Twostonehatchets,andtwospearshetookfromhiscanoe,andpresentedtothegovernor,whoinreturnforhiscourteousgenerosity,gavehimtwoofourhatchetsandsomebread,whichwasnewtohim,forheknewnotitsuse,butkeptlookingatit,untilColbeeshewedhimwhattodo,whenheeatitwithouthesitation.Wepursuedourcourse,andtoaccommodateus,ournewacquaintancepointedoutapathandwalkedattheheadofus.Acanoe,alsowithamanandaboyinit,keptgentlypaddlingupabreastofus.
Wehaltedforthenightatourusualhour,onthebankoftheriver.
Immediatelythatwehadstopped,ourfriend(whohadalreadytoldushisname)
Gombeeree,introducedthemanandtheboyfromthecanoetous.TheformerwasnamedYellomundee,thelatterDeeimba.Theeasewithwhichthesepeoplebehavedamongstrangerswasasconspicuous,asunexpected.Theyseatedthemselvesatourfire,partookofourbiscuitandpork,drankfromourcanteens,andheardourgunsgoingoffaroundthemwithoutbetrayinganysymptomoffear,distrustorsurprise.Ontheoppositebankoftherivertheyhadlefttheirwivesandseveralchildren,withwhomtheyfrequentlydiscoursed;andweobservedthattheselastmanifestedneithersuspicionoruneasinessofourdesignstowardstheirfriends.
Havingrefreshedourselves,wefoundleisuretoenterintoconversationwiththem.Itcouldnotbeexpectedthattheyshoulddiffermateriallyfromthetribeswithwhomwewereacquainted.Thesamemannersandpursuits,thesameamusements,thesamelevityandfickleness,undoubtedlycharacterisedthem.Whatwewereabletolearnfromthemwasthattheydependbutlittleonfish,astheriveryieldsonlymullets,andthattheirprincipalsupportisderivedfromsmallanimalswhichtheykill,andsomeroots(aspeciesofwildyamchiefly)whichtheydigoutoftheearth.Ifwerightlyunderstoodthem,eachmanpossessestwowives.Whencecanarisethissuperabundanceoffemales?Neitherofthemenhadsufferedtheextractionofafronttooth.Wewereeagertoknowwhetherornotthiscustomobtainedamongthem.ButneitherColbeenorBoladereewouldputthequestionforus;
andonthecontrary,showedeverydesiretowavethesubject.
Theuneasinesswhichtheytestified,wheneverwerenewedit,ratherservedtoconfirmasuspicionwhichwehadlongentertained,thatthisisamarkofsubjectionimposedbythetribeofCameragal,(whoarecertainlythemostpowerfulcommunityinthecountry)ontheweakertribesaroundthem.
Whetherthewomencutoffajointofoneofthelittlefingers,likethoseontheseacoast,wehadnoopportunityofobserving.Thesearepettyremarks.
Butonevarietystruckusmoreforcibly.Althoughournativesandthestrangersconversedonaparandunderstoodeachotherperfectly,yettheyspokedifferentdialectsofthesamelanguage;manyofthemostcommonandnecessarywordsusedinlifebearingnosimilitude,andothersbeingslightlydifferent——
EnglishNameontheseacoastNameattheHawkesbury——
TheMoonYeneedaCondoenTheEarGooreeBennaTheForeheadNulloNarranTheBellyBarangBindeeTheNavelMuneeroBoombongTheButtocksBoongBayleeTheNeckCalangGangaTheThighTaraDaraTheHairDeewaraKeewara——
Thatthesediversitiesarisefromwantofintercoursewiththepeopleonthecoastcanhardlybeimagined,asthedistanceinlandisbutthirty-eightmiles;andfromRoseHillnotmorethantwenty,wherethedialectoftheseacoastisspoken.Itdeservesnoticethatallthedifferenttermsseemedtobefamiliartobothparties,thougheachinspeakingpreferreditsown*.
