. bookseller, 20 copies +Law, Mr. bookseller, 20 copies +Lackington, Mr. bookseller, 25 copies +Le Fleming, Sir Michael, Bart. M. P. +Latham, John, Esq. M. D. +Latham, John, jun. Esq. +Latham, Miss Ann +Langston, John, Esq. M. P. +Luttrell, Lady Elizabeth +Lewisham, Viscount, M. P. +Little, Richard, Esq. Kensington +Lewis, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies + +M + +Mitchel, Capt. A. R. N. +Miles, William, Esq. +Mornington, Lord, M. P. +Moreau, Simon, Esq. Cheltenham +Martin, George, Esq. +Martin, Edwin, Esq. Priory +Mazell, Mr. Peter, engraver +Medland, Mr. engraver +Macclesfield, Earl of +Middleton, R. Esq. +Mineur, Mr. +Marshall, Lieutenant S. E. +Mehaux, John, Esq. +Milnes, Richard Slater, Esq. M. P. +Mecormick, Mrs. +Murray, Mr. bookseller, 18 copies +Marshall, John, Esq. +Maberly, Mr. Stephen +Martindale, John, Esq. +Mulgrave, Lord, M. P. +Monro, Dr. +M'Queen, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Matthews, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Merrill, Mr. bookseller, Cambridge +Mapletoft, Mr. +Macbride, Captain John, Esq. M. P. R. N. +Mainwaring, William, Esq. M. P. +Macnamara, John, Esq. M. P. +Middleton, William, Esq. M. P. +Morshead, Sir John, Bart. M. P. +Muncaster, Lord, M. P. +Marsh, Samuel, Esq. +Marsham, Charles, Esq. +Melbourne, Lady +Montolieu, Lewis, Esq. + +N + +Nepean, Evan, Esq. +Norton, Mr. James, bookseller, Bristol, 6 copies +Nares, Rev. Mr. +Nicol, Mr. George, bookseller, 12 copies +Neville, Richard Aldworth, Esq. M. P. +Nicholls, Frank, Esq. Whitchurch +Nash, Mr. jun. +Nowell, Henry Constantine, Esq. Shiplake +Newberry, Mrs. bookseller, 6 copies + +O + +Orchard, Paul, Esq. M. P. +Ogilvie and Speare, booksellers, 9 copies +Otridge, Mr. bookseller, 18 copies + +P + +Portlock, Capt. Nathaniel, R. N. +Pye, Walter, Esq. +Potenger, Thomas, Esq. +Prattent, Mr. engraver +Pitt, Right Hon. William, M. P. +Pocock, Sir Isaac, Bart. Reading +Peachey, John, Esq. M. P. +Penn, Granville, Esq. +Pochin, William, Esq. M. P. +Phiney, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Parkyns, Thomas Boothby, Esq. M. P. F. R. S. and F. A. S. +Pennant, Thomas, Esq. +Pitman, Thomas, Esq. Loxford Hall +Pye, Henry James, Esq. M. P. +Putland, William, Esq. +Peachey, Sir James, Bart. +Popham, Home, Esq. +Pollock, W. Esq. +Pierse, Henry, Esq. M. P. +Pery, Rev. John +Prince and Cook, booksellers, Oxford, 6 copies +Patterson, Captain +Phillips, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Peat and Newcomb, booksellers, Stamford +Pearson and Rollason, booksellers, Birmingham +Payne and Son, booksellers, 12 copies +Petrie, William, Esq. +Plampin, Lieutenant, R. N. +Phipps, Hon. Henry, M. P. +Pitt, William Morton, Esq. M. P. +Popham, William, Esq. M. P. + +R + +Rivers, Lord +Richards, Mr. +Ramsay, Capt. John +Rose, George, Esq. M. P. +Robinson, William, Esq. +Rolle, John, Esq. M. P. +Rawstorne, Lieut. Col. +Robinsons, Messrs. booksellers, 200 copies +Richardson, Mr. bookseller, 20 copies +Rome, George, Esq. +Roberts, Mr. +Ramsford, Nicholas, Esq. +Rous, Sir John, Bart. M. P. +Rodney, James, Esq. +Rivington, and Sons, booksellers, 20 copies +Robson and Clarke, booksellers, 25 copies + +S + +Salisbury, Marquis of, 2 copies +Salisbury, Marchioness of +St. Albans, Duke of +Stanley, Thomas, Esq. M. P. +Sturt, Charles, Esq. M. P. +Speke, Mrs. +Swale, John, Esq. +Smyth, John, Esq. +Saville, Hon. Henry +Scott, Major, M. P. +Shuckburgh, Sir George, Bart. M. P. +Stephens, Philip, Esq. M. P. +Skipwith, Sir Thomas George, Bart. +Sykes, Sir Francis, Bart. M. P. +St. John, St. Andrew, Esq. +Stanley, John, Esq. M. P. +Shore, Samuel, Esq. +Sitwell, Francis, Esq. +Spooner, Charles, Esq. +Smith, Sir John, Bart. +Smart, Baptist, Esq. +Sydney, Viscount, two copies +Spence, Mr. George +Scott, Thomas, Esq. M. P. +Sotheron, William, Esq. M. P. +Strahan, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Steele, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Scatcherd and Whittaker, booksellers, 6 copies +Sewell, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Spens, Walter, Esq. +Silvester, Mr. John, architect +Smith and Gardner, booksellers +Simmons and Kerby, booksellers, Canterbury +Swinney, Mr. bookseller, Birmingham +Smart and Cowslade, booksellers, Reading +Steele, Thomas, Esq. M. P. +Secker, George, Esq. +Swain, Rev. John Hadley +Scowen, James, Esq. +Staunton, G. T. Esq. +Sumner, John, Esq. +Society, the Philosophical, Derby +Stockdale, Mr. Jeremiah +Selkirk, Lord +Sumner, George, Esq. M. P. +Stanley, John Thomas, Esq. +Stalker, Mr. bookseller, 12 copies +Southern, Mr. bookseller, 3 copies + +T + +Townsend, Hon. John Thomas, M. P. +Thomson, Rev. Doctor, Kensington +Temple, Grenville, Esq. +Tullock, Mr. +Turnor, John, Esq. Gray's-inn +Tattersall, Mr. jun. +Townley, Charles, Esq. +Todd, Mr. bookseller, York, 6 copies +Tutte, Rev. Mr. +Townson, Lieutenant +Thorkelin, Dr. G. J. +Tessyman, Mr. bookseller, York +Trewman, Mr. bookseller, Exeter +Trotman, Fiennes, Esq. M. P. +Thorold, Sir John, Bart. M. P. +Temple, Sir John, Bart. +Thornton, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies + +V + +Vansittart, George, Esq. M. P. +Vansittart, Nicholas, Esq. +Vernor, Mr. bookseller, 18 copies + +W. + +Weymouth, Lord +Warren, Sir John Borlase, Bart. +Wolfe, Arthur, Esq. Attorney-General, Ireland +Walsh, John, Esq. +Wentworth, Lord +Willis, H. N. Esq. +Wright, Mr. +Woodford, Col. John +Wray, Sir Cecil, Bart. +Willis, Rev. Thomas +Wolfe, Lewis, Esq. +Watts, Lieutenant John, R. N. +Watts, Mr. D. P. +Wilton, George, Esq. +Wale, G. Esq. +Watts, Mr. Thomas +Warren, Sir George, M. P. +Walter, Mr. bookseller, 12 copies +Webber, Mr. John +Walker, James, Esq. +Watson, Serjeant +Welch, Mr. Joseph +White and Son, booksellers, 12 copies +Ware and Son, booksellers, White-haven +Woodmason, Mr. +Williamson, Captain +Wright, Mr. Thomas +Walcot, John, Esq. +Wood, Mr. bookseller, Shrewsbury +Wilson, Mr. +Wetton, Mr. bookseller, Chertsey +Wenman, Mr. bookseller, 3 copies +Wigglesworth, John, Esq. +Wedgewood, Josiah, Esq. +Wheeler, Mr. G. Wanstead +Wilkie, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Whieldon, Mr. bookseller, 12 copies +Williams, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies +Walker, Mr. bookseller, 3 copies +Wynne, Mr. bookseller, 6 copies + +Y + +Yorke, Hon. Philip, M. P. +Yorke, Charles, Esq. +Young, Sir Wm. Bart. M. P. +Yorke, the Hon. Mrs. Sydney-Farm +Young, William, Esq. +Yonge, Right Hon. Sir George, Bart. M. P. +Younge, Major William, Little Darnford Place. + + +LIST OF THE PLATES. + +1. Head of Governor Phillip +2. View of Botany Bay +3. Yellow Gum Plant +4. View in Port Jackson +5. Caspian Tern +6. Natives of Botany Bay +7. Chart of Norfolk Island +8. Lieutenant King +9. Hut in New South Wales +10. The Kanguroo +11. View in New South Wales +12. Sketch of Sydney Cove +13. Axe, Basket, and Sword +14. Plan of Port Jackson +15. Spotted Opossum +16. Vulpine Opossum +17. Flying Squirrel +18. Blue-bellied Parrot +19. Tabuan Parrot +20. Pennantian Parrot +21. Pacific Parrakeet +22. Sacred Kings-fisher +23. Male Superb Warbler +24. Female Superb Warbler +25. Norfolk Island Petrel +26. Bronze-winged Pigeon +27. White-fronted Heron +28. Wattled Bee-eater +29. Psittaceous Hornbill +30. Skeleton of the Head of the Kanguroo and Vulpine Opossum +31. Map and View of Lord Howe Island +32. Ball's Pyramid +33. Lieutenant Shortland +34. Chart of the Track of the Alexander +35. Shortland's Chart of New Georgia +36. Curtis's Isles +37. Macaulay's Isles +38. Track of the Scarborough +39. A Canoe, &c. Mulgrave's Range +40. Bankian Cockatoo +41. Red Shouldered Parrakeet +42. New Holland Goat-sucker +43. New Holland Cassowary +44. White Gallinule +45. Dog of New South Wales +46. Martin Cat +47. Kanguroo Rat +48. Laced Lizard +49. Bag-throated Balistes +50. Fish of New South Wales +51. Port Jackson Shark +52. Watt's Shark +53. Great brown Kingsfisher +54. Black flying Opossum +55. Vignette in title page.--For an explanation see the Preface. + + +Chapter I. + +Public utility of voyages--Peculiar circumstances of this--New Holland +properly a continent--Reasons for fixing our settlement +there--Transportation to America, its origin, advantages, and +cessation--Experiments made--The present plan adopted--Disadvantages of +other expedients. + +From voyages undertaken expressly for the purpose of discovery, the +public naturally looks for information of various kinds: and it is a fact +which we cannot but contemplate with pleasure, that by the excellent +publications subsequent to such enterprises, very considerable additions +have been made, during the present reign, to our general knowledge of the +globe, of the various tribes by which it is peopled, and of the animals +and vegetables to which it gives support. + +An expedition occasioned by motives of legislative policy, carried on by +public authority, and concluded by a fixed establishment in a country +very remote, not only excites an unusual interest concerning the fate of +those sent out, but promises to lead us to some points of knowledge +which, by the former mode, however judiciously employed, could not have +been attained. A transient visit to the coast of a great continent +cannot, in the nature of things, produce a complete information +respecting its inhabitants, productions, soil, or climate: all which when +contemplated by resident observers, in every possible circumstance of +variation, though they should be viewed with less philosophical +acuteness, must yet gradually become more fully known: Errors, sometimes +inseparable from hasty observation, will then be corrected by infallible +experience; and many objects will present themselves to view, which +before had escaped notice, or had happened to be so situated that they +could not be observed. + +The full discovery of the extent of New Holland, by our illustrious +navigator, Capt. Cook, has formed a singular epocha in geography; a doubt +having arisen from it, whether to a land of such magnitude the name of +island or that of continent may more properly be applied. To this +question it may be answered, that though the etymology of the word +island,* and of others synonymous to it, points out only a land +surrounded by the sea, or by any water, (in which sense the term is +applicable even to the largest portions of the habitable globe) yet it is +certain that, in the usual acceptation, an island is conceived to signify +a land of only moderate extent, surrounded by the sea.** To define at what +point of magnitude precisely, a country so situated shall begin to be a +continent, could not answer any purpose of utility; but the best and +clearest rule for removing the doubt appears to be the following: As long +as the peculiar advantages of an insular situation can be enjoyed by the +inhabitants of such a country, let it have the title of an island; when +it exceeds those limits let it be considered as a continent. Now the +first and principal advantage of an island, is that of being capable of a +convenient union under one government, and of deriving thence a security +from all external attacks, except by sea. In lands of very great +magnitude such an union is difficult, if not impracticable, and a +distinction founded on this circumstance, is therefore sufficient for +convenience at least, if*** not for speculative accuracy. If we suppose +this extent to be something about one thousand miles each way, without, +however, affecting much rigour in the limitation, the claim of New +Holland to be called a continent, will be indisputable: The greatest +extent of that vast country being, from East to West, about two thousand +four hundred English miles, and, from North to South, not less than two +thousand three hundred.**** + +[* Insula, from which island is derived, is formed from in sulo, in the +sea; and, the corresponding word in Greek, is usually deduced from to +swim, as appearing, and probably having been originally supposed to swim +in the sea.] + +[** Thus when Dionysius Periegetes considers the whole ancient world as +surrounded by the sea, he calls it, an immense island; on which +Eustathius remarks, that the addition of the epithet immense was +necessary, otherwise the expression would have been low and inadequate.] + +[*** We do not here consider whether a country be actually united under one +government, but whether from its size it might be so conveniently. If we +might derive from, or to inhabit, the etymological distinction would be +complete on these principles. An island being one distinct habitation of +men; and a continent land continued from one state to another. The former +derivation might be rendered specious by remarking how singularly Homer +and others use with, as if they had a natural connection. See II. B. +626. and, Sophoc. Ajax. 601.] + +[**** In or near the latitude of 30 deg. South, New Holland extends full 40 +degrees of longitude, which, under that parallel, may be estimated at 60 +English miles to a degree. The extent from York Cape to South Cape is full +33 degrees of latitude, which are calculated of course at 691/2 English +miles each.] + +To New South Wales England has the claim which a tacit consent has +generally made decisive among the European States, that of prior +discovery. The whole of that Eastern coast, except the very Southern +point, having been untouched by any navigator, till it was explored by +Captain Cook. This consideration, added to the more favourable accounts +given of this side of the continent than of the other, was sufficient to +decide the choice of the British government, in appointing a place for +the banishment of a certain class of criminals. + +The cause of the determination to send out in this manner the convicts +under sentence of transportation, was, as is well known, the necessary +cessation of their removal to America; and the inconveniences experienced +in the other modes of destination adopted after that period. + +Virginia, greatly in want, at its first settlement, of labourers to clear +away the impenetrable forests which impeded all cultivation, was willing, +from very early times, to receive as servants, those English criminals +whom our Courts of Law deemed not sufficiently guilty for capital +punishment.* The planters hired their services during a limited term; and +they were latterly sent out under the care of contractors, who were +obliged to prove, by certificates, that they had disposed of them, +according to the intention of the law. + +[* Banishment was first ordered as a punishment for rogues and vagrants, +by statute 39 Eliz. ch. 4. See Blackst. Com. IV. chap. 31. But no place +was there specified. The practice of transporting criminals to America is +said to have commenced in the reign of James I; the year 1619 being the +memorable epoch of its origin: but that destination is first expressly +mentioned in 18 Car. II. ch. 2.--The transport traffic was first +regulated by statute 4 George I. ch. II. and the causes expressed in the +preamble to be, the failure of those who undertook to transport +themselves, and the great want of servants in his Majesty's plantations. +Subsequent Acts enforced further regulations.] + +The benefits of this regulation were various. The colonies received by +it, at an easy rate, an assistance very necessary; and the mother country +was relieved from the burthen of subjects, who at home were not only +useless but pernicious: besides which, the mercantile returns, on this +account alone, are reported to have arisen, in latter times, to a very +considerable amount.* The individuals themselves, doubtless, in some +instances, proved incorrigible; but it happened also, not very +unfrequently, that, during the period of their legal servitude, they +became reconciled to a life of honest industry, were altogether reformed +in their manners, and rising gradually by laudable efforts, to situations +of advantage, independence, and estimation, contributed honourably to the +population and prosperity of their new country.** + +[* It is said, forty thousand pounds per annum, about two thousand +convicts being sold for twenty pounds each.] + +[** The Abbe Raynal has given his full testimony to the policy of this +species of banishment, in the fourteenth Book of his History, near the +beginning.] + +By the contest in America, and the subsequent separation of the thirteen +Colonies, this traffic was of course destroyed. Other expedients, well +known to the public, have since been tried; some of which proved highly +objectionable;* and all have been found to want some of the principal +advantages experienced from the usual mode of transportation.--The +deliberations upon this subject, which more than once employed the +attention of Parliament, produced at length the plan of which this volume +displays the first result. On December 6, 1786, the proper orders were +issued by his Majesty in Council, and an Act establishing a Court of +Judicature in the place of settlement, and making such other regulations +as the occasion required, received the sanction of the whole legislature +early in the year 1787. + +[* ¶ Particularly, the transporting of criminals to the coast of Africa, +where what was meant as an alleviation of punishment too frequently ended +in death.] + +To expatiate upon the principles of penal law is foreign to the purpose +of this work, but thus much is evident to the plainest apprehension, that +the objects most to be desired in it are the restriction of the number of +capital inflictions, as far as is consistent with the security of +society; and the employment of every method that can be devised for +rendering the guilty persons serviceable to the public, and just to +themselves; for correcting their moral depravity, inducing habits of +industry, and arming them in future against the temptations by which they +have been once ensnared. + +For effectuating these beneficial purposes, well regulated penitentiary +houses seem, in speculation, to afford the fairest opportunity; and a +plan of this kind, formed by the united efforts of Judge Blackstone, Mr. +Eden, and Mr. Howard, was adopted by Parliament in the year 1779. +Difficulties however occurred which prevented the execution of this +design: a circumstance which will be something the less regretted when it +shall be considered, that it is perhaps the fate of this theory, in +common with many others of a very pleasing nature, to be more attractive +in contemplation than efficacious in real practice. A perfect design, +carried on by imperfect agents, is liable to lose the chief part of its +excellence; and the best digested plan of confinement must in execution +be committed, chiefly, to men not much enlightened, very little armed +against corruption, and constantly exposed to the danger of it. The +vigilance which in the infancy of such institutions effectually watches +over the conduct of these public servants, will always in a little time +be relaxed; and it will readily be conceived that a large penitentiary +house, very corruptly governed, would be, of all associations, one of the +most pernicious to those confined, and most dangerous to the peace of +society. + +In some countries, malefactors not capitally convicted, are sentenced to +the gallies or the mines; punishments often more cruel than death, and +here, on many accounts, impracticable. In other places they are employed +in public works, under the care of overseers. This method has been +partially tried in England on the Thames, but has been found by no means +to produce the benefits expected from it. There is, therefore, little +temptation to pursue it to a further extent. The employment of criminals +in works carried on under the public eye, is perhaps too repugnant to the +feelings of Englishmen ever to be tolerated. Reason, indeed, acquiesces +in the melancholy necessity of punishing, but chains and badges of +servitude are unpleasing objects, and compassion will always revolt at +the sight of actual infliction. Convicts so employed would either by an +ill placed charity be rewarded, or the people, undergoing a change of +character far from desirable, would in time grow callous to those +impressions which naturally impel them to give relief. + +It remains therefore, that we adhere as much as possible to the practice +approved by long experience, of employing the services of such criminals +in remote and rising settlements. For this purpose the establishment on +the eastern coast of New Holland has been projected, and carried on with +every precaution to render it as beneficial as possible. That some +difficulties will arise in the commencement of such an undertaking must +be expected; but it is required by no moral obligation that convicts +should be conveyed to a place of perfect convenience and security; and +though the voluntary emigrants and honourable servants of the state, must +in some measure, be involved for a time in the same disadvantages, yet to +have resisted difficulties is often finally an advantage rather than an +evil; and there are probably few persons so circumstanced who will repine +at moderate hardships, when they reflect that by undergoing them they are +rendering an essential and an honourable service to their country. + + +Chapter II. + +March 1787 to June 1787 + +Preparation of the fleet ordered to Botany Bay.--Particulars of its +arrangement.--Departure and passage to the Canary Isles. + +16 March 1787 + +The squadron destined to carry into execution the above design, began to +assemble at its appointed rendezvous, the Mother Bank, within the Isle of +Wight, about the 16th of March, 1787. This small fleet consisted of the +following ships: His Majesty's frigate Sirius, Captain John Hunter, and +his Majesty's armed tender Supply, commanded by Lieutenant H. L. Ball. +Three store-ships, the Golden Grove, Fishburn, and Borrowdale, for +carrying provisions and stores for two years; including instruments of +husbandry, clothing for the troops and convicts, and other necessaries; +and lastly, six transports, the Scarborough, and Lady Penrhyn, from +Portsmouth; the Friendship, and Charlotte, from Plymouth; the Prince of +Wales, and the Alexander, from Woolwich. These were to carry the +convicts, with a detachment of Marines in each, proportioned to the +nature of the service; the largest where resistance was most to be +expected, namely, in those ships which carried the greatest number of +male convicts. Altogether they formed a little squadron of eleven sail. + +They only who know the nature of such equipments, and consider the +particular necessity in the present instance for a variety of articles +not usually provided, can judge properly of the time required for +furnishing out this fleet. Such persons will doubtless be the least +surprised at being told that nearly two months had elapsed before the +ships were enabled to quit this station, and proceed upon their voyage: +and that even then some few articles were either unprepared, or, through +misapprehension, neglected. The former circumstance took place respecting +some part of the cloathing for the female convicts, which, being +unfinished, was obliged to be left behind; the latter, with respect to +the ammunition of the marines, which was furnished only for immediate +service, instead of being, as the Commodore apprehended, completed at +their first embarkation: an omission which, in the course of the voyage, +was easily supplied. + +This necessary interval was very usefully employed, in making the +convicts fully sensible of the nature of their situation; in pointing out +to them the advantages they would derive from good conduct, and the +certainty of severe and immediate punishment in case of turbulence or +mutiny. Useful regulations were at the same time established for the +effectual governing of these people; and such measures were taken as +could not fail to render abortive any plan they might be desperate enough +to form for resisting authority, seizing any of the transports, or +effecting, at any favourable period, an escape. We have, however, the +testimony of those who commanded, that their behaviour, while the ships +remained in port, was regular, humble, and in all respects suitable to +their situation: such as could excite neither suspicion nor alarm, nor +require the exertion of any kind of severity. + +When the fleet was at length prepared for sailing, the complement of +convicts and marines on board the transports was thus arranged. The +Friendship carried a Captain and forty-four marines, subalterns and +privates, with seventy-seven male and twenty female convicts. The +Charlotte, a Captain and forty-three men, with eighty-eight male and +twenty female convicts. In the Alexander, were two Lieutenants and +thirty-five marines, with two hundred and thirteen convicts, all male. In +the Scarborough, a Captain and thirty-three marines, with male convicts +only, two hundred and eight in number. The Prince of Wales transport had +two Lieutenants and thirty marines, with an hundred convicts, all female. +And the Lady Penrhyn, a Captain, two Lieutenants, and only three privates, +with one hundred and two female convicts. Ten marines, of different +denominations, were also sent as supernumeraries on board the Sirius. The +whole complement of marines, including officers, amounted to two hundred +and twelve; besides which, twenty-eight women, wives of marines, carrying +with them seventeen children, were permitted to accompany their husbands. +The number of convicts was seven hundred and seventy-eight, of whom five +hundred and fifty-eight were men. Two, however, on board the Alexander, +received a full pardon before the departure of the fleet, and +consequently remained in England. + +13 May 1787 + +Governor Phillip, on his arrival at the station, hoisted his flag on +board the Sirius, as Commodore of the squadron: and the embarkation being +completed, and the time requiring his departure, at day break on the 13th +of May, he gave the signal to weigh anchor. To the distance of about an +hundred leagues clear of the channel, his Majesty's frigate Hyena, of +twenty-four guns, was ordered to attend the fleet, in order to bring +intelligence of its passage through that most difficult part of the +voyage; with any dispatches which it might be requisite for the Governor +to send home. + +20 May 1787 + +On the 20th of May, the ships being then in latitude 47 deg. 57', and +longitude 12 deg. 14' west of London, the Hyena returned. She brought, +however, no exact account of the state of the transports; for the sea at +that time ran so high, that the Governor found it difficult even to sit +to write, and quite impracticable to send on board the several ships for +exact reports of their situation, and of the behaviour of the convicts. +All, however, had not been perfectly tranquil; the convicts in the +Scarborough, confiding probably in their numbers, had formed a plan for +gaining possession of that ship, which the officers had happily detected +and frustrated. This information was received from them just before the +Hyena sailed, and the Governor had ordered two of the ringleaders on +board the Sirius for punishment. These men, after receiving a proper +chastisement, were separated from their party by being removed into +another ship, the Prince of Wales. No other attempt of this kind was made +during the voyage. + +We may now consider the adventurers in this small fleet as finally +detached, for the present, from their native country; looking forward, +doubtless with very various emotions, to that unknown region, which, for +a time at least, they were destined to inhabit. If we would indulge a +speculative curiosity, concerning the tendency of such an enterprize, +there are few topics which would afford an ampler scope for conjecture. +The sanguine might form expectations of extraordinary consequences, and +be justified, in some degree, by the reflection, that from smaller, and +not more respectable beginnings, powerful empires have frequently arisen. +The phlegmatic and apprehensive might magnify to themselves the +difficulties of the undertaking, and prognosticate, from various causes, +the total failure of it. Both, perhaps, would be wrong. The opinion +nearest to the right was probably formed by the Governor himself, and +such others among the leaders of the expedition, as from native courage, +felt themselves superior to all difficulties likely to occur; and by +native good sense were secured from the seduction of romantic reveries. +To all it must appear a striking proof of the flourishing state of +navigation in the present age, and a singular illustration of its vast +progress since the early nautical efforts of mankind; that whereas the +ancients coasted with timidity along the shores of the Mediterranean, and +thought it a great effort to run across the narrow sea which separates +Crete from Egypt, Great Britain, without hesitation, sends out a fleet to +plant a settlement near the antipodes. + +3 June 1787 + +The high sea which had impeded the intercourse between the ships, as they +were out of the reach of rocks and shoals, was not, in other respects, an +unfavourable circumstance. On the whole, therefore, the weather was +reckoned fine, and the passage very prosperous from Spithead to Santa +Cruz, in the Isle of Teneriffe, where the fleet anchored on the 3d of +June. + + +Chapter III. + +June 1787 + +Reasons for touching at the Canary Isles--Precautions for preserving +Health--Their admirable Success--Some Account of the Canaries--Fables +respecting them--Attempt of a Convict to escape--Departure. + +3 June 1787 + +The chief object proposed by Governor Phillip in touching at Teneriffe, +was the obtaining a fresh supply of water and vegetables. It was +adviseable also at this period to give the people such advantages and +refreshments, for the sake of health, as this place would readily supply, +but which can only be obtained on shore. In this, and every port, the +crews, soldiers, and convicts, were indulged with fresh meat, fruit, +vegetables, and every thing which could conduce to preserve them from the +complaints formerly inevitable in long voyages. The allowance was, to the +marines, a pound of bread, a pound of beef, and a pint of wine per man, +daily: the convicts had three quarters of a pound of beef, and of bread, +but no wine. The fruits obtained here were only figs and mulberries, but +these were plentiful and excellent. How successfully precautions of every +kind, tending to this great end, were employed throughout the voyage, the +reports of the number of sick and dead will sufficiently evince. + +Captain Cook had very fully shown, how favourable such expeditions might +be made to the health of those engaged in them; and Governor Phillip was +happy enough to confirm the opinion, that the success of his great +predecessor, in this essential point, was not in any degree the effect of +chance, but arose from that care and attention of which he has humanely +given us the detail; and which, in similar circumstances, may generally +be expected to produce the same result. If the number of convicts who +died between the time of embarkation and the arrival of the fleet at this +place, should seem inconsistent with this assertion, it must be +considered that the deaths were confined entirely to that class of +people, many of whom were advanced in years, or labouring under diseases +contracted in prison or elsewhere, while they were yet on shore. + +A week was passed at this place, during which time the weather was very +moderate, the thermometer not exceeding 70 deg. of Fahrenheit's scale. The +barometer stood at about 30 inches. + +The Governor of the Canaries, at this time, was the Marquis de +Brancifort, by birth a Sicilian. He was resident as usual at Santa Cruz, +and paid to Governor Phillip, and the other officers, a polite attention +and respect equally honourable to all parties. The port of Santa Cruz, +though not remarkably fine, is yet the best in the Canaries, and the +usual place at which vessels touch for refreshment; the residence of the +Governor General is therefore fixed always in Teneriffe, for the sake of +a more frequent intercourse with Europe: in preference to the great +Canary Isle, which contains the Metropolitan church, and the palace of +the Bishop. The Marquis de Brancifort has lately established some useful +manufactures in Teneriffe. + +To enter into much detail concerning the Canary Islands, which lie +exactly in the course of every ship that sails from Europe to the Cape, +and consequently have been described in almost every book of voyages, +must be superfluous. A few general notices concerning them may, perhaps, +not be unacceptable. They are in number about fourteen, of which the +principal, and only considerable are, Canary, Teneriffe, Fortaventure, +Palma, Ferro, Gomera, Lancerotta. Their distance from the coast of Africa +is from about forty to eighty leagues. The circumference of Teneriffe is +not above one hundred and twenty miles, but that of Canary, or as it is +usually called, the Great Canary, is one hundred and fifty. They have +been possessed and colonized by Spain from the beginning of the 15th +century. + +There is no reason to doubt that these are the islands slightly known to +the ancients under the name of Fortunate: though the mistake of Ptolemy +concerning their latitude has led one of the commentators on Solinus to +contend, that this title belongs rather to the Islands of Cape Verd. +Pliny mentions Canaria, and accounts for that name from the number of +large dogs which the island contained; a circumstance which some modern +voyagers, perhaps with little accuracy, repeat as having occasioned the +same name to be given by the Spaniards. Nivaria, spoken of by the same +author, is evidently Teneriffe, and synonymous, if we are rightly +informed, to the modern name*. Ombrion, or Pluvialia, is supposed to be +Ferro; where the dryness of the soil has at all times compelled the +inhabitants to depend for water on the rains. + +[* Occasioned by the perpetual snows with which the Peak is covered. Tener +is said to mean snow, and itte or iffe a mountain, in the language of the +island.] + +If the ancients made these islands the region of fable, and their poets +decorated them with imaginary charms to supply the want of real +knowledge, the moderns cannot wholly be exempted from a similar +imputation. Travellers have delighted to speak of the Peak of Teneriffe, +as the highest mountain in the ancient world, whereas, by the best +accounts, Mont Blanc exceeds it* by 3523 feet, or near a mile of +perpendicular altitude. The Isle of Ferro, having no such mountain to +distinguish it, was celebrated for a century or two on the credit of a +miraculous tree, single in its kind, enveloped in perpetual mists, and +distilling sufficient water for the ample supply of the island.** But this +wonder, though vouched by several voyagers, and by some as eye-witnesses, +vanished at the approach of sober enquiry, nor could a single native be +found hardy enough to assert its existence. The truth is, that the Canary +Isles, though a valuable possession to Spain, and an excellent resource +to voyagers of all nations, contain no wonders, except what belong +naturally to volcanic mountains such as the Peak, which, though it always +threatens, has not now been noxious for more than eighty years***. + +[* The height of Mont Blanc, on a mean of the best accounts, is 15,673 +English feet from the level of the sea, Teneriffe 12,150.] + +[** Clipperton speaks of it as a fact, Harris's Voyages, Vol. I. p. 187. +Mandelsloe pretended to have seen it, ibid. p. 806. Baudrand was the +first who by careful enquiry detected the fiction. An account of this +imaginary tree, curious from being so circumstantial, is here given from +a French book of geography, of some credit in other respects. "Mais ce +qu'il-y-a de plus digne de remarque, est cet arbre merveilleux qui +fournit d'eau toute l'isle, tant pour les hommes que pour les betes. Cet +arbre, que les habitans appellent Caroe, Garoe, ou Arbre Saint, unique en +son espece, est gros, et large de branches; son tronc a environ douze +pieds de tour; ses feuilles sont un peu plus grosses que celles des +noiers, et toujours vertes; il porte un fruit, semblable a un gland, qui +a un noiau d'un gout aromatique, doux et piquant. Cet arbre est +perpetuellement convert d'un nuage, qui l'humecte partout, en sorte que +l'eau en distille goutte a goutte par les branches et par les feuilles, +en telle quantite qu'on en peut emplir trente tonneaux par jour. Cette +eau est extremement fraiche, claire, fort bonne a boire, et fort saine. +Elle tombe dans deux bassins de pierre que les insulaires ont batis pour +la recevoir. La nuage qui couvre cet arbre ne se dissipe pas; settlement +dans les grandes chaleurs de l'ete il se diminue un peu; mais en echange +la mer envoie une vapeur epaisse, qui se jette sur l'arbre, et qui +supplee a ce manquement." Du Bois Geogr. Part. iii. ch. 17. Can all this +have arisen from Pliny's arbores ex quibus aquae exprimantur?] + +[*** See Captain Glasse's elaborate account of the Canaries, and Captain +Cook's last Voyage.] + +The capital of Teneriffe is Laguna, or more properly San Christoval de la +Laguna, St. Christopher of the Lake, so called from its situation near a +lake. Both this and Santa Cruz are built of stone, but the appearance of +the latter is more pleasing than that of Laguna. They are distant from +each other about four miles. The capital of the Great Canary, and +properly of the whole government, is the City of Palms: But that place +has been for some time the centre of ecclesiastical government only. The +custom of reckoning the first meridian as passing through these isles was +begun by Ptolemy; and perhaps it is still to be wished that the French +regulations on that subject were generally adopted. + +9 June 1787. + +Our ships were at length preparing to depart, when on the evening of the +9th of June, a convict belonging to the Alexander, having been employed +on deck, found means to cut away the boat, and make a temporary escape; +but he was missed and soon retaken. It is not probable that he had formed +any definite plan of escape; the means of absconding must have been +accidentally offered, and suddenly embraced; and for making such an +attempt, the vague hope of liberty, without any certain prospect, would +naturally afford sufficient temptation. + +10 June 1787 + +By the 10th of June the ships had completed their water, and early the +next morning, the Governor gave the signal for weighing anchor, and the +fleet pursued its course. + + +Report of the marines and convicts under medical treatment, given in to +Governor Phillip, June 4th, 1787. + +Charlotte, -- Marines 4 Convicts 16 +Alexander, -- Marines 2 Convicts 26 +Scarborough, -- Marine 1 Convicts 9 +Friendship, -- Convicts 13 +Lady Penrhyn, Convicts 11 +Prince of Wales, Marines 2 Convicts 7 + --- + Total Marines 9 + Convicts 72 + +Convicts dead since the first embarkation 21 +Children of convicts 3 + +Of these only fifteen, and one child, had died since the departure from +Spithead. + + +Chapter IV. + +June 1787 to September 1787 + +Attempt to put in at Port Praya--Relinquished--Weather--Sail for Rio de +Faneiro--Reasons for touching at a South American port--The Fleet passes +the Line--Arrives at Rio de Faneiro--Account of that Place--Transactions +there--Departure. + +Vegetables not having been so plentiful at Santa Cruz as to afford a +sufficient supply, it was the intention of Governor Phillip to anchor for +about twenty-four hours in the Bay of Port Praya. The islands on this +side of the Atlantic, seem as if expressly placed to facilitate the +navigation to and from the Cape of Good Hope: by offering to vessels, +without any material variation from their course, admirable stations for +supply and refreshment. About latitude 40, north, the Azores; in 33, the +Madeiras; between 29 and 27, the Canaries; and between 18 and 16, the +Islands of Cape Verd, successively offer themselves to the voyager, +affording abundantly every species of accommodation his circumstances can +require. On the Southern side of the Equator, a good harbour and +abundance of turtles give some consequence even to the little barren +island of Ascension; and St. Helena, by the industry of the English +settlers, has become the seat of plenty and of elegance. Without the +assistance derived, in going or returning, from some of these places, the +interval of near forty degrees on each side of the line, in a sea exposed +to violent heat, and subject to tedious calms, would be sufficient to +discourage even the navigators of the eighteenth century. + +18 June 1787 + +On the 18th of June, the fleet came in sight of the Cape Verd Islands, +and was directed by signal to steer for St. Jago. But the want of +favourable wind, and the opposition of a strong current making it +probable that all the ships would not be able to get into the Bay, the +Governor thought it best to change his plan. The signal for anchoring was +hauled down, and the ships were directed to continue their first course; +a circumstance of much disappointment to many individuals on board, who, +as is natural in long voyages, were eager on every occasion to enjoy the +refreshments of the shore. As an additional incitement to such wishes, +the weather had now become hot; the thermometer stood at 82 deg., which, +though not an immoderate heat for a tropical climate, is sufficient to +produce considerable annoyance. But, unmoved by any consideration except +that of expedience, Governor Phillip persisted in conducting his ships to +their next intended station, the harbour of Rio de Janeiro. + +It may appear perhaps, on a slight consideration, rather extraordinary, +that vessels bound to the Cape of Good Hope should find it expedient to +touch at a harbour of South America. To run across the Atlantic, and take +as a part of their course, that coast, the very existence of which was +unknown to the first navigators of these seas, seems a very circuitous +method of performing the voyage. A little examination will remove this +apparent difficulty. The calms so frequent on the African side, are of +themselves a sufficient cause to induce a navigator to keep a very +westerly course; and even the islands at which it is so often convenient +to touch will carry him within a few degrees of the South American +coast.--The returning tracks of Captain Cooks's three voyages all run +within a very small space of the 45th degree of west longitude, which is +even ten degrees further to the west than the extremity of Cape St. +Roque: and that course appears to have been taken voluntarily, without +any extraordinary inducement. But in the latitudes to which Governor +Phillip's squadron had now arrived, the old and new continent approach so +near to each other, that in avoiding the one it becomes necessary to run +within a very moderate distance of the opposite land. + +In the passage from the Cape Verd Islands, the fleet suffered for some +time the inconvenience of great heat, attended by heavy rains. The heat, +however, did not at any time exceed the point already specified,* and the +precautions unremittingly observed in all the ships happily continued +efficacious in preventing any violent sickness. Nor did the oppression of +the hot weather continue so long as in these latitudes might have been +expected; for before they reached the equator the temperature had become +much more moderate. + +[* 82 deg., 51. It is not unusual in England, to have the thermometer, for a +day or two in a summer, at 81 deg..] + +5 July 1787 + +On July 5, 1787, being then in long. 26 deg. 10' west from Greenwich, the +Botany Bay fleet passed from the Northern into the Southern Hemisphere. +About three weeks more of very favourable and pleasant weather conveyed +them to Rio de Janeiro. + +5-6 August 1787 + +On the 5th of August they anchored off the harbour, and on the evening +of the 6th were at their station within it. The land of Cape Frio had been +discovered some days before, but a deficiency of wind from that time a +little slackened their course. + +Rio de Janeiro, or January River, so called because discovered by Dias de +Solis on the feast of St. Januarius, (Sept. 19) 1525, is not in fact a +river, though its name denotes that it was then supposed to be so: it is +an arm of the sea, into which a considerable number of small rivers +descends. + +The city of Rio de Janeiro, called by some writers St. Sebastian, from +the name of its tutelar patron, is situated on the west side of this bay, +within less than a degree of the tropic of Capricorn, and about 43 deg. west +of Greenwich. It is at present the capital of all Brasil, and has been +for some time the residence of the Viceroy. These distinctions it +obtained in preference to St. Salvador, which was formerly the capital, +by means of the diamond mines discovered in its vicinity, in the year +1730. The place increasing rapidly by the wealth thus brought to it, was +fortified and put under the care of a governor in 1738. The port is one +of the finest in the world, very narrow at the entrance, and within +capacious enough to contain more ships than ever were assembled at one +station. It has soundings from twenty to one hundred and twenty fathoms. +A hill shaped like a sugar loaf, situated on the west side, marks the +proper bearing for entering the harbour: the situation of which is fully +pointed out at the distance of two leagues and a half by some small +islands, one of which, called Rodonda, is very high, and in form not +unlike a haycock. The mouth of the harbour is defended by forts, +particularly two, called Santa Cruz and Lozia; and the usual anchorage +within it is before the city, north of a small island named Dos Cobras. + +There are in this port established fees, which are paid by all merchant +ships, Portuguese as well as strangers: 3l. 12s. each on entering the +bay, the same on going out, and 5s. 6d. a day while they remain at +anchor. The entrance fee was demanded for the transports in this +expedition, but when Governor Phillip had alledged that they were loaded +with King's stores, the payment was no more insisted upon. Nevertheless, +the Captain of the Port gave his attendance, with his boat's crew, to +assist the ships in coming in, there being at that time only a light air, +hardly sufficient to carry them up the bay. + +In the narrative of Captain Cook's Voyage in 1768, we find, on his +arrival at this place, great appearance of suspicion on the part of the +Viceroy, harsh prohibitions of landing, even to the gentlemen employed in +philosophical researches, and some proceedings rather of a violent +nature. The reception given by the present Viceroy to Governor Phillip +and his officers was very different: it was polite and flattering to a +great degree, and free from every tincture of jealous caution. + +Don Lewis de Varconcellos, the reigning Viceroy, belongs to one of the +noblest families in Portugal; is brother to the Marquis of Castello +Methor, and to the Count of Pombeiro. Governor Phillip, who served for +some years as a Captain in the Portuguese navy, and is deservedly much +honoured by that nation, was not personally unknown to the Viceroy, +though known in a way which, in a less liberal mind, might have produced +very different dispositions. There had been some difference between them, +on a public account, in this port, when Governor Phillip commanded the +Europe: each party had acted merely for the honour of the nation to which +he belonged, and the Viceroy, with the true spirit of a man of honour, +far from resenting a conduct so similar to his own, seemed now to make it +his object to obliterate every recollection of offence. As soon as he was +fully informed of the nature of Governor Phillip's commission, he gave it +out in orders to the garrison that the same honours should be paid to +that officer as to himself. This distinction the Governor modestly wished +to decline, but was not permitted. His officers were all introduced to +the Viceroy, and were, as well as himself, received with every possible +mark of attention to them, and regard for their country. They were +allowed to visit all parts of the city, and even to make excursions as +far as five miles into the country, entirely unattended: an indulgence +very unusual to strangers, and considering what we read of the jealousy +of the Portuguese Government respecting its diamond mines, the more +extraordinary. + +Provisions were here so cheap, that notwithstanding the allowance of meat +was fixed by Governor Phillip at twenty ounces a day, the men were +victualled completely, rice, fresh vegetables, and firing included, at +three-pence three-farthings a head. Wine was not at this season to be +had, except from the retail dealers, less was therefore purchased than +would otherwise have been taken. Rum, however, was laid in; and all such +seeds and plants procured as were thought likely to flourish on the coast +of New South Wales, particularly coffee, indigo, cotton, and the +cochineal fig.