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;forontheshoresofthisvastoceanthelargestintheworld
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,andtwopoundsofriceorinlieuofthelatter,aquartofpeaseperweek,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\'sLouisXVIlastwordstome,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,exceptamelancholyaccidentwhichbefellayounggentlemanofamiablecharacteroneofthemidshipmenlatelybelongingtothe\'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.
ExceptthediscoveryofariverwhichisunquestionablytheNepeannearitssourcetowhichwegavethenameoftheWorgan,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\'twolargewomentocompensateforherloss.\"
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.