[*Howeasilypeople,unusedtospeakthesamelanguage,mistakeeachother,everyoneknows.WehadlivedalmostthreeyearsatPortJackson(formorethanhalfofwhichperiodnativeshadresidedwithus)beforeweknewthattheword\'beeal\',signified\'no\',andnot\'good\',inwhichlattersensewehadalwaysuseditwithoutsuspectingthatwewerewrong;andevenwithoutbeingcorrectedbythosewithwhomwetalkeddaily.Thecauseofourerrorwasthis.Theepithet\'weeree\',signifying\'bad\',weknew;andastheuseofthiswordanditsoppositeaffordthemostsimpleformofdenotingconsentordisapprobationtouninstructedIndians,inordertofindouttheirwordfor\'good\',whenArabanoowasfirstbroughtamongus,weusedjokinglytosaythatanything,whichhelikedwas\'weeree\',inordertoprovokehimtotellusthatitwasgood.Whenwesaid\'weeree\',heanswered\'beeal\',whichwetranslatedandadoptedfor\'good\';whereashemeantnomorethansimplytodenyourinference,andsay\'no\'——itisnotbad.Afterthis,itcannotbethoughtextraordinarythatthelittlevocabularyinsertedinMr.Cook\'saccountofthispartoftheworldshouldappeardefective——
evenwerewenottotakeinthegreatprobabilityofthedialectsatEndeavourRiverandVanDiemen\'slanddifferingfromthatspokenatPortJackson.Anditremainstobeprovedthattheanimalcalledhere\'patagaram\'isnottherecalled\'kangaroo\'.]
Stretchedoutateasebeforeourfire,allsidescontinuedtochatandentertaineachother.Gombeereeshewedusthemarkofawoundwhichhehadreceivedinhissidefromaspear.Itwaslarge,appearedtohavepassedtoaconsiderabledepth,andmustcertainlyhavebeenattendedwithimminentdanger.Bywhomithadbeeninflicted,andonwhatoccasion,heexplainedtoColbee;andafterwards(asweunderstood)heenteredintoadetailofthewars,and,aseffectsleadtocauses,probablyofthegallantriesofthedistrict,forthewordwhichsignifiesawomanwasoftenrepeated.Colbee,inreturnforhiscommunication,informedhimwhowewere;ofournumbersatSydneyandRoseHill,ofthestoreswepossessedand,aboveall,ofthegoodthingswhichweretobefoundamongus,enumeratingpotatoes,cabbages,turnips,pumpkins,andmanyothernameswhichwereperfectlyunintelligibletothepersonwhoheardthem,butwhichheneverthelesslistenedtowithprofoundattention.
PerhapstherelationgivenbyGombeeree,ofthecureofhiswound,nowgaverisetothefollowingsuperstitiousceremony.Whiletheyweretalking,Colbeeturnedsuddenlyroundandaskedforsomewater.Igavehimacupful,whichhepresentedwithgreatseriousnesstoYellomundee,asIsupposedtodrink.Thislastindeedtookthecupandfilledhismouthwithwater,butinsteadofswallowingit,threwhisheadintoColbee\'sbosom,spitthewateruponhimand,immediatelyafter,begantosuckstronglyathisbreast,justbelowthenipple.Iconcludedthatthemanwassick;
andcalledtothegovernortoobservethestrangeplacewhichhehadchosentoexoneratehisstomach.Thesilentattentionobservedbytheothernatives,however,soonconvincedusthatsomethingmorethanmerelytheaccommodationofYellomundee,wasintended.Theceremonywasagainperformed;and,afterhavingsuckedthepartforaconsiderabletime,theoperatorpretendedtoreceivesomethinginhismouth,whichwasdrawnfromthebreast.
Withthisheretiredafewpaces,puthishandtohislipsandthrewintotheriverastone,whichIhadobservedhimtopickupslily,andsecrete.
Whenhereturnedtothefireside,Colbeeassuredusthathehadreceivedsignalbenefitfromtheoperation;andthatthissecondMachaonhadextractedfromhisbreasttwosplintersofaspearbywhichhehadbeenformerlywounded.
Weexaminedthepart,butitwassmoothandwhole,sothattotheforceofimaginationalonemustbeimputedboththewoundanditscure.
Colbeehimselfseemedneverthelessfirmlypersuadedthathehadreceivedrelief,andassuredusthatYellomundeewasa\'caradyee\',or\'Doctorofrenown\'.AndBoladereeaddedthatnotonlyhebutalltherestofhistribewere\'caradyee\'ofespecialnoteandskill.
