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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/3534-h.zip b/3534-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..94f38be --- /dev/null +++ b/3534-h.zip diff --git a/3534-h/3534-h.htm b/3534-h/3534-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0e4370d --- /dev/null +++ b/3534-h/3534-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7757 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port +Jackson</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +BODY { + BACKGROUND: #ffffcc; MARGIN: 10%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify +} +H1 { + COLOR: green; TEXT-ALIGN: center +} +H2 { + COLOR: green; TEXT-ALIGN: center +} +H3 { + COLOR: green; TEXT-ALIGN: center +} +H4 { + COLOR: black; TEXT-ALIGN: center +} +DL,OL,UL { text-align: left; line-height: 170%; } +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Complete Account of the Settlement at +Port Jackson, by Watkin Tench + +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: A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson + +Author: Watkin Tench + +Release Date: May 8, 2006 [EBook #3534] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SETTLEMENT AT PORT JACKSON *** + + + + +Produced by Col Choat and Stuart Kidd + + + + + +</pre> + +<h1>A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson</h1> + +<h4>by</h4> + +<h2>Watkin Tench</h2> + +<hr> +<h3>Table of Contents</h3> + +<h4><a href="#pref">PREFACE</a></h4> + +<h4><a href="#1">A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port +Jackson</a></h4> + +<ol> +<li><a href="#1">A Retrospect of the State of the Colony of Port +Jackson, on the Date of my former Narrative, in July, +1788.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#2">Transactions of the Colony from the sailing of +the First Fleet in July, 1788, to the Close of that +Year.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#3">Transactions of the Colony, from the +Commencement of the Year 1789, until the End of March.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#4">Transactions of the Colony in April and May, +1789.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#5">Transactions of the Colony until the Close of +the Year 1789.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#6">Transactions of the Colony, from the Beginning +of the Year 1790 until the End of May following.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#7">Transactions of the Colony in June, July, and +August, 1790.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#8">Transactions of the Colony in the Beginning of +September, 1790.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#9">Transactions of the Colony in part of September +and October, 1790.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#10">The arrival of the ‘Supply’ from +Batavia; the State of the Colony in November, 1790.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#11">Farther Transactions of the Colony in November, +1790.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#12">Transactions of the Colony in Part of December, +1790.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#13">The Transactions of the Colony continued to the +End of May, 1791.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#14">Travelling Diaries in New South Wales.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#15">Transactions of the Colony to the end of +November, 1791.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#16">Transactions of the colony until 18th of +December 1791, when I quitted it, with an Account of its state at +that time.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#17">Miscellaneous Remarks on the country. On its +vegetable productions. On its climate. On its animal productions. +On its natives, etc.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#18">Observations on the Convicts.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#19">Facts relating to the probability of +establishing a whale fishery on the coast of New South Wales, +with Thoughts on the same.</a></li> +</ol> + +<a name="pref"></a> +<hr> +<h3>PREFACE</h3> + +<p>When it is recollected how much has been written to describe +the Settlement of New South Wales, it seems necessary if not to +offer an apology, yet to assign a reason, for an additional +publication.</p> + +<p>The Author embarked in the fleet which sailed to found the +establishment at Botany Bay. He shortly after published a +Narrative of the Proceedings and State of the Colony, brought up +to the beginning of July, 1788, which was well received, and +passed through three editions. This could not but inspire both +confidence and gratitude; but gratitude, would be badly +manifested were he on the presumption of former favour to lay +claim to present indulgence. He resumes the subject in the humble +hope of communicating information, and increasing knowledge, of +the country, which he describes.</p> + +<p>He resided at Port Jackson nearly four years: from the 20th of +January, 1788, until the 18th of December, 1791. To an active and +contemplative mind, a new country is an inexhaustible source of +curiosity and speculation. It was the author's custom not only to +note daily occurrences, and to inspect and record the progression +of improvement; but also, when not prevented by military duties, +to penetrate the surrounding country in different directions, in +order to examine its nature, and ascertain its relative +geographical situations.</p> + +<p>The greatest part of the work is inevitably composed of those +materials which a journal supplies; but wherever reflections +could be introduced without fastidiousness and parade, he has not +scrupled to indulge them, in common with every other deviation +which the strictness of narrative would allow.</p> + +<p>When this publication was nearly ready for the press; and when +many of the opinions which it records had been declared, fresh +accounts from Port Jackson were received. To the state of a +country, where so many anxious trying hours of his life have +passed, the author cannot feel indifferent. If by any sudden +revolution of the laws of nature; or by any fortunate discovery +of those on the spot, it has really become that fertile and +prosperous land, which some represent it to be, he begs +permission to add his voice to the general congratulation. He +rejoices at its success: but it is only justice to himself and +those with whom he acted to declare, that they feel no cause of +reproach that so complete and happy an alteration did not take +place at an earlier period.</p> + +<a name="1"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<h4>A Retrospect of the State of the Colony of Port Jackson, on +the Date of my former Narrative, in July, 1788.</h4> + +<p>Previous to commencing any farther account of the subject, +which I am about to treat, such a retrospection of the +circumstances and situation of the settlement, at the conclusion +of my former Narrative, as shall lay its state before the reader, +seems necessary, in order to connect the present with the +past.</p> + +<p>The departure of the first fleet of ships for Europe, on the +14th of July, 1788, had been long impatiently expected; and had +filled us with anxiety, to communicate to our friends an account +of our situation; describing the progress of improvement, and the +probability of success, or failure, in our enterprise. That men +should judge very oppositely on so doubtful and precarious an +event, will hardly surprise.</p> + +<p>Such relations could contain little besides the sanguineness +of hope, and the enumeration of hardships and difficulties, which +former accounts had not led us to expect. Since our +disembarkation in the preceding January, the efforts of every one +had been unremittingly exerted, to deposit the public stores in a +state of shelter and security, and to erect habitations for +ourselves. We were eager to escape from tents, where a fold of +canvas, only, interposed to check the vertic beams of the sun in +summer, and the chilling blasts of the south in winter. A markee +pitched, in our finest season, on an English lawn; or a transient +view of those gay camps, near the metropolis, which so many +remember, naturally draws forth careless and unmeaning +exclamations of rapture, which attach ideas of pleasure only, to +this part of a soldier's life. But an encampment amidst the rocks +and wilds of a new country, aggravated by the miseries of bad +diet, and incessant toil, will find few admirers.</p> + +<p>Nor were our exertions less unsuccessful than they were +laborious. Under wretched covers of thatch lay our provisions and +stores, exposed to destruction from every flash of lightning, and +every spark of fire. A few of the convicts had got into huts; but +almost all the officers, and the whole of the soldiery, were +still in tents.</p> + +<p>In such a situation, where knowledge of the mechanic arts +afforded the surest recommendation to notice, it may be easily +conceived, that attention to the parade duty of the troops, +gradually diminished. Now were to be seen officers and soldiers +not "trailing the puissant pike" but felling the ponderous +gum-tree, or breaking the stubborn clod. And though "the broad +falchion did not in a ploughshare end" the possession of a spade, +a wheelbarrow, or a dunghill, was more coveted than the most +refulgent arms in which heroism ever dazzled. Those hours, which +in other countries are devoted to martial acquirements, were here +consumed in the labours of the sawpit, the forge and the +quarry*.</p> + +<p class="note">[* "The Swedish prisoners, taken at the battle of +Pultowa, were transported by the Czar Peter to the most remote +parts of Siberia, with a view to civilize the natives of the +country, and teach them the arts the Swedes possessed. In this +hopeless situation, all traces of discipline and subordination, +between the different ranks, were quickly obliterated. The +soldiers, who were husbandmen and artificers, found out their +superiority, and assumed it: the officers became their servants." +VOLTAIRE.]</p> + +<p>Of the two ships of war, the 'Sirius' and 'Supply', the latter +was incessantly employed in transporting troops, convicts, and +stores, to Norfolk Island; and the 'Sirius' in preparing for a +voyage to some port, where provisions for our use might be +purchased, the expected supply from England not having arrived. +It is but justice to the officers and men of both these ships to +add, that, on all occasions, they fully shared every hardship and +fatigue with those on shore.</p> + +<p>On the convicts the burden fell yet heavier: necessity +compelled us to allot to them the most slavish and laborious +employments. Those operations, which in other countries are +performed by the brute creation, were here effected by the +exertions of men: but this ought not to be considered a +grievance; because they had always been taught to expect it, as +the inevitable consequence of their offences against society. +Severity was rarely exercised on them; and justice was +administered without partiality or discrimination. Their ration +of provisions, except in being debarred from an allowance of +spirits, was equal to that which the marines received. Under +these circumstances I record with pleasure, that they behaved +better than had been predicted of them--to have expected sudden +and complete reformation of conduct, were romantic and +chimerical.</p> + +<p>Our cultivation of the land was yet in its infancy. We had +hitherto tried only the country contiguous to Sydney. Here the +governor had established a government-farm; at the head of which +a competent person of his own household was placed, with convicts +to work under him. Almost the whole of the officers likewise +accepted of small tracts of ground, for the purpose of raising +grain and vegetables: but experience proved to us, that the soil +would produce neither without manure; and as this was not to be +procured, our vigour soon slackened; and most of the farms (among +which was the one belonging to government) were successively +abandoned.</p> + +<p>With the natives we were very little more acquainted than on +our arrival in the country. Our intercourse with them was neither +frequent or cordial. They seemed studiously to avoid us, either +from fear, jealousy, or hatred. When they met with unarmed +stragglers, they sometimes killed, and sometimes wounded them. I +confess that, in common with many others, I was inclined to +attribute this conduct, to a spirit of malignant levity. But a +farther acquaintance with them, founded on several instances of +their humanity and generosity, which shall be noticed in their +proper places, has entirely reversed my opinion; and led me to +conclude, that the unprovoked outrages committed upon them, by +unprincipled individuals among us, caused the evils we had +experienced. To prevent them from being plundered of their +fishing-tackle and weapons of war, a proclamation was issued, +forbidding their sale among us; but it was not attended with the +good effect which was hoped for from it.</p> + +<p>During this period, notwithstanding the want of fresh +provisions and vegetables, and almost constant exposure to the +vicissitudes of a variable climate, disease rarely attacked us; +and the number of deaths, was too inconsiderable to deserve +mention.</p> + +<p>Norfolk Island had been taken possession of, by a party +detached for that purpose, early after our arrival. Few accounts +of it had yet reached us. And here I beg leave to observe, that +as I can speak of this island only from the relations of others, +never having myself been there, I shall in every part of this +work mention it as sparingly as possible. And this more +especially, as it seems probable, that some of those gentlemen, +who from accurate knowledge, and long residence on it, are +qualified to write its history, will oblige the world with such a +publication.</p> + +<a name="2"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> + +<h4>Transactions of the Colony from the sailing of the First +Fleet in July, 1788, to the Close of that Year.</h4> + +<p>It was impossible to behold without emotion the departure of +the ships. On their speedy arrival in England perhaps hinged our +fate; by hastening our supplies to us.</p> + +<p>On the 20th of July, the 'Supply' sailed for Norfolk Island, +and returned to us on the 26th of August; bringing no material +news, except that the soil was found to suit grain, and other +seeds, which had been sown in it, and that a species of +flax-plant was discovered to grow spontaneously on the +island.</p> + +<p>A survey of the harbour of Port Jackson was now undertaken, in +order to compute the number of canoes, and inhabitants, which it +might contain: sixty-seven canoes, and 147 people were counted. +No estimate, however, of even tolerable accuracy, can be drawn +from so imperfect a datum; though it was perhaps the best in our +power to acquire.</p> + +<p>In July and August, we experienced more inclement tempestuous +weather than had been observed at any former period of equal +duration. And yet it deserves to be remarked, in honour of the +climate, that, although our number of people exceeded 900, not a +single death happened in the latter month.</p> + +<p>The dread of want in a country destitute of natural resource +is ever peculiarly terrible. We had long turned our eyes with +impatience towards the sea, cheered by the hope of seeing +supplies from England approach. But none arriving, on the 2d of +October the 'Sirius' sailed for the Cape of Good Hope, with +directions to purchase provisions there, for the use of our +garrison.</p> + +<p>A new settlement, named by the governor Rose Hill, 16 miles +inland, was established on the 3d of November, the soil here +being judged better than that around Sydney. A small redoubt was +thrown up, and a captain's detachment posted in it, to protect +the convicts who were employed to cultivate the ground.</p> + +<p>The two last of the transports left us for England on the 19th +of November, intending to make their passage by Cape Horn. There +now remained with us only the 'Supply'. Sequestered and cut off +as we were from the rest of civilized nature, their absence +carried the effect of desolation. About this time a convict, of +the name of Daly, was hanged, for a burglary: this culprit, who +was a notorious thief and impostor, was the author of a discovery +of a gold mine, a few months before: a composition resembling ore +mingled with earth, which he pretended to have brought from it, +he produced. After a number of attendant circumstances, too +ludicrous and contemptible to relate, which befell a party, who +were sent under his guidance to explore this second Peru, he at +last confessed, that he had broken up an old pair of buckles, and +mixed the pieces with sand and stone; and on assaying the +composition, the brass was detected. The fate of this fellow I +should not deem worth recording, did it not lead to the following +observation, that the utmost circumspection is necessary to +prevent imposition, in those who give accounts of what they see +in unknown countries. We found the convicts particularly happy in +fertility of invention, and exaggerated descriptions. Hence large +fresh water rivers, valuable ores, and quarries of limestone, +chalk, and marble, were daily proclaimed soon after we had +landed. At first we hearkened with avidity to such accounts; but +perpetual disappointments taught us to listen with caution, and +to believe from demonstration only.</p> + +<p>Unabated animosity continued to prevail between the natives +and us: in addition to former losses, a soldier and several +convicts suddenly disappeared, and were never afterwards heard +of. Three convicts were also wounded, and one killed by them, +near Botany Bay: similar to the vindictive spirit which Mr. Cook +found to exist among their countrymen at Endeavour River, they +more than once attempted to set fire to combustible matter, in +order to annoy us. Early on the morning of the 18th of December, +word was brought that they were assembled in force, near the +brick-kilns, which stand but a mile from the town of Sydney. The +terror of those who brought the first intelligence magnified the +number to two thousand; a second messenger diminished it to four +hundred. A detachment, under the command of an officer was +ordered to march immediately, and reconnoitre them. The officer +soon returned, and reported, that about fifty Indians had +appeared at the brick-kilns; but upon the convicts, who were at +work there, pointing their spades and shovels at them, in the +manner of guns, they had fled into the woods.</p> + +<p>Tired of this state of petty warfare and endless uncertainty, +the governor at length determined to adopt a decisive measure, by +capturing some of them, and retaining them by force; which we +supposed would either inflame the rest to signal vengeance, in +which case we should know the worst, and provide accordingly: or +else it would induce an intercourse, by the report which our +prisoners would make of the mildness and indulgence with which we +used them. And farther, it promised to unveil the cause of their +mysterious conduct, by putting us in possession of their reasons +for harassing and destroying our people, in the manner I have +related. Boats were accordingly ordered to be got ready, and +every preparation made, which could lead to the attainment of our +object.</p> + +<p>But as this subject deserves to be particularly detailed, I +shall, notwithstanding its being just within the period of time +which this chapter professes to comprise, allot it a separate +place, in the beginning of the next.</p> + +<p>Nor can I close this part of my work without congratulating +both the reader and the author. New matter now presents itself. A +considerable part of the foregoing chapters had been related +before, either by others or myself. I was however, unavoidably +compelled to insert it, in order to preserve unbroken that chain +of detail, and perspicuity of arrangement, at which books +professing to convey information should especially aim.</p> + +<a name="3"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> + +<h4>Transactions of the Colony, from the Commencement of the Year +1789, until the End of March.</h4> + +<p>Pursuant to his resolution, the governor on the 31st of +December sent two boats, under the command of Lieutenant Ball of +the 'Supply', and Lieutenant George Johnston of the marines, down +the harbour, with directions to those officers to seize and carry +off some of the natives. The boats proceeded to Manly Cove, where +several Indians were seen standing on the beach, who were enticed +by courteous behaviour and a few presents to enter into +conversation. A proper opportunity being presented, our people +rushed in among them, and seized two men: the rest fled; but the +cries of the captives soon brought them back, with many others, +to their rescue: and so desperate were their struggles, that, in +spite of every effort on our side, only one of them was secured; +the other effected his escape. The boats put off without delay; +and an attack from the shore instantly commenced: they threw +spears, stones, firebrands, and whatever else presented itself, +at the boats; nor did they retreat, agreeable to their former +custom, until many musquets were fired over them.</p> + +<p>The prisoner was now fastened by ropes to the thwarts of the +boat; and when he saw himself irretrievably disparted from his +countrymen, set up the most piercing and lamentable cries of +distress. His grief, however, soon diminished: he accepted and +ate of some broiled fish which was given to him, and sullenly +submitted to his destiny.</p> + +<p>When the news of his arrival at Sydney was announced, I went +with every other person to see him: he appeared to be about +thirty years old, not tall, but robustly made; and of a +countenance which, under happier circumstances, I thought would +display manliness and sensibility; his agitation was excessive, +and the clamourous crowds who flocked around him did not +contribute to lessen it. Curiosity and observation seemed, +nevertheless, not to have wholly deserted him; he shewed the +effect of novelty upon ignorance; he wondered at all he saw: +though broken and interrupted with dismay, his voice was soft and +musical, when its natural tone could be heard; and he readily +pronounced with tolerable accuracy the names of things which were +taught him. To our ladies he quickly became extraordinarily +courteous, a sure sign that his terror was wearing off.</p> + +<p>Every blandishment was used to soothe him, and it had its +effect. As he was entering the governor's house, some one touched +a small bell which hung over the door: he started with horror and +astonishment; but in a moment after was reconciled to the noise, +and laughed at the cause of his perturbation. When pictures were +shown to him, he knew directly those which represented the human +figure: among others, a very large handsome print of her royal +highness the Dutchess of Cumberland being produced, he called out +'woman', a name by which we had just before taught him to call +the female convicts. Plates of birds and beasts were also laid +before him; and many people were led to believe, that such as he +spoke about and pointed to were known to him. But this must have +been an erroneous conjecture, for the elephant, rhinoceros, and +several others, which we must have discovered did they exist in +the country, were of the number. Again, on the other hand, those +he did not point out, were equally unknown to him.</p> + +<p>His curiosity here being satiated, we took him to a large +brick house, which was building for the governor's residence: +being about to enter, he cast up his eyes, and seeing some people +leaning out of a window on the first story, he exclaimed aloud, +and testified the most extravagant surprise. Nothing here was +observed to fix his attention so strongly as some tame fowls, who +were feeding near him: our dogs also he particularly noticed; but +seemed more fearful than fond of them.</p> + +<p>He dined at a side-table at the governor's; and ate heartily +of fish and ducks, which he first cooled. Bread and salt meat he +smelled at, but would not taste: all our liquors he treated in +the same manner, and could drink nothing but water. On being +shown that he was not to wipe his hands on the chair which he sat +upon, he used a towel which was gave to him, with great +cleanliness and decency.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon his hair was closely cut, his head combed, +and his beard shaved; but he would not submit to these operations +until he had seen them performed on another person, when he +readily acquiesced. His hair, as might be supposed, was filled +with vermin, whose destruction seemed to afford him great +triumph; nay, either revenge, or pleasure, prompted him to eat +them! but on our expressing disgust and abhorrence he left it +off.</p> + +<p>To this succeeded his immersion in a tub of water and soap, +where he was completely washed and scrubbed from head to foot; +after which a shirt, a jacket, and a pair of trousers, were put +upon him. Some part of this ablution I had the honour to perform, +in order that I might ascertain the real colour of the skin of +these people. My observation then was (and it has since been +confirmed in a thousand other instances) that they are as black +as the lighter cast of the African negroes.</p> + +<p>Many unsuccessful attempts were made to learn his name; the +governor therefore called him Manly, from the cove in which he +was captured: this cove had received its name from the manly +undaunted behaviour of a party of natives seen there, on our +taking possession of the country.</p> + +<p>To prevent his escape, a handcuff with a rope attached to it, +was fastened around his left wrist, which at first highly +delighted him; he called it 'bengadee' (or ornament), but his +delight changed to rage and hatred when he discovered its use. +His supper he cooked himself: some fish were given to him for +this purpose, which, without any previous preparation whatever, +he threw carelessly on the fire, and when they became warm took +them up, and first rubbed off the scales, peeled the outside with +his teeth, and ate it; afterwards he gutted them, and laying them +again on the fire, completed the dressing, and ate them.</p> + +<p>A convict was selected to sleep with him, and to attend him +wherever he might go. When he went with his keeper into his +apartment he appeared very restless and uneasy while a light was +kept in; but on its extinction, he immediately lay down and +composed himself.</p> + +<p>Sullenness and dejection strongly marked his countenance on +the following morning; to amuse him, he was taken around the +camp, and to the observatory: casting his eyes to the opposite +shore from the point where he stood, and seeing the smoke of fire +lighted by his countrymen, he looked earnestly at it, and sighing +deeply two or three times, uttered the word 'gweeun' (fire).</p> + +<p>His loss of spirits had not, however, the effect of impairing +his appetite; eight fish, each weighing about a pound, +constituted his breakfast, which he dressed as before. When he +had finished his repast, he turned his back to the fire in a +musing posture, and crept so close to it, that his shirt was +caught by the flame; luckily his keeper soon extinguished it; but +he was so terrified at the accident, that he was with difficulty +persuaded to put on a second.</p> + +<p>1st. January, 1789. To-day being new-year's-day, most of the +officers were invited to the governor's table: Manly dined +heartily on fish and roasted pork; he was seated on a chest near +a window, out of which, when he had done eating, he would have +thrown his plate, had he not been prevented: during dinner-time a +band of music played in an adjoining apartment; and after the +cloth was removed, one of the company sang in a very soft and +superior style; but the powers of melody were lost on Manly, +which disappointed our expectations, as he had before shown +pleasure and readiness in imitating our tunes. Stretched out on +his chest, and putting his hat under his head, he fell +asleep.</p> + +<p>To convince his countrymen that he had received no injury from +us, the governor took him in a boat down the harbour, that they +might see and converse with him: when the boat arrived, and lay +at a little distance from the beach, several Indians who had +retired at her approach, on seeing Manly, returned: he was +greatly affected, and shed tears. At length they began to +converse. Our ignorance of the language prevented us from knowing +much of what passed; it was, however, easily understood that his +friends asked him why he did not jump overboard, and rejoin them. +He only sighed, and pointed to the fetter on his leg, by which he +was bound.</p> + +<p>In going down the harbour he had described the names by which +they distinguish its numerous creeks and headlands: he was now +often heard to repeat that of 'Weerong' (Sydney Cove), which was +doubtless to inform his countrymen of the place of his captivity; +and perhaps invite them to rescue him. By this time his gloom was +chased away, and he parted from his friends without testifying +reluctance. His vivacity and good humour continued all the +evening, and produced so good an effect on his appetite, that he +ate for supper two kangaroo rats, each of the size of a moderate +rabbit, and in addition not less than three pounds of fish.</p> + +<p>Two days after he was taken on a similar excursion; but to our +surprise the natives kept aloof, and would neither approach the +shore, or discourse with their countryman: we could get no +explanation of this difficulty, which seemed to affect us more +than it did him. Uncourteous as they were, he performed to them +an act of attentive benevolence; seeing a basket made of bark, +used by them to carry water, he conveyed into it two hawks and +another bird, which the people in the boat had shot, and +carefully covering them over, left them as a present to his old +friends. But indeed the gentleness and humanity of his +disposition frequently displayed themselves: when our children, +stimulated by wanton curiosity, used to flock around him, he +never failed to fondle them, and, if he were eating at the time, +constantly offered them the choicest part of his fare.</p> + +<p>February, 1789. His reserve, from want of confidence in us, +continued gradually to wear away: he told us his name, and Manly +gave place to Arabanoo. Bread he began to relish; and tea he +drank with avidity: strong liquors he would never taste, turning +from them with disgust and abhorrence. Our dogs and cats had +ceased to be objects of fear, and were become his greatest pets, +and constant companions at table. One of our chief amusements, +after the cloth was removed, was to make him repeat the names of +things in his language, which he never hesitated to do with the +utmost alacrity, correcting our pronunciation when erroneous. +Much information relating to the customs and manners of his +country was also gained from him: but as this subject will be +separately and amply treated, I shall not anticipate myself by +partially touching on it here.</p> + +<p>On the 2nd of February died Captain John Shea of the marines, +after a lingering illness: he was interred on the following day, +with the customary military honours, amidst the regret of all who +knew him. In consequence of his decease, appointments for the +promotion of the oldest officer of each subordinate rank were +signed by the major commandant of the marine battalion, until the +pleasure of the lords of the admiralty should be notified.*</p> + +<p class="note">[*These appointments were confirmed by the +admiralty.]</p> + +<p>On the 17th of February the 'Supply' again sailed for Norfolk +Island. The governor went down the harbour in her, and carried +Arabanoo with him, who was observed to go on board with distrust +and reluctance; when he found she was under sail, every effort +was tried without success to exhilarate him; at length, an +opportunity being presented, he plunged overboard, and struck out +for the nearest shore: believing that those who were left behind +would fire at him, he attempted to dive, at which he was known to +be very expert: but this was attended with a difficulty which he +had not foreseen: his clothes proved so buoyant, that he was +unable to get more than his head under water: a boat was +immediately dispatched after him, and picked him up, though not +without struggles and resistance on his side. When brought on +board, he appeared neither afraid or ashamed of what he had done, +but sat apart, melancholy and dispirited, and continued so until +he saw the governor and his other friends descend into a boat, +and heard himself called upon to accompany them: he sprang +forward, and his cheerfulness and alacrity of temper immediately +returned, and lasted during the remainder of the day. The dread +of being carried away, on an element of whose boundary he could +form no conception, joined to the uncertainty of our intention +towards him, unquestionably caused him to act as he did.</p> + +<p>One of the principal effects which we had supposed the seizure +and captivity of Arabanoo would produce, seemed yet at as great a +distance as ever; the natives neither manifested signs of +increased hostility on his account, or attempted to ask any +explanation of our conduct through the medium of their countryman +who was in our possession, and who they knew was treated with no +farther harshness than in being detained among us. Their +forbearance of open and determined attack upon can be accounted +for only by recollecting their knowledge of our numbers, and +their dread of our fire-arms: that they wanted not sufficient +provocation to do so, will appear from what I am about to +relate.</p> + +<p>March, 1789. Sixteen convicts left their work at the +brick-kilns without leave, and marched to Botany Bay, with a +design to attack the natives, and to plunder them of their +fishing-tackle and spears: they had armed themselves with their +working tools and large clubs. When they arrived near the bay, a +body of Indians, who had probably seen them set out, and had +penetrated their intention from experience, suddenly fell upon +them. Our heroes were immediately routed, and separately +endeavoured to effect their escape by any means which were left. +In their flight one was killed, and seven were wounded, for the +most part very severely: those who had the good fortune to +outstrip their comrades and arrive in camp, first gave the alarm; +and a detachment of marines, under an officer, was ordered to +march to their relief. The officer arrived too late to repel the +Indians; but he brought in the body of the man that was killed, +and put an end to the pursuit. The governor was justly incensed +at what had happened, and instituted the most rigorous scrutiny +into the cause which had produced it. At first the convicts were +unanimous in affirming, that they were quietly picking +sweet-tea*, when they were without provocation assaulted by the +natives, with whom they had no wish to quarrel. Some of them, +however, more irresolute than the rest, at last disclosed the +purpose for which the expedition had been undertaken; and the +whole were ordered to be severely flogged: Arabanoo was present +at the infliction of the punishment; and was made to comprehend +the cause and the necessity of it; but he displayed on the +occasion symptoms of disgust and terror only.</p> + +<p class="note">[*A vegetable creeper found growing on the rocks, +which yields, on infusion in hot water, a sweet astringent taste, +whence it derives its name: to its virtues the healthy state of +the soldiery and convicts must be greatly attributed. It was +drank universally.]</p> + +<p>On the 24th instant the 'Supply' arrived from Norfolk Island, +and Lord Flowe Island, bringing from the latter place three +turtles.</p> + +<p>An awful and terrible example of justice took place towards +the close of this month, which I record with regret, but which it +would be disingenuous to suppress. Six marines, the flower of our +battalion, were hanged by the public executioner, on the sentence +of a criminal court, composed entirely of their own officers, for +having at various times robbed the public stores of flour, meat, +spirits, tobacco, and many other articles.</p> + +<a name="4"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER IV.</h3> + +<h4>Transactions of the Colony in April and May, 1789.</h4> + +<p>An extraordinary calamity was now observed among the natives. +Repeated accounts brought by our boats of finding bodies of the +Indians in all the coves and inlets of the harbour, caused the +gentlemen of our hospital to procure some of them for the +purposes of examination and anatomy. On inspection, it appeared +that all the parties had died a natural death: pustules, similar +to those occasioned by the small pox, were thickly spread on the +bodies; but how a disease, to which our former observations had +led us to suppose them strangers, could at once have introduced +itself, and have spread so widely, seemed inexplicable.* Whatever +might be the cause, the existence of the malady could no longer +be doubted. Intelligence was brought that an Indian family lay +sick in a neighbouring cove: the governor, attended by Arabanoo, +and a surgeon, went in a boat immediately to the spot. Here they +found an old man stretched before a few lighted sticks, and a boy +of nine or ten years old pouring water on his head, from a shell +which he held in his hand: near them lay a female child dead, and +a little farther off, its unfortunate mother: the body of the +woman shewed that famine, superadded to disease, had occasioned +her death: eruptions covered the poor boy from head to foot; and +the old man was so reduced, that he was with difficulty got into +the boat. Their situation rendered them incapable of escape, and +they quietly submitted to be led away. Arabanoo, contrary to his +usual character, seemed at first unwilling to render them any +assistance; but his shyness soon wore off, and he treated them +with the kindest attention. Nor would he leave the place until he +had buried the corpse of the child: that of the woman he did not +see from its situation; and as his countrymen did not point it +out, the governor ordered that it should not be shown to him. He +scooped a grave in the sand with his hands, of no peculiarity of +shape, which he lined completely with grass, and put the body +into it, covering it also with grass; and then he filled up the +hole, and raised over it a small mound with the earth which had +been removed. Here the ceremony ended, unaccompanied by any +invocation to a superior being, or any attendant circumstance +whence an inference of their religious opinions could be +deduced.</p> + +<p class="note">[*No solution of this difficulty had been given +when I left the country, in December, 1791. I can, therefore, +only propose queries for the ingenuity of others to exercise +itself upon: is it a disease indigenous to the country? Did the +French ships under Monsieur de Peyrouse introduce it? Let it be +remembered that they had now been departed more than a year; and +we had never heard of its existence on board of them. Had it +travelled across the continent from its western shore, where +Dampier and other European voyagers had formerly landed? Was it +introduced by Mr. Cook? Did we give it birth here? No person +among us had been afflicted with the disorder since we had +quitted the Cape of Good Hope, seventeen months before. It is +true, that our surgeons had brought out variolous matter in +bottles; but to infer that it was produced from this cause were a +supposition so wild as to be unworthy of consideration.]</p> + +<p>An uninhabited house, near the hospital, was allotted for +their reception, and a cradle prepared for each of them. By the +encouragement of Arabanoo, who assured them of protection, and +the soothing behaviour of our medical gentlemen, they became at +once reconciled to us, and looked happy and grateful at the +change of their situation. Sickness and hunger had, however, so +much exhausted the old man, that little hope was entertained of +his recovery. As he pointed frequently to his throat, at the +instance of Arabanoo, he tried to wash it with a gargle which was +given to him; but the obstructed, tender state of the part +rendered it impracticable. 'Bado, bado' (water), was his cry: +when brought to him, he drank largely at intervals of it. He was +equally importunate for fire, being seized with shivering fits; +and one was kindled. Fish were produced, to tempt him to eat; but +he turned away his head, with signs of loathing. Nanbaree (the +boy), on the contrary, no sooner saw them than he leaped from his +cradle, and eagerly seizing them, began to cook them. A warm bath +being prepared, they were immersed in it; and after being +thoroughly cleansed, they had clean shirts put on them, and were +again laid in bed.</p> + +<p>The old man lived but a few hours. He bore the pangs of +dissolution with patient composure; and though he was sensible to +the last moment, expired almost without a groan. Nanbaree +appeared quite unmoved at the event; and surveyed the corpse of +his father without emotion, simply exclaiming, 'boee' (dead). +This surprised us; as the tenderness and anxiety of the old man +about the boy had been very moving. Although barely able to raise +his head, while so much strength was left to him, he kept looking +into his child's cradle; he patted him gently on the bosom; and, +with dying eyes, seemed to recommend him to our humanity and +protection. Nanbaree was adopted by Mr. White, surgeon-general of +the settlement, and became henceforth one of his family.</p> + +<p>Arabanoo had no sooner heard of the death of his countryman, +than he hastened to inter him. I was present at the ceremony, in +company with the governor, captain Ball, and two or three other +persons. It differed, by the accounts of those who were present +at the funeral of the girl, in no respect from what had passed +there in the morning, except that the grave was dug by a convict. +But I was informed, that when intelligence of the death reached +Arabanoo, he expressed himself with doubt whether he should bury, +or burn the body; and seemed solicitous to ascertain which +ceremony would be most gratifying to the governor.</p> + +<p>Indeed, Arabanoo's behaviour, during the whole of the +transactions of this day, was so strongly marked by affection to +his countryman, and by confidence in us, that the governor +resolved to free him from all farther restraint, and at once to +trust to his generosity, and the impression which our treatment +of him might have made, for his future residence among us: the +fetter was accordingly taken off his leg.</p> + +<p>In the evening, captain Ball and I crossed the harbour, and +buried the corpse of the woman before mentioned.</p> + +<p>Distress continued to drive them in upon us. Two more natives, +one of them a young man, and the other his sister, a girl of +fourteen years old, were brought in by the governor's boat, in a +most deplorable state of wretchedness from the smallpox. The +sympathy and affection of Arabanoo, which had appeared languid in +the instance of Nanbaree and his father, here manifested +themselves immediately. We conjectured that a difference of the +tribes to which they belonged might cause the preference; but +nothing afterwards happened to strengthen or confirm such a +supposition. The young man died at the end of three days: the +girl recovered, and was received as an inmate, with great +kindness, in the family of Mrs Johnson, the clergyman's wife. Her +name was Booron; but from our mistake of pronunciation she +acquired that of Abaroo, by which she was generally known, and by +which she will always be called in this work. She shewed, at the +death of her brother more feeling than Nanbaree had witnessed for +the loss of his father. When she found him dying, she crept to +his side, and lay by him until forced by the cold to retire. No +exclamation, or other sign of grief, however, escaped her for +what had happened.</p> + +<p>May 1789. At sunset, on the evening of the 2d instant, the +arrival the 'Sirius', Captain Hunter, from the Cape of Good Hope, +was proclaimed, and diffused universal joy and congratulation. +The day of famine was at least procrastinated by the supply of +flour and salt provisions she brought us.</p> + +<p>The 'Sirius' had made her passage to the Cape of Good Hope, by +the route of Cape Horn, in exactly thirteen weeks. Her highest +latitude was 57 degrees 10 minutes south, where the weather +proved intolerably cold. Ice, in great quantity, was seen for +many days; and in the middle of December (which is correspondent +to the middle of June, in our hemisphere), water froze in open +casks upon deck, in the moderate latitude of 44 degrees.</p> + +<p>They were very kindly treated by the Dutch governor, and amply +supplied by the merchants at the Cape, where they remained seven +weeks. Their passage back was effected by Van Diemen's Land, near +which, and close under Tasman's Head, they were in the utmost +peril of being wrecked.</p> + +<p>In this long run, which had extended round the circle, they +had always determined their longitude, to the greatest nicety, by +distances taken between the sun and moon, or between the moon and +a star. But it falls to the lot of very few ships to possess such +indefatigable and accurate observers as Captain Hunter, and Mr. +(now Captain) Bradley, the first lieutenant of the 'Sirius'.</p> + +<p>I feel assured, that I have no reader who will not join in +regretting the premature loss of Arabanoo, who died of the +smallpox on the 18th instant, after languishing in it six days. +From some imperfect marks and indents on his face, we were +inclined to believe that he had passed this dreaded disorder. +Even when the first symptoms of sickness seized him, we continued +willing to hope that they proceeded from a different cause. But +at length the disease burst forth with irresistible fury. It were +superfluous to say, that nothing which medical skill and +unremitting attention could perform, were left unexerted to +mitigate his sufferings, and prolong a life, which humanity and +affectionate concern towards his sick compatriots, unfortunately +shortened.</p> + +<p>During his sickness he reposed entire confidence in us. +Although a stranger to medicine, and nauseating the taste of it, +he swallowed with patient submission innumerable drugs,* which +the hope of relief induced us to administer to him. The governor, +who particularly regarded him**, caused him to be buried in his +own garden, and attended the funeral in person.</p> + +<p class="note">[*Very different had been his conduct on a former +occasion of a similar kind. Soon after he was brought among us he +was seized with a diarrhoea, for which he could by no persuasion +be induced to swallow any of our prescriptions. After many +ineffectual trials to deceive, or overcome him, it was at length +determined to let him pursue his own course, and to watch if he +should apply for relief to any of the productions of the country. +He was in consequence observed to dig fern-root, and to chew it. +Whether the disorder had passed its crisis, or whether the +fern-root effected a cure, I know not; but it is certain that he +became speedily well.]</p> + +<p class="note">[**The regard was reciprocal. His excellency had +been ill but a short time before, when Arabanoo had testified the +utmost solicitude for his case and recovery. It is probable that +he acquired, on this occasion, just notions of the benefit to be +derived from medical assistance. A doctor is, among them, a +person of consequence. It is certain that he latterly estimated +our professional gentlemen very highly.]</p> + +<p>The character of Arabanoo, as far as we had developed it, was +distinguished by a portion of gravity and steadiness, which our +subsequent acquaintance with his countrymen by no means led us to +conclude a national characteristic. In that daring, enterprising +frame of mind, which, when combined with genius, constitutes the +leader of a horde of savages, or the ruler of a people, boasting +the power of discrimination and the resistance of ambition, he +was certainly surpassed by some of his successors, who afterwards +lived among us. His countenance was thoughtful, but not animated: +his fidelity and gratitude, particularly to his friend the +governor, were constant and undeviating, and deserve to be +recorded. Although of a gentle and placable temper, we early +discovered that he was impatient of indignity, and allowed of no +superiority on our part. He knew that he was in our power; but +the independence of his mind never forsook him. If the slightest +insult were offered to him, he would return it with interest. At +retaliation of merriment he was often happy; and frequently +turned the laugh against his antagonist. He did not want +docility; but either from the difficulty of acquiring our +language, from the unskillfulness of his teachers, or from some +natural defect, his progress in learning it was not equal to what +we had expected. For the last three or four weeks of his life, +hardly any restraint was laid upon his inclinations: so that had +he meditated escape, he might easily have effected it. He was, +perhaps, the only native who was ever attached to us from choice; +and who did not prefer a precarious subsistence among wilds and +precipices, to the comforts of a civilized system.</p> + +<p>By his death, the scheme which had invited his capture was +utterly defeated. Of five natives who had been brought among us, +three had perished from a cause which, though unavoidable, it was +impossible to explain to a people, who would condescend to enter +into no intercourse with us. The same suspicious dread of our +approach, and the same scenes of vengeance acted on unfortunate +stragglers, continued to prevail.</p> + +<a name="5"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER V.</h3> + +<h4>Transactions of the Colony until the Close of the Year +1789.</h4> + +<p>The anniversary of his majesty's birth-day was celebrated, as +heretofore, at the government-house, with loyal festivity. In the +evening, the play of 'The Recruiting Officer' was performed by a +party of convicts, and honoured by the presence of his +excellency, and the officers of the garrison. That every +opportunity of escape from the dreariness and dejection of our +situation should be eagerly embraced, will not be wondered at. +The exhilarating effect of a splendid theatre is well known: and +I am not ashamed to confess, that the proper distribution of +three or four yards of stained paper, and a dozen farthing +candles stuck around the mud walls of a convict-hut, failed not +to diffuse general complacency on the countenances of sixty +persons, of various descriptions, who were assembled to applaud +the representation. Some of the actors acquitted themselves with +great spirit, and received the praises of the audience: a +prologue and an epilogue, written by one of the performers, were +also spoken on the occasion; which, although not worth inserting +here, contained some tolerable allusions to the situation of the +parties, and the novelty of a stage-representation in New South +Wales.</p> + +<p>Broken Bay, which was supposed to be completely explored, +became again an object of research. On the sixth instant, the +governor, accompanied by a large party in two boats, proceeded +thither. Here they again wandered over piles of mis-shapen +desolation, contemplating scenes of wild solitude, whose +unvarying appearance renders them incapable of affording either +novelty or gratification. But when they had given over the hope +of farther discovery, by pursuing the windings of an inlet, +which, from its appearance, was supposed to be a short creek, +they suddenly found themselves at the entrance of a fresh water +river, up which they proceeded twenty miles, in a westerly +direction; and would have farther prosecuted their research, had +not a failure of provisions obliged them to return. This river +they described to be of considerable breadth, and of great depth; +but its banks had hitherto presented nothing better than a +counterpart of the rocks and precipices which surround Broken +Bay.</p> + +<p>June, 1789. A second expedition, to ascertain its course, was +undertaken by his excellency, who now penetrated (measuring by +the bed of the river) between 60 and 70 miles, when the farther +progress of the boats was stopped by a fall. The water in every +part was found to be fresh and good. Of the adjoining country, +the opinions of those who had inspected it (of which number I was +not) were so various, that I shall decline to record them. Some +saw a rich and beautiful country; and others were so unfortunate +as to discover little else than large tracts of low land, covered +with reeds, and rank with the inundations of the stream, by which +they had been recently covered. All parties, however, agreed, +that the rocky, impenetrable country, seen on the first +excursion, had ended nearly about the place whence the boats had +then turned back. Close to the fall stands a very beautiful hill, +which our adventurers mounted, and enjoyed from it an extensive +prospect. Potatoes, maize, and garden seeds of various kinds were +put into the earth, by the governor's order, on different parts +of Richmond-hill, which was announced to be its name. The +latitude of Richmond-hill, as observed by captain Hunter, was +settled at 33 degrees 36 minutes south.</p> + +<p>Here also the river received the name of Hawkesbury, in honour +of the noble lord who bears that title.</p> + +<p>Natives were found on the banks in several parts, many of whom +were labouring under the smallpox. They did not attempt to commit +hostilities against the boats; but on the contrary shewed every +sign of welcome and friendship to the strangers.</p> + +<p>At this period, I was unluckily invested with the command of +the outpost at Rose Hill, which prevented me from being in the +list of discoverers of the Hawkesbury. Stimulated, however, by a +desire of acquiring a further knowledge of the country, on the +26th instant, accompanied by Mr. Arndell, assistant surgeon of +the settlement, Mr. Lowes, surgeon's mate of the 'Sirius', two +marines, and a convict, I left the redoubt at day-break, pointing +our march to a hill, distant five miles, in a westerly or inland +direction, which commands a view of the great chain of mountains, +called Carmarthen hills, extending from north to south farther +than the eye can reach. Here we paused, surveying "the wild +abyss; pondering our voyage." Before us lay the trackless +immeasurable desert, in awful silence. At length, after +consultation, we determined to steer west and by north, by +compass, the make of the land in that quarter indicating the +existence of a river. We continued to march all day through a +country untrodden before by an European foot. Save that a +melancholy crow now and then flew croaking over head, or a +kangaroo was seen to bound at a distance, the picture of solitude +was complete and undisturbed. At four o'clock in the afternoon we +halted near a small pond of water, where we took up our residence +for the night, lighted a fire, and prepared to cook our supper: +that was, to broil over a couple of ramrods a few slices of salt +pork, and a crow which we had shot.</p> + +<p>At daylight we renewed our peregrination; and in an hour after +we found ourselves on the banks of a river, nearly as broad as +the Thames at Putney, and apparently of great depth, the current +running very slowly in a northerly direction. Vast flocks of wild +ducks were swimming in the stream; but after being once fired at, +they grew so shy that we could not get near them a second time. +Nothing is more certain than that the sound of a gun had never +before been heard within many miles of this spot.</p> + +<p>We proceeded upwards, by a slow pace, through reeds, thickets, +and a thousand other obstacles, which impeded our progress, over +coarse sandy ground, which had been recently inundated, though +full forty feet above the present level of the river. Traces of +the natives appeared at every step, sometimes in their +hunting-huts, which consist of nothing more than a large piece of +bark, bent in the middle, and open at both ends, exactly +resembling two cards, set up to form an acute angle; sometimes in +marks on trees which they had climbed; or in squirrel-traps*; or, +which surprised us more, from being new, in decoys for the +purpose of ensnaring birds. These are formed of underwood and +reeds, long and narrow, shaped like a mound raised over a grave; +with a small aperture at one end for admission of the prey; and a +grate made of sticks at the other: the bird enters at the +aperture, seeing before him the light of the grate, between the +bars of which, he vainly endeavours to thrust himself, until +taken. Most of these decoys were full of feathers, chiefly those +of quails, which shewed their utility. We also met with two old +damaged canoes hauled up on the beach, which differed in no wise +from those found on the sea coast.</p> + +<p class="note">[*A squirrel-trap is a cavity of considerable +depth, formed by art, in the body of a tree. When the Indians in +their hunting parties set fire to the surrounding country (which +is a very common custom) the squirrels, opossums, and other +animals, who live in trees, flee for refuge into these holes, +whence they are easily dislodged and taken. The natives always +pitch on a part of a tree for this purpose, which has been +perforated by a worm, which indicates that the wood is in an +unsound state, and will readily yield to their efforts. If the +rudeness and imperfection of the tools with which they work be +considered, it must be confessed to be an operation of great toil +and difficulty.]</p> + +<p>Having remained out three days, we returned to our quarters at +Rose-hill, with the pleasing intelligence of our discovery. The +country we had passed through we found tolerably plain, and +little encumbered with underwood, except near the river side. It +is entirely covered with the same sorts of trees as grow near +Sydney; and in some places grass springs up luxuriantly; other +places are quite bare of it. The soil is various: in many parts a +stiff and clay, covered with small pebbles; in other places, of a +soft loamy nature: but invariably, in every part near the river, +it is a coarse sterile sand. Our observations on it (particularly +mine, from carrying the compass by which we steered) were not so +numerous as might have been wished. But, certainly, if the +qualities of it be such as to deserve future cultivation, no +impediment of surface, but that of cutting down and burning the +trees, exists, to prevent its being tilled.</p> + +<p>To this river the governor gave the name of Nepean. The +distance of the part of the river which we first hit upon from +the sea coast, is about 39 miles, in a direct line almost due +west.</p> + +<p>A survey of Botany Bay took place in September. I was of the +party, with several others officers. We continued nine days in +the bay, during which time, the relative position of every part +of it, to the extent of more than thirty miles, following the +windings of the shore, was ascertained, and laid down on paper, +by captain Hunter.</p> + +<p>So complete an opportunity of forming a judgment, enables me +to speak decisively of a place, which has often engaged +conversation and excited reflection. Variety of opinions here +disappeared. I shall, therefore, transcribe literally what I +wrote in my journal, on my return from the expedition. "We were +unanimously of opinion, that had not the nautical part of Mr. +Cook's description, in which we include the latitude and +longitude of the bay, been so accurately laid down, there would +exist the utmost reason to believe, that those who have described +the contiguous country, had never seen it. On the sides of the +harbour, a line of sea coast more than thirty miles long, we did +not find 200 acres which could be cultivated."</p> + +<p>September, 1789. But all our attention was not directed to +explore inlets, and toll for discovery. Our internal tranquillity +was still more important. To repress the inroads of depredation; +and to secure to honest industry the reward of its labour, had +become matter of the most serious consideration; hardly a night +passing without the commission of robbery. Many expedients were +devised; and the governor at length determined to select from the +convicts, a certain number of persons, who were meant to be of +the fairest character, for the purpose of being formed into a +nightly-watch, for the preservation of public and private +property, under the following regulations, which, as the first +system of police in a colony, so peculiarly constituted as ours, +may perhaps prove not uninteresting.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>I. A night-watch, consisting of 12 persons, divided into four +parties, is appointed, and fully authorized to patrol at all +hours in the night; and to visit such places as may be deemed +necessary, for the discovery of any felony, trespass, or +misdemeanor; and for the apprehending and securing for +examination, any person or persons who may appear to them +concerned therein, either by entrance into any suspected hut or +dwelling, or by such other measure as may seem to them +expedient.</p> + +<p>II. Those parts in which the convicts reside are to be divided +and numbered, in the following manner. The convict huts on the +eastern side of the stream, and the public farm, are to be the +first division. Those at the brick-kilns, and the detached +parties in the different private farms in that district, are to +be the second division. Those on the western side of the stream, +as far as the line which separates the district of the women from +the men, to be the third division. The huts occupied from that +line to the hospital, and from there to the observatory, to be +the fourth division.</p> + +<p>III. Each of these districts or divisions is to be under the +particular inspection of one person, who may be judged qualified +to inform himself of the actual residence of each individual in +his district; as well as of his business, connections, and +acquaintances.</p> + +<p>IV. Cognizance is to be taken of such convicts as may sell or +barter their slops or provisions; and also of such as are +addicted to gaming for either of the aforesaid articles, who are +to be reported to the judge advocate.</p> + +<p>V. Any soldier or seaman found straggling after the beating of +the tattoo; or who may be found in a convict's hut, is to be +detained; and information of him immediately given to the nearest +guard.</p> + +<p>VI. Any person who may be robbed during the night, is to give +immediate information thereof to the watch of his district, who, +on the instant of application being made, shall use the most +effectual means to trace out the offender, or offenders, so that +he, she, or they, may be brought to justice.</p> + +<p>VII. The watch of each district is to be under the direction +of one person, who will be named for that purpose. All the +patrols are placed under the immediate inspection of Herbert +Keeling. They are never to receive any fee, gratuity, or reward, +from any individual whatever, to engage their exertions in the +execution of the above trust. Nor will they receive any +stipulated encouragement for the conviction of any offender. But +their diligence and good behaviour will be rewarded by the +governor. And for this purpose their conduct will be strictly +attended to, by those who are placed in authority over them.</p> + +<p>VIII. The night-watch is to go out as soon as the tattoo +ceases beating: to return to their huts when the working drum +beats in the morning: and are to make their report to the judge +advocate, through Herbert Keeling, of all robberies and +misdemeanors which may have been committed. Any assistance the +patrols may require, will be given to them, on applying to the +officer commanding the nearest guard; and by the civil power, if +necessary; for which last, application is to be made to the +provost martial.</p> + +<p>IX. Any negligence on the part of those who shall be employed +on this duty, will be punished with the utmost rigour of the +law.</p> + +<p>X. The night-watch is to consist of 12 persons.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Every political code, either from a defect of its +constitution, or from the corruptness of those who are entrusted +to execute it, will be found less perfect in practice than +speculation had promised itself. It were, however, prejudice to +deny, that for some time following the institution of this +patrol, nightly depredations became less frequent and alarming: +the petty villains, at least, were restrained by it. And to keep +even a garden unravaged was now become a subject of the deepest +concern.</p> + +<p>For in October our weekly allowance of provisions, which had +hitherto been eight pounds of flour, five pounds of salt pork, +three pints of pease, six ounces of butter, was reduced to five +pounds five ounces of flour, three pounds five ounces of pork, +and two pints of pease.</p> + +<p>In order to lessen the consumption from the public stores, the +'Supply' was ordered to touch at Lord Howe Island, in her way +from Norfolk Island, to try if turtle could be procured, for the +purpose of being publicly served in lieu of salt provisions. But +she brought back only three turtles, which were distributed in +the garrison.</p> + +<p>December, 1789. At the request of his excellency, lieutenant +Dawes of the marines, accompanied by lieutenant Johnston and Mr. +Lowes, about this time undertook the attempt to cross the Nepean +river, and to penetrate to Carmarthen mountains. Having +discovered a ford in the river, they passed it, and proceeded in +a westerly direction. But they found the country so rugged, and +the difficulty of walking so excessive, that in three days they +were able to penetrate only fifteen miles, and were therefore +obliged to relinquish their object. This party, at the time they +turned back, were farther inland than any other persons ever were +before or since, being fifty-four miles in a direct line from the +sea coast when on the summit of mount Twiss, a hill so named by +them, and which bounded their peregrination.</p> + +<p>Intercourse with the natives, for the purpose of knowing +whether or not the country possessed any resources, by which life +might be prolonged*, as well as on other accounts, becoming every +day more desirable, the governor resolved to make prisoners of +two more of them.</p> + +<p class="note">[*One of the convicts, a negro, had twice eloped, +with an intention of establishing himself in the society of the +natives, with a wish to adopt their customs and to live with +them: but he was always repulsed by them; and compelled to return +to us from hunger and wretchedness.]</p> + +<p>Boats properly provided, under the command of lieutenant +Bradley of the 'Sirius', were accordingly dispatched on this +service; and completely succeeded in trepanning and carrying off, +without opposition, two fine young men, who were safely landed +among us at Sydney.</p> + +<p>Nanbaree and Abaroo welcomed them on shore; calling them +immediately by their names, Baneelon (Bennelong), and Colbee. But +they seemed little disposed to receive the congratulations, or +repose confidence in the assurances of their friends. The same +scenes of awkward wonder and impatient constraint, which had +attended the introduction of Arabanoo, succeeded. Baneelon we +judged to be about twenty-six years old, of good stature, and +stoutly made, with a bold intrepid countenance, which bespoke +defiance and revenge. Colbee was perhaps near thirty, of a less +sullen aspect than his comrade, considerably shorter, and not so +robustly framed, though better fitted for purposes of activity. +They had both evidently had the smallpox; indeed Colbee's face +was very thickly imprinted with the marks of it.</p> + +<p>Positive orders were issued by the governor to treat them +indulgently, and guard them strictly; notwithstanding which +Colbee contrived to effect his escape in about a week, with a +small iron ring round his leg. Had those appointed to watch them +been a moment later, his companion would have contrived to +accompany him.</p> + +<p>But Baneelon, though haughty, knew how to temporize. He +quickly threw off all reserve; and pretended, nay, at particular +moments, perhaps felt satisfaction in his new state. Unlike poor +Arabanoo, he became at once fond of our viands, and would drink +the strongest liquors, not simply without reluctance, but with +eager marks of delight and enjoyment. He was the only native we +ever knew who immediately shewed a fondness for spirits: Colbee +would not at first touch them. Nor was the effect of wine or +brandy upon him more perceptible than an equal quantity would +have produced upon one of us, although fermented liquor was new +to him.</p> + +<p>In his eating, he was alike compliant. When a turtle was shown +to Arabanoo, he would not allow it to be a fish, and could not be +induced to eat of it. Baneelon also denied it to be a fish; but +no common councilman in Europe could do more justice than he did +to a very fine one, that the 'Supply' had brought from Lord Howe +Island, and which was served up at the governor's table on +Christmas Day.</p> + +<p>His powers of mind were certainly far above mediocrity. He +acquired knowledge, both of our manners and language, faster than +his predecessor had done. He willingly communicated information; +sang, danced, and capered, told us all the customs of his +country, and all the details of his family economy. Love and war +seemed his favourite pursuits; in both of which he had suffered +severely. His head was disfigured by several scars; a spear had +passed through his arm, and another through his leg. Half of one +of his thumbs was carried away; and the mark of a wound appeared +on the back of his hand. The cause and attendant circumstances of +all these disasters, except one, he related to us.</p> + +<p>"But the wound on the back of your hand, Baneelon! How did you +get that?"</p> + +<p>He laughed, and owned that it was received in carrying off a +lady of another tribe by force. "I was dragging her away. She +cried aloud, and stuck her teeth in me."</p> + +<p>"And what did you do then?"</p> + +<p>"I knocked her down, and beat her till she was insensible, and +covered with blood. Then..."</p> + +<p>Whenever he recounted his battles, "poised his lance, and +showed how fields were won", the most violent exclamations of +rage and vengeance against his competitors in arms, those of the +tribe called Cameeragal in particular, would burst from him. And +he never failed at such times to solicit the governor to +accompany him, with a body of soldiers, in order that he might +exterminate this hated name.</p> + +<p>Although I call him only Baneelon, he had besides several +appellations, and for a while he chose to be distinguished by +that of Wolarawaree. Again, as a mark of affection and respect to +the governor, he conferred on him the name of Wolarawaree, and +sometimes called him 'Beenena' (father), adopting to himself the +name of governor. This interchange we found is a constant symbol +of friendship among them*. In a word, his temper seemed pliant, +and his relish of our society so great, that hardly any one +judged he would attempt to quit us, were the means of escape put +within his reach. Nevertheless it was thought proper to continue +a watch over him.</p> + +<p class="note">[*It is observable that this custom prevails as a +pledge of friendship and kindness all over Asia, and has also +been mentioned by Captain Cook to exist among the natives in the +South Sea Islands.]</p> + +<a name="6"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3> + +<h4>Transactions of the Colony, from the Beginning of the Year +1790 until the End of May following.</h4> + +<p>Our impatience of news from Europe strongly marked the +commencement of the year. We had now been two years in the +country, and thirty-two months from England, in which long period +no supplies, except what had been procured at the Cape of Good +Hope by the 'Sirius', had reached us. From intelligence of our +friends and connections we had been entirely cut off, no +communication whatever having passed with our native country +since the 13th of May 1787, the day of our departure from +Portsmouth. Famine besides was approaching with gigantic strides, +and gloom and dejection overspread every countenance. Men +abandoned themselves to the most desponding reflections, and +adopted the most extravagant conjectures.</p> + +<p>Still we were on the tiptoe of expectation. If thunder broke +at a distance, or a fowling-piece of louder than ordinary report +resounded in the woods, "a gun from a ship" was echoed on every +side, and nothing but hurry and agitation prevailed. For eighteen +months after we had landed in the country, a party of marines +used to go weekly to Botany Bay, to see whether any vessel, +ignorant of our removal to Port Jackson, might be arrived there. +But a better plan was now devised, on the suggestion of captain +Hunter. A party of seamen were fixed on a high bluff, called the +South-head, at the entrance of the harbour, on which a flag was +ordered to be hoisted, whenever a ship might appear, which should +serve as a direction to her, and as a signal of approach to us. +Every officer stepped forward to volunteer a service which +promised to be so replete with beneficial consequences. But the +zeal and alacrity of captain Hunter, and our brethren of the +'Sirius', rendered superfluous all assistance or +co-operation.</p> + +<p>Here on the summit of the hill, every morning from daylight +until the sun sunk, did we sweep the horizon, in hope of seeing a +sail. At every fleeting speck which arose from the bosom of the +sea, the heart bounded, and the telescope was lifted to the eye. +If a ship appeared here, we knew she must be bound to us; for on +the shores of this vast ocean (the largest in the world) we were +the only community which possessed the art of navigation, and +languished for intercourse with civilized society.</p> + +<p>To say that we were disappointed and shocked, would very +inadequately describe our sensations. But the misery and horror +of such a situation cannot be imparted, even by those who have +suffered under it.</p> + +<p>March, 1790. Vigorous measures were become indispensable. The +governor therefore, early in February, ordered the 'Sirius' to +prepare for a voyage to China; and a farther retrenchment of our +ration, we were given to understand, would take place on her +sailing.</p> + +<p>But the 'Sirius' was destined not to reach China. Previously +to her intended departure on that voyage, she was ordered, in +concert with the 'Supply', to convey Major Ross, with a large +detachment of marines, and more than two hundred convicts, to +Norfolk Island, it being hoped that such a division of our +numbers would increase the means of subsistence, by diversified +exertions. She sailed on the 6th of March. And on the 27th of the +same month, the following order was issued from headquarters.</p> + +<p>Parole--Honour.</p> + +<p>Counter sign--Example.</p> + +<p>The expected supply of provisions not having arrived, makes it +necessary to reduce the present ration. And the commissary is +directed to issue, from the 1st of April, the under-mentioned +allowance, to every person in the settlement without +distinction.</p> + +<p>Four pounds of flour, two pounds and a half of salt pork, and +one pound and a half of rice, per week.</p> + +<p>On the 5th of April news was brought, that the flag on the +South-head was hoisted. Less emotion was created by the news than +might be expected. Every one coldly said to his neighbour, "the +'Sirius' and 'Supply' are returned from Norfolk Island." To +satisfy myself that the flag was really flying, I went to the +observatory, and looked for it through the large astronomical +telescope, when I plainly saw it. But I was immediately convinced +that it was not to announce the arrival of ships from England; +for I could see nobody near the flagstaff except one solitary +being, who kept strolling around, unmoved by what he saw. I well +knew how different an effect the sight of strange ships would +produce.</p> + +<p>April, 1790. The governor, however, determined to go down the +harbour, and I begged permission to accompany him. Having turned +a point about half way down, we were surprised to see a boat, +which was known to belong to the 'Supply', rowing towards us. On +nearer approach, I saw captain Ball make an extraordinary motion +with his hand, which too plainly indicated that something +disastrous had happened; and I could not help turning to the +governor, near whom I sat, and saying, "Sir, prepare yourself for +bad news." A few minutes changed doubt into certainty; and to our +unspeakable consternation we learned, that the 'Sirius' had been +wrecked on Norfolk Island, on the 19th of February. Happily, +however, Captain Hunter, and every other person belonging to her, +were saved.</p> + +<p>Dismay was painted on every countenance, when the tidings were +proclaimed at Sydney. The most distracting apprehensions were +entertained All hopes were now concentred in the little +'Supply'.</p> + +<p>At six o'clock in the evening, all the officers of the +garrison, both civil and military, were summoned to meet the +governor in council, when the nature of our situation was fully +discussed and an account of the provisions yet remaining in store +laid before the council by the commissary. This account stated, +that on the present ration* the public stores contained salt meat +sufficient to serve until the 2nd of July, flour until the 20th +of August, and rice, or pease in lieu of it, until the 1st of +October.</p> + +<p class="note">[*See the ration of the 27th of March, a few +pages back.]</p> + +<p>Several regulations for the more effectual preservation of +gardens, and other private property, were proposed, and adopted +and after some interchange of opinion, the following ration was +decreed to commence immediately, a vigorous exertion to prolong +existence, or the chance of relief, being all now left to us.</p> + +<blockquote>Two pounds of pork, two pounds and a half of +flour,<br> +two pounds of rice, or a quart of pease, per week,<br> +to every grown person, and to every child of more<br> +than eighteen months old.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>To every child under eighteen months old, the +same<br> +quantity of rice and flour, and one pound of pork.**</blockquote> + +<p class="note">[**When the age of this provision is recollected, +its inadequacy will more strikingly appear. The pork and rice +were brought with us from England. The pork had been salted +between three and four years, and every grain of rice was a +moving body, from the inhabitants lodged within it. We soon left +off boiling the pork, as it had become so old and dry, that it +shrunk one half in its dimensions when so dressed. Our usual +method of cooking it was to cut off the daily morsel, and toast +it on a fork before the fire, catching the drops which fell on a +slice of bread, or in a saucer of rice. Our flour was the remnant +of what was brought from the Cape, by the 'Sirius', and was good. +Instead of baking it, the soldiers and convicts used to boil it +up with greens.]</p> + +<p>The immediate departure of the 'Supply', for Batavia, was also +determined.</p> + +<p>Nor did our zeal stop here. The governor being resolved to +employ all the boats, public and private, in procuring fish--which +was intended to be served in lieu of salt meat--all the officers, +civil and military, including the clergyman, and the surgeons of +the hospital, made the voluntary offer, in addition to their +other duties, to go alternately every night in these boats, in +order to see that every exertion was made, and that all the fish +which might be caught was deposited with the commissary.</p> + +<p>The best marksmen of the marines and convicts were also +selected, and put under the command of a trusty sergeant, with +directions to range the woods in search of kangaroos, which were +ordered, when brought in, to be delivered to the commissary.</p> + +<p>And as it was judged that the inevitable fatigues of shooting +and fishing could not be supported on the common ration, a small +additional quantity of flour and pork was appropriated to the use +of the game-keepers; and each fisherman, who had been out during +the preceding night had, on his return in the morning, a pound of +uncleaned fish allowed for his breakfast.</p> + +<p>On the 17th instant, the 'Supply', captain Ball, sailed for +Batavia. We followed her with anxious eyes until she was no +longer visible. Truly did we say to her "In te omnis domus +inclinata recumbit." We were, however, consoled by reflecting, +that every thing which zeal, fortitude, and seamanship, could +produce, was concentred in her commander.</p> + +<p>Our bosoms consequently became less perturbed; and all our +labour and attention were turned on one object--the procuring of +food. "Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war" were no +more.</p> + +<p>The distress of the lower classes for clothes was almost equal +to their other wants. The stores had been long exhausted, and +winter was at hand. Nothing more ludicrous can be conceived than +the expedients of substituting, shifting, and patching, which +ingenuity devised, to eke out wretchedness, and preserve the +remains of decency. The superior dexterity of the women was +particularly conspicuous. Many a guard have I seen mount, in +which the number of soldiers without shoes exceeded that which +had yet preserved remnants of leather.</p> + +<p>Nor was another part of our domestic economy less whimsical. +If a lucky man, who had knocked down a dinner with his gun, or +caught a fish by angling from the rocks, invited a neighbour to +dine with him, the invitation always ran, "bring your own bread." +Even at the governor's table, this custom was constantly +observed. Every man when he sat down pulled his bread out of his +pocket, and laid it by his plate.</p> + +<p>The insufficiency of our ration soon diminished our execution +of labour. Both soldiers and convicts pleaded such loss of +strength, as to find themselves unable to perform their +accustomed tasks. The hours of public work were accordingly +shortened or, rather, every man was ordered to do as much as his +strength would permit, and every other possible indulgence was +granted.</p> + +<p>May, 1790. In proportion, however, as lenity and mitigation +were extended to inability and helplessness, inasmuch was the +most rigorous justice executed on disturbers of the public +tranquillity. Persons detected in robbing gardens, or pilfering +provisions, were never screened because, as every man could +possess, by his utmost exertions, but a bare sufficiency to +preserve life*, he who deprived his neighbour of that little, +drove him to desperation. No new laws for the punishment of theft +were enacted; but persons of all descriptions were publicly +warned, that the severest penalties, which the existing law in +its greatest latitude would authorise, should be inflicted on +offenders. The following sentence of a court of justice, of which +I was a member, on a convict detected in a garden stealing +potatoes, will illustrate the subject. He was ordered to receive +three hundred lashes immediately, to be chained for six months to +two other criminals, who were thus fettered for former offences, +and to have his allowance of flour stopped for six months. So +that during the operation of the sentence, two pounds of pork, +and two pounds of rice (or in lieu of the latter, a quart of +pease) per week, constituted his whole subsistence. Such was the +melancholy length to which we were compelled to stretch our penal +system.</p> + +<p class="note">[*Its preservation in some cases was found +impracticable. Three or four instances of persons who perished +from want have been related to me. One only, however, fell within +my own observation. I was passing the provision store, when a +man, with a wild haggard countenance, who had just received his +daily pittance to carry home, came out. His faltering gait, and +eager devouring eye, led me to watch him, and he had not +proceeded ten steps before he fell. I ordered him to be carried +to the hospital, where, when he arrived, he was found dead. On +opening the body, the cause of death was pronounced to be +inanition.]</p> + +<p>Farther to contribute to the detection of villainy, a +proclamation, offering a reward of sixty pounds of flour, more +tempting than the ore of Peru or Potosi, was promised to any one +who should apprehend, and bring to justice, a robber of garden +ground.</p> + +<p>Our friend Baneelon, during this season of scarcity, was as +well taken care of as our desperate circumstances would allow. We +knew not how to keep him, and yet were unwilling to part with +him. Had he penetrated our state, perhaps he might have given his +countrymen such a description of our diminished numbers, and +diminished strength, as would have emboldened them to become more +troublesome. Every expedient was used to keep him in ignorance. +His allowance was regularly received by the governor's servant, +like that of any other person, but the ration of a week was +insufficient to have kept him for a day. The deficiency was +supplied by fish whenever it could be procured, and a little +Indian corn, which had been reserved was ground and appropriated +to his use. In spite of all these aids, want of food has been +known to make him furious and often melancholy.</p> + +<p>There is reason to believe that he had long meditated his +escape, which he effected in the night of the 3rd instant. About +two o'clock in the morning, he pretended illness, and awaking the +servant who lay in the room with him, begged to go down stairs. +The other attended him without suspicion of his design; and +Baneelon no sooner found himself in a backyard, than he nimbly +leaped over a slight paling, and bade us adieu.</p> + +<p>The following public order was issued within the date of this +chapter, and is too pleasing a proof that universal depravity did +not prevail among the convicts, to be omitted.</p> + +<p>The governor, in consequence of the unremitted good behaviour +and meritorious conduct of John Irving, is pleased to remit the +remainder of the term for which he was sentenced to +transportation. He is therefore to be considered as restored to +all those rights and privileges, which had been suspended in +consequence of the sentence of the law. And as such, he is hereby +appointed to act as an assistant to the surgeon at Norfolk +Island.</p> + +<a name="7"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER VII</h3> + +<h4>Transactions of the Colony in June, July, and August, +1790.</h4> + +<p>At length the clouds of misfortune began to separate, and on +the evening of the 3rd of June, the joyful cry of "the flag's up" +resounded in every direction.</p> + +<p>I was sitting in my hut, musing on our fate, when a confused +clamour in the street drew my attention. I opened my door, and +saw several women with children in their arms running to and fro +with distracted looks, congratulating each other, and kissing +their infants with the most passionate and extravagant marks of +fondness. I needed no more; but instantly started out, and ran to +a hill, where, by the assistance of a pocket glass, my hopes were +realized. My next door neighbour, a brother-officer, was with me, +but we could not speak. We wrung each other by the hand, with +eyes and hearts overflowing.</p> + +<p>Finding that the governor intended to go immediately in his +boat down the harbour, I begged to be of his party.</p> + +<p>As we proceeded, the object of our hopes soon appeared: a +large ship, with English colours flying, working in, between the +heads which form the entrance of the harbour. The tumultuous +state of our minds represented her in danger; and we were in +agony. Soon after, the governor, having ascertained what she was, +left us, and stepped into a fishing boat to return to Sydney. The +weather was wet and tempestuous but the body is delicate only +when the soul is at ease. We pushed through wind and rain, the +anxiety of our sensations every moment redoubling. At last we +read the word 'London' on her stern. "Pull away, my lads! She is +from Old England! A few strokes more, and we shall be aboard! +Hurrah for a bellyfull, and news from our friends!" Such were our +exhortations to the boat's crew.</p> + +<p>A few minutes completed our wishes, and we found ourselves on +board the 'Lady Juliana' transport, with two hundred and +twenty-five of our countrywomen whom crime or misfortune had +condemned to exile. We learned that they had been almost eleven +months on their passage, having left Plymouth, into which port +they had put in July, 1789. We continued to ask a thousand +questions on a breath. Stimulated by curiosity, they inquired in +turn; but the right of being first answered, we thought, lay on +our side. "Letters, letters!" was the cry. They were produced, +and torn open in trembling agitation. News burst upon us like +meridian splendor on a blind man. We were overwhelmed with it: +public, private, general, and particular. Nor was it until some +days had elapsed, that we were able to methodise it, or reduce it +into form. We now heard for the first time of our sovereign's +illness, and his happy restoration to health. The French +revolution of 1789, with all the attendant circumstances of that +wonderful and unexpected event, succeeded to amaze us*. Now, too, +the disaster which had befallen the 'Guardian', and the liberal +and enlarged plan on which she had been stored and fitted out by +government for our use, was promulged. It served also, in some +measure, to account why we had not sooner heard from England. For +had not the 'Guardian' struck on an island of ice, she would +probably have reached us three months before, and in this case +have prevented the loss of the 'Sirius', although she had sailed +from England three months after the 'Lady Juliana'.</p> + +<p class="note">[*These words bring to my mind an anecdote, +which, though rather out of place, I shall offer no apology for +introducing. Among other inquiries, we were anxious to learn +whether M. de la Peyrouse, with the two ships under his command, +bound on a voyage of discovery, had arrived in France. We heard +with concern, that no accounts of them had been received, since +they had left Botany Bay, in March, 1788. I remember when they +were at that place, one day conversing with Monsieur de la +Peyrouse, about the best method of treating savage people, "Sir" +said he, "I have sometimes been compelled to commit hostilities +upon them, but never without suffering the most poignant regret; +for, independent of my own feelings on the occasion, his +Majesty's (Louis XVI) last words to me, de sa propre bouche, when +I took leave of him at Versailles, were: 'It is my express +injunction, that you always treat the Indian nations with +kindness and humanity. Gratify their wishes, and never, but in a +case of the last necessity, when self-defence requires it, shed +human blood.' Are these the sentiments of a tyrant, of a +sanguinary and perfidious man?"</p> + +<p>A general thanksgiving to Almighty God, for his Majesty's +recovery, and happy restoration to his family and subjects, was +ordered to be offered up on the following Wednesday, when all +public labour was suspended; and every person in the settlement +attended at church, where a sermon, suited to an occasion, at +once so full of gratitude and solemnity, was preached by the +Reverend Richard Johnson, chaplain of the colony.</p> + +<p>All the officers were afterwards entertained at dinner by the +governor. And in the evening, an address to his excellency, +expressive of congratulation and loyalty, was agreed upon; and in +two days after was presented, and very graciously received.</p> + +<p>The following invitation to the non-commissioned officers and +private soldiers of the marine battalion, was also about this +time published.</p> + +<p>In consequence of the assurance that was given to the +non-commissioned officers and men belonging to the battalion of +marines, on their embarking for the service of this country, that +such of them as should behave well, would be allowed to quit the +service, on their return to England; or be discharged abroad, +upon the relief taking place, and permitted to settle in the +country-- His Majesty has been graciously pleased to direct the +following encouragement to be held up to such non-commissioned +officers and privates, as may be disposed to become settlers in +this country, or in any of the islands comprised within the +government of the continent of New South Wales, on the arrival of +the corps raised and intended for the service of this colony, and +for their relief, viz:</p> + +<p>To every non-commissioned officer, an allotment of one hundred +and thirty acres of land, if single, and of one hundred and fifty +acres, if married. To every private soldier, an allotment of +eighty acres, if single, and of one hundred acres if married; and +also an allotment of ten acres for every child, whether of a +non-commissioned officer, or of a private soldier. These +allotments will be free of all fines, taxes, quit-rents, and +other acknowledgments, for the space of ten years; but after the +expiration of that period, will be subject to an annual quit-rent +of one shilling for every fifty acres.</p> + +<p>His Majesty has likewise been farther pleased to signify his +royal will and pleasure, that a bounty of three pounds be offered +to each non-commissioned officer and soldier, who may be disposed +to continue in this country, and enlist in the corps appointed +for the service of New South Wales; with a farther assurance, +that in case of a proper demeanour on their part, they shall, +after a farther service of five years, be entitled to double the +former portion of land, provided they then choose to become +settlers in the country, free of all taxes, fines, and +quit-rents, for the space of fifteen years; but after that time, +to be subject to the beforementioned annual quit-rent of one +shilling for every fifty acres.</p> + +<p>And as a farther encouragement to those men who may be +desirous to become settlers, and continue in the country, his +Majesty has been likewise pleased to direct, that every man +shall, on being discharged, receive out of the public store, a +portion of clothing and provisions, sufficient for his support +for one year; together with a suitable quantity of seeds, grain, +etc. for the tillage of the land; and a portion of tools and +implements of agriculture, proper for their use. And whenever any +man, who may become a settler, can maintain, feed, and clothe, +such number of convicts as may be judged necessary by the +governor, for the time being, to assist him in clearing and +cultivating the land, the service of such convicts shall be +assigned to him.</p> + +<p>We were joyfully surprised on the 20th of the month to see +another sail enter the harbour. She proved to be the Justinian +transport, commanded by Captain Maitland, and our rapture was +doubled on finding that she was laden entirely with provisions +for our use. Full allowance, and general congratulation, +immediately took place. This ship had left Falmouth on the +preceding 20th of January, and completed her passage exactly in +five months*. She had staid at Madeira one day, and four at Sao +Tiago, from which last place she had steered directly for New +South Wales, neglecting Rio de Janeiro on her right, and the Cape +of Good Hope on her left; and notwithstanding the immense tract +of ocean she had passed, brought her crew without sickness into +harbour. When the novelty and boldness of such an attempt shall +be recollected, too much praise, on the spirit and activity of +Mr. Maitland, cannot be bestowed.</p> + +<p class="note">[*Accident only prevented her from making it in +eighteen days less, for she was then in sight of the harbour's +mouth, when an unpropitious gale of wind blew her off. Otherwise +she would have reached us one day sooner than the 'Lady Juliana'. +It is a curious circumstance, that these two ships had sailed +together from the river Thames, one bound to Port Jackson, and +the other bound to Jamaica. The Justinian carried her cargo to +the last mentioned place, landed it; and loaded afresh with +sugars, which she returned with, and delivered in London. She was +then hired as a transport, reladen, and sailed for New South +Wales. Let it be remembered, that no material accident had +happened to either vessel. But what will not zeal and diligence +accomplish!]</p> + +<p>Good fortune continued to befriend us. Before the end of the +month, three more transports, having on board two companies of +the New South Wales corps, arrived to add to our society. These +ships also brought out a large body of convicts, whose state and +sufferings will be best estimated by the following return.</p> + +<pre> +Names of No. of people No. of persons who died No. landed sick + Ships embarked on the passage at Port Jackson +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +Neptune 530 163 269 + +Surprise 252 42 121 + +Scarborough 256 68 96 +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + 1038 273 486 +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +</pre> + +<br> +<br> +<p>N.B. Of those landed sick, one hundred and twenty-four died in +the hospital at Sydney.</p> + +<p>On our passage from England, which had lasted more than eight +months and with nearly an equal number of persons, only +twenty-four had died, and not thirty were landed sick. The +difference can be accounted for, only by comparing the manner in +which each fleet was fitted out and conducted. With us the +provisions, served on board, were laid in by a contractor, who +sent a deputy to serve them out; and it became a part of duty for +the officers of the troops to inspect their quality, and to order +that every one received his just proportion. Whereas, in the +fleet now arrived, the distribution of provisions rested entirely +with the masters of the merchantmen, and the officers were +expressly forbidden to interfere in any shape farther about the +convicts than to prevent their escape.</p> + +<p>Seventeen pounds, in full of all expense, was the sum paid by +the public for the passage of each person. And this sum was +certainly competent to afford fair profit to the merchant who +contracted. But there is reason to believe, that some of those +who were employed to act for him, violated every principle of +justice, and rioted on the spoils of misery, for want of a +controlling power to check their enormities. No doubt can be +entertained, that a humane and liberal government will interpose +its authority, to prevent the repetition of such flagitious +conduct.</p> + +<p>Although the convicts had landed from these ships with every +mark of meagre misery, yet it was soon seen, that a want of room, +in which more conveniences might have been stowed for their use, +had not caused it. Several of the masters of the transports +immediately opened stores, and exposed large quantities of goods +to sale, which, though at most extortionate prices, were eagerly +bought up.</p> + +<p>Such was the weakly state of the new corners, that for several +weeks little real benefit to the colony was derived from so great +a nominal addition to our number. However, as fast as they +recovered, employment was immediately assigned to them. The old +hours of labour, which had been reduced in our distress, were +re-established, and the most vigorous measures adopted to give +prosperity to the settlement. New buildings were immediately +planned, and large tracts of ground, at Rose-hill, ordered to be +cleared, and prepared for cultivation. Some superintendents who +had arrived in the fleet, and were hired by government for the +purpose of overlooking and directing the convicts, were found +extremely serviceable in accelerating the progress of +improvement.</p> + +<p>July, 1790. This month was marked by nothing worth +communication, except a melancholy accident which befell a young +gentleman of amiable character (one of the midshipmen lately +belonging to the 'Sirius') and two marines. He was in a small +boat, with three marines, in the harbour, when a whale was seen +near them. Sensible of their danger, they used every effort to +avoid the cause of it, by rowing in a contrary direction from +that which the fish seemed to take, but the monster suddenly +arose close to them, and nearly filled the boat with water. By +exerting themselves, they baled her out, and again steered from +it. For some time it was not seen, and they conceived themselves +safe, when, rising immediately under the boat, it lifted her to +the height of many yards on its back, whence slipping off, she +dropped as from a precipice, and immediately filled and sunk. The +midshipman and one of the marines were sucked into the vortex +which the whale had made, and disappeared at once. The two other +marines swam for the nearest shore, but one only reached it, to +recount the fate of his companions.</p> + +<p>August, 1790. In the beginning of this month, in company with +Mr. Dawes and Mr. Worgan, late surgeon of the 'Sirius', I +undertook an expedition to the southward and westward of Rose +Hill, where the country had never been explored. We remained out +seven days, and penetrated to a considerable distance in a S.S.W. +direction, bounding our course at a remarkable hill, to which, +from its conical shape, we gave the name of Pyramid-hill. Except +the discovery of a river (which is unquestionably the Nepean near +its source) to which we gave the name of the Worgan, in honour of +one of our party, nothing very interesting was remarked.</p> + +<p>Towards the end of the month, we made a second excursion to +the north-west of Rose Hill, when we again fell in with the +Nepean, and traced it to the spot where it had been first +discovered by the party of which I was a member, fourteen months +before, examining the country as we went along. Little doubt now +subsisted that the Hawkesbury and Nepean were one river.</p> + +<p>We undertook a third expedition soon after to Broken Bay, +which place we found had not been exaggerated in description, +whether its capacious harbour, or its desolate incultivable +shores, be considered. On all these excursions we brought away, +in small bags, as many specimens of the soil of the country we +had passed through, as could be conveniently carried, in order +that by analysis its qualities might be ascertained.</p> + +<a name="8"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> + +<h4>Transactions of the Colony in the Beginning of September, +1790.</h4> + +<p>The tremendous monster who had occasioned the unhappy +catastrophe just recorded was fated to be the cause of farther +mischief to us.</p> + +<p>On the 7th instant, Captain Nepean, of the New South Wales +Corps, and Mr. White, accompanied by little Nanbaree, and a party +of men, went in a boat to Manly Cove, intending to land there, +and walk on to Broken Bay. On drawing near the shore, a dead +whale, in the most disgusting state of putrefaction, was seen +lying on the beach, and at least two hundred Indians surrounding +it, broiling the flesh on different fires, and feasting on it +with the most extravagant marks of greediness and rapture. As the +boat continued to approach, they were observed to fall into +confusion and to pick up their spears, on which our people lay +upon their oars and Nanbaree stepping forward, harangued them for +some time, assuring them that we were friends. Mr. White now +called for Baneelon who, on hearing his name, came forth, and +entered into conversation. He was greatly emaciated, and so far +disfigured by a long beard, that our people not without +difficulty recognized their old acquaintance. His answering in +broken English, and inquiring for the governor, however, soon +corrected their doubts. He seemed quite friendly. And soon after +Colbee came up, pointing to his leg, to show that he had freed +himself from the fetter which was upon him, when he had escaped +from us.</p> + +<p>When Baneelon was told that the governor was not far off, he +expressed great joy, and declared that he would immediately go in +search of him, and if he found him not, would follow him to +Sydney. "Have you brought any hatchets with you?" cried he. +Unluckily they had not any which they chose to spare; but two or +three shirts, some handkerchiefs, knives, and other trifles, were +given to them, and seemed to satisfy. Baneelon, willing to +instruct his countrymen, tried to put on a shirt, but managed it +so awkwardly, that a man of the name of M'Entire, the governor's +gamekeeper, was directed by Mr. White to assist him. This man, +who was well known to him, he positively forbade to approach, +eyeing him ferociously, and with every mark of horror and +resentment. He was in consequence left to himself, and the +conversation proceeded as before. The length of his beard seemed +to annoy him much, and he expressed eager wishes to be shaved, +asking repeatedly for a razor. A pair of scissors was given to +him, and he shewed he had not forgotten how to use such an +instrument, for he forthwith began to clip his hair with it.</p> + +<p>During this time, the women and children, to the number of +more than fifty, stood at a distance, and refused all +invitations, which could be conveyed by signs and gestures, to +approach nearer. "Which of them is your old favourite, +Barangaroo, of whom you used to speak so often?"</p> + +<p>"Oh," said he, "she is become the wife of Colbee! But I have +got 'bulla muree deein' (two large women) to compensate for her +loss."</p> + +<p>It was observed that he had received two wounds, in addition +to his former numerous ones, since he had left us; one of them +from a spear, which had passed through the fleshy part of his +arm; and the other displayed itself in a large scar above his +left eye. They were both healed, and probably were acquired in +the conflict wherein he had asserted his pretensions to the two +ladies.</p> + +<p>Nanbaree, all this while, though he continued to interrogate +his countrymen, and to interpret on both sides, shewed little +desire to return to their society, and stuck very close to his +new friends. On being asked the cause of their present meeting, +Baneelon pointed to the whale, which stunk immoderately, and +Colbee made signals, that it was common among them to cat until +the stomach was so overladen as to occasion sickness.</p> + +<p>Their demand of hatchets being re-iterated, notwithstanding +our refusal, they were asked why they had not brought with them +some of their own? They excused themselves by saying, that on an +occasion of the present sort, they always left them at home, and +cut up the whale with the shell which is affixed to the end of +the throwing-stick.</p> + +<p>Our party now thought it time to proceed on their original +expedition, and having taken leave of their sable friends, rowed +to some distance, where they landed, and set out for Broken Bay, +ordering the coxswain of the boat, in which they had come down, +to go immediately and acquaint the governor of all that had +passed. When the natives saw that the boat was about to depart, +they crowded around her, and brought down, by way of present, +three or four great junks of the whale, and put them on board of +her, the largest of which, Baneelon expressly requested might be +offered, in his name, to the governor.</p> + +<p>It happened that his excellency had this day gone to a +landmark, which was building on the South-head, near the +flag-staff, to serve as a direction to ships at sea, and the boat +met him on his return to Sydney. Immediately on receiving the +intelligence, he hastened back to the South-head, and having +procured all the fire-arms which could be mustered there, +consisting of four muskets and a pistol, set out, attended by Mr. +Collins and Lieutenant Waterhouse of the navy.</p> + +<p>When the boat reached Manly Cove, the natives were found still +busily employed around the whale. As they expressed not any +consternation on seeing us row to the beach, governor Phillip +stepped out unarmed, and attended by one seaman only, and called +for Baneelon, who appeared, but, notwithstanding his former +eagerness, would not suffer the other to approach him for several +minutes. Gradually, however, he warmed into friendship and +frankness, and presently after Colbee came up. They discoursed +for some time, Baneelon expressing pleasure to see his old +acquaintance, and inquiring by name for every person whom he +could recollect at Sydney; and among others for a French cook, +one of the governor's servants, whom he had constantly made the +butt of his ridicule, by mimicking his voice, gait, and other +peculiarities, all of which he again went through with his wonted +exactness and drollery. He asked also particularly for a lady +from whom he had once ventured to snatch a kiss; and on being +told that she was well, by way of proving that the token was +fresh in his remembrance, he kissed Lieutenant Waterhouse, and +laughed aloud. On his wounds being noticed, he coldly said, that +he had received them at Botany Bay, but went no farther into +their history.</p> + +<p>Hatchets still continued to be called for with redoubled +eagerness, which rather surprised us, as formerly they had always +been accepted with indifference. But Baneelon had probably +demonstrated to them their superiority over those of their own +manufacturing. To appease their importunity, the governor gave +them a knife, some bread, pork, and other articles, and promised +that in two days he would return hither, and bring with him +hatchets to be distributed among them, which appeared to diffuse +general satisfaction.</p> + +<p>Baneelon's love of wine has been mentioned; and the governor, +to try whether it still subsisted, uncorked a bottle, and poured +out a glass of it, which the other drank off with his former +marks of relish and good humour, giving for a toast, as he had +been taught, "The King."</p> + +<p>Our party now advanced from the beach but, perceiving many of +the Indians filing off to the right and left, so as in some +measure to surround them, they retreated gently to their old +situation, which produced neither alarm or offence. The others by +degrees also resumed their former position. A very fine barbed +spear of uncommon size being seen by the governor, he asked for +it. But Baneelon, instead of complying with the request, took it +away, and laid it at some distance, and brought back a +throwing-stick, which he presented to his excellency.</p> + +<p>Matters had proceeded in this friendly train for more than +half an hour, when a native, with a spear in his hand, came +forward, and stopped at the distance of between twenty and thirty +yards from the place where the governor, Mr. Collins, Lieutenant +Waterhouse, and a seaman stood. His excellency held out his hand, +and called to him, advancing towards him at the same time, Mr. +Collins following close behind. He appeared to be a man of middle +age, short of stature, sturdy, and well set, seemingly a +stranger, and but little acquainted with Baneelon and Colbee. The +nearer the governor approached, the greater became the terror and +agitation of the Indian. To remove his fear, governor Phillip +threw down a dirk, which he wore at his side. The other, alarmed +at the rattle of the dirk, and probably misconstruing the action, +instantly fixed his lance in his throwing-stick*.</p> + +<p class="note">[*Such preparation is equal to what cocking a +gun, and directing it at its object, would be with us. To launch +the spear, or to touch the trigger, only remains.]</p> + +<p>To retreat, his excellency now thought would be more dangerous +than to advance. He therefore cried out to the man, Weeeree, +Weeree, (bad; you are doing wrong) displaying at the same time, +every token of amity and confidence. The words had, however, +hardly gone forth, when the Indian, stepping back with one foot, +aimed his lance with such force and dexterity, that striking* the +governor's right shoulder, just above the collar-bone, the point +glancing downward, came out at his back, having made a wound of +many inches long. The man was observed to keep his eye steadily +fixed on the lance until it struck its object, when he directly +dashed into the woods and was seen no more.</p> + +<p class="note">[*His excellency described the shock to me as +similar to a violent blow, with such energy was the weapon +thrown.]</p> + +<p>Instant confusion on both sides took place. Baneelon and +Colbee disappeared and several spears were thrown from different +quarters, though without effect. Our party retreated as fast as +they could, calling to those who were left in the boat, to hasten +up with firearms. A situation more distressing than that of the +governor, during the time that this lasted, cannot readily be +conceived: the pole of the spear, not less than ten feet in +length, sticking out before him, and impeding his flight, the +butt frequently striking the ground, and lacerating the wound. In +vain did Mr. Waterhouse try to break it; and the barb, which +appeared on the other side, forbade extraction, until that could +be performed. At length it was broken, and his excellency reached +the boat, by which time the seamen with the muskets had got up, +and were endeavouring to fire them, but one only would go off, +and there is no room to believe that it was attended with any +execution.</p> + +<p>When the governor got home, the wound was examined. It had +bled a good deal in the boat, and it was doubtful whether the +subclavian artery might not be divided. On moving the spear, it +was found, however, that it might be safely extracted, which was +accordingly performed.</p> + +<p>Apprehension for the safety of the party who had gone to +Broken Bay, now took place. Lieutenant Long, with a detachment of +marines, was immediately sent to escort them back, lest any +ambush might be laid by the natives to cut them off. When Mr. +Long reached Manly Cove, the sun had set; however, he pursued his +way in the dark, scrambling over rocks and thickets, as well as +he could, until two o'clock on the following morning, when he +overtook them at a place where they had halted to sleep, about +half-way between the two harbours.</p> + +<p>At day-break they all returned, and were surprised to find +tracks in the sand of the feet of the Indians, almost the whole +way from the place where they had slept to the Cove. By this it +should seem as if these last had secretly followed them, probably +with hostile intentions but, on discovering their strength, and +that they were on their guard, had abandoned their design.</p> + +<p>On reaching Manly Cove, three Indians were observed standing +on a rock, with whom they entered into conversation. The Indians +informed them, that the man who had wounded the governor belonged +to a tribe residing at Broken Bay, and they seemed highly to +condemn what he had done. Our gentlemen asked them for a spear, +which they immediately gave. The boat's crew said that Baneelon +and Colbee had just departed, after a friendly intercourse. Like +the others, they had pretended highly to disapprove the conduct +of the man who had thrown the spear, vowing to execute vengeance +upon him.</p> + +<p>From this time, until the 14th, no communication passed +between the natives and us. On that day, the chaplain and +lieutenant Dawes, having Abaroo with them in a boat, learned from +two Indians that Wileemarin was the name of the person who had +wounded the governor. These two people inquired kindly how his +excellency did, and seemed pleased to hear that he was likely to +recover. They said that they were inhabitants of Rose Hill, and +expressed great dissatisfaction at the number of white men who +had settled in their former territories. In consequence of which +declaration, the detachment at that post was reinforced on the +following day.</p> + +<p>A hazardous enterprise (but when liberty is the stake, what +enterprise is too hazardous for its attainment!) was undertaken +in this month by five convicts at Rose Hill, who, in the night, +seized a small punt there, and proceeded in her to the South +Head, whence they seized and carried off a boat, appropriated to +the use of the lookout house, and put to sea in her, doubtless +with a view of reaching any port they could arrive at, and +asserting their freedom. They had all come out in the last fleet; +and for some time previous to their elopement, had been +collecting fishing tackle, and hoarding up provisions, to enable +them to put their scheme into execution*.</p> + +<p class="note">[*They have never since been heard of. Before +they went away, they tried in vain to procure firearms. If they +were not swallowed by the sea, probably they were cut off by the +natives, on some part of the coast where their necessities +obliged them to land.]</p> + +<a name="9"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3> + +<h4>Transactions of the Colony in part of September and October, +1790.</h4> + +<p>From so unfavourable an omen as I have just related, who could +prognosticate that an intercourse with the natives was about to +commence! That the foundation of what neither entreaty, +munificence, or humanity, could induce, should be laid by a deed, +which threatened to accumulate scenes of bloodshed and horror was +a consequence which neither speculation could predict, or hope +expect to see accomplished.</p> + +<p>On the 15th a fire being seen on the north shore of the +harbour, a party of our people went thither, accompanied by +Nanbaree and Abaroo. They found there Baneelon, and several other +natives, and much civility passed, which was cemented by a mutual +promise to meet in the afternoon at the same place. Both sides +were punctual to their engagement, and no objection being made to +our landing, a party of us went ashore to them unarmed. Several +little presents, which had been purposely brought, were +distributed among them; and to Baneelon were given a hatchet and +a fish. At a distance stood some children, who, though at first +timorous and unwilling to approach, were soon persuaded to +advance, and join the men.</p> + +<p>A bottle of wine was produced, and Baneelon immediately +prepared for the charge. Bread and beef he called loudly for, +which were given to him, and he began to eat, offering a part of +his fare to his countrymen, two of whom tasted the beef, but none +of them would touch the bread. Having finished his repast, he +made a motion to be shaved, and a barber being present, his +request was complied with, to the great admiration of his +countrymen, who laughed and exclaimed at the operation. They +would not, however, consent to undergo it, but suffered their +beards to be clipped with a pair of scissors.</p> + +<p>On being asked where their women were, they pointed to the +spot, but seemed not desirous that we should approach it. +However, in a few minutes, a female appeared not far off, and +Abaroo was dispatched to her. Baneelon now joined with Abaroo to +persuade her to come to us, telling us she was Barangaroo, and +his wife, notwithstanding he had so lately pretended that she had +left him for Colbee. At length she yielded, and Abaroo, having +first put a petticoat on her, brought her to us. But this was the +prudery of the wilderness, which her husband joined us to +ridicule, and we soon laughed her out of it. The petticoat was +dropped with hesitation, and Barangaroo stood "armed cap-a-pee in +nakedness." At the request of Baneelon, we combed and cut her +hair, and she seemed pleased with the operation. Wine she would +not taste, but turned from it with disgust, though heartily +invited to drink by the example and persuasion of Baneelon. In +short, she behaved so well, and assumed the character of +gentleness and timidity to such advantage, that had our +acquaintance ended here, a very moderate share of the spirit of +travelling would have sufficed to record, that amidst a horde of +roaming savages, in the desert wastes of New South Wales, might +be found as much feminine innocence, softness, and modesty +(allowing for inevitable difference of education), as the most +finished system could bestow, or the most polished circle +produce. So little fitted are we to judge of human nature at +once! And yet on such grounds have countries been described, and +nations characterized. Hence have arisen those speculative and +laborious compositions on the advantages and superiority of a +state of nature. But to resume my subject.</p> + +<p>Supposing, that by a private conversation, she might be +induced to visit Sydney, which would be the means of drawing her +husband and others thither, Abaroo was instructed to take her +aside, and try if she could persuade her to comply with our wish. +They wandered away together accordingly, but it was soon seen, +that Barangaroo's arguments to induce Abaroo to rejoin their +society, were more powerful than those of the latter, to prevail +upon her to come among us; for it was not without manifest +reluctance, and often repeated injunctions, that Abaroo would +quit her countrywomen; and when she had done so, she sat in the +boat, in sullen silence, evidently occupied by reflection on the +scene she had left behind, and returning inclination to her +former habits of life.</p> + +<p>Nor was a circumstance which had happened in the morning +interview, perhaps, wholly unremembered by the girl. We had +hinted to Baneelon to provide a husband for her, who should be at +liberty to pass and repass to and from Sydney, as he might +choose. There was at the time, a slender fine looking youth in +company, called Imeerawanyee, about sixteen years old. The lad, +on being invited, came immediately up to her, and offered many +blandishments, which proved that he had assumed the 'toga +virilis'. But Abaroo disclaimed his advances, repeating the name +of another person, who we knew was her favourite. The young lover +was not, however, easily repulsed, but renewed his suit, on our +return in the afternoon, with such warmth of solicitation, as to +cause an evident alteration in the sentiments of the lady.</p> + +<p>To heighten the good humour which pervaded both parties, we +began to play and romp with them. Feats of bodily strength were +tried, and their inferiority was glaring. One of our party lifted +with ease two of them from the ground, in spite of their efforts +to prevent him, whereas in return, no one of them could move him. +They called him 'murree mulla' (a large strong man). Compared +with our English labourers, their muscular power would appear +very feeble and inadequate.</p> + +<p>Before we parted, Baneelon informed us that his countrymen had +lately been plundered of fish-gigs, spears, a sword, and many +other articles, by some of our people, and expressed a wish that +they should be restored, promising, that if they were, the +governor's dirk should be produced and returned to us to-morrow, +if we would meet him here.</p> + +<p>Accordingly on the following day we rowed to the spot, +carrying with us the stolen property. We found here several +natives, but not Baneelon. We asked for him, and were told that +he was gone down the harbour with Barangaroo to fish. Although +disappointed at his breach of promise, we went on shore, and +mingled without distrust among those we found, acquainting them +that we had brought with us the articles of which they had been +plundered. On hearing this account, they expressed great joy, and +Imeerawanyee darting forward, claimed the sword. It was given to +him, and he had no sooner grasped it, than he hastened to +convince his mistress, that his prowess in war, was not inferior +to his skill in courtship. Singling out a yellow gum-tree for the +foe, he attacked it with great fierceness, calling to us to look +on, and accompanying his onset with all the gestures and +vociferation which they use in battle. Having conquered his +enemy, he laid aside his fighting face, and joined us with a +countenance which carried in it every mark of youth and good +nature.</p> + +<p>Whether Abaroo's coyness, and preference of another, had +displeased him, or it was owing to natural fickleness, he paid +her no farther attention, but seemed more delighted with us. He +had no beard, but was highly gratified in being combed and having +his hair clipped.</p> + +<p>All the stolen property being brought on shore, an old man +came up, and claimed one of the fish-gigs, singling it from the +bundle, and taking only his own; and this honesty, within the +circle of their society, seemed to characterize them all.</p> + +<p>During this time, it was observed, that one of the Indians, +instead of mixing with the rest, stood aloof, in a musing +posture, contemplating what passed. When we offered to approach +him, he shunned us not, and willingly shook hands with all who +chose to do so. He seemed to be between 30 and 40 years old, was +jolly, and had a thoughtful countenance, much marked by the +smallpox. He wore a string of bits of dried reed round his neck, +which I asked him to exchange for a black stock. He smiled at the +proposal, but made no offer of what I wanted; which our young +friend, Imeerawanyee, observing, flew to him, and taking off the +necklace, directly fixed it about my neck. I feared he would be +enraged, but he bore it with serenity, and suffered a gentleman +present to fasten his black stock upon him, with which he +appeared to be pleased. To increase his satisfaction, some other +trifle was given to him.</p> + +<p>Having remained here an hour we went in quest of Baneelon, +agreeably to the directions which his companions pointed out. We +found him and Barangaroo shivering over a few lighted sticks, by +which they were dressing small fish, and their canoe hauled up on +the beach near them. On first seeing the boat, they ran into the +woods; but on being called by name, they came back, and consented +to our landing. We carried on shore with us the remaining part of +the fish-gigs and spears which had been stolen, and restored them +to Baneelon. Among other things, was a net full of fishing lines +and other tackle, which Barangaroo said was her property and, +immediately on receiving it, she slung it around her neck.</p> + +<p>Baneelon inquired, with solicitude, about the state of the +governor's wound, but he made no offer of restoring the dirk; and +when he was asked for it, he pretended to know nothing of it, +changing the conversation with great art, and asking for wine, +which was given to him.</p> + +<p>At parting, we pressed him to appoint a day on which he should +come to Sydney, assuring him, that he would be well received, and +kindly treated. Doubtful, however, of being permitted to return, +he evaded our request, and declared that the governor must first +come and see him, which we promised should be done.</p> + +<p>The governor did not hesitate to execute the engagement which +we had contracted for him. But Baneelon still resisted coming +among us, and matters continued in this fluctuating state until +the 8th of October, when a fire, which they had agreed to light +as a signal for us to visit them, was observed. The eager desire +by which we were stimulated to carry our point of effecting an +intercourse had appeared. Various parties accordingly set out to +meet them, provided with different articles, which we thought +would prove acceptable to them. We found assembled, Baneelon, +Barangaroo, and another young woman, and six men, all of whom +received us with welcome, except the grave looking gentleman +before mentioned, who stood aloof in his former musing posture. +When they saw that we had brought hatchets, and other articles +with us, they produced spears, fish-gigs, and lines, for the +purpose of barter,* which immediately commenced, to the +satisfaction of both parties. I had brought with me an old +blunted spear, which wanted repair. An Indian immediately +undertook to perform the task, and carrying it to a fire, tore +with his teeth a piece of bone from a fish-gig, which he fastened +on the spear with yellow gum, rendered flexible by heat.</p> + +<p class="note">[*It had long been our wish to establish a +commerce of this sort. It is a painful consideration, that every +previous addition to the cabinet of the virtuosi, from this +country, had wrung a tear from the plundered Indian.]</p> + +<p>October, 1790. Many of them now consented to be shaved by a +barber whom we had purposely brought over. As I thought he who +could perform an operation of such importance must be deemed by +them an eminent personage, I bade him ask one of them for a fine +barbed spear which he held in his hand; but all the barber's +eloquence was wasted on the Indian, who plainly gave him to +understand that he meant not to part with his spear, without +receiving an equivalent. Unfortunately, his price was a hatchet, +and the only one which I had brought with me was already disposed +of to the man who had pointed my spear. In vain did I tempt him +with a knife, a handkerchief, and a hat; nothing but a hatchet +seemed to be regarded. 'Bulla mogo parrabugo' (two hatchets +to-morrow) I repeatedly cried; but having probably experienced +our insincerity, he rejected the proposal with disdain. Finding +him inflexible, and longing to possess the spear, I told him at +length that I would go to Sydney and fetch what he required. This +seemed to satisfy, and he accompanied me to my boat, in which I +went away, and as quickly as possible procured what was necessary +to conclude the bargain. On my return, I was surprised to see all +our boats rowing towards home, and with them a canoe, in which +sat two Indians paddling. I pulled to them, and found that +Baneelon, and another Indian, were in one of the boats, and that +the whole formed a party going over to visit the governor. I now +learned, that during my absence, the governor had passed in a +boat, on his return from Rose Hill, near the place where they +were standing; and that finding he would not come to them, +although they had called to him to do so, they had at once +determined to venture themselves unreservedly among us. One of +the men in the canoe was the person to whom I was to give the +hatchet I had been to fetch; and directly as he saw me, he held +up his spear, and the exchange took place, with which, and +perhaps to reward me for the trouble I had taken, he was so +delighted that he presented me with a throwing-stick +'gratis'.</p> + +<p>Not seeing Barangaroo of the party, I asked for her, and was +informed that she had violently opposed Baneelon's departure. +When she found persuasion vain, she had recourse to tears, +scolding, and threats, stamping the ground, and tearing her hair. +But Baneelon continuing determined, she snatched up in her rage +one of his fish-gigs, and dashed it with such fury on the rocks, +that it broke. To quiet her apprehensions on the score of her +husband's safety, Mr. Johnson, attended by Abaroo, agreed to +remain as a hostage until Baneelon should return.</p> + +<p>We landed our four friends opposite the hospital, and set out +for the governor's house. On hearing of their arrival, such +numbers flocked to view them that we were apprehensive the crowd +of persons would alarm them, but they had left their fears +behind, and marched on with boldness and unconcern. When we +reached the governor's house, Baneelon expressed honest joy to +see his old friend, and appeared pleased to find that he had +recovered of his wound. The governor asked for Wileemarin, and +they said he was at Broken Bay. Some bread and beef were +distributed among them but unluckily no fish was to be procured, +which we were sorry for, as a promise of it had been one of the +leading temptations by which they had been allured over. A +hatchet apiece was, however, given to them, and a couple of +petticoats and some fishing tackle sent for Barangaroo, and the +other woman.</p> + +<p>The ceremony of introduction being finished, Baneelon seemed +to consider himself quite at home, running from room to room with +his companions, and introducing them to his old friends, the +domestics, in the most familiar manner. Among these last, he +particularly distinguished the governor's orderly sergeant, whom +he kissed with great affection, and a woman who attended in the +kitchen; but the gamekeeper, M'Entire*, he continued to hold in +abhorrence, and would not suffer his approach.</p> + +<p class="note">[*Look at the account of the governor being +wounded, when his detestation of this man burst forth.]</p> + +<p>Nor was his importance to his countrymen less conspicuous in +other respects. He undertook to explain the use and nature of +those things which were new to them. Some of his explanations +were whimsical enough. Seeing, for instance, a pair of snuffers, +he told them that they were "Nuffer* for candle,"--which the +others not comprehending, he opened the snuffers, and holding up +the fore-finger of his left hand, to represent a candle, made the +motion of snuffing it. Finding, that even this sagacious +interpretation failed, he threw down the snuffers in a rage, and +reproaching their stupidity, walked away.</p> + +<p class="note">[*The S is a letter which they cannot pronounce, +having no sound in their language similar to it. When bidden to +pronounce sun, they always say tun; salt, talt, and so of all +words wherein it occurs.]</p> + +<p>It was observed, that a soft gentle tone of voice, which we +had taught him to use, was forgotten, and his native vociferation +returned in full force. But the tenderness which (like Arabanoo) +he had always manifested to children, he still retained; as +appeared by his behaviour to those who were presented to him.</p> + +<p>The first wish they expressed to return, was complied with, in +order to banish all appearance of constraint, the party who had +conducted them to Sydney returning with them. When we reached the +opposite shore, we found Abaroo and the other woman fishing in a +canoe, and Mr. Johnson and Barangaroo sitting at the fire, the +latter employed in manufacturing fish-hooks. At a little +distance, on an adjoining eminence, sat an Indian, with his spear +in his hand, as if sentinel over the hostages, for the security +of his countrymen's return. During our absence, Barangaroo had +never ceased whining, and reproaching her husband. Now that he +was returned, she met him with unconcern, and seemed intent on +her work only, but this state of repose did not long continue. +Baneelon, eyeing the broken fish-gig, cast at her a look of +savage fury and began to interrogate her, and it seemed more than +probable that the remaining part would be demolished about her +head had we not interposed to pacify him. Nor would we quit the +place until his forgiveness was complete, and his good humour +restored. No sooner, however, did she find her husband's rage +subsided, than her hour of triumph commenced. The alarm and +trepidation she had manifested disappeared. Elated at his +condescension, and emboldened by our presence and the finery in +which we had decked her, she in turn assumed a haughty demeanour, +refused to answer his caresses, and viewed him with a reproaching +eye. Although long absence from female society had somewhat +blunted our recollection, the conduct of Barangaroo did not +appear quite novel to us, nor was our surprise very violent at +finding that it succeeded in subduing Baneelon who, when we +parted, seemed anxious only to please her.</p> + +<p>Thus ended a day, the events of which served to complete what +an unhappy accident had begun. From this time our intercourse +with the natives, though partially interrupted, was never broken +off. We gradually continued, henceforth, to gain knowledge of +their customs and policy, the only knowledge which can lead to a +just estimate of national character.</p> + +<a name="10"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER X.</h3> + +<h4>The arrival of the 'Supply' from Batavia; the State of the +Colony in November, 1790.</h4> + +<p>Joy sparkled in every countenance to see our old friend the +'Supply' (I hope no reader will be so captious as to quarrel with +the phrase) enter the harbour from Batavia on the 19th of +October. We had witnessed her departure with tears; we hailed her +return with transport.</p> + +<p>Captain Ball was rather more than six months in making this +voyage, and is the first person who ever circumnavigated the +continent of New Holland. On his passage to Batavia, he had +discovered several islands, which he gave names to and, after +fighting his way against adverse elements and through unexplored +dangers, safely reached his destined port. He had well stored his +little bark with every necessary and conveniency which he judged +we should first want, leaving a cargo of rice and salt provisions +to be brought on by a Dutch snow, which he had hired and +freighted for the use of the settlement. While at Batavia, the +'Supply' had lost many of her people by sickness, and left +several others in the general hospital at that place.</p> + +<p>As the arrival of the 'Supply' naturally leads the attention +from other subjects to the state of the colony, I shall here take +a review of it by transcribing a statement drawn from actual +observation soon after, exactly as I find it written in my +journal.</p> + +<p>Cultivation, on a public scale, has for some time past been +given up here, (Sydney) the crop of last year being so miserable, +as to deter from farther experiment, in consequence of which the +government-farm is abandoned, and the people who were fixed on it +have been removed. Necessary public buildings advance fast; an +excellent storehouse of large dimensions, built of bricks and +covered with tiles, is just completed; and another planned which +will shortly be begun. Other buildings, among which I heard the +governor mention an hospital and permanent barracks for the +troops, may also be expected to arise soon. Works of this nature +are more expeditiously performed than heretofore, owing, I +apprehend, to the superintendants lately arrived, who are placed +over the convicts and compel them to labour. The first +difficulties of a new country being subdued may also contribute +to this comparative facility.</p> + +<p>Vegetables are scarce, although the summer is so far advanced, +owing to want of rain. I do not think that all the showers of the +last four months put together, would make twenty-four hours rain. +Our farms, what with this and a poor soil, are in wretched +condition. My winter crop of potatoes, which I planted in days of +despair (March and April last), turned out very badly when I dug +them about two months back. Wheat returned so poorly last +harvest, that very little, besides Indian corn, has been sown +this year. The governor's wound is quite healed, and he feels no +inconveniency whatever from it. With the natives we are hand and +glove. They throng the camp every day, and sometimes by their +clamour and importunity for bread and meat (of which they now all +eat greedily) are become very troublesome. God knows, we have +little enough for ourselves! Full allowance (if eight pounds of +flour and either seven pounds of beef, or four pounds of pork, +served alternately, per week, without either pease, oatmeal, +spirits, butter, or cheese, can be called so) is yet kept up; but +if the Dutch snow does not arrive soon it must be shortened, as +the casks in the storehouse, I observed yesterday, are woefully +decreased.</p> + +<p>The convicts continue to behave pretty well; three only have +been hanged since the arrival of the last fleet, in the latter +end of June, all of whom were newcomers. The number of convicts +here diminishes every day; our principal efforts being wisely +made at Rose Hill, where the land is unquestionably better than +about this place. Except building, sawing and brickmaking, +nothing of consequence is now carried on here. The account which +I received a few days ago from the brickmakers of their labours, +was as follows. Wheeler (one of the master brick-makers) with two +tile stools and one brick stool, was tasked to make and burn +ready for use 30000 tiles and bricks per month. He had twenty-one +hands to assist him, who performed every thing; cut wood, dug +clay, etc. This continued (during the days of distress excepted, +when they did what they could) until June last. From June, with +one brick and two tile stools he has been tasked to make 40000 +bricks and tiles monthly (as many of each sort as may be), having +twenty-two men and two boys to assist him, on the same terms of +procuring materials as before. They fetch the clay of which tiles +are made, two hundred yards; that for bricks is close at hand. He +says that the bricks are such as would be called in England, +moderately good, and he judges they would have fetched about 24 +shillings per thousand at Kingston-upon-Thames (where he resided) +in the year 1784. Their greatest fault is being too brittle. The +tiles he thinks not so good as those made about London. The stuff +has a rotten quality, and besides wants the advantage of being +ground, in lieu of which they tread it.</p> + +<p>King (another master bricklayer) last year, with the +assistance of sixteen men and two boys, made 11,000 bricks +weekly, with two stools. During short allowance did what he +could. Resumed his old task when put again on full allowance and +had his number of assistants augmented to twenty men and two +boys, on account of the increased distance of carrying wood for +the kilns. He worked at Hammersmith, for Mr. Scot, of that place. +He thinks the bricks made here as good as those made near London, +and says that in the year 1784, they would have sold for a guinea +per thousand and to have picked the kiln at thirty +shillings.'</p> + +<p>Such is my Sydney detail dated the 12th of November, 1790. +Four days after I went to Rose Hill, and wrote there the +subjoined remarks.</p> + +<p>November 16th. Got to Rose Hill in the evening. Next morning +walked round the whole of the cleared and cultivated land, with +the Rev. Mr. Johnson, who is the best farmer in the country. +Edward Dod, one of the governor's household, who conducts +everything here in the agricultural line, accompanied us part of +the way, and afforded all the information he could. He estimates +the quantity of cleared and cultivated land at 200 acres. Of +these fifty-five are in wheat, barley, and a little oats, thirty +in maize, and the remainder is either just cleared of wood, or is +occupied by buildings, gardens, etc. Four enclosures of twenty +acres each, are planned for the reception of cattle, which may +arrive in the colony, and two of these are already fenced in. In +the centre of them is to be erected a house, for a person who +will be fixed upon to take care of the cattle. All these +enclosures are supplied with water; and only a part of the trees +which grew in them being cut down, gives to them a very park-like +and beautiful appearance.</p> + +<p>Our survey commenced on the north side of the river. Dod says +he expects this year's crop of wheat and barley from the +fifty-five acres to yield full 400 bushels. Appearances hitherto +hardly indicate so much. He says he finds the beginning of May +the best time to sow barley,* but that it may continue to be sown +until August. That sown in May is reaped in December; that of +August in January. He sowed his wheat, part in June and part in +July. He thinks June the best time, and says that he invariably +finds that which is deepest sown, grows strongest and best, even +as deep as three inches he has put it in, and found it to answer. +The wheat sown in June is now turning yellow; that of July is +more backward. He has used only the broad-cast husbandry, and +sowed two bushels per acre. The plough has never yet been tried +here; all the ground is hoed, and (as Dod confesses) very +incompetently turned up. Each convict labourer was obliged to hoe +sixteen rods a day, so that in some places the earth was but just +scratched over. The ground was left open for some months, to +receive benefit from the sun and air; and on that newly cleared +the trees were burnt, and the ashes dug in. I do not find that a +succession of crops has yet been attempted; surely it would help +to meliorate and improve the soil. Dod recommends strongly the +culture of potatoes, on a large scale, and says that were they +planted even as late as January they would answer, but this I +doubt. He is more than ever of opinion that without a large +supply of cattle nothing can be done. They have not at this time +either horse, cow, or sheep here. I asked him how the stock they +had was coming on. The fowls he said multiplied exceedingly, but +the hogs neither thrived or increased in number, for want of +food. He pointed out to us his best wheat, which looks tolerable, +and may perhaps yield 13 or 14 bushels per acre**. Next came the +oats which are in ear, though not more than six inches high: they +will not return as much seed as was sown. The barley, except one +patch in a corner of a field, little better than the oats. +Crossed the river and inspected the south side. Found the little +patch of wheat at the bottom of the crescent very bad. Proceeded +and examined the large field on the ascent to the westward: here +are about twenty-five acres of wheat, which from its appearance +we guessed would produce perhaps seven bushels an acre. The next +patch to this is in maize, which looks not unpromising; some of +the stems are stout, and beginning to throw out large broad +leaves, the surest sign of vigour. The view from the top of the +wheat field takes in, except a narrow slip, the whole of the +cleared land at Rose Hill. From not having before seen an opening +of such extent for the last three years, this struck us as grand +and capacious. The beautiful diversity of the ground (gentle hill +and dale) would certainly be reckoned pretty in any country. +Continued our walk, and crossed the old field, which is intended +to form part of the main street of the projected town. The wheat +in this field is rather better, but not much, than in the large +field before mentioned. The next field is maize, inferior to what +we have seen, but not despicable. An acre of maize, at the bottom +of the marine garden, is equal in luxuriancy of promise to any I +ever saw in any country.