* As a substitute for bread, if it should become scarce, +one hundred sacks of cassada were purchased at a very advantageous price. + +[* Cactus Cochinilifer, of Linnaeus.] + +Cassada, the bread of thousands in the tropical climates, affords one of +those instances in which the ingenuity of man might be said to triumph +over the intentions of nature, were it not evidently the design of +Providence that we should in all ways exert our invention and sagacity to +the utmost, for our own security and support. It is the root of a shrub +called Cassada, or Cassava Jatropha, and in its crude state is highly +poisonous. By washing, pressure, and evaporation, it is deprived of all +its noxious qualities, and being formed into cakes becomes a salubrious +and not an unpalatable substitute for bread. + +By the indulgence of the Viceroy, the deficiency in the military stores +observed at the departure of the transports from England, was made up by +a supply purchased from the Royal arsenal; nor was any assistance +withheld which either the place afforded, or the stores of government +could furnish. + +The circumstances, which in this place most astonish a stranger, and +particularly a Protestant, are, the great abundance of images dispersed +throughout the city, and the devotion paid to them. They are placed at +the corner of almost every street, and are never passed without a +respectful salutation; but at night they are constantly surrounded by +their respective votaries, who offer up their prayers aloud, and make the +air resound in all quarters with the notes of their hymns. The strictness +of manners in the inhabitants is not said to be at all equivalent to the +warmth of this devotion; but in all countries and climates it is found +much easier to perform external acts of reputed piety, than to acquire +the internal habits so much more essential. It must be owned, however, +that our people did not find the ladies so indulgent as some voyagers +have represented them. + +It was near a month before Governor Phillip could furnish his ships with +every thing which it was necessary they should now procure. At length, on +the 4th of September he weighed anchor, and as he passed the fort, +received from the Viceroy the last compliment it was in his power to pay, +being saluted with twenty-one guns. The salute was returned by an equal +number from the Sirius; and thus ended an intercourse honourable to both +nations, and particularly to the principal officer employed in the +service of each. + + +Chapter V. + +September 1787 to January 1788 + +Prospercus passage from Rio to the Cape--Account of the Harbours there--The +Cape of Good Hope not the most Southern point--Height of Table Mountain +and others--Supineness of the European nations in neglecting to occupy the +Cape--Live stock laid in--Departure--Separation of the fleet--Arrival of the +Supply at Botany Bay. + +4 September 1787 + +A Prosperous course by sea, like a state of profound peace and +tranquility in civil society, though most advantageous to those who enjoy +it, is unfavourable to the purposes of narration. The striking facts +which the writer exerts himself to record, and the reader is eager to +peruse, arise only from difficult situations: uniform prosperity is +described in very few words. Of this acceptable but unproductive kind was +the passage of the Botany Bay fleet from Rio de Janeiro to the Cape of +Good Hope; uniformly favourable, and not marked by any extraordinary +incidents. This run, from about lat. 22 deg. south, long. 43 west of London, +to lat. 34 deg. south, long. 18 deg. east of London, a distance of about four +thousand miles, was performed in thirty-nine days: for having left Rio on +the 4th of September, on the 13th of October the ships came to anchor in +Table Bay. Here they were to take their final refreshment, and lay in +every kind of stock with which they were not already provided. In this +period no additional lives had been lost, except that of a single convict +belonging to the Charlotte transport, who fell accidentally into the sea, +and could not by any efforts be recovered. + +13 October 1787 + +Table Bay, on the north-west side of the Cape of Good Hope, is named from +the Table Mountain, a promontory of considerable elevation, at the foot +of which, and almost in the centre of the Bay, stands Cape Town, the +principal Dutch settlement in this territory. This Bay cannot properly be +called a port, being by no means a station of security; it is exposed to +all the violence of the winds which set into it from the sea; and is far +from sufficiently secured from those which blow from the land. The gusts +which descend from the summit of Table Mountain are sufficient to force +ships from their anchors, and even violently to annoy persons on the +shore, by destroying any tents or other temporary edifices which may be +erected, and raising clouds of fine dust, which produce very troublesome +effects. A gale of this kind, from the south-east, blew for three days +successively when Capt. Cook lay here in his first voyage, at which time, +he informs us, the Resolution was the only ship in the harbour that had +not dragged her anchors. The storms from the sea are still more +formidable; so much so, that ships have frequently been driven by them +from their anchorage, and wrecked at the head of the Bay. But these +accidents happen chiefly in the quaade mousson, or winter months, from +May 14 to the same day of August; during which time few ships venture to +anchor here. Our fleet, arriving later, lay perfectly unmolested as long +as it was necessary for it to remain in this station. + +False Bay, on the south-east side of the Cape, is more secure than Table +Bay, during the prevalence of the north-west winds, but still less so in +strong gales from the south-east. It is however less frequented, being +twenty-four miles of very heavy road distant from Cape Town, whence +almost all necessaries must be procured. The most sheltered part of False +Bay is a recess on the west side, called Simon's Bay. + +The Cape of Good Hope, though popularly called, and perhaps pretty +generally esteemed so, is not in truth the most southern point of Africa. +The land which projects furthest to the south is a point to the east of +it, called by the English Cape Lagullus; a name corrupted from the +original Portugueze das Agulhas, which, as well as the French appellation +des Aiguilles, is descriptive of its form, and would rightly be +translated Needle Cape. Three eminences, divided by very narrow passes, +and appearing in a distant view like three summits of the same mountain, +stand at the head of Table Bay.--They are however of different heights, by +which difference, as well as by that of their shape, they may be +distinguished. Table Mountain is so called from its appearance, as it +terminates in a flat horizontal surface, from which the face of the rock +descends almost perpendicularly. This mountain rises to about 3567 feet +above the level of the sea. Devil's Head, called also Charles mountain, +is situated to the east of the former, and is not above 3368 feet in +height; and on the west side of Table Mountain, Lion's Head, whose name +is also meant to be descriptive, does not exceed 2764 feet. In the +neighbourhood of the latter lies Constantia, a district consisting of two +farms, wherein the famous wines of that name are produced. + +Our voyagers found provisions less plentiful and less reasonable in price +at Cape Town than they had been taught to expect. Board and lodging, +which are to be had only in private houses, stood the officers in two +rix-dollars a day, which is near nine shillings sterling. This town, the +only place in the whole colony to which that title can be applied with +propriety, is of no great extent; it does not in any part exceed two +miles: and the country, colonized here by the Dutch, is in general so +unfavourable to cultivation, that it is not without some astonishment +that we find them able to raise provisions from it in sufficient +abundance to supply themselves, and the ships of so many nations which +constantly resort to the Cape. + +When we consider the vast advantages derived by the Dutch colonists from +this traffic, and the almost indispensible necessity by which navigators +of all nations are driven to seek refreshment there, it cannot but appear +extraordinary, that from the discovery of the Cape in 1493, by Barthelemi +Diaz, to the year 1650, when, at the suggestion of John Van Riebeck, the +first Dutch colony was sent, a spot so very favourable to commerce and +navigation should have remained unoccupied by Europeans. Perhaps all the +perseverance of the Dutch character was necessary even to suggest the +idea of maintaining an establishment in a soil so burnt by the sun, and +so little disposed to repay the toil of the cultivator. The example and +success of this people may serve, however, as an useful instruction to +all who in great undertakings are deterred by trifling obstacles; and +who, rather than contend with difficulties, are inclined to relinquish +the most evident advantages. + +But though the country near the Cape had not charms enough to render it +as pleasing as that which surrounds Rio de Janeiro, yet the Governor, +Mynheer Van Graaffe, was not far behind the Viceroy of Brazil in +attention to the English officers. They were admitted to his table, where +they were elegantly entertained, and had reason to be pleased in all +respects with his behaviour and disposition. Yet the minds of his people +were not at this time in a tranquil state; the accounts from Holland were +such as occasioned much uneasiness, and great preparations were making at +the fort, from apprehension of a rupture with some other power. + +In the course of a month, the live stock and other provisions were +procured; and the ships, having on board not less than five hundred +animals of different kinds, but chiefly poultry, put on an appearance +which naturally enough excited the idea of Noah's ark. This supply, +considering that the country had previously suffered from a dearth, was +very considerable; but it was purchased of course at a higher expence +considerably than it would have been in a time of greater plenty. + +12 November 1787 + +On the 12th of November the fleet set sail, and was for many days much +delayed by strong winds from the south-east. + +25 November 1787 + +On the 25th, being then only 80 leagues to the eastward of the Cape, +Governor Phillip left the Sirius and went on board the Supply tender; +in hopes, by leaving the convoy, to gain sufficient time for examining +the country round Botany Bay, so as to fix on the situation most +eligible for the colony, before the transports should arrive. At the +same time he ordered the agents for the transports, who were in the +Alexander, to separate themselves from the convoy with that ship, +the Scarborough and Friendship, which, as they were better sailors +than the rest, might reasonably be expected sooner: in which case, +by the labour of the convicts they had on board, much might be done +in making the necessary preparations for landing the provisions and +stores. + +Major Ross, the Commandant of Marines, now left the Sirius, and went on +board the Scarborough, that he might accompany that part of the +detachment which probably would be landed first. Captain Hunter, in the +Sirius, was to follow with the store-ships, and the remainder of the +transports; and he had the necessary instructions for his future +proceedings, in case the Supply had met with any accident. Lieutenant +Gidley King, since appointed Commandant of Norfolk Island, accompanied +Governor Phillip in the Supply. + +3 January 1788 + +From this time to the 3d of January, 1788, the winds were as favourable +as could be wished, blowing generally in very strong gales from the +north-west, west, and south-west. Once only the wind had shifted to the +east, but continued in that direction not more than a few hours. Thus +assisted, the Supply, which sailed but very indifferently, and turned +out, from what she had suffered in the voyage, to be hardly a safe +conveyance, performed in fifty-one days a voyage of more than seven +thousand miles. On the day abovementioned she was within sight of the +coast of New South Wales. But the winds then became variable, and a +current, which at times set very strongly to the southward, so much +impeded her course, that it was not till the 18th that she arrived at +Botany Bay. + + +Chapter VI. + +January 1788 + +First interview with the natives--the bay examined--arrival of the whole +fleet--Port Jackson examined--second interview with the natives--and +third--Governor Phillip returns to Botany Bay--and gives orders for the +evacuation of it. + +18 January 1788 + +At the very first landing of Governor Phillip on the shore of Botany Bay, +an interview with the natives took place. They were all armed, but on +seeing the Governor approach with signs of friendship, alone and unarmed, +they readily returned his confidence by laying down their weapons. They +were perfectly devoid of cloathing, yet seemed fond of ornaments, putting +the beads and red baize that were given them, on their heads or necks, +and appearing pleased to wear them. The presents offered by their new +visitors were all readily accepted, nor did any kind of disagreement +arise while the ships remained in Botany Bay. This very pleasing effect +was produced in no small degree by the personal address, as well as by +the great care and attention of the Governor. Nor were the orders which +enforced a conduct so humane, more honourable to the persons from whom +they originated, than the punctual execution of them was to the officers +sent out: it was evident that their wishes coincided with their duty; and +that a sanguinary temper was no longer to disgrace the European settlers +in countries newly discovered. + +The next care after landing was the examination of the bay itself, from +which it appeared that, though extensive, it did not afford a shelter +from the easterly winds: and that, in consequence of its shallowness, +ships even of a moderate draught, would always be obliged to anchor with +the entrance of the bay open, where they must be exposed to a heavy sea, +that rolls in whenever it blows hard from the eastward. + +Several runs of fresh water were found in different parts of the bay, but +there did not appear to be any situation to which there was not some very +strong objection. In the northern part of it is a small creek, which runs +a considerable way into the country, but it has water only for a boat, +the sides of it are frequently overflowed, and the low lands near it are +a perfect swamp. The western branch of the bay is continued to a great +extent, but the officers sent to examine it could not find there any +supply of fresh water, except in very small drains. + +Point Sutherland offered the most eligible situation, having a run of +good water, though not in very great abundance. But to this part of the +harbour the ships could not approach, and the ground near it, even in the +higher parts, was in general damp and spungy. Smaller numbers might +indeed in several spots have found a comfortable residence, but no place +was found in the whole circuit of Botany Bay which seemed at all +calculated for the reception of so large a settlement. While this +examination was carried on, the whole fleet had arrived. The Supply had +not so much outsailed the other ships as to give Governor Phillip the +advantage he had expected in point of time. On the 19th of January, the +Alexander, Scarborough, and Friendship, cast anchor in Botany Bay; and on +the 20th, the Sirius, with the remainder of the convoy*. These ships had +all continued very healthy; they had not, however, yet arrived at their +final station. + +[* The annexed view of Botany Bay, represents the Supply, etc. at anchor, +and the Sirius with her convoy coming into the bay.] + +The openness of this bay, and the dampness of the soil, by which the +people would probably be rendered unhealthy, had already determined the +Governor to seek another situation. He resolved, therefore, to examine +Port Jackson, a bay mentioned by Captain Cook as immediately to the north +of this. There he hoped to find, not only a better harbour, but a fitter +place for the establishment of his new government. But that no time might +be lost, in case of a disappointment in these particulars, the ground +near Point Sutherland was ordered immediately to be cleared, and +preparations to be made for landing, under the direction of the +Lieutenant Governor. + +These arrangements having been settled, Governor Phillip prepared to +proceed to the examination of Port Jackson: and as the time of his +absence, had he gone in the Supply, must have been very uncertain, +he went round with three boats; taking with him Captain Hunter +and several other officers, that by examining several parts of the +harbour at once the greater dispatch might be made. + +22d January, 1788. + +On the 22d of January they set out upon this expedition, and early +in the afternoon arrived at Port Jackson, which is distant about three +leagues. Here all regret arising from the former disappointments was +at once obliterated; and Governor Phillip had the satisfaction to find +one of the finest harbours in the world, in which a thousand sail of +the line might ride in perfect security. + +The different coves of this harbour were examined with all possible +expedition, and the preference was given to one which had the finest +spring of water, and in which ships can anchor so close to the shore, +that at a very small expence quays may be constructed at which the +largest vessels may unload. This cove is about half a mile in length, and +a quarter of a mile across at the entrance. In honour of Lord Sydney, the +Governor distinguished it by the name of Sydney Cove. + +On the arrival of the boats at Port Jackson, a second party of the +natives made its appearance near the place of landing. These also were +armed with lances, and at first were very vociferous; but the same gentle +means used towards the others easily persuaded these also to discard +their suspicions, and to accept whatsoever was offered. One man in +particular, who appeared to be the chief of this tribe, shewed very +singular marks both of confidence in his new friends, and of determined +resolution. Under the guidance of Governor Phillip, to whom he +voluntarily intrusted himself, he went to a part of the beach where the +men belonging to the boats were then boiling their meat: when he +approached the marines, who were drawn up near that place, and saw that +by proceeding he should be separated from his companions, who remained +with several of the officers at some distance, he stopped, and with great +firmness, seemed by words and gestures to threaten revenge if any +advantage should be taken of his situation. He then went on with perfect +calmness to examine what was boiling in the pot, and by the manner in +which he expressed his admiration, made it evident that he intended to +profit by what he saw. Governor Phillip contrived to make him understand +that large shells might conveniently be used for the same purpose, and it +is probable that by these hints, added to his own observation, he will be +enabled to introduce the art of boiling among his countrymen. Hitherto +they appear to have known no other way of dressing food than broiling. +Their methods of kindling fire are probably very imperfect and laborious, +for it is observed that they usually keep it burning, and are very rarely +seen without either a fire actually made, or a piece of lighted wood, +which they carry with them from place to place, and even in their +canoes.* The perpetual fires, which in some countries formed a part of +the national religion, had perhaps no other origin than a similar +inability to produce it at pleasure; and if we suppose the original flame +to have been kindled by lightning, the fiction of its coming down from +heaven will be found to deviate very little from the truth. + +[* In Hawksw. Voy. vol. iii. p. 234, it is said that they produce fire +with great facility, etc. which account is the more correct, time will +probably show.] + +In passing near a point of land in this harbour, the boats were perceived +by a number of the natives, twenty of whom waded into the water unarmed, +received what was offered them, and examined the boat with a curiosity +which impressed a higher idea of them than any former accounts of their +manners had suggested. This confidence, and manly behaviour, induced +Governor Phillip, who was highly pleased with it, to give the place the +name of Manly Cove. The same people afterwards joined the party at the +place where they had landed to dine. They were then armed, two of them +with shields and swords, the rest with lances only. The swords were made +of wood, small in the gripe, and apparently less formidable than a good +stick. One of these men had a kind of white clay rubbed upon the upper +part of his face, so as to have the appearance of a mask. This ornament, +if it can be called such, is not common among them, and is probably +assumed only on particular occasions, or as a distinction to a few +individuals. One woman had been seen on the rocks as the boats passed, +with her face, neck and breasts thus painted, and to our people appeared +the most disgusting figure imaginable; her own countrymen were perhaps +delighted by the beauty of the effect. + +During the preparation for dinner the curiosity of these visitors +rendered them very troublesome, but an innocent contrivance altogether +removed the inconvenience. Governor Phillip drew a circle round the place +where the English were, and without much difficulty made the natives +understand that they were not to pass that line; after which they sat +down in perfect quietness. Another proof how tractable these people are, +when no insult or injury is offered, and when proper means are to +influence the simplicity of their minds. + +24 January 1788 + +January 24th, 1788. On the 24th of January, Governor Phillip having +sufficiently explored Port Jackson, and found it in all respects highly +calculated to receive such a settlement as he was appointed to establish, +returned to Botany Bay. On his arrival there, the reports made to him, +both of the ground which the people were clearing, and of the upper parts +of the Bay, which in this interval had been more particularly examined, +were in the greatest degree unfavourable. It was impossible after this to +hesitate concerning the choice of a situation; and orders were +accordingly issued for the removal of the whole fleet to Port Jackson. + +That Botany Bay should have appeared to Captain Cook in a more +advantageous light than to Governor Phillip, is not by any means +extraordinary. Their objects were very different; the one required only +shelter and refreshment for a small vessel, and during but a short time: +the other had great numbers to provide for, and was necessitated to find +a place wherein ships of very considerable burthen might approach the +shore with ease, and lie at all times in perfect security. The appearance +of the place is picturesque and pleasing, and the ample harvest it +afforded, of botanical acquisitions, made it interesting to the +philosophical gentlemen engaged in that expedition; but something more +essential than beauty of appearance, and more necessary than +philosophical riches, must be sought in a place where the permanent +residence of multitudes is to be established. + + +Chapter VII. + +January 1788 + +Removal from Botany Bay--Arrival of two French ships--Account of +them--Preparations for encampment--Difficulties--Scurvy breaks out--Account +of the red and yellow gum trees. + +24 January 1788 + +Preparations for a general removal were now made with all convenient +expedition: but on the morning of the 24th the greatest astonishment was +spread throughout the fleet by the appearance of two ships, under French +colours. In this remote region visitors from Europe were very little +expected, and their arrival, while the cause of it remained unknown, +produced in some minds a temporary apprehension, accompanied by a +multiplicity of conjectures, many of them sufficiently ridiculous. +Governor Phillip was the first to recollect that two ships had been sent +out some time before from France for the purpose of discovery, and +rightly concluded these to be the same. But as the opposition of the +wind, and a strong current prevented them at present from working into +the harbour, and even drove them out of sight again to the south, he did +not think proper to delay his departure for the sake of making further +enquiry. + +25 January 1788 + +On the 25th of January therefore, seven days after the arrival of the +Supply, Governor Phillip quitted Botany Bay in the same ship, and sailed +to Port Jackson. The rest of the fleet, under convoy of the Sirius, was +ordered to follow, as soon as the abatement of the wind, which then blew +a strong gale, should facilitate its working out of the Bay. The Supply +was scarcely out of sight when the French ships again appeared off the +mouth of the harbour, and a boat was immediately sent to them, with +offers of every kind of information and assistance their situation could +require. It was now learnt that these were, as the Governor had supposed, +the Boussole and the Astrolabe, on a voyage of discovery, under the +conduct of Monsieur La Perouse. + +26 January 1788 + +On the 26th, the transports and store ships, attended by the Sirius, +finally evacuated Botany Bay; and in a very short time they were all +assembled in Sydney Cove, the place now destined for their port, and for +the reception of the new settlement. The French ships had come to anchor +in Botany Bay just before the departure of the Sirius; and during the +intercourse which then took place, M. la Perouse had expressed a strong +desire of having some letters conveyed to Europe. Governor Phillip was no +sooner informed of this, than he dispatched an officer to him with full +information of the time when it was probable our ships would sail, and +with assurances that his letters should be punctually transmitted. By +this officer the following intelligence was brought back concerning the +voyage of the Astrolabe and Boussole. + +These vessels had sailed from France in June 1785. They had touched at +the Isle of Santa Catharina on the coast of Brasil, from thence had gone +by the extremity of South America into the Pacific Ocean, where they had +run along by the coasts of Chili and California. They had afterwards +visited Easter Island, Nootka Sound, Cook's River, Kamschatka, Manilla, +the Isles des Navigateurs, Sandwich and the Friendly Islands. M. la +Perouse had also anchored off Norfolk Island, but could not land, on +account of the surf. In this long voyage he had not lost any of his +people by sickness; but two boats crews had unfortunately perished in a +surf on the north-west coast of America; and at Masuna, one of the Isles +des Navigateurs, M. L'Angle, Captain of the Astrolabe, had met with a +fate still more unfortunate. That officer had gone ashore with two long +boats for the purpose of filling some water casks. His party amounted to +forty men, and the natives, from whom the French had received abundance +of refreshments, and with whom they had been uniformly on the best terms, +did not on their landing show any signs of a change of disposition. +Malice unprovoked, and treachery without a motive, seem inconsistent even +with the manners of savages; the French officers therefore, confiding in +this unbroken state of amity, had suffered their boats to lie aground. +But whether it were that the friendly behaviour of the natives had +proceeded only from fear, or that some unknown offence had been given, +they seized the moment when the men were busied in getting out the boats, +to make an attack equally furious and unexpected. The assault was made +with stones, of which prodigious numbers were thrown with extraordinary +force and accuracy of direction. To this treachery M. L'Angle fell a +sacrifice, and with him twelve of his party, officers and men, the +long-boats were destroyed, and the remainder of those who had gone ashore +escaped with difficulty in their small boats. The ships in the mean time +were under sail, and having passed a point of land that intercepted the +view, knew nothing of this melancholy and unaccountable affray till the +boats returned. This fatal result from too implicit a confidence, may, +perhaps very properly, increase the caution of Europeans in their +commerce with savages, but ought not to excite suspicion. The resentments +of such people are sudden and sanguinary, and, where the intercourse of +language is wanting, may easily be awakened by misapprehension: but it +seems possible to treat them with sufficient marks of confidence, without +abandoning the guards of prudence. Offence is often given by the men, +while the officers are most studious to preserve harmony, and against the +transports of rage which arise on such occasions, it is always necessary +to be prepared. Perhaps, also, a degree of awe should always be kept up, +even to preserve their friendship. It has been uniformly remarked by our +people, that defenceless stragglers are generally ill-treated by the +natives of New South Wales, while towards parties armed and on their +guard, they behave in the most amicable manner. + +The debarkation was now made at Sydney Cove, and the work of clearing the +ground for the encampment, as well as for the storehouses and other +buildings, was begun without loss of time. But the labour which attended +this necessary operation was greater than can easily be imagined by those +who were not spectators of it. The coast, as well as the neighbouring +country in general, is covered with wood; and though in this spot the +trees stood more apart, and were less incumbered with underwood than in +many other places, yet their magnitude was such as to render not only the +felling, but the removal of them afterwards, a task of no small +difficulty. By the habitual indolence of the convicts, and the want of +proper overseers to keep them to their duty, their labour was rendered +less efficient than it might have been. + +26 January 1788 + +In the evening of the 26th the colours were displayed on shore, +and the Governor, with several of his principal officers and others, +assembled round the flag-staff, drank the king's health, and success +to the settlement, with all that display of form which on such occasions +is esteemed propitious, because it enlivens the spirits, and fills +the imagination with pleasing presages. From this time to the end +of the first week in February all was hurry and exertion. They who +gave orders and they who received them were equally occupied; nor +is it easy to conceive a busier scene than this part of the coast +exhibited during the continuance of these first efforts towards +establishment. The plan of the encampment was quickly formed, and places +were marked out for every different purpose, so as to introduce, as much +as possible, strict order and regularity. The materials and frame work to +construct a slight temporary habitation for the Governor, had been +brought out from England ready formed: these were landed and put together +with as much expedition as the circumstances would allow. Hospital tents +were also without delay erected, for which there was soon but too much +occasion. In the passage from the Cape there had been but little +sickness, nor had many died even among the convicts; but soon after +landing, a dysentery prevailed, which in several instances proved fatal, +and the scurvy began to rage with a virulence which kept the hospital +tents generally supplied with patients. For those afflicted with this +disorder, the advantage of fish or other fresh provisions could but +rarely be procured; nor were esculent vegetables often obtained in +sufficient plenty to produce any material alleviation of the complaint. +In the dysentery, the red gum of the tree which principally abounds on +this coast, was found a very powerful remedy. The yellow gum has been +discovered to possess the same property, but in an inferior degree. + +The tree which yields the former kind of gum is very considerable in +size, and grows to a great height before it puts out any branches. The +red gum is usually compared to that called sanguis draconis, but differs +from it by being perfectly soluble in water, whereas the other, being +more properly a resin, will not dissolve except in spirits of wine. It +may be drawn from the tree by tapping, or taken out of the veins of the +wood when dry, in which it is copiously distributed. The leaves are long +and narrow, not unlike those of a willow. The wood is heavy and fine +grained, but being much intersected by the channels containing the gum, +splits and warps in such a manner as soon to become entirely useless; +especially when worked up, as necessity at first occasioned it to be, +without having been properly seasoned. + +The yellow gum as it is called, is strictly a resin, not being at all +soluble in water; in appearance it strongly resembles gamboge, but has +not the property of staining. The plant that produces it is low and +small, with long grassy leaves; but the fructification of it shoots out +in a singular manner from the centre of the leaves, on a single straight +stem, to the height of twelve or fourteen feet. Of this stem, which is +strong and light, like some of the reed class, the natives usually make +their spears; sometimes pointing them with a piece of the same substance +made sharp, but more frequently with bone. The resin is generally dug up +out of the soil under the tree, not collected from it, and may perhaps be +that which Tasman calls "gum lac of the ground." The form of this plant +is very exactly delineated in the annexed plate, and its proportion to +other trees may be collected from the plate, entitled, A View in New +South Wales, in which many of this species are introduced. + +The month of February was ushered in by a very violent storm of thunder +and rain. The lightning struck and shivered a tree, under which a shed +had been erected for some sheep, and five of those animals were at the +same time unfortunately destroyed by it. The encampment still went on +with great alacrity, so that in the beginning of this month the work of +building public storehouses was undertaken; and unremitting diligence +began, though very gradually, to triumph over the obstacles which the +nature of the place presented. + +Chapter VIII. + +February 1788 + +Description of Port Jackson and the adjacent country--The Governor's +commission read--his Speech--his humane resolutions respecting the +Natives--difficulties in erecting huts and other buildings--departure of +Lieutenant King to Norfolk Island. +A View in Port Jackson. + +Port Jackson was not visited or explored by Captain Cook; it was seen +only at the distance of between two or three miles from the coast: had +any good fortune conducted him into that harbour, he would have found it +much more worthy of his attention as a seaman, than that in which he +passed a week. Governor Phillip himself pronounces it to be a harbour, in +extent and security, superior to any he has ever seen: and the most +experienced navigators who were with him fully concur in that opinion. +From an entrance not more than two miles across, Port Jackson gradually +extends into a noble and capacious bason; having soundings sufficient for +the largest vessels, and space to accommodate, in perfect security, any +number that could be assembled. It runs chiefly in a western direction, +about thirteen miles into the country, and contains not less than an +hundred small coves, formed by narrow necks of land, whose projections +afford admirable shelter from all winds. Sydney Cove lies on the South +side of the harbour, between five and six miles from the entrance. The +necks of land that form the coves are mostly covered with timber, yet so +rocky that it is not easy to comprehend how the trees could have found +sufficient nourishment to bring them to so considerable a magnitude; but +the soil between the rocks is very good, and into those spaces the +principal roots have found their way. The soil in other parts of the +coast immediately about Port Jackson is of various qualities. That neck +of land which divides the south end of the harbour from the sea is +chiefly sand. Between Sydney Cove and Botany Bay the first space is +occupied by a wood, in some parts a mile and a half, in others three +miles across; beyond that, is a kind of heath, poor, sandy, and full of +swamps. As far as the eye can reach to the westward, the country is one +continued wood. The head of the bay in Port Jackson, seemed at first to +offer some advantages of ground, but as it is partly left dry at low +water, and as the winds are much obstructed there by the woods and by the +windings of the channel, it was deemed that it must probably be +unhealthful, till the country can be cleared. + +There are several parts of the harbour in which the trees stand at a +greater distance from each other than in Sydney Cove; some of these which +have small runs of water, and a promising soil, Governor Phillip purposed +to cultivate as soon as hands could be spared; but the advantage of being +able to land the stores and provisions with so much ease, unavoidably +determined his choice of a place for the principal settlement. Had it +been attempted to remove those necessaries only one mile from the spot +where they were landed, the undertaking probably would have been +fruitless; so many were the obstacles to land carriage. At the head of +Sydney Cove, therefore, Governor Phillip had fixed the seat of his +government; but intent upon providing the best and earliest accommodation +for those who were to be encamped with him; and wholly occupied by the +continual necessity of giving directions, he had not yet found leisure +for assuming regularly his powers and title of Governor. At length the +hurry of the first preparations gave way to this more tranquil business. + +7 February 1788 + +The 7th of February, 1788, was the memorable day which established a +regular form of Government on the coast of New South Wales. For obvious +reasons, all possible solemnity was given to the proceedings necessary on +this occasion. On a space previously cleared, the whole colony was +assembled; the military drawn up, and under arms; the convicts stationed +apart; and near the person of the Governor, those who were to hold the +principal offices under him. The Royal Commission was then read by Mr. D. +Collins, the Judge Advocate. By this instrument Arthur Phillip was +constituted and appointed Captain General and Governor in Chief in and +over the territory, called New South Wales; extending from the northern +cape, or extremity of the coast, called Cape York, in the latitude of ten +degrees, thirty-seven minutes south, to the southern extremity of the +said territory of New South Wales, or South Cape, in the latitude of +forty-three degrees, thirty-nine minutes south, and of all the country +inland to the westward, as far as the one hundred and thirty-fifth degree +of east longitude, reckoning from the meridian of Greenwich, including +all the islands adjacent in the Pacific Ocean, within the latitudes +aforesaid of 10 deg.. 37'. south, and 43 deg.. 39'. south, and of all towns, +garrisons, castles, forts, and all other fortifications, or other +military works which may be hereafter erected upon the said territory, or +any of the said islands. The act of Parliament establishing the courts of +judicature was next read; and lastly, the patents under the great seal, +empowering the proper persons to convene and hold those courts whenever +the exigency should require. The Office of Lieutenant Governor was +conferred on Major Ross, of the Marines. A triple discharge of musquetry +concluded this part of the ceremony; after which Governor Phillip +advanced, and addressing first the private soldiers, thanked them for +their steady good conduct on every occasion: an honour which was repeated +to them in the next general orders. He then turned to the convicts, and +distinctly explained to them the nature of their present situation. The +greater part, he bade them recollect, had already forfeited their lives +to the justice of their country: yet, by the lenity of its laws, they +were now so placed that, by industry and good behaviour, they might in +time regain the advantages and estimation in society of which they had +deprived themselves. They not only had every encouragement to make that +effort, but were removed almost entirely from every temptation to guilt. +There was little in this infant community which one man could plunder +from another, and any dishonest attempts in so small a society would +almost infallibly be discovered. To persons detected in such crimes, he +could not promise any mercy; nor indeed to any whom, under their +circumstances, should presume to offend against the peace and good order +of the settlement. What mercy could do for them they had already +experienced; nor could any good be now expected from those whom neither +past warnings, nor the peculiarities of their present situation could +preserve from guilt. Against offenders, therefore, the rigour of the law +would certainly be put in force: while they whose behaviour should in any +degree promise reformation, might always depend upon encouragement fully +proportioned to their deserts. He particularly noticed the illegal +intercourse between the sexes as an offence which encouraged a general +profligacy of manners, and was in several ways injurious to society. To +prevent this, he strongly recommended marriage, and promised every kind +of countenance and assistance to those who, by entering into that state, +should manifest their willingness to conform to the laws of morality and +religion. Governor Phillip concluded his address, by declaring his +earnest desire to promote the happiness of all who were under his +government, and to render the settlement in New South Wales advantageous +and honourabe to his country. + +This speech, which was received with universal acclamations, terminated +the ceremonial peculiar to the day. Nor was it altogether without its +proper effect: For we are informed, that in the course of the ensuing +week fourteen marriages took place among the convicts. The assembly was +now dispersed, and the Governor proceeded to review the troops on the +ground cleared for a parade: after which, he gave a dinner to the +officers, and the first evening of his government was concluded +propitiously, in good order and innocent festivity, amidst the repetition +of wishes for its prosperity. + +A rising government could not easily be committed to better hands. +Governor Phillip appears to have every requisite to ensure the success of +the undertaking intrusted to him, as far as the qualities of one man can +ensure it. Intelligent, active, persevering with firmness to make his +authority respected, and mildness to render it pleasing, he was +determined, if possible, to bring even the native inhabitants of New +South Wales into a voluntary subjection; or at least to establish with +them a strict amity and alliance. Induced also by motives of humanity, it +was his determination from his first landing, to treat them with the +utmost kindness: and he was firmly resolved, that, whatever differences +might arise, nothing less than the most absolute necessity should ever +compel him to fire upon them. In this resolution, by good fortune, and by +his own great address, he has happily been enabled to persevere. But +notwithstanding this, his intentions of establishing a friendly +intercourse have hitherto been frustrated. M. De la Peyrouse,* while he +remained in Botany Bay, had some quarrel with the inhabitants, which +unfortunately obliged him to use his fire-arms against them: this affair, +joined to the ill behaviour of some of the convicts, who in spite of all +prohibitions, and at the risque of all consequences, have wandered out +among them, has produced a shyness on their parts which it has not yet +been possible to remove, though the properest means have been taken to +regain their confidence. Their dislike to the Europeans is probably +increased by discovering that they intend to remain among them, and that +they interfere with them in some of their best fishing places, which +doubtless are, in their circumstances, objects of very great importance. +Some of the convicts who have straggled into the woods have been killed, +and others dangerously wounded by the natives, but there is great reason +to suppose that in these cases the convicts have usually been the +aggressors. + +[* This is the right form of that officer's name; it was printed otherwise +in a former passage by mistake.] + +As the month of February advanced heavy rains began to fall, which +pointed out the necessity of procuring shelter for the people as soon as +possible. To have expedited this work in the degree which was desirable a +great number of artificers would have been required. But this advantage +could not be had. Only sixteen carpenters could be hired from all the +ships; among the convicts no more than twelve were of this profession, +and of them several were sick. These therefore together formed but a +small party, in proportion to the work which was to be done. One hundred +convicts were added as labourers; but with every effort, it was found +impossible to complete either the barracks for the men, or the huts for +the officers, as soon as was desired. As late as the middle of May these +were yet unfinished, as well as the hospital, and the storehouse for +those provisions which were not landed at first. The Governor