# I 4 4 t * • 0 I 4 4 t I 4 ¥ r ▼ f v f 9 I 01 0 MM 11 o IM ♦ t ♦ • i e i ♦ # ♦ t I t • * # I • I H jt 9 t with A DESCRIPTION of the COUNTRY; the MANNERS, CUSTOMS, RELIGION, fcjfa , or THE NATIVES, In the Vicinity of BOTANY BAY. BY GEORGE BARRINGTON, NOW superintend ant of the convicts a t PARAMATTA. printed for the proprietor; sold byh. d. symonds, no. 20, paternoster-row. vented from anchoring in Port an Prayo Bay by a contrary wind—Sail to the fouthward—Pafs the Equator —Ceremony of Ducking and Shaving—Make Cape frits—Anchor in the harbour of Rio Janeiro. Page 25 CHAP. IV. Thefgnal vade for jailing—Get under weigh—Squally weather, vJ.th thunder and lightning—Clears up—Series of fine weather—Arrive at the Cape of Good PIopc-— Hope—Rewarded by the captain with a hundred dollars for my jerviccs during the infurreilion of the cvnvifls—Permitted to go on fhorc—Some account of the manners of the people of Cape Town—Dine at a Table d'Hotc—Fall in with an entertaining Frenchman — His account of the fiaves^—Of the coknifls in tbe environs—Of the country of the Autcniquas. Page 30 C H A P. V. Hunting the Elephant—Wars of the Caffres—Atrocious behaviour of the Colonifis—Their cruelty exemplified in the murder of a young pri/oncr—Singular encounter with a Lion—Courage, and tragical death of a widow t attacking a Lion in defend of her cattle—Defcription cf the Black Eagle—Accounts of various cujloms of the Hottentots. Page 36 CHAP. VI. Departure from the Cape—Gale of wind—Part company with the rejl of the tranfports—Superftition of thefea-men—Story of the Flying Dutchman— The boatfwarn alarmed—The gale fubjides—The Phoenomenon accounted for—Sea birds make their appearance about the Jhip—Make Van Diemans Land—Beautiful appearance of the Aurora Aufirealis—A number of feals alongfide. Page 45 CHAP. VII. Make the land of New South Wales—Pafs Botany Bay—Come to an anchor in Port 'Jack[on—Convitis ordered on fhore—Attend the governor, kindly received, through the favourable report of the captain— The governor promife? me his protection—Return on board—Take leave of my mefsmates—Receive orders to go on fjjore to Sydney Cove—Accompanied by the captain—appointed fuperintendant of the conviih at Paramatta—Dine with a ferjeant of Marines—. Walk round tbe Cove—Defcription of the Settlement— Sleep at Sydney—Embark my effects and acconpanicd by the ferjeant proceed to Paramatta. Page 50 CHAP. VIII. j9 general muflcr of the convicls—They a'e made acquainted with my filiation among thcrr—Their behaviour—* viour—Avocations—Hours of labour—Attend puh*t "worfbip—>Get-perfectly acquainted with my duty—Singular impoflure of one of the conviils—Encouragement given to the convitls to become fettlers on the expiration of their fentence—Defcription ef the Kangar$>» and of the native Dog—Get acquainted with the natives—'Defcription of them—Their weapons—Manner tf painting thcmfelvcs when going to battle. Page 5£ CHAP. IX. Campaigns generally fettled by negotiation—'Thar habitations—Wonderful dexterity in climbing the Cabbage and Palm trees—Ttieir method of hunting Jmall animals—Defcription of various Quadrupeds—Curime» jimilarity of the different fpedes—Fijh—Birds—/g~ jedts—Plants and fruits. , Page 6$ C HAP. X. The Small-Pox makes its appearance among the nat\m$ —Dreadful ravages of it—A native Boy and Girl found labouring under that diforder, taken to the hsf-fital at Sydney Cove, and cured—Sieze a native whr becomes tolerably civilized : taken with the Small-Pax -and dies—Governor Philip gets two more of the unlives into his pofjeffton—Arc treated with the greatest kindnefs—Their ejeape from the Settlement^ are fern by the fifliing parties—The governor dejirous of & reconciliation, goes among the natives unarmed—The: interview with Banalong ts?c.-*-Onc of the naikte throws a fpear and dangeroufy wounds the governor* Page 71 C HAP. XI. A /booting party fall in with fame of the natives, wh§ g-.ve information of the man who fpeared the gover-noi—Araboo wants to be married—Governor Qjfjjft has an inter-view with Banalong, and makes him pmr prefeitS) Barangaroo his wife introduced—A feawd interview; Banalong prevailed on to vifit the fttik-ment—Curious behaviour of his wife on the ec£#fimt repeats hs vifit with fevcral of the natives—Friendly intercomfe with the natives eJlablifbed—Bawlwigs extr an dinars behaviour to a native girl. Page $$ CHAP. CHAP. XII. The governor goes to Paramatta, is accompanied by Banalong—Stop by the way to take up his wife, who refufes to go, and prevails on her hujband to quit the boat—Fall in with a party lamenting the death of a brother killed by tbe Camaragals—The natives very alert in faving a boat that had been taken away by fome conviti defertcrS) and cajl on the rocks in bad weather—Banalong again prevented from accompanying the governor by his wife—Mis excellency's gamekeeper mortally wounded by the natives—AJlrong party fent out to punifh the offenders—Banalong plunders fome of the fiflung-boats— His behaviour on being accufd of ;tfe theft. Page 100 CHAP. XIII. The natives continue their vifits to Sydncy—Banalong s reconciliation—Ceremony of cutting off the finger of a female infant—Curious method of curing dijorders— One of the natives' canoes Jlove by the convitls—Fie ap~ plies to the governor—The offenders difcovcrcd and pu-vifhed—A conviti fpeared by Balderry, the owner of the canoe—Governor Philip fends a party of marines to lake Balderry, who is advertifed of his danger by Nan-harre, the native boy—The marines fire among the natives—Banalong brings his wife to Sydney to lay-in— Her preparations for that occafion—Governor Philip forgives Balderry at the interceffion of Banalong. Page in CHAP. XIV. Religion of the natives—Their fupcrfiition—-Preparations for a ball—Manner of dancing—Their method of fifih' ing; of procuring fire—Their courffhip. Page 12I CHAP. XV. .Land in cultivation, at Paramatta—Viciffitudes >f the Weather—Mortality of the convitls—Invcfligction of their treatment on board the tranfports^—JJe^tion of the convitls —Stock my farm yard—Gov erforPhilip pleafed with my fupermtendancc—Lofe m/fcjf in the woods—Interefiing adventure—Condutl^ t0 Paramatta by a native boy—Vifit my new acquaintance— Governor Philip departs for England. Page i2& A VOYAGE to NEW SOUTH WALES. CHAP. T. Am ordered for embarkation—Vifiled by my friends—» Receive many prefents—Efcorted from Newgate to Blackfriars-Bridge by the city guard, and put onboard a Lighter—Proceed down the river—An accident along-fide the fhip—Receive great indulgence on board, through the interference of a friend—Situation of the convitls on board—The fhip drops doivn toGravefend. —The captain comes on board—Proceed to the Downs, and from thence to the Mother Bank—Join feveral tranfports for the fame destination—The agent for tranfports comes on board—Makes the fignal for Jailing—Get under weigh, and run through the Needles— Lofe fight of land—A violent gale:. "|T T was with unfpeakable Satisfaction that I received a JL Summons to be ready early the next morning for my embarkation, agreeably to my Sentence. I inftantly made the moft of my time, and, by the afiiftance of a friend, procured a few pounds* worth of necelTaries for my voyage j government allowance being extremely flender, ef- E pecially pecially for one like me, who had hitherto been accuftom-ed to mod of the luxuries of the table. The news of my fpeedy departure brought Several of my acquaintance to bid me adieu, and, with gratitude, I recollect that not one of them came empty handed ; for, before the time of locking-up, I had fuch a collection of ventures, that I doubted whether I Should be permitted to take them all on board: had each of my Shipmates been as well flocked, it would have needed a fhip on purpofe. About a quarter befoie five a general mufler took place -v and, having bid farewel to my Sellow priSoners, we were cScorted Srom thepriSon to Blackfriars-bridge by the city guard, where two lighters were waiting to receive us. This proceffion, though early, and but few Spectators, made a deep impreflion on my mind; and the fgnominy of being thus mingled with felons of all descriptions, many fcarcea degree above the brute creation, intoxicated with liquor* and Shocking the ears of thofe they paffed with blafphemy, oaths, and fongs, the mod ofFcnfive to modef-ty, inflicted a punifbment more Severe than the Sentence oS my country, and Sully avenged that Society I had So much wronged. Abforbed in the mod humiliating meditation, the objects we paffed going down the river were totally unnoticed by me ; nor was I rouzed from my lethargy till I received a violent blow on the head, which I took at firft for a broke with a dick, but on looking around me found we were alongside the fhip, and that the injury I hadfuf-tained proceeded from the boatfwain, who, ftanding on the gangway, had thrown a Small coil of rope for Some one onboard the lighter to take hold of, to bring.us alongfide, . rr and and which unluckily came in contact with my head; this circumStance occasioned a laugh at my expence : but as I have always Sound that chagrin and ill-humour en-creafes the mortification, I ftiffied my real fenfations, and Seemed to join in the mirth. In my turn I afcended the Ihip's Side, and, to my great Satisfaction, the firft perfon I call my eyes on was my particular friend, whofe generous exertions not only procured me ftowage for my packages, but alfo the liberty of walking the deck, unencumbered by thofe galling and ignominious chains which my paft conduct had configned me to. Not content with thefe Services, he prevailed on the boatfwain to admit me into his meSs, which was compoSedof the Second mate, carpenter, and gunner, who cheerfully acquiefced^ on receiving my proportion towards defraying the extra requisites for the mefs during the voyage. My benefactor, having rendered my Situation thus comfortable, bade me farewel, and left me : my heart Swelling with gratitude, was too Sull, and interdicted all verbal acknowledgments ; but the remembrance is too Strongly engraven thereon for the moft diftant time to effect the Slighted eradication. My fellow prisoners, to the amount of upwards of two hundred, were all ordered into the hold, which was rendered as convenient as circumftances would admit, battens being fixed fore and aSt for hammocks, which were hung Seventeen inches apart from each other : but being encumbered with their irons, together with the want of frem air, Soon rendered their fituation truly deplorable. To alleviate their condition as much as was confident with the faSety of the Ship, they were permitted to walk the deck in turn, ten at a time: the women, of whom we had Six, had a Snug birth made for them, and were kept by themfclves. B z My My meSSmate, the boatfwain, had provided me with a neat flung hammock, and gave me a birth next his own ; at the fame time addreffing fome of his fhipmates who were prefent, with, " Lookee, my hearts, as I know you c'- are all above diftrcfling a gentleman under misSor-*c tunes, I'm fure you will confent to his having this here " birth; but if fo be as how any of you don't like it, <£ why, you may have mine—It isn't the firft time I have " prick'd for thefoftcft plank." Whether from the oratory of my new friend, or the insinuating appearance of a large can of flip, produced from an ample liquor-cafe, which promifed a fuccefiion of the fame arguments, the iron mufcles of his auditors were Softened down to a Significant fmile, and univerfal nod of affent. The fettling of this important buhncfs afforded me great Satisfaction, as it not only afiured me a comfortable birth for my hammock, but a place alfo for my little property, which I could have immediately under my eye. We lay about a week at Long-Reach, when wc dropt down to Giavefend ! here the captain came .on board, and Some Soldiers of the New South Wales corps; We got under weigh the next morning, and proceeded to the Downs, it blowing Strong to the weft ward, we came to an anchor. The wind veering about, at day.break we were again under Sail, and arrived at the Mother-Bank, where lay Several other tranfports for the Same destination. It was about ten days before we were ready to Sail from hence, the interval being employed in getting Srefh Stock, and replenishing our water. On the report of our being ready fcr Sea being made to the admiral, a lieutenant of the navy came on board, as agent of tranfports, and immediately ( i7 ) mediately made th3 fignal for the mailers of the other fhips to come on board, to whom he delivered their failing inflections ; and on the following morning made the fignal to weigh : by a charter pad nine we were under an eafy fail ; and it blowing a ditT eaderly breeze, we ran through the Needles : it was delightful weather, and the profpect on each hand mud have afforded the moft agreeable fenfations to every beholder, and is, perhaps, as rich and luxuriant as is any where to be met with; but, alas! it only brought a frefh pr.ng to the bofom of one who in all probability was bidding it adieu for ever. The weather continuing moderate, and the wind fair, we imperceptibly glid down the Channel, and had loft fight of Old England before I turned out the nevt morning. My frequent trips from Ireland to England had, in fome mcafure, inured me to fait water, nor did I want my fea-legs in a moft violent gale, which took place the third day after we loft fight of the land, and which for near ten hours baffled the fkill of all hands : two men were blown from the main-top-fiul yard, and the fail fplit to ribbands; all our endeavours to five the men proved ineffectual. Soon after our fore-top mail went over the fide, and carried four men and two boys with it; but they were providentially taken up, having kept fall to the wreck. $y the indefatigable exertions of the feamen, the remainder of the fails were handed, and the fhip greatly cafed, carrying only a ftorm-ftayfail; the fea running very high and irregular, rendered it very uncomfortable; and not being capable of any Service upon deck, I retired to my hammock, where 1 buried all thoughts of the contentious ocean in a found fleep, from which I was awaked by the fhrill whiffle of my meflmatc, piping all hands to break-fad; ( t8 } fait; the cheering found of « fteady*' from the helmfman, fluting my ears, and the quietnefs of the fhip aflurcd me the gale was pafh Having huddled on my cloaths, f found, on my afcending the deck, the fform had fuhfidcd, the wind perfectly fair, and the {hip jogging on under an eafy fail, at the rate of about feven miles an hour. CHAP. II. Con/piracy of the convicts—daring attempt to feize the fhip—The mutiny quelled—Gain the captain s friend-fhip and confidence by my behaviour during the mutiny—Arrive at Teneriffe—Defcription of the town and harbour of Santa Cruz—Indulged with permijjion to go on fhore—Vifit Oratava, a town in the vicinity of the Peak—Account of the country fur rounding that mountain—Return to the fhip. THIS danger was Succeeded by one that had nearly proved much more fatal: the captain, with great humanity, had releafed many of the convicts who had been in a weakly ftate from their irons ; and, as 1 have before obferved, they were allowed alternately, ten at a time, to walk upon deck. Two of them, Americans, who had fome knowledge of navigation, prevailed upon the majority of their comrades to attempt feizing the (hip, impreffing them with the idea that it would be ea-fdy effected, and that they would carry her to America, where every man would not only attain his liberty, but receive receive a tract of land from Congrefs, beftdes a {hare of the money arifing from the fale of the fhip and cargo. Thefe arguments had the defired effect, and it was determined the firfl opportunity that a part of thofe on the deck fhould, while the officers were at dinner, force the arm-chefl, which was kept on the quarter-deck, at the fame time make a fignal to two of them, who fhould be keeping the centinels in difcourfe, to attack them, get pof-feffion of their arms, and pafs the word for thofe below to rufli upon deck. This confpiracy was conducted with the grcateft Secrecy, and put in execution with equal ipirit and audacity. A favourable opportunity presenting itfelf, the captain and moft of the officers being below, examining the Stowage of fome wine, a cafk having leaked out in the fpirit room, I was the only perfon on the deck excepting the man at the helm ; hearing a fcuffle on the main-deck, I was going forward, but was flopped by one of the Americans, followed by another convict, who made a flroke at me with a fword he had wrelled from one of the centinels, which was put afide by a piflol which the other had juft fnapped at me ; I fnatched up a handfpike luckily in my reach, and brought the foremoft to the ground: the man at the helm had quitted the wheel, and called up the captain. I ft ill kept my Situation, guarding the paf. fage of the quarter-deck, my antagonifls having retreated a few paces, but being joined by many others, were rufhing on me, when the difcharge of a blunderbufs from behind me among them wounding Several, they retreated, and I was immediately joined by the captain and the reft of the officers, who, in a few minutes, drove them all into into the hold. An attempt of this kind required the moft. exemplary punifhment; accordingly two of the ringleaders were inftantly hung at the yard-arm, and Several others feverely Hogged at the gangway. As foon 33 the conSpirators were re-ironed, and the tranquillity of the fhip reftored, the captain paid me many handfome compliments, in having, as he was pleafed to fay, Saved the fhip, and affined me that when we arrived at the Cape he fhould, on the part of his owners, think it his duty to reward the fervice I had, by my courage and prefence of mind, rendered them; at the fame time he gave his Steward orders to Supply me with any thing I might have occafion for from his ftore-room curing the voyage. I foon experienced the good effects of my late behaviour, as Seldom a day paffed but Some freffi meat or poultry was Sent me by the captain, which confiderably raiSed me in the eftimation of my meilrnates, who were no ways diSpleaSed at the Substitution of a fea pie made of fowl or frefh meat, to a difJh of Lobfcoufe, or a piece of fait junk. With a fettled nOrth-wcfterly breeze we gradually proceeded to the fouthward, at the rate of between eighty and one hundred miles in twenty-four hours: we foon reached the ifland of TenerifFe, and came to an anchor in the bay of Santa Cruz, which is defended by Several batteries of three or four guns each, at certain diftances frOm each other, round the bay, and clofe to the water's edge; their principal fort is near to the landing-place, and mounts a number of heavy cannon; it is a firong work, work, but there being a good depth of water clofe in more, it could not fuftain the attack of two fhips of the line, though the whole of the batteries mount more than one hundred pieces of cannon. The town of Santa Cruz is very irregularly built, the principal ftreet being fo broad, that it looks more like a Square than a ftreet: the houfe of the governor, which is at the upper end, is a very indifferent looking building> and has more the appearance of an Auberge than the palace of a Spanish grandee ; at the other end is a fquare monument, commemorating the appearance of Our Lady to the Guanches, the Aborigines of the ifland. The outfkirts appear like a deferted village rather than a place of trade, many of the houfes being either half built, or fallen to decay from