TheDoctorsremainedwithusallnight,sleepingbeforethefireinthefullnessofgoodfaithandsecurity.Thelittleboysleptinhisfather\'sarms,andweobservedthatwheneverthemanwasinclinedtoshifthisposition,hefirstputoverthechild,withgreatcare,andthenturnedroundtohim.
Friday,April15th,1791.Thereturnoflightarousedustotherepetitionoftoil.Ourfriendsbreakfastedwithus,andprevioustostartingGombeereegaveaspecimenoftheirmannerofclimbingtreesinquestofanimals.
Heaskedforahatchetandoneofourswasofferedtohim,buthepreferredoneoftheirownmaking.Withthistoolhecutasmallnotchinthetreeheintendedtoclimb,abouttwofeetandahalfabovetheground,inwhichhefixedthegreattoeofhisleftfoot,andsprungupwards,atthesametimeembracingthetreewithhisleftarm.Inaninstanthehadcutasecondnotchforhisrighttoeontheothersideofthetreeintowhichhesprung,andthus,alternatelycuttingoneachside,hemountedtotheheightoftwentyfeetinnearlyasshortaspaceasifhehadascendedbyaladder,althoughthebarkofthetreewasquitesmoothandslipperyandthetrunkfourfeetindiameterandperfectlystrait.Tousitwasamatterofastonishment,buttohimitwassport;forwhileemployedthushekepttalkingtothosebelowandlaughingimmoderately.Hedescendedwithasmucheaseandagilityashehadraisedhimself.Evenournativesallowedthathewasacapitalperformer,againstwhomtheydarednottoenterthelists;
forastheysubsistchieflybyfishingtheyarelessexpertatclimbingonthecoastthanthosewhodailypracticeit.
Soonaftertheybadeusadieu,inunabatedfriendshipandgoodhumour.
ColbeeandBoladereepartedfromthemwithaslightnodofthehead,theusualsalutationofthecountry;andweshookthembythehand,whichtheyreturnedlustily.
Atthetimewestartedthetidewasflowinguptheriver,adecisiveproofthatwewerebelowRichmondHill.Wehadcontinuedourmarchbutashorttimewhenwewereagainstoppedbyacreek,whichbaffledallourendeavourstocrossit,andseemedtopredictthattheobjectofourattainment,thoughbutaveryfewmilesdistant,wouldtakeusyetaconsiderabletimetoreach,whichthrewadamponourhopes.Wetracedthecreekuntilfouro\'clock,whenwehaltedforthenight.Thecountry,onbothsides,wethoughtingeneralunpromising;butitiscertainlyverysuperiortothatwhichwehadseenontheformercreek.Inmanyplacesitmightbecultivated,providedtheinundationsofthestreamcanberepelled.
Inpassingalongweshotsomeducks,whichBoladereerefusedtoswimforwhenrequested,andtoldusinasurlytonethattheyswamforwhatwaskilled,andhadthetroubleoffetchingitashore,onlyforthewhitementoeatit.
Thisreproofwas,Ifear,toojustlyfounded;forofthefewduckswehadbeensofortunateastoprocure,littlehadfallentotheirshareexcepttheoffals,andnowandthenahalf-pickedbone.True,indeed,allthecrowsandhawkswhichhadbeenshotweregiventothem;buttheyplainlytoldusthatthetasteofduckswasmoreagreeabletotheirpalates,andbeggedtheymighthereafterpartakeofthem.Weobservedthattheywerethoroughlysickofthejourney,andwishedheartilyforitsconclusion:theexclamationof\"Where\'sRoseHill,where?\"wasincessantlyrepeated,withmanyinquiriesaboutwhenweshouldreturntoit.
SaturdayApril16th,1791.Itwasthismorningresolvedtoabandonourpursuitandtoreturnhome;athearingofwhichournativesexpressedgreatjoy.Westartedearly;andreachedRoseHillaboutthreeo\'clock,justasaboatwasabouttobesentdowntoSydney.ColbeeandBoladereewouldnotwaitforusuntilthefollowingmorning,butinsistedongoingdownimmediatelytocommunicatetoBaneelonandtherestoftheircountrymenthenoveltiestheyhadseen.
Thecountrywepassedthroughwas,forthemostpart,veryindifferent,accordingtoouruniversalopinion.Itisingeneralbadlywatered.
Foreightmilesandahalfononelinewedidnotfindadropofwater.
