第3章

类别:其他 作者:佚名字数:14169更新时间:18/12/13 14:08:57
Menabandonedthemselvestothemostdespondingreflections,andadoptedthemostextravagantconjectures. Stillwewereonthetiptoeofexpectation.Ifthunderbrokeatadistance,orafowling-pieceoflouderthanordinaryreportresoundedinthewoods,\"agunfromaship\"wasechoedoneveryside,andnothingbuthurryandagitationprevailed.Foreighteenmonthsafterwehadlandedinthecountry,apartyofmarinesusedtogoweeklytoBotanyBay,toseewhetheranyvessel,ignorantofourremovaltoPortJackson,mightbearrivedthere.Butabetterplanwasnowdevised,onthesuggestionofcaptainHunter.Apartyofseamenwerefixedonahighbluff,calledtheSouth-head,attheentranceoftheharbour,onwhichaflagwasorderedtobehoisted,wheneverashipmightappear,whichshouldserveasadirectiontoher,andasasignalofapproachtous.Everyofficersteppedforwardtovolunteeraservicewhichpromisedtobesorepletewithbeneficialconsequences.ButthezealandalacrityofcaptainHunter,andourbrethrenofthe\'Sirius\',renderedsuperfluousallassistanceorco-operation. Hereonthesummitofthehill,everymorningfromdaylightuntilthesunsunk,didwesweepthehorizon,inhopeofseeingasail.Ateveryfleetingspeckwhicharosefromthebosomofthesea,theheartbounded,andthetelescopewasliftedtotheeye.Ifashipappearedhere,weknewshemustbeboundtous;forontheshoresofthisvastocean(thelargestintheworld) weweretheonlycommunitywhichpossessedtheartofnavigation,andlanguishedforintercoursewithcivilizedsociety. Tosaythatweweredisappointedandshocked,wouldveryinadequatelydescribeoursensations.Butthemiseryandhorrorofsuchasituationcannotbeimparted,evenbythosewhohavesufferedunderit. March,1790.Vigorousmeasureswerebecomeindispensable.Thegovernortherefore,earlyinFebruary,orderedthe\'Sirius\'toprepareforavoyagetoChina;andafartherretrenchmentofourration,weweregiventounderstand,wouldtakeplaceonhersailing. Butthe\'Sirius\'wasdestinednottoreachChina.Previouslytoherintendeddepartureonthatvoyage,shewasordered,inconcertwiththe\'Supply\',toconveyMajorRoss,withalargedetachmentofmarines,andmorethantwohundredconvicts,toNorfolkIsland,itbeinghopedthatsuchadivisionofournumberswouldincreasethemeansofsubsistence,bydiversifiedexertions.Shesailedonthe6thofMarch.Andonthe27thofthesamemonth,thefollowingorderwasissuedfromheadquarters. Parole——Honour. Countersign——Example. Theexpectedsupplyofprovisionsnothavingarrived,makesitnecessarytoreducethepresentration. Andthecommissaryisdirectedtoissue,fromthe1stofApril,theunder-mentionedallowance,toeverypersoninthesettlementwithoutdistinction. Fourpoundsofflour,twopoundsandahalfofsaltpork,andonepoundandahalfofrice,perweek. Onthe5thofAprilnewswasbrought,thattheflagontheSouth-headwashoisted.Lessemotionwascreatedbythenewsthanmightbeexpected. Everyonecoldlysaidtohisneighbour,\"the\'Sirius\'and\'Supply\'arereturnedfromNorfolkIsland.\"Tosatisfymyselfthattheflagwasreallyflying,Iwenttotheobservatory,andlookedforitthroughthelargeastronomicaltelescope,whenIplainlysawit.ButIwasimmediatelyconvincedthatitwasnottoannouncethearrivalofshipsfromEngland;forIcouldseenobodyneartheflagstaffexceptonesolitarybeing,whokeptstrollingaround,unmovedbywhathesaw.Iwellknewhowdifferentaneffectthesightofstrangeshipswouldproduce. April,1790.Thegovernor,however,determinedtogodowntheharbour,andIbeggedpermissiontoaccompanyhim.Havingturnedapointabouthalfwaydown,weweresurprisedtoseeaboat,whichwasknowntobelongtothe\'Supply\',rowingtowardsus.Onnearerapproach,IsawcaptainBallmakeanextraordinarymotionwithhishand,whichtooplainlyindicatedthatsomethingdisastroushadhappened;andIcouldnothelpturningtothegovernor,nearwhomIsat,andsaying,\"Sir,prepareyourselfforbadnews.