himself at +that time was still lodged in his temporary house of canvas, which was +not perfectly impervious either to wind or weather. + +14 February 1788. + +On the 14th of February a party was sent out in the Supply, to settle on +a small island to the north-west of New Zealand, in latitude 29 deg. south, +and longitude 168 deg.. 10'. east from London, which was discovered and much +commended by Captain Cook, and by him named Norfolk Island, in honour of +the noble family to which that title belongs. To the office of +superintendant and commandant of this island, and the settlement to be +made upon it, Governor Phillip appointed Philip Gidley King, second +lieutenant of his Majesty's ship Sirius, an officer much esteemed by him +as of great merit in his profession; and highly spoken of in his letters +as a man, whose perseverance in that or any other service might fully be +depended on. As it was known that there were no inhabitants on Norfolk +Island, there was sent with Lieut. King only a small detachment, +consisting of one subaltern officer, and six marines, a very promising +young man who was a midshipman, a surgeon,* two men who understood the +cultivation and dressing of flax, with nine men and six women convicts. +That the nature of this settlement may be fully understood, a copy of the +instructions delivered to Mr. King at his departure is subjoined to this +chapter. + +[* The surgeon's name is Jamison, whose intelligent letters to Lewis +Wolfe, Esq; were kindly lent to the publisher, and have afforded much +useful information.] + + +INSTRUCTIONS for PHILIP GIDLEY KING, Esq; Superintendant and Commandant +of the Settlement of NORFOLK ISLAND. + +With these instructions you will receive my Commission, appointing you to +superintend and command the settlement to be formed in Norfolk Island, +and to obey all such orders as you shall from time to time receive from +me, his Majesty's Governor in Chief, and Captain General of the territory +of New South Wales and its dependencies, or from the Lieutenant-Governor +in my absence. + +You are therefore to proceed in his Majesty's armed tender Supply, whose +commander has my orders to receive you, with the men and women, stores +and provisions necessary for forming the intended settlement; and on your +landing on Norfolk Island you are to take upon you the execution of the +trust reposed in you, causing my commission, appointing you +superintendant over the said settlement, to be publicly read. + +After having taken the necessary measures for securing yourself and +people, and for the preservation of the stores and provisions, you are +immediately to proceed to the cultivation of the Flax Plant, which you +will find growing spontaneously on the island: as likewise to the +cultivation of cotton, corn, and other plants, with the seeds of which +you are furnished, and which you are to regard as public stock, and of +the increase of which you are to send me an account, that I may know what +quantity may be drawn from the island for public use, or what supplies it +may be necessary to send hereafter. It is left to your discretion to use +such part of the corn that is raised as may be found necessary; but this +you are to do with the greatest oeconomy; and as the corn, flax, cotton, +and other grains are the property of the Crown, and as such are to be +accounted for, you are to keep an exact account of the increase, and you +will in future receive directions for the disposal thereof. + +You are to inform yourself of the nature of the soil, what proportion of +land you find proper for the cultivation of corn, flax, and cotton, as +likewise what quantity of cattle may be bred on the island, and the +number of people you judge necessary for the above purpose. You will +likewise observe what are the prevailing winds in the different seasons +of the year, the best anchorage according to the season, the rise and +fall of the tides, likewise when the dry and rainy seasons begin and end. + +You will be furnished with a four oared boat, and you are not on any +consideration to build, or to permit the building of any vessel or boat +whatever that is decked; or of any boat or vessel that is not decked, +whose length of keel exceeds twenty feet: and if by any accident any +vessel or boat that exceeds twenty feet keel should be driven on the +island, you are immediately to cause such boat or vessel to be scuttled, +or otherwise rendered unserviceable, letting her remain in that situation +until you receive further directions from me. + +You will be furnished with six months provisions, within which time you +will receive an additional supply, but as you will be able to procure +fish and vegetables, you are to endeavour to make the provisions you +receive serve as long as possible. + +The convicts being the servants of the Crown, till the time for which +they are sentenced is expired, their labour is to be for the public; and +you are to take particular notice of their general good or bad behaviour, +that they may hereafter be employed or rewarded according to their +different merits. + +You are to cause the Prayers of the Church of England to be read with all +due solemnity every Sunday, and you are to inforce a due observance of +religion and good order, transmitting to me, as often as opportunity +offers, a full account of your particular situation and transactions. + +You are not to permit any intercourse or trade with any ships or vessels +that may stop at the island, whether English or of any other nation, +unless such ships or vessels should be in distress, in which case you are +to afford them such assistance as may be in your power. + +Given under my hand, at Head Quarters in Port Jackson, New South Wales, +this 12th day of February, 1788. + +(Signed) + +ARTHUR PHILLIP. + + +Chapter IX. + +February 1788 to March 1788 + +A Criminal Court held--Broken Bay explored by Governor Phillip--Interviews +with the Natives--Peculiarities remarked--Friendly behaviour and +extraordinary courage of an old man. + +Governor Phillip soon found with great regret, though doubtless without +much surprise, that in the community committed to his care the strict +enforcement of the sanctions of law was peculiarly necessary. There were +in it many individuals whom neither lenity could touch, nor rigour +terrify; who, with all sense of social duty, appeared to have lost all +value for life itself, and with the same wantonness exposed themselves to +the darts of the savages, and to the severe punishments which, however +reluctantly, every society must inflict when milder methods have been +tried without success. Towards the latter end of February a criminal +court was convened, in which six of the convicts received sentence of +death. One, who was the head of the gang, was executed the same day; of +the rest, one was pardoned; the other four were reprieved, and afterwards +exiled to a small island within the bay, where they were kept on bread +and water. These men had frequently robbed the stores, and the other +convicts. He who suffered, and two others, had been detected in stealing +from the stores the very day that they had received a week's provision; +at a time when their allowance, as settled by the Navy Board, was the +same as that of the soldiers, spirituous liquors excepted. So inveterate +were their habits of dishonesty, that even the apparent want of a motive +could not repress them. + +2 March 1788 + +On the 2d of March Governor Phillip went with a long boat and cutter to +examine the broken land, mentioned by Captain Cook, about eight miles to +the northward of Port Jackson, and by him named Broken Bay. This bay +proved to be very extensive. The first night they slept in the boats, +within a rocky point in the north-west part of the bay, as the natives, +though friendly, appeared to be numerous; and the next day, after passing +a bar that had only water for small vessels, they entered a very +extensive branch, from which the ebb tide came out so strong that the +boats could not row against it in the stream; and here was deep water. +This opening appeared to end in several small branches, and in a large +lagoon which could not then be examined, as there was not time to seek a +channel for the boats among the banks of sand and mud. Most of the land +in the upper part of this branch was low and full of swamps. Pelicans and +various other birds were here seen in great numbers. Among the rest an +uncommon kind, called then the Hooded Gull, and supposed to be a non +descript; but it appears from a drawing sent to England, a plate from +which is here inserted, to be of that species called by Mr. Latham the +Caspian Tern, and is described by him as the second variety of that +species.* + +[* Latham's Synopsis of Birds, vol. vi. p. 351.] + +Leaving this north-west branch they proceeded across the bay, and went +into the south-west branch. This is also very extensive; and from it runs +a second opening to the westward, affording shelter for almost any number +of ships. In this part, as far as could then be examined, there is water +for vessels of the greatest burthen, the soundings being at the entrance +seven fathoms, and in going up still more. Continual rains prevented them +from taking a survey. The land here was found much higher than at Port +Jackson, more rocky, and equally covered with timber. Large trees were +seen growing even on the summits of the mountains, which appeared +accessible only to birds. Immediately round the headland that forms the +southern entrance into the bay, there is a third branch, which Governor +Phillip thought the finest piece of water he had ever seen; and which +therefore he thought worthy to be honoured with the name of Pitt Water. +This, as well as the south-west branch, is of sufficient extent to +contain all the navy of Great Britain. But on a narrow bar which runs +across the entrance it has only eighteen feet depth at low water. Within +the bar there are from seven to fifteen fathoms. The land is not so high +in this part as in the south-west branch, and there are some good +situations where the land might be cultivated. Small springs of water +were seen in most of the coves, and three cascades falling from heights, +which the rains at that time rendered inaccessible. + +In this excursion some interviews with the natives took place. When the +party first landed in Broken Bay several women came down to the beach +with the men. One of these, a young woman, was very talkative and +remarkably cheerful. This was a singular instance, for in general they +are observed on this coast to be much less cheerful than the men, and +apparently under great awe and subjection. They certainly are not treated +with much tenderness, and it is thought that they are employed chiefly in +the canoes, in which women have frequently been seen with very young +children at the breast. The lively young lady, when she joined the party +the second day in her canoe, stood up and gave a song which was far from +unpleasing. The men very readily gave their assistance to the English in +making a fire, and behaved in the most friendly manner. In a bay where +Governor Phillip and his company landed to draw the seine, a number of +the natives again came to them. It was now first observed by the Governor +that the women in general had lost two joints from the little finger of +the left hand. As these appeared to be all married women, he at first +conjectured this privation to be a part of the marriage ceremony; but +going afterwards into a hut where were several women and children, he saw +a girl of five or six years of age whose left hand was thus mutilated; +and at the same time an old woman, and another who appeared to have had +children, on both of whom all the fingers were perfect. Several instances +were afterwards observed of women with child, and of others that were +evidently wives, who had not lost the two joints, and of children from +whom they had been cut. Whatever be the occasion of this mutilation, it +is performed on females only; and considering the imperfection of their +instruments, must be a very painful operation. Nothing has been seen in +the possession of these people that is at all calculated for performing +such an amputation, except a shell fixed to a short stick, and used +generally for pointing their spears, or for separating the oysters from +the rocks. More fingers than one are never cut; and in every instance it +is the same finger that has suffered.* + +[* In Patterson's Travels in Africa, lately published, we are told, that +he met with a tribe of Hottentots near Orange River, all of whom had lost +the first joint of the little finger: the reason they gave for cutting it +off was, that it was a cure for a particular sickness to which they were +subject when young. Fourth Journey, p. 117. It would be a curious +coincidence of customs should it be discovered that the natives of New +Holland do it for any similar reason.] + +The men are distinguished in a different manner: their fingers are not +mutilated, but most of them, as other voyagers have observed, want the +right front tooth in the upper jaw. Governor Phillip having remarked +this, pointed out to them that he had himself lost one of his front +teeth, which occasioned a general clamour; and it was thought he derived +some merit in their opinion from this circumstance. The perforation of +the cartilage that divides the nostrils, and the strange disfiguring +ornament of a long bone or stick thrust through it, was now observed, as +described by Captain Cook; and the same appellation of sprit-sail yard, +was ludicrously applied to it by the sailors. But several very old men +were seen in this excursion who had not lost the tooth, nor had their +noses prepared to receive that grotesque appendage: probably, therefore, +these are marks of distinction: ambition must have its badges, and where +cloaths are not worn, the body itself must be compelled to bear them. + +Whether the scars raised upon the skin were of this kind, or as Captain +Cook understood by their signs, marks of sorrow for deceased friends, +could not now be learnt. They are of a very singular nature: sometimes +the skin is raised from the flesh for several inches, appearing as if it +were filled with wind, and forming a round surface of more than a quarter +of an inch diameter. Their bodies are scarred in various parts, +particularly about the breast and arms, and frequently on the instep. Nor +does the head always escape; one man in particular, putting aside the +hair on the forepart of his head, showed a scar, and then pointing to one +on the foot, and to others on different parts of the body, seemed to +intimate that he thought himself much honoured by having these marks upon +him from head to foot. The women did not appear equally forward to +produce the mutilated finger; nor was it always possible to ascertain +whether they had lost the joints or not. For though they made no attempt +to secrete themselves, nor seemed impressed with any idea that one part +of the body more requires concealment than another, yet there was a +shyness and timidity among them which frequently kept them at a distance. +They never would approach so readily as the men, and sometimes would not +even land from their canoes, but made signs that what was offered should +be given to the men. We are not yet enough acquainted with the manners of +the people to decide whether this reserve proceeds from the fears of the +women, or from the jealousy of their husbands, by whom they are evidently +kept in great subordination. + +One of their modes of fishing was now observed: their hooks are made of +the inside of a shell resembling mother of pearl. When a fish which has +taken the bait is supposed to be too strong to be landed with the line, +the canoe is paddled to shore, and while one man gently draws the fish +along, another stands prepared to strike it with a spear: in this attempt +they seldom fail. In the plate which represents this action, the engraver +has inadvertently left the bodies of the figures rather too white; in +other respects it is very accurate. + +When the southern branch of Broken Bay was first visited, the getting +round the headland that separates the branches, was attended with some +difficulty, on account of very heavy squalls of wind, accompanied with +rain. An attempt was made to land, where there proved not to be +sufficient water for the boat. During this transaction, an old man and a +youth were standing on the rocks where the boat was trying to approach. +Having seen how much our men had laboured to get under land, they were +very solicitous to point out the deepest water. Afterwards they brought +fire, and seemed willing to render any service in their power. Two of the +officers suffered themselves to be conducted by the old man to a cave at +some distance, but declined going in, though he invited them by all the +signs he could invent. This was rather unfortunate, as the rain was +falling very violently, and the cave was found next day sufficiently +large to have sheltered the whole party. The old man certainly took great +pains to make this understood, but the motive of his earnestness +unluckily was mistaken, and his visitors suffered for their suspicions. +He afterwards assisted in clearing away the bushes, and making +preparations for the party to sleep on shore, and next morning was +rewarded with presents for his very friendly behaviour. Two days +afterwards, when Governor Phillip returned to the same spot, the old man +met him with a dance and a song of joy. His son was with him, and several +of the natives; a hatchet was given them and other presents; and as the +Governor was to return next day to Port Jackson, it was hoped that the +friendship thus begun, and so studiously cultivated, would have continued +firm. But as soon as it was dark, the old man stole a spade, and was +caught with it in his hand. Governor Phillip thought it necessary, on +this occasion, to shew some tokens of displeasure, and therefore when the +delinquent approached, he gave him two or three slight slaps on the +shoulder, and then pushed him away, at the same time pointing to the +spade. This gentle chastisement at once destroyed their friendship. The +old man immediately seized a spear, and coming close up to the Governor, +poized it, and seemed determined to strike. But seeing that his threats +were disregarded, (for his antagonist chose rather to risk the effects of +his anger than to fire upon him) or perhaps dissuaded by something the +other natives said, in a few moments he dropped the spear and went away. +It was impossible not to be struck with the courage displayed by him on +this occasion, for Governor Phillip at the time was not alone, but had +several officers and men about him. From this and other similar events, +personal bravery appears to be a quality in which the natives of New +South Wales are not by any means deficient. The old man returned the next +morning with many other natives, but, in order to convince him of his +fault, he was less noticed than his companions, who were presented with +hatchets and various other articles. + +9 March 1788 + +It was now the 9th of March, and Governor Phillip returned to Port +Jackson: having gained some useful knowledge of the country, and +maintained an intercourse with the natives without departing from his +favourite plan of treating them with the utmost kindness. He had +endeavoured at the same time to gain their confidence, if possible, and +secure their friendship. If these humane endeavours were afterwards +rendered fruitless by the wanton profligacy of some depraved individuals, +however he might regret it, he could have no reason to reproach himself. + +The rain, which was almost constant, prevented the Governor from +returning by land, which otherwise he meant to have done, for the sake of +exploring a part of the country which appeared to be good and free from +timber. + + +Chapter X. + +March 1788 + +Departure of the French Ships--Death of M. Le Receveur--Return of the +Supply from Norfolk Island--Description of that Place--Howe Island +discovered. + +10 March 1788 + +On the 10th of March, the French ships sailed from Botany Bay. M. De la +Peyrouse during his stay there had set up two long boats, the frames of +which he had brought with him from Europe. There had not been much +intercourse between the French and English in this interval: both being +too busily employed to waste their time in parties of pleasure. Captain +Clonard had waited on Governor Phillip with the letters which were to be +forwarded to the French ambassador; and a few of the English officers had +gone over by land about the same time to pay a visit in Botany Bay; both +parties were of course received with politeness and hospitality. Some few +of the convicts contrived to abscond, and endeavoured to get admitted +into the French ships, but were, with great propriety, rejected. Those +vessels returned towards the north, where they were to make another +voyage. + +During the stay of M. De la Peyrouse in Botany Bay, Father Le Receveur, +who had come out in the Astrolabe as a naturalist, died. His death was +occasioned by wounds which he received in the unfortunate rencounter at +the Navigator's Islands. A slight monument was erected to his memory, +with the following inscription. + +Hic jacet LE RECEVEUR, +E. F. F. Minimis Galliae Sacerdos, +Physicus in circumnavigatione +Mundi, +Duce DE LA PEYROUSE, +Ob. 17 Feb. 1788. + +The monument being soon after destroyed by the natives, Governor Phillip +caused the inscription to be engraved on copper, and affixed to a +neighbouring tree. M. De la Peyrouse had paid a similar tribute of +respect to the memory of Captain Clerke, at the harbour of St. Peter and +Paul in Kamtschatka. + +19 March 1788 + +On the 19th of this month, Lieutenant Ball arrived in the Supply from +Norfolk Island. He had made that island on the 29th of February, but was +five days off the coast before a place could be found at which it was +possible to land the stores and provisions. So completely do the rocks +surround the island, that it was not easy to find a place even to land a +man. At length, however, they succeeded, having discovered at the +south-west end, a small opening in a reef that runs across a bay. Here +the people, provisions and stores were all put on shore in perfect +safety. The Commandant wrote in high spirits at the promising appearance +of his new territory; and subsequent accounts have proved, that the +opinion he then formed was not erroneous. He described Norfolk Island as +one entire wood, or rather as a garden overrun with the noblest pines, in +straightness, size, and magnitude, far superior to any he had ever seen. +Nothing can exceed the fertility of its soil. Wherever it has been since +examined, a rich black mould has been found to the depth of five or six +feet: and the grain and garden seeds which have been sown, such only +excepted as were damaged in the carriage, or by the weevil, have +vegetated with the utmost luxuriance. To prevent repetitions, it may +perhaps be best to unite in this place the accounts which have been +received of this island, though many of them will easily be perceived to +be greatly posterior to this first return of the Supply. + +Norfolk Island is about seven leagues in circumference, and if not +originally formed, like many other small islands, by the eruption of +volcanic matter from the bed of the sea, must doubtless have contained a +volcano. This conclusion is formed from the vast quantity of pumice stone +which is scattered in all parts of it, and mixed with the soil. The +crater, or at least some traces of its former existence, will probably be +found at the summit of a small mountain, which rises near the middle of +the island. To this mountain the Commandant has given the name of Mount +Pitt. The island is exceedingly well watered. At, or near Mount Pitt, +rises a strong and copious stream, which flowing through a very fine +valley, divides itself into several branches, each of which retains +sufficient force to be used in turning mills: and in various parts of the +island excellent springs have been discovered. + +The climate is pure, salubrious, and delightful, preserved from +oppressive heats by constant breezes from the sea, and of so mild a +temperature throughout the winter, that vegetation continues there +without interruption, one crop succeeding another. Refreshing showers +from time to time maintain perpetual verdure; not indeed of grass, for +none has yet been seen upon the island, but of the trees, shrubs, and +other vegetables which in all parts grow abundantly. On the leaves of +these, and of some kinds in particular, the sheep, hogs, and goats, not +only live, but thrive and fatten very much. To the salubrity of the air +every individual in this little colony can bear ample testimony, from the +uninterrupted state of good health which has been in general enjoyed. + +When our settlers landed, there was not a single acre clear of wood in +the island, and the trees were so bound together by that kind of creeping +shrub called supple jack, interwoven in all directions, as to render it +very difficult to penetrate far among them. The Commandant, small as his +numbers were at first, by indefatigable activity soon caused a space to +be cleared sufficient for the requisite accommodations, and for the +production of esculent vegetables of all kinds in the greatest abundance. +When the last accounts arrived, three acres of barley were in a very +thriving state, and ground was prepared to receive rice and Indian corn. +In the wheat there had been a disappointment, the grain that was sown +having been so much injured by the weevil, as to be unfit for vegetation. +But the people were all at that time in commodious houses; and, according +to the declarations of Mr. King himself, in his letters to Governor +Phillip, there was not a doubt that this colony would be in a situation +to support itself entirely without assistance, in less than four years: +and with very little in the intermediate time. Even two years would be +more than sufficient for this purpose, could a proper supply of black +cattle be sent. + +Fish are caught in great plenty, and in the proper season very fine +turtle. The woods are inhabited by innumerable tribes of birds, many of +them very gay in plumage. The most useful are pigeons, which are very +numerous, and a bird not unlike the Guinea fowl, except in colour, (being +chiefly white,) both of which were at first so tame as to suffer +themselves to be taken by hand. Of plants that afford vegetables for the +table, the chief are cabbage palm, the wild plantain, the fern tree, a +kind of wild spinage, and a tree which produces a diminutive fruit, +bearing some resemblance to a currant. This, it is hoped, by +transplanting and care, will be much improved in size and flavour. + +But the productions which give the greatest importance to Norfolk Island +are the pines and the flax plant, the former rising to a size and +perfection unknown in other places, and promising the most valuable +supply of masts and spars for our navy in the East Indies; the latter not +less estimable for the purposes of making sail-cloth, cordage, and even +the finest manufactures; growing in great plenty, and with such +luxuriance as to attain the height of eight feet.* The pines measure +frequently one hundred and sixty, or even one hundred and eighty feet in +height, and are sometimes nine or ten feet in diameter at the bottom of +the trunk. They rise to about eighty feet without a branch; the wood is +said to be of the best quality, almost as light as that of the best +Norway masts; and the turpentine obtained from it is remarkable for +purity and whiteness. The fern tree is found also of a great height for +its species, measuring from seventy to eighty feet, and affords excellent +food for the sheep and other small cattle. A plant producing pepper, and +supposed to be the true oriental pepper, has been discovered lately in +the island, growing in great plenty; and specimens have been sent to +England, in order to ascertain this important point. + +[* The flax plant is thus described in Captain Cook's first voyage, vol. +iii. p. 39. as found at New Zealand. "There is, however, a plant that +serves the inhabitants instead of hemp and flax, which excels all that +are put to the same purposes in other countries. Of this plant there are +two sorts; the leaves of both resemble those of flags, but the flowers +are smaller and their clusters more numerous; in one kind they are +yellow, and in the other a deep red. Of the leaves of these plants, with +very little preparation, they make all their common apparel; and of these +they also make their strings, lines, and cordage for every purpose, which +are so much stronger than any thing we can make with hemp, that they will +not bear a comparison. From the same plant, by another preparation, they +draw long slender fibres which shine like silk, and are as white as snow: +of these, which are also surprizingly strong, the finer clothes are made; +and of the leaves, without any other preparation than splitting them into +proper breadths and trying the strips together, they make their fishing +nets; some of which, as I have before remarked, are of an enormous size." +It is added, that it is found in every kind of soil. It is perennial, and +has a bulbous root. Some of the roots have lately been sent to England.] + +The chief disadvantage experienced by those who are sent to Norfolk +Island, is the want of a good landing place. The bay which has been used +for this purpose is inclosed by a reef of coral rock, through which there +is a passage only for a boat; and during the tide of flood, when the wind +is westerly, the landing is rather dangerous. In one of the debarkations +a midshipman, who was ordered to lie within the reef, that he might +attend the boats coming to shore, imprudently suffered his own boat to +drive into the surf, and was lost, with four men. He had been once before +overset in consequence of a similar inattention, and then had lost one +man. On the coast of the island are several small bays, and there are +still hopes that a better landing place may be discovered; but the +necessity of employing all the men in sheltering themselves and the +stores from the weather, or in clearing ground for various purposes, has +hitherto prevented Mr. King from sending out any persons to complete the +examination. Should this enquiry prove unsuccessful, it is proposed to +attempt the blowing up of one or two small rocks, by which the reef is +rendered dangerous. If this expedient also should fail, the evil must be +borne with patience. In summer the landing will generally be sufficiently +secure; and seamen, who have seen the bay of Riga, in the Baltic, +declare, that it will at all times be safer for a ship to load with masts +and spars at Norfolk Island, than in that place, where so many ships are +freighted yearly. + +Rats are the only quadrupeds which have been found in this island; and +from these, as well as from the ants, it was feared the crops might +suffer; but no great inconvenience has yet been experienced from them; +and proper exertions seldom fail in a short time to reduce the number of +such enemies, enough to make their depredations very inconsiderable. On +the whole, Norfolk Island certainly deserves to be considered as an +acquisition of some importance, and is likely to answer even the most +sanguine expectations. Some canoes have been found on the rocks, which +were supposed to have been driven from New Zealand; but the appearance of +a fresh cocoa nut and a small piece of manufactured wood, which seemed to +have been only a small time in the water, has lately suggested an idea +that probably some inhabited island may lie at no great distance. There +has not been as yet any opportunity to determine whether this opinion be +well founded or not. + +A small island, but entirely uninhabited, was discovered by Lieutenant +Ball in his passage to Norfolk Island. In his return he examined it, and +found that the shore abounded with turtle, but there was no good +anchorage. He named it Lord Howe Island. It is in 31 deg. 36' south latitude, +and 159 deg. east longitude. Part of this island being very high may be seen +at the distance of sixteen leagues, and a rock to the south-east of it, +may be discerned even at eighteen leagues. In latitude 29 deg. 25' south, +longitude 159 deg. 59' east, a very dangerous reef has since been seen. The +ship from which it was observed was then four leagues to the southward, +and it could not at that time be ascertained how far it extends to the +northward. + +To expedite the cultivation of Norfolk Island a fresh detachment was sent +thither in October, consisting of an officer and eight marines, with +thirty convicts, consisting of ten women and twenty men: Thus, there +existed on this islet, when the last accounts were transmitted, +forty-four men and sixteen women, who, having eighteen months provisions, +lived comfortably on this sequestered spot, under the prudent management +of a youthful ruler, of whose busy life the reader may wish to know all +the particulars, which at present can be authentically told. + +Philip Gidley King, who had the honour to conduct the original settlers +to Norfolk Island, was born at Launceston in Cornwall, on the 23d of +April, 1758. He is the son of Philip King, of that town, draper, who +married the daughter of John Gidley, of Exeter, attorney at law. Much as +he owes to his parents, he is indebted for his scholastic learning to Mr. +Bailey at Yarmouth. He derives, probably, some advantages from making an +early choice of his profession. At the age of twelve, he went to the East +Indies on board the Swallow frigate, Captain Shirley, by whom he was +rated a midshipman. From this station he returned to England, at the end +of five years, with much knowledge of his business, and some acquaintance +with the world. In 1775, he entered upon real service; and has continued +in active employment from that period to this great epoch of his life. He +went to Virginia with Captain Bellew, in the Liverpool, during the year +1775; with whom he continued till the shipwreck of that frigate in +Delaware Bay. And having entered on board the Princess Royal, in October +1778, he was made a Lieutenant by Admiral Byron, in the Renown, on the +26th of November following. He returned to England in the subsequent +year; and served in the Channel on board the Kite cutter, and Ariadne +frigate, till the beginning of 1783. With Captain Phillip he went to the +East Indies, as Lieutenant of the Europe, in January 1783; from whence he +returned on the restoration of complete peace, in May 1784. In this +service it was, that Phillip and King became acquainted with the merit of +each other. And when the expedition to New South Wales was projected, +King was appointed Lieutenant of the Sirius, on the 25th of October, +1786, at the same time that Phillip was nominated Commander of the +voyage. + + +Chapter XI. + +March 1788 to May 1788 + +Three of the transports cleared--Two excursions made into the country, on +the fifteenth of April, and on the twenty-second--Huts of the +natives--Sculpture, and other particulars. + +25 March 1788 + +On the 25th of March, the Charlotte, Lady Penrhyn, and Scarborough +transports, having been cleared of all their stores, were discharged from +government service, and left at liberty to proceed for China, whenever +their commanders should think proper. The other ships were of necessity +detained till the store-houses could be finished. + +15 April 1788 + +The month of April was not distinguished by any events that deserve to be +related, except two expeditions of Governor Phillip for the purpose of +exploring the country. On the first of these excursions he set out on the +15th with provisions for four days; attended by several officers, and a +small party of marines. They landed at the head of a small cove, called +Shell Cove, near the entrance of the harbour on the north side. +Proceeding in this direction they arrived at a large lake, which they +examined, though not without great labour. It was surrounded by a +considerable extent of bog and marshy ground, in which, in the course of +their progress, they were frequently plunged up to the waist. On this +lake they first observed a black swan, which species, though proverbially +rare in other parts of the world, is here by no means uncommon, being +found on most of the lakes. This was a very noble bird, larger than the +common swan, and equally beautiful in form. On being shot at, it rose and +discovered that its wings were edged with white: the bill was tinged with +red. + +In three days, with great difficulty, they passed the swamps and marshes +which lie near the harbour. Nothing can more fully point out the great +improvement which may be made by the industry of a civilized people in +this country, than the circumstances of the small streams which descend +into Port Jackson. They all proceed from swamps produced by the +stagnation of the water after rising from the springs. When the obstacles +which impede their course can be removed, and free channels opened +through which they may flow, the adjacent ground will gradually be +drained, and the streams themselves will become more useful; at the same +time habitable and salubrious situations will be gained in places where +at present perpetual damps prevail, and the air itself appears to +stagnate. + +On leaving these low grounds, they found them succeeded by a rocky and +barren country. The hills were covered with flowering shrubs, but by +means of various obstacles the ascending and descending was difficult, +and in many parts impracticable. At the distance of about fifteen miles +from the sea coast Governor Phillip obtained a very fine view of the +inland country and its mountains, to several of which he now gave names. +The most northern of them he named Carmarthen Hills, the most southern +Lansdown Hills; one which lay between these was called Richmond Hill. +From the manner in which these mountains appeared to rise, it was thought +almost certain that a large river must descend from among them. But it +was now necessary to return, without making any further examination. + +22 April 1788 + +On the 22d another excursion of the same kind was undertaken: Governor +Phillip landed with his party near the head of the harbour. Here they +found a good country, but in a short time arrived at a very close cover; +and after passing the chief part of the day in fruitless attempts to make +their way through it, were obliged to relinquish the attempt, and return. +The next day, by keeping close to the banks of a small creek for about +four miles, they contrived to pass the cover, and for the three +succeeding days continued their course to the west-ward. The country +through which they travelled was singularly fine, level, or rising in +small hills of a very pleasing and picturesque appearance. The soil +excellent, except in a few small spots where it was stony. The trees +growing at the distance of from twenty to forty feet from each other, and +in general entirely free from underwood, which was confined to the stony +and barren spots. On the fifth day they ascended a small eminence, +whence, for the first time in this second expedition, they saw Carmarthen +and Lansdown Hills. The country round this hill was so beautiful, that +Governor Phillip gave it the name of Belle-vue. They were still +apparently thirty miles from the mountains which it had been their object +to reach, and not having found it practicable, with the tents, arms, and +other necessaries, to carry more than six days provisions, were obliged +to return. Even with this small stock, the officers as well as men, had +been under the necessity of carrying heavy loads. Water for the use of +the day was always taken; for though it happened in every instance that +pools of water were found which had remained after the rains, yet this +was a supply on which they could not previously depend. The extraordinary +difficulty of penetrating into this country had now been fully +experienced; where unexpected delays from deep ravines and other +obstacles, frequently force the traveller from his direct course, and +baffle every conjecture concerning the time required for passing a +certain tract. The utmost extent of this excursion in a direct line had +not been more than thirty miles, and it had taken up five days. The +return of the party was effected with much more ease; the track was made, +and the trees marked the whole way where they had passed; with these +assistances they reached their boats in a day and a half. + +It was still the general opinion that the appearance of the country +promised the discovery of a large river in that district, whenever the +line now taken could be fully pursued. Another expedition was therefore +planned, in which it was determined, if possible, to reach either +Lansdown or Carmarthen Hills: and the hope of so important a discovery as +that of a river made every one anxious to go, notwithstanding the great +fatigue with which these undertakings were attended. But this design was +for the present unavoidably deferred. Governor Phillip, who had not been +perfectly well even at the time of setting out on the excursion to Broken +Bay, had then contracted a severe pain in his side, by sleeping +frequently on the wet ground. This complaint had in the two last journeys +received so much increase, that he found it absolutely necessary to allow +himself the respite of a few weeks, before he again encountered so much +fatigue. + +The country explored in this last journey was so good and so fit for the +purposes of cultivation, that the Governor resolved to send a detachment +to settle there, as soon as a sufficient number could be spared from +works of more immediate necessity. But notwithstanding the goodness of +the soil it is a matter of astonishment how the natives, who know not how +to avail themselves of its fertility, can subsist in the inland country. +On the coast fish makes a considerable part of their food, but where that +cannot be had, it seems hardly possible that with their spears, the only +missile weapon yet observed among them, they should be able to procure +any kind of animal food. With the assistance of their guns the English +gentlemen could not obtain, in the last six days they were out, more than +was barely sufficient for two meals. Yet, that these parts are frequented +by the natives was undeniably proved by the temporary huts which were +seen in several places. Near one of these huts the bones of a kanguroo +were found, and several trees were seen on fire. A piece of a root +resembling that of the fern tree was also picked up by Governor Phillip; +part of this root had been chewed, and so recently that it was thought it +could not have been left many minutes. It seemed evident by several +marks, that the natives had only fled at the approach of the English +party, but so effectually did they conceal themselves that not one was +seen. + +The number of the natives in these inland parts must, however, be very +small. Whether these reside by choice where they must encounter so many +difficulties, or whether they are driven from the society of those who +inhabit the coast, has not yet been discovered. The huts seen here +consisted of single pieces of bark, about eleven feet in length, and from +four to six in breadth, bent in the middle while fresh from the tree, and +set up so as to form an acute angle, not a little resembling cards set up +by children. In the plate inserted here, not only the huts, but some of +the spears of the natives are introduced. It was conjectured, that the +chief use of these imperfect structures might be, to conceal them from +the animals for which they must frequently be obliged to lie in wait. +They may also afford shelter from a shower of rain to one or two who sit +or lie under them. The bark of many trees was observed to be cut into +notches, as if for the purpose of climbing; and in several there were +holes, apparently the retreat of some animal, but enlarged by the natives +for the purpose of catching the inhabitant. The enlargement of these +holes with their imperfect instruments, must itself be a work of time, +and must require no little patience. In some places, where the hole was +rather too high to be reached from the ground, boughs of trees were laid +to facilitate the ascent. The animals that take refuge in those places +are probably the squirrel, the opossum, or the kanguroo-rat. At the +bottom of one of these trees, the skin of a flying squirrel was found. + +In many places fires had lately been made; but in one only were seen any +shells of oysters or muscles, and there not more than half a dozen. +Fish-bones were not found at all, which seems to prove, that in their +journies inland these people do not carry with them any provisions of +that kind. Kanguroos were frequently seen, but were so shy that it was +very difficult to shoot them. With respect to these animals, it is rather +an extraordinary circumstance, that, notwithstanding their great shyness, +and notwithstanding they are daily shot at, more of them are seen near +the camp than in any other part of the country. The kanguroo, though it +resembles the jerboa in the peculiarity of using only the hinder legs in +progression, does not belong to that genus. The pouch of the female, in +which the young are nursed, is thought to connect it rather with the +opossum tribe. This extraordinary formation, hitherto esteemed peculiar +to that one genus, seems, however, in New Holland not to be sufficiently +characteristic: it has been found both in the rat and the squirrel kind. +The largest kanguroo which has yet been shot weighed about one hundred +and forty pounds. But it has been discovered that there are two kinds, +one of which seldom exceeds sixty pounds in weight: these live chiefly on +the high grounds: their hair is of a reddish cast, and the head is +shorter than in the larger sort. Young kanguroos which have been taken, +have in a few days grown very tame, but none have lived more than two or +three weeks. Yet it is still possible that when their proper food shall +be better known, they may be domesticated. Near some water, in this +journey, was found the dung of an animal that fed on grass, which, it was +supposed, could not have been less than a horse. A kanguroo, so much +above the usual size, would have been an extraordinary phaenomenon, +though no larger animal has yet been seen, and the limits of growth in +that species are not ascertained. The tail of the kanguroo, which is very +large, is found to be used as a weapon of offence, and has given such +severe blows to dogs as to oblige them to desist from pursuit. Its flesh +is coarse and lean, nor would it probably be used for food, where there +was not a scarcity of fresh provisions. The disproportion between the +upper and lower parts of this animal is greater than has been shown in +any former delineations of it, but is well expressed in the plate +inserted here. + +The dimensions of a stuffed kanguroo in the possession of Mr. Nepean, +are these, + + f. in. +Length from the point of the nose to the end of the tail, 6 1 +-- of the tail, 2 1 +---- head, 0 8 +---- fore legs, 1 0 +---- hinder legs, 2 8 +Circumference of the forepart, by the legs, 1 1 +---- lower parts, ---- 3 2 + +The middle toe of the hind feet is remarkably long, strong, and sharp. + +The natives of New South Wales, though in so rude and uncivilized a state +as not even to have made an attempt towards clothing themselves, +notwithstanding that at times they evidently suffer from the cold and +wet, are not without notions of sculpture. In all these excursions of +Governor Phillip, and in the neighbourhood of Botany Bay and Port +Jackson, the figures of animals, of shields, and weapons, and even of +men, have been seen carved upon the rocks, roughly indeed, but +sufficiently well to ascertain very fully what was the the object +intended. Fish were often represented, and in one place the form of a +large lizard was sketched out with tolerable accuracy. On the top of one +of the hills, the figure of a man in the attitude usually assumed by them +when they begin to dance, was executed in a still superior style. That +the arts of imitation and amusement, should thus in any degree precede +those of necessity, seems an exception to the rules laid down by theory +for the progress of invention. But perhaps it may better be considered as +a proof that the climate is never so severe as to make the provision of +covering or shelter a matter of absolute necessity. Had these men been +exposed to a colder atmosphere, they would doubtless have had clothes and +houses, before they attempted to become sculptors. + +In all the country hitherto explored, the parties have seldom gone a +quarter of a mile without seeing trees which had been on fire. As violent +thunder storms are not uncommon on this coast, it is possible that they +may have been burnt by lightning, which the gum-tree is thought +particularly to attract; but it is probable also that they may have been +set on fire by the natives. The gum-tree is highly combustible, and it is +a common practice with them to kindle their fires at the root of one of +these trees. When they quit a place they never extinguish the fire they +have made, but leave it to burn out, or to communicate its flames to the +tree, as accidental circumstances may determine. + +Governor Phillip, on his return from this excursion, had the +mortification to find that five ewes and a lamb had been killed very near +the camp, and in the middle of the day. How this had happened was not +known, but it was conjectured that they must have been killed by dogs +belonging to the natives. The loss of any part of the stock of cattle was +a serious misfortune, since it must be a considerable time before it +could be replaced. Fish affords, in this place, only an uncertain +resource: on some days great quantities are caught, though not sufficient +to save any material part of the provisions; but at times it is very +scarce. An account of the live stock at this time in the settlement is +subjoined to this chapter. + +The three transports bound to China, sailed the 5th, 6th, and 8th of May; +and the Supply having been caulked, sailed on the 6th to Lord Howe Island +for turtle, in hopes of giving some check to the scurvy, with which the +people were still so much affected that near two hundred were incapable +of work. + +From the great labour which attended the clearing of the ground it proved +to be impracticable to sow at present more than eight or ten acres with +wheat and barley*: and it was apprehended that even this crop would +suffer from the depredations of ants and field mice. In the beginning of +May it was supposed, as it had been once or twice before, that the rainy +season was set in; but in about a week the weather became fine again. + +[* Besides what was sown by the Lieutenant Governor and other individuals, +for the support of their own stock: to assist whom, the labour of the +convicts was occasionally lent.] + + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE LIVE STOCK IN THE SETTLEMENT AT PORT JACKSON, MAY 1ST, 1788. + +Government + +Stallions 1 +Mares 2 +Bulls 2 +Cows 2 +Sheep: +Ram 1 +Ewes 12 +Wethers 3 +Goats 1 +Hogs: +Boar 1 +Sows 19 + +Governor + +Mares 1 +Colts 3 +Cows 2 +Sheep: +Ewe 1 +Lamb 1 +Hogs 10 +Rabbits 3 +Turkies 5 +Geese 8 +Ducks 17 +Fowls 22 + +Lieutenant Governor + +Goats 1 +Hogs 1 +Pigs 7 +Turkies 5 +Geese 6 +Ducks 4 +Fowls 9 + +Officers and men belonging to the detachment + +Cows 1 +Goats 12 +Hogs 10 +Pigs 17 +Rabbits 2 +Turkies 6 +Geese 9 +Ducks 8 +Fowls 55 +Chickens 25 + +Staff + +Sheep 11 +Goats 5 +Hogs 7 +Pigs 1 +Turkies 2 +Geese 6 +Ducks 6 +Fowls 36 +Chickens 62 + +Other individuals + +Hogs 1 + +Totals + +Stallions 1 +Mares 3 +Colts 3 +Bulls 2 +Cows 5 +Sheep 29 +Goats 19 +Hogs 49 +Pigs 25 +Rabbits 5 +Turkies 18 +Geese 29 +Ducks 35 +Fowls 122 +Chickens 87 + +(Signed,) ANDREW MILLER, Commissary. + + +Chapter XII. + +May 1788 to June 1788 + +The Supply returns from Lord Howe Island--Some convicts assaulted by the +natives--excursion of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay by Land--interview +with many natives--the fourth of June celebrated--some account of the +climate. + +25 May 1788 + +On the 25th of May, the Supply tender returned from Lord Howe Island, but +unfortunately without having been able to procure any turtle. She had met +with squally weather, and had been obliged to cut away her best bower +anchor, but suffered no other damage. The three transports bound for +China had all appeared off the island while the Supply remained there. + +About this time one of the convicts who, in searching for vegetables, had +gone a considerable way from the camp, returned very dangerously wounded +in the back. He said, that another man who had gone out for the same +purpose, had been carried off by the natives in his sight, after having +been wounded in the head. A shirt and hat were afterwards found, both +pierced with spears, in one of the huts of the natives; but no +intelligence of the man could be gained. There could be little doubt that +the convicts had been the aggressors, though the man who returned +strongly denied having given any kind of provocation. + +30 May 1788 + +On the thirtieth of May, two men who had been employed in collecting +rushes for thatch at some distance from the camp, were found dead. One of +them had four spears in his body, one of which had pierced entirely +through it: the other had not any marks of violence upon him. In this +case it was clearly proved that the first injury had been offered by the +unfortunate men, who paid so dearly for their dishonesty and disobedience +of orders; for they had been seen with a canoe, which they had taken from +one of the fishing places. These events were much regretted by Governor +Phillip, as tending entirely to the frustration of the plan he had so +much at heart, of conciliating the affections of the natives, and +establishing a friendly intercourse with them. + +As the rush-cutters tools had been carried away, the Governor thought it +might be possible to discover the natives who had been concerned in this +unfortunate affray; and to make them understand that the conduct of their +assailants had been entirely unwarranted, and was very highly +disapproved. He judged the attempt to be at least worth making, as it +seemed the only way to restore that confidence which must have been +interrupted by this affair. The next day, therefore, he went out with a +small party, consisting altogether of twelve persons, and landed at the +place where the men were killed. After traversing the country for more +than twenty miles, they arrived at the north shore of Botany Bay, without +having met with one of the natives. + +In this place, at length, they saw about twenty canoes employed in +fishing: and when the fires were made, and the party encamped to pass the +night upon the beach, it was fully expected that some of those in the +canoes would have joined them, but not one appeared. The next morning, +though fifty canoes were drawn up on the beach, not a single person could +be found belonging to them. Governor Phillip had now determined to return +to Port Jackson; but as he went, keeping for some time near the sea +coast, he discovered a great number of the natives, apparently more than +could belong to that district, assembled at the mouth of a cave. The +party was within ten yards of them before they were perceived, and the +Governor had hardly time to make his people halt before numbers appeared +in arms. The man who seemed to take the lead, as he advanced made signs +for the English to retire, but when he saw Governor Phillip approach +alone, unarmed, and in a friendly manner, he gave his spear away and met +him with perfect confidence. In less than three minutes the English party +found itself surrounded by two hundred and twelve men; but nothing +occurred in this transaction which could in the least confirm the idea, +that the natives were accustomed to act with treachery, or inclined to +take any cruel advantage of superiority in numbers. The moment the +offered friendship was accepted on their side, they laid down their +spears and stone hatchets, and joined the party in the most amicable +manner. Numbers of women and children remained at a small distance, some +of whom the men afterwards brought down to receive the little articles +which were offered as presents. Nothing was seen among these people which +could at all prove that any of them had been engaged in the affray with +the rush-cutters; and the Governor parted with them on the most friendly +terms, but more convinced than ever of the necessity of treating them +with a proper degree of confidence, in order to prevent disagreement. Had +he gone up with all his party, or had he even hesitated a moment before +he advanced himself, making the signals of friendship, a lance would +probably have been thrown, after which nothing could have prevented a +rencounter, which in such circumstances must have been fatal. + +Here was seen the finest stream of water that had hitherto been +discovered in the country, but the cove into which it runs lies very open +to the sea. When the natives saw that the English were going forward +towards the next cove, one of them, an old man, made signs that he might +be allowed to go first. He did so, and as soon as he had ascended the +hill, called out, holding up both his hands, (the usual signal of amity +among these people) to signify to the natives in the next cove that they +who were advancing were friends. The Governor's party did not, however, +descend to that cove, but saw about forty men, so that, unless they had +assembled themselves on some particular occasion, they must be more +numerous in that part than had been before imagined. Governor Phillip had +calculated before, from the parties he had seen, that in Botany Bay, Port +Jackson, Broken Bay, and all the intermediate country, the inhabitants +could not exceed one thousand five hundred. In crossing the hills at this +time between Botany Bay and Port Jackson, smoke was seen on the top of +Lansdown Hills, which seems to prove beyond a doubt, that the country is +inhabited as far as those mountains, which are not less than fifty miles +from the sea. + +Further enquiries having given some reason to suppose, that one of the +natives had been murdered, and several wounded, previously to the attack +made upon the rush-cutters, Governor Phillip on his return, proclaimed +the reward of emancipation to any convict who should discover the +aggressors. This step, if it did not in this instance procure any +information, seemed likely to prevent such acts of violence in future. + +No very good fortune had hitherto attended the live stock belonging to +the settlement, but the heaviest blow was yet to come. About this time +the two bulls and four cows, belonging to Government, and to the +Governor, having been left for a time by the man who was appointed to +attend them, strayed into the woods, and though they were traced to some +distance, never could be recovered. This was a loss which must be for +some time irreparable. + +4 June 1788 + +The fourth of June was not suffered to pass without due celebration. It +was a day of remission from labour, and of general festivity throughout +the settlement. At sun-rise the Sirius and Supply fired each a salute of +twenty-one guns, and again at one o'clock, when the marines on shore also +saluted with three vollies. At sunset the same honours were a third time +repeated from the ships; large bonfires were lighted, and the whole camp +afforded a scene of joy. That there might not be any exception to the +happiness of this day, the four convicts who had been reprieved from +death, and banished to an island in the middle of the harbour, received a +full pardon, and were sent for to bear their part in the general +exultation. The Governor, in his letters, with that humanity which so +strongly distinguishes his character, says, he trusts that on this day +there was not a single heavy heart in this part of his Majesty's +dominions. His own house was the centre of conviviality to all who could +be admitted to that society, nor was any thing neglected which in such a +situation could mark a day of celebrity, consistently with propriety and +good order. Perhaps no birth-day was ever celebrated in more places, or +more remote from each other, than that of his Majesty on this day. + +It was now, it seems, first generally known, that the name of Cumberland +County had been given by the Governor to this part of the territory. This +name had been fixed before the assembling of the first courts, for the +sake of preserving regularity in the form of the public acts, in which it +is usual to name the county. The boundaries fixed for Cumberland County +were, on the west, Carmarthen and Lansdown Hills: on the north, the +northern parts of Broken Bay; and to the southward, the southern parts of +Botany Bay. Thus including completely these three principal bays, and +leaving the chief place of settlement at Sydney Cove nearly in the +centre. + +On the 22d of June was a slight shock of an earthquake, which did not +last more than two or three seconds. It was felt by most people in the +camp, and by the Governor himself, who heard at the same time a noise +from the southward, which he took at first for the report of guns fired +at a great distance. + +24 June 1788 + +On the 24th, a convict who had absconded on the 5th, having been guilty +of a robbery, returned into the camp almost starved. He had hoped to +subsist in the woods, but found it impossible. One of the natives gave +him a fish, and then made signs for him to go away. He said, that +afterwards he joined a party of the natives, who would have burnt him, +but that with some difficulty he made his escape; and he pretended to +have seen the remains of a human body actually lying on a fire, but +little credit can be given to reports from such a quarter. He was of +opinion that the natives were at this time in great distress for food, +and said, that he had seen four of them dying in the woods, who made +signs for something to eat, as if they were perishing through hunger. It +is certain that very little fish could be caught at this time, and the +convict seemed desirous to suggest the notion that they supplied their +necessities occasionally with human flesh; but there seems to be no good +foundation for such an opinion. This man was tried for his offence, +pleaded guilty, and suffered with another criminal. + +It was now sufficiently ascertained, that though the necessity of +subsisting so long chiefly upon salt provisions, and of remaining +encamped in very wet weather had produced the scurvy, and other disorders +common in such circumstances, the climate itself wherein this new +settlement is fixed is mild and salubrious. Heavy rains had generally +attended the changes of the moon during the winter months, but there had +not been any time that could properly be called a rainy season. The +clearing away of the woods will of course assist the circulation of air, +and continually increase the healthfulness of the place. Violent storms +of thunder and lightning sometimes happened, and Governor Phillip +observed the variation of his thermometer, in the shade, to amount +frequently to thirty-three degrees, between eight in the morning and two +in the afternoon. The report of the surgeon at this time is subjoined. + +A RETURN OF SICK, ETC. JUNE 30, 1788. + +Marines sick in the hospital 4 +Convalescents in the hospital 2 +Marines sick in camp 18 +Convalescents in the hospital 6 +Wives and children of marines sick in the hospital 6 +Total belonging to the battalion under medical treatment 36 + +Of marines dead from the time of embarkation to landing 1 +Women dead from the time of embarkation to landing 1 +Children dead from the time of embarkation to landing 1 +Marines dead since landing 3 +Women dead since landing 0 +Children dead since landing 2 +Total dead from the time of embarkation to the present date 8 + +Convicts sick in the hospital 20 +Convalescents in the hospital 4 +Convicts sick in camp 26 +Convalescents in the hospital 16 +Total of convicts under medical treatment 66 + +Male convicts dead from the time of embarkation to landing 36 +Female convicts dead from the time of embarkation to landing 4 +Convicts children dead from the time of embarkation to landing 5 +Total 45 + +Male convicts dead since landing 20 +Female convicts dead since landing 8 +Convicts children dead since landing 8 +Total dead, from the time of embarkation to the present date 81 + +Convicts unfit for labour, from old age, infirmities, etc. 52 + +JOHN WHITE, Surgeon. +Sydney Cove, Port Jackson. + + +Chapter XIII. + +June 1788 to July 1788 + +Particular description of Sydney Cove--Of the buildings actually +erected--and of the intended town--A settlement made at the head of the +harbour. + +There are few things more pleasing than the contemplation of order and +useful arrangement, arising gradually out of tumult and confusion; and +perhaps this satisfaction cannot any where be more fully enjoyed than +where a settlement of civilized people is fixing itself upon a newly +discovered or savage coast. The wild appearance of land entirely +untouched by cultivation, the close and perplexed growing of trees, +interrupted now and then by barren spots, bare rocks, or spaces overgrown +with weeds, flowers, flowering shrubs, or underwood, scattered and +intermingled in the most promiscuous manner, are the first objects that +present themselves; afterwards, the irregular placing of the first tents +which are pitched, or huts which are erected for immediate accommodation, +wherever chance presents a spot tolerably free from obstacles, or more +easily cleared than the rest, with the bustle of various hands busily +employed in a number of the most incongruous works, increases rather than +diminishes the disorder, and produces a confusion of effect, which for a +time appears inextricable, and seems to threaten an endless continuance +of perplexity. But by degrees large spaces are opened, plans are formed, +lines marked, and a prospect at least of future regularity is clearly +discerned, and is made the more striking by the recollection of the +former confusion. + +To this latter state the settlement at Sydney Cove had now at length +arrived, and is so represented in the plan annexed. Lines are there +traced out which distinguish the principal street of an intended town, to +be terminated by the Governor's house, the main guard, and the criminal +court. In some parts of this space temporary barracks at present stand, +but no permanent buildings will be suffered to be placed, except in +conformity to the plan laid down. Should the town be still further +extended in future, the form of other streets is also traced in such a +manner as to ensure a free circulation of air. The principal streets, +according to this design, will be two hundred feet wide; the ground +proposed for them to the southward is nearly level, and is altogether an +excellent situation for buildings. It is proposed by Governor Phillip +that when houses are to be built here, the grants of land shall be made +with such clauses as will prevent the building of more than one house on +one allotment, which is to consist of sixty feet in front, and one +hundred and fifty feet in depth. These regulations will preserve a kind +of uniformity in the buildings, prevent narrow streets, and exclude many +inconveniences which a rapid increase of inhabitants might otherwise +occasion hereafter. It has been also an object of the Governor's +attention to place the public buildings in situations that will be +eligible at all times, and particularly to give the storehouses and +hospital sufficient space for future enlargement, should it be found +necessary. + +The first huts that were erected here were composed of very perishable +materials, the soft wood of the cabbage palm, being only designed to +afford immediate shelter. The necessity of using the wood quite green +made it also the less likely to prove durable. The huts of the convicts +were still more slight, being composed only of upright posts, wattled +with slight twigs, and plaistered up with clay. Barracks and huts were +afterwards formed of materials rather more lasting. Buildings of stone +might easily have been raised, had there been any means of procuring lime +for mortar. The stone which has been found is of three sorts: A fine free +stone, reckoned equal in goodness to that of Portland; an indifferent +kind of sand stone, or firestone; and a sort which appears to contain a +mixture of iron. But neither chalk, nor any species of lime-stone has yet +been discovered. In building a small house for the Governor on the +eastern side of the Cove, (marked 1 in the plan) lime was made of oyster +shells, collected in the neighbouring coves; but it cannot be expected +that lime should be supplied in this manner for many buildings, or indeed +for any of great extent. Till this difficulty shall be removed by the +discovery of chalk or lime-stone, the public buildings must go on very +slowly, unless care be taken to send out those articles as ballast in all +the ships destined for Port Jackson. In the mean time the materials can +only be laid in clay, which makes it necessary to give great thickness to +the walls, and even then they are not so firm as might be wished. Good +clay for bricks is found near Sydney Cove, and very good bricks have been +made. The wood, from the specimens that have been received in England, +appears to be good; it is heavy indeed, but fine grained, and apparently +strong, and free from knots. The imperfections that were found in it at +first arose probably from the want of previous seasoning. + +The hospital is placed on the west side of the Cove, in a very healthful +situation, entirely clear of the town; and is built in such a manner as +to last for some years. On the high ground between the hospital and the +town, if water can be found by sinking wells, it is the Governor's +intention to erect the barracks, surrounding them with proper works. +These were to have been begun as soon as the transports were cleared, and +the men hutted, but the progress of work was rendered so slow by the want +of an adequate number of able workmen, that it was necessary to postpone +that undertaking for a time. The ground marked out for a church lies +still nearer to the town, so that this edifice will form in part one side +of the principal parade. The design which demanded the most immediate +execution was that of a storehouse, which might be secure from the danger +of fire. In a country exposed to frequent storms of thunder and +lightning, it was rather an uneasy situation to have all the provisions +and other necessaries lodged in wooden buildings, covered with thatch of +the most combustible kind. On the point of land that forms the west side +of the Cove, and on an elevated spot, a small observatory has been raised +under the direction of Lieutenant Dawes, who was charged by the Board of +Longitude with the care of observing the expected comet. The longitude of +this observatory is ascertained to be 159 deg. 19' 30" east from Greenwich, +and the latitude 32 deg. 52' 30" south. A small house, built by the +Lieutenant Governor for himself, forms at present the corner of the +parade; the principal street will be carried on at right angles with the +front of this building. Instead of thatch, they now use shingles made +from a tree in appearance like a fir, but producing a wood not unlike the +English oak. This, though more secure than thatching, is not enough so +for storehouses. For these, if slate-stone should not be found, tiles +must be made of the clay which has been used for bricks. The principal +farm is situated in the next cove to the east of the town, and less than +half a mile from it. When the plan was drawn it contained about nine +acres laid down in corn of different kinds. Later accounts speak of six +acres of wheat, eight of barley, and six of other grain, as raised on the +public account, and in a very promising way. + +Sydney cove lies open to the north-east, and is continued in a south-west +direction for near a thousand yards, gradually decreasing from the +breadth of about one thousand four hundred feet, till it terminates in a +point, where it receives a small stream of fresh water. The anchorage +extends about two thousand feet up the cove, and has soundings in general +of four fathoms near the shore, and five, six, or seven, nearer the +middle of the channel. It is perfectly secure in all winds; and for a +considerable way up on both sides, ships can lie almost close to the +shore: nor are there, in any part of it, rocks or shallows to render the +navigation dangerous. Such a situation could not fail to appear +desireable to a discerning man, whose object it was to establish a +settlement, which he knew must for some time depend for support on the +importation of the principal necessaries of life. + +It is supposed that metals of various kinds abound in the soil on which +the town is placed. A convict, who had formerly been used to work in the +Staffordshire lead mines, declared very positively, that the ground which +they were now clearing, contains a large quantity of that ore: and copper +is supposed to lie under some rocks which were blown up in sinking a +cellar for the public stock of spirituous liquors. It is the opinion of +the Governor himself that several metals are actually contained in the +earth hereabouts, and that mines may hereafter be worked to great +advantage: but at present he strongly discourages any search of this +kind, very judiciously discerning, that in the present situation of his +people, which requires so many exertions of a very different nature, the +discovering of a mine would be the greatest evil that could befal the +settlement. In some places where they dug, in making wells, they found a +substance which at first was taken for a metal, but which proving +perfectly refractory in a very strong and long continued heat, has since +been concluded to be black lead. The kind of pigment called by painters +Spanish brown, is found in great abundance, and the white clay with which +the natives paint themselves is still in greater plenty. The Abbe le +Receveur was of opinion, that this clay, if cleared from the sand, which +might easily be separated, would make excellent porcelain. + +The climate at Sydney Cove is considered, on the whole, as equal to the +finest in Europe. The rains are not ever of long duration, and there are +seldom any fogs: the soil, though in general light, and rather sandy in +this part, is full as good as usually is found so near the sea-coast. All +the plants and fruit trees brought from Brasil and the Cape, which were +not damaged in the passage, thrive exceedingly; and vegetables have now +become plentiful, both the European sorts and such as are peculiar to +this country. In the Governor's garden are excellent cauliflowers, and +melons very fine of their kinds. The orange trees flourish, and the fig +trees and vines are improving still more rapidly. In a climate so +favourable, the cultivation of the vine may doubtless be carried to any +degree of perfection; and should not other articles of commerce divert +the attention of the settlers from this point, the wines of New South +Wales may, perhaps, hereafter be sought with avidity, and become an +indispensable part of the luxury of European tables. + +The rank grass under the trees, unfortunately proved fatal to all the +sheep purchased by Governor Phillip, on his own and on the public +account. Those which private individuals kept close to their own tents, +and fed entirely there, were preserved. Hogs and poultry not only thrive +but increase very fast; black cattle will doubtless succeed as well, and +it will be easy in future to secure them from straying. The horses have +not met with any accident. + +The last dispatches from Governor Phillip bring an account of his having +sent a small detachment up to that ground at the upper end of Port +Jackson, which he discovered in one of his excursions to be so highly fit +for cultivation. This party consisted of a captain, two lieutenants of +marines, with twenty-five non-commissioned officers and privates: about +fifty convicts were added as labourers. This spot is very pleasant, and +has been named by the Governor, Rose-hill. The flax-plant, which was seen +at the first arrival of our people, has not been found since in any great +abundance. A most ample supply of this valuable article may, however, +always be obtained from Norfolk Island. Governor Phillip, when he judged +the seeds to be ripe, ordered them to be collected, but at that time very +few of the plants were found, and not any in the places where the +greatest quantity had been seen. It is thought that the natives pull up +the plant when it is in flower to make their fishing lines. + +On the whole, notwithstanding the difficulties and disadvantages at first +experienced, which, though great, were not more than must naturally be +expected to occur in such an undertaking; notwithstanding the sicknesses +which from various causes prevailed for some time among the people, the +settlement at Sydney Cove wore a very promising aspect at the time when +the last accounts were sent; and there can be no doubt that it will be +found hereafter fully to answer every expectation which was formed when +the design was projected. The scantiness of the streams of fresh water +was thought at first unfavourable, but good springs have since been found +by digging. The house built for Governor Phillip stands about fifty-six +feet above high-water mark, and there, by sinking a well about fifteen +feet in the rock, an excellent spring of pure water has been obtained. + + +Chapter XIV. + +July 1788 to October 1788 + +Fish violently seized by the natives--Another expedition of the +Governor--Further account of the manners and manufactures of the native +inhabitants of New South Wales--Difficulty of obtaining any intercourse. + +9 July 1788 + +On the ninth of July, an effort was made by a party of natives, which +seems to indicate that they were still distressed for provisions, or that +they very highly resent the incroachments made upon their fishing places. +A general order had been issued to those sent out on fishing parties, to +give a part of what was caught to the natives if they approached, however +small the quantity taken might be; and by these means they had always +been sent away apparently satisfied. But on this day, about twenty of +them, armed with spears, came down to the spot where our men were +fishing, and without any previous attempt to obtain their purpose by fair +means, violently seized the greatest part of the fish which was in the +seine. While this detachment performed this act of depredation, a much +greater number stood at a small distance with their spears poized, ready +to have thrown them if any resistance had been made. But the cockswain +who commanded the fishing party, very prudently suffered them to take +away what they chose, and they parted on good terms. This is the only +instance in which these people have attempted any unprovoked act of +violence, and to this they probably were driven by necessity. Since this +transaction, an officer has always been sent down the harbour with the +boat. + +Governor Phillip went out about this time with a small party, to examine +the land between Port Jackson and Broken Bay. Here were found many +hundred acres of land, free from timber, and very fit for cultivation. He +proceeded as far as Pitt Water, and saw several of the natives, but none +of them chose to approach. When the party returned to the boats near the +mouth of the harbour, about sixty of these people, men, women, and +children, were assembled there. Some hours were passed with them in a +peaceful and very friendly manner, but though in all this time they +discovered no uneasiness, they seemed best pleased when their visitors +were preparing to depart. This has always been the case, since it has +been known among them that our people intend to remain on the coast. Many +of the women were employed at this time in fishing, a service which is +not uncommonly performed by them, the men being chiefly occupied in +making canoes, spears, fish-gigs, and the other articles that constitute +their small stock of necessary implements. Two women were here observed +to be scarred on the shoulders like the men; this was the first instance +in which they had been seen so marked. + +The sailors who waited on the beach to take care of the boat saw about +two hundred men assembled in two parties, who after some time drew +themselves up on opposite sides, and from each party men advanced singly +and threw their spears, guarding themselves at the same time with their +shields. This seemed at first to be merely a kind of exercise, for the +women belonging to both parties remained together on the beach; +afterwards it had a more serious aspect, and the women are said to have +run up and down in great agitation uttering violent shrieks. But it was +not perceived that any men were killed. + +As it had been supposed that many of the natives had left this part of +the coast, on account of the great scarcity of fish, the different coves +of the harbour were examined in one day. At this time, not more than +sixty-seven canoes were counted, and about one hundred and thirty of the +people were seen. But it was the season in which they make their new +canoes, and large parties were known to be in the woods for that purpose. + +A few days after this examination, Governor Phillip himself went again to +explore the coast between Port Jackson and Botany Bay. In this journey +few of the natives were seen, but new proofs were observed of their +having been distressed for food. In the preceding summer they would not +eat either the shark or the sting-ray, but now even coarser meat was +acceptable, and indeed any thing that could afford the smallest +nourishment. A young whale had just been driven upon the coast, which +they were busily employed in carrying away. All that were seen at this +time had large pieces of it, which appeared to have been laid upon the +fire only long enough to scorch the outside. In this state they always +eat their fish, never broiling it for more than a few minutes; they broil +also the fern root, and another root, of which the plant is not yet +known; and they usually eat together in families. Among the fruits used +by them is a kind of wild fig; and they eat also the kernels of that +fruit which resembles a pine-apple. The latter, when eaten by some of the +French seamen, occasioned violent retchings; possibly the natives may +remove the noxious qualities, by some process like those employed upon +the cassada. The winter months, in which fish is very scarce upon the +coast, are June, July, August, and part of September. From the beaten +paths that are seen between Port Jackson and Broken Bay, and in other +parts, it is thought that the natives frequently change their situation, +but it has not been perceived that they make any regular migrations to +the northward in the winter months, or to the south in summer. + +In consequence of the very extraordinary shyness of these people since +the arrival of our settlement, little addition has been made to the +knowledge of their manners attained by Captain Cook: but most of his +observations have been confirmed. The whole, indeed, that can be known of +a people, among whom civilization and the arts of life have made so small +a progress, must amount to very little. The assertion that they have no +nets*, is amongst the very few that have been found erroneous. Some small +nets have been brought over, the manufacture of which is very curious. +The twine of which they are made, appears to be composed of the fibres of +the flax plant, with very little preparation; it is very strong, heavy, +and so admirably well twisted as to have the appearance of the best +whipcord. Governor Phillip mentions having had lines of their +manufacture, which were made from the fur of some animal, and others that +appeared to be of cotton. The meshes of their nets are formed of large +loops, very artificially inserted into each other, but without any knots. +At a small distance they have exactly the appearance of our common nets, +but when they are closely examined the peculiar mode in which the loops +are managed is very remarkable. Some ladies who have inspected one of +these nets lately imported, declare that it is formed exactly on the same +principle as the ground of point lace, except that it has only one turn +of the thread, instead of two, in every loop. This net appears to have +been used either as a landing net, or for the purpose of carrying the +fish when taken. They have also small hoop nets, in which they catch +lobsters, and sea crayfish. Their canoes and other implements are very +exactly described by Captain Cook. + +[* Cook's first voyage, Hawkesworth, Vol. III. p. 233.--If it was only +meant that they have no large nets for fishing, like the feine, as the +New Zealanders have, the remark is certainly true.] + +The inhabitants of New South Wales have very few ornaments, except those +which are impressed upon the skin itself, or laid on in the manner of +paint. The men keep their beards short, it is thought by scorching off +the hair, and several of them at the first arrival of our people seemed +to take great delight in being shaved. They sometimes hang in their hair +the teeth of dogs, and other animals, the claws of lobsters, and several +small bones, which they fasten there by means of gum; but such ornaments +have never been seen upon the women. Though they have not made any +attempt towards clothing themselves, they are by no means insensible of +the cold, and appear very much to dislike the rain. During a shower they +have been observed to cover their heads with pieces of bark, and to +shiver exceedingly. Governor Phillip was convinced by these circumstances +that clothing would be very acceptable to them, if they could be induced +to come enough among the English to learn the use of it. He has therefore +applied for a supply of frocks and jackets to distribute among them, +which are to be made long and loose, and to serve for either men or +women. + +The bodies of these people in general smell strongly of oil, and the +darkness of their colour is much increased by dirt. But though in these +points they shew so little delicacy, they are not without emotions of +disgust, when they meet with strong effluvia to which their organs are +unaccustomed. One of them, after having touched a piece of pork, held out +his finger for his companions to smell, with strong marks of distaste. +Bread and meat they seldom refuse to take, but generally throw it away +soon after. Fish they always accept very eagerly. + +Whether they use any particular rites of burial is not yet known, but +from the following account it seems evident that they burn their dead. +The ground having been observed to be raised in several places, like the +ruder kind of graves of the common people in our church yards, Governor +Phillip caused some of these barrows to be opened. In one of them a jaw +bone was found not quite consumed, but in general they contained only +ashes. From the manner in which these ashes were disposed, it appeared +that the body must have been laid at length, raised from the ground a few +inches only, or just enough to admit a fire under it; and having been +consumed in this posture, it must then have been covered lightly over +with mould. Fern is usually spread upon the surface, with a few stones, +to keep it from being dispersed by the wind. These graves have not been +found in very great numbers, nor ever near their huts. + +When the latest accounts arrived from Port Jackson, the natives still +avoided all intercourse with our settlement, whether from dislike or from +contempt is not perfectly clear: They think perhaps that we cannot teach +them any thing of sufficient value to make them amends for our +encroachments upon their fishing places. They seem to be among themselves +perfectly honest, and often leave their spears and other implements upon +the beach, in full confidence of finding them untouched. But the convicts +too frequently carry them off, and dispose of them to vessels coming to +England, though at the hazard on one side of being prosecuted for theft, +and on the other for purchasing stolen goods. Injuries of this nature +they generally revenge on such stragglers as they happen to meet; and +perhaps have already learnt to distinguish these freebooters, by their +blue and yellow jackets, as they very early did the soldiers by their red +clothes. Beyond these attacks they have not yet committed any open acts +of hostility, except the seizing of the fish in the instance above +related. They have not attempted to annoy the settlers by setting fire to +the grass, as they did when Captain Cook was on the coast; nor have they, +which is more important, shown any desire to burn the crops of corn. So +absolutely indispensable to the welfare of the settlement is the +preservation of the grain, that an attempt of this kind must at all +events be counteracted; but in no other case will any harsh measures be +adopted, or any effort made to drive them to a greater distance. +Conciliation is the only plan intended to be pursued: But Governor +Phillip, when he last wrote, seemed to despair of getting any of them to +remain among his people, long enough for either to acquire the language +of the other, except by constraint. Hitherto he has been unwilling to +take this method, but if it can be done in such a manner as not to create +any general alarm among them, it will probably turn out to be the kindest +piece of violence that could be used. Whenever it shall be practicable, +by any means, to explain to them the friendly disposition of Governor +Phillip and his people towards them, and to make them understand, that +the men from whom they receive occasional injuries, are already a +disgraced class, and liable to severe punishment for such proceedings, +they will then perhaps acquire sufficient confidence in their new +countrymen to mix with them, to enrich themselves with some of their +implements, and to learn and adopt some of the most useful and necessary +of their arts. It may, indeed, admit of a doubt whether many of the +accommodations of civilized life, be not more than counterbalanced by the +artificial wants to which they give birth; but it is undeniably certain +that to teach the shivering savage how to clothe his body, and to shelter +himself completely from the cold and wet, and to put into the hands of +men, ready to perish for one half of the year with hunger, the means of +procuring constant and abundant provision, must be to confer upon them +benefits of the highest value and importance. + +According to the latest advices from Governor Phillip, the Sirius sailed +for the Cape on the 2d of October, 1788, to purchase grain, flour, and +other necessaries. Live stock was not to be procured by this ship, as +being less wanted in the present state of the settlement, which had +provisions in store for eighteen months, but not grain enough for seed, +and for the support of cattle. The Fishburn and Golden Grove storeships +sailed in November for England; the Supply was detained in Port Jackson +for occasional use. At this time the officers were all in separate +houses, and the whole detachment comfortably lodged, though the barracks +were yet unfinished. Nothing more, that requires to be related, has yet +been heard from the settlement. + +* * * * * + +REMARKS and DIRECTIONS for SAILING into PORT JACKSON, by Capt. J. HUNTER, +of the Sirius. + +In coming in with Port Jackson, you will not immediately discover where +the harbour is: Steer right in for the outer points, for there is not any +thing in the way but what shows itself by the sea breaking on it, except +a reef on the south shore which runs off a small distance only: when you +are past this reef and are a-breast the next point on the same side, you +will open to the south-ward of you an extensive branch of the harbour, +into which you will sail; taking care to keep the shore on either side +well on board, for there is a reef which dries at low water and lies very +near the mid-channel, right off the first sandy cove on the east shore; +this reef is pretty broad athwart, as well as up and down the channel, +and shoals very gradually: The marks for it are, the outer north point +and inner south point touching, Green Point will then be on with a +remarkable notch in the back land. To avoid it to the eastward, pass the +inner south head a cable's length from it, and when you open any part of +the sandy beach of Camp Cove, haul short in for it until you bring the +inner north head and inner south head on with each other; that mark will +carry you up in five and six fathom: But if you cannot weather the reef, +tack and stand into Camp Cove, which shoals gradually. If you pass to the +westward of the reef, steer in for Middle Cape, which is steep too, then +steer up for the next point above it on the same side; when you are that +length, you may take what part of the channel you please, or anchor where +you like. + +It flows Full and Change a quarter past eight. +Rises 4 6 Neap Tide. +Rises 6 0 Spring Tide. + + +Chapter XV. + +The great advantage of a scientific eye over that of the unlearned +observer, in viewing the productions of nature, cannot be more strongly +exemplified than by the present state of the natural history of Botany +Bay, and its vicinity. The English who first visited this part of the +coast, staid there only a week, but having among them persons deeply +versed in the study of nature, produced an account, to which the present +settlers, after a residence of near eleven months when the last +dispatches were dated, have been able to add but very little of +importance. The properties and relations of many objects are known to the +philosopher at first sight, his enquiries after novelty are conducted +with sagacity, and when he cannot describe by name what he discovers, as +being yet unnamed, he can at least refer it to its proper class and +genus. The observation of unskilful persons is often detailed by trivial +resemblances, while it passes by the marks which are really +characteristic. Governor Phillip, in one of his letters, remarking the +prodigious variety of vegetable productions then before his eyes, +laments, that among all the people with him there happens not to be one +who has any tolerable knowledge of botany. This circumstance is perhaps +less to be regretted than a deficiency in any other branch of natural +knowledge. The researches of some gentlemen among the first voyagers were +particularly directed to botanical discoveries, and a work which is now +preparing, in a style of uncommon accuracy and elegance by one of the +most illustrious of them, will probably discover that there was little +left undone, even in their short stay, towards completing that branch of +enquiry. Of quadrupeds the whole stock contained in the country appears +to be confined to a very few species: Wolves have not been seen, though +the tracks of them were so frequently thought to be detected on this +coast by Captain Cook's party. Birds are numerous, but they belong in +general to classes already known to naturalists; a few drawings however, +and specimens of both, have been sent over. These, to gratify, as far as +possible, the curiosity of those readers whose attention is particularly +directed to natural history, have been engraved, and a short account of +them is thrown together in this chapter. Of reptiles few have been seen +that are at all curious. A large Lizard, of the Scincus kind, with the +remarkable peculiarity of a small spine or horn standing near the +extremity of the tail, is said to be among some specimens sent over as +private presents; and also a kind of frog, whose colour is blue; but +these do not in other respects differ materially from the usual form of +their respective species. The ants are fully described in Captain Cook's +first voyage. + +* * * * * + +QUADRUPEDS. + +The KANGUROO has been particularly described already. + +THE SPOTTED OPOSSUM. + +The annexed plate represents a small animal of the opossum kind, which +has not before been delineated. It is perhaps the same which is slightly +described in Captain Cook's first voyage as resembling a polecat, having +the back spotted with white; and is there said to be called by the +natives Quoll.