</p> + +<p class="note">[*The best crop of barley ever produced in New +South Wales, was sown by a private individual, in February 1790, +and reaped in the following October.]</p> + +<p class="note">[**As all the trees on our cleared ground were +cut down, and not grubbed up, the roots and stumps remain, on +which account a tenth part of surface in every acre must be +deducted. This is slovenly husbandry; but in a country where +immediate subsistence is wanted, it is perhaps necessary. None of +these stumps, when I left Port Jackson, showed any symptoms of +decay, though some of the trees had been cut down four years. To +the different qualities of the wood of Norfolk Island and New +South Wales, perhaps the difference of soil may in some measure +be traced. That of Norfolk Island is light and porous: it rots +and turns into mould in two years. Besides its hardness that of +Port Jackson abounds with red corrosive gum, which contributes +its share of mischief.]</p> + +<p>The main street of the new town is already begun. It is to be +a mile long, and of such breadth as will make Pall Mall and +Portland Place "hide their diminished heads." It contains at +present thirty-two houses completed, of twenty-four feet by +twelve each, on a ground floor only, built of wattles plastered +with clay, and thatched. Each house is divided into two rooms, in +one of which is a fire place and a brick chimney. These houses +are designed for men only; and ten is the number of inhabitants +allotted to each; but some of them now contain twelve or +fourteen, for want of better accommodation. More are building. In +a cross street stand nine houses for unmarried women; and +exclusive of all these are several small huts where convict +families of good character are allowed to reside. Of public +buildings, besides the old wooden barrack and store, there is a +house of lath and plaster, forty-four feet long by sixteen wide, +for the governor, on a ground floor only, with excellent +out-houses and appurtenances attached to it. A new brick store +house, covered with tiles, 100 feet long by twenty-four wide, is +nearly completed, and a house for the store-keeper. The first +stone of a barrack, 100 feet long by twenty-four wide, to which +are intended to be added wings for the officers, was laid to-day. +The situation of the barrack is judicious, being close to the +store-house, and within a hundred and fifty yards of the wharf, +where all boats from Sydney unload. To what I have already +enumerated, must be added an excellent barn, a granary, an +inclosed yard to rear stock in, a commodious blacksmith's shop, +and a most wretched hospital, totally destitute of every +conveniency. Luckily for the gentleman who superintends this +hospital, and still more luckily for those who are doomed in case +of sickness to enter it, the air of Rose Hill has hitherto been +generally healthy. A tendency to produce slight inflammatory +disorders, from the rapid changes* of the temperature of the air, +is most to be dreaded.</p> + +<p class="note">[*In the close of the year 1788, when this +settlement was established, the thermometer has been known to +stand at 50 degrees a little before sunrise, and between one and +two o' clock in the afternoon at above 100 degrees.]</p> + +<p>'The hours of labour for the convicts are the same here as at +Sydney. On Saturdays after ten o'clock in the morning they are +allowed to work in their own gardens. These gardens are at +present, from the long drought and other causes, in a most +deplorable state. Potatoes, I think, thrive better than any other +vegetable in them. For the public conveniency a baker is +established here in a good bakehouse, who exchanges with every +person bread for flour, on stipulated terms; but no compulsion +exists for any one to take his bread; it is left entirely to +every body's own option to consume his flour as he pleases. +Divine service is performed here, morning and afternoon, one +Sunday in every month, when all the convicts are obliged to +attend church, under penalty of having a part of their allowance +of provisions stopped, which is done by the chaplain, who is a +justice of the peace.</p> + +<p>'For the punishment of offenders, where a criminal court is +not judged necessary, two or more justices, occasionally +assemble, and order the infliction of slight corporal punishment, +or short confinement in a strong room built for this purpose. The +military present here consists of two subalterns, two sergeants, +three corporals, a drummer, and twenty-one privates. These have +been occasionally augmented and reduced, as circumstances have +been thought to render it necessary.</p> + +<p>Brick-kilns are now erected here, and bricks manufactured by a +convict of the name of Becket, who came out in the last fleet, +and has fifty-two people to work under him. He makes 25,000 +bricks weekly. He says that they are very good, and would sell at +Birmingham, where he worked about eighteen months ago, at more +than 30 shillings per thousand.</p> + +<p>Nothing farther of public nature remaining to examine, I next +visited a humble adventurer, who is trying his fortune here. +James Ruse, convict, was cast for seven years at Bodmin assizes, +in August 1782. He lay five years in prison and on board the +'Dunkirk' hulk at Plymouth, and then was sent to this country. +When his term of punishment expired, in August 1789, he claimed +his freedom, and was permitted by the governor, on promising to +settle in the country, to take in December following, an +uncleaned piece of ground, with an assurance that if he would +cultivate it, it should not be taken from him. Some assistance +was given him, to fell the timber, and he accordingly began. His +present account to me was as follows.</p> + +<p>I was bred a husbandman, near Launcester in Cornwall. I +cleared my land as well as I could, with the help afforded me. +The exact limit of what ground I am to have, I do not yet know; +but a certain direction has been pointed out to me, in which I +may proceed as fast as I can cultivate. I have now an acre and a +half in bearded wheat, half an acre in maize, and a small kitchen +garden. On my wheat land I sowed three bushels of seed, the +produce of this country, broad cast. I expect to reap about +twelve or thirteen bushels. I know nothing of the cultivation of +maize, and cannot therefore guess so well at what I am likely to +gather. I sowed part of my wheat in May, and part in June. That +sown in May has thrived best. My maize I planted in the latter +end of August, and the beginning of September. My land I prepared +thus: having burnt the fallen timber off the ground, I dug in the +ashes, and then hoed it up, never doing more than eight, or +perhaps nine, rods in a day, by which means, it was not like the +government farm, just scratched over, but properly done. Then I +clod-moulded it, and dug in the grass and weeds. This I think +almost equal to ploughing. I then let it lie as long as I could, +exposed to air and sun; and just before I sowed my seed, turned +it all up afresh. When I shall have reaped my crop, I purpose to +hoe it again, and harrow it fine, and then sow it with +turnip-seed, which will mellow and prepare it for next year. My +straw, I mean to bury in pits, and throw in with it every thing +which I think will rot and turn to manure. I have no person to +help me, at present, but my wife, whom I married in this country; +she is industrious. The governor, for some time, gave me the help +of a convict man, but he is taken away. Both my wife and myself +receive our provisions regularly at the store, like all other +people. My opinion of the soil of my farm, is, that it is +middling, neither good or bad. I will be bound to make it do with +the aid of manure, but without cattle it will fail. The greatest +check upon me is, the dishonesty of the convicts who, in spite of +all my vigilance, rob me almost every night.</p> + +<p>The annexed return will show the number of persons of all +descriptions at Rose Hill, at this period. On the morning of the +17th, I went down to Sydney.</p> + +<p>Here terminates the transcription of my diary. It were vain to +suppose, that it can prove either agreeable or interesting to a +majority of readers but as this work is intended not only for +amusement, but information, I considered it right to present this +detail unaltered, either in its style or arrangement.</p> + +<p>A return of the number of persons employed at Rose Hill, +November 16th, 1790.</p> + +<pre> +------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +How Employed | Troops | Civil dept | Troops | Convicts | + | | |Wives | Children| Men | Women | Children| +------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Storekeeper 1 +Surgeon 1 +Carpenters 24 +Blacksmiths 5 +Master Bricklayer 1 +Bricklayers 28 +Master Brickmaker 1 +Brickmakers 52 +Labourers 326* +Assistants to the +provision store 4 +Assistants to the +hospital 3 +Officers' servants 6 +Making Clothing 50 +Superintendants 4 +------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Total number of +persons 552| 29 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 450 | 50 | 13 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +</pre> + +<br> +<br> +<p class="note">[*Of these labourers, 16 are sawyers. The rest +are variously employed in clearing fresh land; in dragging brick +and timber carts; and a great number in making a road of a mile +long, through the main street, to the governor's house.]</p> + +<a name="11"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER XI.</h3> + +<h4>Farther Transactions of the Colony in November, 1790.</h4> + +<p>During the intervals of duty, our greatest source of +entertainment now lay in cultivating the acquaintance of our new +friends, the natives. Ever liberal of communication, no +difficulty but of understanding each other subsisted between us. +Inexplicable contradictions arose to bewilder our researches +which no ingenuity could unravel and no credulity reconcile.</p> + +<p>Baneelon, from being accustomed to our manners, and +understanding a little English, was the person through whom we +wished to prosecute inquiry, but he had lately become a man of so +much dignity and consequence, that it was not always easy to +obtain his company. Clothes had been given to him at various +times, but he did not always condescend to wear them. One day he +would appear in them, and the next day he was to be seen carrying +them in a net slung around his neck. Farther to please him, a +brick house of twelve feet square was built for his use, and for +that of such of his countrymen as might choose to reside in it, +on a point of land fixed upon by himself. A shield, double cased +with tin, to ward off the spears of his enemies, was also +presented to him, by the governor.</p> + +<p>Elated by these marks of favour, and sensible that his +importance with his countrymen arose in proportion to our +patronage of him, he warmly attached himself to our society. But +the gratitude of a savage is ever a precarious tenure. That of +Baneelon was fated to suffer suspension, and had well nigh been +obliterated by the following singular circumstance.</p> + +<p>One day the natives were observed to assemble in more than an +ordinary number at their house on the point, and to be full of +bustle and agitation, repeatedly calling on the name of Baneelon, +and that of 'deein' (a woman). Between twelve and one o'clock +Baneelon, unattended, came to the governor at his house, and told +him that he was going to put to death a woman immediately, whom +he had brought from Botany Bay. Having communicated his +intention, he was preparing to go away, seeming not to wish that +the governor should be present at the performance of the +ceremony. But His Excellency was so struck with the fierce +gestures, and wild demeanour of the other, who held in his hand +one of our hatchets and frequently tried the sharpness of it, +that he determined to accompany him, taking with him Mr. Collins +and his orderly sergeant. On the road, Baneelon continued to talk +wildly and incoherently of what he would do, and manifested such +extravagant marks of fury and revenge, that his hatchet was taken +away from him, and a walking-stick substituted for it.</p> + +<p>When they reached the house, they found several natives, of +both sexes lying promiscuously before the fire, and among them a +young woman, not more than sixteen years old, who at sight of +Baneelon, started, and raised herself half up. He no sooner saw +her than, snatching a sword of the country, he ran at her, and +gave her two severe wounds on the head and one on the shoulder, +before interference in behalf of the poor wretch could be made. +Our people now rushed in and seized him; but the other Indians +continued quiet spectators of what was passing, either awed by +Baneelon's superiority or deeming it a common case, unworthy of +notice and interposition. In vain did the governor by turns +soothe and threaten him. In vain did the sergeant point his +musquet at him. He seemed dead to every passion but revenge; +forgot his affection to his old friends and, instead of complying +with the request they made, furiously brandished his sword at the +governor, and called aloud for his hatchet to dispatch the +unhappy victim of his barbarity. Matters now wore a serious +aspect. The other Indians appeared under the control of Baneelon +and had begun to arm and prepare their spears, as if determined +to support him in his violence.</p> + +<p>Farther delay might have been attended with danger. The +'Supply' was therefore immediately hailed, and an armed boat +ordered to be sent on shore. Luckily, those on board the ship had +already observed the commotion and a boat was ready, into which +captain Ball, with several of his people stepped, armed with +musquets, and put off. It was reasonable to believe that so +powerful a reinforcement would restore tranquillity, but Baneelon +stood unintimidated at disparity of numbers and boldly demanded +his prisoner, whose life, he told the governor, he was determined +to sacrifice, and afterwards to cut off her head. Everyone was +eager to know what could be the cause of such inveterate +inhumanity. Undaunted, he replied that her father was his enemy, +from whom he had received the wound in his forehead +beforementioned; and that when he was down in battle, and under +the lance of his antagonist, this woman had contributed to assail +him. "She is now," added he, "my property: I have ravished her by +force from her tribe: and I will part with her to no person +whatever, until my vengeance shall be glutted."</p> + +<p>Farther remonstrance would have been wasted. His Excellency +therefore ordered the woman to be taken to the hospital in order +that her wounds might be dressed. While this was doing, one of +the natives, a young man named Boladeree, came up and supplicated +to be taken into the boat also, saying that he was her husband, +which she confirmed and begged that he might be admitted. He was +a fine well grown lad, of nineteen or twenty years old, and was +one of the persons who had been in the house in the scene just +described, which he had in no wise endeavoured to prevent, or to +afford assistance to the poor creature who had a right to his +protection.</p> + +<p>All our people now quitted the place, leaving the exasperated +Baneelon and his associates to meditate farther schemes of +vengeance. Before they parted he gave them, however, to +understand that he would follow the object of his resentment to +the hospital, and kill her there, a threat which the governor +assured him if he offered to carry into execution he should be +immediately shot. Even this menace he treated with disdain.</p> + +<p>To place the refugees in security, a sentinel was ordered to +take post at the door of the house, in which they were lodged. +Nevertheless they attempted to get away in the night, either from +fear that we were not able to protect them, or some apprehension +of being restrained from future liberty. When questioned where +they proposed to find shelter, they said they would go to the +Cameragal tribe, with whom they should be safe. On the following +morning, Imeerawanyee* joined them, and expressed strong fears of +Baneelon's resentment. Soon after a party of natives, known to +consist of Baneelon's chosen friends, with a man of the name of +Bigon, at their head, boldly entered the hospital garden, and +tried to carry off all three by force. They were driven back and +threatened, to which their leader only replied by contemptuous +insolence.</p> + +<p class="note">[*This good-tempered lively lad, was become a +great favourite with us, and almost constantly lived at the +governor's house. He had clothes made up for him, and to amuse +his mind, he was taught to wait at table. One day a lady, Mrs. +McArthur, wife of an officer of the garrison, dined there, as did +Nanbaree. This latter, anxious that his countryman should appear +to advantage in his new office, gave him many instructions, +strictly charging him, among other things, to take away the +lady's plate, whenever she should cross her knife and fork, and +to give her a clean one. This Imeerawanyee executed, not only to +Mrs. McArthur, but to several of the other guests. At last +Nanbaree crossed his knife and fork with great gravity, casting a +glance at the other, who looked for a moment with cool +indifference at what he had done, and then turned his head +another way. Stung at this supercilious treatment, he called in +rage, to know why he was not attended to, as well as the rest of +the company. But Imeerawanyee only laughed; nor could all the +anger and reproaches of the other prevail upon him to do that for +one of his countrymen, which he cheerfully continued to perform +to every other person.]</p> + +<p>Baneelon finding he could not succeed, withdrew himself for +two days. At length he made his appearance, attended only by his +wife. Unmindful of what had so recently happened, he marched +singly up to the governor's house, and on being refused +admittance, though unarmed, attempted to force the sentinel. The +soldier spared him, but the guard was instantly sent for, and +drawn up in front of the house; not that their co-operation was +necessary, but that their appearance might terrify. His ardour +now cooled, and he seemed willing, by submission, to atone for +his misconduct. His intrepid disregard of personal risk, nay of +life, could not however, but gain admiration; though it led us to +predict, that this Baneelon, whom imagination had fondly +pictured, like a second Omai, the gaze of a court and the +scrutiny of the curious, would perish untimely, the victim of his +own temerity.</p> + +<p>To encourage his present disposition of mind, and to try if +feelings of compassion towards an enemy, could be exerted by an +Indian warrior, the governor ordered him to be taken to the +hospital, that he might see the victim of his ferocity. He +complied in sullen silence. When about to enter the room in which +she lay, he appeared to have a momentary struggle with himself, +which ended his resentment. He spoke to her with kindness, and +professed sorrow for what he had done, and promised her future +protection. Barangaroo, who had accompanied him, now took the +alarm: and as in shunning one extreme we are ever likely to rush +into another, she thought him perhaps too courteous and tender. +Accordingly she began to revile them both with great bitterness, +threw stones at the girl and attempted to beat her with a +club.</p> + +<p>Here terminated this curious history, which I leave to the +reader's speculation. Whether human sacrifices of prisoners be +common among them is a point which all our future inquiry never +completely determined. It is certain that no second instance of +this sort was ever witnessed by us.</p> + +<a name="12"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER XII.</h3> + +<h4>Transactions of the Colony in Part of December, 1790.</h4> + +<p>On the 9th of the month, a sergeant of marines, with three +convicts, among whom was McEntire, the governor's gamekeeper (the +person of whom Baneelon had, on former occasions, shown so much +dread and hatred) went out on a shooting party. Having passed the +north arm of Botany Bay, they proceeded to a hut formed of +boughs, which had been lately erected on this peninsula, for the +accommodation of sportsmen who wished to continue by night in the +woods; for, as the kangaroos in the day-time, chiefly keep in the +cover, it is customary on these parties to sleep until near +sunset, and watch for the game during the night, and in the early +part of the morning. Accordingly, having lighted a fire, they lay +down, without distrust or suspicion.</p> + +<p>About one o'clock, the sergeant was awakened by a rustling +noise in the bushes near him, and supposing it to proceed from a +kangaroo, called to his comrades, who instantly jumped up. On +looking about more narrowly, they saw two natives with spears in +their hands, creeping towards them, and three others a little +farther behind. As this naturally created alarm, McEntire said, +"don't be afraid, I know them," and immediately laying down his +gun, stepped forward, and spoke to them in their own language. +The Indians, finding they were discovered, kept slowly +retreating, and McEntire accompanied them about a hundred yards, +talking familiarly all the while.</p> + +<p>One of them now jumped on a fallen tree and, without giving +the least warning of his intention, launched his spear at +McEntire and lodged it in his left side. The person who committed +this wanton act was described as a young man with a speck or +blemish on his left eye That he had been lately among us was +evident from his being newly shaved.</p> + +<p>The wounded man immediately drew back and, joining his party, +cried, "I am a dead man". While one broke off the end of the +spear, the other two set out with their guns in pursuit of the +natives; but their swiftness of foot soon convinced our people of +the impossibility of reaching them. It was now determined to +attempt to carry McEntire home, as his death was apprehended to +be near, and he expressed a longing desire not to be left to +expire in the woods. Being an uncommonly robust muscular man, +notwithstanding a great effusion of blood, he was able, with the +assistance of his comrades, to creep slowly along, and reached +Sydney about two o'clock the next morning. On the wound being +examined by the surgeons, it was pronounced mortal. The poor +wretch now began to utter the most dreadful exclamations, and to +accuse himself of the commission of crimes of the deepest dye, +accompanied with such expressions of his despair of God's mercy, +as are too terrible to repeat.</p> + +<p>In the course of the day, Colbee, and several more natives +came in, and were taken to the bed where the wounded man lay. +Their behaviour indicated that they had already heard of the +accident, as they repeated twice or thrice the name of the +murderer Pimelwi, saying that he lived at Botany Bay. To gain +knowledge of their treatment of similar wounds, one of the +surgeons made signs of extracting the spear, but this they +violently opposed, and said, if it were done, death would +instantly follow.</p> + +<p>On the 12th, the extraction of the spear was, however, judged +practicable, and was accordingly performed. That part of it which +had penetrated the body measured seven inches and a half long, +having on it a wooden barb, and several smaller ones of stone, +fastened on with yellow gum, most of which, owing to the force +necessary in extraction, were torn off and lodged in the patient. +The spear had passed between two ribs, and had wounded the left +lobe of the lungs. He lingered* until the 20th of January, and +then expired. On opening the corpse, it was found that the left +lung had perished from suppuration, its remains adhering to the +ribs. Some pieces of stone, which had dropped from the spear were +seen, but no barb of wood.</p> + +<p class="note">[*From the aversion uniformly shown by all the +natives to this unhappy man, he had long been suspected by us of +having in his excursions, shot and injured them. To gain +information on this head from him, the moment of contrition was +seized. On being questioned with great seriousness, he, however, +declared that he had never fired but once on a native, and then +had not killed, but severely wounded him and this in his own +defence. Notwithstanding this death-bed confession, most people +doubted the truth of the relation, from his general character and +other circumstances.]</p> + +<p>The governor was at Rose-hill when this accident happened. On +the day after he returned to Sydney, the following order was +issued:</p> + +<p>Several tribes of the natives still continuing to throw spears +at any man they meet unarmed, by which several have been killed, +or dangerously wounded, the governor, in order to deter the +natives from such practices in future, has ordered out a party to +search for the man who wounded the convict McEntire, in so +dangerous a manner on Friday last, though no offence was offered +on his part, in order to make a signal example of that tribe. At +the same time, the governor strictly forbids, under penalty of +the severest punishment, any soldier or other person, not +expressly ordered out for that purpose, ever to fire on any +native except in his own defence; or to molest him in any shape, +or to bring away any spears, or other articles which they may +find belonging to those people. The natives will be made severe +examples of whenever any man is wounded by them; but this will be +done in a manner which may satisfy them that it is a punishment +inflicted on them for their own bad conduct, and of which they +cannot be made sensible if they are not treated with kindness +while they continue peaceable and quiet.</p> + +<p>A party, consisting of two captains, two subalterns, and forty +privates, with a proper number of non-commissioned officers from +the garrison, with three days provisions, etc. are to be ready to +march to-morrow morning at day-light, in order to bring in six of +those natives who reside near the head of Botany Bay; or, if that +should be found impracticable, to put that number to death.</p> + +<p>Just previous to this order being issued, the author of this +publication received a direction to attend the governor at head +quarters immediately. I went, and his excellency informed me that +he had pitched upon me to execute the foregoing command. He added +that the two subalterns who were to be drawn from the marine +corps, should be chosen by myself; that the sergeant and the two +convicts who were with McEntire, should attend as guides; that we +were to proceed to the peninsula at the head of Botany Bay; and +thence, or from any part of the north arm of the bay, we were, if +practicable, to bring away two natives as prisoners; and to put +to death ten; that we were to destroy all weapons of war but +nothing else; that no hut was to be burned; that all women and +children were to remain uninjured, not being comprehended within +the scope of the order; that our operations were to be directed +either by surprise or open force; that after we had made any +prisoners, all communication, even with those natives with whom +we were in habits of intercourse, was to be avoided, and none of +them suffered to approach us. That we were to cut off and bring +in the heads of the slain; for which purpose hatchets and bags +would be furnished. And finally, that no signal of amity or +invitation should be used in order to allure them to us; or if +made on their part, to be answered by us: for that such conduct +would be not only present treachery, but give them reason to +distrust every future mark of peace and friendship on our +part.</p> + +<p>His excellency was now pleased to enter into the reasons which +had induced him to adopt measures of such severity. He said that +since our arrival in the country, no less than seventeen of our +people had either been killed or wounded by the natives; that he +looked upon the tribe known by the name of Bideegal, living on +the beforementioned peninsula, and chiefly on the north arm of +Botany Bay, to be the principal aggressors; that against this +tribe he was determined to strike a decisive blow, in order, at +once to convince them of our superiority and to infuse an +universal terror, which might operate to prevent farther +mischief. That his observations on the natives had led him to +conclude that although they did not fear death individually, yet +that the relative weight and importance of the different tribes +appeared to be the highest object of their estimation, as each +tribe deemed its strength and security to consist wholly in its +powers, aggregately considered. That his motive for having so +long delayed to use violent measures had arisen from believing, +that in every former instance of hostility, they had acted either +from having received injury, or from misapprehension.</p> + +<p>"To the latter of these causes," added he, "I attribute my own +wound, but in this business of McEntire, I am fully persuaded +that they were unprovoked, and the barbarity of their conduct +admits of no extenuation; for I have separately examined the +sergeant, of whose veracity I have the highest opinion, and the +two convicts; and their story is short, simple, and alike. I have +in vain tried to stimulate Baneelon, Colbee, and the other +natives who live among us, to bring in the aggressor. Yesterday, +indeed, they promised me to do it, and actually went away as if +bent on such a design; but Baneelon, instead of directing his +steps to Botany Bay, crossed the harbour in his canoe, in order +to draw the foreteeth of some of the young men; and Colbee, in +the room of fulfilling his engagement, is loitering about the +lookout house. Nay, so far from wishing even to describe +faithfully the person of the man who has thrown the spear, they +pretended that he has a distorted foot, which is a palpable +falsehood. So that we have our efforts only to depend upon; and I +am resolved to execute the prisoners who may be brought in, in +the most public and exemplary manner, in the presence of as many +of their countrymen as can be collected, after having explained +the cause of such a punishment; and my fixed determination to +repeat it, whenever any future breach of good conduct on their +side shall render it necessary."</p> + +<p>Here the governor stopped, and addressing himself to me, said +if I could propose any alteration of the orders under which I was +to act, he would patiently listen to me. Encouraged by this +condescension, I begged leave to offer for consideration whether, +instead of destroying ten persons, the capture of six would not +better answer all the purposes for which the expedition was to be +undertaken; as out of this number, a part might be set aside for +retaliation; and the rest, at a proper time, liberated, after +having seen the fate of their comrades and being made sensible of +the cause of their own detention.</p> + +<p>This scheme, his Excellency was pleased instantly to adopt, +adding, "if six cannot be taken, let this number be shot. Should +you, however, find it practicable to take so many, I will hang +two and send the rest to Norfolk Island for a certain period, +which will cause their countrymen to believe that we have +dispatched them secretly." The order was accordingly altered to +its present form; and I took my leave to prepare, after being +again cautioned not to deceive by holding signals of amity.</p> + +<p>At four o'clock on the morning of the 14th we marched The +detachment consisted, besides myself, of Captain Hill of the New +South Wales Corps, Lieutenants Poulder and Dawes, of the marines, +Mr. Worgan and Mr. Lowes, surgeons, three sergeants, three +corporals, and forty private soldiers, provided with three days +provisions, ropes to bind our prisoners with, and hatchets and +bags to cut off and contain the heads of the slain. By nine +o'clock this terrific procession reached the peninsula at the +head of Botany Bay, but after having walked in various directions +until four o'clock in the afternoon, without seeing a native, we +halted for the night.</p> + +<p>At daylight on the following morning our search recommenced. +We marched in an easterly direction, intending to fall in with +the south-west arm of the bay, about three miles above its mouth, +which we determined to scour, and thence passing along the head +of the peninsula, to proceed to the north arm, and complete our +Search. However, by a mistake of our guides, at half past seven +o'clock instead of finding ourselves on the south-west arm, we +came suddenly upon the sea shore, at the head of the peninsula, +about midway between the two arms. Here we saw five Indians on +the beach, whom we attempted to surround; but they penetrated our +design, and before we could get near enough to effect our +purpose, ran off. We pursued; but a contest between heavy-armed +Europeans, fettered by ligatures, and naked unencumbered Indians, +was too unequal to last long. They darted into the wood and +disappeared.</p> + +<p>The alarm being given, we were sensible that no hope of +success remained, but by a rapid movement to a little village (if +five huts deserve the name) which we knew stood on the nearest +point of the north arm, where possibly someone unapprised of our +approach, might yet be found. Thither we hastened; but before we +could reach it three canoes, filled with Indians, were seen +paddling over in the utmost hurry and trepidation, to the +opposite shore, where universal alarm prevailed. All we could now +do was to search the huts for weapons of war: but we found +nothing except fish gigs, which we left untouched.</p> + +<p>On our return to our baggage (which we had left behind under a +small guard near the place where the pursuit had begun) we +observed a native fishing in shallow water not higher than his +waist, at the distance of 300 yards from the land. In such a +situation it would not have been easily practicable either to +shoot, or seize him. I therefore determined to pass without +noticing him, as he seemed either from consciousness of his own +security, or from some other cause, quite unintimidated at our +appearance. At length he called to several of us by name, and in +spite of our formidable array, drew nearer with unbounded +confidence. Surprised at his behaviour I ordered a halt, that he +might overtake us, fully resolved, whoever he might be, that he +should be suffered to come to us and leave us uninjured. +Presently we found it to be our friend Colbee; and he joined us +at once with his wonted familiarity and unconcern. We asked him +where Pimelwi was, and found that he perfectly comprehended the +nature of our errand, for he described him to have fled to the +southward; and to be at such a distance, as had we known the +account to be true, would have prevented our going in search of +him, without a fresh supply of provisions.</p> + +<p>When we arrived at our baggage, Colbee sat down, ate, drank, +and slept with us, from ten o'clock until past noon. We asked him +several questions about Sydney, which he had left on the +preceding day*; and he told us he had been present at an +operation performed at the hospital, where Mr. White had cut off +a woman's leg. The agony and cries of the poor sufferer he +depicted in a most lively manner.</p> + +<p class="note">[*He had it seems visited the governor about +noon, after having gained information from Nanbaree of our march, +and for what purpose it was undertaken. This he did not scruple +to tell to the governor; proclaiming at the same time, a +resolution of going to Botany Bay, which his excellency +endeavoured to dissuade him from by every argument he could +devise: a blanket, a hatchet, a jacket, or aught else he would +ask for, was offered to him in vain, if he would not go. At last +it was determined to try to eat him down, by setting before him +his favourite food, of which it was hoped he would feed so +voraciously, as to render him incapable of executing his +intention. A large dish of fish was accordingly set before him. +But after devouring a light horseman, and at least five pounds of +beef and bread, even until the sight of food became disgusting to +him, he set out on his journey with such lightness and gaiety, as +plainly shewed him to be a stranger to the horrors of +indigestion.]</p> + +<p>At one o'clock we renewed our march, and at three halted near +a freshwater swamp, where we resolved to remain until morning: +that is, after a day of severe fatigue, to pass a night of +restless inquietude, when weariness is denied repose by swarms of +mosquitoes and sandflies, which in the summer months bite and +sting the traveller, without measure or intermission.</p> + +<p>Next morning we bent our steps homeward; and, after wading +breast-high through two arms of the sea, as broad as the Thames +at Westminster, were glad to find ourselves at Sydney, between +one and two o'clock in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>The few remarks which I was able to make on the country +through which we had passed, were such as will not tempt +adventurers to visit it on the score of pleasure or advantage. +The soil of every part of the peninsula, which we had traversed, +is shallow and sandy, and its productions meagre and wretched. +When forced to quit the sand, we were condemned to drag through +morasses, or to clamber over rocks, unrefreshed by streams, and +unmarked by diversity. Of the soil I brought away several +specimens.</p> + +<p>Our first expedition having so totally failed, the governor +resolved to try the fate of a second; and the 'painful +pre-eminence' again devolved on me.</p> + +<p>The orders under which I was commanded to act differing in no +respect from the last, I resolved to try once more to surprise +the village beforementioned. And in order to deceive the natives, +and prevent them from again frustrating our design by +promulgating it, we feigned that our preparations were directed +against Broken Bay; and that the man who had wounded the governor +was the object of punishment. It was now also determined, being +full moon, that our operations should be carried on in the night, +both for the sake of secrecy, and for avoiding the extreme heat +of the day.</p> + +<p>A little before sun-set on the evening of the 22nd, we +marched. Lieutenant Abbot, and ensign Prentice, of the New South +Wales corps, were the two officers under my command, and with +three sergeants, three corporals, and thirty privates, completed +the detachment.</p> + +<p>We proceeded directly to the fords of the north arm of Botany +Bay, which we had crossed in our last expedition, on the banks of +which we were compelled to wait until a quarter past two in the +morning, for the ebb of the tide. As these passing-places consist +only of narrow slips of ground, on each side of which are +dangerous holes; and as fording rivers in the night is at all +times an unpleasant task, I determined before we entered the +water, to disburthen the men as much as possible; that in case of +stepping wrong every one might be as ready, as circumstances +would admit, to recover himself. The firelock and cartouche-box +were all that we carried, the latter tied fast on the top of the +head, to prevent it from being wetted. The knapsacks, etc. I left +in charge of a sergeant and six men, who from their low stature +and other causes, were most likely to impede our march, the +success of which I knew hinged on our ability, by a rapid +movement, to surprise the village before daybreak.</p> + +<p>The two rivers were crossed without any material accident: and +in pursuit of my resolution, I ordered the guides to conduct us +by the nearest route, without heeding difficulty, or impediment +of road. Having continued to push along the river-bank very +briskly for three quarters of an hour, we were suddenly stopped +by a creek, about sixty yards wide, which extended to our right, +and appeared dry from the tide being out: I asked if it could be +passed, or whether it would be better to wheel round the head of +it. Our guides answered that it was bad to cross, but might be +got over, which would save us more than a quarter of a mile. +Knowing the value of time, I directly bade them to push through, +and every one began to follow as well as he could. They who were +foremost had not, however, got above half over when the +difficulty of progress was sensibly experienced. We were +immersed, nearly to the waist in mud, so thick and tenacious, +that it was not without the most vigorous exertion of every +muscle of the body, that the legs could be disengaged. When we +had reached the middle, our distress became not only more +pressing, but serious, and each succeeding step, buried us +deeper. At length a sergeant of grenadiers stuck fast, and +declared himself incapable of moving either forward or backward; +and just after, Ensign Prentice and I felt ourselves in a similar +predicament, close together. 'I find it impossible to move; I am +sinking;' resounded on every side. What to do I knew not: every +moment brought increase of perplexity, and augmented danger, as +those who could not proceed kept gradually subsiding. From our +misfortunes, however, those in the rear profited. Warned by what +they saw and heard, they inclined to the right towards the head +of the creek, and thereby contrived to pass over.</p> + +<p>Our distress would have terminated fatally, had not a soldier +cried out to those on shore to cut boughs of trees*, and throw +them to us--a lucky thought, which certainly saved many of us +from perishing miserably; and even with this assistance, had we +been burdened by our knapsacks, we could not have emerged; for it +employed us near half an hour to disentangle some of our number. +The sergeant of grenadiers in particular, was sunk to his +breast-bone, and so firmly fixed in that the efforts of many men +were required to extricate him, which was effected in the moment +after I had ordered one of the ropes, destined to bind the +captive Indians, to be fastened under his arms.</p> + +<p class="note">[*I had often read of this contrivance to +facilitate the passage of a morass. But I confess, that in my +confusion I had entirely forgotten it, and probably should have +continued to do so until too late to be of use.]</p> + +<p>Having congratulated each other on our escape from this +'Serbonian Bog,' and wiped our arms (half of which were rendered +unserviceable by the mud) we once more pushed forward to our +object, within a few hundred yards of which we found ourselves +about half an hour before sunrise. Here I formed the detachment +into three divisions, and having enjoined the most perfect +silence, in order, if possible, to deceive Indian vigilance, each +division was directed to take a different route, so as to meet at +the village at the same moment.</p> + +<p>We rushed rapidly on, and nothing could succeed more exactly +than the arrival of the several detachments. To our astonishment, +however, we found not a single native at the huts; nor was a +canoe to be seen on any part of the bay. I was at first inclined +to attribute this to our arriving half an hour too late, from the +numberless impediments we had encountered. But on closer +examination, there appeared room to believe, that many days had +elapsed since an Indian had been on the spot, as no mark of fresh +fires, or fish bones, was to be found.</p> + +<p>Disappointed and fatigued, we would willingly have profited by +the advantage of being near water, and have halted to refresh. +But on consultation, it was found, that unless we reached in an +hour the rivers we had so lately passed, it would be impossible, +on account of the tide, to cross to our baggage, in which case we +should be without food until evening. We therefore pushed back, +and by dint of alternately running and walking, arrived at the +fords, time enough to pass with ease and safety. So excessive, +however, had been our efforts, and so laborious our progress, +that several of the soldiers, in the course of the last two +miles, gave up, and confessed themselves unable to proceed +farther. All that I could do for these poor fellows, was to order +their comrades to carry their muskets, and to leave with them a +small party of those men who were least exhausted, to assist them +and hurry them on. In three quarters of an hour after we had +crossed the water, they arrived at it, just time enough to effect +a passage.</p> + +<p>The necessity of repose, joined to the succeeding heat of the +day, induced us to prolong our halt until four o'clock in the +afternoon, when we recommenced our operations on the opposite +side of the north arm to that we had acted upon in the morning. +Our march ended at sunset, without our seeing a single native. We +had passed through the country which the discoverers of Botany +Bay extol as 'some of the finest meadows in the world*.' These +meadows, instead of grass, are covered with high coarse rushes, +growing in a rotten spongy bog, into which we were plunged +knee-deep at every step.</p> + +<p class="note">[*The words which are quoted may be found in Mr. +Cook's first voyage, and form part of his description of Botany +Bay. It has often fallen to my lot to traverse these fabled +plains; and many a bitter execration have I heard poured on those +travellers, who could so faithlessly relate what they saw.]</p> + +<p>Our final effort was made at half past one o'clock next +morning; and after four hours toil, ended as those preceding it +had done, in disappointment and vexation. At nine o'clock we +returned to Sydney, to report our fruitless peregrination.</p> + +<p>But if we could not retaliate on the murderer of M'Entire, we +found no difficulty in punishing offences committed within our +own observation. Two natives, about this time, were detected in +robbing a potato garden. When seen, they ran away, and a sergeant +and a party of soldiers were dispatched in pursuit of them. +Unluckily it was dark when they overtook them, with some women at +a fire; and the ardour of the soldiers transported them so far +that, instead of capturing the offenders, they fired in among +them. The women were taken, but the two men escaped.</p> + +<p>On the following day, blood was traced from the fireplace to +the sea-side, where it seemed probable that those who had lost +it, had embarked. The natives were observed to become immediately +shy; but an exact knowledge of the mischief which had been +committed, was not gained until the end of two days, when they +said that a man of the name of Bangai (who was known to be one of +the pilferers) was wounded and dead. Imeerawanyee, however, +whispered that though he was wounded, he was not dead. A hope now +existed that his life might be saved; and Mr. White, taking +Imeerawanyee, Nanbaree, and a woman with him, set out for the +spot where he was reported to be. But on their reaching it, they +were told by some people who were there that the man was dead, +and that the corpse was deposited in a bay about a mile off. +Thither they accordingly repaired, and found it as described, +covered--except one leg, which seemed to be designedly left +bare--with green boughs and a fire burning near it. Those who had +performed the funeral obsequies seemed to have been particularly +solicitous for the protection of the face, which was covered with +a thick branch, interwoven with grass and fern so as to form a +complete screen. Around the neck was a strip of the bark of which +they make fishing lines, and a young strait stick growing near +was stripped of its bark and bent down so as to form an arch over +the body, in which position it was confined by a forked branch +stuck into the earth.</p> + +<p>On examining the corpse, it was found to be warm. Through the +shoulder had passed a musquet ball, which had divided the +subclavian artery and caused death by loss of blood. No mark of +any remedy having been applied could be discovered. Possibly the +nature of the wound, which even among us would baffle cure +without amputation of the arm at the shoulder, was deemed so +fatal, that they despaired of success, and therefore left it to +itself. Had Mr. White found the man alive, there is little room +to think that he could have been of any use to him; for that an +Indian would submit to so formidable and alarming an operation +seems hardly probable.</p> + +<p>None of the natives who had come in the boat would touch the +body, or even go near it, saying, the mawn would come; that is +literally, 'the spirit of the deceased would seize them'. Of the +people who died among us, they had expressed no such +apprehension. But how far the difference of a natural death, and +one effected by violence, may operate on their fears to induce +superstition; and why those who had performed the rites of +sepulture should not experience similar fears and reluctance, I +leave to be determined. Certain it is (as I shall insist upon +more hereafter), that they believe the spirit of the dead not to +be extinct with the body.</p> + +<p>Baneelon took an odd method of revenging the death of his +countryman. At the head of several of his tribe, he robbed one of +the private boats of fish, threatening the people, who were +unarmed, that in case they resisted he would spear them. On being +taxed by the governor with this outrage, he at first stoutly +denied it; but on being confronted with the people who were in +the boat, he changed his language, and, without deigning even to +palliate his offence, burst into fury and demanded who had killed +Bangai.</p> + +<a name="13"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER XIII.</h3> + +<h4>The Transactions of the Colony continued to the End of May, +1791.</h4> + +<p>December, 1790. The Dutch snow from Batavia arrived on the +17th of the month, after a passage of twelve weeks, in which she +had lost sixteen of her people. But death, to a man who has +resided at Batavia, is too familiar an object to excite either +terror or regret. All the people of the 'Supply' who were left +there sick, except one midshipman, had also perished in that +fatal climate.</p> + +<p>The cargo of the snow consisted chiefly of rice, with a small +quantity of beef, pork, and flour.</p> + +<p>A letter was received by this vessel, written by the Shebander +at Batavia, to governor Phillip, acquainting him that war had +commenced between England and Spain. As this letter was written +in the Dutch language we did not find it easy of translation. It +filled us, however, with anxious perturbation, and with wishes as +impotent, as they were eager, in the cause of our country. Though +far beyond the din of arms, we longed to contribute to her glory, +and to share in her triumphs.</p> + +<p>Placed out of the reach of attack, both by remoteness and +insignificancy, our only dread lay lest those supplies intended +for our consumption should be captured. Not, however, to be found +totally unprovided in case an enemy should appear, a battery was +planned near the entrance of Sydney Cove, and other formidable +preparations set on foot.</p> + +<p>The commencement of the year 1791, though marked by no +circumstances particularly favourable, beamed far less +inauspicious than that of 1790 had done.</p> + +<p>January, 1791. No circumstance, however apparently trivial, +which can tend to throw light on a new country, either in respect +of its present situation, or its future promise, should pass +unregarded. On the 24th of January, two bunches of grapes were +cut in the governor's garden, from cuttings of vines brought +three years before from the Cape of Good Hope. The bunches were +handsome, the fruit of a moderate size, but well filled out and +the flavour high and delicious.</p> + +<p>The first step after unloading the Dutch snow was to dispatch +the 'Supply' to Norfolk Island for captain Hunter, and the crew +of the 'Sirius' who had remained there ever since the loss of +that ship. It had always been the governor's wish to hire the +Dutchman, for the purpose of transporting them to England. But +the frantic extravagant behaviour of the master of her, for a +long time frustrated the conclusion of a contract. He was so +totally lost to a sense of reason and propriety, as to ask eleven +pounds per ton, monthly, for her use, until she should arrive +from England, at Batavia. This was treated with proper contempt; +and he was at last induced to accept twenty shillings a ton, per +month (rating her at three hundred tons) until she should arrive +in England--being about the twenty-fifth part of his original +demand. And even at this price she was, perhaps, the dearest +vessel ever hired on a similar service, being totally destitute +of every accommodation and every good quality which could promise +to render so long a voyage either comfortable or expeditious.</p> + +<p>February, 1791. On the 26th, Captain Hunter, his officers and +ship's company joined us; and on the 28th of March the snow +sailed with them for England, intending to make a northern +passage by Timor and Batavia, the season being too far advanced +to render the southern route by Cape Horn practicable*.</p> + +<p class="note">[*They did not arrive in England until April, +1792.]</p> + +<p>Six days previous to the departure of captain Hunter, the +indefatigable 'Supply' again sailed for Norfolk Island, carrying +thither captain Hill and a detachment of the New South Wales +corps. A little native boy named Bondel, who had long +particularly attached himself to captain Hill, accompanied him, +at his own earnest request. His father had been killed in battle +and his mother bitten in two by a shark: so that he was an +orphan, dependant on the humanity of his tribe for protection*. +His disappearance seemed to make no impression on the rest of his +countrymen, who were apprized of his resolution to go. On the +return of the 'Supply' they inquired eagerly for him, and on +being told that the place he was gone to afforded plenty of birds +and other good fare, innumerable volunteers presented themselves +to follow him, so great was their confidence in us and so little +hold of them had the amor patriae.</p> + +<p class="note">[*I am of opinion that such protection is always +extended to children who may be left destitute.]</p> + +<p>March, 1791. The snow had but just sailed, when a very daring +manoeuvre was carried into execution, with complete success, by a +set of convicts, eleven in number, including a woman, wife of one +of the party, and two little children. They seized the governor's +cutter and putting into her a seine, fishing-lines, and hooks, +firearms, a quadrant, compass, and some provisions, boldly pushed +out to sea, determined to brave every danger and combat every +hardship, rather than remain longer in a captive state. Most of +these people had been brought out in the first fleet, and the +terms of transportation of some of them were expired. Among them +were a fisherman, a carpenter, and some competent navigators, so +that little doubt was entertained that a scheme so admirably +planned would be adequately executed*. When their elopement was +discovered, a pursuit was ordered by the governor. But the +fugitives had made too good an use of the intermediate time to be +even seen by their pursuers. After the escape of Captain Bligh, +which was well known to us, no length of passage or hazard of +navigation seemed above human accomplishment. However to prevent +future attempts of a like nature, the governor directed that +boats only of stated dimensions should be built. Indeed an order +of this sort had been issued on the escape of the first party, +and it was now repeated with additional restrictions.</p> + +<p class="note">[*It was my fate to fall in again with part of +this little band of adventurers. In March 1792, when I arrived in +the Gorgon, at the Cape of Good Hope, six of these people, +including the woman and one child, were put on board of us to be +carried to England. Four had died, and one had jumped overboard +at Batavia. The particulars of their voyage were briefly as +follows. They coasted the shore of New Holland, putting +occasionally into different harbours which they found in going +along. One of these harbours, in the latitude of 30 degrees +south, they described to be of superior excellence and capacity. +Here they hauled their bark ashore, paid her seams with tallow, +and repaired her. But it was with difficulty they could keep off +the attacks of the Indians. These people continued to harras them +so much that they quitted the mainland and retreated to a small +island in the harbour, where they completed their design. Between +the latitude of 26 degrees and 27 degrees, they were driven by a +current 30 leagues from the shore, among some islands, where they +found plenty of large turtles. Soon after they closed again with +the continent, when the boat got entangled in the surf and was +driven on shore, and they had all well nigh perished. They passed +rough the straits of Endeavour and, beyond the gulf of +Carpentaria, found a large freshwater river, which they entered, +and filled from it their empty casks.</p> + +<p>Until they reached the gulf of Carpentaria, they saw no +natives or canoes differing from those about Port Jackson. But +now they were chased by large canoes, jitted with sails and +fighting stages, and capable of holding thirty men each. They +escaped by dint of rowing to windward. On the 5th of June 1791 +they reached Timor, and pretended that they had belonged to a +ship which, on her passage from Port Jackson to India, had +foundered; and that they only had escaped. The Dutch received +them with kindness and treated them with hospitality. But their +behaviour giving rise to suspicion, they were watched; and one of +them at last, in a moment of intoxication, betrayed the secret. +They were immediately secured and committed to prison. Soon after +Captain Edwards of the Pandora, who had been wrecked near +Endeavour straits, arrived at Timor, and they were delivered up +to him, by which means they became passengers in the Gorgon.</p> + +<p>I confess that I never looked at these people without pity and +astonishment. They had miscarried in a heroic struggle for +liberty after having combated every hardship and conquered every +difficulty.</p> + +<p>The woman, and one of the men, had gone out to Port Jackson in +the ship which had transported me thither. They had both of them +been always distinguished for good behaviour. And I could not but +reflect with admiration at the strange combination of +circumstances which had again brought us together, to baffle +human foresight and confound human speculation.]</p> + +<p>April, 1791. Notwithstanding the supplies which had recently +arrived from Batavia, short allowance was again proclaimed on the +2nd of April, on which day we were reduced to the following +ration:</p> + +<p>Three pounds of rice, three pounds of flour and three pounds +of pork per week.</p> + +<p>It was singularly unfortunate that these retrenchments should +always happen when the gardens were most destitute of vegetables. +A long drought had nearly exhausted them. The hardships which we +in consequence suffered were great, but not comparable to what +had been formerly experienced. Besides, now we made sure of ships +arriving soon to dispel our distress. Whereas, heretofore, from +having never heard from England, the hearts of men sunk and many +had begun to doubt whether it had not been resolved to try how +long misery might be endured with resignation.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the incompetency of so diminished a pittance, +the daily task of the soldier and convict continued unaltered. I +never contemplated the labours of these men without finding +abundant cause of reflection on the miseries which our nature can +overcome. Let me for a moment quit the cold track of narrative. +Let me not fritter away by servile adaptation those reflections +and the feelings they gave birth to. Let me transcribe them fresh +as they arose, ardent and generous, though hopeless and romantic. +I every day see wretches pale with disease and wasted with +famine, struggle against the horror's of their situation. How +striking is the effect of subordination; how dreadful is the fear +of punishment! The allotted task is still performed, even on the +present reduced subsistence. The blacksmith sweats at the sultry +forge, the sawyer labours pent-up in his pit and the husbandman +turns up the sterile glebe. Shall I again hear arguments +multiplied to violate truth, and insult humanity! Shall I again +be told that the sufferings of the wretched Africans are +indispensable for the culture of our sugar colonies; that white +men are incapable of sustaining the heat of the climate! I have +been in the West Indies. I have lived there. I know that it is a +rare instance for the mercury in the thermometer to mount there +above 90 degrees; and here I scarcely pass a week in summer +without seeing it rise to 100 degrees; sometimes to 105; nay, +beyond even that burning altitude.</p> + +<p>But toil cannot be long supported without adequate +refreshment. The first step in every community which wishes to +preserve honesty should be to set the people above want. The +throes of hunger will ever prove too powerful for integrity to +withstand. Hence arose a repetition of petty delinquencies, which +no vigilance could detect, and no justice reach. Gardens were +plundered, provisions pilfered, and the Indian corn stolen from +the fields where it grew for public use. Various were the +measures adopted to check this depredatory spirit. Criminal +courts, either from the tediousness of their process, or from the +frequent escape of culprits from their decision, were seldomer +convened than formerly. The governor ordered convict offenders +either to be chained together or to wear singly a large iron +collar with two spikes projecting from it, which effectually +hindered the party from concealing it under his shirt; and thus +shackled, they were compelled to perform their quota of work.</p> + +<p>May, 1791. Had their marauding career terminated here, +humanity would have been anxious to plead in their defence; but +the natives continued to complain of being robbed of spears and +fishing tackle. A convict was at length taken in the fact of +stealing fishing-tackle from Daringa, the wife of Colbee. The +governor ordered that he should be severely flogged in the +presence of as many natives as could be assembled, to whom the +cause of punishment should be explained. Many of them, of both +sexes, accordingly attended. Arabanoo's aversion to a similar +sight has been noticed; and if the behaviour of those now +collected be found to correspond with it, it is, I think, fair to +conclude that these people are not of a sanguinary and implacable +temper. Quick indeed of resentment, but not unforgiving of +injury. There was not one of them that did not testify strong +abhorrence of the punishment and equal sympathy with the +sufferer. The women were particularly affected; Daringa shed +tears, and Barangaroo, kindling into anger, snatched a stick and +menaced the executioner. The conduct of these women, on this +occasion, was exactly descriptive of their characters. The former +was ever meek and feminine, the latter fierce and +unsubmissive.</p> + +<p>On the first of May, many allotments of ground were parcelled +out by the governor to convicts whose periods of transportation +were expired, and who voluntarily offered to become settlers in +the country. The terms on which they settled, and their progress +in agriculture, will be hereafter set forth.</p> + +<a name="14"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER XIV.</h3> + +<h4>Travelling Diaries in New South Wales.</h4> + +<p>From among my numerous travelling journals into the interior +parts of the country, I select the following to present to the +reader, as equally important in their object, and more amusing in +their detail, than any other.</p> + +<p>In April 1791 an expedition was undertaken, in order to +ascertain whether or not the Hawkesbury and the Nepean, were the +same river. With this view, we proposed to fall in a little above +Richmond Hill*, and trace down to it; and if the weather should +prove fine to cross at the ford, and go a short distance +westward, then to repass the river and trace it upward until we +should either arrive at some spot which we knew to be the Nepean, +or should determine by its course that the Hawkesbury was a +different stream.</p> + +<p class="note">[*Look at the map for the situation of this place +(Unfortunately, there is no map accompanying this etext. +Ed.)]</p> + +<p>Our party was strong and numerous. It consisted of twenty-one +persons, viz. the governor, Mr. Collins and his servant, Mr. +White, Mr. Dawes, the author, three gamekeepers, two sergeants, +eight privates, and our friends Colbee and Boladeree. These two +last were volunteers on the occasion, on being assured that we +should not stay out many days and that we should carry plenty of +provisions. Baneelon wished to go, but his wife would not permit +it. Colbee on the other hand, would listen to no objections. He +only stipulated (with great care and consideration) that, during +his absence, his wife and child should remain at Sydney under our +protection, and be supplied with provisions.</p> + +<p>But before we set out, let me describe our equipment, and try +to convey to those who have rolled along on turnpike roads only, +an account of those preparations which are required in traversing +the wilderness. Every man (the governor excepted) carried his own +knapsack, which contained provisions for ten days. If to this be +added a gun, a blanket, and a canteen, the weight will fall +nothing short of forty pounds. Slung to the knapsack are the +cooking kettle and the hatchet, with which the wood to kindle the +nightly fire and build the nightly hut is to be cut down. Garbed +to drag through morasses, tear through thickets, ford rivers and +scale rocks, our autumnal heroes, who annually seek the hills in +pursuit of grouse and black game, afford but an imperfect +representation of the picture.</p> + +<p>Thus encumbered, the march begins at sunrise, and with +occasional halts continues until about an hour and a half before +sunset. It is necessary to stop thus early to prepare for passing +the night, for toil here ends not with the march. Instead of the +cheering blaze, the welcoming landlord, and the long bill of +fare, the traveller has now to collect his fuel, to erect his +wigwam, to fetch water, and to broil his morsel of salt pork. Let +him then lie down, and if it be summer, try whether the effect of +fatigue is sufficiently powerful to overcome the bites and stings +of the myriads of sandflies and mosquitoes which buzz around +him.</p> + +<p>Monday, April 11, 1791. At twenty minutes before seven +o'clock, we started from the governor's house at Rose Hill and +steered* for a short time nearly in a north-east direction, after +which we turned to north 34 degrees west, and steadily pursued +that course until a quarter before four o'clock, when we halted +for the night. The country for the first two miles, while we +walked to the northeast, was good, full of grass and without rock +or underwood. Afterwards it grew very bad, being full of steep, +barren rocks, over which we were compelled to clamber for seven +miles, when it changed to a plain country apparently very +sterile, and with very little grass in it, which rendered walking +easy. Our fatigue in the morning had, however, been so oppressive +that one of the party knocked up. And had not a soldier, as +strong as a pack-horse, undertaken to carry his knapsack in +addition to his own, we must either have sent him back, or have +stopped at a place for the night which did not afford water. Our +two natives carried each his pack, but its weight was +inconsiderable, most of their provisions being in the knapsacks +of the soldiers and gamekeepers. We expected to have derived from +them much information relating to the country, as no one doubted +that they were acquainted with every part of it between the sea +coast and the river Hawkesbury. We hoped also to have witnessed +their manner of living in the woods, and the resources they rely +upon in their journeys. Nothing, however, of this sort had yet +occurred, except their examining some trees to see if they could +discover on the bark any marks of the claws of squirrels and +opossums, which they said would show whether any of those animals +were hidden among the leaves and branches. They walked stoutly, +appeared but little fatigued, and maintained their spirits +admirably, laughing to excess when any of us either tripped or +stumbled, misfortunes which much seldomer fell to their lot than +to ours.</p> + +<p class="note">[*Our method, on these expeditions, was to steer +by compass, noting the different courses as we proceeded; and +counting the number of paces, of which two thousand two hundred, +on good ground, were allowed to be a mile. At night when we +halted, all these courses were separately cast up, and worked by +a traverse table, in the manner a ship's reckoning is kept, so +that by observing this precaution, we always knew exactly where +we were, and how far from home; an unspeakable advantage in a new +country, where one hill, and one tree, is so like another that +fatal wanderings would ensue without it. This arduous task was +always allotted to Mr. Dawes who, from habit and superior skill, +performed it almost without a stop, or an interruption of +conversation: to any other man, on such terms, it would have been +impracticable.]</p> + +<p>At a very short distance from Rose Hill, we found that they +were in a country unknown to them, so that the farther they went +the more dependent on us they became, being absolute strangers +inland. To convey to their understandings the intention of our +journey was impossible. For, perhaps, no words could unfold to an +Indian the motives of curiosity which induce men to encounter +labour, fatigue and pain, when they might remain in repose at +home, with a sufficiency of food. We asked Colbee the name of the +people who live inland, and he called them Boorooberongal; and +said they were bad, whence we conjectured that they sometimes war +with those on the sea coast, by whom they were undoubtedly driven +up the country from the fishing ground, that it might not be +overstocked; the weaker here, as in every other country, giving +way to the stronger.</p> + +<p>We asked how they lived. He said, on birds and animals, having +no fish. Their laziness appeared strongly when we halted, for +they refused to draw water or to cleave wood to make a fire; but +as soon as it was kindled (having first well stuffed themselves), +they lay down before it and fell asleep. About an hour after +sunset, as we were chatting by the fire side and preparing to go +to rest, we heard voices at a little distance in the wood. Our +natives caught the sound instantaneously and, bidding us be +silent, listened attentively to the quarter whence it had +proceeded. In a few minutes we heard the voices plainly; and, +wishing exceedingly to open a communication with this tribe, we +begged our natives to call to them, and bid them to come to us, +to assure them of good treatment, and that they should have +something given them to eat. Colbee no longer hesitated, but gave +them the signal of invitation, in a loud hollow cry. After some +whooping and shouting on both sides, a man with a lighted stick +in his hand advanced near enough to converse with us. The first +words which we could distinctly understand were, 'I am Colbee, of +the tribe of Cadigal.' The stranger replied, 'I am Bereewan, of +the tribe of Boorooberongal.' Boladeree informed him also of his +name and that we were white men and friends, who would give him +something to eat. Still he seemed irresolute. Colbee therefore +advanced to him, took him by the hand and led him to us. By the +light of the moon, we were introduced to this gentleman, all our +names being repeated in form by our two masters of the +ceremonies, who said that we were Englishmen and 'budyeeree' +(good), that we came from the sea coast, and that we were +travelling inland.</p> + +<p>Bereewan seemed to be a man about thirty years old, differing +in no respect from his countrymen with whom we were acquainted. +He came to us unarmed, having left his spears at a little +distance. After a long conversation with his countrymen, and +having received some provisions, he departed highly +satisfied.</p> + +<p>Tuesday, April 12th, 1791. Started this morning at half past +six o'clock, and in two hours reached the river. The whole of the +country we passed was poor, and the soil within a mile of the +river changed to a coarse deep sand, which I have invariably +found to compose its banks in every part without exception that I +ever saw. The stream at this place is about 350 feet wide; the +water pure and excellent to the taste. The banks are about twenty +feet high and covered with trees, many of which had been +evidently bent by the force of the current in the direction which +it runs, and some of them contained rubbish and drift wood in +their branches at least forty-five feet above the level of the +stream. We saw many ducks, and killed one, which Colbee swam for. +No new production among the shrubs growing here was found. we +were acquainted with them all. Our natives had evidently never +seen this river before. They stared at it with surprise, and +talked to each other. Their total ignorance of the country, and +of the direction in which they had walked, appeared when they +were asked which way Rose Hill lay; for they pointed almost +oppositely to it. Of our compass they had taken early notice, and +had talked much to each other about it. They comprehended its +use, and called it 'naamoro,' literally, "to see the way"; a more +significant or expressive term cannot be found.</p> + +<p>Supposing ourselves to be higher on the stream than Richmond +Hill, we agreed to trace downward, or to the right hand. In +tracing, we kept as close to the bank of the river as the +innumerable impediments to walking which grow upon it would +allow. We found the country low and swampy; came to a native +fireplace, at which were some small fish-bones; soon after we saw +a native, but he ran away immediately. Having walked nearly three +miles we were stopped by a creek which we could neither ford, or +fall a tree across. We were therefore obliged to coast it, in +hope to find a passing place or to reach its head. At four +o'clock we halted for the night on the bank of the creek. Our +natives continued to hold out stoutly. The hindrances to walking +by the river side which plagued and entangled us so much, seemed +not to be heeded by them, and they wound through them with case; +but to us they were intolerably tiresome. Our perplexities +afforded them an inexhaustible fund of merriment and derision: +Did the sufferer, stung at once with nettles and ridicule, and +shaken nigh to death by his fall, use any angry expression to +them, they retorted in a moment, by calling him by every +opprobrious name* which their language affords.</p> + +<p>Boladeree destroyed a native hut today very wantonly before we +could prevent him. On being asked why he did so, he answered that +the inhabitants inland were bad; though no longer since than last +night, when Bereewan had departed, they were loud in their +praise. But now they had reverted to their first opinion; so +fickle and transient are their motives of love and hatred.</p> + +<p class="note">[*Their general favourite term of reproach is +'goninpatta', which signifies 'an eater of human excrement'. Our +language would admit a very concise and familiar translation. +They have, besides this, innumerable others which they often +salute their enemies with.]</p> + +<p>Wednesday, April 13th, 1791. We did not set out this morning +until past seven o'clock, when we continued to trace the creek. +The country which we passed through yesterday was good and +desirable to what was now presented to us. It was in general high +and universally rocky. 'Toiling our uncouth way', we mounted a +hill, and surveyed the contiguous country. To the northward and +eastward, the ground was still higher than that we were upon; but +in a south-west direction we saw about four miles. The view +consisted of nothing but trees growing on precipices; not an acre +of it could be cultivated. Saw a tree on fire here, and several +other vestiges of the natives. To comprehend the reasons which +induce an Indian to perform many of the offices of life is +difficult; to pronounce that which could lead him to wander +amidst these dreary wilds baffles penetration. About two o'clock +we reached the head of the creek, passed it and scrambled with +infinite toil and difficulty to the top of a neighbouring +mountain, whence we saw the adjacent country in almost every +direction, for many miles. I record with regret that this +extended view presented not a single gleam of change which could +encourage hope or stimulate industry, to attempt its culture. We +had, however, the satisfaction to discover plainly the object of +our pursuit, Richmond Hill, distant about eight miles, in a +contrary direction from what we had been proceeding upon. It was +readily known to those who had been up the Hawkesbury in the +boats, by a remarkable cleft or notch which distinguishes it. It +was now determined that we should go back to the head of the +creek and pass the night there; and in the morning cut across the +country to that part of the river which we had first hit upon +yesterday, and thence to trace upward, or to the left. But before +I descend, I must not forget to relate that to this pile of +desolation on which, like the fallen angel on the top of +Niphates, we stood contemplating our nether Eden, His Excellency +was pleased to give the name of Tench's Prospect Mount.</p> + +<p>Our fatigue to-day had been excessive; but our two sable +companions seemed rather enlivened than exhausted by it. We had +no sooner halted and given them something to eat than they began +to play ten thousand tricks and gambols. They imitated the +leaping of the kangaroo; sang, danced, poised the spear and met +in mock encounter. But their principal source of merriment was +again derived from our misfortunes, in tumbling amidst nettles, +and sliding down precipices, which they mimicked with inimitable +drollery. They had become, however, very urgent in their +inquiries about the time of our return, nd we pacified them as +well as we could by saying it would be soon, but avoided naming +how many days.</p> + +<p>Their method of testifying dislike to any place is singular: +they point to the spot they are upon, and all around it, crying +'weeree, weeree' (bad) and immediately after mention the name of +any other place to which they are attached (Rose Hill or Sydney +for instance), adding to it 'budyeree, budyeree' (good). Nor was +their preference in the present case the result of caprice, for +they assigned very substantial reasons for such predilection: "At +Rose Hill," said they, "are potatoes, cabbages, pumpkins, +turnips, fish and wine; here are nothing but rocks and water." +These comparisons constantly ended with the question of "Where's +Rose Hill? Where?" on which they would throw up their hands and +utter a sound to denote distance, which it is impossible to +convey an idea of upon paper.</p> + +<p>Thursday, April 14th, 1791. We started early and reached the +river in about two hours and a half. The intermediate country, +except for the last half mile, was a continued bed of stones, +which were in some places so thick and close together that they +looked like a pavement formed by art. When we got off the stones, +we came upon the coarse river sand beforementioned.</p> + +<p>Here we began to trace upward. We had not proceeded far when +we saw several canoes on the river. Our natives made us +immediately lie down among the reeds, while they gave their +countrymen the signal of approach. After much calling, finding +that they did not come, we continued our progress until it was +again interrupted by a creek, over which we threw a tree and +passed upon it. While this was doing, a native, from his canoe, +entered into conversation with us, and immediately after paddled +to us with a frankness and confidence which surprised every one. +He was a man of middle age, with an open cheerful countenance, +marked with the small pox, and distinguished by a nose of +uncommon magnitude and dignity. He seemed to be neither +astonished or terrified at our appearance and number. Two stone +hatchets, and two spears he took from his canoe, and presented to +the governor, who in return for his courteous generosity, gave +him two of our hatchets and some bread, which was new to him, for +he knew not its use, but kept looking at it, until Colbee shewed +him what to do, when he eat it without hesitation. We pursued our +course, and to accommodate us, our new acquaintance pointed out a +path and walked at the head of us. A canoe, also with a man and a +boy in it, kept gently paddling up abreast of us. We halted for +the night at our usual hour, on the bank of the river. +Immediately that we had stopped, our friend (who had already told +us his name) Gombeeree, introduced the man and the boy from the +canoe to us. The former was named Yellomundee, the latter +Deeimba. The ease with which these people behaved among strangers +was as conspicuous, as unexpected. They seated themselves at our +fire, partook of our biscuit and pork, drank from our canteens, +and heard our guns going off around them without betraying any +symptom of fear, distrust or surprise. On the opposite bank of +the river they had left their wives and several children, with +whom they frequently discoursed; and we observed that these last +manifested neither suspicion or uneasiness of our designs towards +their friends.</p> + +<p>Having refreshed ourselves, we found leisure to enter into +conversation with them. It could not be expected that they should +differ materially from the tribes with whom we were acquainted. +The same manners and pursuits, the same amusements, the same +levity and fickleness, undoubtedly characterised them. What we +were able to learn from them was that they depend but little on +fish, as the river yields only mullets, and that their principal +support is derived from small animals which they kill, and some +roots (a species of wild yam chiefly) which they dig out of the +earth. If we rightly understood them, each man possesses two +wives. Whence can arise this superabundance of females? Neither +of the men had suffered the extraction of a front tooth. We were +eager to know whether or not this custom obtained among them. But +neither Colbee nor Boladeree would put the question for us; and +on the contrary, showed every desire to wave the subject. The +uneasiness which they testified, whenever we renewed it, rather +served to confirm a suspicion which we had long entertained, that +this is a mark of subjection imposed by the tribe of Cameragal, +(who are certainly the most powerful community in the country) on +the weaker tribes around them. Whether the women cut off a joint +of one of the little fingers, like those on the sea coast, we had +no opportunity of observing. These are petty remarks. But one +variety struck us more forcibly. Although our natives and the +strangers conversed on a par and understood each other perfectly, +yet they spoke different dialects of the same language; many of +the most common and necessary words used in life bearing no +similitude, and others being slightly different.</p> + +<pre> +------------------------------------------------------------ +English Name on the sea coast Name at the Hawkesbury +------------------------------------------------------------ + +The Moon Yeneeda Condoen +The Ear Gooree Benna +The Forehead Nullo Narran +The Belly Barang Bindee +The Navel Muneero Boombong +The Buttocks Boong Baylee +The Neck Calang Ganga +The Thigh Tara Dara +The Hair Deewara Keewara +------------------------------------------------------------- +</pre> + +<br> +<br> +<p>That these diversities arise from want of intercourse with the +people on the coast can hardly be imagined, as the distance +inland is but thirty-eight miles; and from Rose Hill not more +than twenty, where the dialect of the sea coast is spoken. It +deserves notice that all the different terms seemed to be +familiar to both parties, though each in speaking preferred its +own*.</p> + +<p class="note">[*How easily people, unused to speak the same +language, mistake each other, everyone knows. We had lived almost +three years at Port Jackson (for more than half of which period +natives had resided with us) before we knew that the word +'beeal', signified 'no', and not 'good', in which latter sense we +had always used it without suspecting that we were wrong; and +even without being corrected by those with whom we talked daily. +The cause of our error was this. The epithet 'weeree', signifying +'bad', we knew; and as the use of this word and its opposite +afford the most simple form of denoting consent or disapprobation +to uninstructed Indians, in order to find out their word for +'good', when Arabanoo was first brought among us, we used +jokingly to say that any thing, which he liked was 'weeree', in +order to provoke him to tell us that it was good. When we said +'weeree', he answered 'beeal', which we translated and adopted +for 'good'; whereas he meant no more than simply to deny our +inference, and say 'no'--it is not bad. After this, it cannot be +thought extraordinary that the little vocabulary inserted in Mr. +Cook's account of this part of the world should appear +defective-- even were we not to take in the great probability of +the dialects at Endeavour River and Van Diemen's land differing +from that spoken at Port Jackson. And it remains to be proved +that the animal called here 'patagaram' is not there called +'kangaroo'.]</p> + +<p>Stretched out at ease before our fire, all sides continued to +chat and entertain each other. Gombeeree shewed us the mark of a +wound which he had received in his side from a spear. It was +large, appeared to have passed to a considerable depth, and must +certainly have been attended with imminent danger. By whom it had +been inflicted, and on what occasion, he explained to Colbee; and +afterwards (as we understood) he entered into a detail of the +wars, and, as effects lead to causes, probably of the gallantries +of the district, for the word which signifies a woman was often +repeated. Colbee, in return for his communication, informed him +who we were; of our numbers at Sydney and Rose Hill, of the +stores we possessed and, above all, of the good things which were +to be found among us, enumerating potatoes, cabbages, turnips, +pumpkins, and many other names which were perfectly +unintelligible to the person who heard them, but which he +nevertheless listened to with profound attention.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the relation given by Gombeeree, of the cure of his +wound, now gave rise to the following superstitious ceremony. +While they were talking, Colbee turned suddenly round and asked +for some water. I gave him a cupful, which he presented with +great seriousness to Yellomundee, as I supposed to drink. This +last indeed took the cup and filled his mouth with water, but +instead of swallowing it, threw his head into Colbee's bosom, +spit the water upon him and, immediately after, began to suck +strongly at his breast, just below the nipple. I concluded that +the man was sick; and called to the governor to observe the +strange place which he had chosen to exonerate his stomach. The +silent attention observed by the other natives, however, soon +convinced us that something more than merely the accommodation of +Yellomundee, was intended. The ceremony was again performed; and, +after having sucked the part for a considerable time, the +operator pretended to receive something in his mouth, which was +drawn from the breast. With this he retired a few paces, put his +hand to his lips and threw into the river a stone, which I had +observed him to pick up slily, and secrete. When he returned to +the fireside, Colbee assured us that he had received signal +benefit from the operation; and that this second Machaon had +extracted from his breast two splinters of a spear by which he +had been formerly wounded. We examined the part, but it was +smooth and whole, so that to the force of imagination alone must +be imputed both the wound and its cure. Colbee himself seemed +nevertheless firmly persuaded that he had received relief, and +assured us that Yellomundee was a 'caradyee', or 'Doctor of +renown'. And Boladeree added that not only he but all the rest of +his tribe were 'caradyee' of especial note and skill.</p> + +<p>The Doctors remained with us all night, sleeping before the +fire in the fullness of good faith and security. The little boy +slept in his father's arms, and we observed that whenever the man +was inclined to shift his position, he first put over the child, +with great care, and then turned round to him.</p> + +<p>Friday, April 15th, 1791. The return of light aroused us to +the repetition of toil. Our friends breakfasted with us, and +previous to starting Gombeeree gave a specimen of their manner of +climbing trees in quest of animals. He asked for a hatchet and +one of ours was offered to him, but he preferred one of their own +making. With this tool he cut a small notch in the tree he +intended to climb, about two feet and a half above the ground, in +which he fixed the great toe of his left foot, and sprung +upwards, at the same time embracing the tree with his left arm. +In an instant he had cut a second notch for his right toe on the +other side of the tree into which he sprung, and thus, +alternately cutting on each side, he mounted to the height of +twenty feet in nearly as short a space as if he had ascended by a +ladder, although the bark of the tree was quite smooth and +slippery and the trunk four feet in diameter and perfectly +strait. To us it was a matter of astonishment, but to him it was +sport; for while employed thus he kept talking to those below and +laughing immoderately. He descended with as much ease and agility +as he had raised himself. Even our natives allowed that he was a +capital performer, against whom they dared not to enter the +lists; for as they subsist chiefly by fishing they are less +expert at climbing on the coast than those who daily practice +it.</p> + +<p>Soon after they bade us adieu, in unabated friendship and good +humour. Colbee and Boladeree parted from them with a slight nod +of the head, the usual salutation of the country; and we shook +them by the hand, which they returned lustily.</p> + +<p>At the time we started the tide was flowing up the river, a +decisive proof that we were below Richmond Hill. We had continued +our march but a short time when we were again stopped by a creek, +which baffled all our endeavours to cross it, and seemed to +predict that the object of our attainment, though but a very few +miles distant, would take us yet a considerable time to reach, +which threw a damp on our hopes. We traced the creek until four +o'clock, when we halted for the night. The country, on both +sides, we thought in general unpromising; but it is certainly +very superior to that which we had seen on the former creek. In +many places it might be cultivated, provided the inundations of +the stream can be repelled.</p> + +<p>In passing along we shot some ducks, which Boladeree refused +to swim for when requested, and told us in a surly tone that they +swam for what was killed, and had the trouble of fetching it +ashore, only for the white men to eat it. This reproof was, I +fear, too justly founded; for of the few ducks we had been so +fortunate as to procure, little had fallen to their share except +the offals, and now and then a half-picked bone. True, indeed, +all the crows and hawks which had been shot were given to them; +but they plainly told us that the taste of ducks was more +agreeable to their palates, and begged they might hereafter +partake of them. We observed that they were thoroughly sick of +the journey, and wished heartily for its conclusion: the +exclamation of "Where's Rose Hill, where?" was incessantly +repeated, with many inquiries about when we should return to +it.</p> + +<p>Saturday April 16th, 1791. It was this morning resolved to +abandon our pursuit and to return home; at hearing of which our +natives expressed great joy. We started early; and reached Rose +Hill about three o'clock, just as a boat was about to be sent +down to Sydney. Colbee and Boladeree would not wait for us until +the following morning, but insisted on going down immediately to +communicate to Baneelon and the rest of their countrymen the +novelties they had seen.</p> + +<p>The country we passed through was, for the most part, very +indifferent, according to our universal opinion. It is in general +badly watered. For eight miles and a half on one line we did not +find a drop of water.</p> + +<p>RICHMOND HILL</p> + +<p>Having eluded our last search, Mr. Dawes and myself, +accompanied by a sergeant of marines and a private soldier, +determined on another attempt, to ascertain whether it lay on the +Hawkesbury or Nepean. We set out on this expedition on the 24th +of May, 1791; and having reached the opposite side of the mouth +of the creek which had in our last journey prevented our +progress, we proceeded from there up to Richmond Hill by the +river side; mounted it; slept at its foot; and on the following +day penetrated some miles westward or inland of it until we were +stopped by a mountainous country, which our scarcity of +provisions, joined to the terror of a river at our back, whose +sudden rising is almost beyond computation, hindered us from +exploring. To the elevation which bounded our research we gave +the name of Knight Hill, in honour of the trusty sergeant who had +been the faithful indefatigable companion of all our travels.</p> + +<p>This excursion completely settled the long contested point +about the Hawkesbury and Nepean. We found them to be one river. +Without knowing it, Mr. Dawes and myself had passed Richmond Hill +almost a year before (in August 1790), and from there walked on +the bank of the river to the spot where my discovery of the +Nepean happened, in June 1789. Our ignorance arose from having +never before seen the hill, and from the erroneous position +assigned to it by those who had been in the boats up the +river.</p> + +<p>Except the behaviour of some natives whom we met on the river, +which it would be ingratitude to pass in silence, nothing +particularly worthy of notice occurred on this expedition.</p> + +<p>When we had reached within two miles of Richmond Hill, we +heard a native call. We directly answered him and conversed +across the river for some time. At length he launched his canoe +and crossed to us without distrust or hesitation. We had never +seen him before; but he appeared to know our friend Gombeeree, of +whom he often spoke. He said his name was Deedora. He presented +us with two spears and a throwing-stick, and in return we gave +him some bread and beef. Finding that our route lay up the river, +he offered to accompany us and, getting into his canoe, paddled +up abreast of us. When we arrived at Richmond Hill it became +necessary to cross the river; but the question was, how this +should be effected? Deedora immediately offered his canoe. We +accepted of it and, Mr. Dawes and the soldier putting their +clothes into it, pushed it before them, and by alternately wading +and swimming, soon passed. On the opposite shore sat several +natives, to whom Deedora called, by which precaution the arrival +of the strangers produced no alarm. On the contrary, they +received them with every mark of benevolence. Deedora, in the +meanwhile, sat talking with the sergeant and me. Soon after, +another native, named Morunga, brought back the canoe, and now +came our turn to cross. The sergeant (from a foolish trick which +had been played upon him when he was a boy) was excessively +timorous of water, and could not swim. Morunga offered to conduct +him, and they got into the canoe together; but, his fears +returning, he jumped out and refused to proceed. I endeavoured to +animate him, and Morunga ridiculed his apprehensions, making +signs of the ease and dispatch with which he would land him; but +he resolved to paddle over by himself, which, by dint of good +management and keeping his position very steadily, he performed. +It was now become necessary to bring over the canoe a third time +for my accommodation, which was instantly done, and I entered it +with Deedora. But, like the sergeant, I was so disordered at +seeing the water within a hair's breadth of the level of our +skiff (which brought to my remembrance a former disaster I had +experienced on this river) that I jumped out, about knee-deep, +and determined to swim over, which I effected. My clothes, half +our knapsacks, and three of our guns yet remained to be +transported across. These I recommended to the care of our grim +ferrymen, who instantaneously loaded their boat with them and +delivered them on the opposite bank, without damage or +diminution.</p> + +<p>During this long trial of their patience and courtesy--in the +latter part of which I was entirely in their power, from their +having possession of our arms--they had manifested no ungenerous +sign of taking advantage of the helplessness and dependance of +our situation; no rude curiosity to pry into the packages with +which they were entrusted; or no sordid desire to possess the +contents of them; although among them were articles exposed to +view, of which it afterwards appeared they knew the use, and +longed for the benefit. Let the banks of those rivers, "known to +song", let him whose travels have lain among polished nations +produce me a brighter example of disinterested urbanity than was +shown by these denizens of a barbarous clime to a set of +destitute wanderers on the side of the Hawkesbury.</p> + +<p>On the top of Richmond Hill we shot a hawk, which fell in a +tree. Deedora offered to climb for it and we lent him a hatchet, +the effect of which delighted him so much that he begged for it. +As it was required to chop wood for our evening fire, it could +not be conveniently spared; but we promised him that if he would +visit us on the following morning, it should be given to him. Not +a murmur was heard; no suspicion of our insincerity; no mention +of benefits conferred; no reproach of ingratitude. His good +humour and cheerfulness were not clouded for a moment. Punctual +to our appointment, he came to us at daylight next morning and +the hatchet was given to him, the only token of gratitude and +respect in our power to bestow. Neither of these men had lost his +front tooth.</p> + +<p>THE LAST EXPEDITION</p> + +<p>Which I ever undertook in the country I am describing was in +July 1791, when Mr. Dawes and myself went in search of a large +river which was said to exist a few miles to the southward of +Rose Hill. We went to the place described, and found this second +Nile or Ganges to be nothing but a saltwater creek communicating +with Botany Bay, on whose banks we passed a miserable night from +want of a drop of water to quench our thirst, for as we believed +that we were going to a river we thought it needless to march +with full canteens.</p> + +<p>On this expedition we carried with us a thermometer which (in +unison with our feelings) shewed so extraordinary a degree of +cold for the latitude of the place that I think myself bound to +transcribe it.</p> + +<p>Monday, 18th July 1791. The sun arose in unclouded splendor +and presented to our sight a novel and picturesque view. The +contiguous country as white as if covered with snow, contrasted +with the foliage of trees flourishing in the verdure of tropical +luxuriancy*. Even the exhalation which steamed from the lake +beneath contributed to heighten the beauty of the scene. Wind +SSW. Thermorneter at sunrise 25degrees. The following night was +still colder. At sunset the thermometer stood at 45 degrees; at a +quarter before four in the morning, it was at 26degrees; at a +quarter before six at 24 degrees; at a quarter before seven, at +23 degrees; at seven o'clock, 22.7 degrees; at sunrise, 23 +degrees, after which it continued gradually to mount, and between +one and two o'clock, stood at 59.6 degrees in the shade. Wind +SSW. The horizon perfectly clear all day, not the smallest speck +to be seen. Nothing but demonstration could have convinced me +that so severe a degree of cold ever existed in this low +latitude. Drops of water on a tin pot, not altogether out of the +influence of the fire, were frozen into solid ice in less than +twelve minutes. Part of a leg of kangaroo which we had roasted +for supper was frozen quite hard, all the juices of it being +converted into ice. On those ponds which were near the surface of +the earth, the covering of ice was very thick; but on those which +were lower down it was found to be less so, in proportion to +their depression; and wherever the water was twelve feet below +the surface (which happened to be the case close to us) it was +uncongealed. It remains to be observed that the cold of both +these nights, at Rose Hill and Sydney, was judged to be greater +than had ever before been felt.</p> + +<p class="note">[*All the trees of New South Wales, may I +apprehend, be termed evergreen. For after such weather as this +journal records, I did not observe either that the leaves had +dropped off, or that they had assumed that sickly autumnal tint, +which marks English trees in corresponding circumstances.]</p> + +<a name="15"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER XV.</h3> + +<h4>Transactions of the Colony to the end of November, 1791.</h4> + +<p>The extreme dryness of the preceding summer has been noticed. +It had operated so far in the beginning of June that we dreaded a +want of water for common consumption most of the little +reservoirs in the neighbourhood of Sydney being dried up. The +small stream near the town was so nearly exhausted (being only +the drain of a morass) that a ship could not have watered at it, +and the 'Supply' was preparing to sink casks in a swamp when rain +fell and banished our apprehensions.</p> + +<p>June, 1791. On the second instant, the name of the settlement, +at the head of the harbour (Rose Hill) was changed, by order of +the governor, to that of Parramatta, the native name of it. As +Rose Hill has, however, occurred so often in this book, I beg +leave, to avoid confusion, still to continue the appellation in +all future mention of it.</p> + +<p>Our travelling friend Boladeree, who makes so conspicuous a +figure in the last chapter, about this time committed an offence +which we were obliged to notice. He threw a spear at a convict in +the woods, and wounded him. The truth was, some mischievous +person belonging to us had wantonly destroyed his canoe, and he +revenged the injury on the first of our people whom he met +unarmed. He now seemed to think the matter adjusted; and probably +such is the custom they observe in their own society in similar +cases. Hearing, however, that an order was issued to seize him, +or in case that could not be effected, to shoot him, he prudently +dropped all connection with us and was for a long time not +seen.</p> + +<p>But if they sometimes injured us, to compensate they were +often of signal benefit to those who needed their assistance: two +instances of which had recently occurred. A boat was overset in +the harbour Baneelon and some other natives, who saw the accident +happen, immediately plunged in, and saved all the people. When +they had brought them on shore, they undressed them, kindled a +fire and dried their clothes, gave them fish to eat and conducted +them to Sydney.</p> + +<p>The other instance was of a soldier lost in the woods, when he +met a party of natives. He at first knew not whether to flee from +them, or to implore their assistance. Seeing among them one whom +he knew, he determined to communicate his distress to him and to +rely on his generosity. The Indian told him that he had wandered +a long way from home, but that he would conduct him thither, on +the single condition of his delivering up a gun which he held in +his hand, promising to carry it for him and to restore it to him +at parting. The soldier felt little inclination to surrender his +arms, by which he would be put entirely in their power. But +seeing no alternative, he at last consented; on which the whole +party laid down their spears and faithfully escorted him to the +nearest part of the settlement, where the gun was given up, and +they took their leave without asking for any remuneration, or +even seeming to expect it.</p> + +<p>The distressful state of the colony for provisions continued +gradually to augment until the 9th of July, when the Mary Anne +transport arrived from England. This ship had sailed from the +Downs so lately as the 25th of February, having been only four +months and twelve days on her passage. She brought out convicts, +by contract, at a specific sum for each person. But to +demonstrate the effect of humanity and justice, of 144 female +convicts embarked on board only three had died, and the rest were +landed in perfect health, all loud in praise of their conductor. +The master's name was Munro; and his ship, after fulfilling her +engagement with government, was bound on the southern fishery. +The reader must not conclude that I sacrifice to dull detail, +when he finds such benevolent conduct minutely narrated. The +advocates of humanity are not yet become too numerous: but those +who practise its divine precepts, however humble and unnoticed be +their station, ought not to sink into obscurity, unrecorded and +unpraised, with the vile monsters who deride misery and fatten on +calamity.</p> + +<p>July, 1791. If, however, the good people of this ship +delighted us with their benevolence, here gratification ended. I +was of a party who had rowed in a boat six miles out to sea, +beyond the harbour's mouth, to meet them; and what was our +disappointment, on getting aboard, to find that they had not +brought a letter (a few official ones for the governor excepted) +to any person in the colony! Nor had they a single newspaper or +magazine in their possession; nor could they conceive that any +person wished to hear news; being as ignorant of everything which +had passed in Europe for the last two years as ourselves, at the +distance of half the circle. "No war--the fleet's dismantled," +was the whole that we could learn. When I asked whether a new +parliament had been called, they stared at me in stupid wonder, +not seeming to comprehend that such a body either suffered +renovation or needed it.</p> + +<p>"Have the French settled their government?"</p> + +<p>"As to that matter I can't say; I never heard; but, damn them, +they were ready enough to join the Spaniards against us."</p> + +<p>"Are Russia and Turkey at peace?"</p> + +<p>"That you see does not lie in my way; I have heard talk about +it, but don't remember what passed."</p> + +<p>"For heaven's sake, why did you not bring out a bundle of +newspapers? You might have procured a file at any coffee house, +which would have amused you, and instructed us?"</p> + +<p>"Why, really, I never thought about the matter until we were +off the Cape of Good Hope, when we spoke a man of war, who asked +us the same question, and then I wished I had."</p> + +<p>To have prosecuted inquiry farther would have only served to +increase disappointment and chagrin. We therefore quitted the +ship, wondering and lamenting that so large a portion of plain +undisguised honesty should be so totally unconnected with a +common share of intelligence, and acquaintance with the feelings +and habits of other men.</p> + +<p>By the governor's letters we learned that a large fleet of +transports, with convicts on board, and His Majesty's ship +Gorgon, (Captain Parker) might soon be expected to arrive. The +following intelligence which they contained, was also made +public.</p> + +<p>That such convicts as had served their period of +transportation, were not to be compelled to remain in the colony; +but that no temptation should be offered to induce them to quit +it, as there existed but too much reason to believe, that they +would return to former practices; that those who might choose to +settle in the country should have portions of land, subject to +stipulated restrictions, and a portion of provisions assigned to +them on signifying their inclinations; and that it was expected, +that those convicts who might be possessed of means to transport +themselves from the country, would leave it free of all +incumbrances of a public nature.</p> + +<p>The rest of the fleet continued to drop in, in this and the +two succeeding months. The state of the convicts whom they +brought out, though infinitely preferable to what the fleet of +last year had landed, was not unexceptionable. Three of the ships +had naval agents on board to control them. Consequently, if +complaint had existed there, it would have been immediately +redressed. Exclusive of these, the 'Salamander', (Captain +Nichols) who, of 155 men lost only five; and the 'William and +Anne' (Captain Buncker) who of 187 men lost only seven, I find +most worthy of honourable mention. In the list of convicts +brought out was Barrington, of famous memory.</p> + +<p>Two of these ships also added to our geographic knowledge of +the country. The 'Atlantic', under the direction of Lieutenant +Bowen, a naval agent, ran into a harbour between Van Diemen's +land, and Port Jackson, in latitude 35 degrees 12 minutes south, +longitude 151 degrees east, to which, in honour of Sir John +Jervis, Knight of the Bath, Mr. Bowen gave the name of Port +Jervis. Here was found good anchoring ground with a fine depth of +water, within a harbour about a mile and a quarter broad at its +entrance, which afterwards opens into a basin five miles wide and +of considerable length. They found no fresh water, but as their +want of this article was not urgent, they did not make sufficient +researches to pronounce that none existed there.* They saw, +during the short time they stayed, two kangaroos and many traces +of inhabitants. The country at a little distance to the southward +of the harbour is hilly, but that contiguous to the sea is flat. +On comparing what they had found here afterwards, with the native +produce of Port Jackson, they saw no reason to think that they +differed in any respect.</p> + +<p class="note">[*Just before I left the country, word was +brought by a ship which had put into Port Jervis, that a large +fresh water brook was found there.]</p> + +<p>The second discovery was made by Captain Wetherhead, of the +'Matilda' transport, which was obligingly described to me, as +follows, by that gentleman, on my putting to him the underwritten +questions.</p> + +<p>"When did you make your discovery?"</p> + +<p>"On the 27th of July, 1791."</p> + +<p>"In what latitude and longitude does it lie?"</p> + +<p>"In 42 degrees 15 minutes south by observation, and in 148 1/2 +east by reckoning"</p> + +<p>"Is it on the mainland or is it an island?"</p> + +<p>"It is an island, distant from the mainland about eight +miles."</p> + +<p>"Did you anchor?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; and found good anchorage in a bay open about six +points."</p> + +<p>"Did you see any other harbour or bay in the island?"</p> + +<p>"None."</p> + +<p>"Does the channel between the island and the main appear to +afford good shelter for shipping?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, like Spithead."</p> + +<p>"Did you find any water on the island?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, in plenty."</p> + +<p>"Of what size does the island appear to be?"</p> + +<p>"It is narrow and long; I cannot say how long. Its breadth is +inconsiderable."</p> + +<p>"Did you make any observations on the soil?"</p> + +<p>"It is sandy; and many places are full of craggy rocks."</p> + +<p>"Do you judge the productions which you saw on the island to +be similar to those around Port Jackson?"</p> + +<p>"I do not think they differ in any respect."</p> + +<p>"Did you see any animals?"</p> + +<p>"I saw three kangaroos."</p> + +<p>"Did you see any natives, or any marks of them?"</p> + +<p>"I saw no natives, but I saw a fire, and several huts like +those at Port Jackson, in one of which lay a spear."</p> + +<p>"What name did you give to your discovery?"</p> + +<p>"I called it, in honour of my ship, Matilda Bay."</p> + +<p>November, 1791. A very extraordinary instance of folly +stimulated to desperation occurred in the beginning of this month +among the convicts at Rose Hill. Twenty men and a pregnant woman, +part of those who had arrived in the last fleet, suddenly +disappeared with their clothes, working tools, bedding, and their +provisions, for the ensuing week, which had been just issued to +them. The first intelligence heard of them, was from some convict +settlers, who said they had seen them pass, and had enquired +whither they were bound. To which they had received for answer, +"to China." The extravagance and infatuation of such an attempt +was explained to them by the settlers; but neither derision, nor +demonstration could avert them from pursuing their purpose. It +was observed by those who brought in the account that they had +general idea enough of the point of the compass in which China +lies from Port Jackson, to keep in a northerly direction.</p> + +<p>An officer with a detachment of troops, was sent in pursuit of +them; but after a harassing march returned without success. In +the course of a week the greatest part of them were either +brought back by different parties who had fallen in with them, or +were driven in by famine. Upon being questioned about the cause +of their elopement, those whom hunger had forced back, did not +hesitate to confess that they had been so grossly deceived as to +believe that China might easily be reached, being not more than +100 miles distant, and separated only by a river. The others, +however, ashamed of the merriment excited at their expense, said +that their reason for running away was on account of being +overworked and harshly treated, and that they preferred a +solitary and precarious existence in the woods to a return to the +misery they were compelled to undergo. One or two of the party +had certainly perished by the hands of the natives, who had also +wounded several others.</p> + +<p>I trust that no man would feel more reluctant than myself to +cast an illiberal national reflection, particularly on a people +whom I regard in an aggregate sense as brethren and +fellow-citizens; and among whom, I have the honour to number many +of the most cordial and endearing intimacies which a life passed +on service could generate. But it is certain that all these +people were Irish.</p> + +<a name="16"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER XVI</h3> + +<h4>Transactions of the colony until 18th of December 1791, when +I quitted it, with an Account of its state at that time.</h4> + +<p>The Gorgon had arrived on the 21st of September, and the hour +of departure to England, for the marine battalion, drew nigh. If +I be allowed to speak from my own feelings on the occasion, I +will not say that we contemplated its approach with mingled +sensations: we hailed it with rapture and exultation.</p> + +<p>The 'Supply', ever the harbinger of welcome and glad tidings, +proclaimed by her own departure, that ours was at hand. On the +26th of November she sailed for England. It was impossible to +view our separation with insensibility: the little ship which had +so often agitated our hopes and fears, which from long +acquaintance we had learned to regard as part of ourselves, whose +doors of hospitality had been ever thrown open to relieve our +accumulated wants, and chase our solitary gloom!</p> + +<p>In consequence of the offers made to the non-commissioned +officers and privates of the marine battalion to remain in the +country as settlers or to enter into the New South Wales corps, +three corporals, one drummer and 59 privates accepted of grants +of land, to settle at Norfolk Island and Rose Hill. Of these men, +several were undoubtedly possessed of sufficient skill and +industry, by the assistance of the pay which was due to them from +the date of their embarkation, in the beginning of the year 1787, +to the day on which they were discharged, to set out with +reasonable hopes of being able to procure a maintenance. But the +only apparent reason to which the behaviour of a majority of them +could be ascribed was from infatuated affection to female +convicts, whose characters and habits of life, I am sorry to say, +promise from a connection neither honour nor tranquillity.</p> + +<p>The narrative part of this work will, I conceive, be best +brought to a termination by a description of the existing state +of the colony, as taken by myself a few days previous to my +embarkation in the Gorgon, to sail for England.</p> + +<p>December 2nd, 1791. Went up to Rose Hill. Public buildings +here have not greatly multiplied since my last survey. The +storehouse and barrack have been long completed; also apartments +for the chaplain of the regiment, and for the judge-advocate, in +which last, criminal courts, when necessary, are held; but these +are petty erections. In a colony which contains only a few +hundred hovels built of twigs and mud, we feel consequential +enough already to talk of a treasury, an admiralty, a public +library and many other similar edifices, which are to form part +of a magnificent square. The great road from near the landing +place to the governor's house is finished, and a very noble one +it is, being of great breadth, and a mile long, in a strait line. +In many places it is carried over gullies of considerable depth, +which have been filled up with trunks of trees covered with +earth. All the sawyers, carpenters and blacksmiths will soon be +concentred under the direction of a very adequate person of the +governor's household. This plan is already so far advanced as to +contain nine covered sawpits, which change of weather cannot +disturb the operations of, an excellent workshed for the +carpenters and a large new shop for the blacksmiths. It certainly +promises to be of great public benefit. A new hospital has been +talked of for the last two years, but is not yet begun. Two long +sheds, built in the form of a tent and thatched, are however +finished, and capable of holding 200 patients. The sick list of +today contains 382 names. Rose Hill is less healthy than it used +to be. The prevailing disorder is a dysentery, which often +terminates fatally. There was lately one very violent putrid +fever which, by timely removal of the patient, was prevented from +spreading. Twenty-five men and two children died here in the +month of November.</p> + +<p>When at the hospital I saw and conversed with some of the +'Chinese travellers'; four of them lay here, wounded by the +natives. I asked these men if they really supposed it possible to +reach China. They answered that they were certainly made to +believe (they knew not how) that at a considerable distance to +northward existed a large river, which separated this country +from the back part of China; and that when it should be crossed +(which was practicable) they would find themselves among a +copper-coloured people, who would receive and treat them kindly. +They added, that on the third day of their elopement, one of the +party died of fatigue; another they saw butchered by the natives +who, finding them unarmed, attacked them and put them to flight. +This happened near Broken Bay, which harbour stopped their +progress to the northward and forced them to turn to the right +hand, by which means they soon after found themselves on the sea +shore, where they wandered about in a destitute condition, +picking up shellfish to allay hunger. Deeming the farther +prosecution of their scheme impracticable, several of them agreed +to return to Rose Hill, which with difficulty they accomplished, +arriving almost famished. On their road back they met six fresh +adventurers sallying forth to join them, to whom they related +what had passed and persuaded them to relinquish their intention. +There are at this time not less than thirty-eight convict men +missing, who live in the woods by day, and at night enter the +different farms and plunder for subsistence.</p> + +<p>December 3rd, 1791. Began my survey of the cultivated land +belonging to the public. The harvest has commenced. They are +reaping both wheat and barley. The field between the barrack and +the governor's house contains wheat and maize, both very bad, but +the former particularly so. In passing through the main street I +was pleased to observe the gardens of the convicts look better +than I had expected to find them. The vegetables in general are +but mean, but the stalks of maize, with which they are +interspersed, appear green and flourishing. The semicircular +hill, which sweeps from the overseer of the cattle's house to the +governor's house, is planted with maize, which, I am told, is the +best here. It certainly looks in most parts very good-- stout +thick stalks with large spreading leaves--but I am surprised to +find it so backward. It is at least a month later than that in +the gardens at Sydney. Behind the maize is a field of wheat, +which looks tolerably for this part of the world. It will, I +reckon, yield about twelve bushels an acre. Continued my walk and +looked at a little patch of wheat in the governor's garden, which +was sown in drills, the ground being first mixed with a clay +which its discoverers pretended was marle. Whatever it be, this +experiment bespeaks not much in favour of its enriching +qualities; for the corn looks miserably, and is far exceeded by +some neighbouring spots on which no such advantage has been +bestowed. Went round the crescent at the bottom of the garden, +which certainly in beauty of form and situation is unrivalled in +New South Wales. Here are eight thousand vines planted, all of +which in another season are expected to bear grapes. Besides the +vines are several small fruit trees, which were brought in the +Gorgon from the Cape, and look lively; on one of them are half a +dozen apples as big as nutmegs. Although the soil of the crescent +be poor, its aspect and circular figure, so advantageous for +receiving and retaining the rays of the sun, eminently fit it for +a vineyard. Passed the rivulet and looked at the corn land on its +northern side. On the western side of Clarke's* house the wheat +and maize are bad, but on the eastern side is a field supposed to +be the best in the colony. I thought it of good height, and the +ears well filled, but it is far from thick.</p> + +<p class="note">[*Dod, who is mentioned in my former journal of +this place, had died some months ago. And Mr. Clarke, who was put +in his room, is one of the superintendants, sent out by +government, on a salary of forty pounds per annum. He was bred to +husbandry, under his father at Lewes in Sussex; and is, I +conceive, competent to his office of principal conductor of the +agriculture of Rose Hill.]</p> + +<p>While I was looking at it, Clarke came up. I told him I +thought he would reap fifteen or sixteen bushels an acre; he +seemed to think seventeen or eighteen. I have now inspected all +the European corn. A man of so little experience of these matters +as myself cannot speak with much confidence. Perhaps the produce +may average ten bushels an acre, or twelve at the outside. +Allowance should, however, be made in estimating the quality of +the soil, for the space occupied by roots of trees, for +inadequate culture, and in some measure to want of rain. Less has +fallen than was wished, but this spring was by no means so dry as +the last. I find that the wheat grown at Rose Hill last year +weighed fifty-seven pounds and a half per bushel. My next visit +was to the cattle, which consists of two stallions, six mares, +and two colts; besides sixteen cows, two cow-calves, and one +bull-calf, which were brought out by the Gorgon. Two bulls which +were on board died on the passage, so that on the young gentleman +just mentioned depends the stocking of the colony.</p> + +<p>The period of the inhabitants of New South Wales being +supplied with animal food of their own raising is too remote for +a prudent man to calculate. The cattle look in good condition, +and I was surprised to hear that neither corn nor fodder is given +to them. The enclosures in which they are confined furnish hardly +a blade of grass at present. There are people appointed to tend +them who have been used to this way of life, and who seem to +execute it very well.</p> + +<p>Sunday, December 4th, 1791. Divine service is now performed +here every Sunday, either by the chaplain of the settlement or +the chaplain of the regiment. I went to church today. Several +hundred convicts were present, the majority of whom I thought +looked the most miserable beings in the shape of humanity I ever +beheld. They appeared to be worn down with fatigue.</p> + +<p>December, 5th. Made excursions this day to view the public +settlements. Reached the first, which is about a mile in a +north-west direction from the governor's house. This settlement +contains, by admeasurement, 134 acres, a part of which is planted +with maize, very backward, but in general tolerably good, and +beautifully green. Thirteen large huts, built in the form of a +tent, are erected for the convicts who work here; but I could not +learn the number of these last, being unable to find a +superintendant or any person who could give me information. Ponds +of water here sufficient to supply a thousand persons.</p> + +<p>Walked on to the second settlement, about two miles farther, +through an uncleared country. Here met Daveney, the person who +planned and now superintends all the operations carried on here. +He told me that he estimated the quantity of cleared ground here +at 300 acres. He certainly over-rates it one-third, by the +judgment of every other person. Six weeks ago this was a forest. +it has been cleared, and the wood nearly burnt off the ground by +500 men, in the before-mentioned period, or rather in thirty +days, for only that number have the convicts worked. He said it +was too late to plant maize, and therefore he should sow turnips, +which would help to meliorate and prepare it for next year. On +examining the soil, I thought it in general light, though in some +places loamy to the touch. He means to try the Rose Hill 'marle' +upon it, with which he thinks it will incorporate well. I hope it +will succeed better than the experiment in the governor's garden. +I wished to know whether he had chosen this ground simply from +the conveniency of its situation to Rose Hill, and its easy form +for tillage, and having water, or from any marks which he had +thought indicated good soil. He said that what I had mentioned no +doubt weighed with him, and that he judged the soil to be good, +from the limbs of many of the trees growing on it being covered +with moss.</p> + +<p>"Are," said I, "your 500 men still complete?"</p> + +<p>"No; this day's muster gave only 460. The rest are either sick +and removed to the hospital, or are run away in the woods."</p> + +<p>"How much is each labourer's daily task?"</p> + +<p>"Seven rods. It was eight, but on their representing to the +governor that it was beyond their strength to execute, he took +off one."</p> + +<p>Thirteen large huts, similar to those beforementioned, contain +all the people here. To every hut are appointed two men, as +hutkeepers, whose only employment is to watch the huts in working +hours to prevent them from being robbed. This has somewhat +checked depredations, and those endless complaints of the +convicts that they could not work because they had nothing to +eat, their allowance being stolen. The working hours at this +season (summer) are from five o'clock in the morning until ten; +rest from ten to two; return to work at two; and continue till +sunset. This surely cannot be called very severe toil; but on the +other hand must be remembered the inadequacy of a ration of salt +provisions, with few vegetables, and unassisted by any liquor but +water.</p> + +<p>Here finished my remarks on every thing of a public nature at +Rose Hill. But having sufficient time, I determined to visit all +the private settlers to inspect their labours, and learn from +them their schemes, their hopes and expectations.</p> + +<p>In pursuance of my resolution, I crossed the country to +Prospect Hill, at the bottom of which live the following thirteen +convicts, who have accepted allotments of ground, and are become +settlers.</p> + +<pre> +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Men's names. | Trades. | Number of | Number of acres + | | acres in each | in cultivation. + | | allotment. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +John Silverthorne Weaver 40 1 3/4 +Thomas Martin " 40 1 1/2 +John Nichols Gardener 40 2 +William Butler*, and his wife Seaman 50 ) +---- Lisk* Watchmaker 40 ) 4 +William Parish, wife, and a child Seaman 60 2 3/4 +William Kilby, and his wife Husbandman 60 1 1/4 +Edward Pugh, wife, and two children Carpenter 70 2 1/2 +Samuel Griffith +John Herbertt** +James Castle +Joseph Marlow*** +John Williams, and his wife +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +</pre> + +<br> +<br> +<p class="note">[*In partnership.[Butler and Lisk]</p> + +<p class="note">[**Not out of his time; but allowed to work here +at his leisure hours, as he has declared his intention of +settling.]</p> + +<p class="note">[***In a similar predicament with Herbert.]</p> + +<p>The terms on which these allotments have been granted are: +that the estates shall be fully ceded for ever to all who shall +continue to cultivate for five years, or more; that they shall be +free of all taxes for the first ten years; but after that period +to pay an annual quit-rent of one shilling. The penalty on +non-performance of any of these articles is forfeiture of the +estate, and all the labour which may have been bestowed upon it. +These people are to receive provisions, (the same quantity as the +working convicts), clothes, and medicinal assistance, for +eighteen months from the day on which they settled.</p> + +<p>To clear and cultivate the land, a hatchet, a tomahawk, two +hoes, a spade and a shovel, are given to each person, whether man +or woman; and a certain number of cross-cut saws among the whole. +To stock their farms, two sow pigs were promised to each settler, +but they almost all say they have not yet received any, of which +they complain loudly. They all received grain to sow and plant +for the first year. They settled here in July and August last. +Most of them were obliged to build their own houses; and wretched +hovels three-fourths of them are. Should any of them fall sick, +the rest are bound to assist the sick person two days in a month, +provided the sickness lasts not longer than two months; four days +labour in each year, from every person, being all that he is +entitled to. To give protection to this settlement, a corporal +and two soldiers are encamped in the centre of the farms, as the +natives once attacked the settlers and burnt one of their houses. +These guards are, however, inevitably at such a distance from +some of the farms as to be unable to afford them any assistance +in case of another attack.</p> + +<p>With all these people I conversed and inspected their labours. +Some I found tranquil and determined to persevere, provided +encouragement should be given. Others were in a state of +despondency, and predicted that they should starve unless the +period of eighteen months during which they are to be clothed and +fed, should be extended to three years. Their cultivation is yet +in its infancy, and therefore opinions should not be hastily +formed of what it may arrive at, with moderate skill and +industry. They have at present little in the ground besides +maize, and that looks not very promising. Some small patches of +wheat which I saw are miserable indeed. The greatest part of the +land I think but indifferent, being light and stoney. Of the +thirteen farms ten are unprovided with water; and at some of them +they are obliged to fetch this necessary article from the +distance of a mile and a half. All the settlers complain sadly of +being frequently robbed by the runaway convicts, who plunder them +incessantly.</p> + +<p>December 6th. Visited the settlements to the northward of the +rivulet. The nearest of them lies about a mile due north of Mr. +Clarke's house. Here are only the undernamed five settlers.</p> + +<pre> +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Men's names. | Trades. | Number of | Number of acres + | | acres in each | in cultivation. + | | allotment. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Thomas Brown*, wife, and child --- 60 ) +William Bradbury* --- 30 ) 3 1/2 +William Mold* --- 30 ) +Simon Burne, and wife Hosier 50 3 +----Parr, and wife Merchant's clerk 50 3 1/2 +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +</pre> + +<br> +<br> +<p class="note">[*These three cultivate in partnership.(Brown, +Bradbury, Mold.)]</p> + +<p>These settlers are placed on the same footing in every respect +which concerns their tenure and the assistance to be granted to +them as those at Prospect Hill. Near them is water. Parr and +Burne are men of great industry. They have both good houses which +they hired people to build for them. Parr told me that he had +expended thirteen guineas on his land, which nevertheless he does +not seem pleased with. Of the three poor fellows who work in +partnership, one (Bradbury) is run away. This man had been +allowed to settle, on a belief, from his own assurance, that his +term of transportation was expired; but it was afterwards +discovered that he had been cast for life. Hereupon he grew +desperate, and declared he would rather perish at once than +remain as a convict. He disappeared a week ago and has never +since been heard of. Were I compelled to settle in New South +Wales, I should fix my residence here, both from the appearance +of the soil, and its proximity to Rose Hill. A corporal and two +privates are encamped here to guard this settlement, as at +Prospect.</p> + +<p>Proceeded to the settlement called the Ponds, a name which I +suppose it derived from several ponds of water which are near the +farms. Here reside the fourteen following settlers.</p> + +<pre> +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Men's names. | Trades. | Number of | Number of acres + | | acres in each | in cultivation. + | | allotment. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Thomas Kelly Servant 30 1 1/2 +William Hubbard, and wife Plasterer 50 2 1/4 +Curtis Brand, and wife Carpenter 50 3 +John Ramsay, and wife Seaman 50 3 1/2 +William Field --- 30 2 1/2 +John Richards* Stone-cutter 30 ) 4 1/2 +John Summers* Husbandman 30 ) +----Varnell --- 30 1 +Anthony Rope**, and wife, and +two children Bricklayer 70 1 +Joseph Bishop, and wife None 50 1 1/2 +Mathew Everingham, and wife Attorney's clerk 50 2 +John Anderson, and wife --- 50 2 +Edward Elliot*** Husbandman 30 ) 2 +Joseph Marshall*** Weaver 30 ) +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +</pre> + +<br> +<br> +<p class="note">[*They (Richards and Summers) cultivate in +partnership.]</p> + +<p class="note">[**A convict who means to settle here; and is +permitted to work in his leisure hours.]</p> + +<p class="note">[***They (Elliot and Marshall) cultivate in +partnership.]</p> + +<p>The Prospect Hill terms of settlement extend to this place. My +private remarks were not many. Some spots which I passed over I +thought desirable, particularly Ramsay's farm; and he deserves a +good spot, for he is a civil, sober, industrious man. Besides his +corn land, he has a well laid out little garden, in which I found +him and his wife busily at work. He praised her industry to me; +and said he did not doubt of succeeding. It is not often seen +that sailors make good farmers; but this man I think bids fair to +contradict the observation. The gentleman of no trade (his own +words to me) will, I apprehend, at the conclusion of the time +when victualling from the store is to cease, have the honour of +returning to drag a timber or brick cart for his maintenance. The +little maize he has planted is done in so slovenly a style as to +promise a very poor crop. He who looks forward to eat grapes from +his own vine, and to sit under the shade of his own fig-tree, +must labour in every country. He must exert more than ordinary +activity. The attorney's clerk I also thought out of his +province. I dare believe that he finds cultivating his own land +not half so easy a task as he formerly found that of stringing +together volumes of tautology to encumber, or convey away, that +of his neighbour. Hubbard's farm, and Kelly's also, deserve +regard, from being better managed than most of the others. The +people here complain sadly of a destructive grub which destroys +the young plants of maize. Many of the settlers have been obliged +to plant twice, nay thrice, on the same land, from the +depredations of these reptiles. There is the same guard here as +at the other settlements.</p> + +<p>Nothing now remains for inspection but the farms on the river +side.</p> + +<p>December 7th. Went to Scheffer's farm. I found him at home, +conversed with him, and walked with him over all his cultivated +ground. He had 140 acres granted to him, fourteen of which are in +cultivation, twelve in maize, one in wheat and one in vines and +tobacco. He has besides twenty-three acres on which the trees are +cut down but not burnt off the land. He resigned his appointment +and began his farm last May, and had at first five convicts to +assist him; he has now four. All his maize, except three acres, +is mean. This he thinks may be attributed to three causes: a +middling soil; too dry a spring; and from the ground not being +sufficiently pulverized before the seed was put into it. The +wheat is thin and poor: he does not reckon its produce at more +than eight or nine bushels. His vines, 900 in number, are +flourishing, and will, he supposes, bear fruit next year. His +tobacco plants are not very luxuriant: to these two last articles +he means principally to direct his exertions. He says (and truly) +that they will always be saleable and profitable. On one of the +boundaries of his land is plenty of water. A very good brick +house is nearly completed for his use, by the governor; and in +the meantime he lives in a very decent one, which was built for +him on his settling here. He is to be supplied with provisions +from the public store, and with medical assistance for eighteen +months, reckoning from last May. At the expiration of this period +he is bound to support himself and the four convicts are to be +withdrawn. But if he shall then, or at any future period, declare +himself able to maintain a moderate number of these people for +their labour, they will be assigned to him.</p> + +<p>Mr. Scheffer is a man of industry and respectable character. +He came out to this country as superintendant of convicts, at a +salary of forty pounds per annum, and brought with him a daughter +of twelve years old. He is by birth a Hessian, and served in +America, in a corps of Yaghers, with the rank of lieutenant. He +never was professionally, in any part of life, a farmer, but he +told me, that his father owned a small estate on the banks of the +Rhine, on which he resided, and that he had always been fond of +looking at and assisting in his labours, particularly in the +vineyard. In walking along, he more than once shook his head and +made some mortifying observations on the soil of his present +domain, compared with the banks of his native stream. He assured +me that (exclusive of the sacrifice of his salary) he has +expended more than forty pounds in advancing his ground to the +state in which I saw it. Of the probability of success in his +undertaking, he spoke with moderation and good sense. Sometimes +he said he had almost despaired, and had often balanced about +relinquishing it; but had as often been checked by recollecting +that hardly any difficulty can arise which vigour and +perseverance will not overcome. I asked him what was the tenure +on which he held his estate. He offered to show the written +document, saying that it was exactly the same as Ruse's. I +therefore declined to trouble him, and took my leave with wishes +for his success and prosperity.</p> + +<p>Near Mr. Scheffer's farm is a small patch of land cleared by +Lieutenant Townson of the New South Wales corps, about two acres +of which are in maize and wheat, both looking very bad.</p> + +<p>Proceeded to the farm of Mr. Arndell, one of the assistant +surgeons. This gentleman has six acres in cultivation as follows: +rather more than four in maize, one in wheat, and the remainder +in oats and barley. The wheat looks tolerably good, rather thin +but of a good height, and the ears well filled. His farming +servant guesses the produce will be twelve bushels,* and I do not +think he over-rates it. The maize he guesses at thirty bushels, +which from appearances it may yield, but not more. The oats and +barley are not contemptible. This ground has been turned up but +once The aspect of it is nearly south, on a declivity of the +river, or arm of the sea, on which Rose Hill stands. It was +cleared of wood about nine months ago, and sown this year for the +first time.</p> + +<p class="note">[*I have received a letter from Port Jackson, +dated in April 1792, which states that the crop of wheat turned +out fifteen bushels, and the maize rather more than forty +bushels.]</p> + +<p>December 8th. Went this morning to the farm of Christopher +Magee, a convict settler, nearly opposite to that of Mr. +Scheffen. The situation of this farm is very eligible, provided +the river in floods does not inundate it, which I think doubtful. +This man was bred to husbandry, and lived eight years in America; +he has no less than eight acres in cultivation, five and a half +in maize, one in wheat, and one and a half in tobacco. From the +wheat he does not expect more than ten bushels, but he is +extravagant enough to rate the produce of maize at 100 bushels +(perhaps he may get fifty); on tobacco he means to go largely +hereafter. He began to clear this ground in April, but did not +settle until last July. I asked by what means he had been able to +accomplish so much? He answered, "By industry, and by hiring all +the convicts I could get to work in their leisure hours, besides +some little assistance which the governor has occasionally thrown +in." His greatest impediment is want of water, being obliged to +fetch all he uses more than half a mile. He sunk a well, and +found water, but it was brackish and not fit to drink. If this +man shall continue in habits of industry and sobriety, I think +him sure of succeeding.</p> + +<p>Reached Ruse's farm,* and begged to look at his grant, the +material part of which runs thus: "A lot of thirty acres, to be +called Experiment Farm; the said lot to be holden, free of all +taxes, quit-rents, &c. for ten years, provided that the +occupier, his heirs or assigns, shall reside within the same, and +proceed to the improvement thereof; reserving, however, for the +use of the crown, all timber now growing, or which hereafter +shall grow, fit for naval purposes. At the expiration of ten +years, an annual quit-rent of one shilling shall be paid by the +occupier in acknowledgment."</p> + +<p class="note">[*See the state of this farm in my former Rose +Hill journal of November 1790, thirteen months before.]</p> + +<p>Ruse now lives in a comfortable brick house, built for him by +the governor. He has eleven acres and a half in cultivation, and +several more which have been cleared by convicts in their leisure +hours, on condition of receiving the first year's crop. He means +to cultivate little besides maize; wheat is so much less +productive. Of the culture of vineyards and tobacco he is +ignorant; and, with great good sense, he declared that he would +not quit the path he knew, for an uncertainty. His livestock +consists of four breeding sows and thirty fowls. He has been +taken from the store (that is, has supplied himself with +provisions) for some months past; and his wife is to be taken off +at Christmas, at which time, if he deems himself able to maintain +a convict labourer, one is to be given to him.</p> + +<p>Crossed the river in a boat to Robert Webb's farm. This man +was one of the seamen of the 'Sirius', and has taken, in +conjunction with his brother (also a seaman of the same ship) a +grant of sixty acres, on the same terms as Ruse, save that the +annual quit-rent is to commence at the expiration of five years, +instead of ten. The brother is gone to England to receive the +wages due to them both for their services, which money is to be +expended by him in whatever he judges will be most conducive to +the success of their plan. Webb expects to do well; talks as a +man should talk who has just set out on a doubtful enterprise +which he is bound to pursue. He is sanguine in hope, and looks +only at the bright side of the prospect. He has received great +encouragement and assistance from the governor. He has five acres +cleared and planted with maize, which looks thriving, and +promises to yield a decent crop. His house and a small one +adjoining for pigs and poultry were built for him by the +governor, who also gave him two sows and seven fowls, to which he +adds a little stock of his own acquiring.</p> + +<p>Near Webb is placed William Read, another seaman of the +'Sirius', on the same terms, and to whom equal encouragement has +been granted.</p> + +<p>My survey of Rose Hill is now closed. I have inspected every +piece of ground in cultivation here, both public and private, and +have written from actual examination only.</p> + +<p>But before I bade adieu to Rose Hill, in all probability for +the last time of my life, it struck me that there yet remained +one object of consideration not to be slighted: Barrington had +been in the settlement between two and three months, and I had +not seen him.