\"Afewminuteschangeddoubtintocertainty;andtoourunspeakableconsternationwelearned,thatthe\'Sirius\'hadbeenwreckedonNorfolkIsland,onthe19thofFebruary.Happily,however,CaptainHunter,andeveryotherpersonbelongingtoher,weresaved. Dismaywaspaintedoneverycountenance,whenthetidingswereproclaimedatSydney.ThemostdistractingapprehensionswereentertainedAllhopeswerenowconcentredinthelittle\'Supply\'. Atsixo\'clockintheevening,alltheofficersofthegarrison,bothcivilandmilitary,weresummonedtomeetthegovernorincouncil,whenthenatureofoursituationwasfullydiscussedandanaccountoftheprovisionsyetremaininginstorelaidbeforethecouncilbythecommissary.Thisaccountstated,thatonthepresentration* thepublicstorescontainedsaltmeatsufficienttoserveuntilthe2ndofJuly,flouruntilthe20thofAugust,andrice,orpeaseinlieuofit,untilthe1stofOctober. [*Seetherationofthe27thofMarch,afewpagesback.] Severalregulationsforthemoreeffectualpreservationofgardens,andotherprivateproperty,wereproposed,andadoptedandaftersomeinterchangeofopinion,thefollowingrationwasdecreedtocommenceimmediately,avigorousexertiontoprolongexistence,orthechanceofrelief,beingallnowlefttous. Twopoundsofpork,twopoundsandahalfofflour,twopoundsofrice,oraquartofpease,perweek,toeverygrownperson,andtoeverychildofmorethaneighteenmonthsold. Toeverychildundereighteenmonthsold,thesamequantityofriceandflour,andonepoundofpork.** [**Whentheageofthisprovisionisrecollected,itsinadequacywillmorestrikinglyappear.TheporkandricewerebroughtwithusfromEngland. Theporkhadbeensaltedbetweenthreeandfouryears,andeverygrainofricewasamovingbody,fromtheinhabitantslodgedwithinit. Wesoonleftoffboilingthepork,asithadbecomesooldanddry,thatitshrunkonehalfinitsdimensionswhensodressed.Ourusualmethodofcookingitwastocutoffthedailymorsel,andtoastitonaforkbeforethefire,catchingthedropswhichfellonasliceofbread,orinasaucerofrice.OurflourwastheremnantofwhatwasbroughtfromtheCape,bythe\'Sirius\',andwasgood.Insteadofbakingit,thesoldiersandconvictsusedtoboilitupwithgreens.] Theimmediatedepartureofthe\'Supply\',forBatavia,wasalsodetermined. Nordidourzealstophere.Thegovernorbeingresolvedtoemployalltheboats,publicandprivate,mprocuringfish——whichwasintendedtobeservedinlieuofsaltmeat——alltheofficers,civilandmilitary,includingtheclergyman,andthesurgeonsofthehospital,madethevoluntaryoffer,inadditiontotheirotherduties,togoalternatelyeverynightintheseboats,inordertoseethateveryexertionwasmade,andthatallthefishwhichmightbecaughtwasdepositedwiththecommissary. Thebestmarksmenofthemarinesandconvictswerealsoselected,andputunderthecommandofatrustysergeant,withdirectionstorangethewoodsinsearchofkangaroos,whichwereordered,whenbroughtin,tobedeliveredtothecommissary. Andasitwasjudgedthattheinevitablefatiguesofshootingandfishingcouldnotbesupportedonthecommonration,asmalladditionalquantityofflourandporkwasappropriatedtotheuseofthegame-keepers;andeachfisherman,whohadbeenoutduringtheprecedingnighthad,onhisreturninthemorning,apoundofuncleanedfishallowedforhisbreakfast. Onthe17thinstant,the\'Supply\',captainBall,sailedforBatavia. Wefollowedherwithanxiouseyesuntilshewasnolongervisible. Trulydidwesaytoher\"Inteomnisdomusinclinatarecumbit.\"Wewere,however,consoledbyreflecting,thateverythingwhichzeal,fortitude,andseamanship,couldproduce,wasconcentredinhercommander. Ourbosomsconsequentlybecamelessperturbed;andallourlabourandattentionwereturnedononeobject——theprocuringoffood.\"Pride,pomp,andcircumstanceofgloriouswar\"werenomore. Thedistressofthelowerclassesforclotheswasalmostequaltotheirotherwants.Thestoreshadbeenlongexhausted,andwinterwasathand. Nothingmoreludicrouscanbeconceivedthantheexpedientsofsubstituting,shifting,andpatching,whichingenuitydevised,toekeoutwretchedness,andpreservetheremainsofdecency.Thesuperiordexterityofthewomenwasparticularlyconspicuous.ManyaguardhaveIseenmount,inwhichthenumberofsoldierswithoutshoesexceededthatwhichhadyetpreservedremnantsofleather. Norwasanotherpartofourdomesticeconomylesswhimsical.Ifaluckyman,whohadknockeddownadinnerwithhisgun,orcaughtafishbyanglingfromtherocks,invitedaneighbourtodinewithhim,theinvitationalwaysran,\"bringyourownbread.