* The colour however is darker, being rather black than +brown. + +[* Hawkesw. iii. p. 222.] + +The Spotted Opossum, for so it may properly be named, is in length from +the nose to the extremity of the tail about twenty-five inches, of which +the tail itself takes up about nine or ten. The general colour of the +animal is black, inclining to brown beneath; the neck and body spotted +with irregular roundish patches of white; the ears are pretty large, and +stand erect, the visage is pointed, the muzzle furnished with long +slender hairs; the fore, as well as hind legs, from the knees downward, +almost naked, and ash-coloured; on the fore feet are five claws, and on +the hind, four and a thumb without a claw; the tail, for about an inch +and an half from the root, covered with hairs of the same length as those +on the body, from thence to the end with long ones not unlike that of a +squirrel. The specimen from which the above account was taken, is a +female, and has six teats placed in a circle, within the pouch. + +Another animal of the opossum kind has been sent alive to the Rev. Dr. +Hamilton, Rector of St. Martin's, Westminster, and is now living in the +possession of Mr. J. Hunter. It appears to be of the same sort as that +mentioned in Captain Cook's first voyage,* and that also which was found +near Adventure Bay, represented in the eighth plate of Captain Cook's +third voyage, and slightly described in Vol. I. p. 109 of that work: but +it must be owned, that neither its form nor character is very well +expressed in that plate. + +[* Hawkesw. vol. iii. p. 182.] + +The countenance of this animal much resembles that of a fox, but its +manners approach more nearly to those of the squirrel. When disposed to +sleep, or to remain inactive, it coils itself up into a round form; but +when eating, or on the watch for any purpose, sits up, throwing its tail +behind it. In this posture it uses its fore feet to hold any thing, and +to feed itself. When irritated, it sits still more erect on the hind +legs, or throws itself upon its back, making a loud and harsh noise. It +feeds only on vegetable substances. + +This specimen is a male. The fur is long, but close and thick; of a mixed +brown or greyish colour on the back, under the belly and neck, of a +yellowish white. Its length is about eighteen inches, exclusive of the +tail, which is twelve inches long, and prehensile. The face is three +inches in length, broad above and very pointed at the muzzle, which is +furnished with long whiskers. The eyes are very large, but not fierce. On +the fore feet are five claws; on the hind, three and a thumb. The teeth +are two in the front of the upper jaw, and two in the lower; the upper +projecting beyond the under. In the Kanguroo it is remarkable that there +are four teeth in the upper jaw, opposed to two in the under. The +testicles are contained in a pendulous scrotum, between the two thighs of +the hind legs, as in the common opossum. The affinity of almost all the +quadrupeds yet discovered on this coast to the opossum kind, in the +circumstance of the pouch in which the female receives and suckles her +young, seems to open a field of investigation most interesting to the +naturalist: and the public will doubtless learn with pleasure, that it is +the intention of the most able comparative anatomist of the age, to give +a paper on this subject to the Royal Society. It cannot, therefore, be +necessary at present to pursue the enquiry any farther. + +THE VULPINE OPOSSUM. + +This is not unlike the common fox in shape, but considerably inferior to +it in respect to size, being, from the point of the nose to the setting +on of the tail, only twenty-six inches; the tail itself fifteen inches: +the upper parts of the body are of a grisly colour, arising from a +mixture of dusky and white hairs, with rufous-yellow tinge; the head and +shoulders partaking most of this last colour: round the eyes blackish: +above the nostrils ten or twelve black whiskers, four inches or more in +length: all the under parts of the body are of a tawny buff-colour, +deepest on the throat, where the bottom of the hairs are rust-colour: the +tail is of the colour of the back for about one quarter of its length, +from thence to the end, black: the toes on the fore feet are five in +number, the inner one placed high up: on the hind feet four toes only: +with a thumb, consisting of two joints, without a claw, placed high up at +the base of the inner toe. The whole foot serving the purpose of a hand, +as observable in many of the opossum genus. The legs are much shorter in +proportion than those of the common fox: the ears about one inch and an +half in length: in the upper jaw are six cutting teeth, and four +grinders, with two small canine teeth placed at an equal distance between +them: in the under jaw two long cutting teeth, not unlike those of a +squirrel, and four grinders to answer those in the upper jaw, but no +canine teeth.--A representation of the mouth and teeth may be seen in one +of the following plates. + +NORFOLK ISLAND FLYING SQUIRREL. + +Size of the American grey squirrel, and the general colour of the upper +parts very nearly resembling that animal; the under parts white: from the +nose to the tail runs a streak of dusky black, and another springs on +each side of the head behind the nostrils, passing over the eyes and +finishing behind them: ears not rising from the head: on each side of the +body is a broad flap or membrane, as in other flying squirrels, which is +united to both the fore and hind legs, as usual in many of this division: +this membrane is black, fringed on the outer edge with white: the tail +for two-thirds of the length, is of an elegant ash colour, paler than the +body, from thence to the end dusky black: the toes on the fore legs are +five in number; those of the hinder uncertain, as the legs behind were +wanting: length from head to rump nine inches; the tail is ten inches. + +BIRDS. + +BLUE BELLIED PARROT. Order II. Pies. Genus V. Species XIV. Var. B. + +BLUE BELLIED PARROT. + +Described thus by Mr. Latham. + +"The length of this beautiful parrot is fifteen inches. The bill is +reddish: orbits black: head and throat dark blue, with a mixture of +lighter blue feathers: back part of the head green; towards the throat +yellow green: back and wings green: prime quills dusky, barred with +yellow: breast red, mixed with yellow: belly of a fine blue: thighs green +and yellow: tail cuneiform; the two middle feathers green; the others the +same, but bright yellow on the outer edges: legs dusky. Inhabits Botany +Bay in New Holland." Latham's Synopsis, vol. i. p. 213. + +To this account little need be added, except that in our present +specimens the parts there said to be blue are rather a bright lilac: the +bill is a deep orange; and there are red spots on the back between the +wings, and a few near the vent feathers. + +TABUAN PARROT. Order and Genus the same. Species XVI. A Variety. + + +The bird here represented has been seen by Mr. Latham, and was by him +referred to this species; of which however it seems a very remarkable +variety: The prevalent colour of the head, neck and breast, being, +instead of a deep crimson or purplish red, as in his description and +plate, as well as in a fine specimen now in his own collection, a very +bright scarlet: the blue mark across the lower part of the neck appears +the same; but the blue feathers in the wings are entirely wanting; and +the bill is not black. (See Latham's Synopsis, vol. i. p. 214.) + +The specimen here delineated may be thus described. + +Length twenty-four inches: bill brown, the upper mandible tinged with +red: the head, neck, and all the under parts of the body a bright +scarlet: the back and wings a fine green. On the lower part of the neck, +between that and the back, a crescent of blue: the tail long and +cuneiform, most of its feathers deep blue: the legs ash coloured: on the +upper part of the wings a narrow line of lighter green. + +PENNANTIAN PARROT. Order and Genus the same. Species, 134. + +Size of the scarlet lory, length sixteen inches: the bill of a blueish +horn colour; the general colour of the plumage scarlet; the base of the +under mandible and the chin covered with rich blue feathers: the back +black, the feathers edged with crimson: wings blue, down the middle much +paler than the rest: the quills and tail black, the feathers edged +outwardly with blue, and three of the outer tail feathers, from the +middle to the end, of a pale hoary blue: the tail is wedge shaped, the +middle feathers eight inches in length; the outermost, or shortest, only +four: the bottom of the thighs blue, legs dusky, claws black. + +This beautiful bird is not unfrequent about Port Jackson, and seems to +correspond greatly with the Pennantian Parrot, described by Mr. Latham in +the supplement to his General Synopsis of Birds, p. 61. differing in so +few particulars, as to make us suppose it to differ only in sex from that +species. + +PACIFIC PAROQUET. Order and Genus the same. Species L VI. A new variety. + +Mr. Latham's description is this: + +"Length twelve inches, bill of a silvery blue; end black: in some, the +forehead and half the crown; in others, the forehead only, of a deep +crimson: behind each eye a spot of the same colour: on each side of the +vent a patch of the same: the plumage in general of a dark green, palest +on the under parts: the tail is cunei-form; the two middle feathers are +five inches and an half in length; the outer ones two inches and an half; +upper parts of it the same green with the body; beneath ash colour: the +outer edge of the wings, as far as the middle of the quills, deep blue; +the ends of the quills dusky: legs brown: claws black." Latham's Synopsis, +vol. I. p. 252. + +The variety here represented has a brown bill, tinged with red at the +end, and a cap of azure blue at the back of the head, interspersed with a +few small feathers of a yellowish green; the top of the wings is of a +yellow hue, and there are no blue feathers in the wings. + +THE SACRED KING'S FISHER. Order of Birds II. Pies. Genus XXIII. Species 12. + +The following description is extracted from Mr. Latham's Synopsis of +Birds, vol. ii. p. 623. The specimen here represented, being the same as +his fourth variety of that species marked D. + +"This in size is rather less than a blackbird: the bill is black; the +lower mandible yellowish at the base: head, back, wings, and tail, blue +tinged with green: the under parts of the body white, extending round the +middle of the neck like a collar: legs blackish." + +To which account we may add, that the bill is very strong at the base, +and sharp at the point; that the feathers immediately above the bill are +tinged with yellow; and that the toes, as in most of this species, are +three before and one behind. + +SUPERB WARBLER, MALE. Birds, Order III. Passerine. Genus XLI. Warbler. +Species 137. A new variety. + + +"The length of this beautiful species is five inches and a half: the bill +black: the feathers of the head are long, and stand erect like a full +crest; from the forehead to the crown they are of a bright blue; from +thence to the nape, black like velvet: through the eyes from the bill, a +line of black; beneath the eye springs a tuft of the same blue feathers; +beneath these and on the chin, it is of a deep blue almost black, and +feeling like velvet: on the ears is another patch of blue, and across the +back part of the head a band of the same, (in some specimens, the patches +of blue under the eye and on the ear unite together, and join with the +band at the nape, as in the plate*) the whole giving the head a greater +appearance of bulk than is natural: the hind part of the neck and upper +parts of the body and tail, deep blue black; the under, pure white: +wings, dusky; shafts of the quills chesnut: the tail, two inches and a +quarter long, and cuneiform; the two outer feathers very short: legs +dusky brown: claws black." Latham's Synopsis, vol. iv. p. 501. + +[* Latham's Synopsis, vol. iv. pl. 53.] + +The disposition of the blue is found to differ in most of the specimens. +In the present variety, the whole head is enveloped in blue, which +terminates in an irregularly waving line, and is continued below the eye +in a broad band, edged in the same manner, and running almost to a point, +as low as the bottom of the neck on each side; but there is no band +continued round the neck, which, both above and below, is of the deep +blue like velvet, mentioned by Mr. Latham. Some feathers of a very bright +orange lie immediately under that blue, and above the wings*. + +[* The Specimens from which Mr. Latham took his descriptions were met with +at Van Diemen's Land, the most southern part of New Holland.] + +SUPERB WARBLER, Female. + +When Mr. Latham's Synopsis was published, the female of this species was +entirely unknown; and it was conjectured by that author that the +disposition of the blue might possibly mark the sexes. The female is now +discovered to be entirely destitute of all the fine blue colours, both +pale and dark, by which the male is adorned, except that there is a very +narrow circle of azure round each eye, apparently on the skin only: all +the upper feathers consist of shades of brown, and the whole throat and +belly is pure white. Except from the shape and size, this bird would not +be suspected at first sight to belong to the same species as the male: +the epithet of superb applies very ill to the female. + +CASPIAN TERN. Birds, Order IX. Webfooted. Genus LXXXVIII. Species I. Variety B. + +The plate of this bird is inserted at pag. 77. Mr. Latham's description +is as follows. + +"Length nineteen or twenty inches: bill three inches, stout and of a pale +yellow: nostrils pervious: the crown of the head black; the feathers +longish, and forming a kind of pensile crest at the nape; the rest of the +head, neck, and under parts of the body, white: back and wings pale +cinereous grey: quills grey, with the ends dusky; the inner webs, half +way from the base, white: tail grey, forked; the end half of the other +feathers white; the last is exceeded by the first an inch: legs black. +Supposed to inhabit China; seen also, or very similar, from the +Friendly Isles; also found at Hapaee, one of the Sandwich Islands." +Syn. Vol. vi. p. 351. + +NORFOLK ISLAND PETREL. Order IX. Web-Footed. Genus Xc. + +Length sixteen inches, bill one inch and an half long, black, and very +hooked at the tip: the head as far as the eyes, the chin and throat, +waved, brown and dusky white: the rest of the body on the upper parts of +a sooty brown, the under of a deep ash colour; the inner part of the +quills, especially next the base, very pale, nearly white, and the wings, +when closed, exceed the tail by about an inch: the tail is much rounded +in shape, and consists of twelve feathers, of the same colour as the +upper parts of the body: the legs are pale yellow, the outer toe black +the whole length, the middle one half way from the tip, the webs also +correspond, the outer one being black, except just at the base; and the +inner one black for about one third from the end: the claws black; the +spur, which serves in place of a back toe, is also black. + +This inhabits Norfolk Island, and burrows in the sand like a rabbit, +lying hid in the holes throughout the day, and coming out of evenings in +quest of food. This bird appears to differ so very little from the dark +grey Petrel of Cook's Voyage, vol. i. p. 258. that it is not improbable +it may prove to be the same species. This is described in the General +Synopsis of Birds, vol. vi. p. 399. under the name of Grey Petrel; as +also another species, in p. 400. by the name of White-breasted Petrel, +differing only in the breast from our specimen. + +BRONZE-WINGED PIGEON. Order IV. Columbine. Genus XLVI. + +Size of a large dove-house pigeon: general colour of the plumage +ash-coloured, brown on the upper parts, the feathers margined with pale +rufous; the under parts pale ash-colour, with very pale margins: the wing +coverts are much the same colour as the back, but the greater ones, or +lower series, have each of them a large oval spot of bronze on the outer +webs near the ends, forming together, when the wings are closed, two bars +of the most brilliant and beautiful bronze, changing into red, copper, +and green, in different reflections of light: several of the feathers +also among the other coverts have the same spots on them, but are +irregularly placed: the quills are brown, with the inner webs, from the +middle to the base, pale rufous; as are the sides of the body and all the +under wing coverts: the tail consists of sixteen feathers; the two middle +ones are brown, the others pale lead, or dove colour, with a bar of black +near the tips: the bill is of a dull red: the forehead very pale, nearly +white, passing a little way under the eye: the chin and throat pale grey: +the legs are red. + +This bird inhabits Norfolk Island; and is clearly a non-descript species. + +WHITE-FRONTED HERON. Order VII. Cloven-footed. Genus LXV. + +This is little more than half the size of the common Heron: length 28 +inches: the general colour of the plumage is bluish ash, inclining to +lead colour: top of the head black, and a trifle crested; the forehead, +sides of the head, chin, and throat white, passing downwards, and +finishing in a point about the middle of the neck before: on the lower +part of the neck the feathers are long and loose, and of a pale rufous +cinnamon colour; all the under parts of the body also incline to this +last colour, but are much paler: the quills and tail are dark lead +colour, nearly black: on the back the feathers are long and narrow, and +hang part of the way on the tail: the bill is four inches long, and +black; but the base half of the under mandible is yellowish: the legs are +formed as in other herons, of a yellowish brown colour, and the claws are +black. + +This bird was sent from Port Jackson in New Holland, and as it has not +been noticed by any author, we consider it as a new species. + +WATTLED BEE-EATER. Order II. Pies. Genus XXVI. + +The size of this bird is nearly that of a cuckow: length fourteen inches +and a half: the bill one inch long, and of nearly the same shape and size +as in the Poe Bird; the colour black: the general colour of the plumage +is brown, palest on the under parts; most of the feathers are pointed in +shape, and have a streak of white down the middle: the fore part of the +head, as far as the eyes, is smooth, but the rest of the head appears +full, the feathers being longer: from the gape of the bill a broad streak +of silvery white passes under the eye, and beneath this, on each side of +the throat, hangs a pendulous wattle, about half an inch in length, and +of an orange colour: the wings, when closed, reach about one third on the +tail, which is about half the length of the bird, and cuneiform in shape: +both the quills and tail feathers are of a darker brown than the rest of +bird, and have the tips white: the middle of the belly is yellow: the +legs are of a pale brown, the hind toe very stout, and the outer toe +connected to the middle one as far as the first joint. + +The above inhabits New Holland; it was received from Port Jackson, and is +no doubt a non-descript species. + +PSITTACEOUS HORNBILL. Order II. Pies. Genus VIII. + +The bird is about the size of a crow: the total length two feet three +inches: the bill is large, stout at the base, much curved at the point, +and channelled on the sides; the colour pale brown, inclining to yellow +near the end: the nostrils are quite at the base, and are surrounded with +a red skin, as is the eye also, on the upper part: the head, neck, and +under parts of the body are pale blue-grey; the upper parts of the body, +wings, and tail, ash colour; and most of the feathers are tipt with dusky +black, forming bars of that colour across the wings: the wings, when +closed, reach to near three-quarters of the length of the tail: the tail +itself is long, and cuneiform, the two middle feathers measuring eleven +inches, and the outer one on each side little more than seven; a bar of +black crosses the whole near the end, and the tips of all the feathers +are white: the legs are short and scaly, and the toes placed two +forwards, and two backwards, as in those of the toucan or parrot genus: +the colour of legs and claws black.* + +[* Mr. Latham, who has been kind enough to give his sentiments on this +occasion, is of opinion that this bird does not strictly belong to any of +the present established genera. The make indeed is altogether that of an +hornbill, and the edges of the mandible are smooth, but the toes being +placed two forwards and two backwards, seem to rank it with the Parrots +or Toucans; and it has been unlucky that in the specimen from which the +description was taken, the tongue was wanting, which might in a great +measure have determined the point: but the inducement for placing it with +the hornbills has had the greater weight, as not a single species of the +toucan tribe has yet been met with in that part of the world.] + +This bird was killed at Port Jackson, and we believe it to be hitherto +non-descript. + +* * * * * + +Such is the account of the birds of which drawings or specimens have been +obtained from Port Jackson or from Norfolk Island. Wild ducks, teal, +quails, and other common species are numerous in both places, and the +variety, as well as number of the small birds is considerable. Birds of +the Cassowary or Emu kind have very frequently been seen; but they are so +shy, and run so swiftly, that only one has yet been killed. That bird was +shot near the camp, while Governor Phillip was absent on his first +expedition to Broken Bay, and was thought by him to differ materially +both from the ostrich and cassowary; the skin was sent over, but at the +time when this sheet was printed off, had not been stuffed, or put into +form. Should it, on examination, exhibit any remarkable peculiarities, we +shall endeavour to obtain a description of it, to subjoin at the +conclusion of this volume. + +* * * * * + +Since stating the dimensions of the kanguroo, in page 106, Lord Sydney +has received from Governor Phillip, a male of a much larger size, which +measures as follows. + + f. in. +Length from the point of the nose to the end of the tail, 8 5 +Length of the tail, 3 1 +-- head, 0 11 +-- fore legs, 2 0 +-- hind legs 3 7 +Circumference of the fore part by the legs, 1 9 +---- lower parts -- 4 5 +Round the thicker part of the tail, which gradually +tapers to the end. 1 1 + +The above is the largest kanguroo that has yet been seen, and there is +every reason to believe that even this had not nearly attained its full +growth. + +Lieutenant Shortland describes them as feeding in herds of about thirty +or forty, and assures us, that one is always observed to be apparently +upon the watch, at a distance from the rest. + + +Chapter XVI. + +No. I. + +PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE SETTLEMENT AT PORT JACKSON. + +General Return of the four Companies of Marines, doing duty in the +settlement of New South Wales. + +Return of the OFFICERS. + +* * * * * + +No. II. + +Artificers belonging to the Marine Detachment, employed from the 17th May +to the 30th September, 1788, both Days inclusive. + +[These tables are not included here. Refer to html version of this ebook +available from https://gutenberg.org] + + +These artificers were employed on the representation of the +Lieutenant-Governor to Governor Phillip, that it was impossible to erect +the barracks necessary for the officers and men of the detachment, +without employing such artificers for that purpose as could be found +among themselves. It was at the same time represented, that these men +could not properly be retained at such work, unless they were to be paid +in the customary manner of paying all troops employed on extra works for +the public service: and more especially, as it was known that the +artificers taken from the ships of war and transports were to be paid for +all work done on shore. + +Governor Phillip agreed entirely as to the necessity of employing the +artificers, and with respect to their pay, had no doubt that the matter +must be decided by custom: In consequence of which he issued an order for +that purpose on the 17th of May, 1788. + +* * * * * + +No. III. + +The Right Hon. the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, in a letter, +dated the 8th of October, 1786, addressed to the commanding officers of +each division of the marines, directed them to signify to such marines as +would make a voluntary tender of their service for Botany Bay, that they +should at the expiration of their station of three years be entitled to +their discharge on their return to England, provided their good behaviour +during this service should have merited such marks of favour: Or that, if +they preferred it, they should at the time of relief be discharged in New +South Wales, and permitted to settle there. In consequence of this, at +the date of the following paper, the question was put by the Lieutenant +Governor to all the officers and men, whether they chose to remain in the +country, either as soldiers or settlers. Before this question was asked, +Major Ross applied to Governor Phillip to know what encouragement +Government held out to those who should wish to remain in either +capacity. To this application it was answered by the Governor, that the +proper instructions and authorities for giving every reasonable +encouragement to such of the military and others as should be desirous to +remain in New South Wales, and for making grants of land, were to be sent +from England as soon as Government being sufficiently informed of the +actual state of the country, and the quality of the soil, at and near the +settlement, could determine what was the most eligible mode of granting +the lands. + +Those documents having been received, the amplest powers are now to be +sent out to Governor Phillip, that he may make such grants and give such +encouragement as may be proportioned to the merits of those who apply, +and satisfactory to every individual. + +The following list exhibits the result of the question put by the +Lieutenant Governor to the officers and men of the marines, concerning +their desire to return, or to remain in New South Wales. + +LIST of such OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, DRUMMERS, and PRIVATES, +as are desirous of remaining in this Country, after the time when their +Lordships the Commissioners of the Admiralty intended to relieve the +Detachment, as expressed in their Letter of the 8th October, 1788. + +NEW SOUTH WALES, 1st October, 1788. + +Names and quality. Desirous of remaining in this country. + +Watkin Tench, Capt. Lieutenant, as a soldier for one tour more of three +years. + +George Johnstone, First Lieutenant, having been so short a time in this +country, cannot determine whether he would wish to remain or not, as to +settling can say nothing. + +John Johnstone, ditto, having been so short a time in this country, +cannot determine whether he would wish to remain another tour or not, as +to settling can say nothing, till he knows on what terms. + +James Maitland Shairp, ditto, being so short a time in the country, he +cannot yet judge whether he would wish to remain or not another tour, as +to settling, until he knows the terms and nature of the grants, cannot +determine. + +William Dawes, Second Lieutenant, as a soldier for one tour more of three +years. + +William Baker, Serjeant, as a soldier. +George Flemming, private, as a soldier for three years more. +Isaac Tarr, ditto, as a settler. +James Manning, as a soldier. + + +All the officers, non-commissioned officers, drummers, and private men of +the detachment, whose names are not expressed in the above list, wish to +return to England, at the time proposed by their Lordship's letter of the +8th October, 1786, or as soon after as their Lordships may find it +convenient. + +R. ROSS, MAJOR. + +* * * * * + +No. IV + +AN ACCOUNT OF PROVISIONS REMAINING IN HIS MAJESTY'S STORES, AT SYDNEY +COVE, NEW SOUTH WALES, 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1788. + +Flour, 414,176 pounds, is 62 weeks ration. +Rice, 51,330 -- -- 15 -- +Beef, 127,608 -- -- 43 -- +Pork, 214,344 -- -- 128 -- +Pease, 2,305 bushels, -- 58 -- +Butter, 15,450 pounds, -- 49 -- + +Number of Persons victualled. +Men, 698. Women, 193. Children, 42. + +Provisions at Norfolk Island, twenty months. + +Number of Persons victualled. +Men,44. Women, 16. + +ANDREW MILLER, Commissary. + +* * * * * + +No. V. + +Return of Sick, September 27th, 1788. + +Marines sick in hospital 4 + ---- camp 21 +Marine women and children in camp 5 +Deaths since last return 0 +Total belonging to the battalion +under medical treatment 30 + +Male convicts sick 62 +Female ditto and children 31 +Total of convicts under medical +treatment 93 + +Male convicts dead since the last +report of June 30 6 +Female convicts ditto since ditto 4 +Total convicts dead since ditto 10 +Convicts unserviceable from old +age, infirmities, etc. 53 + + +Chapter XVII. + +Nautical directions, and other detached remarks, by Lieutenant Ball, +concerning Rio de Janeiro, Norfolk Island, Ball Pyramid, and Lord Howe +Island. + +Some notice has already been taken in the preceding sheets of Rio de +Janeiro, Norfolk Isle, and Lord Howe Isle; but since they were committed +to the press, the following particulars respecting those places have very +obligingly been communicated to the editor, by Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird +Ball. As these remarks are the result of minute observation, they cannot +fail of being useful and interesting to the seafaring reader, which, it +is presumed, will be a sufficient apology for giving them a place here. + +There is no danger in going up the harbour to Rio de Janeiro but what may +easily be seen. The course up the harbour is north-west by north; you +anchor before the town in seventeen fathoms water, over a muddy bottom; +the middle of the town bearing west by north, west, or west by south, +about a mile and an half distant from the watering place, and the Fort +Saint Cruz bearing south-east. No pilot is necessary; the soundings +a-breast of St. Cruz Fort are twenty-two fathoms, and shoal gradually to +seventeen fathoms, where the ships moored a-breast of the town. The tide +flows two hours and thirty minutes at full and change, and rises in +general about eight feet. In going into the harbour, it is necessary to +keep the starboard shore best aboard, as the tide sets on the other side, +till you get nearly a-breast of St. Cruz Fort, and in that situation you +must be on your guard, if going in with the flood, as the passage is +narrow: and there are whirlpools in many places, which will take all +command from the rudder. Water is procured at a pipe, by which it is +conveyed from a fountain situated in the large square near the principal +landing place, which is opposite the palace. This pipe is continued down +to the waterside, and you fill your casks in boats: the water is so +plentiful, that a fleet might be supplied in a short time. + +Bullocks, sheep, and Portugal wine, may be had here in plenty; there is +also an excellent market for poultry and vegetables every day; in short, +every refreshment that is necessary for a fleet may be procured in great +abundance, and very cheap. + +The whole harbour, as well as the town, is defended by a number of strong +fortifications; and as far as Lieutenant Ball had an opportunity of +examining the harbour, the draft of it published in the East India chart +is very true, the soundings right, and the bearings very accurate. + +Their trade is chiefly to Portugal, and consists of bullion, indigo, +sugar, rum, tobacco, brazil wood, whale-oil, whale bone, spermaceti, etc. +and of late years diamonds and many other valuable commodities. + +In approaching Norfolk Island there is no danger: Lieut. Ball anchored in +nineteen fathoms, over a bottom of coarse sand and coral, the north-east +end of the island bearing west south-west quarter west; the easternmost +rocks east south-east, about a mile distant from the nearest shore: at +this place Capt. Cook landed. Ships have anchored also at south end of +the isle in twenty-two fathoms, the westernmost point of Phillip Isle +south south-east, the body of Nepean's Isle east north-east half east, +and the south point of Norfolk Isle north-east by east. They anchored +again in eighteen fathoms, over a bottom of sand and coral, the west +point of Phillip Isle bearing south, the easternmost point of it south +south-east half east, and the south point of Norfolk Isle north-east. The +pine trees on this island are of an immense size, measuring from twenty +to twenty-seven and even thirty feet in girth, and so tall that it was +not easy to form any exact judgment of their height. This place affords +vast numbers of cabbage trees, and amazing quantities of fish may be +procured on the banks that lie on the west side of the small island; +those they got on board the Supply were of the snapper kind, and very +good, yet they were caught in such abundance that many of the people were +as much satiated with them as the sailors are with cod on the banks of +Newfoundland. + +The only places where it was found practicable to land was a-breast of +their first station (which is the place described by Captain Cook, and +where the people landed with the utmost difficulty,) and at Sydney Bay on +the south end of the isle, the outer breaker off the westernmost point in +sight bearing north-west by west half west. + +Lord Howe Island was discovered by Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball, +Commander of his Majesty's tender Supply, on the 17th February, 1788, and +was so named by him, in honour of the Right Honourable Lord Howe. At the +same time he observed a remarkably high pyramidical rock at a +considerable distance from the island, which has been named Ball's +Pyramid; from a correct drawing of this rock and others near it, the +annexed engraving was taken. + +There is no danger in approaching Lord Howe island, the Supply anchored +there in thirteen fathoms, sand and coral; but there lies about four +miles from the south-west part of the pyramid, a dangerous rock, which +shows itself a little above the surface of the water, and appears not to +be larger than a boat. Lieutenant Ball had no opportunity of examining +whether there is a safe passage between them or not. The island is in the +form of a crescent, the convex side towards the north-east. Two points at +first supposed to be separate islands, proved to be high mountains on its +south-west end, the southernmost of which was named Mount Gower, and the +other Mount Lidgbird; between these mountains there is a very deep +valley, which obtained the name of Erskine Valley; the south-east point +was called Point King, and the north-west point, Point Phillip. The land +between these two points forms the concave side of the island facing the +south-west, and is lined with a sandy beach, which is guarded against the +sea by a reef of coral rock, at the distance of half a mile from the +beach, through which there are several small openings for boats; but it +is to be regretted that the depth of water within the reef no where +exceeds four feet. They found no fresh water on the island, but it +abounds with cabbage-palms, mangrove and manchineal trees, even up to to +the summits of the mountains. No vegetables were to be seen. On the shore +there are plenty of ganets, and a land-fowl, of a dusky brown colour, +with a bill about four inches long, and feet like those of a chicken; +these proved remarkably fat, and were very good food; but we have no +further account of them. There are also many very large pigeons, and the +white birds resembling the Guinea fowl, which were found at Norfolk +Island, were seen here also in great numbers. The bill of this bird is +red, and very strong, thick, and sharp-pointed. Innumerable quantities of +exceeding fine turtle frequent this place in the summer season, but at +the approach of winter they all go to the northward. There was not the +least difficulty in taking them. The sailors likewise caught plenty of +fish with a hook and line. + + +Chapter XVIII. + +July 1788 to August 1788 + +Concise account of Lieutenant Shortland--His various services--Appointed +agent to the transports sent to New South Wales--Ordered by Governor +Phillip to England, by Batavia--Journal of his voyage--New discoveries. + +We have been induced to subjoin in this place a concise account of +Lieutenant Shortland, as well because his experience as an officer has +been great, as from the consideration that his journal has been deemed, +by those who best know its value, of very serious importance. + +Lieutenant John Shortland very early in life had a strong predilection +for the Navy, and in 1755, at the age of sixteen, he entered into his +Majesty's service, on board the Anson, a sixty gun ship, which went out +in the fleet under the command of Admiral Boscawen. On the Banks of +Newfoundland this fleet fell in with, and took the Alcide and Ly's, two +French ships, of seventy-four guns. On his return from this expedition, +he went on board the Culloden, a seventy-four gun ship, and was in the +fleet under Admiral Byng, off Minorca. Shortly afterwards, he went into +the Hampton Court, commanded by Capt. Harvey, in which ship he was +present at the taking of the Foudroyant and Arpe. On his arrival in +England, he went on board the Vanguard, Commodore Swanton, to the West +Indies, in the fleet under Admiral Rodney, and was present at the +reduction of Martinique, the Grenades, and the other islands which were +then captured. In 1763, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant by +Admiral Swanton; since which period he has always been employed in active +and important services. During the late war, and for some time +afterwards, he was chiefly employed in going to and from America, except +in the year 1782, when he was appointed to command the transports with +the 97th regiment on board, destined for the relief of Gibraltar, under +convoy of his Majesty's ships Cerberus and Apollo: he was not only +successful in getting all the transports in safe, but he also landed the +men without any loss. + +On Lieutenant Shortland's return home from this service, in endeavouring +to get through the Gut of Gibraltar in the night, he was chased by a +squadron of Spanish frigates, who took three of the transports in +company, but he was so fortunate as to escape in the Betsey transport, +and arrived safe in England, without either loss or damage. In the year +1786, he was appointed Agent to the transports sent by Government to New +South Wales, at which place he arrived in January, 1788. After remaining +six months at the new settlement at Port Jackson, he was ordered to +England by way of Batavia, by his Excellency Governor Phillip, who +honoured him with the official dispatches for Government, and he arrived +in England on the 29th of May, 1789. + +This summary recapitulation of Mr. Shortland's services sufficiently +points out his merit and ability as an experienced seaman, without any +further elogium; which, it were were wanted, might be abundantly supplied +from the subsequent account of his passage from Port Jackson to Batavia. + +* * * * * + +The Alexander, the Friendship, the Prince of Wales, and the Borrowdale, +were got ready in the beginning of July, 1788, to sail for England, under +the care and conduct of Lieutenant Shortland; at which time Governor +Phillip took the opinions of the masters of those transports concerning +their route. The season was thought to be too far advanced for them to +attempt the southern course, by Van Diemen's Land; and the passage by +Cape Horn was objected to by the Governor. It was therefore agreed +unanimously that they should go to the northward, either through +Endeavour Straits, or round New Guinea. Unfortunately the ships were ill +prepared to encounter the difficulties, which were to be expected in +every mode of return; their complement of men was small, only six to an +hundred tons, officers included; they were without a surgeon, and +unprovided with those articles which have been found essential to the +preservation of health in long voyages, such as bore-cole, sour-crout, +portable soup, and the other antiseptics recommended by the Royal +Society. It cannot therefore be wondered, though it must be deeply +regretted, that the sailors should have suffered so dreadfully from the +scurvy, in the length of time necessary for exploring a passage through +an unknown sea perplexed with islands, where they were destitute of +assistance from charts, or observations of former navigators; and were +not fortunate enough to obtain a supply of salutary refreshments. + +14 July 1788 + +Lieutenant Shortland, in the Alexander transport, sailed out of the +harbour of Port Jackson, on Monday, July 14, 1788, directing his course +to the east-north-east, with intention to touch at Lord Howe Island, and +there to appoint each ship a place of rendezvous in case of separation. +This necessary step, which ought to have been previously taken, had been +prevented by the hurry of preparation; the Alexander not having been able +to join the other transports till the evening before their departure. +Even then, the boats, booms, and spare anchors, were stowed loose between +decks, in a manner which must have produced the most dangerous +consequences, had the ship been exposed in that condition to the heavy +sea which it was likely she would meet with off the shore. To the very +last moment, therefore, the men and officers were most busily employed in +providing against this danger; and as soon as the weather appeared +tolerably favourable for working out of the harbour, Lieutenant Shortland +made the signal to the masters of the other transports to get under way, +without waiting for his ship. When the transports had cleared the harbour +they were obliged to carry a press of sail in order to get off the coast, +the vessels being very light, and a powerful swell then setting in upon +the shore. The wind was at the same time strong from the south-east, and +continued so for two days, with the same heavy swell, which made it very +difficult to keep the ships off shore. + +16 July 1788 + +At eight, A. M. on the 16th of July, the rocks off the entrance of +Port Stephens bore north-west by west distant three leagues. Lieutenant +Shortland very much regretted that this place had not been surveyed; +had it been known to afford safe anchorage, it would have been much +more prudent to put in there and wait for a change of wind, than to +attempt keeping the sea in circumstances so very unfavourable, with +ships so little calculated to run along a great extent of lee shore. +This day the Prince of Wales being two or three miles to the leeward, +the signal was made for her to tack into the fleet. At nine in +the evening the wind coming to the east-south-east, Lieutenant +Shortland fired a gun, and made the signal to veer ship and sail on the +other tack. At this time the Prince of Wales was about five miles on the +lee bow of the Alexander, and the Borrowdale and Friendship close in +company; but by twelve at midnight the Friendship only was in sight. At +two, the wind shifting again to the south-south-east, the signal was once +more made to veer ship, and change the tack, as lying off east would +clear the coast; a strong current setting to the southward. + +19 July 1788 + +Lieutenant Shortland, having now lost sight of the Prince of Wales and +Borrowdale, was fully determined to go to Lord Howe Island to wait a day +or two for them, expecting that they might probably touch there with +similar intentions. On the 19th, therefore, he steered a direct course +for that island, with a strong gale at south-west, but as this wind, +which was exactly favourable to the intended course of the voyage, and +made the anchoring place off Lord Howe Island a lee shore, continued +unvaried, and blew very hard on the 20th, it appeared best to relinquish +the design of calling there. At two in the afternoon, therefore, +Lieutenant Shortland again altered his course and sailed north-east by +north. The Prince of Wales and Borrowdale transports, were seen no more +throughout the voyage, and it has since been known that they took another +course; but the Friendship continued close in company with the Alexander. +About noon this day, the men at the mast head discovered a very extensive +shoal on the larboard beam, bearing from north by west to north by south, +distant between two and three leagues. It trended north by east and south +by west, and was judged to be in length about three leagues and a half. +The breadth could not be ascertained, for, while the ship ran along it, +the sand bank was seen to extend as far as the eye could discern. It lies +in latitude 29 deg.. 20'. south, and in longitude 158 deg.. 48'. east, and was +named by Lieutenant Shortland, Middleton Shoals. + +21 July 1788 + +At ten in the morning, on Monday July 21, the master of the Friendship +went on board the Alexander, and Carteret's harbour in New Ireland, was +appointed by Lieutenant Shortland as the place of rendezvous. The same +day, at half past five in the afternoon, land was discovered, bearing +from south-west by west, to west half south, at the distance of about +eight leagues. It trended to the north-north-west, and was about six or +seven leagues in length, the land very high, with a remarkable peak, +which bore south-south-west. This island was now named Sir Charles +Middleton's Island: It lies in latitude 28 deg.. 10. south, and in longitude +159 deg.. 50. east. Lieutenant Shortland thinks it probable that the reef +seen on the preceding day may be connected with this island, as it +trended in a right direction for it; but it must, in that case, be of +very great extent. The island was still in sight on the morning of the +22d. + +24 July 1788 + +On Thursday July 24th, they had an accurate observation of the sun and +moon to determine the longitude, and found the effect of a current to +have been so great as to set the ship two degrees of longitude to the +eastward of the dead reckoning. The longitude of Sir Charles Middleton's +Island must therefore be corrected by that observation, and placed +considerably further to the east. The latitude may be depended upon, as +the bearing was observed when the sun was on the meridian. + +27 July 1788 + +Many land birds being seen on the 27th and 28th, when the ship was by +reckoning and observation near the north-west end of New Caledonia, +Lieutenant Shortland very reasonably concluded that he must have passed +very close to that land, though it did not happen to be discerned: +probably it is low at that extremity. + +31 July 1788 + +At noon, on Thursday the 31st, land was discovered, bearing from north +half west to east-north-east, and distant about five or six leagues. As +the ship was now in latitude 10 deg.. 52'. south, Lieutenant Shortland at +first conjectured it might be Egmont Island, which was seen by Capt. +Carteret, notwithstanding a considerable difference in longitude, which +might be accounted for from the effect of currents, as they had been for +some time very strong. The longitude laid down by Captain Carteret was +164 deg.. 49'. east; that of the Alexander at this time about 161 deg.. 11'. It +proved however that the difference was real, and that this was another +island. Lieutenant Shortland now kept a north-west course, in which +direction the land trended. He ran along the coast about six or seven +leagues, and found it formed into an island by two points, the south-east +of which he called Cape Sydney, the north-west, Cape Phillip. Having +passed this point, he continued steering in a north-west direction till +about seven o'clock the same afternoon, when the men who were reefing the +top-sails for the night, discovered land bearing exactly in the ship's +course. On receiving this intelligence he immediately brought to, with +the ship's head off from the land, and gave a signal for the Friendship +to do the same. They lay to all night, and the next morning were +surprised with the sight of a most mountainous coast, bearing from +north-east by east to west-north-west, about five or six leagues distant. +This proved sufficiently that the land seen the preceding day could not +be Egmont Island, and Lieutenant Shortland was inclined to think that +this was united to it. At six in the morning he bore away west by north, +and west by north half north, as the land trended, running along the +shore at five or six leagues distance. The most eastern point of this +land he called Cape Henslow, the most western which was then in sight, +Cape Hunter. Between these two points the land is very singularly +mountainous, the summits of the mountains rising among the clouds to a +prodigious height. It may be known by one summit more elevated than the +rest, which, from being discovered on the first of August, was named +Mount Lammas, and is thought in height to equal, if not to exceed the +Peak of Teneriffe. This day the latitude was by observation 9 deg.. 58'. +south, and the longitude 160 deg.. 21'. east. More land still continued to +open to the west-north-west, and the same course was therefore kept at an +equal distance from the shore till three in the afternoon, when the water +appearing suddenly of a different colour, they brought to, and sounded, +but found no ground at 120 fathoms. At four, a part of the land which had +the appearance of a harbour, bore north-north-east distant seven leagues. +The land still continued mountainous, and at six o'clock bore from +north-east to north-west by west. The furthest land then in sight +appeared to be at the distance of about thirteen or fourteen leagues, and +was named Cape Marsh. At half past six the ships were brought to, and lay +to for the night, the weather being very squally, with violent thunder, +lightning, and rain. + +2 August 1788 + +Soon after five in the morning of August the 2d, the ships made sail +again, and bore away west by north, but the weather being hazy, no land +was then in sight; many flying fish were seen at this time. At eleven, +there being a prospect of clearer weather, Lieutenant Shortland +endeavoured to make the land again. At noon the latitude was, by +observation, 9 deg.. 40'. south, and the longitude 158 deg.. 42'. east. +Lieutenant Shortland continued to steer north-west to discover whether he +had reached the utmost extent of the land, and at eight in the evening +spoke to the Friendship, and told the master that he intended to bring to +at nine. + +3 August 1788 + +At three in the morning, on Sunday August 3, land was discovered +bearing from north-north-east to north-west, on which the ships stood off +again with a light air of wind. At six, the land in sight appeared like +several islands, and an endeavour was made to pass between them to the +north, but on approaching sufficiently near, it was discovered that all +these points were joined together by a low neck of land covered with +trees. As the land rose in nine roundish points, which seamen call +hummocks, this place was named Nine Hummock Bay. At noon on this day, the +ship then standing to the south-west, in latitude 8 deg.. 55'. south, and +longitude 158 deg.. 14'. east, the extreme points of land bore from east by +north to west, when Lieutenant Shortland named the western point Cape +Nepean, and the eastern Cape Pitt. The intermediate land may, he says, +easily be known by the nine hummocks, and the exact resemblance they bear +to islands when seen from the distance of five or six leagues. They had +now light airs and calm weather, but at two in the afternoon a breeze +sprung up from the eastward, and at four Cape Nepean bore north-west, +half west, distant five or six leagues. At six the Alexander shortened +sail, and stood off and on for the night under double reefed top-sails, +Lieutenant Shortland imagining that he had reached the utmost extent of +this land. At five, on Monday morning, the 4th of August, he made sail +again, and at six a bluff point of the island bore north-north-west, +distant five or six leagues: this he called Point Pleasant. At noon the +latitude was by observation 8 deg.. 54'. south, the longitude 154 deg.. 44'. +east. Point Pleasant then bore east by north; at four, the most western +point of land in sight, which was then supposed to be the extreme point +of the island, but proved not to be so, bore north-west by north, distant +four or five leagues. From this mistake it was named Cape Deception. + +Under the persuasion that he had reached the extremity of the land, but +desirous to ascertain that point, Lieutenant Shortland kept the ships +standing under an easy sail all night. Some islands lying close to Cape +Deception, and seeming to form a good harbour, were called Hammond's +Isles. At day light on the 5th of August, land was again discovered, +bearing from east north-east to west by north half north, and forming a +very deep bay. This land appeared in six hummocks, like islands, but was +joined by a low neck of sand. Not knowing how far it might trend to the +north-west, Lieutenant Shortland stood out to the south. At eleven +o'clock, the longitude was observed to be 157 deg. 30' east; and at noon the +latitude was also determined by observation to be 8 deg. 44' south. At the +same time, Cape Deception bore north-east four or five leagues distant; +and two remarkable hills, from their similiarity called the Two Brothers, +forming the most western point then in view, bore north-west half north, +distant ten leagues. At three in the afternoon, they bore away for the +two Brothers, which at six bore north-west by north, distant seven +leagues. At eight, the ships lay to for the night. + +6 August 1788 + +At five o'clock in the morning of Wednesday, August 6th, they made sail +again to the north-west; and at eight discerned a rock which had exactly +the appearance of a ship under sail, with her top-gallant sails flying. +So strongly were all the Alexander's people prepossessed with this +imagination, that the private signal was made, under the supposition that +it might be either the Boussole or Astrolabe, or one of the two +transports which had parted from them on the coast of New South Wales. +Nor was the mistake detected till they approached it within three or four +miles. This rock bore from the Two Brothers south south-west, distant one +league. + +Between ten and eleven, some canoes were seen with Indians in them, who +came close up to the ship without any visible apprehension. Ropes were +thrown to them over the stern, of which they took hold, and suffered the +ship to tow them along; in this situation they willingly exchanged a kind +of rings which they wore on their arms, small rings of bone, and beads of +their own manufacture, for nails, beads, and other trifles, giving +however a manifest preference to whatever was made of iron. Gimlets were +most acceptable, but they were also pleased with nails, and pieces of +iron hoops. They dealt very fairly, not betraying the least desire to +steal or to defraud. But though they so readily suffered themselves to be +towed after the ship, they could not by any means be prevailed upon to go +along side, and whenever an attempt was made to haul up a canoe by one of +the ropes, the men in it immediately disengaged themselves from that +rope, and took hold of another. At the same time they appeared extremely +desirous that our people should anchor on the coast, and go ashore with +them; and, by way of enticement, held up the rind of an orange or lemon, +the feathers of tame fowls, and other things, signifying that they might +be procured on shore. They presented also to Lieutenant Shortland, a +fruit, which he conceived to be the bread-fruit; it was about the size of +a small cocoa-nut, brown on the outside and white within, and contained a +kind of soft pithy substance which stuck between the teeth, and was +rather troublesome to chew, besides three or four kernels not unlike +chesnuts, but very white. The leaves of the plantain served the Indians +to make boxes or small cases, of which every man had one to contain his +small rings and beads. At noon a point of land which runs from the Two +Brothers, and was now named Cape Satisfaction, bore north north-east; and +the rock which had been mistaken for a ship was called the Eddystone, and +bore north by west, distant four leagues. The Eddystone bears from Cape +Satisfaction south south-west, distant two leagues. As the land from Cape +Satisfaction began to trend northward, Lieutenant Shortland again +entertained hopes of finding a passage. + +It was understood from the natives that they called the island from which +they came, Simboo; for whenever an attempt was made to put that question +to them, they pointed to the land near Cape Satisfaction, and uttered +that word. Of these men, Lieutenant Shortland remarks, that they were +remarkably stout and well built, from which appearance he very +judiciously drew a favourable conclusion with respect to the goodness and +plenty of their food. Their superiority over the New Hollanders in size +and strength, he says, was very striking. Their canoes, which contained +from six to fourteen men, seemed to be well put together, the bows and +stems very lofty, carved with various figures, and stained with a kind of +red paint; in a word, they were to all appearance formed exactly upon the +same model and construction as those of Otaheite. The ornaments worn by +the inhabitants of Simboo were large rings of a white bone, one or more +of which every man had upon his wrist, and a shell with a feather, which +was tied upon the head. Lieutenant Shortland was desirous to purchase one +of their lances, but could not obtain it. About two in the afternoon his +visitors, finding perhaps that they had followed the ship as far as they +could venture to trust themselves, left him, and made immediately for the +shore. From what was seen in the possession of these people, there can be +no doubt that their land produces cocoa-nuts, bread-fruit, bananas, and +most other vegetables of the Society and Friendly Isles. Nor was it +without the greatest regret that Lieutenant Shortland declined the +invitations of the natives, and proceeded without touching for +refreshments, which doubtless might have been obtained in plenty; but the +length and uncertainty of his passage seemed to forbid the least delay; +nor was it at this time foreseen how much superior to every other +consideration the acquirement of a wholesome change of diet would be +found. The bay from which these men had come he named Indian Bay. At +three P. M. the longitude was, by lunar observation, 156 deg. 55' east; and +at six the furthest land in sight bore north, Cape Satisfaction east by +south half east, and the body of the land north-east, distant five or six +leagues. The furthest point of land north was named Cape Middleton. + +7 August 1788 + +After lying to in the night, the ships made sail again at four in the +morning of August 7th, and bore away to the north by west. At five, they +saw the land which they had left the preceding night, and six or more +small islands bearing from north-east to west. These were called the +Treasury Isles; they are moderately high and seemed to be well clothed +with trees and herbage. At noon, the latitude was by observation 7 deg. 24' +south, the longitude 156 deg. 30' east; and the north-west extremity of the +land then in sight, which was named Cape Allen, bore east by south, +distant six leagues: Cape Middleton, south-east, distant eight leagues. +Off Cape Allen lies a small island, to which the name of Wallis Island +was given. At six in the afternoon the extremes of the islands in sight +bore from north-east by east to west by north; and the entrance between +two islands, which formed a passage or strait, bore north by east, +distant five or six leagues. + +The Alexander and the Friendship had now run from the latitude of 10 deg. 44' +south, and longitude 161 deg. 30' east, to the latitude of 7 deg. 10' south, and +longitude 156 deg. 50' east, the whole way nearly in sight of land. As, +therefore, proceeding westward, to the south of the next land, might have +entangled them with New Guinea, Lieutenant Shortland determined to try +the passage which was now before him; and being very well convinced, +before it was dark, that the way was clear, kept under a commanding sail +all night. At ten o'clock in the evening, the Alexander was nearly +a-breast of the two points that form the passage, and the soundings were +very irregular, from ten to thirty fathoms, on a soft, sandy bottom: the +anchors were therefore cleared, that they might immediately be dropped if +it should prove necessary. + +8 August 1788 + +At two in the morning of August the 8th, a strong ripple of a current +was very plainly to be perceived; and by five the ship had nearly +cleared the straits. She had then the following bearings: Cape +Alexander, south-east; some islands and rocks that lie off the most +western island of those which form the straits, west by south; and +the remotest point in sight to the north-westward, north-west by +north, distant fourteen or fifteen leagues. This point is remarkably high +and forms the centre of a large body of land, between the first and last +point of the straits on the western side, which were called Cape +Friendship, and Cape Le Cras. + +These straits Lieutenant Shortland judged to be between four and five +leagues in length, and about seven or eight miles broad, running in a +north-west direction; and, conceiving himself to be the first navigator +who had sailed through them, he ventured to give them the name of +Shortland's Straits. On comparing his account with the narrative of M. +Bougainville, which he had not then by him, there seems to be reason to +suspect that this is the same passage through which that navigator sailed +at the latter end of June, 1768; and that the island supposed to be +called Simboo, is the same which was then named Choiseul Island. To +corroborate this suspicion, M. Bougainville's description of the canoes +and persons of the natives agrees entirely, as far as it goes, with that +given by Mr. Shortland*. A small difference in longitude affords the +chief reason for doubting the identity of the passage, which, should it +be proved, will not detract at all from the merit of the latter +navigator, who proceeded entirely by his own attention and sagacity, in a +sea unknown to himself and those who were with him, which, if not wholly +unexplored, had not, however, been surveyed before with equal minuteness +of observation. + +[* Some of the vessels indeed were larger. "Il y avoit vingt-deux hommes +dans la plus grande, dans les moyennes, huit ont dix, deux ou trois dans +les plus petites. Ces pirogues paroissoient bien faites; elles ont +I'avant et I'amere fort releves, etc. Ils portent des bracelets, et des +plaques au front et sur le col. J'ignore de quelle matiere, elle m'a paru +etre blanche." Boug. Chap. v. p. 264.] + +Lieutenant Shortland now congratulated himself on having cleared this +large tract of land, which he had the greatest reason to suppose united +the whole way from the place at which he first fell in with it; as in +sailing at a very moderate distance from the coast, he had made every +effort in his power to find a passage to the northward. A place called by +one of the French navigators, Port Surville, is probably a part of it, as +well as Choiseul Bay, but the points seen and described by the French +discoverers are very few; and for the knowledge of the form and bearings +of the rest of the coast, throughout the whole extent of near three +degrees of latitude, and full five of longitude, we are indebted entirely +to the researches of our own countryman, as we are for the beautiful +delineation of the whole coast, to the care and ingenuity of his son, Mr. +John George Shortland. The only places in which Lieutenant Shortland +suspected there might possibly be a passage which had escaped his +observation, was between Cape Phillip and Cape Henslow, and again between +the capes Marsh and Pitt. The ascertaining of these matters he leaves to +other navigators, at the same time recommending the route he took as the +safest and most expeditious passage within his knowledge from Port +Jackson to China; Middleton Shoal, on the coast of New South Wales, being +the only place of danger he had hitherto discovered. Should any objection +be made to passing through a strait, where a more open sea can be +obtained, he would recommend the much wider channel between Egmont Island +and Simboo, and not by any means the whole circuit to the east of the New +Hebrides. To the whole of this land, consisting of the two principal +islands on each side of the straits, and the Treasury Isles between them, +Lieutenant Shortland gave the name of New Georgia. There is, indeed, an +island of Georgia, to the east of Staten Land, so named by Captain Cook +in 1775: but between these, it seems to be a sufficient distinction to +call the one the Isle of Georgia, and the other New Georgia. The land on +the western side of Shortland's Straits, continued to be very high, and +extended as far as the eye could reach; from these circumstances, and +from the direction in which it trended, no doubt was entertained of its +joining that which was called by Captain Carteret, Lord Anson's Isle. +With respect to the charts here given of these discoveries, Lieutenant +Shortland, though he cannot, from the distance at which they were taken, +presume to vouch for the laying down of every single point, as if the +coast had undergone a regular survey, undertakes to promise, that they +are sufficiently accurate for the direction of any future navigators; as +he had, in the course of his progress along it, many opportunities of +taking lunar observations. + +9 August 1788 + +At six in the afternoon of Saturday, August 9th, the extreme point in +sight of the high land to the westward of the passage, bore south-west by +south, distant twelve or fourteen leagues: and two islands which the ship +had just made, bore north-west by north, distant five or six leagues. +They are supposed to lie in latitude 4 deg. 50' south, and longitude 156 deg. 11' +east. At day light on Sunday August 10th, Lieutenant Shortland set his +steering sails, and bore away to the north-west, in order to make more +distinctly the islands seen the preceding evening. + +10 August 1788 + +At six in the morning, four were in sight, and bore south-west, +distant six leagues. It was at first thought that they would prove to +be the nine islands seen by Captain Carteret; but as neither the +number nor the longitude was found to correspond, Lieutenant Shortland +afterwards concluded they were not the same; and determined, as the +weather appeared squally and unsettled, not to attempt pursuing the +tract of that officer through St. George's Channel, but to go round +New Ireland. + + +Chapter XIX. + +August 1788 to February 1789 + +Appearance of the scurvy--The boats land at one of the Pelew +Islands--Account of the Natives who were seen, and conjectures concerning +them--Distresses--The Friendship cleared and sunk--Miserable condition of +the Alexander when she reached Batavia.--Conclusion. + +10 August 1788 + +Hitherto no difficulties had been encountered but such as necessarily +attend the exploring of new coasts, wherein the anxiety is fully +compensated by the satisfaction of becoming a discoverer: but a dreadful +scourge now hung over our navigators, the severity of which cannot easily +be conceived, even by those who have been placed in similar scenes, so +much did it exceed in degree every thing of the same kind that has been +usually experienced. It was about this time, the 10th of August, that the +scurvy began to make its appearance, which, for want of the proper +remedies, increased to a malignity that was destructive of many lives, +rendered it necessary to sacrifice one of the ships, and finally reduced +the consolidated crews of both in the remaining transport to such a state +of weakness, that without immediate assistance they must have perished +even in port, or would have been driven adrift again, from total +inability to take the necessary steps for their own preservation. + +13 August 1788 + +On the thirteenth of August, five seamen of the Alexander were already on +the sick list, complaining of pains in the legs and breast, with their gums +so swelled, and their teeth so loose that they could not without +difficulty eat even flour or rice. The weather was now very variable, +often sultry, at other times squally, with occasional showers. The ships +were probably at no great distance from some land, as birds were +frequently seen in great numbers; and on the 16th the Friendship made the +signal for seeing land, but it could not be descried from the Alexander. +Sharks were also caught with the hook, and now and then some floating +wood and vegetables were observed. On this day the two transports passed +the equator. On the 24th, Lieutenant Shortland found by observation, that +a current had set the ship to the west north-west or north-west by west +of her account, at the rate of eleven miles a day since the 13th, when +the last lunar observation had been taken. + +The scurvy gained ground rapidly in the Alexander, notwithstanding the +precautions of smoking the ship, washing with vinegar, and distributing +porter, spruce-beer, and wine among the seamen. On the 2d of September +six men and a boy, on the 5th eight, and on the 8th ten, were disabled by +it from performing any duty. An increase of this kind, in the midst of +all the efforts that could be made to counteract the malignity of the +disorder, gave but too certain a prognostic of the ravages it was +afterwards to make. + +10 September 1788 + +About noon on the 10th of September, the looming of land was discerned to +the westward, which an hour after was clearly perceived, bearing west +north-west, at the distance of six leagues. As the ships were then in +latitude about 6 deg. 49' north, and longitude 135 deg. 25' east, it is evident +that this must have been one of the Pelew Islands, lately so much +celebrated for their hospitable reception of Captain Wilson and his crew. +As the account of that voyage was not then published, and Lieutenant +Shortland had no charts with him that noticed these islands, he concluded +that he was among the most southern of the New Carolines; but finding his +longitude, from accurate observation, to be more westerly than the +situation of those islands, he conceived their longitude to be laid down +in the charts erroneously. + +11 September 1788 + +At six in the morning, September 11th, a small island not seen before, +bore west south-west, distant five leagues; and the wind coming round +to the south south-west, Lieutenant Shortland bore away for the passage +between the two islands. At nine, having entered the passage, he +founded and found thirteen fathoms, with a fine sandy bottom, and a +strong current setting through very rapidly. Many cocoa-palms were +seen on the shore, and excited an earnest expectation of procuring +effectual refreshment for the sick: a boat from each of the ships was +therefore manned and sent out. While the boats were sounding a-head, many +Indians approached in their canoes, and by signs invited our people to +shore, giving them to understand that they might be supplied with cocoa +nuts and many other things; but when they attempted to land at a place +which had the appearance of a Morai or burying-place, they would not +suffer it, insisting that they should proceed further one way or the +other. In the mean time many persons of both sexes swam off from shore, +holding up bamboos* full of water, which they imagined the ships to want. +Mr. Sinclair, the Master of the Alexander, being in the boat, brought the +following account of this expedition. "Finding I could not make them +understand that I wanted cocoa-nuts, and not water, I was resolved to +land, and therefore put on shore as soon as I found a convenient place, +amidst a concourse of between three and four hundred people. I +immediately fixed upon an old man, (whom, from an ornament of bone upon +his arm, I concluded to be a chief) and made him a present of some nails +and beads, which were accepted with evident pleasure, and immediately +conciliated his friendship. This was a fortunate step, as he afterwards +often showed his authority by checking the most insolent of his people +when they pressed forward and endeavoured to steal whatever they could +seize. One seaman holding his cutlass rather carelessly had it snatched +from him, and the thief had so well watched his opportunity, that he was +almost out of sight before he was distinguished. Notwithstanding the +offers of the natives in the canoes, I could not procure above thirty +cocoanuts, and those green; whether it was that the people did not +comprehend my signs, or that they were not inclined to carry on the +traffic. These islanders were well limbed men, moderately tall, with long +hair: many of them chewed the betel nut, and these were all furnished +with a small hollow stick, apparently of ebony, out of which they struck +a kind of powder like lime* Their arms were a lance, and a kind of adze +hung over the shoulder; some men carrying one, and others two. These +adzes were of iron, and evidently of European manufacture. As the place +where we landed was very rocky and unpleasant for walking, when I found +myself unsuccessful in the chief object for which I was sent out, I +returned as expeditiously as I could. In return for my presents, the old +chief gave one to me which was not equally acceptable. It was a mixture +of fish, yams, and many other things, the odour of which, probably from +the staleness of the composition, was very far from being agreeable. When +we first landed, many of the natives repeated the word, Englees, as if to +enquire whether we were of that nation, but when they understood that we +were they shook their heads and said, Espagnol: possibly, therefore, the +discovery of our nation might prevent them from being as courteous on +shore as they had been in their canoes." + +[* Bamboos were the only water vessels in the Pelew Islands. See Wilson, +chap. xxv. p. 312.] + +[* This was the Chinam, or coral, burnt to lime, always used with the +betel. See Wilson's Account, p. 27. The Areca is the nut, the leaves only +of betel are used. These are produced by different plants.] + +From some of the above circumstances it is undeniably evident that these +people have had intercourse with Europeans, and probably with the +Spaniards; and from the aversion which they expressed to the English, it +seems not an unfair conjecture that this island might perhaps be +Artingall, where our countrymen had distinguished themselves five years +before by the assistance they gave to a hostile state*: but if so, their +knowledge of the Spaniards must have been posterior to the departure of +the English, who from the narrative must have been the first Europeans +seen there. Had the adventures of the Antelope's crew been then made +known to the world, Lieutenant Shortland would with joy have presented +himself before the beneficent Abba Thulle; and probably by obtaining a +stock of fresh provisions and vegetables might have preserved the lives +of many of his companions, and prevented the sufferings of the rest; but +he was not fortunate enough to know that so propitious a retreat was +within so small a distance. + +[* It might, perhaps, be thought by some readers, that if this had been +the case they would now have endeavoured to take revenge, but we find +from Captain Wilson's narrative, that all animosity was dropped as soon +as peace had been established with the inhabitants of Pelew. See that +work, Chap. xvi. p. 192.] + +23 September 1788 + +His people were doomed to find their distresses augmented instead of +diminished. Towards the latter end of September, agues and intermittent +fevers began to prevail among them; the proportion of those disabled by +the scurvy was constantly great, some deaths had happened, and the few +men who still had health enough to carry them with difficulty through the +necessary duty, were subject to the swelling of the legs, and harrassed +by violent pains in the breast. Hitherto the Friendship had been much +more happily circumstanced. On the 23d of September she was spoken to, +and had then only one man disabled by the scurvy: but this advantage was +of short duration, and the more rapid increase of the malady made a fatal +compensation for the greater delay of its commencement. + +27 September 1788-19 October 1788 + +On the 27th of September, about noon, the Alexander made the land of +Mindanao. It bore from west by north to north-west by west, distant +fourteen leagues. Part of it was remarkably high, and at this distance +appeared like a separate island, but on a nearer approach was found to be +all connected. On the 30th, about four in the afternoon, Hummock Island +bore west by south, half south, distant six or seven leagues. In all this +sea a strong current constantly set the ship considerably to the south of +her reckoning. On the third of October the wind fell suddenly, and the +Alexander being in great danger of driving with the current upon the +shore of Karkalang or Sanguir Island, was obliged to drop her anchor, +which happily brought her up in forty fathoms water. In the evening of the +17th, the Friendship actually struck upon a reef on the coast of Borneo, +when the Alexander immediately cast anchor, and sent a boat to her +assistance; but at day light the next morning it appeared that she also +lay so encompassed with sand-keys and shoals, that it was difficult to +discern how she had sailed into that situation, or what track she must +pursue to be extricated from it. The Friendship, however, fortunately got +off from the reef without sustaining any material damage: and in the +morning of the nineteenth a narrow channel was found, through which the +Alexander with difficulty sailed out of her dangerous station. Attempts +had been made to weigh anchor the preceding day, but the wind failing, +the force of the currents prevented it. The ships were at this time not +more than eight leagues from the coast of Borneo. + +The scurvy had now brought both the crews to a most pitiable situation. +The Alexander had lost eight of her complement, and was reduced to two +men in a watch, only four seamen and two boys being at all fit for duty: +and though these were willing to do their best, and further encouraged by +the promise of double wages when they should arrive at Batavia, their +utmost exertions were inadequate to the necessities of the ship, which +they were hardly able to put about; nor could they have weighed even a +small anchor had the currents obliged them to bring to again. The +Friendship had only five men not disabled, and was by no means well +provided with provisions. In this melancholy state of both ships, the +western monsoon being expected soon to set in, it was indispensably +necessary to give up one for the sake of preserving the other. Upon this +subject the masters consulted, and after some time came to an agreement. +As the Friendship was the smaller vessel, and would be cleared more +easily than the Alexander, having fewer stores on board, Mr. Walton, her +master, consented that she should be evacuated and sunk, on condition +that he should be allowed half freight of the Alexander. In four days the +Friendship had her crew and stores transferred to the Alexander, after +which she was bored and turned adrift. The ships company thus made out +from both vessels was of no great strength, not amounting to half the +proper complement of the Alexander, nor was it more than, allowing for +the further ravages of disease, was absolutely necessary to work that +ship to Batavia. + +The following list contains the whole number of persons now on board the +Alexander. + +BELONGING TO THE ALEXANDER. + +In Health. + +Lieutenant Shortland, Commander. +Duncan Sinclair, Master. +W. A. Long, first Mate. +T. G. Shortland, second ditto. +John Winter, Seamen. +Ant. Hedley, +Edward Waters, +John Lewis, +Thomas Frazer, Boys. +John White + +Sick. + +Charles Clay, Seamen. +James Stockell, +Robert Ranson, +William Dixon, Boy. + +FROM THE FRIENDSHIP. + +Well. + +Francis Walton, Master. +Robert Laurence, first Mate. +J. Walton, second Mate. +Robert Barnes, Boatswain. +William Hern, Steward. +William Bruce, Cook. +James Craven, Seamen. +William Allen + + +Sick. + +John Philpot, Corp. +Corn. Du Heg, Seamen. +R. Smith, +Robert George, +Rich. Sandell, +John Morris, +Robert Cockran, +Lieutenant Collins, a passenger. + +29 October 1788 + +On the 29th of October, at five in the morning, a land wind +springing up from the coast of Borneo, within six miles of which the +Alexander had lain at anchor, she got again under way, and at ten was +abreast of the point that forms the entrance into the harbour of +Pamanookan. At five in the afternoon Pulo Laoot bore from +south-south-west to south-west by south, distant twelve or fourteen +leagues; but the wind being now southerly, and the current strongly +against the vessel, she did not get round this island till November the +5th. + +1 November 1788 + +Wine was constantly served in due proportions to the sick and well, but +neither that, nor any other remedy that could be tried amended the +condition of the people. Sickness continued to spread among them, +insomuch that in the beginning of November only one man besides the +officers was able to go aloft. A short alarm by no means added to the +comfort of their condition: on the first of this month four large boats, +three of which rowed eighteen oars, and the fourth not less than twelve +or fourteen, bore down upon the ship, apparently with hostile intentions. +When they approached within about a mile they lay to, as if to consult +with each other, and then continued to row and sail after the Alexander. +Lieutenant Shortland hoisted English colours, which one of the boats +answered by hoisting Dutch, and another Portugueze colours. They +continued in chase till five in the afternoon, and it was imagined that +their design was to board and seize the ship in the night. During the +pursuit the little strength that could be raised was put in motion, all +were stationed at their quarters, and the carronades and great guns put +in order. When these preparations were made, Lieutenant Shortland +determined to show his own resolution, and to try that of his assailants, +by firing a shot in a direct line over them. This was done accordingly, +and fully answered the intention, for they immediately desisted from the +pursuit, and made hastily for the shore. + +Had the Alexander been at this time a very few days sail more distant +from Batavia, she must inevitably have been lost, not from any stress of +weather, or danger of coasts or shoals, but merely from inability to +conduct her into port, as every man on board must have been totally +disabled. + +17 November 1788 + +On the 17th of November only one man was fit for work, besides the +officers; a very little longer continuance would have reduced her to +the condition of floating at the mercy of winds and waves, without any +possibility of assisting, impeding, or directing her course. At six that +evening, the wind being too scanty to carry her into the roads of +Batavia, an effort was made by all indiscriminately who were able to +work, and anchor was cast between the islands of Leyden and Alkmara; soon +after a gun was fired, and a signal made for assistance. At two in the +afternoon on the 18th, as no assistance arrived, the still greater effort +of weighing anchor was tried, and the task performed with the utmost +difficulty; after which, standing in with the sea breeze, the ship came +again to anchor at five, in nine fathoms. The boat was now hoisted out, +and sent to beg assistance from the Dutch Commodore, the crew of the +Alexander being so much reduced as to be unable to furl their own sails. +A party was immediately sent to assist, and six of the Dutch seamen +remained on board all night, lest any blowing weather should come on. +Never, perhaps, did any ship arrive in port more helpless, without being +shattered by weather, from the mere effects of a dreadful and invincible +disorder. + +19 November 1788-7 December 1788 + +At five in the morning of the 19th, the welcome sight appeared of a boat +from the Dutch Commodore, which he had humanely laded with refreshments. +She brought also a boatswain's mate and twelve seamen to assist in +refitting the ship for sea. The sick were sent on the 20th to the +hospital, where several of them died, being too far gone for any +accommodation or skill to recover. From the Bridgewater and Contractor +East Indiamen, which lay in the road when the Alexander arrived; and from +the Raymond, Asia, and Duke of Montrose, which came in a few days after; +with the assistance of a few men from the Dutch Commodore, a fresh crew +was at length made up, in which only four of the original seamen +remained, the rest being either dead, or not enough recovered to return +with the Alexander, when she sailed again on the 7th of December. + +18 February 1789 + +The remaining part of the voyage was attended with few circumstances +worthy of notice, and was made in a track sufficiently known to all +navigators to permit us to dispense with a minute description of it. At +the Cape they met with Captain Hunter, in the Sirius, who, when the +Alexander arrived, on the 18th of February, 1789, had been in Table Bay +six weeks. From him Lieutenant Shortland learned that the Borrowdale and +the Prince of Wales transports, which had parted from him on the coast of +New South Wales, had returned by the southern passage, and had been heard +of from Rio de Janeiro. In Table Bay the Alexander remained at anchor +till the 16th of March, when she sailed again, and arrived off the Isle +of Wight on the 28th of May. + +Thus concluded a voyage, the first part of which was enlivened and +rendered important by discoveries; the next involved in gloom through the +virulent attacks of distemper, and the frequent inroads of death. Much +was certainly performed, and very much was suffered, but from the whole +we are authorized to conclude, that the settlement of our countrymen on +the new southern continent, must powerfully tend to the improvement of +navigation, and the extension of geographical knowledge. Nor is it +necessary, that any ill-omened apprehensions should be excited by the +misfortunes of the Alexander and the Friendship. It may not happen again +that ships shall quit Port Jackson so ill prepared with antidotes against +the malignant poison of the scurvy: nor, if they should, is it by any +means certain that their visitation will be equally severe. + +LATITUDES and LONGITUDES of CAPES, HEADLANDS, ISLANDS, and SHOALS, +according to the Track of the ALEXANDER, under the Directions of +Lieutenant JOHN SHORTLAND, Agent for Transports. + +[Table not included in this ebook] + + +Chapter XX. + +Lieutenant Watts's Narrative of the Return of the Lady Penrhyn Transport; +containing an Account of the Death of Omai, and other interesting +Particulars at Otaheite. + +5 May 1788-17 May 1788 + +The Lady Penrhyn, Capt. Sever, left Port Jackson on the 5th of May, 1788. +In the evening of the 7th, imagining they saw a fire on shore, they +sounded, but found no bottom with ninety fathoms of line. By their +observation at noon, on the 9th, they found a current had set the vessel +eighty miles to the southward since their leaving Port Jackson. The +scurvy began already to make its appearance amongst them; one man was +rendered unfit for duty, and several others complained very much. The +weather in general was squally, with thunder, lightning, and rain. In the +morning of the 14th they saw an island bearing north-east, half north, 18 +or 20 leagues distant, which made in two detached hummocks: At seven in +the afternoon, the island seen in the morning was about nine leagues +distant, on which they brought to for the night, and next morning made +sail and stood for it. At noon they spoke to the Supply, Lieutenant Ball, +who informed them that this island is named Lord Howe's Island. During +the afternoon and night they stood off and on, and at nine o'clock the +next morning a boat was hoisted out, and Lieutenant Watts with a party +went on shore in search of turtle, but they could distinguish no traces +of any, though the different bays were very closely explored: about noon, +Mr. Watts returned on board. This disappointment did not deter them from +making another effort, as some turtle would have been a very valuable +acquisition: accordingly Mr. Anstis went with a party in the pinnace to +try his success in the night. About noon the next day Mr. Anstis returned +without having seen one turtle, but to make some amends, the party had +met with great success in fishing, having caught a sufficient quantity to +serve the ship's company three or four days. + +Lord Howe's Island was discovered by Lieutenant Ball on his passage to +Norfolk Island in the month of February, and on his return he stopt and +surveyed it; at that time he caught a quantity of fine green turtles, of +which there were great numbers: this induced Governor Phillip to send the +Supply a second time to this island, but she then was unsuccessful, the +weather probably being so cold as to occasion the turtle to remove to the +northward. The island is about two leagues in extent, and lies in the +direction of north 30 deg. west, and south 30 deg. east; the south-east end +making in two very high mounts, which may be seen at the distance of more +than twenty leagues, and at first appear like two detached isles. About +three leagues from these, and nearly in a south-east direction, is a +remarkably high and pointed rock,* which may be seen at least twelve +leagues off; from this there are dangerous rocks extending three or four +miles, both in a south-east and south-west line; those to the south-west +not shewing themselves above water: there are also rocks extending four +or five miles off the north-west and north-east ends of the island, which +is of a moderate height. Both extremes are bluff, and there appears to be +much foul ground about them: within the north-west point lies a rock with +eleven fathoms water close to it, and there is a passage between it and +the island. The reef on the west side extends nearly to both extremes +with breaks in it, through which boats may pass with safety, but within +the reef it is in general very shoaly. The island is tolerably broad at +each end, and very narrow, with low land in the center, forming two bays, +that should the wind be from south-east to north-east, or south-west to +north-west, a ship may always be secure by running to the leeward of the +island. There are regular soundings on the west side, but the ground is +too hard for holding well, being coral rocks. The east side they did not +examine. The low narrow part has evidently been overflowed and the island +disjointed, for in the very center, as they walked across, they saw large +beds of coral rocks, and shells in great abundance; and on the east side, +which seems in general to be the weather side, the sea has thrown up a +bank of sand, from twenty-five to thirty feet in height, which serves as +a barrier against future inundations. The island has likewise every +appearance of having undergone a volcanic revolution, as they found great +quantities of burnt stone and pumice stone; and Mr. Anstis, who landed on +the reef which shelters the west bay, at dead low water, found the whole +a burnt up mass. + +[* Ball's Pyramid.] + +The inhabitants of this island were all of the feathered tribe, and the +chief of these was the ganet, of which there were prodigious numbers, and +it should seem that this is the time of their incubation, the females +being all on their nests: these are places simply hollowed in the sand, +there not being a single quadruped that could be found upon the island to +disturb them. The people brought numbers of their eggs on board. Very +large pigeons were also met with in great plenty; likewise beautiful +parrots and parroquets; a new species, apparently, of the coote, and also +of the rail, and magpie; and a most beautiful small bird, brown, with a +yellow breast and yellow on the wing; it seemed to be a species of +humming bird: there was also a black bird, like a sheerwater, with a +hooked bill, which burrows in the ground. Numbers of ants were seen, +which appeared the only insect at this place, except the common earth +worm. The soil is of a sandy nature, and fresh water extremely scarce in +those places which they had an opportunity of examining. + +This island is well covered with wood, the chief of which is the large +and dwarf mangrove, the bamboo, and the cabbage tree. The different +vegetables met with were scurvy grass, wild celery, spinach, endive, and +samphire. + +31 May 1788 + +From the mean of all their observations they found this island to be +situated in 31 deg.. 30'. 