fome caufe or other j and the ftone walls, which were their principal fences, are broken down and in ruins. Some of the officers having obtained leave from the agent of tranfports to vifit the town of Oratava, a few miles from Santa Cruz, we having completed our water and frefh ftock, and waiting for the other tranfports who had not been fo alert; on my expremng a defire to fee' the town, I was permitted to be of the party. The Country is exceedingly beautiful and fertile, notwithftanding the frequent convulfions of the neighbouring volcanos ; we arrived at Oratava about noon, and by figns, for none of us were mafters of the language, we got a few eggs, and plenty of fmall wine. We had Scarcely taken our feats, when we were relieved from the inconvenience attending our not being acquainted with the language, by the arrival of an old Spanifh foldicr, who had been fome C time time a prifoner in England, and Spoke our tongue tolerably well : we informed him we had come from Santa Cruz to take a nearer view of the Peak, and, if time would admit, to afccnd it. He faid it was impofTible at this time of the year, as no guides would undertake to accompany us, and that Several of the goatherds who had ventured after their goats, had perifhed from the intenfe-nefs of the cold, but that he would take us as far as was prudent for us to venture. We thanked him for the offer, and accordingly walked about a league from the town into the plain, which extends to the bafe of the Peak, and had a full view of this frupendous mountain. Immenfe quantities of lava, and huge fragments of rocks, evidently vomitted from the crater of the volcano, covered the plains, and nearly reached the town: we gathered fome fmall pieces which had been fparred off, and found them impregnated with inflammable matter, and as hard as flint. I meafured one of the pieces of rock with fome twine I had about mc, and afterwards found it was near Seventy feet in circumference. Our time being fbort, and the weather intenfely cold, we returned to Oratava, and got fome Salt fifh, with a Sew hard eggs for Supper, to which our old Soldier invited himSelS, but asn-ply repaid us Sor his intrusion by a lively and humourous description of the Squabbles of his neighbours, the knavery praftifed by the mountaineers on the curious and exploring Stranger; his own heroiSm againft the Moors, and at the Siege of Gibraltar, where he was taken prifoner, with his amours while in England: the intervals •were Supplied by Several Songs from a company of muleteers, who, by their extreme vociferation intirely difcom-pofed the Serenity oS our loquacious gueft, and, but Sor my mediation, would have produced a Serious quarrel between tween them. Our leave of abfence from the fhip extending till fun-fet the Succeeding day, we enquired of our interpreter if we could be provided with beds; he gave us to understand that a bed was an article of luxury little known to the generality of the Oratavians, but he would get us mats to Sleep on, which we were fain to be contented with; and infpite of the indefatigable labour of myriads of every fpecies of vermin, I enjoyed as profound a fleep as though 1 had relied on a bed of down. A little before funrife we were waked by the veteran, who had come to partake of our breakfaft, and (hew us the town. Not having dripped, we foon made our appearance at the table, where he had provided half a dozen fmall loaves, fome baccalo, and a quantity of dried grapes; he had alio boiled a large iron kettle of coffee, but there being no fugar or milk at hand, we were glad to Substitute fome flaSks of Tenenffe for our beverage. Oratava is Situated on the declivity of a rugged hill, gradually Sloping to the Sea, and commands a fine view of the bay, which, from the number of Shoals, will only admit Ships of a fmall draught of water,and here merchantmen of this description generally anchor, as 'wine, fruits, and vegetables, are procured at Oratava much cheaper than at Santa Cruz. It is certainly the molt fertile fide of the ifland, and, in a great meafure, Supplies all the reft. Nothing can be more charming or romantically Situated than this delightful Spot: the houfes are low, but remarkably neat, and of white (tone. On one fide the ftreet runs a pleafant rivulet from a copious Spring of the clear-eft and Sweetefl; water, which, in its progrefs over a rugged pavement, murmurs moft agreeably along. Hills rifing above hills, crowned with woods of the moft luxuriant C a foilage, foilage, and beautifully canopied with variegated clouds ; and the Stupendous Peak, towering its majeftic head above the whole, forms a profpect. moft Sublimely interefting. The Surrounding valleys, adorned with vineyards, and watered by innumerable ftreams, forming natural cascades, complete the picture. At noon we began to think of returning to the Ship; and taking leave of Don GaSparo, the old Soldier, we reached Santa Cruz by SunSet, and, one of the boats being luckily on fhore, immediately went on board, highly gratified with our excurfiort. CHAP. CHAP. III. \jave Fencrife—Shape our courfe for Saint Jago—Pre* vented from anchoring in Port au Prayo Bay by a contrary wind—Sail to the fouthvoard —Pafs the Equator ■—Ceremony of Ducking and Shaving—Make Cape Frio—Anchor in the harbour of Rio Janeiro—Re-frcjhments of all kinds brought on board—Fruit ferved to the convicts—Defcription of the town and harbour —Produce of Rio Janeiro. THE {hips having completed their watering, the fignal was made for every perfon belonging to the fleet to repair on board their refpective vefTels, and the next morning the fignal to get under weigh : with a plea-fant breeze, we foon loft fight of the land. We fleered to the fouth-weft till we were in the meridian of Saint Jago, when we fhaped our courfe with an intention of coming to an anchor in Port au Prayo Bay; but when we opened the bay were taken aback, and a ftifF breeze blowing direct in our teeth, it was thought that an attempt to gain the bay wouldbeattended with fome rifle and much lofs of time, it was therefore determined to give up the idea, and a fignal was made for that purpofe. We then fhaped our courfe to the fouthward, and as we croffed the Equinoctial Line the ceremony of lhaving and ducking was punctually obferved: at noon, a hoarfe voice hailed the {hip, as from the fea, with g Ho! the fhip, ho V* which was anfwered by one ftationed for the purpofe, with « Hallo! what (hip's that ?" « The Albermarle." « I » don't recollect her paffing this way before—I fhall " come " come on board and examine her.*' Upon which half a dozen moft grotefque figures entered the fhip, as if from the bofom of the deep ; having previoufly flung a grating under each bow as a fiage to afcend from; with great Solemnity they proceeded to the quarter-deck: the principal perfonages were Neptune and Amphitrite, attended by their nymphs and neriads, perfonated by the oldeft Seamen in the fhip, but fo disfigured with red ochre, robes, and wigs, made of ravelled fpun yarn, that it was a difficult matter to recognize their perfons. After receiving a double toll from the captain, it being the firft time of the Ship's eroding the line, confiding of half a gallon of liquor, and two pounds of Sugar, they, in turn, queftioned every perSon on deck. When any one,Said he bad eroded before, and had not, his watry majefty, with great dignity, turning to one of his attendants, who held a large book, faid, " Look if you have this gentleman down in my log " book?" which being anfwercd in the negative, the rum and Sugar was inftantly demanded. When it came to my turn, my Sriend, the captain, defired them to put my quota down to him. Having finished with the quarter-deck, they proceeded to the examination of their own comrades, after having prepared for the ceremony of treating thofe who could not pay with a view of Neptune's cellar; for this purpofe they had made a tackle fad to the main yard-arm, through which they rove a rope, with an iron crow made fail to the end for a Seat. The only exhibition was on the perfon of the cook, who not being of the moft conciliatory difpofition, moft of the Ship's company owed him a grudge; and as he peremptorily refuSed to pay, although in his power, they placed him on the crow, and brought the yard rope between his legs, making another faft round him, to prevent a poflibility of his falling; they then then Swung him off, and running himclofe up tathe yard, foufed the poor devil from the heighth of near fifty feet into the water; this they performed thrice: when they took him on board he was fo much exhaufted that his life was thought in danger, which put an end to this part of the ceremony, and the other defaulters were let off with only a (having, performed by Neptune and his affifiants: the party was feated on a piece of board placed a'rofs a large tub; the razor part of an iron hoop, and the foap not the fineft Windfor, but a composition of tar, tallow, and every filth they could collect: the difagreeablenefs of this operation exclufive of the Smart, the hand of the Shaver not being of the lighteft, occafions a Struggle to get Srom under it, in which the board whereon he is Seated gives way, and poor pilgarlick is unexpectedly emerged over head and ears in bilge water. Thofe deftined for this operation are kept cloSe priSoners, So that they are totally ignorant of what they are to go through, but when the ordeal is once pafied they think no more of it, but Shake their ears, and afilft in carrying on the joke. The forfeits made them all as merry as grigs, and the day clofed with dancing and Songs on the forecaflle, and every body, the cook excepted, forgot their temporary mortifications, and joined in the evening's conviviality. A moft favourable breeze wafted us pleafantly along till we made Cape Frio : at midnight we were abreaft of the Cape, which is a fmall ifland, diftant two or three miles from the main land. We had very little wind and variable weather between the Cape and Rio Janiero, a diftance of fifty or fixty miles. A Spurt of wind Srom the Sea carried us within the iflands, when we came to an anchor ofF the harbour's mouth. The next morning the agent agent went on more to wait on the viceroy, arid in the afternoon we Weighed and failed into the harbour; as we paffed the fort we filmed them with thirteen guns, which was returned by eleven (we not being a man of war) and came to an anchor abreaft the town. The mips in general were remarkably healthy, and had hitherto buried but few of the convicts: in our paffage from Tcnerlfie to this place we loft only four men and one woman, which is a very inconsiderable number, coufidering their confined date, change of climate, and unwnolefome-nefs of living fo long entirely on fait provifioiis. Fiefh meat and vegetables were brought from the more immediately on our corning to an anchor, and Several count;/ boats, with Pines, Bannanas, Oranges, and every Species of tropical fruits, came along fide, of which the convidts had a certain proportion ferved them; the fruits being in fuch plenty that the expenceof distributing a few to each individual every morning was very inconfiderable. The harbour is very commodious, and will contain aimed any number of fliips, where they may ride in perfect Security from bad weather. The citv of Saint Sebadian is tolerably large, and regularly built; but from its being Situated on low Swampy ground, Surrounded by high hills, which entirely exclude it Srom the refreshing lea and land breezes, fo that in the Summer months it is inSup-portably hot, and of courSe very unhealthy. Some Sew of the drcets arc pretty wide, but in general they are rather too narrow ; the Square opp Site the landing-place is Spacious, and on the South Side Hands the pahice of the viceroy, a very handfome done building, and is Said to be very richly ornamented within. The irJide of the churches are 'vcciated with the utmod profuSion, and mod of them fur- niftied lilflicd with an excellent organ, and tolerable good pictures over the different akars. Here mechanics and tradesmen carry on their bnfinefs in didincl parts of the town, particular Streets being appropriated for particular trades : here you will find a whole ftreet of gun-fmiths., another of taylors, a third of carpenters, Sic. &cc. The numerous forts and batteries which furround Saint Scbaftiaii give it an air of ftrength, but an enemy getting poffdJiou of the ifland of Cobres, which is very neari > and overlooks the town, afljfled by a few large fhips, for which there is plenty of water, would foon oblige it to xapkulate. The produce and exports of Rio Janeiro are gold, Sugar, rice, coffee, and molt of the valuable drugs: we took a cllectiou of Leeds, and fome young (hoots of the Tamarind, Banana, Oran■-. to bring hna foine red wmc, t .Ough he affhred •vk L.>-' not afmgie drop in his ho.u;e, 0d that moil b.kdy ••• had • not tailed wine ten times in his life. When j%d pail* . turned and faw fh.t his flave had brought , of beer, which he with great ofteotation deliberately drank off. For twelve miles round the (Jape tbe col on ids do not employ the Hottentots, chufmg rather to purchafe negroes, who are more induftrious and trufU woithy. The Hottentot, carelefs and inconftant by nature, often go away from their matter on the profpect of hard work, and frequently leave them in cmbarrafiment: the negroes defert alio, but vain arc their efforts to rc-gain their liberty; they are foon retaken, and fent to the bailiff of the canton, from whom they are redeemed by the proprietor for a fmall firm. Their correction is much lefs feVere than one would expect; indeed there are few places where flaves are treated with more humanity than at the Cape. The Creole (laves are moft efleemed at the Cape, and fetch double the price of any other: if they are initiated in any bufinefs, their price is exhorbitant. A good cook worth from eight to twelve hundred rix-dollars; mechanics, double that fum; and others in proportion. They are commonly neatly drefled, but walk barefoot, as a mark of flavery. There are none of that infolent tribe called footmen; luxury and pride not having yet introduced that ufelefs lumber in the antichambers of the opulent. The The nejroes • of Madagafc.ir and Mc-: arj? looked up;n the moft ingenious andheft ■ r.-men, tfecy are alSo the moft affectionate and faithful to i .r matters; when they are firit, landed at the Cape, they ufually fell for one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty piastres a head. The Indians are more employed in houfhold work in the town; theie are alfo fome Malayans, but they are the moft fubtle and dangerous of all other flaves, frequently aftaffinating their matters or miffoefses When taken they go to execution with the gteaieii indifference. I heard one of the fe wretches pub-li< ,y declare, at the place of execution, that he whs glad he had committed the crime, as they were only going to fend him to his native country : it is a matter of wonder With me, that thefe ideas are not productive of much greater mifchiefs. I frequently dined at a Table d'Hote, or ordinary, where I fell in with a very intelligent Frenchman, who had traveled great part of the interior of the country, and from time to time related many entertaining particulars ; from among which I Selected the following account of one of his journies to the country of the Auteniquas, which I hope will not appear tedious to my readers: "A traveller having arrived at the Cape, and Signifying his intention of vifitingthe interior of the country, I immediately offered him my Services. The bargain was Soon (truck, and I inftantly fet about procuring the neccf-fary articles Sor the journey. We Set out on our expedition in the middle of December, when I led the way towards Dutch Hottentote, our company confiding oS four horSes, two of which were mounted by my inafter and myirlf, myfelf, the others by two Hottentots, in cafe any accident fhould befall ours ; there were three other natives, and each his dog : we flopped at the decline of day at the foot of thofe high mountains that border the eaft of the Cape. * After two days journey we pafTed a little rivulet, and arrived at a wood called LeBois de Grand Pere, near the country of the Auteniquas, which we found inhabited from the fummit of the mountains to the water's edge by the colonifts, who breed vaft quantities of cattle, make butter, gather honey, and cut wood for fuel, as well as for the mechanic; thefe articles are ail fent to the Cape. It is aftonifhing that thefe people who have fuch plenty of timber, do not build themfelves tenable houfes, inftead of being content with miferable huts, formed of hurdles covered with earth. The fkinofa buffalo, ftretched on four flakes,ferves for a bed; a mat clofes the door-way, which is alfo the window; two or three clumfy (tools, fome pieces of plank joined together make their table, and an ill-made box, of about two feet fquare, compofe the whole furniture of one of thefe dens. In other re-fpecls thefe people live luxurioufly; they have plenty of game and fifh, and enjoy the advantage over the other colonifts, in having all the year without interruption their gardens well flocked with all kinds of vegetables. " Thefe advantages are owing to the goodnefs of the foil, and the natural waterings from the various rivulets that wind and crofs each other in a thoufand different directions, laying under contribution, if it may be fo ex? preftfid, t\ie four feafons of {he jpir. f In (s 35 ) " In Searching for a Touraco, which Monfieur my maf-ter had fhot, he fell into a pit upwards of twelve feet de?p, which had been dug by the Hottentots, to entrap wild hearts, particularly the Elephant. Fortunately the hole was empty, and he had the good fortune to efcape being impaled alive on the pointed flakes fixed at the bottom of thefe pits: they are generally flightly covered over with Sender branches of trees, and the interftices filled with turf andmoSs; the roots moft anxioufly fought after by the Elephant are Strewed on the Surface, and the un-weildy animal eagerly prefling forward after his favourite food, is eafily entrapped by the wily Hottentot into the Snare: being wounded by his fall, he is foon difpatched,- After many Sruitlefs efforts to extricate himSelf, I being at Some diftance with the Hottentots, he fired hisfu-See, and by that means brought us back to his afliftance. This accident, however ferious, did not prevent him pur-Suing the wounded bird, which at length he Sound, and considered the acquisition as a full compensation for all his perils. The Touraco is as agreeable in its form, as in thefweetnefs and melody of its notes-, it is of a bright green, a tuft of the fame colour, bordered w.ith white7 adorns its head; its eyes a Sparkling red, with a Streak over them of the moft dazzling white; its wings are a beautiful purple, varying to the violet, according to the point of light in which it is viewed. It is reckoned by the naturalifts a Species of the Cuckoo; but they have been- much- miftaken, as it has not the leaft affinity with; J hat bird. The Cuckoo* in every part of the world, SubSifts on Snails and infects, but the Touraco is Sruvi-gorous. In whatever part of the world the Cuckoo may be, it is remarkable that flic never build5 a neft, but lays Jays her eggs in thofe of other bird5;., and by this means favesherfeif the trouble of rearing her young; the Tou-racoj on the contrary, is careful cf its family, build? a ncft, and hatches her own eggs : this difference in their difpofition is, I think, a Sufficient