\"Evenatthegovernor\'stable,thiscustomwasconstantlyobserved.Everymanwhenhesatdownpulledhisbreadoutofhispocket,andlaiditbyhisplate. Theinsufficiencyofourrationsoondiminishedourexecutionoflabour. Bothsoldiersandconvictspleadedsuchlossofstrength,astofindthemselvesunabletoperformtheiraccustomedtasks.Thehoursofpublicworkwereaccordinglyshortenedor,rather,everymanwasorderedtodoasmuchashisstrengthwouldpermit,andeveryotherpossibleindulgencewasgranted. May,1790.Inproportion,however,aslenityandmitigationwereextendedtoinabilityandhelplessness,inasmuchwasthemostrigorousjusticeexecutedondisturbersofthepublictranquillity.Personsdetectedinrobbinggardens,orpilferingprovisions,wereneverscreenedbecause,aseverymancouldpossess,byhisutmostexertions,butabaresufficiencytopreservelife*,hewhodeprivedhisneighbourofthatlittle,drovehimtodesperation. Nonewlawsforthepunishmentoftheftwereenacted;butpersonsofalldescriptionswerepubliclywarned,thattheseverestpenalties,whichtheexistinglawinitsgreatestlatitudewouldauthorise,shouldbeinflictedonoffenders.Thefollowingsentenceofacourtofjustice,ofwhichIwasamember,onaconvictdetectedinagardenstealingpotatoes,willillustratethesubject.Hewasorderedtoreceivethreehundredlashesimmediately,tobechainedforsixmonthstotwoothercriminals,whowerethusfetteredforformeroffences,andtohavehisallowanceofflourstoppedforsixmonths.Sothatduringtheoperationofthesentence,twopoundsofpork,andtwopoundsofrice(orinlieuofthelatter,aquartofpease)perweek,constitutedhiswholesubsistence. Suchwasthemelancholylengthtowhichwewerecompelledtostretchourpenalsystem. [*Itspreservationinsomecaseswasfoundimpracticable.Threeorfourinstancesofpersonswhoperishedfromwanthavebeenrelatedtome. Oneonly,however,fellwithinmyownobservation.Iwaspassingtheprovisionstore,whenaman,withawildhaggardcountenance,whohadjustreceivedhisdailypittancetocarryhome,cameout. Hisfalteringgait,andeagerdevouringeye,ledmetowatchhim,andhehadnotproceededtenstepsbeforehefell.Iorderedhimtobecarriedtothehospital,where,whenhearrived,hewasfounddead. Onopeningthebody,thecauseofdeathwaspronouncedtobeinanition.] Farthertocontributetothedetectionofvillainy,aproclamation,offeringarewardofsixtypoundsofflour,moretemptingthantheoreofPeruorPotosi,waspromisedtoanyonewhoshouldapprehend,andbringtojustice,arobberofgardenground. OurfriendBaneelon,duringthisseasonofscarcity,wasaswelltakencareofasourdesperatecircumstanceswouldallow.Weknewnothowtokeephim,andyetwereunwillingtopartwithhim.Hadhepenetratedourstate,perhapshemighthavegivenhiscountrymensuchadescriptionofourdiminishednumbers,anddiminishedstrength,aswouldhaveemboldenedthemtobecomemoretroublesome.Everyexpedientwasusedtokeephiminignorance. Hisallowancewasregularlyreceivedbythegovernor\'sservant,likethatofanyotherperson,buttherationofaweekwasinsufficienttohavekepthimforaday.Thedeficiencywassuppliedbyfishwheneveritcouldbeprocured,andalittleIndiancorn,whichhadbeenreservedwasgroundandappropriatedtohisuse.Inspiteofalltheseaids,wantoffoodhasbeenknowntomakehimfuriousandoftenmelancholy. Thereisreasontobelievethathehadlongmeditatedhisescape,whichheeffectedinthenightofthe3rdinstant.Abouttwoo\'clockinthemorning,hepretendedillness,andawakingtheservantwholayintheroomwithhim,beggedtogodownstairs.Theotherattendedhimwithoutsuspicionofhisdesign;andBaneelonnosoonerfoundhimselfinabackyard,thanhenimblyleapedoveraslightpaling,andbadeusadieu. Thefollowingpublicorderwasissuedwithinthedateofthischapter,andistoopleasingaproofthatuniversaldepravitydidnotprevailamongtheconvicts,tobeomitted. Thegovernor,inconsequenceoftheunremittedgoodbehaviourandmeritoriousconductofJohnIrving,ispleasedtoremittheremainderofthetermforwhichhewassentencedtotransportation.Heisthereforetobeconsideredasrestoredtoallthoserightsandprivileges,whichhadbeensuspendedinconsequenceofthesentenceofthelaw.Andassuch,heisherebyappointedtoactasanassistanttothesurgeonatNorfolkIsland. CHAPTERVII