RICHMONDHILL
Havingeludedourlastsearch,Mr.Dawesandmyself,accompaniedbyasergeantofmarinesandaprivatesoldier,determinedonanotherattempt,toascertainwhetheritlayontheHawkesburyorNepean.Wesetoutonthisexpeditiononthe24thofMay,1791;andhavingreachedtheoppositesideofthemouthofthecreekwhichhadinourlastjourneypreventedourprogress,weproceededfromthereuptoRichmondHillbytheriverside;
mountedit;sleptatitsfoot;andonthefollowingdaypenetratedsomemileswestwardorinlandofituntilwewerestoppedbyamountainouscountry,whichourscarcityofprovisions,joinedtotheterrorofariveratourback,whosesuddenrisingisalmostbeyondcomputation,hinderedusfromexploring.
TotheelevationwhichboundedourresearchwegavethenameofKnightHill,inhonourofthetrustysergeantwhohadbeenthefaithfulindefatigablecompanionofallourtravels.
ThisexcursioncompletelysettledthelongcontestedpointabouttheHawkesburyandNepean.Wefoundthemtobeoneriver.Withoutknowingit,Mr.DawesandmyselfhadpassedRichmondHillalmostayearbefore(inAugust1790),andfromtherewalkedonthebankoftherivertothespotwheremydiscoveryoftheNepeanhappened,inJune1789.Ourignorancearosefromhavingneverbeforeseenthehill,andfromtheerroneouspositionassignedtoitbythosewhohadbeenintheboatsuptheriver.
Exceptthebehaviourofsomenativeswhomwemetontheriver,whichitwouldbeingratitudetopassinsilence,nothingparticularlyworthyofnoticeoccurredonthisexpedition.
WhenwehadreachedwithintwomilesofRichmondHill,weheardanativecall.
Wedirectlyansweredhimandconversedacrosstheriverforsometime.
Atlengthhelaunchedhiscanoeandcrossedtouswithoutdistrustorhesitation.Wehadneverseenhimbefore;butheappearedtoknowourfriendGombeeree,ofwhomheoftenspoke.HesaidhisnamewasDeedora.
Hepresenteduswithtwospearsandathrowing-stick,andinreturnwegavehimsomebreadandbeef.Findingthatourroutelayuptheriver,heofferedtoaccompanyusand,gettingintohiscanoe,paddledupabreastofus.WhenwearrivedatRichmondHillitbecamenecessarytocrosstheriver;butthequestionwas,howthisshouldbeeffected?
Deedoraimmediatelyofferedhiscanoe.Weacceptedofitand,Mr.Dawesandthesoldierputtingtheirclothesintoit,pusheditbeforethem,andbyalternatelywadingandswimming,soonpassed.Ontheoppositeshoresatseveralnatives,towhomDeedoracalled,bywhichprecautionthearrivalofthestrangersproducednoalarm.Onthecontrary,theyreceivedthemwitheverymarkofbenevolence.Deedora,inthemeanwhile,sattalkingwiththesergeantandme.Soonafter,anothernative,namedMorunga,broughtbackthecanoe,andnowcameourturntocross.Thesergeant(fromafoolishtrickwhichhadbeenplayeduponhimwhenhewasaboy)
wasexcessivelytimorousofwater,andcouldnotswim.Morungaofferedtoconducthim,andtheygotintothecanoetogether;but,hisfearsreturning,hejumpedoutandrefusedtoproceed.Iendeavouredtoanimatehim,andMorungaridiculedhisapprehensions,makingsignsoftheeaseanddispatchwithwhichhewouldlandhim;butheresolvedtopaddleoverbyhimself,which,bydintofgoodmanagementandkeepinghispositionverysteadily,heperformed.Itwasnowbecomenecessarytobringoverthecanoeathirdtimeformyaccommodation,whichwasinstantlydone,andIentereditwithDeedora.But,likethesergeant,Iwassodisorderedatseeingthewaterwithinahair\'sbreadthofthelevelofourskiff(whichbroughttomyremembranceaformerdisasterIhadexperiencedonthisriver)
thatIjumpedout,aboutknee-deep,anddeterminedtoswimover,whichIeffected.Myclothes,halfourknapsacks,andthreeofourgunsyetremainedtobetransportedacross.TheseIrecommendedtothecareofourgrimferrymen,whoinstantaneouslyloadedtheirboatwiththemanddeliveredthemontheoppositebank,withoutdamageordiminution.