reafon to prove them a particular Specie*/' C ii a p. v. Hunting the Elephant- Wars cf the Cajfres—Atrocious behaviour of the Culonifis—Their cruelty exemplified in the murder of a young prifoner—Singular encounter •with a h'ton—Courage, otid tragical death of a ividow, attacking a Lion in defence of her cattle—Defcription of the Black Eagle—Accounts of various cificms of the Hottentots. M "^"J^T"^ ^ad Scarce recovered Srom this accident 7 V when one oS the Hottentots came running up to me, and Said he h:id difcovered the haunt of an Elephant. After Some hours fatigue, paiuSully tracing him through a thick part of the wood, rendered almoft iiripaf* fable from the thorns and briars, we arrived at an open part of the fore ft, in which was a clump oS Shrubs and underwood: here we flopped while one of the Hottentots attended a tree; aStcr looking round him, he clapped his finger on his mouth as a token for us to be lileot, then by opening and doling his hand feveral times (a fignal bo fore agreed upon) gave us to under Hand how many Elephants he h-id difcovered, a We i 37 ) -m \VC now held a council of war, the refult of which was, that the perfon who had feen them from the tree Chould lead us as near as poflible through the buihes to the fpot where he had difcovered them. Jn a few minutes J was very near one of thofe enormous animals, which I did not immediately perceive, not that fear had fafcinated my fight, but that I could fcarce believe that the prodigious immoveable mafs beneath me was the animal we had fo much wifhed to encounter. It fhould be .obferved we were on a hillock which raifed us above the back of the animal: I frail kept looking farther on, and rather took what was fo near me for a fragment of rock than a living creature. The Hottentot now cried out, i( See, fee there ! there he is," with a tone of the ut~ moft impatience. At length a flight motion caught my eye, and immediately after the head and tuuV>, which the enormous body had in part concealed, were turned towards me: Monfieur, who wasclofe behind me, without Jofing time, let fiy at him; I immediately followed his example, and both fhots took place in his head • he daggered and fell: the noife frighted die reft, and they, to the number of thirty, fcampercd off as fait as their un-weildy corporations would permit them. This was bu1. the prelude to a more animated fcene. " While we were examining the animal we had killed, another paffed juft by us, which was fired at by one of th^ Hottentots, and by the blood that trickled down his huge Shoulders I imagined he was mortallv wounded, and immediately purfued him. He would have laid down, but was prevented by our repeated firing ; he then took to the thickeftpart of the wood'; we followed him into a thick-el;, in which was a number of decayed trees that had E fallen fallen through age. The beaft now became enraged from the number of bis wounds, and made furioufly at a Hottentot who had juft difcharged his piece at him, and in an irifiant trpd him to death, and thurfting one of his tufks into the body, with a tofs threw it upwards of thirty yards from him. Wf were about five-and-twenty paces from the poor fellow, my mailer a few paces behind pic; I was too much encumbered for fpeed, my carbine being very heavy, and having a good deal of ammunition, together with a net containing feveral large birds, flung acrofs my fhoulder : I ran with all my might, but (he enraged animal *o fooner cafr his angry eyes on me, than hepuifucd me at a full gallop, and gained ground every jnftant. More dead than alive through fear,abandoned by the Hottentots, who, checked by the fate of their comrade, were lefs courageous than ufual, the only chance I had was to lie down clofe to the trunk of a large tree that was near me, which I had fcarce time to acccmplifh before the animal ran over it; but feared at the hooting of the Hottentots iufhutly ftppped, as jt were to liften. I could eafily have hit him from my fituation had I chofe, but although my piece was loaded, I retrained firing ; for though he had received fomany wounds I defpaircd to disable him by afingle (hot, fo kept my fituation, every mp-jpent expecting to become a prey to the enraged beaft. P* fhe flo+tentojts, having loft fight of me, as I lay clofe under the tree, not daring to ftir, and net anfwering; to their repeated cries, were perfuaded I was already crufhed to pieces, made the woods re-echo with their ghpufcs. The Elephant, turning haftily round, paffed r;ie Second time, and, ftepping over the tree not fix yards jt-em pie. went off on a full gallop, J fprung on my feet as foon as he had paffed, and, fhowing m'yfelf" to my companions, fired another mot after him, which did not ftopf his Career, but ruffling into the thickeft part of the woods', .difuppeared. " The report of my piece was' an u'niverfal fignal of joy. I was immediately furrcunded by the Hottentots* Whofe countenances beamed the moft lively and difinte-refted emotions of giadnefs: my mailer in the moft affectionate terms exprefled his fatisfiicrion at my efcape,: prefling me eagerly in his arms. Night drawing on, we returned to find the Elephant we had killed in the morning. The carcafe was already in the pofleffion of feVeral large birds of prey, who had loft no time, having already made great progrefs in its diffection. " Fires were how quickly kindled ; and our attendants after having pitched the tent, began to fhew their fkill in' cooking. They cut off feveral fteaks to broil for them-" felves, drefling a part of the trunk for us: it was the full-time I had ever tailed this kind of food,' but I d'etermihed it fhould not be th'e laft, as I thought it delicious. Hav-ihg fettled the neceffary preliminaries Of watching round* the tent, We went to reft, with as much compofure as' though we Were at an inn; nbr were we difturbed 'till funrite, when We fet forward on ouf jcximey. As we paffed a fmall river we met a company of Hottentots, of about a fcore, who had fled from the wars of the Caffres." By our guides we learnt that thofe people are moft vilely Calumniated : the perpetual vexations and tyranny of the colonifls gave rife to thofe wars, in which the Caffres have been reprefented as ferociotis animals, nurtured with hum-in gore, fpari^g neither age nor fex> and totally re- £ z gardlefs ( AO ) griefs of .the rights of boSpitality.- The colonifts often form pretences of lofing their cattle, purpofely to make inroad* iL: v.'.*.ic.ee lettlements, exterminating whole hordes without distinction cf age or fex, carrying away their herds, and laying wafte the country; this being an eafier method of obtaining cattle than rearing them. M In deftroving a Small fettlement of Caffres, a child of about twelve years of age efcaped the general carnage, by concealing himfelf in a hollow tree, but, unfortunately, was difcovcred by one of the Marauders, who determined to make a Have of his prize. The commander of this barbarous detachment peremptorily laid claim to the little trembling prifoner y the captor as firmly refufed to deliver him up, which fo enraged the Savage leader that he ran with the utmoft fury at the innocent object of the dif-putc, exclaiming—" IS I mutt not have him, neither Shalt thou I" and accompanied thefe words with a blow of his. fabre, which-laid the unfortunate victim .dead at his feet. ** About noon one of our people who had gone oft fome hundred yards before us, came running back with evident marks of confufion: on enquiring the cauSe, he. told us-there was a Lion couching in a thicket a little a-head of us, and that.he would certainly attack us if we proceeded. We immediately halted to confult what waste be done; Monficur, deSirous of adding the Spoil of the king oS the forefts to his other acquisitions, decided on-the attack. Accordingly the horfesand dogs were given in charge to one of the natives to keep them back, and we, to the number of'five, marched oil,, keeping a lharp Ivokout. We had proceeded near half a.mile, and finding nothing* concluded it was an imaginary Lion, on. £ , C 41 ) only in ihe idea of Eaco (the name of the Hottentot who had given us the intelligence), who having lately loft a very good miftrefs, killed by one of thofe animals, was. in continual dread of them. « Her habitation being on the fkirts of a wood, one gloomy night the family was awakened by the lowing of the cattle, in an inclofurcat a fmall dillance from the houfe : they immediately Seized their fire-arms, and running to the fpot, found a Lion had broken through the fence, and was making terrible havock among the cattle. It was only neceSfary to enter the enclofurt, and fire, to kill the animal; but neither of her Sons, Servants, or flaves, had Sufficient courage to attempt it. The undaunted matron,, therefore,, entered alone, and, armed with a mufket, approached the Scene of carnage: the darknefs 5f the nighr prevented her perceiving the animal till She was cloSe to him, when She couragcoufly Sired, but was fo unfortunate as only to wound him ; he inStantly rufhed upon her: the {creams of the unfortunate mother brought her Sons to-heramitance. Furious—defperate—diSlratted—they Slew upon the tremendous animal, and killed him, though too' late to Save her, and he Sell breathleSs on the mangled body of their parent. Exclufive of the deep wounds fhe had received from the fangs and talons of the Serocious Savage, he had bit one of her hands off at the wriit. AS-fcftance was ineffectual; She died the fame night amidhV the vain lamentaticni of her pufdanimous Sons and Servants. The- remembrance of this Scene had made fo deep an-impreflion on the mind of Eaco, and filled him with Such-apprehenSicns, that he had frequently teazed his comrades with fUSealarmSjiroS being near the dens of Lions, and of being. being fure of feeing him in Such and fitch a thicker., fo that at laft they paid little or no regard to his representations, and, in the prefent inftance, acquainted us with his difpofition, and advifed me to order the horfes forward, and to continue our route, as we were three days from any habitation, and cur pro virions near exhauftcd. The trembling Eaco at this infhnt cried, « There, there !" when hearing aruftling among the bufhes I haftily looked found, and faw the beaft in the act of fpringrng upon his' prey, one of the Hottentots being within his reach: as fwift as lightning he darted upon the poor fellow ; but rather overleaping himfelf, in bringing him to the ground his fore-quarters extended fo far over him, that his anta-gonift, with the utmoft intrepidity and prefencc of mind, clafped him firmly round the middle, and prefiing him to his breaft, the animal wa? fo fituated that he could do him little or no injury; at this moment one of his comrades ran to his amftance, and clapping the muzzle of his piece to his ear, dispatched him inftantaneoufly, and thus' providentially delivered his fellow Servant unhartfrom this' imminent danger, " This narrow cScape, added to the I'oSs of our man killed by the Elephant, rather abated the ardour of ouf purSuit, and Monlieur began Serioufly to think of returning to the Cape, which-we reached without any remarkable occurrence happening. In our way i Shot an ea2;le of a Species hitherto unknown, and c-oufiuered as a great rarity by my mailer: it was of a bright black, with a< ring of burnifhed gold round his neck, and feemed to re-ftroble the vulture as much as the eagle, though'different in fome inftances. Hunger changes the eagle into a vulture-, that is to fay, when it-is hungry it will feed 0:1 pu> t»i&W$ irificd carrion. It is a vulgar error that this bird cnly fub Sifts by preying on others ; for 1 have frequently Seen Eacles, as well as other carnivorous birds, attracted by the joffal of the beafts we had killed." He alfo related fome particulars refpecting the Hottentots, completely refuting the accounts of our geographical writers, who deScribe a moil filthy cuftom ufed by the Hottentots at their marriage ceremonies ; the prieft being laid to bellow publickr ly a urinary flream on the bride and bridegroom, in presence of all the affembled friends. The formalities of thofe marriages, he Said, confilled in the promifes they made each other to live together as long' as they may find it convenient; the engagement made, the young couple, from that moment, are man and wife. then kill fome Sheep, Sometimes an ox, to celebrate this little holiday. The parents on both fides fumifh the young couple with fome cattle; they immediately apply themfelves to the conilruction of a hut, forming an inclofure, and in getting together their little flock of necefiaries. They live together as long as a good understanding SubSifts between them; for mould any difference ariSe, which is not likely to fubude, they make no fcrupje of Separation, but part with as little ceremony as they met; and each,free to form frefh connexions, Seeks elfewhere a more agreeable partner. 1 1 Jn cafes of Separation, the effects of the married pair are equally divided ; but Should the hufband, in his quality of mailer, infift on retaining the whole, the wife ns-yer fails to find thofe who will affertand defend her right; fxcr family interefts itfelf, nor are the friends of the man idle ; So that, fometirnes, the whole horde is in a Serment; In the end they come to blows, and, as in all other places, thg the conquerors give laws to the vanquished. The mother always has the care of the younger children, efpecial-ly if they are girls, while the boys, who are able to follow their father, are fure to belong to him. Thefe disagreements, however, are far from being common; and it is equally worthy of remark that they have no known law, or established cuftom, to which they can refer for the termination of their differences. Among thofe Hottentots who are the moft diftant from the colonifts, conjugal fidelity is held more facred than among thepolifhed offspring of refinement; though polygamy is not repugnant to the cuftoms of the Hottentots, it is by no maans common among them. They may take as many wives as they pleafe ; but whether from a love of peace, or any other motive, Seldom have but one. Women are never known to cohabit with two men. Nature, that would ever have a man able to ascertain his own offpspring, has wifely planted in the heart of a female Gonaquais Hottentot, an invincible averfion from fuch infamous prostitution; nay, fo difgufting is it to thefe pco» pk, that a huSband, on a knowledge of the moft trifling infidelity of his wife, might kill her,without fear of incurring the reproach of his horde. With ideas of honor Such as thefe. the reader will the •more eafily be induced to discredit the aflertions of many writers ; that the Hottentots indulge in connexions of an inceftuous nature. It being hinted that Strong Suspicions of this Sort had been entertained of them, they fhe wed Signs of the greatest deteftation. " Do you take lis for brutes V faid they, and immediately broke off all farther { 45 ) farther converfe; nor could all we had to fay prevail on them to forget the offence. CHAP. VI. Departure from tbe Cape—Gale of wine!—Part company •with therefl of the tranfports—Super flit ion of thefea-fften—Story of the Flying Dutchman— The boat]"waj* alarmed—The gale fubfdes—The Phenomenon accounted for—Sea birds make their appearance about the fhip—Make Van Dicman s Land—Beautiful appearance cf the Aurora Auflrealis—A number cf feals alongllde. TT Y A VIN G completely Gored the fhip with prpyl-JL JL fions and water, taken in fix hundred cafks of flour for the colony, and various other ftores, the fignal was made for the tranfports to be in readinefs to get under weigh. I bade my new friend adieu, hafrened on board, and the next morning we worked out of the bay. We had Scarcely got a tolerable offing when a very heavy gale blew from the northward, and the lea foon ran mountains high. The veffel being deep loaded, we Shipped fome very heavy feas, which obliged us to Jay too near four-and-twenty hours. I had often heard of the fuperflition of Sailors refpccT> frig apparitions, but had never given much credit to the report: it Seems that Some years Since a Dutch man of , ivar was loft off the Cape, and every foul on board pe- F rifhedv rifhed; her confort weathered the gale, and .arrived foon-after at the Cape. Having refitted, and returning tQ Europe they were affailed with a violent tempeft nearly in the fame latitude. In the night watch fome of the people faw, or imagined they faw, a veffel fUndin^ for them under a prefs of fail, as though fhe would run them down: one in particular affirmed it was the fhip that had foundered in the former gale, and that it muft certainly be her, or the apparition of her; but on its clearing up, the object (a dark thick cloud) difappeared. Nothing could do away the idea of this phoenomenon on the minds of the the tailors; and, on their relating the circumftances when jthey arrived in port, the ftory fpread like wildfire, and the fuppofed phantom was called the Flying Dutchman. From the Dutch the Englifh feamen got the infatuation, and there are very few Indiamen but what has fome one on board who pretends to have feen the apparition. About two in the morning I was waked by a violent fhake by the fhoulder, whcn,ftarting up in my hammock, I faw the boatfwain, with evident figns of t»rror and dif-may in his countenance, Handing by me. " For God's fake, meffmate,"—faid he— hand us the key of the cafe, for by the Lord I'm damnably fcarified : for, d'ye fee, as f was juft looking over the weather bow, what fhould I fee but the Flying Dutchman coming right down upon us, with every thing fet—I know 'twas fhe—I cou'd fee all her lower-deck ports up, and the lights fore and aft, as jf cleared for action. Now as how, d'ye fee, I am fure no mortal fhip could bear her lower-deck ports up and not founder in tins here weather: Why, the fea runs mountains high. It muft certainly be the ghoft of that there utchman, that Lundcred in this latitude, and which, I have heard fay, always appears in this here quarter, ia hard gales of wind. After talcing a good pull or two at the Holland's he grew a little compofed, when I jokingly afked him, if he was afraid of ghofts ? " Why, as to that, d'ye fee,"-—> faid he—" I think as how I'm as good as another man -, but I'd always a terrible antipathy to thofe things. Even when I was a boy, I never could find it in my heart to crofsa church-yard in the dark without whifih'ng and hallooing, to make them believe I had company with me* for I've heard fay they appear but to one at a time; for flow, when I called to Joe Jackfon, who was at the helm, to look over th? weather bow, he faw nothing ; tho', is how, I faw it as plain as this here bottle," taking another fwig at the Geneva. Having fome curiofity to fee if I could make Out any thing that could take fuch an appearance, I turned out, and accompanied him upon deck; but it had cleared up, thd moon fhining very bright, and not a cloud to be feen ; though, by what I could learn from the reft of the people who were on deck, it had been Very cloudy about half an hour before, of courfe I eafily divined what kind of phantom had fo alarmed my meffrnate. The fea running very high, and the gale rather Increafing, we Continued to lay' too, and in the morning found we had parted company with the reft of the tranfports, not one being difcernable from the maft head. The wind abating in the afternoon, and coming to the north-weft, wc bore away under a reefed fortfall: and it continuing to blow a very ftrong gale; ve jogged on in F ?, this ( ^ ) this manner