TransactionsoftheColonyinJune,July,andAugust,1790. Atlengththecloudsofmisfortunebegantoseparate,andontheeveningofthe3rdofJune,thejoyfulcryof\"theflag\'sup\"resoundedineverydirection. Iwassittinginmyhut,musingonourfate,whenaconfusedclamourinthestreetdrewmyattention.Iopenedmydoor,andsawseveralwomenwithchildrenintheirarmsrunningtoandfrowithdistractedlooks,congratulatingeachother,andkissingtheirinfantswiththemostpassionateandextravagantmarksoffondness.Ineedednomore;butinstantlystartedout,andrantoahill,where,bytheassistanceofapocketglass,myhopeswererealized.Mynextdoorneighbour,abrother-officer,waswithme,butwecouldnotspeak.Wewrungeachotherbythehand,witheyesandheartsoverflowing. Findingthatthegovernorintendedtogoimmediatelyinhisboatdowntheharbour,Ibeggedtobeofhisparty. Asweproceeded,theobjectofourhopessoonappeared:alargeship,withEnglishcoloursflying,workingin,betweentheheadswhichformtheentranceoftheharbour.Thetumultuousstateofourmindsrepresentedherindanger;andwewereinagony.Soonafter,thegovernor,havingascertainedwhatshewas,leftus,andsteppedintoafishingboattoreturntoSydney. Theweatherwaswetandtempestuousbutthebodyisdelicateonlywhenthesoulisatease.Wepushedthroughwindandrain,theanxietyofoursensationseverymomentredoubling.Atlastwereadtheword\'London\' onherstern.\"Pullaway,mylads!SheisfromOldEngland!Afewstrokesmore,andweshallbeaboard!Hurrahforabellyfull,andnewsfromourfriends!\"Suchwereourexhortationstotheboat\'screw. Afewminutescompletedourwishes,andwefoundourselvesonboardthe\'LadyJuliana\'transport,withtwohundredandtwenty-fiveofourcountrywomenwhomcrimeormisfortunehadcondemnedtoexile.Welearnedthattheyhadbeenalmostelevenmonthsontheirpassage,havingleftPlymouth,intowhichporttheyhadputinJuly,1789.Wecontinuedtoaskathousandquestionsonabreath.Stimulatedbycuriosity,theyinquiredinturn; buttherightofbeingfirstanswered,wethought,layonourside. \"Letters,letters!\"wasthecry.Theywereproduced,andtornopenintremblingagitation.Newsburstuponuslikemeridiansplendoronablindman.Wewereoverwhelmedwithit:public,private,general,andparticular.Norwasituntilsomedayshadelapsed,thatwewereabletomethodiseit,orreduceitintoform.Wenowheardforthefirsttimeofoursovereign\'sillness,andhishappyrestorationtohealth. TheFrenchrevolutionof1789,withalltheattendantcircumstancesofthatwonderfulandunexpectedevent,succeededtoamazeus*.Now,too,thedisasterwhichhadbefallenthe\'Guardian\',andtheliberalandenlargedplanonwhichshehadbeenstoredandfittedoutbygovernmentforouruse,waspromulged.Itservedalso,insomemeasure,toaccountwhywehadnotsoonerheardfromEngland.Forhadnotthe\'Guardian\'struckonanislandofice,shewouldprobablyhavereachedusthreemonthsbefore,andinthiscasehavepreventedthelossofthe\'Sirius\',althoughshehadsailedfromEnglandthreemonthsafterthe\'LadyJuliana\'. [*Thesewordsbringtomymindananecdote,which,thoughratheroutofplace,Ishalloffernoapologyforintroducing.Amongotherinquiries,wewereanxioustolearnwhetherM.delaPeyrouse,withthetwoshipsunderhiscommand,boundonavoyageofdiscovery,hadarrivedinFrance. Weheardwithconcern,thatnoaccountsofthemhadbeenreceived,sincetheyhadleftBotanyBay,inMarch,1788.Irememberwhentheywereatthatplace,onedayconversingwithMonsieurdelaPeyrouse,aboutthebestmethodoftreatingsavagepeople,\"Sir\"saidhe,\"Ihavesometimesbeencompelledtocommithostilitiesuponthem,butneverwithoutsufferingthemostpoignantregret;for,independentofmyownfeelingsontheoccasion,hisMajesty\'s(LouisXVI)lastwordstome,desaproprebouche,whenItookleaveofhimatVersailles,were:\'Itismyexpressinjunction,thatyoualwaystreattheIndiannationswithkindnessandhumanity. Gratifytheirwishes,andnever,butinacaseofthelastnecessity,whenself-defencerequiresit,shedhumanblood.