</p> + +<p>I saw him with curiosity. He is tall, approaching to six feet, +slender, and his gait and manner, bespeak liveliness and +activity. Of that elegance and fashion, with which my imagination +had decked him (I know not why), I could distinguish no trace. +Great allowance should, however, be made for depression and +unavoidable deficiency of dress. His face is thoughtful and +intelligent; to a strong cast of countenance he adds a +penetrating eye, and a prominent forehead. His whole demeanour is +humble, not servile. Both on his passage from England, and since +his arrival here, his conduct has been irreproachable. He is +appointed high-constable of the settlement of Rose Hill, a post +of some respectability, and certainly one of importance to those +who live here. His knowledge of men, particularly of that part of +them into whose morals, manners and behaviour he is ordered +especially to inspect, eminently fit him for the office.</p> + +<p>I cannot quit him without bearing my testimony that his +talents promise to be directed in future to make reparation to +society for the offences he has heretofore committed against +it.</p> + +<p>The number of persons of all descriptions at Rose Hill at this +period will be seen in the following return.</p> + +<p>A return of the number of persons at Rose Hill, 3rd of +December 1791</p> + +<pre> +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Quality. |Men.|Women.| Children + | | | of 10 years | of 2 years | under 2 years +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Convicts* 1336 133 0 9 17 +Troops 94 9 1 5 2 +Civil Department 7 0 0 0 0 +Seamen Settlers 3 0 0 0 0 +Free Persons 0 7 2 1 2 +Total number of +persons 1440 149 3 15 21 +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +</pre> + +<br> +<br> +<p class="note">[*The convicts who are become settlers, are +included in this number.]</p> + +<p>Of my Sydney journal, I find no part sufficiently interesting +to be worth extraction. This place had long been considered only +as a depot for stores. It exhibited nothing but a few old +scattered huts and some sterile gardens. Cultivation of the +ground was abandoned, and all our strength transferred to Rose +Hill. Sydney, nevertheless, continued to be the place of the +governor's residence, and consequently the headquarters of the +colony. No public building of note, except a storehouse, had been +erected since my last statement. The barracks, so long talked of, +so long promised, for the accommodation and discipline of the +troops, were not even begun when I left the country; and instead +of a new hospital, the old one was patched up and, with the +assistance of one brought ready-framed from England, served to +contain the sick.</p> + +<p>The employment of the male convicts here, as at Rose Hill, was +the public labour. Of the women, the majority were compelled to +make shirts, trousers and other necessary parts of dress for the +men, from materials delivered to them from the stores, into which +they returned every Saturday night the produce of their labour, a +stipulated weekly task being assigned to them. In a more early +stage, government sent out all articles of clothing ready made; +but, by adopting the present judicious plan, not only a public +saving is effected, but employment of a suitable nature created +for those who would otherwise consume leisure in idle pursuits +only.</p> + +<p>On the 26th of November 1791, the number of persons, of all +descriptions, at Sydney, was 1259, to which, if 1628 at Rose Hill +and 1172 at Norfolk Island be added, the total number of persons +in New South Wales and its dependency will be found to amount to +4059.*</p> + +<p class="note">[*A very considerable addition to this number has +been made since I quitted the settlement, by fresh troops and +convicts sent thither from England.]</p> + +<p>On the 13th of December 1791, the marine battalion embarked on +board His Majesty's ship Gorgon, and on the 18th sailed for +England.</p> + +<a name="17"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER XVII.</h3> + +<h4>Miscellaneous Remarks on the country. On its vegetable +productions. On its climate. On its animal productions. On its +natives, etc.</h4> + +<p>The journals contained in the body of this publication, +illustrated by the map which accompanies it (unfortunately, there +is no map accompanying this etext), are, I conceive, so +descriptive of every part of the country known to us, that little +remains to be added beyond a few general observations.</p> + +<p>The first impression made on a stranger is certainly +favourable. He sees gently swelling hills connected by vales +which possess every beauty that verdure of trees, and form, +simply considered in itself, can produce; but he looks in vain +for those murmuring rills and refreshing springs which fructify +and embellish more happy lands. Nothing like those tributary +streams which feed rivers in other countries are here seen; for +when I speak of the stream at Sydney, I mean only the drain of a +morass; and the river at Rose Hill is a creek of the harbour, +which above high water mark would not in England be called even a +brook. Whence the Hawkesbury, the only fresh water river known to +exist in the country, derives its supplies, would puzzle a +transient observer. He sees nothing but torpid unmeaning ponds +(often stagnant and always still, unless agitated by heavy rains) +which communicate with it. Doubtless the springs which arise in +Carmarthen mountains may be said to constitute its source. To +cultivate its banks within many miles of the bed of the stream +(except on some elevated detached spots) will be found +impracticable, unless some method be devised of erecting a mound, +sufficient to repel the encroachments of a torrent which +sometimes rises fifty feet above its ordinary level, inundating +the surrounding country in every direction.</p> + +<p>The country between the Hawkesbury and Rose Hill is that which +I have hitherto spoken of. When the river is crossed, this +prospect soon gives place to a very different one. The green +vales and moderate hills disappear at the distance of about three +miles from the river side, and from Knight Hill, and Mount +Twiss,* the limits which terminate our researches, nothing but +precipices, wilds and deserts, are to be seen. Even these steeps +fail to produce streams. The difficulty of penetrating this +country, joined to the dread of a sudden rise of the Hawkesbury, +forbidding all return, has hitherto prevented our reaching +Carmarthen mountains.</p> + +<p class="note">[*Look at the Map. (There is no map accompanying +this etext)]</p> + +<p>Let the reader now cast his eye on the relative situation of +Port Jackson. He will see it cut off from communication with the +northward by Broken Bay, and with the southward by Botany Bay; +and what is worse, the whole space of intervening country yet +explored, (except a narrow strip called the Kangaroo Ground) in +both directions, is so bad as to preclude cultivation.</p> + +<p>The course of the Hawkesbury will next attract his attention. +To the southward of every part of Botany Bay we have traced this +river; but how much farther in that line it extends we know not. +Hence its channel takes a northerly direction, and finishes its +course in Broken Bay, running at the back of Port Jackson in such +a manner as to form the latter into a peninsula.</p> + +<p>The principal question then remaining is, what is the distance +between the head of Botany Bay and the part of the Hawkesbury +nearest to it? And is the intermediate country a good one, or +does it lead to one which appearances indicate to be good? To +future adventurers who shall meet with more encouragement to +persevere and discover than I and my fellow wanderer[s] did, I +resign the answer. In the meantime the reader is desired to look +at the remarks on the map (there is no map accompanying this +etext), which were made in the beginning of August 1790, from +Pyramid Hill, which bounded our progress on the southern +expedition; when, and when only, this part of the country has +been seen.</p> + +<p>It then follows that from Rose Hill to within such a distance +of the Hawkesbury as is protected from its inundations, is the +only tract of land we yet know of, in which cultivation can be +carried on for many years to come. To aim at forming a +computation of the distance of time, of the labour and of the +expense, which would attend forming distinct convict settlements, +beyond the bounds I have delineated; or of the difficulty which +would attend a system of communication between such +establishments and Port Jackson, is not intended here.</p> + +<p>Until that period shall arrive, the progress of cultivation, +when it shall have once passed Prospect Hill, will probably steal +along to the southward, in preference to the northward, from the +superior nature of the country in that direction, as the remarks +inserted in the map will testify.</p> + +<p>Such is my statement of a plan which I deem inevitably +entailed on the settlement at Port Jackson. In sketching this +outline of it let it not be objected that I suppose the reader as +well acquainted with the respective names and boundaries of the +country as long residence and unwearied journeying among them, +have made the author. To have subjoined perpetual explanations +would have been tedious and disgusting. Familiarity with the +relative positions of a country can neither be imparted, or +acquired, but by constant recurrence to geographic +delineations.</p> + +<p>On the policy of settling, with convicts only, a country at +once so remote and extensive, I shall offer no remarks. Whenever +I have heard this question agitated, since my return to England, +the cry of, "What can we do with them! Where else can they be +sent!" has always silenced me.</p> + +<p>Of the soil, opinions have not differed widely. A spot +eminently fruitful has never been discovered. That there are many +spots cursed with everlasting and unconquerable sterility no one +who has seen the country will deny. At the same time I am +decidedly of opinion that many large tracts of land between Rose +Hill and the Hawkesbury, even now, are of a nature sufficiently +favourable to produce moderate crops of whatever may be sown in +them. And provided a sufficient number of cattle* be imported to +afford manure for dressing the ground, no doubt can exist that +subsistence for a limited number of inhabitants may be drawn from +it. To imperfect husbandry, and dry seasons, must indubitably be +attributed part of the deficiency of former years. Hitherto all +our endeavours to derive advantage from mixing the different +soils have proved fruitless, though possibly only from want of +skill on our side.</p> + +<p class="note">[*In my former narrative I have particularly +noticed the sudden disappearance of the cattle, which we had +brought with us into the country. Not a trace of them has ever +since been observed. Their fate is a riddle, so difficult of +solution that I shall not attempt it. Surely had they strayed +inland, in some of our numerous excursions, marks of them must +have been found. It is equally impossible to believe that either +the convicts or natives killed and ate them, without some sign of +detection ensuing.]</p> + +<p>The spontaneous productions of the soil will be soon +recounted. Every part of the country is a forest: of the quality +of the wood take the following instance. The 'Supply' wanted wood +for a mast, and more than forty of the choicest young trees were +cut down before as much wood as would make it could be procured, +the trees being either rotten at the heart or riven by the gum +which abounds in them. This gum runs not always in a longitudinal +direction in the body of the tree, but is found in it in circles, +like a scroll. There is however, a species of light wood which is +found excellent for boat building, but it is scarce and hardly +ever found of large size.</p> + +<p>To find limestone many of our researches were directed. But +after repeated assays with fire and chemical preparations on all +the different sorts of stone to be picked up, it is still a +desideratum. Nor did my experiments with a magnet induce me to +think that any of the stones I tried contained iron. I have, +however, heard other people report very differently on this +head.</p> + +<p>The list of esculent vegetables, and wild fruits is too +contemptible to deserve notice, if the 'sweet tea' whose virtues +have been already recorded, and the common orchis root be +excepted. That species of palm tree which produces the mountain +cabbage is also found in most of the freshwater swamps, within +six or seven miles of the coast. But is rarely seen farther +inland. Even the banks of the Hawkesbury are unprovided with it. +The inner part of the trunk of this tree was greedily eaten by +our hogs, and formed their principal support. The grass, as has +been remarked in former publications, does not overspread the +land in a continued sward, but arises in small detached tufts, +growing every way about three inches apart, the intermediate +space being bare; though the heads of the grass are often so +luxuriant as to hide all deficiency on the surface. The rare and +beautiful flowering shrubs, which abound in every part, deserve +the highest admiration and panegyric.</p> + +<p>Of the vegetable productions transplanted from other climes, +maize flourishes beyond any other grain. And as it affords a +strong and nutritive article of food, its propagation will, I +think, altogether supersede that of wheat and barley.</p> + +<p>Horticulture has been attended in some places with tolerable +success. At Rose Hill I have seen gardens which, without the +assistance of manure, have continued for a short time to produce +well grown vegetables. But at Sydney, without constantly dressing +the ground, it was in vain to expect them; and with it a supply +of common vegetables might be procured by diligence in all +seasons. Vines of every sort seem to flourish. Melons, cucumbers +and pumpkins run with unbounded luxuriancy, and I am convinced +that the grapes of New South Wales will, in a few years, equal +those of any other country. 'That their juice will probably +hereafter furnish an indispensable article of luxury at European +tables', has already been predicted in the vehemence of +speculation. Other fruits are yet in their infancy; but oranges, +lemons and figs, (of which last indeed I have eaten very good +ones) will, I dare believe, in a few years become plentiful. +Apples and the fruits of colder climes also promise to gratify +expectation. The banana-tree has been introduced from Norfolk +Island, where it grows spontaneously.</p> + +<p>Nor will this surprise, if the genial influence of the climate +be considered. Placed in a latitude where the beams of the sun in +the dreariest season are sufficiently powerful for many hours of +the day to dispense warmth and nutrition, the progress of +vegetation never is at a stand. The different temperatures of +Rose Hill and Sydney in winter, though only twelve miles apart, +afford, however, curious matter of speculation. Of a well +attested instance of ice being seen at the latter place, I never +heard. At the former place its production is common, and once a +few flakes of snow fell. The difference can be accounted for only +by supposing that the woods stop the warm vapours of the sea from +reaching Rose Hill, which is at the distance of sixteen miles +inland; whereas Sydney is but four.* Again, the heats of summer +are more violent at the former place than at the latter, and the +variations incomparably quicker. The thermometer has been known +to alter at Rose Hill, in the course of nine hours, more than 50 +degrees; standing a little before sunrise at 50 degrees, and +between one and two at more than 100 degrees. To convey an idea +of the climate in summer, I shall transcribe from my +meteorological journal, accounts of two particular days which +were the hottest we ever suffered under at Sydney.</p> + +<p class="note">[*Look at the journal which describes the +expedition in search of the river, said to exist to the southward +of Rose Hill. At the time we felt that extraordinary degree of +cold were not more than six miles south west of Rose Hill, and +about nineteen miles from the the sea coast. When I mentioned +this circumstance to colonel Gordon, at the Cape of Good Hope, he +wondered at it; and owned, that, in his excursions into the +interior parts of Africa, he had never experienced anything to +match it: he attributed its production to large beds of nitre, +which he said must exist in the neighbourhood.]</p> + +<p>December 27th 1790. Wind NNW; it felt like the blast of a +heated oven, and in proportion as it increased the heat was found +to be more intense, the sky hazy, the sun gleaming through at +intervals.</p> + +<p>At 9 a.m. 85 degrees At noon 104 Half past twelve 107 1/2 From +one p.m. until 20 minutes past two 108 1/2 At 20 minutes past two +109 At Sunset 89 At 11 p.m. 78 1/2</p> + +<p>[By a large Thermometer made by Ramsden, and graduated on +Fahrenheit's scale.]</p> + +<p>December 28th.</p> + +<p>At 8 a.m. 86 10 a.m. 93 11 a.m. 101 At noon 103 1/2 Half an +hour past noon 104 1/2 At one p.m. 102 At 5 p.m. 73 At sunset 69 +1/2</p> + +<p>[At a quarter past one, it stood at only 89 degrees, having, +from a sudden shift of wind, fallen 13 degrees in 15 +minutes.]</p> + +<p>My observations on this extreme heat, succeeded by so rapid a +change, were that of all animals, man seemed to bear it best. Our +dogs, pigs and fowls, lay panting in the shade, or were rushing +into the water. I remarked that a hen belonging to me, which had +sat for a fortnight, frequently quitted her eggs, and shewed +great uneasiness, but never remained from them many minutes at +one absence; taught by instinct that the wonderful power in the +animal body of generating cold in air heated beyond a certain +degree, was best calculated for the production of her young. The +gardens suffered considerably. All the plants which had not taken +deep root were withered by the power of the sun. No lasting ill +effects, however, arose to the human constitution. A temporary +sickness at the stomach, accompanied with lassitude and headache, +attacked many, but they were removed generally in twenty-four +hours by an emetic, followed by an anodyne. During the time it +lasted, we invariably found that the house was cooler than the +open air, and that in proportion as the wind was excluded, was +comfort augmented.</p> + +<p>But even this heat was judged to be far exceeded in the latter +end of the following February, when the north-west wind again set +in, and blew with great violence for three days. At Sydney, it +fell short by one degree of what I have just recorded: but at +Rose Hill, it was allowed, by every person, to surpass all that +they had before felt, either there or in any other part of the +world. Unluckily they had no thermometer to ascertain its precise +height. It must, however, have been intense, from the effects it +produced. An immense flight of bats driven before the wind, +covered all the trees around the settlement, whence they every +moment dropped dead or in a dying state, unable longer to endure +the burning state of the atmosphere. Nor did the 'perroquettes', +though tropical birds, bear it better. The ground was strewn with +them in the same condition as the bats.</p> + +<p>Were I asked the cause of this intolerable heat, I should not +hesitate to pronounce that it was occasioned by the wind blowing +over immense deserts, which, I doubt not, exist in a north-west +direction from Port Jackson, and not from fires kindled by the +natives. This remark I feel necessary, as there were methods used +by some persons in the colony, both for estimating the degree of +heat and for ascertaining the cause of its production, which I +deem equally unfair and unphilosophical. The thermometer, whence +my observations were constantly made, was hung in the open air in +a southern aspect, never reached by the rays of the sun, at the +distance of several feet above the ground.</p> + +<p>My other remarks on the climate will be short. It is +changeable beyond any other I ever heard of; but no phenomena +sufficiently accurate to reckon upon, are found to indicate the +approach of alteration. Indeed, for the first eighteen months +that we lived in the country, changes were supposed to take place +more commonly at the quartering of the moon than at other times. +But lunar empire afterwards lost its credit. For the last two +years and a half of our residing at Port Jackson, its influence +was unperceived. Three days together seldom passed without a +necessity occurring for lighting a fire in an evening. A 'habit +d'ete', or a 'habit de demi saison', would be in the highest +degree absurd. Clouds, storms and sunshine pass in rapid +succession. Of rain, we found in general not a sufficiency, but +torrents of water sometimes fall. Thunder storms, in summer, are +common and very tremendous, but they have ceased to alarm, from +rarely causing mischief. Sometimes they happen in winter. I have +often seen large hailstones fall. Frequent strong breezes from +the westward purge the air. These are almost invariably attended +with a hard clear sky. The easterly winds, by setting in from the +sea, bring thick weather and rain, except in summer, when they +become regular sea-breezes. The 'aurora australis' is sometimes +seen, but is not distinguished by superior brilliancy.</p> + +<p>To sum up: notwithstanding the inconveniences which I have +enumerated, I will venture to assert in few words, that no +climate hitherto known is more generally salubrious*, or affords +more days on which those pleasures which depend on the state of +the atmosphere can be enjoyed, than that of New South Wales. The +winter season is particularly delightful.</p> + +<p class="note">[*To this cause, I ascribe the great number of +births which happened, considering the age and other +circumstances, of many of the mothers. Women who certainly would +never have bred in any other climate here produced as fine +children as ever were born.]</p> + +<p>The leading animal production is well known to be the +kangaroo. The natural history of this animal will, probably, be +written from observations made upon it in England, as several +living ones of both sexes, have been brought home. Until such an +account shall appear, probably the following desultory +observation may prove acceptable.</p> + +<p>The genus in which the kangaroo is to be classed I leave to +better naturalists than myself to determine. How it copulates, +those who pretend to have seen disagree in their accounts: nor do +we know how long the period of gestation lasts. Prolific it +cannot be termed, bringing forth only one at a birth, which the +dam carries in her pouch wherever she goes until the young one be +enabled to provide for itself; and even then, in the moment of +alarm, she will stop to receive and protect it. We have killed +she-kangaroos whose pouches contained young ones completely +covered with fur and of more than fifteen pounds weight, which +had ceased to suck and afterwards were reared by us. In what +space of time it reaches such a growth as to be abandoned +entirely by the mother, we are ignorant. It is born blind, +totally bald, the orifice of the ear closed and only just the +centre of the mouth open, but a black score, denoting what is +hereafter to form the dimension of the mouth, is marked very +distinctly on each side of the opening. At its birth, the +kangaroo (notwithstanding it weighs when full grown 200 pounds) +is not so large as a half-grown mouse. I brought some with me to +England even less, which I took from the pouches of the old ones. +This phenomenon is so striking and so contrary to the general +laws of nature, that an opinion has been started that the animal +is brought forth not by the pudenda, but descends from the belly +into the pouch by one of the teats, which are there deposited. On +this difficulty as I can throw no light, I shall hazard no +conjecture. It may, however, be necessary to observe that the +teats are several inches long and capable of great dilatation. +And here I beg leave to correct an error which crept into my +former publication wherein I asserted that, "the teats of the +kangaroo never exceed two in number." They sometimes, though +rarely, amount to four. There is great reason to believe that +they are slow of growth and live many years. This animal has a +clavicle, or collar-bone, similar to that of the human body. The +general colour of the kangaroo is very like that of the ass, but +varieties exist. Its shape and figure are well known by the +plates which have been given of it. The elegance of the ear is +particularly deserving of admiration. This far exceeds the ear of +the hare in quickness of sense and is so flexible as to admit of +being turned by the animal nearly quite round the head, doubtless +for the purpose of informing the creature of the approach of its +enemies, as it is of a timid nature, and poorly furnished with +means of defence; though when compelled to resist, it tears +furiously with its forepaws, and strikes forward very hard with +its hind legs. Notwithstanding its unfavourable conformation for +such a purpose, its swims strongly; but never takes to the water +unless so hard pressed by its pursuers as to be left without all +other refuge. The noise they make is a faint bleat, querulous, +but not easy to describe. They are sociable animals and unite in +droves, sometimes to the number of fifty or sixty together; when +they are seen playful and feeding on grass, which alone forms +their food. At such time they move gently about like all other +quadrupeds, on all fours; but at the slightest noise they spring +up on their hind legs and sit erect, listening to what it may +proceed from, and if it increases they bound off on those legs +only, the fore ones at the same time being carried close to the +breast like the paws of a monkey; and the tail stretched out, +acts as a rudder on a ship. In drinking, the kangaroo laps. It is +remarkable that they are never found in a fat state, being +invariably lean. Of the flesh we always eat with avidity, but in +Europe it would not be reckoned a delicacy. A rank flavour forms +the principal objection to it. The tail is accounted the most +delicious part, when stewed.</p> + +<p>Hitherto I have spoken only of the large, or grey kangaroo, to +which the natives give the name of 'patagaran'.* But there are +(besides the kangaroo-rat) two other sorts. One of them we called +the red kangaroo, from the colour of its fur, which is like that +of a hare, and sometimes is mingled with a large portion of +black: the natives call it 'bagaray'. It rarely attains to more +than forty pounds weight. The third sort is very rare, and in the +formation of its head resembles the opossum. The kangaroo-rat is +a small animal, never reaching, at its utmost growth, more than +fourteen or fifteen pounds, and its usual size is not above seven +or eight pounds. It joins to the head and bristles of a rat the +leading distinctions of a kangaroo, by running when pursued on +its hind legs only, and the female having a pouch. Unlike the +kangaroo, who appears to have no fixed place of residence, this +little animal constructs for itself a nest of grass, on the +ground, of a circular figure, about ten inches in diameter, with +a hole on one side for the creature to enter at; the inside being +lined with a finer sort of grass, very soft and downy. But its +manner of carrying the materials with which it builds the nest is +the greatest curiosity: by entwining its tail (which, like that +of all the kangaroo tribe, is long, flexible and muscular) around +whatever it wants to remove, and thus dragging along the load +behind it. This animal is good to eat; but whether it be more +prolific at a birth than the kangaroo, I know not.</p> + +<p class="note">[*kangaroo was a name unknown to them for any +animal, until we introduced it. When I showed Colbee the cows +brought out in the Gorgon, he asked me if they were +kangaroos.]</p> + +<p>The Indians sometimes kill the kangaroo; but their greatest +destroyer is the wild dog,* who feeds on them. Immediately on +hearing or seeing this formidable enemy, the kangaroo flies to +the thickest cover, in which, if he can involve himself, he +generally escapes. In running to the cover, they always, if +possible, keep in paths of their own forming, to avoid the high +grass and stumps of trees which might be sticking up among it to +wound them and impede their course.</p> + +<p class="note">[*I once found in the woods the greatest part of +a kangaroo just killed by the dogs, which afforded to three of us +a most welcome repast. Marks of its turns and struggles on the +ground were very visible. This happened in the evening, and the +dogs probably had seen us approach and had run away. At daylight +next morning they saluted us with most dreadful howling for the +loss of their prey.]</p> + +<p>Our methods of killing them were but two; either we shot them, +or hunted them with greyhounds. We were never able to ensnare +them. Those sportsmen who relied on the gun seldom met with +success, unless they slept near covers, into which the kangaroos +were wont to retire at night, and watched with great caution and +vigilance when the game, in the morning, sallied forth to feed. +They were, however, sometimes stolen in upon in the day-time and +that fascination of the eye, which has been by some authors so +much insisted upon, so far acts on the kangaroo that if he fixes +his eye upon any one, and no other object move at the same time, +he will often continue motionless, in stupid gaze, while the +sportsman advances with measured step, towards him, until within +reach of his gun. The greyhounds for a long time were incapable +of taking them; but with a brace of dogs, if not near cover a +kangaroo almost always falls, since the greyhounds have acquired +by practice the proper method of fastening upon them. +Nevertheless the dogs are often miserably torn by them. The rough +wiry greyhound suffers least in the conflict, and is most prized +by the hunters.</p> + +<p>Other quadrupeds, besides the wild dog, consist only of the +flying squirrel, of three kinds of opossums and some minute +animals, usually marked by the distinction which so peculiarly +characterizes the opossum tribe. The rats, soon after our +landing, became not only numerous but formidable, from the +destruction they occasioned in the stores. Latterly they had +almost disappeared, though to account for their absence were not +easy. The first time Colbee saw a monkey, he called 'wurra' (a +rat); but on examining its paws he exclaimed with astonishment +and affright, 'mulla' (a man).</p> + +<p>At the head of the birds the cassowary or emu, stands +conspicuous. The print of it which has already been given to the +public is so accurate for the most part, that it would be +malignant criticism in a work of this kind to point out a few +trifling defects.</p> + +<p>Here again naturalists must look forward to that information +which longer and more intimate knowledge of the feathered tribe +than I can supply, shall appear. I have nevertheless had the good +fortune to see what was never seen but once, in the country I am +describing, by Europeans--a hatch, or flock, of young cassowaries +with the old bird. I counted ten, but others said there were +twelve. We came suddenly upon them, and they ran up a hill +exactly like a flock of turkeys, but so fast that we could not +get a shot at them. The largest cassowary ever killed in the +settlement, weighed ninety-four pounds. Three young ones, which +had been by accident separated from the dam, were once taken and +presented to the governor. They were not larger than so many +pullets, although at first sight they appeared to be so from the +length of their necks and legs. They were very beautifully +striped, and from their tender state were judged to be not more +than three or four days old. They lived only a few days.</p> + +<p>A single egg, the production of a cassowary, was picked up in +a desert place, dropped on the sand, without covering or +protection of any kind. Its form was nearly a perfect ellipsis; +and the colour of the shell a dark green, full of little indents +on its surface. It measured eleven inches and a half in +circumference, five inches and a quarter in height, and weighed a +pound and a quarter. Afterwards we had the good fortune to take a +nest. It was found by a soldier in a sequestered solitary +situation, made in a patch of lofty fern about three feet in +diameter, rather of an oblong shape and composed of dry leaves +and tops of fern stalks, very inartificially put together. The +hollow in which lay the eggs, twelve in number, seemed made +solely by the pressure of the bird. The eggs were regularly +placed in the following position.</p> + +<blockquote>O<br> +O O O<br> +O O O O O<br> +O O O</blockquote> + +<p>The soldier, instead of greedily plundering his prize, +communicated the discovery to an officer, who immediately set out +for the spot. When they had arrived there they continued for a +long time to search in vain for their object, and the soldier was +just about to be stigmatized with ignorance, credulity or +imposture, when suddenly up started the old bird and the treasure +was found at their feet.</p> + +<p>The food of the cassowary is either grass, or a yellow +bell-flower growing in the swamps. It deserves remark, that the +natives deny the cassowary to be a bird, because it does not +fly.</p> + +<p>Of other birds the varieties are very numerous. Of the parrot +tribe alone I could, while I am writing, count up from memory +fourteen different sorts. Hawks are very numerous, so are quails. +A single snipe has been shot. Ducks, geese and other aquatic +birds are often seen in large flocks, but are universally so shy, +that it is found difficult to shoot them. Some of the smaller +birds are very beautiful, but they are not remarkable for either +sweetness, or variety of notes. To one of them, not bigger than a +tomtit, we have given the name of coach-whip, from its note +exactly resembling the smack of a whip. The country, I am of +opinion, would abound with birds did not the natives, by +perpetually setting fire to the grass and bushes, destroy the +greater part of the nests; a cause which also contributes to +render small quadrupeds scarce. They are besides ravenously fond +of eggs and eat them wherever they find them. They call the roe +of a fish and a bird's egg by one name.</p> + +<p>So much has been said of the abundance in which fish are found +in the harbours of New South Wales that it looks like detraction +to oppose a contradiction. Some share of knowledge may, however, +be supposed to belong to experience. Many a night have I toiled +(in the times of distress) on the public service, from four +o'clock in the afternoon until eight o'clock next morning, +hauling the seine in every part of the harbour of Port Jackson: +and after a circuit of many miles and between twenty and thirty +hauls, seldom more than a hundred pounds of fish were taken. +However, it sometimes happens that a glut enters the harbour, and +for a few days they sufficiently abound. But the universal voice +of all professed fishermen is that they never fished in a country +where success was so precarious and uncertain.</p> + +<p>I shall not pretend to enumerate the variety of fish which are +found. They are seen from a whale to a gudgeon. In the +intermediate classes may be reckoned sharks of a monstrous size, +skait, rock-cod, grey-mullet, bream, horse-mackarel, now and then +a sole and john dory, and innumerable others unknown in Europe, +many of which are extremely delicious, and many highly beautiful. +At the top of the list, as an article of food, stands a fish, +which we named light-horseman. The relish of this excellent fish +was increased by our natives, who pointed out to us its +delicacies. No epicure in England could pick a head with more +glee and dexterity than they do that of a light-horseman.</p> + +<p>Reptiles in the swamps and covers are numerous. Of snakes +there are two or three sorts: but whether the bite of any of them +be mortal, or even venomous, is somewhat doubtful. I know but of +one well attested instance of a bite being received from a snake. +A soldier was bitten so as to draw blood, and the wound healed as +a simple incision usually does without shewing any symptom of +malignity. A dog was reported to be bitten by a snake, and the +animal swelled and died in great agony. But I will by no means +affirm that the cause of his death was fairly ascertained. It is, +however, certain that the natives show, on all occasions, the +utmost horror of the snake, and will not eat it, although they +esteem lizards, goannas, and many other reptiles delicious fare. +On this occasion they always observe that if the snake bites +them, they become lame, but whether by this they mean temporary +or lasting lameness I do not pretend to determine. I have often +eaten snakes and always found them palatable and nutritive, +though it was difficult to stew them to a tender state.</p> + +<p>Summer here, as in all other countries, brings with it a long +list of insects. In the neighborhood of rivers and morasses, +mosquitoes and sandflies are never wanting at any season, but at +Sydney they are seldom numerous or troublesome. The most nauseous +and destructive of all the insects is a fly which blows not eggs +but large living maggots, and if the body of the fly be opened it +is found full of them. Of ants there are several sorts, one of +which bites very severely. The white ant is sometimes seen. +Spiders are large and numerous. Their webs are not only the +strongest, but the finest, and most silky I ever felt. I have +often thought their labour might be turned to advantage. It has, +I believe, been proved that spiders, were it not for their +quarrelsome disposition which irritates them to attack and +destroy each other, might be employed more profitably than +silk-worms.</p> + +<p>The hardiness of some of the insects deserves to be mentioned. +A beetle was immersed in proof spirits for four hours, and when +taken out crawled away almost immediately. It was a second time +immersed, and continued in a glass of rum for a day and a night, +at the expiration of which period it still showed symptoms of +life. Perhaps, however, what I from ignorance deem wonderful is +common.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> +<p>The last but the most important production yet remains to be +considered. Whether plodding in London, reeking with human blood +in Paris or wandering amidst the solitary wilds of New South +Wales--Man is ever an object of interest, curiosity and +reflection.</p> + +<p>The natives around Port Jackson are in person rather more +diminutive and slighter made, especially about the thighs and +legs, than the Europeans. It is doubtful whether their society +contained a person of six feet high. The tallest I ever measured, +reached five feet eleven inches, and men of his height were +rarely seen. Baneelon, who towered above the majority of his +countrymen, stood barely five feet eight inches high. His other +principal dimensions were as follows:</p> + +<p>Girth of the Chest. 2 feet 10 inches Girth of the Belly. 2 +feet 6 1/2 inches Girth of the Thigh. 18 1/8 inches Girth of the +Leg at the Calf. 12 1/8 inches Girth of the Leg at the Small. 10 +inches Girth of arm half way between the shoulder and elbow. 9 +inches</p> + +<p>Instances of natural deformity are scarce, nor did we ever see +one of them left-handed. They are, indeed, nearly ambidexter; but +the sword, the spear and the fish-gig are always used with the +right hand. Their muscular force is not great; but the pliancy of +their limbs renders them very active. "Give to civilized man all +his machines, and he is superior to the savage; but without +these, how inferior is he found on opposition, even more so than +the savage in the first instance." These are the words of +Rousseau, and like many more of his positions must be received +with limitation. Were an unarmed Englishman and an unarmed New +Hollander to engage, the latter, I think, would fall.</p> + +<p>Mr. Cook seems inclined to believe the covering of their heads +to be wool. But this is erroneous. It is certainly hair, which +when regularly combed becomes soon nearly as flexible and docile +as our own. Their teeth are not so white and good as those +generally found in Indian nations, except in the children, but +the inferiority originates in themselves. They bite sticks, +stones, shells and all other hard substances, indiscriminately +with them, which quickly destroys the enamel and gives them a +jagged and uneven appearance. A high forehead, with prominent +overhanging eyebrows, is their leading characteristic, and when +it does not operate to destroy all openness of countenance gives +an air of resolute dignity to the aspect, which recommends, in +spite of a true negro nose, thick lips, and a wide mouth. The +prominent shin bone, so invariably found in the Africans, is not, +however, seen. But in another particular they are more alike. The +rank offensive smell which disgusts so much in the negro, +prevails strongly among them when they are in their native state, +but it wears off in those who have resided with us and have been +taught habits of cleanliness. Their hands and feet are small*, +especially the former.</p> + +<p class="note">[*I mentioned this, among other circumstances, to +colonel Gordon when I was at the Cape, and he told me that it +indicated poverty and inadequacy of living. He instanced to me +the Hottentots and Caffres. The former fare poorly, and have +small hands and feet. The Caffres, their neighbours, live +plenteously and have very large ones. This remark cannot be +applied to civilized nations, where so many factitious causes +operate.]</p> + +<p>Their eyes are full, black and piercing, but the almost +perpetual strain in which the optic nerve is kept, by looking out +for prey, renders their sight weak at an earlier age than we in +general find ours affected. These large black eyes are +universally shaded by the long thick sweepy eyelash, so much +prized in appreciating beauty, that, perhaps hardly any face is +so homely which this aid cannot in some degree render +interesting; and hardly any so lovely which, without it, bears +not some trace of insipidity. Their tone of voice is loud, but +not harsh. I have in some of them found it very pleasing.</p> + +<p>Longevity, I think, is seldom attained by them. Unceasing +agitation wears out the animal frame and is unfriendly to length +of days. We have seen them grey with age, but not old; perhaps +never beyond sixty years. But it may be said, the American +Indian, in his undebauched state, lives to an advanced period. +True, but he has his seasons of repose. He reaps his little +harvest of maize and continues in idleness while it lasts. He +kills the roebuck or the moose-deer, which maintains him and his +family for many days, during which cessation the muscles regain +their spring and fit him for fresh toils. Whereas every sun +awakes the native of New South Wales (unless a whale be thrown +upon the coast) to a renewal of labour, to provide subsistence +for the present day.</p> + +<p>The women are proportionally smaller than the men. I never +measured but two of them, who were both, I think, about the +medium height. One of them, a sister of Baneelon, stood exactly +five feet two inches high. The other, named Gooreedeeana, was +shorter by a quarter of an inch.</p> + +<p>But I cannot break from Gooreedeeana so abruptly. She belonged +to the tribe of Cameragal, and rarely came among us. One day, +however, she entered my house to complain of hunger. She excelled +in beauty all their females I ever saw. Her age about eighteen, +the firmness, the symmetry and the luxuriancy of her bosom might +have tempted painting to copy its charms. Her mouth was small and +her teeth, though exposed to all the destructive purposes to +which they apply them, were white, sound and unbroken. Her +countenance, though marked by some of the characteristics of her +native land, was distinguished by a softness and sensibility +unequalled in the rest of her countrywomen, and I was willing to +believe that these traits indicated the disposition of her mind. +I had never before seen this elegant timid female, of whom I had +often heard; but the interest I took in her led me to question +her about her husband and family. She answered me by repeating a +name which I have now forgotten, and told me she had no children. +I was seized with a strong propensity to learn whether the +attractions of Gooreedeeana were sufficiently powerful to secure +her from the brutal violence with which the women are treated, +and as I found my question either ill understood or reluctantly +answered, I proceeded to examine her head, the part on which the +husband's vengeance generally alights. With grief I found it +covered by contusions and mangled by scars. The poor creature, +grown by this time more confident from perceiving that I pitied +her, pointed out a wound just above her left knee which she told +me was received from a spear, thrown at her by a man who had +lately dragged her by force from her home to gratify his lust. I +afterwards observed that this wound had caused a slight lameness +and that she limped in walking. I could only compassionate her +wrongs and sympathize in her misfortunes. To alleviate her +present sense of them, when she took her leave I gave her, +however, all the bread and salt pork which my little stock +afforded.</p> + +<p>After this I never saw her but once, when I happened to be +near the harbour's mouth in a boat, with captain Ball. We met her +in a canoe with several more of her sex. She was painted for a +ball, with broad stripes of white earth, from head to foot, so +that she no longer looked like the same Gooreedeeana. We offered +her several presents, all of which she readily accepted; but +finding our eagerness and solicitude to inspect her, she managed +her canoe with such address as to elude our too near approach, +and acted the coquet to admiration.</p> + +<p>To return from this digression to my subject, I have only +farther to observe that the estimation of female beauty among the +natives (the men at least) is in this country the same as in most +others. Were a New Hollander to portray his mistress, he would +draw her the 'Venus aux belles fesses'. Whenever Baneelon +described to us his favourite fair, he always painted her in +this, and another particular, as eminently luxuriant.</p> + +<p>Unsatisfied, however, with natural beauty (like the people of +all other countries) they strive by adscititious embellishments +to heighten attraction, and often with as little success. Hence +the naked savage of New South Wales pierces the septum of his +nose, through which he runs a stick or a bone, and scarifies his +body, the charms of which increase in proportion to the number +and magnitude of seams by which it is distinguished. The +operation is performed by making two longitudinal incisions with +a sharpened shell, and afterwards pinching up with the nails the +intermediate space of skin and flesh, which thereby becomes +considerably elevated and forms a prominence as thick as a man's +finger. No doubt but pain must be severely felt until the wound +be healed. But the love of ornament defies weaker considerations, +and no English beau can bear more stoutly the extraction of his +teeth to make room for a fresh set from a chimney sweeper, or a +fair one suffer her tender ears to be perforated, with more +heroism than the grisly nymphs on the banks of Port Jackson, +submit their sable shoulders to the remorseless lancet.</p> + +<p>That these scarifications are intended solely to increase +personal allurement I will not, however, positively affirm. +Similar, perhaps, to the cause of an excision of part of the +little finger of the left hand in the women, and of a front tooth +in the men;* or probably after all our conjectures, superstitious +ceremonies by which they hope either to avert evil or to +propagate good, are intended. The colours with which they besmear +the bodies of both sexes possibly date from the same common +origin. White paint is strictly appropriate to the dance. Red +seems to be used on numberless occasions, and is considered as a +colour of less consequence. It may be remarked that they +translate the epithet white when they speak of us, not by the +name which they assign to this white earth, but by that with +which they distinguish the palms of their hands.</p> + +<p class="note">[*It is to be observed that neither of these +ceremonies is universal, but nearly so. Why there should exist +exemptions I cannot resolve. The manner of executing them is as +follows. The finger is taken off by means of a ligature +(generally a sinew of a kangaroo) tied so tight as to stop the +circulation of the blood, which induces mortification and the +part drops off. I remember to have seen Colbee's child, when +about a month old, on whom this operation had been just performed +by her mother. The little wretch seemed in pain, and her hand was +greatly swelled. But this was deemed too trifling a consideration +to deserve regard in a case of so much importance.</p> + +<p>The tooth intended to be taken out is loosened by the gum +being scarified on both sides with a sharp shell. The end of a +stick is then applied to the tooth, which is struck gently +several times with a stone, until it becomes easily moveable, +when the 'coup de grace' is given by a smart stroke. +Notwithstanding these precautions, I have seen a considerable +degree of swelling and inflammation follow the extraction. +Imeerawanyee, I remember, suffered severely. But he boasted the +firmness and hardihood with which he had endured it. It is seldom +performed on those who are under sixteen years old.]</p> + +<p>As this leads to an important subject I shall at once discuss +it. "Have these people any religion: any knowledge of, or belief +in a deity?-- any conception of the immortality of the soul?" are +questions which have been often put to me since my arrival in +England: I shall endeavour to answer them with candour and +seriousness.</p> + +<p>Until belief be enlightened by revelation and chastened by +reason, religion and superstition, are terms of equal import. One +of our earliest impressions is the consciousness of a superior +power. The various forms under which this impression has +manifested itself are objects of the most curious +speculation.</p> + +<p>The native of New South Wales believes that particular aspects +and appearances of the heavenly bodies predict good or evil +consequences to himself and his friends. He oftentimes calls the +sun and moon 'weeree,' that is, malignant, pernicious. Should he +see the leading fixed stars (many of which he can call by name) +obscured by vapours, he sometimes disregards the omen, and +sometimes draws from it the most dreary conclusions. I remember +Abaroo running into a room where a company was assembled, and +uttering frightful exclamations of impending mischiefs about to +light on her and her countrymen. When questioned on the cause of +such agitation she went to the door and pointed to the skies, +saying that whenever the stars wore that appearance, misfortunes +to the natives always followed. The night was cloudy and the air +disturbed by meteors. I have heard many more of them testify +similar apprehensions.</p> + +<p>However involved in darkness and disfigured by error such a +belief be, no one will, I presume, deny that it conveys a direct +implication of superior agency; of a power independent of and +uncontrolled by those who are the objects of its vengeance. But +proof stops not here. When they hear the thunder roll and view +the livid glare, they flee them not, but rush out and deprecate +destruction. They have a dance and a song appropriated to this +awful occasion, which consist of the wildest and most uncouth +noises and gestures. Would they act such a ceremony did they not +conceive that either the thunder itself, or he who directs the +thunder, might be propitiated by its performance? That a living +intellectual principle exists, capable of comprehending their +petition and of either granting or denying it? They never address +prayers to bodies which they know to be inanimate, either to +implore their protection or avert their wrath. When the gum-tree +in a tempest nods over them; or the rock overhanging the cavern +in which they sleep threatens by its fall to crush them, they +calculate (as far as their knowledge extends) on physical +principles, like other men, the nearness and magnitude of the +danger, and flee it accordingly. And yet there is reason to +believe that from accidents of this nature they suffer more than +from lightning. Baneelon once showed us a cave, the top of which +had fallen in and buried under its ruins, seven people who were +sleeping under it.</p> + +<p>To descend; is not even the ridiculous superstition of Colbee +related in one of our journies to the Hawkesbury? And again the +following instance. Abaroo was sick. To cure her, one of her own +sex slightly cut her on the forehead, in a perpendicular +direction with an oyster shell, so as just to fetch blood. She +then put one end of a string to the wound and, beginning to sing, +held the other end to her own gums, which she rubbed until they +bled copiously. This blood she contended was the blood of the +patient, flowing through the string, and that she would thereby +soon recover. Abaroo became well, and firmly believed that she +owed her cure to the treatment she had received. Are not these, I +say, links, subordinate ones indeed, of the same golden chain? He +who believes in magic confesses supernatural agency, and a belief +of this sort extends farther in many persons than they are +willing to allow. There have lived men so inconsistent with their +own principles as to deny the existence of a God, who have +nevertheless turned pale at the tricks of a mountebank.</p> + +<p>But not to multiply arguments on a subject where demonstration +(at least to me) is incontestable, I shall close by expressing my +firm belief that the Indians of New South Wales acknowledge the +existence of a superintending deity. Of their ideas of the origin +and duration of his existence; of his power and capacity; of his +benignity or maleficence; or of their own emanation from him, I +pretend not to speak. I have often, in common with others, tried +to gain information from them on this head; but we were always +repulsed by obstacles which we could neither pass by or surmount. +Mr. Dawes attempted to teach Abaroo some of our notions of +religion, and hoped that she would thereby be induced to +communicate hers in return. But her levity and love of play in a +great measure defeated his efforts, although every thing he did +learn from her served to confirm what is here advanced. It may be +remarked, that when they attended at church with us (which was a +common practice) they always preserved profound silence and +decency, as if conscious that some religious ceremony on our side +was performing.</p> + +<p>The question of, whether they believe in the immortality of +the soul will take up very little time to answer. They are +universally fearful of spirits.* They call a spirit 'mawn'. They +often scruple to approach a corpse, saying that the 'mawn' will +seize them and that it fastens upon them in the night when +asleep.** When asked where their deceased friends are they always +point to the skies. To believe in after existence is to confess +the immortality of some part of being. To enquire whether they +assign a 'limited' period to such future state would be +superfluous. This is one of the subtleties of speculation which a +savage may be supposed not to have considered, without +impeachment either of his sagacity or happiness.</p> + +<p class="note">[* "It is remarkable," says Cicero, "that there +is no nation, whether barbarous or civilized, that does not +believe in the existence of spirits".]</p> + +<p class="note">[**As they often eat to satiety, even to produce +sickness, may not this be the effect of an overloaded stomach: +the nightmare?]</p> + +<p>Their manner of interring the dead has been amply described. +It is certain that instead of burying they sometimes burn the +corpse; but the cause of distinction we know not. A dead body, +covered by a canoe, at whose side a sword and shield were placed +in state, was once discovered. All that we could learn about this +important personage was that he was a 'Gweeagal' (one of the +tribe of Gweea) and a celebrated warrior.</p> + +<p>To appreciate their general powers of mind is difficult. +Ignorance, prejudice, the force of habit, continually interfere +to prevent dispassionate judgment. I have heard men so +unreasonable as to exclaim at the stupidity of these people for +not comprehending what a small share of reflection would have +taught them they ought not to have expected. And others again I +have heard so sanguine in their admiration as to extol for proofs +of elevated genius what the commonest abilities were capable of +executing.</p> + +<p>If they be considered as a nation whose general advancement +and acquisitions are to be weighed, they certainly rank very low, +even in the scale of savages. They may perhaps dispute the right +of precedence with the Hottentots or the shivering tribes who +inhabit the shores of Magellan. But how inferior do they show +when compared with the subtle African; the patient watchful +American; or the elegant timid islander of the South Seas. Though +suffering from the vicissitudes of their climate, strangers to +clothing, though feeling the sharpness of hunger and knowing the +precariousness of supply from that element on whose stores they +principally depend, ignorant of cultivating the earth--a less +enlightened state we shall exclaim can hardly exist.</p> + +<p>But if from general view we descend to particular inspection, +and examine individually the persons who compose this community, +they will certainly rise in estimation. In the narrative part of +this work, I have endeavoured rather to detail information than +to deduce conclusions, leaving to the reader the exercise of his +own judgment. The behaviour of Arabanoo, of Baneelon, of Colbee +and many others is copiously described, and assuredly he who +shall make just allowance for uninstructed nature will hardly +accuse any of those persons of stupidity or deficiency of +apprehension.</p> + +<p>To offer my own opinion on the subject, I do not hesitate to +declare that the natives of New South Wales possess a +considerable portion of that acumen, or sharpness of intellect, +which bespeaks genius. All savages hate toil and place happiness +in inaction, and neither the arts of civilized life can be +practised or the advantages of it felt without application and +labour. Hence they resist knowledge and the adoption of manners +and customs differing from their own. The progress of reason is +not only slow, but mechanical. "De toutes les Instructions +propres a l'homme, celle qu'il acquiert le plus tard, et le plus +difficilement, est la raison meme." The tranquil indifference and +uninquiring eye with which they surveyed our works of art have +often, in my hearing, been stigmatized as proofs of stupidity, +and want of reflection. But surely we should discriminate between +ignorance and defect of understanding. The truth was, they often +neither comprehended the design nor conceived the utility of such +works, but on subjects in any degree familiarised to their ideas, +they generally testified not only acuteness of discernment but a +large portion of good sense. I have always thought that the +distinctions they shewed in their estimate of us, on first +entering into our society, strongly displayed the latter quality: +when they were led into our respective houses, at once to be +astonished and awed by our superiority, their attention was +directly turned to objects with which they were acquainted. They +passed without rapture or emotion our numerous artifices and +contrivances, but when they saw a collection of weapons of war or +of the skins of animals and birds, they never failed to exclaim, +and to confer with each other on the subject. The master of that +house became the object of their regard, as they concluded he +must be either a renowned warrior, or an expert hunter. Our +surgeons grew into their esteem from a like cause. In a very +early stage of intercourse, several natives were present at the +amputation of a leg. When they first penetrated the intention of +the operator, they were confounded, not believing it possible +that such an operation could be performed without loss of life, +and they called aloud to him to desist; but when they saw the +torrent of blood stopped, the vessels taken up and the stump +dressed, their horror and alarm yielded to astonishment and +admiration, which they expressed by the loudest tokens. If these +instances bespeak not nature and good sense, I have yet to learn +the meaning of the terms.</p> + +<p>If it be asked why the same intelligent spirit which led them +to contemplate and applaud the success of the sportsman and the +skill of the surgeon, did not equally excite them to meditate on +the labours of the builder and the ploughman, I can only answer +that what we see in its remote cause is always more feebly felt +than that which presents to our immediate grasp both its origin +and effect.</p> + +<p>Their leading good and bad qualities I shall concisely touch +upon. Of their intrepidity no doubt can exist. Their levity, +their fickleness, their passionate extravagance of character, +cannot be defended. They are indeed sudden and quick in quarrel; +but if their resentment be easily roused, their thirst of revenge +is not implacable. Their honesty, when tempted by novelty, is not +unimpeachable, but in their own society there is good reason to +believe that few breaches of it occur. It were well if similar +praise could be given to their veracity: but truth they neither +prize nor practice. When they wish to deceive they scruple not to +utter the grossest and most hardened lies.* Their attachment and +gratitude to those among us whom they have professed to love have +always remained inviolable, unless effaced by resentment, from +sudden provocation: then, like all other Indians, the impulse of +the moment is alone regarded by them.</p> + +<p class="note">[*This may serve to account for the +contradictions of many of their accounts to us.]</p> + +<p>Some of their manufactures display ingenuity, when the rude +tools with which they work, and their celerity of execution are +considered. The canoes, fish-gigs, swords, shields, spears, +throwing sticks, clubs, and hatchets, are made by the men. To the +women are committed the fishing-lines, hooks and nets. As very +ample collections of all these articles are to be found in many +museums in England, I shall only briefly describe the way in +which the most remarkable of them are made. The fish-gigs and +spears are commonly (but not universally) made of the long spiral +shoot which arises from the top of the yellow gum-tree, and bears +the flower. The former have several prongs, barbed with the bone +of kangaroo. The latter are sometimes barbed with the same +substance, or with the prickle of the sting-ray, or with stone or +hardened gum, and sometimes simply pointed. Dexterity in throwing +and parrying the spear is considered as the highest acquirement. +The children of both sexes practice from the time that they are +able to throw a rush; their first essay. It forms their constant +recreation. They afterwards heave at each other with pointed +twigs. He who acts on the defensive holds a piece of new soft +bark in the left hand, to represent a shield, in which he +receives the darts of the assailant, the points sticking in it. +Now commences his turn. He extracts the twigs and darts them back +at the first thrower, who catches them similarly. In warding off +the spear they never present their front, but always turn their +side, their head at the same time just clear of the shield, to +watch the flight of the weapon; and the body covered. If a spear +drop from them when thus engaged, they do not stoop to pick it +up, but hook it between the toes and so lift it until it meet the +hand. Thus the eye is never diverted from its object, the foe. If +they wish to break a spear or any wooden substance, they lay it +not across the thigh or the body, but upon the head, and press +down the ends until it snap. Their shields are of two sorts. That +called 'illemon' is nothing but a piece of bark with a handle +fixed in the inside of it. The other, dug out of solid wood, is +called 'aragoon', and is made as follows, with great labour. On +the bark of a tree they mark the size of the shield, then dig the +outline as deep as possible in the wood with hatchets, and lastly +flake it off as thick as they can, by driving in wedges. The +sword is a large heavy piece of wood, shaped like a sabre, and +capable of inflicting a mortal wound. In using it they do not +strike with the convex side, but with the concave one, and strive +to hook in their antagonists so as to have them under their +blows. The fishing-lines are made of the bark of a shrub. The +women roll shreds of this on the inside of the thigh, so as to +twist it together, carefully inserting the ends of every fresh +piece into the last made. They are not as strong as lines of +equal size formed of hemp. The fish-hooks are chopped with a +stone out of a particular shell, and afterwards rubbed until they +become smooth. They are very much curved, and not barbed. +Considering the quickness with which they are finished, the +excellence of the work, if it be inspected, is admirable. In all +these manufactures the sole of the foot is used both by men and +women as a work-board. They chop a piece of wood, or aught else +upon it, even with an iron tool, without hurting themselves. It +is indeed nearly as hard as the hoof of an ox.</p> + +<p>Their method of procuring fire is this. They take a reed and +shave one side of the surface flat. In this they make a small +incision to reach the pith, and introducing a stick, purposely +blunted at the end, into it, turn it round between the hands (as +chocolate is milled) as swiftly as possible, until flame be +produced. As this operation is not only laborious, but the effect +tedious, they frequently relieve each other at the exercise. And +to avoid being often reduced to the necessity of putting it in +practice, they always, if possible, carry a lighted stick with +them, whether in their canoes or moving from place to place on +land.</p> + +<p>Their treatment of wounds must not be omitted. A doctor is, +with them, a person of importance and esteem, but his province +seems rather to charm away occult diseases than to act the +surgeon's part, which, as a subordinate science, is exercised +indiscriminately. Their excellent habit of body*, the effect of +drinking water only, speedily heals wounds without an exterior +application which with us would take weeks or months to close. +They are, nevertheless, sadly tormented by a cutaneous eruption, +but we never found it contagious. After receiving a contusion, if +the part swell they fasten a ligature very tightly above it, so +as to stop all circulation. Whether to this application, or to +their undebauched habit, it be attributable, I know not, but it +is certain that a disabled limb among them is rarely seen, +although violent inflammations from bruises, which in us would +bring on a gangrene, daily happen. If they get burned, either +from rolling into the fire when asleep, or from the flame +catching the grass on which they lie (both of which are common +accidents) they cover the part with a thin paste of kneaded clay, +which excludes the air and adheres to the wound until it be +cured, and the eschar falls off.</p> + +<p class="note">[*Their native hardiness of constitution is +great. I saw a woman on the day she was brought to bed, carry her +new-born infant from Botany Bay to Port Jackson, a distance of +six miles, and afterwards light a fire and dress fish.]</p> + +<p>Their form of government, and the detail of domestic life, yet +remain untold. The former cannot occupy much space. Without +distinctions of rank, except those which youth and vigour confer, +theirs is strictly a system of 'equality' attended with only one +inconvenience--the strong triumph over the weak. Whether any laws +exist among them for the punishment of offences committed against +society; or whether the injured party in all cases seeks for +relief in private revenge, I will not positively affirm; though I +am strongly inclined to believe that only the latter method +prevails. I have already said that they are divided into tribes; +but what constitutes the right of being enrolled in a tribe, or +where exclusion begins and ends, I am ignorant. The tribe of +Cameragal is of all the most numerous and powerful. Their +superiority probably arose from possessing the best fishing +ground, and perhaps from their having suffered less from the +ravages of the smallpox.</p> + +<p>In the domestic detail there may be novelty, but variety is +unattainable. One day must be very like another in the life of a +savage. Summoned by the calls of hunger and the returning light, +he starts from his beloved indolence, and snatching up the +remaining brand of his fire, hastens with his wife to the strand +to commence their daily task. In general the canoe is assigned to +her, into which she puts the fire and pushes off into deep water, +to fish with hook and line, this being the province of the women. +If she have a child at the breast, she takes it with her. And +thus in her skiff, a piece of bark tied at both ends with vines, +and the edge of it but just above the surface of the water, she +pushes out regardless of the elements, if they be but commonly +agitated. While she paddles to the fishing-bank, and while +employed there, the child is placed on her shoulders, entwining +its little legs around her neck and closely grasping her hair +with its hands. To its first cries she remains insensible, as she +believes them to arise only from the inconvenience of a +situation, to which she knows it must be inured. But if its +plaints continue, and she supposes it to be in want of food, she +ceases her fishing and clasps it to her breast. An European +spectator is struck with horror and astonishment at their +perilous situation, but accidents seldom happen. The management +of the canoe alone appears a work of unsurmountable difficulty, +its breadth is so inadequate to its length. The Indians, aware of +its ticklish formation, practise from infancy to move in it +without risk. Use only could reconcile them to the painful +position in which they sit in it. They drop in the middle of the +canoe upon their knees, and resting the buttocks on the heels, +extend the knees to the sides, against which they press strongly, +so as to form a poise sufficient to retain the body in its +situation, and relieve the weight which would otherwise fall +wholly upon the toes. Either in this position or cautiously +moving in the centre of the vessel, the mother tends her child, +keeps up her fire (which is laid on a small patch of earth), +paddles her boat, broils fish and provides in part the +subsistence of the day. Their favourite bait for fish is a +cockle.</p> + +<p>The husband in the mean time warily moves to some rock, over +which he can peep into unruffled water to look for fish. For this +purpose he always chooses a weather shore, and the various +windings of the numerous creeks and indents always afford one. +Silent and watchful, he chews a cockle and spits it into the +water. Allured by the bait, the fish appear from beneath the +rock. He prepares his fish-gig, and pointing it downward, moves +it gently towards the object, always trying to approach it as +near as possible to the fish before the stroke be given. At last +he deems himself sufficiently advanced and plunges it at his +prey. If he has hit his mark, he continues his efforts and +endeavours to transpierce it or so to entangle the barbs in the +flesh as to prevent its escape. When he finds it secure he drops +the instrument, and the fish, fastened on the prongs, rises to +the surface, floated by the buoyancy of the staff. Nothing now +remains to be done but to haul it to him, with either a long +stick or another fish-gig (for an Indian, if he can help it, +never goes into the water on these occasions) to disengage it, +and to look out for fresh sport.</p> + +<p>But sometimes the fish have either deserted the rocks for +deeper water, or are too shy to suffer approach. He then launches +his canoe, and leaving the shore behind, watches the rise of prey +out of the water, and darts his gig at them to the distance of +many yards. Large fish he seldom procures by this method; but +among shoals of mullets, which are either pursued by enemies, or +leap at objects on the surface, he is often successful. Baneelon +has been seen to kill more than twenty fish by this method in an +afternoon. The women sometimes use the gig, and always carry one +in each canoe to strike large fish which may be hooked and +thereby facilitate the capture. But generally speaking, this +instrument is appropriate to the men, who are never seen fishing +with the line, and would indeed consider it as a degradation of +their pre-eminence.</p> + +<p>When prevented by tempestuous weather or any other cause, from +fishing, these people suffer severely. They have then no resource +but to pick up shellfish, which may happen to cling to the rocks, +and be cast on the beach, to hunt particular reptiles and small +animals, which are scarce, to dig fern root in the swamps or to +gather a few berries, destitute of flavour and nutrition, which +the woods afford. To alleviate the sensation of hunger, they tie +a ligature tightly around the belly, as I have often seen our +soldiers do from the same cause.</p> + +<p>Let us, however, suppose them successful in procuring fish. +The wife returns to land with her booty, and the husband quitting +the rock joins his stock to hers; and they repair either to some +neighbouring cavern or to their hut. This last is composed of +pieces of bark, very rudely piled together, in shape as like a +soldier's tent as any known image to which I can compare it: too +low to admit the lord of it to stand upright, but long and wide +enough to admit three or four persons to lie under it. "Here +shelters himself a being, born with all those powers which +education expands, and all those sensations which culture +refines." With a lighted stick brought from the canoe they now +kindle a small fire at the mouth of the hut and prepare to dress +their meal. They begin by throwing the fish exactly in the state +in which it came from the water, on the fire. When it has become +a little warmed they take it off, rub away the scales, and then +peal off with their teeth the surface, which they find done and +eat. Now, and not before, they gut it; but if the fish be a +mullet or any other which has a fatty substance about the +intestines, they carefully guard that part and esteem it a +delicacy. The cooking is now completed by the remaining part +being laid on the fire until it be sufficiently done. A bird, a +lizard, a rat, or any other animal, they treat in the same +manner. The feathers of the one and the fur of the other, they +thus get rid of.*</p> + +<p class="note">[*They broil indiscriminately all substances +which they eat. Though they boil water in small quantities in +oyster shells for particular purposes, they never conceived it +possible until shown by us, to dress meat by this method, having +no vessel capable of containing a fish or a bird which would +stand fire. Two of them once stole twelve pounds of rice and +carried it off. They knew how we cooked it, and by way of putting +it in practice they spread the rice on the ground before a fire, +and as it grew hot continued to throw water on it. Their +ingenuity was however very ill rewarded, for the rice became so +mingled with the dirt and sand on which it was laid, that even +they could not eat it, and the whole was spoiled.]</p> + +<p>Unless summoned away by irresistable necessity, sleep always +follows the repast. They would gladly prolong it until the +following day; but the canoe wants repair, the fish-gig must be +barbed afresh, new lines must be twisted, and new hooks chopped +out. they depart to their respective tasks, which end only with +the light.</p> + +<p>Such is the general life of an Indian. But even he has his +hours of relaxation, in seasons of success, when fish abounds. +Wanton with plenty, he now meditates an attack upon the chastity +of some neighbouring fair one; and watching his opportunity he +seizes her and drags her away to complete his purpose. The signal +of war is lighted; her lover, her father, her brothers, her +tribe, assemble, and vow revenge on the spoiler. He tells his +story to his tribe. They judge the case to be a common one and +agree to support him. Battle ensues; they discharge their spears +at each other, and legs and arms are transpierced. When the +spears are expended the combatants close and every species of +violence is practiced. They seize their antagonist and snap like +enraged dogs, they wield the sword and club, the bone shatters +beneath their fall and they drop the prey of unsparing +vengeance.</p> + +<p>Too justly, as my observations teach me has Hobbes defined a +state of nature to be a state of war. In the method of waging it +among these people, one thing should not, however, escape notice. +Unlike all other Indians, they never carry on operations in the +night, or seek to destroy by ambush and surprise. Their ardent +fearless character, seeks fair and open combat only.</p> + +<p>But enmity has its moments of pause. Then they assemble to +sing and dance. We always found their songs disagreeable from +their monotony. They are numerous, and vary both in measure and +time. They have songs of war, of hunting, of fishing, for the +rise and set of the sun, for rain, for thunder and for many other +occasions. One of these songs, which may be termed a speaking +pantomime, recites the courtship between the sexes and is +accompanied with acting highly expressive. I once heard and saw +Nanbaree and Abaroo perform it. After a few preparatory motions +she gently sunk on the ground, as if in a fainting fit. Nanbaree +applying his mouth to her ear, began to whisper in it, and baring +her bosom, breathed on it several times. At length, the period of +the swoon having expired, with returning animation she gradually +raised herself. She now began to relate what she had seen in her +vision, mentioning several of her countrymen by name, whom we +knew to be dead; mixed with other strange incoherent matter, +equally new and inexplicable, though all tending to one leading +point--the sacrifice of her charms to her lover.</p> + +<p>At their dances I have often been present; but I confess +myself unable to convey in description an accurate account of +them. Like their songs, they are conceived to represent the +progress of the passions and the occupations of life. Full of +seeming confusion, yet regular and systematic, their wild +gesticulations, and frantic distortions of body are calculated +rather to terrify, than delight, a spectator. These dances +consist of short parts, or acts, accompanied with frequent +vociferations, and a kind of hissing, or whizzing noise. They +commonly end with a loud rapid shout, and after a short respite +are renewed. While the dance lasts, one of them (usually a person +of note and estimation) beats time with a stick on a wooden +instrument held in the left hand, accompanying the music with his +voice; and the dancers sometimes sing in concert.</p> + +<p>I have already mentioned that white is the colour appropriated +to the dance, but the style of painting is left to every one's +fancy. Some are streaked with waving lines from head to foot; +others marked by broad cross-bars, on the breast, back, and +thighs, or encircled with spiral lines, or regularly striped like +a zebra. Of these ornaments, the face never wants its share, and +it is hard to conceive any thing in the shape of humanity more +hideous and terrific than they appear to a stranger--seen, +perhaps, through the livid gleam of a fire, the eyes surrounded +by large white circles, in contrast with the black ground, the +hair stuck full of pieces of bone and in the hand a grasped club, +which they occasionally brandish with the greatest fierceness and +agility. Some dances are performed by men only, some by women +only, and in others the sexes mingle. In one of them I have seen +the men drop on their hands and knees and kiss the earth with the +greatest fervor, between the kisses looking up to Heaven. They +also frequently throw up their arms, exactly in the manner in +which the dancers of the Friendly Islands are depicted in one of +the plates of Mr. Cook's last voyage.</p> + +<p>Courtship here, as in other countries, is generally promoted +by this exercise, where every one tries to recommend himself to +attention and applause. Dancing not only proves an incentive, but +offers an opportunity in its intervals. The first advances are +made by the men, who strive to render themselves agreeable to +their favourites by presents of fishing-tackle and other articles +which they know will prove acceptable. Generally speaking, a man +has but one wife, but infidelity on the side of the husband, with +the unmarried girls, is very frequent. For the most part, +perhaps, they intermarry in their respective tribes. This rule is +not, however, constantly observed, and there is reason to think +that a more than ordinary share of courtship and presents, on the +part of the man, is required in this case. Such difficulty seldom +operates to extinguish desire, and nothing is more common than +for the unsuccessful suitor to ravish by force that which he +cannot accomplish by entreaty. I do not believe that very near +connections by blood ever cohabit. We knew of no instance of +it.</p> + +<p>But indeed the women are in all respects treated with savage +barbarity Condemned not only to carry the children but all other +burthens, they meet in return for submission only with blows, +kicks and every other mark of brutality. When an Indian is +provoked by a woman, he either spears her or knocks her down on +the spot. On this occasion he always strikes on the head, using +indiscriminately a hatchet, a club or any other weapon which may +chance to be in his hand. The heads of the women are always +consequently seen in the state which I found that of +Gooreedeeana. Colbee, who was certainly, in other respects a good +tempered merry fellow, made no scruple of treating Daringa, who +was a gentle creature, thus. Baneelon did the same to Barangaroo, +but she was a scold and a vixen, and nobody pitied her. It must +nevertheless be confessed that the women often artfully study to +irritate and inflame the passions of the men, although sensible +that the consequence will alight on themselves.</p> + +<p>Many a matrimonial scene of this sort have I witnessed. Lady +Mary Wortley Montague, in her sprightly letters from Turkey, +longs for some of the advocates for passive obedience and +unconditional submission then existing in England to be present +at the sights exhibited in a despotic government. A thousand +times, in like manner, have I wished that those European +philosophers whose closet speculations exalt a state of nature +above a state of civilization, could survey the phantom which +their heated imaginations have raised. Possibly they might then +learn that a state of nature is, of all others, least adapted to +promote the happiness of a being capable of sublime research and +unending ratiocination. That a savage roaming for prey amidst his +native deserts is a creature deformed by all those passions which +afflict and degrade our nature, unsoftened by the influence of +religion, philosophy and legal restriction: and that the more men +unite their talents, the more closely the bands of society are +drawn and civilization advanced, inasmuch is human felicity +augmented, and man fitted for his unalienable station in the +universe.</p> + +<p>Of the language of New South Wales I once hoped to have +subjoined to this work such an exposition as should have +attracted public notice, and have excited public esteem. But the +abrupt departure of Mr. Dawes, who, stimulated equally by +curiosity and philanthropy, had hardly set foot on his native +country when he again quitted it to encounter new perils in the +service of the Sierra Leona company, precludes me from executing +this part of my original intention, in which he had promised to +co-operate with me; and in which he had advanced his researches +beyond the reach of competition. The few remarks which I can +offer shall be concisely detailed.</p> + +<p>We were at first inclined to stigmatised this language as +harsh and barbarous in its sounds. Their combinations of words in +the manner they utter them, frequently convey such an effect. But +if not only their proper names of men and places, but many of +their phrases and a majority of their words, be simply and +unconnectedly considered, they will be found to abound with +vowels and to produce sounds sometimes mellifluous and sometimes +sonorous. What ear can object to the names of Colbee, (pronounced +exactly as Colby is with us) Bereewan, Bondel, Imeerawanyee, +Deedora, Wolarawaree, or Baneelon, among the men; or to +Wereeweea, Gooreedeeana, Milba*, or Matilba, among the women. +Parramatta, Gweea, Cameera, Cadi, and Memel, are names of places. +The tribes derive their appellations from the places they +inhabit. Thus Cemeeragal, means the men who reside in the bay of +Cameera; Cedigal, those who reside in the bay of Cadi; and so of +the others. The women of the tribe are denoted by adding 'eean' +to any of the foregoing words. A Cadigaleean imports a woman +living at Cadi, or of the tribe of Cadigal. These words, as the +reader will observe, are accented either on the first syllable or +the penultima. In general, however, they are partial to the +emphasis being laid as near the beginning of the word as +possible.</p> + +<p class="note">[*Mrs. Johnson, wife of the chaplain of the +settlement, was so pleased with this name that she christened her +little girl, born in Port Jackson, Milba Maria Johnson.]</p> + +<p>Of compound words they seem fond. Two very striking ones +appear in the journal to the Hawkesbury. Their translations of +our words into their language are always apposite, comprehensive, +and drawn from images familiar to them. A gun, for instance, they +call 'gooroobeera', that is, a stick of fire. Sometimes also, by +a licence of language, they call those who carry guns by the same +name. But the appellation by which they generally distinguished +us was that of 'bereewolgal', meaning men come from afar. When +they salute any one they call him 'dameeli', or namesake, a term +which not only implies courtesy and good-will, but a certain +degree of affection in the speaker. An interchange of names with +any one is also a symbol of friendship. Each person has several +names; one of which, there is reason to believe, is always +derived from the first fish or animal which the child, in +accompanying its father to the chase or a fishing, may chance to +kill.</p> + +<p>Not only their combinations, but some of their simple sounds, +were difficult of pronunciation to mouths purely English. +Diphthongs often occur. One of the most common is that of 'ae', +or perhaps, 'ai', pronounced not unlike those letters in the +French verb 'hair', to hate. The letter 'y' frequently follows +'d' in the same syllable. Thus the word which signifies a woman +is 'dyin'; although the structure of our language requires us to +spell it 'deein'.</p> + +<p>But if they sometimes put us to difficulty, many of our words +were to them unutterable. The letters 's' and 'v' they never +could pronounce. The latter became invariably 'w', and the former +mocked all their efforts, which in the instance of Baneelon has +been noticed; and a more unfortunate defect in learning our +language could not easily be pointed out.</p> + +<p>They use the ellipsis in speaking very freely; always omitting +as many words as they possibly can, consistent with being +understood. They inflect both their nouns and verbs regularly; +and denote the cases of the former and the tenses of the latter, +not like the English by auxiliary words, but like the Latins by +change of termination. Their nouns, whether substantive or +adjective, seem to admit of no plural. I have heard Mr. Dawes +hint his belief of their using a dual number, similar to the +Greeks, but I confess that I never could remark aught to confirm +it. The method by which they answer a question that they cannot +resolve is similar to what we sometimes use. Let for example the +following question be put: 'Waw Colbee yagoono?'--Where is Colbee +to-day? 'Waw, baw!'--Where, indeed! would be the reply. They use +a direct and positive negative, but express the affirmative by a +nod of the head or an inclination of the body.</p> + +<p>Opinions have greatly differed, whether or not their language +be copious. In one particular it is notoriously defective. They +cannot count with precision more than four. However as far as +ten, by holding up the fingers, they can both comprehend others +and explain themselves. Beyond four every number is called great; +and should it happen to be very large, great great, which is an +Italian idiom also. This occasions their computations of time and +space to be very confused and incorrect. Of the former they have +no measure but the visible diurnal motion of the sun or the +monthly revolution of the moon.</p> + +<p>To conclude the history of a people for whom I cannot but feel +some share of affection. Let those who have been born in more +favoured lands and who have profited by more enlightened systems, +compassionate, but not despise their destitute and obscure +situation. Children of the same omniscient paternal care, let +them recollect that by the fortuitous advantage of birth alone +they possess superiority: that untaught, unaccommodated man is +the same in Pall Mall as in the wilderness of New South Wales. +And ultimately let them hope and trust that the progress of +reason and the splendor of revelation will in their proper and +allotted season be permitted to illumine and transfuse into these +desert regions, knowledge, virtue and happiness.</p> + +<a name="18"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER XVIII.</h3> + +<h4>Observations on the Convicts.</h4> + +<p>A short account of that class of men for whose disposal and +advantage the colony was principally, if not totally, founded, +seems necessary.</p> + +<p>If it be recollected how large a body of these people are now +congregated in the settlement of Port Jackson and at Norfolk +Island, it will, I think, not only excite surprise but afford +satisfaction, to learn, that in a period of four years few crimes +of a deep dye or of a hardened nature have been perpetrated. +Murder and unnatural sins rank not hitherto in the catalogue of +their enormities, and one suicide only has been committed.</p> + +<p>To the honour of the female part of our community let it be +recorded that only one woman has suffered capital punishment. On +her condemnation she pleaded pregnancy, and a jury of venerable +matrons was impanneled on the spot, to examine and pronounce her +state, which the forewoman, a grave personage between sixty and +seventy years old, did, by this short address to the court; +'Gentlemen! she is as much with child as I am.' Sentence was +accordingly passed, and she was executed.</p> + +<p>Besides the instance of Irving, two other male convicts, +William Bloodsworth, of Kingston upon Thames, and John Arscott, +of Truro, in Cornwall, were both emancipated for their good +conduct, in the years 1790 and 1791. Several men whose terms of +transportation had expired, and against whom no legal impediment +existed to prevent their departure, have been permitted to enter +in merchant ships wanting hands: and as my Rose Hill journals +testify, many others have had grants of land assigned to them, +and are become settlers in the country.</p> + +<p>In so numerous a community many persons of perverted genius +and of mechanical ingenuity could not but be assembled. Let me +produce the following example. Frazer was an iron manufacturer, +bred at Sheffield, of whose abilities as a workman we had +witnessed many proofs. The governor had written to England for a +set of locks to be sent out for the security of the public +stores, which were to be so constructed as to be incapable of +being picked. On their arrival his excellency sent for Frazer and +bade him examine them telling him at the same time that they +could not be picked. Frazer laughed and asked for a crooked nail +only, to open them all. A nail was brought, and in an instant he +verified his assertion. Astonished at his dexterity, a gentleman +present determined to put it to farther proof. He was sent for in +a hurry, some days after, to the hospital, where a lock of still +superior intricacy and expense to the others had been provided. +He was told that the key was lost and that the lock must be +immediately picked. He examined it attentively, remarked that it +was the production of a workman, and demanded ten minutes to make +an instrument 'to speak with it.' Without carrying the lock with +him, he went directly to his shop, and at the expiration of his +term returned, applied his instrument, and open flew the lock. +But it was not only in this part of his business that he +excelled: he executed every branch of it in superior style. Had +not his villainy been still more notorious than his skill, he +would have proved an invaluable possession to a new country. He +had passed through innumerable scenes in life, and had played +many parts. When too lazy to work at his trade he had turned +thief in fifty different shapes, was a receiver of stolen goods, +a soldier and a travelling conjurer. He once confessed to me that +he had made a set of tools, for a gang of coiners, every man of +whom was hanged.</p> + +<p>Were the nature of the subject worthy of farther illustration, +many similar proofs of misapplied talents might be adduced.</p> + +<p>Their love of the marvellous has been recorded in an early +part of this work. The imposture of the gold finder, however +prominent and glaring, nevertheless contributed to awaken +attention and to create merriment. He enjoyed the reputation of a +discoverer, until experiment detected the imposition. But others +were less successful to acquire even momentary admiration. The +execution of forgery seems to demand at least neatness of +imitation and dexterity of address. On arrival of the first fleet +of ships from England, several convicts brought out +recommendatory letters from different friends. Of these some were +genuine, and many owed their birth to the ingenuity of the +bearers. But these last were all such bungling performances as to +produce only instant detection and succeeding contempt. One of +them addressed to the governor, with the name of Baron Hotham +affixed to it, began 'Honored Sir!'</p> + +<p>A leading distinction, which marked the convicts on their +outset in the colony, was an use of what is called the 'flash', +or 'kiddy' language. In some of our early courts of justice an +interpreter was frequently necessary to translate the deposition +of the witness and the defence of the prisoner. This language has +many dialects. The sly dexterity of the pickpocket, the brutal +ferocity of the footpad, the more elevated career of the +highwayman and the deadly purpose of the midnight ruffian is each +strictly appropriate in the terms which distinguish and +characterize it. I have ever been of opinion that an abolition of +this unnatural jargon would open the path to reformation. And my +observations on these people have constantly instructed me that +indulgence in this infatuating cant is more deeply associated +with depravity and continuance in vice than is generally +supposed. I recollect hardly one instance of a return to honest +pursuits, and habits of industry, where this miserable perversion +of our noblest and peculiar faculty was not previously +conquered.</p> + +<p>Those persons to whom the inspection and management of our +numerous and extensive prisons in England are committed will +perform a service to society by attending to the foregoing +observation. Let us always keep in view, that punishment, when +not directed to promote reformation, is arbitrary, and +unauthorised.</p> + +<a name="19"></a> +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER XIX.</h3> + +<h4>Facts relating to the probability of establishing a whale +fishery on the coast of New South Wales, with Thoughts on the +same.</h4> + +<p>In every former part of this publication I have studiously +avoided mentioning a whale fishery, as the information relating +to it will, I conceive, be more acceptably received in this form, +by those to whom it is addressed, than if mingled with other +matter.</p> + +<p>Previous to entering on this detail, it must be observed that +several of the last fleet of ships which had arrived from England +with convicts, were fitted out with implements for whale fishing, +and were intended to sail for the coast of Brazil to pursue the +fishery, immediately on having landed the convicts.</p> + +<p>On the 14th of October, 1791, the 'Britannia', Captain +Melville, one of these ships, arrived at Sydney. In her passage +between Van Diemen's Land and Port Jackson, the master reported +that he had seen a large shoal of spermaceti whales. His words +were, 'I saw more whales at one time around my ship than in the +whole of six years which I have fished on the coast of +Brazil.'</p> + +<p>This intelligence was no sooner communicated than all the +whalers were eager to push to sea. Melville himself was among the +most early; and on the 10th of November, returned to Port +Jackson, more confident of success than before. He assured me +that in the fourteen days which he had been out, he had seen more +spermaced whales than in all his former life. They amounted, he +said to many thousands, most of them of enormous magnitude; and +had he not met with bad weather he could have killed as many as +he pleased. Seven he did kill, but owing to the stormy agitated +state of the water, he could not get any of them aboard. In one +however, which in a momentary interval of calm, was killed and +secured by a ship in company, he shared. The oil and head matter +of this fish, he extolled as of an extraordinary fine quality. He +was of opinion the former would fetch ten pounds per ton more in +London than that procured on the Brazil coast. He had not gone +farther south than 37 degrees; and described the latitude of 35 +degrees to be the place where the whales most abounded, just on +the edge of soundings, which here extends about fifteen leagues +from the shore; though perhaps, on other parts of the coast the +bank will be found to run hardly so far off.</p> + +<p>On the following day (November 11th) the 'Mary Anne', Captain +Munro, another of the whalers, returned into port, after having +been out sixteen days. She had gone as far south as 41 degrees +but saw not a whale, and had met with tremendously bad weather, +in which she had shipped a sea that had set her boiling coppers +afloat and had nearly carried them overboard.</p> + +<p>November 22d. The 'William and Anne', Captain Buncker, +returned after having been more than three weeks out, and putting +into Broken Bay. This is the ship that had killed the fish in +which Melville shared. Buncker had met with no farther success, +owing, he said, entirely, to gales of wind; for he had seen +several immense shoals and was of opinion that he should have +secured fifty tons of oil, had the weather been tolerably +moderate. I asked him whether he thought the whales he had seen +were fish of passage. "No," he answered, "they were going on every +point of the compass, and were evidently on feeding ground, which +I saw no reason to doubt that they frequent." Melville afterwards +confirmed to me this observation. December 3rd, the 'Mary Anne' +and 'Matilda' again returned. The former had gone to the +southward, and off Port Jervis had fallen in with two shoals of +whales, nine of which were killed, but owing to bad weather, part +of five only were got on board. As much, the master computed, as +would yield thirty barrels of oil. He said the whales were the +least shy of any he had ever seen, "not having been cut up". The +latter had gone to the northward, and had seen no whales but a +few fin-backs.</p> + +<p>On the 5th of December, both these ships sailed again; and on +the 16th and 17th of the month (just before the author sailed for +England) they and the 'Britannia' and 'William and Anne' returned +to Port Jackson without success having experienced a continuation +of the bad weather and seen very few fish. They all said that +their intention was to give the coast one more trial, and if it +miscarried to quit it and steer to the northward in search of +less tempestuous seas.</p> + +<p>The only remark which I have to offer to adventurers on the +above subject, is not to suffer discouragement by concluding that +bad weather only is to be found on the coast of New South Wales, +where the whales have hitherto been seen. Tempests happen +sometimes there, as in other seas, but let them feel assured that +there are in every month of the year many days in which the whale +fishery may be safely carried on. The evidence of the abundance +in which spermaceti whales are sometimes seen is +incontrovertible: that which speaks to their being 'not fish of +passage' is at least respectable and hitherto uncontradicted. The +prospect merits attention--may it stimulate to enterprise.</p> + +<p>The two discoveries of Port Jervis and Matilda Bay (which are +to be found in the foregoing sheets) may yet be wanting in the +maps of the coast. My account of their geographic situation, +except possibly in the exact longitude of the latter (a point not +very material) may be safely depended upon. A knowledge of Oyster +Bay, discovered and laid down by the 'Mercury' store-ship, in the +year 1789, would also be desirable. But this I am incapable of +furnishing.</p> + +<p>Here terminates my subject. Content with the humble province +of detailing facts and connecting events by undisturbed +narration, I leave to others the task of anticipating glorious, +or gloomy, consequences, from the establishment of a colony, +which unquestionably demands serious investigation, ere either +its prosecution or abandonment be determined.</p> + +<p>But doubtless not only those who planned, but those who have +been delegated to execute, an enterprise of such magnitude, have +deeply revolved, that "great national expense does not imply the +necessity of national suffering. While revenue is employed with +success to some valuable end, the profits of every adventure +being more than sufficient to repay its costs, the public should +gain, and its resources should continue to multiply. But an +expense whether sustained at home or abroad; whether a waste of +the present, or an anticipation of the future, revenue, if it +bring no adequate return, is to be reckoned among the causes of +national ruin."*</p> + +<p class="note">[*Ferguson's Essay on the History of Civil +Society.]</p> + +<h3> </h3> + +<hr> +<h3>THE END</h3> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Complete Account of the Settlement +at Port Jackson, by Watkin Tench + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SETTLEMENT AT PORT JACKSON *** + +***** This file should be named 3534-h.htm or 3534-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/3/3534/ + +Produced by Col Choat and Stuart Kidd + +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 distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson + +Author: Watkin Tench + +Release Date: May 8, 2006 [EBook #3534] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SETTLEMENT AT PORT JACKSON *** + + + + +Produced by Col Choat and Stuart Kidd + + + + +whitespace; small checks; italics; poetry; dashes + + + +A COMPLETE ACCOUNT OF THE SETTLEMENT AT PORT JACKSON + +by Watkin Tench + + + + + +PREFACE + + + + +When it is recollected how much has been written to describe the Settlement +of New South Wales, it seems necessary if not to offer an apology, yet to +assign a reason, for an additional publication. + +The Author embarked in the fleet which sailed to found the establishment at +Botany Bay. He shortly after published a Narrative of the Proceedings and +State of the Colony, brought up to the beginning of July, 1788, which +was well received, and passed through three editions. This could not +but inspire both confidence and gratitude; but gratitude, would be badly +manifested were he on the presumption of former favour to lay claim +to present indulgence. He resumes the subject in the humble hope of +communicating information, and increasing knowledge, of the country, which +he describes. + +He resided at Port Jackson nearly four years: from the 20th of January, +1788, until the 18th of December, 1791. To an active and contemplative +mind, a new country is an inexhaustible source of curiosity and +speculation. It was the author's custom not only to note daily occurrences, +and to inspect and record the progression of improvement; but also, when +not prevented by military duties, to penetrate the surrounding country in +different directions, in order to examine its nature, and ascertain its +relative geographical situations. + +The greatest part of the work is inevitably composed of those materials +which a journal supplies; but wherever reflections could be introduced +without fastidiousness and parade, he has not scrupled to indulge them, in +common with every other deviation which the strictness of narrative would +allow. + +When this publication was nearly ready for the press; and when many of +the opinions which it records had been declared, fresh accounts from Port +Jackson were received. To the state of a country, where so many anxious +trying hours of his life have passed, the author cannot feel indifferent. +If by any sudden revolution of the laws of nature; or by any fortunate +discovery of those on the spot, it has really become that fertile and +prosperous land, which some represent it to be, he begs permission to add +his voice to the general congratulation. He rejoices at its success: but +it is only justice to himself and those with whom he acted to declare, that +they feel no cause of reproach that so complete and happy an alteration did +not take place at an earlier period. + + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + + +A Retrospect of the State of the Colony of Port Jackson, on the Date of my +former Narrative, in July, 1788. + + +Previous to commencing any farther account of the subject, which I am about +to treat, such a retrospection of the circumstances and situation of the +settlement, at the conclusion of my former Narrative, as shall lay its +state before the reader, seems necessary, in order to connect the present +with the past. + +The departure of the first fleet of ships for Europe, on the 14th of July, +1788, had been long impatiently expected; and had filled us with anxiety, +to communicate to our friends an account of our situation; describing the +progress of improvement, and the probability of success, or failure, in +our enterprise. That men should judge very oppositely on so doubtful and +precarious an event, will hardly surprise. + +Such relations could contain little besides the sanguineness of hope, and +the enumeration of hardships and difficulties, which former accounts had +not led us to expect. Since our disembarkation in the preceding January, +the efforts of every one had been unremittingly exerted, to deposit the +public stores in a state of shelter and security, and to erect habitations +for ourselves. We were eager to escape from tents, where a fold of canvas, +only, interposed to check the vertic beams of the sun in summer, and the +chilling blasts of the south in winter. A markee pitched, in our finest +season, on an English lawn; or a transient view of those gay camps, near +the metropolis, which so many remember, naturally draws forth careless and +unmeaning exclamations of rapture, which attach ideas of pleasure only, to +this part of a soldier's life. But an encampment amidst the rocks and wilds +of a new country, aggravated by the miseries of bad diet, and incessant +toil, will find few admirers. + +Nor were our exertions less unsuccessful than they were laborious. Under +wretched covers of thatch lay our provisions and stores, exposed to +destruction from every flash of lightning, and every spark of fire. A few +of the convicts had got into huts; but almost all the officers, and the +whole of the soldiery, were still in tents. + +In such a situation, where knowledge of the mechanic arts afforded the +surest recommendation to notice, it may be easily conceived, that attention +to the parade duty of the troops, gradually diminished. Now were to be +seen officers and soldiers not "trailing the puissant pike" but felling the +ponderous gum-tree, or breaking the stubborn clod. And though "the broad +falchion did not in a ploughshare end" the possession of a spade, a +wheelbarrow, or a dunghill, was more coveted than the most refulgent arms +in which heroism ever dazzled. Those hours, which in other countries are +devoted to martial acquirements, were here consumed in the labours of the +sawpit, the forge and the quarry*. + + +[* "The Swedish prisoners, taken at the battle of Pultowa, were transported +by the Czar Peter to the most remote parts of Siberia, with a view to +civilize the natives of the country, and teach them the arts the Swedes +possessed. In this hopeless situation, all traces of discipline and +subordination, between the different ranks, were quickly obliterated. The +soldiers, who were husbandmen and artificers, found out their superiority, +and assumed it: the officers became their servants." VOLTAIRE.] + + +Of the two ships of war, the 'Sirius' and 'Supply', the latter was +incessantly employed in transporting troops, convicts, and stores, to +Norfolk Island; and the 'Sirius' in preparing for a voyage to some port, +where provisions for our use might be purchased, the expected supply from +England not having arrived. It is but justice to the officers and men of +both these ships to add, that, on all occasions, they fully shared every +hardship and fatigue with those on shore. + +On the convicts the burden fell yet heavier: necessity compelled us to +allot to them the most slavish and laborious employments. Those operations, +which in other countries are performed by the brute creation, were here +effected by the exertions of men: but this ought not to be considered +a grievance; because they had always been taught to expect it, as the +inevitable consequence of their offences against society. Severity was +rarely exercised on them; and justice was administered without partiality +or discrimination. Their ration of provisions, except in being debarred +from an allowance of spirits, was equal to that which the marines received. +Under these circumstances I record with pleasure, that they behaved better +than had been predicted of them--to have expected sudden and complete +reformation of conduct, were romantic and chimerical. + +Our cultivation of the land was yet in its infancy. We had hitherto tried +only the country contiguous to Sydney. Here the governor had established +a government-farm; at the head of which a competent person of his own +household was placed, with convicts to work under him. Almost the whole of +the officers likewise accepted of small tracts of ground, for the purpose +of raising grain and vegetables: but experience proved to us, that the soil +would produce neither without manure; and as this was not to be procured, +our vigour soon slackened; and most of the farms (among which was the one +belonging to government) were successively abandoned. + +With the natives we were very little more acquainted than on our arrival +in the country. Our intercourse with them was neither frequent or cordial. +They seemed studiously to avoid us, either from fear, jealousy, or hatred. +When they met with unarmed stragglers, they sometimes killed, and sometimes +wounded them. I confess that, in common with many others, I was inclined +to attribute this conduct, to a spirit of malignant levity. But a farther +acquaintance with them, founded on several instances of their humanity and +generosity, which shall be noticed in their proper places, has entirely +reversed my opinion; and led me to conclude, that the unprovoked outrages +committed upon them, by unprincipled individuals among us, caused the +evils we had experienced. To prevent them from being plundered of their +fishing-tackle and weapons of war, a proclamation was issued, forbidding +their sale among us; but it was not attended with the good effect which was +hoped for from it. + +During this period, notwithstanding the want of fresh provisions and +vegetables, and almost constant exposure to the vicissitudes of a variable +climate, disease rarely attacked us; and the number of deaths, was too +inconsiderable to deserve mention. + +Norfolk Island had been taken possession of, by a party detached for that +purpose, early after our arrival. Few accounts of it had yet reached us. +And here I beg leave to observe, that as I can speak of this island only +from the relations of others, never having myself been there, I shall in +every part of this work mention it as sparingly as possible. And this more +especially, as it seems probable, that some of those gentlemen, who from +accurate knowledge, and long residence on it, are qualified to write its +history, will oblige the world with such a publication. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + + +Transactions of the Colony from the sailing of the First Fleet in July, +1788, to the Close of that Year. + + +It was impossible to behold without emotion the departure of the ships. On +their speedy arrival in England perhaps hinged our fate; by hastening our +supplies to us. + +On the 20th of July, the 'Supply' sailed for Norfolk Island, and returned +to us on the 26th of August; bringing no material news, except that the +soil was found to suit grain, and other seeds, which had been sown in it, +and that a species of flax-plant was discovered to grow spontaneously on +the island. + +A survey of the harbour of Port Jackson was now undertaken, in order to +compute the number of canoes, and inhabitants, which it might contain: +sixty-seven canoes, and 147 people were counted. No estimate, however, of +even tolerable accuracy, can be drawn from so imperfect a datum; though it +was perhaps the best in our power to acquire. + +In July and August, we experienced more inclement tempestuous weather +than had been observed at any former period of equal duration. And yet +it deserves to be remarked, in honour of the climate, that, although our +number of people exceeded 900, not a single death happened in the latter +month. + +The dread of want in a country destitute of natural resource is ever +peculiarly terrible. We had long turned our eyes with impatience towards +the sea, cheered by the hope of seeing supplies from England approach. But +none arriving, on the 2d of October the 'Sirius' sailed for the Cape of +Good Hope, with directions to purchase provisions there, for the use of our +garrison. + +A new settlement, named by the governor Rose Hill, 16 miles inland, was +established on the 3d of November, the soil here being judged better +than that around Sydney. A small redoubt was thrown up, and a captain's +detachment posted in it, to protect the convicts who were employed to +cultivate the ground. + +The two last of the transports left us for England on the 19th of November, +intending to make their passage by Cape Horn. There now remained with us +only the 'Supply'. Sequestered and cut off as we were from the rest of +civilized nature, their absence carried the effect of desolation. About +this time a convict, of the name of Daly, was hanged, for a burglary: +this culprit, who was a notorious thief and impostor, was the author of a +discovery of a gold mine, a few months before: a composition resembling +ore mingled with earth, which he pretended to have brought from it, he +produced. After a number of attendant circumstances, too ludicrous and +contemptible to relate, which befell a party, who were sent under his +guidance to explore this second Peru, he at last confessed, that he had +broken up an old pair of buckles, and mixed the pieces with sand and stone; +and on assaying the composition, the brass was detected. The fate of this +fellow I should not deem worth recording, did it not lead to the following +observation, that the utmost circumspection is necessary to prevent +imposition, in those who give accounts of what they see in unknown +countries. We found the convicts particularly happy in fertility of +invention, and exaggerated descriptions. Hence large fresh water rivers, +valuable ores, and quarries of limestone, chalk, and marble, were daily +proclaimed soon after we had landed. At first we hearkened with avidity +to such accounts; but perpetual disappointments taught us to listen with +caution, and to believe from demonstration only. + +Unabated animosity continued to prevail between the natives and us: +in addition to former losses, a soldier and several convicts suddenly +disappeared, and were never afterwards heard of. Three convicts were also +wounded, and one killed by them, near Botany Bay: similar to the vindictive +spirit which Mr. Cook found to exist among their countrymen at Endeavour +River, they more than once attempted to set fire to combustible matter, in +order to annoy us. Early on the morning of the 18th of December, word was +brought that they were assembled in force, near the brick-kilns, which +stand but a mile from the town of Sydney. The terror of those who brought +the first intelligence magnified the number to two thousand; a second +messenger diminished it to four hundred. A detachment, under the command +of an officer was ordered to march immediately, and reconnoitre them. The +officer soon returned, and reported, that about fifty Indians had appeared +at the brick-kilns; but upon the convicts, who were at work there, pointing +their spades and shovels at them, in the manner of guns, they had fled into +the woods. + +Tired of this state of petty warfare and endless uncertainty, the governor +at length determined to adopt a decisive measure, by capturing some of +them, and retaining them by force; which we supposed would either inflame +the rest to signal vengeance, in which case we should know the worst, and +provide accordingly: or else it would induce an intercourse, by the report +which our prisoners would make of the mildness and indulgence with which we +used them. And farther, it promised to unveil the cause of their mysterious +conduct, by putting us in possession of their reasons for harassing and +destroying our people, in the manner I have related. Boats were accordingly +ordered to be got ready, and every preparation made, which could lead to +the attainment of our object. + +But as this subject deserves to be particularly detailed, I shall, +notwithstanding its being just within the period of time which this chapter +professes to comprise, allot it a separate place, in the beginning of the +next. + +Nor can I close this part of my work without congratulating both the reader +and the author. New matter now presents itself. A considerable part of the +foregoing chapters had been related before, either by others or myself. +I was however, unavoidably compelled to insert it, in order to preserve +unbroken that chain of detail, and perspicuity of arrangement, at which +books professing to convey information should especially aim. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + + +Transactions of the Colony, from the Commencement of the Year 1789, until +the End of March. + + +Pursuant to his resolution, the governor on the 31st of December sent two +boats, under the command of Lieutenant Ball of the 'Supply', and Lieutenant +George Johnston of the marines, down the harbour, with directions to those +officers to seize and carry off some of the natives. The boats proceeded to +Manly Cove, where several Indians were seen standing on the beach, who +were enticed by courteous behaviour and a few presents to enter into +conversation. A proper opportunity being presented, our people rushed +in among them, and seized two men: the rest fled; but the cries of the +captives soon brought them back, with many others, to their rescue: and so +desperate were their struggles, that, in spite of every effort on our side, +only one of them was secured; the other effected his escape. The boats put +off without delay; and an attack from the shore instantly commenced: they +threw spears, stones, firebrands, and whatever else presented itself, at +the boats; nor did they retreat, agreeable to their former custom, until +many musquets were fired over them. + +The prisoner was now fastened by ropes to the thwarts of the boat; and when +he saw himself irretrievably disparted from his countrymen, set up the +most piercing and lamentable cries of distress. His grief, however, soon +diminished: he accepted and ate of some broiled fish which was given to +him, and sullenly submitted to his destiny. + +When the news of his arrival at Sydney was announced, I went with every +other person to see him: he appeared to be about thirty years old, +not tall, but robustly made; and of a countenance which, under happier +circumstances, I thought would display manliness and sensibility; his +agitation was excessive, and the clamourous crowds who flocked around +him did not contribute to lessen it. Curiosity and observation seemed, +nevertheless, not to have wholly deserted him; he shewed the effect of +novelty upon ignorance; he wondered at all he saw: though broken and +interrupted with dismay, his voice was soft and musical, when its natural +tone could be heard; and he readily pronounced with tolerable accuracy +the names of things which were taught him. To our ladies he quickly became +extraordinarily courteous, a sure sign that his terror was wearing off. + +Every blandishment was used to soothe him, and it had its effect. As he +was entering the governor's house, some one touched a small bell which hung +over the door: he started with horror and astonishment; but in a moment +after was reconciled to the noise, and laughed at the cause of his +perturbation. When pictures were shown to him, he knew directly those which +represented the human figure: among others, a very large handsome print of +her royal highness the Dutchess of Cumberland being produced, he called out +'woman', a name by which we had just before taught him to call the female +convicts. Plates of birds and beasts were also laid before him; and many +people were led to believe, that such as he spoke about and pointed to +were known to him. But this must have been an erroneous conjecture, for the +elephant, rhinoceros, and several others, which we must have discovered did +they exist in the country, were of the number. Again, on the other hand, +those he did not point out, were equally unknown to him. + +His curiosity here being satiated, we took him to a large brick house, +which was building for the governor's residence: being about to enter, he +cast up his eyes, and seeing some people leaning out of a window on +the first story, he exclaimed aloud, and testified the most extravagant +surprise. Nothing here was observed to fix his attention so strongly as +some tame fowls, who were feeding near him: our dogs also he particularly +noticed; but seemed more fearful than fond of them. + +He dined at a side-table at the governor's; and ate heartily of fish and +ducks, which he first cooled. Bread and salt meat he smelled at, but would +not taste: all our liquors he treated in the same manner, and could drink +nothing but water. On being shown that he was not to wipe his hands on the +chair which he sat upon, he used a towel which was gave to him, with great +cleanliness and decency. + +In the afternoon his hair was closely cut, his head combed, and his beard +shaved; but he would not submit to these operations until he had seen them +performed on another person, when he readily acquiesced. His hair, as might +be supposed, was filled with vermin, whose destruction seemed to afford him +great triumph; nay, either revenge, or pleasure, prompted him to eat them! +but on our expressing disgust and abhorrence he left it off. + +To this succeeded his immersion in a tub of water and soap, where he was +completely washed and scrubbed from head to foot; after which a shirt, +a jacket, and a pair of trousers, were put upon him. Some part of this +ablution I had the honour to perform, in order that I might ascertain the +real colour of the skin of these people. My observation then was (and it +has since been confirmed in a thousand other instances) that they are as +black as the lighter cast of the African negroes. + +Many unsuccessful attempts were made to learn his name; the governor +therefore called him Manly, from the cove in which he was captured: this +cove had received its name from the manly undaunted behaviour of a party of +natives seen there, on our taking possession of the country. + +To prevent his escape, a handcuff with a rope attached to it, was fastened +around his left wrist, which at first highly delighted him; he called it +'bengadee' (or ornament), but his delight changed to rage and hatred when +he discovered its use. His supper he cooked himself: some fish were given +to him for this purpose, which, without any previous preparation whatever, +he threw carelessly on the fire, and when they became warm took them up, +and first rubbed off the scales, peeled the outside with his teeth, and ate +it; afterwards he gutted them, and laying them again on the fire, completed +the dressing, and ate them. + +A convict was selected to sleep with him, and to attend him wherever he +might go. When he went with his keeper into his apartment he appeared very +restless and uneasy while a light was kept in; but on its extinction, he +immediately lay down and composed himself. + +Sullenness and dejection strongly marked his countenance on the +following morning; to amuse him, he was taken around the camp, and to the +observatory: casting his eyes to the opposite shore from the point where +he stood, and seeing the smoke of fire lighted by his countrymen, he looked +earnestly at it, and sighing deeply two or three times, uttered the word +'gweeun' (fire). + +His loss of spirits had not, however, the effect of impairing his appetite; +eight fish, each weighing about a pound, constituted his breakfast, which +he dressed as before. When he had finished his repast, he turned his back +to the fire in a musing posture, and crept so close to it, that his shirt +was caught by the flame; luckily his keeper soon extinguished it; but he +was so terrified at the accident, that he was with difficulty persuaded to +put on a second. + +1st. January, 1789. To-day being new-year's-day, most of the officers were +invited to the governor's table: Manly dined heartily on fish and roasted +pork; he was seated on a chest near a window, out of which, when he had +done eating, he would have thrown his plate, had he not been prevented: +during dinner-time a band of music played in an adjoining apartment; and +after the cloth was removed, one of the company sang in a very soft +and superior style; but the powers of melody were lost on Manly, which +disappointed our expectations, as he had before shown pleasure and +readiness in imitating our tunes. Stretched out on his chest, and putting +his hat under his head, he fell asleep. + +To convince his countrymen that he had received no injury from us, the +governor took him in a boat down the harbour, that they might see and +converse with him: when the boat arrived, and lay at a little distance +from the beach, several Indians who had retired at her approach, on seeing +Manly, returned: he was greatly affected, and shed tears. At length they +began to converse. Our ignorance of the language prevented us from knowing +much of what passed; it was, however, easily understood that his friends +asked him why he did not jump overboard, and rejoin them. He only sighed, +and pointed to the fetter on his leg, by which he was bound. + +In going down the harbour he had described the names by which they +distinguish its numerous creeks and headlands: he was now often heard to +repeat that of 'Weerong' (Sydney Cove), which was doubtless to inform his +countrymen of the place of his captivity; and perhaps invite them to rescue +him. By this time his gloom was chased away, and he parted from his friends +without testifying reluctance. His vivacity and good humour continued all +the evening, and produced so good an effect on his appetite, that he ate +for supper two kangaroo rats, each of the size of a moderate rabbit, and in +addition not less than three pounds of fish. + +Two days after he was taken on a similar excursion; but to our surprise the +natives kept aloof, and would neither approach the shore, or discourse with +their countryman: we could get no explanation of this difficulty, which +seemed to affect us more than it did him. Uncourteous as they were, he +performed to them an act of attentive benevolence; seeing a basket made +of bark, used by them to carry water, he conveyed into it two hawks and +another bird, which the people in the boat had shot, and carefully covering +them over, left them as a present to his old friends. But indeed the +gentleness and humanity of his disposition frequently displayed themselves: +when our children, stimulated by wanton curiosity, used to flock around +him, he never failed to fondle them, and, if he were eating at the time, +constantly offered them the choicest part of his fare. + +February, 1789. His reserve, from want of confidence in us, continued +gradually to wear away: he told us his name, and Manly gave place to +Arabanoo. Bread he began to relish; and tea he drank with avidity: +strong liquors he would never taste, turning from them with disgust and +abhorrence. Our dogs and cats had ceased to be objects of fear, and were +become his greatest pets, and constant companions at table. One of our +chief amusements, after the cloth was removed, was to make him repeat the +names of things in his language, which he never hesitated to do with +the utmost alacrity, correcting our pronunciation when erroneous. Much +information relating to the customs and manners of his country was also +gained from him: but as this subject will be separately and amply treated, +I shall not anticipate myself by partially touching on it here. + +On the 2nd of February died Captain John Shea of the marines, after a +lingering illness: he was interred on the following day, with the customary +military honours, amidst the regret of all who knew him. In consequence of +his decease, appointments for the promotion of the oldest officer of +each subordinate rank were signed by the major commandant of the marine +battalion, until the pleasure of the lords of the admiralty should be +notified.* + +[*These appointments were confirmed by the admiralty.] + +On the 17th of February the 'Supply' again sailed for Norfolk Island. The +governor went down the harbour in her, and carried Arabanoo with him, who +was observed to go on board with distrust and reluctance; when he found she +was under sail, every effort was tried without success to exhilarate him; +at length, an opportunity being presented, he plunged overboard, and struck +out for the nearest shore: believing that those who were left behind would +fire at him, he attempted to dive, at which he was known to be very expert: +but this was attended with a difficulty which he had not foreseen: his +clothes proved so buoyant, that he was unable to get more than his head +under water: a boat was immediately dispatched after him, and picked him +up, though not without struggles and resistance on his side. When brought +on board, he appeared neither afraid or ashamed of what he had done, but +sat apart, melancholy and dispirited, and continued so until he saw the +governor and his other friends descend into a boat, and heard himself +called upon to accompany them: he sprang forward, and his cheerfulness and +alacrity of temper immediately returned, and lasted during the remainder of +the day. The dread of being carried away, on an element of whose boundary +he could form no conception, joined to the uncertainty of our intention +towards him, unquestionably caused him to act as he did. + +One of the principal effects which we had supposed the seizure and +captivity of Arabanoo would produce, seemed yet at as great a distance as +ever; the natives neither manifested signs of increased hostility on his +account, or attempted to ask any explanation of our conduct through the +medium of their countryman who was in our possession, and who they knew was +treated with no farther harshness than in being detained among us. Their +forbearance of open and determined attack upon can be accounted for only +by recollecting their knowledge of our numbers, and their dread of our +fire-arms: that they wanted not sufficient provocation to do so, will +appear from what I am about to relate. + +March, 1789. Sixteen convicts left their work at the brick-kilns without +leave, and marched to Botany Bay, with a design to attack the natives, +and to plunder them of their fishing-tackle and spears: they had armed +themselves with their working tools and large clubs. When they arrived near +the bay, a body of Indians, who had probably seen them set out, and had +penetrated their intention from experience, suddenly fell upon them. Our +heroes were immediately routed, and separately endeavoured to effect their +escape by any means which were left. In their flight one was killed, and +seven were wounded, for the most part very severely: those who had the +good fortune to outstrip their comrades and arrive in camp, first gave the +alarm; and a detachment of marines, under an officer, was ordered to march +to their relief. The officer arrived too late to repel the Indians; but +he brought in the body of the man that was killed, and put an end to +the pursuit. The governor was justly incensed at what had happened, and +instituted the most rigorous scrutiny into the cause which had produced it. +At first the convicts were unanimous in affirming, that they were quietly +picking sweet-tea*, when they were without provocation assaulted by the +natives, with whom they had no wish to quarrel. Some of them, however, +more irresolute than the rest, at last disclosed the purpose for which the +expedition had been undertaken; and the whole were ordered to be severely +flogged: Arabanoo was present at the infliction of the punishment; and was +made to comprehend the cause and the necessity of it; but he displayed on +the occasion symptoms of disgust and terror only. + +[*A vegetable creeper found growing on the rocks, which yields, on infusion +in hot water, a sweet astringent taste, whence it derives its name: to +its virtues the healthy state of the soldiery and convicts must be greatly +attributed. It was drank universally.] + +On the 24th instant the 'Supply' arrived from Norfolk Island, and Lord Howe +Island, bringing from the latter place three turtles. + +An awful and terrible example of justice took place towards the close of +this month, which I record with regret, but which it would be disingenuous +to suppress. Six marines, the flower of our battalion, were hanged by the +public executioner, on the sentence of a criminal court, composed entirely +of their own officers, for having at various times robbed the public stores +of flour, meat, spirits, tobacco, and many other articles. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + + +Transactions of the Colony in April and May, 1789. + + +An extraordinary calamity was now observed among the natives. Repeated +accounts brought by our boats of finding bodies of the Indians in all the +coves and inlets of the harbour, caused the gentlemen of our hospital +to procure some of them for the purposes of examination and anatomy. On +inspection, it appeared that all the parties had died a natural death: +pustules, similar to those occasioned by the small pox, were thickly spread +on the bodies; but how a disease, to which our former observations had led +us to suppose them strangers, could at once have introduced itself, and +have spread so widely, seemed inexplicable.* Whatever might be the cause, +the existence of the malady could no longer be doubted. Intelligence +was brought that an Indian family lay sick in a neighbouring cove: the +governor, attended by Arabanoo, and a surgeon, went in a boat immediately +to the spot. Here they found an old man stretched before a few lighted +sticks, and a boy of nine or ten years old pouring water on his head, from +a shell which he held in his hand: near them lay a female child dead, and +a little farther off, its unfortunate mother: the body of the woman shewed +that famine, superadded to disease, had occasioned her death: eruptions +covered the poor boy from head to foot; and the old man was so reduced, +that he was with difficulty got into the boat. Their situation rendered +them incapable of escape, and they quietly submitted to be led away. +Arabanoo, contrary to his usual character, seemed at first unwilling to +render them any assistance; but his shyness soon wore off, and he treated +them with the kindest attention. Nor would he leave the place until he had +buried the corpse of the child: that of the woman he did not see from its +situation; and as his countrymen did not point it out, the governor ordered +that it should not be shown to him. He scooped a grave in the sand with his +hands, of no peculiarity of shape, which he lined completely with grass, +and put the body into it, covering it also with grass; and then he filled +up the hole, and raised over it a small mound with the earth which had +been removed. Here the ceremony ended, unaccompanied by any invocation to a +superior being, or any attendant circumstance whence an inference of their +religious opinions could be deduced. + +[*No solution of this difficulty had been given when I left the country, in +December, 1791. I can, therefore, only propose queries for the ingenuity of +others to exercise itself upon: is it a disease indigenous to the country? +Did the French ships under Monsieur de Peyrouse introduce it? Let it be +remembered that they had now been departed more than a year; and we had +never heard of its existence on board of them. Had it travelled across the +continent from its western shore, where Dampier and other European voyagers +had formerly landed? Was it introduced by Mr. Cook? Did we give it birth +here? No person among us had been afflicted with the disorder since we had +quitted the Cape of Good Hope, seventeen months before. It is true, that +our surgeons had brought out variolous matter in bottles; but to infer +that it was produced from this cause were a supposition so wild as to be +unworthy of consideration.] + + +An uninhabited house, near the hospital, was allotted for their reception, +and a cradle prepared for each of them. By the encouragement of Arabanoo, +who assured them of protection, and the soothing behaviour of our medical +gentlemen, they became at once reconciled to us, and looked happy and +grateful at the change of their situation. Sickness and hunger had, +however, so much exhausted the old man, that little hope was entertained +of his recovery. As he pointed frequently to his throat, at the instance of +Arabanoo, he tried to wash it with a gargle which was given to him; but +the obstructed, tender state of the part rendered it impracticable. 'Bado, +bado' (water), was his cry: when brought to him, he drank largely at +intervals of it. He was equally importunate for fire, being seized with +shivering fits; and one was kindled. Fish were produced, to tempt him to +eat; but he turned away his head, with signs of loathing. Nanbaree (the +boy), on the contrary, no sooner saw them than he leaped from his cradle, +and eagerly seizing them, began to cook them. A warm bath being prepared, +they were immersed in it; and after being thoroughly cleansed, they had +clean shirts put on them, and were again laid in bed. + +The old man lived but a few hours. He bore the pangs of dissolution with +patient composure; and though he was sensible to the last moment, expired +almost without a groan. Nanbaree appeared quite unmoved at the event; +and surveyed the corpse of his father without emotion, simply exclaiming, +'boee' (dead). This surprised us; as the tenderness and anxiety of the old +man about the boy had been very moving. Although barely able to raise his +head, while so much strength was left to him, he kept looking into his +child's cradle; he patted him gently on the bosom; and, with dying eyes, +seemed to recommend him to our humanity and protection. Nanbaree was +adopted by Mr. White, surgeon-general of the settlement, and became +henceforth one of his family. + +Arabanoo had no sooner heard of the death of his countryman, than he +hastened to inter him. I was present at the ceremony, in company with the +governor, captain Ball, and two or three other persons. It differed, by +the accounts of those who were present at the funeral of the girl, in no +respect from what had passed there in the morning, except that the grave +was dug by a convict. But I was informed, that when intelligence of the +death reached Arabanoo, he expressed himself with doubt whether he should +bury, or burn the body; and seemed solicitous to ascertain which ceremony +would be most gratifying to the governor. + +Indeed, Arabanoo's behaviour, during the whole of the transactions of +this day, was so strongly marked by affection to his countryman, and by +confidence in us, that the governor resolved to free him from all farther +restraint, and at once to trust to his generosity, and the impression which +our treatment of him might have made, for his future residence among us: +the fetter was accordingly taken off his leg. + +In the evening, captain Ball and I crossed the harbour, and buried the +corpse of the woman before mentioned. + +Distress continued to drive them in upon us. Two more natives, one of them +a young man, and the other his sister, a girl of fourteen years old, +were brought in by the governor's boat, in a most deplorable state of +wretchedness from the smallpox. The sympathy and affection of Arabanoo, +which had appeared languid in the instance of Nanbaree and his father, here +manifested themselves immediately. We conjectured that a difference of +the tribes to which they belonged might cause the preference; but nothing +afterwards happened to strengthen or confirm such a supposition. The young +man died at the end of three days: the girl recovered, and was received +as an inmate, with great kindness, in the family of Mrs Johnson, +the clergyman's wife. Her name was Booron; but from our mistake of +pronunciation she acquired that of Abaroo, by which she was generally +known, and by which she will always be called in this work. She shewed, at +the death of her brother more feeling than Nanbaree had witnessed for the +loss of his father. When she found him dying, she crept to his side, and +lay by him until forced by the cold to retire. No exclamation, or other +sign of grief, however, escaped her for what had happened. + +May 1789. At sunset, on the evening of the 2d instant, the arrival the +'Sirius', Captain Hunter, from the Cape of Good Hope, was proclaimed, and +diffused universal joy and congratulation. The day of famine was at least +procrastinated by the supply of flour and salt provisions she brought us. + +The 'Sirius' had made her passage to the Cape of Good Hope, by the route of +Cape Horn, in exactly thirteen weeks. Her highest latitude was 57 degrees +10 minutes south, where the weather proved intolerably cold. Ice, in great +quantity, was seen for many days; and in the middle of December (which is +correspondent to the middle of June, in our hemisphere), water froze in +open casks upon deck, in the moderate latitude of 44 degrees. + +They were very kindly treated by the Dutch governor, and amply supplied by +the merchants at the Cape, where they remained seven weeks. Their passage +back was effected by Van Diemen's Land, near which, and close under +Tasman's Head, they were in the utmost peril of being wrecked. + +In this long run, which had extended round the circle, they had always +determined their longitude, to the greatest nicety, by distances taken +between the sun and moon, or between the moon and a star. But it falls +to the lot of very few ships to possess such indefatigable and accurate +observers as Captain Hunter, and Mr. (now Captain) Bradley, the first +lieutenant of the 'Sirius'. + +I feel assured, that I have no reader who will not join in regretting the +premature loss of Arabanoo, who died of the smallpox on the 18th instant, +after languishing in it six days. From some imperfect marks and indents +on his face, we were inclined to believe that he had passed this dreaded +disorder. Even when the first symptoms of sickness seized him, we continued +willing to hope that they proceeded from a different cause. But at length +the disease burst forth with irresistible fury. It were superfluous to say, +that nothing which medical skill and unremitting attention could perform, +were left unexerted to mitigate his sufferings, and prolong a life, +which humanity and affectionate concern towards his sick compatriots, +unfortunately shortened. + +During his sickness he reposed entire confidence in us. Although a stranger +to medicine, and nauseating the taste of it, he swallowed with patient +submission innumerable drugs,* which the hope of relief induced us to +administer to him. The governor, who particularly regarded him, caused him +to be buried in his own garden, and attended the funeral in person. + +[*Very different had been his conduct on a former occasion of a similar +kind. Soon after he was brought among us he was seized with a diarrhoea, +for which he could by no persuasion be induced to swallow any of our +prescriptions. After many ineffectual trials to deceive, or overcome him, +it was at length determined to let him pursue his own course, and to watch +if he should apply for relief to any of the productions of the country. He +was in consequence observed to dig fern-root, and to chew it. Whether the +disorder had passed its crisis, or whether the fern-root effected a cure, I +know not; but it is certain that he became speedily well. + +**The regard was reciprocal. His excellency had been ill but a short time +before, when Arabanoo had testified the utmost solicitude for his case and +recovery. It is probable that he acquired, on this occasion, just notions +of the benefit to be derived from medical assistance. A doctor is, among +them, a person of consequence. It is certain that he latterly estimated our +professional gentlemen very highly.] + +The character of Arabanoo, as far as we had developed it, was distinguished +by a portion of gravity and steadiness, which our subsequent acquaintance +with his countrymen by no means led us to conclude a national +characteristic. In that daring, enterprising frame of mind, which, when +combined with genius, constitutes the leader of a horde of savages, or the +ruler of a people, boasting the power of discrimination and the resistance +of ambition, he was certainly surpassed by some of his successors, +who afterwards lived among us. His countenance was thoughtful, but not +animated: his fidelity and gratitude, particularly to his friend the +governor, were constant and undeviating, and deserve to be recorded. +Although of a gentle and placable temper, we early discovered that he was +impatient of indignity, and allowed of no superiority on our part. He knew +that he was in our power; but the independence of his mind never forsook +him. If the slightest insult were offered to him, he would return it with +interest. At retaliation of merriment he was often happy; and frequently +turned the laugh against his antagonist. He did not want docility; +but either from the difficulty of acquiring our language, from the +unskillfulness of his teachers, or from some natural defect, his progress +in learning it was not equal to what we had expected. For the last three +or four weeks of his life, hardly any restraint was laid upon his +inclinations: so that had he meditated escape, he might easily have +effected it. He was, perhaps, the only native who was ever attached to us +from choice; and who did not prefer a precarious subsistence among wilds +and precipices, to the comforts of a civilized system. + +By his death, the scheme which had invited his capture was utterly +defeated. Of five natives who had been brought among us, three had perished +from a cause which, though unavoidable, it was impossible to explain to a +people, who would condescend to enter into no intercourse with us. The same +suspicious dread of our approach, and the same scenes of vengeance acted on +unfortunate stragglers, continued to prevail. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + + +Transactions of the Colony until the Close of the Year 1789. + + +The anniversary of his majesty's birth-day was celebrated, as heretofore, +at the government-house, with loyal festivity. In the evening, the play of +'The Recruiting Officer' was performed by a party of convicts, and honoured +by the presence of his excellency, and the officers of the garrison. +That every opportunity of escape from the dreariness and dejection of +our situation should be eagerly embraced, will not be wondered at. The +exhilarating effect of a splendid theatre is well known: and I am not +ashamed to confess, that the proper distribution of three or four yards of +stained paper, and a dozen farthing candles stuck around the mud walls of a +convict-hut, failed not to diffuse general complacency on the countenances +of sixty persons, of various descriptions, who were assembled to applaud +the representation. Some of the actors acquitted themselves with great +spirit, and received the praises of the audience: a prologue and an +epilogue, written by one of the performers, were also spoken on the +occasion; which, although not worth inserting here, contained some +tolerable allusions to the situation of the parties, and the novelty of a +stage-representation in New South Wales. + +Broken Bay, which was supposed to be completely explored, became again an +object of research. On the sixth instant, the governor, accompanied by a +large party in two boats, proceeded thither. Here they again wandered over +piles of mis-shapen desolation, contemplating scenes of wild solitude, +whose unvarying appearance renders them incapable of affording either +novelty or gratification. But when they had given over the hope of +farther discovery, by pursuing the windings of an inlet, which, from +its appearance, was supposed to be a short creek, they suddenly found +themselves at the entrance of a fresh water river, up which they proceeded +twenty miles, in a westerly direction; and would have farther prosecuted +their research, had not a failure of provisions obliged them to return. +This river they described to be of considerable breadth, and of great +depth; but its banks had hitherto presented nothing better than a +counterpart of the rocks and precipices which surround Broken Bay. + +June, 1789. A second expedition, to ascertain its course, was undertaken +by his excellency, who now penetrated (measuring by the bed of the river) +between 60 and 70 miles, when the farther progress of the boats was stopped +by a fall. The water in every part was found to be fresh and good. Of the +adjoining country, the opinions of those who had inspected it (of which +number I was not) were so various, that I shall decline to record them. +Some saw a rich and beautiful country; and others were so unfortunate as to +discover little else than large tracts of low land, covered with reeds, and +rank with the inundations of the stream, by which they had been recently +covered. All parties, however, agreed, that the rocky, impenetrable +country, seen on the first excursion, had ended nearly about the place +whence the boats had then turned back. Close to the fall stands a very +beautiful hill, which our adventurers mounted, and enjoyed from it an +extensive prospect. Potatoes, maize, and garden seeds of various kinds +were put into the earth, by the governor's order, on different parts +of Richmond-hill, which was announced to be its name. The latitude of +Richmond-hill, as observed by captain Hunter, was settled at 33 degrees 36 +minutes south. + +Here also the river received the name of Hawkesbury, in honour of the noble +lord who bears that title. + +Natives were found on the banks in several parts, many of whom were +labouring under the smallpox. They did not attempt to commit hostilities +against the boats; but on the contrary shewed every sign of welcome and +friendship to the strangers. + +At this period, I was unluckily invested with the command of the outpost at +Rose Hill, which prevented me from being in the list of discoverers of +the Hawkesbury. Stimulated, however, by a desire of acquiring a further +knowledge of the country, on the 26th instant, accompanied by Mr. Arndell, +assistant surgeon of the settlement, Mr. Lowes, surgeon's mate of the +'Sirius', two marines, and a convict, I left the redoubt at day-break, +pointing our march to a hill, distant five miles, in a westerly or inland +direction, which commands a view of the great chain of mountains, called +Carmarthen hills, extending from north to south farther than the eye can +reach. Here we paused, surveying "the wild abyss; pondering our voyage." +Before us lay the trackless immeasurable desert, in awful silence. At +length, after consultation, we determined to steer west and by north, by +compass, the make of the land in that quarter indicating the existence of a +river. We continued to march all day through a country untrodden before by +an European foot. Save that a melancholy crow now and then flew croaking +over head, or a kangaroo was seen to bound at a distance, the picture of +solitude was complete and undisturbed. At four o'clock in the afternoon we +halted near a small pond of water, where we took up our residence for the +night, lighted a fire, and prepared to cook our supper: that was, to broil +over a couple of ramrods a few slices of salt pork, and a crow which we had +shot. + +At daylight we renewed our peregrination; and in an hour after we found +ourselves on the banks of a river, nearly as broad as the Thames at +Putney, and apparently of great depth, the current running very slowly in a +northerly direction. Vast flocks of wild ducks were swimming in the stream; +but after being once fired at, they grew so shy that we could not get near +them a second time. Nothing is more certain than that the sound of a gun +had never before been heard within many miles of this spot. + +We proceeded upwards, by a slow pace, through reeds, thickets, and a +thousand other obstacles, which impeded our progress, over coarse sandy +ground, which had been recently inundated, though full forty feet above the +present level of the river. Traces of the natives appeared at every step, +sometimes in their hunting-huts, which consist of nothing more than a +large piece of bark, bent in the middle, and open at both ends, exactly +resembling two cards, set up to form an acute angle; sometimes in marks on +trees which they had climbed; or in squirrel-traps*; or, which surprised us +more, from being new, in decoys for the purpose of ensnaring birds. These +are formed of underwood and reeds, long and narrow, shaped like a mound +raised over a grave; with a small aperture at one end for admission of +the prey; and a grate made of sticks at the other: the bird enters at the +aperture, seeing before him the light of the grate, between the bars of +which, he vainly endeavours to thrust himself, until taken. Most of these +decoys were full of feathers, chiefly those of quails, which shewed their +utility. We also met with two old damaged canoes hauled up on the beach, +which differed in no wise from those found on the sea coast. + +[*A squirrel-trap is a cavity of considerable depth, formed by art, in the +body of a tree. When the Indians in their hunting parties set fire to +the surrounding country (which is a very common custom) the squirrels, +opossums, and other animals, who live in trees, flee for refuge into these +holes, whence they are easily dislodged and taken. The natives always pitch +on a part of a tree for this purpose, which has been perforated by a worm, +which indicates that the wood is in an unsound state, and will readily +yield to their efforts. If the rudeness and imperfection of the tools with +which they work be considered, it must be confessed to be an operation of +great toil and difficulty.] + + +Having remained out three days, we returned to our quarters at Rose-hill, +with the pleasing intelligence of our discovery. The country we had passed +through we found tolerably plain, and little encumbered with underwood, +except near the river side. It is entirely covered with the same sorts of +trees as grow near Sydney; and in some places grass springs up luxuriantly; +other places are quite bare of it. The soil is various: in many parts a +stiff and clay, covered with small pebbles; in other places, of a soft +loamy nature: but invariably, in every part near the river, it is a coarse +sterile sand. Our observations on it (particularly mine, from carrying +the compass by which we steered) were not so numerous as might have been +wished. But, certainly, if the qualities of it be such as to deserve future +cultivation, no impediment of surface, but that of cutting down and burning +the trees, exists, to prevent its being tilled. + +To this river the governor gave the name of Nepean. The distance of the +part of the river which we first hit upon from the sea coast, is about 39 +miles, in a direct line almost due west. + +A survey of Botany Bay took place in September. I was of the party, with +several others officers. We continued nine days in the bay, during which +time, the relative position of every part of it, to the extent of more than +thirty miles, following the windings of the shore, was ascertained, and +laid down on paper, by captain Hunter. + +So complete an opportunity of forming a judgment, enables me to speak +decisively of a place, which has often engaged conversation and excited +reflection. Variety of opinions here disappeared. I shall, therefore, +transcribe literally what I wrote in my journal, on my return from the +expedition. "We were unanimously of opinion, that had not the nautical part +of Mr. Cook's description, in which we include the latitude and longitude +of the bay, been so accurately laid down, there would exist the utmost +reason to believe, that those who have described the contiguous country, +had never seen it. On the sides of the harbour, a line of sea coast +more than thirty miles long, we did not find 200 acres which could be +cultivated." + +September, 1789. But all our attention was not directed to explore inlets, +and toll for discovery. Our internal tranquillity was still more important. +To repress the inroads of depredation; and to secure to honest industry the +reward of its labour, had become matter of the most serious consideration; +hardly a night passing without the commission of robbery. Many expedients +were devised; and the governor at length determined to select from the +convicts, a certain number of persons, who were meant to be of the fairest +character, for the purpose of being formed into a nightly-watch, for +the preservation of public and private property, under the following +regulations, which, as the first system of police in a colony, so +peculiarly constituted as ours, may perhaps prove not uninteresting. + + +I. A night-watch, consisting of 12 persons, divided into four parties, is +appointed, and fully authorized to patrol at all hours in the night; and +to visit such places as may be deemed necessary, for the discovery of any +felony, trespass, or misdemeanor; and for the apprehending and securing +for examination, any person or persons who may appear to them concerned +therein, either by entrance into any suspected hut or dwelling, or by such +other measure as may seem to them expedient. + +II. Those parts in which the convicts reside are to be divided and +numbered, in the following manner. The convict huts on the eastern side of +the stream, and the public farm, are to be the first division. Those at +the brick-kilns, and the detached parties in the different private farms in +that district, are to be the second division. Those on the western side of +the stream, as far as the line which separates the district of the women +from the men, to be the third division. The huts occupied from that line to +the hospital, and from there to the observatory, to be the fourth division. + +III. Each of these districts or divisions is to be under the particular +inspection of one person, who may be judged qualified to inform himself of +the actual residence of each individual in his district; as well as of his +business, connections, and acquaintances. + +IV. Cognizance is to be taken of such convicts as may sell or barter their +slops or provisions; and also of such as are addicted to gaming for either +of the aforesaid articles, who are to be reported to the judge advocate. + +V. Any soldier or seaman found straggling after the beating of the tattoo; +or who may be found in a convict's hut, is to be detained; and information +of him immediately given to the nearest guard. + +VI. Any person who may be robbed during the night, is to give immediate +information thereof to the watch of his district, who, on the instant of +application being made, shall use the most effectual means to trace out +the offender, or offenders, so that he, she, or they, may be brought to +justice. + +VII. The watch of each district is to be under the direction of one person, +who will be named for that purpose. All the patrols are placed under the +immediate inspection of Herbert Keeling. They are never to receive any +fee, gratuity, or reward, from any individual whatever, to engage their +exertions in the execution of the above trust. Nor will they receive any +stipulated encouragement for the conviction of any offender. But their +diligence and good behaviour will be rewarded by the governor. And for this +purpose their conduct will be strictly attended to, by those who are placed +in authority over them. + +VIII. The night-watch is to go out as soon as the tattoo ceases beating: to +return to their huts when the working drum beats in the morning: and are +to make their report to the judge advocate, through Herbert Keeling, of all +robberies and misdemeanors which may have been committed. Any assistance +the patrols may require, will be given to them, on applying to the officer +commanding the nearest guard; and by the civil power, if necessary; for +which last, application is to be made to the provost martial. + +IX. Any negligence on the part of those who shall be employed on this duty, +will be punished with the utmost rigour of the law. + +X. The night-watch is to consist of 12 persons. + + +Every political code, either from a defect of its constitution, or from the +corruptness of those who are entrusted to execute it, will be found less +perfect in practice than speculation had promised itself. It were, however, +prejudice to deny, that for some time following the institution of this +patrol, nightly depredations became less frequent and alarming: the petty +villains, at least, were restrained by it. And to keep even a garden +unravaged was now become a subject of the deepest concern. + +For in October our weekly allowance of provisions, which had hitherto been +eight pounds of flour, five pounds of salt pork, three pints of pease, six +ounces of butter, was reduced to five pounds five ounces of flour, three +pounds five ounces of pork, and two pints of pease. + +In order to lessen the consumption from the public stores, the 'Supply' was +ordered to touch at Lord Howe Island, in her way from Norfolk Island, to +try if turtle could be procured, for the purpose of being publicly served +in lieu of salt provisions. But she brought back only three turtles, which +were distributed in the garrison. + +December, 1789. At the request of his excellency, lieutenant Dawes of the +marines, accompanied by lieutenant Johnston and Mr. Lowes, about this +time undertook the attempt to cross the Nepean river, and to penetrate to +Carmarthen mountains. Having discovered a ford in the river, they passed +it, and proceeded in a westerly direction. But they found the country so +rugged, and the difficulty of walking so excessive, that in three days they +were able to penetrate only fifteen miles, and were therefore obliged to +relinquish their object. This party, at the time they turned back, were +farther inland than any other persons ever were before or since, being +fifty-four miles in a direct line from the sea coast when on the summit +of mount Twiss, a hill so named by them, and which bounded their +peregrination. + +Intercourse with the natives, for the purpose of knowing whether or not the +country possessed any resources, by which life might be prolonged*, as +well as on other accounts, becoming every day more desirable, the governor +resolved to make prisoners of two more of them. + +[*One of the convicts, a negro, had twice eloped, with an intention of +establishing himself in the society of the natives, with a wish to adopt +their customs and to live with them: but he was always repulsed by them; +and compelled to return to us from hunger and wretchedness.] + + +Boats properly provided, under the command of lieutenant Bradley of the +'Sirius', were accordingly dispatched on this service; and completely +succeeded in trepanning and carrying off, without opposition, two fine +young men, who were safely landed among us at Sydney. + +Nanbaree and Abaroo welcomed them on shore; calling them immediately by +their names, Baneelon (Bennelong), and Colbee. But they seemed little +disposed to receive the congratulations, or repose confidence in the +assurances of their friends. The same scenes of awkward wonder and +impatient constraint, which had attended the introduction of Arabanoo, +succeeded. Baneelon we judged to be about twenty-six years old, of good +stature, and stoutly made, with a bold intrepid countenance, which bespoke +defiance and revenge. Colbee was perhaps near thirty, of a less sullen +aspect than his comrade, considerably shorter, and not so robustly framed, +though better fitted for purposes of activity. They had both evidently +had the smallpox; indeed Colbee's face was very thickly imprinted with the +marks of it. + +Positive orders were issued by the governor to treat them indulgently, and +guard them strictly; notwithstanding which Colbee contrived to effect his +escape in about a week, with a small iron ring round his leg. Had those +appointed to watch them been a moment later, his companion would have +contrived to accompany him. + +But Baneelon, though haughty, knew how to temporize. He quickly threw +off all reserve; and pretended, nay, at particular moments, perhaps felt +satisfaction in his new state. Unlike poor Arabanoo, he became at once fond +of our viands, and would drink the strongest liquors, not simply without +reluctance, but with eager marks of delight and enjoyment. He was the only +native we ever knew who immediately shewed a fondness for spirits: Colbee +would not at first touch them. Nor was the effect of wine or brandy upon +him more perceptible than an equal quantity would have produced upon one of +us, although fermented liquor was new to him. + +In his eating, he was alike compliant. When a turtle was shown to Arabanoo, +he would not allow it to be a fish, and could not be induced to eat of it. +Baneelon also denied it to be a fish; but no common councilman in Europe +could do more justice than he did to a very fine one, that the 'Supply' had +brought from Lord Howe Island, and which was served up at the governor's +table on Christmas Day. + +His powers of mind were certainly far above mediocrity. He acquired +knowledge, both of our manners and language, faster than his predecessor +had done. He willingly communicated information; sang, danced, and capered, +told us all the customs of his country, and all the details of his family +economy. Love and war seemed his favourite pursuits; in both of which he +had suffered severely. His head was disfigured by several scars; a spear +had passed through his arm, and another through his leg. Half of one of his +thumbs was carried away; and the mark of a wound appeared on the back of +his hand. The cause and attendant circumstances of all these disasters, +except one, he related to us. + +"But the wound on the back of your hand, Baneelon! How did you get that?" + +He laughed, and owned that it was received in carrying off a lady of +another tribe by force. "I was dragging her away. She cried aloud, and +stuck her teeth in me." + +"And what did you do then?" + +"I knocked her down, and beat her till she was insensible, and covered with +blood. Then..." + +Whenever he recounted his battles, "poised his lance, and showed how fields +were won", the most violent exclamations of rage and vengeance against his +competitors in arms, those of the tribe called Cameeragal in particular, +would burst from him. And he never failed at such times to solicit the +governor to accompany him, with a body of soldiers, in order that he might +exterminate this hated name. + +Although I call him only Baneelon, he had besides several appellations, and +for a while he chose to be distinguished by that of Wolarawaree. Again, as +a mark of affection and respect to the governor, he conferred on him the +name of Wolarawaree, and sometimes called him 'Beenena' (father), adopting +to himself the name of governor. This interchange we found is a constant +symbol of friendship among them*. In a word, his temper seemed pliant, and +his relish of our society so great, that hardly any one judged he would +attempt to quit us, were the means of escape put within his reach. +Nevertheless it was thought proper to continue a watch over him. + +[*It is observable that this custom prevails as a pledge of friendship +and kindness all over Asia, and has also been mentioned by Captain Cook to +exist among the natives in the South Sea Islands.] + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + + +Transactions of the Colony, from the Beginning of the Year 1790 until the +End of May following. + + +Our impatience of news from Europe strongly marked the commencement of the +year. We had now been two years in the country, and thirty-two months from +England, in which long period no supplies, except what had been procured at +the Cape of Good Hope by the 'Sirius', had reached us. From intelligence of +our friends and connections we had been entirely cut off, no communication +whatever having passed with our native country since the 13th of May 1787, +the day of our departure from Portsmouth. Famine besides was approaching +with gigantic strides, and gloom and dejection overspread every +countenance. Men abandoned themselves to the most desponding reflections, +and adopted the most extravagant conjectures. + +Still we were on the tiptoe of expectation. If thunder broke at a distance, +or a fowling-piece of louder than ordinary report resounded in the woods, +"a gun from a ship" was echoed on every side, and nothing but hurry +and agitation prevailed. For eighteen months after we had landed in the +country, a party of marines used to go weekly to Botany Bay, to see whether +any vessel, ignorant of our removal to Port Jackson, might be arrived +there. But a better plan was now devised, on the suggestion of captain +Hunter. A party of seamen were fixed on a high bluff, called the +South-head, at the entrance of the harbour, on which a flag was ordered to +be hoisted, whenever a ship might appear, which should serve as a direction +to her, and as a signal of approach to us. Every officer stepped forward +to volunteer a service which promised to be so replete with beneficial +consequences. But the zeal and alacrity of captain Hunter, and our brethren +of the 'Sirius', rendered superfluous all assistance or co-operation. + +Here on the summit of the hill, every morning from daylight until the sun +sunk, did we sweep the horizon, in hope of seeing a sail. At every fleeting +speck which arose from the bosom of the sea, the heart bounded, and the +telescope was lifted to the eye. If a ship appeared here, we knew she must +be bound to us; for on the shores of this vast ocean (the largest in the +world) we were the only community which possessed the art of navigation, +and languished for intercourse with civilized society. + +To say that we were disappointed and shocked, would very inadequately +describe our sensations. But the misery and horror of such a situation +cannot be imparted, even by those who have suffered under it. + +March, 1790. Vigorous measures were become indispensable. The governor +therefore, early in February, ordered the 'Sirius' to prepare for a voyage +to China; and a farther retrenchment of our ration, we were given to +understand, would take place on her sailing. + +But the 'Sirius' was destined not to reach China. Previously to her +intended departure on that voyage, she was ordered, in concert with the +'Supply', to convey Major Ross, with a large detachment of marines, and +more than two hundred convicts, to Norfolk Island, it being hoped that +such a division of our numbers would increase the means of subsistence, by +diversified exertions. She sailed on the 6th of March. And on the 27th of +the same month, the following order was issued from headquarters. + + +Parole--Honour. + +Counter sign--Example. + +The expected supply of provisions not having arrived, makes it necessary +to reduce the present ration. And the commissary is directed to issue, from +the 1st of April, the under-mentioned allowance, to every person in the +settlement without distinction. + +Four pounds of flour, two pounds and a half of salt pork, and one pound and +a half of rice, per week. + + +On the 5th of April news was brought, that the flag on the South-head was +hoisted. Less emotion was created by the news than might be expected. Every +one coldly said to his neighbour, "the 'Sirius' and 'Supply' are returned +from Norfolk Island." To satisfy myself that the flag was really flying, I +went to the observatory, and looked for it through the large astronomical +telescope, when I plainly saw it. But I was immediately convinced that +it was not to announce the arrival of ships from England; for I could see +nobody near the flagstaff except one solitary being, who kept strolling +around, unmoved by what he saw. I well knew how different an effect the +sight of strange ships would produce. + +April, 1790. The governor, however, determined to go down the harbour, and +I begged permission to accompany him. Having turned a point about half way +down, we were surprised to see a boat, which was known to belong to the +'Supply', rowing towards us. On nearer approach, I saw captain Ball make +an extraordinary motion with his hand, which too plainly indicated that +something disastrous had happened; and I could not help turning to the +governor, near whom I sat, and saying, "Sir, prepare yourself for bad +news." A few minutes changed doubt into certainty; and to our unspeakable +consternation we learned, that the 'Sirius' had been wrecked on Norfolk +Island, on the 19th of February. Happily, however, Captain Hunter, and +every other person belonging to her, were saved. + +Dismay was painted on every countenance, when the tidings were proclaimed +at Sydney. The most distracting apprehensions were entertained All hopes +were now concentred in the little 'Supply'. + +At six o'clock in the evening, all the officers of the garrison, both +civil and military, were summoned to meet the governor in council, when +the nature of our situation was fully discussed and an account of +the provisions yet remaining in store laid before the council by the +commissary. This account stated, that on the present ration* the public +stores contained salt meat sufficient to serve until the 2nd of July, flour +until the 20th of August, and rice, or pease in lieu of it, until the 1st +of October. + +[*See the ration of the 27th of March, a few pages back.] + +Several regulations for the more effectual preservation of gardens, +and other private property, were proposed, and adopted and after some +interchange of opinion, the following ration was decreed to commence +immediately, a vigorous exertion to prolong existence, or the chance of +relief, being all now left to us. + + Two pounds of pork, two pounds and a half of flour, + two pounds of rice, or a quart of pease, per week, + to every grown person, and to every child of more + than eighteen months old. + + To every child under eighteen months old, the same + quantity of rice and flour, and one pound of pork.** + +[**When the age of this provision is recollected, its inadequacy will more +strikingly appear. The pork and rice were brought with us from England. The +pork had been salted between three and four years, and every grain of rice +was a moving body, from the inhabitants lodged within it. We soon left off +boiling the pork, as it had become so old and dry, that it shrunk one half +in its dimensions when so dressed. Our usual method of cooking it was to +cut off the daily morsel, and toast it on a fork before the fire, catching +the drops which fell on a slice of bread, or in a saucer of rice. Our flour +was the remnant of what was brought from the Cape, by the 'Sirius', and was +good. Instead of baking it, the soldiers and convicts used to boil it up +with greens.] + +The immediate departure of the 'Supply', for Batavia, was also determined. + +Nor did our zeal stop here. The governor being resolved to employ all +the boats, public and private, in procuring fish--which was intended to +be served in lieu of salt meat--all the officers, civil and military, +including the clergyman, and the surgeons of the hospital, made the +voluntary offer, in addition to their other duties, to go alternately every +night in these boats, in order to see that every exertion was made, and +that all the fish which might be caught was deposited with the commissary. + +The best marksmen of the marines and convicts were also selected, and put +under the command of a trusty sergeant, with directions to range the +woods in search of kangaroos, which were ordered, when brought in, to be +delivered to the commissary. + +And as it was judged that the inevitable fatigues of shooting and fishing +could not be supported on the common ration, a small additional quantity +of flour and pork was appropriated to the use of the game-keepers; and each +fisherman, who had been out during the preceding night had, on his return +in the morning, a pound of uncleaned fish allowed for his breakfast. + +On the 17th instant, the 'Supply', captain Ball, sailed for Batavia. We +followed her with anxious eyes until she was no longer visible. Truly did +we say to her "In te omnis domus inclinata recumbit." We were, however, +consoled by reflecting, that every thing which zeal, fortitude, and +seamanship, could produce, was concentred in her commander. + +Our bosoms consequently became less perturbed; and all our labour and +attention were turned on one object--the procuring of food. "Pride, pomp, +and circumstance of glorious war" were no more. + +The distress of the lower classes for clothes was almost equal to their +other wants. The stores had been long exhausted, and winter was at +hand. Nothing more ludicrous can be conceived than the expedients of +substituting, shifting, and patching, which ingenuity devised, to eke out +wretchedness, and preserve the remains of decency. The superior dexterity +of the women was particularly conspicuous. Many a guard have I seen mount, +in which the number of soldiers without shoes exceeded that which had yet +preserved remnants of leather. + +Nor was another part of our domestic economy less whimsical. If a lucky +man, who had knocked down a dinner with his gun, or caught a fish +by angling from the rocks, invited a neighbour to dine with him, the +invitation always ran, "bring your own bread." Even at the governor's +table, this custom was constantly observed. Every man when he sat down +pulled his bread out of his pocket, and laid it by his plate. + +The insufficiency of our ration soon diminished our execution of labour. +Both soldiers and convicts pleaded such loss of strength, as to find +themselves unable to perform their accustomed tasks. The hours of public +work were accordingly shortened or, rather, every man was ordered to do as +much as his strength would permit, and every other possible indulgence was +granted. + +May, 1790. In proportion, however, as lenity and mitigation were extended +to inability and helplessness, inasmuch was the most rigorous justice +executed on disturbers of the public tranquillity. Persons detected in +robbing gardens, or pilfering provisions, were never screened because, as +every man could possess, by his utmost exertions, but a bare sufficiency to +preserve life*, he who deprived his neighbour of that little, drove him +to desperation. No new laws for the punishment of theft were enacted; +but persons of all descriptions were publicly warned, that the severest +penalties, which the existing law in its greatest latitude would authorise, +should be inflicted on offenders. The following sentence of a court +of justice, of which I was a member, on a convict detected in a garden +stealing potatoes, will illustrate the subject. He was ordered to receive +three hundred lashes immediately, to be chained for six months to two other +criminals, who were thus fettered for former offences, and to have his +allowance of flour stopped for six months. So that during the operation of +the sentence, two pounds of pork, and two pounds of rice (or in lieu of the +latter, a quart of pease) per week, constituted his whole subsistence. Such +was the melancholy length to which we were compelled to stretch our penal +system. + +[*Its preservation in some cases was found impracticable. Three or four +instances of persons who perished from want have been related to me. One +only, however, fell within my own observation. I was passing the provision +store, when a man, with a wild haggard countenance, who had just received +his daily pittance to carry home, came out. His faltering gait, and eager +devouring eye, led me to watch him, and he had not proceeded ten steps +before he fell. I ordered him to be carried to the hospital, where, when +he arrived, he was found dead. On opening the body, the cause of death was +pronounced to be inanition.] + +Farther to contribute to the detection of villainy, a proclamation, +offering a reward of sixty pounds of flour, more tempting than the ore of +Peru or Potosi, was promised to any one who should apprehend, and bring to +justice, a robber of garden ground. + +Our friend Baneelon, during this season of scarcity, was as well taken care +of as our desperate circumstances would allow. We knew not how to keep +him, and yet were unwilling to part with him. Had he penetrated our state, +perhaps he might have given his countrymen such a description of our +diminished numbers, and diminished strength, as would have emboldened +them to become more troublesome. Every expedient was used to keep him in +ignorance. His allowance was regularly received by the governor's servant, +like that of any other person, but the ration of a week was insufficient +to have kept him for a day. The deficiency was supplied by fish whenever +it could be procured, and a little Indian corn, which had been reserved +was ground and appropriated to his use. In spite of all these aids, want of +food has been known to make him furious and often melancholy. + +There is reason to believe that he had long meditated his escape, which he +effected in the night of the 3rd instant. About two o'clock in the morning, +he pretended illness, and awaking the servant who lay in the room with him, +begged to go down stairs. The other attended him without suspicion of his +design; and Baneelon no sooner found himself in a backyard, than he nimbly +leaped over a slight paling, and bade us adieu. + +The following public order was issued within the date of this chapter, and +is too pleasing a proof that universal depravity did not prevail among the +convicts, to be omitted. + + +The governor, in consequence of the unremitted good behaviour and +meritorious conduct of John Irving, is pleased to remit the remainder of +the term for which he was sentenced to transportation. He is therefore to +be considered as restored to all those rights and privileges, which had +been suspended in consequence of the sentence of the law. And as such, +he is hereby appointed to act as an assistant to the surgeon at Norfolk +Island. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + + +Transactions of the Colony in June, July, and August, 1790. + + +At length the clouds of misfortune began to separate, and on the evening +of the 3rd of June, the joyful cry of "the flag's up" resounded in every +direction. + +I was sitting in my hut, musing on our fate, when a confused clamour in +the street drew my attention. I opened my door, and saw several women +with children in their arms running to and fro with distracted looks, +congratulating each other, and kissing their infants with the most +passionate and extravagant marks of fondness. I needed no more; but +instantly started out, and ran to a hill, where, by the assistance of +a pocket glass, my hopes were realized. My next door neighbour, a +brother-officer, was with me, but we could not speak. We wrung each other +by the hand, with eyes and hearts overflowing. + +Finding that the governor intended to go immediately in his boat down the +harbour, I begged to be of his party. + +As we proceeded, the object of our hopes soon appeared: a large ship, +with English colours flying, working in, between the heads which form the +entrance of the harbour. The tumultuous state of our minds represented +her in danger; and we were in agony. Soon after, the governor, having +ascertained what she was, left us, and stepped into a fishing boat to +return to Sydney. The weather was wet and tempestuous but the body is +delicate only when the soul is at ease. We pushed through wind and rain, +the anxiety of our sensations every moment redoubling. At last we read the +word 'London' on her stern. "Pull away, my lads! She is from Old England! A +few strokes more, and we shall be aboard! Hurrah for a bellyfull, and news +from our friends!" Such were our exhortations to the boat's crew. + +A few minutes completed our wishes, and we found ourselves on board +the 'Lady Juliana' transport, with two hundred and twenty-five of our +countrywomen whom crime or misfortune had condemned to exile. We learned +that they had been almost eleven months on their passage, having left +Plymouth, into which port they had put in July, 1789. We continued to ask +a thousand questions on a breath. Stimulated by curiosity, they inquired in +turn; but the right of being first answered, we thought, lay on our side. +"Letters, letters!" was the cry. They were produced, and torn open in +trembling agitation. News burst upon us like meridian splendor on a blind +man. We were overwhelmed with it: public, private, general, and particular. +Nor was it until some days had elapsed, that we were able to methodise it, +or reduce it into form. We now heard for the first time of our sovereign's +illness, and his happy restoration to health. The French revolution of +1789, with all the attendant circumstances of that wonderful and unexpected +event, succeeded to amaze us*. Now, too, the disaster which had befallen +the 'Guardian', and the liberal and enlarged plan on which she had been +stored and fitted out by government for our use, was promulged. It served +also, in some measure, to account why we had not sooner heard from England. +For had not the 'Guardian' struck on an island of ice, she would probably +have reached us three months before, and in this case have prevented the +loss of the 'Sirius', although she had sailed from England three months +after the 'Lady Juliana'. + +[*These words bring to my mind an anecdote, which, though rather out of +place, I shall offer no apology for introducing. Among other inquiries, we +were anxious to learn whether M. de la Peyrouse, with the two ships under +his command, bound on a voyage of discovery, had arrived in France. We +heard with concern, that no accounts of them had been received, since they +had left Botany Bay, in March, 1788. I remember when they were at that +place, one day conversing with Monsieur de la Peyrouse, about the best +method of treating savage people, "Sir," said he, "I have sometimes been +compelled to commit hostilities upon them, but never without suffering the +most poignant regret; for, independent of my own feelings on the occasion, +his Majesty's (Louis XVI) last words to me, de sa propre bouche, when I +took leave of him at Versailles, were: 'It is my express injunction, that +you always treat the Indian nations with kindness and humanity. Gratify +their wishes, and never, but in a case of the last necessity, when +self-defence requires it, shed human blood.' Are these the sentiments of a +tyrant, of a sanguinary and perfidious man?" + +A general thanksgiving to Almighty God, for his Majesty's recovery, and +happy restoration to his family and subjects, was ordered to be offered up +on the following Wednesday, when all public labour was suspended; and every +person in the settlement attended at church, where a sermon, suited to an +occasion, at once so full of gratitude and solemnity, was preached by the +Reverend Richard Johnson, chaplain of the colony. + +All the officers were afterwards entertained at dinner by the governor. And +in the evening, an address to his excellency, expressive of congratulation +and loyalty, was agreed upon; and in two days after was presented, and very +graciously received. + +The following invitation to the non-commissioned officers and private +soldiers of the marine battalion, was also about this time published. + + +In consequence of the assurance that was given to the non-commissioned +officers and men belonging to the battalion of marines, on their embarking +for the service of this country, that such of them as should behave well, +would be allowed to quit the service, on their return to England; or be +discharged abroad, upon the relief taking place, and permitted to settle +in the country--His Majesty has been graciously pleased to direct the +following encouragement to be held up to such non-commissioned officers and +privates, as may be disposed to become settlers in this country, or in +any of the islands comprised within the government of the continent of +New South Wales, on the arrival of the corps raised and intended for the +service of this colony, and for their relief, viz: + +To every non-commissioned officer, an allotment of one hundred and thirty +acres of land, if single, and of one hundred and fifty acres, if married. +To every private soldier, an allotment of eighty acres, if single, and of +one hundred acres if married; and also an allotment of ten acres for every +child, whether of a non-commissioned officer, or of a private soldier. +These allotments will be free of all fines, taxes, quit-rents, and other +acknowledgments, for the space of ten years; but after the expiration of +that period, will be subject to an annual quit-rent of one shilling for +every fifty acres. + +His Majesty has likewise been farther pleased to signify his royal will and +pleasure, that a bounty of three pounds be offered to each non-commissioned +officer and soldier, who may be disposed to continue in this country, and +enlist in the corps appointed for the service of New South Wales; with a +farther assurance, that in case of a proper demeanour on their part, they +shall, after a farther service of five years, be entitled to double the +former portion of land, provided they then choose to become settlers in the +country, free of all taxes, fines, and quit-rents, for the space of fifteen +years; but after that time, to be subject to the beforementioned annual +quit-rent of one shilling for every fifty acres. + +And as a farther encouragement to those men who may be desirous to become +settlers, and continue in the country, his Majesty has been likewise +pleased to direct, that every man shall, on being discharged, receive out +of the public store, a portion of clothing and provisions, sufficient +for his support for one year; together with a suitable quantity of seeds, +grain, etc. for the tillage of the land; and a portion of tools and +implements of agriculture, proper for their use. And whenever any man, +who may become a settler, can maintain, feed, and clothe, such number of +convicts as may be judged necessary by the governor, for the time being, +to assist him in clearing and cultivating the land, the service of such +convicts shall be assigned to him. + + +We were joyfully surprised on the 20th of the month to see another sail +enter the harbour. She proved to be the Justinian transport, commanded by +Captain Maitland, and our rapture was doubled on finding that she was +laden entirely with provisions for our use. Full allowance, and general +congratulation, immediately took place. This ship had left Falmouth on +the preceding 20th of January, and completed her passage exactly in five +months*. She had staid at Madeira one day, and four at Sao Tiago, from +which last place she had steered directly for New South Wales, neglecting +Rio de Janeiro on her right, and the Cape of Good Hope on her left; and +notwithstanding the immense tract of ocean she had passed, brought her crew +without sickness into harbour. When the novelty and boldness of such an +attempt shall be recollected, too much praise, on the spirit and activity +of Mr. Maitland, cannot be bestowed. + +[*Accident only prevented her from making it in eighteen days less, for she +was then in sight of the harbour's mouth, when an unpropitious gale of wind +blew her off. Otherwise she would have reached us one day sooner than the +'Lady Juliana'. It is a curious circumstance, that these two ships had +sailed together from the river Thames, one bound to Port Jackson, and +the other bound to Jamaica. The Justinian carried her cargo to the last +mentioned place, landed it; and loaded afresh with sugars, which she +returned with, and delivered in London. She was then hired as a transport, +reladen, and sailed for New South Wales. Let it be remembered, that no +material accident had happened to either vessel. But what will not zeal and +diligence accomplish!] + +Good fortune continued to befriend us. Before the end of the month, three +more transports, having on board two companies of the New South Wales +corps, arrived to add to our society. These ships also brought out a large +body of convicts, whose state and sufferings will be best estimated by the +following return. + + Names of No. of people No. of persons who died No. landed sick + Ships embarked on the passage at Port Jackson + + ----------------------------------------------------------------- + Neptune 530 163 269 + + Surprise 252 42 121 + + Scarborough 256 68 96 + + ----------------------------------------------------------------- + 1038 273 486 + + ----------------------------------------------------------------- + +N.B. Of those landed sick, one hundred and twenty-four died in the hospital +at Sydney. + + +On our passage from England, which had lasted more than eight months and +with nearly an equal number of persons, only twenty-four had died, and +not thirty were landed sick. The difference can be accounted for, only by +comparing the manner in which each fleet was fitted out and conducted. With +us the provisions, served on board, were laid in by a contractor, who sent +a deputy to serve them out; and it became a part of duty for the officers +of the troops to inspect their quality, and to order that every one +received his just proportion. Whereas, in the fleet now arrived, the +distribution of provisions rested entirely with the masters of the +merchantmen, and the officers were expressly forbidden to interfere in any +shape farther about the convicts than to prevent their escape. + +Seventeen pounds, in full of all expense, was the sum paid by the public +for the passage of each person. And this sum was certainly competent to +afford fair profit to the merchant who contracted. But there is reason +to believe, that some of those who were employed to act for him, violated +every principle of justice, and rioted on the spoils of misery, for want of +a controlling power to check their enormities. No doubt can be entertained, +that a humane and liberal government will interpose its authority, to +prevent the repetition of such flagitious conduct. + +Although the convicts had landed from these ships with every mark of +meagre misery, yet it was soon seen, that a want of room, in which more +conveniences might have been stowed for their use, had not caused it. +Several of the masters of the transports immediately opened stores, +and exposed large quantities of goods to sale, which, though at most +extortionate prices, were eagerly bought up. + +Such was the weakly state of the new corners, that for several weeks little +real benefit to the colony was derived from so great a nominal addition to +our number. However, as fast as they recovered, employment was immediately +assigned to them. The old hours of labour, which had been reduced in our +distress, were re-established, and the most vigorous measures adopted to +give prosperity to the settlement. New buildings were immediately planned, +and large tracts of ground, at Rose-hill, ordered to be cleared, and +prepared for cultivation. Some superintendents who had arrived in the +fleet, and were hired by government for the purpose of overlooking and +directing the convicts, were found extremely serviceable in accelerating +the progress of improvement. + +July, 1790. This month was marked by nothing worth communication, except +a melancholy accident which befell a young gentleman of amiable character +(one of the midshipmen lately belonging to the 'Sirius') and two marines. +He was in a small boat, with three marines, in the harbour, when a whale +was seen near them. Sensible of their danger, they used every effort to +avoid the cause of it, by rowing in a contrary direction from that which +the fish seemed to take, but the monster suddenly arose close to them, and +nearly filled the boat with water. By exerting themselves, they baled her +out, and again steered from it. For some time it was not seen, and they +conceived themselves safe, when, rising immediately under the boat, it +lifted her to the height of many yards on its back, whence slipping off, +she dropped as from a precipice, and immediately filled and sunk. The +midshipman and one of the marines were sucked into the vortex which the +whale had made, and disappeared at once. The two other marines swam for +the nearest shore, but one only reached it, to recount the fate of his +companions. + +August, 1790. In the beginning of this month, in company with Mr. Dawes and +Mr. Worgan, late surgeon of the 'Sirius', I undertook an expedition to +the southward and westward of Rose Hill, where the country had never been +explored. We remained out seven days, and penetrated to a considerable +distance in a S.S.W. direction, bounding our course at a remarkable hill, +to which, from its conical shape, we gave the name of Pyramid-hill. Except +the discovery of a river (which is unquestionably the Nepean near its +source) to which we gave the name of the Worgan, in honour of one of our +party, nothing very interesting was remarked. + +Towards the end of the month, we made a second excursion to the north-west +of Rose Hill, when we again fell in with the Nepean, and traced it to +the spot where it had been first discovered by the party of which I was +a member, fourteen months before, examining the country as we went along. +Little doubt now subsisted that the Hawkesbury and Nepean were one river. + +We undertook a third expedition soon after to Broken Bay, which place +we found had not been exaggerated in description, whether its capacious +harbour, or its desolate incultivable shores, be considered. On all these +excursions we brought away, in small bags, as many specimens of the soil +of the country we had passed through, as could be conveniently carried, in +order that by analysis its qualities might be ascertained. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + + +Transactions of the Colony in the Beginning of September, 1790. + + +The tremendous monster who had occasioned the unhappy catastrophe just +recorded was fated to be the cause of farther mischief to us. + +On the 7th instant, Captain Nepean, of the New South Wales Corps, and Mr. +White, accompanied by little Nanbaree, and a party of men, went in a boat +to Manly Cove, intending to land there, and walk on to Broken Bay. On +drawing near the shore, a dead whale, in the most disgusting state of +putrefaction, was seen lying on the beach, and at least two hundred Indians +surrounding it, broiling the flesh on different fires, and feasting on +it with the most extravagant marks of greediness and rapture. As the boat +continued to approach, they were observed to fall into confusion and to +pick up their spears, on which our people lay upon their oars and Nanbaree +stepping forward, harangued them for some time, assuring them that we were +friends. Mr. White now called for Baneelon who, on hearing his name, came +forth, and entered into conversation. He was greatly emaciated, and so +far disfigured by a long beard, that our people not without difficulty +recognized their old acquaintance. His answering in broken English, and +inquiring for the governor, however, soon corrected their doubts. He seemed +quite friendly. And soon after Colbee came up, pointing to his leg, to show +that he had freed himself from the fetter which was upon him, when he had +escaped from us. + +When Baneelon was told that the governor was not far off, he expressed +great joy, and declared that he would immediately go in search of him, +and if he found him not, would follow him to Sydney. "Have you brought any +hatchets with you?" cried he. Unluckily they had not any which they chose +to spare; but two or three shirts, some handkerchiefs, knives, and other +trifles, were given to them, and seemed to satisfy. Baneelon, willing +to instruct his countrymen, tried to put on a shirt, but managed it so +awkwardly, that a man of the name of M'Entire, the governor's gamekeeper, +was directed by Mr. White to assist him. This man, who was well known to +him, he positively forbade to approach, eyeing him ferociously, and with +every mark of horror and resentment. He was in consequence left to himself, +and the conversation proceeded as before. The length of his beard seemed +to annoy him much, and he expressed eager wishes to be shaved, asking +repeatedly for a razor. A pair of scissors was given to him, and he shewed +he had not forgotten how to use such an instrument, for he forthwith began +to clip his hair with it. + +During this time, the women and children, to the number of more than fifty, +stood at a distance, and refused all invitations, which could be conveyed +by signs and gestures, to approach nearer. "Which of them is your old +favourite, Barangaroo, of whom you used to speak so often?" + +"Oh," said he, "she is become the wife of Colbee! But I have got 'bulla +muree deein' (two large women) to compensate for her loss." + +It was observed that he had received two wounds, in addition to his former +numerous ones, since he had left us; one of them from a spear, which had +passed through the fleshy part of his arm; and the other displayed itself +in a large scar above his left eye. They were both healed, and probably +were acquired in the conflict wherein he had asserted his pretensions to +the two ladies. + +Nanbaree, all this while, though he continued to interrogate his +countrymen, and to interpret on both sides, shewed little desire to return +to their society, and stuck very close to his new friends. On being asked +the cause of their present meeting, Baneelon pointed to the whale, which +stunk immoderately, and Colbee made signals, that it was common among them +to cat until the stomach was so overladen as to occasion sickness. + +Their demand of hatchets being re-iterated, notwithstanding our refusal, +they were asked why they had not brought with them some of their own? They +excused themselves by saying, that on an occasion of the present sort, +they always left them at home, and cut up the whale with the shell which is +affixed to the end of the throwing-stick. + +Our party now thought it time to proceed on their original expedition, and +having taken leave of their sable friends, rowed to some distance, where +they landed, and set out for Broken Bay, ordering the coxswain of the boat, +in which they had come down, to go immediately and acquaint the governor +of all that had passed. When the natives saw that the boat was about to +depart, they crowded around her, and brought down, by way of present, three +or four great junks of the whale, and put them on board of her, the largest +of which, Baneelon expressly requested might be offered, in his name, to +the governor. + +It happened that his excellency had this day gone to a landmark, which was +building on the South-head, near the flag-staff, to serve as a direction to +ships at sea, and the boat met him on his return to Sydney. Immediately on +receiving the intelligence, he hastened back to the South-head, and having +procured all the fire-arms which could be mustered there, consisting of +four muskets and a pistol, set out, attended by Mr. Collins and Lieutenant +Waterhouse of the navy. + +When the boat reached Manly Cove, the natives were found still busily +employed around the whale. As they expressed not any consternation on +seeing us row to the beach, governor Phillip stepped out unarmed, and +attended by one seaman only, and called for Baneelon, who appeared, +but, notwithstanding his former eagerness, would not suffer the other +to approach him for several minutes. Gradually, however, he warmed +into friendship and frankness, and presently after Colbee came up. They +discoursed for some time, Baneelon expressing pleasure to see his old +acquaintance, and inquiring by name for every person whom he could +recollect at Sydney; and among others for a French cook, one of the +governor's servants, whom he had constantly made the butt of his ridicule, +by mimicking his voice, gait, and other peculiarities, all of which he +again went through with his wonted exactness and drollery. He asked also +particularly for a lady from whom he had once ventured to snatch a kiss; +and on being told that she was well, by way of proving that the token was +fresh in his remembrance, he kissed Lieutenant Waterhouse, and laughed +aloud. On his wounds being noticed, he coldly said, that he had received +them at Botany Bay, but went no farther into their history. + +Hatchets still continued to be called for with redoubled eagerness, +which rather surprised us, as formerly they had always been accepted +with indifference. But Baneelon had probably demonstrated to them their +superiority over those of their own manufacturing. To appease their +importunity, the governor gave them a knife, some bread, pork, and other +articles, and promised that in two days he would return hither, and bring +with him hatchets to be distributed among them, which appeared to diffuse +general satisfaction. + +Baneelon's love of wine has been mentioned; and the governor, to try +whether it still subsisted, uncorked a bottle, and poured out a glass of +it, which the other drank off with his former marks of relish and good +humour, giving for a toast, as he had been taught, "The King." + +Our party now advanced from the beach but, perceiving many of the Indians +filing off to the right and left, so as in some measure to surround them, +they retreated gently to their old situation, which produced neither alarm +or offence. The others by degrees also resumed their former position. A +very fine barbed spear of uncommon size being seen by the governor, he +asked for it. But Baneelon, instead of complying with the request, took +it away, and laid it at some distance, and brought back a throwing-stick, +which he presented to his excellency. + +Matters had proceeded in this friendly train for more than half an hour, +when a native, with a spear in his hand, came forward, and stopped at +the distance of between twenty and thirty yards from the place where the +governor, Mr. Collins, Lieutenant Waterhouse, and a seaman stood. His +excellency held out his hand, and called to him, advancing towards him at +the same time, Mr. Collins following close behind. He appeared to be a +man of middle age, short of stature, sturdy, and well set, seemingly a +stranger, and but little acquainted with Baneelon and Colbee. The nearer +the governor approached, the greater became the terror and agitation of the +Indian. To remove his fear, governor Phillip threw down a dirk, which +he wore at his side. The other, alarmed at the rattle of the dirk, and +probably misconstruing the action, instantly fixed his lance in his +throwing-stick*. + +[*Such preparation is equal to what cocking a gun, and directing it at its +object, would be with us. To launch the spear, or to touch the trigger, +only remains.] + +To retreat, his excellency now thought would be more dangerous than to +advance. He therefore cried out to the man, Weeeree, Weeree, (bad; you +are doing wrong) displaying at the same time, every token of amity and +confidence. The words had, however, hardly gone forth, when the Indian, +stepping back with one foot, aimed his lance with such force and dexterity, +that striking* the governor's right shoulder, just above the collar-bone, +the point glancing downward, came out at his back, having made a wound of +many inches long. The man was observed to keep his eye steadily fixed on +the lance until it struck its object, when he directly dashed into the +woods and was seen no more. + +[*His excellency described the shock to me as similar to a violent blow, +with such energy was the weapon thrown.] + + +Instant confusion on both sides took place. Baneelon and Colbee disappeared +and several spears were thrown from different quarters, though without +effect. Our party retreated as fast as they could, calling to those +who were left in the boat, to hasten up with firearms. A situation more +distressing than that of the governor, during the time that this lasted, +cannot readily be conceived: the pole of the spear, not less than ten +feet in length, sticking out before him, and impeding his flight, the butt +frequently striking the ground, and lacerating the wound. In vain did Mr. +Waterhouse try to break it; and the barb, which appeared on the other side, +forbade extraction, until that could be performed. At length it was broken, +and his excellency reached the boat, by which time the seamen with the +muskets had got up, and were endeavouring to fire them, but one only would +go off, and there is no room to believe that it was attended with any +execution. + +When the governor got home, the wound was examined. It had bled a good deal +in the boat, and it was doubtful whether the subclavian artery might not +be divided. On moving the spear, it was found, however, that it might be +safely extracted, which was accordingly performed. + +Apprehension for the safety of the party who had gone to Broken Bay, now +took place. Lieutenant Long, with a detachment of marines, was immediately +sent to escort them back, lest any ambush might be laid by the natives to +cut them off. When Mr. Long reached Manly Cove, the sun had set; however, +he pursued his way in the dark, scrambling over rocks and thickets, as well +as he could, until two o'clock on the following morning, when he overtook +them at a place where they had halted to sleep, about half-way between the +two harbours. + +At day-break they all returned, and were surprised to find tracks in the +sand of the feet of the Indians, almost the whole way from the place where +they had slept to the Cove. By this it should seem as if these last +had secretly followed them, probably with hostile intentions but, on +discovering their strength, and that they were on their guard, had +abandoned their design. + +On reaching Manly Cove, three Indians were observed standing on a rock, +with whom they entered into conversation. The Indians informed them, that +the man who had wounded the governor belonged to a tribe residing at Broken +Bay, and they seemed highly to condemn what he had done. Our gentlemen +asked them for a spear, which they immediately gave. The boat's crew said +that Baneelon and Colbee had just departed, after a friendly intercourse. +Like the others, they had pretended highly to disapprove the conduct of the +man who had thrown the spear, vowing to execute vengeance upon him. + +From this time, until the 14th, no communication passed between the natives +and us. On that day, the chaplain and lieutenant Dawes, having Abaroo with +them in a boat, learned from two Indians that Wileemarin was the name of +the person who had wounded the governor. These two people inquired kindly +how his excellency did, and seemed pleased to hear that he was likely to +recover. They said that they were inhabitants of Rose Hill, and expressed +great dissatisfaction at the number of white men who had settled in their +former territories. In consequence of which declaration, the detachment at +that post was reinforced on the following day. + +A hazardous enterprise (but when liberty is the stake, what enterprise is +too hazardous for its attainment!) was undertaken in this month by five +convicts at Rose Hill, who, in the night, seized a small punt there, and +proceeded in her to the South Head, whence they seized and carried off a +boat, appropriated to the use of the lookout house, and put to sea in +her, doubtless with a view of reaching any port they could arrive at, and +asserting their freedom. They had all come out in the last fleet; and for +some time previous to their elopement, had been collecting fishing tackle, +and hoarding up provisions, to enable them to put their scheme into +execution*. + +[*They have never since been heard of. Before they went away, they tried in +vain to procure firearms. If they were not swallowed by the sea, probably +they were cut off by the natives, on some part of the coast where their +necessities obliged them to land.] + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + + +Transactions of the Colony in part of September and October, 1790. + + +From so unfavourable an omen as I have just related, who could +prognosticate that an intercourse with the natives was about to commence! +That the foundation of what neither entreaty, munificence, or humanity, +could induce, should be laid by a deed, which threatened to accumulate +scenes of bloodshed and horror was a consequence which neither speculation +could predict, or hope expect to see accomplished. + +On the 15th a fire being seen on the north shore of the harbour, a party +of our people went thither, accompanied by Nanbaree and Abaroo. They found +there Baneelon, and several other natives, and much civility passed, which +was cemented by a mutual promise to meet in the afternoon at the same +place. Both sides were punctual to their engagement, and no objection being +made to our landing, a party of us went ashore to them unarmed. Several +little presents, which had been purposely brought, were distributed among +them; and to Baneelon were given a hatchet and a fish. At a distance stood +some children, who, though at first timorous and unwilling to approach, +were soon persuaded to advance, and join the men. + +A bottle of wine was produced, and Baneelon immediately prepared for the +charge. Bread and beef he called loudly for, which were given to him, and +he began to eat, offering a part of his fare to his countrymen, two of whom +tasted the beef, but none of them would touch the bread. Having finished +his repast, he made a motion to be shaved, and a barber being present, his +request was complied with, to the great admiration of his countrymen, who +laughed and exclaimed at the operation. They would not, however, consent +to undergo it, but suffered their beards to be clipped with a pair of +scissors. + +On being asked where their women were, they pointed to the spot, but seemed +not desirous that we should approach it. However, in a few minutes, a +female appeared not far off, and Abaroo was dispatched to her. Baneelon +now joined with Abaroo to persuade her to come to us, telling us she was +Barangaroo, and his wife, notwithstanding he had so lately pretended that +she had left him for Colbee. At length she yielded, and Abaroo, having +first put a petticoat on her, brought her to us. But this was the prudery +of the wilderness, which her husband joined us to ridicule, and we soon +laughed her out of it. The petticoat was dropped with hesitation, and +Barangaroo stood "armed cap-a-pee in nakedness." At the request of +Baneelon, we combed and cut her hair, and she seemed pleased with the +operation. Wine she would not taste, but turned from it with disgust, +though heartily invited to drink by the example and persuasion of Baneelon. +In short, she behaved so well, and assumed the character of gentleness and +timidity to such advantage, that had our acquaintance ended here, a very +moderate share of the spirit of travelling would have sufficed to record, +that amidst a horde of roaming savages, in the desert wastes of New South +Wales, might be found as much feminine innocence, softness, and modesty +(allowing for inevitable difference of education), as the most finished +system could bestow, or the most polished circle produce. So little fitted +are we to judge of human nature at once! And yet on such grounds have +countries been described, and nations characterized. Hence have arisen +those speculative and laborious compositions on the advantages and +superiority of a state of nature. But to resume my subject. + +Supposing, that by a private conversation, she might be induced to visit +Sydney, which would be the means of drawing her husband and others thither, +Abaroo was instructed to take her aside, and try if she could persuade her +to comply with our wish. They wandered away together accordingly, but it +was soon seen, that Barangaroo's arguments to induce Abaroo to rejoin their +society, were more powerful than those of the latter, to prevail upon her +to come among us; for it was not without manifest reluctance, and often +repeated injunctions, that Abaroo would quit her countrywomen; and when she +had done so, she sat in the boat, in sullen silence, evidently occupied by +reflection on the scene she had left behind, and returning inclination to +her former habits of life. + +Nor was a circumstance which had happened in the morning interview, +perhaps, wholly unremembered by the girl. We had hinted to Baneelon to +provide a husband for her, who should be at liberty to pass and repass to +and from Sydney, as he might choose. There was at the time, a slender fine +looking youth in company, called Imeerawanyee, about sixteen years old. +The lad, on being invited, came immediately up to her, and offered many +blandishments, which proved that he had assumed the 'toga virilis'. But +Abaroo disclaimed his advances, repeating the name of another person, +who we knew was her favourite. The young lover was not, however, easily +repulsed, but renewed his suit, on our return in the afternoon, with such +warmth of solicitation, as to cause an evident alteration in the sentiments +of the lady. + +To heighten the good humour which pervaded both parties, we began to +play and romp with them. Feats of bodily strength were tried, and their +inferiority was glaring. One of our party lifted with ease two of them from +the ground, in spite of their efforts to prevent him, whereas in return, no +one of them could move him. They called him 'murree mulla' (a large strong +man). Compared with our English labourers, their muscular power would +appear very feeble and inadequate. + +Before we parted, Baneelon informed us that his countrymen had lately been +plundered of fish-gigs, spears, a sword, and many other articles, by +some of our people, and expressed a wish that they should be restored, +promising, that if they were, the governor's dirk should be produced and +returned to us to-morrow, if we would meet him here. + +Accordingly on the following day we rowed to the spot, carrying with us the +stolen property. We found here several natives, but not Baneelon. We asked +for him, and were told that he was gone down the harbour with Barangaroo to +fish. Although disappointed at his breach of promise, we went on shore, and +mingled without distrust among those we found, acquainting them that we had +brought with us the articles of which they had been plundered. On hearing +this account, they expressed great joy, and Imeerawanyee darting forward, +claimed the sword. It was given to him, and he had no sooner grasped it, +than he hastened to convince his mistress, that his prowess in war, was not +inferior to his skill in courtship. Singling out a yellow gum-tree for the +foe, he attacked it with great fierceness, calling to us to look on, and +accompanying his onset with all the gestures and vociferation which they +use in battle. Having conquered his enemy, he laid aside his fighting face, +and joined us with a countenance which carried in it every mark of youth +and good nature. + +Whether Abaroo's coyness, and preference of another, had displeased him, or +it was owing to natural fickleness, he paid her no farther attention, but +seemed more delighted with us. He had no beard, but was highly gratified in +being combed and having his hair clipped. + +All the stolen property being brought on shore, an old man came up, and +claimed one of the fish-gigs, singling it from the bundle, and taking only +his own; and this honesty, within the circle of their society, seemed to +characterize them all. + +During this time, it was observed, that one of the Indians, instead of +mixing with the rest, stood aloof, in a musing posture, contemplating what +passed. When we offered to approach him, he shunned us not, and willingly +shook hands with all who chose to do so. He seemed to be between 30 and 40 +years old, was jolly, and had a thoughtful countenance, much marked by the +smallpox. He wore a string of bits of dried reed round his neck, which I +asked him to exchange for a black stock. He smiled at the proposal, but +made no offer of what I wanted; which our young friend, Imeerawanyee, +observing, flew to him, and taking off the necklace, directly fixed it +about my neck. I feared he would be enraged, but he bore it with serenity, +and suffered a gentleman present to fasten his black stock upon him, with +which he appeared to be pleased. To increase his satisfaction, some other +trifle was given to him. + +Having remained here an hour we went in quest of Baneelon, agreeably to the +directions which his companions pointed out. We found him and Barangaroo +shivering over a few lighted sticks, by which they were dressing small +fish, and their canoe hauled up on the beach near them. On first seeing the +boat, they ran into the woods; but on being called by name, they came back, +and consented to our landing. We carried on shore with us the remaining +part of the fish-gigs and spears which had been stolen, and restored them +to Baneelon. Among other things, was a net full of fishing lines and +other tackle, which Barangaroo said was her property and, immediately on +receiving it, she slung it around her neck. + +Baneelon inquired, with solicitude, about the state of the governor's +wound, but he made no offer of restoring the dirk; and when he was asked +for it, he pretended to know nothing of it, changing the conversation with +great art, and asking for wine, which was given to him. + +At parting, we pressed him to appoint a day on which he should come to +Sydney, assuring him, that he would be well received, and kindly treated. +Doubtful, however, of being permitted to return, he evaded our request, and +declared that the governor must first come and see him, which we promised +should be done. + +The governor did not hesitate to execute the engagement which we had +contracted for him. But Baneelon still resisted coming among us, and +matters continued in this fluctuating state until the 8th of October, when +a fire, which they had agreed to light as a signal for us to visit them, +was observed. The eager desire by which we were stimulated to carry our +point of effecting an intercourse had appeared. Various parties accordingly +set out to meet them, provided with different articles, which we thought +would prove acceptable to them. We found assembled, Baneelon, Barangaroo, +and another young woman, and six men, all of whom received us with welcome, +except the grave looking gentleman before mentioned, who stood aloof in +his former musing posture. When they saw that we had brought hatchets, and +other articles with us, they produced spears, fish-gigs, and lines, for +the purpose of barter,* which immediately commenced, to the satisfaction +of both parties. I had brought with me an old blunted spear, which wanted +repair. An Indian immediately undertook to perform the task, and carrying +it to a fire, tore with his teeth a piece of bone from a fish-gig, which he +fastened on the spear with yellow gum, rendered flexible by heat. + +[*It had long been our wish to establish a commerce of this sort. It is a +painful consideration, that every previous addition to the cabinet of the +virtuosi, from this country, had wrung a tear from the plundered Indian.] + + +October, 1790. Many of them now consented to be shaved by a barber whom we +had purposely brought over. As I thought he who could perform an operation +of such importance must be deemed by them an eminent personage, I bade him +ask one of them for a fine barbed spear which he held in his hand; but all +the barber's eloquence was wasted on the Indian, who plainly gave him to +understand that he meant not to part with his spear, without receiving an +equivalent. Unfortunately, his price was a hatchet, and the only one which +I had brought with me was already disposed of to the man who had pointed +my spear. In vain did I tempt him with a knife, a handkerchief, and a hat; +nothing but a hatchet seemed to be regarded. 'Bulla mogo parrabugo' (two +hatchets to-morrow) I repeatedly cried; but having probably experienced our +insincerity, he rejected the proposal with disdain. Finding him inflexible, +and longing to possess the spear, I told him at length that I would go +to Sydney and fetch what he required. This seemed to satisfy, and he +accompanied me to my boat, in which I went away, and as quickly as possible +procured what was necessary to conclude the bargain. On my return, I was +surprised to see all our boats rowing towards home, and with them a +canoe, in which sat two Indians paddling. I pulled to them, and found that +Baneelon, and another Indian, were in one of the boats, and that the whole +formed a party going over to visit the governor. I now learned, that during +my absence, the governor had passed in a boat, on his return from Rose +Hill, near the place where they were standing; and that finding he would +not come to them, although they had called to him to do so, they had at +once determined to venture themselves unreservedly among us. One of the men +in the canoe was the person to whom I was to give the hatchet I had been +to fetch; and directly as he saw me, he held up his spear, and the exchange +took place, with which, and perhaps to reward me for the trouble I had +taken, he was so delighted that he presented me with a throwing-stick +'gratis'. + +Not seeing Barangaroo of the party, I asked for her, and was informed that +she had violently opposed Baneelon's departure. When she found persuasion +vain, she had recourse to tears, scolding, and threats, stamping the +ground, and tearing her hair. But Baneelon continuing determined, she +snatched up in her rage one of his fish-gigs, and dashed it with such fury +on the rocks, that it broke. To quiet her apprehensions on the score of her +husband's safety, Mr. Johnson, attended by Abaroo, agreed to remain as a +hostage until Baneelon should return. + +We landed our four friends opposite the hospital, and set out for the +governor's house. On hearing of their arrival, such numbers flocked to view +them that we were apprehensive the crowd of persons would alarm them, +but they had left their fears behind, and marched on with boldness and +unconcern. When we reached the governor's house, Baneelon expressed +honest joy to see his old friend, and appeared pleased to find that he had +recovered of his wound. The governor asked for Wileemarin, and they said +he was at Broken Bay. Some bread and beef were distributed among them but +unluckily no fish was to be procured, which we were sorry for, as a promise +of it had been one of the leading temptations by which they had been +allured over. A hatchet apiece was, however, given to them, and a couple +of petticoats and some fishing tackle sent for Barangaroo, and the other +woman. + +The ceremony of introduction being finished, Baneelon seemed to consider +himself quite at home, running from room to room with his companions, and +introducing them to his old friends, the domestics, in the most familiar +manner. Among these last, he particularly distinguished the governor's +orderly sergeant, whom he kissed with great affection, and a woman who +attended in the kitchen; but the gamekeeper, M'Entire*, he continued to +hold in abhorrence, and would not suffer his approach. + +[*Look at the account of the governor being wounded, when his detestation +of this man burst forth.] + +Nor was his importance to his countrymen less conspicuous in other +respects. He undertook to explain the use and nature of those things which +were new to them. Some of his explanations were whimsical enough. Seeing, +for instance, a pair of snuffers, he told them that they were "Nuffer* for +candle,"--which the others not comprehending, he opened the snuffers, and +holding up the fore-finger of his left hand, to represent a candle, made +the motion of snuffing it. Finding, that even this sagacious interpretation +failed, he threw down the snuffers in a rage, and reproaching their +stupidity, walked away. + +[*The S is a letter which they cannot pronounce, having no sound in their +language similar to it. When bidden to pronounce sun, they always say tun; +salt, talt, and so of all words wherein it occurs.] + +It was observed, that a soft gentle tone of voice, which we had taught him +to use, was forgotten, and his native vociferation returned in full force. +But the tenderness which (like Arabanoo) he had always manifested to +children, he still retained; as appeared by his behaviour to those who were +presented to him. + +The first wish they expressed to return, was complied with, in order to +banish all appearance of constraint, the party who had conducted them to +Sydney returning with them. When we reached the opposite shore, we +found Abaroo and the other woman fishing in a canoe, and Mr. Johnson +and Barangaroo sitting at the fire, the latter employed in manufacturing +fish-hooks. At a little distance, on an adjoining eminence, sat an Indian, +with his spear in his hand, as if sentinel over the hostages, for the +security of his countrymen's return. During our absence, Barangaroo +had never ceased whining, and reproaching her husband. Now that he was +returned, she met him with unconcern, and seemed intent on her work only, +but this state of repose did not long continue. Baneelon, eyeing the broken +fish-gig, cast at her a look of savage fury and began to interrogate +her, and it seemed more than probable that the remaining part would be +demolished about her head had we not interposed to pacify him. Nor would +we quit the place until his forgiveness was complete, and his good humour +restored. No sooner, however, did she find her husband's rage subsided, +than her hour of triumph commenced. The alarm and trepidation she had +manifested disappeared. Elated at his condescension, and emboldened by our +presence and the finery in which we had decked her, she in turn assumed a +haughty demeanour, refused to answer his caresses, and viewed him with a +reproaching eye. Although long absence from female society had somewhat +blunted our recollection, the conduct of Barangaroo did not appear quite +novel to us, nor was our surprise very violent at finding that it succeeded +in subduing Baneelon who, when we parted, seemed anxious only to please +her. + +Thus ended a day, the events of which served to complete what an unhappy +accident had begun. From this time our intercourse with the natives, +though partially interrupted, was never broken off. We gradually continued, +henceforth, to gain knowledge of their customs and policy, the only +knowledge which can lead to a just estimate of national character. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + + +The arrival of the 'Supply' from Batavia; the State of the Colony in +November, 1790. + + +Joy sparkled in every countenance to see our old friend the 'Supply' (I +hope no reader will be so captious as to quarrel with the phrase) enter the +harbour from Batavia on the 19th of October. We had witnessed her departure +with tears; we hailed her return with transport. + +Captain Ball was rather more than six months in making this voyage, and is +the first person who ever circumnavigated the continent of New Holland. On +his passage to Batavia, he had discovered several islands, which he gave +names to and, after fighting his way against adverse elements and through +unexplored dangers, safely reached his destined port. He had well stored +his little bark with every necessary and conveniency which he judged +we should first want, leaving a cargo of rice and salt provisions to be +brought on by a Dutch snow, which he had hired and freighted for the use of +the settlement. While at Batavia, the 'Supply' had lost many of her people +by sickness, and left several others in the general hospital at that place. + +As the arrival of the 'Supply' naturally leads the attention from other +subjects to the state of the colony, I shall here take a review of it by +transcribing a statement drawn from actual observation soon after, exactly +as I find it written in my journal. + +Cultivation, on a public scale, has for some time past been given up here, +(Sydney) the crop of last year being so miserable, as to deter from farther +experiment, in consequence of which the government-farm is abandoned, +and the people who were fixed on it have been removed. Necessary public +buildings advance fast; an excellent storehouse of large dimensions, built +of bricks and covered with tiles, is just completed; and another planned +which will shortly be begun. Other buildings, among which I heard the +governor mention an hospital and permanent barracks for the troops, may +also be expected to arise soon. Works of this nature are more expeditiously +performed than heretofore, owing, I apprehend, to the superintendants +lately arrived, who are placed over the convicts and compel them to labour. +The first difficulties of a new country being subdued may also contribute +to this comparative facility. + +Vegetables are scarce, although the summer is so far advanced, owing to +want of rain. I do not think that all the showers of the last four months +put together, would make twenty-four hours rain. Our farms, what with this +and a poor soil, are in wretched condition. My winter crop of potatoes, +which I planted in days of despair (March and April last), turned out very +badly when I dug them about two months back. Wheat returned so poorly last +harvest, that very little, besides Indian corn, has been sown this year. +The governor's wound is quite healed, and he feels no inconveniency +whatever from it. With the natives we are hand and glove. They throng the +camp every day, and sometimes by their clamour and importunity for bread +and meat (of which they now all eat greedily) are become very troublesome. +God knows, we have little enough for ourselves! Full allowance (if eight +pounds of flour and either seven pounds of beef, or four pounds of pork, +served alternately, per week, without either pease, oatmeal, spirits, +butter, or cheese, can be called so) is yet kept up; but if the Dutch snow +does not arrive soon it must be shortened, as the casks in the storehouse, +I observed yesterday, are woefully decreased. + +The convicts continue to behave pretty well; three only have been hanged +since the arrival of the last fleet, in the latter end of June, all of +whom were newcomers. The number of convicts here diminishes every day; +our principal efforts being wisely made at Rose Hill, where the land is +unquestionably better than about this place. Except building, sawing and +brickmaking, nothing of consequence is now carried on here. The account +which I received a few days ago from the brickmakers of their labours, was +as follows. Wheeler (one of the master brick-makers) with two tile stools +and one brick stool, was tasked to make and burn ready for use 30000 tiles +and bricks per month. He had twenty-one hands to assist him, who performed +every thing; cut wood, dug clay, etc. This continued (during the days of +distress excepted, when they did what they could) until June last. From +June, with one brick and two tile stools he has been tasked to make +40000 bricks and tiles monthly (as many of each sort as may be), having +twenty-two men and two boys to assist him, on the same terms of procuring +materials as before. They fetch the clay of which tiles are made, two +hundred yards; that for bricks is close at hand. He says that the bricks +are such as would be called in England, moderately good, and he judges they +would have fetched about 24 shillings per thousand at Kingston-upon-Thames +(where he resided) in the year 1784. Their greatest fault is being too +brittle. The tiles he thinks not so good as those made about London. +The stuff has a rotten quality, and besides wants the advantage of being +ground, in lieu of which they tread it. + +King (another master bricklayer) last year, with the assistance of sixteen +men and two boys, made 11,000 bricks weekly, with two stools. During short +allowance did what he could. Resumed his old task when put again on full +allowance and had his number of assistants augmented to twenty men and two +boys, on account of the increased distance of carrying wood for the kilns. +He worked at Hammersmith, for Mr. Scot, of that place. He thinks the bricks +made here as good as those made near London, and says that in the year +1784, they would have sold for a guinea per thousand and to have picked the +kiln at thirty shillings.' + +Such is my Sydney detail dated the 12th of November, 1790. Four days after +I went to Rose Hill, and wrote there the subjoined remarks. + +November 16th. Got to Rose Hill in the evening. Next morning walked round +the whole of the cleared and cultivated land, with the Rev. Mr. Johnson, +who is the best farmer in the country. Edward Dod, one of the governor's +household, who conducts everything here in the agricultural line, +accompanied us part of the way, and afforded all the information he could. +He estimates the quantity of cleared and cultivated land at 200 acres. Of +these fifty-five are in wheat, barley, and a little oats, thirty in +maize, and the remainder is either just cleared of wood, or is occupied by +buildings, gardens, etc. Four enclosures of twenty acres each, are planned +for the reception of cattle, which may arrive in the colony, and two of +these are already fenced in. In the centre of them is to be erected a +house, for a person who will be fixed upon to take care of the cattle. +All these enclosures are supplied with water; and only a part of the trees +which grew in them being cut down, gives to them a very park-like and +beautiful appearance. + +Our survey commenced on the north side of the river. Dod says he expects +this year's crop of wheat and barley from the fifty-five acres to yield +full 400 bushels. Appearances hitherto hardly indicate so much. He says he +finds the beginning of May the best time to sow barley,* but that it may +continue to be sown until August. That sown in May is reaped in December; +that of August in January. He sowed his wheat, part in June and part in +July. He thinks June the best time, and says that he invariably finds that +which is deepest sown, grows strongest and best, even as deep as three +inches he has put it in, and found it to answer. The wheat sown in June +is now turning yellow; that of July is more backward. He has used only the +broad-cast husbandry, and sowed two bushels per acre. The plough has never +yet been tried here; all the ground is hoed, and (as Dod confesses) very +incompetently turned up. Each convict labourer was obliged to hoe sixteen +rods a day, so that in some places the earth was but just scratched over. +The ground was left open for some months, to receive benefit from the sun +and air; and on that newly cleared the trees were burnt, and the ashes dug +in. I do not find that a succession of crops has yet been attempted; surely +it would help to meliorate and improve the soil. Dod recommends strongly +the culture of potatoes, on a large scale, and says that were they planted +even as late as January they would answer, but this I doubt. He is more +than ever of opinion that without a large supply of cattle nothing can be +done. They have not at this time either horse, cow, or sheep here. I asked +him how the stock they had was coming on. The fowls he said multiplied +exceedingly, but the hogs neither thrived or increased in number, for want +of food. He pointed out to us his best wheat, which looks tolerable, and +may perhaps yield 13 or 14 bushels per acre**. Next came the oats which are +in ear, though not more than six inches high: they will not return as much +seed as was sown. The barley, except one patch in a corner of a field, +little better than the oats. Crossed the river and inspected the south +side. Found the little patch of wheat at the bottom of the crescent very +bad. Proceeded and examined the large field on the ascent to the westward: +here are about twenty-five acres of wheat, which from its appearance we +guessed would produce perhaps seven bushels an acre. The next patch to this +is in maize, which looks not unpromising; some of the stems are stout, and +beginning to throw out large broad leaves, the surest sign of vigour. The +view from the top of the wheat field takes in, except a narrow slip, the +whole of the cleared land at Rose Hill. From not having before seen an +opening of such extent for the last three years, this struck us as grand +and capacious. The beautiful diversity of the ground (gentle hill and dale) +would certainly be reckoned pretty in any country. Continued our walk, and +crossed the old field, which is intended to form part of the main street of +the projected town. The wheat in this field is rather better, but not much, +than in the large field before mentioned. The next field is maize, inferior +to what we have seen, but not despicable. An acre of maize, at the bottom +of the marine garden, is equal in luxuriancy of promise to any I ever saw +in any country. + +[*The best crop of barley ever produced in New South Wales, was sown by a +private individual, in February 1790, and reaped in the following October.] + +[**As all the trees on our cleared ground were cut down, and not grubbed +up, the roots and stumps remain, on which account a tenth part of surface +in every acre must be deducted. This is slovenly husbandry; but in a +country where immediate subsistence is wanted, it is perhaps necessary. +None of these stumps, when I left Port Jackson, showed any symptoms of +decay, though some of the trees had been cut down four years. To the +different qualities of the wood of Norfolk Island and New South Wales, +perhaps the difference of soil may in some measure be traced. That of +Norfolk Island is light and porous: it rots and turns into mould in two +years. Besides its hardness that of Port Jackson abounds with red corrosive +gum, which contributes its share of mischief.] + + +The main street of the new town is already begun. It is to be a mile long, +and of such breadth as will make Pall Mall and Portland Place "hide their +diminished heads." It contains at present thirty-two houses completed, of +twenty-four feet by twelve each, on a ground floor only, built of wattles +plastered with clay, and thatched. Each house is divided into two rooms, in +one of which is a fire place and a brick chimney. These houses are designed +for men only; and ten is the number of inhabitants allotted to each; +but some of them now contain twelve or fourteen, for want of better +accommodation. More are building. In a cross street stand nine houses for +unmarried women; and exclusive of all these are several small huts where +convict families of good character are allowed to reside. Of public +buildings, besides the old wooden barrack and store, there is a house of +lath and plaster, forty-four feet long by sixteen wide, for the governor, +on a ground floor only, with excellent out-houses and appurtenances +attached to it. A new brick store house, covered with tiles, 100 feet long +by twenty-four wide, is nearly completed, and a house for the store-keeper. +The first stone of a barrack, 100 feet long by twenty-four wide, to which +are intended to be added wings for the officers, was laid to-day. The +situation of the barrack is judicious, being close to the store-house, and +within a hundred and fifty yards of the wharf, where all boats from Sydney +unload. To what I have already enumerated, must be added an excellent barn, +a granary, an inclosed yard to rear stock in, a commodious blacksmith's +shop, and a most wretched hospital, totally destitute of every conveniency. +Luckily for the gentleman who superintends this hospital, and still more +luckily for those who are doomed in case of sickness to enter it, the air +of Rose Hill has hitherto been generally healthy. A tendency to produce +slight inflammatory disorders, from the rapid changes* of the temperature +of the air, is most to be dreaded. + +[*In the close of the year 1788, when this settlement was established, the +thermometer has been known to stand at 50 degrees a little before sunrise, +and between one and two o' clock in the afternoon at above 100 degrees.] + + +'The hours of labour for the convicts are the same here as at Sydney. On +Saturdays after ten o'clock in the morning they are allowed to work in +their own gardens. These gardens are at present, from the long drought and +other causes, in a most deplorable state. Potatoes, I think, thrive better +than any other vegetable in them. For the public conveniency a baker is +established here in a good bakehouse, who exchanges with every person bread +for flour, on stipulated terms; but no compulsion exists for any one to +take his bread; it is left entirely to every body's own option to consume +his flour as he pleases. Divine service is performed here, morning and +afternoon, one Sunday in every month, when all the convicts are obliged +to attend church, under penalty of having a part of their allowance of +provisions stopped, which is done by the chaplain, who is a justice of the +peace. + +'For the punishment of offenders, where a criminal court is not judged +necessary, two or more justices, occasionally assemble, and order the +infliction of slight corporal punishment, or short confinement in a strong +room built for this purpose. The military present here consists of two +subalterns, two sergeants, three corporals, a drummer, and twenty-one +privates. These have been occasionally augmented and reduced, as +circumstances have been thought to render it necessary. + +Brick-kilns are now erected here, and bricks manufactured by a convict +of the name of Becket, who came out in the last fleet, and has fifty-two +people to work under him. He makes 25,000 bricks weekly. He says that they +are very good, and would sell at Birmingham, where he worked about eighteen +months ago, at more than 30 shillings per thousand. + +Nothing farther of public nature remaining to examine, I next visited a +humble adventurer, who is trying his fortune here. James Ruse, convict, was +cast for seven years at Bodmin assizes, in August 1782. He lay five years +in prison and on board the 'Dunkirk' hulk at Plymouth, and then was sent +to this country. When his term of punishment expired, in August 1789, he +claimed his freedom, and was permitted by the governor, on promising to +settle in the country, to take in December following, an uncleaned piece of +ground, with an assurance that if he would cultivate it, it should not be +taken from him. Some assistance was given him, to fell the timber, and he +accordingly began. His present account to me was as follows. + + +I was bred a husbandman, near Launcester in Cornwall. I cleared my land as +well as I could, with the help afforded me. The exact limit of what ground +I am to have, I do not yet know; but a certain direction has been pointed +out to me, in which I may proceed as fast as I can cultivate. I have now +an acre and a half in bearded wheat, half an acre in maize, and a small +kitchen garden. On my wheat land I sowed three bushels of seed, the produce +of this country, broad cast. I expect to reap about twelve or thirteen +bushels. I know nothing of the cultivation of maize, and cannot therefore +guess so well at what I am likely to gather. I sowed part of my wheat +in May, and part in June. That sown in May has thrived best. My maize I +planted in the latter end of August, and the beginning of September. My +land I prepared thus: having burnt the fallen timber off the ground, I dug +in the ashes, and then hoed it up, never doing more than eight, or perhaps +nine, rods in a day, by which means, it was not like the government farm, +just scratched over, but properly done. Then I clod-moulded it, and dug in +the grass and weeds. This I think almost equal to ploughing. I then let it +lie as long as I could, exposed to air and sun; and just before I sowed my +seed, turned it all up afresh. When I shall have reaped my crop, I purpose +to hoe it again, and harrow it fine, and then sow it with turnip-seed, +which will mellow and prepare it for next year. My straw, I mean to bury in +pits, and throw in with it every thing which I think will rot and turn +to manure. I have no person to help me, at present, but my wife, whom I +married in this country; she is industrious. The governor, for some time, +gave me the help of a convict man, but he is taken away. Both my wife +and myself receive our provisions regularly at the store, like all other +people. My opinion of the soil of my farm, is, that it is middling, neither +good or bad. I will be bound to make it do with the aid of manure, but +without cattle it will fail. The greatest check upon me is, the dishonesty +of the convicts who, in spite of all my vigilance, rob me almost every +night. + + +The annexed return will show the number of persons of all descriptions +at Rose Hill, at this period. On the morning of the 17th, I went down to +Sydney. + +Here terminates the transcription of my diary. It were vain to suppose, +that it can prove either agreeable or interesting to a majority of readers +but as this work is intended not only for amusement, but information, I +considered it right to present this detail unaltered, either in its style +or arrangement. + + + +A return of the number of persons employed at Rose Hill, November 16th, +1790. + + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +How Employed | Troops | Civil dept | Troops | Convicts | + | | |Wives | Children| Men | Women | Children| +------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Storekeeper 1 +Surgeon 1 +Carpenters 24 +Blacksmiths 5 +Master Bricklayer 1 +Bricklayers 28 +Master Brickmaker 1 +Brickmakers 52 +Labourers 326* +Assistants to the +provision store 4 +Assistants to the +hospital 3 +Officers' servants 6 +Making Clothing 50 +Superintendants 4 +------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Total number of +persons 552| 29 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 450 | 50 | 13 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +[*Of these labourers, 16 are sawyers. The rest are variously employed in +clearing fresh land; in dragging brick and timber carts; and a great number +in making a road of a mile long, through the main street, to the governor's +house.] + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + + +Farther Transactions of the Colony in November, 1790. + + +During the intervals of duty, our greatest source of entertainment now +lay in cultivating the acquaintance of our new friends, the natives. Ever +liberal of communication, no difficulty but of understanding each other +subsisted between us. Inexplicable contradictions arose to bewilder our +researches which no ingenuity could unravel and no credulity reconcile. + +Baneelon, from being accustomed to our manners, and understanding a little +English, was the person through whom we wished to prosecute inquiry, but he +had lately become a man of so much dignity and consequence, that it was not +always easy to obtain his company. Clothes had been given to him at various +times, but he did not always condescend to wear them. One day he would +appear in them, and the next day he was to be seen carrying them in a net +slung around his neck. Farther to please him, a brick house of twelve feet +square was built for his use, and for that of such of his countrymen as +might choose to reside in it, on a point of land fixed upon by himself. A +shield, double cased with tin, to ward off the spears of his enemies, was +also presented to him, by the governor. + +Elated by these marks of favour, and sensible that his importance with his +countrymen arose in proportion to our patronage of him, he warmly attached +himself to our society. But the gratitude of a savage is ever a precarious +tenure. That of Baneelon was fated to suffer suspension, and had well nigh +been obliterated by the following singular circumstance. + +One day the natives were observed to assemble in more than an ordinary +number at their house on the point, and to be full of bustle and agitation, +repeatedly calling on the name of Baneelon, and that of 'deein' (a woman). +Between twelve and one o'clock Baneelon, unattended, came to the governor +at his house, and told him that he was going to put to death a woman +immediately, whom he had brought from Botany Bay. Having communicated +his intention, he was preparing to go away, seeming not to wish that the +governor should be present at the performance of the ceremony. But His +Excellency was so struck with the fierce gestures, and wild demeanour of +the other, who held in his hand one of our hatchets and frequently tried +the sharpness of it, that he determined to accompany him, taking with him +Mr. Collins and his orderly sergeant. On the road, Baneelon continued +to talk wildly and incoherently of what he would do, and manifested such +extravagant marks of fury and revenge, that his hatchet was taken away from +him, and a walking-stick substituted for it. + +When they reached the house, they found several natives, of both sexes +lying promiscuously before the fire, and among them a young woman, not +more than sixteen years old, who at sight of Baneelon, started, and raised +herself half up. He no sooner saw her than, snatching a sword of the +country, he ran at her, and gave her two severe wounds on the head and one +on the shoulder, before interference in behalf of the poor wretch could +be made. Our people now rushed in and seized him; but the other Indians +continued quiet spectators of what was passing, either awed by Baneelon's +superiority or deeming it a common case, unworthy of notice and +interposition. In vain did the governor by turns soothe and threaten him. +In vain did the sergeant point his musquet at him. He seemed dead to every +passion but revenge; forgot his affection to his old friends and, instead +of complying with the request they made, furiously brandished his sword +at the governor, and called aloud for his hatchet to dispatch the unhappy +victim of his barbarity. Matters now wore a serious aspect. The other +Indians appeared under the control of Baneelon and had begun to arm and +prepare their spears, as if determined to support him in his violence. + +Farther delay might have been attended with danger. The 'Supply' was +therefore immediately hailed, and an armed boat ordered to be sent on +shore. Luckily, those on board the ship had already observed the commotion +and a boat was ready, into which captain Ball, with several of his people +stepped, armed with musquets, and put off. It was reasonable to believe +that so powerful a reinforcement would restore tranquillity, but Baneelon +stood unintimidated at disparity of numbers and boldly demanded his +prisoner, whose life, he told the governor, he was determined to sacrifice, +and afterwards to cut off her head. Everyone was eager to know what could +be the cause of such inveterate inhumanity. Undaunted, he replied that her +father was his enemy, from whom he had received the wound in his forehead +beforementioned; and that when he was down in battle, and under the lance +of his antagonist, this woman had contributed to assail him. "She is now," +added he, "my property: I have ravished her by force from her tribe: and +I will part with her to no person whatever, until my vengeance shall be +glutted." + +Farther remonstrance would have been wasted. His Excellency therefore +ordered the woman to be taken to the hospital in order that her wounds +might be dressed. While this was doing, one of the natives, a young man +named Boladeree, came up and supplicated to be taken into the boat also, +saying that he was her husband, which she confirmed and begged that he +might be admitted. He was a fine well grown lad, of nineteen or twenty +years old, and was one of the persons who had been in the house in the +scene just described, which he had in no wise endeavoured to prevent, or to +afford assistance to the poor creature who had a right to his protection. + +All our people now quitted the place, leaving the exasperated Baneelon and +his associates to meditate farther schemes of vengeance. Before they parted +he gave them, however, to understand that he would follow the object of his +resentment to the hospital, and kill her there, a threat which the governor +assured him if he offered to carry into execution he should be immediately +shot. Even this menace he treated with disdain. + +To place the refugees in security, a sentinel was ordered to take post +at the door of the house, in which they were lodged. Nevertheless they +attempted to get away in the night, either from fear that we were not +able to protect them, or some apprehension of being restrained from future +liberty. When questioned where they proposed to find shelter, they said +they would go to the Cameragal tribe, with whom they should be safe. On the +following morning, Imeerawanyee* joined them, and expressed strong fears of +Baneelon's resentment. Soon after a party of natives, known to consist of +Baneelon's chosen friends, with a man of the name of Bigon, at their head, +boldly entered the hospital garden, and tried to carry off all three by +force. They were driven back and threatened, to which their leader only +replied by contemptuous insolence. + +[*This good-tempered lively lad, was become a great favourite with us, and +almost constantly lived at the governor's house. He had clothes made up for +him, and to amuse his mind, he was taught to wait at table. One day a lady, +Mrs. McArthur, wife of an officer of the garrison, dined there, as did +Nanbaree. This latter, anxious that his countryman should appear to +advantage in his new office, gave him many instructions, strictly charging +him, among other things, to take away the lady's plate, whenever she should +cross her knife and fork, and to give her a clean one. This Imeerawanyee +executed, not only to Mrs. McArthur, but to several of the other guests. +At last Nanbaree crossed his knife and fork with great gravity, casting a +glance at the other, who looked for a moment with cool indifference at +what he had done, and then turned his head another way. Stung at this +supercilious treatment, he called in rage, to know why he was not attended +to, as well as the rest of the company. But Imeerawanyee only laughed; nor +could all the anger and reproaches of the other prevail upon him to do +that for one of his countrymen, which he cheerfully continued to perform to +every other person.] + +Baneelon finding he could not succeed, withdrew himself for two days. At +length he made his appearance, attended only by his wife. Unmindful of what +had so recently happened, he marched singly up to the governor's house, +and on being refused admittance, though unarmed, attempted to force the +sentinel. The soldier spared him, but the guard was instantly sent for, and +drawn up in front of the house; not that their co-operation was necessary, +but that their appearance might terrify. His ardour now cooled, and he +seemed willing, by submission, to atone for his misconduct. His intrepid +disregard of personal risk, nay of life, could not however, but gain +admiration; though it led us to predict, that this Baneelon, whom +imagination had fondly pictured, like a second Omai, the gaze of a court +and the scrutiny of the curious, would perish untimely, the victim of his +own temerity. + +To encourage his present disposition of mind, and to try if feelings of +compassion towards an enemy, could be exerted by an Indian warrior, the +governor ordered him to be taken to the hospital, that he might see the +victim of his ferocity. He complied in sullen silence. When about to enter +the room in which she lay, he appeared to have a momentary struggle with +himself, which ended his resentment. He spoke to her with kindness, and +professed sorrow for what he had done, and promised her future protection. +Barangaroo, who had accompanied him, now took the alarm: and as in shunning +one extreme we are ever likely to rush into another, she thought him +perhaps too courteous and tender. Accordingly she began to revile them both +with great bitterness, threw stones at the girl and attempted to beat her +with a club. + +Here terminated this curious history, which I leave to the reader's +speculation. Whether human sacrifices of prisoners be common among them +is a point which all our future inquiry never completely determined. It is +certain that no second instance of this sort was ever witnessed by us. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + + +Transactions of the Colony in Part of December, 1790. + + +On the 9th of the month, a sergeant of marines, with three convicts, among +whom was McEntire, the governor's gamekeeper (the person of whom Baneelon +had, on former occasions, shown so much dread and hatred) went out on a +shooting party. Having passed the north arm of Botany Bay, they proceeded +to a hut formed of boughs, which had been lately erected on this peninsula, +for the accommodation of sportsmen who wished to continue by night in the +woods; for, as the kangaroos in the day-time, chiefly keep in the cover, it +is customary on these parties to sleep until near sunset, and watch for the +game during the night, and in the early part of the morning. Accordingly, +having lighted a fire, they lay down, without distrust or suspicion. + +About one o'clock, the sergeant was awakened by a rustling noise in the +bushes near him, and supposing it to proceed from a kangaroo, called to his +comrades, who instantly jumped up. On looking about more narrowly, they saw +two natives with spears in their hands, creeping towards them, and three +others a little farther behind. As this naturally created alarm, McEntire +said, "don't be afraid, I know them," and immediately laying down his gun, +stepped forward, and spoke to them in their own language. The Indians, +finding they were discovered, kept slowly retreating, and McEntire +accompanied them about a hundred yards, talking familiarly all the while. + +One of them now jumped on a fallen tree and, without giving the least +warning of his intention, launched his spear at McEntire and lodged it in +his left side. The person who committed this wanton act was described as a +young man with a speck or blemish on his left eye That he had been lately +among us was evident from his being newly shaved. + +The wounded man immediately drew back and, joining his party, cried, "I am +a dead man". While one broke off the end of the spear, the other two set +out with their guns in pursuit of the natives; but their swiftness of foot +soon convinced our people of the impossibility of reaching them. It was now +determined to attempt to carry McEntire home, as his death was apprehended +to be near, and he expressed a longing desire not to be left to expire in +the woods. Being an uncommonly robust muscular man, notwithstanding a great +effusion of blood, he was able, with the assistance of his comrades, to +creep slowly along, and reached Sydney about two o'clock the next morning. +On the wound being examined by the surgeons, it was pronounced mortal. +The poor wretch now began to utter the most dreadful exclamations, and to +accuse himself of the commission of crimes of the deepest dye, accompanied +with such expressions of his despair of God's mercy, as are too terrible to +repeat. + +In the course of the day, Colbee, and several more natives came in, and +were taken to the bed where the wounded man lay. Their behaviour indicated +that they had already heard of the accident, as they repeated twice or +thrice the name of the murderer Pimelwi, saying that he lived at Botany +Bay. To gain knowledge of their treatment of similar wounds, one of the +surgeons made signs of extracting the spear, but this they violently +opposed, and said, if it were done, death would instantly follow. + +On the 12th, the extraction of the spear was, however, judged practicable, +and was accordingly performed. That part of it which had penetrated the +body measured seven inches and a half long, having on it a wooden barb, and +several smaller ones of stone, fastened on with yellow gum, most of which, +owing to the force necessary in extraction, were torn off and lodged in the +patient. The spear had passed between two ribs, and had wounded the +left lobe of the lungs. He lingered* until the 20th of January, and +then expired. On opening the corpse, it was found that the left lung had +perished from suppuration, its remains adhering to the ribs. Some pieces of +stone, which had dropped from the spear were seen, but no barb of wood. + +[*From the aversion uniformly shown by all the natives to this unhappy +man, he had long been suspected by us of having in his excursions, shot +and injured them. To gain information on this head from him, the moment +of contrition was seized. On being questioned with great seriousness, he, +however, declared that he had never fired but once on a native, and then +had not killed, but severely wounded him and this in his own defence. +Notwithstanding this death-bed confession, most people doubted the truth of +the relation, from his general character and other circumstances.] + +The governor was at Rose-hill when this accident happened. On the day after +he returned to Sydney, the following order was issued: + + +Several tribes of the natives still continuing to throw spears at any +man they meet unarmed, by which several have been killed, or dangerously +wounded, the governor, in order to deter the natives from such practices +in future, has ordered out a party to search for the man who wounded +the convict McEntire, in so dangerous a manner on Friday last, though no +offence was offered on his part, in order to make a signal example of that +tribe. At the same time, the governor strictly forbids, under penalty of +the severest punishment, any soldier or other person, not expressly ordered +out for that purpose, ever to fire on any native except in his own defence; +or to molest him in any shape, or to bring away any spears, or other +articles which they may find belonging to those people. The natives will be +made severe examples of whenever any man is wounded by them; but this +will be done in a manner which may satisfy them that it is a punishment +inflicted on them for their own bad conduct, and of which they cannot be +made sensible if they are not treated with kindness while they continue +peaceable and quiet. + +A party, consisting of two captains, two subalterns, and forty privates, +with a proper number of non-commissioned officers from the garrison, with +three days provisions, etc. are to be ready to march to-morrow morning at +day-light, in order to bring in six of those natives who reside near the +head of Botany Bay; or, if that should be found impracticable, to put that +number to death. + + +Just previous to this order being issued, the author of this publication +received a direction to attend the governor at head quarters immediately. I +went, and his excellency informed me that he had pitched upon me to execute +the foregoing command. He added that the two subalterns who were to be +drawn from the marine corps, should be chosen by myself; that the sergeant +and the two convicts who were with McEntire, should attend as guides; that +we were to proceed to the peninsula at the head of Botany Bay; and thence, +or from any part of the north arm of the bay, we were, if practicable, to +bring away two natives as prisoners; and to put to death ten; that we +were to destroy all weapons of war but nothing else; that no hut was to +be burned; that all women and children were to remain uninjured, not being +comprehended within the scope of the order; that our operations were to +be directed either by surprise or open force; that after we had made any +prisoners, all communication, even with those natives with whom we were +in habits of intercourse, was to be avoided, and none of them suffered to +approach us. That we were to cut off and bring in the heads of the slain; +for which purpose hatchets and bags would be furnished. And finally, that +no signal of amity or invitation should be used in order to allure them to +us; or if made on their part, to be answered by us: for that such conduct +would be not only present treachery, but give them reason to distrust every +future mark of peace and friendship on our part. + +His excellency was now pleased to enter into the reasons which had induced +him to adopt measures of such severity. He said that since our arrival in +the country, no less than seventeen of our people had either been killed or +wounded by the natives; that he looked upon the tribe known by the name of +Bideegal, living on the beforementioned peninsula, and chiefly on the north +arm of Botany Bay, to be the principal aggressors; that against this tribe +he was determined to strike a decisive blow, in order, at once to convince +them of our superiority and to infuse an universal terror, which might +operate to prevent farther mischief. That his observations on the natives +had led him to conclude that although they did not fear death individually, +yet that the relative weight and importance of the different tribes +appeared to be the highest object of their estimation, as each tribe deemed +its strength and security to consist wholly in its powers, aggregately +considered. That his motive for having so long delayed to use violent +measures had arisen from believing, that in every former instance of +hostility, they had acted either from having received injury, or from +misapprehension. + +"To the latter of these causes," added he, "I attribute my own wound, +but in this business of McEntire, I am fully persuaded that they were +unprovoked, and the barbarity of their conduct admits of no extenuation; +for I have separately examined the sergeant, of whose veracity I have the +highest opinion, and the two convicts; and their story is short, simple, +and alike. I have in vain tried to stimulate Baneelon, Colbee, and the +other natives who live among us, to bring in the aggressor. Yesterday, +indeed, they promised me to do it, and actually went away as if bent on +such a design; but Baneelon, instead of directing his steps to Botany Bay, +crossed the harbour in his canoe, in order to draw the foreteeth of some +of the young men; and Colbee, in the room of fulfilling his engagement, +is loitering about the lookout house. Nay, so far from wishing even to +describe faithfully the person of the man who has thrown the spear, they +pretended that he has a distorted foot, which is a palpable falsehood. So +that we have our efforts only to depend upon; and I am resolved to execute +the prisoners who may be brought in, in the most public and exemplary +manner, in the presence of as many of their countrymen as can be collected, +after having explained the cause of such a punishment; and my fixed +determination to repeat it, whenever any future breach of good conduct on +their side shall render it necessary." + +Here the governor stopped, and addressing himself to me, said if I could +propose any alteration of the orders under which I was to act, he would +patiently listen to me. Encouraged by this condescension, I begged leave +to offer for consideration whether, instead of destroying ten persons, +the capture of six would not better answer all the purposes for which the +expedition was to be undertaken; as out of this number, a part might be +set aside for retaliation; and the rest, at a proper time, liberated, after +having seen the fate of their comrades and being made sensible of the cause +of their own detention. + +This scheme, his Excellency was pleased instantly to adopt, adding, "if +six cannot be taken, let this number be shot. Should you, however, find it +practicable to take so many, I will hang two and send the rest to Norfolk +Island for a certain period, which will cause their countrymen to believe +that we have dispatched them secretly." The order was accordingly altered +to its present form; and I took my leave to prepare, after being again +cautioned not to deceive by holding signals of amity. + +At four o'clock on the morning of the 14th we marched The detachment +consisted, besides myself, of Captain Hill of the New South Wales Corps, +Lieutenants Poulder and Dawes, of the marines, Mr. Worgan and Mr. Lowes, +surgeons, three sergeants, three corporals, and forty private soldiers, +provided with three days provisions, ropes to bind our prisoners with, and +hatchets and bags to cut off and contain the heads of the slain. By nine +o'clock this terrific procession reached the peninsula at the head of +Botany Bay, but after having walked in various directions until four +o'clock in the afternoon, without seeing a native, we halted for the night. + +At daylight on the following morning our search recommenced. We marched in +an easterly direction, intending to fall in with the south-west arm of the +bay, about three miles above its mouth, which we determined to scour, and +thence passing along the head of the peninsula, to proceed to the north +arm, and complete our Search. However, by a mistake of our guides, at half +past seven o'clock instead of finding ourselves on the south-west arm, +we came suddenly upon the sea shore, at the head of the peninsula, about +midway between the two arms. Here we saw five Indians on the beach, whom we +attempted to surround; but they penetrated our design, and before we could +get near enough to effect our purpose, ran off. We pursued; but a +contest between heavy-armed Europeans, fettered by ligatures, and naked +unencumbered Indians, was too unequal to last long. They darted into the +wood and disappeared. + +The alarm being given, we were sensible that no hope of success remained, +but by a rapid movement to a little village (if five huts deserve the name) +which we knew stood on the nearest point of the north arm, where possibly +someone unapprised of our approach, might yet be found. Thither we +hastened; but before we could reach it three canoes, filled with Indians, +were seen paddling over in the utmost hurry and trepidation, to the +opposite shore, where universal alarm prevailed. All we could now do was to +search the huts for weapons of war: but we found nothing except fish gigs, +which we left untouched. + +On our return to our baggage (which we had left behind under a small guard +near the place where the pursuit had begun) we observed a native fishing in +shallow water not higher than his waist, at the distance of 300 yards from +the land. In such a situation it would not have been easily practicable +either to shoot, or seize him. I therefore determined to pass without +noticing him, as he seemed either from consciousness of his own security, +or from some other cause, quite unintimidated at our appearance. At length +he called to several of us by name, and in spite of our formidable array, +drew nearer with unbounded confidence. Surprised at his behaviour I ordered +a halt, that he might overtake us, fully resolved, whoever he might be, +that he should be suffered to come to us and leave us uninjured. Presently +we found it to be our friend Colbee; and he joined us at once with his +wonted familiarity and unconcern. We asked him where Pimelwi was, and found +that he perfectly comprehended the nature of our errand, for he described +him to have fled to the southward; and to be at such a distance, as had we +known the account to be true, would have prevented our going in search of +him, without a fresh supply of provisions. + +When we arrived at our baggage, Colbee sat down, ate, drank, and slept with +us, from ten o'clock until past noon. We asked him several questions about +Sydney, which he had left on the preceding day*; and he told us he had been +present at an operation performed at the hospital, where Mr. White had cut +off a woman's leg. The agony and cries of the poor sufferer he depicted in +a most lively manner. + +[*He had it seems visited the governor about noon, after having gained +information from Nanbaree of our march, and for what purpose it was +undertaken. This he did not scruple to tell to the governor; proclaiming +at the same time, a resolution of going to Botany Bay, which his excellency +endeavoured to dissuade him from by every argument he could devise: a +blanket, a hatchet, a jacket, or aught else he would ask for, was offered +to him in vain, if he would not go. At last it was determined to try to eat +him down, by setting before him his favourite food, of which it was hoped +he would feed so voraciously, as to render him incapable of executing his +intention. A large dish of fish was accordingly set before him. But after +devouring a light horseman, and at least five pounds of beef and bread, +even until the sight of food became disgusting to him, he set out on his +journey with such lightness and gaiety, as plainly shewed him to be a +stranger to the horrors of indigestion.] + +At one o'clock we renewed our march, and at three halted near a freshwater +swamp, where we resolved to remain until morning: that is, after a day of +severe fatigue, to pass a night of restless inquietude, when weariness is +denied repose by swarms of mosquitoes and sandflies, which in the summer +months bite and sting the traveller, without measure or intermission. + +Next morning we bent our steps homeward; and, after wading breast-high +through two arms of the sea, as broad as the Thames at Westminster, were +glad to find ourselves at Sydney, between one and two o'clock in the +afternoon. + +The few remarks which I was able to make on the country through which we +had passed, were such as will not tempt adventurers to visit it on the +score of pleasure or advantage. The soil of every part of the peninsula, +which we had traversed, is shallow and sandy, and its productions meagre +and wretched. When forced to quit the sand, we were condemned to drag +through morasses, or to clamber over rocks, unrefreshed by streams, and +unmarked by diversity. Of the soil I brought away several specimens. + +Our first expedition having so totally failed, the governor resolved to try +the fate of a second; and the 'painful pre-eminence' again devolved on me. + +The orders under which I was commanded to act differing in no respect +from the last, I resolved to try once more to surprise the village +beforementioned. And in order to deceive the natives, and prevent them +from again frustrating our design by promulgating it, we feigned that our +preparations were directed against Broken Bay; and that the man who +had wounded the governor was the object of punishment. It was now also +determined, being full moon, that our operations should be carried on in +the night, both for the sake of secrecy, and for avoiding the extreme heat +of the day. + +A little before sun-set on the evening of the 22nd, we marched. Lieutenant +Abbot, and ensign Prentice, of the New South Wales corps, were the two +officers under my command, and with three sergeants, three corporals, and +thirty privates, completed the detachment. + +We proceeded directly to the fords of the north arm of Botany Bay, which we +had crossed in our last expedition, on the banks of which we were compelled +to wait until a quarter past two in the morning, for the ebb of the tide. +As these passing-places consist only of narrow slips of ground, on each +side of which are dangerous holes; and as fording rivers in the night is at +all times an unpleasant task, I determined before we entered the water, +to disburthen the men as much as possible; that in case of stepping wrong +every one might be as ready, as circumstances would admit, to recover +himself. The firelock and cartouche-box were all that we carried, the +latter tied fast on the top of the head, to prevent it from being wetted. +The knapsacks, etc. I left in charge of a sergeant and six men, who from +their low stature and other causes, were most likely to impede our march, +the success of which I knew hinged on our ability, by a rapid movement, to +surprise the village before daybreak. + +The two rivers were crossed without any material accident: and in pursuit +of my resolution, I ordered the guides to conduct us by the nearest route, +without heeding difficulty, or impediment of road. Having continued to push +along the river-bank very briskly for three quarters of an hour, we were +suddenly stopped by a creek, about sixty yards wide, which extended to our +right, and appeared dry from the tide being out: I asked if it could be +passed, or whether it would be better to wheel round the head of it. Our +guides answered that it was bad to cross, but might be got over, which +would save us more than a quarter of a mile. Knowing the value of time, I +directly bade them to push through, and every one began to follow as well +as he could. They who were foremost had not, however, got above half over +when the difficulty of progress was sensibly experienced. We were immersed, +nearly to the waist in mud, so thick and tenacious, that it was not without +the most vigorous exertion of every muscle of the body, that the legs could +be disengaged. When we had reached the middle, our distress became not only +more pressing, but serious, and each succeeding step, buried us deeper. At +length a sergeant of grenadiers stuck fast, and declared himself incapable +of moving either forward or backward; and just after, Ensign Prentice and +I felt ourselves in a similar predicament, close together. 'I find it +impossible to move; I am sinking;' resounded on every side. What to do +I knew not: every moment brought increase of perplexity, and augmented +danger, as those who could not proceed kept gradually subsiding. From our +misfortunes, however, those in the rear profited. Warned by what they saw +and heard, they inclined to the right towards the head of the creek, and +thereby contrived to pass over. + +Our distress would have terminated fatally, had not a soldier cried out +to those on shore to cut boughs of trees*, and throw them to us--a lucky +thought, which certainly saved many of us from perishing miserably; and +even with this assistance, had we been burdened by our knapsacks, we could +not have emerged; for it employed us near half an hour to disentangle some +of our number. The sergeant of grenadiers in particular, was sunk to his +breast-bone, and so firmly fixed in that the efforts of many men were +required to extricate him, which was effected in the moment after I had +ordered one of the ropes, destined to bind the captive Indians, to be +fastened under his arms. + +[*I had often read of this contrivance to facilitate the passage of a +morass. But I confess, that in my confusion I had entirely forgotten it, +and probably should have continued to do so until too late to be of use.] + +Having congratulated each other on our escape from this 'Serbonian Bog,' +and wiped our arms (half of which were rendered unserviceable by the mud) +we once more pushed forward to our object, within a few hundred yards of +which we found ourselves about half an hour before sunrise. Here I formed +the detachment into three divisions, and having enjoined the most perfect +silence, in order, if possible, to deceive Indian vigilance, each division +was directed to take a different route, so as to meet at the village at the +same moment. + +We rushed rapidly on, and nothing could succeed more exactly than the +arrival of the several detachments. To our astonishment, however, we found +not a single native at the huts; nor was a canoe to be seen on any part of +the bay. I was at first inclined to attribute this to our arriving half an +hour too late, from the numberless impediments we had encountered. But +on closer examination, there appeared room to believe, that many days had +elapsed since an Indian had been on the spot, as no mark of fresh fires, or +fish bones, was to be found. + +Disappointed and fatigued, we would willingly have profited by the +advantage of being near water, and have halted to refresh. But on +consultation, it was found, that unless we reached in an hour the rivers +we had so lately passed, it would be impossible, on account of the tide, +to cross to our baggage, in which case we should be without food until +evening. We therefore pushed back, and by dint of alternately running and +walking, arrived at the fords, time enough to pass with ease and safety. +So excessive, however, had been our efforts, and so laborious our progress, +that several of the soldiers, in the course of the last two miles, gave up, +and confessed themselves unable to proceed farther. All that I could do for +these poor fellows, was to order their comrades to carry their muskets, and +to leave with them a small party of those men who were least exhausted, to +assist them and hurry them on. In three quarters of an hour after we +had crossed the water, they arrived at it, just time enough to effect a +passage. + +The necessity of repose, joined to the succeeding heat of the day, induced +us to prolong our halt until four o'clock in the afternoon, when we +recommenced our operations on the opposite side of the north arm to that +we had acted upon in the morning. Our march ended at sunset, without +our seeing a single native. We had passed through the country which the +discoverers of Botany Bay extol as 'some of the finest meadows in the +world*.' These meadows, instead of grass, are covered with high coarse +rushes, growing in a rotten spongy bog, into which we were plunged +knee-deep at every step. + +[*The words which are quoted may be found in Mr. Cook's first voyage, and +form part of his description of Botany Bay. It has often fallen to my lot +to traverse these fabled plains; and many a bitter execration have I heard +poured on those travellers, who could so faithlessly relate what they saw.] + +Our final effort was made at half past one o'clock next morning; and after +four hours toil, ended as those preceding it had done, in disappointment +and vexation. At nine o'clock we returned to Sydney, to report our +fruitless peregrination. + +But if we could not retaliate on the murderer of M'Entire, we found no +difficulty in punishing offences committed within our own observation. Two +natives, about this time, were detected in robbing a potato garden. When +seen, they ran away, and a sergeant and a party of soldiers were dispatched +in pursuit of them. Unluckily it was dark when they overtook them, with +some women at a fire; and the ardour of the soldiers transported them so +far that, instead of capturing the offenders, they fired in among them. The +women were taken, but the two men escaped. + +On the following day, blood was traced from the fireplace to the sea-side, +where it seemed probable that those who had lost it, had embarked. The +natives were observed to become immediately shy; but an exact knowledge of +the mischief which had been committed, was not gained until the end of two +days, when they said that a man of the name of Bangai (who was known to +be one of the pilferers) was wounded and dead. Imeerawanyee, however, +whispered that though he was wounded, he was not dead. A hope now existed +that his life might be saved; and Mr. White, taking Imeerawanyee, Nanbaree, +and a woman with him, set out for the spot where he was reported to be. But +on their reaching it, they were told by some people who were there that the +man was dead, and that the corpse was deposited in a bay about a mile +off. Thither they accordingly repaired, and found it as described, +covered--except one leg, which seemed to be designedly left bare--with +green boughs and a fire burning near it. Those who had performed the +funeral obsequies seemed to have been particularly solicitous for the +protection of the face, which was covered with a thick branch, interwoven +with grass and fern so as to form a complete screen. Around the neck was +a strip of the bark of which they make fishing lines, and a young strait +stick growing near was stripped of its bark and bent down so as to form an +arch over the body, in which position it was confined by a forked branch +stuck into the earth. + +On examining the corpse, it was found to be warm. Through the shoulder had +passed a musquet ball, which had divided the subclavian artery and caused +death by loss of blood. No mark of any remedy having been applied could +be discovered. Possibly the nature of the wound, which even among us would +baffle cure without amputation of the arm at the shoulder, was deemed so +fatal, that they despaired of success, and therefore left it to itself. Had +Mr. White found the man alive, there is little room to think that he +could have been of any use to him; for that an Indian would submit to so +formidable and alarming an operation seems hardly probable. + +None of the natives who had come in the boat would touch the body, or even +go near it, saying, the mawn would come; that is literally, 'the spirit of +the deceased would seize them'. Of the people who died among us, they had +expressed no such apprehension. But how far the difference of a natural +death, and one effected by violence, may operate on their fears to induce +superstition; and why those who had performed the rites of sepulture should +not experience similar fears and reluctance, I leave to be determined. +Certain it is (as I shall insist upon more hereafter), that they believe +the spirit of the dead not to be extinct with the body. + +Baneelon took an odd method of revenging the death of his countryman. At +the head of several of his tribe, he robbed one of the private boats of +fish, threatening the people, who were unarmed, that in case they resisted +he would spear them. On being taxed by the governor with this outrage, he +at first stoutly denied it; but on being confronted with the people who +were in the boat, he changed his language, and, without deigning even to +palliate his offence, burst into fury and demanded who had killed Bangai. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + + +The Transactions of the Colony continued to the End of May, 1791. + + +December, 1790. The Dutch snow from Batavia arrived on the 17th of the +month, after a passage of twelve weeks, in which she had lost sixteen of +her people. But death, to a man who has resided at Batavia, is too familiar +an object to excite either terror or regret. All the people of the 'Supply' +who were left there sick, except one midshipman, had also perished in that +fatal climate. + +The cargo of the snow consisted chiefly of rice, with a small quantity of +beef, pork, and flour. + +A letter was received by this vessel, written by the Shebander at Batavia, +to governor Phillip, acquainting him that war had commenced between England +and Spain. As this letter was written in the Dutch language we did not find +it easy of translation. It filled us, however, with anxious perturbation, +and with wishes as impotent, as they were eager, in the cause of our +country. Though far beyond the din of arms, we longed to contribute to her +glory, and to share in her triumphs. + +Placed out of the reach of attack, both by remoteness and insignificancy, +our only dread lay lest those supplies intended for our consumption should +be captured. Not, however, to be found totally unprovided in case an enemy +should appear, a battery was planned near the entrance of Sydney Cove, and +other formidable preparations set on foot. + +The commencement of the year 1791, though marked by no circumstances +particularly favourable, beamed far less inauspicious than that of 1790 had +done. + +January, 1791. No circumstance, however apparently trivial, which can +tend to throw light on a new country, either in respect of its present +situation, or its future promise, should pass unregarded. On the 24th of +January, two bunches of grapes were cut in the governor's garden, from +cuttings of vines brought three years before from the Cape of Good Hope. +The bunches were handsome, the fruit of a moderate size, but well filled +out and the flavour high and delicious. + +The first step after unloading the Dutch snow was to dispatch the 'Supply' +to Norfolk Island for captain Hunter, and the crew of the 'Sirius' who had +remained there ever since the loss of that ship. It had always been the +governor's wish to hire the Dutchman, for the purpose of transporting them +to England. But the frantic extravagant behaviour of the master of her, for +a long time frustrated the conclusion of a contract. He was so totally +lost to a sense of reason and propriety, as to ask eleven pounds per ton, +monthly, for her use, until she should arrive from England, at Batavia. +This was treated with proper contempt; and he was at last induced to accept +twenty shillings a ton, per month (rating her at three hundred tons) until +she should arrive in England--being about the twenty-fifth part of his +original demand. And even at this price she was, perhaps, the dearest +vessel ever hired on a similar service, being totally destitute of every +accommodation and every good quality which could promise to render so long +a voyage either comfortable or expeditious. + +February, 1791. On the 26th, Captain Hunter, his officers and ship's +company joined us; and on the 28th of March the snow sailed with them for +England, intending to make a northern passage by Timor and Batavia, the +season being too far advanced to render the southern route by Cape Horn +practicable*. + +[*They did not arrive in England until April, 1792.] + +Six days previous to the departure of captain Hunter, the indefatigable +'Supply' again sailed for Norfolk Island, carrying thither captain Hill +and a detachment of the New South Wales corps. A little native boy named +Bondel, who had long particularly attached himself to captain Hill, +accompanied him, at his own earnest request. His father had been killed in +battle and his mother bitten in two by a shark: so that he was an orphan, +dependant on the humanity of his tribe for protection*. His disappearance +seemed to make no impression on the rest of his countrymen, who were +apprized of his resolution to go. On the return of the 'Supply' they +inquired eagerly for him, and on being told that the place he was gone +to afforded plenty of birds and other good fare, innumerable volunteers +presented themselves to follow him, so great was their confidence in us and +so little hold of them had the amor patriae. + +[*I am of opinion that such protection is always extended to children who +may be left destitute.] + + +March, 1791. The snow had but just sailed, when a very daring manoeuvre was +carried into execution, with complete success, by a set of convicts, eleven +in number, including a woman, wife of one of the party, and two little +children. They seized the governor's cutter and putting into her a +seine, fishing-lines, and hooks, firearms, a quadrant, compass, and some +provisions, boldly pushed out to sea, determined to brave every danger and +combat every hardship, rather than remain longer in a captive state. Most +of these people had been brought out in the first fleet, and the terms of +transportation of some of them were expired. Among them were a fisherman, +a carpenter, and some competent navigators, so that little doubt was +entertained that a scheme so admirably planned would be adequately +executed*. When their elopement was discovered, a pursuit was ordered +by the governor. But the fugitives had made too good an use of the +intermediate time to be even seen by their pursuers. After the escape of +Captain Bligh, which was well known to us, no length of passage or hazard +of navigation seemed above human accomplishment. However to prevent future +attempts of a like nature, the governor directed that boats only of stated +dimensions should be built. Indeed an order of this sort had been issued +on the escape of the first party, and it was now repeated with additional +restrictions. + +[*It was my fate to fall in again with part of this little band of +adventurers. In March 1792, when I arrived in the Gorgon, at the Cape of +Good Hope, six of these people, including the woman and one child, were put +on board of us to be carried to England. Four had died, and one had jumped +overboard at Batavia. The particulars of their voyage were briefly as +follows. They coasted the shore of New Holland, putting occasionally into +different harbours which they found in going along. One of these harbours, +in the latitude of 30 degrees south, they described to be of superior +excellence and capacity. Here they hauled their bark ashore, paid her seams +with tallow, and repaired her. But it was with difficulty they could keep +off the attacks of the Indians. These people continued to harras them so +much that they quitted the mainland and retreated to a small island in +the harbour, where they completed their design. Between the latitude of 26 +degrees and 27 degrees, they were driven by a current 30 leagues from the +shore, among some islands, where they found plenty of large turtles. Soon +after they closed again with the continent, when the boat got entangled in +the surf and was driven on shore, and they had all well nigh perished. They +passed rough the straits of Endeavour and, beyond the gulf of Carpentaria, +found a large freshwater river, which they entered, and filled from it +their empty casks. + +Until they reached the gulf of Carpentaria, they saw no natives or canoes +differing from those about Port Jackson. But now they were chased by large +canoes, jitted with sails and fighting stages, and capable of holding +thirty men each. They escaped by dint of rowing to windward. On the 5th +of June 1791 they reached Timor, and pretended that they had belonged to a +ship which, on her passage from Port Jackson to India, had foundered; +and that they only had escaped. The Dutch received them with kindness +and treated them with hospitality. But their behaviour giving rise to +suspicion, they were watched; and one of them at last, in a moment of +intoxication, betrayed the secret. They were immediately secured and +committed to prison. Soon after Captain Edwards of the Pandora, who had +been wrecked near Endeavour straits, arrived at Timor, and they were +delivered up to him, by which means they became passengers in the Gorgon. + +I confess that I never looked at these people without pity and +astonishment. They had miscarried in a heroic struggle for liberty after +having combated every hardship and conquered every difficulty. + +The woman, and one of the men, had gone out to Port Jackson in the ship +which had transported me thither. They had both of them been always +distinguished for good behaviour. And I could not but reflect with +admiration at the strange combination of circumstances which had again +brought us together, to baffle human foresight and confound human +speculation.] + + +April, 1791. Notwithstanding the supplies which had recently arrived from +Batavia, short allowance was again proclaimed on the 2nd of April, on which +day we were reduced to the following ration: + +Three pounds of rice, three pounds of flour and three pounds of pork per +week. + +It was singularly unfortunate that these retrenchments should always happen +when the gardens were most destitute of vegetables. A long drought had +nearly exhausted them. The hardships which we in consequence suffered were +great, but not comparable to what had been formerly experienced. Besides, +now we made sure of ships arriving soon to dispel our distress. Whereas, +heretofore, from having never heard from England, the hearts of men sunk +and many had begun to doubt whether it had not been resolved to try how +long misery might be endured with resignation. + +Notwithstanding the incompetency of so diminished a pittance, the daily +task of the soldier and convict continued unaltered. I never contemplated +the labours of these men without finding abundant cause of reflection on +the miseries which our nature can overcome. Let me for a moment quit the +cold track of narrative. Let me not fritter away by servile adaptation +those reflections and the feelings they gave birth to. Let me transcribe +them fresh as they arose, ardent and generous, though hopeless and +romantic. I every day see wretches pale with disease and wasted with +famine, struggle against the horror's of their situation. How striking is +the effect of subordination; how dreadful is the fear of punishment! The +allotted task is still performed, even on the present reduced subsistence. +The blacksmith sweats at the sultry forge, the sawyer labours pent-up in +his pit and the husbandman turns up the sterile glebe. Shall I again hear +arguments multiplied to violate truth, and insult humanity! Shall I again +be told that the sufferings of the wretched Africans are indispensable +for the culture of our sugar colonies; that white men are incapable of +sustaining the heat of the climate! I have been in the West Indies. I +have lived there. I know that it is a rare instance for the mercury in the +thermometer to mount there above 90 degrees; and here I scarcely pass a +week in summer without seeing it rise to 100 degrees; sometimes to 105; +nay, beyond even that burning altitude. + +But toil cannot be long supported without adequate refreshment. The first +step in every community which wishes to preserve honesty should be to set +the people above want. The throes of hunger will ever prove too +powerful for integrity to withstand. Hence arose a repetition of petty +delinquencies, which no vigilance could detect, and no justice reach. +Gardens were plundered, provisions pilfered, and the Indian corn stolen +from the fields where it grew for public use. Various were the measures +adopted to check this depredatory spirit. Criminal courts, either from the +tediousness of their process, or from the frequent escape of culprits from +their decision, were seldomer convened than formerly. The governor ordered +convict offenders either to be chained together or to wear singly a large +iron collar with two spikes projecting from it, which effectually hindered +the party from concealing it under his shirt; and thus shackled, they were +compelled to perform their quota of work. + +May, 1791. Had their marauding career terminated here, humanity would +have been anxious to plead in their defence; but the natives continued to +complain of being robbed of spears and fishing tackle. A convict was at +length taken in the fact of stealing fishing-tackle from Daringa, the wife +of Colbee. The governor ordered that he should be severely flogged in the +presence of as many natives as could be assembled, to whom the cause of +punishment should be explained. Many of them, of both sexes, accordingly +attended. Arabanoo's aversion to a similar sight has been noticed; and if +the behaviour of those now collected be found to correspond with it, it +is, I think, fair to conclude that these people are not of a sanguinary +and implacable temper. Quick indeed of resentment, but not unforgiving of +injury. There was not one of them that did not testify strong abhorrence +of the punishment and equal sympathy with the sufferer. The women were +particularly affected; Daringa shed tears, and Barangaroo, kindling into +anger, snatched a stick and menaced the executioner. The conduct of these +women, on this occasion, was exactly descriptive of their characters. The +former was ever meek and feminine, the latter fierce and unsubmissive. + +On the first of May, many allotments of ground were parcelled out by the +governor to convicts whose periods of transportation were expired, and who +voluntarily offered to become settlers in the country. The terms on which +they settled, and their progress in agriculture, will be hereafter set +forth. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + + +Travelling Diaries in New South Wales. + + +From among my numerous travelling journals into the interior parts of +the country, I select the following to present to the reader, as equally +important in their object, and more amusing in their detail, than any +other. + +In April 1791 an expedition was undertaken, in order to ascertain whether +or not the Hawkesbury and the Nepean, were the same river. With this view, +we proposed to fall in a little above Richmond Hill*, and trace down to it; +and if the weather should prove fine to cross at the ford, and go a short +distance westward, then to repass the river and trace it upward until we +should either arrive at some spot which we knew to be the Nepean, or should +determine by its course that the Hawkesbury was a different stream. + +[*Look at the map for the situation of this place (Unfortunately, there is +no map accompanying this etext. Ed.)] + + +Our party was strong and numerous. It consisted of twenty-one persons, +viz. the governor, Mr. Collins and his servant, Mr. White, Mr. Dawes, the +author, three gamekeepers, two sergeants, eight privates, and our friends +Colbee and Boladeree. These two last were volunteers on the occasion, on +being assured that we should not stay out many days and that we should +carry plenty of provisions. Baneelon wished to go, but his wife would not +permit it. Colbee on the other hand, would listen to no objections. He only +stipulated (with great care and consideration) that, during his absence, +his wife and child should remain at Sydney under our protection, and be +supplied with provisions. + +But before we set out, let me describe our equipment, and try to convey +to those who have rolled along on turnpike roads only, an account of those +preparations which are required in traversing the wilderness. Every +man (the governor excepted) carried his own knapsack, which contained +provisions for ten days. If to this be added a gun, a blanket, and a +canteen, the weight will fall nothing short of forty pounds. Slung to the +knapsack are the cooking kettle and the hatchet, with which the wood to +kindle the nightly fire and build the nightly hut is to be cut down. Garbed +to drag through morasses, tear through thickets, ford rivers and scale +rocks, our autumnal heroes, who annually seek the hills in pursuit of +grouse and black game, afford but an imperfect representation of the +picture. + +Thus encumbered, the march begins at sunrise, and with occasional halts +continues until about an hour and a half before sunset. It is necessary to +stop thus early to prepare for passing the night, for toil here ends not +with the march. Instead of the cheering blaze, the welcoming landlord, and +the long bill of fare, the traveller has now to collect his fuel, to erect +his wigwam, to fetch water, and to broil his morsel of salt pork. Let him +then lie down, and if it be summer, try whether the effect of fatigue is +sufficiently powerful to overcome the bites and stings of the myriads of +sandflies and mosquitoes which buzz around him. + +Monday, April 11, 1791. At twenty minutes before seven o'clock, we started +from the governor's house at Rose Hill and steered* for a short time nearly +in a north-east direction, after which we turned to north 34 degrees west, +and steadily pursued that course until a quarter before four o'clock, when +we halted for the night. The country for the first two miles, while we +walked to the northeast, was good, full of grass and without rock or +underwood. + +Afterwards it grew very bad, being full of steep, barren rocks, over which +we were compelled to clamber for seven miles, when it changed to a plain +country apparently very sterile, and with very little grass in it, which +rendered walking easy. Our fatigue in the morning had, however, been so +oppressive that one of the party knocked up. And had not a soldier, as +strong as a pack-horse, undertaken to carry his knapsack in addition to his +own, we must either have sent him back, or have stopped at a place for the +night which did not afford water. Our two natives carried each his pack, +but its weight was inconsiderable, most of their provisions being in the +knapsacks of the soldiers and gamekeepers. We expected to have derived from +them much information relating to the country, as no one doubted that they +were acquainted with every part of it between the sea coast and the river +Hawkesbury. We hoped also to have witnessed their manner of living in +the woods, and the resources they rely upon in their journeys. Nothing, +however, of this sort had yet occurred, except their examining some +trees to see if they could discover on the bark any marks of the claws of +squirrels and opossums, which they said would show whether any of those +animals were hidden among the leaves and branches. They walked stoutly, +appeared but little fatigued, and maintained their spirits admirably, +laughing to excess when any of us either tripped or stumbled, misfortunes +which much seldomer fell to their lot than to ours. + +[*Our method, on these expeditions, was to steer by compass, noting the +different courses as we proceeded; and counting the number of paces, of +which two thousand two hundred, on good ground, were allowed to be a mile. +At night when we halted, all these courses were separately cast up, and +worked by a traverse table, in the manner a ship's reckoning is kept, so +that by observing this precaution, we always knew exactly where we were, +and how far from home; an unspeakable advantage in a new country, where one +hill, and one tree, is so like another that fatal wanderings would ensue +without it. This arduous task was always allotted to Mr. Dawes who, +from habit and superior skill, performed it almost without a stop, or an +interruption of conversation: to any other man, on such terms, it would +have been impracticable.] + +At a very short distance from Rose Hill, we found that they were in a +country unknown to them, so that the farther they went the more dependent +on us they became, being absolute strangers inland. To convey to their +understandings the intention of our journey was impossible. For, perhaps, +no words could unfold to an Indian the motives of curiosity which induce +men to encounter labour, fatigue and pain, when they might remain in repose +at home, with a sufficiency of food. We asked Colbee the name of the people +who live inland, and he called them Boorooberongal; and said they were bad, +whence we conjectured that they sometimes war with those on the sea coast, +by whom they were undoubtedly driven up the country from the fishing +ground, that it might not be overstocked; the weaker here, as in every +other country, giving way to the stronger. + +We asked how they lived. He said, on birds and animals, having no fish. +Their laziness appeared strongly when we halted, for they refused to draw +water or to cleave wood to make a fire; but as soon as it was kindled +(having first well stuffed themselves), they lay down before it and fell +asleep. About an hour after sunset, as we were chatting by the fire side +and preparing to go to rest, we heard voices at a little distance in the +wood. Our natives caught the sound instantaneously and, bidding us be +silent, listened attentively to the quarter whence it had proceeded. In a +few minutes we heard the voices plainly; and, wishing exceedingly to open +a communication with this tribe, we begged our natives to call to them, +and bid them to come to us, to assure them of good treatment, and that they +should have something given them to eat. Colbee no longer hesitated, +but gave them the signal of invitation, in a loud hollow cry. After some +whooping and shouting on both sides, a man with a lighted stick in his hand +advanced near enough to converse with us. The first words which we could +distinctly understand were, 'I am Colbee, of the tribe of Cadigal.' +The stranger replied, 'I am Bereewan, of the tribe of Boorooberongal.' +Boladeree informed him also of his name and that we were white men and +friends, who would give him something to eat. Still he seemed irresolute. +Colbee therefore advanced to him, took him by the hand and led him to us. +By the light of the moon, we were introduced to this gentleman, all our +names being repeated in form by our two masters of the ceremonies, who said +that we were Englishmen and 'budyeeree' (good), that we came from the sea +coast, and that we were travelling inland. + +Bereewan seemed to be a man about thirty years old, differing in no respect +from his countrymen with whom we were acquainted. He came to us unarmed, +having left his spears at a little distance. After a long conversation with +his countrymen, and having received some provisions, he departed highly +satisfied. + +Tuesday, April 12th, 1791. Started this morning at half past six o'clock, +and in two hours reached the river. The whole of the country we passed +was poor, and the soil within a mile of the river changed to a coarse deep +sand, which I have invariably found to compose its banks in every part +without exception that I ever saw. The stream at this place is about 350 +feet wide; the water pure and excellent to the taste. The banks are about +twenty feet high and covered with trees, many of which had been evidently +bent by the force of the current in the direction which it runs, and +some of them contained rubbish and drift wood in their branches at least +forty-five feet above the level of the stream. We saw many ducks, and +killed one, which Colbee swam for. No new production among the shrubs +growing here was found. We were acquainted with them all. Our natives had +evidently never seen this river before. They stared at it with surprise, +and talked to each other. Their total ignorance of the country, and of the +direction in which they had walked, appeared when they were asked which +way Rose Hill lay; for they pointed almost oppositely to it. Of our compass +they had taken early notice, and had talked much to each other about it. +They comprehended its use, and called it 'naamoro,' literally, "to see the +way"; a more significant or expressive term cannot be found. + +Supposing ourselves to be higher on the stream than Richmond Hill, we +agreed to trace downward, or to the right hand. In tracing, we kept as +close to the bank of the river as the innumerable impediments to walking +which grow upon it would allow. We found the country low and swampy; came +to a native fireplace, at which were some small fish-bones; soon after we +saw a native, but he ran away immediately. Having walked nearly three miles +we were stopped by a creek which we could neither ford, or fall a tree +across. We were therefore obliged to coast it, in hope to find a passing +place or to reach its head. At four o'clock we halted for the night on +the bank of the creek. Our natives continued to hold out stoutly. The +hindrances to walking by the river side which plagued and entangled us so +much, seemed not to be heeded by them, and they wound through them with +case; but to us they were intolerably tiresome. Our perplexities afforded +them an inexhaustible fund of merriment and derision: Did the sufferer, +stung at once with nettles and ridicule, and shaken nigh to death by his +fall, use any angry expression to them, they retorted in a moment, by +calling him by every opprobrious name* which their language affords. + +Boladeree destroyed a native hut today very wantonly before we could +prevent him. On being asked why he did so, he answered that the inhabitants +inland were bad; though no longer since than last night, when Bereewan +had departed, they were loud in their praise. But now they had reverted to +their first opinion; so fickle and transient are their motives of love and +hatred. + +[*Their general favourite term of reproach is 'goninpatta', which signifies +'an eater of human excrement'. Our language would admit a very concise and +familiar translation. They have, besides this, innumerable others which +they often salute their enemies with.] + + +Wednesday, April 13th, 1791. We did not set out this morning until past +seven o'clock, when we continued to trace the creek. The country which we +passed through yesterday was good and desirable to what was now presented +to us. It was in general high and universally rocky. 'Toiling our uncouth +way', we mounted a hill, and surveyed the contiguous country. To the +northward and eastward, the ground was still higher than that we were upon; +but in a south-west direction we saw about four miles. The view consisted +of nothing but trees growing on precipices; not an acre of it could be +cultivated. Saw a tree on fire here, and several other vestiges of the +natives. To comprehend the reasons which induce an Indian to perform many +of the offices of life is difficult; to pronounce that which could lead him +to wander amidst these dreary wilds baffles penetration. About two o'clock +we reached the head of the creek, passed it and scrambled with infinite +toil and difficulty to the top of a neighbouring mountain, whence we saw +the adjacent country in almost every direction, for many miles. I record +with regret that this extended view presented not a single gleam of change +which could encourage hope or stimulate industry, to attempt its culture. +We had, however, the satisfaction to discover plainly the object of our +pursuit, Richmond Hill, distant about eight miles, in a contrary direction +from what we had been proceeding upon. It was readily known to those who +had been up the Hawkesbury in the boats, by a remarkable cleft or notch +which distinguishes it. It was now determined that we should go back to the +head of the creek and pass the night there; and in the morning cut +across the country to that part of the river which we had first hit +upon yesterday, and thence to trace upward, or to the left. But before I +descend, I must not forget to relate that to this pile of desolation on +which, like the fallen angel on the top of Niphates, we stood contemplating +our nether Eden, His Excellency was pleased to give the name of Tench's +Prospect Mount. + +Our fatigue to-day had been excessive; but our two sable companions seemed +rather enlivened than exhausted by it. We had no sooner halted and given +them something to eat than they began to play ten thousand tricks and +gambols. They imitated the leaping of the kangaroo; sang, danced, poised +the spear and met in mock encounter. But their principal source of +merriment was again derived from our misfortunes, in tumbling amidst +nettles, and sliding down precipices, which they mimicked with inimitable +drollery. They had become, however, very urgent in their inquiries about +the time of our return, and we pacified them as well as we could by saying +it would be soon, but avoided naming how many days. + +Their method of testifying dislike to any place is singular: they point to +the spot they are upon, and all around it, crying 'weeree, weeree' (bad) +and immediately after mention the name of any other place to which they +are attached (Rose Hill or Sydney for instance), adding to it 'budyeree, +budyeree' (good). Nor was their preference in the present case the +result of caprice, for they assigned very substantial reasons for such +predilection: "At Rose Hill," said they, "are potatoes, cabbages, pumpkins, +turnips, fish and wine; here are nothing but rocks and water." These +comparisons constantly ended with the question of "Where's Rose Hill? +Where?" on which they would throw up their hands and utter a sound to +denote distance, which it is impossible to convey an idea of upon paper. + +Thursday, April 14th, 1791. We started early and reached the river in about +two hours and a half. The intermediate country, except for the last half +mile, was a continued bed of stones, which were in some places so thick and +close together that they looked like a pavement formed by art. When we got +off the stones, we came upon the coarse river sand beforementioned. + +Here we began to trace upward. We had not proceeded far when we saw several +canoes on the river. Our natives made us immediately lie down among the +reeds, while they gave their countrymen the signal of approach. After much +calling, finding that they did not come, we continued our progress until +it was again interrupted by a creek, over which we threw a tree and passed +upon it. While this was doing, a native, from his canoe, entered into +conversation with us, and immediately after paddled to us with a frankness +and confidence which surprised every one. He was a man of middle age, with +an open cheerful countenance, marked with the small pox, and distinguished +by a nose of uncommon magnitude and dignity. He seemed to be neither +astonished or terrified at our appearance and number. Two stone hatchets, +and two spears he took from his canoe, and presented to the governor, who +in return for his courteous generosity, gave him two of our hatchets and +some bread, which was new to him, for he knew not its use, but kept +looking at it, until Colbee shewed him what to do, when he eat it +without hesitation. We pursued our course, and to accommodate us, our new +acquaintance pointed out a path and walked at the head of us. A canoe, +also with a man and a boy in it, kept gently paddling up abreast of us. +We halted for the night at our usual hour, on the bank of the river. +Immediately that we had stopped, our friend (who had already told us his +name) Gombeeree, introduced the man and the boy from the canoe to us. The +former was named Yellomundee, the latter Deeimba. The ease with which these +people behaved among strangers was as conspicuous, as unexpected. They +seated themselves at our fire, partook of our biscuit and pork, drank from +our canteens, and heard our guns going off around them without betraying +any symptom of fear, distrust or surprise. On the opposite bank of the +river they had left their wives and several children, with whom they +frequently discoursed; and we observed that these last manifested neither +suspicion or uneasiness of our designs towards their friends. + +Having refreshed ourselves, we found leisure to enter into conversation +with them. It could not be expected that they should differ materially from +the tribes with whom we were acquainted. The same manners and pursuits, the +same amusements, the same levity and fickleness, undoubtedly characterised +them. What we were able to learn from them was that they depend but little +on fish, as the river yields only mullets, and that their principal support +is derived from small animals which they kill, and some roots (a species of +wild yam chiefly) which they dig out of the earth. If we rightly understood +them, each man possesses two wives. Whence can arise this superabundance of +females? Neither of the men had suffered the extraction of a front tooth. +We were eager to know whether or not this custom obtained among them. But +neither Colbee nor Boladeree would put the question for us; and on the +contrary, showed every desire to wave the subject. The uneasiness which +they testified, whenever we renewed it, rather served to confirm a +suspicion which we had long entertained, that this is a mark of subjection +imposed by the tribe of Cameragal, (who are certainly the most powerful +community in the country) on the weaker tribes around them. Whether the +women cut off a joint of one of the little fingers, like those on the sea +coast, we had no opportunity of observing. These are petty remarks. But +one variety struck us more forcibly. Although our natives and the strangers +conversed on a par and understood each other perfectly, yet they spoke +different dialects of the same language; many of the most common and +necessary words used in life bearing no similitude, and others being +slightly different. + + ------------------------------------------------------------ + English Name on the sea coast Name at the Hawkesbury + ------------------------------------------------------------ + + The Moon Yeneeda Condoen + The Ear Gooree Benna + The Forehead Nullo Narran + The Belly Barang Bindee + The Navel Muneero Boombong + The Buttocks Boong Baylee + The Neck Calang Ganga + The Thigh Tara Dara + The Hair Deewara Keewara + ------------------------------------------------------------- + +That these diversities arise from want of intercourse with the people +on the coast can hardly be imagined, as the distance inland is but +thirty-eight miles; and from Rose Hill not more than twenty, where the +dialect of the sea coast is spoken. It deserves notice that all the +different terms seemed to be familiar to both parties, though each in +speaking preferred its own*. + +[*How easily people, unused to speak the same language, mistake each other, +everyone knows. We had lived almost three years at Port Jackson (for more +than half of which period natives had resided with us) before we knew that +the word 'beeal', signified 'no', and not 'good', in which latter sense we +had always used it without suspecting that we were wrong; and even without +being corrected by those with whom we talked daily. The cause of our error +was this. The epithet 'weeree', signifying 'bad', we knew; and as the +use of this word and its opposite afford the most simple form of denoting +consent or disapprobation to uninstructed Indians, in order to find out +their word for 'good', when Arabanoo was first brought among us, we used +jokingly to say that any thing, which he liked was 'weeree', in order to +provoke him to tell us that it was good. When we said 'weeree', he answered +'beeal', which we translated and adopted for 'good'; whereas he meant no +more than simply to deny our inference, and say 'no'--it is not bad. +After this, it cannot be thought extraordinary that the little vocabulary +inserted in Mr. Cook's account of this part of the world should appear +defective--even were we not to take in the great probability of the +dialects at Endeavour River and Van Diemen's land differing from that +spoken at Port Jackson. And it remains to be proved that the animal called +here 'patagaram' is not there called 'kangaroo'.] + +Stretched out at ease before our fire, all sides continued to chat and +entertain each other. Gombeeree shewed us the mark of a wound which he had +received in his side from a spear. It was large, appeared to have passed to +a considerable depth, and must certainly have been attended with imminent +danger. By whom it had been inflicted, and on what occasion, he explained +to Colbee; and afterwards (as we understood) he entered into a detail of +the wars, and, as effects lead to causes, probably of the gallantries of +the district, for the word which signifies a woman was often repeated. +Colbee, in return for his communication, informed him who we were; of our +numbers at Sydney and Rose Hill, of the stores we possessed and, above all, +of the good things which were to be found among us, enumerating potatoes, +cabbages, turnips, pumpkins, and many other names which were perfectly +unintelligible to the person who heard them, but which he nevertheless +listened to with profound attention. + +Perhaps the relation given by Gombeeree, of the cure of his wound, now +gave rise to the following superstitious ceremony. While they were talking, +Colbee turned suddenly round and asked for some water. I gave him a cupful, +which he presented with great seriousness to Yellomundee, as I supposed to +drink. This last indeed took the cup and filled his mouth with water, but +instead of swallowing it, threw his head into Colbee's bosom, spit the +water upon him and, immediately after, began to suck strongly at his +breast, just below the nipple. I concluded that the man was sick; and +called to the governor to observe the strange place which he had chosen to +exonerate his stomach. The silent attention observed by the other +natives, however, soon convinced us that something more than merely +the accommodation of Yellomundee, was intended. The ceremony was again +performed; and, after having sucked the part for a considerable time, the +operator pretended to receive something in his mouth, which was drawn from +the breast. With this he retired a few paces, put his hand to his lips and +threw into the river a stone, which I had observed him to pick up slily, +and secrete. When he returned to the fireside, Colbee assured us that +he had received signal benefit from the operation; and that this second +Machaon had extracted from his breast two splinters of a spear by which +he had been formerly wounded. We examined the part, but it was smooth and +whole, so that to the force of imagination alone must be imputed both the +wound and its cure. Colbee himself seemed nevertheless firmly persuaded +that he had received relief, and assured us that Yellomundee was a +'caradyee', or 'Doctor of renown'. And Boladeree added that not only he but +all the rest of his tribe were 'caradyee' of especial note and skill. + +The Doctors remained with us all night, sleeping before the fire in the +fullness of good faith and security. The little boy slept in his father's +arms, and we observed that whenever the man was inclined to shift his +position, he first put over the child, with great care, and then turned +round to him. + +Friday, April 15th, 1791. The return of light aroused us to the repetition +of toil. Our friends breakfasted with us, and previous to starting +Gombeeree gave a specimen of their manner of climbing trees in quest of +animals. He asked for a hatchet and one of ours was offered to him, but he +preferred one of their own making. With this tool he cut a small notch in +the tree he intended to climb, about two feet and a half above the ground, +in which he fixed the great toe of his left foot, and sprung upwards, at +the same time embracing the tree with his left arm. In an instant he had +cut a second notch for his right toe on the other side of the tree into +which he sprung, and thus, alternately cutting on each side, he mounted to +the height of twenty feet in nearly as short a space as if he had ascended +by a ladder, although the bark of the tree was quite smooth and slippery +and the trunk four feet in diameter and perfectly strait. To us it was a +matter of astonishment, but to him it was sport; for while employed thus he +kept talking to those below and laughing immoderately. He descended with +as much ease and agility as he had raised himself. Even our natives allowed +that he was a capital performer, against whom they dared not to enter +the lists; for as they subsist chiefly by fishing they are less expert at +climbing on the coast than those who daily practice it. + +Soon after they bade us adieu, in unabated friendship and good humour. +Colbee and Boladeree parted from them with a slight nod of the head, the +usual salutation of the country; and we shook them by the hand, which they +returned lustily. + +At the time we started the tide was flowing up the river, a decisive proof +that we were below Richmond Hill. We had continued our march but a +short time when we were again stopped by a creek, which baffled all our +endeavours to cross it, and seemed to predict that the object of our +attainment, though but a very few miles distant, would take us yet a +considerable time to reach, which threw a damp on our hopes. We traced the +creek until four o'clock, when we halted for the night. The country, on +both sides, we thought in general unpromising; but it is certainly very +superior to that which we had seen on the former creek. In many places +it might be cultivated, provided the inundations of the stream can be +repelled. + +In passing along we shot some ducks, which Boladeree refused to swim for +when requested, and told us in a surly tone that they swam for what was +killed, and had the trouble of fetching it ashore, only for the white men +to eat it. This reproof was, I fear, too justly founded; for of the few +ducks we had been so fortunate as to procure, little had fallen to their +share except the offals, and now and then a half-picked bone. True, indeed, +all the crows and hawks which had been shot were given to them; but +they plainly told us that the taste of ducks was more agreeable to their +palates, and begged they might hereafter partake of them. We observed +that they were thoroughly sick of the journey, and wished heartily for its +conclusion: the exclamation of "Where's Rose Hill, where?" was incessantly +repeated, with many inquiries about when we should return to it. + +Saturday April 16th, 1791. It was this morning resolved to abandon our +pursuit and to return home; at hearing of which our natives expressed great +joy. We started early; and reached Rose Hill about three o'clock, just as +a boat was about to be sent down to Sydney. Colbee and Boladeree would +not wait for us until the following morning, but insisted on going down +immediately to communicate to Baneelon and the rest of their countrymen the +novelties they had seen. + +The country we passed through was, for the most part, very indifferent, +according to our universal opinion. It is in general badly watered. For +eight miles and a half on one line we did not find a drop of water. + +RICHMOND HILL + +Having eluded our last search, Mr. Dawes and myself, accompanied by a +sergeant of marines and a private soldier, determined on another attempt, +to ascertain whether it lay on the Hawkesbury or Nepean. We set out on this +expedition on the 24th of May, 1791; and having reached the opposite side +of the mouth of the creek which had in our last journey prevented our +progress, we proceeded from there up to Richmond Hill by the river side; +mounted it; slept at its foot; and on the following day penetrated some +miles westward or inland of it until we were stopped by a mountainous +country, which our scarcity of provisions, joined to the terror of a river +at our back, whose sudden rising is almost beyond computation, hindered +us from exploring. To the elevation which bounded our research we gave +the name of Knight Hill, in honour of the trusty sergeant who had been the +faithful indefatigable companion of all our travels. + +This excursion completely settled the long contested point about the +Hawkesbury and Nepean. We found them to be one river. Without knowing it, +Mr. Dawes and myself had passed Richmond Hill almost a year before (in +August 1790), and from there walked on the bank of the river to the spot +where my discovery of the Nepean happened, in June 1789. Our ignorance +arose from having never before seen the hill, and from the erroneous +position assigned to it by those who had been in the boats up the river. + +Except the behaviour of some natives whom we met on the river, which it +would be ingratitude to pass in silence, nothing particularly worthy of +notice occurred on this expedition. + +When we had reached within two miles of Richmond Hill, we heard a native +call. We directly answered him and conversed across the river for some +time. At length he launched his canoe and crossed to us without distrust +or hesitation. We had never seen him before; but he appeared to know our +friend Gombeeree, of whom he often spoke. He said his name was Deedora. He +presented us with two spears and a throwing-stick, and in return we gave +him some bread and beef. Finding that our route lay up the river, he +offered to accompany us and, getting into his canoe, paddled up abreast +of us. When we arrived at Richmond Hill it became necessary to cross +the river; but the question was, how this should be effected? Deedora +immediately offered his canoe. We accepted of it and, Mr. Dawes and the +soldier putting their clothes into it, pushed it before them, and by +alternately wading and swimming, soon passed. On the opposite shore sat +several natives, to whom Deedora called, by which precaution the arrival of +the strangers produced no alarm. On the contrary, they received them with +every mark of benevolence. Deedora, in the meanwhile, sat talking with the +sergeant and me. Soon after, another native, named Morunga, brought back +the canoe, and now came our turn to cross. The sergeant (from a foolish +trick which had been played upon him when he was a boy) was excessively +timorous of water, and could not swim. Morunga offered to conduct him, and +they got into the canoe together; but, his fears returning, he jumped out +and refused to proceed. I endeavoured to animate him, and Morunga ridiculed +his apprehensions, making signs of the ease and dispatch with which he +would land him; but he resolved to paddle over by himself, which, by dint +of good management and keeping his position very steadily, he performed. +It was now become necessary to bring over the canoe a third time for my +accommodation, which was instantly done, and I entered it with Deedora. +But, like the sergeant, I was so disordered at seeing the water within a +hair's breadth of the level of our skiff (which brought to my remembrance +a former disaster I had experienced on this river) that I jumped out, about +knee-deep, and determined to swim over, which I effected. My clothes, half +our knapsacks, and three of our guns yet remained to be transported across. +These I recommended to the care of our grim ferrymen, who instantaneously +loaded their boat with them and delivered them on the opposite bank, +without damage or diminution. + +During this long trial of their patience and courtesy--in the latter part +of which I was entirely in their power, from their having possession of +our arms--they had manifested no ungenerous sign of taking advantage of the +helplessness and dependance of our situation; no rude curiosity to pry into +the packages with which they were entrusted; or no sordid desire to possess +the contents of them; although among them were articles exposed to view, of +which it afterwards appeared they knew the use, and longed for the benefit. +Let the banks of those rivers, "known to song", let him whose travels have +lain among polished nations produce me a brighter example of disinterested +urbanity than was shown by these denizens of a barbarous clime to a set of +destitute wanderers on the side of the Hawkesbury. + +On the top of Richmond Hill we shot a hawk, which fell in a tree. Deedora +offered to climb for it and we lent him a hatchet, the effect of which +delighted him so much that he begged for it. As it was required to chop +wood for our evening fire, it could not be conveniently spared; but we +promised him that if he would visit us on the following morning, it should +be given to him. Not a murmur was heard; no suspicion of our insincerity; +no mention of benefits conferred; no reproach of ingratitude. His good +humour and cheerfulness were not clouded for a moment. Punctual to our +appointment, he came to us at daylight next morning and the hatchet was +given to him, the only token of gratitude and respect in our power to +bestow. Neither of these men had lost his front tooth. + +THE LAST EXPEDITION + +Which I ever undertook in the country I am describing was in July 1791, +when Mr. Dawes and myself went in search of a large river which was said +to exist a few miles to the southward of Rose Hill. We went to the place +described, and found this second Nile or Ganges to be nothing but a +saltwater creek communicating with Botany Bay, on whose banks we passed a +miserable night from want of a drop of water to quench our thirst, for as +we believed that we were going to a river we thought it needless to march +with full canteens. + +On this expedition we carried with us a thermometer which (in unison with +our feelings) shewed so extraordinary a degree of cold for the latitude of +the place that I think myself bound to transcribe it. + +Monday, 18th July 1791. The sun arose in unclouded splendor and presented +to our sight a novel and picturesque view. The contiguous country as white +as if covered with snow, contrasted with the foliage of trees flourishing +in the verdure of tropical luxuriancy*. Even the exhalation which steamed +from the lake beneath contributed to heighten the beauty of the scene. +Wind SSW. Thermorneter at sunrise 25 degrees. The following night was still +colder. At sunset the thermometer stood at 45 degrees; at a quarter before +four in the morning, it was at 26 degrees; at a quarter before six at 24 +degrees; at a quarter before seven, at 23 degrees; at seven o'clock, 22.7 +degrees; at sunrise, 23 degrees, after which it continued gradually to +mount, and between one and two o'clock, stood at 59.6 degrees in the shade. +Wind SSW. The horizon perfectly clear all day, not the smallest speck to +be seen. Nothing but demonstration could have convinced me that so severe +a degree of cold ever existed in this low latitude. Drops of water on a +tin pot, not altogether out of the influence of the fire, were frozen into +solid ice in less than twelve minutes. Part of a leg of kangaroo which we +had roasted for supper was frozen quite hard, all the juices of it being +converted into ice. On those ponds which were near the surface of the +earth, the covering of ice was very thick; but on those which were lower +down it was found to be less so, in proportion to their depression; and +wherever the water was twelve feet below the surface (which happened to be +the case close to us) it was uncongealed. It remains to be observed that +the cold of both these nights, at Rose Hill and Sydney, was judged to be +greater than had ever before been felt. + +[*All the trees of New South Wales, may I apprehend, be termed evergreen. +For after such weather as this journal records, I did not observe either +that the leaves had dropped off, or that they had assumed that sickly +autumnal tint, which marks English trees in corresponding circumstances.] + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + + +Transactions of the Colony to the end of November, 1791. + + +The extreme dryness of the preceding summer has been noticed. It had +operated so far in the beginning of June that we dreaded a want of water +for common consumption most of the little reservoirs in the neighbourhood +of Sydney being dried up. The small stream near the town was so nearly +exhausted (being only the drain of a morass) that a ship could not have +watered at it, and the 'Supply' was preparing to sink casks in a swamp when +rain fell and banished our apprehensions. + +June, 1791. On the second instant, the name of the settlement, at the head +of the harbour (Rose Hill) was changed, by order of the governor, to that +of Parramatta, the native name of it. As Rose Hill has, however, occurred +so often in this book, I beg leave, to avoid confusion, still to continue +the appellation in all future mention of it. + +Our travelling friend Boladeree, who makes so conspicuous a figure in the +last chapter, about this time committed an offence which we were obliged +to notice. He threw a spear at a convict in the woods, and wounded him. The +truth was, some mischievous person belonging to us had wantonly destroyed +his canoe, and he revenged the injury on the first of our people whom he +met unarmed. He now seemed to think the matter adjusted; and probably such +is the custom they observe in their own society in similar cases. Hearing, +however, that an order was issued to seize him, or in case that could not +be effected, to shoot him, he prudently dropped all connection with us and +was for a long time not seen. + +But if they sometimes injured us, to compensate they were often of signal +benefit to those who needed their assistance: two instances of which had +recently occurred. A boat was overset in the harbour Baneelon and some +other natives, who saw the accident happen, immediately plunged in, and +saved all the people. When they had brought them on shore, they undressed +them, kindled a fire and dried their clothes, gave them fish to eat and +conducted them to Sydney. + +The other instance was of a soldier lost in the woods, when he met a party +of natives. He at first knew not whether to flee from them, or to implore +their assistance. Seeing among them one whom he knew, he determined to +communicate his distress to him and to rely on his generosity. The Indian +told him that he had wandered a long way from home, but that he would +conduct him thither, on the single condition of his delivering up a gun +which he held in his hand, promising to carry it for him and to restore +it to him at parting. The soldier felt little inclination to surrender +his arms, by which he would be put entirely in their power. But seeing no +alternative, he at last consented; on which the whole party laid down their +spears and faithfully escorted him to the nearest part of the settlement, +where the gun was given up, and they took their leave without asking for +any remuneration, or even seeming to expect it. + +The distressful state of the colony for provisions continued gradually to +augment until the 9th of July, when the Mary Anne transport arrived from +England. This ship had sailed from the Downs so lately as the 25th of +February, having been only four months and twelve days on her passage. She +brought out convicts, by contract, at a specific sum for each person. But +to demonstrate the effect of humanity and justice, of 144 female convicts +embarked on board only three had died, and the rest were landed in perfect +health, all loud in praise of their conductor. The master's name was Munro; +and his ship, after fulfilling her engagement with government, was bound on +the southern fishery. The reader must not conclude that I sacrifice to +dull detail, when he finds such benevolent conduct minutely narrated. +The advocates of humanity are not yet become too numerous: but those +who practise its divine precepts, however humble and unnoticed be their +station, ought not to sink into obscurity, unrecorded and unpraised, with +the vile monsters who deride misery and fatten on calamity. + +July, 1791. If, however, the good people of this ship delighted us with +their benevolence, here gratification ended. I was of a party who had rowed +in a boat six miles out to sea, beyond the harbour's mouth, to meet them; +and what was our disappointment, on getting aboard, to find that they had +not brought a letter (a few official ones for the governor excepted) to any +person in the colony! Nor had they a single newspaper or magazine in their +possession; nor could they conceive that any person wished to hear news; +being as ignorant of everything which had passed in Europe for the last +two years as ourselves, at the distance of half the circle. "No war--the +fleet's dismantled," was the whole that we could learn. When I asked +whether a new parliament had been called, they stared at me in stupid +wonder, not seeming to comprehend that such a body either suffered +renovation or needed it. + +"Have the French settled their government?" + +"As to that matter I can't say; I never heard; but, damn them, they were +ready enough to join the Spaniards against us." + +"Are Russia and Turkey at peace?" + +"That you see does not lie in my way; I have heard talk about it, but don't +remember what passed." + +"For heaven's sake, why did you not bring out a bundle of newspapers? You +might have procured a file at any coffee house, which would have amused +you, and instructed us?" + +"Why, really, I never thought about the matter until we were off the Cape +of Good Hope, when we spoke a man of war, who asked us the same question, +and then I wished I had." + +To have prosecuted inquiry farther would have only served to increase +disappointment and chagrin. We therefore quitted the ship, wondering and +lamenting that so large a portion of plain undisguised honesty should be so +totally unconnected with a common share of intelligence, and acquaintance +with the feelings and habits of other men. + +By the governor's letters we learned that a large fleet of transports, with +convicts on board, and His Majesty's ship Gorgon, (Captain Parker) +might soon be expected to arrive. The following intelligence which they +contained, was also made public. + + +That such convicts as had served their period of transportation, were not +to be compelled to remain in the colony; but that no temptation should be +offered to induce them to quit it, as there existed but too much reason to +believe, that they would return to former practices; that those who might +choose to settle in the country should have portions of land, subject to +stipulated restrictions, and a portion of provisions assigned to them +on signifying their inclinations; and that it was expected, that those +convicts who might be possessed of means to transport themselves from the +country, would leave it free of all incumbrances of a public nature. + + +The rest of the fleet continued to drop in, in this and the two succeeding +months. The state of the convicts whom they brought out, though +infinitely preferable to what the fleet of last year had landed, was not +unexceptionable. Three of the ships had naval agents on board to control +them. Consequently, if complaint had existed there, it would have been +immediately redressed. Exclusive of these, the 'Salamander', (Captain +Nichols) who, of 155 men lost only five; and the 'William and Anne' +(Captain Buncker) who of 187 men lost only seven, I find most worthy of +honourable mention. In the list of convicts brought out was Barrington, of +famous memory. + +Two of these ships also added to our geographic knowledge of the country. +The 'Atlantic', under the direction of Lieutenant Bowen, a naval agent, ran +into a harbour between Van Diemen's land, and Port Jackson, in latitude 35 +degrees 12 minutes south, longitude 151 degrees east, to which, in honour +of Sir John Jervis, Knight of the Bath, Mr. Bowen gave the name of Port +Jervis. Here was found good anchoring ground with a fine depth of water, +within a harbour about a mile and a quarter broad at its entrance, which +afterwards opens into a basin five miles wide and of considerable length. +They found no fresh water, but as their want of this article was not +urgent, they did not make sufficient researches to pronounce that none +existed there.* They saw, during the short time they stayed, two kangaroos +and many traces of inhabitants. The country at a little distance to the +southward of the harbour is hilly, but that contiguous to the sea is flat. +On comparing what they had found here afterwards, with the native produce +of Port Jackson, they saw no reason to think that they differed in any +respect. + +[*Just before I left the country, word was brought by a ship which had put +into Port Jervis, that a large fresh water brook was found there.] + + +The second discovery was made by Captain Wetherhead, of the 'Matilda' +transport, which was obligingly described to me, as follows, by that +gentleman, on my putting to him the underwritten questions. + +"When did you make your discovery?" + +"On the 27th of July, 1791." + +"In what latitude and longitude does it lie?" + +"In 42 degrees 15 minutes south by observation, and in 148 1/2 east by +reckoning" + +"Is it on the mainland or is it an island?" + +"It is an island, distant from the mainland about eight miles." + +"Did you anchor?" + +"Yes; and found good anchorage in a bay open about six points." + +"Did you see any other harbour or bay in the island?" + +"None." + +"Does the channel between the island and the main appear to afford good +shelter for shipping?" + +"Yes, like Spithead." + +"Did you find any water on the island?" + +"Yes, in plenty." + +"Of what size does the island appear to be?" + +"It is narrow and long; I cannot say how long. Its breadth is +inconsiderable." + +"Did you make any observations on the soil?" + +"It is sandy; and many places are full of craggy rocks." + +"Do you judge the productions which you saw on the island to be similar to +those around Port Jackson?" + +"I do not think they differ in any respect." + +"Did you see any animals?" + +"I saw three kangaroos." + +"Did you see any natives, or any marks of them?" + +"I saw no natives, but I saw a fire, and several huts like those at Port +Jackson, in one of which lay a spear." + +"What name did you give to your discovery?" + +"I called it, in honour of my ship, Matilda Bay." + +November, 1791. A very extraordinary instance of folly stimulated to +desperation occurred in the beginning of this month among the convicts at +Rose Hill. Twenty men and a pregnant woman, part of those who had arrived +in the last fleet, suddenly disappeared with their clothes, working tools, +bedding, and their provisions, for the ensuing week, which had been just +issued to them. The first intelligence heard of them, was from some convict +settlers, who said they had seen them pass, and had enquired whither +they were bound. To which they had received for answer, "to China." The +extravagance and infatuation of such an attempt was explained to them by +the settlers; but neither derision, nor demonstration could avert them from +pursuing their purpose. It was observed by those who brought in the account +that they had general idea enough of the point of the compass in which +China lies from Port Jackson, to keep in a northerly direction. + +An officer with a detachment of troops, was sent in pursuit of them; but +after a harassing march returned without success. In the course of a week +the greatest part of them were either brought back by different parties who +had fallen in with them, or were driven in by famine. Upon being questioned +about the cause of their elopement, those whom hunger had forced back, +did not hesitate to confess that they had been so grossly deceived as to +believe that China might easily be reached, being not more than 100 miles +distant, and separated only by a river. The others, however, ashamed of the +merriment excited at their expense, said that their reason for running +away was on account of being overworked and harshly treated, and that they +preferred a solitary and precarious existence in the woods to a return +to the misery they were compelled to undergo. One or two of the party +had certainly perished by the hands of the natives, who had also wounded +several others. + +I trust that no man would feel more reluctant than myself to cast an +illiberal national reflection, particularly on a people whom I regard in an +aggregate sense as brethren and fellow-citizens; and among whom, I have the +honour to number many of the most cordial and endearing intimacies which +a life passed on service could generate. But it is certain that all these +people were Irish. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + + +Transactions of the colony until 18th of December 1791, when I quitted it, +with an Account of its state at that time. + + +The Gorgon had arrived on the 21st of September, and the hour of departure +to England, for the marine battalion, drew nigh. If I be allowed to speak +from my own feelings on the occasion, I will not say that we contemplated +its approach with mingled sensations: we hailed it with rapture and +exultation. + +The 'Supply', ever the harbinger of welcome and glad tidings, proclaimed +by her own departure, that ours was at hand. On the 26th of November +she sailed for England. It was impossible to view our separation with +insensibility: the little ship which had so often agitated our hopes and +fears, which from long acquaintance we had learned to regard as part of +ourselves, whose doors of hospitality had been ever thrown open to relieve +our accumulated wants, and chase our solitary gloom! + +In consequence of the offers made to the non-commissioned officers and +privates of the marine battalion to remain in the country as settlers or to +enter into the New South Wales corps, three corporals, one drummer and 59 +privates accepted of grants of land, to settle at Norfolk Island and Rose +Hill. Of these men, several were undoubtedly possessed of sufficient skill +and industry, by the assistance of the pay which was due to them from the +date of their embarkation, in the beginning of the year 1787, to the day on +which they were discharged, to set out with reasonable hopes of being +able to procure a maintenance. But the only apparent reason to which the +behaviour of a majority of them could be ascribed was from infatuated +affection to female convicts, whose characters and habits of life, I am +sorry to say, promise from a connection neither honour nor tranquillity. + +The narrative part of this work will, I conceive, be best brought to a +termination by a description of the existing state of the colony, as taken +by myself a few days previous to my embarkation in the Gorgon, to sail for +England. + +December 2nd, 1791. Went up to Rose Hill. Public buildings here have not +greatly multiplied since my last survey. The storehouse and barrack have +been long completed; also apartments for the chaplain of the regiment, and +for the judge-advocate, in which last, criminal courts, when necessary, are +held; but these are petty erections. In a colony which contains only a few +hundred hovels built of twigs and mud, we feel consequential enough already +to talk of a treasury, an admiralty, a public library and many other +similar edifices, which are to form part of a magnificent square. The great +road from near the landing place to the governor's house is finished, and a +very noble one it is, being of great breadth, and a mile long, in a strait +line. In many places it is carried over gullies of considerable depth, +which have been filled up with trunks of trees covered with earth. All +the sawyers, carpenters and blacksmiths will soon be concentred under the +direction of a very adequate person of the governor's household. This plan +is already so far advanced as to contain nine covered sawpits, which change +of weather cannot disturb the operations of, an excellent workshed for the +carpenters and a large new shop for the blacksmiths. It certainly promises +to be of great public benefit. A new hospital has been talked of for the +last two years, but is not yet begun. Two long sheds, built in the form +of a tent and thatched, are however finished, and capable of holding 200 +patients. The sick list of today contains 382 names. Rose Hill is less +healthy than it used to be. The prevailing disorder is a dysentery, which +often terminates fatally. There was lately one very violent putrid fever +which, by timely removal of the patient, was prevented from spreading. +Twenty-five men and two children died here in the month of November. + +When at the hospital I saw and conversed with some of the 'Chinese +travellers'; four of them lay here, wounded by the natives. I asked these +men if they really supposed it possible to reach China. They answered +that they were certainly made to believe (they knew not how) that at a +considerable distance to northward existed a large river, which separated +this country from the back part of China; and that when it should be +crossed (which was practicable) they would find themselves among a +copper-coloured people, who would receive and treat them kindly. They +added, that on the third day of their elopement, one of the party died +of fatigue; another they saw butchered by the natives who, finding them +unarmed, attacked them and put them to flight. This happened near Broken +Bay, which harbour stopped their progress to the northward and forced them +to turn to the right hand, by which means they soon after found themselves +on the sea shore, where they wandered about in a destitute condition, +picking up shellfish to allay hunger. Deeming the farther prosecution of +their scheme impracticable, several of them agreed to return to Rose Hill, +which with difficulty they accomplished, arriving almost famished. On their +road back they met six fresh adventurers sallying forth to join them, to +whom they related what had passed and persuaded them to relinquish their +intention. There are at this time not less than thirty-eight convict men +missing, who live in the woods by day, and at night enter the different +farms and plunder for subsistence. + +December 3rd, 1791. Began my survey of the cultivated land belonging to the +public. The harvest has commenced. They are reaping both wheat and barley. +The field between the barrack and the governor's house contains wheat and +maize, both very bad, but the former particularly so. In passing through +the main street I was pleased to observe the gardens of the convicts look +better than I had expected to find them. The vegetables in general are but +mean, but the stalks of maize, with which they are interspersed, appear +green and flourishing. The semicircular hill, which sweeps from the +overseer of the cattle's house to the governor's house, is planted with +maize, which, I am told, is the best here. It certainly looks in most +parts very good--stout thick stalks with large spreading leaves--but I am +surprised to find it so backward. It is at least a month later than that +in the gardens at Sydney. Behind the maize is a field of wheat, which looks +tolerably for this part of the world. It will, I reckon, yield about twelve +bushels an acre. Continued my walk and looked at a little patch of wheat +in the governor's garden, which was sown in drills, the ground being first +mixed with a clay which its discoverers pretended was marle. Whatever it +be, this experiment bespeaks not much in favour of its enriching qualities; +for the corn looks miserably, and is far exceeded by some neighbouring +spots on which no such advantage has been bestowed. Went round the +crescent at the bottom of the garden, which certainly in beauty of form and +situation is unrivalled in New South Wales. Here are eight thousand vines +planted, all of which in another season are expected to bear grapes. +Besides the vines are several small fruit trees, which were brought in +the Gorgon from the Cape, and look lively; on one of them are half a dozen +apples as big as nutmegs. Although the soil of the crescent be poor, its +aspect and circular figure, so advantageous for receiving and retaining the +rays of the sun, eminently fit it for a vineyard. Passed the rivulet +and looked at the corn land on its northern side. On the western side of +Clarke's* house the wheat and maize are bad, but on the eastern side is a +field supposed to be the best in the colony. I thought it of good height, +and the ears well filled, but it is far from thick. + +[*Dod, who is mentioned in my former journal of this place, had died +some months ago. And Mr. Clarke, who was put in his room, is one of the +superintendants, sent out by government, on a salary of forty pounds per +annum. He was bred to husbandry, under his father at Lewes in Sussex; +and is, I conceive, competent to his office of principal conductor of the +agriculture of Rose Hill.] + +While I was looking at it, Clarke came up. I told him I thought he would +reap fifteen or sixteen bushels an acre; he seemed to think seventeen or +eighteen. I have now inspected all the European corn. A man of so little +experience of these matters as myself cannot speak with much confidence. +Perhaps the produce may average ten bushels an acre, or twelve at the +outside. Allowance should, however, be made in estimating the quality of +the soil, for the space occupied by roots of trees, for inadequate culture, +and in some measure to want of rain. Less has fallen than was wished, but +this spring was by no means so dry as the last. I find that the wheat grown +at Rose Hill last year weighed fifty-seven pounds and a half per bushel. My +next visit was to the cattle, which consists of two stallions, six mares, +and two colts; besides sixteen cows, two cow-calves, and one bull-calf, +which were brought out by the Gorgon. Two bulls which were on board died +on the passage, so that on the young gentleman just mentioned depends the +stocking of the colony. + +The period of the inhabitants of New South Wales being supplied with animal +food of their own raising is too remote for a prudent man to calculate. +The cattle look in good condition, and I was surprised to hear that neither +corn nor fodder is given to them. The enclosures in which they are confined +furnish hardly a blade of grass at present. There are people appointed to +tend them who have been used to this way of life, and who seem to execute +it very well. + +Sunday, December 4th, 1791. Divine service is now performed here every +Sunday, either by the chaplain of the settlement or the chaplain of the +regiment. I went to church today. Several hundred convicts were present, +the majority of whom I thought looked the most miserable beings in the +shape of humanity I ever beheld. They appeared to be worn down with +fatigue. + +December, 5th. Made excursions this day to view the public settlements. +Reached the first, which is about a mile in a north-west direction from the +governor's house. This settlement contains, by admeasurement, 134 acres, +a part of which is planted with maize, very backward, but in general +tolerably good, and beautifully green. Thirteen large huts, built in the +form of a tent, are erected for the convicts who work here; but I could not +learn the number of these last, being unable to find a superintendant or +any person who could give me information. Ponds of water here sufficient to +supply a thousand persons. + +Walked on to the second settlement, about two miles farther, through +an uncleared country. Here met Daveney, the person who planned and now +superintends all the operations carried on here. He told me that he +estimated the quantity of cleared ground here at 300 acres. He certainly +over-rates it one-third, by the judgment of every other person. Six weeks +ago this was a forest. It has been cleared, and the wood nearly burnt off +the ground by 500 men, in the before-mentioned period, or rather in thirty +days, for only that number have the convicts worked. He said it was too +late to plant maize, and therefore he should sow turnips, which would help +to meliorate and prepare it for next year. On examining the soil, I thought +it in general light, though in some places loamy to the touch. He means to +try the Rose Hill 'marle' upon it, with which he thinks it will incorporate +well. I hope it will succeed better than the experiment in the governor's +garden. I wished to know whether he had chosen this ground simply from the +conveniency of its situation to Rose Hill, and its easy form for tillage, +and having water, or from any marks which he had thought indicated good +soil. He said that what I had mentioned no doubt weighed with him, and that +he judged the soil to be good, from the limbs of many of the trees growing +on it being covered with moss. + +"Are," said I, "your 500 men still complete?" + +"No; this day's muster gave only 460. The rest are either sick and removed +to the hospital, or are run away in the woods." + +"How much is each labourer's daily task?" + +"Seven rods. It was eight, but on their representing to the governor that +it was beyond their strength to execute, he took off one." + +Thirteen large huts, similar to those beforementioned, contain all the +people here. To every hut are appointed two men, as hutkeepers, whose only +employment is to watch the huts in working hours to prevent them from +being robbed. This has somewhat checked depredations, and those endless +complaints of the convicts that they could not work because they had +nothing to eat, their allowance being stolen. The working hours at this +season (summer) are from five o'clock in the morning until ten; rest from +ten to two; return to work at two; and continue till sunset. This surely +cannot be called very severe toil; but on the other hand must be remembered +the inadequacy of a ration of salt provisions, with few vegetables, and +unassisted by any liquor but water. + +Here finished my remarks on every thing of a public nature at Rose Hill. +But having sufficient time, I determined to visit all the private settlers +to inspect their labours, and learn from them their schemes, their hopes +and expectations. + +In pursuance of my resolution, I crossed the country to Prospect Hill, at +the bottom of which live the following thirteen convicts, who have accepted +allotments of ground, and are become settlers. + + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Men's names. | Trades. | Number of | Number of acres + | | acres in each | in cultivation. + | | allotment. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +John Silverthorne Weaver 40 1 3/4 +Thomas Martin " 40 1 1/2 +John Nichols Gardener 40 2 +William Butler*, and his wife Seaman 50 ) +---- Lisk* Watchmaker 40 ) 4 +William Parish, wife, and a child Seaman 60 2 3/4 +William Kilby, and his wife Husbandman 60 1 1/4 +Edward Pugh, wife, and two children Carpenter 70 2 1/2 +Samuel Griffith +John Herbertt** +James Castle +Joseph Marlow*** +John Williams, and his wife +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + +[*In partnership.[Butler and Lisk] + +[**Not out of his time; but allowed to work here at his leisure hours, as +he has declared his intention of settling.] + +[***In a similar predicament with Herbert.] + +The terms on which these allotments have been granted are: that the estates +shall be fully ceded for ever to all who shall continue to cultivate for +five years, or more; that they shall be free of all taxes for the first ten +years; but after that period to pay an annual quit-rent of one shilling. +The penalty on non-performance of any of these articles is forfeiture of +the estate, and all the labour which may have been bestowed upon it. +These people are to receive provisions, (the same quantity as the working +convicts), clothes, and medicinal assistance, for eighteen months from the +day on which they settled. + +To clear and cultivate the land, a hatchet, a tomahawk, two hoes, a spade +and a shovel, are given to each person, whether man or woman; and a certain +number of cross-cut saws among the whole. To stock their farms, two sow +pigs were promised to each settler, but they almost all say they have not +yet received any, of which they complain loudly. They all received grain +to sow and plant for the first year. They settled here in July and August +last. Most of them were obliged to build their own houses; and wretched +hovels three-fourths of them are. Should any of them fall sick, the rest +are bound to assist the sick person two days in a month, provided the +sickness lasts not longer than two months; four days labour in each year, +from every person, being all that he is entitled to. To give protection to +this settlement, a corporal and two soldiers are encamped in the centre of +the farms, as the natives once attacked the settlers and burnt one of their +houses. These guards are, however, inevitably at such a distance from +some of the farms as to be unable to afford them any assistance in case of +another attack. + +With all these people I conversed and inspected their labours. Some I found +tranquil and determined to persevere, provided encouragement should be +given. Others were in a state of despondency, and predicted that they +should starve unless the period of eighteen months during which they are to +be clothed and fed, should be extended to three years. Their cultivation is +yet in its infancy, and therefore opinions should not be hastily formed +of what it may arrive at, with moderate skill and industry. They have +at present little in the ground besides maize, and that looks not very +promising. Some small patches of wheat which I saw are miserable indeed. +The greatest part of the land I think but indifferent, being light and +stoney. Of the thirteen farms ten are unprovided with water; and at some of +them they are obliged to fetch this necessary article from the distance +of a mile and a half. All the settlers complain sadly of being frequently +robbed by the runaway convicts, who plunder them incessantly. + +December 6th. Visited the settlements to the northward of the rivulet. The +nearest of them lies about a mile due north of Mr. Clarke's house. Here are +only the undernamed five settlers. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Men's names. | Trades. | Number of | Number of acres + | | acres in each | in cultivation. + | | allotment. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Thomas Brown*, wife, and child --- 60 ) +William Bradbury* --- 30 ) 3 1/2 +William Mold* --- 30 ) +Simon Burne, and wife Hosier 50 3 +----Parr, and wife Merchant's clerk 50 3 1/2 +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + +[*These three cultivate in partnership.(Brown, Bradbury, Mold.)] + +These settlers are placed on the same footing in every respect which +concerns their tenure and the assistance to be granted to them as those +at Prospect Hill. Near them is water. Parr and Burne are men of great +industry. They have both good houses which they hired people to build for +them. Parr told me that he had expended thirteen guineas on his land, which +nevertheless he does not seem pleased with. Of the three poor fellows who +work in partnership, one (Bradbury) is run away. This man had been +allowed to settle, on a belief, from his own assurance, that his term of +transportation was expired; but it was afterwards discovered that he had +been cast for life. Hereupon he grew desperate, and declared he would +rather perish at once than remain as a convict. He disappeared a week ago +and has never since been heard of. Were I compelled to settle in New South +Wales, I should fix my residence here, both from the appearance of the +soil, and its proximity to Rose Hill. A corporal and two privates are +encamped here to guard this settlement, as at Prospect. + +Proceeded to the settlement called the Ponds, a name which I suppose it +derived from several ponds of water which are near the farms. Here reside +the fourteen following settlers. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Men's names. | Trades. | Number of | Number of acres + | | acres in each | in cultivation. + | | allotment. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Thomas Kelly Servant 30 1 1/2 +William Hubbard, and wife Plasterer 50 2 1/4 +Curtis Brand, and wife Carpenter 50 3 +John Ramsay, and wife Seaman 50 3 1/2 +William Field --- 30 2 1/2 +John Richards* Stone-cutter 30 ) 4 1/2 +John Summers* Husbandman 30 ) +----Varnell --- 30 1 +Anthony Rope**, and wife, and +two children Bricklayer 70 1 +Joseph Bishop, and wife None 50 1 1/2 +Mathew Everingham, and wife Attorney's clerk 50 2 +John Anderson, and wife --- 50 2 +Edward Elliot*** Husbandman 30 ) 2 +Joseph Marshall*** Weaver 30 ) +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +[*They (Richards and Summers) cultivate in partnership.] [**A convict +who means to settle here; and is permitted to work in his leisure hours.] +[***They (Elliot and Marshall) cultivate in partnership.] + +The Prospect Hill terms of settlement extend to this place. My private +remarks were not many. Some spots which I passed over I thought desirable, +particularly Ramsay's farm; and he deserves a good spot, for he is a civil, +sober, industrious man. Besides his corn land, he has a well laid out +little garden, in which I found him and his wife busily at work. He praised +her industry to me; and said he did not doubt of succeeding. It is not +often seen that sailors make good farmers; but this man I think bids fair +to contradict the observation. The gentleman of no trade (his own words to +me) will, I apprehend, at the conclusion of the time when victualling from +the store is to cease, have the honour of returning to drag a timber or +brick cart for his maintenance. The little maize he has planted is done in +so slovenly a style as to promise a very poor crop. He who looks forward +to eat grapes from his own vine, and to sit under the shade of his own +fig-tree, must labour in every country. He must exert more than ordinary +activity. The attorney's clerk I also thought out of his province. I dare +believe that he finds cultivating his own land not half so easy a task +as he formerly found that of stringing together volumes of tautology +to encumber, or convey away, that of his neighbour. Hubbard's farm, and +Kelly's also, deserve regard, from being better managed than most of the +others. The people here complain sadly of a destructive grub which destroys +the young plants of maize. Many of the settlers have been obliged to +plant twice, nay thrice, on the same land, from the depredations of these +reptiles. There is the same guard here as at the other settlements. + +Nothing now remains for inspection but the farms on the river side. + +December 7th. Went to Scheffer's farm. I found him at home, conversed with +him, and walked with him over all his cultivated ground. He had 140 acres +granted to him, fourteen of which are in cultivation, twelve in maize, one +in wheat and one in vines and tobacco. He has besides twenty-three acres +on which the trees are cut down but not burnt off the land. He resigned his +appointment and began his farm last May, and had at first five convicts to +assist him; he has now four. All his maize, except three acres, is mean. +This he thinks may be attributed to three causes: a middling soil; too dry +a spring; and from the ground not being sufficiently pulverized before the +seed was put into it. The wheat is thin and poor: he does not reckon its +produce at more than eight or nine bushels. His vines, 900 in number, +are flourishing, and will, he supposes, bear fruit next year. His tobacco +plants are not very luxuriant: to these two last articles he means +principally to direct his exertions. He says (and truly) that they will +always be saleable and profitable. On one of the boundaries of his land is +plenty of water. A very good brick house is nearly completed for his use, +by the governor; and in the meantime he lives in a very decent one, +which was built for him on his settling here. He is to be supplied with +provisions from the public store, and with medical assistance for eighteen +months, reckoning from last May. At the expiration of this period he is +bound to support himself and the four convicts are to be withdrawn. But if +he shall then, or at any future period, declare himself able to maintain a +moderate number of these people for their labour, they will be assigned to +him. + +Mr. Scheffer is a man of industry and respectable character. He came out to +this country as superintendant of convicts, at a salary of forty pounds per +annum, and brought with him a daughter of twelve years old. He is by birth +a Hessian, and served in America, in a corps of Yaghers, with the rank of +lieutenant. He never was professionally, in any part of life, a farmer, but +he told me, that his father owned a small estate on the banks of the Rhine, +on which he resided, and that he had always been fond of looking at and +assisting in his labours, particularly in the vineyard. In walking along, +he more than once shook his head and made some mortifying observations +on the soil of his present domain, compared with the banks of his native +stream. He assured me that (exclusive of the sacrifice of his salary) he +has expended more than forty pounds in advancing his ground to the state in +which I saw it. Of the probability of success in his undertaking, he spoke +with moderation and good sense. Sometimes he said he had almost despaired, +and had often balanced about relinquishing it; but had as often been +checked by recollecting that hardly any difficulty can arise which vigour +and perseverance will not overcome. I asked him what was the tenure on +which he held his estate. He offered to show the written document, saying +that it was exactly the same as Ruse's. I therefore declined to trouble +him, and took my leave with wishes for his success and prosperity. + +Near Mr. Scheffer's farm is a small patch of land cleared by Lieutenant +Townson of the New South Wales corps, about two acres of which are in maize +and wheat, both looking very bad. + +Proceeded to the farm of Mr. Arndell, one of the assistant surgeons. This +gentleman has six acres in cultivation as follows: rather more than four in +maize, one in wheat, and the remainder in oats and barley. The wheat looks +tolerably good, rather thin but of a good height, and the ears well filled. +His farming servant guesses the produce will be twelve bushels,* and I do +not think he over-rates it. The maize he guesses at thirty bushels, which +from appearances it may yield, but not more. The oats and barley are not +contemptible. This ground has been turned up but once The aspect of it is +nearly south, on a declivity of the river, or arm of the sea, on which Rose +Hill stands. It was cleared of wood about nine months ago, and sown this +year for the first time. + +[*I have received a letter from Port Jackson, dated in April 1792, which +states that the crop of wheat turned out fifteen bushels, and the maize +rather more than forty bushels.] + +December 8th. Went this morning to the farm of Christopher Magee, a convict +settler, nearly opposite to that of Mr. Scheffen. The situation of this +farm is very eligible, provided the river in floods does not inundate it, +which I think doubtful. This man was bred to husbandry, and lived eight +years in America; he has no less than eight acres in cultivation, five +and a half in maize, one in wheat, and one and a half in tobacco. From +the wheat he does not expect more than ten bushels, but he is extravagant +enough to rate the produce of maize at 100 bushels (perhaps he may get +fifty); on tobacco he means to go largely hereafter. He began to clear this +ground in April, but did not settle until last July. I asked by what means +he had been able to accomplish so much? He answered, "By industry, and by +hiring all the convicts I could get to work in their leisure hours, besides +some little assistance which the governor has occasionally thrown in." His +greatest impediment is want of water, being obliged to fetch all he uses +more than half a mile. He sunk a well, and found water, but it was brackish +and not fit to drink. If this man shall continue in habits of industry and +sobriety, I think him sure of succeeding. + +Reached Ruse's farm,* and begged to look at his grant, the material part of +which runs thus: "A lot of thirty acres, to be called Experiment Farm; the +said lot to be holden, free of all taxes, quit-rents, &c. for ten years, +provided that the occupier, his heirs or assigns, shall reside within the +same, and proceed to the improvement thereof; reserving, however, for the +use of the crown, all timber now growing, or which hereafter shall grow, +fit for naval purposes. At the expiration of ten years, an annual quit-rent +of one shilling shall be paid by the occupier in acknowledgment." + +[*See the state of this farm in my former Rose Hill journal of November +1790, thirteen months before.] + +Ruse now lives in a comfortable brick house, built for him by the governor. +He has eleven acres and a half in cultivation, and several more which have +been cleared by convicts in their leisure hours, on condition of receiving +the first year's crop. He means to cultivate little besides maize; wheat +is so much less productive. Of the culture of vineyards and tobacco he is +ignorant; and, with great good sense, he declared that he would not quit +the path he knew, for an uncertainty. His livestock consists of four +breeding sows and thirty fowls. He has been taken from the store (that is, +has supplied himself with provisions) for some months past; and his wife +is to be taken off at Christmas, at which time, if he deems himself able to +maintain a convict labourer, one is to be given to him. + +Crossed the river in a boat to Robert Webb's farm. This man was one of +the seamen of the 'Sirius', and has taken, in conjunction with his brother +(also a seaman of the same ship) a grant of sixty acres, on the same terms +as Ruse, save that the annual quit-rent is to commence at the expiration of +five years, instead of ten. The brother is gone to England to receive the +wages due to them both for their services, which money is to be expended +by him in whatever he judges will be most conducive to the success of their +plan. Webb expects to do well; talks as a man should talk who has just set +out on a doubtful enterprise which he is bound to pursue. He is sanguine +in hope, and looks only at the bright side of the prospect. He has received +great encouragement and assistance from the governor. He has five acres +cleared and planted with maize, which looks thriving, and promises to yield +a decent crop. His house and a small one adjoining for pigs and poultry +were built for him by the governor, who also gave him two sows and seven +fowls, to which he adds a little stock of his own acquiring. + +Near Webb is placed William Read, another seaman of the 'Sirius', on the +same terms, and to whom equal encouragement has been granted. + +My survey of Rose Hill is now closed. I have inspected every piece of +ground in cultivation here, both public and private, and have written from +actual examination only. + +But before I bade adieu to Rose Hill, in all probability for the last +time of my life, it struck me that there yet remained one object of +consideration not to be slighted: Barrington had been in the settlement +between two and three months, and I had not seen him. + +I saw him with curiosity. He is tall, approaching to six feet, slender, and +his gait and manner, bespeak liveliness and activity. Of that elegance and +fashion, with which my imagination had decked him (I know not why), I +could distinguish no trace. Great allowance should, however, be made for +depression and unavoidable deficiency of dress. His face is thoughtful and +intelligent; to a strong cast of countenance he adds a penetrating eye, and +a prominent forehead. His whole demeanour is humble, not servile. Both on +his passage from England, and since his arrival here, his conduct has been +irreproachable. He is appointed high-constable of the settlement of Rose +Hill, a post of some respectability, and certainly one of importance to +those who live here. His knowledge of men, particularly of that part of +them into whose morals, manners and behaviour he is ordered especially to +inspect, eminently fit him for the office. + +I cannot quit him without bearing my testimony that his talents promise to +be directed in future to make reparation to society for the offences he has +heretofore committed against it. + +The number of persons of all descriptions at Rose Hill at this period will +be seen in the following return. + + +A return of the number of persons at Rose Hill, 3rd of December 1791 + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Quality. |Men.|Women.| Children + | | | of 10 years | of 2 years | under 2 years +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Convicts* 1336 133 0 9 17 +Troops 94 9 1 5 2 +Civil Department 7 0 0 0 0 +Seamen Settlers 3 0 0 0 0 +Free Persons 0 7 2 1 2 +Total number of +persons 1440 149 3 15 21 +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +[*The convicts who are become settlers, are included in this number.] + +Of my Sydney journal, I find no part sufficiently interesting to be worth +extraction. This place had long been considered only as a depot for stores. +It exhibited nothing but a few old scattered huts and some sterile gardens. +Cultivation of the ground was abandoned, and all our strength transferred +to Rose Hill. Sydney, nevertheless, continued to be the place of the +governor's residence, and consequently the headquarters of the colony. No +public building of note, except a storehouse, had been erected since my +last statement. The barracks, so long talked of, so long promised, for the +accommodation and discipline of the troops, were not even begun when I left +the country; and instead of a new hospital, the old one was patched up and, +with the assistance of one brought ready-framed from England, served to +contain the sick. + +The employment of the male convicts here, as at Rose Hill, was the public +labour. Of the women, the majority were compelled to make shirts, trousers +and other necessary parts of dress for the men, from materials delivered +to them from the stores, into which they returned every Saturday night the +produce of their labour, a stipulated weekly task being assigned to them. +In a more early stage, government sent out all articles of clothing ready +made; but, by adopting the present judicious plan, not only a public saving +is effected, but employment of a suitable nature created for those who +would otherwise consume leisure in idle pursuits only. + +On the 26th of November 1791, the number of persons, of all descriptions, +at Sydney, was 1259, to which, if 1628 at Rose Hill and 1172 at Norfolk +Island be added, the total number of persons in New South Wales and its +dependency will be found to amount to 4059.* + +[*A very considerable addition to this number has been made since I quitted +the settlement, by fresh troops and convicts sent thither from England.] + +On the 13th of December 1791, the marine battalion embarked on board His +Majesty's ship Gorgon, and on the 18th sailed for England. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + + +Miscellaneous Remarks on the country. On its vegetable productions. On its +climate. On its animal productions. On its natives, etc. + + +The journals contained in the body of this publication, illustrated by the +map which accompanies it (unfortunately, there is no map accompanying this +etext), are, I conceive, so descriptive of every part of the country known +to us, that little remains to be added beyond a few general observations. + +The first impression made on a stranger is certainly favourable. He sees +gently swelling hills connected by vales which possess every beauty that +verdure of trees, and form, simply considered in itself, can produce; but +he looks in vain for those murmuring rills and refreshing springs which +fructify and embellish more happy lands. Nothing like those tributary +streams which feed rivers in other countries are here seen; for when I +speak of the stream at Sydney, I mean only the drain of a morass; and the +river at Rose Hill is a creek of the harbour, which above high water mark +would not in England be called even a brook. Whence the Hawkesbury, the +only fresh water river known to exist in the country, derives its supplies, +would puzzle a transient observer. He sees nothing but torpid unmeaning +ponds (often stagnant and always still, unless agitated by heavy rains) +which communicate with it. Doubtless the springs which arise in Carmarthen +mountains may be said to constitute its source. To cultivate its banks +within many miles of the bed of the stream (except on some elevated +detached spots) will be found impracticable, unless some method be devised +of erecting a mound, sufficient to repel the encroachments of a torrent +which sometimes rises fifty feet above its ordinary level, inundating the +surrounding country in every direction. + +The country between the Hawkesbury and Rose Hill is that which I have +hitherto spoken of. When the river is crossed, this prospect soon gives +place to a very different one. The green vales and moderate hills disappear +at the distance of about three miles from the river side, and from Knight +Hill, and Mount Twiss,* the limits which terminate our researches, nothing +but precipices, wilds and deserts, are to be seen. Even these steeps fail +to produce streams. The difficulty of penetrating this country, joined to +the dread of a sudden rise of the Hawkesbury, forbidding all return, has +hitherto prevented our reaching Carmarthen mountains. + +[*Look at the Map. (There is no map accompanying this etext)] + +Let the reader now cast his eye on the relative situation of Port Jackson. +He will see it cut off from communication with the northward by Broken Bay, +and with the southward by Botany Bay; and what is worse, the whole space +of intervening country yet explored, (except a narrow strip called the +Kangaroo Ground) in both directions, is so bad as to preclude cultivation. + +The course of the Hawkesbury will next attract his attention. To the +southward of every part of Botany Bay we have traced this river; but how +much farther in that line it extends we know not. Hence its channel takes a +northerly direction, and finishes its course in Broken Bay, running at +the back of Port Jackson in such a manner as to form the latter into a +peninsula. + +The principal question then remaining is, what is the distance between the +head of Botany Bay and the part of the Hawkesbury nearest to it? And is the +intermediate country a good one, or does it lead to one which appearances +indicate to be good? To future adventurers who shall meet with more +encouragement to persevere and discover than I and my fellow wanderer[s] +did, I resign the answer. In the meantime the reader is desired to look +at the remarks on the map (there is no map accompanying this etext), which +were made in the beginning of August 1790, from Pyramid Hill, which bounded +our progress on the southern expedition; when, and when only, this part of +the country has been seen. + +It then follows that from Rose Hill to within such a distance of the +Hawkesbury as is protected from its inundations, is the only tract of land +we yet know of, in which cultivation can be carried on for many years +to come. To aim at forming a computation of the distance of time, of the +labour and of the expense, which would attend forming distinct convict +settlements, beyond the bounds I have delineated; or of the difficulty +which would attend a system of communication between such establishments +and Port Jackson, is not intended here. + +Until that period shall arrive, the progress of cultivation, when it shall +have once passed Prospect Hill, will probably steal along to the southward, +in preference to the northward, from the superior nature of the country in +that direction, as the remarks inserted in the map will testify. + +Such is my statement of a plan which I deem inevitably entailed on the +settlement at Port Jackson. In sketching this outline of it let it not be +objected that I suppose the reader as well acquainted with the respective +names and boundaries of the country as long residence and unwearied +journeying among them, have made the author. To have subjoined perpetual +explanations would have been tedious and disgusting. Familiarity with the +relative positions of a country can neither be imparted, or acquired, but +by constant recurrence to geographic delineations. + +On the policy of settling, with convicts only, a country at once so +remote and extensive, I shall offer no remarks. Whenever I have heard this +question agitated, since my return to England, the cry of, "What can we do +with them! Where else can they be sent!" has always silenced me. + +Of the soil, opinions have not differed widely. A spot eminently +fruitful has never been discovered. That there are many spots cursed with +everlasting and unconquerable sterility no one who has seen the country +will deny. At the same time I am decidedly of opinion that many large +tracts of land between Rose Hill and the Hawkesbury, even now, are of a +nature sufficiently favourable to produce moderate crops of whatever may +be sown in them. And provided a sufficient number of cattle* be imported to +afford manure for dressing the ground, no doubt can exist that subsistence +for a limited number of inhabitants may be drawn from it. To imperfect +husbandry, and dry seasons, must indubitably be attributed part of the +deficiency of former years. Hitherto all our endeavours to derive advantage +from mixing the different soils have proved fruitless, though possibly only +from want of skill on our side. + +[*In my former narrative I have particularly noticed the sudden +disappearance of the cattle, which we had brought with us into the country. +Not a trace of them has ever since been observed. Their fate is a riddle, +so difficult of solution that I shall not attempt it. Surely had they +strayed inland, in some of our numerous excursions, marks of them must have +been found. It is equally impossible to believe that either the convicts or +natives killed and ate them, without some sign of detection ensuing.] + +The spontaneous productions of the soil will be soon recounted. Every part +of the country is a forest: of the quality of the wood take the following +instance. The 'Supply' wanted wood for a mast, and more than forty of the +choicest young trees were cut down before as much wood as would make it +could be procured, the trees being either rotten at the heart or riven by +the gum which abounds in them. This gum runs not always in a longitudinal +direction in the body of the tree, but is found in it in circles, like a +scroll. There is however, a species of light wood which is found excellent +for boat building, but it is scarce and hardly ever found of large size. + +To find limestone many of our researches were directed. But after repeated +assays with fire and chemical preparations on all the different sorts of +stone to be picked up, it is still a desideratum. Nor did my experiments +with a magnet induce me to think that any of the stones I tried contained +iron. I have, however, heard other people report very differently on this +head. + +The list of esculent vegetables, and wild fruits is too contemptible +to deserve notice, if the 'sweet tea' whose virtues have been already +recorded, and the common orchis root be excepted. That species of palm tree +which produces the mountain cabbage is also found in most of the freshwater +swamps, within six or seven miles of the coast. But is rarely seen farther +inland. Even the banks of the Hawkesbury are unprovided with it. The inner +part of the trunk of this tree was greedily eaten by our hogs, and +formed their principal support. The grass, as has been remarked in former +publications, does not overspread the land in a continued sward, but arises +in small detached tufts, growing every way about three inches apart, the +intermediate space being bare; though the heads of the grass are often so +luxuriant as to hide all deficiency on the surface. The rare and beautiful +flowering shrubs, which abound in every part, deserve the highest +admiration and panegyric. + +Of the vegetable productions transplanted from other climes, maize +flourishes beyond any other grain. And as it affords a strong and nutritive +article of food, its propagation will, I think, altogether supersede that +of wheat and barley. + +Horticulture has been attended in some places with tolerable success. At +Rose Hill I have seen gardens which, without the assistance of manure, have +continued for a short time to produce well grown vegetables. But at Sydney, +without constantly dressing the ground, it was in vain to expect them; and +with it a supply of common vegetables might be procured by diligence in +all seasons. Vines of every sort seem to flourish. Melons, cucumbers and +pumpkins run with unbounded luxuriancy, and I am convinced that the grapes +of New South Wales will, in a few years, equal those of any other country. +'That their juice will probably hereafter furnish an indispensable article +of luxury at European tables', has already been predicted in the vehemence +of speculation. Other fruits are yet in their infancy; but oranges, lemons +and figs, (of which last indeed I have eaten very good ones) will, I dare +believe, in a few years become plentiful. Apples and the fruits of colder +climes also promise to gratify expectation. The banana-tree has been +introduced from Norfolk Island, where it grows spontaneously. + +Nor will this surprise, if the genial influence of the climate be +considered. Placed in a latitude where the beams of the sun in the +dreariest season are sufficiently powerful for many hours of the day to +dispense warmth and nutrition, the progress of vegetation never is at a +stand. The different temperatures of Rose Hill and Sydney in winter, though +only twelve miles apart, afford, however, curious matter of speculation. +Of a well attested instance of ice being seen at the latter place, I never +heard. At the former place its production is common, and once a few flakes +of snow fell. The difference can be accounted for only by supposing that +the woods stop the warm vapours of the sea from reaching Rose Hill, which +is at the distance of sixteen miles inland; whereas Sydney is but four.* +Again, the heats of summer are more violent at the former place than at the +latter, and the variations incomparably quicker. The thermometer has been +known to alter at Rose Hill, in the course of nine hours, more than 50 +degrees; standing a little before sunrise at 50 degrees, and between one +and two at more than 100 degrees. To convey an idea of the climate in +summer, I shall transcribe from my meteorological journal, accounts of two +particular days which were the hottest we ever suffered under at Sydney. + +[*Look at the journal which describes the expedition in search of the +river, said to exist to the southward of Rose Hill. At the time we felt +that extraordinary degree of cold were not more than six miles south west +of Rose Hill, and about nineteen miles from the the sea coast. When I +mentioned this circumstance to colonel Gordon, at the Cape of Good Hope, he +wondered at it; and owned, that, in his excursions into the interior parts +of Africa, he had never experienced anything to match it: he attributed +its production to large beds of nitre, which he said must exist in the +neighbourhood.] + +December 27th 1790. Wind NNW; it felt like the blast of a heated oven, and +in proportion as it increased the heat was found to be more intense, the +sky hazy, the sun gleaming through at intervals. + + At 9 a.m. 85 degrees + At noon 104 + Half past twelve 107 1/2 + From one p.m. until 20 + minutes past two 108 1/2 + At 20 minutes past two 109 + At Sunset 89 + At 11 p.m. 78 1/2 + +[By a large Thermometer made by Ramsden, and graduated on Fahrenheit's +scale.] + + December 28th. + + At 8 a.m. 86 + 10 a.m. 93 + 11 a.m. 101 + At noon 103 1/2 + Half an hour past noon 104 1/2 + At one p.m. 102 + At 5 p.m. 73 + At sunset 69 1/2 + +[At a quarter past one, it stood at only 89 degrees, having, from a sudden +shift of wind, fallen 13 degrees in 15 minutes.] + + +My observations on this extreme heat, succeeded by so rapid a change, were +that of all animals, man seemed to bear it best. Our dogs, pigs and fowls, +lay panting in the shade, or were rushing into the water. I remarked that a +hen belonging to me, which had sat for a fortnight, frequently quitted +her eggs, and shewed great uneasiness, but never remained from them many +minutes at one absence; taught by instinct that the wonderful power in the +animal body of generating cold in air heated beyond a certain degree, +was best calculated for the production of her young. The gardens suffered +considerably. All the plants which had not taken deep root were withered by +the power of the sun. No lasting ill effects, however, arose to the +human constitution. A temporary sickness at the stomach, accompanied with +lassitude and headache, attacked many, but they were removed generally in +twenty-four hours by an emetic, followed by an anodyne. During the time it +lasted, we invariably found that the house was cooler than the open air, +and that in proportion as the wind was excluded, was comfort augmented. + +But even this heat was judged to be far exceeded in the latter end of the +following February, when the north-west wind again set in, and blew with +great violence for three days. At Sydney, it fell short by one degree +of what I have just recorded: but at Rose Hill, it was allowed, by every +person, to surpass all that they had before felt, either there or in any +other part of the world. Unluckily they had no thermometer to ascertain its +precise height. It must, however, have been intense, from the effects it +produced. An immense flight of bats driven before the wind, covered all the +trees around the settlement, whence they every moment dropped dead or in a +dying state, unable longer to endure the burning state of the atmosphere. +Nor did the 'perroquettes', though tropical birds, bear it better. The +ground was strewn with them in the same condition as the bats. + +Were I asked the cause of this intolerable heat, I should not hesitate to +pronounce that it was occasioned by the wind blowing over immense deserts, +which, I doubt not, exist in a north-west direction from Port Jackson, and +not from fires kindled by the natives. This remark I feel necessary, as +there were methods used by some persons in the colony, both for estimating +the degree of heat and for ascertaining the cause of its production, which +I deem equally unfair and unphilosophical. The thermometer, whence my +observations were constantly made, was hung in the open air in a southern +aspect, never reached by the rays of the sun, at the distance of several +feet above the ground. + +My other remarks on the climate will be short. It is changeable beyond any +other I ever heard of; but no phenomena sufficiently accurate to reckon +upon, are found to indicate the approach of alteration. Indeed, for the +first eighteen months that we lived in the country, changes were supposed +to take place more commonly at the quartering of the moon than at other +times. But lunar empire afterwards lost its credit. For the last two years +and a half of our residing at Port Jackson, its influence was unperceived. +Three days together seldom passed without a necessity occurring for +lighting a fire in an evening. A 'habit d'ete', or a 'habit de demi +saison', would be in the highest degree absurd. Clouds, storms and sunshine +pass in rapid succession. Of rain, we found in general not a sufficiency, +but torrents of water sometimes fall. Thunder storms, in summer, are common +and very tremendous, but they have ceased to alarm, from rarely causing +mischief. Sometimes they happen in winter. I have often seen large +hailstones fall. Frequent strong breezes from the westward purge the air. +These are almost invariably attended with a hard clear sky. The easterly +winds, by setting in from the sea, bring thick weather and rain, except +in summer, when they become regular sea-breezes. The 'aurora australis' is +sometimes seen, but is not distinguished by superior brilliancy. + +To sum up: notwithstanding the inconveniences which I have enumerated, I +will venture to assert in few words, that no climate hitherto known is more +generally salubrious*, or affords more days on which those pleasures which +depend on the state of the atmosphere can be enjoyed, than that of New +South Wales. The winter season is particularly delightful. + +[*To this cause, I ascribe the great number of births which happened, +considering the age and other circumstances, of many of the mothers. Women +who certainly would never have bred in any other climate here produced as +fine children as ever were born.] + +The leading animal production is well known to be the kangaroo. The natural +history of this animal will, probably, be written from observations made +upon it in England, as several living ones of both sexes, have been brought +home. Until such an account shall appear, probably the following desultory +observation may prove acceptable. + +The genus in which the kangaroo is to be classed I leave to better +naturalists than myself to determine. How it copulates, those who pretend +to have seen disagree in their accounts: nor do we know how long the period +of gestation lasts. Prolific it cannot be termed, bringing forth only one +at a birth, which the dam carries in her pouch wherever she goes until the +young one be enabled to provide for itself; and even then, in the moment +of alarm, she will stop to receive and protect it. We have killed +she-kangaroos whose pouches contained young ones completely covered with +fur and of more than fifteen pounds weight, which had ceased to suck and +afterwards were reared by us. In what space of time it reaches such a +growth as to be abandoned entirely by the mother, we are ignorant. It is +born blind, totally bald, the orifice of the ear closed and only just the +centre of the mouth open, but a black score, denoting what is hereafter to +form the dimension of the mouth, is marked very distinctly on each side +of the opening. At its birth, the kangaroo (notwithstanding it weighs when +full grown 200 pounds) is not so large as a half-grown mouse. I brought +some with me to England even less, which I took from the pouches of the old +ones. This phenomenon is so striking and so contrary to the general laws of +nature, that an opinion has been started that the animal is brought forth +not by the pudenda, but descends from the belly into the pouch by one of +the teats, which are there deposited. On this difficulty as I can throw +no light, I shall hazard no conjecture. It may, however, be necessary +to observe that the teats are several inches long and capable of great +dilatation. And here I beg leave to correct an error which crept into my +former publication wherein I asserted that, "the teats of the kangaroo +never exceed two in number." They sometimes, though rarely, amount to four. +There is great reason to believe that they are slow of growth and live many +years. This animal has a clavicle, or collar-bone, similar to that of the +human body. The general colour of the kangaroo is very like that of the +ass, but varieties exist. Its shape and figure are well known by the +plates which have been given of it. The elegance of the ear is particularly +deserving of admiration. This far exceeds the ear of the hare in quickness +of sense and is so flexible as to admit of being turned by the animal +nearly quite round the head, doubtless for the purpose of informing the +creature of the approach of its enemies, as it is of a timid nature, and +poorly furnished with means of defence; though when compelled to resist, it +tears furiously with its forepaws, and strikes forward very hard with +its hind legs. Notwithstanding its unfavourable conformation for such a +purpose, its swims strongly; but never takes to the water unless so hard +pressed by its pursuers as to be left without all other refuge. The noise +they make is a faint bleat, querulous, but not easy to describe. They are +sociable animals and unite in droves, sometimes to the number of fifty +or sixty together; when they are seen playful and feeding on grass, which +alone forms their food. At such time they move gently about like all other +quadrupeds, on all fours; but at the slightest noise they spring up on +their hind legs and sit erect, listening to what it may proceed from, and +if it increases they bound off on those legs only, the fore ones at the +same time being carried close to the breast like the paws of a monkey; +and the tail stretched out, acts as a rudder on a ship. In drinking, the +kangaroo laps. It is remarkable that they are never found in a fat state, +being invariably lean. Of the flesh we always eat with avidity, but in +Europe it would not be reckoned a delicacy. A rank flavour forms the +principal objection to it. The tail is accounted the most delicious part, +when stewed. + +Hitherto I have spoken only of the large, or grey kangaroo, to which +the natives give the name of 'patagaran'.* But there are (besides the +kangaroo-rat) two other sorts. One of them we called the red kangaroo, +from the colour of its fur, which is like that of a hare, and sometimes is +mingled with a large portion of black: the natives call it 'bagaray'. It +rarely attains to more than forty pounds weight. The third sort is +very rare, and in the formation of its head resembles the opossum. The +kangaroo-rat is a small animal, never reaching, at its utmost growth, more +than fourteen or fifteen pounds, and its usual size is not above seven +or eight pounds. It joins to the head and bristles of a rat the leading +distinctions of a kangaroo, by running when pursued on its hind legs only, +and the female having a pouch. Unlike the kangaroo, who appears to have no +fixed place of residence, this little animal constructs for itself a +nest of grass, on the ground, of a circular figure, about ten inches in +diameter, with a hole on one side for the creature to enter at; the inside +being lined with a finer sort of grass, very soft and downy. But its manner +of carrying the materials with which it builds the nest is the greatest +curiosity: by entwining its tail (which, like that of all the kangaroo +tribe, is long, flexible and muscular) around whatever it wants to remove, +and thus dragging along the load behind it. This animal is good to eat; but +whether it be more prolific at a birth than the kangaroo, I know not. + +[*kangaroo was a name unknown to them for any animal, until we introduced +it. When I showed Colbee the cows brought out in the Gorgon, he asked me if +they were kangaroos.] + +The Indians sometimes kill the kangaroo; but their greatest destroyer is +the wild dog,* who feeds on them. Immediately on hearing or seeing this +formidable enemy, the kangaroo flies to the thickest cover, in which, if +he can involve himself, he generally escapes. In running to the cover, they +always, if possible, keep in paths of their own forming, to avoid the high +grass and stumps of trees which might be sticking up among it to wound them +and impede their course. + +[*I once found in the woods the greatest part of a kangaroo just killed by +the dogs, which afforded to three of us a most welcome repast. Marks of its +turns and struggles on the ground were very visible. This happened in the +evening, and the dogs probably had seen us approach and had run away. At +daylight next morning they saluted us with most dreadful howling for the +loss of their prey.] + +Our methods of killing them were but two; either we shot them, or hunted +them with greyhounds. We were never able to ensnare them. Those sportsmen +who relied on the gun seldom met with success, unless they slept near +covers, into which the kangaroos were wont to retire at night, and watched +with great caution and vigilance when the game, in the morning, sallied +forth to feed. They were, however, sometimes stolen in upon in the day-time +and that fascination of the eye, which has been by some authors so much +insisted upon, so far acts on the kangaroo that if he fixes his eye upon +any one, and no other object move at the same time, he will often continue +motionless, in stupid gaze, while the sportsman advances with measured +step, towards him, until within reach of his gun. The greyhounds for a long +time were incapable of taking them; but with a brace of dogs, if not near +cover a kangaroo almost always falls, since the greyhounds have acquired +by practice the proper method of fastening upon them. Nevertheless the dogs +are often miserably torn by them. The rough wiry greyhound suffers least in +the conflict, and is most prized by the hunters. + +Other quadrupeds, besides the wild dog, consist only of the flying +squirrel, of three kinds of opossums and some minute animals, usually +marked by the distinction which so peculiarly characterizes the opossum +tribe. The rats, soon after our landing, became not only numerous but +formidable, from the destruction they occasioned in the stores. Latterly +they had almost disappeared, though to account for their absence were not +easy. The first time Colbee saw a monkey, he called 'wurra' (a rat); but on +examining its paws he exclaimed with astonishment and affright, 'mulla' (a +man). + +At the head of the birds the cassowary or emu, stands conspicuous. The +print of it which has already been given to the public is so accurate for +the most part, that it would be malignant criticism in a work of this kind +to point out a few trifling defects. + +Here again naturalists must look forward to that information which longer +and more intimate knowledge of the feathered tribe than I can supply, shall +appear. I have nevertheless had the good fortune to see what was never seen +but once, in the country I am describing, by Europeans--a hatch, or flock, +of young cassowaries with the old bird. I counted ten, but others said +there were twelve. We came suddenly upon them, and they ran up a hill +exactly like a flock of turkeys, but so fast that we could not get a shot +at them. The largest cassowary ever killed in the settlement, weighed +ninety-four pounds. Three young ones, which had been by accident separated +from the dam, were once taken and presented to the governor. They were not +larger than so many pullets, although at first sight they appeared to be +so from the length of their necks and legs. They were very beautifully +striped, and from their tender state were judged to be not more than three +or four days old. They lived only a few days. + +A single egg, the production of a cassowary, was picked up in a desert +place, dropped on the sand, without covering or protection of any kind. +Its form was nearly a perfect ellipsis; and the colour of the shell a dark +green, full of little indents on its surface. It measured eleven inches and +a half in circumference, five inches and a quarter in height, and weighed a +pound and a quarter. Afterwards we had the good fortune to take a nest. It +was found by a soldier in a sequestered solitary situation, made in a patch +of lofty fern about three feet in diameter, rather of an oblong shape and +composed of dry leaves and tops of fern stalks, very inartificially put +together. The hollow in which lay the eggs, twelve in number, seemed made +solely by the pressure of the bird. The eggs were regularly placed in the +following position. + + O + O O O + O O O O O + O O O + +The soldier, instead of greedily plundering his prize, communicated the +discovery to an officer, who immediately set out for the spot. When they +had arrived there they continued for a long time to search in vain for +their object, and the soldier was just about to be stigmatized with +ignorance, credulity or imposture, when suddenly up started the old bird +and the treasure was found at their feet. + +The food of the cassowary is either grass, or a yellow bell-flower growing +in the swamps. It deserves remark, that the natives deny the cassowary to +be a bird, because it does not fly. + +Of other birds the varieties are very numerous. Of the parrot tribe alone +I could, while I am writing, count up from memory fourteen different sorts. +Hawks are very numerous, so are quails. A single snipe has been shot. +Ducks, geese and other aquatic birds are often seen in large flocks, but +are universally so shy, that it is found difficult to shoot them. Some +of the smaller birds are very beautiful, but they are not remarkable for +either sweetness, or variety of notes. To one of them, not bigger than +a tomtit, we have given the name of coach-whip, from its note exactly +resembling the smack of a whip. The country, I am of opinion, would abound +with birds did not the natives, by perpetually setting fire to the grass +and bushes, destroy the greater part of the nests; a cause which also +contributes to render small quadrupeds scarce. They are besides ravenously +fond of eggs and eat them wherever they find them. They call the roe of a +fish and a bird's egg by one name. + +So much has been said of the abundance in which fish are found in the +harbours of New South Wales that it looks like detraction to oppose a +contradiction. Some share of knowledge may, however, be supposed to belong +to experience. Many a night have I toiled (in the times of distress) on the +public service, from four o'clock in the afternoon until eight o'clock next +morning, hauling the seine in every part of the harbour of Port Jackson: +and after a circuit of many miles and between twenty and thirty hauls, +seldom more than a hundred pounds of fish were taken. However, it +sometimes happens that a glut enters the harbour, and for a few days they +sufficiently abound. But the universal voice of all professed fishermen +is that they never fished in a country where success was so precarious and +uncertain. + +I shall not pretend to enumerate the variety of fish which are found. They +are seen from a whale to a gudgeon. In the intermediate classes may be +reckoned sharks of a monstrous size, skait, rock-cod, grey-mullet, bream, +horse-mackarel, now and then a sole and john dory, and innumerable others +unknown in Europe, many of which are extremely delicious, and many highly +beautiful. At the top of the list, as an article of food, stands a fish, +which we named light-horseman. The relish of this excellent fish was +increased by our natives, who pointed out to us its delicacies. No epicure +in England could pick a head with more glee and dexterity than they do that +of a light-horseman. + +Reptiles in the swamps and covers are numerous. Of snakes there are two +or three sorts: but whether the bite of any of them be mortal, or even +venomous, is somewhat doubtful. I know but of one well attested instance +of a bite being received from a snake. A soldier was bitten so as to draw +blood, and the wound healed as a simple incision usually does without +shewing any symptom of malignity. A dog was reported to be bitten by a +snake, and the animal swelled and died in great agony. But I will by no +means affirm that the cause of his death was fairly ascertained. It is, +however, certain that the natives show, on all occasions, the utmost horror +of the snake, and will not eat it, although they esteem lizards, goannas, +and many other reptiles delicious fare. On this occasion they always +observe that if the snake bites them, they become lame, but whether by this +they mean temporary or lasting lameness I do not pretend to determine. +I have often eaten snakes and always found them palatable and nutritive, +though it was difficult to stew them to a tender state. + +Summer here, as in all other countries, brings with it a long list of +insects. In the neighborhood of rivers and morasses, mosquitoes and +sandflies are never wanting at any season, but at Sydney they are seldom +numerous or troublesome. The most nauseous and destructive of all the +insects is a fly which blows not eggs but large living maggots, and if +the body of the fly be opened it is found full of them. Of ants there are +several sorts, one of which bites very severely. The white ant is +sometimes seen. Spiders are large and numerous. Their webs are not only the +strongest, but the finest, and most silky I ever felt. I have often thought +their labour might be turned to advantage. It has, I believe, been proved +that spiders, were it not for their quarrelsome disposition which irritates +them to attack and destroy each other, might be employed more profitably +than silk-worms. + +The hardiness of some of the insects deserves to be mentioned. A beetle was +immersed in proof spirits for four hours, and when taken out crawled away +almost immediately. It was a second time immersed, and continued in a glass +of rum for a day and a night, at the expiration of which period it still +showed symptoms of life. Perhaps, however, what I from ignorance deem +wonderful is common. + + +***** + + +The last but the most important production yet remains to be considered. +Whether plodding in London, reeking with human blood in Paris or wandering +amidst the solitary wilds of New South Wales--Man is ever an object of +interest, curiosity and reflection. + +The natives around Port Jackson are in person rather more diminutive and +slighter made, especially about the thighs and legs, than the Europeans. It +is doubtful whether their society contained a person of six feet high. The +tallest I ever measured, reached five feet eleven inches, and men of his +height were rarely seen. Baneelon, who towered above the majority of his +countrymen, stood barely five feet eight inches high. His other principal +dimensions were as follows: + + Girth of the Chest. 2 feet 10 inches + Girth of the Belly. 2 feet 6 1/2 inches + Girth of the Thigh. 18 1/8 inches + Girth of the Leg at the Calf. 12 1/8 inches + Girth of the Leg at the Small. 10 inches + Girth of arm half way between + the shoulder and elbow. 9 inches + +Instances of natural deformity are scarce, nor did we ever see one of them +left-handed. They are, indeed, nearly ambidexter; but the sword, the spear +and the fish-gig are always used with the right hand. Their muscular force +is not great; but the pliancy of their limbs renders them very active. +"Give to civilized man all his machines, and he is superior to the savage; +but without these, how inferior is he found on opposition, even more so +than the savage in the first instance." These are the words of Rousseau, +and like many more of his positions must be received with limitation. Were +an unarmed Englishman and an unarmed New Hollander to engage, the latter, I +think, would fall. + +Mr. Cook seems inclined to believe the covering of their heads to be wool. +But this is erroneous. It is certainly hair, which when regularly combed +becomes soon nearly as flexible and docile as our own. Their teeth are not +so white and good as those generally found in Indian nations, except in the +children, but the inferiority originates in themselves. They bite sticks, +stones, shells and all other hard substances, indiscriminately with them, +which quickly destroys the enamel and gives them a jagged and uneven +appearance. A high forehead, with prominent overhanging eyebrows, is +their leading characteristic, and when it does not operate to destroy all +openness of countenance gives an air of resolute dignity to the aspect, +which recommends, in spite of a true negro nose, thick lips, and a wide +mouth. The prominent shin bone, so invariably found in the Africans, is +not, however, seen. But in another particular they are more alike. The +rank offensive smell which disgusts so much in the negro, prevails strongly +among them when they are in their native state, but it wears off in those +who have resided with us and have been taught habits of cleanliness. Their +hands and feet are small*, especially the former. + +[*I mentioned this, among other circumstances, to colonel Gordon when I +was at the Cape, and he told me that it indicated poverty and inadequacy +of living. He instanced to me the Hottentots and Caffres. The former fare +poorly, and have small hands and feet. The Caffres, their neighbours, live +plenteously and have very large ones. This remark cannot be applied to +civilized nations, where so many factitious causes operate.] + +Their eyes are full, black and piercing, but the almost perpetual strain in +which the optic nerve is kept, by looking out for prey, renders their sight +weak at an earlier age than we in general find ours affected. These large +black eyes are universally shaded by the long thick sweepy eyelash, so much +prized in appreciating beauty, that, perhaps hardly any face is so homely +which this aid cannot in some degree render interesting; and hardly any so +lovely which, without it, bears not some trace of insipidity. Their tone +of voice is loud, but not harsh. I have in some of them found it very +pleasing. + +Longevity, I think, is seldom attained by them. Unceasing agitation wears +out the animal frame and is unfriendly to length of days. We have seen them +grey with age, but not old; perhaps never beyond sixty years. But it may be +said, the American Indian, in his undebauched state, lives to an advanced +period. True, but he has his seasons of repose. He reaps his little harvest +of maize and continues in idleness while it lasts. He kills the roebuck or +the moose-deer, which maintains him and his family for many days, during +which cessation the muscles regain their spring and fit him for fresh +toils. Whereas every sun awakes the native of New South Wales (unless +a whale be thrown upon the coast) to a renewal of labour, to provide +subsistence for the present day. + +The women are proportionally smaller than the men. I never measured but two +of them, who were both, I think, about the medium height. One of them, a +sister of Baneelon, stood exactly five feet two inches high. The other, +named Gooreedeeana, was shorter by a quarter of an inch. + +But I cannot break from Gooreedeeana so abruptly. She belonged to the tribe +of Cameragal, and rarely came among us. One day, however, she entered my +house to complain of hunger. She excelled in beauty all their females +I ever saw. Her age about eighteen, the firmness, the symmetry and the +luxuriancy of her bosom might have tempted painting to copy its charms. +Her mouth was small and her teeth, though exposed to all the destructive +purposes to which they apply them, were white, sound and unbroken. Her +countenance, though marked by some of the characteristics of her native +land, was distinguished by a softness and sensibility unequalled in the +rest of her countrywomen, and I was willing to believe that these traits +indicated the disposition of her mind. I had never before seen this elegant +timid female, of whom I had often heard; but the interest I took in her +led me to question her about her husband and family. She answered me +by repeating a name which I have now forgotten, and told me she had no +children. I was seized with a strong propensity to learn whether the +attractions of Gooreedeeana were sufficiently powerful to secure her from +the brutal violence with which the women are treated, and as I found my +question either ill understood or reluctantly answered, I proceeded to +examine her head, the part on which the husband's vengeance generally +alights. With grief I found it covered by contusions and mangled by scars. +The poor creature, grown by this time more confident from perceiving that I +pitied her, pointed out a wound just above her left knee which she told me +was received from a spear, thrown at her by a man who had lately dragged +her by force from her home to gratify his lust. I afterwards observed that +this wound had caused a slight lameness and that she limped in walking. I +could only compassionate her wrongs and sympathize in her misfortunes. To +alleviate her present sense of them, when she took her leave I gave her, +however, all the bread and salt pork which my little stock afforded. + +After this I never saw her but once, when I happened to be near the +harbour's mouth in a boat, with captain Ball. We met her in a canoe with +several more of her sex. She was painted for a ball, with broad stripes of +white earth, from head to foot, so that she no longer looked like the same +Gooreedeeana. We offered her several presents, all of which she readily +accepted; but finding our eagerness and solicitude to inspect her, she +managed her canoe with such address as to elude our too near approach, and +acted the coquet to admiration. + +To return from this digression to my subject, I have only farther to +observe that the estimation of female beauty among the natives (the men at +least) is in this country the same as in most others. Were a New Hollander +to portray his mistress, he would draw her the 'Venus aux belles fesses'. +Whenever Baneelon described to us his favourite fair, he always painted her +in this, and another particular, as eminently luxuriant. + +Unsatisfied, however, with natural beauty (like the people of all +other countries) they strive by adscititious embellishments to heighten +attraction, and often with as little success. Hence the naked savage of New +South Wales pierces the septum of his nose, through which he runs a +stick or a bone, and scarifies his body, the charms of which increase +in proportion to the number and magnitude of seams by which it is +distinguished. The operation is performed by making two longitudinal +incisions with a sharpened shell, and afterwards pinching up with the +nails the intermediate space of skin and flesh, which thereby becomes +considerably elevated and forms a prominence as thick as a man's finger. +No doubt but pain must be severely felt until the wound be healed. But the +love of ornament defies weaker considerations, and no English beau can bear +more stoutly the extraction of his teeth to make room for a fresh set from +a chimney sweeper, or a fair one suffer her tender ears to be perforated, +with more heroism than the grisly nymphs on the banks of Port Jackson, +submit their sable shoulders to the remorseless lancet. + +That these scarifications are intended solely to increase personal +allurement I will not, however, positively affirm. Similar, perhaps, to the +cause of an excision of part of the little finger of the left hand in +the women, and of a front tooth in the men;* or probably after all our +conjectures, superstitious ceremonies by which they hope either to avert +evil or to propagate good, are intended. The colours with which they +besmear the bodies of both sexes possibly date from the same common origin. +White paint is strictly appropriate to the dance. Red seems to be used on +numberless occasions, and is considered as a colour of less consequence. +It may be remarked that they translate the epithet white when they speak of +us, not by the name which they assign to this white earth, but by that with +which they distinguish the palms of their hands. + + +[*It is to be observed that neither of these ceremonies is universal, but +nearly so. Why there should exist exemptions I cannot resolve. The manner +of executing them is as follows. The finger is taken off by means of a +ligature (generally a sinew of a kangaroo) tied so tight as to stop the +circulation of the blood, which induces mortification and the part drops +off. I remember to have seen Colbee's child, when about a month old, on +whom this operation had been just performed by her mother. The little +wretch seemed in pain, and her hand was greatly swelled. But this was +deemed too trifling a consideration to deserve regard in a case of so much +importance. + +The tooth intended to be taken out is loosened by the gum being scarified +on both sides with a sharp shell. The end of a stick is then applied to the +tooth, which is struck gently several times with a stone, until it becomes +easily moveable, when the 'coup de grace' is given by a smart stroke. +Notwithstanding these precautions, I have seen a considerable degree of +swelling and inflammation follow the extraction. Imeerawanyee, I remember, +suffered severely. But he boasted the firmness and hardihood with which he +had endured it. It is seldom performed on those who are under sixteen years +old.] + + +As this leads to an important subject I shall at once discuss it. "Have +these people any religion: any knowledge of, or belief in a deity?--any +conception of the immortality of the soul?" are questions which have been +often put to me since my arrival in England: I shall endeavour to answer +them with candour and seriousness. + +Until belief be enlightened by revelation and chastened by reason, +religion and superstition, are terms of equal import. One of our earliest +impressions is the consciousness of a superior power. The various forms +under which this impression has manifested itself are objects of the most +curious speculation. + +The native of New South Wales believes that particular aspects and +appearances of the heavenly bodies predict good or evil consequences to +himself and his friends. He oftentimes calls the sun and moon 'weeree,' +that is, malignant, pernicious. Should he see the leading fixed stars (many +of which he can call by name) obscured by vapours, he sometimes disregards +the omen, and sometimes draws from it the most dreary conclusions. I +remember Abaroo running into a room where a company was assembled, and +uttering frightful exclamations of impending mischiefs about to light on +her and her countrymen. When questioned on the cause of such agitation she +went to the door and pointed to the skies, saying that whenever the stars +wore that appearance, misfortunes to the natives always followed. The night +was cloudy and the air disturbed by meteors. I have heard many more of them +testify similar apprehensions. + +However involved in darkness and disfigured by error such a belief be, no +one will, I presume, deny that it conveys a direct implication of superior +agency; of a power independent of and uncontrolled by those who are the +objects of its vengeance. But proof stops not here. When they hear the +thunder roll and view the livid glare, they flee them not, but rush out and +deprecate destruction. They have a dance and a song appropriated to this +awful occasion, which consist of the wildest and most uncouth noises and +gestures. Would they act such a ceremony did they not conceive that either +the thunder itself, or he who directs the thunder, might be propitiated by +its performance? That a living intellectual principle exists, capable of +comprehending their petition and of either granting or denying it? They +never address prayers to bodies which they know to be inanimate, either +to implore their protection or avert their wrath. When the gum-tree in a +tempest nods over them; or the rock overhanging the cavern in which they +sleep threatens by its fall to crush them, they calculate (as far as their +knowledge extends) on physical principles, like other men, the nearness and +magnitude of the danger, and flee it accordingly. And yet there is reason +to believe that from accidents of this nature they suffer more than from +lightning. Baneelon once showed us a cave, the top of which had fallen in +and buried under its ruins, seven people who were sleeping under it. + +To descend; is not even the ridiculous superstition of Colbee related in +one of our journies to the Hawkesbury? And again the following instance. +Abaroo was sick. To cure her, one of her own sex slightly cut her on the +forehead, in a perpendicular direction with an oyster shell, so as just to +fetch blood. She then put one end of a string to the wound and, beginning +to sing, held the other end to her own gums, which she rubbed until they +bled copiously. This blood she contended was the blood of the patient, +flowing through the string, and that she would thereby soon recover. Abaroo +became well, and firmly believed that she owed her cure to the treatment +she had received. Are not these, I say, links, subordinate ones indeed, +of the same golden chain? He who believes in magic confesses supernatural +agency, and a belief of this sort extends farther in many persons than they +are willing to allow. There have lived men so inconsistent with their own +principles as to deny the existence of a God, who have nevertheless turned +pale at the tricks of a mountebank. + +But not to multiply arguments on a subject where demonstration (at least to +me) is incontestable, I shall close by expressing my firm belief that the +Indians of New South Wales acknowledge the existence of a superintending +deity. Of their ideas of the origin and duration of his existence; of +his power and capacity; of his benignity or maleficence; or of their own +emanation from him, I pretend not to speak. I have often, in common with +others, tried to gain information from them on this head; but we were +always repulsed by obstacles which we could neither pass by or surmount. +Mr. Dawes attempted to teach Abaroo some of our notions of religion, and +hoped that she would thereby be induced to communicate hers in return. +But her levity and love of play in a great measure defeated his efforts, +although every thing he did learn from her served to confirm what is here +advanced. It may be remarked, that when they attended at church with us +(which was a common practice) they always preserved profound silence and +decency, as if conscious that some religious ceremony on our side was +performing. + +The question of, whether they believe in the immortality of the soul +will take up very little time to answer. They are universally fearful +of spirits.