about ten days, when the weather moderate-ing we crouded all the fail we could make from this time till we made Van Dieman's land, off which we frequently faw in the night the fea covered whh luminous fpots, refembling lights floating on the furface,and I immediately imagined that it might have been fome of thefe which the boatfwain had fcen through a palling cloud, and which he magnified into lanterns on a fhip's lower deck, as in fome points of view they had very much that appearance. , Whether thefe fhining fpots proceed from the fpawn of fifb floating in fmall quantities, or from an animal of a jelly-like fubffance, called by the failors. Blubber, is not determined, though I am of the latter opinion j vafl fhoals of them furrounded the fhip in the courfe of the day. Numbers of fea birds now hovered over us, fuch as Al-batroffes j Gulls of various fpecies ; and a large black bird, greatly refembling a crow, but rather bigger. In the evening the horizon was beautifully illumined by the Aurora Auftrealis,or Southern Lights: they were of a bright crimfon, variegated with orange, yellow and white ftreaks, continually changing their hues, and prefented a Bioft fublime and animating picture. The next morning at day-break the man at the maft bend cried out, " Land, hoa !" which agreeable found re-echoed through the fhip ; and it clearing up we found ourfelves cldre in with it. It appeared a bold even fhore,. with fome hills inland, pleafantly ornamented with tall ftrarght trees, fuppofed to be cabbage or palm trees, from their having branches only near the top. We We failed along the coall for fome leagues, in the courfe of which we faw fome pretty deep bays. We now ftretched off in order to get a good oiling, and to weather fome rocks about three leagues from the Chore, being afraid of palling too near them in the dark. At day-light they appeared about fix miles on our lee-beam. Here we perceived a number of Seals playing and fporting alongfide: they weie in general of the fiz.e of a common dog, with along head, tapered to the nofe like a greyhound; they frequently railed themfelves half the length of their body out of the water, turning round as it were to reconnoitre, and fomctimes in their gambols leaped entirely out. Wc took our leave of thefe fpcrtive gentry, and, fhaping our courfe for New Holland, before fiinjfet loft fight of the land. chap. [ 50 I HAP VII. Make the land of New South Wale*—Vaft Rotary Bay—Come to an anchor in Port Jack/on—Convitls ordered on fhore—Attend the governor, kindly received, through the favourable report of the captain — The governor promife: me his protection—Return on board—Take leave of my mefsmatcs—Receive orders to go on fhore to Sydney Cove—Accompanied by the captain—appointed fuperintendant of the convitls at Paramatta—Dine with a ferjeant of Marines— Walk round tbe Gove—Defcription of the Settlement — Sleep at Sydney—Embark my effetls and accompanied by the ferjeant proceed to Paramatta—Arrive at Rofc-Hill—Take poffeff.on of my habitation, account of the fcttlemcfit—Wait m the commanding officer—Re* ceivc inflruttionsfor my future conduth AFAVOURABLE flant of wind, enabled us to make the land of New South Wales on the 12th of October, about eight leagues diff ant.—We ftood on till we were within about fix or feven miles from the fhore, and! then ranged along the coaft pleafintly.—At noon we were abreaft of a point of land, called red point, only ten leagues diftant from Botany Bay —About two leagues to the Southward of the Bay is a chain of chalky hills^ over-topped by level land.---On this land is a clump of trees Something like Poftdown-hill in the neighbourhood of PortSmouth. The wind Springing up to the eafhvard,-we ftood from the land, under an ealy fail, till daylight, when-we were quite abreaft of the bay; and, at neon, on ilut [ S? 3 ■the 13th. came to an anchor in Port Jackfon, about five or fix leagues to the northward of it, At ten o'clock the next morning the convicts were all ordered on fhore; their appearance was truly deplorable, the generality of them being emaciated by difeafe, and thofe who laboured under no bodily diforder, from the fcantfnefs of their allowance, were in better plight. The boats from all the fhips in the harbour attended in .order to land them, there were in all two hundred and fifty men, fix women, and a convict's wife and child who had obtained permiflion to accompany her hufband.—We loft, during the voyage thirty two men.—Upon their landing they were entirely new cloathed from the king's ft ore, and their old things were all burnt, in order to prevent any infectious diforder that might have been in the fljip,, from being introduced into the colony. From the report of the captain T had a moft gracious reception from the governor, he told me that on account of my behaviour on board, he would place me in a fituation that fhould render my exile from England as little irkfome as poflible, and that If I continued to deferve it I might rely on his favour and protection: for the present I might return on board, and as foon as any boat could be fparcd from the fhip, it fhould convey me and what things I had up to Parramatta, where a habitation fhould be provided for me. The next morning I received orders again to attend the governor at Sidney CuveJ and to put my property in charge of a ferjeant of Marine;?, who came off in a large boat, and who was to fee Jt Qt'Ay lodged in the public ftore, till fiich time as I Should be fettled, and able to jakc care of it myfclf. C 5* ] I took leave of my meffmates with unfeigned regret, the captain himSclf accompanied me on fhore, and waited on the governor wjth me.—I-Jis excellency Said he had long wanted a proper perSon a? Superintend ant of the eonvicts at Parramatta, that he had appointed me to that office, and that I fhould take charge of the farm-houfe there.—When I was difmifled, the ferjeant took me to his houfe where I partook of a good fjfh dinner; and, it being fome time before we could fet off for my future refidence, we took a walk round the Cove, where fome considerable buildings have been erected, for the governor* the lieutenant-governor, the judge-advocate and the great-cll part of the officers. The governors houfe is of Stone, near Seventy feet ?fi front, and makes a very handSome appearance. The houSes of the officers are of brick, the reft are generally log houfes, plaStercd; the roofs are cither Shingled or thatched. Here is alfo an hofpital, a good temporary building, and alSo barracks for the Soldiers, and comfortable cabbins Sor the officers, with gardens adjoining ; but unluckily theSe gardens are not very productive, as the fjil is very indifferent; and to this inconvenience muft he added the depredations of rats and thieves. A mile ©r two from the Cove, the Soil is confiderably better, where the officers and others have little Sarms ; there are alSo brickilns, and a pottery, both of which articles they would bring to tolerable perfection, where they pof-feffed of the materials ufed to glaze their earthen-ware. I wonder there are not more Stone buildings here, Stone, refembling that .of Portland, being at hand in great abundance, exceedingly Soft, but hardens very much after it is vvro-^ht, and cxpofed to the weather. Not [ 53 ] Not being aWefo proceed 'till the tnprhing, I /lung my cot in a corner of the ferjeant's houfe, and Spent the evening with him; we rote at day break, and, re-embarking my eSFe&s, left Sydney Cove about eight o'clock in the morning, and arrived at Parramatta about noon. Two or three miles before you come to the town, the river is quite narrow, not more than fix or eight yards acruSs, and the banks fo high that you can fcarce fee the face of the country,—Where they were lower it had very much the appearance of a park or a gentleman's pleafure ground. In our progrefs we faw feveral Kangaroos but had a very imperfect glance of them ; the grais being Jong, entirely hid them from our view except when they were in the act of leaping. We landed about a quarter of a mile from the town and walked up to it; it is fituated on an elevated (pot in the form of a crefcent; a Strong redoubt is con limited where there are very good barracks for a detachment of the military, which is always on duty here; as well to pre-ferve good order and regularity among the convicts, as a check, upon the natives, who from the distance to Sydney Cove might be tempted to molell the fettlers, were there no armed force to protect them; they have little apprehen-fion from the natives as they have never Shewn any incli-jr.tion to attack armed men; not that they are deftitutc of courage, but that they are perfectly convinced of the great and invincible Superiority of our fire-arms. After a Short walk we arrived at the houfe appropriated for me, it is a compact little cottage with four rooms in it; the fituation is mull delightful, being in the midft of pleafant gardens—the convict's houfes form aline in front* £t fome diitance, they have each a Small garden and thofe Q who I 54 ] who have been industrious Seem very comfortable, as their day's work is not fo hard, as many working men's in England. A Servant who fcept the houfe gave us fome refreshment, after which I waited on the commanding officer of the troops, on duty here, and prefented a letter given me by the governor; my reception was as agreeable as I could expect, he told me that the next day he would eauSe the convicts to be multered in my prefencc, and inform them of my Situation, as Superinteudant, and would then give me Some inftrudtions neceSSary to regulate my future proceedings, CHAP CHAP. VIII. A general mujicr of tbe convitls—They are made ac qualnted with my fituation among them—Their behaviour—Avocations—Hours of labour—Attend public worjhlp—Get perfectly acquainted with my duty—Singular Impoflure of one of the convitls—Encouragement given to the convitls to become fettiers on the expiration of their fentencc—Defcription of the Kangaroo and of the'native Dog—Get acquainted with the natives—Defcription of them—-Their weapons—Manner of painting thcmfelves when going to battle. ir N the morning a general mufter took place ; when JL the whole were affembled, to the amount of near four hundred ; they were informed by the officer of the truft the governor had been pleaSed to repofe in me, and that aiiy mifbehaviour or diibbediencc of orders iSfuing from me would be as Severely punifhed as though they proceeded from the governor himfelf: they were then diimilTed to their Several employments. I proceeded through the different gangs oS people at their reSpective occupations ; and Sound them much more attentive to their bufinefs and rcSpectful to thofe over them than I could pofiibly have imagined. Some were employed in making bricks and tiles; others, building Store-houfes, huts, &'c. a great number clearing the grounds, bringing in timber, and making roads. Others at their different callings, Such a» Smiths, gardeners, coopers, fhoemakers, taylors, bakers, attendants on the Sick, Sec, The hours of wprk are from fun-rife till half paft Seven, when they breakfaft j at half G 2 paft pad eight they relume their work 'till half pad: eleven, when they are rung to dinner ; at two they recommence their labours, and the fetting of the fun is the fignal that terminates their daily toil, and which is announced by the drum beating a retreat. In order to encourage the cultivation of garden?, Saturday is appropriated to clear away and cultivate fpots of ground for themfelves; and thofe who have been induflrious now find the benefit, by having plenty of vegetables, which faves their fait provifions, and enables them to truck with the natives for full. Independent of this advantage, thofe who rear the greater! quantities of vegetables and plants receive premiums from the governor, who, at the proper feafon of the year, distributes feeds among them for that purpofe. The wo» men fweep round the huts every morning, and cook the victuals for the men, collect: all their dirty cloaths, and return each man his respective linen, walked and mended, pn the Sunday morning. No perfon is excufed from attending divine worfhip, which is perfoimed every Sunday morning at eleven o'clock, when all the convicts are obliged to attend in clean linen, and, indeed, behave in a more orderly and devout manner than would be naturally expected: indeed, the indefatigable zeal and wife meafurcs purfued by the worthy governor in the formation of this infant colony is beyond all praife. I had fome apprehenfions that from my former fifuafien,. \n hie i fhould have been expofed to many mortifications, although Shielded by the protection of my office; .but I Saw few faces who recollected me, and thofe who did behaved in, the moft reSpectful manner. The greater part of thofe who came over with me were fent to Norfolk liland, and thofe that werele£ remained at Syndey Cove. My bufinefs was chiefly to report the progrefs made in the different works carrying on at Paramatta; for which purpofe I was furnifhed with abstracts from a kind of overfcers or head man of the various gangs ; and in lefs than a week i was as much at home, and as perfectly matter of the bufinefs, as though i had been coeval with the colony. From a necelFary and well regulated discipline, the convicts who had come over in trie flrfl fhips had been brought into the excellent order above defcribed; but many fevere examples were made ere they were reduced to order, and various knaveries and tricks played on the officers; but punifhment never failed to attend the detection of their frauds. In the infancy of the Settlement a' convict had induftrioufly Spread a report that he had discovered a gold mine, which at firll gained credit, as the ore pretended to have been found had Something of the appearance of gold ore. , The circumftance was as follows : One Dailey, a convict, had, he pretended, discovered a piece of ground which contained a conflderable quantity of gold ore, fome of which was produced, tried, and found to contain a Smell portion of gold. The governor was abfent at this time on an excurfion into the country: the report coming to the ears of the lieutenant-governor, he examined the pretended difcoverer, who told his Story with the greatelt plauSibility, and it was not doubted but an important diScovery had been made. Dailey was interrogated fogatcd as to the place, hut reflifed to give the neceflary' information 'till the return of the governor, to whom ho Would give a full and Satisfactory account of the difco-very, on a promife that he would grant him what he fhould think equivalent to the importance of the discovery, and which he (Dailey) conceived a fmall compensation for So valuable an acquisition: the demand was, his own and a particular woman convict's enlargement, and a paffagc in one of the Sirft Ships to England, together with a Sum of money. The lieutenant-governor told him,, that unlcfs he pointed out the Spot he Should confider him as an impoftor, and order him to intrant punishment, for daring to impoSe upon thofe officers to whom he had related the bufineSs, The dread of punishment difpofed him to come too a little, though not without apparent reluctance: he propofed to the lieutenant-governor that an officer fhould be Sent down the harbour with him, Sor the treaSure, he Said, lay in the lower part of the harbour, and near the fea fhore ; and he would fhe w the officer the exact Spot: accordingly he was taken at his word, and an officer, with a corporal, and two or three foldiers, were Sent with him; he pointed out the landing-place, whence he Said it was but a Short walk to the defired Spot. They entered the wood, but had Scarce got among the bufhes, which were very -thick, than he begged leave to turn afide as though he had a preffing occaiicn; this was granted him: the officer continued waiting Sor him, but to no' purpofe ; Sor as Soon as he had got out of their reach he pufhed off towards Sydney Cove by land, leaving the officer and his Soldiers to beat their heels, and curie their credulity in letting him out of their Sight. : The f 59 ) The officer having dispatched the boat back on thei? landing, intending to return on foot, was left in no very enviable fituation. Mr. DaiJey reached Sydney in the afternoon, and informed the lieutenant-governor that he had left thofe whom he had fent down with him in entire pofTeffion of the gold mine: he then got a few things "from his own tent, and disappeared. The party, after Searching fome hours after the cheat, marched round to the camp, where they arrived at dufk, heartily tired, and not a little chagrined at the trick the villain had put upoij them. The want of provifions foon brought the difcoverer back to the Settlement, and a Severe flogging was the reward of his ingenuity ; however he Still perfifted in having made the discovery which he before had mentioned, and his reafon for quitting the officer who went with him was, that he was Sure if he made the difcovery to the governor himSelf he Should certainly get what he had demanded. When the governor returned he was made acquainted with the bufinefs, and another officer was Sent with him, although there was not a per Son in the colony who had the leaf! faith in his aSTcrtions. 