Duringthislongtrialoftheirpatienceandcourtesy——inthelatterpartofwhichIwasentirelyintheirpower,fromtheirhavingpossessionofourarms——theyhadmanifestednoungeneroussignoftakingadvantageofthehelplessnessanddependanceofoursituation;norudecuriositytopryintothepackageswithwhichtheywereentrusted;ornosordiddesiretopossessthecontentsofthem;althoughamongthemwerearticlesexposedtoview,ofwhichitafterwardsappearedtheyknewtheuse,andlongedforthebenefit.Letthebanksofthoserivers,\"knowntosong\",lethimwhosetravelshavelainamongpolishednationsproducemeabrighterexampleofdisinterestedurbanitythanwasshownbythesedenizensofabarbarousclimetoasetofdestitutewanderersonthesideoftheHawkesbury.
OnthetopofRichmondHillweshotahawk,whichfellinatree.
Deedoraofferedtoclimbforitandwelenthimahatchet,theeffectofwhichdelightedhimsomuchthathebeggedforit.Asitwasrequiredtochopwoodforoureveningfire,itcouldnotbeconvenientlyspared;butwepromisedhimthatifhewouldvisitusonthefollowingmorning,itshouldbegiventohim.
Notamurmurwasheard;nosuspicionofourinsincerity;nomentionofbenefitsconferred;noreproachofingratitude.Hisgoodhumourandcheerfulnesswerenotcloudedforamoment.Punctualtoourappointment,hecametousatdaylightnextmorningandthehatchetwasgiventohim,theonlytokenofgratitudeandrespectinourpowertobestow.Neitherofthesemenhadlosthisfronttooth.
THELASTEXPEDITION
WhichIeverundertookinthecountryIamdescribingwasinJuly1791,whenMr.DawesandmyselfwentinsearchofalargeriverwhichwassaidtoexistafewmilestothesouthwardofRoseHill.Wewenttotheplacedescribed,andfoundthissecondNileorGangestobenothingbutasaltwatercreekcommunicatingwithBotanyBay,onwhosebankswepassedamiserablenightfromwantofadropofwatertoquenchourthirst,foraswebelievedthatweweregoingtoariverwethoughtitneedlesstomarchwithfullcanteens.
Onthisexpeditionwecarriedwithusathermometerwhich(inunisonwithourfeelings)shewedsoextraordinaryadegreeofcoldforthelatitudeoftheplacethatIthinkmyselfboundtotranscribeit.
Monday,18thJuly1791.Thesunaroseinuncloudedsplendorandpresentedtooursightanovelandpicturesqueview.Thecontiguouscountryaswhiteasifcoveredwithsnow,contrastedwiththefoliageoftreesflourishingintheverdureoftropicalluxuriancy*.Eventheexhalationwhichsteamedfromthelakebeneathcontributedtoheightenthebeautyofthescene.
WindSSW.Thermorneteratsunrise25degrees.Thefollowingnightwasstillcolder.Atsunsetthethermometerstoodat45degrees;
ataquarterbeforefourinthemorning,itwasat26degrees;
ataquarterbeforesixat24degrees;ataquarterbeforeseven,at23degrees;atseveno\'clock,22.7degrees;atsunrise,23degrees,afterwhichitcontinuedgraduallytomount,andbetweenoneandtwoo\'clock,stoodat59.6degreesintheshade.WindSSW.Thehorizonperfectlyclearallday,notthesmallestspecktobeseen.Nothingbutdemonstrationcouldhaveconvincedmethatsosevereadegreeofcoldeverexistedinthislowlatitude.Dropsofwateronatinpot,notaltogetheroutoftheinfluenceofthefire,werefrozenintosolidiceinlessthantwelveminutes.Partofalegofkangaroowhichwehadroastedforsupperwasfrozenquitehard,allthejuicesofitbeingconvertedintoice.
Onthosepondswhichwerenearthesurfaceoftheearth,thecoveringoficewasverythick;butonthosewhichwerelowerdownitwasfoundtobelessso,inproportiontotheirdepression;andwhereverthewaterwastwelvefeetbelowthesurface(whichhappenedtobethecaseclosetous)
itwasuncongealed.Itremainstobeobservedthatthecoldofboththesenights,atRoseHillandSydney,wasjudgedtobegreaterthanhadeverbeforebeenfelt.