\'Arethesethesentimentsofatyrant,ofasanguinaryandperfidiousman?\" AgeneralthanksgivingtoAlmightyGod,forhisMajesty\'srecovery,andhappyrestorationtohisfamilyandsubjects,wasorderedtobeoffereduponthefollowingWednesday,whenallpubliclabourwassuspended; andeverypersoninthesettlementattendedatchurch,whereasermon,suitedtoanoccasion,atoncesofullofgratitudeandsolemnity,waspreachedbytheReverendRichardJohnson,chaplainofthecolony. Alltheofficerswereafterwardsentertainedatdinnerbythegovernor. Andintheevening,anaddresstohisexcellency,expressiveofcongratulationandloyalty,wasagreedupon;andintwodaysafterwaspresented,andverygraciouslyreceived. Thefollowinginvitationtothenon-commissionedofficersandprivatesoldiersofthemarinebattalion,wasalsoaboutthistimepublished. Inconsequenceoftheassurancethatwasgiventothenon-commissionedofficersandmenbelongingtothebattalionofmarines,ontheirembarkingfortheserviceofthiscountry,thatsuchofthemasshouldbehavewell,wouldbeallowedtoquittheservice,ontheirreturntoEngland;orbedischargedabroad,upontherelieftakingplace,andpermittedtosettleinthecountry—— HisMajestyhasbeengraciouslypleasedtodirectthefollowingencouragementtobehelduptosuchnon-commissionedofficersandprivates,asmaybedisposedtobecomesettlersinthiscountry,orinanyoftheislandscomprisedwithinthegovernmentofthecontinentofNewSouthWales,onthearrivalofthecorpsraisedandintendedfortheserviceofthiscolony,andfortheirrelief,viz: Toeverynon-commissionedofficer,anallotmentofonehundredandthirtyacresofland,ifsingle,andofonehundredandfiftyacres,ifmarried.Toeveryprivatesoldier,anallotmentofeightyacres,ifsingle,andofonehundredacresifmarried;andalsoanallotmentoftenacresforeverychild,whetherofanon-commissionedofficer,orofaprivatesoldier. Theseallotmentswillbefreeofallfines,taxes,quit-rents,andotheracknowledgments,forthespaceoftenyears;butaftertheexpirationofthatperiod,willbesubjecttoanannualquit-rentofoneshillingforeveryfiftyacres. HisMajestyhaslikewisebeenfartherpleasedtosignifyhisroyalwillandpleasure,thatabountyofthreepoundsbeofferedtoeachnon-commissionedofficerandsoldier,whomaybedisposedtocontinueinthiscountry,andenlistinthecorpsappointedfortheserviceofNewSouthWales;withafartherassurance,thatincaseofaproperdemeanourontheirpart,theyshall,afterafartherserviceoffiveyears,beentitledtodoubletheformerportionofland,providedtheythenchoosetobecomesettlersinthecountry,freeofalltaxes,fines,andquit-rents,forthespaceoffifteenyears; butafterthattime,tobesubjecttothebeforementionedannualquit-rentofoneshillingforeveryfiftyacres. Andasafartherencouragementtothosemenwhomaybedesiroustobecomesettlers,andcontinueinthecountry,hisMajestyhasbeenlikewisepleasedtodirect,thateverymanshall,onbeingdischarged,receiveoutofthepublicstore,aportionofclothingandprovisions,sufficientforhissupportforoneyear;togetherwithasuitablequantityofseeds,grain,etc.forthetillageoftheland;andaportionoftoolsandimplementsofagriculture,properfortheiruse.Andwheneveranyman,whomaybecomeasettler,canmaintain,feed,andclothe,suchnumberofconvictsasmaybejudgednecessarybythegovernor,forthetimebeing,toassisthiminclearingandcultivatingtheland,theserviceofsuchconvictsshallbeassignedtohim. Wewerejoyfullysurprisedonthe20thofthemonthtoseeanothersailentertheharbour.SheprovedtobetheJustiniantransport,commandedbyCaptainMaitland,andourrapturewasdoubledonfindingthatshewasladenentirelywithprovisionsforouruse.Fullallowance,andgeneralcongratulation,immediatelytookplace.ThisshiphadleftFalmouthonthepreceding