'Fhe officer who now accompanied him informed him, on landing from the boat, that if he offered to quit him for an initant he would put htm to death. This determination fo'terrified the gold-finder, that he acknowledged the impoilure: he was then interrogated respecting the ore which,he had produced. He confeSSed he had filed down part of a yellow metal buckle, and had mixed it with Some gold filings from a broken ring, which he had got from one of the convict women* C 60 ) men, all which he had blended with fome earth, and made it hard. The man who tried the ore had been a filver-fmith, and on feperating the different parts he difcr.vercd a fmall quantity of gold contained therein : the cheat received a fecond punifhment for his perfeverance, and a recommendation to be very attentive to his duty, and not attempt anymore tricks as he valued jris neck. Having a good deal of time on my hands, my attendance and infpecYion being generally finifhed in the forenoon, I frequently vifited the farms of the fettlers : thefe in general were convi<9>; whofe term of tranfportation had expired, and had had lands granted them, in the following proportions: thirty acres to every fingle man ; fifty to the married ones; and ten more for every child : they received p'rovifions and cloathing from the public {lores for the firfl eighteen months: the neceffary tools and implements of hufbandry, with feeds and grain to fow the ground the firft year: two young fow pigs were alfo given to each fettler, and a pair or two of fowls. On thofe conditions twcnty-feven of them had commenced farming in the neighbourhood of Parramatta, Profpect-IJill, and at fome ponds about two-miles to the northward. At this time thefe fettlements had little the appearance of farms but as there were many very induf-trious and careful men among them, their flock foon began to thrive, and the face of the country fhow evident figns of culture. In my walks I often fell in with the Kangaroos, of which there are great numbers: they are about the fize pf a common deer, of a dark tan colour; its head, I think, refemblcs that of the Mocock from the Eaft Indies. f 6i ) The hind legs are much longer than the fore, and with them they leap and fpring forward with amazing rapidity, their fore feet feldom being feen to touch the ground; and, indeed, they are fo very fhort, that it is not po/lible the animal can make great ufe of them in running : they have prodigious force in their tail, which is a principal part of their defence when attacked; they ftrike a blow with this weapon fuflkicnt to break the leg of a man, or the back of dog; it alfo aflifts them' in their fprings, which are truly furprizing. The native Dog is much fwifter than the Kangaroo, and will attack them with great courage ; the chafe is feldom of long duration, the Kangaroo being foon tired, and is generally overtaken in lefs than a quarter of an hour. When feized, if they have no opportunity of uftng the tail to advantage, they turn upon the Dog, and catching hold with the talons of his fore-paws, he flys at and ftrikes his adverfary with thofe of his hind-feet, which are long, fharp, and of great Strength ; and, if the dog is not aflifted,ir. frequently happens that they get the better. I have frequently feen male Kangaroo's which, when fitting on their haunches, would meafnre at leanVfrom five feet eight to five feet ten inches in height; fuch an one would, I think, over-match any of the dogs; but I never ventured to try them fingly. Having had feveral young native doss given me, fiom time to time, 1 take great delight in Kangaroo hunting; it is not only an agreeable exercife, but produces a difh for the table, nearly as good as mutton; and, in the prefent dearth of live ftocky is not an unacceptable preterit. The Native Dog greatly refembles the Pomeranian* breed: with their ears erect, they have a remarkable ravage look, and are not unlike a Wolf, both in fize and appearance. There is no getting the better of their natural ferocity; for if you take ever fuch pains in rearing them, they will,, at every opportunity, deftroy the Sheep, Pigs, or Poultry, nor do I think it poffible to break them of this favagenefs1 of temper, fo that they are of little or no ufe, except in hunting the Kangaroo. T had many opportunities of getting acquainted with feveral of the natives ; and, as 1 feldom faw them without giving them fome trifle or other, foon became a great favourite with them, and moftly had one or other of them ■with me in my rambles. The men in general are front five feet fix to five feet nine inches high ; are rather {lender,-but ftraight, and well made. The women are not quite fo tall, rather luftier, but are moftly well made. Their colour is a brownifh black, cf a coffee call, but. many of the women are almoft as light as a mulatto : now and then you may meet with fome of both fexes with pretty tolerable features, but broad notes, wide mouths,, and thick lips, are moft generally met with j their cour?> tenances are not-the moft prepofl'effing, and what renders them ftill kfs fo, is, they are abominably filthy. They know no fuch ceremony as warning themfelves; and their ikin is moftly fineared with the fat of fuch animals as they kill, and afterwards covered with every fort of dirtj fand frcm the beach, and afhes from their fires, all adhere to their filthy (kin, which never comes off, except when accident, or the want of food obliges them to go into the water. Some of the men wear a piece of wood, or bone thruft through the fep'.um of the ncfe, which, by raifing railing the oppofite fides of the nofe, dilates the noStril, and Spreads the lower part very much. Many of them want the two front teeth on the right fide of the upper jaw; and I have feen Several of the women who have loft the two firft joints of the little finger of the left hand, a circumftance which I have never been able to difcover the meaning of. This want of the little finger I observed in elderly women ; in girls, of eight or nine years old ; ki young women, who have had children ; and in thofe who have had none. I have alfo obferved that the finger has been perfect in individuals of all ages and descriptions. They have, in general, good teeth ; their hair is Short, flrong, and curly ; and they having no method of combing or cleaning it, it is always filthy and matted: the men's beards are Short and curly like the hair of their heads. They all go entirely* naked, men, women, and childien, and Seem to have no fixed place of residence, but lay down wherever night overtakes them. Cavities in the rocks on the Sea Shore, are places they uSually Seek to Shelter themfelves from the wind and rain; and they moftly make a good fire before they go to fleep, by which means the rock round them becomes heated, and retains its warmth a confiderable time, like an oven ; and Spreading a little dried grafs they lie down and huddle together. The men are generally armed with a lance, and a Short Slick which they uSe in throwing it 5 this flick is about a yard long, flat on one fide, and a notch in one end, the other is furnifhed with a flat fhell fixed into a Split in the Stick, made Salt with a Strong gum, which, when dry, is as hard as flint: on the flat fide of the flick they place the lance, the butt end oS which refls againfl the notch m the throwing (lick; poising tbe lance thus fixed in on* H * hand, hand, binding if with the fore finger and thumb to pre-* vent its flipping off; keeping faft hold of the throwing Stick, they hurl the lance with considerable force, and tolerably true, to the diftance of feventy or eighty yards. Their lances arc in general abput ten feet long; the Shell fixed on the throwing flick is intended for Sharpening the point of their lance, and various other uSes. Although they throw their lances with considerable velocity, \ Should think it no very difficult matter, being on one's guard, eith.tr to parry or get out of the way of them. When they arc upon any hoftile expedition, they paint their faces and bodies with red and white Streaks, as if they intended to Strike terror by their death-like appearance : Some are mere lines drawn without attention or method ; others with the greatefl nicety and exactnefs. At a Sew paces diftance Some have the appearance of being accoutcred withcroSs-bclts : other?,with white circles round their eyes, and Several horizontal lines acroSs the forehead ; others, again, have narrow white lines acroSs the body, with a broad Streak down the middle of the back and belly, and a Single line down the arm, thigh, and leg. Being commonly marked with white, their black Skins are feen very confpicuoufly between the lines, and, at a Short diftance, takes very much the appearance of a Skeleton, and which, I Suppofe, is what they intend to represent. The colours they uSe are chiefly red and white, the firft of which is a kind of Ochre, or red earth, which is found here in abundance ; the latter is a fine Pipe Clay, great quantities of which are ufsd in the potteries cftab-liihed in the colony. The bodies of the men are much Scarified, particularly about the breaft and fbouiders; and although not very regular, yet arc confidered as ornamental. ' ' chap; { 65 ) CHAP. IX. Campaigns generally fettled by negociatlon—Their habitations—IP underfill dexterity in climbing the Cabbage and Palm trees— Their method of hunting Jmall animals—Defcription of various Quadrupeds—Curious fimllarlty of the different fpedes—lifh—Birds—In-jctls—Plants and fruits. TH E warriors thus armed and painted range them-felves in a line, with each a green bough in their hand, as a token that they do not mean to ufe force, un-Jcfs obliged thereto, in their own defence, or in cafe their difference cannot be fettled by an amicable agreement: a long parley generally enfues,and concefiions on both fides for the moft part terminate their bloodlefs campaign. Buiklin? themfelves habitations never Seem .to have en-tered their imaginations,or any place to fhelter them from, the weather, though they have plenty of the moft inclement ; their indo'ence and want of forefight in this particular would be fatal to them, were it not for the liberal hand of nature, who has fo abundantly fupplied the fea Shores with Soft crumbly rocks, which, for the moft part, are excavated by the warning of the fea, fo as to form caves of very considerable dimenfiom; fometimcs fifty or more of them find a comfortable lodging in one of thefe caves. In the woods where there are no rocks, they ftrip the bark off Several trees, and cutting them into flips, Saften and ec-terlace them to four Stakes drove in the ground, bending broad pieces of the bark over the top to ihelve off the rain; thefe commonly hold a family; and, as the weather is very cold in the winter months, they find it neceflary to huddle very clofe for the benefit of the warmth to which each individual mutually contributes a Share. Thefe huts are only ufed when they are out a Kangaroo hunting ; for in that feafon they employ themfelves wholly in the woods. Moft of the large trees are hollow, by decaying at the heart; and when the Opoffum, Kangaroo, Rat, Squirrel, and various other animals which inhabit the woods, are purfued, they commonly take fhelter in thefe trees. In order, therefore, to make lure of them, wherein they fel-dom fail, when they find them in the tree, one man climbs to the top, which is performed with wonderful dexterity, in the following manner : they cut notches in the bark about an inch deep, which is a kind of reft for the ball of the great toe ; the two firft notches are cut before they begin to climb, the reft as they afcend, at fuch dif» tances from each other, that when both feet are in the notches, the right is raifed nearly as high as the middle of the left thigh; when they are raifing themfelves the hatchet is held in their mouths, that they may have the ufe of both their hands ; and when making the notch the body refts on the ball of the great toe ; the fingers of the left hand are aKo placed in a notch cut on the fide of the tree, mould it be too large to admit their ciafping it fuffi-ciently with the left arm to keep their body firm and clofe to it. In this manner they afcend, with wonderful agi-r )ity, trees fifteen or twenty feet in circumference, fome-times fixty or Seventy feet before they come to a fingle branch, gcirte fteing arrived at the top, or the place he judge?'the moll convenient, he takes his feat with his club or flick in his hand, another perfon below makes a fire and fills the hollow trunk with fmoak, which obliges the animal to attempt its efcape, either upwards or downwards, but -whichever way it takes, it is almoft certain of destruction, as they very Seldom efcape. In this manner they* employ themfelves, and get a livelihood in the woods. They, Sometimes, when many of them are hunting together, fet fire to the country for fcvcral miles in extent-; this is Sor the purpoSe of diiiurbing fuch animals as may be within the circle of the confLigration: thus the affrighted animals, confounded, finged, and half-fmothered, fall an cafy prey to their perfeveriog and Sanguinary adversaries. • TheSe fires, it is SuppoSed, are Sometimes intended to clear that part of the country through which they have occafion to travel, of the briars and thorns, from, which,, being naked, they fuffer great inconvenience. The fires which are frequently feen in the Summer time account alSo for an appearance which very much puzzled the firfl Settlers; this was, that more than two thirds of the trees in the woods were very much Scorched with fire, fome were burnt quite black to the very topj the caufe of this occafioned great difierence of opinion, but it is now evident- that it was occafioned by the fires which the natives So Srequently make, and which often reach the higheft branches of the trees; I at fir ft conjectured it to-be the effect of lightning, but upon examining farther, it appeared too general to have been caufed by Such an accident. Opofjums ( 6S ) Opofllims are very numerous here: they partake a good deal of the Kangaroo, in the ftrength of their tail, aid make of its fore legs, which arc very fhort in proportion to the hinder ones ; like that animal it is provided with a falfe belly for the fafety of its young in time of danger, and its colour very much refembles that of the common Englifh Rat; it is of the fize of a fmall Cat, and very inbffenfive. There are a variety of other animals of different fizcs, from the OppofFum down to our implacable enemy, the Field Rat, all of which, in fome fhape or other, partake of the Kangaroo and Oppoffum. 1 have caught fcveral Rats with their pouch full of young ones, formed exactly in their legs, claws, and tail, as the above animals. 'One would 'almoft conclude, from the great refemblcnce of the different quadrupeds found here, that there is a promifcuous intcrcourfe between the different fexesof all thofe various animals. This ft range fi-milarity does not attach folcly to quadrupeds, for the finny inhabitants of the fea are in the fame predicament, their variety is truly aftonifhing; moft of them partake in fome degree of the fhark, and it is no uncommon thing to fee the head and moulders of a Skait to the hind part of a Shark, or a Shark's head to the body of a large Mullet, and what is more aftonifhing, fomctimcs to the flat body of a Sting Ray or Holibet. Nature feems equally playful in the feathered tribe: the Parrot is the moft common. I have fhot feverai, with the head, neck, and bill of the Parrot, and with the fame beautiful plumage on thofe parts for which that bird here is diftinguifhed; a tail and body of a different make and colour, with long delicate feet and legs, which is quite the reverfe of the Parrot kind. There is alfo a bird with tito ( U > the feet and legs of a Parrot, whofe head, neck, make, and colour, were like the Common Sea Gull, with the wings and tail of the Hawk. Neither is this confined to the animal creation; for here are trees bearing three different forts of leaves; others bearing the leaf of the gum tree, with ihe gum exuding from it, and covered with bark of a very different kind. The country abounds in birds of numberlefs fpeeies: thofe of the Parrot kind, fuch as the Macaw, Cocatoo, Lory, Green Parrot, and Paroquets of different fpecies and fizes, are ornamented with the moft gay and luxuriant plumage that can be conceived. The common crow is no flranger here, but is found in confiderable numbers; the found of their voice and manner of Croaking is widely different from thofe in Europe. Hawks are in great plenty; Pidgeons, Quails, and a great variety of fmall birds ; but I have not feen any with an agreeable note. There is alfo a very large bird, but it is not very common ; at firft they were taken for the Oftrich, as they did not fly whea purfued, but ran fo exceedingly faft that a' flrong Native Dog could not overtake them': 1 (hot one of them, which meafured upwards of two yards and a half from its feet to the upper part of its head. The difference between this bird and the Oftrich is in its bill, which is narrower at tbe point, and it has three tees, which is riot the cafe with the Oftrich, as I had an opportunity of feeing feveral of them at the Cape. It poAches* one Angularity by which it cannot fail of being known* Which is, that two diftincf feathers grow Out froiri every quill. Its flcfh, though not the moft tender grained, is far fiOm unacceptable: it rekmbles., when raw, neck I beef? \ heeS; and i fide-bone of this bird makes an excellent dinner lor half a dozen. The crow, I think, relifhes equally as well here as the barn fowl in England. I have Sometimes, when on a (hooting excursion, fallen in with the Black Swan : the extremity of their wings are white, and all the reft oS their plumage a bright black; its bill, a pale pink, or crimSon: they are of the Size of the common White Swan, and are a delicate appendage to the table. A prodigious quantity of Bats have made their appearance during thefe two laft years; they are generally Seen about RoSe-Hill towards the clofe of the evening: the head of this Bat very much refembles that of the Fox ; the wings of many of them extend four feet from tip to tip. I have one of them that will eat out of the hand, and is as domeftic in the houfe as a Cat. Their fmell is rank and offentive ; and numbers having perimed from the extreme heat of the weather, and fallen into the water about RoSe-Hill, rendered it undrinkable for Some days. There are as-many different Species-of infecls as of birds; the Centipedes Spider Ant, and Scorpion; the generality of thefe vary but little from thofe defcribed-as inhabitants ©f moft parts between the tropicks :■ the Ant poffeftes not only the greateft portion of induftry, but alfo oS courage ; an inSult is never offered them with impunity : they are oS various Sizes, Srom the common European Ant to near three quarters oS an inch in length, they are 'alfo of different colours, as black, white, yellow, and red ;-*he moft formidable of which are the red-coated gentry : whenever it happens that \ that they are disturbed by any perfon or beaft treading on their nefts, which are conftrucled juft beneath the furface, with numberlefs fmall pafTnges, or outlets, they fally forth in myriads and attack the ill fated and unconfeious offender with aftonifhing intrepidity., and even continue their purfuit to a considerable diftance; their bite, if not venomous, is attended with the moft acute pain for fome tune; one fpecies of them build their nefts againft a tree, of the fize of a bee-hive ; another kind raifes mounts of earth with prodigious induftry to the height of four feet. The Spider of this country nearly approaches the Ant in point of induftry; the fmalleft of thefe are larger than any I ever faw in England ; they fpread their web in the woods between the trees, generally to the diftance of ten or a dozen yards, and weave them fo ftrong that fmalJ birds are frequently entangled therein. The ftlk of which the web is compofed, when wound off in a ball i think is equal to any I ever faw in the fame ftate from the fiik-worm; it is of the fame colour, a pale yellow, or ftraw colour ; of Reptiles, there are Snakes from th? fmalieft I have ever feen in England to the length of eleven feet, and as thick as a man's leg ; alfo lizards o^ various kinds and fizes. A great variety of beautiful plants and flowers abound in this country; but being unacquainted with the fcienc* of Botany I am confequently unqualified to default on their different properties ; we find wild fpinach, parfley and forrel, but not in fufficient quantities to flatter our-felves with the hope of deriving any confiderable advantage to the colony therefrom. Exclufivc £xdufive of the Plantain, Banana, and other tropical fruits, here are fome peculiar I believe to this country ; that which they call the Mizzabore greatly refembles our cherry, its tafte is very infipid, and it varies but little from another fruit, Similar in its appearance, but Something Smaller, and which is alfo found in abundance ; there is alfo a third fort, which alfo reSembles the former two; though there is So great a Similarity between thefe fruits it is remarkable that the trees which bear them are of very different kinds and appearance.—Thefe berries have all the Sameinfipidity and are held in no etiima- . tion by our,people; but there is another berry, oS about the Size of a currant, and grows on a tree the leaves of which are much like the broom : the juice of this fruit, when ripe is, perhaps, the pureft acid in the world; it js extremely pleafant to the taffe, and by the faculty held in great estimation as a moft powerful antifcorbutic—It is an excellent acquisition in making tarts, jellies and other delicacies in the confectionary and paltry department. There is another Species of berries, which when ripe, is a clear red, of the Size of a currant, and Shaped like a heart; it has a moft pleaSant flavour, is a ftrong aftringent, and if r.ot taken in too great quantities is not unwholfome, many of the people having eaten of them, very freely without any pernicious conSequence. Here is alio a Nut which acts as a violent purgative, and emetic, iS eaten unprepared: it muft be Soaked Seven or eight days in wafer, taking care that the water be changed every day.