[*AllthetreesofNewSouthWales,mayIapprehend,betermedevergreen.
Foraftersuchweatherasthisjournalrecords,Ididnotobserveeitherthattheleaveshaddroppedoff,orthattheyhadassumedthatsicklyautumnaltint,whichmarksEnglishtreesincorrespondingcircumstances.]
CHAPTERXV.
TransactionsoftheColonytotheendofNovember,1791.
Theextremedrynessoftheprecedingsummerhasbeennoticed.IthadoperatedsofarinthebeginningofJunethatwedreadedawantofwaterforcommonconsumptionmostofthelittlereservoirsintheneighbourhoodofSydneybeingdriedup.Thesmallstreamnearthetownwassonearlyexhausted(beingonlythedrainofamorass)thatashipcouldnothavewateredatit,andthe\'Supply\'waspreparingtosinkcasksinaswampwhenrainfellandbanishedourapprehensions.
June,1791.Onthesecondinstant,thenameofthesettlement,attheheadoftheharbour(RoseHill)waschanged,byorderofthegovernor,tothatofParramatta,thenativenameofit.AsRoseHillhas,however,occurredsoofteninthisbook,Ibegleave,toavoidconfusion,stilltocontinuetheappellationinallfuturementionofit.
OurtravellingfriendBoladeree,whomakessoconspicuousafigureinthelastchapter,aboutthistimecommittedanoffencewhichwewereobligedtonotice.Hethrewaspearataconvictinthewoods,andwoundedhim.Thetruthwas,somemischievouspersonbelongingtoushadwantonlydestroyedhiscanoe,andherevengedtheinjuryonthefirstofourpeoplewhomhemetunarmed.Henowseemedtothinkthematteradjusted;andprobablysuchisthecustomtheyobserveintheirownsocietyinsimilarcases.Hearing,however,thatanorderwasissuedtoseizehim,orincasethatcouldnotbeeffected,toshoothim,heprudentlydroppedallconnectionwithusandwasforalongtimenotseen.
Butiftheysometimesinjuredus,tocompensatetheywereoftenofsignalbenefittothosewhoneededtheirassistance:twoinstancesofwhichhadrecentlyoccurred.AboatwasoversetintheharbourBaneelonandsomeothernatives,whosawtheaccidenthappen,immediatelyplungedin,andsavedallthepeople.Whentheyhadbroughtthemonshore,theyundressedthem,kindledafireanddriedtheirclothes,gavethemfishtoeatandconductedthemtoSydney.
Theotherinstancewasofasoldierlostinthewoods,whenhemetapartyofnatives.Heatfirstknewnotwhethertofleefromthem,ortoimploretheirassistance.Seeingamongthemonewhomheknew,hedeterminedtocommunicatehisdistresstohimandtorelyonhisgenerosity.
TheIndiantoldhimthathehadwanderedalongwayfromhome,butthathewouldconducthimthither,onthesingleconditionofhisdeliveringupagunwhichheheldinhishand,promisingtocarryitforhimandtorestoreittohimatparting.Thesoldierfeltlittleinclinationtosurrenderhisarms,bywhichhewouldbeputentirelyintheirpower.
Butseeingnoalternative,heatlastconsented;onwhichthewholepartylaiddowntheirspearsandfaithfullyescortedhimtothenearestpartofthesettlement,wherethegunwasgivenup,andtheytooktheirleavewithoutaskingforanyremuneration,orevenseemingtoexpectit.
Thedistressfulstateofthecolonyforprovisionscontinuedgraduallytoaugmentuntilthe9thofJuly,whentheMaryAnnetransportarrivedfromEngland.ThisshiphadsailedfromtheDownssolatelyasthe25thofFebruary,havingbeenonlyfourmonthsandtwelvedaysonherpassage.Shebroughtoutconvicts,bycontract,ataspecificsumforeachperson.Buttodemonstratetheeffectofhumanityandjustice,of144femaleconvictsembarkedonboardonlythreehaddied,andtherestwerelandedinperfecthealth,allloudinpraiseoftheirconductor.