* They call a spirit 'mawn'. They often scruple to approach a +corpse, saying that the 'mawn' will seize them and that it fastens upon +them in the night when asleep.** When asked where their deceased friends +are they always point to the skies. To believe in after existence is to +confess the immortality of some part of being. To enquire whether they +assign a 'limited' period to such future state would be superfluous. This +is one of the subtleties of speculation which a savage may be supposed +not to have considered, without impeachment either of his sagacity or +happiness. + +[* "It is remarkable," says Cicero, "that there is no nation, whether +barbarous or civilized, that does not believe in the existence of +spirits".] + +[**As they often eat to satiety, even to produce sickness, may not this be +the effect of an overloaded stomach: the nightmare?] + + + +Their manner of interring the dead has been amply described. It is certain +that instead of burying they sometimes burn the corpse; but the cause of +distinction we know not. A dead body, covered by a canoe, at whose side +a sword and shield were placed in state, was once discovered. All that we +could learn about this important personage was that he was a 'Gweeagal' +(one of the tribe of Gweea) and a celebrated warrior. + +To appreciate their general powers of mind is difficult. Ignorance, +prejudice, the force of habit, continually interfere to prevent +dispassionate judgment. I have heard men so unreasonable as to exclaim at +the stupidity of these people for not comprehending what a small share +of reflection would have taught them they ought not to have expected. And +others again I have heard so sanguine in their admiration as to extol for +proofs of elevated genius what the commonest abilities were capable of +executing. + +If they be considered as a nation whose general advancement and +acquisitions are to be weighed, they certainly rank very low, even in the +scale of savages. They may perhaps dispute the right of precedence with the +Hottentots or the shivering tribes who inhabit the shores of Magellan. +But how inferior do they show when compared with the subtle African; the +patient watchful American; or the elegant timid islander of the South +Seas. Though suffering from the vicissitudes of their climate, strangers +to clothing, though feeling the sharpness of hunger and knowing the +precariousness of supply from that element on whose stores they principally +depend, ignorant of cultivating the earth--a less enlightened state we +shall exclaim can hardly exist. + +But if from general view we descend to particular inspection, and examine +individually the persons who compose this community, they will certainly +rise in estimation. In the narrative part of this work, I have endeavoured +rather to detail information than to deduce conclusions, leaving to the +reader the exercise of his own judgment. The behaviour of Arabanoo, of +Baneelon, of Colbee and many others is copiously described, and assuredly +he who shall make just allowance for uninstructed nature will hardly accuse +any of those persons of stupidity or deficiency of apprehension. + +To offer my own opinion on the subject, I do not hesitate to declare that +the natives of New South Wales possess a considerable portion of that +acumen, or sharpness of intellect, which bespeaks genius. All savages hate +toil and place happiness in inaction, and neither the arts of civilized +life can be practised or the advantages of it felt without application and +labour. Hence they resist knowledge and the adoption of manners and customs +differing from their own. The progress of reason is not only slow, but +mechanical. "De toutes les Instructions propres a l'homme, celle qu'il +acquiert le plus tard, et le plus difficilement, est la raison meme." The +tranquil indifference and uninquiring eye with which they surveyed our +works of art have often, in my hearing, been stigmatized as proofs of +stupidity, and want of reflection. But surely we should discriminate +between ignorance and defect of understanding. The truth was, they often +neither comprehended the design nor conceived the utility of such works, +but on subjects in any degree familiarised to their ideas, they generally +testified not only acuteness of discernment but a large portion of good +sense. I have always thought that the distinctions they shewed in their +estimate of us, on first entering into our society, strongly displayed the +latter quality: when they were led into our respective houses, at once to +be astonished and awed by our superiority, their attention was directly +turned to objects with which they were acquainted. They passed without +rapture or emotion our numerous artifices and contrivances, but when they +saw a collection of weapons of war or of the skins of animals and birds, +they never failed to exclaim, and to confer with each other on the subject. +The master of that house became the object of their regard, as they +concluded he must be either a renowned warrior, or an expert hunter. Our +surgeons grew into their esteem from a like cause. In a very early stage of +intercourse, several natives were present at the amputation of a leg. When +they first penetrated the intention of the operator, they were confounded, +not believing it possible that such an operation could be performed without +loss of life, and they called aloud to him to desist; but when they saw the +torrent of blood stopped, the vessels taken up and the stump dressed, +their horror and alarm yielded to astonishment and admiration, which they +expressed by the loudest tokens. If these instances bespeak not nature and +good sense, I have yet to learn the meaning of the terms. + +If it be asked why the same intelligent spirit which led them to +contemplate and applaud the success of the sportsman and the skill of the +surgeon, did not equally excite them to meditate on the labours of the +builder and the ploughman, I can only answer that what we see in its remote +cause is always more feebly felt than that which presents to our immediate +grasp both its origin and effect. + +Their leading good and bad qualities I shall concisely touch upon. Of +their intrepidity no doubt can exist. Their levity, their fickleness, their +passionate extravagance of character, cannot be defended. They are indeed +sudden and quick in quarrel; but if their resentment be easily roused, +their thirst of revenge is not implacable. Their honesty, when tempted +by novelty, is not unimpeachable, but in their own society there is good +reason to believe that few breaches of it occur. It were well if similar +praise could be given to their veracity: but truth they neither prize nor +practice. When they wish to deceive they scruple not to utter the grossest +and most hardened lies.* Their attachment and gratitude to those among us +whom they have professed to love have always remained inviolable, unless +effaced by resentment, from sudden provocation: then, like all other +Indians, the impulse of the moment is alone regarded by them. + +[*This may serve to account for the contradictions of many of their +accounts to us.] + +Some of their manufactures display ingenuity, when the rude tools with +which they work, and their celerity of execution are considered. The +canoes, fish-gigs, swords, shields, spears, throwing sticks, clubs, +and hatchets, are made by the men. To the women are committed the +fishing-lines, hooks and nets. As very ample collections of all these +articles are to be found in many museums in England, I shall only briefly +describe the way in which the most remarkable of them are made. The +fish-gigs and spears are commonly (but not universally) made of the long +spiral shoot which arises from the top of the yellow gum-tree, and bears +the flower. The former have several prongs, barbed with the bone of +kangaroo. The latter are sometimes barbed with the same substance, or with +the prickle of the sting-ray, or with stone or hardened gum, and sometimes +simply pointed. Dexterity in throwing and parrying the spear is considered +as the highest acquirement. The children of both sexes practice from the +time that they are able to throw a rush; their first essay. It forms their +constant recreation. They afterwards heave at each other with pointed +twigs. He who acts on the defensive holds a piece of new soft bark in the +left hand, to represent a shield, in which he receives the darts of the +assailant, the points sticking in it. Now commences his turn. He extracts +the twigs and darts them back at the first thrower, who catches them +similarly. In warding off the spear they never present their front, but +always turn their side, their head at the same time just clear of the +shield, to watch the flight of the weapon; and the body covered. If a spear +drop from them when thus engaged, they do not stoop to pick it up, but hook +it between the toes and so lift it until it meet the hand. Thus the eye is +never diverted from its object, the foe. If they wish to break a spear or +any wooden substance, they lay it not across the thigh or the body, but +upon the head, and press down the ends until it snap. Their shields are +of two sorts. That called 'illemon' is nothing but a piece of bark with +a handle fixed in the inside of it. The other, dug out of solid wood, is +called 'aragoon', and is made as follows, with great labour. On the bark +of a tree they mark the size of the shield, then dig the outline as deep +as possible in the wood with hatchets, and lastly flake it off as thick as +they can, by driving in wedges. The sword is a large heavy piece of wood, +shaped like a sabre, and capable of inflicting a mortal wound. In using +it they do not strike with the convex side, but with the concave one, and +strive to hook in their antagonists so as to have them under their blows. +The fishing-lines are made of the bark of a shrub. The women roll shreds +of this on the inside of the thigh, so as to twist it together, carefully +inserting the ends of every fresh piece into the last made. They are not +as strong as lines of equal size formed of hemp. The fish-hooks are chopped +with a stone out of a particular shell, and afterwards rubbed until they +become smooth. They are very much curved, and not barbed. Considering the +quickness with which they are finished, the excellence of the work, if it +be inspected, is admirable. In all these manufactures the sole of the foot +is used both by men and women as a work-board. They chop a piece of wood, +or aught else upon it, even with an iron tool, without hurting themselves. +It is indeed nearly as hard as the hoof of an ox. + +Their method of procuring fire is this. They take a reed and shave one side +of the surface flat. In this they make a small incision to reach the pith, +and introducing a stick, purposely blunted at the end, into it, turn it +round between the hands (as chocolate is milled) as swiftly as possible, +until flame be produced. As this operation is not only laborious, but the +effect tedious, they frequently relieve each other at the exercise. And to +avoid being often reduced to the necessity of putting it in practice, they +always, if possible, carry a lighted stick with them, whether in their +canoes or moving from place to place on land. + +Their treatment of wounds must not be omitted. A doctor is, with them, a +person of importance and esteem, but his province seems rather to +charm away occult diseases than to act the surgeon's part, which, as a +subordinate science, is exercised indiscriminately. Their excellent habit +of body*, the effect of drinking water only, speedily heals wounds without +an exterior application which with us would take weeks or months to close. +They are, nevertheless, sadly tormented by a cutaneous eruption, but we +never found it contagious. After receiving a contusion, if the part +swell they fasten a ligature very tightly above it, so as to stop all +circulation. Whether to this application, or to their undebauched habit, it +be attributable, I know not, but it is certain that a disabled limb among +them is rarely seen, although violent inflammations from bruises, which in +us would bring on a gangrene, daily happen. If they get burned, either from +rolling into the fire when asleep, or from the flame catching the grass +on which they lie (both of which are common accidents) they cover the part +with a thin paste of kneaded clay, which excludes the air and adheres to +the wound until it be cured, and the eschar falls off. + +[*Their native hardiness of constitution is great. I saw a woman on the day +she was brought to bed, carry her new-born infant from Botany Bay to Port +Jackson, a distance of six miles, and afterwards light a fire and dress +fish.] + +Their form of government, and the detail of domestic life, yet remain +untold. The former cannot occupy much space. Without distinctions of rank, +except those which youth and vigour confer, theirs is strictly a system of +'equality' attended with only one inconvenience--the strong triumph over +the weak. Whether any laws exist among them for the punishment of offences +committed against society; or whether the injured party in all cases seeks +for relief in private revenge, I will not positively affirm; though I am +strongly inclined to believe that only the latter method prevails. I have +already said that they are divided into tribes; but what constitutes the +right of being enrolled in a tribe, or where exclusion begins and ends, +I am ignorant. The tribe of Cameragal is of all the most numerous and +powerful. Their superiority probably arose from possessing the best fishing +ground, and perhaps from their having suffered less from the ravages of the +smallpox. + +In the domestic detail there may be novelty, but variety is unattainable. +One day must be very like another in the life of a savage. Summoned by +the calls of hunger and the returning light, he starts from his beloved +indolence, and snatching up the remaining brand of his fire, hastens with +his wife to the strand to commence their daily task. In general the canoe +is assigned to her, into which she puts the fire and pushes off into deep +water, to fish with hook and line, this being the province of the women. +If she have a child at the breast, she takes it with her. And thus in her +skiff, a piece of bark tied at both ends with vines, and the edge of it +but just above the surface of the water, she pushes out regardless of +the elements, if they be but commonly agitated. While she paddles to +the fishing-bank, and while employed there, the child is placed on her +shoulders, entwining its little legs around her neck and closely grasping +her hair with its hands. To its first cries she remains insensible, as she +believes them to arise only from the inconvenience of a situation, to which +she knows it must be inured. But if its plaints continue, and she supposes +it to be in want of food, she ceases her fishing and clasps it to her +breast. An European spectator is struck with horror and astonishment at +their perilous situation, but accidents seldom happen. The management of +the canoe alone appears a work of unsurmountable difficulty, its breadth is +so inadequate to its length. The Indians, aware of its ticklish formation, +practise from infancy to move in it without risk. Use only could reconcile +them to the painful position in which they sit in it. They drop in the +middle of the canoe upon their knees, and resting the buttocks on the +heels, extend the knees to the sides, against which they press strongly, +so as to form a poise sufficient to retain the body in its situation, and +relieve the weight which would otherwise fall wholly upon the toes. Either +in this position or cautiously moving in the centre of the vessel, the +mother tends her child, keeps up her fire (which is laid on a small +patch of earth), paddles her boat, broils fish and provides in part the +subsistence of the day. Their favourite bait for fish is a cockle. + +The husband in the mean time warily moves to some rock, over which he can +peep into unruffled water to look for fish. For this purpose he always +chooses a weather shore, and the various windings of the numerous creeks +and indents always afford one. Silent and watchful, he chews a cockle and +spits it into the water. Allured by the bait, the fish appear from beneath +the rock. He prepares his fish-gig, and pointing it downward, moves it +gently towards the object, always trying to approach it as near as +possible to the fish before the stroke be given. At last he deems himself +sufficiently advanced and plunges it at his prey. If he has hit his mark, +he continues his efforts and endeavours to transpierce it or so to entangle +the barbs in the flesh as to prevent its escape. When he finds it secure +he drops the instrument, and the fish, fastened on the prongs, rises to the +surface, floated by the buoyancy of the staff. Nothing now remains to be +done but to haul it to him, with either a long stick or another fish-gig +(for an Indian, if he can help it, never goes into the water on these +occasions) to disengage it, and to look out for fresh sport. + +But sometimes the fish have either deserted the rocks for deeper water, or +are too shy to suffer approach. He then launches his canoe, and leaving the +shore behind, watches the rise of prey out of the water, and darts his gig +at them to the distance of many yards. Large fish he seldom procures by +this method; but among shoals of mullets, which are either pursued by +enemies, or leap at objects on the surface, he is often successful. +Baneelon has been seen to kill more than twenty fish by this method in an +afternoon. The women sometimes use the gig, and always carry one in each +canoe to strike large fish which may be hooked and thereby facilitate the +capture. But generally speaking, this instrument is appropriate to the men, +who are never seen fishing with the line, and would indeed consider it as a +degradation of their pre-eminence. + +When prevented by tempestuous weather or any other cause, from fishing, +these people suffer severely. They have then no resource but to pick up +shellfish, which may happen to cling to the rocks, and be cast on the +beach, to hunt particular reptiles and small animals, which are scarce, +to dig fern root in the swamps or to gather a few berries, destitute of +flavour and nutrition, which the woods afford. To alleviate the sensation +of hunger, they tie a ligature tightly around the belly, as I have often +seen our soldiers do from the same cause. + +Let us, however, suppose them successful in procuring fish. The wife +returns to land with her booty, and the husband quitting the rock joins +his stock to hers; and they repair either to some neighbouring cavern or +to their hut. This last is composed of pieces of bark, very rudely piled +together, in shape as like a soldier's tent as any known image to which I +can compare it: too low to admit the lord of it to stand upright, but +long and wide enough to admit three or four persons to lie under it. +"Here shelters himself a being, born with all those powers which education +expands, and all those sensations which culture refines." With a lighted +stick brought from the canoe they now kindle a small fire at the mouth of +the hut and prepare to dress their meal. They begin by throwing the fish +exactly in the state in which it came from the water, on the fire. When it +has become a little warmed they take it off, rub away the scales, and then +peal off with their teeth the surface, which they find done and eat. Now, +and not before, they gut it; but if the fish be a mullet or any other which +has a fatty substance about the intestines, they carefully guard that part +and esteem it a delicacy. The cooking is now completed by the remaining +part being laid on the fire until it be sufficiently done. A bird, a +lizard, a rat, or any other animal, they treat in the same manner. The +feathers of the one and the fur of the other, they thus get rid of.* + +[*They broil indiscriminately all substances which they eat. Though they +boil water in small quantities in oyster shells for particular purposes, +they never conceived it possible until shown by us, to dress meat by this +method, having no vessel capable of containing a fish or a bird which would +stand fire. Two of them once stole twelve pounds of rice and carried it +off. They knew how we cooked it, and by way of putting it in practice they +spread the rice on the ground before a fire, and as it grew hot continued +to throw water on it. Their ingenuity was however very ill rewarded, for +the rice became so mingled with the dirt and sand on which it was laid, +that even they could not eat it, and the whole was spoiled.] + +Unless summoned away by irresistable necessity, sleep always follows the +repast. They would gladly prolong it until the following day; but the +canoe wants repair, the fish-gig must be barbed afresh, new lines must be +twisted, and new hooks chopped out. They depart to their respective tasks, +which end only with the light. + +Such is the general life of an Indian. But even he has his hours of +relaxation, in seasons of success, when fish abounds. Wanton with plenty, +he now meditates an attack upon the chastity of some neighbouring fair one; +and watching his opportunity he seizes her and drags her away to complete +his purpose. The signal of war is lighted; her lover, her father, her +brothers, her tribe, assemble, and vow revenge on the spoiler. He tells +his story to his tribe. They judge the case to be a common one and agree to +support him. Battle ensues; they discharge their spears at each other, and +legs and arms are transpierced. When the spears are expended the combatants +close and every species of violence is practiced. They seize their +antagonist and snap like enraged dogs, they wield the sword and club, +the bone shatters beneath their fall and they drop the prey of unsparing +vengeance. + +Too justly, as my observations teach me has Hobbes defined a state of +nature to be a state of war. In the method of waging it among these people, +one thing should not, however, escape notice. Unlike all other Indians, +they never carry on operations in the night, or seek to destroy by ambush +and surprise. Their ardent fearless character, seeks fair and open combat +only. + +But enmity has its moments of pause. Then they assemble to sing and dance. +We always found their songs disagreeable from their monotony. They are +numerous, and vary both in measure and time. They have songs of war, of +hunting, of fishing, for the rise and set of the sun, for rain, for thunder +and for many other occasions. One of these songs, which may be termed +a speaking pantomime, recites the courtship between the sexes and is +accompanied with acting highly expressive. I once heard and saw Nanbaree +and Abaroo perform it. After a few preparatory motions she gently sunk on +the ground, as if in a fainting fit. Nanbaree applying his mouth to her +ear, began to whisper in it, and baring her bosom, breathed on it several +times. At length, the period of the swoon having expired, with returning +animation she gradually raised herself. She now began to relate what she +had seen in her vision, mentioning several of her countrymen by name, whom +we knew to be dead; mixed with other strange incoherent matter, equally new +and inexplicable, though all tending to one leading point--the sacrifice of +her charms to her lover. + +At their dances I have often been present; but I confess myself unable to +convey in description an accurate account of them. Like their songs, they +are conceived to represent the progress of the passions and the occupations +of life. Full of seeming confusion, yet regular and systematic, their wild +gesticulations, and frantic distortions of body are calculated rather to +terrify, than delight, a spectator. These dances consist of short parts, +or acts, accompanied with frequent vociferations, and a kind of hissing, +or whizzing noise. They commonly end with a loud rapid shout, and after a +short respite are renewed. While the dance lasts, one of them (usually +a person of note and estimation) beats time with a stick on a wooden +instrument held in the left hand, accompanying the music with his voice; +and the dancers sometimes sing in concert. + +I have already mentioned that white is the colour appropriated to the +dance, but the style of painting is left to every one's fancy. Some are +streaked with waving lines from head to foot; others marked by broad +cross-bars, on the breast, back, and thighs, or encircled with spiral +lines, or regularly striped like a zebra. Of these ornaments, the face +never wants its share, and it is hard to conceive any thing in the shape +of humanity more hideous and terrific than they appear to a stranger--seen, +perhaps, through the livid gleam of a fire, the eyes surrounded by large +white circles, in contrast with the black ground, the hair stuck full of +pieces of bone and in the hand a grasped club, which they occasionally +brandish with the greatest fierceness and agility. Some dances are +performed by men only, some by women only, and in others the sexes mingle. +In one of them I have seen the men drop on their hands and knees and +kiss the earth with the greatest fervor, between the kisses looking up to +Heaven. They also frequently throw up their arms, exactly in the manner in +which the dancers of the Friendly Islands are depicted in one of the plates +of Mr. Cook's last voyage. + +Courtship here, as in other countries, is generally promoted by this +exercise, where every one tries to recommend himself to attention and +applause. Dancing not only proves an incentive, but offers an opportunity +in its intervals. The first advances are made by the men, who strive +to render themselves agreeable to their favourites by presents of +fishing-tackle and other articles which they know will prove acceptable. +Generally speaking, a man has but one wife, but infidelity on the side of +the husband, with the unmarried girls, is very frequent. For the most part, +perhaps, they intermarry in their respective tribes. This rule is not, +however, constantly observed, and there is reason to think that a more +than ordinary share of courtship and presents, on the part of the man, +is required in this case. Such difficulty seldom operates to extinguish +desire, and nothing is more common than for the unsuccessful suitor to +ravish by force that which he cannot accomplish by entreaty. I do not +believe that very near connections by blood ever cohabit. We knew of no +instance of it. + +But indeed the women are in all respects treated with savage barbarity +Condemned not only to carry the children but all other burthens, they meet +in return for submission only with blows, kicks and every other mark of +brutality. When an Indian is provoked by a woman, he either spears her +or knocks her down on the spot. On this occasion he always strikes on the +head, using indiscriminately a hatchet, a club or any other weapon +which may chance to be in his hand. The heads of the women are always +consequently seen in the state which I found that of Gooreedeeana. Colbee, +who was certainly, in other respects a good tempered merry fellow, made no +scruple of treating Daringa, who was a gentle creature, thus. Baneelon did +the same to Barangaroo, but she was a scold and a vixen, and nobody pitied +her. It must nevertheless be confessed that the women often artfully study +to irritate and inflame the passions of the men, although sensible that the +consequence will alight on themselves. + +Many a matrimonial scene of this sort have I witnessed. Lady Mary Wortley +Montague, in her sprightly letters from Turkey, longs for some of the +advocates for passive obedience and unconditional submission then existing +in England to be present at the sights exhibited in a despotic government. +A thousand times, in like manner, have I wished that those European +philosophers whose closet speculations exalt a state of nature above +a state of civilization, could survey the phantom which their heated +imaginations have raised. Possibly they might then learn that a state of +nature is, of all others, least adapted to promote the happiness of a +being capable of sublime research and unending ratiocination. That a savage +roaming for prey amidst his native deserts is a creature deformed by all +those passions which afflict and degrade our nature, unsoftened by the +influence of religion, philosophy and legal restriction: and that the more +men unite their talents, the more closely the bands of society are drawn +and civilization advanced, inasmuch is human felicity augmented, and man +fitted for his unalienable station in the universe. + +Of the language of New South Wales I once hoped to have subjoined to this +work such an exposition as should have attracted public notice, and +have excited public esteem. But the abrupt departure of Mr. Dawes, who, +stimulated equally by curiosity and philanthropy, had hardly set foot on +his native country when he again quitted it to encounter new perils in the +service of the Sierra Leona company, precludes me from executing this part +of my original intention, in which he had promised to co-operate with +me; and in which he had advanced his researches beyond the reach of +competition. The few remarks which I can offer shall be concisely detailed. + +We were at first inclined to stigmatised this language as harsh and +barbarous in its sounds. Their combinations of words in the manner they +utter them, frequently convey such an effect. But if not only their proper +names of men and places, but many of their phrases and a majority of their +words, be simply and unconnectedly considered, they will be found to abound +with vowels and to produce sounds sometimes mellifluous and sometimes +sonorous. What ear can object to the names of Colbee, (pronounced exactly +as Colby is with us) Bereewan, Bondel, Imeerawanyee, Deedora, Wolarawaree, +or Baneelon, among the men; or to Wereeweea, Gooreedeeana, Milba*, or +Matilba, among the women. Parramatta, Gweea, Cameera, Cadi, and Memel, are +names of places. The tribes derive their appellations from the places they +inhabit. Thus Cemeeragal, means the men who reside in the bay of Cameera; +Cedigal, those who reside in the bay of Cadi; and so of the others. The +women of the tribe are denoted by adding 'eean' to any of the foregoing +words. A Cadigaleean imports a woman living at Cadi, or of the tribe of +Cadigal. These words, as the reader will observe, are accented either on +the first syllable or the penultima. In general, however, they are partial +to the emphasis being laid as near the beginning of the word as possible. + +[*Mrs. Johnson, wife of the chaplain of the settlement, was so pleased with +this name that she christened her little girl, born in Port Jackson, Milba +Maria Johnson.] + +Of compound words they seem fond. Two very striking ones appear in the +journal to the Hawkesbury. Their translations of our words into their +language are always apposite, comprehensive, and drawn from images familiar +to them. A gun, for instance, they call 'gooroobeera', that is, a stick of +fire. Sometimes also, by a licence of language, they call those who +carry guns by the same name. But the appellation by which they generally +distinguished us was that of 'bereewolgal', meaning men come from afar. +When they salute any one they call him 'dameeli', or namesake, a term which +not only implies courtesy and good-will, but a certain degree of affection +in the speaker. An interchange of names with any one is also a symbol of +friendship. Each person has several names; one of which, there is reason to +believe, is always derived from the first fish or animal which the child, +in accompanying its father to the chase or a fishing, may chance to kill. + +Not only their combinations, but some of their simple sounds, were +difficult of pronunciation to mouths purely English. Diphthongs often +occur. One of the most common is that of 'ae', or perhaps, 'ai', pronounced +not unlike those letters in the French verb 'hair', to hate. The letter 'y' +frequently follows 'd' in the same syllable. Thus the word which signifies +a woman is 'dyin'; although the structure of our language requires us to +spell it 'deein'. + +But if they sometimes put us to difficulty, many of our words were to them +unutterable. The letters 's' and 'v' they never could pronounce. The latter +became invariably 'w', and the former mocked all their efforts, which in +the instance of Baneelon has been noticed; and a more unfortunate defect in +learning our language could not easily be pointed out. + +They use the ellipsis in speaking very freely; always omitting as many +words as they possibly can, consistent with being understood. They inflect +both their nouns and verbs regularly; and denote the cases of the former +and the tenses of the latter, not like the English by auxiliary words, but +like the Latins by change of termination. Their nouns, whether substantive +or adjective, seem to admit of no plural. I have heard Mr. Dawes hint his +belief of their using a dual number, similar to the Greeks, but I confess +that I never could remark aught to confirm it. The method by which they +answer a question that they cannot resolve is similar to what we +sometimes use. Let for example the following question be put: 'Waw Colbee +yagoono?'--Where is Colbee to-day? 'Waw, baw!'--Where, indeed! would be the +reply. They use a direct and positive negative, but express the affirmative +by a nod of the head or an inclination of the body. + +Opinions have greatly differed, whether or not their language be copious. +In one particular it is notoriously defective. They cannot count with +precision more than four. However as far as ten, by holding up the fingers, +they can both comprehend others and explain themselves. Beyond four every +number is called great; and should it happen to be very large, great great, +which is an Italian idiom also. This occasions their computations of time +and space to be very confused and incorrect. Of the former they have no +measure but the visible diurnal motion of the sun or the monthly revolution +of the moon. + +To conclude the history of a people for whom I cannot but feel some share +of affection. Let those who have been born in more favoured lands and who +have profited by more enlightened systems, compassionate, but not despise +their destitute and obscure situation. Children of the same omniscient +paternal care, let them recollect that by the fortuitous advantage of birth +alone they possess superiority: that untaught, unaccommodated man is the +same in Pall Mall as in the wilderness of New South Wales. And ultimately +let them hope and trust that the progress of reason and the splendor +of revelation will in their proper and allotted season be permitted to +illumine and transfuse into these desert regions, knowledge, virtue and +happiness. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + + +Observations on the Convicts. + + +A short account of that class of men for whose disposal and advantage the +colony was principally, if not totally, founded, seems necessary. + +If it be recollected how large a body of these people are now congregated +in the settlement of Port Jackson and at Norfolk Island, it will, I think, +not only excite surprise but afford satisfaction, to learn, that in a +period of four years few crimes of a deep dye or of a hardened nature +have been perpetrated. Murder and unnatural sins rank not hitherto in the +catalogue of their enormities, and one suicide only has been committed. + +To the honour of the female part of our community let it be recorded that +only one woman has suffered capital punishment. On her condemnation she +pleaded pregnancy, and a jury of venerable matrons was impanneled on the +spot, to examine and pronounce her state, which the forewoman, a grave +personage between sixty and seventy years old, did, by this short address +to the court; 'Gentlemen! she is as much with child as I am.' Sentence was +accordingly passed, and she was executed. + +Besides the instance of Irving, two other male convicts, William +Bloodsworth, of Kingston upon Thames, and John Arscott, of Truro, in +Cornwall, were both emancipated for their good conduct, in the years +1790 and 1791. Several men whose terms of transportation had expired, and +against whom no legal impediment existed to prevent their departure, have +been permitted to enter in merchant ships wanting hands: and as my Rose +Hill journals testify, many others have had grants of land assigned to +them, and are become settlers in the country. + +In so numerous a community many persons of perverted genius and of +mechanical ingenuity could not but be assembled. Let me produce the +following example. Frazer was an iron manufacturer, bred at Sheffield, of +whose abilities as a workman we had witnessed many proofs. The governor had +written to England for a set of locks to be sent out for the security of +the public stores, which were to be so constructed as to be incapable of +being picked. On their arrival his excellency sent for Frazer and bade him +examine them telling him at the same time that they could not be picked. +Frazer laughed and asked for a crooked nail only, to open them all. A nail +was brought, and in an instant he verified his assertion. Astonished at his +dexterity, a gentleman present determined to put it to farther proof. He +was sent for in a hurry, some days after, to the hospital, where a lock of +still superior intricacy and expense to the others had been provided. +He was told that the key was lost and that the lock must be immediately +picked. He examined it attentively, remarked that it was the production of +a workman, and demanded ten minutes to make an instrument 'to speak with +it.' Without carrying the lock with him, he went directly to his shop, and +at the expiration of his term returned, applied his instrument, and open +flew the lock. But it was not only in this part of his business that he +excelled: he executed every branch of it in superior style. Had not his +villainy been still more notorious than his skill, he would have proved an +invaluable possession to a new country. He had passed through innumerable +scenes in life, and had played many parts. When too lazy to work at his +trade he had turned thief in fifty different shapes, was a receiver of +stolen goods, a soldier and a travelling conjurer. He once confessed to me +that he had made a set of tools, for a gang of coiners, every man of whom +was hanged. + +Were the nature of the subject worthy of farther illustration, many similar +proofs of misapplied talents might be adduced. + +Their love of the marvellous has been recorded in an early part of this +work. The imposture of the gold finder, however prominent and glaring, +nevertheless contributed to awaken attention and to create merriment. +He enjoyed the reputation of a discoverer, until experiment detected the +imposition. But others were less successful to acquire even momentary +admiration. The execution of forgery seems to demand at least neatness of +imitation and dexterity of address. On arrival of the first fleet of ships +from England, several convicts brought out recommendatory letters from +different friends. Of these some were genuine, and many owed their birth +to the ingenuity of the bearers. But these last were all such bungling +performances as to produce only instant detection and succeeding contempt. +One of them addressed to the governor, with the name of Baron Hotham +affixed to it, began 'Honored Sir!' + +A leading distinction, which marked the convicts on their outset in the +colony, was an use of what is called the 'flash', or 'kiddy' language. In +some of our early courts of justice an interpreter was frequently necessary +to translate the deposition of the witness and the defence of the prisoner. +This language has many dialects. The sly dexterity of the pickpocket, the +brutal ferocity of the footpad, the more elevated career of the highwayman +and the deadly purpose of the midnight ruffian is each strictly appropriate +in the terms which distinguish and characterize it. I have ever been of +opinion that an abolition of this unnatural jargon would open the path to +reformation. And my observations on these people have constantly instructed +me that indulgence in this infatuating cant is more deeply associated with +depravity and continuance in vice than is generally supposed. I recollect +hardly one instance of a return to honest pursuits, and habits of industry, +where this miserable perversion of our noblest and peculiar faculty was not +previously conquered. + +Those persons to whom the inspection and management of our numerous and +extensive prisons in England are committed will perform a service to +society by attending to the foregoing observation. Let us always keep +in view, that punishment, when not directed to promote reformation, is +arbitrary, and unauthorised. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + + +Facts relating to the probability of establishing a whale fishery on the +coast of New South Wales, with Thoughts on the same. + + +In every former part of this publication I have studiously avoided +mentioning a whale fishery, as the information relating to it will, I +conceive, be more acceptably received in this form, by those to whom it is +addressed, than if mingled with other matter. + +Previous to entering on this detail, it must be observed that several of +the last fleet of ships which had arrived from England with convicts, were +fitted out with implements for whale fishing, and were intended to sail for +the coast of Brazil to pursue the fishery, immediately on having landed the +convicts. + +On the 14th of October, 1791, the 'Britannia', Captain Melville, one of +these ships, arrived at Sydney. In her passage between Van Diemen's Land +and Port Jackson, the master reported that he had seen a large shoal of +spermaceti whales. His words were, 'I saw more whales at one time around +my ship than in the whole of six years which I have fished on the coast of +Brazil.' + +This intelligence was no sooner communicated than all the whalers were +eager to push to sea. Melville himself was among the most early; and on the +10th of November, returned to Port Jackson, more confident of success than +before. He assured me that in the fourteen days which he had been out, he +had seen more spermaced whales than in all his former life. They amounted, +he said to many thousands, most of them of enormous magnitude; and had he +not met with bad weather he could have killed as many as he pleased. Seven +he did kill, but owing to the stormy agitated state of the water, he could +not get any of them aboard. In one however, which in a momentary interval +of calm, was killed and secured by a ship in company, he shared. The oil +and head matter of this fish, he extolled as of an extraordinary fine +quality. He was of opinion the former would fetch ten pounds per ton more +in London than that procured on the Brazil coast. He had not gone farther +south than 37 degrees; and described the latitude of 35 degrees to be the +place where the whales most abounded, just on the edge of soundings, which +here extends about fifteen leagues from the shore; though perhaps, on other +parts of the coast the bank will be found to run hardly so far off. + +On the following day (November 11th) the 'Mary Anne', Captain Munro, +another of the whalers, returned into port, after having been out sixteen +days. She had gone as far south as 41 degrees but saw not a whale, and had +met with tremendously bad weather, in which she had shipped a sea that had +set her boiling coppers afloat and had nearly carried them overboard. + +November 22d. The 'William and Anne', Captain Buncker, returned after +having been more than three weeks out, and putting into Broken Bay. This is +the ship that had killed the fish in which Melville shared. Buncker had met +with no farther success, owing, he said, entirely, to gales of wind; for +he had seen several immense shoals and was of opinion that he should have +secured fifty tons of oil, had the weather been tolerably moderate. I asked +him whether he thought the whales he had seen were fish of passage. "No," +he answered, "they were going on every point of the compass, and were +evidently on feeding ground, which I saw no reason to doubt that they +frequent." Melville afterwards confirmed to me this observation. December +3rd, the 'Mary Anne' and 'Matilda' again returned. The former had gone to +the southward, and off Port Jervis had fallen in with two shoals of whales, +nine of which were killed, but owing to bad weather, part of five only were +got on board. As much, the master computed, as would yield thirty barrels +of oil. He said the whales were the least shy of any he had ever seen, "not +having been cut up". The latter had gone to the northward, and had seen no +whales but a few fin-backs. + +On the 5th of December, both these ships sailed again; and on the 16th and +17th of the month (just before the author sailed for England) they and the +'Britannia' and 'William and Anne' returned to Port Jackson without success +having experienced a continuation of the bad weather and seen very few +fish. They all said that their intention was to give the coast one more +trial, and if it miscarried to quit it and steer to the northward in search +of less tempestuous seas. + +The only remark which I have to offer to adventurers on the above subject, +is not to suffer discouragement by concluding that bad weather only is to +be found on the coast of New South Wales, where the whales have hitherto +been seen. Tempests happen sometimes there, as in other seas, but let them +feel assured that there are in every month of the year many days in which +the whale fishery may be safely carried on. The evidence of the abundance +in which spermaceti whales are sometimes seen is incontrovertible: that +which speaks to their being 'not fish of passage' is at least respectable +and hitherto uncontradicted. The prospect merits attention--may it +stimulate to enterprise. + +The two discoveries of Port Jervis and Matilda Bay (which are to be found +in the foregoing sheets) may yet be wanting in the maps of the coast. +My account of their geographic situation, except possibly in the exact +longitude of the latter (a point not very material) may be safely depended +upon. A knowledge of Oyster Bay, discovered and laid down by the 'Mercury' +store-ship, in the year 1789, would also be desirable. But this I am +incapable of furnishing. + +Here terminates my subject. Content with the humble province of detailing +facts and connecting events by undisturbed narration, I leave to others +the task of anticipating glorious, or gloomy, consequences, from +the establishment of a colony, which unquestionably demands serious +investigation, ere either its prosecution or abandonment be determined. + +But doubtless not only those who planned, but those who have been delegated +to execute, an enterprise of such magnitude, have deeply revolved, that +"great national expense does not imply the necessity of national suffering. +While revenue is employed with success to some valuable end, the profits of +every adventure being more than sufficient to repay its costs, the public +should gain, and its resources should continue to multiply. But an expense +whether sustained at home or abroad; whether a waste of the present, or an +anticipation of the future, revenue, if it bring no adequate return, is to +be reckoned among the causes of national ruin."* + +[*Ferguson's Essay on the History of Civil Society.] + + + +A list of the Civil and Military Establishments in New South Wales + +Governor and Commander in Chief, His Excellency Arthur Phillip, Esq. + +Lieutenant Governor, Robert Ross, Esq. + +Judge of the Admiralty Court, Robert Ross, Esq. + +Chaplain of the Settlement, the Rev. Richard Johnson. + +Judge Advocate of the Settlement, David Collins, Esq. + +Secretary to the Governor, David Collins, Esq. + +Surveyor General, Augustus Alt, Esq. + +Commissary of Stores and Provisions, Andrew Miller, Esq. + +Assistant Commissary, Mr. Zechariah Clarke. + +Provost Martial, who acts as Sheriff of Cumberland County, Mr. Henry +Brewer. + +Peace Officer, Mr. James Smith. + + +MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT. + +His Majesty's Ship 'Sirius', John Hunter, Esq. Commander. Lieutenants, +Bradley, King, Maxwell. + +His Majesty's armed Brig, 'Supply', Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball, +Commander. + + +FOUR COMPANIES OF MARINES + +Major Robert Ross, Commandant. + + +CAPTAINS COMMANDING COMPANIES + +James Campbell, John Shea, Captain Lieutenants, James Meredith, Watkin +Tench. + + +FIRST LIEUTENANTS + +George Johnson, John Johnson, John Creswell, James Maltland Shairp, Robert +Nellow, Thomas Davey, James Furzer, Thomas Timins, John Poulden. + + +SECOND LIEUTENANTS + +Ralph Clarke, John Long, William Dawes, William Feddy. + +Adjutant, John Long. + +Quarter Master, James Furzer. + +Aide de Camp to the Governor, George Johnson. + +Officer of Engineers and Artillery, William Dawes. + + +HOSPITAL ESTABLISHMENT. + +Surgeon General of the Settlement, John White, Esq. + +First Assistant, Mr. Dennis Considen. + +Second Assistant, Mr. Thomas Arndell. + +Third Assistant, Mr. William Balmain. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Complete Account of the Settlement +at Port Jackson, by Watkin Tench + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SETTLEMENT AT PORT JACKSON *** + +***** This file should be named 3534.txt or 3534.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/3/3534/ + +Produced by Col Choat and Stuart Kidd + +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 distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.08.01*END** +[Portions of this header are copyright (C) 2001 by Michael S. Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + + + + + +This etext was produced by Col Choat. colc@sanderson.net.au + + + + + +A Complete Account of the Settlement + +by Watkin Tench + + + + + +PREFACE + + + + +When it is recollected how much has been written to describe the Settlement +of New South Wales, it seems necessary if not to offer an apology, +yet to assign a reason, for an additional publication. + +The Author embarked in the fleet which sailed to found the establishment +at Botany Bay. He shortly after published a Narrative of the Proceedings +and State of the Colony, brought up to the beginning of July, 1788, +which was well received, and passed through three editions. This could not +but inspire both confidence and gratitude; but gratitude, would be +badly manifested were he on the presumption of former favour to lay claim +to present indulgence. He resumes the subject in the humble hope +of communicating information, and increasing knowledge, of the country, +which he describes. + +He resided at Port Jackson nearly four years: from the 20th of January, 1788, +until the 18th of December, 1791. To an active and contemplative mind, +a new country is an inexhaustible source of curiosity and speculation. +It was the author's custom not only to note daily occurrences, and to inspect +and record the progression of improvement; but also, when not prevented by +military duties, to penetrate the surrounding country in different directions, +in order to examine its nature, and ascertain its relative geographical +situations. + +The greatest part of the work is inevitably composed of those materials which +a journal supplies; but wherever reflections could be introduced without +fastidiousness and parade, he has not scrupled to indulge them, in common with +every other deviation which the strictness of narrative would allow. + +When this publication was nearly ready for the press; and when many +of the opinions which it records had been declared, fresh accounts from +Port Jackson were received. To the state of a country, where so many anxious +trying hours of his life have passed, the author cannot feel indifferent. +If by any sudden revolution of the laws of nature; or by any fortunate +discovery of those on the spot, it has really become that fertile +and prosperous land, which some represent it to be, he begs permission +to add his voice to the general congratulation. He rejoices at its success: +but it is only justice to himself and those with whom he acted to declare, +that they feel no cause of reproach that so complete and happy an alteration +did not take place at an earlier period. + + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + + +A Retrospect of the State of the Colony of Port Jackson, +on the Date of my former Narrative, in July, 1788. + + +Previous to commencing any farther account of the subject, which I am about +to treat, such a retrospection of the circumstances and situation +of the settlement, at the conclusion of my former Narrative, as shall lay +its state before the reader, seems necessary, in order to connect +the present with the past. + +The departure of the first fleet of ships for Europe, on the +14th of July, 1788, had been long impatiently expected; and had filled us +with anxiety, to communicate to our friends an account of our situation; +describing the progress of improvement, and the probability of success, +or failure, in our enterprise. That men should judge very oppositely +on so doubtful and precarious an event, will hardly surprise. + +Such relations could contain little besides the sanguineness of hope, +and the enumeration of hardships and difficulties, which former accounts +had not led us to expect. Since our disembarkation in the preceding January, +the efforts of every one had been unremittingly exerted, to deposit +the public stores in a state of shelter and security, and to erect habitations +for ourselves. We were eager to escape from tents, where a fold of canvas, +only, interposed to check the vertic beams of the sun in summer, +and the chilling blasts of the south in winter. A markee pitched, +in our finest season, on an English lawn; or a transient view of those +gay camps, near the metropolis, which so many remember, naturally draws forth +careless and unmeaning exclamations of rapture, which attach ideas +of pleasure only, to this part of a soldier's life. But an encampment +amidst the rocks and wilds of a new country, aggravated by the miseries +of bad diet, and incessant toil, will find few admirers. + +Nor were our exertions less unsuccessful than they were laborious. +Under wretched covers of thatch lay our provisions and stores, exposed to +destruction from every flash of lightning, and every spark of fire. +A few of the convicts had got into huts; but almost all the officers, +and the whole of the soldiery, were still in tents. + +In such a situation, where knowledge of the mechanic arts afforded +the surest recommendation to notice, it may be easily conceived, +that attention to the parade duty of the troops, gradually diminished. +Now were to be seen officers and soldiers not "trailing the puissant pike" +but felling the ponderous gum-tree, or breaking the stubborn clod. +And though "the broad falchion did not in a ploughshare end" the possession +of a spade, a wheelbarrow, or a dunghill, was more coveted than the most +refulgent arms in which heroism ever dazzled. Those hours, which +in other countries are devoted to martial acquirements, were here consumed +in the labours of the sawpit, the forge and the quarry*. + + +[* "The Swedish prisoners, taken at the battle of Pultowa, +were transported by the Czar Peter to the most remote parts of +Siberia, with a view to civilize the natives of the country, and +teach them the arts the Swedes possessed. In this hopeless situation, +all traces of discipline and subordination, between the different +ranks, were quickly obliterated. The soldiers, who were husbandmen +and artificers, found out their superiority, and assumed it: +the officers became their servants." VOLTAIRE.] + + +Of the two ships of war, the 'Sirius' and 'Supply', the latter was incessantly +employed in transporting troops, convicts, and stores, to Norfolk Island; +and the 'Sirius' in preparing for a voyage to some port, where provisions +for our use might be purchased, the expected supply from England not +having arrived. It is but justice to the officers and men of both these ships +to add, that, on all occasions, they fully shared every hardship and fatigue +with those on shore. + +On the convicts the burden fell yet heavier: necessity compelled us to allot +to them the most slavish and laborious employments. Those operations, +which in other countries are performed by the brute creation, +were here effected by the exertions of men: but this ought not to be +considered a grievance; because they had always been taught to expect it, +as the inevitable consequence of their offences against society. +Severity was rarely exercised on them; and justice was administered +without partiality or discrimination. Their ration of provisions, +except in being debarred from an allowance of spirits, was equal to that +which the marines received. Under these circumstances I record with pleasure, +that they behaved better than had been predicted of them--to have expected +sudden and complete reformation of conduct, were romantic and chimerical. + +Our cultivation of the land was yet in its infancy. We had hitherto tried +only the country contiguous to Sydney. Here the governor had established +a government-farm; at the head of which a competent person of his own household +was placed, with convicts to work under him. Almost the whole of the officers +likewise accepted of small tracts of ground, for the purpose of raising grain +and vegetables: but experience proved to us, that the soil would produce +neither without manure; and as this was not to be procured, our vigour +soon slackened; and most of the farms (among which was the one belonging +to government) were successively abandoned. + +With the natives we were very little more acquainted than on our arrival +in the country. Our intercourse with them was neither frequent or cordial. +They seemed studiously to avoid us, either from fear, jealousy, or hatred. +When they met with unarmed stragglers, they sometimes killed, and sometimes +wounded them. I confess that, in common with many others, I was inclined +to attribute this conduct, to a spirit of malignant levity. But a farther +acquaintance with them, founded on several instances of their humanity +and generosity, which shall be noticed in their proper places, has entirely +reversed my opinion; and led me to conclude, that the unprovoked outrages +committed upon them, by unprincipled individuals among us, caused the evils +we had experienced. To prevent them from being plundered of +their fishing-tackle and weapons of war, a proclamation was issued, +forbidding their sale among us; but it was not attended with the good effect +which was hoped for from it. + +During this period, notwithstanding the want of fresh provisions +and vegetables, and almost constant exposure to the vicissitudes +of a variable climate, disease rarely attacked us; and the number of deaths, +was too inconsiderable to deserve mention. + +Norfolk Island had been taken possession of, by a party detached for that +purpose, early after our arrival. Few accounts of it had yet reached us. +And here I beg leave to observe, that as I can speak of this island +only from the relations of others, never having myself been there, +I shall in every part of this work mention it as sparingly as possible. +And this more especially, as it seems probable, that some of those gentlemen, +who from accurate knowledge, and long residence on it, are qualified to write +its history, will oblige the world with such a publication. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + + +Transactions of the Colony from the sailing of the First Fleet in July, 1788, +to the Close of that Year. + + +It was impossible to behold without emotion the departure of the ships. +On their speedy arrival in England perhaps hinged our fate; by hastening +our supplies to us. + +On the 20th of July, the 'Supply' sailed for Norfolk Island, and returned to us +on the 26th of August; bringing no material news, except that the soil +was found to suit grain, and other seeds, which had been sown in it, and that +a species of flax-plant was discovered to grow spontaneously on the island. + +A survey of the harbour of Port Jackson was now undertaken, in order to compute +the number of canoes, and inhabitants, which it might contain: +sixty-seven canoes, and 147 people were counted. No estimate, however, +of even tolerable accuracy, can be drawn from so imperfect a datum; +though it was perhaps the best in our power to acquire. + +In July and August, we experienced more inclement tempestuous weather +than had been observed at any former period of equal duration. And yet +it deserves to be remarked, in honour of the climate, that, although our number +of people exceeded 900, not a single death happened in the latter month. + +The dread of want in a country destitute of natural resource is ever +peculiarly terrible. We had long turned our eyes with impatience towards +the sea, cheered by the hope of seeing supplies from England approach. +But none arriving, on the 2d of October the 'Sirius' sailed for the +Cape of Good Hope, with directions to purchase provisions there, for the use +of our garrison. + +A new settlement, named by the governor Rose Hill, 16 miles inland, +was established on the 3d of November, the soil here being judged better +than that around Sydney. A small redoubt was thrown up, and a captain's +detachment posted in it, to protect the convicts who were employed +to cultivate the ground. + +The two last of the transports left us for England on the 19th of November, +intending to make their passage by Cape Horn. There now remained with us +only the 'Supply'. Sequestered and cut off as we were from the rest +of civilized nature, their absence carried the effect of desolation. +About this time a convict, of the name of Daly, was hanged, for a burglary: +this culprit, who was a notorious thief and impostor, was the author +of a discovery of a gold mine, a few months before: a composition resembling +ore mingled with earth, which he pretended to have brought from it, +he produced. After a number of attendant circumstances, too ludicrous +and contemptible to relate, which befell a party, who were sent +under his guidance to explore this second Peru, he at last confessed, +that he had broken up an old pair of buckles, and mixed the pieces with sand +and stone; and on assaying the composition, the brass was detected. +The fate of this fellow I should not deem worth recording, did it not lead +to the following observation, that the utmost circumspection is necessary +to prevent imposition, in those who give accounts of what they see +in unknown countries. We found the convicts particularly happy in fertility +of invention, and exaggerated descriptions. Hence large fresh water rivers, +valuable ores, and quarries of limestone, chalk, and marble, were daily +proclaimed soon after we had landed. At first we hearkened with avidity +to such accounts; but perpetual disappointments taught us to listen +with caution, and to believe from demonstration only. + +Unabated animosity continued to prevail between the natives and us: +n addition to former losses, a soldier and several convicts suddenly +disappeared, and were never afterwards heard of. Three convicts were +also wounded, and one killed by them, near Botany Bay: similar to +the vindictive spirit which Mr. Cook found to exist among their countrymen +at Endeavour River, they more than once attempted to set fire to +combustible matter, in order to annoy us. Early on the morning of the +18th of December, word was brought that they were assembled in force, +near the brick-kilns, which stand but a mile from the town of Sydney. +The terror of those who brought the first intelligence magnified the number +to two thousand; a second messenger diminished it to four hundred. +A detachment, under the command of an officer was ordered to march immediately, +and reconnoitre them. The officer soon returned, and reported, +that about fifty Indians had appeared at the brick-kilns; but upon the +convicts, who were at work there, pointing their spades and shovels at them, +in the manner of guns, they had fled into the woods. + +Tired of this state of petty warfare and endless uncertainty, the governor +at length determined to adopt a decisive measure, by capturing some of them, +and retaining them by force; which we supposed would either inflame the rest +to signal vengeance, in which case we should know the worst, and provide +accordingly: or else it would induce an intercourse, by the report +which our prisoners would make of the mildness and indulgence with which +we used them. And farther, it promised to unveil the cause of their +mysterious conduct, by putting us in possession of their reasons for harassing +and destroying our people, in the manner I have related. Boats were +accordingly ordered to be got ready, and every preparation made, +which could lead to the attainment of our object. + +But as this subject deserves to be particularly detailed, I shall, +notwithstanding its being just within the period of time which this chapter +professes to comprise, allot it a separate place, in the beginning of the next. + +Nor can I close this part of my work without congratulating both the reader +and the author. New matter now presents itself. A considerable part +of the foregoing chapters had been related before, either by others or myself. +I was however, unavoidably compelled to insert it, in order to preserve +unbroken that chain of detail, and perspicuity of arrangement, at which books +professing to convey information should especially aim. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + + +Transactions of the Colony, from the Commencement of the Year 1789, +until the End of March. + + +Pursuant to his resolution, the governor on the 31st of December sent +two boats, under the command of Lieutenant Ball of the 'Supply', and +Lieutenant George Johnston of the marines, down the harbour, with directions +to those officers to seize and carry off some of the natives. The boats +proceeded to Manly Cove, where several Indians were seen standing on the beach, +who were enticed by courteous behaviour and a few presents to enter +into conversation. A proper opportunity being presented, our people rushed in +among them, and seized two men: the rest fled; but the cries of the captives +soon brought them back, with many others, to their rescue: and so desperate +were their struggles, that, in spite of every effort on our side, only one +of them was secured; the other effected his escape. The boats put off +without delay; and an attack from the shore instantly commenced: +they threw spears, stones, firebrands, and whatever else presented itself, +at the boats; nor did they retreat, agreeable to their former custom, +until many musquets were fired over them. + +The prisoner was now fastened by ropes to the thwarts of the boat; and when +he saw himself irretrievably disparted from his countrymen, set up +the most piercing and lamentable cries of distress. His grief, however, +soon diminished: he accepted and ate of some broiled fish +which was given to him, and sullenly submitted to his destiny. + +When the news of his arrival at Sydney was announced, I went with every other +person to see him: he appeared to be about thirty years old, not tall, +but robustly made; and of a countenance which, under happier circumstances, +I thought would display manliness and sensibility; his agitation was excessive, +and the clamourous crowds who flocked around him did not contribute +to lessen it. Curiosity and observation seemed, nevertheless, not to have +wholly deserted him; he shewed the effect of novelty upon ignorance; +he wondered at all he saw: though broken and interrupted with dismay, +his voice was soft and musical, when its natural tone could be heard; +and he readily pronounced with tolerable accuracy the names of things +which were taught him. To our ladies he quickly became extraordinarily +courteous, a sure sign that his terror was wearing off. + +Every blandishment was used to soothe him, and it had its effect. +As he was entering the governor's house, some one touched a small bell +which hung over the door: he started with horror and astonishment; +but in a moment after was reconciled to the noise, and laughed at the cause +of his perturbation. When pictures were shown to him, he knew directly +those which represented the human figure: among others, a very large handsome +print of her royal highness the Dutchess of Cumberland being produced, +he called out 'woman', a name by which we had just before taught him to call +the female convicts. Plates of birds and beasts were also laid before him; +and many people were led to believe, that such as he spoke about and pointed to +were known to him. But this must have been an erroneous conjecture, +for the elephant, rhinoceros, and several others, which we must have discovered +did they exist in the country, were of the number. Again, on the other hand, +those he did not point out, were equally unknown to him. + +His curiosity here being satiated, we took him to a large brick house, +which was building for the governor's residence: being about to enter, +he cast up his eyes, and seeing some people leaning out of a window +on the first story, he exclaimed aloud, and testified the most extravagant +surprise. Nothing here was observed to fix his attention so strongly +as some tame fowls, who were feeding near him: our dogs also he +particularly noticed; but seemed more fearful than fond of them. + +He dined at a side-table at the governor's; and ate heartily of fish and ducks, +which he first cooled. Bread and salt meat he smelled at, but would not taste: +all our liquors he treated in the same manner, and could drink nothing +but water. On being shown that he was not to wipe his hands on the chair +which he sat upon, he used a towel which was gave to him, +with great cleanliness and decency. + +In the afternoon his hair was closely cut, his head combed, and his beard +shaved; but he would not submit to these operations until he had seen them +performed on another person, when he readily acquiesced. His hair, +as might be supposed, was filled with vermin, whose destruction seemed +to afford him great triumph; nay, either revenge, or pleasure, prompted him +to eat them! but on our expressing disgust and abhorrence he left it off. + +To this succeeded his immersion in a tub of water and soap, where he was +completely washed and scrubbed from head to foot; after which a shirt, +a jacket, and a pair of trousers, were put upon him. Some part +of this ablution I had the honour to perform, in order that I might ascertain +the real colour of the skin of these people. My observation then was +(and it has since been confirmed in a thousand other instances) that they are +as black as the lighter cast of the African negroes. + +Many unsuccessful attempts were made to learn his name; the governor therefore +called him Manly, from the cove in which he was captured: this cove +had received its name from the manly undaunted behaviour of a party of natives +seen there, on our taking possession of the country. + +To prevent his escape, a handcuff with a rope attached to it, was fastened +around his left wrist, which at first highly delighted him; he called it +'bengadee' (or ornament), but his delight changed to rage and hatred +when he discovered its use. His supper he cooked himself: some fish +were given to him for this purpose, which, without any previous preparation +whatever, he threw carelessly on the fire, and when they became warm +took them up, and first rubbed off the scales, peeled the outside +with his teeth, and ate it; afterwards he gutted them, and laying them again +on the fire, completed the dressing, and ate them. + +A convict was selected to sleep with him, and to attend him wherever +he might go. When he went with his keeper into his apartment he appeared +very restless and uneasy while a light was kept in; but on its extinction, +he immediately lay down and composed himself. + +Sullenness and dejection strongly marked his countenance on the following +morning; to amuse him, he was taken around the camp, and to the observatory: +casting his eyes to the opposite shore from the point where he stood, +and seeing the smoke of fire lighted by his countrymen, he looked earnestly +at it, and sighing deeply two or three times, uttered the word +'gweeun' (fire). + +His loss of spirits had not, however, the effect of impairing his appetite; +eight fish, each weighing about a pound, constituted his breakfast, +which he dressed as before. When he had finished his repast, +he turned his back to the fire in a musing posture, and crept so close to it, +that his shirt was caught by the flame; luckily his keeper soon +extinguished it; but he was so terrified at the accident, that he was +with difficulty persuaded to put on a second. + +1st. January, 1789. To-day being new-year's-day, most of the officers +were invited to the governor's table: Manly dined heartily on fish +and roasted pork; he was seated on a chest near a window, out of which, +when he had done eating, he would have thrown his plate, had he not +been prevented: during dinner-time a band of music played in an adjoining +apartment; and after the cloth was removed, one of the company sang +in a very soft and superior style; but the powers of melody were lost on Manly, +which disappointed our expectations, as he had before shown pleasure +and readiness in imitating our tunes. Stretched out on his chest, +and putting his hat under his head, he fell asleep. + +To convince his countrymen that he had received no injury from us, +the governor took him in a boat down the harbour, that they might see +and converse with him: when the boat arrived, and lay at a little distance +from the beach, several Indians who had retired at her approach, +on seeing Manly, returned: he was greatly affected, and shed tears. +At length they began to converse. Our ignorance of the language prevented us +from knowing much of what passed; it was, however, easily understood +that his friends asked him why he did not jump overboard, and rejoin them. +He only sighed, and pointed to the fetter on his leg, by which he was bound. + +In going down the harbour he had described the names by which they distinguish +its numerous creeks and headlands: he was now often heard to repeat +that of 'Weerong' (Sydney Cove), which was doubtless to inform his countrymen +of the place of his captivity; and perhaps invite them to rescue him. +By this time his gloom was chased away, and he parted from his friends +without testifying reluctance. His vivacity and good humour continued +all the evening, and produced so good an effect on his appetite, +that he ate for supper two kangaroo rats, each of the size of +a moderate rabbit, and in addition not less than three pounds of fish. + +Two days after he was taken on a similar excursion; but to our surprise +the natives kept aloof, and would neither approach the shore, or discourse +with their countryman: we could get no explanation of this difficulty, +which seemed to affect us more than it did him. Uncourteous as they were, +he performed to them an act of attentive benevolence; seeing a basket +made of bark, used by them to carry water, he conveyed into it two hawks +and another bird, which the people in the boat had shot, and carefully +covering them over, left them as a present to his old friends. But indeed +the gentleness and humanity of his disposition frequently displayed themselves: +when our children, stimulated by wanton curiosity, used to flock around him, +he never failed to fondle them, and, if he were eating at the time, +constantly offered them the choicest part of his fare. + +February, 1789. His reserve, from want of confidence in us, continued +gradually to wear away: he told us his name, and Manly gave place +to Arabanoo. Bread he began to relish; and tea he drank with avidity: +strong liquors he would never taste, turning from them with disgust +and abhorrence. Our dogs and cats had ceased to be objects of fear, +and were become his greatest pets, and constant companions at table. +One of our chief amusements, after the cloth was removed, was to make him +repeat the names of things in his language, which he never hesitated to do +with the utmost alacrity, correcting our pronunciation when erroneous. +Much information relating to the customs and manners of his country +was also gained from him: but as this subject will be separately and amply +treated, I shall not anticipate myself by partially touching on it here. + +On the 2nd of February died Captain John Shea of the marines, +after a lingering illness: he was interred on the following day, +with the customary military honours, amidst the regret of all who knew him. +In consequence of his decease, appointments for the promotion of the oldest +officer of each subordinate rank were signed by the major commandant +of the marine battalion, until the pleasure of the lords of the admiralty +should be notified.* + +[*These appointments were confirmed by the admiralty.] + +On the 17th of February the 'Supply' again sailed for Norfolk Island. +The governor went down the harbour in her, and carried Arabanoo with him, +who was observed to go on board with distrust and reluctance; when he found +she was under sail, every effort was tried without success to exhilarate him; +at length, an opportunity being presented, he plunged overboard, and struck out +for the nearest shore: believing that those who were left behind would fire +at him, he attempted to dive, at which he was known to be very expert: +but this was attended with a difficulty which he had not foreseen: +his clothes proved so buoyant, that he was unable to get more than his head +under water: a boat was immediately dispatched after him, and picked him up, +though not without struggles and resistance on his side. When brought +on board, he appeared neither afraid or ashamed of what he had done, +but sat apart, melancholy and dispirited, and continued so until he saw +the governor and his other friends descend into a boat, and heard himself +called upon to accompany them: he sprang forward, and his cheerfulness +and alacrity of temper immediately returned, and lasted during the remainder +of the day. The dread of being carried away, on an element of whose boundary +he could form no conception, joined to the uncertainty of our intention +towards him, unquestionably caused him to act as he did. + +One of the principal effects which we had supposed the seizure and captivity +of Arabanoo would produce, seemed yet at as great a distance as ever; +the natives neither manifested signs of increased hostility on his account, +or attempted to ask any explanation of our conduct through the medium +of their countryman who was in our possession, and who they knew was treated +with no farther harshness than in being detained among us. Their forbearance +of open and determined attack upon can be accounted for only by recollecting +their knowledge of our numbers, and their dread of our fire-arms: +that they wanted not sufficient provocation to do so, will appear from what +I am about to relate. + +March, 1789. Sixteen convicts left their work at the brick-kilns +without leave, and marched to Botany Bay, with a design to attack the natives, +and to plunder them of their fishing-tackle and spears: they had armed +themselves with their working tools and large clubs. When they arrived +near the bay, a body of Indians, who had probably seen them set out, +and had penetrated their intention from experience, suddenly fell upon them. +Our heroes were immediately routed, and separately endeavoured to effect +their escape by any means which were left. In their flight one was killed, +and seven were wounded, for the most part very severely: those who had +the good fortune to outstrip their comrades and arrive in camp, first gave +the alarm; and a detachment of marines, under an officer, was ordered +to march to their relief. The officer arrived too late to repel the Indians; +but he brought in the body of the man that was killed, and put an end +to the pursuit. The governor was justly incensed at what had happened, +and instituted the most rigorous scrutiny into the cause which had produced it. +At first the convicts were unanimous in affirming, that they were +quietly picking sweet-tea*, when they were without provocation assaulted +by the natives, with whom they had no wish to quarrel. Some of them, however, +more irresolute than the rest, at last disclosed the purpose for which +the expedition had been undertaken; and the whole were ordered to be +severely flogged: Arabanoo was present at the infliction of the punishment; +and was made to comprehend the cause and the necessity of it; but he displayed +on the occasion symptoms of disgust and terror only. + +[*A vegetable creeper found growing on the rocks, which yields, +on infusion in hot water, a sweet astringent taste, whence it derives +its name: to its virtues the healthy state of the soldiery and convicts +must be greatly attributed. It was drank universally.] + +On the 24th instant the 'Supply' arrived from Norfolk Island, +and Lord Howe Island, bringing from the latter place three turtles. + +An awful and terrible example of justice took place towards the close +of this month, which I record with regret, but which it would be disingenuous +to suppress. Six marines, the flower of our battalion, were hanged +by the public executioner, on the sentence of a criminal court, +composed entirely of their own officers, for having at various times +robbed the public stores of flour, meat, spirits, tobacco, +and many other articles. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + + +Transactions of the Colony in April and May, 1789. + + +An extraordinary calamity was now observed among the natives. Repeated +accounts brought by our boats of finding bodies of the Indians in all the coves +and inlets of the harbour, caused the gentlemen of our hospital to procure +some of them for the purposes of examination and anatomy. On inspection, +it appeared that all the parties had died a natural death: pustules, +similar to those occasioned by the small pox, were thickly spread +on the bodies; but how a disease, to which our former observations had led us +to suppose them strangers, could at once have introduced itself, +and have spread so widely, seemed inexplicable.* Whatever might be the cause, +the existence of the malady could no longer be doubted. Intelligence +was brought that an Indian family lay sick in a neighbouring cove: +the governor, attended by Arabanoo, and a surgeon, went in a boat immediately +to the spot. Here they found an old man stretched before a few lighted sticks, +and a boy of nine or ten years old pouring water on his head, from a shell +which he held in his hand: near them lay a female child dead, +and a little farther off, its unfortunate mother: the body of the woman +shewed that famine, superadded to disease, had occasioned her death: +eruptions covered the poor boy from head to foot; and the old man was +so reduced, that he was with difficulty got into the boat. Their situation +rendered them incapable of escape, and they quietly submitted to be led away. +Arabanoo, contrary to his usual character, seemed at first unwilling +to render them any assistance; but his shyness soon wore off, and he treated +them with the kindest attention. Nor would he leave the place until +he had buried the corpse of the child: that of the woman he did not see +from its situation; and as his countrymen did not point it out, +the governor ordered that it should not be shown to him. He scooped a grave +in the sand with his hands, of no peculiarity of shape, which he lined +completely with grass, and put the body into it, covering it also with grass; +and then he filled up the hole, and raised over it a small mound with the earth +which had been removed. Here the ceremony ended, unaccompanied +by any invocation to a superior being, or any attendant circumstance +whence an inference of their religious opinions could be deduced. + +[*No solution of this difficulty had been given when I left the country, +in December, 1791. I can, therefore, only propose queries for the ingenuity +of others to exercise itself upon: is it a disease indigenous to the country? +Did the French ships under Monsieur de Peyrouse introduce it? Let it be +remembered that they had now been departed more than a year; and we had never +heard of its existence on board of them. Had it travelled across the continent +from its western shore, where Dampier and other European voyagers +had formerly landed? Was it introduced by Mr. Cook? Did we give it birth +here? No person among us had been afflicted with the disorder +since we had quitted the Cape of Good Hope, seventeen months before. +It is true, that our surgeons had brought out variolous matter in bottles; +but to infer that it was produced from this cause were a supposition +so wild as to be unworthy of consideration.] + + +An uninhabited house, near the hospital, was allotted for their reception, +and a cradle prepared for each of them. By the encouragement of Arabanoo, +who assured them of protection, and the soothing behaviour of our medical +gentlemen, they became at once reconciled to us, and looked happy and grateful +at the change of their situation. Sickness and hunger had, however, +so much exhausted the old man, that little hope was entertained +of his recovery. As he pointed frequently to his throat, at the instance +of Arabanoo, he tried to wash it with a gargle which was given to him; +but the obstructed, tender state of the part rendered it impracticable. +'Bado, bado' (water), was his cry: when brought to him, he drank largely +at intervals of it. He was equally importunate for fire, being seized +with shivering fits; and one was kindled. Fish were produced, to tempt him +to eat; but he turned away his head, with signs of loathing. +Nanbaree (the boy), on the contrary, no sooner saw them than he leaped +from his cradle, and eagerly seizing them, began to cook them. A warm bath +being prepared, they were immersed in it; and after being thoroughly cleansed, +they had clean shirts put on them, and were again laid in bed. + +The old man lived but a few hours. He bore the pangs of dissolution +with patient composure; and though he was sensible to the last moment, +expired almost without a groan. Nanbaree appeared quite unmoved at the event; +and surveyed the corpse of his father without emotion, simply exclaiming, +'boee' (dead). This surprised us; as the tenderness and anxiety of the old man +about the boy had been very moving. Although barely able to raise his head, +while so much strength was left to him, he kept looking into +his child's cradle; he patted him gently on the bosom; and, with dying eyes, +seemed to recommend him to our humanity and protection. Nanbaree was adopted +by Mr. White, surgeon-general of the settlement, and became henceforth +one of his family. + +Arabanoo had no sooner heard of the death of his countryman, than he hastened +to inter him. I was present at the ceremony, in company with the governor, +captain Ball, and two or three other persons. It differed, by the accounts +of those who were present at the funeral of the girl, in no respect +from what had passed there in the morning, except that the grave was dug +by a convict. But I was informed, that when intelligence of the death +reached Arabanoo, he expressed himself with doubt whether he should bury, +or burn the body; and seemed solicitous to ascertain which ceremony +would be most gratifying to the governor. + +Indeed, Arabanoo's behaviour, during the whole of the transactions of this day, +was so strongly marked by affection to his countryman, and by confidence in us, +that the governor resolved to free him from all farther restraint, +and at once to trust to his generosity, and the impression which our treatment +of him might have made, for his future residence among us: the fetter +was accordingly taken off his leg. + +In the evening, captain Ball and I crossed the harbour, and buried the corpse +of the woman before mentioned. + +Distress continued to drive them in upon us. Two more natives, one of them +a young man, and the other his sister, a girl of fourteen years old, +were brought in by the governor's boat, in a most deplorable state +of wretchedness from the smallpox. The sympathy and affection of Arabanoo, +which had appeared languid in the instance of Nanbaree and his father, +here manifested themselves immediately. We conjectured that a difference +of the tribes to which they belonged might cause the preference; but nothing +afterwards happened to strengthen or confirm such a supposition. +The young man died at the end of three days: the girl recovered, +and was received as an inmate, with great kindness, in the family +of Mrs Johnson, the clergyman's wife. Her name was Booron; but from +our mistake of pronunciation she acquired that of Abaroo, by which +she was generally known, and by which she will always be called in this work. +She shewed, at the death of her brother more feeling than Nanbaree +had witnessed for the loss of his father. When she found him dying, +she crept to his side, and lay by him until forced by the cold to retire. +No exclamation, or other sign of grief, however, escaped her +for what had happened. + +May 1789. At sunset, on the evening of the 2d instant, the arrival +the 'Sirius', Captain Hunter, from the Cape of Good Hope, was proclaimed, +and diffused universal joy and congratulation. The day of famine was at least +procrastinated by the supply of flour and salt provisions she brought us. + +The 'Sirius' had made her passage to the Cape of Good Hope, by the route of +Cape Horn, in exactly thirteen weeks. Her highest latitude was +57 degrees 10 minutes south, where the weather proved intolerably cold. Ice, +in great quantity, was seen for many days; and in the middle of December +(which is correspondent to the middle of June, in our hemisphere), +water froze in open casks upon deck, in the moderate latitude of 44 degrees. + +They were very kindly treated by the Dutch governor, and amply supplied +by the merchants at the Cape, where they remained seven weeks. Their passage +back was effected by Van Diemen's Land, near which, and close under +Tasman's Head, they were in the utmost peril of being wrecked. + +In this long run, which had extended round the circle, they had always +determined their longitude, to the greatest nicety, by distances taken +between the sun and moon, or between the moon and a star. But it falls +to the lot of very few ships to possess such indefatigable and accurate +observers as Captain Hunter, and Mr. (now Captain) Bradley, +the first lieutenant of the 'Sirius'. + +I feel assured, that I have no reader who will not join in regretting +the premature loss of Arabanoo, who died of the smallpox on the 18th instant, +after languishing in it six days. From some imperfect marks and indents +on his face, we were inclined to believe that he had passed this dreaded +disorder. Even when the first symptoms of sickness seized him, +we continued willing to hope that they proceeded from a different cause. +But at length the disease burst forth with irresistible fury. +It were superfluous to say, that nothing which medical skill and unremitting +attention could perform, were left unexerted to mitigate his sufferings, +and prolong a life, which humanity and affectionate concern towards +his sick compatriots, unfortunately shortened. + +During his sickness he reposed entire confidence in us. Although a stranger +to medicine, and nauseating the taste of it, he swallowed with patient +submission innumerable drugs,* which the hope of relief induced us +to administer to him. The governor, who particularly regarded him, caused him +to be buried in his own garden, and attended the funeral in person. + +[*Very different had been his conduct on a former occasion of a similar kind. +Soon after he was brought among us he was seized with a diarrhoea, +for which he could by no persuasion be induced to swallow any +of our prescriptions. After many ineffectual trials to deceive, +or overcome him, it was at length determined to let him pursue his own course, +and to watch if he should apply for relief to any of the productions +of the country. He was in consequence observed to dig fern-root, +and to chew it. Whether the disorder had passed its crisis, or whether +the fern-root effected a cure, I know not; but it is certain that he became +speedily well. + +**The regard was reciprocal. His excellency had been ill but a short time +before, when Arabanoo had testified the utmost solicitude for his case +and recovery. It is probable that he acquired, on this occasion, +just notions of the benefit to be derived from medical assistance. +A doctor is, among them, a person of consequence. It is certain that he +latterly estimated our professional gentlemen very highly.] + +The character of Arabanoo, as far as we had developed it, was distinguished +by a portion of gravity and steadiness, which our subsequent acquaintance +with his countrymen by no means led us to conclude a national characteristic. +In that daring, enterprising frame of mind, which, when combined with genius, +constitutes the leader of a horde of savages, or the ruler of a people, +boasting the power of discrimination and the resistance of ambition, +he was certainly surpassed by some of his successors, who afterwards +lived among us. His countenance was thoughtful, but not animated: +his fidelity and gratitude, particularly to his friend the governor, +were constant and undeviating, and deserve to be recorded. +Although of a gentle and placable temper, we early discovered that he was +impatient of indignity, and allowed of no superiority on our part. +He knew that he was in our power; but the independence of his mind +never forsook him. If the slightest insult were offered to him, +he would return it with interest. At retaliation of merriment he was +often happy; and frequently turned the laugh against his antagonist. +He did not want docility; but either from the difficulty of acquiring +our language, from the unskillfulness of his teachers, or from some +natural defect, his progress in learning it was not equal to what +we had expected. For the last three or four weeks of his life, hardly any +restraint was laid upon his inclinations: so that had he meditated escape, +he might easily have effected it. He was, perhaps, the only native +who was ever attached to us from choice; and who did not prefer +a precarious subsistence among wilds and precipices, to the comforts +of a civilized system. + +By his death, the scheme which had invited his capture was utterly defeated. +Of five natives who had been brought among us, three had perished from a cause +which, though unavoidable, it was impossible to explain to a people, +who would condescend to enter into no intercourse with us. The same +suspicious dread of our approach, and the same scenes of vengeance acted on +unfortunate stragglers, continued to prevail. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + + +Transactions of the Colony until the Close of the Year 1789. + + +The anniversary of his majesty's birth-day was celebrated, as heretofore, +at the government-house, with loyal festivity. In the evening, the play +of 'The Recruiting Officer' was performed by a party of convicts, +and honoured by the presence of his excellency, and the officers +of the garrison. That every opportunity of escape from the dreariness +and dejection of our situation should be eagerly embraced, will not +be wondered at. The exhilarating effect of a splendid theatre is well known: +and I am not ashamed to confess, that the proper distribution of three or four +yards of stained paper, and a dozen farthing candles stuck around the mud walls +of a convict-hut, failed not to diffuse general complacency on the countenances +of sixty persons, of various descriptions, who were assembled to applaud +the representation. Some of the actors acquitted themselves with great spirit, +and received the praises of the audience: a prologue and an epilogue, +written by one of the performers, were also spoken on the occasion; which, +although not worth inserting here, contained some tolerable allusions +to the situation of the parties, and the novelty of a stage-representation +in New South Wales. + +Broken Bay, which was supposed to be completely explored, became again +an object of research. On the sixth instant, the governor, accompanied by +a large party in two boats, proceeded thither. Here they again wandered +over piles of mis-shapen desolation, contemplating scenes of wild solitude, +whose unvarying appearance renders them incapable of affording either novelty +or gratification. But when they had given over the hope of farther discovery, +by pursuing the windings of an inlet, which, from its appearance, +was supposed to be a short creek, they suddenly found themselves +at the entrance of a fresh water river, up which they proceeded twenty miles, +in a westerly direction; and would have farther prosecuted their research, +had not a failure of provisions obliged them to return. This river +they described to be of considerable breadth, and of great depth; but its banks +had hitherto presented nothing better than a counterpart of the rocks +and precipices which surround Broken Bay. + +June, 1789. A second expedition, to ascertain its course, was undertaken +by his excellency, who now penetrated (measuring by the bed of the river) +between 60 and 70 miles, when the farther progress of the boats was stopped +by a fall. The water in every part was found to be fresh and good. +Of the adjoining country, the opinions of those who had inspected it +(of which number I was not) were so various, that I shall decline +to record them. Some saw a rich and beautiful country; and others were +so unfortunate as to discover little else than large tracts of low land, +covered with reeds, and rank with the inundations of the stream, by which +they had been recently covered. All parties, however, agreed, that the rocky, +impenetrable country, seen on the first excursion, had ended nearly about +the place whence the boats had then turned back. Close to the fall +stands a very beautiful hill, which our adventurers mounted, and enjoyed +from it an extensive prospect. Potatoes, maize, and garden seeds +of various kinds were put into the earth, by the governor's order, +on different parts of Richmond-hill, which was announced to be its name. +The latitude of Richmond-hill, as observed by captain Hunter, was settled +at 33 degrees 36 minutes south. + +Here also the river received the name of Hawkesbury, in honour of +the noble lord who bears that title. + +Natives were found on the banks in several parts, many of whom were labouring +under the smallpox. They did not attempt to commit hostilities +against the boats; but on the contrary shewed every sign of welcome +and friendship to the strangers. + +At this period, I was unluckily invested with the command of the outpost +at Rose Hill, which prevented me from being in the list of discoverers +of the Hawkesbury. Stimulated, however, by a desire of acquiring +a further knowledge of the country, on the 26th instant, accompanied by +Mr. Arndell, assistant surgeon of the settlement, Mr. Lowes, surgeon's mate +of the 'Sirius', two marines, and a convict, I left the redoubt at day-break, +pointing our march to a hill, distant five miles, in a westerly or inland +direction, which commands a view of the great chain of mountains, +called Carmarthen hills, extending from north to south farther than +the eye can reach. Here we paused, surveying "the wild abyss; +pondering our voyage." Before us lay the trackless immeasurable desert, +in awful silence. At length, after consultation, we determined to steer +west and by north, by compass, the make of the land in that quarter indicating +the existence of a river. We continued to march all day through a country +untrodden before by an European foot. Save that a melancholy crow now and then +flew croaking over head, or a kangaroo was seen to bound at a distance, +the picture of solitude was complete and undisturbed. At four o'clock +in the afternoon we halted near a small pond of water, where we took up +our residence for the night, lighted a fire, and prepared to cook our supper: +that was, to broil over a couple of ramrods a few slices of salt pork, +and a crow which we had shot. + +At daylight we renewed our peregrination; and in an hour after we found +ourselves on the banks of a river, nearly as broad as the Thames at Putney, +and apparently of great depth, the current running very slowly in +a northerly direction. Vast flocks of wild ducks were swimming in the stream; +but after being once fired at, they grew so shy that we could not get near them +a second time. Nothing is more certain than that the sound of a gun +had never before been heard within many miles of this spot. + +We proceeded upwards, by a slow pace, through reeds, thickets, and a thousand +other obstacles, which impeded our progress, over coarse sandy ground, +which had been recently inundated, though full forty feet above +the present level of the river. Traces of the natives appeared at every step, +sometimes in their hunting-huts, which consist of nothing more than +a large piece of bark, bent in the middle, and open at both ends, exactly +resembling two cards, set up to form an acute angle; sometimes in marks +on trees which they had climbed; or in squirrel-traps*; or, which surprised us +more, from being new, in decoys for the purpose of ensnaring birds. +These are formed of underwood and reeds, long and narrow, shaped like +a mound raised over a grave; with a small aperture at one end for admission +of the prey; and a grate made of sticks at the other: the bird enters +at the aperture, seeing before him the light of the grate, between the bars +of which, he vainly endeavours to thrust himself, until taken. Most of these +decoys were full of feathers, chiefly those of quails, which shewed +their utility. We also met with two old damaged canoes hauled up on the beach, +which differed in no wise from those found on the sea coast. + +[*A squirrel-trap is a cavity of considerable depth, formed by art, +in the body of a tree. When the Indians in their hunting parties set fire +to the surrounding country (which is a very common custom) the squirrels, +opossums, and other animals, who live in trees, flee for refuge into these +holes, whence they are easily dislodged and taken. The natives always +pitch on a part of a tree for this purpose, which has been perforated +by a worm, which indicates that the wood is in an unsound state, and will +readily yield to their efforts. If the rudeness and imperfection of the tools +with which they work be considered, it must be confessed to be an operation +of great toil and difficulty.] + + +Having remained out three days, we returned to our quarters at Rose-hill, +with the pleasing intelligence of our discovery. The country we had passed +through we found tolerably plain, and little encumbered with underwood, +except near the river side. It is entirely covered with the same sorts +of trees as grow near Sydney; and in some places grass springs up luxuriantly; +other places are quite bare of it. The soil is various: in many parts +a stiff and clay, covered with small pebbles; in other places, of a soft +loamy nature: but invariably, in every part near the river, it is +a coarse sterile sand. Our observations on it (particularly mine, +from carrying the compass by which we steered) were not so numerous as might +have been wished. But, certainly, if the qualities of it be such as to deserve +future cultivation, no impediment of surface, but that of cutting down +and burning the trees, exists, to prevent its being tilled. + +To this river the governor gave the name of Nepean. The distance of the part +of the river which we first hit upon from the sea coast, is about 39 miles, +in a direct line almost due west. + +A survey of Botany Bay took place in September. I was of the party, +with several others officers. We continued nine days in the bay, +during which time, the relative position of every part of it, to the extent +of more than thirty miles, following the windings of the shore, +was ascertained, and laid down on paper, by captain Hunter. + +So complete an opportunity of forming a judgment, enables me to speak +decisively of a place, which has often engaged conversation and excited +reflection. Variety of opinions here disappeared. I shall, therefore, +transcribe literally what I wrote in my journal, on my return from +the expedition. "We were unanimously of opinion, that had not the nautical +part of Mr. Cook's description, in which we include the latitude and longitude +of the bay, been so accurately laid down, there would exist the utmost reason +to believe, that those who have described the contiguous country, had never +seen it. On the sides of the harbour, a line of sea coast more than +thirty miles long, we did not find 200 acres which could be cultivated." + +September, 1789. But all our attention was not directed to explore inlets, +and toll for discovery. Our internal tranquillity was still more important. +To repress the inroads of depredation; and to secure to honest industry +the reward of its labour, had become matter of the most serious consideration; +hardly a night passing without the commission of robbery. Many expedients +were devised; and the governor at length determined to select from +the convicts, a certain number of persons, who were meant to be of the fairest +character, for the purpose of being formed into a nightly-watch, +for the preservation of public and private property, under the following +regulations, which, as the first system of police in a colony, +so peculiarly constituted as ours, may perhaps prove not uninteresting. + + +I. A night-watch, consisting of 12 persons, divided into four parties, +is appointed, and fully authorized to patrol at all hours in the night; +and to visit such places as may be deemed necessary, for the discovery +of any felony, trespass, or misdemeanor; and for the apprehending and securing +for examination, any person or persons who may appear to them concerned +therein, either by entrance into any suspected hut or dwelling, or by such +other measure as may seem to them expedient. + +II. Those parts in which the convicts reside are to be divided and numbered, +in the following manner. The convict huts on the eastern side of the stream, +and the public farm, are to be the first division. Those at the brick-kilns, +and the detached parties in the different private farms in that district, +are to be the second division. Those on the western side of the stream, +as far as the line which separates the district of the women from the men, +to be the third division. The huts occupied from that line to the hospital, +and from there to the observatory, to be the fourth division. + +III. Each of these districts or divisions is to be under the particular +inspection of one person, who may be judged qualified to inform himself +of the actual residence of each individual in his district; as well as +of his business, connections, and acquaintances. + +IV. Cognizance is to be taken of such convicts as may sell or barter +their slops or provisions; and also of such as are addicted to gaming for +either of the aforesaid articles, who are to be reported to the judge advocate. + +V. Any soldier or seaman found straggling after the beating of the tattoo; +or who may be found in a convict's hut, is to be detained; and information +of him immediately given to the nearest guard. + +VI. Any person who may be robbed during the night, is to give immediate +information thereof to the watch of his district, who, on the instant +of application being made, shall use the most effectual means to trace out the +offender, or offenders, so that he, she, or they, may be brought to justice. + +VII. The watch of each district is to be under the direction of one person, +who will be named for that purpose. All the patrols are placed under +the immediate inspection of Herbert Keeling. They are never to receive +any fee, gratuity, or reward, from any individual whatever, to engage +their exertions in the execution of the above trust. Nor will they receive +any stipulated encouragement for the conviction of any offender. +But their diligence and good behaviour will be rewarded by the governor. +And for this purpose their conduct will be strictly attended to, by those +who are placed in authority over them. + +VIII. The night-watch is to go out as soon as the tattoo ceases beating: +to return to their huts when the working drum beats in the morning: +and are to make their report to the judge advocate, through Herbert Keeling, +of all robberies and misdemeanors which may have been committed. +Any assistance the patrols may require, will be given to them, on applying +to the officer commanding the nearest guard; and by the civil power, +if necessary; for which last, application is to be made to the provost martial. + +IX. Any negligence on the part of those who shall be employed on this duty, +will be punished with the utmost rigour of the law. + +X. The night-watch is to consist of 12 persons. + + +Every political code, either from a defect of its constitution, or from +the corruptness of those who are entrusted to execute it, will be found +less perfect in practice than speculation had promised itself. It were, +however, prejudice to deny, that for some time following the institution +of this patrol, nightly depredations became less frequent and alarming: +the petty villains, at least, were restrained by it. And to keep even a garden +unravaged was now become a subject of the deepest concern. + +For in October our weekly allowance of provisions, which had hitherto been +eight pounds of flour, five pounds of salt pork, three pints of pease, +six ounces of butter, was reduced to five pounds five ounces of flour, +three pounds five ounces of pork, and two pints of pease. + +In order to lessen the consumption from the public stores, the 'Supply' +was ordered to touch at Lord Howe Island, in her way from Norfolk Island, +to try if turtle could be procured, for the purpose of being publicly served +in lieu of salt provisions. But she brought back only three turtles, +which were distributed in the garrison. + +December, 1789. At the request of his excellency, lieutenant Dawes +of the marines, accompanied by lieutenant Johnston and Mr. Lowes, +about this time undertook the attempt to cross the Nepean river, +and to penetrate to Carmarthen mountains. Having discovered a ford +in the river, they passed it, and proceeded in a westerly direction. +But they found the country so rugged, and the difficulty of walking +so excessive, that in three days they were able to penetrate only +fifteen miles, and were therefore obliged to relinquish their object. +This party, at the time they turned back, were farther inland than any other +persons ever were before or since, being fifty-four miles in a direct line +from the sea coast when on the summit of mount Twiss, a hill so named by them, +and which bounded their peregrination. + +Intercourse with the natives, for the purpose of knowing whether or not +the country possessed any resources, by which life might be prolonged*, +as well as on other accounts, becoming every day more desirable, +the governor resolved to make prisoners of two more of them. + +[*One of the convicts, a negro, had twice eloped, with an intention +of establishing himself in the society of the natives, with a wish to adopt +their customs and to live with them: but he was always repulsed by them; +and compelled to return to us from hunger and wretchedness.] + + +Boats properly provided, under the command of lieutenant Bradley of the +'Sirius', were accordingly dispatched on this service; and completely succeeded +in trepanning and carrying off, without opposition, two fine young men, +who were safely landed among us at Sydney. + +Nanbaree and Abaroo welcomed them on shore; calling them immediately +by their names, Baneelon (Bennelong), and Colbee. But they seemed +little disposed to receive the congratulations, or repose confidence +in the assurances of their friends. The same scenes of awkward wonder +and impatient constraint, which had attended the introduction of Arabanoo, +succeeded. Baneelon we judged to be about twenty-six years old, +of good stature, and stoutly made, with a bold intrepid countenance, +which bespoke defiance and revenge. Colbee was perhaps near thirty, +of a less sullen aspect than his comrade, considerably shorter, and not +so robustly framed, though better fitted for purposes of activity. +They had both evidently had the smallpox; indeed Colbee's face was very +thickly imprinted with the marks of it. + +Positive orders were issued by the governor to treat them indulgently, +and guard them strictly; notwithstanding which Colbee contrived to effect +his escape in about a week, with a small iron ring round his leg. +Had those appointed to watch them been a moment later, his companion +would have contrived to accompany him. + +But Baneelon, though haughty, knew how to temporize. He quickly threw off +all reserve; and pretended, nay, at particular moments, perhaps felt +satisfaction in his new state. Unlike poor Arabanoo, he became at once fond +of our viands, and would drink the strongest liquors, not simply +without reluctance, but with eager marks of delight and enjoyment. +He was the only native we ever knew who immediately shewed a fondness +for spirits: Colbee would not at first touch them. Nor was the effect +of wine or brandy upon him more perceptible than an equal quantity +would have produced upon one of us, although fermented liquor was new to him. + +In his eating, he was alike compliant. When a turtle was shown to Arabanoo, +he would not allow it to be a fish, and could not be induced to eat of it. +Baneelon also denied it to be a fish; but no common councilman in Europe +could do more justice than he did to a very fine one, that the 'Supply' +had brought from Lord Howe Island, and which was served up at the governor's +table on Christmas Day. + +His powers of mind were certainly far above mediocrity. He acquired knowledge, +both of our manners and language, faster than his predecessor had done. +He willingly communicated information; sang, danced, and capered, told us +all the customs of his country, and all the details of his family economy. +Love and war seemed his favourite pursuits; in both of which he had suffered +severely. His head was disfigured by several scars; a spear had passed +through his arm, and another through his leg. Half of one of his thumbs +was carried away; and the mark of a wound appeared on the back of his hand. +The cause and attendant circumstances of all these disasters, except one, +he related to us. + +"But the wound on the back of your hand, Baneelon! How did you get that?" + +He laughed, and owned that it was received in carrying off a lady +of another tribe by force. "I was dragging her away. She cried aloud, +and stuck her teeth in me." + +"And what did you do then?" + +"I knocked her down, and beat her till she was insensible, +and covered with blood. Then..." + +Whenever he recounted his battles, "poised his lance, and showed how fields +were won", the most violent exclamations of rage and vengeance against +his competitors in arms, those of the tribe called Cameeragal in particular, +would burst from him. And he never failed at such times to solicit +the governor to accompany him, with a body of soldiers, in order that +he might exterminate this hated name. + +Although I call him only Baneelon, he had besides several appellations, +and for a while he chose to be distinguished by that of Wolarawaree. +Again, as a mark of affection and respect to the governor, he conferred +on him the name of Wolarawaree, and sometimes called him 'Beenena' (father), +adopting to himself the name of governor. This interchange we found +is a constant symbol of friendship among them*. In a word, his temper +seemed pliant, and his relish of our society so great, that hardly any one +judged he would attempt to quit us, were the means of escape put within +his reach. Nevertheless it was thought proper to continue a watch over him. + +[*It is observable that this custom prevails as a pledge of friendship +and kindness all over Asia, and has also been mentioned by Captain Cook +to exist among the natives in the South Sea Islands.] + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + + +Transactions of the Colony, from the Beginning of the Year 1790 +until the End of May following. + + +Our impatience of news from Europe strongly marked the commencement +of the year. We had now been two years in the country, and thirty-two months +from England, in which long period no supplies, except what had been procured +at the Cape of Good Hope by the 'Sirius', had reached us. From intelligence +of our friends and connections we had been entirely cut off, no communication +whatever having passed with our native country since the 13th of May 1787, +the day of our departure from Portsmouth. Famine besides was approaching +with gigantic strides, and gloom and dejection overspread every countenance. +Men abandoned themselves to the most desponding reflections, and adopted +the most extravagant conjectures. + +Still we were on the tiptoe of expectation. If thunder broke at a distance, +or a fowling-piece of louder than ordinary report resounded in the woods, +"a gun from a ship" was echoed on every side, and nothing but hurry +and agitation prevailed. For eighteen months after we had landed +in the country, a party of marines used to go weekly to Botany Bay, +to see whether any vessel, ignorant of our removal to Port Jackson, +might be arrived there. But a better plan was now devised, on the suggestion +of captain Hunter. A party of seamen were fixed on a high bluff, +called the South-head, at the entrance of the harbour, on which a flag +was ordered to be hoisted, whenever a ship might appear, which should serve +as a direction to her, and as a signal of approach to us. Every officer +stepped forward to volunteer a service which promised to be so replete +with beneficial consequences. But the zeal and alacrity of captain Hunter, +and our brethren of the 'Sirius', rendered superfluous all assistance +or co-operation. + +Here on the summit of the hill, every morning from daylight until the sun sunk, +did we sweep the horizon, in hope of seeing a sail. At every fleeting speck +which arose from the bosom of the sea, the heart bounded, and the telescope +was lifted to the eye. If a ship appeared here, we knew she must be bound +to us; for on the shores of this vast ocean (the largest in the world) +we were the only community which possessed the art of navigation, +and languished for intercourse with civilized society. + +To say that we were disappointed and shocked, would very inadequately describe +our sensations. But the misery and horror of such a situation +cannot be imparted, even by those who have suffered under it. + +March, 1790. Vigorous measures were become indispensable. The governor +therefore, early in February, ordered the 'Sirius' to prepare for a voyage +to China; and a farther retrenchment of our ration, we were given +to understand, would take place on her sailing. + +But the 'Sirius' was destined not to reach China. Previously to her intended +departure on that voyage, she was ordered, in concert with the 'Supply', +to convey Major Ross, with a large detachment of marines, and more than +two hundred convicts, to Norfolk Island, it being hoped that such a division +of our numbers would increase the means of subsistence, by diversified +exertions. She sailed on the 6th of March. And on the 27th of the same month, +the following order was issued from headquarters. + + +Parole--Honour. + +Counter sign--Example. + +The expected supply of provisions not having arrived, +makes it necessary to reduce the present ration. +And the commissary is directed to issue, from the +1st of April, the under-mentioned allowance, to every +person in the settlement without distinction. + +Four pounds of flour, two pounds and a half of salt +pork, and one pound and a half of rice, per week. + + +On the 5th of April news was brought, that the flag on the South-head +was hoisted. Less emotion was created by the news than might be expected. +Every one coldly said to his neighbour, "the 'Sirius' and 'Supply' are returned +from Norfolk Island." To satisfy myself that the flag was really flying, +I went to the observatory, and looked for it through the large astronomical +telescope, when I plainly saw it. But I was immediately convinced that +it was not to announce the arrival of ships from England; for I could see +nobody near the flagstaff except one solitary being, who kept strolling around, +unmoved by what he saw. I well knew how different an effect the sight +of strange ships would produce. + +April, 1790. The governor, however, determined to go down the harbour, +and I begged permission to accompany him. Having turned a point about +half way down, we were surprised to see a boat, which was known to belong to +the 'Supply', rowing towards us. On nearer approach, I saw captain Ball +make an extraordinary motion with his hand, which too plainly indicated +that something disastrous had happened; and I could not help turning +to the governor, near whom I sat, and saying, "Sir, prepare yourself +for bad news." A few minutes changed doubt into certainty; and to our +unspeakable consternation we learned, that the 'Sirius' had been wrecked +on Norfolk Island, on the 19th of February. Happily, however, Captain Hunter, +and every other person belonging to her, were saved. + +Dismay was painted on every countenance, when the tidings were proclaimed +at Sydney. The most distracting apprehensions were entertained All hopes +were now concentred in the little 'Supply'. + +At six o'clock in the evening, all the officers of the garrison, +both civil and military, were summoned to meet the governor in council, +when the nature of our situation was fully discussed and an account +of the provisions yet remaining in store laid before the council +by the commissary. This account stated, that on the present ration* +the public stores contained salt meat sufficient to serve until the +2nd of July, flour until the 20th of August, and rice, or pease in lieu of it, +until the 1st of October. + +[*See the ration of the 27th of March, a few pages back.] + +Several regulations for the more effectual preservation of gardens, +and other private property, were proposed, and adopted and after some +interchange of opinion, the following ration was decreed to commence +immediately, a vigorous exertion to prolong existence, or the chance of relief, +being all now left to us. + + + Two pounds of pork, two pounds and a half of flour, + two pounds of rice, or a quart of pease, per week, + to every grown person, and to every child of more + than eighteen months old. + + To every child under eighteen months old, the same + quantity of rice and flour, and one pound of pork.** + + +[**When the age of this provision is recollected, its inadequacy will more +strikingly appear. The pork and rice were brought with us from England. +The pork had been salted between three and four years, and every grain +of rice was a moving body, from the inhabitants lodged within it. +We soon left off boiling the pork, as it had become so old and dry, +that it shrunk one half in its dimensions when so dressed. Our usual method +of cooking it was to cut off the daily morsel, and toast it on a fork +before the fire, catching the drops which fell on a slice of bread, +or in a saucer of rice. Our flour was the remnant of what was brought +from the Cape, by the 'Sirius', and was good. Instead of baking it, +the soldiers and convicts used to boil it up with greens.] + +The immediate departure of the 'Supply', for Batavia, was also determined. + +Nor did our zeal stop here. The governor being resolved to employ +all the boats, public and private, m procuring fish--which was intended +to be served in lieu of salt meat--all the officers, civil and military, +including the clergyman, and the surgeons of the hospital, made the voluntary +offer, in addition to their other duties, to go alternately every night +in these boats, in order to see that every exertion was made, and that all +the fish which might be caught was deposited with the commissary. + +The best marksmen of the marines and convicts were also selected, +and put under the command of a trusty sergeant, with directions to range +the woods in search of kangaroos, which were ordered, when brought in, +to be delivered to the commissary. + +And as it was judged that the inevitable fatigues of shooting and fishing +could not be supported on the common ration, a small additional quantity +of flour and pork was appropriated to the use of the game-keepers; and each +fisherman, who had been out during the preceding night had, on his return +in the morning, a pound of uncleaned fish allowed for his breakfast. + +On the 17th instant, the 'Supply', captain Ball, sailed for Batavia. +We followed her with anxious eyes until she was no longer visible. +Truly did we say to her "In te omnis domus inclinata recumbit." We were, +however, consoled by reflecting, that every thing which zeal, fortitude, +and seamanship, could produce, was concentred in her commander. + +Our bosoms consequently became less perturbed; and all our labour +and attention were turned on one object--the procuring of food. "Pride, +pomp, and circumstance of glorious war" were no more. + +The distress of the lower classes for clothes was almost equal to their +other wants. The stores had been long exhausted, and winter was at hand. +Nothing more ludicrous can be conceived than the expedients of substituting, +shifting, and patching, which ingenuity devised, to eke out wretchedness, +and preserve the remains of decency. The superior dexterity of the women +was particularly conspicuous. Many a guard have I seen mount, in which +the number of soldiers without shoes exceeded that which had yet preserved +remnants of leather. + +Nor was another part of our domestic economy less whimsical. If a lucky man, +who had knocked down a dinner with his gun, or caught a fish by angling +from the rocks, invited a neighbour to dine with him, the invitation +always ran, "bring your own bread." Even at the governor's table, +this custom was constantly observed. Every man when he sat down pulled +his bread out of his pocket, and laid it by his plate. + +The insufficiency of our ration soon diminished our execution of labour. +Both soldiers and convicts pleaded such loss of strength, as to find themselves +unable to perform their accustomed tasks. The hours of public work were +accordingly shortened or, rather, every man was ordered to do as much +as his strength would permit, and every other possible indulgence was granted. + +May, 1790. In proportion, however, as lenity and mitigation were extended +to inability and helplessness, inasmuch was the most rigorous justice executed +on disturbers of the public tranquillity. Persons detected in robbing gardens, +or pilfering provisions, were never screened because, as every man +could possess, by his utmost exertions, but a bare sufficiency to preserve +life*, he who deprived his neighbour of that little, drove him to desperation. +No new laws for the punishment of theft were enacted; but persons of all +descriptions were publicly warned, that the severest penalties, +which the existing law in its greatest latitude would authorise, +should be inflicted on offenders. The following sentence of a court +of justice, of which I was a member, on a convict detected in a garden +stealing potatoes, will illustrate the subject. He was ordered to receive +three hundred lashes immediately, to be chained for six months to two +other criminals, who were thus fettered for former offences, and to have +his allowance of flour stopped for six months. So that during the operation +of the sentence, two pounds of pork, and two pounds of rice (or in lieu +of the latter, a quart of pease) per week, constituted his whole subsistence. +Such was the melancholy length to which we were compelled to stretch +our penal system. + +[*Its preservation in some cases was found impracticable. Three or four +instances of persons who perished from want have been related to me. +One only, however, fell within my own observation. I was passing +the provision store, when a man, with a wild haggard countenance, +who had just received his daily pittance to carry home, came out. +His faltering gait, and eager devouring eye, led me to watch him, +and he had not proceeded ten steps before he fell. I ordered him +to be carried to the hospital, where, when he arrived, he was found dead. +On opening the body, the cause of death was pronounced to be inanition.] + +Farther to contribute to the detection of villainy, a proclamation, +offering a reward of sixty pounds of flour, more tempting than the ore +of Peru or Potosi, was promised to any one who should apprehend, +and bring to justice, a robber of garden ground. + +Our friend Baneelon, during this season of scarcity, was as well taken care of +as our desperate circumstances would allow. We knew not how to keep him, +and yet were unwilling to part with him. Had he penetrated our state, +perhaps he might have given his countrymen such a description of our +diminished numbers, and diminished strength, as would have emboldened them +to become more troublesome. Every expedient was used to keep him in ignorance. +His allowance was regularly received by the governor's servant, like that +of any other person, but the ration of a week was insufficient to have +kept him for a day. The deficiency was supplied by fish whenever it could be +procured, and a little Indian corn, which had been reserved was ground +and appropriated to his use. In spite of all these aids, want of food +has been known to make him furious and often melancholy. + +There is reason to believe that he had long meditated his escape, +which he effected in the night of the 3rd instant. About two o'clock +in the morning, he pretended illness, and awaking the servant who lay +in the room with him, begged to go down stairs. The other attended him +without suspicion of his design; and Baneelon no sooner found himself +in a backyard, than he nimbly leaped over a slight paling, and bade us adieu. + +The following public order was issued within the date of this chapter, +and is too pleasing a proof that universal depravity did not prevail +among the convicts, to be omitted. + + +The governor, in consequence of the unremitted good behaviour +and meritorious conduct of John Irving, is pleased to remit +the remainder of the term for which he was sentenced to +transportation. He is therefore to be considered as restored +to all those rights and privileges, which had been suspended +in consequence of the sentence of the law. And as such, +he is hereby appointed to act as an assistant to the surgeon +at Norfolk Island. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + + +Transactions of the Colony in June, July, and August, 1790. + + +At length the clouds of misfortune began to separate, and on the evening +of the 3rd of June, the joyful cry of "the flag's up" resounded +in every direction. + +I was sitting in my hut, musing on our fate, when a confused clamour +in the street drew my attention. I opened my door, and saw several women +with children in their arms running to and fro with distracted looks, +congratulating each other, and kissing their infants with the most passionate +and extravagant marks of fondness. I needed no more; but instantly +started out, and ran to a hill, where, by the assistance of a pocket glass, +my hopes were realized. My next door neighbour, a brother-officer, +was with me, but we could not speak. We wrung each other by the hand, +with eyes and hearts overflowing. + +Finding that the governor intended to go immediately in his boat +down the harbour, I begged to be of his party. + +As we proceeded, the object of our hopes soon appeared: a large ship, +with English colours flying, working in, between the heads which form +the entrance of the harbour. The tumultuous state of our minds represented her +in danger; and we were in agony. Soon after, the governor, having ascertained +what she was, left us, and stepped into a fishing boat to return to Sydney. +The weather was wet and tempestuous but the body is delicate only when +the soul is at ease. We pushed through wind and rain, the anxiety of our +sensations every moment redoubling. At last we read the word 'London' +on her stern. "Pull away, my lads! She is from Old England! A few strokes +more, and we shall be aboard! Hurrah for a bellyfull, and news from +our friends!" Such were our exhortations to the boat's crew. + +A few minutes completed our wishes, and we found ourselves on board +the 'Lady Juliana' transport, with two hundred and twenty-five of our +countrywomen whom crime or misfortune had condemned to exile. We learned +that they had been almost eleven months on their passage, having left Plymouth, +into which port they had put in July, 1789. We continued to ask a thousand +questions on a breath. Stimulated by curiosity, they inquired in turn; +but the right of being first answered, we thought, lay on our side. +"Letters, letters!" was the cry. They were produced, and torn open +in trembling agitation. News burst upon us like meridian splendor +on a blind man. We were overwhelmed with it: public, private, general, +and particular. Nor was it until some days had elapsed, that we were able +to methodise it, or reduce it into form. We now heard for the first time +of our sovereign's illness, and his happy restoration to health. +The French revolution of 1789, with all the attendant circumstances +of that wonderful and unexpected event, succeeded to amaze us*. Now, too, +the disaster which had befallen the 'Guardian', and the liberal and enlarged plan +on which she had been stored and fitted out by government for our use, +was promulged. It served also, in some measure, to account why we had not +sooner heard from England. For had not the 'Guardian' struck on an island +of ice, she would probably have reached us three months before, and in this +case have prevented the loss of the 'Sirius', although she had sailed +from England three months after the 'Lady Juliana'. + +[*These words bring to my mind an anecdote, which, though rather out of place, +I shall offer no apology for introducing. Among other inquiries, we were +anxious to learn whether M. de la Peyrouse, with the two ships under +his command, bound on a voyage of discovery, had arrived in France. +We heard with concern, that no accounts of them had been received, +since they had left Botany Bay, in March, 1788. I remember when they were +at that place, one day conversing with Monsieur de la Peyrouse, about the best +method of treating savage people, "Sir" said he, "I have sometimes been +compelled to commit hostilities upon them, but never without suffering +the most poignant regret; for, independent of my own feelings on the occasion, +his Majesty's (Louis XVI) last words to me, de sa propre bouche, when I took +leave of him at Versailles, were: 'It is my express injunction, +that you always treat the Indian nations with kindness and humanity. +Gratify their wishes, and never, but in a case of the last necessity, +when self-defence requires it, shed human blood.' Are these the sentiments +of a tyrant, of a sanguinary and perfidious man?" + +A general thanksgiving to Almighty God, for his Majesty's recovery, +and happy restoration to his family and subjects, was ordered to be offered up +on the following Wednesday, when all public labour was suspended; +and every person in the settlement attended at church, where a sermon, +suited to an occasion, at once so full of gratitude and solemnity, +was preached by the Reverend Richard Johnson, chaplain of the colony. + +All the officers were afterwards entertained at dinner by the governor. +And in the evening, an address to his excellency, expressive of congratulation +and loyalty, was agreed upon; and in two days after was presented, +and very graciously received. + +The following invitation to the non-commissioned officers and private soldiers +of the marine battalion, was also about this time published. + + +In consequence of the assurance that was given to the +non-commissioned officers and men belonging to the +battalion of marines, on their embarking for the service +of this country, that such of them as should behave well, +would be allowed to quit the service, on their return +to England; or be discharged abroad, upon the relief +taking place, and permitted to settle in the country-- +His Majesty has been graciously pleased to direct the +following encouragement to be held up to such +non-commissioned officers and privates, as may be +disposed to become settlers in this country, or in any +of the islands comprised within the government of the +continent of New South Wales, on the arrival of the corps +raised and intended for the service of this colony, and +for their relief, viz: + +To every non-commissioned officer, an allotment of +one hundred and thirty acres of land, if single, and of +one hundred and fifty acres, if married. To every +private soldier, an allotment of eighty acres, if single, +and of one hundred acres if married; and also an allotment +of ten acres for every child, whether of a +non-commissioned officer, or of a private soldier. +These allotments will be free of all fines, taxes, +quit-rents, and other acknowledgments, for the space +of ten years; but after the expiration of that period, +will be subject to an annual quit-rent of one shilling +for every fifty acres. + +His Majesty has likewise been farther pleased to signify +his royal will and pleasure, that a bounty of three pounds +be offered to each non-commissioned officer and soldier, +who may be disposed to continue in this country, and +enlist in the corps appointed for the service of +New South Wales; with a farther assurance, that in case +of a proper demeanour on their part, they shall, after +a farther service of five years, be entitled to double +the former portion of land, provided they then choose +to become settlers in the country, free of all taxes, +fines, and quit-rents, for the space of fifteen years; +but after that time, to be subject to the beforementioned +annual quit-rent of one shilling for every fifty acres. + +And as a farther encouragement to those men who may be +desirous to become settlers, and continue in the country, +his Majesty has been likewise pleased to direct, that +every man shall, on being discharged, receive out of the +public store, a portion of clothing and provisions, +sufficient for his support for one year; together with +a suitable quantity of seeds, grain, etc. for the tillage +of the land; and a portion of tools and implements of +agriculture, proper for their use. And whenever any man, +who may become a settler, can maintain, feed, and clothe, +such number of convicts as may be judged necessary by +the governor, for the time being, to assist him in +clearing and cultivating the land, the service of such +convicts shall be assigned to him. + + +We were joyfully surprised on the 20th of the month to see another sail enter +the harbour. She proved to be the Justinian transport, commanded by +Captain Maitland, and our rapture was doubled on finding that she was laden +entirely with provisions for our use. Full allowance, and general +congratulation, immediately took place. This ship had left Falmouth +on the preceding 20th of January, and completed her passage exactly in +five months*. She had staid at Madeira one day, and four at Sao Tiago, +from which last place she had steered directly for New South Wales, +neglecting Rio de Janeiro on her right, and the Cape of Good Hope on her left; +and notwithstanding the immense tract of ocean she had passed, brought +her crew without sickness into harbour. When the novelty and boldness +of such an attempt shall be recollected, too much praise, on the spirit +and activity of Mr. Maitland, cannot be bestowed. + +[*Accident only prevented her from making it in eighteen days less, +for she was then in sight of the harbour's mouth, when an unpropitious gale +of wind blew her off. Otherwise she would have reached us one day sooner +than the 'Lady Juliana'. It is a curious circumstance, that these two ships +had sailed together from the river Thames, one bound to Port Jackson, +and the other bound to Jamaica. The Justinian carried her cargo to the last +mentioned place, landed it; and loaded afresh with sugars, which she returned +with, and delivered in London. She was then hired as a transport, reladen, +and sailed for New South Wales. Let it be remembered, that no material +accident had happened to either vessel. But what will not zeal +and diligence accomplish!] + +Good fortune continued to befriend us. Before the end of the month, +three more transports, having on board two companies of the +New South Wales corps, arrived to add to our society. These ships also brought +out a large body of convicts, whose state and sufferings will be best +estimated by the following return. + + +Names of No. of people No. of persons who died No. landed sick + Ships embarked on the passage at Port Jackson +----------------------------------------------------------------------- +Neptune 530 163 269 + +Surprise 252 42 121 + +Scarborough 256 68 96 +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + 1038 273 486 +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +N.B. Of those landed sick, one hundred and twenty-four died +in the hospital at Sydney. + + +On our passage from England, which had lasted more than eight months +and with nearly an equal number of persons, only twenty-four had died, +and not thirty were landed sick. The difference can be accounted for, +only by comparing the manner in which each fleet was fitted out and conducted. +With us the provisions, served on board, were laid in by a contractor, +who sent a deputy to serve them out; and it became a part of duty for the +officers of the troops to inspect their quality, and to order that every one +received his just proportion. Whereas, in the fleet now arrived, +the distribution of provisions rested entirely with the masters of the +merchantmen, and the officers were expressly forbidden to interfere +in any shape farther about the convicts than to prevent their escape. + +Seventeen pounds, in full of all expense, was the sum paid by the public +for the passage of each person. And this sum was certainly competent +to afford fair profit to the merchant who contracted. But there is reason +to believe, that some of those who were employed to act for him, violated +every principle of justice, and rioted on the spoils of misery, for want of +a controlling power to check their enormities. No doubt can be entertained, +that a humane and liberal government will interpose its authority, to prevent +the repetition of such flagitious conduct. + +Although the convicts had landed from these ships with every mark of meagre +misery, yet it was soon seen, that a want of room, in which more conveniences +might have been stowed for their use, had not caused it. Several of the +masters of the transports immediately opened stores, and exposed large +quantities of goods to sale, which, though at most extortionate prices, +were eagerly bought up. + +Such was the weakly state of the new corners, that for several weeks +little real benefit to the colony was derived from so great a nominal addition +to our number. However, as fast as they recovered, employment was immediately +assigned to them. The old hours of labour, which had been reduced +in our distress, were re-established, and the most vigorous measures adopted +to give prosperity to the settlement. New buildings were immediately planned, +and large tracts of ground, at Rose-hill, ordered to be cleared, and prepared +for cultivation. Some superintendents who had arrived in the fleet, +and were hired by government for the purpose of overlooking and directing +the convicts, were found extremely serviceable in accelerating the progress +of improvement. + +July, 1790. This month was marked by nothing worth communication, +except a melancholy accident which befell a young gentleman of amiable +character (one of the midshipmen lately belonging to the 'Sirius') +and two marines. He was in a small boat, with three marines, in the harbour, +when a whale was seen near them. Sensible of their danger, they used +every effort to avoid the cause of it, by rowing in a contrary direction +from that which the fish seemed to take, but the monster suddenly arose +close to them, and nearly filled the boat with water. By exerting themselves, +they baled her out, and again steered from it. For some time it was not seen, +and they conceived themselves safe, when, rising immediately under the boat, +it lifted her to the height of many yards on its back, whence slipping off, +she dropped as from a precipice, and immediately filled and sunk. +The midshipman and one of the marines were sucked into the vortex which +the whale had made, and disappeared at once. The two other marines swam +for the nearest shore, but one only reached it, to recount the fate +of his companions. + +August, 1790. In the beginning of this month, in company with Mr. Dawes +and Mr. Worgan, late surgeon of the 'Sirius', I undertook an expedition +to the southward and westward of Rose Hill, where the country had never +been explored. We remained out seven days, and penetrated to a considerable +distance in a S.S.W. direction, bounding our course at a remarkable hill, +to which, from its conical shape, we gave the name of Pyramid-hill. +Except the discovery of a river (which is unquestionably the Nepean +near its source) to which we gave the name of the Worgan, in honour of one of +our party, nothing very interesting was remarked. + +Towards the end of the month, we made a second excursion to the north-west +of Rose Hill, when we again fell in with the Nepean, and traced it to the spot +where it had been first discovered by the party of which I was a member, +fourteen months before, examining the country as we went along. +Little doubt now subsisted that the Hawkesbury and Nepean were one river. + +We undertook a third expedition soon after to Broken Bay, which place we found +had not been exaggerated in description, whether its capacious harbour, +or its desolate incultivable shores, be considered. On all these excursions +we brought away, in small bags, as many specimens of the soil of the country +we had passed through, as could be conveniently carried, in order that +by analysis its qualities might be ascertained. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + + +Transactions of the Colony in the Beginning of September, 1790. + + +The tremendous monster who had occasioned the unhappy catastrophe +just recorded was fated to be the cause of farther mischief to us. + +On the 7th instant, Captain Nepean, of the New South Wales Corps, +and Mr. White, accompanied by little Nanbaree, and a party of men, +went in a boat to Manly Cove, intending to land there, and walk on to +Broken Bay. On drawing near the shore, a dead whale, in the most disgusting +state of putrefaction, was seen lying on the beach, and at least two hundred +Indians surrounding it, broiling the flesh on different fires, and feasting +on it with the most extravagant marks of greediness and rapture. +As the boat continued to approach, they were observed to fall into confusion +and to pick up their spears, on which our people lay upon their oars +and Nanbaree stepping forward, harangued them for some time, assuring them +that we were friends. Mr. White now called for Baneelon who, on hearing +his name, came forth, and entered into conversation. He was greatly emaciated, +and so far disfigured by a long beard, that our people not without difficulty +recognized their old acquaintance. His answering in broken English, +and inquiring for the governor, however, soon corrected their doubts. +He seemed quite friendly. And soon after Colbee came up, pointing to his leg, +to show that he had freed himself from the fetter which was upon him, +when he had escaped from us. + +When Baneelon was told that the governor was not far off, he expressed +great joy, and declared that he would immediately go in search of him, +and if he found him not, would follow him to Sydney. "Have you brought +any hatchets with you?" cried he. Unluckily they had not any which they chose +to spare; but two or three shirts, some handkerchiefs, knives, and +other trifles, were given to them, and seemed to satisfy. Baneelon, +willing to instruct his countrymen, tried to put on a shirt, but managed it +so awkwardly, that a man of the name of M'Entire, the governor's gamekeeper, +was directed by Mr. White to assist him. This man, who was well known to him, +he positively forbade to approach, eyeing him ferociously, and with every mark +of horror and resentment. He was in consequence left to himself, +and the conversation proceeded as before. The length of his beard seemed +to annoy him much, and he expressed eager wishes to be shaved, +asking repeatedly for a razor. A pair of scissors was given to him, +and he shewed he had not forgotten how to use such an instrument, +for he forthwith began to clip his hair with it. + +During this time, the women and children, to the number of more than fifty, +stood at a distance, and refused all invitations, which could be conveyed +by signs and gestures, to approach nearer. "Which of them is your old +favourite, Barangaroo, of whom you used to speak so often?" + +"Oh," said he, "she is become the wife of Colbee! But I have got +'bulla muree deein' (two large women) to compensate for her loss." + +It was observed that he had received two wounds, in addition to his former +numerous ones, since he had left us; one of them from a spear, +which had passed through the fleshy part of his arm; and the other displayed +itself in a large scar above his left eye. They were both healed, +and probably were acquired in the conflict wherein he had asserted +his pretensions to the two ladies. + +Nanbaree, all this while, though he continued to interrogate his countrymen, +and to interpret on both sides, shewed little desire to return to their +society, and stuck very close to his new friends. On being asked the cause +of their present meeting, Baneelon pointed to the whale, which stunk +immoderately, and Colbee made signals, that it was common among them +to cat until the stomach was so overladen as to occasion sickness. + +Their demand of hatchets being re-iterated, notwithstanding our refusal, +they were asked why they had not brought with them some of their own? +They excused themselves by saying, that on an occasion of the present sort, +they always left them at home, and cut up the whale with the shell +which is affixed to the end of the throwing-stick. + +Our party now thought it time to proceed on their original expedition, +and having taken leave of their sable friends, rowed to some distance, +where they landed, and set out for Broken Bay, ordering the coxswain +of the boat, in which they had come down, to go immediately and acquaint +the governor of all that had passed. When the natives saw that the boat +was about to depart, they crowded around her, and brought down, by way of +present, three or four great junks of the whale, and put them on board of her, +the largest of which, Baneelon expressly requested might be offered, +in his name, to the governor. + +It happened that his excellency had this day gone to a landmark, +which was building on the South-head, near the flag-staff, to serve as +a direction to ships at sea, and the boat met him on his return to Sydney. +Immediately on receiving the intelligence, he hastened back to the South-head, +and having procured all the fire-arms which could be mustered there, +consisting of four muskets and a pistol, set out, attended by Mr. Collins +and Lieutenant Waterhouse of the navy. + +When the boat reached Manly Cove, the natives were found still busily employed +around the whale. As they expressed not any consternation on seeing us row +to the beach, governor Phillip stepped out unarmed, and attended by one seaman +only, and called for Baneelon, who appeared, but, notwithstanding his former +eagerness, would not suffer the other to approach him for several minutes. +Gradually, however, he warmed into friendship and frankness, and presently +after Colbee came up. They discoursed for some time, Baneelon expressing +pleasure to see his old acquaintance, and inquiring by name for every person +whom he could recollect at Sydney; and among others for a French cook, +one of the governor's servants, whom he had constantly made the butt of +his ridicule, by mimicking his voice, gait, and other peculiarities, +all of which he again went through with his wonted exactness and drollery. +He asked also particularly for a lady from whom he had once ventured +to snatch a kiss; and on being told that she was well, by way of proving that +the token was fresh in his remembrance, he kissed Lieutenant Waterhouse, +and laughed aloud. On his wounds being noticed, he coldly said, that he had +received them at Botany Bay, but went no farther into their history. + +Hatchets still continued to be called for with redoubled eagerness, +which rather surprised us, as formerly they had always been accepted +with indifference. But Baneelon had probably demonstrated to them +their superiority over those of their own manufacturing. To appease their +importunity, the governor gave them a knife, some bread, pork, and other +articles, and promised that in two days he would return hither, +and bring with him hatchets to be distributed among them, which appeared +to diffuse general satisfaction. + +Baneelon's love of wine has been mentioned; and the governor, to try whether +it still subsisted, uncorked a bottle, and poured out a glass of it, +which the other drank off with his former marks of relish and good humour, +giving for a toast, as he had been taught, "The King." + +Our party now advanced from the beach but, perceiving many of the Indians +filing off to the right and left, so as in some measure to surround them, +they retreated gently to their old situation, which produced neither alarm +or offence. The others by degrees also resumed their former position. +A very fine barbed spear of uncommon size being seen by the governor, +he asked for it. But Baneelon, instead of complying with the request, +took it away, and laid it at some distance, and brought back a throwing-stick, +which he presented to his excellency. + +Matters had proceeded in this friendly train for more than half an hour, +when a native, with a spear in his hand, came forward, and stopped +at the distance of between twenty and thirty yards from the place where +the governor, Mr. Collins, Lieutenant Waterhouse, and a seaman stood. +His excellency held out his hand, and called to him, advancing towards him +at the same time, Mr. Collins following close behind. He appeared to be +a man of middle age, short of stature, sturdy, and well set, seemingly +a stranger, and but little acquainted with Baneelon and Colbee. The nearer +the governor approached, the greater became the terror and agitation +of the Indian. To remove his fear, governor Phillip threw down a dirk, +which he wore at his side. The other, alarmed at the rattle of the dirk, +and probably misconstruing the action, instantly fixed his lance +in his throwing-stick*. + +[*Such preparation is equal to what cocking a gun, and directing it +at its object, would be with us. To launch the spear, or to touch the trigger, +only remains.] + +To retreat, his excellency now thought would be more dangerous than to advance. +He therefore cried out to the man, Weeeree, Weeree, (bad; you are doing wrong) +displaying at the same time, every token of amity and confidence. +The words had, however, hardly gone forth, when the Indian, stepping back +with one foot, aimed his lance with such force and dexterity, that striking* +the governor's right shoulder, just above the collar-bone, the point +glancing downward, came out at his back, having made a wound +of many inches long. The man was observed to keep his eye steadily fixed +on the lance until it struck its object, when he directly dashed into the woods +and was seen no more. + +[*His excellency described the shock to me as similar to a violent blow, +with such energy was the weapon thrown.] + + +Instant confusion on both sides took place. Baneelon and Colbee disappeared +and several spears were thrown from different quarters, though without effect. +Our party retreated as fast as they could, calling to those who were left +in the boat, to hasten up with firearms. A situation more distressing +than that of the governor, during the time that this lasted, cannot readily +be conceived: the pole of the spear, not less than ten feet in length, +sticking out before him, and impeding his flight, the butt frequently striking +the ground, and lacerating the wound. In vain did Mr. Waterhouse try +to break it; and the barb, which appeared on the other side, forbade +extraction, until that could be performed. At length it was broken, +and his excellency reached the boat, by which time the seamen with the muskets +had got up, and were endeavouring to fire them, but one only would go off, +and there is no room to believe that it was attended with any execution. + +When the governor got home, the wound was examined. It had bled a good deal +in the boat, and it was doubtful whether the subclavian artery might not +be divided. On moving the spear, it was found, however, that it might be +safely extracted, which was accordingly performed. + +Apprehension for the safety of the party who had gone to Broken Bay, +now took place. Lieutenant Long, with a detachment of marines, +was immediately sent to escort them back, lest any ambush might be laid +by the natives to cut them off. When Mr. Long reached Manly Cove, +the sun had set; however, he pursued his way in the dark, scrambling over +rocks and thickets, as well as he could, until two o'clock on the following +morning, when he overtook them at a place where they had halted to sleep, +about half-way between the two harbours. + +At day-break they all returned, and were surprised to find tracks in the sand +of the feet of the Indians, almost the whole way from the place where +they had slept to the Cove. By this it should seem as if these last +had secretly followed them, probably with hostile intentions but, +on discovering their strength, and that they were on their guard, +had abandoned their design. + +On reaching Manly Cove, three Indians were observed standing on a rock, +with whom they entered into conversation. The Indians informed them, +that the man who had wounded the governor belonged to a tribe residing +at Broken Bay, and they seemed highly to condemn what he had done. +Our gentlemen asked them for a spear, which they immediately gave. +The boat's crew said that Baneelon and Colbee had just departed, +after a friendly intercourse. Like the others, they had pretended highly +to disapprove the conduct of the man who had thrown the spear, +vowing to execute vengeance upon him. + +From this time, until the 14th, no communication passed between the natives +and us. On that day, the chaplain and lieutenant Dawes, having Abaroo +with them in a boat, learned from two Indians that Wileemarin was the name +of the person who had wounded the governor. These two people inquired kindly +how his excellency did, and seemed pleased to hear that he was likely +to recover. They said that they were inhabitants of Rose Hill, and expressed +great dissatisfaction at the number of white men who had settled +in their former territories. In consequence of which declaration, +the detachment at that post was reinforced on the following day. + +A hazardous enterprise (but when liberty is the stake, what enterprise +is too hazardous for its attainment!) was undertaken in this month +by five convicts at Rose Hill, who, in the night, seized a small punt there, +and proceeded in her to the South Head, whence they seized and carried off +a boat, appropriated to the use of the lookout house, and put to sea in her, +doubtless with a view of reaching any port they could arrive at, and asserting +their freedom. They had all come out in the last fleet; and for some time +previous to their elopement, had been collecting fishing tackle, +and hoarding up provisions, to enable them to put their scheme into execution*. + +[*They have never since been heard of. Before they went away, they tried +in vain to procure firearms. If they were not swallowed by the sea, probably +they were cut off by the natives, on some part of the coast where their +necessities obliged them to land.] + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + + +Transactions of the Colony in part of September and October, 1790. + + +From so unfavourable an omen as I have just related, who could prognosticate +that an intercourse with the natives was about to commence! That the +foundation of what neither entreaty, munificence, or humanity, could induce, +should be laid by a deed, which threatened to accumulate scenes of bloodshed +and horror was a consequence which neither speculation could predict, +or hope expect to see accomplished. + +On the 15th a fire being seen on the north shore of the harbour, a party +of our people went thither, accompanied by Nanbaree and Abaroo. They found +there Baneelon, and several other natives, and much civility passed, +which was cemented by a mutual promise to meet in the afternoon at the same +place. Both sides were punctual to their engagement, and no objection +being made to our landing, a party of us went ashore to them unarmed. +Several little presents, which had been purposely brought, were distributed +among them; and to Baneelon were given a hatchet and a fish. At a distance +stood some children, who, though at first timorous and unwilling to approach, +were soon persuaded to advance, and join the men. + +A bottle of wine was produced, and Baneelon immediately prepared for +the charge. Bread and beef he called loudly for, which were given to him, +and he began to eat, offering a part of his fare to his countrymen, +two of whom tasted the beef, but none of them would touch the bread. +Having finished his repast, he made a motion to be shaved, and a barber +being present, his request was complied with, to the great admiration +of his countrymen, who laughed and exclaimed at the operation. They would not, +however, consent to undergo it, but suffered their beards to be clipped +with a pair of scissors. + +On being asked where their women were, they pointed to the spot, but seemed +not desirous that we should approach it. However, in a few minutes, +a female appeared not far off, and Abaroo was dispatched to her. +Baneelon now joined with Abaroo to persuade her to come to us, telling us +she was Barangaroo, and his wife, notwithstanding he had so lately pretended +that she had left him for Colbee. At length she yielded, and Abaroo, +having first put a petticoat on her, brought her to us. But this was +the prudery of the wilderness, which her husband joined us to ridicule, +and we soon laughed her out of it. The petticoat was dropped with hesitation, +and Barangaroo stood "armed cap-a-pee in nakedness." At the request +of Baneelon, we combed and cut her hair, and she seemed pleased with +the operation. Wine she would not taste, but turned from it with disgust, +though heartily invited to drink by the example and persuasion of Baneelon. +In short, she behaved so well, and assumed the character of gentleness +and timidity to such advantage, that had our acquaintance ended here, +a very moderate share of the spirit of travelling would have sufficed +to record, that amidst a horde of roaming savages, in the desert wastes +of New South Wales, might be found as much feminine innocence, softness, +and modesty (allowing for inevitable difference of education), +as the most finished system could bestow, or the most polished circle produce. +So little fitted are we to judge of human nature at once! And yet +on such grounds have countries been described, and nations characterized. +Hence have arisen those speculative and laborious compositions on +the advantages and superiority of a state of nature. But to resume my subject. + +Supposing, that by a private conversation, she might be induced to visit +Sydney, which would be the means of drawing her husband and others thither, +Abaroo was instructed to take her aside, and try if she could persuade her +to comply with our wish. They wandered away together accordingly, +but it was soon seen, that Barangaroo's arguments to induce Abaroo +to rejoin their society, were more powerful than those of the latter, +to prevail upon her to come among us; for it was not without manifest +reluctance, and often repeated injunctions, that Abaroo would quit +her countrywomen; and when she had done so, she sat in the boat, +in sullen silence, evidently occupied by reflection on the scene she had +left behind, and returning inclination to her former habits of life. + +Nor was a circumstance which had happened in the morning interview, perhaps, +wholly unremembered by the girl. We had hinted to Baneelon to provide +a husband for her, who should be at liberty to pass and repass +to and from Sydney, as he might choose. There was at the time, a slender +fine looking youth in company, called Imeerawanyee, about sixteen years old. +The lad, on being invited, came immediately up to her, and offered +many blandishments, which proved that he had assumed the 'toga virilis'. +But Abaroo disclaimed his advances, repeating the name of another person, +who we knew was her favourite. The young lover was not, however, +easily repulsed, but renewed his suit, on our return in the afternoon, +with such warmth of solicitation, as to cause an evident alteration +in the sentiments of the lady. + +To heighten the good humour which pervaded both parties, we began to play +and romp with them. Feats of bodily strength were tried, and their +inferiority was glaring. One of our party lifted with ease two of them +from the ground, in spite of their efforts to prevent him, whereas in return, +no one of them could move him. They called him 'murree mulla' +(a large strong man). Compared with our English labourers, their muscular +power would appear very feeble and inadequate. + +Before we parted, Baneelon informed us that his countrymen had lately +been plundered of fish-gigs, spears, a sword, and many other articles, +by some of our people, and expressed a wish that they should be restored, +promising, that if they were, the governor's dirk should be produced +and returned to us to-morrow, if we would meet him here. + +Accordingly on the following day we rowed to the spot, carrying with us +the stolen property. We found here several natives, but not Baneelon. +We asked for him, and were told that he was gone down the harbour +with Barangaroo to fish. Although disappointed at his breach of promise, +we went on shore, and mingled without distrust among those we found, +acquainting them that we had brought with us the articles of which +they had been plundered. On hearing this account, they expressed great joy, +and Imeerawanyee darting forward, claimed the sword. It was given to him, +and he had no sooner grasped it, than he hastened to convince his mistress, +that his prowess in war, was not inferior to his skill in courtship. +Singling out a yellow gum-tree for the foe, he attacked it with great +fierceness, calling to us to look on, and accompanying his onset with all +the gestures and vociferation which they use in battle. Having conquered +his enemy, he laid aside his fighting face, and joined us with a countenance +which carried in it every mark of youth and good nature. + +Whether Abaroo's coyness, and preference of another, had displeased him, +or it was owing to natural fickleness, he paid her no farther attention, +but seemed more delighted with us. He had no beard, but was highly gratified +in being combed and having his hair clipped. + +All the stolen property being brought on shore, an old man came up, +and claimed one of the fish-gigs, singling it from the bundle, +and taking only his own; and this honesty, within the circle of their society, +seemed to characterize them all. + +During this time, it was observed, that one of the Indians, instead of mixing +with the rest, stood aloof, in a musing posture, contemplating what passed. +When we offered to approach him, he shunned us not, and willingly shook hands +with all who chose to do so. He seemed to be between 30 and 40 years old, +was jolly, and had a thoughtful countenance, much marked by the smallpox. +He wore a string of bits of dried reed round his neck, which I asked him +to exchange for a black stock. He smiled at the proposal, but made no offer +of what I wanted; which our young friend, Imeerawanyee, observing, flew to him, +and taking off the necklace, directly fixed it about my neck. I feared +he would be enraged, but he bore it with serenity, and suffered a gentleman +present to fasten his black stock upon him, with which he appeared +to be pleased. To increase his satisfaction, some other trifle +was given to him. + +Having remained here an hour we went in quest of Baneelon, agreeably +to the directions which his companions pointed out. We found him +and Barangaroo shivering over a few lighted sticks, by which they were +dressing small fish, and their canoe hauled up on the beach near them. +On first seeing the boat, they ran into the woods; but on being called by name, +they came back, and consented to our landing. We carried on shore with us +the remaining part of the fish-gigs and spears which had been stolen, +and restored them to Baneelon. Among other things, was a net full of +fishing lines and other tackle, which Barangaroo said was her property +and, immediately on receiving it, she slung it around her neck. + +Baneelon inquired, with solicitude, about the state of the governor's wound, +but he made no offer of restoring the dirk; and when he was asked for it, +he pretended to know nothing of it, changing the conversation with great art, +and asking for wine, which was given to him. + +At parting, we pressed him to appoint a day on which he should come to Sydney, +assuring him, that he would be well received, and kindly treated. Doubtful, +however, of being permitted to return, he evaded our request, and declared that +the governor must first come and see him, which we promised should be done. + +The governor did not hesitate to execute the engagement which we had contracted +for him. But Baneelon still resisted coming among us, and matters continued +in this fluctuating state until the 8th of October, when a fire, +which they had agreed to light as a signal for us to visit them, was observed. +The eager desire by which we were stimulated to carry our point of effecting +an intercourse had appeared. Various parties accordingly set out to meet them, +provided with different articles, which we thought would prove acceptable +to them. We found assembled, Baneelon, Barangaroo, and another young woman, +and six men, all of whom received us with welcome, except the grave looking +gentleman before mentioned, who stood aloof in his former musing posture. +When they saw that we had brought hatchets, and other articles with us, +they produced spears, fish-gigs, and lines, for the purpose of barter,* +which immediately commenced, to the satisfaction of both parties. +I had brought with me an old blunted spear, which wanted repair. An Indian +immediately undertook to perform the task, and carrying it to a fire, +tore with his teeth a piece of bone from a fish-gig, which he fastened +on the spear with yellow gum, rendered flexible by heat. + +[*It had long been our wish to establish a commerce of this sort. It is +a painful consideration, that every previous addition to the cabinet of the +virtuosi, from this country, had wrung a tear from the plundered Indian.] + + +October, 1790. Many of them now consented to be shaved by a barber +whom we had purposely brought over. As I thought he who could perform +an operation of such importance must be deemed by them an eminent personage, +I bade him ask one of them for a fine barbed spear which he held in his hand; +but all the barber's eloquence was wasted on the Indian, who plainly +gave him to understand that he meant not to part with his spear, +without receiving an equivalent. Unfortunately, his price was a hatchet, +and the only one which I had brought with me was already disposed of +to the man who had pointed my spear. In vain did I tempt him with a knife, +a handkerchief, and a hat; nothing but a hatchet seemed to be regarded. +'Bulla mogo parrabugo' (two hatchets to-morrow) I repeatedly cried; but having +probably experienced our insincerity, he rejected the proposal with disdain. +Finding him inflexible, and longing to possess the spear, I told him +at length that I would go to Sydney and fetch what he required. This seemed +to satisfy, and he accompanied me to my boat, in which I went away, +and as quickly as possible procured what was necessary to conclude the bargain. +On my return, I was surprised to see all our boats rowing towards home, +and with them a canoe, in which sat two Indians paddling. I pulled to them, +and found that Baneelon, and another Indian, were in one of the boats, +and that the whole formed a party going over to visit the governor. +I now learned, that during my absence, the governor had passed in a boat, +on his return from Rose Hill, near the place where they were standing; +and that finding he would not come to them, although they had called to him +to do so, they had at once determined to venture themselves unreservedly +among us. One of the men in the canoe was the person to whom I was to give +the hatchet I had been to fetch; and directly as he saw me, +he held up his spear, and the exchange took place, with which, and perhaps +to reward me for the trouble I had taken, he was so delighted +that he presented me with a throwing-stick 'gratis'. + +Not seeing Barangaroo of the party, I asked for her, and was informed +that she had violently opposed Baneelon's departure. When she found +persuasion vain, she had recourse to tears, scolding, and threats, +stamping the ground, and tearing her hair. But Baneelon continuing determined, +she snatched up in her rage one of his fish-gigs, and dashed it with such fury +on the rocks, that it broke. To quiet her apprehensions on the score +of her husband's safety, Mr. Johnson, attended by Abaroo, agreed to remain +as a hostage until Baneelon should return. + +We landed our four friends opposite the hospital, and set out for the +governor's house. On hearing of their arrival, such numbers flocked +to view them that we were apprehensive the crowd of persons would alarm them, +but they had left their fears behind, and marched on with boldness +and unconcern. When we reached the governor's house, Baneelon expressed +honest joy to see his old friend, and appeared pleased to find that he had +recovered of his wound. The governor asked for Wileemarin, and they said +he was at Broken Bay. Some bread and beef were distributed among them +but unluckily no fish was to be procured, which we were sorry for, +as a promise of it had been one of the leading temptations by which +they had been allured over. A hatchet apiece was, however, given to them, +and a couple of petticoats and some fishing tackle sent for Barangaroo, +and the other woman. + +The ceremony of introduction being finished, Baneelon seemed to consider +himself quite at home, running from room to room with his companions, +and introducing them to his old friends, the domestics, in the most +familiar manner. Among these last, he particularly distinguished +the governor's orderly sergeant, whom he kissed with great affection, +and a woman who attended in the kitchen; but the gamekeeper, M'Entire*, +he continued to hold in abhorrence, and would not suffer his approach. + +[*Look at the account of the governor being wounded, when his detestation +of this man burst forth.] + +Nor was his importance to his countrymen less conspicuous in other respects. +He undertook to explain the use and nature of those things which were new +to them. Some of his explanations were whimsical enough. Seeing, +for instance, a pair of snuffers, he told them that they were +"Nuffer* for candle,"--which the others not comprehending, he opened +the snuffers, and holding up the fore-finger of his left hand, to represent +a candle, made the motion of snuffing it. Finding, that even this sagacious +interpretation failed, he threw down the snuffers in a rage, and reproaching +their stupidity, walked away. + +[*The S is a letter which they cannot pronounce, having no sound +in their language similar to it. When bidden to pronounce sun, +they always say tun; salt, talt, and so of all words wherein it occurs.] + +It was observed, that a soft gentle tone of voice, which we had taught him +to use, was forgotten, and his native vociferation returned in full force. +But the tenderness which (like Arabanoo) he had always manifested to children, +he still retained; as appeared by his behaviour to those who were presented +to him. + +The first wish they expressed to return, was complied with, in order to banish +all appearance of constraint, the party who had conducted them to Sydney +returning with them. When we reached the opposite shore, we found Abaroo +and the other woman fishing in a canoe, and Mr. Johnson and Barangaroo sitting +at the fire, the latter employed in manufacturing fish-hooks. At a little +distance, on an adjoining eminence, sat an Indian, with his spear in his hand, +as if sentinel over the hostages, for the security of his countrymen's return. +During our absence, Barangaroo had never ceased whining, and reproaching +her husband. Now that he was returned, she met him with unconcern, +and seemed intent on her work only, but this state of repose did not +long continue. Baneelon, eyeing the broken fish-gig, cast at her a look +of savage fury and began to interrogate her, and it seemed more than probable +that the remaining part would be demolished about her head had we not +interposed to pacify him. Nor would we quit the place until his forgiveness +was complete, and his good humour restored. No sooner, however, did she find +her husband's rage subsided, than her hour of triumph commenced. +The alarm and trepidation she had manifested disappeared. Elated at his +condescension, and emboldened by our presence and the finery in which +we had decked her, she in turn assumed a haughty demeanour, refused to answer +his caresses, and viewed him with a reproaching eye. Although long absence +from female society had somewhat blunted our recollection, the conduct +of Barangaroo did not appear quite novel to us, nor was our surprise +very violent at finding that it succeeded in subduing Baneelon who, +when we parted, seemed anxious only to please her. + +Thus ended a day, the events of which served to complete what an unhappy +accident had begun. From this time our intercourse with the natives, +though partially interrupted, was never broken off. We gradually continued, +henceforth, to gain knowledge of their customs and policy, the only knowledge +which can lead to a just estimate of national character. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + + +The arrival of the 'Supply' from Batavia; +the State of the Colony in November, 1790. + + +Joy sparkled in every countenance to see our old friend the 'Supply' +(I hope no reader will be so captious as to quarrel with the phrase) +enter the harbour from Batavia on the 19th of October. We had witnessed +her departure with tears; we hailed her return with transport. + +Captain Ball was rather more than six months in making this voyage, +and is the first person who ever circumnavigated the continent of New Holland. +On his passage to Batavia, he had discovered several islands, which he gave +names to and, after fighting his way against adverse elements and through +unexplored dangers, safely reached his destined port. He had well stored +his little bark with every necessary and conveniency which he judged +we should first want, leaving a cargo of rice and salt provisions +to be brought on by a Dutch snow, which he had hired and freighted for the use +of the settlement. While at Batavia, the 'Supply' had lost many of her people +by sickness, and left several others in the general hospital at that place. + +As the arrival of the 'Supply' naturally leads the attention from other subjects +to the state of the colony, I shall here take a review of it by transcribing +a statement drawn from actual observation soon after, exactly as I find it +written in my journal. + +Cultivation, on a public scale, has for some time past been given up here, +(Sydney) the crop of last year being so miserable, as to deter from +farther experiment, in consequence of which the government-farm is abandoned, +and the people who were fixed on it have been removed. Necessary public +buildings advance fast; an excellent storehouse of large dimensions, +built of bricks and covered with tiles, is just completed; and another planned +which will shortly be begun. Other buildings, among which I heard the governor +mention an hospital and permanent barracks for the troops, may also be +expected to arise soon. Works of this nature are more expeditiously performed +than heretofore, owing, I apprehend, to the superintendants lately arrived, +who are placed over the convicts and compel them to labour. +The first difficulties of a new country being subdued may also contribute +to this comparative facility. + +Vegetables are scarce, although the summer is so far advanced, owing to +want of rain. I do not think that all the showers of the last four months +put together, would make twenty-four hours rain. Our farms, what with this +and a poor soil, are in wretched condition. My winter crop of potatoes, +which I planted in days of despair (March and April last), turned out +very badly when I dug them about two months back. Wheat returned so poorly +last harvest, that very little, besides Indian corn, has been sown this year. +The governor's wound is quite healed, and he feels no inconveniency whatever +from it. With the natives we are hand and glove. They throng the camp +every day, and sometimes by their clamour and importunity for bread and meat +(of which they now all eat greedily) are become very troublesome. God knows, +we have little enough for ourselves! Full allowance (if eight pounds of flour +and either seven pounds of beef, or four pounds of pork, served alternately, +per week, without either pease, oatmeal, spirits, butter, or cheese, +can be called so) is yet kept up; but if the Dutch snow does not arrive soon +it must be shortened, as the casks in the storehouse, I observed yesterday, +are woefully decreased. + +The convicts continue to behave pretty well; three only have been hanged +since the arrival of the last fleet, in the latter end of June, all of whom +were newcomers. The number of convicts here diminishes every day; +our principal efforts being wisely made at Rose Hill, where the land +is unquestionably better than about this place. Except building, sawing +and brickmaking, nothing of consequence is now carried on here. The account +which I received a few days ago from the brickmakers of their labours, +was as follows. Wheeler (one of the master brick-makers) with two tile stools +and one brick stool, was tasked to make and burn ready for use 30000 tiles +and bricks per month. He had twenty-one hands to assist him, who performed +every thing; cut wood, dug clay, etc. This continued (during the days +of distress excepted, when they did what they could) until June last. +From June, with one brick and two tile stools he has been tasked to make +40000 bricks and tiles monthly (as many of each sort as may be), having +twenty-two men and two boys to assist him, on the same terms of procuring +materials as before. They fetch the clay of which tiles are made, +two hundred yards; that for bricks is close at hand. He says that the bricks +are such as would be called in England, moderately good, and he judges +they would have fetched about 24 shillings per thousand at Kingston-upon-Thames +(where he resided) in the year 1784. Their greatest fault is being +too brittle. The tiles he thinks not so good as those made about London. +The stuff has a rotten quality, and besides wants the advantage +of being ground, in lieu of which they tread it. + +King (another master bricklayer) last year, with the assistance of sixteen men +and two boys, made 11,000 bricks weekly, with two stools. During short +allowance did what he could. Resumed his old task when put again +on full allowance and had his number of assistants augmented to twenty men +and two boys, on account of the increased distance of carrying wood +for the kilns. He worked at Hammersmith, for Mr. Scot, of that place. +He thinks the bricks made here as good as those made near London, and says that +in the year 1784, they would have sold for a guinea per thousand and to have +picked the kiln at thirty shillings.' + +Such is my Sydney detail dated the 12th of November, 1790. Four days +after I went to Rose Hill, and wrote there the subjoined remarks. + +November 16th. Got to Rose Hill in the evening. Next morning walked round +the whole of the cleared and cultivated land, with the Rev. Mr. Johnson, +who is the best farmer in the country. Edward Dod, one of the governor's +household, who conducts everything here in the agricultural line, +accompanied us part of the way, and afforded all the information he could. +He estimates the quantity of cleared and cultivated land at 200 acres. +Of these fifty-five are in wheat, barley, and a little oats, thirty in maize, +and the remainder is either just cleared of wood, or is occupied by buildings, +gardens, etc. Four enclosures of twenty acres each, are planned for +the reception of cattle, which may arrive in the colony, and two of these +are already fenced in. In the centre of them is to be erected a house, +for a person who will be fixed upon to take care of the cattle. All these +enclosures are supplied with water; and only a part of the trees which grew in +them being cut down, gives to them a very park-like and beautiful appearance. + +Our survey commenced on the north side of the river. Dod says he expects +this year's crop of wheat and barley from the fifty-five acres to yield +full 400 bushels. Appearances hitherto hardly indicate so much. He says +he finds the beginning of May the best time to sow barley,* but that it may +continue to be sown until August. That sown in May is reaped in December; +that of August in January. He sowed his wheat, part in June and part in July. +He thinks June the best time, and says that he invariably finds that which is +deepest sown, grows strongest and best, even as deep as three inches +he has put it in, and found it to answer. The wheat sown in June is now +turning yellow; that of July is more backward. He has used only the broad-cast +husbandry, and sowed two bushels per acre. The plough has never yet been +tried here; all the ground is hoed, and (as Dod confesses) very incompetently +turned up. Each convict labourer was obliged to hoe sixteen rods a day, +so that in some places the earth was but just scratched over. The ground +was left open for some months, to receive benefit from the sun and air; +and on that newly cleared the trees were burnt, and the ashes dug in. +I do not find that a succession of crops has yet been attempted; +surely it would help to meliorate and improve the soil. Dod recommends +strongly the culture of potatoes, on a large scale, and says that were they +planted even as late as January they would answer, but this I doubt. +He is more than ever of opinion that without a large supply of cattle nothing +can be done. They have not at this time either horse, cow, or sheep here. +I asked him how the stock they had was coming on. The fowls he said +multiplied exceedingly, but the hogs neither thrived or increased in number, +for want of food. He pointed out to us his best wheat, which looks tolerable, +and may perhaps yield 13 or 14 bushels per acre**. Next came the oats +which are in ear, though not more than six inches high: they will not return +as much seed as was sown. The barley, except one patch in a corner of a field, +little better than the oats. Crossed the river and inspected the south side. +Found the little patch of wheat at the bottom of the crescent very bad. +Proceeded and examined the large field on the ascent to the westward: +here are about twenty-five acres of wheat, which from its appearance +we guessed would produce perhaps seven bushels an acre. The next patch +to this is in maize, which looks not unpromising; some of the stems are stout, +and beginning to throw out large broad leaves, the surest sign of vigour. +The view from the top of the wheat field takes in, except a narrow slip, +the whole of the cleared land at Rose Hill. From not having before seen +an opening of such extent for the last three years, this struck us as grand +and capacious. The beautiful diversity of the ground (gentle hill and dale) +would certainly be reckoned pretty in any country. Continued our walk, +and crossed the old field, which is intended to form part of the main street +of the projected town. The wheat in this field is rather better, but not much, +than in the large field before mentioned. The next field is maize, +inferior to what we have seen, but not despicable. An acre of maize, +at the bottom of the marine garden, is equal in luxuriancy of promise to any +I ever saw in any country. + +[*The best crop of barley ever produced in New South Wales, was sown by +a private individual, in February 1790, and reaped in the following October.] + +[**As all the trees on our cleared ground were cut down, and not grubbed up, +the roots and stumps remain, on which account a tenth part of surface +in every acre must be deducted. This is slovenly husbandry; but in a country +where immediate subsistence is wanted, it is perhaps necessary. None of these +stumps, when I left Port Jackson, showed any symptoms of decay, though some +of the trees had been cut down four years. To the different qualities +of the wood of Norfolk Island and New South Wales, perhaps the difference +of soil may in some measure be traced. That of Norfolk Island is light +and porous: it rots and turns into mould in two years. Besides its hardness +that of Port Jackson abounds with red corrosive gum, which contributes +its share of mischief.] + + +The main street of the new town is already begun. It is to be a mile long, +and of such breadth as will make Pall Mall and Portland Place "hide their +diminished heads." It contains at present thirty-two houses completed, +of twenty-four feet by twelve each, on a ground floor only, built of wattles +plastered with clay, and thatched. Each house is divided into two rooms, +in one of which is a fire place and a brick chimney. These houses are designed +for men only; and ten is the number of inhabitants allotted to each; +but some of them now contain twelve or fourteen, for want of better +accommodation. More are building. In a cross street stand nine houses +for unmarried women; and exclusive of all these are several small huts +where convict families of good character are allowed to reside. +Of public buildings, besides the old wooden barrack and store, there is +a house of lath and plaster, forty-four feet long by sixteen wide, +for the governor, on a ground floor only, with excellent out-houses +and appurtenances attached to it. A new brick store house, covered with tiles, +100 feet long by twenty-four wide, is nearly completed, and a house +for the store-keeper. The first stone of a barrack, 100 feet long +by twenty-four wide, to which are intended to be added wings for the officers, +was laid to-day. The situation of the barrack is judicious, being close +to the store-house, and within a hundred and fifty yards of the wharf, +where all boats from Sydney unload. To what I have already enumerated, +must be added an excellent barn, a granary, an inclosed yard to rear stock in, +a commodious blacksmith's shop, and a most wretched hospital, totally destitute +of every conveniency. Luckily for the gentleman who superintends +this hospital, and still more luckily for those who are doomed in case +of sickness to enter it, the air of Rose Hill has hitherto been +generally healthy. A tendency to produce slight inflammatory disorders, +from the rapid changes* of the temperature of the air, is most to be dreaded. + +[*In the close of the year 1788, when this settlement was established, +the thermometer has been known to stand at 50 degrees a little before sunrise, +and between one and two o' clock in the afternoon at above 100 degrees.] + + +'The hours of labour for the convicts are the same here as at Sydney. +On Saturdays after ten o'clock in the morning they are allowed to work +in their own gardens. These gardens are at present, from the long drought +and other causes, in a most deplorable state. Potatoes, I think, +thrive better than any other vegetable in them. For the public conveniency +a baker is established here in a good bakehouse, who exchanges with every +person bread for flour, on stipulated terms; but no compulsion exists +for any one to take his bread; it is left entirely to every body's own option +to consume his flour as he pleases. Divine service is performed here, +morning and afternoon, one Sunday in every month, when all the convicts +are obliged to attend church, under penalty of having a part of their allowance +of provisions stopped, which is done by the chaplain, who is a +justice of the peace. + +'For the punishment of offenders, where a criminal court is not judged +necessary, two or more justices, occasionally assemble, and order +the infliction of slight corporal punishment, or short confinement +in a strong room built for this purpose. The military present here consists +of two subalterns, two sergeants, three corporals, a drummer, and twenty-one +privates. These have been occasionally augmented and reduced, as circumstances +have been thought to render it necessary. + +Brick-kilns are now erected here, and bricks manufactured by a convict +of the name of Becket, who came out in the last fleet, and has fifty-two people +to work under him. He makes 25,000 bricks weekly. He says that they are +very good, and would sell at Birmingham, where he worked about eighteen months +ago, at more than 30 shillings per thousand. + +Nothing farther of public nature remaining to examine, I next visited +a humble adventurer, who is trying his fortune here. James Ruse, convict, +was cast for seven years at Bodmin assizes, in August 1782. He lay five years +in prison and on board the 'Dunkirk' hulk at Plymouth, and then was sent +to this country. When his term of punishment expired, in August 1789, +he claimed his freedom, and was permitted by the governor, on promising +to settle in the country, to take in December following, an uncleaned piece +of ground, with an assurance that if he would cultivate it, it should not +be taken from him. Some assistance was given him, to fell the timber, +and he accordingly began. His present account to me was as follows. + + +I was bred a husbandman, near Launcester in Cornwall. +I cleared my land as well as I could, with the help +afforded me. The exact limit of what ground I am to have, +I do not yet know; but a certain direction has been +pointed out to me, in which I may proceed as fast as I +can cultivate. I have now an acre and a half in bearded +wheat, half an acre in maize, and a small kitchen garden. +On my wheat land I sowed three bushels of seed, the +produce of this country, broad cast. I expect to reap +about twelve or thirteen bushels. I know nothing of +the cultivation of maize, and cannot therefore guess +so well at what I am likely to gather. I sowed part +of my wheat in May, and part in June. That sown in May +has thrived best. My maize I planted in the latter end +of August, and the beginning of September. My land I +prepared thus: having burnt the fallen timber off the +ground, I dug in the ashes, and then hoed it up, never +doing more than eight, or perhaps nine, rods in a day, +by which means, it was not like the government farm, +just scratched over, but properly done. Then I +clod-moulded it, and dug in the grass and weeds. This +I think almost equal to ploughing. I then let it lie +as long as I could, exposed to air and sun; and just +before I sowed my seed, turned it all up afresh. When +I shall have reaped my crop, I purpose to hoe it again, +and harrow it fine, and then sow it with turnip-seed, +which will mellow and prepare it for next year. My +straw, I mean to bury in pits, and throw in with it +every thing which I think will rot and turn to manure. +I have no person to help me, at present, but my wife, +whom I married in this country; she is industrious. +The governor, for some time, gave me the help of a +convict man, but he is taken away. Both my wife and +myself receive our provisions regularly at the store, +like all other people. My opinion of the soil of my +farm, is, that it is middling, neither good or bad. +I will be bound to make it do with the aid of manure, +but without cattle it will fail. The greatest check +upon me is, the dishonesty of the convicts who, in +spite of all my vigilance, rob me almost every night. + + +The annexed return will show the number of persons of all descriptions +at Rose Hill, at this period. On the morning of the 17th, I went down +to Sydney. + +Here terminates the transcription of my diary. It were vain to suppose, +that it can prove either agreeable or interesting to a majority of readers but +as this work is intended not only for amusement, but information, I considered +it right to present this detail unaltered, either in its style or arrangement. + + +A return of the number of persons employed at Rose Hill, November 16th, 1790. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +How Employed | Troops | Civil dept | Troops | Convicts | + | | |Wives | Children| Men | Women | Children| +------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Storekeeper 1 +Surgeon 1 +Carpenters 24 +Blacksmiths 5 +Master Bricklayer 1 +Bricklayers 28 +Master Brickmaker 1 +Brickmakers 52 +Labourers 326* +Assistants to the +provision store 4 +Assistants to the +hospital 3 +Officers' servants 6 +Making Clothing 50 +Superintendants 4 +------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Total number of +persons 552| 29 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 450 | 50 | 13 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +[*Of these labourers, 16 are sawyers. The rest are variously employed +in clearing fresh land; in dragging brick and timber carts; +and a great number in making a road of a mile long, through the main street, +to the governor's house.] + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + + +Farther Transactions of the Colony in November, 1790. + + +During the intervals of duty, our greatest source of entertainment now lay in +cultivating the acquaintance of our new friends, the natives. Ever liberal +of communication, no difficulty but of understanding each other subsisted +between us. Inexplicable contradictions arose to bewilder our researches +which no ingenuity could unravel and no credulity reconcile. + +Baneelon, from being accustomed to our manners, and understanding a little +English, was the person through whom we wished to prosecute inquiry, but he had +lately become a man of so much dignity and consequence, that it was not always +easy to obtain his company. Clothes had been given to him at various times, +but he did not always condescend to wear them. One day he would appear +in them, and the next day he was to be seen carrying them in a net slung +around his neck. Farther to please him, a brick house of twelve feet square +was built for his use, and for that of such of his countrymen as might choose +to reside in it, on a point of land fixed upon by himself. A shield, +double cased with tin, to ward off the spears of his enemies, was also +presented to him, by the governor. + +Elated by these marks of favour, and sensible that his importance with +his countrymen arose in proportion to our patronage of him, he warmly attached +himself to our society. But the gratitude of a savage is ever a precarious +tenure. That of Baneelon was fated to suffer suspension, and had well nigh +been obliterated by the following singular circumstance. + +One day the natives were observed to assemble in more than an ordinary number +at their house on the point, and to be full of bustle and agitation, +repeatedly calling on the name of Baneelon, and that of 'deein' (a woman). +Between twelve and one o'clock Baneelon, unattended, came to the governor +at his house, and told him that he was going to put to death a woman +immediately, whom he had brought from Botany Bay. Having communicated +his intention, he was preparing to go away, seeming not to wish that +the governor should be present at the performance of the ceremony. +But His Excellency was so struck with the fierce gestures, and wild demeanour +of the other, who held in his hand one of our hatchets and frequently tried +the sharpness of it, that he determined to accompany him, taking with him +Mr. Collins and his orderly sergeant. On the road, Baneelon continued +to talk wildly and incoherently of what he would do, and manifested +such extravagant marks of fury and revenge, that his hatchet was taken away +from him, and a walking-stick substituted for it. + +When they reached the house, they found several natives, of both sexes +lying promiscuously before the fire, and among them a young woman, not more +than sixteen years old, who at sight of Baneelon, started, and raised +herself half up. He no sooner saw her than, snatching a sword of the country, +he ran at her, and gave her two severe wounds on the head and one on +the shoulder, before interference in behalf of the poor wretch could be made. +Our people now rushed in and seized him; but the other Indians continued +quiet spectators of what was passing, either awed by Baneelon's superiority +or deeming it a common case, unworthy of notice and interposition. +In vain did the governor by turns soothe and threaten him. In vain +did the sergeant point his musquet at him. He seemed dead to every passion +but revenge; forgot his affection to his old friends and, instead of complying +with the request they made, furiously brandished his sword at the governor, +and called aloud for his hatchet to dispatch the unhappy victim of his +barbarity. Matters now wore a serious aspect. The other Indians appeared +under the control of Baneelon and had begun to arm and prepare their spears, +as if determined to support him in his violence. + +Farther delay might have been attended with danger. The 'Supply' was therefore +immediately hailed, and an armed boat ordered to be sent on shore. +Luckily, those on board the ship had already observed the commotion +and a boat was ready, into which captain Ball, with several of his people +stepped, armed with musquets, and put off. It was reasonable to believe +that so powerful a reinforcement would restore tranquillity, but Baneelon +stood unintimidated at disparity of numbers and boldly demanded his prisoner, +whose life, he told the governor, he was determined to sacrifice, +and afterwards to cut off her head. Everyone was eager to know what could be +the cause of such inveterate inhumanity. Undaunted, he replied that her father +was his enemy, from whom he had received the wound in his forehead +beforementioned; and that when he was down in battle, and under the lance +of his antagonist, this woman had contributed to assail him. "She is now," +added he, "my property: I have ravished her by force from her tribe: +and I will part with her to no person whatever, until my vengeance +shall be glutted." + +Farther remonstrance would have been wasted. His Excellency therefore ordered +the woman to be taken to the hospital in order that her wounds might +be dressed. While this was doing, one of the natives, a young man named +Boladeree, came up and supplicated to be taken into the boat also, saying that +he was her husband, which she confirmed and begged that he might be admitted. +He was a fine well grown lad, of nineteen or twenty years old, and was one of +the persons who had been in the house in the scene just described, +which he had in no wise endeavoured to prevent, or to afford assistance +to the poor creature who had a right to his protection. + +All our people now quitted the place, leaving the exasperated Baneelon +and his associates to meditate farther schemes of vengeance. Before +they parted he gave them, however, to understand that he would follow +the object of his resentment to the hospital, and kill her there, a threat +which the governor assured him if he offered to carry into execution +he should be immediately shot. Even this menace he treated with disdain. + +To place the refugees in security, a sentinel was ordered to take post +at the door of the house, in which they were lodged. Nevertheless +they attempted to get away in the night, either from fear that we were not +able to protect them, or some apprehension of being restrained from future +liberty. When questioned where they proposed to find shelter, they said +they would go to the Cameragal tribe, with whom they should be safe. +On the following morning, Imeerawanyee* joined them, and expressed strong fears +of Baneelon's resentment. Soon after a party of natives, known to consist of +Baneelon's chosen friends, with a man of the name of Bigon, at their head, +boldly entered the hospital garden, and tried to carry off all three by force. +They were driven back and threatened, to which their leader only replied +by contemptuous insolence. + +[*This good-tempered lively lad, was become a great favourite with us, +and almost constantly lived at the governor's house. He had clothes made up +for him, and to amuse his mind, he was taught to wait at table. +One day a lady, Mrs. McArthur, wife of an officer of the garrison, dined there, +as did Nanbaree. This latter, anxious that his countryman should appear +to advantage in his new office, gave him many instructions, strictly charging +him, among other things, to take away the lady's plate, whenever she should +cross her knife and fork, and to give her a clean one. This Imeerawanyee +executed, not only to Mrs. McArthur, but to several of the other guests. +At last Nanbaree crossed his knife and fork with great gravity, casting +a glance at the other, who looked for a moment with cool indifference +at what he had done, and then turned his head another way. Stung at this +supercilious treatment, he called in rage, to know why he was not attended to, +as well as the rest of the company. But Imeerawanyee only laughed; nor could +all the anger and reproaches of the other prevail upon him to do that +for one of his countrymen, which he cheerfully continued to perform +to every other person.] + +Baneelon finding he could not succeed, withdrew himself for two days. +At length he made his appearance, attended only by his wife. Unmindful +of what had so recently happened, he marched singly up to the governor's house, +and on being refused admittance, though unarmed, attempted to force +the sentinel. The soldier spared him, but the guard was instantly sent for, +and drawn up in front of the house; not that their co-operation was necessary, +but that their appearance might terrify. His ardour now cooled, and he seemed +willing, by submission, to atone for his misconduct. His intrepid disregard +of personal risk, nay of life, could not however, but gain admiration; +though it led us to predict, that this Baneelon, whom imagination had +fondly pictured, like a second Omai, the gaze of a court and the scrutiny +of the curious, would perish untimely, the victim of his own temerity. + +To encourage his present disposition of mind, and to try if feelings +of compassion towards an enemy, could be exerted by an Indian warrior, +the governor ordered him to be taken to the hospital, that he might see +the victim of his ferocity. He complied in sullen silence. When about +to enter the room in which she lay, he appeared to have a momentary struggle +with himself, which ended his resentment. He spoke to her with kindness, +and professed sorrow for what he had done, and promised her future protection. +Barangaroo, who had accompanied him, now took the alarm: and as in shunning +one extreme we are ever likely to rush into another, she thought him perhaps +too courteous and tender. Accordingly she began to revile them both +with great bitterness, threw stones at the girl and attempted to beat her +with a club. + +Here terminated this curious history, which I leave to the reader's +speculation. Whether human sacrifices of prisoners be common among them +is a point which all our future inquiry never completely determined. +It is certain that no second instance of this sort was ever witnessed by us. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + + +Transactions of the Colony in Part of December, 1790. + + +On the 9th of the month, a sergeant of marines, with three convicts, +among whom was McEntire, the governor's gamekeeper (the person of whom +Baneelon had, on former occasions, shown so much dread and hatred) went out +on a shooting party. Having passed the north arm of Botany Bay, +they proceeded to a hut formed of boughs, which had been lately erected +on this peninsula, for the accommodation of sportsmen who wished to continue +by night in the woods; for, as the kangaroos in the day-time, chiefly keep +in the cover, it is customary on these parties to sleep until near sunset, +and watch for the game during the night, and in the early part of the morning. +Accordingly, having lighted a fire, they lay down, without distrust +or suspicion. + +About one o'clock, the sergeant was awakened by a rustling noise in the bushes +near him, and supposing it to proceed from a kangaroo, called to his comrades, +who instantly jumped up. On looking about more narrowly, they saw two natives +with spears in their hands, creeping towards them, and three others a little +farther behind. As this naturally created alarm, McEntire said, +"don't be afraid, I know them," and immediately laying down his gun, +stepped forward, and spoke to them in their own language. The Indians, +finding they were discovered, kept slowly retreating, and McEntire +accompanied them about a hundred yards, talking familiarly all the while. + +One of them now jumped on a fallen tree and, without giving the least warning +of his intention, launched his spear at McEntire and lodged it in his +left side. The person who committed this wanton act was described as +a young man with a speck or blemish on his left eye That he had been lately +among us was evident from his being newly shaved. + +The wounded man immediately drew back and, joining his party, cried, +"I am a dead man". While one broke off the end of the spear, the other two +set out with their guns in pursuit of the natives; but their swiftness of foot +soon convinced our people of the impossibility of reaching them. It was now +determined to attempt to carry McEntire home, as his death was apprehended +to be near, and he expressed a longing desire not to be left to expire +in the woods. Being an uncommonly robust muscular man, notwithstanding +a great effusion of blood, he was able, with the assistance of his comrades, +to creep slowly along, and reached Sydney about two o'clock the next morning. +On the wound being examined by the surgeons, it was pronounced mortal. +The poor wretch now began to utter the most dreadful exclamations, +and to accuse himself of the commission of crimes of the deepest dye, +accompanied with such expressions of his despair of God's mercy, +as are too terrible to repeat. + +In the course of the day, Colbee, and several more natives came in, +and were taken to the bed where the wounded man lay. Their behaviour +indicated that they had already heard of the accident, as they repeated twice +or thrice the name of the murderer Pimelwi, saying that he lived at Botany Bay. +To gain knowledge of their treatment of similar wounds, one of the surgeons +made signs of extracting the spear, but this they violently opposed, +and said, if it were done, death would instantly follow. + +On the 12th, the extraction of the spear was, however, judged practicable, +and was accordingly performed. That part of it which had penetrated the body +measured seven inches and a half long, having on it a wooden barb, +and several smaller ones of stone, fastened on with yellow gum, most of which, +owing to the force necessary in extraction, were torn off and lodged +in the patient. The spear had passed between two ribs, and had wounded +the left lobe of the lungs. He lingered* until the 20th of January, and then +expired. On opening the corpse, it was found that the left lung had perished +from suppuration, its remains adhering to the ribs. Some pieces of stone, +which had dropped from the spear were seen, but no barb of wood. + +[*From the aversion uniformly shown by all the natives to this unhappy man, +he had long been suspected by us of having in his excursions, shot and injured +them. To gain information on this head from him, the moment of contrition +was seized. On being questioned with great seriousness, he, however, +declared that he had never fired but once on a native, and then had not killed, +but severely wounded him and this in his own defence. Notwithstanding +this death-bed confession, most people doubted the truth of the relation, +from his general character and other circumstances.] + +The governor was at Rose-hill when this accident happened. On the day after +he returned to Sydney, the following order was issued: + + +Several tribes of the natives still continuing to throw +spears at any man they meet unarmed, by which several +have been killed, or dangerously wounded, the governor, +in order to deter the natives from such practices in +future, has ordered out a party to search for the man +who wounded the convict McEntire, in so dangerous a +manner on Friday last, though no offence was offered +on his part, in order to make a signal example of that +tribe. At the same time, the governor strictly forbids, +under penalty of the severest punishment, any soldier +or other person, not expressly ordered out for that +purpose, ever to fire on any native except in his own +defence; or to molest him in any shape, or to bring away +any spears, or other articles which they may find +belonging to those people. The natives will be made +severe examples of whenever any man is wounded by them; +but this will be done in a manner which may satisfy them +that it is a punishment inflicted on them for their own +bad conduct, and of which they cannot be made sensible +if they are not treated with kindness while they continue +peaceable and quiet. + +A party, consisting of two captains, two subalterns, +and forty privates, with a proper number of non-commissioned +officers from the garrison, with three days provisions, +etc. are to be ready to march to-morrow morning at day-light, +in order to bring in six of those natives who reside near +the head of Botany Bay; or, if that should be found +impracticable, to put that number to death. + + +Just previous to this order being issued, the author of this publication +received a direction to attend the governor at head quarters immediately. +I went, and his excellency informed me that he had pitched upon me to execute +the foregoing command. He added that the two subalterns who were to be drawn +from the marine corps, should be chosen by myself; that the sergeant +and the two convicts who were with McEntire, should attend as guides; +that we were to proceed to the peninsula at the head of Botany Bay; and thence, +or from any part of the north arm of the bay, we were, if practicable, +to bring away two natives as prisoners; and to put to death ten; that we were +to destroy all weapons of war but nothing else; that no hut was to be burned; +that all women and children were to remain uninjured, not being comprehended +within the scope of the order; that our operations were to be directed +either by surprise or open force; that after we had made any prisoners, +all communication, even with those natives with whom we were in habits +of intercourse, was to be avoided, and none of them suffered to approach us. +That we were to cut off and bring in the heads of the slain; for which purpose +hatchets and bags would be furnished. And finally, that no signal of amity +or invitation should be used in order to allure them to us; or if made +on their part, to be answered by us: for that such conduct would be not only +present treachery, but give them reason to distrust every future mark of peace +and friendship on our part. + +His excellency was now pleased to enter into the reasons which had induced him +to adopt measures of such severity. He said that since our arrival +in the country, no less than seventeen of our people had either been killed +or wounded by the natives; that he looked upon the tribe known by the name of +Bideegal, living on the beforementioned peninsula, and chiefly on the north arm +of Botany Bay, to be the principal aggressors; that against this tribe +he was determined to strike a decisive blow, in order, at once to convince them +of our superiority and to infuse an universal terror, which might operate +to prevent farther mischief. That his observations on the natives had led him +to conclude that although they did not fear death individually, yet that +the relative weight and importance of the different tribes appeared to be +the highest object of their estimation, as each tribe deemed its strength +and security to consist wholly in its powers, aggregately considered. +That his motive for having so long delayed to use violent measures +had arisen from believing, that in every former instance of hostility, +they had acted either from having received injury, or from misapprehension. + +"To the latter of these causes," added he, "I attribute my own wound, +but in this business of McEntire, I am fully persuaded that they were +unprovoked, and the barbarity of their conduct admits of no extenuation; +for I have separately examined the sergeant, of whose veracity I have +the highest opinion, and the two convicts; and their story is short, +simple, and alike. I have in vain tried to stimulate Baneelon, Colbee, +and the other natives who live among us, to bring in the aggressor. +Yesterday, indeed, they promised me to do it, and actually went away +as if bent on such a design; but Baneelon, instead of directing his steps +to Botany Bay, crossed the harbour in his canoe, in order to draw the foreteeth +of some of the young men; and Colbee, in the room of fulfilling his engagement, +is loitering about the lookout house. Nay, so far from wishing even +to describe faithfully the person of the man who has thrown the spear, +they pretended that he has a distorted foot, which is a palpable falsehood. +So that we have our efforts only to depend upon; and I am resolved to execute +the prisoners who may be brought in, in the most public and exemplary manner, +in the presence of as many of their countrymen as can be collected, +after having explained the cause of such a punishment; and my fixed +determination to repeat it, whenever any future breach of good conduct +on their side shall render it necessary." + +Here the governor stopped, and addressing himself to me, said if I could +propose any alteration of the orders under which I was to act, he would +patiently listen to me. Encouraged by this condescension, I begged leave +to offer for consideration whether, instead of destroying ten persons, +the capture of six would not better answer all the purposes for which +the expedition was to be undertaken; as out of this number, a part might +be set aside for retaliation; and the rest, at a proper time, liberated, +after having seen the fate of their comrades and being made sensible +of the cause of their own detention. + +This scheme, his Excellency was pleased instantly to adopt, adding, +"if six cannot be taken, let this number be shot. Should you, however, +find it practicable to take so many, I will hang two and send the rest +to Norfolk Island for a certain period, which will cause their countrymen +to believe that we have dispatched them secretly." The order was accordingly +altered to its present form; and I took my leave to prepare, after being again +cautioned not to deceive by holding signals of amity. + +At four o'clock on the morning of the 14th we marched The detachment +consisted, besides myself, of Captain Hill of the New South Wales Corps, +Lieutenants Poulder and Dawes, of the marines, Mr. Worgan and Mr. Lowes, +surgeons, three sergeants, three corporals, and forty private soldiers, +provided with three days provisions, ropes to bind our prisoners with, +and hatchets and bags to cut off and contain the heads of the slain. +By nine o'clock this terrific procession reached the peninsula at the head +of Botany Bay, but after having walked in various directions until four o'clock +in the afternoon, without seeing a native, we halted for the night. + +At daylight on the following morning our search recommenced. We marched +in an easterly direction, intending to fall in with the south-west arm +of the bay, about three miles above its mouth, which we determined to scour, +and thence passing along the head of the peninsula, to proceed to +the north arm, and complete our Search. However, by a mistake of our guides, +at half past seven o'clock instead of finding ourselves on the south-west arm, +we came suddenly upon the sea shore, at the head of the peninsula, +about midway between the two arms. Here we saw five Indians on the beach, +whom we attempted to surround; but they penetrated our design, and before +we could get near enough to effect our purpose, ran off. We pursued; +but a contest between heavy-armed Europeans, fettered by ligatures, +and naked unencumbered Indians, was too unequal to last long. They darted +into the wood and disappeared. + +The alarm being given, we were sensible that no hope of success remained, +but by a rapid movement to a little village (if five huts deserve the name) +which we knew stood on the nearest point of the north arm, where possibly +someone unapprised of our approach, might yet be found. Thither we hastened; +but before we could reach it three canoes, filled with Indians, +were seen paddling over in the utmost hurry and trepidation, to the opposite +shore, where universal alarm prevailed. All we could now do was to search +the huts for weapons of war: but we found nothing except fish gigs, +which we left untouched. + +On our return to our baggage (which we had left behind under a small guard +near the place where the pursuit had begun) we observed a native fishing +in shallow water not higher than his waist, at the distance of 300 yards +from the land. In such a situation it would not have been easily practicable +either to shoot, or seize him. I therefore determined to pass without +noticing him, as he seemed either from consciousness of his own security, +or from some other cause, quite unintimidated at our appearance. At length +he called to several of us by name, and in spite of our formidable array, +drew nearer with unbounded confidence. Surprised at his behaviour I ordered +a halt, that he might overtake us, fully resolved, whoever he might be, +that he should be suffered to come to us and leave us uninjured. Presently +we found it to be our friend Colbee; and he joined us at once with his +wonted familiarity and unconcern. We asked him where Pimelwi was, and found +that he perfectly comprehended the nature of our errand, for he described him +to have fled to the southward; and to be at such a distance, as had we known +the account to be true, would have prevented our going in search of him, +without a fresh supply of provisions. + +When we arrived at our baggage, Colbee sat down, ate, drank, and slept with us, +from ten o'clock until past noon. We asked him several questions about Sydney, +which he had left on the preceding day*; and he told us he had been present +at an operation performed at the hospital, where Mr. White had cut off +a woman's leg. The agony and cries of the poor sufferer he depicted +in a most lively manner. + +[*He had it seems visited the governor about noon, after having gained +information from Nanbaree of our march, and for what purpose it was undertaken. +This he did not scruple to tell to the governor; proclaiming at the same time, +a resolution of going to Botany Bay, which his excellency endeavoured +to dissuade him from by every argument he could devise: a blanket, a hatchet, +a jacket, or aught else he would ask for, was offered to him in vain, +if he would not go. At last it was determined to try to eat him down, +by setting before him his favourite food, of which it was hoped he would feed +so voraciously, as to render him incapable of executing his intention. +A large dish of fish was accordingly set before him. But after devouring +a light horseman, and at least five pounds of beef and bread, even until +the sight of food became disgusting to him, he set out on his journey +with such lightness and gaiety, as plainly shewed him to be a stranger +to the horrors of indigestion.] + +At one o'clock we renewed our march, and at three halted near a freshwater +swamp, where we resolved to remain until morning: that is, after a day +of severe fatigue, to pass a night of restless inquietude, when weariness +is denied repose by swarms of mosquitoes and sandflies, which in the summer +months bite and sting the traveller, without measure or intermission. + +Next morning we bent our steps homeward; and, after wading breast-high +through two arms of the sea, as broad as the Thames at Westminster, were glad +to find ourselves at Sydney, between one and two o'clock in the afternoon. + +The few remarks which I was able to make on the country through which we +had passed, were such as will not tempt adventurers to visit it on the score +of pleasure or advantage. The soil of every part of the peninsula, +which we had traversed, is shallow and sandy, and its productions meagre +and wretched. When forced to quit the sand, we were condemned to drag through +morasses, or to clamber over rocks, unrefreshed by streams, and unmarked +by diversity. Of the soil I brought away several specimens. + +Our first expedition having so totally failed, the governor resolved to try +the fate of a second; and the 'painful pre-eminence' again devolved on me. + +The orders under which I was commanded to act differing in no respect +from the last, I resolved to try once more to surprise the village +beforementioned. And in order to deceive the natives, and prevent them +from again frustrating our design by promulgating it, we feigned that +our preparations were directed against Broken Bay; and that the man who had +wounded the governor was the object of punishment. It was now also determined, +being full moon, that our operations should be carried on in the night, +both for the sake of secrecy, and for avoiding the extreme heat of the day. + +A little before sun-set on the evening of the 22nd, we marched. +Lieutenant Abbot, and ensign Prentice, of the New South Wales corps, +were the two officers under my command, and with three sergeants, +three corporals, and thirty privates, completed the detachment. + +We proceeded directly to the fords of the north arm of Botany Bay, +which we had crossed in our last expedition, on the banks of which we were +compelled to wait until a quarter past two in the morning, for the ebb +of the tide. As these passing-places consist only of narrow slips of ground, +on each side of which are dangerous holes; and as fording rivers in the night +is at all times an unpleasant task, I determined before we entered the water, +to disburthen the men as much as possible; that in case of stepping wrong +every one might be as ready, as circumstances would admit, to recover himself. +The firelock and cartouche-box were all that we carried, the latter tied fast +on the top of the head, to prevent it from being wetted. The knapsacks, +etc. I left in charge of a sergeant and six men, who from their low stature +and other causes, were most likely to impede our march, the success of which +I knew hinged on our ability, by a rapid movement, to surprise the village +before daybreak. + +The two rivers were crossed without any material accident: and in pursuit +of my resolution, I ordered the guides to conduct us by the nearest route, +without heeding difficulty, or impediment of road. Having continued to +push along the river-bank very briskly for three quarters of an hour, +we were suddenly stopped by a creek, about sixty yards wide, which extended +to our right, and appeared dry from the tide being out: I asked if it could +be passed, or whether it would be better to wheel round the head of it. +Our guides answered that it was bad to cross, but might be got over, +which would save us more than a quarter of a mile. Knowing the value of time, +I directly bade them to push through, and every one began to follow as well +as he could. They who were foremost had not, however, got above half over +when the difficulty of progress was sensibly experienced. We were immersed, +nearly to the waist in mud, so thick and tenacious, that it was not without +the most vigorous exertion of every muscle of the body, that the legs +could be disengaged. When we had reached the middle, our distress became +not only more pressing, but serious, and each succeeding step, +buried us deeper. At length a sergeant of grenadiers stuck fast, and declared +himself incapable of moving either forward or backward; and just after, +Ensign Prentice and I felt ourselves in a similar predicament, close together. +'I find it impossible to move; I am sinking;' resounded on every side. +What to do I knew not: every moment brought increase of perplexity, +and augmented danger, as those who could not proceed kept gradually subsiding. +From our misfortunes, however, those in the rear profited. Warned by what +they saw and heard, they inclined to the right towards the head of the creek, +and thereby contrived to pass over. + +Our distress would have terminated fatally, had not a soldier cried out +to those on shore to cut boughs of trees*, and throw them to us--a lucky +thought, which certainly saved many of us from perishing miserably; and even +with this assistance, had we been burdened by our knapsacks, we could not have +emerged; for it employed us near half an hour to disentangle some of +our number. The sergeant of grenadiers in particular, was sunk to his +breast-bone, and so firmly fixed in that the efforts of many men were required +to extricate him, which was effected in the moment after I had ordered one of +the ropes, destined to bind the captive Indians, to be fastened under his arms. + +[*I had often read of this contrivance to facilitate the passage of a morass. +But I confess, that in my confusion I had entirely forgotten it, and probably +should have continued to do so until too late to be of use.] + +Having congratulated each other on our escape from this 'Serbonian Bog,' +and wiped our arms (half of which were rendered unserviceable by the mud) +we once more pushed forward to our object, within a few hundred yards of which +we found ourselves about half an hour before sunrise. Here I formed +the detachment into three divisions, and having enjoined the most perfect +silence, in order, if possible, to deceive Indian vigilance, each division +was directed to take a different route, so as to meet at the village +at the same moment. + +We rushed rapidly on, and nothing could succeed more exactly than the arrival +of the several detachments. To our astonishment, however, we found +not a single native at the huts; nor was a canoe to be seen on any part +of the bay. I was at first inclined to attribute this to our arriving +half an hour too late, from the numberless impediments we had encountered. +But on closer examination, there appeared room to believe, that many days +had elapsed since an Indian had been on the spot, as no mark of fresh fires, +or fish bones, was to be found. + +Disappointed and fatigued, we would willingly have profited by the advantage +of being near water, and have halted to refresh. But on consultation, +it was found, that unless we reached in an hour the rivers we had so lately +passed, it would be impossible, on account of the tide, to cross to our +baggage, in which case we should be without food until evening. We therefore +pushed back, and by dint of alternately running and walking, arrived at +the fords, time enough to pass with ease and safety. So excessive, however, +had been our efforts, and so laborious our progress, that several of the +soldiers, in the course of the last two miles, gave up, and confessed +themselves unable to proceed farther. All that I could do for these +poor fellows, was to order their comrades to carry their muskets, and to leave +with them a small party of those men who were least exhausted, to assist them +and hurry them on. In three quarters of an hour after we had crossed +the water, they arrived at it, just time enough to effect a passage. + +The necessity of repose, joined to the succeeding heat of the day, +induced us to prolong our halt until four o'clock in the afternoon, +when we recommenced our operations on the opposite side of the north arm +to that we had acted upon in the morning. Our march ended at sunset, +without our seeing a single native. We had passed through the country +which the discoverers of Botany Bay extol as 'some of the finest meadows +in the world*.' These meadows, instead of grass, are covered with high coarse +rushes, growing in a rotten spongy bog, into which we were plunged knee-deep +at every step. + +[*The words which are quoted may be found in Mr. Cook's first voyage, +and form part of his description of Botany Bay. It has often fallen to my lot +to traverse these fabled plains; and many a bitter execration have I heard +poured on those travellers, who could so faithlessly relate what they saw.] + +Our final effort was made at half past one o'clock next morning; and after +four hours toil, ended as those preceding it had done, in disappointment +and vexation. At nine o'clock we returned to Sydney, to report +our fruitless peregrination. + +But if we could not retaliate on the murderer of M'Entire, we found +no difficulty in punishing offences committed within our own observation. +Two natives, about this time, were detected in robbing a potato garden. +When seen, they ran away, and a sergeant and a party of soldiers were +dispatched in pursuit of them. Unluckily it was dark when they overtook them, +with some women at a fire; and the ardour of the soldiers transported them +so far that, instead of capturing the offenders, they fired in among them. +The women were taken, but the two men escaped. + +On the following day, blood was traced from the fireplace to the sea-side, +where it seemed probable that those who had lost it, had embarked. +The natives were observed to become immediately shy; but an exact knowledge +of the mischief which had been committed, was not gained until the end +of two days, when they said that a man of the name of Bangai (who was known +to be one of the pilferers) was wounded and dead. Imeerawanyee, however, +whispered that though he was wounded, he was not dead. A hope now existed +that his life might be saved; and Mr. White, taking Imeerawanyee, Nanbaree, +and a woman with him, set out for the spot where he was reported to be. +But on their reaching it, they were told by some people who were there +that the man was dead, and that the corpse was deposited in a bay about +a mile off. Thither they accordingly repaired, and found it as described, +covered--except one leg, which seemed to be designedly left bare--with +green boughs and a fire burning near it. Those who had performed the funeral +obsequies seemed to have been particularly solicitous for the protection +of the face, which was covered with a thick branch, interwoven with grass +and fern so as to form a complete screen. Around the neck was a strip +of the bark of which they make fishing lines, and a young strait stick +growing near was stripped of its bark and bent down so as to form an arch +over the body, in which position it was confined by a forked branch +stuck into the earth. + +On examining the corpse, it was found to be warm. Through the shoulder +had passed a musquet ball, which had divided the subclavian artery +and caused death by loss of blood. No mark of any remedy having been applied +could be discovered. Possibly the nature of the wound, which even among us +would baffle cure without amputation of the arm at the shoulder, was deemed +so fatal, that they despaired of success, and therefore left it to itself. +Had Mr. White found the man alive, there is little room to think that he could +have been of any use to him; for that an Indian would submit to so formidable +and alarming an operation seems hardly probable. + +None of the natives who had come in the boat would touch the body, or even +go near it, saying, the mawn would come; that is literally, 'the spirit of +the deceased would seize them'. Of the people who died among us, +they had expressed no such apprehension. But how far the difference +of a natural death, and one effected by violence, may operate on their fears +to induce superstition; and why those who had performed the rites of sepulture +should not experience similar fears and reluctance, I leave to be determined. +Certain it is (as I shall insist upon more hereafter), that they believe +the spirit of the dead not to be extinct with the body. + +Baneelon took an odd method of revenging the death of his countryman. +At the head of several of his tribe, he robbed one of the private boats +of fish, threatening the people, who were unarmed, that in case they resisted +he would spear them. On being taxed by the governor with this outrage, +he at first stoutly denied it; but on being confronted with the people +who were in the boat, he changed his language, and, without deigning even +to palliate his offence, burst into fury and demanded who had killed Bangai. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + + +The Transactions of the Colony continued to the End of May, 1791. + + +December, 1790. The Dutch snow from Batavia arrived on the 17th of the month, +after a passage of twelve weeks, in which she had lost sixteen of her people. +But death, to a man who has resided at Batavia, is too familiar an object +to excite either terror or regret. All the people of the 'Supply' who were left +there sick, except one midshipman, had also perished in that fatal climate. + +The cargo of the snow consisted chiefly of rice, with a small quantity of beef, +pork, and flour. + +A letter was received by this vessel, written by the Shebander at Batavia, +to governor Phillip, acquainting him that war had commenced between England +and Spain. As this letter was written in the Dutch language we did not +find it easy of translation. It filled us, however, with anxious perturbation, +and with wishes as impotent, as they were eager, in the cause of our country. +Though far beyond the din of arms, we longed to contribute to her glory, +and to share in her triumphs. + +Placed out of the reach of attack, both by remoteness and insignificancy, +our only dread lay lest those supplies intended for our consumption +should be captured. Not, however, to be found totally unprovided in case +an enemy should appear, a battery was planned near the entrance of Sydney Cove, +and other formidable preparations set on foot. + +The commencement of the year 1791, though marked by no circumstances +particularly favourable, beamed far less inauspicious than that of 1790 +had done. + +January, 1791. No circumstance, however apparently trivial, which can tend +to throw light on a new country, either in respect of its present situation, +or its future promise, should pass unregarded. On the 24th of January, +two bunches of grapes were cut in the governor's garden, from cuttings +of vines brought three years before from the Cape of Good Hope. The bunches +were handsome, the fruit of a moderate size, but well filled out +and the flavour high and delicious. + +The first step after unloading the Dutch snow was to dispatch the 'Supply' +to Norfolk Island for captain Hunter, and the crew of the 'Sirius' who had +remained there ever since the loss of that ship. It had always been +the governor's wish to hire the Dutchman, for the purpose of transporting them +to England. But the frantic extravagant behaviour of the master of her, +for a long time frustrated the conclusion of a contract. He was so totally +lost to a sense of reason and propriety, as to ask eleven pounds per ton, +monthly, for her use, until she should arrive from England, at Batavia. +This was treated with proper contempt; and he was at last induced to accept +twenty shillings a ton, per month (rating her at three hundred tons) +until she should arrive in England--being about the twenty-fifth part +of his original demand. And even at this price she was, perhaps, the dearest +vessel ever hired on a similar service, being totally destitute of every +accommodation and every good quality which could promise to render +so long a voyage either comfortable or expeditious. + +February, 1791. On the 26th, Captain Hunter, his officers and ship's company +joined us; and on the 28th of March the snow sailed with them for England, +intending to make a northern passage by Timor and Batavia, the season being +too far advanced to render the southern route by Cape Horn +practicable*. + +[*They did not arrive in England until April, 1792.] + +Six days previous to the departure of captain Hunter, the indefatigable 'Supply' +again sailed for Norfolk Island, carrying thither captain Hill and a detachment +of the New South Wales corps. A little native boy named Bondel, who had long +particularly attached himself to captain Hill, accompanied him, at his own +earnest request. His father had been killed in battle and his mother bitten +in two by a shark: so that he was an orphan, dependant on the humanity +of his tribe for protection*. His disappearance seemed to make no impression +on the rest of his countrymen, who were apprized of his resolution to go. +On the return of the 'Supply' they inquired eagerly for him, and on being told +that the place he was gone to afforded plenty of birds and other good fare, +innumerable volunteers presented themselves to follow him, so great +was their confidence in us and so little hold of them had the amor patriae. + +[*I am of opinion that such protection is always extended to children +who may be left destitute.] + + +March, 1791. The snow had but just sailed, when a very daring manoeuvre +was carried into execution, with complete success, by a set of convicts, +eleven in number, including a woman, wife of one of the party, and two +little children. They seized the governor's cutter and putting into her +a seine, fishing-lines, and hooks, firearms, a quadrant, compass, +and some provisions, boldly pushed out to sea, determined to brave +every danger and combat every hardship, rather than remain longer in a captive +state. Most of these people had been brought out in the first fleet, +and the terms of transportation of some of them were expired. Among them were +a fisherman, a carpenter, and some competent navigators, so that little doubt +was entertained that a scheme so admirably planned would be adequately +executed*. When their elopement was discovered, a pursuit was ordered +by the governor. But the fugitives had made too good an use of the +intermediate time to be even seen by their pursuers. After the escape +of Captain Bligh, which was well known to us, no length of passage or hazard +of navigation seemed above human accomplishment. However to prevent future +attempts of a like nature, the governor directed that boats only of stated +dimensions should be built. Indeed an order of this sort had been issued +on the escape of the first party, and it was now repeated with +additional restrictions. + +[*It was my fate to fall in again with part of this little band of adventurers. +In March 1792, when I arrived in the Gorgon, at the Cape of Good Hope, +six of these people, including the woman and one child, were put on board +of us to be carried to England. four had died, and one had jumped overboard +at Batavia. The particulars of their voyage were briefly as follows. +They coasted the shore of New Holland, putting occasionally into different +harbours which they found in going along. One of these harbours, in the +latitude of 30 degrees south, they described to be of superior excellence +and capacity. Here they hauled their bark ashore, paid her seams with tallow, +and repaired her. But it was with difficulty they could keep off the attacks +of the Indians. These people continued to harras them so much that they +quitted the mainland and retreated to a small island in the harbour, +where they completed their design. Between the latitude of 26 degrees and +27 degrees, they were driven by a current 30 leagues from the shore, +among some islands, where they found plenty of large turtles. Soon after +they closed again with the continent, when the boat got entangled in the surf +and was driven on shore, and they had all well nigh perished. They passed +rough the straits of Endeavour and, beyond the gulf of Carpentaria, found a +large freshwater river, which they entered, and filled from it their +empty casks. + +Until they reached the gulf of Carpentaria, they saw no natives or canoes +differing from those about Port Jackson. But now they were chased by +large canoes, jitted with sails and fighting stages, and capable of holding +thirty men each. They escaped by dint of rowing to windward. On the +5th of June 1791 they reached Timor, and pretended that they had belonged +to a ship which, on her passage from Port Jackson to India, had foundered; +and that they only had escaped. The Dutch received them with kindness +and treated them with hospitality. But their behaviour giving rise +to suspicion, they were watched; and one of them at last, in a moment +of intoxication, betrayed the secret. They were immediately secured +and committed to prison. Soon after Captain Edwards of the Pandora, +who had been wrecked near Endeavour straits, arrived at Timor, and they were +delivered up to him, by which means they became passengers in the Gorgon. + +I confess that I never looked at these people without pity and astonishment. +They had miscarried in a heroic struggle for liberty after having combated +every hardship and conquered every difficulty. + +The woman, and one of the men, had gone out to Port Jackson in the ship +which had transported me thither. They had both of them been always +distinguished for good behaviour. And I could not but reflect with admiration +at the strange combination of circumstances which had again brought us +together, to baffle human foresight and confound human speculation.] + + +April, 1791. Notwithstanding the supplies which had recently arrived +from Batavia, short allowance was again proclaimed on the 2nd of April, +on which day we were reduced to the following ration: + +Three pounds of rice, three pounds of flour and three pounds of pork per week. + +It was singularly unfortunate that these retrenchments should always happen +when the gardens were most destitute of vegetables. A long drought had nearly +exhausted them. The hardships which we in consequence suffered were great, +but not comparable to what had been formerly experienced. Besides, +now we made sure of ships arriving soon to dispel our distress. Whereas, +heretofore, from having never heard from England, the hearts of men sunk +and many had begun to doubt whether it had not been resolved to try how long +misery might be endured with resignation. + +Notwithstanding the incompetency of so diminished a pittance, the daily task +of the soldier and convict continued unaltered. I never contemplated +the labours of these men without finding abundant cause of reflection +on the miseries which our nature can overcome. Let me for a moment quit +the cold track of narrative. Let me not fritter away by servile adaptation +those reflections and the feelings they gave birth to. Let me transcribe them +fresh as they arose, ardent and generous, though hopeless and romantic. +I every day see wretches pale with disease and wasted with famine, +struggle against the horror's of their situation. How striking is the effect +of subordination; how dreadful is the fear of punishment! The allotted task +is still performed, even on the present reduced subsistence. The blacksmith +sweats at the sultry forge, the sawyer labours pent-up in his pit and +the husbandman turns up the sterile glebe. Shall I again hear arguments +multiplied to violate truth, and insult humanity! Shall I again be told +that the sufferings of the wretched Africans are indispensable for the culture +of our sugar colonies; that white men are incapable of sustaining the heat +of the climate! I have been in the West Indies. I have lived there. +I know that it is a rare instance for the mercury in the thermometer +to mount there above 90 degrees; and here I scarcely pass a week in summer +without seeing it rise to 100 degrees; sometimes to 105; nay, beyond even that +burning altitude. + +But toil cannot be long supported without adequate refreshment. The first step +in every community which wishes to preserve honesty should be to set the people +above want. The throes of hunger will ever prove too powerful for integrity +to withstand. Hence arose a repetition of petty delinquencies, which no +vigilance could detect, and no justice reach. Gardens were plundered, +provisions pilfered, and the Indian corn stolen from the fields where it grew +for public use. Various were the measures adopted to check this depredatory +spirit. Criminal courts, either from the tediousness of their process, +or from the frequent escape of culprits from their decision, were seldomer +convened than formerly. The governor ordered convict offenders either +to be chained together or to wear singly a large iron collar with two spikes +projecting from it, which effectually hindered the party from concealing it +under his shirt; and thus shackled, they were compelled to perform +their quota of work. + +May, 1791. Had their marauding career terminated here, humanity would have +been anxious to plead in their defence; but the natives continued to complain +of being robbed of spears and fishing tackle. A convict was at length taken +in the fact of stealing fishing-tackle from Daringa, the wife of Colbee. +The governor ordered that he should be severely flogged in the presence of +as many natives as could be assembled, to whom the cause of punishment +should be explained. Many of them, of both sexes, accordingly attended. +Arabanoo's aversion to a similar sight has been noticed; and if the behaviour +of those now collected be found to correspond with it, it is, I think, +fair to conclude that these people are not of a sanguinary and implacable +temper. Quick indeed of resentment, but not unforgiving of injury. +There was not one of them that did not testify strong abhorrence +of the punishment and equal sympathy with the sufferer. The women +were particularly affected; Daringa shed tears, and Barangaroo, kindling +into anger, snatched a stick and menaced the executioner. The conduct +of these women, on this occasion, was exactly descriptive of their characters. +The former was ever meek and feminine, the latter fierce and unsubmissive. + +On the first of May, many allotments of ground were parcelled out +by the governor to convicts whose periods of transportation were expired, +and who voluntarily offered to become settlers in the country. The terms +on which they settled, and their progress in agriculture, will be +hereafter set forth. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + + +Travelling Diaries in New South Wales. + + +From among my numerous travelling journals into the interior parts +of the country, I select the following to present to the reader, as equally +important in their object, and more amusing in their detail, than any other. + +In April 1791 an expedition was undertaken, in order to ascertain +whether or not the Hawkesbury and the Nepean, were the same river. +With this view, we proposed to fall in a little above Richmond Hill*, +and trace down to it; and if the weather should prove fine to cross +at the ford, and go a short distance westward, then to repass the river +and trace it upward until we should either arrive at some spot which we knew +to be the Nepean, or should determine by its course that the Hawkesbury +was a different stream. + +[*Look at the map for the situation of this place (Unfortunately, there is +no map accompanying this etext. Ed.)] + + +Our party was strong and numerous. It consisted of twenty-one persons, +viz. the governor, Mr. Collins and his servant, Mr. White, Mr. Dawes, +the author, three gamekeepers, two sergeants, eight privates, and our friends +Colbee and Boladeree. These two last were volunteers on the occasion, +on being assured that we should not stay out many days and that we should +carry plenty of provisions. Baneelon wished to go, but his wife would not +permit it. Colbee on the other hand, would listen to no objections. +He only stipulated (with great care and consideration) that, during his absence, +his wife and child should remain at Sydney under our protection, +and be supplied with provisions. + +But before we set out, let me describe our equipment, and try to convey +to those who have rolled along on turnpike roads only, an account of those +preparations which are required in traversing the wilderness. Every man +(the governor excepted) carried his own knapsack, which contained provisions +for ten days. If to this be added a gun, a blanket, and a canteen, +the weight will fall nothing short of forty pounds. Slung to the knapsack +are the cooking kettle and the hatchet, with which the wood to kindle +the nightly fire and build the nightly hut is to be cut down. Garbed to drag +through morasses, tear through thickets, ford rivers and scale rocks, +our autumnal heroes, who annually seek the hills in pursuit of grouse +and black game, afford but an imperfect representation of the picture. + +Thus encumbered, the march begins at sunrise, and with occasional halts +continues until about an hour and a half before sunset. It is necessary +to stop thus early to prepare for passing the night, for toil here ends not +with the march. Instead of the cheering blaze, the welcoming landlord, +and the long bill of fare, the traveller has now to collect his fuel, +to erect his wigwam, to fetch water, and to broil his morsel of salt pork. +Let him then lie down, and if it be summer, try whether the effect of fatigue +is sufficiently powerful to overcome the bites and stings of the myriads +of sandflies and mosquitoes which buzz around him. + +Monday, April 11, 1791. At twenty minutes before seven o'clock, we started +from the governor's house at Rose Hill and steered* for a short time +nearly in a north-east direction, after which we turned to north 34 degrees +west, and steadily pursued that course until a quarter before four o'clock, +when we halted for the night. The country for the first two miles, +while we walked to the northeast, was good, full of grass and without rock +or underwood. + +Afterwards it grew very bad, being full of steep, barren rocks, over which +we were compelled to clamber for seven miles, when it changed to +a plain country apparently very sterile, and with very little grass in it, +which rendered walking easy. Our fatigue in the morning had, however, +been so oppressive that one of the party knocked up. And had not a soldier, +as strong as a pack-horse, undertaken to carry his knapsack in addition +to his own, we must either have sent him back, or have stopped at a place +for the night which did not afford water. Our two natives carried each +his pack, but its weight was inconsiderable, most of their provisions +being in the knapsacks of the soldiers and gamekeepers. We expected +to have derived from them much information relating to the country, as no one +doubted that they were acquainted with every part of it between the sea coast +and the river Hawkesbury. We hoped also to have witnessed their manner +of living in the woods, and the resources they rely upon in their journeys. +Nothing, however, of this sort had yet occurred, except their examining +some trees to see if they could discover on the bark any marks of the claws +of squirrels and opossums, which they said would show whether any of those +animals were hidden among the leaves and branches. They walked stoutly, +appeared but little fatigued, and maintained their spirits admirably, +laughing to excess when any of us either tripped or stumbled, misfortunes +which much seldomer fell to their lot than to ours. + +[*Our method, on these expeditions, was to steer by compass, noting +the different courses as we proceeded; and counting the number of paces, +of which two thousand two hundred, on good ground, were allowed to be a mile. +At night when we halted, all these courses were separately cast up, +and worked by a traverse table, in the manner a ship's reckoning is kept, +so that by observing this precaution, we always knew exactly where we were, +and how far from home; an unspeakable advantage in a new country, +where one hill, and one tree, is so like another that fatal wanderings +would ensue without it. This arduous task was always allotted to Mr. Dawes +who, from habit and superior skill, performed it almost without a stop, +or an interruption of conversation: to any other man, on such terms, +it would have been impracticable.] + +At a very short distance from Rose Hill, we found that they were in a country +unknown to them, so that the farther they went the more dependent on us +they became, being absolute strangers inland. To convey to their +understandings the intention of our journey was impossible. For, perhaps, +no words could unfold to an Indian the motives of curiosity which induce men +to encounter labour, fatigue and pain, when they might remain in repose +at home, with a sufficiency of food. We asked Colbee the name of the people +who live inland, and he called them Boorooberongal; and said they were bad, +whence we conjectured that they sometimes war with those on the sea coast, +by whom they were undoubtedly driven up the country from the fishing ground, +that it might not be overstocked; the weaker here, as in every other country, +giving way to the stronger. + +We asked how they lived. He said, on birds and animals, having no fish. +Their laziness appeared strongly when we halted, for they refused to draw +water or to cleave wood to make a fire; but as soon as it was kindled +(having first well stuffed themselves), they lay down before it and +fell asleep. About an hour after sunset, as we were chatting by the fire side +and preparing to go to rest, we heard voices at a little distance in the wood. +Our natives caught the sound instantaneously and, bidding us be silent, +listened attentively to the quarter whence it had proceeded. In a few minutes +we heard the voices plainly; and, wishing exceedingly to open a communication +with this tribe, we begged our natives to call to them, and bid them to come +to us, to assure them of good treatment, and that they should have something +given them to eat. Colbee no longer hesitated, but gave them the signal +of invitation, in a loud hollow cry. After some whooping and shouting +on both sides, a man with a lighted stick in his hand advanced near enough +to converse with us. The first words which we could distinctly understand +were, 'I am Colbee, of the tribe of Cadigal.' The stranger replied, +'I am Bereewan, of the tribe of Boorooberongal.' Boladeree informed him also +of his name and that we were white men and friends, who would give him +something to eat. Still he seemed irresolute. Colbee therefore advanced +to him, took him by the hand and led him to us. By the light of the moon, +we were introduced to this gentleman, all our names being repeated in form +by our two masters of the ceremonies, who said that we were Englishmen +and 'budyeeree' (good), that we came from the sea coast, and that we were +travelling inland. + +Bereewan seemed to be a man about thirty years old, differing in no respect +from his countrymen with whom we were acquainted. He came to us unarmed, +having left his spears at a little distance. After a long conversation +with his countrymen, and having received some provisions, he departed +highly satisfied. + +Tuesday, April 12th, 1791. Started this morning at half past six o'clock, +and in two hours reached the river. The whole of the country we passed +was poor, and the soil within a mile of the river changed to a coarse +deep sand, which I have invariably found to compose its banks in every part +without exception that I ever saw. The stream at this place is about +350 feet wide; the water pure and excellent to the taste. The banks +are about twenty feet high and covered with trees, many of which had been +evidently bent by the force of the current in the direction which it runs, +and some of them contained rubbish and drift wood in their branches +at least forty-five feet above the level of the stream. We saw many ducks, +and killed one, which Colbee swam for. No new production among the shrubs +growing here was found. We were acquainted with them all. Our natives +had evidently never seen this river before. They stared at it with surprise, +and talked to each other. Their total ignorance of the country, and of +the direction in which they had walked, appeared when they were asked +which way Rose Hill lay; for they pointed almost oppositely to it. +Of our compass they had taken early notice, and had talked much to each other +about it. They comprehended its use, and called it 'naamoro,' literally, +"to see the way"; a more significant or expressive term cannot be found. + +Supposing ourselves to be higher on the stream than Richmond Hill, we agreed +to trace downward, or to the right hand. In tracing, we kept as close +to the bank of the river as the innumerable impediments to walking which grow +upon it would allow. We found the country low and swampy; came to a native +fireplace, at which were some small fish-bones; soon after we saw a native, +but he ran away immediately. Having walked nearly three miles we were stopped +by a creek which we could neither ford, or fall a tree across. We were +therefore obliged to coast it, in hope to find a passing place or to reach +its head. At four o'clock we halted for the night on the bank of the creek. +Our natives continued to hold out stoutly. The hindrances to walking +by the river side which plagued and entangled us so much, seemed not to be +heeded by them, and they wound through them with case; but to us they were +intolerably tiresome. Our perplexities afforded them an inexhaustible fund +of merriment and derision: Did the sufferer, stung at once with nettles +and ridicule, and shaken nigh to death by his fall, use any angry expression +to them, they retorted in a moment, by calling him by every opprobrious name* +which their language affords. + +Boladeree destroyed a native hut today very wantonly before we could +prevent him. On being asked why he did so, he answered that the inhabitants +inland were bad; though no longer since than last night, when Bereewan +had departed, they were loud in their praise. But now they had reverted to +their first opinion; so fickle and transient are their motives of love +and hatred. + +[*Their general favourite term of reproach is 'goninpatta', which signifies +'an eater of human excrement'. Our language would admit a very concise +and familiar translation. They have, besides this, innumerable others +which they often salute their enemies with.] + + +Wednesday, April 13th, 1791. We did not set out this morning until past +seven o'clock, when we continued to trace the creek. The country which we +passed through yesterday was good and desirable to what was now presented +to us. It was in general high and universally rocky. 'Toiling our uncouth +way', we mounted a hill, and surveyed the contiguous country. +To the northward and eastward, the ground was still higher than that +we were upon; but in a south-west direction we saw about four miles. +The view consisted of nothing but trees growing on precipices; not an acre +of it could be cultivated. Saw a tree on fire here, and several other +vestiges of the natives. To comprehend the reasons which induce an Indian +to perform many of the offices of life is difficult; to pronounce that which +could lead him to wander amidst these dreary wilds baffles penetration. +About two o'clock we reached the head of the creek, passed it and scrambled +with infinite toil and difficulty to the top of a neighbouring mountain, +whence we saw the adjacent country in almost every direction, for many miles. +I record with regret that this extended view presented not a single gleam +of change which could encourage hope or stimulate industry, to attempt +its culture. We had, however, the satisfaction to discover plainly the object +of our pursuit, Richmond Hill, distant about eight miles, in a contrary +direction from what we had been proceeding upon. It was readily known +to those who had been up the Hawkesbury in the boats, by a remarkable cleft +or notch which distinguishes it. It was now determined that we should go back +to the head of the creek and pass the night there; and in the morning +cut across the country to that part of the river which we had first hit upon +yesterday, and thence to trace upward, or to the left. But before I descend, +I must not forget to relate that to this pile of desolation on which, +like the fallen angel on the top of Niphates, we stood contemplating +our nether Eden, His Excellency was pleased to give the name +of Tench's Prospect Mount. + +Our fatigue to-day had been excessive; but our two sable companions seemed +rather enlivened than exhausted by it. We had no sooner halted and given them +something to eat than they began to play ten thousand tricks and gambols. +They imitated the leaping of the kangaroo; sang, danced, poised the spear +and met in mock encounter. But their principal source of merriment was again +derived from our misfortunes, in tumbling amidst nettles, and sliding down +precipices, which they mimicked with inimitable drollery. They had become, +however, very urgent in their inquiries about the time of our return, +and we pacified them as well as we could by saying it would be soon, +but avoided naming how many days. + +Their method of testifying dislike to any place is singular: they point to +the spot they are upon, and all around it, crying 'weeree, weeree' (bad) +and immediately after mention the name of any other place to which +they are attached (Rose Hill or Sydney for instance), adding to it +'budyeree, budyeree' (good). Nor was their preference in the present case +the result of caprice, for they assigned very substantial reasons +for such predilection: "At Rose Hill," said they, "are potatoes, cabbages, +pumpkins, turnips, fish and wine; here are nothing but rocks and water." +These comparisons constantly ended with the question of "Where's Rose Hill? +Where?" on which they would throw up their hands and utter a sound to denote +distance, which it is impossible to convey an idea of upon paper. + +Thursday, April 14th, 1791. We started early and reached the river in about +two hours and a half. The intermediate country, except for the last half mile, +was a continued bed of stones, which were in some places so thick and +close together that they looked like a pavement formed by art. When we got off +the stones, we came upon the coarse river sand beforementioned. + +Here we began to trace upward. We had not proceeded far when we saw +several canoes on the river. Our natives made us immediately lie down +among the reeds, while they gave their countrymen the signal of approach. +After much calling, finding that they did not come, we continued our progress +until it was again interrupted by a creek, over which we threw a tree +and passed upon it. While this was doing, a native, from his canoe, +entered into conversation with us, and immediately after paddled to us +with a frankness and confidence which surprised every one. He was a man +of middle age, with an open cheerful countenance, marked with the small pox, +and distinguished by a nose of uncommon magnitude and dignity. He seemed +to be neither astonished or terrified at our appearance and number. +Two stone hatchets, and two spears he took from his canoe, and presented +to the governor, who in return for his courteous generosity, gave him two +of our hatchets and some bread, which was new to him, for he knew not its use, +but kept looking at it, until Colbee shewed him what to do, when he eat it +without hesitation. We pursued our course, and to accommodate us, +our new acquaintance pointed out a path and walked at the head of us. A canoe, +also with a man and a boy in it, kept gently paddling up abreast of us. +We halted for the night at our usual hour, on the bank of the river. +Immediately that we had stopped, our friend (who had already told us his name) +Gombeeree, introduced the man and the boy from the canoe to us. The former +was named Yellomundee, the latter Deeimba. The ease with which these people +behaved among strangers was as conspicuous, as unexpected. They seated +themselves at our fire, partook of our biscuit and pork, drank from +our canteens, and heard our guns going off around them without betraying +any symptom of fear, distrust or surprise. On the opposite bank of the river +they had left their wives and several children, with whom they frequently +discoursed; and we observed that these last manifested neither suspicion +or uneasiness of our designs towards their friends. + +Having refreshed ourselves, we found leisure to enter into conversation +with them. It could not be expected that they should differ materially +from the tribes with whom we were acquainted. The same manners and pursuits, +the same amusements, the same levity and fickleness, undoubtedly characterised +them. What we were able to learn from them was that they depend but little +on fish, as the river yields only mullets, and that their principal support +is derived from small animals which they kill, and some roots (a species +of wild yam chiefly) which they dig out of the earth. If we rightly +understood them, each man possesses two wives. Whence can arise +this superabundance of females? Neither of the men had suffered the extraction +of a front tooth. We were eager to know whether or not this custom obtained +among them. But neither Colbee nor Boladeree would put the question for us; +and on the contrary, showed every desire to wave the subject. +The uneasiness which they testified, whenever we renewed it, rather served +to confirm a suspicion which we had long entertained, that this is a mark +of subjection imposed by the tribe of Cameragal, (who are certainly +the most powerful community in the country) on the weaker tribes around them. +Whether the women cut off a joint of one of the little fingers, like those +on the sea coast, we had no opportunity of observing. These are petty remarks. +But one variety struck us more forcibly. Although our natives and +the strangers conversed on a par and understood each other perfectly, +yet they spoke different dialects of the same language; many of the most common +and necessary words used in life bearing no similitude, and others +being slightly different. + + +------------------------------------------------------------ +English Name on the sea coast Name at the Hawkesbury +------------------------------------------------------------ + +The Moon Yeneeda Condoen +The Ear Gooree Benna +The Forehead Nullo Narran +The Belly Barang Bindee +The Navel Muneero Boombong +The Buttocks Boong Baylee +The Neck Calang Ganga +The Thigh Tara Dara +The Hair Deewara Keewara +------------------------------------------------------------- + + +That these diversities arise from want of intercourse with the people +on the coast can hardly be imagined, as the distance inland is but +thirty-eight miles; and from Rose Hill not more than twenty, where the dialect +of the sea coast is spoken. It deserves notice that all the different terms +seemed to be familiar to both parties, though each in speaking preferred +its own*. + +[*How easily people, unused to speak the same language, mistake each other, +everyone knows. We had lived almost three years at Port Jackson +(for more than half of which period natives had resided with us) before we knew +that the word 'beeal', signified 'no', and not 'good', in which latter sense +we had always used it without suspecting that we were wrong; and even without +being corrected by those with whom we talked daily. The cause of our error +was this. The epithet 'weeree', signifying 'bad', we knew; and as the use +of this word and its opposite afford the most simple form of denoting consent +or disapprobation to uninstructed Indians, in order to find out their word +for 'good', when Arabanoo was first brought among us, we used jokingly to say +that any thing, which he liked was 'weeree', in order to provoke him to tell us +that it was good. When we said 'weeree', he answered 'beeal', +which we translated and adopted for 'good'; whereas he meant no more than +simply to deny our inference, and say 'no'--it is not bad. After this, +it cannot be thought extraordinary that the little vocabulary inserted in +Mr. Cook's account of this part of the world should appear defective-- +even were we not to take in the great probability of the dialects at +Endeavour River and Van Diemen's land differing from that spoken +at Port Jackson. And it remains to be proved that the animal called here +'patagaram' is not there called 'kangaroo'.] + +Stretched out at ease before our fire, all sides continued to chat +and entertain each other. Gombeeree shewed us the mark of a wound +which he had received in his side from a spear. It was large, appeared +to have passed to a considerable depth, and must certainly have been attended +with imminent danger. By whom it had been inflicted, and on what occasion, +he explained to Colbee; and afterwards (as we understood) he entered into +a detail of the wars, and, as effects lead to causes, probably of the +gallantries of the district, for the word which signifies a woman +was often repeated. Colbee, in return for his communication, informed him +who we were; of our numbers at Sydney and Rose Hill, of the stores +we possessed and, above all, of the good things which were to be found +among us, enumerating potatoes, cabbages, turnips, pumpkins, and many other +names which were perfectly unintelligible to the person who heard them, +but which he nevertheless listened to with profound attention. + +Perhaps the relation given by Gombeeree, of the cure of his wound, +now gave rise to the following superstitious ceremony. While they were +talking, Colbee turned suddenly round and asked for some water. I gave him +a cupful, which he presented with great seriousness to Yellomundee, +as I supposed to drink. This last indeed took the cup and filled his mouth +with water, but instead of swallowing it, threw his head into Colbee's bosom, +spit the water upon him and, immediately after, began to suck strongly +at his breast, just below the nipple. I concluded that the man was sick; +and called to the governor to observe the strange place which he had chosen +to exonerate his stomach. The silent attention observed by the other natives, +however, soon convinced us that something more than merely the accommodation +of Yellomundee, was intended. The ceremony was again performed; and, +after having sucked the part for a considerable time, the operator pretended +to receive something in his mouth, which was drawn from the breast. +With this he retired a few paces, put his hand to his lips and threw +into the river a stone, which I had observed him to pick up slily, and secrete. +When he returned to the fireside, Colbee assured us that he had received +signal benefit from the operation; and that this second Machaon had extracted +from his breast two splinters of a spear by which he had been formerly wounded. +We examined the part, but it was smooth and whole, so that to the force +of imagination alone must be imputed both the wound and its cure. +Colbee himself seemed nevertheless firmly persuaded that he had received +relief, and assured us that Yellomundee was a 'caradyee', or +'Doctor of renown'. And Boladeree added that not only he but all the rest +of his tribe were 'caradyee' of especial note and skill. + +The Doctors remained with us all night, sleeping before the fire in the +fullness of good faith and security. The little boy slept in his father's +arms, and we observed that whenever the man was inclined to shift his position, +he first put over the child, with great care, and then turned round to him. + +Friday, April 15th, 1791. The return of light aroused us to the repetition +of toil. Our friends breakfasted with us, and previous to starting Gombeeree +gave a specimen of their manner of climbing trees in quest of animals. +He asked for a hatchet and one of ours was offered to him, but he preferred +one of their own making. With this tool he cut a small notch in the tree +he intended to climb, about two feet and a half above the ground, in which +he fixed the great toe of his left foot, and sprung upwards, at the same time +embracing the tree with his left arm. In an instant he had cut a second notch +for his right toe on the other side of the tree into which he sprung, +and thus, alternately cutting on each side, he mounted to the height +of twenty feet in nearly as short a space as if he had ascended by a ladder, +although the bark of the tree was quite smooth and slippery and the trunk +four feet in diameter and perfectly strait. To us it was a matter +of astonishment, but to him it was sport; for while employed thus he kept +talking to those below and laughing immoderately. He descended with as much +ease and agility as he had raised himself. Even our natives allowed that +he was a capital performer, against whom they dared not to enter the lists; +for as they subsist chiefly by fishing they are less expert at climbing +on the coast than those who daily practice it. + +Soon after they bade us adieu, in unabated friendship and good humour. +Colbee and Boladeree parted from them with a slight nod of the head, +the usual salutation of the country; and we shook them by the hand, +which they returned lustily. + +At the time we started the tide was flowing up the river, a decisive proof +that we were below Richmond Hill. We had continued our march but a short time +when we were again stopped by a creek, which baffled all our endeavours +to cross it, and seemed to predict that the object of our attainment, +though but a very few miles distant, would take us yet a considerable +time to reach, which threw a damp on our hopes. We traced the creek +until four o'clock, when we halted for the night. The country, on both sides, +we thought in general unpromising; but it is certainly very superior +to that which we had seen on the former creek. In many places it might be +cultivated, provided the inundations of the stream can be repelled. + +In passing along we shot some ducks, which Boladeree refused to swim for +when requested, and told us in a surly tone that they swam for what was killed, +and had the trouble of fetching it ashore, only for the white men to eat it. +This reproof was, I fear, too justly founded; for of the few ducks we had been +so fortunate as to procure, little had fallen to their share except the offals, +and now and then a half-picked bone. True, indeed, all the crows and hawks +which had been shot were given to them; but they plainly told us that +the taste of ducks was more agreeable to their palates, and begged they might +hereafter partake of them. We observed that they were thoroughly sick +of the journey, and wished heartily for its conclusion: the exclamation of +"Where's Rose Hill, where?" was incessantly repeated, with many inquiries +about when we should return to it. + +Saturday April 16th, 1791. It was this morning resolved to abandon +our pursuit and to return home; at hearing of which our natives expressed +great joy. We started early; and reached Rose Hill about three o'clock, +just as a boat was about to be sent down to Sydney. Colbee and Boladeree +would not wait for us until the following morning, but insisted on going down +immediately to communicate to Baneelon and the rest of their countrymen +the novelties they had seen. + +The country we passed through was, for the most part, very indifferent, +according to our universal opinion. It is in general badly watered. +For eight miles and a half on one line we did not find a drop of water. + +RICHMOND HILL + +Having eluded our last search, Mr. Dawes and myself, accompanied by a sergeant +of marines and a private soldier, determined on another attempt, +to ascertain whether it lay on the Hawkesbury or Nepean. We set out +on this expedition on the 24th of May, 1791; and having reached the opposite +side of the mouth of the creek which had in our last journey prevented +our progress, we proceeded from there up to Richmond Hill by the river side; +mounted it; slept at its foot; and on the following day penetrated some miles +westward or inland of it until we were stopped by a mountainous country, +which our scarcity of provisions, joined to the terror of a river at our back, +whose sudden rising is almost beyond computation, hindered us from exploring. +To the elevation which bounded our research we gave the name of Knight Hill, +in honour of the trusty sergeant who had been the faithful indefatigable +companion of all our travels. + +This excursion completely settled the long contested point about +the Hawkesbury and Nepean. We found them to be one river. Without knowing it, +Mr. Dawes and myself had passed Richmond Hill almost a year before +(in August 1790), and from there walked on the bank of the river to the spot +where my discovery of the Nepean happened, in June 1789. Our ignorance +arose from having never before seen the hill, and from the erroneous position +assigned to it by those who had been in the boats up the river. + +Except the behaviour of some natives whom we met on the river, which +it would be ingratitude to pass in silence, nothing particularly worthy +of notice occurred on this expedition. + +When we had reached within two miles of Richmond Hill, we heard a native call. +We directly answered him and conversed across the river for some time. +At length he launched his canoe and crossed to us without distrust +or hesitation. We had never seen him before; but he appeared to know +our friend Gombeeree, of whom he often spoke. He said his name was Deedora. +He presented us with two spears and a throwing-stick, and in return +we gave him some bread and beef. Finding that our route lay up the river, +he offered to accompany us and, getting into his canoe, paddled up +abreast of us. When we arrived at Richmond Hill it became necessary +to cross the river; but the question was, how this should be effected? +Deedora immediately offered his canoe. We accepted of it and, Mr. Dawes +and the soldier putting their clothes into it, pushed it before them, +and by alternately wading and swimming, soon passed. On the opposite shore +sat several natives, to whom Deedora called, by which precaution the arrival +of the strangers produced no alarm. On the contrary, they received them +with every mark of benevolence. Deedora, in the meanwhile, sat talking +with the sergeant and me. Soon after, another native, named Morunga, +brought back the canoe, and now came our turn to cross. The sergeant +(from a foolish trick which had been played upon him when he was a boy) +was excessively timorous of water, and could not swim. Morunga offered +to conduct him, and they got into the canoe together; but, his fears returning, +he jumped out and refused to proceed. I endeavoured to animate him, +and Morunga ridiculed his apprehensions, making signs of the ease and dispatch +with which he would land him; but he resolved to paddle over by himself, +which, by dint of good management and keeping his position very steadily, +he performed. It was now become necessary to bring over the canoe +a third time for my accommodation, which was instantly done, and I entered it +with Deedora. But, like the sergeant, I was so disordered at seeing the water +within a hair's breadth of the level of our skiff (which brought +to my remembrance a former disaster I had experienced on this river) +that I jumped out, about knee-deep, and determined to swim over, +which I effected. My clothes, half our knapsacks, and three of our guns +yet remained to be transported across. These I recommended to the care +of our grim ferrymen, who instantaneously loaded their boat with them +and delivered them on the opposite bank, without damage or diminution. + +During this long trial of their patience and courtesy--in the latter part +of which I was entirely in their power, from their having possession +of our arms--they had manifested no ungenerous sign of taking advantage +of the helplessness and dependance of our situation; no rude curiosity +to pry into the packages with which they were entrusted; or no sordid desire +to possess the contents of them; although among them were articles +exposed to view, of which it afterwards appeared they knew the use, +and longed for the benefit. Let the banks of those rivers, "known to song", +let him whose travels have lain among polished nations produce me +a brighter example of disinterested urbanity than was shown by these denizens +of a barbarous clime to a set of destitute wanderers on the side +of the Hawkesbury. + +On the top of Richmond Hill we shot a hawk, which fell in a tree. +Deedora offered to climb for it and we lent him a hatchet, the effect of which +delighted him so much that he begged for it. As it was required to chop wood +for our evening fire, it could not be conveniently spared; but we promised him +that if he would visit us on the following morning, it should be given to him. +Not a murmur was heard; no suspicion of our insincerity; no mention +of benefits conferred; no reproach of ingratitude. His good humour +and cheerfulness were not clouded for a moment. Punctual to our appointment, +he came to us at daylight next morning and the hatchet was given to him, +the only token of gratitude and respect in our power to bestow. Neither +of these men had lost his front tooth. + +THE LAST EXPEDITION + +Which I ever undertook in the country I am describing was in July 1791, +when Mr. Dawes and myself went in search of a large river which was said +to exist a few miles to the southward of Rose Hill. We went to the place +described, and found this second Nile or Ganges to be nothing but +a saltwater creek communicating with Botany Bay, on whose banks we passed +a miserable night from want of a drop of water to quench our thirst, +for as we believed that we were going to a river we thought it needless +to march with full canteens. + +On this expedition we carried with us a thermometer which (in unison +with our feelings) shewed so extraordinary a degree of cold for the latitude +of the place that I think myself bound to transcribe it. + +Monday, 18th July 1791. The sun arose in unclouded splendor and presented +to our sight a novel and picturesque view. The contiguous country as white +as if covered with snow, contrasted with the foliage of trees flourishing +in the verdure of tropical luxuriancy*. Even the exhalation which steamed +from the lake beneath contributed to heighten the beauty of the scene. +Wind SSW. Thermorneter at sunrise 25 degrees. The following night +was still colder. At sunset the thermometer stood at 45 degrees; +at a quarter before four in the morning, it was at 26 degrees; +at a quarter before six at 24 degrees; at a quarter before seven, at +23 degrees; at seven o'clock, 22.7 degrees; at sunrise, 23 degrees, after which +it continued gradually to mount, and between one and two o'clock, +stood at 59.6 degrees in the shade. Wind SSW. The horizon perfectly clear +all day, not the smallest speck to be seen. Nothing but demonstration +could have convinced me that so severe a degree of cold ever existed +in this low latitude. Drops of water on a tin pot, not altogether out of +the influence of the fire, were frozen into solid ice in less than +twelve minutes. Part of a leg of kangaroo which we had roasted for supper +was frozen quite hard, all the juices of it being converted into ice. +On those ponds which were near the surface of the earth, the covering of ice +was very thick; but on those which were lower down it was found to be less so, +in proportion to their depression; and wherever the water was twelve feet +below the surface (which happened to be the case close to us) +it was uncongealed. It remains to be observed that the cold of both +these nights, at Rose Hill and Sydney, was judged to be greater than had +ever before been felt. + +[*All the trees of New South Wales, may I apprehend, be termed evergreen. +For after such weather as this journal records, I did not observe either +that the leaves had dropped off, or that they had assumed that sickly +autumnal tint, which marks English trees in corresponding circumstances.] + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + + +Transactions of the Colony to the end of November, 1791. + + +The extreme dryness of the preceding summer has been noticed. It had operated +so far in the beginning of June that we dreaded a want of water for +common consumption most of the little reservoirs in the neighbourhood +of Sydney being dried up. The small stream near the town was so nearly +exhausted (being only the drain of a morass) that a ship could not have +watered at it, and the 'Supply' was preparing to sink casks in a swamp +when rain fell and banished our apprehensions. + +June, 1791. On the second instant, the name of the settlement, at the head +of the harbour (Rose Hill) was changed, by order of the governor, +to that of Parramatta, the native name of it. As Rose Hill has, however, +occurred so often in this book, I beg leave, to avoid confusion, +still to continue the appellation in all future mention of it. + +Our travelling friend Boladeree, who makes so conspicuous a figure +in the last chapter, about this time committed an offence which we were +obliged to notice. He threw a spear at a convict in the woods, +and wounded him. The truth was, some mischievous person belonging to us +had wantonly destroyed his canoe, and he revenged the injury on the first +of our people whom he met unarmed. He now seemed to think the matter +adjusted; and probably such is the custom they observe in their own society +in similar cases. Hearing, however, that an order was issued to seize him, +or in case that could not be effected, to shoot him, he prudently dropped +all connection with us and was for a long time not seen. + +But if they sometimes injured us, to compensate they were often +of signal benefit to those who needed their assistance: two instances +of which had recently occurred. A boat was overset in the harbour +Baneelon and some other natives, who saw the accident happen, immediately +plunged in, and saved all the people. When they had brought them on shore, +they undressed them, kindled a fire and dried their clothes, gave them +fish to eat and conducted them to Sydney. + +The other instance was of a soldier lost in the woods, when he met a party +of natives. He at first knew not whether to flee from them, or to implore +their assistance. Seeing among them one whom he knew, he determined +to communicate his distress to him and to rely on his generosity. +The Indian told him that he had wandered a long way from home, but that +he would conduct him thither, on the single condition of his delivering up +a gun which he held in his hand, promising to carry it for him and to +restore it to him at parting. The soldier felt little inclination +to surrender his arms, by which he would be put entirely in their power. +But seeing no alternative, he at last consented; on which the whole party +laid down their spears and faithfully escorted him to the nearest part +of the settlement, where the gun was given up, and they took their leave +without asking for any remuneration, or even seeming to expect it. + +The distressful state of the colony for provisions continued gradually +to augment until the 9th of July, when the Mary Anne transport arrived +from England. This ship had sailed from the Downs so lately as +the 25th of February, having been only four months and twelve days +on her passage. She brought out convicts, by contract, at a specific sum +for each person. But to demonstrate the effect of humanity and justice, +of 144 female convicts embarked on board only three had died, and the rest +were landed in perfect health, all loud in praise of their conductor. +The master's name was Munro; and his ship, after fulfilling her engagement +with government, was bound on the southern fishery. The reader must not +conclude that I sacrifice to dull detail, when he finds such benevolent +conduct minutely narrated. The advocates of humanity are not yet become +too numerous: but those who practise its divine precepts, however humble +and unnoticed be their station, ought not to sink into obscurity, +unrecorded and unpraised, with the vile monsters who deride misery +and fatten on calamity. + +July, 1791. If, however, the good people of this ship delighted us +with their benevolence, here gratification ended. I was of a party +who had rowed in a boat six miles out to sea, beyond the harbour's mouth, +to meet them; and what was our disappointment, on getting aboard, +to find that they had not brought a letter (a few official ones +for the governor excepted) to any person in the colony! Nor had they +a single newspaper or magazine in their possession; nor could they +conceive that any person wished to hear news; being as ignorant +of everything which had passed in Europe for the last two years +as ourselves, at the distance of half the circle. "No war--the fleet's +dismantled," was the whole that we could learn. When I asked whether +a new parliament had been called, they stared at me in stupid wonder, +not seeming to comprehend that such a body either suffered renovation +or needed it. + +"Have the French settled their government?" + +"As to that matter I can't say; I never heard; but, damn them, +they were ready enough to join the Spaniards against us." + +"Are Russia and Turkey at peace?" + +"That you see does not lie in my way; I have heard talk about it, +but don't remember what passed." + +"For heaven's sake, why did you not bring out a bundle of newspapers? +You might have procured a file at any coffee house, which would have +amused you, and instructed us?" + +"Why, really, I never thought about the matter until we were off +the Cape of Good Hope, when we spoke a man of war, who asked us +the same question, and then I wished I had." + +To have prosecuted inquiry farther would have only served to increase +disappointment and chagrin. We therefore quitted the ship, wondering +and lamenting that so large a portion of plain undisguised honesty +should be so totally unconnected with a common share of intelligence, +and acquaintance with the feelings and habits of other men. + +By the governor's letters we learned that a large fleet of transports, +with convicts on board, and His Majesty's ship Gorgon, (Captain Parker) +might soon be expected to arrive. The following intelligence +which they contained, was also made public. + + +That such convicts as had served their period of transportation, +were not to be compelled to remain in the colony; but that no +temptation should be offered to induce them to quit it, as there +existed but too much reason to believe, that they would return +to former practices; that those who might choose to settle in the +country should have portions of land, subject to stipulated +restrictions, and a portion of provisions assigned to them on +signifying their inclinations; and that it was expected, that +those convicts who might be possessed of means to transport +themselves from the country, would leave it free of all +incumbrances of a public nature. + + +The rest of the fleet continued to drop in, in this and the two +succeeding months. The state of the convicts whom they brought out, +though infinitely preferable to what the fleet of last year had landed, +was not unexceptionable. Three of the ships had naval agents on board +to control them. Consequently, if complaint had existed there, +it would have been immediately redressed. Exclusive of these, the +'Salamander', (Captain Nichols) who, of 155 men lost only five; and the +'William and Anne' (Captain Buncker) who of 187 men lost only seven, +I find most worthy of honourable mention. In the list of convicts brought out +was Barrington, of famous memory. + +Two of these ships also added to our geographic knowledge of the country. +The 'Atlantic', under the direction of Lieutenant Bowen, a naval agent, +ran into a harbour between Van Diemen's land, and Port Jackson, +in latitude 35 degrees 12 minutes south, longitude 151 degrees east, to which, +in honour of Sir John Jervis, Knight of the Bath, Mr. Bowen gave the name +of Port Jervis. Here was found good anchoring ground with a fine depth +of water, within a harbour about a mile and a quarter broad at its entrance, +which afterwards opens into a basin five miles wide and of considerable +length. They found no fresh water, but as their want of this article +was not urgent, they did not make sufficient researches to pronounce +that none existed there.