—When it has been thoroughly Soaked, it is then roafted in the embers; and When done it is not unlike a chefnut, and very palatable. • 73 ) CHAP IX. fhe Small-Pox makes its appearance among the native: —Dreadful ravages of it—A native Boy and Girl found labouring under that diforder, taken to the hoj-1 pital at Sydney Cove, and cured—Seize a native who becomes tolerably civilized : taken with the Small-Pox and dies—Governor Philip gets two more of the natives into his poffefiion—Are treated with the greatefi hndnejs—7 heir efcape from the Settlement', are feen by the fifhing parties—The governor defrous of a reconciliation, goes among the natives unarmed—The interview with Banalong &c.— One of the natives throzvs a fpcar and dangcroufly wounds the governor. ABOUT a twelvemonth before my arrival, the Small-Pox made it? appearance and occafioned a tcrri-ble havoclc among the poor natives. It was truly mocking to find the coves of the harbour, which were formerly thronged with numerous families in tempeSfuous weather, now flrcwed with the dead bodies of men, women and children. No veftige of this cruel diforder being vifi-b!e in the countenances of any of the natives, it was reasonable to fuppofe they were never before infected with it, and of courfe ignorant of the method of treating this cruel ravager of the human Species, The various attitudes in which the dead bodies were Sound, afforded reaSon to believe that when any of them were indifpoSed, and the diforder affurncd the appearance oS the Small-pox> they were immediately deferted by their Sriends and left to periSh, in their helplcSs fituation, for want of Sufle-rtance. Some have been found Sitting with their heads reclined between their knees; others were leaning againfl a reck, f 74 ) a rock, with their head refting upon it. Two children, a boy and a girl, the boy about nine, the girl about two years older, were picked up during the prevalance of this diforder, labouring under its dreadful effects. Two old men, who were fuppofed the fathers of the children were picked up about the fame time, and carried to the hofpital, where they were taken all poilible care of; the men fur-vived but a fhort time, but the children both recovered, and appeared perfectly fatished with their change of Jiving. About this time a native, who I faw frequently at the governor's and who was now as perfectly at his eafc in company as if he had been bred in England, being decently cloathed, and managing his knife, fork, cup and faucer with great dexterity, was entrapped from his friends. Some officers were fent down the harbour with two boats for the purpofe of. Seizing any of the natives they could lay their hands on ; the governor having found that no encouragement would induce them to pay a vifit to the colony pf their own accord: he therefore determined to get fome of them into his poffeffion, and by kind treatment prevail on them to bring their countrymen to re-pofe more confidence in us—Arabanoo, the name of the native above alluded to was taken in the following manner Eeing enticed near to the beach, by the difplay of various articles calculated to excite his curiofity and defire, and bufily employed in admiring the pYe-fents that were given him, one of the feamen, Stationed for the purpofe, threw a rope round his neck, ■ ' arid f 75 ) and, in a moment dragged him to the boat; his cries brought a number of his friends to the fkirts of the wood, from whence they threw feveral fpears but without effect. To pourtray the terror and difmay depicted in the countenance of this poor creature, would require the hand of an able artift: he believed he was to be put to initant death ; but when he was allured by the officers that his life was fafe, and they at the fame time calling off the rope they had bound round his neck and fixing it to his leg, treated him with fo much kindnefs that he gradually became cheerful. On his arrival at the governor's houfe he had an iron lhackle put round bis leg to prevent the poflibility of an efcape; this he was taught to con -fider as a Bang Ally, a term in their language, ufed for a decoration of any kind; and it was no very difficult matter to bring him into the belief of this, as it was not, uncommon to fee fome of the convicts ironed in the fame manner, as a punifhment for the crimes they had committed in the colony. Arabanoo, from the kind treatment he experienced* was foon reconciled to his fituation, and the iron becoming troublefome, galling his leg, it was taken off, and he was permitted to go where he pleated. The names of the different gentlemen who took notice of him were foon familiar to him, and he could call them with great facility—He was a very good tempered fellow, of about thirty years of age, well made, and on the whole not an unhandfom* figure. The intentions of the governor was however fftif-trated for a time, poor Arabanoo, ore he could bring about C ?6 J about a good understanding with his countrymen, was attacked with the Smail-Pox, which notwithstanding every poSSible means was ufcd by the faculty for his recovery, he only lived till the cutis of his djStemper, Frequent indications of hostilities, as well as the mlSSing of feveral of the convicts, who were Sup-pofed to have been murdered by the natives, made the governor exceedingly regret tbe fate of poor Ara-ba-noo, who, had he lived, might have prevented much of this boil He diSpofition towards us, as he would Soon have understood enough of our language to have communicated whatever we delired ; he could have made them understand that we wifhed to live with them on tbe moft Sriendly Sooting, and to promote, as much as' in our power, their comlort and happinefs. The children had recovered from the Small pox, and were perfectly happy in their Situation, but were then too young to be of Service in reconciling their cun-trymen to us ; they very loon understood ahnoft every thing that was Said, and could alfo make themSelves tolerably well understood ; but the governor was Still determined, if poflible, to get a man or two into his' poSIeffion, who might be taught enough of the language to render them ufeful' negoclators,' Accordingly Some officers and a party of men we're fent on this expedition, in an armed' boat; they proceeded to the north Side of the harbour, where they Saw two oS the natives walking on the beach: a plan Was Soon formed to entice them to conversation;. a few large hfh were held* up, and an officer who fpoke fome words of their tongue, hailed them, which had the defired effect. Tins men advanced, unarmed, with much confidence, and readily took the fim that was prefented them. The boat was lying afloat, and fire or fix feamen on'the beach, nearly furrounding them; when the officer in the boat, obferving the opportunity favourable, made the fignal to fecure them ; in an inftant they were tripped up, and tumbled into the boat, ere they had time to look around. They called out to their friends the moment they recovered their recollection, and a'Confiderable number appeared from the woods, and many fpears were thrown, one of which pierced through the gunwale of the boat: the party pulled off inflantly, and the people prefenting their fire-arms, they halted, not daring to venture any farther attack. The two prifoners were made faft to the thwarts of the boat on being put on board ; but having got a good diftance from the fhore, their hands' were lobfed, and they were only Secured by one leg. When they were landed at Sydney Cove, the refi-dence of the governor, many people, prompted by cull iofity, went to fee them ; among whom were Araba-foo, and Nanbarre, the two children before mentioned : the moment they faw them their eyes fparkled' with joy ; they called them by their names; the children were alfo known to them ; and by their eafy and apparently fatished behaviour tended greatly to: calm their apprehenfions. They difcovered that one men they had taken was a chief of the tribe of Cadigal, named Coalby j he was about thirty-five years of age : the other,' K about about twenty-five, was called Banalong: he was .1 Smart, active, good looking young man, of a lively, pleafant difpoiition. His fellow prifoner appeared a check upon the volatile temper of Banalong, who, in his pretence, was always fedate and grave, and paid great deference to him ; but no fooner was Coalby out of fight, than all his gravity forfook him, and he was as merry and good humoured as though he had been all his life in the colony. They were treated with the utmoit kindnefs; but leafl they mould attempt an efcape, they wore each of them an iron on one leg, with a piece of rope Spliced to it, and a man was ordered for each, who was to be refponfible for their Security. Wherever they went they were accompanied by their leaders, holding one end of the rope. They had been taken near three weeks, when they appeared fo well Satisfied with their treatment, that their keepers began to be under very little apprehen-fions oS their attempting to get Srom them ; this ie-curity they did not Sail to avail themfelves of: accordingly one evening about dufk., their guards Sitting within the door of their hut, eating their Supper; Banalong being alfo in the hut in like manner employed : Coalby Seated without the door, pretending to be alSo eating his Supper, unfplieed the rope Srom the Shackle, leaving the other end Salt ill the keeper's hand, who had not the leafl: fufpicion of what was going forward: he was over the paling of the yard in an inllant. The noife he made in leaping the paling rouSed thofe within, but too late; the fugitive gained tbe wood in Spite oS an immediate purfuit, and joined his friends. Banalong was much more cheerful after Coalby's Coalby's departure, which confirmed the conj and the children's report, that he was a chief, and con fequently Banalong flood in great awe of him. This man had Several names; hut the one he ufual-ly went by was Banalong: he is a flout well made man, about five feet fix inches high ; he is dark, black, large featured, and has a fiat nofe; his hair is the fame as the Africans, but very coarfc and Strong; he is very good humoured, cf a lively and pleafant diSpofi-tion, and feldom angry at any jokes that are palled on him: he readily imitates the actions and gcftures of every perfon in the governor's family, and generally fits at table with the governor, whom he calls Bcauga, or father, and he, in return, calls him Doorovj, or fon : he is under no reftraint, nor docs he appear aukward in eating; and confider'mg the favage f'tate from which he has fo recently emerged, hie may be deemed a polite man, as he performs the ceremonies of bowing, drinking healths, returning thanks, &c. with the moft Scrupulous exadtnefs. He is very fond of wine, but cannot bear the fine 11 of fpirits, although they have often tried to deceive him, by mixing very weak rum or brandy and water, and giving it him for wine and water, but he inftantly dilcovers the deception, and is very angry on thefe occaSions: he generally accompanies the governor in his walks, who, to infpire him with confidence, always takes off his fmall fword, and puts it on him, and he is much pjeafed at this mark of distinction. His drefs is a jacket, made of coarfc red kerfey, and a pair of trawlers • but on Sundays he is drciled in nankeen. The governor's reafon for making him wear the thick kerSey is that he may be So K 2 Sensible ( ft? ) fenfible of cole] as not to be able to go without deaths, He fings when afked, but in general his longs are of the mournful Strain; he keeps time by throwing his arms backward and forward. Whenever defired to dance, he does it with the utmoft readinefs; his gestures at firft are very (low, and regulated by a Jow dif-mal tune, which quickens as the dance advances, 'till at length he throws himfelf into the moft violent attitudes, /baking his arms, and finking the ground, with great force, which g/ives him the appearance, of a madman. It is very probable that this part of the dance is ufed as a kind of defiance, as all the natives which were feen when the governor fir ft landed at Fort Jackfon, always accompanied this fort of dance to their vociferations of *' IForoo, fp'oroo /" ** Go ** away,Go away.7' 7'he kind treatment, and air of Satisfaction which Banalong manifefted for the Space of a year after Coalby's flight, determined the governor to truft him with his liberty. Accordingly the (hackle was taken from his leg, nor did he in the leaft feem difpofed to leave the goyernor's houfe, or defert his new* friends: he continued this behaviour with great fuccefs Sor Se-veral days, fo that no perfon had the leaft fufpicion of his leaving the colony ; he, however, one evening, juft as it was dark, ftripped himfelf, and leaving the cloaths that bad been given him behind, beat his march into the woods, " Both he aivt Coalby were frequently feen by the boats employed in fifhing, and would even converfe ■ with the people, who earnestly invited them to reT . , ; . , .. ..... ...... .... t ( Si ) furn to Sydney ; but no entreaties could prevail q\\ Xhzm to accept tbe invitation. Tbe governor having received information that they were feen in a cove at the entrance of the harbour, he went thither, attended by feveral of the officers, but they were all unarmed, which ill-judged piece of confidence had like to have proved fatal to the gor vernor. The particulars of this expedition were related to me nearly as follows : The governor, with fome of the gentlemen of the colony, went down to the mouth of the harbour, in order to pitch on a fpot proper to erect a landmark, to enable Strangers the more readily to afcertain the Jiarbours mouth when at fea ; on their return they were met by a boat, which had juft landed a party of .officers, who intended to take a furvey of the fhore as far as Broken bay : the coxfwain of the boat informed tbe governor, that one of the party (Mr. White, the furgeon) had (ecu Coalby and Banalong, and bad had fome convcrfation with them ; that they enquired after every perfon they had any knowledge of in the colony, and particularly the governor, and that they faid they would go up to Sydney if he would come for them. In confequence of this jnfonnati.r>n, his excellepcy returned to the Cove, got fome few prefents for them, which he fuppofed would be acceptable; he alfo ordered four inufquets into the boat, and uumediarely repaired to the fpot where thefe men had been feen. When they arrived at the place, they found a number of the natives fitting round a fire, and near them lay the remains of a dead whale, which had been thrown afhore in a hard gale, and on which they had been heartily feafting. As foon as they were within hail, the governor ftood up in the boat, and called for Banalong, and in their language afked where he was. Banalong inftantly anfwered, " Here I am.'' His excellency then laid,*' I am the governor, your father ; which title he always gave the governor when he was at Sydney. After defiring two gentlemen to remain in the boat, and to have the mufquets ready, upon examining which, two were found unprovided with f-ints, his excellency landed, and walked towards them with his arms extended, to fhew them he was "unarmed, and that they might be be under no appre-henfions for their fafety ■ they appeared very backward in coming to a nearer conference; however he continued approaching them till he entered the wood ; one of them, pone (Fed of more affu ranee than his comrades, after frequently restating the words If Governor, father," ventured to ihake hands in a friendly manner. His excellency then returned to the boat, and ordered one of the people to bring fome wine, beef, bread, and a jacket or two which had been brought on purpofe, and returned to them with thefe prefents. On his mewing a bottle, one of them called out, *'* Wine 1 wine?" two of them immediately advanced, took the things, and drank a little of the ■wine ; the governor alfo gave them two or three knives; he then returned to the boat, and told the gentlemen that remained in her that he had not feen either Coalby or Banalong, and that his mind was not altogether fatisfied with regard to their pacific intensions ; tions ; at the fame time defining them to flay by he boat, and give a good look, and be ready in cafe of alarm. He then went towards them, accompanied by captain Collins. The officer in the boat frequently heard one of the natives call to Banalong, and acquaint him with the obfervations he made upon thofe who were in the boat, which was kept afloat upon her oars; prcfently after one of the people came down from the governor, and acquainted Mr. Waterhoufe, the officer left in the boat, that both Coalby and Banalong were among them, had afked for him, and that governor Philip dehred he would join them. He immediately accompanied the mcflenger to the governor, whom he found, with captain Collins, in clofe conversation with two of tbe natives, who were unarmed : Mr. Waterhoufe went up, but did not recognize Banalong till he was pointed out to him, fo much was he altered; nor could he then perfnade himfelf that it was the fame. On the queflion being repeatedly Hiked; where was Banalong, he grew rather impatienr, and was going off; however a bottle being fhewn him, and being afked the name of it, he readily an-fwered, " The king ;" having obfei ved, when at the governor's houfe, his mnjefty's health drank in the hrft glafs after dinner, and had been taught to repeat the word before he drank his own glafs, he imagined the liquor was called tite king ; and when he afterwards came to know it was wine, yet he would frequently call it king. This convinced the gentlemen that it was no other than their old acquaintance Banalong ; and every method was tried to induce him to go down to the boat ; but lie always retired when any one approached nearer than he wiflied, fo that they alfv ( ) gradually got out of fight of the boat, when about ar dozen of the natives placing themfelves in a fituation' to prevent any furprize, Banalong and Coalby came among the gentlemen, and afked various queltions relative to different tranfaclions which had occurred at the Jettlement during their rcfidence there; Banalong-took Mr. Waterhoufe round the neck, Coalby (hook them all by the hand ; a jacket being prefented to him he was puzzle how to put it on, and begged one of the gentlemen to do it for him : Banalong had a very fine fpear irv his hand, which the governor afked him for,-but he would not part with it. During all this time the moft perfect harmony and friendfhip feemed to fubfift among the whole party ; but the governor, perceiving upwards ol twenty of them clofing round hit party, propofed returning to the boat, telling Banalong that he would flvortly return, and bring him and Coalby a couple of hatchets, which pleafed them extremely. The governor then went down to the beach, and the officers left in the boat came on fhore ; tbe boat's crew with the arms remained in t lie boat: as: the natives, by continuing their pohtiou, indicated fome remaining fymptoms of diftruft, his excellency was afraid of alarming them. Banalong was very cheerful, and appeared tranfported at the fight of fo many of his dear friends, as he termed them ; inceffantly making hands all round.