Themaster\'snamewasMunro;andhisship,afterfulfillingherengagementwithgovernment,wasboundonthesouthernfishery.ThereadermustnotconcludethatIsacrificetodulldetail,whenhefindssuchbenevolentconductminutelynarrated.Theadvocatesofhumanityarenotyetbecometoonumerous:butthosewhopractiseitsdivineprecepts,howeverhumbleandunnoticedbetheirstation,oughtnottosinkintoobscurity,unrecordedandunpraised,withthevilemonsterswhoderidemiseryandfattenoncalamity.
July,1791.If,however,thegoodpeopleofthisshipdelighteduswiththeirbenevolence,heregratificationended.Iwasofapartywhohadrowedinaboatsixmilesouttosea,beyondtheharbour\'smouth,tomeetthem;andwhatwasourdisappointment,ongettingaboard,tofindthattheyhadnotbroughtaletter(afewofficialonesforthegovernorexcepted)toanypersoninthecolony!Norhadtheyasinglenewspaperormagazineintheirpossession;norcouldtheyconceivethatanypersonwishedtohearnews;beingasignorantofeverythingwhichhadpassedinEuropeforthelasttwoyearsasourselves,atthedistanceofhalfthecircle.\"Nowar——thefleet\'sdismantled,\"wasthewholethatwecouldlearn.WhenIaskedwhetheranewparliamenthadbeencalled,theystaredatmeinstupidwonder,notseemingtocomprehendthatsuchabodyeithersufferedrenovationorneededit.
\"HavetheFrenchsettledtheirgovernment?\"
\"AstothatmatterIcan\'tsay;Ineverheard;but,damnthem,theywerereadyenoughtojointheSpaniardsagainstus.\"
\"AreRussiaandTurkeyatpeace?\"
\"Thatyouseedoesnotlieinmyway;Ihaveheardtalkaboutit,butdon\'trememberwhatpassed.\"
\"Forheaven\'ssake,whydidyounotbringoutabundleofnewspapers?
Youmighthaveprocuredafileatanycoffeehouse,whichwouldhaveamusedyou,andinstructedus?\"
\"Why,really,IneverthoughtaboutthematteruntilwewereofftheCapeofGoodHope,whenwespokeamanofwar,whoaskedusthesamequestion,andthenIwishedIhad.\"
Tohaveprosecutedinquiryfartherwouldhaveonlyservedtoincreasedisappointmentandchagrin.Wethereforequittedtheship,wonderingandlamentingthatsolargeaportionofplainundisguisedhonestyshouldbesototallyunconnectedwithacommonshareofintelligence,andacquaintancewiththefeelingsandhabitsofothermen.
Bythegovernor\'sletterswelearnedthatalargefleetoftransports,withconvictsonboard,andHisMajesty\'sshipGorgon,(CaptainParker)
mightsoonbeexpectedtoarrive.Thefollowingintelligencewhichtheycontained,wasalsomadepublic.
Thatsuchconvictsashadservedtheirperiodoftransportation,werenottobecompelledtoremaininthecolony;butthatnotemptationshouldbeofferedtoinducethemtoquitit,asthereexistedbuttoomuchreasontobelieve,thattheywouldreturntoformerpractices;thatthosewhomightchoosetosettleinthecountryshouldhaveportionsofland,subjecttostipulatedrestrictions,andaportionofprovisionsassignedtothemonsignifyingtheirinclinations;andthatitwasexpected,thatthoseconvictswhomightbepossessedofmeanstotransportthemselvesfromthecountry,wouldleaveitfreeofallincumbrancesofapublicnature.
Therestofthefleetcontinuedtodropin,inthisandthetwosucceedingmonths.Thestateoftheconvictswhomtheybroughtout,thoughinfinitelypreferabletowhatthefleetoflastyearhadlanded,wasnotunexceptionable.Threeoftheshipshadnavalagentsonboardtocontrolthem.Consequently,ifcomplainthadexistedthere,itwouldhavebeenimmediatelyredressed.Exclusiveofthese,the\'Salamander\',(CaptainNichols)who,of155menlostonlyfive;andthe\'WilliamandAnne\'(CaptainBuncker)whoof187menlostonlyseven,Ifindmostworthyofhonourablemention.InthelistofconvictsbroughtoutwasBarrington,offamousmemory.