49". south latitude, and by comparing their lunar +observations with those of Lieutenant Ball, they found its longitude to +be 159 deg.. 10'. 00". east of Greenwich. The mean state of the thermometer, +during their short stay, was 66 deg.. and the variation of the compass, by +many observations, was found to be 10 deg.. east. In the afternoon the +pinnace was hoisted in, and they made sail to the eastward with a fresh +breeze at south-west. Nothing material occurred till the 31st, when about +three o'clock in the afternoon they saw two islands, one bearing +north-east, half east, seven leagues, and the other east by south, about +six leagues distant. Not having an opportunity of getting well in with +the land before night came on, they plied occasionally under an easy +sail, and at day-light next morning [1 June 1788] made sail and bore up for +it. On approaching the southernmost land, they found it to form two barren +isles, separated by a channel about a quarter of a mile over, and +apparently free from danger: the north island lies in a north half east +direction from these, and about five leagues distant. At noon, the body +of the north island bore north-east by north three miles distant: their +latitude at that time was 30 deg.. 11'. south, and the longitude by lunar +observation 180 deg.. 58'. 37". east. At one o'clock they bore round the west +end of the island, and hove to near the center of it, about a mile off +shore. They were in hopes, from the appearance of the island at a +distance, that they should have found it productive of something +beneficial to the people, (the scurvy gaining ground daily) but they were +greatly disappointed; both the north and south sides are surrounded by +rocks, over which the water flows, without the least opening for a boat; +however, Capt. Sever ordered the small boat to be hoisted out, and went +on shore accompanied by Mr. Anstis: they found great difficulty in +landing, and, when upon the rocks, they had to mount a very dangerous +precipice, in order to gain the level part of the island. This island +forms very high at the west end, and slopes gradually to the east end, +where it terminates in a cliff of a moderate height: both sides have a +range of these cliffs extending the whole length, which are chiefly +composed of white sand. The whole of the island bears the strongest marks +of being a volcanic production, having great quantities of pumice stone +on it, and the rocks quite burnt up. The top of the land was covered with +a coarse kind of grass, and the place affords great plenty of the wild +mangrove. The extent of this island is about two miles and an half, +nearly in the direction of east-south-east and west-north-west; the soil +a mixture of mould and sand. The inhabitants are the brown gull, the +light-grey bird, ganets, and a parroquet of the same species with those +met with at Lord Howe's Island. The gentlemen could scarcely walk a step +without being up to the knee in holes: they saw a great number of rats +and mice, and found many birds lying dead at the entrances of their +burrows: they saw no appearance of fresh water, though from the gullies +that were formed in various parts, the island must certainly be subject +to very heavy rains. This island was named Macaulay's Island, after G. M. +Macaulay, Esq; and the two islands to the southward, Curtis's Isles, +after Timothy and William Curtis, Esqrs. At five in the afternoon, the +Captain returning on board, the boat was hoisted in, and they made sail, +standing to the eastward with a moderate breeze at south-west. Macaulay's +Island is situated in 30 deg.. 09'. south latitude, and 180 deg.. 58'. 37''. +east longitude. + +6 June 1788-10 July 1788 + +The scurvy now began to spread very fast among the crew, and by the 6th, +they had nine men unable to get out of their hammocks, and many others +complained very much: swelled gums, the flesh exceeding black and hard, a +contraction of the sinews, with a total debility; were the general +appearances. Wine was daily served out to them, and there was sour-krout +on on board, but the people refused to eat it. From this to the 17th they +had little variety; by that time the people were in a deplorable state, +for with every person on board, the Captain included, they could only +muster ten men able to do duty, and some of them were in a very weakly +state: sour-krout, which before had been refused, now began to be sought +after, and they had all the Captain's fresh stock, himself and officers +living solely on salt provisions; and to add to their melancholy +situation the wind hung almost constantly in the eastern board, so that +they could scarcely make any progress. For several days they had very +squally unsettled weather, attended with almost constant heavy rain, and +frequent storms of thunder and lightning. On the 24th, being then in 32 deg.. +12'. south latitude, and 207 deg.. 28'. east longitude, the wind shifted to +the westward, but the weather still continued squally and unsettled. On +the 7th July, in 21 deg.. 57'. south latitude, they fell in with the +south-east trade wind, and as the people were in a very weak condition, +it was determined to make Otaheite as soon as possible. At six o'clock in +the morning of the 9th, they saw Osnaburgh Island, bearing north by east, +half east, four or five leagues distant. At seven they bore up for +Otaheite, and at ten o'clock that island made its appearance, bearing +west by north; by five in the afternoon they were abreast of Oaitepeha +Bay, and ten canoes presently came alongside with bread-fruit, cocoa +nuts, etc. The Indians pressed them very much to come to an anchor there, +but as they were not able to purchase their anchor again when once let +go, Mr. Watts advised the Captain to stand on for Matavai Bay. During the +night they wore occasionally, and at day-light in the morning of the 10th +stood in for the land. At noon, Point Venus bore south-west by south +about three miles distant. In standing into Matavai Bay the ship got +rather too close on the Dolphin Bank, having only two and a half fathoms +water for several casts, over a hard bottom, but she deepened at once to +seventeen fathoms, and they stood over to the south side of the bay, in +hopes by making a board, to fetch the Resolution's old birth, which would +have made the watering place very handy; but the ship missing stays, they +were obliged to let go the anchor, and content themselves in their +situation. They anchored at nine o'clock in eight fathoms water, over a +soft bottom, Point Venus bearing north-north-east, and One Tree Hill +south by east, half east, distant from shore about half a mile. On +approaching the bay, they could perceive a prodigious number of the +natives on Point Venus, and round the beach, and several canoes put off +from the shore, the Indians waving pieces of white cloth and making signs +for them to come into the bay. When anchored they had only three men in +one watch, and two in the other besides the mates, and two of these +ailing; the rest of the crew were in a truly deplorable state. + +Their first care was naturally to procure some refreshments, and it was a +pleasing circumstance for them to see the natives flock round the ship, +calling out "Tayo Tayo," which signifies friends; and "Pabii no Tutti," +Cook's ship; and bringing in very great plenty cocoa nuts, bread-fruit, +plantains and taro, and a fruit known by the name of the Otaheite apple; +they also brought some hogs and fowls. All the Indians appeared glad to +see them, and disposed of their various commodities on very moderate +terms, and indeed their whole behaviour indicated the most friendly +intentions. In the evening, the Chief of Matavai came on board, and in +him Lieutenant Watts recollected an old friend: the Chief was greatly +pleased to see Mr. Watts, as he was the only person in the ship who had +been here before, except the steward, who had been before the mast in the +Resolution; therefore, when Mona (which was the chief's name) saw his old +acquaintance, he explained to his companions who he was, and that he had +been with Capt. Cook, and they seemed very glad to have some of their old +visitors again. Mr. Watts learnt from Mona, that O'too was still living, +that he was always called Earee Tutti, and then was absent on a visit to +the eastward, but expected to return in four or five days: At the same +time, he said, messengers had been sent to acquaint him of the ship's +arrival. He also informed Mr. Watts, that Maheine, the chief of Eimeo, to +retaliate the mischief done him by Capt. Cook, had, after the departure +of the Resolution and Discovery from the islands, landed in the night at +Oparree, and destroyed all the animals and fowls he could lay hold of, +and that O'too was obliged to fly to the mountains. He likewise intimated +that the Attahooroo men joined Maheine in this business. Indeed, it +occurred to Mr. Watts, that when here in the Resolution, Toha, the chief +of that district, threatened something of the kind in a quarrel with +O'too, and probably smothered his resentment only for a time, fearful of +Capt. Cook revenging it, should it come to his knowledge. + +11 July 1788 + +The next day, Oediddee agreeably surprised them with a visit on board: +he was greatly rejoiced to see them, and enquired after all his friends in +a very affectionate manner: He took great pleasure in recounting his route +in the Resolution, had treasured up in his memory the names of the several +places he had been at in her, nor had he forgot his English compliments. +He informed them that no ship had been at the islands since Capt. Cook: +therefore, they concealed his death, and Capt. Sever made Oediddee a +present, as coming from Capt. Cook. Oediddee confirmed the report of the +cattle, etc. being destroyed by Maheine, and likewise informed them that +Omai, and the two New Zealand boys had been dead a considerable time +through illness, and that one horse only was alive at Huaheine, but they +could not learn any further particulars from him. + +13 July 1788 + +In the evening of the 13th, a messenger came on board with a present from +O'too of a small pig, a dog, and some white cloth, and intimated that he +would be at Matavai the next day. Early in the next morning but few +canoes came off to the ship, and the natives were observed assembling on +the shore in prodigious numbers: soon afterwards, a canoe came alongside +and informed them that O'too was on the beach; on this, the Captain and +Mr. Watts went on shore immediately, and found him surrounded by an +amazing concourse of people, amongst whom were several women cutting +their foreheads very much with the shark's tooth, but what both surprised +and pleased them very much, was, to see a man carrying the portrait of +Captain Cook, drawn by Webber in 1777. Notwithstanding so much time had +elapsed since the picture was drawn, it had received no injury, and they +were informed that O'too always carried it with him wherever he went. +After the first salutations were over, Mr. Watts asked O'too to accompany +him to the ship, to which he readily agreed; but previously to his +entering the boat he ordered the portrait in, and when he got alongside +the ship he observed the same ceremony. When on board he appeared much +pleased, asked after his old friends, and was very particular in his +enquiries after Capt. Cook. He visited the ship between decks, was +astonished to see so few people on board, and the greatest part of them +in a debilitated state, and enquired if they had lost any men at sea. He +acquainted them with the revenge taken by the Eimeo people, and asked why +they had not brought out some cattle, etc. He also mentioned the death of +Omai, and the New Zealand boys, and added, that there had been a skirmish +between the men of Uliatea and those of Huaheine, in which the former +were victorious, and that a great part of Omai's property was carried to +Uliatea. O'too was considerably improved in his person, and was by much +the best made man of any that they saw; nor was he, as yet, disfigured by +the baneful effects of the ava. He preserved his original character in +supplying the ship with provisions of every kind in the most liberal +manner; and when any of the natives who had come from a considerable +distance, begged his intercession with them on board to take their hogs, +etc. off their hands, which, on account of the few people they had, they +were often obliged, much against their inclination, to refuse, he was +very moderate: indeed, he generally left the matter to themselves, and +whenever he undertook to dispose of another person's property was always +well paid for his trouble. During their stay at Otaheite he daily paid +them a visit, and importuned the Captain very much to move the ship into +the Resolution's old birth: where she then lay, she was nearly in the +situation of the Dolphin on her first anchoring; and though at some +distance from the watering place, yet, considering the small number of +people on board, and their weak situation, the Captain judged it prudent +to remain where he was, as in case of necessity he could put to sea +instantly. + +O'too was always accompanied by a woman, whose advice he asked upon every +occasion; she was by no means handsome, neither did she possess that +delicacy, or those engaging manners that so much distinguish her +countrywomen in general: she was of the Earree class, and seemed to have +great authority; but whether or no she was his wife they did not learn, +though Mr. Watts was rather inclined to think they were married, and he +appeared to be greatly attached to her. The king and all the chiefs were +very urgent for Captain Sever to go to Eimeo, and revenge their quarrel, +and several of them offered to get a stock of provisions and accompany +him; however, to this request he gave a positive refusal. About three +days before they quitted Matavai Bay, O'too brought the ring of an anchor +on board, observing it might be made into small hatchets: Mr. Watts upon +examining it, recollected that it certainly belonged to an anchor which +Captain Cook bought of Opooni, at Bola Bola, in 1777: as there was no +forge on board the Lady Penrhyn, the Captain offered O'too three hatchets +for it, which he readily took. When Captain Cook bought the anchor just +mentioned it wanted the ring and one of the palms, and at that time they +knew that it had been carried from Otaheite, and belonged to Mons. +Bougainville: how O'too came by the ring, Mr. Watts could not learn, but +had he possessed it when the Resolution was here, it is reasonable to +suppose he would have brought it to Captain Cook, and the more so as at +that time the natives used to bring many large pieces of iron (which they +had obtained from the Spaniards) to be either worked up or exchanged for +trinkets. Though from the season of the year they had reason to expect a +scarcity of vegetables, yet they were agreably surprised to find them in +the greatest plenty and profusion; hogs were multiplied amazingly, and +from the proceedings of the natives, Mr. Watts was induced to think they +were desirous to thin them, as they brought none to barter but sows, and +the greatest part of them were with pig: fowls were obtained in tolerable +plenty, but they were all cocks, and old; the natives likewise brought +goats alongside for sale, and some of them brought cats and offered them +in barter. Captain Sever purchased a fine male and milch goat with two +kids. + +Cocoa nuts are a never failing article at this place, and the +bread-fruit, which was so scarce when the Endeavour was here at the same +season of the year, was now exceedingly plentiful, and in high +perfection, as was the Otaheite apple; plantains, both ripe and green, +and taro, the natives brought in great quantities, but yams and sweet +potatoes were very scarce. They purchased seven or eight dozen of +pumkins, and a quantity of chilipods, which were some of the produce of +the Resolution's garden, and one of the Indians brought some cabbage +leaves on board, but the cabbages, as well as sundry other vegetables, +were gone to ruin for want of proper care and attention. The natives +could not be enticed to eat any of the pumkins, and the chilipods they +said poisoned them. + +It already has been observed, that no ship of any nation had visited this +island since Captain Cook, and from appearances, the iron which the +natives obtained at that time was pretty well exhausted, as the only iron +now seen was the blade of a table-knife; neither did they bring any tools +on board to be sharpened, which certainly would have been the case had +they been possessed of any, and such was their avidity to obtain +hatchets, knives, etc. that every produce the island afforded was +purchased at very reasonable rates, nor were the first prices given, +attempted to be altered during their stay. Besides hatchets, knives, and +nails, the natives were very desirous to have gimlets, files, and +scissars; they also asked for looking-glasses, and white transparent +beads, but of these latter articles they had none on board: red feathers, +which had formerly been held in great esteem, were now of no value; they +would accept them as presents indeed, but would not barter any one +article for them. + +As their situation was not a very eligible one, Mr. Watts did not think +it prudent to go any great distance from the ship, or even to be much on +shore, so that he was prevented from gaining much information, or seeing +into many matters that might have enabled him to judge whether the whole +of their report respecting Omai, and the loss of his property, etc. was +true or not; however, he was inclined to think that the cattle and all +the animals were killed, except goats, as Oediddee, when he confirmed the +revenge of the Eimeo people, never mentioned that any one animal was +saved: goats, indeed, had been left on former voyages, and from increase +had become the property of many, but Maheine's resentment, it seems, was +levelled at O'too only. + +23 July 1788 + +Great numbers of the natives had been carried off by the +venereal disease, which they had caught from their connections with the +crews of the Resolution and Discovery; nor were the women so free from +this complaint as formerly, especially the lowest class, the better sort +seemingly not wishing to hazard the catching so terrible a disorder. The +people having recovered in a most astonishing manner, and being now able +to assist in the duties of the ship, Captain Sever thought it adviseable +to run down amongst the Society Isles, as they had got a plentiful supply +of provisions on board; accordingly, they got under way before daylight +in the morning of the 23d. The natives soon took the alarm, and the +breeze slackening, they were soon crowded with visitors, none of whom +came empty handed. Their friends parted from them with great reluctance, +and the suddenness of their departure seemed to disappoint the natives +greatly; indeed, they would not have left the place so abruptly, had they +not been apprehensive that if their intention was known, the Indians +would have flocked on board in too great numbers, and have been +troublesome. They had the satisfaction of leaving this Island in perfect +amity with the natives, and it is but doing them justice to say, that +during the time the Lady Penrhyn lay here, not one occasion offered to +induce them to fire a musquet. Oediddee regretted their departure +exceedingly, and importuned the Captain very much to take him to Uliatea, +but O'too (whatever were his reasons) begged that he might by no means be +taken from Otaheite; the Captain promised he should not, and taking leave +of Oediddee, put him into his canoe, on which he shed tears in abundance, +said he was very unhappy, and when he put from the ship never once turned +to look at her: his situation was much to be pitied, and he truly merited +every friendship that could be shown him; during the time they lay here, +he was a constant visitor, and daily brought on board a supply of ready +drest provisions. O'too was one of the earliest on board in the morning, +and did not leave the ship till they had cleared the reef; he expressed +great sorrow at their departure, mentioned how much time had elapsed +since the Resolution and Discovery were at Otaheite, begged they would +not be so long absent any more, and desired very much to have some horses +brought to him, more particularly than any other animal: just before he +quitted the ship, he asked for a few guns to be fired, with which the +Captain complied. A breeze now springing up, their friends took a last +farewell, and they stood to the north-west for Huaheine; at noon, Point +Venus was about five miles distant. + +It may, perhaps, be lamented, that Lieutenant Watts (whose acquaintance +with the Chiefs, and knowledge of their language, rendered him a proper +person to make enquiries) should not have been able to give a more full +account of matters, at an island that has so much engaged the public +notice; but, when the short stay of the ship, and her situation are +considered, it will be natural to imagine, that the officers found their +time very fully employed: such particulars, however, as have been above +related may be depended on as facts. + +25 July 1788 + +At noon on the 25th, they saw the island, Huaheine, bearing west +three-quarters north, fourteen leagues distant: from this time they had +very light winds, and those westerly, which prevented their reaching the +island before noon on the 26th; when the extremes of it bore from west +half north to south by west half west, off shore three miles. They kept +standing off and on, on the east side (the wind continuing in the western +board) till the 29th, during which time the natives brought off plenty of +refreshments, but they were far more exorbitant in their demands than +their neighbours. + +29 July 1788 + +In the morning of the 29th, the wind veering to the south south-east, +they stood round the north end of the island, and brought to off Owharree +harbour; the natives appeared perfectly friendly, and constantly supplied +them with every article except bread-fruit, which they said had failed +that season: they were very importunate for them to go into the harbour, +but as Captain Sever did not intend to stay more than a day or two, he +did not think it worth the trouble. + +In the evening, an elderly chief, who went by the name of Tutti, and whom +Mr. Watts recollected to have frequently seen with Captain Cook, came on +board; he confirmed the reports they had heard at Otaheite, and told +them, that after Omai had got perfectly settled, he found himself under +the necessity of purchasing a great quantity of cloth, and other +necessaries, for himself and family, of which his neighbours took +advantage, and made him pay extravagantly for every article he purchased; +that he frequently visited Uliatea, and never went empty handed, so that +by these means he expended much of his treasure: he died at his own +house, as did the New Zealand boys, but in what order their deaths had +happened, Tutti could not give information. Upon Omai's decease, the +Uliatea men came over and attacked them for his property, alledging that +as he was a native of their island they had an undoubted right to it. +Tutti said they carried away a considerable part of his remaining +property, and particularly his musquets, the stocks of which they broke, +and took the powder and buried it in the sand: he added, that the +conflict had been very fierce, and that great numbers were slain on both +sides, nor were they friends even at this time. Three of the natives who +came on board, had the os frontis fractured in a terrible manner, but +they were then perfectly recovered of their wounds. The house that +Captain Cook had built for Omai was still in being, and was covered by a +very large one built after the country fashion; it was taken possession +of by the chief of the island. With respect to the horses, the mare had +foaled, but died soon afterwards, as did the foal, the horse was still +living though of no benefit: thus were rendered fruitless the benevolent +intentions of his Majesty, and all the pains and trouble Captain Cook had +been at in preserving the cattle, during a tedious passage to these +islands. + +2 August 1788-24 August 1788 + +Having recruited their stock of provisions, and added a large quantity of +yams and sugar cane, and the wind coming to the eastward (which had not +been the case more than four or five days since their first anchoring in +Matavai Bay) they on the 2d of August took leave of their friends, and +stood to the northward until noon, when they steered north-west. They +carried away from these hospitable islands, sixty hogs, weighing from +seventy to two hundred and twenty pounds each, besides near fifty small +pigs, ten dozen of fowls, an immense quantity of cocoa-nuts, green +plantains, sugar cane, taro, and yams, and about eight dozen of pumkins; +the people were all perfectly recovered, and from the plentiful stock of +provisions on board there was reason to hope that they would not be any +more alarmed for their safety. At day light in the Morning of the 8th, +they saw a low flat island, bearing from east to north-east seven or +eight miles distant; it appeared to be well clothed with trees, but the +weather at that time being squally allowed them a very imperfect view. +Captain Sever named it Penrhyn's Island; it is situated in 9 deg.. 10'. south +latitude, and 202 deg.. 15'. east longitude. In the afternoon of the 20th, +the Captain and some others imagining they saw land, and the sun setting +in a fog-bank, which prevented them ascertaining the reality, they +shortened sail, and lay by for the night; but at five o'clock the next +morning no land being in sight, they made sail and stood to the +north-west by west, with a fine breeze at north-east. In the evening of +the 23d, being near the situation of an island and reef, as laid down in +Lord Anson's chart, they brought to for the night. A number of ganets and +other birds were flying about the next day, but no land appeared in +sight: their latitude at noon was 9 deg. 30' north, and 179 deg. 18' east +longitude. + +15 September 1788 + +Nothing occured worthy of note till the 15th of September, when about +noon they saw the island of Saypan, bearing west half north, twelve +leagues distant. The next day at noon the south end of Tinian was about +four leagues distant: in the afternoon the small boat was hoisted out, +and Mr. Anstis went in her to sound a small bay round the south point of +Saypan; he returned at seven o'clock, having found from ten to twenty +fathoms water about a mile off shore, but the ground hard. The next +morning, Mr. Anstis went on shore in the small boat to endeavour to +procure a bullock, great numbers of which were seen grazing on the island +Tinian. At six in the afternoon, they stood round the south point of +Tinian, but finding they could not fetch into the road, they brought to +for the night. In the evening, Mr. Anstis returned with the best part of +a young bullock. The next morning at day light, they made sail and stood +in for the road, and at nine o'clock came to anchor in eighteen fathoms, +over a bottom of coral, about a mile and an half distant from shore. Soon +after they anchored, a party were sent on shore to hunt. + +25 September 1788-29 September 1788 + +From this to the 25th, they had light winds varying from south to east, +with frequent showers over the land, and the flies so very troublesome +that they found Captain Byron's account of them perfectly just. On coming +to an anchor, they observed a buoy a little to the southward, with a slip +buoy to it, they swept for the anchor, weighed it, and found it belonged +to the Charlotte (Gilbert, master) one of the ships from Port Jackson +bound to China; there were two-thirds of a cable to it. The party on +shore also found some spars, apparently erected for a tent, and three +water casks, one of which was full: it is most likely the Charlotte was +blown out of the road, and could not regain her station again. Observing +that their anchor was foul, on the 25th they hove it up to clear, and let +it go again; presently afterwards, finding the ship adrift, they sounded, +and had twenty-five fathoms, but as she was at the edge of the bank, they +hove the anchor up, and made a stretch to the southward, but did not +again fetch the bay till the evening of the 26th. The two following days +they had dark heavy weather with very hard squalls, and almost continual +rain, the wind from north-east to south-east. At day light in the morning +of the 29th, the wind veered round to the south south-west, and soon +afterwards, a very severe squall, attended with heavy rain, set the ship +adrift, and the tide making strong to the north-west with a large hollow +sea, they veered the reef very fast; however, the squall something +abating, and fortunately backing round to the south south-east, they got +their anchor up (which they otherwise would not have been able to have +effected) and bore away to the north north-west. At noon the body of +Tinian bore east half south, about four leagues distant. + +During their stay at Tinian, filling water took up the whole of their +time, the well not affording more than three tons a day, sometimes only +two tons: the water was rather brackish, but otherwise not ill tasted. +They found the fowls and hogs very shy, and the cattle had quite deserted +the south part of the island, owing, as was imagined, to the alarm the +Charlotte's people had occasioned among them. + +They obtained two bulls, eight hogs, and about a dozen fowls; they also +got bread fruit, but it was at some distance up the country, and the +generality of it not ripe: there was abundance of guavas but they were +not in season; limes and sour oranges were also very plentiful. Cocoa-nut +trees were in abundance, but those within a moderate distance from the +beach were cut down, so that the distance they had to go for any was +attended with too much fatigue to compensate for the advantages which +could be derived from them, as they experienced from two or three +attempts of the kind: the season in general seemed very backward. In +addition to the animals of this place, they found wild cats, The country +had exactly the same appearance as when Captains Byron and Wallis visited +it, but many of the pyramidical pillars had fallen down and were much +decayed. The mean state of the thermometer during their stay, was 87 deg.. In +their passage from hence to China, no material circumstance occurred, and +on the 19th of October they anchored in Macao Roads. + + +Chapter XXI. + +May 1788 to September 1788 + +The Scarborough leaves Port Jackson--Touches at Lord Howe's Island--Joins +the Charlotte--Falls in with a large Shoal--Discover a number of +Islands--Short account of the Inhabitants--Canoes described--Ornaments-- +Discover Lord Mulgrave's Islands--Arrival at Tinian--Sick people sent on +shore--Departure from Tinian--Arrival in Mocao Roads. + +6 May 1788-22 May 1788 + +The Scarborough transport, Captain Marshall, left Port Jackson on the 6th +of May 1788, and proceeded towards China, being engaged to take in a +cargo of teas at Canton for the East India Company. For several days they +had very unsettled weather, with frequent squalls and heavy rain. In the +afternoon of the 16th, they saw Lord Howe's Island, bearing east by south +seven leagues distant; and the next day at noon, they found the Supply +brig, the Lady Penrhyn, and the Charlotte, standing off and on under the +island. By two o'clock the Scarborough was close in with the land, but +the weather not permitting them to go on shore, the night was spent in +standing off and on. Early the next morning, Captain Marshall sent his +boat with the chief mate and six men on shore at Lord Howe's Island, in +expectation of procuring some turtle, as the Supply, Lieutenant Ball, had +caught a large quantity at this island in February: however, they were +not able, after the most diligent search, to meet with any turtle; but +this excursion was not altogether a fruitless one, for they brought off a +quantity of fine birds, sufficient to serve the ship's crew three days; +many of them were very fat, somewhat resembling a Guinea hen, and proved +excellent food. Having procured such refreshments as the island afforded, +they made sail at four o'clock, with the Charlotte in company, and stood +to the eastward, with a moderate breeze at south-west. At eight o'clock +in the morning of the 22d, they saw Norfolk Island, bearing east by south +twelve leagues distant. At two o'clock, they were within one mile of the +land, and had soundings in sixteen fathoms water over a hard bottom: the +Charlotte being a considerable distance a-stern, Captain Marshall lay to +for her to come up, and when she joined the Scarborough he stood under an +easy sail to the distance of six leagues westward of the island, and +carried soundings from sixteen to twenty-five fathoms, the ground +various; in some places being soft, in other parts a corally bottom, and +sometimes coarse white sand, intermixed with broken shells. + +26 May 1788 + +After leaving Norfolk Island, they stretched to the northward and +eastward, and at one o'clock on the twenty-sixth they saw a small island +bearing north north-east eight or nine leagues distant; when about four +miles from the island, they sounded with fifty fathoms of line, but got +no bottom. Towards evening, Captain Marshall was close in with the +island, and being desirous to examine it, he plied occasionally during +the night. At day light the next morning, he was close to the land, and +found it to be a barren rock, not more than half a mile over in the +broadest part; it is very high, and was entirely covered with birds of +various kinds, but there was no possibility of landing on account of a +frightful surf that entirely surrounded it. This rock was seen first by +Captain Gilbert, of the Charlotte, in the forenoon of the 26th, and named +by him, Matthew's Island; it is situated in 22 deg. 22' south latitude, and +170 deg. 41' longitude, east of Greenwich. + +30 May 1788-13 June 1788 + +On the 30th, in 17 deg. 13' south latitude, and 172 deg. 43' east longitude, they +passed several large trees, and a number of cocoa-nuts floating in the +water, but no land was to be seen. Nothing occurred worthy of note till +the 4th of June, when the water appearing coloured, they sounded and +struck the ground in fifteen fathoms water, although no land was to be +seen: a man was then sent to the mast-head, who could plainly discern +that the shoal run to the westward, on which Captain Marshall altered his +course and stretched to the eastward, carrying soundings from fifteen to +thirty fathoms water, over a rocky bottom, and in many places they could +see the ground very distinctly. After running to the eastward, about +eight miles, they found no bottom with seventy fathoms of line, which +occasioned the Captain to tack and stand to the southward. Vast numbers +of birds of different kinds were flying to the westward of the shoal, so +that there probably is an island near that situation. The east part of +this shoal is situated in 173 deg. 12' east longitude, and the south part of +it in 15 deg. 50' south latitude, but how far it extends to the westward and +northward is very uncertain, though doubtless to a considerable distance, +as the water had a white appearance from the mast head as far as the eye +could reach. Being now entirely free from the shoal, they stood to the +northward, with a light easterly breeze, and moderate weather. On the +9th, in 7 deg. 59' south latitude, the wind shifted to the westward and +continued in the western board till the 13th when it again changed to the +eastward. + +18 June 1788 + +At six o'clock in the morning of the 18th they saw an island right +a-head, bearing north half west eight or nine miles distant: they sounded +when about six miles from the land, but got no bottom with sixty fathoms +of line; at this time Captain Marshall perceived several canoes with +their sails set, and two or three men in each canoe, coming towards the +ship, but they presently put back again and made for the shore. This +island is very low and level, and extends north-east, and south-west, +terminating at each end in a low, flat point, with an appearance of a +large bay in the middle; the Captain named it Hopper's Island; it is +situated in 00 deg. 03' south latitude, and 173 deg. 43' longitude east from +Greenwich. + +At seven o'clock they saw another island smaller than the former, lying +about six miles to the south-west of Hopper's Island, and nearly the same +in appearance; this was named Henderville's Island. Towards noon, another +island made its appearance, which Captain Marshall named Woodle's Island, +situated three miles to the north-west of Henderville's Island. Five +large canoes with sails set put off from Woodle's Island, and came +towards the ship, but when about four miles distant, they turned back and +stood for the shore. The wind blowing off the land prevented them from +getting in with the shore, so as to enable them to give a particular +description of these islands; they seemed to abound with cocoa-nut, and a +variety of other trees. At three o'clock in the afternoon, the +Scarborough being within three miles of Henderville's Island, they +sounded with sixty fathoms of line, but got no ground. Several large +fires were lighted up on the shore, and the natives assembled in vast +numbers on the beach, many of them pointing at the ship with looks of +wonder and surprise; presently afterwards, nineteen canoes, with five or +six men in each, came off from the shore and made towards the ship, on +which Captain Marshall lay to, in hopes they would come along side; +several of them came within a quarter of a mile of the ship, and then +taking down their sails, they stopt to gaze at the vessel, but nothing +would induce them to come alongside; however, as more canoes were seen +coming from the island, Captain Marshall determined to lay to till they +all returned on shore, as there was a probability of his procuring some +refreshments from them: two of the last canoes made for the ship without +the least hesitation; on this, the Captain ordered his people out of +sight that the natives might not be intimidated. When the canoes were +close to the ship, the Indians began to talk, and made signs for them to +bring the ship nearer the island. + +After talking with the natives some time, the Captain shewed them a few +small nails, a quart bottle, and a looking-glass, all of which they +seemed very desirous to obtain; however, they could not be prevailed on +to bring their canoes along-side, but three of them jumped out and swam +to the ship; a rope was given them to take hold of, but they could not be +persuaded to come on board. On receiving their little presents they +laughed very heartily, and by way of exchange gave the Captain some beads +and teeth of beasts or animals, which they wore about their necks as +ornaments: this circumstance serves to show that they have some idea of +barter. + +After making signs a second time for them to bring the ship nearer the +island, they took their leave, and presently afterwards all the canoes +returning towards the shore, Captain Marshall made sail and stood to the +northward. The situation of these islands has already been mentioned, +they lie in nearly a north-west and south-east direction: Hopper's Island +appears to be about ten leagues in length, Henderville's Island six +leagues, and Woodle's Island the same. + +It is to be lamented that Captain Marshall had not an opportunity of +surveying these islands more minutely, as there is scarcely a doubt of +their affording a variety of refreshments; for though nothing of the kind +was seen in the canoes, yet the natives were plump and fleshy, and seemed +to live at their ease: there is also an appearance of a most excellent +harbour at Hopper's Island. + +The inhabitants seem to be a fine set of people; they are of a copper +colour, stout and well made; their hair is long and black, with black +eyes and eye brows, and they seem to have very fine teeth. The only +ornaments seen amongst them were necklaces made of beads intermixed with +teeth, and many of them had their faces painted white. + +If we may judge of these people from the construction of their canoes, +they certainly possess a considerable share of contrivance and ingenuity: +many of them are large enough to contain sixteen or twenty people; they +are narrow, and built to sail very fast, yet there is not the least +danger of their oversetting, as they are steadied with an out-rigger +resembling a ladder on the weather side, to one end of which a log of +wood is fastened, cut sharp at each end in the form of a boat; this not +only serves to keep the canoe upright, but likewise holds her to +windward. At the other end of the out-rigger, a stout rope is fixed, +which leads up to the mast head and serves as a shroud; and when the wind +blows fresh, two or more men, according to the size of the canoe, go out +upon the ladder to keep her upright. + +Though these canoes always sail on the same side, yet they are so +contrived as to sail one way as well as the other, and the Indians manage +them with such dexterity that they put about much sooner than our boats. +Every canoe has a sail, which in general is very large; they appear to be +made of raw-silk, neatly sewed together, and are cut in the form of our +shoulder of mutton sail, with a yard at the fore-leach, and another at +the foot, so that when they want to put their canoe about, they only have +to shift their tack and bring it to leeward of the mast: in short, from +what little Captain Marshall saw of these people, they appeared to be +lively, ingenious and expert. + +20 June 1788 + +After quitting these new discovered Islands, Captain Marshall stood to +the northward, with a light breeze at east north-east, and at five +o'clock in the morning of the 20th, they saw an island bearing east +north-east, eight miles distant; it appeared very low, and almost level +with the water, so that when only four miles distant they could perceive +nothing but trees. When Captain Marshall got close in with the land, he +found it to be a chain of islands, extending from south-east to +north-west for the distance of more than thirty leagues. Having a +favourable breeze, they run along the islands about three miles from +shore, and several canoes with sails set, came after the ship, but none +of them would come near her. Great numbers of the natives presently +assembled on the beach, in order to gratify their curiosity in looking at +the ship; this induced Captain Marshall to lay to in expectation of the +natives coming along-side, but not one of them ventured near the ship: at +one time he had an intention of sending his boat on shore in order to +procure some refreshments, as many of his crew were laid up with the +scurvy; however, he prudently declined taking this step, as it certainly +would have been hazarding too much to have sent a few men amongst an +ignorant multitude, with whose temper and disposition they were perfectly +unacquainted. + +The centre of these islands is situated in 1 deg. 50' north latitude, 173 deg. +00' east longitude. They are very low, and yet it is rather remarkable, +that on sounding, when not more than a mile from the land, there was no +bottom found with eighty fathoms of line. Within the islands there +appeared to be some fine harbours, and they probably afford a variety of +refreshments. The natives seemed to be nearly black, and their canoes +were constructed much in the same manner as those already described. + +22 June 1788 + +There being no prospect of procuring any refreshments from these people, +Captain Marshall made sail, and at noon on the 22d they saw land in the +direction of north by east, eight miles distant; it appeared very low, +flat, and full of trees. By four o'clock, they were close in with the +southernmost land, and saw a great number of canoes sailing close to the +shore, some of which came towards the ship, and two of them very near, +but nothing would entice them to come along-side. The people appeared +much the same as those at Henderville's Island, and their canoes were of +a similar construction; one of them had a kind of vane at the mast head, +which appeared to be made of the same materials as their sail. In running +along shore, they found it to consist of six different islands, extending +from north by east to south by west, to the length of fourteen or fifteen +leagues; the centre of them is situated in 2 deg. 58' north latitude, and +173 deg. 00' east longitude. The southernmost island, Captain Marshall named +Allen's Island; the second, Gillespy's Island; the third, Touching's +Island; the fourth, Clarke's Island; the fifth, Smith's Island; and the +northernmost, Scarborough Island. They ran along these islands about +three miles distant from the land, and kept the lead constantly going, +but could get no bottom, which appeared rather extraordinary as the land +is very low. There appears to be good anchorage between these islands, +and the water very smooth, and they seem to abound with cocoa-nut and +cabbage trees. By the time they were abreast of Scarborough Island, it +grew so dark that they could not see the land; luckily, however, the +Indians lighted two very large fires which enabled them to get entirely +clear of all the islands. + +23 June 1788 + +At six o'clock in the afternoon of the 23d, more land made its +appearance, bearing north to north-west, four leagues distant, but night +coming on, they tacked and stood to the southward. + +24 June 1788 + +By two o'clock the next day, they were within two miles of the land, and +found it to be a chain of islands, extending from east to nearly west for +more than twenty-five leagues; and they perceived a reef from the +easternmost point of land, which ran at least three leagues into the sea. +The shore on the north-west side of these islands is bold and steep; the +Scarborough coasted along within a mile of the land, and frequently +sounded with an hundred fathoms of line, but could get no bottom; at the +same time they saw the water break near the shore, and a vast number of +the natives were collected on the beach. About three o'clock, a small +canoe with two men in her came off from the shore, on which Captain +Marshall hove to, in order to give them an opportunity of coming up with +the ship, but when they were about one hundred yards from the vessel, +they put back again as fast as possible, seemingly very much frightened: +these men had skins wrapped round their waists, and their hair was +ornamented with shells and beads. After they left the ship, Captain +Marshall made sail, being desirous to make the westward part of the +islands if possible