- He pointed out a fmall fire near them, and-faid he would fleep there till their return. They were very merry on- their efcape, and: told them how Coalby got rid of the fhackle by which he had been fecured when at the fettlement, and that if they had meant to keep them, they fhould never «' & angora"—Fall afleep. The The governor and! his party now began to move to* 'wards the boat, when a flout native, who had been feen Handing at a diitahce, approached ; at tirSt he fhewed Strong indications of fear, which foon fubfided on his being treated in the fame familiar friendly manner as Coalby and Banalong, and he became tolerably converfable. He fhewed a wound which he had received in the back with a Spear; this alfo put Banalong upon Shewing that he had alfo been wounded in different parts of the body Since he quitted the fettle-tnent; one was through the left arm, made with a fpear ; another dangerous one over the left eye, not healed : thefe wounds, he Said, were received in a rencounter with a neighbouring tribe near Botany Bay. The party dill proceeding towards the beach, were detained by Banalong, who continued teasing them about the hatchets that were to be fent him; and he pointed out the flout native, who had retired about thirty yards diftance, whom he appeared anxious ihould be noticed: the governor advanced towards liim, and upon the favage indicating that he would not be approached, he laid down his Sword, fliil going forward with extended arms, to affure him he was unarmed. As the governor drew near, the native Seized a fpeat that lay concealed in the grafs, fixed it in his throw*-ing flick, and for fome moments appeared to Stand ori liis defence. There being not the leaSt reafon to Sup-poSe he would throw it without provocation, bis ex h cctlency { 86 ) celleney continued to advance, calling out " JVcree, IVereef a term ufed by them when they wifh a thing not to be done which diipleaies them : notwithstanding which the native discharged the Spear wirli Surprizing velocity, and immediately ran off. In their retreat to the woods many Spears were thrown, but the #n!y one which took effect was unfortunately the firSt, which Struck our much loved governor: it entered his right Shoulder jnit above the collar bone, and came out behind, about three inches lower under the blade bone. • The gentlemen near the governor concluded he was mortally wounded, and Seared, from the number of armed men that began to fhew themfelves from the woods, that it would be impracticable for them to reach the boat. Tbe governor, holding up the fpear, which trailed on the ground*, endeavoured to make his way to the beach, but its great length frequently flopped him; in this fituation he defired Some one to endeavour if poffible to draw the fpear out of his body, but it being barbed, it was found impracticable ; they then with great difficulty broke it, and diSembarraffed him Srom the greater part; he then drew a pillol Srom his pocket, and discharged it at them, who, Srom the apprehcnSion of there being more fire-arms among the party, kept a »efpe£tful diftance ; and the governor, carried between two of the people, reached the boat without any farther molestation. Immediately aSter their arrival at Sydney, the Surgeon was Sent for, Mr, B&lrnain, the Gxfk who arrived verl at the governor's houfe, after examining trie wound, relieved every hody from the molt painful fuf-penfe, by afluring them, that alarming as the fituation of«the governor might appear, he clid not apprehend any fata! confequences from it: he extracted the point of the fpear, dreffed the wound, and, to the admiration of every body, in fix weeks he was enabled go about. CHAP. CHAP xiii. $ flooring party fall in with fame of the natives, wbt give information of the man who fpeared the governor—Araboo wants to be married—Governor Phillip^ has an interview with Banalong, and makes him fome prefentsy Barangaroo his wife introduced—A fecpnd interview; Banalong prevailed on to vifit the fettle-ment—Curious behaviour of his wife on the occa/iont repeats his vift with feveral of the natives—Friendly intcrcourfe with the natives eflablifhed—Banalong''s fxtratrdinary behaviour to a native girl. GOVERNOR Philip frill defirous of being re conciled with the natives, did not harbour any refentment towards them on account of the late tranfaftion, which he conftrued to have proceeded from a fudden impulfe of fear rather than treachery, and had given the neceffary directions that none of them fhould be fired at, or any ways molcfted, unlets they provoked it by the throwing of fpears or other hqftilities;. Nanbarre, the boy, who had now become a tolerable interpreter, attending fome of the officers, who were on a (hooting excurfion, near the fpot where the accident to the governor had happened, a number $f natives appeared on an eminence at a fhort diftance ; being afked who it was that threvy the fpear at the governor, tta-y'named a man of the tribe who dwelt to %he Northward; that his name was Carrigal. Nan-j;»\rre waj alfo defirpd to enquire after Banalong and* foalby, { s9 ) Coalby, when they pointed to fome people at a diftance—One of whom threw a fpear at an officer who afked for it; but evidently with no mifchievous defign, as he took care it fell where nobody was fianding. The girl Abaroo was in the boat, and pointing to one of the natives laid it was her father, and was very defirous of going with them; fhe had arrived at. an age when her inclination began to tend toward the other fex, and with great naivete and innocence told the officers that fhe wanted to be married—As fhe had no oppportunity of a connection of that kind in the clergyman's houfe where fhe dwelt, and it would be a difficult matter to keep her againffc her will, it was judged moft prudent to permit her to go where flie pleafed, and fhe was told that as foon as fome new cloaths could be made for her, fhe mould take them with her, with which aiTu ranee? fhe was perfectly fatisfied to ftay fome time longer ; during which great pains were taken to inftruct her in Eng-Jiills that (he might be enabled to explain our intentions towards her countrymen. The governor being fufficiently recovered to venture in a boat, went to the place where Banalong and his wife lived—he found feveral natives on the fpot, who told him that they were out a fifiling, Araboo was in the boat, and her father being among them, a hatchet and fome hfh were given him, and he gave the governor a fhort fpear in return j as the boat was pufhing from the fhore they perceived four Canoes paddiing towards them, in the foremoft they perceived Banalong; the bout then lay too on her oars oars, and they landed from the ennoes; as foon as Banalong had fecured his, he approached the boat, molding up his hands to fltew he was unarmed. Upon which the party landed from the boat, and he very readily joined them ; he aiked the governor where he was wounded, and laid that he had quarrelled with and beat the man who had wounded him— being told that he would be killed if he was caught, he Seemed no ways concerned, but defired it might be done—feveral pre Sen Is were made him, and he wanted fome alfo for his wife ; but being told that if She wanted them fhe muft come and fetch them lierfelf—in about half an hour She made her appearance ; She was called Barangaroo and appeared older than him; a petticoat and Several little prefents were given to the lady, and a red jacket with a Silver epau-. Jet, which Banalong uied to wear when at the Settlement, were given him, which delighted him exceedingly; lie was niked if he would come and dine with th'-. governor the next day, to which he readily affent* cd, and laid that lie woufd bring his wife and fome friends with him, Notwithstanding Banalong did not vifit the governor according to his promife, he frequently joined the different parties he fell in with, although they Were well armed, and would without the leaft tear go to the long boat, though be always faw mufquets m her: his wife was generally with him in the canoe, and he intimated that he Still intended paying the governor a vifit, but his Sufpicion oS being detained apparently had not been entirely done away ; however the governor did not chooSe to take him a Second time by force; as be Still entertained hopes that he would be foon reconciled to pafs fome of his time at Sydney, when he could he allured of being his own matter, to go and come when he pleated. At length his excellency's wifhes were accompli filed ; as he was going to Paramatta, a native was feen Standing on one of the points of land, and as they towed paft him he was afked where Banalong was, when he pointed to an ifland called Memill, to which they rowed; as they drew near the rocks he cime down to the boat accompanied by his wife, without the leaft Signs of fear or diftruft. They greedily took Some bread that was given them, and the boat Soon after pufhed off and left them t from the confidence now evinced by this man, there was little doubt but he would Shortly truit himfelf at Sydney, Accordingly a few days after, as the governor was paf-fing in his boat, Banalang called to him repeatedly from the oppofite fhore where he was with fome of tbe officers; and the furgeon, in whom he placed great confidence, perfuaded him to go over to the governor; he took three natives with him, who weie exceedingly pleafed with the prefents made them. It kerns-that Banalong's wife oppofed his coming, and finding her tears and entreaties of no avail, flew into a violent pafuon, and broke a very fine Sifti-gig of her liufband's for which fhe would have received a. liearty drubbing had it not been for the interference of the Surgeon, who took them back to their residence on the North fkoie. Banalong Banalong appeared quite at his eafe and not under: the leaft apprehenfion of being detained; he promifed when he went away to bring his wife over, which he did two days afterward, accompanied by her fitter and two other natives; they were followed by a third—Blankets and cloathing were given them and each as much fifh as they could eat. Banalong dined with the governor, and drank his wine and coffee as formerly—his excellency bought a fpear of one of them, and gave them to undcrltnnd, that fpears, lines, birds, or any thing they brought fhould always be purchaftd; and at the fame time promifed him a fhicld, for which he was to bring a fpear in return—The next day a large party came over for the fhicld, but it was not finifhed ; two of thefe men were owned by Araboo, as her brothers, and for whom flie procured two hatchets, the moft defirabJc piefent that can be given them—'Banalong came the next day for his prefent; fevcral of his comrades who accompanied him went away in a fhort time, but he ftaid to dinner, and left Sydney Cove, highly delighted with his fhield, which being made of a good fubllantial hide and "covered with tin, was likely to refift the ftroke of a fpear. It being late? in the afternoon before he thought of returning, his. wife and filter, with two men come over in their canoes to fetch him. 1 he girl who had been near eighteen months in the colony with the clergyman's wife, was fo impatient to get away that at laft it was contented to;; and the" very next day after fhe had left the fettle- me.'.if tiient file was feen in the canoe naked, however fhe put on her petticoat before me joined the clergyman and fome others who went to vifit her: (he appeared much pleafed with her liberty, and the boy Matt-bara, who was of the party, wifhed to flay with the natives all night; he was accordingly left behind, but the next morning returned to the fettlement, and BaVing fared but indifferently did not feem inclined to repeat his vifit. The natives now vifited the colony daily ; one morning Banalong came very early and breakfafled with the governor, and on taking bis leave told him he was going a great way off, but fhould return in three days with two young men who were with him; and it was conjectured that they were going to fight with fome other tribe. When Banalong returned from his expedition, he immediately waited oh the governor, with whom he dined according to Cuftom : after dinner he related the caufe of his abfence ; that he had been to light a man who had formerly wounded him; he laid his fhield was a good one, and that his fpear had pierced the fhield and arm of his antagonift; he alfo faid that the people he had been to fight with had killed one of the convicts, who had been fome time miffing. Governor Philip conjectured that the women were not treated with the greater! deference, in which conjecture M f 94 I conjecture' he was certainly not much miftakcnT for Banalong frequently heat his wife with great fa-* verity, although he profeiled great affection for her. He was often told that it was wrong and unmanly to beat a woman ; but he only laughed at thefe remonstrances, and continued daily to vifit the fettlement, with his wife, children, and half a dozen of his friends: Coalby was generally one of the party. Banalong, with his wife and children, now lived iti? a hut which the goverryor had built for them on the eafrern point of the cove ; they conftantly had a number of vifitors many of whom came daily to the fettlement; and all of them becoming veiv fond o? bread, which they got in exchange for any ti lifting articles they brought, they foon found the advantage of coming amongft the fettlers. . It had hitherto been the opinion that the cuftom cf lofmg the front teeth was confined to the men, but a woman was alfo feen with the fame mark, and two of them had the bottom of the griftlc which parts the nofrrils perforated; one of them was Barangaroo, the wife of Banalong, who never confidered herfelf drciled but when her pofe-was dilated with a fmall flick, thruft through the feptum or griftlc of the noftrils. She is very ft rait and well formed, her features well proportioned and pleating, and, though fhe goes entirely naked, there is fuch an air of innocence about' her that cloathine fcarce fecms neceiTary. Araboo, the native girl, returned to the colony, after a few weeks abfence, with fome officers who had beeiv f 95 ] -been down the harbour, and Teemed perfectly happy in •the opportunity of getting from tbe party me had been with. She faid that fhe had lived three days With the young man fhe wi filed to marry, but that he bad another wife, who was jealous of her, and had beat her; indeed evident marks of ill ufage appeared about her head, which was fo much hurt that fhe was put under the Surgeon's hands. Her favorite, it feems, had taken her part, and beat his wife in return ; but matrimonial fquabbles, which are always fettled by the excrcifeof the cudgel, are very frequent, and the women in general treated very roughly, Sixteen of the natives paid a vifit to the governor one morning, and were regaled with fifli for break fall,, to which they fat down in the yard in the utmoflgood humour: thofe who had not been there before were highly delighted with the novelties that Surrounded them. Banalong, who had been abfent for fome days, was of this party, and brought his wife with him ; fhe appeared very ill, and had a frefh wound on her head, which he gave the governor to underftand wasbecauSe file had behaved ill, and in her ill humour had broken aSifh-p-ig and a throwing-flick. The governor again reaSoued with him on the Subject of beating his wile,, but to no effect; he faid She was wicked, and therefore he had beaten her. When they had finished their breakSafls, his wife and. another woman, a Stranger, who had nlfo been wounded by Spme of the men, went to the Surgeon to have their heads dreffed ; when they returned, Banalong miffing the governor, enquired for him, and Said that he wanted to See him; upon $vhich he was taken to his excellency, who was writ- [ 9$ I ing. Banalong felted himfelf, and appeared very much, out of humour, frequently faying that he was going to beat a woman with a hatchet, which he held in his hand ; it was impoftible to divert him from his purpofe, and, after fome converfation, he was going to take his leave, excufing himfelf from dining with his excellency, as he was going to beat the woman ; upon which the governor infifted on accompanying him ; he made no objection to the propofal, though he was told that he would not be permitted to beat the woman. They Set off for the hut, the- governor ordering a ferjeant and a couple of marines to attend him, and the judge advocate coming in at tl>c time, went with them. Though Banalong had faid he would kill the tvo-man when they were endeavouring to perfuade him not to beat her, it was not fuppofed that he harboured any fuch intention, nor was it thought there would be much trouble to prevent his beating her ; but left he fhould in diis paflion ftrike her with the hatchet, which might be fatal to her, it was taken from him before they got to the hut, and, as he appeared reluctantly to part with it, the governor gave him his cane ; but his menaces and countenance made them believe even that too dangerous a weapon to truft him with, and it was accordingly taken from him. When they came to the hut they found feveral men, women, and children affemblcd ; and notwithstanding governor Philip endeavoured to Single out the object of Banalong's difpleafure, whom he was determined on protecting, the'furious favage feezed a wooden fword, and darted on his victim, a fine girl of about fifteen, who, on feeing him coming had hid her face in the grafs; he flruck her Several blows on the head before the weapon could be wrefted from him ; he then feized a hatchet, but was prevented doing any farther mifchief. The fury which took poffeffion of him when he found himfelf prevented from beating the girl is in-deScribeable; the poor creature lay trembling in the grafs, not daring to ftir, and in momenary expectation of being put to death : he had got another fword, and was preparing to repeat his violence, but was laid hold hold of by the judge-advocate and the ferjeant. The fracas being obferved by the officers on board the Supply, they inflantly went on fhore armed, and took the poor girl, without any opposition from the natives, who had all armed themfelves the moment they favy the governor and his party interfere. When the boat had taken the girl on board the Supply, the party returned to the governor's houfe, Where they were joined by Several of the natives ; Banalong was of the number: after fome time his paf-fjon fubfided, and he grew calm. He was then given to underfland that the governor was very angry witl) him for endeavouring to kill a woman ; that it was a , cowardly and unmanly action, and fhould it be known that he did kill her, or even beat her any more, he fhould be put to death himfelf; but threats had no greater effect on him than entreaties, and he com-p'ained bitterly of the injury done him by depriving him of jiis victim ; faying, that fhe was his, that her father had wounded him over the eye, that fhe was of a wicketj a wicked tribe, and that they mould fee he would kill her. When he was talked to by the judge advocate, and told that if he killed the girl the governor would kill him, he pointed with his fore-finger to the parts of the head, bread, and arms, where he laid he would wound her before he cut her head off; in this resolution he returned home, and the girl was brought from the Supply to the governor's, accompanied by a young man whom Banalong had defired to remain