Twooftheseshipsalsoaddedtoourgeographicknowledgeofthecountry.
The\'Atlantic\',underthedirectionofLieutenantBowen,anavalagent,ranintoaharbourbetweenVanDiemen\'sland,andPortJackson,inlatitude35degrees12minutessouth,longitude151degreeseast,towhich,inhonourofSirJohnJervis,KnightoftheBath,Mr.BowengavethenameofPortJervis.Herewasfoundgoodanchoringgroundwithafinedepthofwater,withinaharbouraboutamileandaquarterbroadatitsentrance,whichafterwardsopensintoabasinfivemileswideandofconsiderablelength.Theyfoundnofreshwater,butastheirwantofthisarticlewasnoturgent,theydidnotmakesufficientresearchestopronouncethatnoneexistedthere.*Theysaw,duringtheshorttimetheystayed,twokangaroosandmanytracesofinhabitants.Thecountryatalittledistancetothesouthwardoftheharbourishilly,butthatcontiguoustotheseaisflat.Oncomparingwhattheyhadfoundhereafterwards,withthenativeproduceofPortJackson,theysawnoreasontothinkthattheydifferedinanyrespect.
[*JustbeforeIleftthecountry,wordwasbroughtbyashipwhichhadputintoPortJervis,thatalargefreshwaterbrookwasfoundthere.]
TheseconddiscoverywasmadebyCaptainWetherhead,ofthe\'Matilda\'transport,whichwasobliginglydescribedtome,asfollows,bythatgentleman,onmyputtingtohimtheunderwrittenquestions.
\"Whendidyoumakeyourdiscovery?\"
\"Onthe27thofJuly,1791.\"
\"Inwhatlatitudeandlongitudedoesitlie?\"
\"In42degrees15minutessouthbyobservation,andin1481/2eastbyreckoning\"
\"Isitonthemainlandorisitanisland?\"
\"Itisanisland,distantfromthemainlandabouteightmiles.\"
\"Didyouanchor?\"
\"Yes;andfoundgoodanchorageinabayopenaboutsixpoints.\"
\"Didyouseeanyotherharbourorbayintheisland?\"
\"None.\"
\"Doesthechannelbetweentheislandandthemainappeartoaffordgoodshelterforshipping?\"
\"Yes,likeSpithead.\"
\"Didyoufindanywaterontheisland?\"
\"Yes,inplenty.\"
\"Ofwhatsizedoestheislandappeartobe?\"
\"Itisnarrowandlong;Icannotsayhowlong.Itsbreadthisinconsiderable.\"
\"Didyoumakeanyobservationsonthesoil?\"
\"Itissandy;andmanyplacesarefullofcraggyrocks.\"
\"DoyoujudgetheproductionswhichyousawontheislandtobesimilartothosearoundPortJackson?\"
\"Idonotthinktheydifferinanyrespect.\"
\"Didyouseeanyanimals?\"
\"Isawthreekangaroos.\"
\"Didyouseeanynatives,oranymarksofthem?\"
\"Isawnonatives,butIsawafire,andseveralhutslikethoseatPortJackson,inoneofwhichlayaspear.\"
\"Whatnamedidyougivetoyourdiscovery?\"
\"Icalledit,inhonourofmyship,MatildaBay.\"
November,1791.AveryextraordinaryinstanceoffollystimulatedtodesperationoccurredinthebeginningofthismonthamongtheconvictsatRoseHill.Twentymenandapregnantwoman,partofthosewhohadarrivedinthelastfleet,suddenlydisappearedwiththeirclothes,workingtools,bedding,andtheirprovisions,fortheensuingweek,whichhadbeenjustissuedtothem.Thefirstintelligenceheardofthem,wasfromsomeconvictsettlers,whosaidtheyhadseenthempass,andhadenquiredwhithertheywerebound.Towhichtheyhadreceivedforanswer,\"toChina.\"
Theextravaganceandinfatuationofsuchanattemptwasexplainedtothembythesettlers;butneitherderision,nordemonstrationcouldavertthemfrompursuingtheirpurpose.ItwasobservedbythosewhobroughtintheaccountthattheyhadgeneralideaenoughofthepointofthecompassinwhichChinaliesfromPortJackson,tokeepinanortherlydirection.