* They saw, during the short time they stayed, +two kangaroos and many traces of inhabitants. The country at a little distance +to the southward of the harbour is hilly, but that contiguous to the sea +is flat. On comparing what they had found here afterwards, +with the native produce of Port Jackson, they saw no reason to think +that they differed in any respect. + +[*Just before I left the country, word was brought by a ship which had +put into Port Jervis, that a large fresh water brook was found there.] + + +The second discovery was made by Captain Wetherhead, of the 'Matilda' transport, +which was obligingly described to me, as follows, by that gentleman, +on my putting to him the underwritten questions. + +"When did you make your discovery?" + +"On the 27th of July, 1791." + +"In what latitude and longitude does it lie?" + +"In 42 degrees 15 minutes south by observation, and in 148 1/2 east +by reckoning" + +"Is it on the mainland or is it an island?" + +"It is an island, distant from the mainland about eight miles." + +"Did you anchor?" + +"Yes; and found good anchorage in a bay open about six points." + +"Did you see any other harbour or bay in the island?" + +"None." + +"Does the channel between the island and the main appear to afford +good shelter for shipping?" + +"Yes, like Spithead." + +"Did you find any water on the island?" + +"Yes, in plenty." + +"Of what size does the island appear to be?" + +"It is narrow and long; I cannot say how long. Its breadth is inconsiderable." + +"Did you make any observations on the soil?" + +"It is sandy; and many places are full of craggy rocks." + +"Do you judge the productions which you saw on the island to be similar +to those around Port Jackson?" + +"I do not think they differ in any respect." + +"Did you see any animals?" + +"I saw three kangaroos." + +"Did you see any natives, or any marks of them?" + +"I saw no natives, but I saw a fire, and several huts like those +at Port Jackson, in one of which lay a spear." + +"What name did you give to your discovery?" + +"I called it, in honour of my ship, Matilda Bay." + +November, 1791. A very extraordinary instance of folly stimulated +to desperation occurred in the beginning of this month among the convicts +at Rose Hill. Twenty men and a pregnant woman, part of those who had arrived +in the last fleet, suddenly disappeared with their clothes, working tools, +bedding, and their provisions, for the ensuing week, which had been +just issued to them. The first intelligence heard of them, was from +some convict settlers, who said they had seen them pass, and had enquired +whither they were bound. To which they had received for answer, "to China." +The extravagance and infatuation of such an attempt was explained to them +by the settlers; but neither derision, nor demonstration could avert them +from pursuing their purpose. It was observed by those who brought in +the account that they had general idea enough of the point of the compass +in which China lies from Port Jackson, to keep in a northerly direction. + +An officer with a detachment of troops, was sent in pursuit of them; +but after a harassing march returned without success. In the course +of a week the greatest part of them were either brought back by +different parties who had fallen in with them, or were driven in by famine. +Upon being questioned about the cause of their elopement, those whom hunger +had forced back, did not hesitate to confess that they had been +so grossly deceived as to believe that China might easily be reached, +being not more than 100 miles distant, and separated only by a river. +The others, however, ashamed of the merriment excited at their expense, +said that their reason for running away was on account of being overworked +and harshly treated, and that they preferred a solitary and precarious +existence in the woods to a return to the misery they were compelled +to undergo. One or two of the party had certainly perished by the hands +of the natives, who had also wounded several others. + +I trust that no man would feel more reluctant than myself to cast +an illiberal national reflection, particularly on a people whom I regard +in an aggregate sense as brethren and fellow-citizens; and among whom, +I have the honour to number many of the most cordial and endearing intimacies +which a life passed on service could generate. But it is certain +that all these people were Irish. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + + +Transactions of the colony until 18th of December 1791, +when I quitted it, with an Account of its state at that time. + + +The Gorgon had arrived on the 21st of September, and the hour of departure +to England, for the marine battalion, drew nigh. If I be allowed to speak +from my own feelings on the occasion, I will not say that we contemplated +its approach with mingled sensations: we hailed it with rapture +and exultation. + +The 'Supply', ever the harbinger of welcome and glad tidings, proclaimed +by her own departure, that ours was at hand. On the 26th of November +she sailed for England. It was impossible to view our separation +with insensibility: the little ship which had so often agitated our hopes +and fears, which from long acquaintance we had learned to regard as part +of ourselves, whose doors of hospitality had been ever thrown open +to relieve our accumulated wants, and chase our solitary gloom! + +In consequence of the offers made to the non-commissioned officers +and privates of the marine battalion to remain in the country as settlers +or to enter into the New South Wales corps, three corporals, one drummer +and 59 privates accepted of grants of land, to settle at Norfolk Island +and Rose Hill. Of these men, several were undoubtedly possessed +of sufficient skill and industry, by the assistance of the pay which was due +to them from the date of their embarkation, in the beginning of the year +1787, to the day on which they were discharged, to set out with reasonable +hopes of being able to procure a maintenance. But the only apparent reason +to which the behaviour of a majority of them could be ascribed was from +infatuated affection to female convicts, whose characters and habits of life, +I am sorry to say, promise from a connection neither honour nor tranquillity. + +The narrative part of this work will, I conceive, be best brought to +a termination by a description of the existing state of the colony, +as taken by myself a few days previous to my embarkation in the Gorgon, +to sail for England. + +December 2nd, 1791. Went up to Rose Hill. Public buildings here +have not greatly multiplied since my last survey. The storehouse +and barrack have been long completed; also apartments for the chaplain +of the regiment, and for the judge-advocate, in which last, +criminal courts, when necessary, are held; but these are petty erections. +In a colony which contains only a few hundred hovels built of twigs and mud, +we feel consequential enough already to talk of a treasury, an admiralty, +a public library and many other similar edifices, which are to form +part of a magnificent square. The great road from near the landing place +to the governor's house is finished, and a very noble one it is, +being of great breadth, and a mile long, in a strait line. In many places +it is carried over gullies of considerable depth, which have been filled up +with trunks of trees covered with earth. All the sawyers, carpenters +and blacksmiths will soon be concentred under the direction of +a very adequate person of the governor's household. This plan is already +so far advanced as to contain nine covered sawpits, which change of weather +cannot disturb the operations of, an excellent workshed for the carpenters +and a large new shop for the blacksmiths. It certainly promises to be +of great public benefit. A new hospital has been talked of for the last +two years, but is not yet begun. Two long sheds, built in the form of a tent +and thatched, are however finished, and capable of holding 200 patients. +The sick list of today contains 382 names. Rose Hill is less healthy +than it used to be. The prevailing disorder is a dysentery, which often +terminates fatally. There was lately one very violent putrid fever which, +by timely removal of the patient, was prevented from spreading. +Twenty-five men and two children died here in the month of November. + +When at the hospital I saw and conversed with some of the 'Chinese +travellers'; four of them lay here, wounded by the natives. I asked these men +if they really supposed it possible to reach China. They answered +that they were certainly made to believe (they knew not how) that +at a considerable distance to northward existed a large river, +which separated this country from the back part of China; and that when +it should be crossed (which was practicable) they would find themselves +among a copper-coloured people, who would receive and treat them kindly. +They added, that on the third day of their elopement, one of the party +died of fatigue; another they saw butchered by the natives who, +finding them unarmed, attacked them and put them to flight. This happened +near Broken Bay, which harbour stopped their progress to the northward +and forced them to turn to the right hand, by which means they soon after +found themselves on the sea shore, where they wandered about in a destitute +condition, picking up shellfish to allay hunger. Deeming the farther +prosecution of their scheme impracticable, several of them agreed to return +to Rose Hill, which with difficulty they accomplished, arriving +almost famished. On their road back they met six fresh adventurers +sallying forth to join them, to whom they related what had passed +and persuaded them to relinquish their intention. There are at this time +not less than thirty-eight convict men missing, who live in the woods by day, +and at night enter the different farms and plunder for subsistence. + +December 3rd, 1791. Began my survey of the cultivated land belonging to +the public. The harvest has commenced. They are reaping both wheat +and barley. The field between the barrack and the governor's house +contains wheat and maize, both very bad, but the former particularly so. +In passing through the main street I was pleased to observe the gardens +of the convicts look better than I had expected to find them. +The vegetables in general are but mean, but the stalks of maize, +with which they are interspersed, appear green and flourishing. +The semicircular hill, which sweeps from the overseer of the cattle's house +to the governor's house, is planted with maize, which, I am told, +is the best here. It certainly looks in most parts very good-- +stout thick stalks with large spreading leaves--but I am surprised +to find it so backward. It is at least a month later than that in the gardens +at Sydney. Behind the maize is a field of wheat, which looks tolerably +for this part of the world. It will, I reckon, yield about twelve bushels +an acre. Continued my walk and looked at a little patch of wheat +in the governor's garden, which was sown in drills, the ground +being first mixed with a clay which its discoverers pretended was marle. +Whatever it be, this experiment bespeaks not much in favour of +its enriching qualities; for the corn looks miserably, and is far exceeded +by some neighbouring spots on which no such advantage has been bestowed. +Went round the crescent at the bottom of the garden, which certainly +in beauty of form and situation is unrivalled in New South Wales. +Here are eight thousand vines planted, all of which in another season +are expected to bear grapes. Besides the vines are several small fruit trees, +which were brought in the Gorgon from the Cape, and look lively; +on one of them are half a dozen apples as big as nutmegs. Although the soil +of the crescent be poor, its aspect and circular figure, so advantageous +for receiving and retaining the rays of the sun, eminently fit it +for a vineyard. Passed the rivulet and looked at the corn land +on its northern side. On the western side of Clarke's* house the wheat +and maize are bad, but on the eastern side is a field supposed to be +the best in the colony. I thought it of good height, and the ears well filled, +but it is far from thick. + +[*Dod, who is mentioned in my former journal of this place, had died +some months ago. And Mr. Clarke, who was put in his room, is one of +the superintendants, sent out by government, on a salary of forty pounds +per annum. He was bred to husbandry, under his father at Lewes in Sussex; +and is, I conceive, competent to his office of principal conductor +of the agriculture of Rose Hill.] + +While I was looking at it, Clarke came up. I told him I thought +he would reap fifteen or sixteen bushels an acre; he seemed to think +seventeen or eighteen. I have now inspected all the European corn. +A man of so little experience of these matters as myself cannot speak +with much confidence. Perhaps the produce may average ten bushels an acre, +or twelve at the outside. Allowance should, however, be made in estimating +the quality of the soil, for the space occupied by roots of trees, +for inadequate culture, and in some measure to want of rain. Less has fallen +than was wished, but this spring was by no means so dry as the last. +I find that the wheat grown at Rose Hill last year weighed fifty-seven +pounds and a half per bushel. My next visit was to the cattle, +which consists of two stallions, six mares, and two colts; besides +sixteen cows, two cow-calves, and one bull-calf, which were brought out +by the Gorgon. Two bulls which were on board died on the passage, so that +on the young gentleman just mentioned depends the stocking of the colony. + +The period of the inhabitants of New South Wales being supplied with +animal food of their own raising is too remote for a prudent man to calculate. +The cattle look in good condition, and I was surprised to hear that +neither corn nor fodder is given to them. The enclosures in which +they are confined furnish hardly a blade of grass at present. There are +people appointed to tend them who have been used to this way of life, +and who seem to execute it very well. + +Sunday, December 4th, 1791. Divine service is now performed here +every Sunday, either by the chaplain of the settlement or the chaplain +of the regiment. I went to church today. Several hundred convicts +were present, the majority of whom I thought looked the most miserable +beings in the shape of humanity I ever beheld. They appeared to be +worn down with fatigue. + +December, 5th. Made excursions this day to view the public settlements. +Reached the first, which is about a mile in a north-west direction +from the governor's house. This settlement contains, by admeasurement, +134 acres, a part of which is planted with maize, very backward, +but in general tolerably good, and beautifully green. Thirteen large huts, +built in the form of a tent, are erected for the convicts who work here; +but I could not learn the number of these last, being unable to find +a superintendant or any person who could give me information. +Ponds of water here sufficient to supply a thousand persons. + +Walked on to the second settlement, about two miles farther, through +an uncleared country. Here met Daveney, the person who planned +and now superintends all the operations carried on here. He told me +that he estimated the quantity of cleared ground here at 300 acres. +He certainly over-rates it one-third, by the judgment of every other person. +Six weeks ago this was a forest. It has been cleared, and the wood +nearly burnt off the ground by 500 men, in the before-mentioned period, +or rather in thirty days, for only that number have the convicts worked. +He said it was too late to plant maize, and therefore he should sow turnips, +which would help to meliorate and prepare it for next year. On examining +the soil, I thought it in general light, though in some places loamy +to the touch. He means to try the Rose Hill 'marle' upon it, with which +he thinks it will incorporate well. I hope it will succeed better +than the experiment in the governor's garden. I wished to know +whether he had chosen this ground simply from the conveniency of its situation +to Rose Hill, and its easy form for tillage, and having water, +or from any marks which he had thought indicated good soil. He said that +what I had mentioned no doubt weighed with him, and that he judged the soil +to be good, from the limbs of many of the trees growing on it being +covered with moss. + +"Are," said I, "your 500 men still complete?" + +"No; this day's muster gave only 460. The rest are either sick +and removed to the hospital, or are run away in the woods." + +"How much is each labourer's daily task?" + +"Seven rods. It was eight, but on their representing to the governor +that it was beyond their strength to execute, he took off one." + +Thirteen large huts, similar to those beforementioned, contain +all the people here. To every hut are appointed two men, as hutkeepers, +whose only employment is to watch the huts in working hours to prevent them +from being robbed. This has somewhat checked depredations, and those endless +complaints of the convicts that they could not work because they had nothing +to eat, their allowance being stolen. The working hours at this season +(summer) are from five o'clock in the morning until ten; rest from ten to two; +return to work at two; and continue till sunset. This surely cannot be called +very severe toil; but on the other hand must be remembered the inadequacy +of a ration of salt provisions, with few vegetables, and unassisted by +any liquor but water. + +Here finished my remarks on every thing of a public nature at Rose Hill. +But having sufficient time, I determined to visit all the private settlers +to inspect their labours, and learn from them their schemes, their hopes +and expectations. + +In pursuance of my resolution, I crossed the country to Prospect Hill, +at the bottom of which live the following thirteen convicts, who have accepted +allotments of ground, and are become settlers. + + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Men's names. | Trades. | Number of | Number of acres + | | acres in each | in cultivation. + | | allotment. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +John Silverthorne Weaver 40 1 3/4 +Thomas Martin " 40 1 1/2 +John Nichols Gardener 40 2 +William Butler*, and his wife Seaman 50 ) +---- Lisk* Watchmaker 40 ) 4 +William Parish, wife, and a child Seaman 60 2 3/4 +William Kilby, and his wife Husbandman 60 1 1/4 +Edward Pugh, wife, and two children Carpenter 70 2 1/2 +Samuel Griffith +John Herbertt** +James Castle +Joseph Marlow*** +John Williams, and his wife +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + +[*In partnership.[Butler and Lisk] + +[**Not out of his time; but allowed to work here at his leisure hours, +as he has declared his intention of settling.] + +[***In a similar predicament with Herbert.] + +The terms on which these allotments have been granted are: +that the estates shall be fully ceded for ever to all who shall continue +to cultivate for five years, or more; that they shall be free of all taxes +for the first ten years; but after that period to pay an annual quit-rent +of one shilling. The penalty on non-performance of any of these articles +is forfeiture of the estate, and all the labour which may have been +bestowed upon it. These people are to receive provisions, +(the same quantity as the working convicts), clothes, and medicinal assistance, +for eighteen months from the day on which they settled. + +To clear and cultivate the land, a hatchet, a tomahawk, two hoes, a spade +and a shovel, are given to each person, whether man or woman; and a certain +number of cross-cut saws among the whole. To stock their farms, two sow pigs +were promised to each settler, but they almost all say they have not yet +received any, of which they complain loudly. They all received grain +to sow and plant for the first year. They settled here in July and +August last. Most of them were obliged to build their own houses; +and wretched hovels three-fourths of them are. Should any of them fall sick, +the rest are bound to assist the sick person two days in a month, +provided the sickness lasts not longer than two months; four days labour +in each year, from every person, being all that he is entitled to. +To give protection to this settlement, a corporal and two soldiers +are encamped in the centre of the farms, as the natives once attacked +the settlers and burnt one of their houses. These guards are, however, +inevitably at such a distance from some of the farms as to be unable +to afford them any assistance in case of another attack. + +With all these people I conversed and inspected their labours. +Some I found tranquil and determined to persevere, provided encouragement +should be given. Others were in a state of despondency, and predicted +that they should starve unless the period of eighteen months +during which they are to be clothed and fed, should be extended to three years. +Their cultivation is yet in its infancy, and therefore opinions should +not be hastily formed of what it may arrive at, with moderate skill +and industry. They have at present little in the ground besides maize, +and that looks not very promising. Some small patches of wheat which I saw +are miserable indeed. The greatest part of the land I think but indifferent, +being light and stoney. Of the thirteen farms ten are unprovided with water; +and at some of them they are obliged to fetch this necessary article +from the distance of a mile and a half. All the settlers complain sadly +of being frequently robbed by the runaway convicts, who plunder them +incessantly. + +December 6th. Visited the settlements to the northward of the rivulet. +The nearest of them lies about a mile due north of Mr. Clarke's house. +Here are only the undernamed five settlers. + + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Men's names. | Trades. | Number of | Number of acres + | | acres in each | in cultivation. + | | allotment. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Thomas Brown*, wife, and child --- 60 ) +William Bradbury* --- 30 ) 3 1/2 +William Mold* --- 30 ) +Simon Burne, and wife Hosier 50 3 +----Parr, and wife Merchant's clerk 50 3 1/2 +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + +[*These three cultivate in partnership.(Brown, Bradbury, Mold.)] + +These settlers are placed on the same footing in every respect +which concerns their tenure and the assistance to be granted to them +as those at Prospect Hill. Near them is water. Parr and Burne are men +of great industry. They have both good houses which they hired people +to build for them. Parr told me that he had expended thirteen guineas +on his land, which nevertheless he does not seem pleased with. +Of the three poor fellows who work in partnership, one (Bradbury) is run away. +This man had been allowed to settle, on a belief, from his own assurance, +that his term of transportation was expired; but it was afterwards discovered +that he had been cast for life. Hereupon he grew desperate, and declared +he would rather perish at once than remain as a convict. He disappeared +a week ago and has never since been heard of. Were I compelled to settle +in New South Wales, I should fix my residence here, both from the appearance +of the soil, and its proximity to Rose Hill. A corporal and two privates +are encamped here to guard this settlement, as at Prospect. + +Proceeded to the settlement called the Ponds, a name which I suppose +it derived from several ponds of water which are near the farms. +Here reside the fourteen following settlers. + + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Men's names. | Trades. | Number of | Number of acres + | | acres in each | in cultivation. + | | allotment. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Thomas Kelly Servant 30 1 1/2 +William Hubbard, and wife Plasterer 50 2 1/4 +Curtis Brand, and wife Carpenter 50 3 +John Ramsay, and wife Seaman 50 3 1/2 +William Field --- 30 2 1/2 +John Richards* Stone-cutter 30 ) 4 1/2 +John Summers* Husbandman 30 ) +----Varnell --- 30 1 +Anthony Rope**, and wife, and +two children Bricklayer 70 1 +Joseph Bishop, and wife None 50 1 1/2 +Mathew Everingham, and wife Attorney's clerk 50 2 +John Anderson, and wife --- 50 2 +Edward Elliot*** Husbandman 30 ) 2 +Joseph Marshall*** Weaver 30 ) +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + +[*They (Richards and Summers) cultivate in partnership.] +[**A convict who means to settle here; and is permitted to work +in his leisure hours.] +[***They (Elliot and Marshall) cultivate in partnership.] + +The Prospect Hill terms of settlement extend to this place. My private +remarks were not many. Some spots which I passed over I thought desirable, +particularly Ramsay's farm; and he deserves a good spot, for he is a civil, +sober, industrious man. Besides his corn land, he has a well laid out +little garden, in which I found him and his wife busily at work. +He praised her industry to me; and said he did not doubt of succeeding. +It is not often seen that sailors make good farmers; but this man I think +bids fair to contradict the observation. The gentleman of no trade +(his own words to me) will, I apprehend, at the conclusion of the time +when victualling from the store is to cease, have the honour of returning +to drag a timber or brick cart for his maintenance. The little maize +he has planted is done in so slovenly a style as to promise a very poor crop. +He who looks forward to eat grapes from his own vine, and to sit +under the shade of his own fig-tree, must labour in every country. +He must exert more than ordinary activity. The attorney's clerk +I also thought out of his province. I dare believe that he finds cultivating +his own land not half so easy a task as he formerly found that of +stringing together volumes of tautology to encumber, or convey away, +that of his neighbour. Hubbard's farm, and Kelly's also, deserve regard, +from being better managed than most of the others. The people here +complain sadly of a destructive grub which destroys the young plants of maize. +Many of the settlers have been obliged to plant twice, nay thrice, +on the same land, from the depredations of these reptiles. There is +the same guard here as at the other settlements. + +Nothing now remains for inspection but the farms on the river side. + +December 7th. Went to Scheffer's farm. I found him at home, conversed +with him, and walked with him over all his cultivated ground. He had +140 acres granted to him, fourteen of which are in cultivation, +twelve in maize, one in wheat and one in vines and tobacco. He has besides +twenty-three acres on which the trees are cut down but not burnt off the land. +He resigned his appointment and began his farm last May, and had at first +five convicts to assist him; he has now four. All his maize, +except three acres, is mean. This he thinks may be attributed to three causes: +a middling soil; too dry a spring; and from the ground not being +sufficiently pulverized before the seed was put into it. The wheat is thin +and poor: he does not reckon its produce at more than eight or nine bushels. +His vines, 900 in number, are flourishing, and will, he supposes, bear fruit +next year. His tobacco plants are not very luxuriant: to these two +last articles he means principally to direct his exertions. He says +(and truly) that they will always be saleable and profitable. On one +of the boundaries of his land is plenty of water. A very good brick house +is nearly completed for his use, by the governor; and in the meantime +he lives in a very decent one, which was built for him on his settling here. +He is to be supplied with provisions from the public store, and with +medical assistance for eighteen months, reckoning from last May. +At the expiration of this period he is bound to support himself +and the four convicts are to be withdrawn. But if he shall then, +or at any future period, declare himself able to maintain a moderate number +of these people for their labour, they will be assigned to him. + +Mr. Scheffer is a man of industry and respectable character. He came out +to this country as superintendant of convicts, at a salary of forty pounds +per annum, and brought with him a daughter of twelve years old. He is +by birth a Hessian, and served in America, in a corps of Yaghers, +with the rank of lieutenant. He never was professionally, in any part of life, +a farmer, but he told me, that his father owned a small estate on the banks +of the Rhine, on which he resided, and that he had always been fond +of looking at and assisting in his labours, particularly in the vineyard. +In walking along, he more than once shook his head and made some +mortifying observations on the soil of his present domain, compared with +the banks of his native stream. He assured me that (exclusive of the sacrifice +of his salary) he has expended more than forty pounds in advancing his ground +to the state in which I saw it. Of the probability of success +in his undertaking, he spoke with moderation and good sense. Sometimes +he said he had almost despaired, and had often balanced about relinquishing it; +but had as often been checked by recollecting that hardly any difficulty +can arise which vigour and perseverance will not overcome. I asked him +what was the tenure on which he held his estate. He offered to show +the written document, saying that it was exactly the same as Ruse's. +I therefore declined to trouble him, and took my leave with wishes +for his success and prosperity. + +Near Mr. Scheffer's farm is a small patch of land cleared by Lieutenant Townson +of the New South Wales corps, about two acres of which are in maize and wheat, +both looking very bad. + +Proceeded to the farm of Mr. Arndell, one of the assistant surgeons. +This gentleman has six acres in cultivation as follows: rather more than four +in maize, one in wheat, and the remainder in oats and barley. The wheat +looks tolerably good, rather thin but of a good height, and the ears +well filled. His farming servant guesses the produce will be twelve bushels,* +and I do not think he over-rates it. The maize he guesses at thirty bushels, +which from appearances it may yield, but not more. The oats and barley +are not contemptible. This ground has been turned up but once The aspect +of it is nearly south, on a declivity of the river, or arm of the sea, +on which Rose Hill stands. It was cleared of wood about nine months ago, +and sown this year for the first time. + +[*I have received a letter from Port Jackson, dated in April 1792, +which states that the crop of wheat turned out fifteen bushels, +and the maize rather more than forty bushels.] + +December 8th. Went this morning to the farm of Christopher Magee, +a convict settler, nearly opposite to that of Mr. Scheffen. The situation +of this farm is very eligible, provided the river in floods does not +inundate it, which I think doubtful. This man was bred to husbandry, +and lived eight years in America; he has no less than eight acres +in cultivation, five and a half in maize, one in wheat, and one and a half +in tobacco. From the wheat he does not expect more than ten bushels, +but he is extravagant enough to rate the produce of maize at 100 bushels +(perhaps he may get fifty); on tobacco he means to go largely hereafter. +He began to clear this ground in April, but did not settle until last July. +I asked by what means he had been able to accomplish so much? He answered, +"By industry, and by hiring all the convicts I could get to work +in their leisure hours, besides some little assistance which the governor +has occasionally thrown in." His greatest impediment is want of water, +being obliged to fetch all he uses more than half a mile. He sunk a well, +and found water, but it was brackish and not fit to drink. If this man +shall continue in habits of industry and sobriety, I think him sure +of succeeding. + +Reached Ruse's farm,* and begged to look at his grant, the material part +of which runs thus: "A lot of thirty acres, to be called Experiment Farm; +the said lot to be holden, free of all taxes, quit-rents, &c. for ten years, +provided that the occupier, his heirs or assigns, shall reside within the same, +and proceed to the improvement thereof; reserving, however, for the use +of the crown, all timber now growing, or which hereafter shall grow, +fit for naval purposes. At the expiration of ten years, an annual quit-rent +of one shilling shall be paid by the occupier in acknowledgment." + +[*See the state of this farm in my former Rose Hill journal +of November 1790, thirteen months before.] + +Ruse now lives in a comfortable brick house, built for him by the governor. +He has eleven acres and a half in cultivation, and several more +which have been cleared by convicts in their leisure hours, on condition +of receiving the first year's crop. He means to cultivate little +besides maize; wheat is so much less productive. Of the culture of vineyards +and tobacco he is ignorant; and, with great good sense, he declared +that he would not quit the path he knew, for an uncertainty. +His livestock consists of four breeding sows and thirty fowls. +He has been taken from the store (that is, has supplied himself +with provisions) for some months past; and his wife is to be taken off +at Christmas, at which time, if he deems himself able to maintain +a convict labourer, one is to be given to him. + +Crossed the river in a boat to Robert Webb's farm. This man was one of +the seamen of the 'Sirius', and has taken, in conjunction with his brother +(also a seaman of the same ship) a grant of sixty acres, on the same terms +as Ruse, save that the annual quit-rent is to commence at the expiration +of five years, instead of ten. The brother is gone to England to receive +the wages due to them both for their services, which money is to be expended +by him in whatever he judges will be most conducive to the success +of their plan. Webb expects to do well; talks as a man should talk +who has just set out on a doubtful enterprise which he is bound to pursue. +He is sanguine in hope, and looks only at the bright side of the prospect. +He has received great encouragement and assistance from the governor. +He has five acres cleared and planted with maize, which looks thriving, +and promises to yield a decent crop. His house and a small one adjoining +for pigs and poultry were built for him by the governor, who also gave him +two sows and seven fowls, to which he adds a little stock of his own acquiring. + +Near Webb is placed William Read, another seaman of the 'Sirius', +on the same terms, and to whom equal encouragement has been granted. + +My survey of Rose Hill is now closed. I have inspected every piece of ground +in cultivation here, both public and private, and have written from +actual examination only. + +But before I bade adieu to Rose Hill, in all probability for the last time +of my life, it struck me that there yet remained one object of consideration +not to be slighted: Barrington had been in the settlement between two +and three months, and I had not seen him. + +I saw him with curiosity. He is tall, approaching to six feet, slender, +and his gait and manner, bespeak liveliness and activity. Of that elegance +and fashion, with which my imagination had decked him (I know not why), +I could distinguish no trace. Great allowance should, however, be made +for depression and unavoidable deficiency of dress. His face is thoughtful +and intelligent; to a strong cast of countenance he adds a penetrating eye, +and a prominent forehead. His whole demeanour is humble, not servile. +Both on his passage from England, and since his arrival here, his conduct +has been irreproachable. He is appointed high-constable of the settlement +of Rose Hill, a post of some respectability, and certainly one of importance +to those who live here. His knowledge of men, particularly of that part +of them into whose morals, manners and behaviour he is ordered +especially to inspect, eminently fit him for the office. + +I cannot quit him without bearing my testimony that his talents promise to be +directed in future to make reparation to society for the offences he has +heretofore committed against it. + +The number of persons of all descriptions at Rose Hill at this period +will be seen in the following return. + + +A return of the number of persons at Rose Hill, 3rd of December 1791 + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Quality. |Men.|Women.| Children + | | | of 10 years | of 2 years | under 2 years +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Convicts* 1336 133 0 9 17 +Troops 94 9 1 5 2 +Civil Department 7 0 0 0 0 +Seamen Settlers 3 0 0 0 0 +Free Persons 0 7 2 1 2 +Total number of +persons 1440 149 3 15 21 +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + +[*The convicts who are become settlers, are included in this number.] + +Of my Sydney journal, I find no part sufficiently interesting to +be worth extraction. This place had long been considered only as a depot +for stores. It exhibited nothing but a few old scattered huts and some +sterile gardens. Cultivation of the ground was abandoned, and all our strength +transferred to Rose Hill. Sydney, nevertheless, continued to be the place +of the governor's residence, and consequently the headquarters of the colony. +No public building of note, except a storehouse, had been erected since +my last statement. The barracks, so long talked of, so long promised, +for the accommodation and discipline of the troops, were not even begun +when I left the country; and instead of a new hospital, the old one +was patched up and, with the assistance of one brought ready-framed +from England, served to contain the sick. + +The employment of the male convicts here, as at Rose Hill, +was the public labour. Of the women, the majority were compelled +to make shirts, trousers and other necessary parts of dress for the men, +from materials delivered to them from the stores, into which they returned +every Saturday night the produce of their labour, a stipulated weekly task +being assigned to them. In a more early stage, government sent out +all articles of clothing ready made; but, by adopting the present +judicious plan, not only a public saving is effected, but employment +of a suitable nature created for those who would otherwise consume leisure +in idle pursuits only. + +On the 26th of November 1791, the number of persons, of all descriptions, +at Sydney, was 1259, to which, if 1628 at Rose Hill and 1172 at Norfolk Island +be added, the total number of persons in New South Wales and its dependency +will be found to amount to 4059.* + +[*A very considerable addition to this number has been made since I quitted +the settlement, by fresh troops and convicts sent thither from England.] + +On the 13th of December 1791, the marine battalion embarked on board +His Majesty's ship Gorgon, and on the 18th sailed for England. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + + +Miscellaneous Remarks on the country. On its vegetable productions. +On its climate. On its animal productions. On its natives, etc. + + +The journals contained in the body of this publication, illustrated by +the map which accompanies it (unfortunately, there is no map accompanying +this etext), are, I conceive, so descriptive of every part of the country +known to us, that little remains to be added beyond a few general observations. + +The first impression made on a stranger is certainly favourable. +He sees gently swelling hills connected by vales which possess every beauty +that verdure of trees, and form, simply considered in itself, can produce; +but he looks in vain for those murmuring rills and refreshing springs +which fructify and embellish more happy lands. Nothing like those +tributary streams which feed rivers in other countries are here seen; +for when I speak of the stream at Sydney, I mean only the drain of a morass; +and the river at Rose Hill is a creek of the harbour, which above +high water mark would not in England be called even a brook. Whence +the Hawkesbury, the only fresh water river known to exist in the country, +derives its supplies, would puzzle a transient observer. He sees nothing +but torpid unmeaning ponds (often stagnant and always still, unless agitated +by heavy rains) which communicate with it. Doubtless the springs which arise +in Carmarthen mountains may be said to constitute its source. +To cultivate its banks within many miles of the bed of the stream +(except on some elevated detached spots) will be found impracticable, +unless some method be devised of erecting a mound, sufficient to repel +the encroachments of a torrent which sometimes rises fifty feet above +its ordinary level, inundating the surrounding country in every direction. + +The country between the Hawkesbury and Rose Hill is that which I have hitherto +spoken of. When the river is crossed, this prospect soon gives place +to a very different one. The green vales and moderate hills disappear +at the distance of about three miles from the river side, and from Knight Hill, +and Mount Twiss,* the limits which terminate our researches, +nothing but precipices, wilds and deserts, are to be seen. Even these steeps +fail to produce streams. The difficulty of penetrating this country, +joined to the dread of a sudden rise of the Hawkesbury, forbidding all return, +has hitherto prevented our reaching Carmarthen mountains. + +[*Look at the Map. (There is no map accompanying this etext)] + +Let the reader now cast his eye on the relative situation of Port Jackson. +He will see it cut off from communication with the northward by Broken Bay, +and with the southward by Botany Bay; and what is worse, the whole space +of intervening country yet explored, (except a narrow strip called +the Kangaroo Ground) in both directions, is so bad as to preclude cultivation. + +The course of the Hawkesbury will next attract his attention. +To the southward of every part of Botany Bay we have traced this river; +but how much farther in that line it extends we know not. Hence its channel +takes a northerly direction, and finishes its course in Broken Bay, +running at the back of Port Jackson in such a manner as to form +the latter into a peninsula. + +The principal question then remaining is, what is the distance between +the head of Botany Bay and the part of the Hawkesbury nearest to it? +And is the intermediate country a good one, or does it lead to one +which appearances indicate to be good? To future adventurers who shall meet +with more encouragement to persevere and discover than I and my fellow +wanderer[s] did, I resign the answer. In the meantime the reader is desired +to look at the remarks on the map (there is no map accompanying this etext), +which were made in the beginning of August 1790, from Pyramid Hill, +which bounded our progress on the southern expedition; when, and when only, +this part of the country has been seen. + +It then follows that from Rose Hill to within such a distance +of the Hawkesbury as is protected from its inundations, is the only tract +of land we yet know of, in which cultivation can be carried on +for many years to come. To aim at forming a computation of the distance +of time, of the labour and of the expense, which would attend +forming distinct convict settlements, beyond the bounds I have delineated; +or of the difficulty which would attend a system of communication +between such establishments and Port Jackson, is not intended here. + +Until that period shall arrive, the progress of cultivation, +when it shall have once passed Prospect Hill, will probably steal along +to the southward, in preference to the northward, from the superior nature +of the country in that direction, as the remarks inserted in the map +will testify. + +Such is my statement of a plan which I deem inevitably entailed on +the settlement at Port Jackson. In sketching this outline of it +let it not be objected that I suppose the reader as well acquainted with +the respective names and boundaries of the country as long residence +and unwearied journeying among them, have made the author. To have subjoined +perpetual explanations would have been tedious and disgusting. Familiarity +with the relative positions of a country can neither be imparted, +or acquired, but by constant recurrence to geographic delineations. + +On the policy of settling, with convicts only, a country at once so remote +and extensive, I shall offer no remarks. Whenever I have heard this question +agitated, since my return to England, the cry of, "What can we do with them! +Where else can they be sent!" has always silenced me. + +Of the soil, opinions have not differed widely. A spot eminently fruitful +has never been discovered. That there are many spots cursed with everlasting +and unconquerable sterility no one who has seen the country will deny. +At the same time I am decidedly of opinion that many large tracts of land +between Rose Hill and the Hawkesbury, even now, are of a nature +sufficiently favourable to produce moderate crops of whatever may be sown +in them. And provided a sufficient number of cattle* be imported +to afford manure for dressing the ground, no doubt can exist that subsistence +for a limited number of inhabitants may be drawn from it. To imperfect +husbandry, and dry seasons, must indubitably be attributed part +of the deficiency of former years. Hitherto all our endeavours to derive +advantage from mixing the different soils have proved fruitless, +though possibly only from want of skill on our side. + +[*In my former narrative I have particularly noticed the sudden disappearance +of the cattle, which we had brought with us into the country. Not a trace +of them has ever since been observed. Their fate is a riddle, so difficult +of solution that I shall not attempt it. Surely had they strayed inland, +in some of our numerous excursions, marks of them must have been found. +It is equally impossible to believe that either the convicts or natives +killed and ate them, without some sign of detection ensuing.] + +The spontaneous productions of the soil will be soon recounted. +Every part of the country is a forest: of the quality of the wood +take the following instance. The 'Supply' wanted wood for a mast, +and more than forty of the choicest young trees were cut down before +as much wood as would make it could be procured, the trees being either rotten +at the heart or riven by the gum which abounds in them. This gum +runs not always in a longitudinal direction in the body of the tree, +but is found in it in circles, like a scroll. There is however, a species +of light wood which is found excellent for boat building, but it is scarce +and hardly ever found of large size. + +To find limestone many of our researches were directed. But after repeated +assays with fire and chemical preparations on all the different sorts of stone +to be picked up, it is still a desideratum. Nor did my experiments +with a magnet induce me to think that any of the stones I tried contained iron. +I have, however, heard other people report very differently on this head. + +The list of esculent vegetables, and wild fruits is too contemptible +to deserve notice, if the 'sweet tea' whose virtues have been already recorded, +and the common orchis root be excepted. That species of palm tree +which produces the mountain cabbage is also found in most of the freshwater +swamps, within six or seven miles of the coast. But is rarely seen +farther inland. Even the banks of the Hawkesbury are unprovided with it. +The inner part of the trunk of this tree was greedily eaten by our hogs, +and formed their principal support. The grass, as has been remarked +in former publications, does not overspread the land in a continued sward, +but arises in small detached tufts, growing every way about three inches apart, +the intermediate space being bare; though the heads of the grass are often +so luxuriant as to hide all deficiency on the surface. The rare +and beautiful flowering shrubs, which abound in every part, deserve +the highest admiration and panegyric. + +Of the vegetable productions transplanted from other climes, maize flourishes +beyond any other grain. And as it affords a strong and nutritive article +of food, its propagation will, I think, altogether supersede that +of wheat and barley. + +Horticulture has been attended in some places with tolerable success. +At Rose Hill I have seen gardens which, without the assistance of manure, +have continued for a short time to produce well grown vegetables. +But at Sydney, without constantly dressing the ground, it was in vain +to expect them; and with it a supply of common vegetables might be procured +by diligence in all seasons. Vines of every sort seem to flourish. +Melons, cucumbers and pumpkins run with unbounded luxuriancy, +and I am convinced that the grapes of New South Wales will, in a few years, +equal those of any other country. 'That their juice will probably +hereafter furnish an indispensable article of luxury at European tables', +has already been predicted in the vehemence of speculation. Other fruits +are yet in their infancy; but oranges, lemons and figs, (of which last +indeed I have eaten very good ones) will, I dare believe, in a few years +become plentiful. Apples and the fruits of colder climes also promise +to gratify expectation. The banana-tree has been introduced +from Norfolk Island, where it grows spontaneously. + +Nor will this surprise, if the genial influence of the climate be considered. +Placed in a latitude where the beams of the sun in the dreariest season +are sufficiently powerful for many hours of the day to dispense warmth +and nutrition, the progress of vegetation never is at a stand. +The different temperatures of Rose Hill and Sydney in winter, though only +twelve miles apart, afford, however, curious matter of speculation. +Of a well attested instance of ice being seen at the latter place, +I never heard. At the former place its production is common, and once +a few flakes of snow fell. The difference can be accounted for +only by supposing that the woods stop the warm vapours of the sea +from reaching Rose Hill, which is at the distance of sixteen miles inland; +whereas Sydney is but four.* Again, the heats of summer are more violent +at the former place than at the latter, and the variations +incomparably quicker. The thermometer has been known to alter at Rose Hill, +in the course of nine hours, more than 50 degrees; standing a little before +sunrise at 50 degrees, and between one and two at more than 100 degrees. +To convey an idea of the climate in summer, I shall transcribe +from my meteorological journal, accounts of two particular days +which were the hottest we ever suffered under at Sydney. + +[*Look at the journal which describes the expedition in search of the river, +said to exist to the southward of Rose Hill. At the time we felt +that extraordinary degree of cold were not more than six miles south west +of Rose Hill, and about nineteen miles from the the sea coast. +When I mentioned this circumstance to colonel Gordon, at the Cape of Good Hope, +he wondered at it; and owned, that, in his excursions into the interior parts +of Africa, he had never experienced anything to match it: he attributed +its production to large beds of nitre, which he said must exist +in the neighbourhood.] + +December 27th 1790. Wind NNW; it felt like the blast of a heated oven, +and in proportion as it increased the heat was found to be more intense, +the sky hazy, the sun gleaming through at intervals. + + +At 9 a.m. 85 degrees +At noon 104 +Half past twelve 107 1/2 +From one p.m. until 20 +minutes past two 108 1/2 +At 20 minutes past two 109 +At Sunset 89 +At 11 p.m. 78 1/2 + +[By a large Thermometer made by Ramsden, and graduated on Fahrenheit's scale.] + +December 28th. + +At 8 a.m. 86 +10 a.m. 93 +11 a.m. 101 +At noon 103 1/2 +Half an hour past noon 104 1/2 +At one p.m. 102 +At 5 p.m. 73 +At sunset 69 1/2 + +[At a quarter past one, it stood at only 89 degrees, having, +from a sudden shift of wind, fallen 13 degrees in 15 minutes.] + + +My observations on this extreme heat, succeeded by so rapid a change, +were that of all animals, man seemed to bear it best. Our dogs, pigs +and fowls, lay panting in the shade, or were rushing into the water. +I remarked that a hen belonging to me, which had sat for a fortnight, +frequently quitted her eggs, and shewed great uneasiness, +but never remained from them many minutes at one absence; taught by instinct +that the wonderful power in the animal body of generating cold in air +heated beyond a certain degree, was best calculated for the production +of her young. The gardens suffered considerably. All the plants +which had not taken deep root were withered by the power of the sun. +No lasting ill effects, however, arose to the human constitution. +A temporary sickness at the stomach, accompanied with lassitude and headache, +attacked many, but they were removed generally in twenty-four hours +by an emetic, followed by an anodyne. During the time it lasted, +we invariably found that the house was cooler than the open air, and that +in proportion as the wind was excluded, was comfort augmented. + +But even this heat was judged to be far exceeded in the latter end +of the following February, when the north-west wind again set in, +and blew with great violence for three days. At Sydney, it fell short +by one degree of what I have just recorded: but at Rose Hill, it was allowed, +by every person, to surpass all that they had before felt, either there +or in any other part of the world. Unluckily they had no thermometer +to ascertain its precise height. It must, however, have been intense, +from the effects it produced. An immense flight of bats driven before +the wind, covered all the trees around the settlement, whence they every moment +dropped dead or in a dying state, unable longer to endure the burning state +of the atmosphere. Nor did the 'perroquettes', though tropical birds, +bear it better. The ground was strewn with them in the same condition +as the bats. + +Were I asked the cause of this intolerable heat, I should not hesitate +to pronounce that it was occasioned by the wind blowing over immense deserts, +which, I doubt not, exist in a north-west direction from Port Jackson, +and not from fires kindled by the natives. This remark I feel necessary, +as there were methods used by some persons in the colony, both for estimating +the degree of heat and for ascertaining the cause of its production, +which I deem equally unfair and unphilosophical. The thermometer, +whence my observations were constantly made, was hung in the open air +in a southern aspect, never reached by the rays of the sun, at the distance +of several feet above the ground. + +My other remarks on the climate will be short. It is changeable +beyond any other I ever heard of; but no phenomena sufficiently accurate +to reckon upon, are found to indicate the approach of alteration. +Indeed, for the first eighteen months that we lived in the country, +changes were supposed to take place more commonly at the quartering +of the moon than at other times. But lunar empire afterwards lost its credit. +For the last two years and a half of our residing at Port Jackson, +its influence was unperceived. Three days together seldom passed +without a necessity occurring for lighting a fire in an evening. +A 'habit d'ete', or a 'habit de demi saison', would be in the highest degree +absurd. Clouds, storms and sunshine pass in rapid succession. Of rain, +we found in general not a sufficiency, but torrents of water sometimes fall. +Thunder storms, in summer, are common and very tremendous, +but they have ceased to alarm, from rarely causing mischief. Sometimes +they happen in winter. I have often seen large hailstones fall. +Frequent strong breezes from the westward purge the air. These are almost +invariably attended with a hard clear sky. The easterly winds, +by setting in from the sea, bring thick weather and rain, except in summer, +when they become regular sea-breezes. The 'aurora australis' +is sometimes seen, but is not distinguished by superior brilliancy. + +To sum up: notwithstanding the inconveniences which I have enumerated, +I will venture to assert in few words, that no climate hitherto known +is more generally salubrious*, or affords more days on which those pleasures +which depend on the state of the atmosphere can be enjoyed, +than that of New South Wales. The winter season is particularly delightful. + +[*To this cause, I ascribe the great number of births which happened, +considering the age and other circumstances, of many of the mothers. +Women who certainly would never have bred in any other climate here produced +as fine children as ever were born.] + +The leading animal production is well known to be the kangaroo. +The natural history of this animal will, probably, be written +from observations made upon it in England, as several living ones +of both sexes, have been brought home. Until such an account shall appear, +probably the following desultory observation may prove acceptable. + +The genus in which the kangaroo is to be classed I leave to better naturalists +than myself to determine. How it copulates, those who pretend to have seen +disagree in their accounts: nor do we know how long the period +of gestation lasts. Prolific it cannot be termed, bringing forth +only one at a birth, which the dam carries in her pouch wherever she goes +until the young one be enabled to provide for itself; and even then, +in the moment of alarm, she will stop to receive and protect it. +We have killed she-kangaroos whose pouches contained young ones +completely covered with fur and of more than fifteen pounds weight, +which had ceased to suck and afterwards were reared by us. In what space +of time it reaches such a growth as to be abandoned entirely by the mother, +we are ignorant. It is born blind, totally bald, the orifice of the ear +closed and only just the centre of the mouth open, but a black score, +denoting what is hereafter to form the dimension of the mouth, +is marked very distinctly on each side of the opening. At its birth, +the kangaroo (notwithstanding it weighs when full grown 200 pounds) +is not so large as a half-grown mouse. I brought some with me to England +even less, which I took from the pouches of the old ones. +This phenomenon is so striking and so contrary to the general laws of nature, +that an opinion has been started that the animal is brought forth +not by the pudenda, but descends from the belly into the pouch +by one of the teats, which are there deposited. On this difficulty +as I can throw no light, I shall hazard no conjecture. It may, however, +be necessary to observe that the teats are several inches long +and capable of great dilatation. And here I beg leave to correct an error +which crept into my former publication wherein I asserted that, +"the teats of the kangaroo never exceed two in number." They sometimes, +though rarely, amount to four. There is great reason to believe +that they are slow of growth and live many years. This animal has a clavicle, +or collar-bone, similar to that of the human body. The general colour +of the kangaroo is very like that of the ass, but varieties exist. +Its shape and figure are well known by the plates which have been given of it. +The elegance of the ear is particularly deserving of admiration. +This far exceeds the ear of the hare in quickness of sense and is so flexible +as to admit of being turned by the animal nearly quite round the head, +doubtless for the purpose of informing the creature of the approach +of its enemies, as it is of a timid nature, and poorly furnished +with means of defence; though when compelled to resist, it tears +furiously with its forepaws, and strikes forward very hard with its hind legs. +Notwithstanding its unfavourable conformation for such a purpose, +its swims strongly; but never takes to the water unless so hard pressed +by its pursuers as to be left without all other refuge. The noise +they make is a faint bleat, querulous, but not easy to describe. +They are sociable animals and unite in droves, sometimes to the number +of fifty or sixty together; when they are seen playful and feeding on grass, +which alone forms their food. At such time they move gently about +like all other quadrupeds, on all fours; but at the slightest noise +they spring up on their hind legs and sit erect, listening to what +it may proceed from, and if it increases they bound off on those legs only, +the fore ones at the same time being carried close to the breast +like the paws of a monkey; and the tail stretched out, acts as a rudder +on a ship. In drinking, the kangaroo laps. It is remarkable +that they are never found in a fat state, being invariably lean. +Of the flesh we always eat with avidity, but in Europe it would not +be reckoned a delicacy. A rank flavour forms the principal objection to it. +The tail is accounted the most delicious part, when stewed. + +Hitherto I have spoken only of the large, or grey kangaroo, to which +the natives give the name of 'patagaran'.* But there are +(besides the kangaroo-rat) two other sorts. One of them we called +the red kangaroo, from the colour of its fur, which is like that of a hare, +and sometimes is mingled with a large portion of black: the natives +call it 'bagaray'. It rarely attains to more than forty pounds weight. +The third sort is very rare, and in the formation of its head resembles +the opossum. The kangaroo-rat is a small animal, never reaching, +at its utmost growth, more than fourteen or fifteen pounds, +and its usual size is not above seven or eight pounds. It joins to the head +and bristles of a rat the leading distinctions of a kangaroo, by running +when pursued on its hind legs only, and the female having a pouch. +Unlike the kangaroo, who appears to have no fixed place of residence, +this little animal constructs for itself a nest of grass, on the ground, +of a circular figure, about ten inches in diameter, with a hole on one side +for the creature to enter at; the inside being lined with a finer sort +of grass, very soft and downy. But its manner of carrying the materials +with which it builds the nest is the greatest curiosity: by entwining +its tail (which, like that of all the kangaroo tribe, is long, flexible +and muscular) around whatever it wants to remove, and thus dragging along +the load behind it. This animal is good to eat; but whether it be +more prolific at a birth than the kangaroo, I know not. + +[*kangaroo was a name unknown to them for any animal, until we introduced it. +When I showed Colbee the cows brought out in the Gorgon, he asked me +if they were kangaroos.] + +The Indians sometimes kill the kangaroo; but their greatest destroyer +is the wild dog,* who feeds on them. Immediately on hearing or seeing +this formidable enemy, the kangaroo flies to the thickest cover, in which, +if he can involve himself, he generally escapes. In running to the cover, +they always, if possible, keep in paths of their own forming, to avoid +the high grass and stumps of trees which might be sticking up among it +to wound them and impede their course. + +[*I once found in the woods the greatest part of a kangaroo +just killed by the dogs, which afforded to three of us a most welcome repast. +Marks of its turns and struggles on the ground were very visible. +This happened in the evening, and the dogs probably had seen us approach +and had run away. At daylight next morning they saluted us +with most dreadful howling for the loss of their prey.] + +Our methods of killing them were but two; either we shot them, or hunted them +with greyhounds. We were never able to ensnare them. Those sportsmen +who relied on the gun seldom met with success, unless they slept near covers, +into which the kangaroos were wont to retire at night, and watched +with great caution and vigilance when the game, in the morning, +sallied forth to feed. They were, however, sometimes stolen in upon +in the day-time and that fascination of the eye, which has been +by some authors so much insisted upon, so far acts on the kangaroo +that if he fixes his eye upon any one, and no other object move at the same +time, he will often continue motionless, in stupid gaze, while the sportsman +advances with measured step, towards him, until within reach of his gun. +The greyhounds for a long time were incapable of taking them; but with a brace +of dogs, if not near cover a kangaroo almost always falls, since the greyhounds +have acquired by practice the proper method of fastening upon them. +Nevertheless the dogs are often miserably torn by them. The rough wiry +greyhound suffers least in the conflict, and is most prized by the hunters. + +Other quadrupeds, besides the wild dog, consist only of the flying squirrel, +of three kinds of opossums and some minute animals, usually marked +by the distinction which so peculiarly characterizes the opossum tribe. +The rats, soon after our landing, became not only numerous but formidable, +from the destruction they occasioned in the stores. Latterly they had +almost disappeared, though to account for their absence were not easy. +The first time Colbee saw a monkey, he called 'wurra' (a rat); +but on examining its paws he exclaimed with astonishment and affright, +'mulla' (a man). + +At the head of the birds the cassowary or emu, stands conspicuous. +The print of it which has already been given to the public is so accurate +for the most part, that it would be malignant criticism in a work +of this kind to point out a few trifling defects. + +Here again naturalists must look forward to that information which longer +and more intimate knowledge of the feathered tribe than I can supply, +shall appear. I have nevertheless had the good fortune to see what +was never seen but once, in the country I am describing, by Europeans--a +hatch, or flock, of young cassowaries with the old bird. I counted ten, +but others said there were twelve. We came suddenly upon them, +and they ran up a hill exactly like a flock of turkeys, but so fast +that we could not get a shot at them. The largest cassowary ever killed +in the settlement, weighed ninety-four pounds. Three young ones, +which had been by accident separated from the dam, were once taken +and presented to the governor. They were not larger than so many pullets, +although at first sight they appeared to be so from the length of their necks +and legs. They were very beautifully striped, and from their tender state +were judged to be not more than three or four days old. They lived +only a few days. + +A single egg, the production of a cassowary, was picked up in a desert place, +dropped on the sand, without covering or protection of any kind. +Its form was nearly a perfect ellipsis; and the colour of the shell +a dark green, full of little indents on its surface. It measured eleven inches +and a half in circumference, five inches and a quarter in height, +and weighed a pound and a quarter. Afterwards we had the good fortune +to take a nest. It was found by a soldier in a sequestered solitary situation, +made in a patch of lofty fern about three feet in diameter, +rather of an oblong shape and composed of dry leaves and tops of fern stalks, +very inartificially put together. The hollow in which lay the eggs, +twelve in number, seemed made solely by the pressure of the bird. +The eggs were regularly placed in the following position. + + + O + O O O + O O O O O + O O O + + +The soldier, instead of greedily plundering his prize, communicated +the discovery to an officer, who immediately set out for the spot. +When they had arrived there they continued for a long time to search in vain +for their object, and the soldier was just about to be stigmatized +with ignorance, credulity or imposture, when suddenly up started the old bird +and the treasure was found at their feet. + +The food of the cassowary is either grass, or a yellow bell-flower +growing in the swamps. It deserves remark, that the natives deny +the cassowary to be a bird, because it does not fly. + +Of other birds the varieties are very numerous. Of the parrot tribe alone +I could, while I am writing, count up from memory fourteen different sorts. +Hawks are very numerous, so are quails. A single snipe has been shot. +Ducks, geese and other aquatic birds are often seen in large flocks, +but are universally so shy, that it is found difficult to shoot them. +Some of the smaller birds are very beautiful, but they are not remarkable +for either sweetness, or variety of notes. To one of them, not bigger +than a tomtit, we have given the name of coach-whip, from its note +exactly resembling the smack of a whip. The country, I am of opinion, +would abound with birds did not the natives, by perpetually setting fire +to the grass and bushes, destroy the greater part of the nests; a cause +which also contributes to render small quadrupeds scarce. They are besides +ravenously fond of eggs and eat them wherever they find them. They call +the roe of a fish and a bird's egg by one name. + +So much has been said of the abundance in which fish are found in the harbours +of New South Wales that it looks like detraction to oppose a contradiction. +Some share of knowledge may, however, be supposed to belong to experience. +Many a night have I toiled (in the times of distress) on the public service, +from four o'clock in the afternoon until eight o'clock next morning, +hauling the seine in every part of the harbour of Port Jackson: and after +a circuit of many miles and between twenty and thirty hauls, seldom more +than a hundred pounds of fish were taken. However, it sometimes happens +that a glut enters the harbour, and for a few days they sufficiently abound. +But the universal voice of all professed fishermen is that they never fished +in a country where success was so precarious and uncertain. + +I shall not pretend to enumerate the variety of fish which are found. +They are seen from a whale to a gudgeon. In the intermediate classes +may be reckoned sharks of a monstrous size, skait, rock-cod, grey-mullet, +bream, horse-mackarel, now and then a sole and john dory, and innumerable +others unknown in Europe, many of which are extremely delicious, +and many highly beautiful. At the top of the list, as an article of food, +stands a fish, which we named light-horseman. The relish of this +excellent fish was increased by our natives, who pointed out to us +its delicacies. No epicure in England could pick a head with more glee +and dexterity than they do that of a light-horseman. + +Reptiles in the swamps and covers are numerous. Of snakes there are two +or three sorts: but whether the bite of any of them be mortal, +or even venomous, is somewhat doubtful. I know but of one well attested +instance of a bite being received from a snake. A soldier was bitten +so as to draw blood, and the wound healed as a simple incision usually does +without shewing any symptom of malignity. A dog was reported to be bitten +by a snake, and the animal swelled and died in great agony. But I will +by no means affirm that the cause of his death was fairly ascertained. +It is, however, certain that the natives show, on all occasions, +the utmost horror of the snake, and will not eat it, although they esteem +lizards, goannas, and many other reptiles delicious fare. On this occasion +they always observe that if the snake bites them, they become lame, +but whether by this they mean temporary or lasting lameness I do not pretend +to determine. I have often eaten snakes and always found them palatable +and nutritive, though it was difficult to stew them to a tender state. + +Summer here, as in all other countries, brings with it a long list of insects. +In the neighborhood of rivers and morasses, mosquitoes and sandflies +are never wanting at any season, but at Sydney they are seldom numerous +or troublesome. The most nauseous and destructive of all the insects +is a fly which blows not eggs but large living maggots, and if the body +of the fly be opened it is found full of them. Of ants there are +several sorts, one of which bites very severely. The white ant +is sometimes seen. Spiders are large and numerous. Their webs +are not only the strongest, but the finest, and most silky I ever felt. +I have often thought their labour might be turned to advantage. It has, +I believe, been proved that spiders, were it not for their quarrelsome +disposition which irritates them to attack and destroy each other, +might be employed more profitably than silk-worms. + +The hardiness of some of the insects deserves to be mentioned. A beetle +was immersed in proof spirits for four hours, and when taken out crawled away +almost immediately. It was a second time immersed, and continued in a glass +of rum for a day and a night, at the expiration of which period +it still showed symptoms of life. Perhaps, however, what I from ignorance +deem wonderful is common. + + +***** + + +The last but the most important production yet remains to be considered. +Whether plodding in London, reeking with human blood in Paris or wandering +amidst the solitary wilds of New South Wales--Man is ever an object +of interest, curiosity and reflection. + +The natives around Port Jackson are in person rather more diminutive +and slighter made, especially about the thighs and legs, than the Europeans. +It is doubtful whether their society contained a person of six feet high. +The tallest I ever measured, reached five feet eleven inches, and men +of his height were rarely seen. Baneelon, who towered above the majority +of his countrymen, stood barely five feet eight inches high. His other +principal dimensions were as follows: + + + Girth of the Chest. 2 feet 10 inches + Girth of the Belly. 2 feet 6 1/2 inches + Girth of the Thigh. 18 1/8 inches + Girth of the Leg at the Calf. 12 1/8 inches + Girth of the Leg at the Small. 10 inches + Girth of arm half way between + the shoulder and elbow. 9 inches + + +Instances of natural deformity are scarce, nor did we ever see one +of them left-handed. They are, indeed, nearly ambidexter; but the sword, +the spear and the fish-gig are always used with the right hand. +Their muscular force is not great; but the pliancy of their limbs +renders them very active. "Give to civilized man all his machines, +and he is superior to the savage; but without these, how inferior is he found +on opposition, even more so than the savage in the first instance." +These are the words of Rousseau, and like many more of his positions +must be received with limitation. Were an unarmed Englishman and an unarmed +New Hollander to engage, the latter, I think, would fall. + +Mr. Cook seems inclined to believe the covering of their heads to be wool. +But this is erroneous. It is certainly hair, which when regularly combed +becomes soon nearly as flexible and docile as our own. Their teeth +are not so white and good as those generally found in Indian nations, +except in the children, but the inferiority originates in themselves. +hey bite sticks, stones, shells and all other hard substances, indiscriminately +with them, which quickly destroys the enamel and gives them a jagged +and uneven appearance. A high forehead, with prominent overhanging eyebrows, +is their leading characteristic, and when it does not operate to destroy +all openness of countenance gives an air of resolute dignity to the aspect, +which recommends, in spite of a true negro nose, thick lips, and a wide mouth. +The prominent shin bone, so invariably found in the Africans, is not, +however, seen. But in another particular they are more alike. The rank +offensive smell which disgusts so much in the negro, prevails strongly +among them when they are in their native state, but it wears off in those +who have resided with us and have been taught habits of cleanliness. +Their hands and feet are small*, especially the former. + +[*I mentioned this, among other circumstances, to colonel Gordon when I was +at the Cape, and he told me that it indicated poverty and inadequacy of living. +He instanced to me the Hottentots and Caffres. The former fare poorly, +and have small hands and feet. The Caffres, their neighbours, +live plenteously and have very large ones. This remark cannot be applied +to civilized nations, where so many factitious causes operate.] + +Their eyes are full, black and piercing, but the almost perpetual strain +in which the optic nerve is kept, by looking out for prey, renders +their sight weak at an earlier age than we in general find ours affected. +These large black eyes are universally shaded by the long thick sweepy eyelash, +so much prized in appreciating beauty, that, perhaps hardly any face +is so homely which this aid cannot in some degree render interesting; +and hardly any so lovely which, without it, bears not some trace of insipidity. +Their tone of voice is loud, but not harsh. I have in some of them +found it very pleasing. + +Longevity, I think, is seldom attained by them. Unceasing agitation +wears out the animal frame and is unfriendly to length of days. We have seen +them grey with age, but not old; perhaps never beyond sixty years. +But it may be said, the American Indian, in his undebauched state, lives +to an advanced period. True, but he has his seasons of repose. He reaps +his little harvest of maize and continues in idleness while it lasts. +He kills the roebuck or the moose-deer, which maintains him and his family +for many days, during which cessation the muscles regain their spring +and fit him for fresh toils. Whereas every sun awakes the native +of New South Wales (unless a whale be thrown upon the coast) to a renewal +of labour, to provide subsistence for the present day. + +The women are proportionally smaller than the men. I never measured +but two of them, who were both, I think, about the medium height. +One of them, a sister of Baneelon, stood exactly five feet two inches high. +The other, named Gooreedeeana, was shorter by a quarter of an inch. + +But I cannot break from Gooreedeeana so abruptly. She belonged to the tribe +of Cameragal, and rarely came among us. One day, however, she entered +my house to complain of hunger. She excelled in beauty all their females +I ever saw. Her age about eighteen, the firmness, the symmetry +and the luxuriancy of her bosom might have tempted painting to copy its charms. +Her mouth was small and her teeth, though exposed to all the destructive +purposes to which they apply them, were white, sound and unbroken. +Her countenance, though marked by some of the characteristics +of her native land, was distinguished by a softness and sensibility +unequalled in the rest of her countrywomen, and I was willing to believe +that these traits indicated the disposition of her mind. I had never before +seen this elegant timid female, of whom I had often heard; but the interest +I took in her led me to question her about her husband and family. +She answered me by repeating a name which I have now forgotten, and told me +she had no children. I was seized with a strong propensity to learn +whether the attractions of Gooreedeeana were sufficiently powerful +to secure her from the brutal violence with which the women are treated, +and as I found my question either ill understood or reluctantly answered, +I proceeded to examine her head, the part on which the husband's vengeance +generally alights. With grief I found it covered by contusions +and mangled by scars. The poor creature, grown by this time more confident +from perceiving that I pitied her, pointed out a wound just above +her left knee which she told me was received from a spear, thrown at her +by a man who had lately dragged her by force from her home to gratify his lust. +I afterwards observed that this wound had caused a slight lameness +and that she limped in walking. I could only compassionate her wrongs +and sympathize in her misfortunes. To alleviate her present sense of them, +when she took her leave I gave her, however, all the bread and salt pork +which my little stock afforded. + +After this I never saw her but once, when I happened to be near +the harbour's mouth in a boat, with captain Ball. We met her in a canoe +with several more of her sex. She was painted for a ball, with broad stripes +of white earth, from head to foot, so that she no longer looked like +the same Gooreedeeana. We offered her several presents, all of which +she readily accepted; but finding our eagerness and solicitude to inspect her, +she managed her canoe with such address as to elude our too near approach, +and acted the coquet to admiration. + +To return from this digression to my subject, I have only farther to observe +that the estimation of female beauty among the natives (the men at least) +is in this country the same as in most others. Were a New Hollander +to portray his mistress, he would draw her the 'Venus aux belles fesses'. +Whenever Baneelon described to us his favourite fair, he always painted her +in this, and another particular, as eminently luxuriant. + +Unsatisfied, however, with natural beauty (like the people of all other +countries) they strive by adscititious embellishments to heighten attraction, +and often with as little success. Hence the naked savage of New South Wales +pierces the septum of his nose, through which he runs a stick or a bone, +and scarifies his body, the charms of which increase in proportion +to the number and magnitude of seams by which it is distinguished. +The operation is performed by making two longitudinal incisions +with a sharpened shell, and afterwards pinching up with the nails +the intermediate space of skin and flesh, which thereby becomes considerably +elevated and forms a prominence as thick as a man's finger. No doubt but pain +must be severely felt until the wound be healed. But the love of ornament +defies weaker considerations, and no English beau can bear more stoutly +the extraction of his teeth to make room for a fresh set from +a chimney sweeper, or a fair one suffer her tender ears to be perforated, +with more heroism than the grisly nymphs on the banks of Port Jackson, +submit their sable shoulders to the remorseless lancet. + +That these scarifications are intended solely to increase personal allurement +I will not, however, positively affirm. Similar, perhaps, to the cause +of an excision of part of the little finger of the left hand in the women, +and of a front tooth in the men;* or probably after all our conjectures, +superstitious ceremonies by which they hope either to avert evil +or to propagate good, are intended. The colours with which they besmear +the bodies of both sexes possibly date from the same common origin. +White paint is strictly appropriate to the dance. Red seems to be used +on numberless occasions, and is considered as a colour of less consequence. +It may be remarked that they translate the epithet white when they speak +of us, not by the name which they assign to this white earth, but by that +with which they distinguish the palms of their hands. + + +[*It is to be observed that neither of these ceremonies is universal, +but nearly so. Why there should exist exemptions I cannot resolve. +The manner of executing them is as follows. The finger is taken off +by means of a ligature (generally a sinew of a kangaroo) tied so tight +as to stop the circulation of the blood, which induces mortification +and the part drops off. I remember to have seen Colbee's child, when about +a month old, on whom this operation had been just performed by her mother. +The little wretch seemed in pain, and her hand was greatly swelled. +But this was deemed too trifling a consideration to deserve regard +in a case of so much importance. + +The tooth intended to be taken out is loosened by the gum being scarified +on both sides with a sharp shell. The end of a stick is then applied +to the tooth, which is struck gently several times with a stone, until it +becomes easily moveable, when the 'coup de grace' is given by a smart stroke. +Notwithstanding these precautions, I have seen a considerable degree +of swelling and inflammation follow the extraction. Imeerawanyee, I remember, +suffered severely. But he boasted the firmness and hardihood with which +he had endured it. It is seldom performed on those who are under sixteen +years old.] + + +As this leads to an important subject I shall at once discuss it. +"Have these people any religion: any knowledge of, or belief in a deity?-- +any conception of the immortality of the soul?" are questions which have been +often put to me since my arrival in England: I shall endeavour to answer them +with candour and seriousness. + +Until belief be enlightened by revelation and chastened by reason, +religion and superstition, are terms of equal import. One of our earliest +impressions is the consciousness of a superior power. The various forms +under which this impression has manifested itself are objects +of the most curious speculation. + +The native of New South Wales believes that particular aspects and appearances +of the heavenly bodies predict good or evil consequences to himself +and his friends. He oftentimes calls the sun and moon 'weeree,' that is, +malignant, pernicious. Should he see the leading fixed stars +(many of which he can call by name) obscured by vapours, he sometimes +disregards the omen, and sometimes draws from it the most dreary conclusions. +I remember Abaroo running into a room where a company was assembled, +and uttering frightful exclamations of impending mischiefs about to light +on her and her countrymen. When questioned on the cause of such agitation +she went to the door and pointed to the skies, saying that whenever +the stars wore that appearance, misfortunes to the natives always followed. +The night was cloudy and the air disturbed by meteors. I have heard +many more of them testify similar apprehensions. + +However involved in darkness and disfigured by error such a belief be, +no one will, I presume, deny that it conveys a direct implication +of superior agency; of a power independent of and uncontrolled by +those who are the objects of its vengeance. But proof stops not here. +When they hear the thunder roll and view the livid glare, they flee them not, +but rush out and deprecate destruction. They have a dance and a song +appropriated to this awful occasion, which consist of the wildest +and most uncouth noises and gestures. Would they act such a ceremony +did they not conceive that either the thunder itself, or he who directs +the thunder, might be propitiated by its performance? That a living +intellectual principle exists, capable of comprehending their petition +and of either granting or denying it? They never address prayers +to bodies which they know to be inanimate, either to implore their protection +or avert their wrath. When the gum-tree in a tempest nods over them; +or the rock overhanging the cavern in which they sleep threatens by its fall +to crush them, they calculate (as far as their knowledge extends) +on physical principles, like other men, the nearness and magnitude +of the danger, and flee it accordingly. And yet there is reason to believe +that from accidents of this nature they suffer more than from lightning. +Baneelon once showed us a cave, the top of which had fallen in and buried +under its ruins, seven people who were sleeping under it. + +To descend; is not even the ridiculous superstition of Colbee related +in one of our journies to the Hawkesbury? And again the following instance. +Abaroo was sick. To cure her, one of her own sex slightly cut her +on the forehead, in a perpendicular direction with an oyster shell, +so as just to fetch blood. She then put one end of a string to the wound +and, beginning to sing, held the other end to her own gums, which she rubbed +until they bled copiously. This blood she contended was the blood +of the patient, flowing through the string, and that she would thereby +soon recover. Abaroo became well, and firmly believed that she owed +her cure to the treatment she had received. Are not these, I say, links, +subordinate ones indeed, of the same golden chain? He who believes in magic +confesses supernatural agency, and a belief of this sort extends farther +in many persons than they are willing to allow. There have lived men +so inconsistent with their own principles as to deny the existence of a God, +who have nevertheless turned pale at the tricks of a mountebank. + +But not to multiply arguments on a subject where demonstration +(at least to me) is incontestable, I shall close by expressing my firm belief +that the Indians of New South Wales acknowledge the existence +of a superintending deity. Of their ideas of the origin and duration +of his existence; of his power and capacity; of his benignity or maleficence; +or of their own emanation from him, I pretend not to speak. I have often, +in common with others, tried to gain information from them on this head; +but we were always repulsed by obstacles which we could neither pass by +or surmount. Mr. Dawes attempted to teach Abaroo some of our notions +of religion, and hoped that she would thereby be induced to communicate hers +in return. But her levity and love of play in a great measure defeated +his efforts, although every thing he did learn from her served to confirm +what is here advanced. It may be remarked, that when they attended at church +with us (which was a common practice) they always preserved profound silence +and decency, as if conscious that some religious ceremony on our side +was performing. + +The question of, whether they believe in the immortality of the soul +will take up very little time to answer. They are universally fearful +of spirits.* They call a spirit 'mawn'. They often scruple to approach +a corpse, saying that the 'mawn' will seize them and that it fastens upon them +in the night when asleep.** When asked where their deceased friends are +they always point to the skies. To believe in after existence is to confess +the immortality of some part of being. To enquire whether they assign +a 'limited' period to such future state would be superfluous. This is one +of the subtleties of speculation which a savage may be supposed not to have +considered, without impeachment either of his sagacity or happiness. + +[* "It is remarkable," says Cicero, "that there is no nation, whether +barbarous or civilized, that does not believe in the existence of spirits".] + +[**As they often eat to satiety, even to produce sickness, may not this be +the effect of an overloaded stomach: the nightmare?] + + + +Their manner of interring the dead has been amply described. It is certain +that instead of burying they sometimes burn the corpse; but the cause +of distinction we know not. A dead body, covered by a canoe, at whose side +a sword and shield were placed in state, was once discovered. All that +we could learn about this important personage was that he was a 'Gweeagal' +(one of the tribe of Gweea) and a celebrated warrior. + +To appreciate their general powers of mind is difficult. Ignorance, +prejudice, the force of habit, continually interfere to prevent dispassionate +judgment. I have heard men so unreasonable as to exclaim at the stupidity +of these people for not comprehending what a small share of reflection +would have taught them they ought not to have expected. And others again +I have heard so sanguine in their admiration as to extol for proofs +of elevated genius what the commonest abilities were capable of executing. + +If they be considered as a nation whose general advancement and acquisitions +are to be weighed, they certainly rank very low, even in the scale of savages. +They may perhaps dispute the right of precedence with the Hottentots +or the shivering tribes who inhabit the shores of Magellan. But how inferior +do they show when compared with the subtle African; the patient watchful +American; or the elegant timid islander of the South Seas. Though suffering +from the vicissitudes of their climate, strangers to clothing, though feeling +the sharpness of hunger and knowing the precariousness of supply from that +element on whose stores they principally depend, ignorant of cultivating +the earth--a less enlightened state we shall exclaim can hardly exist. + +But if from general view we descend to particular inspection, and examine +individually the persons who compose this community, they will certainly rise +in estimation. In the narrative part of this work, I have endeavoured +rather to detail information than to deduce conclusions, leaving to the reader +the exercise of his own judgment. The behaviour of Arabanoo, of Baneelon, +of Colbee and many others is copiously described, and assuredly he who shall +make just allowance for uninstructed nature will hardly accuse +any of those persons of stupidity or deficiency of apprehension. + +To offer my own opinion on the subject, I do not hesitate to declare +that the natives of New South Wales possess a considerable portion +of that acumen, or sharpness of intellect, which bespeaks genius. +All savages hate toil and place happiness in inaction, and neither the arts +of civilized life can be practised or the advantages of it felt without +application and labour. Hence they resist knowledge and the adoption +of manners and customs differing from their own. The progress of reason +is not only slow, but mechanical. "De toutes les Instructions propres +a l'homme, celle qu'il acquiert le plus tard, et le plus difficilement, +est la raison meme." The tranquil indifference and uninquiring eye +with which they surveyed our works of art have often, in my hearing, +been stigmatized as proofs of stupidity, and want of reflection. But surely +we should discriminate between ignorance and defect of understanding. +The truth was, they often neither comprehended the design nor conceived +the utility of such works, but on subjects in any degree familiarised +to their ideas, they generally testified not only acuteness of discernment +but a large portion of good sense. I have always thought that the distinctions +they shewed in their estimate of us, on first entering into our society, +strongly displayed the latter quality: when they were led into our respective +houses, at once to be astonished and awed by our superiority, their attention +was directly turned to objects with which they were acquainted. +They passed without rapture or emotion our numerous artifices and contrivances, +but when they saw a collection of weapons of war or of the skins of animals +and birds, they never failed to exclaim, and to confer with each other +on the subject. The master of that house became the object of their regard, +as they concluded he must be either a renowned warrior, or an expert hunter. +Our surgeons grew into their esteem from a like cause. In a very early stage +of intercourse, several natives were present at the amputation of a leg. +When they first penetrated the intention of the operator, +they were confounded, not believing it possible that such an operation +could be performed without loss of life, and they called aloud to him +to desist; but when they saw the torrent of blood stopped, the vessels +taken up and the stump dressed, their horror and alarm yielded to astonishment +and admiration, which they expressed by the loudest tokens. If these +instances bespeak not nature and good sense, I have yet to learn +the meaning of the terms. + +If it be asked why the same intelligent spirit which led them to contemplate +and applaud the success of the sportsman and the skill of the surgeon, +did not equally excite them to meditate on the labours of the builder +and the ploughman, I can only answer that what we see in its remote cause +is always more feebly felt than that which presents to our immediate grasp +both its origin and effect. + +Their leading good and bad qualities I shall concisely touch upon. +Of their intrepidity no doubt can exist. Their levity, their fickleness, +their passionate extravagance of character, cannot be defended. +They are indeed sudden and quick in quarrel; but if their resentment +be easily roused, their thirst of revenge is not implacable. Their honesty, +when tempted by novelty, is not unimpeachable, but in their own society +there is good reason to believe that few breaches of it occur. +It were well if similar praise could be given to their veracity: but truth +they neither prize nor practice. When they wish to deceive they scruple not +to utter the grossest and most hardened lies.* Their attachment and gratitude +to those among us whom they have professed to love have always remained +inviolable, unless effaced by resentment, from sudden provocation: then, +like all other Indians, the impulse of the moment is alone regarded by them. + +[*This may serve to account for the contradictions of many of their +accounts to us.] + +Some of their manufactures display ingenuity, when the rude tools with which +they work, and their celerity of execution are considered. The canoes, +fish-gigs, swords, shields, spears, throwing sticks, clubs, and hatchets, +are made by the men. To the women are committed the fishing-lines, hooks +and nets. As very ample collections of all these articles are to be found +in many museums in England, I shall only briefly describe the way in which +the most remarkable of them are made. The fish-gigs and spears are commonly +(but not universally) made of the long spiral shoot which arises from the top +of the yellow gum-tree, and bears the flower. The former have several prongs, +barbed with the bone of kangaroo. The latter are sometimes barbed +with the same substance, or with the prickle of the sting-ray, or with stone +or hardened gum, and sometimes simply pointed. Dexterity in throwing +and parrying the spear is considered as the highest acquirement. The children +of both sexes practice from the time that they are able to throw a rush; +their first essay. It forms their constant recreation. They afterwards heave +at each other with pointed twigs. He who acts on the defensive holds a piece +of new soft bark in the left hand, to represent a shield, in which he receives +the darts of the assailant, the points sticking in it. Now commences +his turn. He extracts the twigs and darts them back at the first thrower, +who catches them similarly. In warding off the spear they never present +their front, but always turn their side, their head at the same time +just clear of the shield, to watch the flight of the weapon; +and the body covered. If a spear drop from them when thus engaged, +they do not stoop to pick it up, but hook it between the toes and so lift it +until it meet the hand. Thus the eye is never diverted from its object, +the foe. If they wish to break a spear or any wooden substance, they lay it +not across the thigh or the body, but upon the head, and press down the ends +until it snap. Their shields are of two sorts. That called 'illemon' +is nothing but a piece of bark with a handle fixed in the inside of it. +The other, dug out of solid wood, is called 'aragoon', and is made as follows, +with great labour. On the bark of a tree they mark the size of the shield, +then dig the outline as deep as possible in the wood with hatchets, +and lastly flake it off as thick as they can, by driving in wedges. +The sword is a large heavy piece of wood, shaped like a sabre, and capable +of inflicting a mortal wound. In using it they do not strike with the convex +side, but with the concave one, and strive to hook in their antagonists +so as to have them under their blows. The fishing-lines are made of the bark +of a shrub. The women roll shreds of this on the inside of the thigh, +so as to twist it together, carefully inserting the ends of every fresh piece +into the last made. They are not as strong as lines of equal size +formed of hemp. The fish-hooks are chopped with a stone out of a particular +shell, and afterwards rubbed until they become smooth. They are +very much curved, and not barbed. Considering the quickness with which +they are finished, the excellence of the work, if it be inspected, +is admirable. In all these manufactures the sole of the foot is used +both by men and women as a work-board. They chop a piece of wood, +or aught else upon it, even with an iron tool, without hurting themselves. +It is indeed nearly as hard as the hoof of an ox. + +Their method of procuring fire is this. They take a reed and shave one side +of the surface flat. In this they make a small incision to reach the pith, +and introducing a stick, purposely blunted at the end, into it, turn it round +between the hands (as chocolate is milled) as swiftly as possible, +until flame be produced. As this operation is not only laborious, +but the effect tedious, they frequently relieve each other at the exercise. +And to avoid being often reduced to the necessity of putting it in practice, +they always, if possible, carry a lighted stick with them, whether +in their canoes or moving from place to place on land. + +Their treatment of wounds must not be omitted. A doctor is, with them, +a person of importance and esteem, but his province seems rather to charm away +occult diseases than to act the surgeon's part, which, as a subordinate +science, is exercised indiscriminately. Their excellent habit of body*, +the effect of drinking water only, speedily heals wounds without an exterior +application which with us would take weeks or months to close. +They are, nevertheless, sadly tormented by a cutaneous eruption, +but we never found it contagious. After receiving a contusion, +if the part swell they fasten a ligature very tightly above it, so as to stop +all circulation. Whether to this application, or to their undebauched habit, +it be attributable, I know not, but it is certain that a disabled limb +among them is rarely seen, although violent inflammations from bruises, +which in us would bring on a gangrene, daily happen. If they get burned, +either from rolling into the fire when asleep, or from the flame catching +the grass on which they lie (both of which are common accidents) +they cover the part with a thin paste of kneaded clay, which excludes the air +and adheres to the wound until it be cured, and the eschar falls off. + +[*Their native hardiness of constitution is great. I saw a woman on the day +she was brought to bed, carry her new-born infant from Botany Bay +to Port Jackson, a distance of six miles, and afterwards light a fire +and dress fish.] + +Their form of government, and the detail of domestic life, yet remain untold. +The former cannot occupy much space. Without distinctions of rank, +except those which youth and vigour confer, theirs is strictly a system +of 'equality' attended with only one inconvenience--the strong triumph +over the weak. Whether any laws exist among them for the punishment +of offences committed against society; or whether the injured party +in all cases seeks for relief in private revenge, I will not positively affirm; +though I am strongly inclined to believe that only the latter method prevails. +I have already said that they are divided into tribes; but what constitutes +the right of being enrolled in a tribe, or where exclusion begins and ends, +I am ignorant. The tribe of Cameragal is of all the most numerous +and powerful. Their superiority probably arose from possessing +the best fishing ground, and perhaps from their having suffered less +from the ravages of the smallpox. + +In the domestic detail there may be novelty, but variety is unattainable. +One day must be very like another in the life of a savage. Summoned by +the calls of hunger and the returning light, he starts from his beloved +indolence, and snatching up the remaining brand of his fire, hastens +with his wife to the strand to commence their daily task. In general +the canoe is assigned to her, into which she puts the fire and pushes off +into deep water, to fish with hook and line, this being the province +of the women. If she have a child at the breast, she takes it with her. +And thus in her skiff, a piece of bark tied at both ends with vines, +and the edge of it but just above the surface of the water, she pushes out +regardless of the elements, if they be but commonly agitated. +While she paddles to the fishing-bank, and while employed there, the child +is placed on her shoulders, entwining its little legs around her neck +and closely grasping her hair with its hands. To its first cries +she remains insensible, as she believes them to arise only from +the inconvenience of a situation, to which she knows it must be inured. +But if its plaints continue, and she supposes it to be in want of food, +she ceases her fishing and clasps it to her breast. An European spectator +is struck with horror and astonishment at their perilous situation, +but accidents seldom happen. The management of the canoe alone appears +a work of unsurmountable difficulty, its breadth is so inadequate +to its length. The Indians, aware of its ticklish formation, practise +from infancy to move in it without risk. Use only could reconcile them +to the painful position in which they sit in it. They drop in the middle +of the canoe upon their knees, and resting the buttocks on the heels, +extend the knees to the sides, against which they press strongly, +so as to form a poise sufficient to retain the body in its situation, +and relieve the weight which would otherwise fall wholly upon the toes. +Either in this position or cautiously moving in the centre of the vessel, +the mother tends her child, keeps up her fire (which is laid on a small patch +of earth), paddles her boat, broils fish and provides in part the subsistence +of the day. Their favourite bait for fish is a cockle. + +The husband in the mean time warily moves to some rock, over which he can peep +into unruffled water to look for fish. For this purpose he always chooses +a weather shore, and the various windings of the numerous creeks and indents +always afford one. Silent and watchful, he chews a cockle and spits it +into the water. Allured by the bait, the fish appear from beneath the rock. +He prepares his fish-gig, and pointing it downward, moves it gently +towards the object, always trying to approach it as near as possible +to the fish before the stroke be given. At last he deems himself +sufficiently advanced and plunges it at his prey. If he has hit his mark, +he continues his efforts and endeavours to transpierce it or so to entangle +the barbs in the flesh as to prevent its escape. When he finds it secure +he drops the instrument, and the fish, fastened on the prongs, +rises to the surface, floated by the buoyancy of the staff. Nothing now +remains to be done but to haul it to him, with either a long stick +or another fish-gig (for an Indian, if he can help it, never goes into the +water on these occasions) to disengage it, and to look out for fresh sport. + +But sometimes the fish have either deserted the rocks for deeper water, +or are too shy to suffer approach. He then launches his canoe, and leaving +the shore behind, watches the rise of prey out of the water, and darts +his gig at them to the distance of many yards. Large fish he seldom procures +by this method; but among shoals of mullets, which are either pursued +by enemies, or leap at objects on the surface, he is often successful. +Baneelon has been seen to kill more than twenty fish by this method +in an afternoon. The women sometimes use the gig, and always carry one +in each canoe to strike large fish which may be hooked and thereby facilitate +the capture. But generally speaking, this instrument is appropriate +to the men, who are never seen fishing with the line, and would indeed +consider it as a degradation of their pre-eminence. + +When prevented by tempestuous weather or any other cause, from fishing, +these people suffer severely. They have then no resource but to pick up +shellfish, which may happen to cling to the rocks, and be cast on the beach, +to hunt particular reptiles and small animals, which are scarce, to dig +fern root in the swamps or to gather a few berries, destitute of flavour +and nutrition, which the woods afford. To alleviate the sensation of hunger, +they tie a ligature tightly around the belly, as I have often seen +our soldiers do from the same cause. + +Let us, however, suppose them successful in procuring fish. The wife returns +to land with her booty, and the husband quitting the rock joins his stock +to hers; and they repair either to some neighbouring cavern or to their hut. +This last is composed of pieces of bark, very rudely piled together, +in shape as like a soldier's tent as any known image to which I can compare it: +too low to admit the lord of it to stand upright, but long and wide enough +to admit three or four persons to lie under it. "Here shelters himself +a being, born with all those powers which education expands, and all those +sensations which culture refines." With a lighted stick brought from +the canoe they now kindle a small fire at the mouth of the hut and prepare +to dress their meal. They begin by throwing the fish exactly in the state +in which it came from the water, on the fire. When it has become +a little warmed they take it off, rub away the scales, and then peal off +with their teeth the surface, which they find done and eat. Now, +and not before, they gut it; but if the fish be a mullet or any other +which has a fatty substance about the intestines, they carefully guard +that part and esteem it a delicacy. The cooking is now completed +by the remaining part being laid on the fire until it be sufficiently done. +A bird, a lizard, a rat, or any other animal, they treat in the same manner. +The feathers of the one and the fur of the other, they thus get rid of.* + +[*They broil indiscriminately all substances which they eat. Though they boil +water in small quantities in oyster shells for particular purposes, +they never conceived it possible until shown by us, to dress meat +by this method, having no vessel capable of containing a fish or a bird +which would stand fire. Two of them once stole twelve pounds of rice +and carried it off. They knew how we cooked it, and by way of putting it +in practice they spread the rice on the ground before a fire, +and as it grew hot continued to throw water on it. Their ingenuity was +however very ill rewarded, for the rice became so mingled with the dirt +and sand on which it was laid, that even they could not eat it, +and the whole was spoiled.] + +Unless summoned away by irresistable necessity, sleep always follows the +repast. They would gladly prolong it until the following day; but the +canoe wants repair, the fish-gig must be barbed afresh, new lines must be +twisted, and new hooks chopped out. They depart to their respective +tasks, which end only with the light. + +Such is the general life of an Indian. But even he has his hours of +relaxation, in seasons of success, when fish abounds. Wanton with plenty, +he now meditates an attack upon the chastity of some neighbouring fair +one; and watching his opportunity he seizes her and drags her away +to complete his purpose. The signal of war is lighted; her lover, +her father, her brothers, her tribe, assemble, and vow revenge on the +spoiler. He tells his story to his tribe. They judge the case to be +a common one and agree to support him. Battle ensues; they discharge +their spears at each other, and legs and arms are transpierced. +When the spears are expended the combatants close and every species +of violence is practiced. They seize their antagonist and snap like +enraged dogs, they wield the sword and club, the bone shatters beneath +their fall and they drop the prey of unsparing vengeance. + +Too justly, as my observations teach me has Hobbes defined a state of +nature to be a state of war. In the method of waging it among these +people, one thing should not, however, escape notice. Unlike all other +Indians, they never carry on operations in the night, or seek to destroy +by ambush and surprise. Their ardent fearless character, seeks fair +and open combat only. + +But enmity has its moments of pause. Then they assemble to sing and dance. +We always found their songs disagreeable from their monotony. They are +numerous, and vary both in measure and time. They have songs of war, +of hunting, of fishing, for the rise and set of the sun, for rain, +for thunder and for many other occasions. One of these songs, which may +be termed a speaking pantomime, recites the courtship between the sexes +and is accompanied with acting highly expressive. I once heard and saw +Nanbaree and Abaroo perform it. After a few preparatory motions she +gently sunk on the ground, as if in a fainting fit. Nanbaree applying his +mouth to her ear, began to whisper in it, and baring her bosom, breathed +on it several times. At length, the period of the swoon having expired, +with returning animation she gradually raised herself. She now began +to relate what she had seen in her vision, mentioning several of her +countrymen by name, whom we knew to be dead; mixed with other strange +incoherent matter, equally new and inexplicable, though all tending to one +leading point--the sacrifice of her charms to her lover. + +At their dances I have often been present; but I confess myself unable +to convey in description an accurate account of them. Like their songs, +they are conceived to represent the progress of the passions and the +occupations of life. Full of seeming confusion, yet regular and systematic, +their wild gesticulations, and frantic distortions of body are calculated +rather to terrify, than delight, a spectator. These dances consist of +short parts, or acts, accompanied with frequent vociferations, and a kind +of hissing, or whizzing noise. They commonly end with a loud rapid shout, +and after a short respite are renewed. While the dance lasts, one of them +(usually a person of note and estimation) beats time with a stick on a +wooden instrument held in the left hand, accompanying the music with his +voice; and the dancers sometimes sing in concert. + +I have already mentioned that white is the colour appropriated to the +dance, but the style of painting is left to every one's fancy. Some are +streaked with waving lines from head to foot; others marked by broad +cross-bars, on the breast, back, and thighs, or encircled with spiral +lines, or regularly striped like a zebra. Of these ornaments, the face +never wants its share, and it is hard to conceive any thing in the shape +of humanity more hideous and terrific than they appear to a stranger--seen, +perhaps, through the livid gleam of a fire, the eyes surrounded by large +white circles, in contrast with the black ground, the hair stuck full +of pieces of bone and in the hand a grasped club, which they occasionally +brandish with the greatest fierceness and agility. Some dances are +performed by men only, some by women only, and in others the sexes mingle. +In one of them I have seen the men drop on their hands and knees and kiss +the earth with the greatest fervor, between the kisses looking up to +Heaven. They also frequently throw up their arms, exactly in the manner +in which the dancers of the Friendly Islands are depicted in one of the +plates of Mr. Cook's last voyage. + +Courtship here, as in other countries, is generally promoted by this +exercise, where every one tries to recommend himself to attention and +applause. Dancing not only proves an incentive, but offers an opportunity +in its intervals. The first advances are made by the men, who strive +to render themselves agreeable to their favourites by presents of +fishing-tackle and other articles which they know will prove acceptable. +Generally speaking, a man has but one wife, but infidelity on the side +of the husband, with the unmarried girls, is very frequent. For the most +part, perhaps, they intermarry in their respective tribes. This rule is +not, however, constantly observed, and there is reason to think that a +more than ordinary share of courtship and presents, on the part of the +man, is required in this case. Such difficulty seldom operates to +extinguish desire, and nothing is more common than for the unsuccessful +suitor to ravish by force that which he cannot accomplish by entreaty. +I do not believe that very near connections by blood ever cohabit. +We knew of no instance of it. + +But indeed the women are in all respects treated with savage barbarity +Condemned not only to carry the children but all other burthens, they meet +in return for submission only with blows, kicks and every other mark +of brutality. When an Indian is provoked by a woman, he either spears her +or knocks her down on the spot. On this occasion he always strikes +on the head, using indiscriminately a hatchet, a club or any other weapon +which may chance to be in his hand. The heads of the women are always +consequently seen in the state which I found that of Gooreedeeana. +Colbee, who was certainly, in other respects a good tempered merry fellow, +made no scruple of treating Daringa, who was a gentle creature, thus. +Baneelon did the same to Barangaroo, but she was a scold and a vixen, +and nobody pitied her. It must nevertheless be confessed that the women +often artfully study to irritate and inflame the passions of the men, +although sensible that the consequence will alight on themselves. + +Many a matrimonial scene of this sort have I witnessed. Lady Mary Wortley +Montague, in her sprightly letters from Turkey, longs for some of the +advocates for passive obedience and unconditional submission then existing +in England to be present at the sights exhibited in a despotic government. +A thousand times, in like manner, have I wished that those European +philosophers whose closet speculations exalt a state of nature above +a state of civilization, could survey the phantom which their heated +imaginations have raised. Possibly they might then learn that a state +of nature is, of all others, least adapted to promote the happiness of +a being capable of sublime research and unending ratiocination. That a +savage roaming for prey amidst his native deserts is a creature deformed +by all those passions which afflict and degrade our nature, unsoftened by +the influence of religion, philosophy and legal restriction: and that the +more men unite their talents, the more closely the bands of society are +drawn and civilization advanced, inasmuch is human felicity augmented, +and man fitted for his unalienable station in the universe. + +Of the language of New South Wales I once hoped to have subjoined to this +work such an exposition as should have attracted public notice, and have +excited public esteem. But the abrupt departure of Mr. Dawes, who, +stimulated equally by curiosity and philanthropy, had hardly set foot +on his native country when he again quitted it to encounter new perils +in the service of the Sierra Leona company, precludes me from executing +this part of my original intention, in which he had promised to co-operate +with me; and in which he had advanced his researches beyond the reach +of competition. The few remarks which I can offer shall be concisely +detailed. + +We were at first inclined to stigmatised this language as harsh and +barbarous in its sounds. Their combinations of words in the manner they +utter them, frequently convey such an effect. But if not only their +proper names of men and places, but many of their phrases and a majority +of their words, be simply and unconnectedly considered, they will be found +to abound with vowels and to produce sounds sometimes mellifluous and +sometimes sonorous. What ear can object to the names of Colbee, +(pronounced exactly as Colby is with us) Bereewan, Bondel, Imeerawanyee, +Deedora, Wolarawaree, or Baneelon, among the men; or to Wereeweea, +Gooreedeeana, Milba*, or Matilba, among the women. Parramatta, Gweea, +Cameera, Cadi, and Memel, are names of places. The tribes derive their +appellations from the places they inhabit. Thus Cemeeragal, means the men +who reside in the bay of Cameera; Cedigal, those who reside in the bay +of Cadi; and so of the others. The women of the tribe are denoted by +adding 'eean' to any of the foregoing words. A Cadigaleean imports a woman +living at Cadi, or of the tribe of Cadigal. These words, as the reader +will observe, are accented either on the first syllable or the penultima. +In general, however, they are partial to the emphasis being laid as near +the beginning of the word as possible. + +[*Mrs. Johnson, wife of the chaplain of the settlement, was so pleased +with this name that she christened her little girl, born in Port Jackson, +Milba Maria Johnson.] + +Of compound words they seem fond. Two very striking ones appear in the +journal to the Hawkesbury. Their translations of our words into their +language are always apposite, comprehensive, and drawn from images +familiar to them. A gun, for instance, they call 'gooroobeera', that is, +a stick of fire. Sometimes also, by a licence of language, they call +those who carry guns by the same name. But the appellation by which they +generally distinguished us was that of 'bereewolgal', meaning men come from +afar. When they salute any one they call him 'dameeli', or namesake, a term +which not only implies courtesy and good-will, but a certain degree of +affection in the speaker. An interchange of names with any one is also +a symbol of friendship. Each person has several names; one of which, +there is reason to believe, is always derived from the first fish +or animal which the child, in accompanying its father to the chase or a +fishing, may chance to kill. + +Not only their combinations, but some of their simple sounds, were +difficult of pronunciation to mouths purely English. Diphthongs often +occur. One of the most common is that of 'ae', or perhaps, 'ai', +pronounced not unlike those letters in the French verb 'hair', to hate. +The letter 'y' frequently follows 'd' in the same syllable. Thus the word +which signifies a woman is 'dyin'; although the structure of our language +requires us to spell it 'deein'. + +But if they sometimes put us to difficulty, many of our words were to them +unutterable. The letters 's' and 'v' they never could pronounce. The +latter became invariably 'w', and the former mocked all their efforts, +which in the instance of Baneelon has been noticed; and a more unfortunate +defect in learning our language could not easily be pointed out. + +They use the ellipsis in speaking very freely; always omitting as many +words as they possibly can, consistent with being understood. They +inflect both their nouns and verbs regularly; and denote the cases of the +former and the tenses of the latter, not like the English by auxiliary +words, but like the Latins by change of termination. Their nouns, whether +substantive or adjective, seem to admit of no plural. I have heard +Mr. Dawes hint his belief of their using a dual number, similar to the +Greeks, but I confess that I never could remark aught to confirm it. +The method by which they answer a question that they cannot resolve is +similar to what we sometimes use. Let for example the following question +be put: 'Waw Colbee yagoono?'--Where is Colbee to-day? 'Waw, baw!'--Where, +indeed! would be the reply. They use a direct and positive negative, +but express the affirmative by a nod of the head or an inclination +of the body. + +Opinions have greatly differed, whether or not their language be copious. +In one particular it is notoriously defective. They cannot count with +precision more than four. However as far as ten, by holding up the +fingers, they can both comprehend others and explain themselves. Beyond +four every number is called great; and should it happen to be very large, +great great, which is an Italian idiom also. This occasions their +computations of time and space to be very confused and incorrect. Of the +former they have no measure but the visible diurnal motion of the sun +or the monthly revolution of the moon. + +To conclude the history of a people for whom I cannot but feel some share +of affection. Let those who have been born in more favoured lands and who +have profited by more enlightened systems, compassionate, but not despise +their destitute and obscure situation. Children of the same omniscient +paternal care, let them recollect that by the fortuitous advantage +of birth alone they possess superiority: that untaught, unaccommodated +man is the same in Pall Mall as in the wilderness of New South Wales. +And ultimately let them hope and trust that the progress of reason and the +splendor of revelation will in their proper and allotted season +be permitted to illumine and transfuse into these desert regions, +knowledge, virtue and happiness. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + + +Observations on the Convicts. + + +A short account of that class of men for whose disposal and advantage +the colony was principally, if not totally, founded, seems necessary. + +If it be recollected how large a body of these people are now congregated +in the settlement of Port Jackson and at Norfolk Island, it will, I think, +not only excite surprise but afford satisfaction, to learn, that in a +period of four years few crimes of a deep dye or of a hardened nature +have been perpetrated. Murder and unnatural sins rank not hitherto in the +catalogue of their enormities, and one suicide only has been committed. + +To the honour of the female part of our community let it be recorded +that only one woman has suffered capital punishment. On her condemnation +she pleaded pregnancy, and a jury of venerable matrons was impanneled +on the spot, to examine and pronounce her state, which the forewoman, +a grave personage between sixty and seventy years old, did, by this short +address to the court; 'Gentlemen! she is as much with child as I am.' +Sentence was accordingly passed, and she was executed. + +Besides the instance of Irving, two other male convicts, William +Bloodsworth, of Kingston upon Thames, and John Arscott, of Truro, +in Cornwall, were both emancipated for their good conduct, in the years +1790 and 1791. Several men whose terms of transportation had expired, +and against whom no legal impediment existed to prevent their departure, +have been permitted to enter in merchant ships wanting hands: and +as my Rose Hill journals testify, many others have had grants of land +assigned to them, and are become settlers in the country. + +In so numerous a community many persons of perverted genius and of +mechanical ingenuity could not but be assembled. Let me produce the +following example. Frazer was an iron manufacturer, bred at Sheffield, +of whose abilities as a workman we had witnessed many proofs. The +governor had written to England for a set of locks to be sent out for the +security of the public stores, which were to be so constructed as to be +incapable of being picked. On their arrival his excellency sent for +Frazer and bade him examine them telling him at the same time that they +could not be picked. Frazer laughed and asked for a crooked nail only, +to open them all. A nail was brought, and in an instant he verified his +assertion. Astonished at his dexterity, a gentleman present determined +to put it to farther proof. He was sent for in a hurry, some days after, +to the hospital, where a lock of still superior intricacy and expense to +the others had been provided. He was told that the key was lost and that +the lock must be immediately picked. He examined it attentively, remarked +that it was the production of a workman, and demanded ten minutes to make +an instrument 'to speak with it.' Without carrying the lock with him, +he went directly to his shop, and at the expiration of his term returned, +applied his instrument, and open flew the lock. But it was not only in +this part of his business that he excelled: he executed every branch +of it in superior style. Had not his villainy been still more notorious +than his skill, he would have proved an invaluable possession to a new +country. He had passed through innumerable scenes in life, and had played +many parts. When too lazy to work at his trade he had turned thief in +fifty different shapes, was a receiver of stolen goods, a soldier and a +travelling conjurer. He once confessed to me that he had made a set of +tools, for a gang of coiners, every man of whom was hanged. + +Were the nature of the subject worthy of farther illustration, many +similar proofs of misapplied talents might be adduced. + +Their love of the marvellous has been recorded in an early part of this +work. The imposture of the gold finder, however prominent and glaring, +nevertheless contributed to awaken attention and to create merriment. +He enjoyed the reputation of a discoverer, until experiment detected the +imposition. But others were less successful to acquire even momentary +admiration. The execution of forgery seems to demand at least neatness +of imitation and dexterity of address. On arrival of the first fleet +of ships from England, several convicts brought out recommendatory letters +from different friends. Of these some were genuine, and many owed their +birth to the ingenuity of the bearers. But these last were all such +bungling performances as to produce only instant detection and succeeding +contempt. One of them addressed to the governor, with the name of +Baron Hotham affixed to it, began 'Honored Sir!' + +A leading distinction, which marked the convicts on their outset in the +colony, was an use of what is called the 'flash', or 'kiddy' language. +In some of our early courts of justice an interpreter was frequently +necessary to translate the deposition of the witness and the defence of +the prisoner. This language has many dialects. The sly dexterity of the +pickpocket, the brutal ferocity of the footpad, the more elevated career +of the highwayman and the deadly purpose of the midnight ruffian is each +strictly appropriate in the terms which distinguish and characterize it. +I have ever been of opinion that an abolition of this unnatural jargon +would open the path to reformation. And my observations on these people +have constantly instructed me that indulgence in this infatuating cant +is more deeply associated with depravity and continuance in vice than is +generally supposed. I recollect hardly one instance of a return to honest +pursuits, and habits of industry, where this miserable perversion of our +noblest and peculiar faculty was not previously conquered. + +Those persons to whom the inspection and management of our numerous +and extensive prisons in England are committed will perform a service +to society by attending to the foregoing observation. Let us always keep +in view, that punishment, when not directed to promote reformation, +is arbitrary, and unauthorised. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + + +Facts relating to the probability of establishing a whale fishery +on the coast of New South Wales, with Thoughts on the same. + + +In every former part of this publication I have studiously avoided +mentioning a whale fishery, as the information relating to it will, +I conceive, be more acceptably received in this form, by those to whom it +is addressed, than if mingled with other matter. + +Previous to entering on this detail, it must be observed that several of +the last fleet of ships which had arrived from England with convicts, +were fitted out with implements for whale fishing, and were intended to +sail for the coast of Brazil to pursue the fishery, immediately on having +landed the convicts. + +On the 14th of October, 1791, the 'Britannia', Captain Melville, one of +these ships, arrived at Sydney. In her passage between Van Diemen's Land +and Port Jackson, the master reported that he had seen a large shoal +of spermaceti whales. His words were, 'I saw more whales at one time +around my ship than in the whole of six years which I have fished on the +coast of Brazil.' + +This intelligence was no sooner communicated than all the whalers were +eager to push to sea. Melville himself was among the most early; and on +the 10th of November, returned to Port Jackson, more confident of success +than before. He assured me that in the fourteen days which he had been +out, he had seen more spermaced whales than in all his former life. +They amounted, he said to many thousands, most of them of enormous +magnitude; and had he not met with bad weather he could have killed +as many as he pleased. Seven he did kill, but owing to the stormy +agitated state of the water, he could not get any of them aboard. In one +however, which in a momentary interval of calm, was killed and secured +by a ship in company, he shared. The oil and head matter of this fish, +he extolled as of an extraordinary fine quality. He was of opinion the +former would fetch ten pounds per ton more in London than that procured +on the Brazil coast. He had not gone farther south than 37 degrees; +and described the latitude of 35 degrees to be the place where the whales +most abounded, just on the edge of soundings, which here extends about +fifteen leagues from the shore; though perhaps, on other parts of the +coast the bank will be found to run hardly so far off. + +On the following day (November 11th) the 'Mary Anne', Captain Munro, +another of the whalers, returned into port, after having been out sixteen +days. She had gone as far south as 41 degrees but saw not a whale, +and had met with tremendously bad weather, in which she had shipped a sea +that had set her boiling coppers afloat and had nearly carried them +overboard. + +November 22d. The 'William and Anne', Captain Buncker, returned after +having been more than three weeks out, and putting into Broken Bay. +This is the ship that had killed the fish in which Melville shared. +Buncker had met with no farther success, owing, he said, entirely, to +gales of wind; for he had seen several immense shoals and was of opinion +that he should have secured fifty tons of oil, had the weather been +tolerably moderate. I asked him whether he thought the whales he had seen +were fish of passage. "No" he answered, "they were going on every point +of the compass, and were evidently on feeding ground, which I saw no +reason to doubt that they frequent." Melville afterwards confirmed to me +this observation. December 3rd, the 'Mary Anne' and 'Matilda' again +returned. The former had gone to the southward, and off Port Jervis +had fallen in with two shoals of whales, nine of which were killed, but +owing to bad weather, part of five only were got on board. As much, +the master computed, as would yield thirty barrels of oil. He said the +whales were the least shy of any he had ever seen, "not having been +cut up". The latter had gone to the northward, and had seen no whales +but a few fin-backs. + +On the 5th of December, both these ships sailed again; and on the 16th +and 17th of the month (just before the author sailed for England) they +and the 'Britannia' and 'William and Anne' returned to Port Jackson +without success having experienced a continuation of the bad weather +and seen very few fish. They all said that their intention was to give +the coast one more trial, and if it miscarried to quit it and steer +to the northward in search of less tempestuous seas. + +The only remark which I have to offer to adventurers on the above subject, +is not to suffer discouragement by concluding that bad weather only is +to be found on the coast of New South Wales, where the whales have +hitherto been seen. Tempests happen sometimes there, as in other seas, +but let them feel assured that there are in every month of the year +many days in which the whale fishery may be safely carried on. +The evidence of the abundance in which spermaceti whales are sometimes +seen is incontrovertible: that which speaks to their being 'not fish +of passage' is at least respectable and hitherto uncontradicted. +The prospect merits attention--may it stimulate to enterprise. + +The two discoveries of Port Jervis and Matilda Bay (which are to be found +in the foregoing sheets) may yet be wanting in the maps of the coast. +My account of their geographic situation, except possibly in the exact +longitude of the latter (a point not very material) may be safely depended +upon. A knowledge of Oyster Bay, discovered and laid down by the 'Mercury' +store-ship, in the year 1789, would also be desirable. But this I am +incapable of furnishing. + +Here terminates my subject. Content with the humble province of detailing +facts and connecting events by undisturbed narration, I leave to others +the task of anticipating glorious, or gloomy, consequences, from the +establishment of a colony, which unquestionably demands serious +investigation, ere either its prosecution or abandonment be determined. + +But doubtless not only those who planned, but those who have been +delegated to execute, an enterprise of such magnitude, have deeply +revolved, that "great national expense does not imply the necessity +of national suffering. While revenue is employed with success to some +valuable end, the profits of every adventure being more than sufficient +to repay its costs, the public should gain, and its resources should +continue to multiply. But an expense whether sustained at home or abroad; +whether a waste of the present, or an anticipation of the future, revenue, +if it bring no adequate return, is to be reckoned among the causes +of national ruin."* + +[*Ferguson's Essay on the History of Civil Society.] + + + +A list of the Civil and Military Establishments in New South Wales + +Governor and Commander in Chief, His Excellency Arthur Phillip, Esq. + +Lieutenant Governor, Robert Ross, Esq. + +Judge of the Admiralty Court, Robert Ross, Esq. + +Chaplain of the Settlement, the Rev. Richard Johnson. + +Judge Advocate of the Settlement, David Collins, Esq. + +Secretary to the Governor, David Collins, Esq. + +Surveyor General, Augustus Alt, Esq. + +Commissary of Stores and Provisions, Andrew Miller, Esq. + +Assistant Commissary, Mr. Zechariah Clarke. + +Provost Martial, who acts as Sheriff of Cumberland County, Mr. Henry Brewer. + +Peace Officer, Mr. James Smith. + + +MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT. + +His Majesty's Ship 'Sirius', John Hunter, Esq. Commander. +Lieutenants, Bradley, King, Maxwell. + +His Majesty's armed Brig, 'Supply', Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball, Commander. + + +FOUR COMPANIES OF MARINES + + Major Robert Ross, Commandant. + + +CAPTAINS COMMANDING COMPANIES + +James Campbell, John Shea, Captain Lieutenants, James Meredith, Watkin Tench. + + +FIRST LIEUTENANTS + +George Johnson, John Johnson, John Creswell, James Maltland Shairp, +Robert Nellow, Thomas Davey, James Furzer, Thomas Timins, John Poulden. + + +SECOND LIEUTENANTS + +Ralph Clarke, John Long, William Dawes, William Feddy. + +Adjutant, John Long. + +Quarter Master, James Furzer. + +Aide de Camp to the Governor, George Johnson. + +Officer of Engineers and Artillery, William Dawes. + + +HOSPITAL ESTABLISHMENT. + +Surgeon General of the Settlement, John White, Esq. + +First Assistant, Mr. Dennis Considen. + +Second Assistant, Mr. Thomas Arndell. + +Third Assistant, Mr. William Balmain. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Settlement at Port Jackson, by Watkin Tench + diff --git a/old/tsapj10.zip b/old/tsapj10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bcc9c40 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/tsapj10.zip |