before the night came on; but in this he was +disappointed, as the wind grew light and baffling. Several large canoes +now put off from the shore with eight or ten men in each; it already has +been observed that the Charlotte, Captain Gilbert, was in company with +the Scarborough; at this time she was some distance a-stern, and the +canoes all went along-side her; several of them went on board the +Charlotte, and ran fore and aft, stealing every thing that lay in their +way; one of them in particular, got hold of the pump-break, and attempted +to jump over-board with it, but was stopped by one of the sailors. They +appeared to be very civilized, and all of them had coverings round the +waist: their ornaments were necklaces made of beads, to which a cross was +suspended, in the same manner as those worn by the Spaniards. + +25 June 1788-27 June 1788 + +Captain Marshall distinguished these islands by the name of Lord +Mulgrave's Islands, in honour of the Right Honourable Lord Mulgrave. The +southernmost of them is situated in 5 deg. 58' north latitude, and 172 deg. 3' +east longitude, and the northernmost in 6 deg. 29' north latitude, and 171 deg. +10' east longitude. At noon on the 25th, they got round the westernmost +island, and thought themselves entirely clear of them all, as the day was +very fair, and no land could be seen from the mast-head; at the same time +they had a long swell: on this, Captain Marshall stood on under an easy +sail during the night, but was very much surprised at daylight the next +morning to see land on the weather quarter, and a large island on the lee +quarter, between which they must have passed in the night, and certainly +very near that on their lee, though they sounded every half hour, but +never struck the ground. Lord Mulgrave's Islands abound with +cocoa-nut-trees, and they could perceive remnants of oranges and various +other sorts of fruit, although the natives offered nothing of the sort to +barter. These islanders had not any offensive weapons whatever, so that +they probably are on very friendly terms with each other. With a light +easterly breeze, they kept their course to the northward, and at noon on +the 27th, in 7 deg. 25' north latitude, and 171 deg. 10' east longitude, they saw +land bearing from north by east to north north-west. Having now a fresh +breeze, Captain Marshall run in with the land, and found it to be a +cluster of small islands lying east and west of each other, but no +appearance was seen of their being inhabited. + +28 June 1788 + +At noon on the 28th, more islands were seen, bearing from north to +north-west by west, three or four leagues distant, their latitude at that +time was 8 deg. 02' north, and 170 deg. 57' east longitude. The weather being +very hazy, with constant rain, they wore, and stood from the land; +however, the afternoon proving tolerably clear, they again stood towards +it, and by four o'clock were close in with the westernmost island. Two +large canoes were lying on a sandy beach, but they did not perceive any +inhabitants. At five o'clock they saw several more islands, bearing north +north-east, five or six leagues distant. During the night, Captain +Marshall stood under an easy sail, and at day-light the next morning land +was seen a-head bearing north by east six leagues, and some land bearing +east seventeen leagues distant. These islands, like all they had yet +seen, were very low, and entirely covered with lofty trees; on sounding, +they got no ground with an hundred fathoms of line. Their latitude at +noon was 8 deg. 59' north, and 170 deg. 24' east longitude. + +30 June 1788 + +At five in the afternoon, more islands were seen, bearing north, five +leagues distant, but night coming on they wore and stood to the +southward. In the forenoon of the 30th, they ran between two islands, +about five leagues distant from each other, and surrounded by a number of +breakers: by eleven o'clock they were entirely clear of all the land. +Their observation at noon gave 9 deg. 34' north latitude, and the longitude +was 169 deg. 22' east. These last islands were supposed by Captain Marshall +to be those which Lord Anson discovered, and named Barbadoes Islands. + +31 July 1788 + +Having now a clear navigation, they prosecuted their voyage without +meeting with any thing worthy of notice till the 31st of July, when at +six clock in the morning they saw the island of Saypan bearing west by +south six leagues distant. Having light baffling winds, they did not get +in with the land till the approach of evening, so that the night was +spent in standing off and on. At day-light the next morning, Captain +Marshall sent his boat on shore, with the chief mate and four seamen, to +procure some refreshments, and look for anchorage. At two o'clock in the +afternoon, the boats returned loaded with cocoa-nuts and cabbage, both, +as the men reported, from the same tree, but they could find no place for +a vessel to anchor in, the water being very deep close to the land, with +a rocky bottom, and so heavy a surf that the boat did not land without +great difficulty. Not meeting with a harbour at Sapan, the Captain +determined to make the best of his way to Tinian, where he might come to +anchor and get his sick people on shore, having no less than fifteen men +laid up with the scurvy, and the rest of his crew were so weak that they +could scarcely work the ship: the wind, however, was so variable, that +they did not reach the south-west side of that island till afternoon on +the 4th, when they anchored in twenty-five fathoms water, and soon +afterwards the Charlotte came to anchor a small distance from the +Scarborough. + +5 August 1788-8 August 1788 + +Early the next morning, Captain Marshall sent his sick people on shore, +with a tent, and a sufficient quantity of provisions to serve them five +days. After landing the sick, and erecting their tent, the boats crew +walked about the island, and saw a great number of cattle, hogs, and +fowls, but they only caught a calf, one hog, and a fowl or two, and +loaded the boat with cocoanuts, oranges, and limes. On the 6th, the chief +mate was sent on shore to look for fresh water; he soon found out the +well, mentioned in Lord Anson's voyage, but it was quite dry, and there +was not any fresh water to be met with within two miles of the landing +place. The boat returned at noon, loaded with fruit of different sorts. +Toward evening the wind came round to south south-west blowing very +strong, which sent a heavy sea rolling into the bay, and occasioned the +Scarborough to pitch very much. The wind still blowing strongly into the +bay, Captain Marshall sent his boat on shore on the 7th, to bring off the +sick people, which they accomplished with much danger and difficulty; in +the mean time, every thing was got ready for sea, the Captain being +determined to get away the moment the wind shifted to south or south by +east, so that they could clear the west part of the island. During the +night, they had so heavy a gale at south-west that they expected every +minute to be driven on shore; fortunately, however, at day-break, the +wind shifted to south south-east, on which they immediately cut the cable +and ran clear of the land: Captain Gilbert cut both his cables and +followed the Scarborough. Scarce had they cleared the land before the +wind again shifted to south-south-west, and blew a complete hurricane, so +that had the vessels then been at anchor, they must inevitably have been +driven on shore. Though Captain Marshall's people were on land so short a +time, they found amazing benefit from it, their strength gradually +returned, and soon afterwards they were perfectly restored to health. + +7 September 1788 + +No particular occurrence happened during their passage from Tinian to +China; they saw the Lema Islands in the afternoon of the 7th of +September, and came to anchor in Macao Roads the following afternoon. + + +Chapter XXII. + +Supplemental Account of Animals + +BIRDS. + +NO. 139. BANKIAN COCKATOO. Order II. Pies. Genus V. Parrot. + + +This is about the size of the great white cockatoo; the length twenty-two +inches. The bill is exceedingly short, and of a pale lead-colour. The +head feathers are pretty long, so as to enable the bird to erect them +into a crest at will: The colour of the head, neck, and under parts of +the body are dusky brown, inclining to olive, darkest on the belly: the +feathers of the top of the head and back part of the neck are edged with +olive; the rest of the plumage on the upper part of the body, the wings, +and tail, are of a glossy black; the last is pretty long and a little +rounded at the end; the two middle feathers are wholly black; the others +of a fine vermilion in the middle for about one-third, otherwise black; +the outer edge of the exterior feather black the whole length. Legs +black. + +This bird was met with in New South Wales, and is supposed to be a +variety, if not a different sex, from the Bankian Cockatoo described in +the General Synopsis of Birds, Supplement, p. 63. pl. 109. It varies, +however, in not having the feathers of the head or those of the +wing-coverts marked with buff-coloured spots; nor is the red part of the +tail crossed with black bars, as in that bird. + +With the above specimen was sent the head of another, which differed in +having a mixture of yellow in various parts of it. We have been informed, +that the red part of the tail in this last is barred with black, not +unlike that described by Mr. Latham in the Synopsis. From these +circumstances, it may be presumed, that this bird is subject to great +variety. + +RED SHOULDERED PARROT. Order II. Pies. Genus V. + +This bird is about the size of the Guinea Parrakeet. Total length ten +inches and a half: the general colour of the plumage is green, inclining +to yellow on the under parts: the top of the head, the outer edge of the +wing, and some parts of the middle of the same are deep blue: all round +the base of the bill crimson, with a mixture of the same on the fore part +of the neck, but between the bill and eye is a mixture of yellow: the +shoulders, and under parts of the wings are blood red: two or three of +the inner quills, and the vent pale red: the greater quills dusky, +fringed outwardly with yellow: the tail is greatly wedged in shape, the +feathers at the base chesnut, towards the end dull blue: the bill and +legs are brown. + +This species inhabits New South Wales; and we believe it to be hitherto +non-descript. + +CRESTED GOAT SUCKER. Order III. Passerine. Genus XLV. + +This bird is somewhat smaller than our European species, measuring only +nine inches and a half in length. The general colour of the plumage on +the upper parts is dark-brown, mottled and crossed with obscure whitish +bars: the quills are plain brown, but five or six of the outer ones +marked with dusky white spots on the outer webs: the tail is rounded in +shape, and marked with twelve narrow bars of a dusky white, mottled with +black, as are the various whitish marks on the upper parts: the under +parts of the body are more or less white; but the fore part of the neck +and breast are crossed with numerous dusky bars: the bill is black, but +the gape and within yellow; the sides of the mouth furnished with +bristles, as in other goat-suckers; besides which, at the base of the +bill are ten or twelve erect stiff bristles, thinly barbed on their +sides, and standing perfectly upright as a crest, giving the bird a +singular appearance: the legs are weak, longer than in most of the tribe, +and of a pale yellow colour; claws brown. + +NEW HOLLAND CASSOWARY. Order VI. Struthious. Genus LIX. Cassowary. + +This is a species differing in many particulars from that generally +known, and is a much larger bird, standing higher on its legs, and having +the neck longer than in the common one. Total length seven feet two +inches. The bill is not greatly different from that of the common +Cassowary; but the horny appendage, or helmet on the top of the head, in +this species is totally wanting: the whole of the head and neck is also +covered with feathers, except the throat and fore part of the neck about +half way, which are not so well feathered as the rest; whereas in the +common Cassowary, the head and neck are bare and carunculated as in the +turkey. + +The plumage in general consists of a mixture of brown and grey, and the +feathers are somewhat curled or bent at the ends in the natural state: +the wings are so very short as to be totally useless for flight, and +indeed, are scarcely to be distinguished from the rest of the plumage, +were it not for their standing out a little. The long spines which are +seen in the wings of the common sort, are in this not observable,--nor is +there any appearance of a tail. The legs are stout, formed much as in the +Galeated Cassowary, with the addition of their being jagged or sawed the +whole of their length at the back part. + +This bird is not uncommon in New Holland, as several of them have been +seen about Botany Bay, and other parts. The one from which the plate was +taken, was shot within two miles of the settlement at Sydney Cove, and +the drawing made on the spot by Lieutenant Watts. The skin being sent +over to England in spirits, has been put into attitude, and is now the +property of Sir Joseph Banks, to whom it was presented by Lord Sydney. +Although this bird cannot fly, it runs so swiftly, that a greyhound can +scarcely overtake it. The flesh is said to be in taste not unlike beef. + +WHITE GALLINULE. Order VII. Cloven-footed. Genus LXXV. + +This beautiful bird greatly resembles the purple Gallinule in shape and +make, but is much superior in size, being as large as a dunghil fowl. The +length from the end of the bill to that of the claws is two feet three +inches: the bill is very stout, and the colour of it, the whole of the +top of the head, and the irides red; the sides of the head round the eyes +are reddish, very thinly sprinkled with white feathers; the whole of the +plumage without exception is white. The legs the colour of the bill. + +This species is pretty common on Lord Howe's Island, Norfolk Island, and +other places, and is a very tame species. The other sex, supposed to be +the male, is said to have some blue on the wings. + +Genus XII. Canis.--Lin. Syst. Nat. + +Genus XVII. Dog.--Penn. Hist. Quad. + +DOG OF NEW SOUTH WALES. + +The height of this species, standing erect, is rather less than two feet: +the length two feet and a half. The head is formed much like that of a +fox, the ears short and erect, with whiskers from one to two inches in +length on the muzzle. The general colour of the upper parts is pale +brown, growing lighter towards the belly: the hind part of the fore legs, +and the fore part of the hinder ones white, as are the feet of both: the +tail is of a moderate length, somewhat bushy, but in a less degree than +that of the fox: the teeth are much the same as is usual in the genus, as +may be seen in the top of the plate where the animal is represented. + +This species inhabits New South Wales. The specimen from which the +annexed plate was taken, (a female) is now alive in the possession of the +Marchioness of Salisbury, at Hatfield-House, and was sent over as a +present to Mr. Nepean, from Governor Phillip. It has much of the manners +of the dog, but is of a very savage nature, and not likely to change in +this particular. It laps like other dogs, but neither barks nor growls if +vexed and teized; instead of which, it erects the hairs of the whole body +like bristles, and seems furious: it is very eager after its prey, and is +fond of rabbits or chickens, raw, but will not touch dressed meat. From +its fierceness and agility it has greatly the advantage of other animals +much superior in size; for a very fine French fox-dog being put to it, in +a moment it seized him by the loins, and would have soon put an end to +his existence, had not help been at hand. With the utmost ease it is able +to leap over the back of an ass, and was very near worrying one to death, +having fastened on it, so that the creature was not able to disengage +himself without assistance; it has been also known to run down both deer +and sheep. + +A second of these is in the possession of Mr. Lascelles, of which we have +received much the same account in respect to its ferocity; whence it is +scarcely to be expected that this elegant animal will ever become +familiar. + +Genus XV. Mustela.--Lin. Syst. Nat. + +Genus XXIII. Weesel.--Penn. Hist. Quad. + +SPOTTED MARTIN. + +The species is about the size of a large polecat, and measures from the +tip of the nose to the setting on of the tail eighteen inches; the tail +itself being nearly the same length. The visage is pointed in shape, and +the whole make of the animal does not ill resemble that of the Fossane. +The general colour of the fur is black, marked all over with irregular +blotches of white, the tail not excepted, which has an elegant +appearance, and tapers gradually to a point. + +The situation of the teeth and jaws is much the same as in the rest of +the genus, as may be seen in the upper part of the plate. + +Inhabits the neighbourhood of Port Jackson. + +Genus XVII. Didelphis.--Lin. Syst. Nat. + +Genus XXII. Opossum.--Penn. Hist. 2uad. + +KANGUROO RAT. + +The upper jaw of this species has two cutting teeth in front, with three +others on each side of them, and at a distance one false grinder, sharp +at the edge, and channelled, or fluted, on the sides, and close to these, +two true grinders: in the lower jaw are two long cutting teeth, formed +like those of the squirrel, with three grinders, corresponding with those +in the upper jaw. + +The general shape of the body is not widely different from that of the +Kanguroo, both in respect to the shortness of the fore legs and the +peculiar construction of the hind ones; but the visage being strongly +similar to that of the rat, and the colour of the whole not ill +resembling that animal, it has obtained the name of the Kanguroo Rat. + +This is an inhabitant of New Holland, and two of the species are now to +be seen alive at the curious exhibition of animals over Exeter Exchange. +One of these, being a female, has brought forth young, one of which is +represented in the same plate with the adult animal. On the upper part of +the same plate is figured the jaw of a full grown subject. + +Genus CXXII. Lacerta.--Lin. Sist. Nat. + +THE LACED LIZARD. + +This most elegant species is in length, from the nose to the +end of the tail, about forty inches: in the mouth are a few weak teeth, +though rather sharp, at about a quarter of an inch distance one from +another: the tongue is long and forked: the general shape is slender; and +the ground colour of the skin, on the upper parts, a brownish or bluish +black, whimsically marked with golden yellow; in some parts this colour +is beautifully mottled or freckled, like some kinds of lace-work; in +others, striped in various directions, particularly on the legs, which +seem as if striped across with black and white: the under parts are +yellow, crossed with single bars of black on the chin and throat, and +double clouded ones on the belly: the toes are five in number on each +foot, barred across with black and yellow, as the legs, and each +furnished with a crooked black claw: the tail measures more in length +than the whole of the body; towards the base, clouded and marked as the +rest; but the further half banded with black and yellow, each band three +inches broad, the end running to a very sharp point. + +This beautiful Lizard is not uncommon at Port Jackson, where it is +reputed a harmless species. Individuals vary much one from another, in +respect to the length of the tail, as also in the colour of the markings; +some having those parts marked with a pure silvery white, which in the +above described are yellow. + +Genus CXXXV. Balistes.--Lin. Syst. Nat. + +BAG-THROATED BALISTES. + +The size of the fish figured in the plate is uncertain, as we have only +obtained a drawing of it without any description.--It agrees in many +things with others of the genus, and does not greatly differ from one +figured in Willughby's Icthyologia, Tab. 1. 22. but has the body longer +in proportion. The erect horn or spine is placed over, and a little +behind the eyes, as in Willughby's figure, attended with two shorter ones +directly behind the first: the long spine is quite straight, sharp at the +point, and deeply sawed on the back part. Another singularity presents +itself in this species, which is, a deep pouch-like appendage beneath the +throat, in shape not unlike what is called Hippocrates's sleeve, or +rather a jelly bag. + +This fish is found pretty commonly on the coast of New South Wales, and +was called by the sailors the Old Wife, having much resemblance in many +things to the species so named. When skinned, it was thought pretty good +eating. + +A FISH OF NEW SOUTH WALES. + +Of this fish it can only be said, that the ground colour is much the same +as that of our mackarel, marked with several round, blue and white spots; +and that, in the plate, it is represented faithfully from a drawing by +Daniel Butler sent from New South Wales, where it is in great plenty, and +is thought to taste much like a dolphin. As to the genus, it is difficult +to say with certainty to which it belongs, as it is deficient in the +characteristics of those generally known; it is therefore left to the +reader to settle this matter according to his own opinion. + +Genus CXXXI. Squalus.--Lin. Syst. Nat. + +PORT JACKSON SHARK. + +The length of the specimen from which the drawing was taken, is two feet; +and it is about five inches and an half over at the broadest part, from +thence tapering to the tail: the skin is rough, and the colour, in +general, brown, palest on the under parts: over the eyes on each side is +a prominence, or long ridge, of about three inches; under the middle of +which the eyes are placed: the teeth are very numerous, there being at +least ten or eleven rows; the forward teeth are small and sharp, but as +they are placed more backward, they become more blunt and larger, and +several rows are quite flat at top, forming a kind of bony palate, +somewhat like that of the Wolf-fish; differing, however, in shape, being +more inclined to square than round, which they are in that fish: the +under jaw is furnished much in the same manner as the upper: the +breathing holes are five in number, as is usual in the genus: on the back +are two fins, and before each stands a strong spine, much as in the +Prickly Hound, or Dog, fish: it has also two pectoral, and two ventral +fins; but besides these, there is likewise an anal fin, placed at a +middle distance between the last and the tail: the tail itself, is as it +were divided, the upper part much longer than the under. + +At first sight, the above might be taken for the Prickly Hound-fish, or +Squalus Spinax of Linnoeus, of which a good figure may be seen in +Willughby's Icthyol. Tab. B. 5. f. 1, but it differs, first, in having +the prominent ridge over the eyes, of a great length; secondly, in the +formation of the teeth; thirdly, in having an anal fin, of which the +Prickly Hound is destitute; all these circumstances concur to prove it a +new species. + +This was taken at Port Jackson, but to what size it may usually arrive +cannot be determined; perhaps not to a great one, as the teeth appear +very complete. Some sharks, however, of an enormous size have been seen +and caught thereabouts, though of what sort cannot here be determined. + +Genus CXXXI. Squalus.--Lin. Syst. + +WATTS'S SHARK. + +This, we believe, is a species which has hitherto escaped the researches +of our Icthyologists. The length of the specimen is nineteen inches: the +head is broad, and angular in shape; but the body rounded, and nearly +equal in its dimensions for above half the length, when it suddenly grows +very small, and so continues to the end of the tail: the colour of the +body is brown in different shades, and there are three rows of large pale +spots, of an irregular shape, most of them dark within; one row passes +down the middle, the others are on each side; besides which there are +others below them less conspicuous. The mouth is placed nearer the end of +the head than in most of the genus, and furnished in the front with nine +sharp crooked teeth, in three rows, and a great number of small ones on +each side. The eyes project considerably above the rest of the head, and +are placed on the upper part of it; the space between is hollowed or sunk +in: at the most forward part of the head are two cartilaginous +appendages, jagged at the end, with four others, nearly similar, on each +side between the first and the breathing holes: the pectoral fins are +placed beneath these last; the abdominal about the middle of the body; +and the anal, more than half way between the last and the tail; besides +which, the under part is finned from that place to the end: on the upper +part of the body are two fins, both placed uncommonly far back, as in the +figure. + +This fish was met with in Sydney Cove, Port Jackson, by Lieutenant Watts, +and is supposed to be full as voracious as any of the genus, in +proportion to its size; for after having lain on the deck for two hours, +seemingly quiet, on Mr. Watts's dog passing by, the shark sprung upon it +with all the ferocity imaginable, and seized it by the leg; nor could the +dog have disengaged himself had not the people near at hand come to his +assistance. + +Order II. Pies. Genus XXIII. Kingsfisher. + +GREAT BROWN KINGSFISHER.--Lath. Syn. ii. p. 603, No. 1. + +The length of this species is from sixteen to eighteen inches: the bill, +three inches and an half, or even more; the upper mandible is brown, and +the under white, but brown at the base: the head is pretty full of +feathers, sufficiently so to form a crest when erected; the colour +whitish, and most of the feathers either tipped or crossed with black: +the neck and under parts of the body are much the same in colour, crossed +on the sides with dusky lines: over the forehead the colour is dusky +brown, almost black, passing backwards in an irregular shaped streak a +good way behind the eye: the back, and major part of the wing, is black +or dusky, but the middle of the wing is of a glossy blue-green, as is +also the lower part of the back and rump: the tail is barred with pale +rust-colour and black, inclining to purple, and towards the end whitish: +the legs are of a dusky yellow, the claws are black. + +These birds vary much, the colours being more or less brilliant, and in +some of them the tail is wholly barred with white and black, and the legs +brown or blackish. + +This species inhabits various places in the South Seas, being pretty +common at New Guinea; but the specimen from which our figure was taken, +was sent from Port Jackson in South Wales, where, likewise, it is not +unfrequently met with. We believe it has not yet been figured in any +British work. + +KANGUROO. + +This very curious animal being naturally an object of particular +curiosity, we are happy to be enabled, before this book is given to the +world, to correct some errors which had crept into our account and +representation of it. In page 149 it is stated, that the Kanguroo has +four teeth (by which were meant cutting teeth) in the upper jaw, opposed +to two in the under. The truth is, that there are six opposed to two, as +may be perceived in the engraved representation of the skeleton of a +Kanguroo's head, inserted at page 168. The same arrangement of teeth +takes place in the Opossum, described in that page, which is there, still +more erroneously, said to have only two cutting teeth opposed to two. +This latter mistake arose from the difficulty of examining the mouth of +the living animal. It is since dead, and the teeth are found to be +disposed as now stated, and as represented in the scull of the Vulpine +Opossum, in the same plate with that of the Kanguroo. + +But the most important error is in the position of the Kanguroo, as +represented in our plate at page 106. The true standing posture of the +Kanguroo is exactly the same as that of the Kanguroo Rat, delineated at +page 277; namely, with the rump several inches from the ground, (in large +specimens, not less than eight) and resting entirely on the long last +joint of the hinder legs, the whole under side of which is bare and +callous like a hoof. This mistake was occasioned merely by the adherence +of the engraver to the drawing from which he worked; which, among others, +came from Mr. White, the surgeon at Port Jackson: too implicit reliance +being placed on an authority which, in this respect, turned out delusive. + +With respect to the representations of the Kanguroo which have hitherto +been published, it may be observed, that nothing is wanting to that in +Captain Cook's first voyage, except the character of the toes of the +hinder legs, and in particular the distinguishing of a minute, but very +characteristic circumstance, in the inner claw of each, which is divided +down the middle into two, as if split by some sharp instrument. The same +remark is applicable to the plate in Mr. Pennant's History of Quadrupeds, +which appears to have been copied from the other. Mr. Pennant was the +first author who gave a scientific description of the Kanguroo, in his +History of Quadrupeds, p. 306. No. 184. and of the New Holland Opossum, +p. 310. No. 188. + +Zimmerman, in his Zoologia Geographica, p. 527, confounds the Kanguroo +with the great Jerboa of Africa, described by Allamand, in his additions +to Buffon; and by Mr. Pennant, History of Quadrupeds, p. 432. No. 293. + +Our own plate of the Kanguroo very accurately expresses the form and +character of that animal, and is deficient only in the position, which +unfortunately was not remarked till the plate was worked off, and the +book almost ready for delivery. + +ANECDOTE OF CAPTAIN COOK AND O'TOO. + +As nothing can be devoid of interest which relates to a man so justly +admired as Captain Cook, the reader will probably be pleased to find +here, though out of its proper place, an anecdote communicated by Mr. +Webber. It exhibits in a pleasing point of view the friendship which +subsisted between that great navigator and the Otaheitean chief O'too, a +circumstance highly to the honour of both; since it displays in them the +power of discerning real merit, though obscured by diversity of manners, +and that of being able to impress a steady attachment, where nothing more +was to be expected than transient regard. Under every species of +disparity, goodness of heart supplies both a medium of attraction, and an +indissoluble bond of union. + +Every reader must have seen with pleasure the charming proof of O'too's +tender and inviolable friendship for Captain Cook, which appears in page +233 of this work; where he is described as attended by a man carrying the +portrait of that illustrious Englishman, without which he never moves +from one place to another. That portrait, as Mr. Webber assures us, was +obtained in the following manner. + +O'too, by the Captain's particular desire, sat to Mr. Webber, in order to +furnish such a memorial of his features, as might serve for the subject +of a complete whole length picture, on the return of the ship to England. +When the portrait was finished, and O'too was informed that no more +sittings would be necessary, he anxiously enquired of Captain Cook, and +Captain Clerke, what might be the particular meaning and purpose of this +painting. He was informed, that it would be kept by Captain Cook, as a +perpetual memorial of his person, his friendship, and the many favours +received from him. He seemed pleased with the idea, and instantly +replied, that, for the very same reasons, a picture of Captain Cook would +be highly acceptable to him. This answer, so unexpected, and expressed +with strong tokens of real attachment, made both Captain Clerke and Mr. +Webber his advocates; and Captain Cook, charmed with the natural +sincerity of his manner, complied with his request much more readily than +on any other occasion he would have granted such a favour. + +When the portrait was finished it was framed, and with a box, lock, and +key, by which it was secured, was delivered to O'too; who received it +with inexpressible satisfaction. He readily, and, as the event has +proved, most faithfully promised that he would preserve it always with +the utmost care; and would show it to the commanders of such ships as +might in future touch at the Society Islands. Who can fail to love a +character like that of O'too, in which unalterable steadiness of +affection is as conspicuous, as honest and natural ardour? Long may he +enjoy his authority and his health; and preserve the honourable memorial +of his friend, without being afflicted by the knowledge of that +melancholy catastrophe which terminated the career of his glory! + +* * * * * + +With respect to the yellow gum, or resin, mentioned in page 60, we are +informed by Dr. Blane, physician to St. Thomas's Hospital, that he has +found it remarkably efficacious in the cure of old fluxes; and this not +only in a few instances, but in many obstinate cases. Of the plants in +general which have been brought from Botany Bay, and the adjacent +country, no notice has been taken in this work, as it would have led to +such a detail as must too considerably have extended its limits. Many of +them are now to be seen in the highest perfection at the nursery gardens +of that eminent and learned botanist, Mr. Lee, of Hammersmith: who still +retains enough of zeal for his favourite science, to regret that the +discovery of those countries was not made at a period of his life, when +he could have gone personally to reap the glorious harvest they afford. + +* * * * * + +The following account of the weather in Botany Bay and Port Jackson, +communicated by Lieutenant Watts, may perhaps be found important. + +During the seven days we were in Botany Bay the weather was generally +fine, and very warm. The thermometer on a mean stood at 78 deg.. it never +exceeded 80 deg.. and one day, which was thick and rainy, the wind blowing +strongly from the south, it fell to 63 deg.. In Port Jackson the weather was +at first much the same, but afterwards, the days became very hot, and the +nights constantly brought on tremendous thunder, lightning, and rain. The +thermometer, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, was generally about 80 deg.. +but when the sea breezes set in it usually fell two or three degrees. One +very sultry day was felt soon after the arrival of the fleet. The +thermometer, on board, stood at 88 deg.. and on shore, though in the shade, +at 92 deg.. On the 15th of March was a terrible squall of wind, accompanied +by thunder, lightning, and rain. The thermometer then fell from 80 deg. to +50 deg.. and in other squalls it frequently fell 15 or 20 degrees. + +Such are the principal notices hitherto received from the new settlement +on the southern continent, which, if from unavoidable circumstances, they +are a little deficient in point of order, will, it is hoped, make ample +amends by their novelty, importance, and authenticity. + +Genus XVII. Didelphis. Lin. Syst. Nat. + +Genus XXII. Opossum. Penn. Hist. Quad. + +BLACK FLYING OPOSSUM. + +The following is, according to every appearance, a new animal of this +genus. The length from the tip of the nose, which is pointed in shape, to +the root of the tail, is twenty inches; of the tail itself twenty-two +inches, at the base quite light, increasing gradually to black at the +end: the width across the loins sixteen inches: the ears are large and +erect: the coat or fur is of a much richer texture or more delicate than +the sea-otter of Cook's River: on the upper parts of the body, at first +sight, appearing of a glossy black, but on a nicer inspection, is really +what the French call petit gris, or minever, being mixed with grey; the +under parts are white, and on each hip may be observed a tan-coloured +spot, nearly as big as a shilling; at this part the fur is thinnest, but +at the root of the tail it is so rich and close that the hide cannot be +felt through it. The fur is also continued to the claws: the membrane, +which is expanded on each side of the body, is situated much as in the +grey species, though broader in proportion. The jaws are furnished with +teeth, placed as in some others of this genus: in the upper jaw forwards +are four small cutting teeth, then two canine ones, and backwards five +grinders: the under jaw has two long large cutting teeth, like the +Vulpine Opossum, [See skeleton on the plate at page 168.] five grinders, +with no intermediate canine ones, the space being quite vacant. The fore +legs have five toes on each foot, with a claw on each; the hinder ones +four toes, with claws, (the three outside ones without any separation) +and a thumb without a claw, enabling the animal to use the foot as a +hand, as many of the opossum tribe are observed to do. See the skeleton +of the foot in the annexed plate. + +This beautiful quadruped inhabits New South Wales. The specimen from +which the above account has been taken, is a male, and the property of +Henry Constantine Nowell, Esq. of Shiplake, in Oxfordshire. The fur of it +is so beautiful, and of so rare a texture, that should it hereafter be +found in plenty, it might probably be thought a very valuable article of +commerce. + + +APPENDIX + +[Tables of the Route taken by each of the ships of the First Fleet after +leaving Port Jackson--not included in this ebook.] + + +A LIST OF CONVICTS SENT TO NEW SOUTH WALES, IN 1787. + +Name. Where Convicted. Date Of Conviction. Years. + +Abel, Robert London 23 Feb. 1785. 7 +Abrams, Henry +Abrahams, Esther London 30 August, 1786 7 +Abell, Mary, alias Tilley Worcester 5 March, 1785 7 +Acres, Thomas Exeter 14 March, 1786 7 +Adams, John London 26 May, 1784 7 +Adams, Mary Ditto 13 Decem. 1786 7 +Agley, Richard Winchester 2 March, 1784 7 +Allen, John Hertford 2 March, 1786 7 +Allen, William Ormskirk 11 April, 1785 7 +Allen, Charles London 7 July, 1784 7 +Allen, Susannah Ditto 18 April, 1787 7 +Allen, Mary Ditto 25 October, 1786 7 +Allen, Jamasin, alias Boddington Ditto 25 Oct. 1786 7 +Allen, Mary, alias Conner Ditto 10 Jan. 1787 7 +Anderson, John Exeter 20 March, 1786 7 +Anderson, Elizabeth London 10 Jan. 1787 7 +Anderson, John Ditto 26 May, 1784 7 +Anderson, Fanny Winchester 7 March, 1786 7 +Archer, John London 26 May, 1784 7 +Arscott, John Bodmin 18 August, 1783 7 +Atkinson, George London 21 April, 1784 7 +Ault, Sarah Ditto 21 Feb. 1787 7 +Ayners, John, alias Agnew Ditto 26 May, 1784 7 +Ayres John Ditto 21 April, 1784 7 +Bartlett, James Winchester 1 March, 1785 7 +Barsby, George Ditto 1 March, 1785 Life +Barnett, Henry, alias Barnard, alias Burton Warwick 21 March, 1785 7 +Bails, Robert Reading 28 Feb. 1785 Life +Barnes, Stephen York 9 July, 1785 7 +Bannister, George London 1 April, 1784 7 +Barferd, John Ditto 14 Decem. 1784 7 +Barland, George Ditto 7 July, 1784 7 +Balding, James, alias William Ditto 23 Feb. 1785 7 +Bason, Elizabeth, wife of William Bason New Sarum 24 July, 1784 7 +Bayley, James Ditto 11 March, 1786 7 +Bazley, John Exeter 12 Jan. 1785 7 +Baker, Thomas Ditto 10 Jan. 1786 7 +Barrett, Thomas Ditto 24 May, 1784 Life +Batley, Caten Ditto 24 May, 1784 7 +Barsby, Samuel Ditto 20 March, 1786 7 +Ball, John Ditto 20 March, 1786 7 +Barry, John Bristol 23 Novem. 1785 7 +Barret, Daniel +Barber, Elizabeth +Baldwin, Ruth, alias Bowyer London 20 August, 1786 7 +Baker, Martha Ditto 30 August, 1786 7 +Bell, William Ditto 21 April, 1784 7 +Benear, Samuel Ditto 26 May, 1784 7 +Bellett, Jacob Ditto 12 Jan. 1785 7 +Beardsley, Ann Derby 5 August, 1786 5 +Best, John +Beckford, Elizabeth London 10 Jan. 1787 7 +Bellamy, Thomas Worcester 9 July, 1785 7 +Bird, James Croydon 20 July, 1785 7 +Bird, Samuel Ditto 20 July, 1785 7 +Bishop, Joseph +Bingham, John, alias Baughan +Bingham, Elizabeth, alias Mooring London +Bird, Elizabeth, alias Winisred Maidstone 14 March, 1787 7 +Blackhall, William Abingdon 6 March, 1786 7 +Blunt, William London 10 Decem. 1783 7 +Blake, Francis Ditto 26 May, 1784 7 +Blatherhorn, William Exeter 24 May, 1784 Life +Bloedworth, James Kingstone 3 Oct. 1785 7 +Blanchett, Susannah Ditto 2 April, 1787 7 +Bond, Peter London 23 Feb. 1785 7 +Boyle, John London 23 Feb. 1785 7 +Boggis, William +Bond, William Exeter 18 July, 1785 7 +Bond, Mary, wife of John Bond Wells 19 August, 1786 7 +Boulton, Rebecca Lincoln 16 July, 1784 7 +Bonner, Jane London 18 April, 1787 7 +Bolton, Mary Shrewsbury 12 March, 1785 7 +Brown, James Hertford 2 March, 1785 7 +Brown, William Southwark 10 Jan. 1786 7 +Brindley, John Warwick 21 March, 1785 7 +Brown, Richard Reading 15 July, 1783 7 +Brough, William Stafford 9 March, 1789 7 +Bradley, James London 29 June, 1785 7 +Bradley, James Ditto 6 May, 1784 7 +Brown, Thomas Ditto 10 Septem. 1783 7 +Bradbury, William Ditto 10 Septem. 1783 7 +Bryant, Thomas Maidstone 15 March, 1784 7 +Bryant, William Launceston 20 March, 1784 7 +Brown, Thomas Exeter 24 May, 1784 7 +Bradford, John Ditto 9 Jan. 1786 7 +Brannegan, James Ditto 24 May, 1784 7 +Bruce, Robert Ditto 24 May, 1784 7 +Brown, William Ditto 24 May, 1784 7 +Bryant, John Ditto 14 March, 1786 7 +Brewer, William Ditto 20 March, 1786 7 +Brice, William Bristol 11 Feb. 1785 7 +Brand, Curtis +Bryant, Michael +Brand, Lucy, alias Wood London 19 July, 1786 7 +Branham, Mary Ditto 23 Feb. 1785 7 +Bruce, Elizabeth Ditto 10 Jan. 1787 7 +Burleigh, James Ditto 7 July, 1784 7 +Burn, Peter Ditto 10 Septem. 1783 7 +Burne, James Ditto 21 April, 1784 7 +Butler, William Ditto 7 July, 1784 7 +Buckley, Joseph Dorchester 16 March, 1786 7 +Burridge, Samuel Ditto 3 August, 1786 7 +Burn, Patrick +Burn, Simon +Busley, John +Bunn, Margaret London 26 April, 1786 7 +Burkitt, Mary Ditto 20 August, 1786 7 +Burdo, Sarah Ditto 25 Oct. 1786 7 +Carver, Joseph Maidstone 13 March, 1786 7 +Castle, James London 7 July, 1784 7 +Campbell, James, alias George Ditto 23 Feb. 1785 7 +Campbell, James Guildford 11 August, 1784 7 +Carney, John Exeter 22 July, 1782 7 +Carty, Francis Bodmin 14 August, 1786 7 +Carey, Ann Taunton 30 March, 1786 7 +Carter, Richard, alias Michael Cartwright Shrewsbury 13 March, 1784 7 +Cable, Henry +Carroll, Mary, wife of James Carroll London 25 Oct. 1786 7 +Cesar, John Maidstone 14 March, 1785 7 +Chields, William +Chaddick, Thomas London 7 July, 1784 7 +Church, William Dorchester 16 March, 1786 7 +Chaaf, William Exeter 20 March, 1786 7 +Chinery, Samuel Ditto 7 August, 1786 7 +Chanin, Edward Ditto 7 August, 1786 7 +Clough, Richard Durham 19 July, 1785 7 +Clements, Thomas London 7 July, 1784 7 +Clark, John, alias Hosier Ditto 6 April, 1785 7 +Clark, William Ditto 21 April, 1784 7 +Clarke, John Exeter 7 August, 1786 7 +Cleaver, Mary Bristol 4 April, 1786 7 +Clear, George +Clark, Elizabeth +Connelly, William Bristol 3 Feb. 1785 7 +Cormick, Edward Hertford 2 March, 1786 7 +Corden, James Warwick 21 March, 1785 7 +Colling, Joseph London 7 July, 1784 7 +Cole, William Ditto 7 July, 1784 7 +Cox, John Matthew Ditto 23 Feb. 1785 7 +Collier, Richard Kingstone 24 March, 1784 7 +Connolly, William Bodmin 14 August, 1786 7 +Conelly, Cornelius Exeter 7 August, 1786 7 +Colman, Ishmael Dorchester 16 March, 1786 7 +Coffin, John Exeter 9 Jan. 1786 7 +Cole, Elizabeth Ditto 20 March, 1786 7 +Cox, James Ditto 24 May, 1784 Life +Copp, James Ditto 20 March, 1786 7 +Coombes, Ann, wife of Samuel Coombes Taunton 30 March, 1786 7 +Cole, Elizabeth London 26 April, 1786 7 +Colley, Elizabeth London 23 Feb. 1785 14 +Cooke, Charlotte Ditto 10 Jan. 1787 7 +Cooper, Mary Worcester 19 July, 1785 7 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7 +Trace, John Exeter 20 March, 1786 7 +Trippett, Susannah London 20 August, 1786 7 +Turner, Ralph Manchester 14 April, 1785 7 +Tuso, Joseph London 23 Feb. 1785 Life +Turner, John +Tucker, Moses Plymouth 7 June, 1786 7 +Turner, Thomas +Turner, John +Turner, Mary Worcester 5 March, 1785 7 +Twyneham, William Reading 10 Jan. 1786 7 +Twyfield, Ann, since said to be married to William Dawley, + a convict Shrewsbury 4 August, 1784 7 +Tyrrell, William Winchester 1 March, 1785 7 +Vandell, Edward East Grinstead 22 March, 1784 7 +Vincent, Henry London 21 April, 1784 7 +Vickery, William Exeter 20 March, 1786 7 +Underwood, James New Sarum 11 March, 1786 14 +Usher, John Maidstone 14 March, 1785 7 +Waterhouse, William Kingston 28 March, 1785 7 +Watsan, John Maidstone 13 March, 1786 7 +Ward, John Lowth 11 July, 1786 7 +Wall, William Oxford 8 March, 1786 7 +Wager, Benjamin London 20 Oct. 1784 7 +Walsh, William Ditto 15 Septem. 1784 7 +Walker, John Ditto 20 Oct. 1784 7 +Walbourne, James Ditto 10 Septem. 1783 7 +Watson, Thomas Exeter 20 March, 1786 7 +Ware, Charlottee +Watkins, Mary +Wainwright, Ellen, alias Estther Eccles Preston Jan. 1787 7 +Ward, Ann London 19 Decem. 1786 7 +Wade, Mary, alias Cacklane Ditto 19 July, 1786 14 +Welch, James Maidstone 14 March, 1785 7 +Welch, John Durham 19 July, 1785 7 +West, Benjamin London 10 Decem. 1784 7 +Westwood, John Ditto 20 October, 1784 7 +Welch, John Ditto 26 May, 1784 7 +Welch, John Ditto 10 Septem. 1783 Life +Westlale, Edward Exeter 20 March, 1786 7 +Waddicomb, Richard Ditto 20 March, 1786 7 +Wheeler, Samuel Croydon 20 July, 1785 7 +Whitaker, George Maidstone 14 March, 1785 7 +Whiting, William Gloucester 23 March, 1785 7 +Whitton, Edward Maidstone 10 March, 1783 Life +White, James Ditto 11 August, 1783 7 +Wilcocks, Samuel Dorcester 10 March, 1784 7 +Wilton, William Bristol 12 Jan. 1784 7 +Wilson, Peter Manchester 20 Jan. 1785 7 +Wilson, John Wigan 10 Oct. 1785 7 +Williams, Charles London 7 July, 1784 7 +Williams, James Ditto 11 May, 1785 7 +Wilson, Charles Ditto 10 Septem. 1783 Life +Williams, John, alias Black Jack Maidstone 2 August, 1784 7 +Williams, Robert Launceston 25 March, 1786 7 +Williams, John, alias Floyd Bodmin 18 August, 1783 7 +Wilding, John, alias Warren Bury 23 March, 1784 7 +Wickham, Mary New Sarum 2 August, 1788 14 +Williams, Peter, alias Flaggett, alias Creamer Exeter 24 May, 1784 7 +Wilcocks, Richard Ditto 20 March, 1786 7 +Williams, John Ditto 7 August, 1786 7 +Wisehammer, John Bristol 10 Feb. 1785 7 +Williams, Daniel Preston 23 March, 1785 7 +Williams, Frances Mold 2 Septem. 1783 7 +Williams, Mary London 22 Feb. 1786 7 +Wood, George Ditto 20 Oct. 1784 7 +Woodcock, Peter Ditto 7 July, 1784 7 +Woodham, Samuel Ditto 23 Feb. 1785 Life +Worsdell, William Launceston 22 March, 1783 7 +Woolcot, John Exeter 18 July, 1785 Life +Woodcock, Francis Shrewsbury 13 March, 1784 7 +Wood, Mark +Wright, Thomas Reading 28 Feb. 1785 7 +Wright, Benjamin London 6 May, 1784 7 +Wright, Joseph Ditto 26 May, 1784 7 +Wright, William Ditto 15 Sept. 1783 7 +Wright, James Maidstone 11 August, 1783 7 +Wright, Ann London 23 Feb. 1785 7 +Yardsley, Thomas, Shrewsbury 4 August, 1784 7 +Yates, Nancy York 9 July, 1785 7 +Young, John London 20 Oct. 1784 7 +Young, Simon Ditto 23 Feb. 1785 7 +Youngson, Elizabeth Lancaster 6 March, 1787 7 +Youngson, George Ditto 6 March, 1787 7 + +The End + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Voyage Of Governor Phillip To +Botany Bay, by Arthur Phillip + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VOYAGE TO BOTANY BAY *** + +***** This file should be named 15100.txt or 15100.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/1/0/15100/ + +Produced by Col Choat + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and 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