20thofJanuary,andcompletedherpassageexactlyinfivemonths*.ShehadstaidatMadeiraoneday,andfouratSaoTiago,fromwhichlastplaceshehadsteereddirectlyforNewSouthWales,neglectingRiodeJaneiroonherright,andtheCapeofGoodHopeonherleft; andnotwithstandingtheimmensetractofoceanshehadpassed,broughthercrewwithoutsicknessintoharbour.Whenthenoveltyandboldnessofsuchanattemptshallberecollected,toomuchpraise,onthespiritandactivityofMr.Maitland,cannotbebestowed. [*Accidentonlypreventedherfrommakingitineighteendaysless,forshewastheninsightoftheharbour\'smouth,whenanunpropitiousgaleofwindblewheroff.Otherwiseshewouldhavereachedusonedaysoonerthanthe\'LadyJuliana\'.Itisacuriouscircumstance,thatthesetwoshipshadsailedtogetherfromtheriverThames,oneboundtoPortJackson,andtheotherboundtoJamaica.TheJustiniancarriedhercargotothelastmentionedplace,landedit;andloadedafreshwithsugars,whichshereturnedwith,anddeliveredinLondon.Shewasthenhiredasatransport,reladen,andsailedforNewSouthWales.Letitberemembered,thatnomaterialaccidenthadhappenedtoeithervessel.Butwhatwillnotzealanddiligenceaccomplish!] Goodfortunecontinuedtobefriendus.Beforetheendofthemonth,threemoretransports,havingonboardtwocompaniesoftheNewSouthWalescorps,arrivedtoaddtooursociety.Theseshipsalsobroughtoutalargebodyofconvicts,whosestateandsufferingswillbebestestimatedbythefollowingreturn. NamesofNo.ofpeopleNo.ofpersonswhodiedNo.landedsickShipsembarkedonthepassageatPortJackson—— Neptune530163269 Surprise25242121 Scarborough2566896—— 1038273486—— N.B.Ofthoselandedsick,onehundredandtwenty-fourdiedinthehospitalatSydney. OnourpassagefromEngland,whichhadlastedmorethaneightmonthsandwithnearlyanequalnumberofpersons,onlytwenty-fourhaddied,andnotthirtywerelandedsick.Thedifferencecanbeaccountedfor,onlybycomparingthemannerinwhicheachfleetwasfittedoutandconducted. Withustheprovisions,servedonboard,werelaidinbyacontractor,whosentadeputytoservethemout;anditbecameapartofdutyfortheofficersofthetroopstoinspecttheirquality,andtoorderthateveryonereceivedhisjustproportion.Whereas,inthefleetnowarrived,thedistributionofprovisionsrestedentirelywiththemastersofthemerchantmen,andtheofficerswereexpresslyforbiddentointerfereinanyshapefartherabouttheconvictsthantopreventtheirescape. Seventeenpounds,infullofallexpense,wasthesumpaidbythepublicforthepassageofeachperson.Andthissumwascertainlycompetenttoaffordfairprofittothemerchantwhocontracted.Butthereisreasontobelieve,thatsomeofthosewhowereemployedtoactforhim,violatedeveryprincipleofjustice,andriotedonthespoilsofmisery,forwantofacontrollingpowertochecktheirenormities.Nodoubtcanbeentertained,thatahumaneandliberalgovernmentwillinterposeitsauthority,topreventtherepetitionofsuchflagitiousconduct. Althoughtheconvictshadlandedfromtheseshipswitheverymarkofmeagremisery,yetitwassoonseen,thatawantofroom,inwhichmoreconveniencesmighthavebeenstowedfortheiruse,hadnotcausedit.Severalofthemastersofthetransportsimmediatelyopenedstores,andexposedlargequantitiesofgoodstosale,which,thoughatmostextortionateprices,wereeagerlyboughtup. Suchwastheweaklystateofthenewcorners,thatforseveralweekslittlerealbenefittothecolonywasderivedfromsogreatanominaladditiontoournumber.However,asfastastheyrecovered,employmentwasimmediatelyassignedtothem.Theoldhoursoflabour,whichhadbeenreducedinourdistress,werere-established,andthemostvigorousmeasuresadoptedtogiveprosperitytothesettlement.Newbuildingswereimmediatelyplanned,andlargetractsofground,atRose-hill,orderedtobecleared,andpreparedforcultivation.Somesuperintendentswhohadarrivedinthefleet,andwerehiredbygovernmentforthepurposeofoverlookinganddirectingtheconvicts,werefoundextremelyserviceableinacceleratingtheprogressofimprovement. July,1790.Thismonthwasmarkedbynothingworthcommunication,exceptamelancholyaccidentwhichbefellayounggentlemanofamiablecharacter(oneofthemidshipmenlatelybelongingtothe\'Sirius\') andtwomarines.Hewasinasmallboat,withthreemarines,intheharbour,whenawhalewasseennearthem.Sensibleoftheirdanger,theyusedeveryefforttoavoidthecauseofit,byrowinginacontrarydirectionfromthatwhichthefishseemedtotake,butthemonstersuddenlyaroseclosetothem,andnearlyfilledtheboatwithwater.Byexertingthemselves,theybaledherout,andagainsteeredfromit.Forsometimeitwasnotseen,andtheyconceivedthemselvessafe,when,risingimmediatelyundertheboat,itliftedhertotheheightofmanyyardsonitsback,whenceslippingoff,shedroppedasfromaprecipice,andimmediatelyfilledandsunk. Themidshipmanandoneofthemarinesweresuckedintothevortexwhichthewhalehadmade,anddisappearedatonce.Thetwoothermarinesswamforthenearestshore,butoneonlyreachedit,torecountthefateofhiscompanions. August,1790.Inthebeginningofthismonth,incompanywithMr.DawesandMr.Worgan,latesurgeonofthe\'Sirius\',IundertookanexpeditiontothesouthwardandwestwardofRoseHill,wherethecountryhadneverbeenexplored.Weremainedoutsevendays,andpenetratedtoaconsiderabledistanceinaS.S.W.direction,boundingourcourseataremarkablehill,towhich,fromitsconicalshape,wegavethenameofPyramid-hill. Exceptthediscoveryofariver(whichisunquestionablytheNepeannearitssource)towhichwegavethenameoftheWorgan,inhonourofoneofourparty,nothingveryinterestingwasremarked. Towardstheendofthemonth,wemadeasecondexcursiontothenorth-westofRoseHill,whenweagainfellinwiththeNepean,andtracedittothespotwhereithadbeenfirstdiscoveredbythepartyofwhichIwasamember,fourteenmonthsbefore,examiningthecountryaswewentalong. LittledoubtnowsubsistedthattheHawkesburyandNepeanwereoneriver. WeundertookathirdexpeditionsoonaftertoBrokenBay,whichplacewefoundhadnotbeenexaggeratedindescription,whetheritscapaciousharbour,oritsdesolateincultivableshores,beconsidered.Onalltheseexcursionswebroughtaway,insmallbags,asmanyspecimensofthesoilofthecountrywehadpassedthrough,ascouldbeconvenientlycarried,inorderthatbyanalysisitsqualitiesmightbeascertained. CHAPTERVIII. TransactionsoftheColonyintheBeginningofSeptember,1790. Thetremendousmonsterwhohadoccasionedtheunhappycatastrophejustrecordedwasfatedtobethecauseoffarthermischieftous. Onthe7thinstant,CaptainNepean,oftheNewSouthWalesCorps,andMr.White,accompaniedbylittleNanbaree,andapartyofmen,wentinaboattoManlyCove,intendingtolandthere,andwalkontoBrokenBay.Ondrawingneartheshore,adeadwhale,inthemostdisgustingstateofputrefaction,wasseenlyingonthebeach,andatleasttwohundredIndianssurroundingit,broilingthefleshondifferentfires,andfeastingonitwiththemostextravagantmarksofgreedinessandrapture. Astheboatcontinuedtoapproach,theywereobservedtofallintoconfusionandtopickuptheirspears,onwhichourpeoplelayupontheiroarsandNanbareesteppingforward,haranguedthemforsometime,assuringthemthatwewerefriends.Mr.WhitenowcalledforBaneelonwho,onhearinghisname,cameforth,andenteredintoconversation.Hewasgreatlyemaciated,andsofardisfiguredbyalongbeard,thatourpeoplenotwithoutdifficultyrecognizedtheiroldacquaintance.HisansweringinbrokenEnglish,andinquiringforthegovernor,however,sooncorrectedtheirdoubts. Heseemedquitefriendly.AndsoonafterColbeecameup,pointingtohisleg,toshowthathehadfreedhimselffromthefetterwhichwasuponhim,whenhehadescapedfromus. WhenBaneelonwastoldthatthegovernorwasnotfaroff,heexpressedgreatjoy,anddeclaredthathewouldimmediatelygoinsearchofhim,andifhefoundhimnot,wouldfollowhimtoSydney.\"Haveyoubroughtanyhatchetswithyou?\"criedhe.Unluckilytheyhadnotanywhichtheychosetospare;buttwoorthreeshirts,somehandkerchiefs,knives,andothertrifles,weregiventothem,andseemedtosatisfy.Baneelon,willingtoinstructhiscountrymen,triedtoputonashirt,butmanageditsoawkwardly,thatamanofthenameofM\'Entire,thegovernor\'sgamekeeper,wasdirectedbyMr.Whitetoassisthim.Thisman,whowaswellknowntohim,hepositivelyforbadetoapproach,eyeinghimferociously,andwitheverymarkofhorrorandresentment.Hewasinconsequencelefttohimself,andtheconversationproceededasbefore.Thelengthofhisbeardseemedtoannoyhimmuch,andheexpressedeagerwishestobeshaved,askingrepeatedlyforarazor.Apairofscissorswasgiventohim,andheshewedhehadnotforgottenhowtousesuchaninstrument,forheforthwithbegantocliphishairwithit. Duringthistime,thewomenandchildren,tothenumberofmorethanfifty,stoodatadistance,andrefusedallinvitations,whichcouldbeconveyedbysignsandgestures,toapproachnearer.\"Whichofthemisyouroldfavourite,Barangaroo,ofwhomyouusedtospeaksooften?\" \"Oh,\"saidhe,\"sheisbecomethewifeofColbee!ButIhavegot\'bullamureedeein\'(twolargewomen)tocompensateforherloss.\" Itwasobservedthathehadreceivedtwowounds,inadditiontohisformernumerousones,sincehehadleftus;oneofthemfromaspear,whichhadpassedthroughthefleshypartofhisarm;andtheotherdisplayeditselfinalargescarabovehislefteye.Theywerebothhealed,andprobablywereacquiredintheconflictwhereinhehadassertedhispretensionstothetwoladies. Nanbaree,allthiswhile,thoughhecontinuedtointerrogatehiscountrymen,andtointerpretonbothsides,shewedlittledesiretoreturntotheirsociety,andstuckveryclosetohisnewfriends.Onbeingaskedthecauseoftheirpresentmeeting,Baneelonpointedtothewhale,whichstunkimmoderately,andColbeemadesignals,thatitwascommonamongthemtocatuntilthestomachwassooverladenastooccasionsickness. Theirdemandofhatchetsbeingre-iterated,notwithstandingourrefusal,theywereaskedwhytheyhadnotbroughtwiththemsomeoftheirown? Theyexcusedthemselvesbysaying,thatonanoccasionofthepresentsort,theyalwaysleftthemathome,andcutupthewhalewiththeshellwhichisaffixedtotheendofthethrowing-stick. Ourpartynowthoughtittimetoproceedontheiroriginalexpedition,andhavingtakenleaveoftheirsablefriends,rowedtosomedistance,wheretheylanded,andsetoutforBrokenBay,orderingthecoxswainoftheboat,inwhichtheyhadcomedown,togoimmediatelyandacquaintthegovernorofallthathadpassed.Whenthenativessawthattheboatwasabouttodepart,theycrowdedaroundher,andbroughtdown,bywayofpresent,threeorfourgreatjunksofthewhale,andputthemonboardofher,thelargestofwhich,Baneelonexpresslyrequestedmightbeoffered,inhisname,tothegovernor. Ithappenedthathisexcellencyhadthisdaygonetoalandmark,whichwasbuildingontheSouth-head,neartheflag-staff,toserveasadirectiontoshipsatsea,andtheboatmethimonhisreturntoSydney. Immediatelyonreceivingtheintelligence,hehastenedbacktotheSouth-head,andhavingprocuredallthefire-armswhichcouldbemusteredthere,consistingoffourmusketsandapistol,setout,attendedbyMr.CollinsandLieutenantWaterhouseofthenavy. WhentheboatreachedManlyCove,thenativeswerefoundstillbusilyemployedaroundthewhale.Astheyexpressednotanyconsternationonseeingusrowtothebeach,governorPhillipsteppedoutunarmed,andattendedbyoneseamanonly,andcalledforBaneelon,whoappeared,but,notwithstandinghisformereagerness,wouldnotsuffertheothertoapproachhimforseveralminutes. Gradually,however,hewarmedintofriendshipandfrankness,andpresentlyafterColbeecameup.Theydiscoursedforsometime,Baneelonexpressingpleasuretoseehisoldacquaintance,andinquiringbynameforeverypersonwhomhecouldrecollectatSydney;andamongothersforaFrenchcook,oneofthegovernor\'sservants,whomhehadconstantlymadethebuttofhisridicule,bymimickinghisvoice,gait,andotherpeculiarities,allofwhichheagainwentthroughwithhiswontedexactnessanddrollery. Heaskedalsoparticularlyforaladyfromwhomhehadonceventuredtosnatchakiss;andonbeingtoldthatshewaswell,bywayofprovingthatthetokenwasfreshinhisremembrance,hekissedLieutenantWaterhouse,andlaughedaloud.Onhiswoundsbeingnoticed,hecoldlysaid,thathehadreceivedthematBotanyBay,butwentnofartherintotheirhistory.