with her. The attention paid her by this young native made every body conclude he was her hufband, though he had not been feen to murmur or exprefs any figns of difatisfaefion when her life was in danger. Two days after Banalong returned to Sydney, apparently in great good humour; he laid he would not beat the girl any more, but that he had been obliged again to challife his wife, and had wounded her on the head, and that he had received'a wound on the fhoulder from a club jn return. On bcinp; told to go to the hofpital to have jt dreffed, as well as his wife's head, he refufed, faying:, that the furgeon would kill him, and that he was afraid of fleeping in his hut, left he fhould flioot him in the night: though, to fhew he was not afraid of meeting hirn. openly, he went once or twice into the room where he had left his fpear, brought it, and fhook it by vyay of defiance. Governor Philip affured him that no harm was intended him, unlefs he killed the girl, or threw fpears at the Englifb. As foon as he was fatisfied,that the furgeon was fti]l his friend, he agreed to go to him for a plaifter for his fhoulder; but his excellency, defirous of being pre-fent at their meeting, fent for Mr. White ; Banalong re-ceivgd him as ufual, giving him part of what he w all fhe different figures they generally rmifli by .1 eer-" t»in number of their principal dancers advancing to the front, and go through tbe difficult part of the dance, the quivering motion of the knees, upon which the whole company faces to the front, and go through the lame motions, the mo-it expert being generally in the center,. Their rnufic carditis of two flicks of very hard wood, one of which the mufician holds to his bread in the manner of a violin, and itrikes it with the other, in tolerable good time. The performers fing the whole time of the dance, alialcd by feveral boys and girls who are feated af his fe:t, and by the manner of croffino; their thighs fornv a- hollow between them and their belly, upon which they beat time with the fiat of the hand, which makes au odd though not difagreeabie ibtuvd. They are very prone to flattery, and if any ftrangers are prefent always afk fjr their approbation, and appear highly delighted if you faw **■ boojcrle cariberltf a very good dance--which never fails to produce more than extraordinary exertions. They are very dexterous in fb iking f/fh : the fpear of the gig with which they take them i% about ten Ket in length, but they can increafe it by joints as we do our fifhing rods in England; they have feveral prongs barbed with the bone cf a lith, or of fome anmiak The fiiher liesacrofs the canoey his face in the water, and hi& iifh-gig ready for darting ; thus he lies motionlefs, and by his face being beneath the furface, he can fee the Gib diitiuct~ ly; in this manner they ftrike the-fifh with great certainty. The women are chiefly employed-witii lines and' hooks; the lines manufactured from the bark of trees,-the hooks commonly of the pearl of different fhells: the talons of birds or prey they fometirnts make afe ©f* but the ( tij ) £he former are moft efteemed. The women are frequently feen in a miferablc canoe with two or three children,' fifhing the whole day, in the edge of afurf that would terrify an old feaman to rruft himfelf near in a good flout boat. The men are excellent divers, and remain a fur-prizing time in the fufrfs where their canoes cannot live: whatever they bring up to the furface they throw on fhore, where their comrade attends to receive itf. Having fire ready kindled for cooking, they broil or roaft all their food; they have not the leaft conception of boiling, for one of the natives watching an opportunity when nobody wa3 attending to the kettle, plunged his hand into the boiling water to take the fifli \ of courfe, to his utter aftonifhment, he was terribly fcalded. They procure fire with great labour, by fixing the pointed end of a round flick info a hole made in a flat piece of wood, and whirling it round fwiftiy with both hand?, Aiding them up and down till the operator is fatigued, when he is re- * lievedby fome of his companions; each takes his turn till the fire is produced: from the labour attending this procefs, it iy no wonder that they are feldom feen without a piece of lighted wood in their hand. When they mean-to evince a partiality to any ftrangcr, they immediately af-fume his name, calling him by theirs this they confider as the higheft compliment they can pay an' Englifhman, and are highly pleafed at being called by their new name. Of all their cuiloms, that of making love would be the far theft from meeting the approbation of my fair Countrywomen ; that ceremony being, in' this country, always prefaced by a found beating, which the lady receives, as matter of courfe, with all the meeknefs imaginable. ch af. CHAP. XV. Land in cultivation at P aramatta—Viciffitudcs of the vueathcr—Mortality of the convitls—Invefiigation of their treatment on board the tranfports—Defer tion of the convitls—Stock my farm yard—Governor Philip pleafed with my fuperintendance—Lofe myfelf in the woods—Interefing adventure—Conducted to Paramatta by a native boy—Vfit my new acquaintance—*' Governor Philip departs for England. E had now upwards of a thoufand acres of V V cleared land at Paramatta, three hundred and fifty of which were in wheat and maize; but though we had frequent fhowers of rain, yet not in fufficient quantities-to ccmpenfate for the excelfive drought which had been experienced in the preceding months; and from the ground being new, and requiring more work than was in die power of thefettlers to beftow on it, the grain in general had a very unpromiiing appearance. There are about twohundred acres laid out in gardens,as much more prepared for turnips and potatoes, and the remainder clofed in for feeding cattle. We are very badly off for manure, and ere the colony can properly fiourifh it muft be flocked with cattle, the ground being infinitely too poor of it-felf ever to produce crops fufficient for us to depend on it,, folely, for fnbfiftance. The fudden viciffitudes of the weather muft alfo render our harvefts very precarious, as well as prove injurious to the health of the new comers; it often happens that there is a change of from forty to fifty degrees twice in one day. It is no unfre- epient circumftance to fee the country ftrewet with num.* bers of birds, fallen from the trees, unable to fup-port the intenfe heat of the meridian fun. Numbers of convicts fall victims, but it muft not be wholly afcribed to the weather, as the debilitated ftate in which they are, for the moft part, landed, would, were it a more favourable climate, be attended with a confiderable mortality; and they are generally fo weak that they cannot be put to any kind of labour, but are employed in weeding and pulling grafs for the purpofe of thatching: we have frequently four or five hundred on the doctor's lift, who are individually vifited daily by the furgeon ; upwards of fifty have died in a month, in the generality of whom nature appears entirely exhaufted, and many of them were fo fairly worn out, that they expired without a groan, and to all appearance did not experience the finalJeft degree of pain. From a moft humane fuggeftion of Captain Parker of the Gorgon, the governor iflued orders for a regular furvey to be taken of the condition of the convitls on their landing from the different tranfports ; and a ftrict invefiigation taking place, it appeared that fome of the captains had very much abridged their unfortunate p2f-fengers of the allowance ftipulated by government for their fubfrftance; and this inhuman practice had been carried to fuch an extent in fome of the fhips, that it appeared many had been literally ilarved to death. A ftr.ong and pointed reprefentation of the circumftance was lent home to government, which will, 1 hope, put an effectual (lop to fuch nefarious proceedings. a Some ( ) Some of the convicts had entertained an idea that they could range along the coaft till they reached fome of the Chinefe fettlements ; fubfifting themfelves on oyftersand other fhell-hfh, having been told that there was a copper coloured tribe one hundred and fifty miles to the northward, who were much more civilized than the natives they were with, and who trafficked with the Dutch from Timur, where they would be free. With thefe notions feveral parties fet off from Sydney Cove and Rofe Hill, but after fome days draggling fome were taken, and others returned of their own accord, induced by the imperative command cf hunger; and as fome were fuppofed to be ftill lurking in the woods, afraid of returning left they fhould be punifhed for leaving the fettlement, the governor, lefs inclined to punifh than to convince them of their error, promifed a genera] pardon to every one V/ho fhould return within five days ; at the fame time declaring that an exemplary punifhment would be inflicted on thofe who fhould be taken after that periodf Accordingly feveral returned, and appeared fenfible of the lenity (hewn them, but fome of them appeared capable of the moft defperate attempt?, and even talked of repelling force by force; they were however given to underftand that no mercy would be fhevvn them on the leaft difpofition tq mutiny, and that any who were near thofe that might be fo difpofed would be confidered as principals, and treated accordingly. Almoft all the deferters returned, and thofe who were ftill miffing, was fuppofed to be murdered by the natives; and the miferable ftate of thofe that returned would, it was thought, moft effectually prevent any more pxeurfiens of the like nature. [ I29 ] The purchafes I had made at the Cape, as well as the prefents I brought from England, enabled me to furnifh the officers and feeders with various little articles, which in general were not to be had by the (hips, fo that in a fhort time I had collected the following valuable flock for my farm yard: a fow in pig; two fine porkers j a young fhe goat and two kids; an Englifh dunghill cock, three laying hens, and one with a brood of chickens and young ducks ; thefe, with a young kangaroo, which I had been at infinite pains in rearing, three native dogs, my-felf, a convict woman fervant, and her fan, Timothy, a youth between twelve and thirteen, a tradable and ufeful lad, comprifed' the whole family. Having always had a ftrong predilection for horticulture, the garden employed great part of my time, and is now as profperous and flou-rifhing as any in the colony. Governor Philip, when he vifits Rofe-hill, takes great delight in it, and gives me much credit for its improvement, as well as for the appearance and fpirit of induftry manifeft in the convicts Under my fupcrintaidance. Having contracted an intimacy with a young man who had taken one of the farms on the northern boundary, about four miles from Paramatta, I generally walked over once or twice a week: as I was returning from thence one afternoon, with no other company but my boy Tim, who, having evinced a great partiality for me, was now my conftant companion; a large male Kangaroo croifed the path jult before us ; I immediately took my gun from the boy, fired at the animal, and difabled one of his hind legs, which very much impeded his flight; |lowever he prcierved his diftance for near an hour, when, getting ( i3° ) getting a fair fhot at him, I lodged a hall in the back part of his head, which effectually did his bufinefs. Upon examining our prize, I found it would be impof-fible for us to get it home without help ; we therefore fearched for a place to conceal it till the next afternoon, when I meant to return for it with a couple of men; a few paces from where it lay we perceived a cavity on the flopc of a deep ravine, to which we dragged the carcafe, and covering it with (tones and grafs, began to think of making the beft of our way to the fettlement. The fun was now fetting, and I began to be alarmed at being fo far from home: in the eagernefs of our purfuit I had forgot to take any bearings by my pocket eompafs, and the day clofing ere we had reached any known path, increafed my apprchcnfions in the extreme. Poor Tim, though half dead with fatigue, endeavoured to keep up my fpirits, which he perceived were much agitated : " He was certain fure"—he faid—« that we were in the right road, and that we fhould get home time enough to mutter the people at nine, the hour fixed for that purpofe; and that if we were obliged to fleep in the" woods, why, he would cut fome grafs for my bed, and fland centinel with the gun while I lay down, for he was not afeard to fire: and befides, my dear matter,"—added he—" you know the natives are fo 'feard of guns, that fhould they come I only need (how it, and they'll be off like a fhot." The boy's courage and fidelity charmed me; and put me to the blufh to think 1 had fo little command of myfclf as not to conceal my uneafinefs from him. After t 131 3 After rambling for near two hour?, we could not per* ceive that we were any nearer home than at funfet, but rather conjectured we had taken a different rout, as we did not recollect a tingle object that now prefented itfelf; it being a fine Itar-light night, we could diftinguifh the river at times through the trees at fome diftance ; but prefenting a different appearance to any part we had ever feen; we quickened our pace with the hope of fpeedily reaching its banks, when, to my great mortification, we were flopped by' a deep ravine. I now abandoned ail hopes of reaching the fettlement; and, as the poor boy was almoft exhaufted with fatigue, made up my mind to paffing the night on the fpot. With this determination we began to cut grafs, and pull fome boughs, in order to make a fire ; for although it had been intenfely hot in the middle of the day, 1 could now very well have difpenfed with a great coat. While I was thus employed, Tim, who had got fome diftance from me, came running back, faying 1 might fave my-felf the trouble, for he had found a fnug flceping place for us, with plenty of dried wood for a fire, I followed him to the fpot, and found it was a hut inhabited by the natives when hunting; as 1 had no apprehenfions of their returning, the hunting feafon having juft clofed,I got a light from a flafh of powder, and in a few minutes kindled a comfortable fire. In one corner of the hut was a bundle of grafs ready dried which we fpread to lie down on ; but I could not prevail on the boy to think of ileep; no, if I would truft him with the gun he would keep watch. Not being inclined to fleep myfelf, I took a book from my pocket, and, by fire light,endeavoured to amufe my fclf till day-break. I had fcarce perufed half a do2en pages* ( W ) pages, ere poor Tim had funk into a found fleep; hmV long it was before I followed his example, or how long I fliouid have continued it, is difficult to determine, had I not been waked by an acute pain in one of my hands,; which I found was occafioned by the bite of fome ants, whom I had accidentally rnolefted in my fleep: I called Tim, and Tallied forth; following the winding of the ravine, about a mile, we arrived at its termination, and perceived a break in the high lands before us, through which I diftinctly faw Rofe-Hill, about fix or feven miles dif-tant; this profpecl revived our Spirits, which were beginning to flag, with the reflection that if we efcaped every other danger that of being flarved to death was inevitable, unlefs we could extricate ourfelves from the labyrinth in which we were involved. Having; fet the fpot by my compafs, I found it bore W. S. W,; as we defcended to the plain we loft fight of the object:, but continued our courfe in that direction till we arrived at a fwamp, which coft us Some time in getting round, there' being no poflibility of croffing it: we had now got to a part almoft impaffable from the quantity of underwood, and the trees were fo clofe together that we Could fcarcc fee three yards before us, and were proceeding very (lowly through a thicket, when we were alarmed by a deep groan, apparently but a few paces diftant; a Sound fo un-looked for, for fome moments rivctted us to the Spot. Not being immediately able to perceive from whence the groan iffued, I advanced with great caution about a dozen paces, * when ■ I difcovered a cave in the fide of a rock ; I was at fiift for retreating, but on recolleifting that perhaps'I might render fome fervice to the afflicted, and that I equally Hood in ne^d of affiftance, or perhaps might perifh with hunger t !33 ] hunger, I examined the priming of my gun, forced Tim, with fome difficulty, behind me, and approaching the entrance of the cave, a moft interefting fcenc prefented itSelf to my view: a young creature feated on a jut of the rock, mournfully contemplating the extended body of a man, whole expiring groan had juft pierced our ears; ail her faculties we're fo abforbed with grief that we were yet unnoticed : a fympathizing forrow pervaded all my frame ; I gave my gun to Timj and made Irgns for him to retire, left the fjght fhould alarm her; when (he perceived me fhe uttered a faint fhriek, and funk motionlefs on the body. Observing a fmall pond a few pacts from the cave, I fent the boy to bring fome water in his hat, and gently moved her from the body to the mouth of the cave, raifed her up, and fupported her in my arms ; the water loon brought her too, when fhe raifed her head, and regarded me with a look blended with grief and terror; I endeavoured, by every fign I could Suggeft, to do away her fears, and retired a few paces, leaving her at liberty to po from the cave had file chofe. Gaining confidence by my behaviour, (he made me underftand that the deceaf d was her brother, who, faint with the lofs of blood, could not reach their habitation; and night approaching they had turned from the road to Shelter themfelves in this cave. On examining the body I found a deep wound under the left pap, made with a fpear, part of which, being barbed, remained in the wound; i made her underftand, partly by figns, and partly by fome words I had picked up, that I had, unfortunately, loft my way, and had been all night in the woods: fhe Shook her head, and pointed to her brother, Signifying ,that fhe could not leave him; but that their habitation was not far off, and making me ob-R Serve f-rve a hill about two miles difiant, gave me to understand it was in their neighbourhood. I made ligns to> her, that if fhe would go and acquaint her friends with-her fituation, I would watch by her brother till her return : hereye gliftened with joy as (he gathered my meaning, and with an affenting inclination of the head, more eloquent and expreffive of her feelings than in the power of the moft refined language to convey, fhe quitted us with a celerity quickened by fraternal love, and in a few moments was out of fight. This interefting and pathetic fcene had fo wholly ab-forbed all my.faculties, that not a fingle reflection of danger had occurred to me in the approaching interview-,-when Tim, who had been witnefs to feveral inftances of the perfidy of the natives towards the fettlers, ftrongly urged me to leave the body, and make the beft of our way home. Roufed by his Solicitations, a momentary impulfe of fear came over me, and my mind had half yielded to his importunity ; when calling my eye on the body me-thought I perceived it heave; a feeble figh convinced me that life was yet unextinguished, and the imperative call of humanity decided my operations: a death-like dew had befpreadhis face and limbs, which I dried with my handkerchief, and chafed his body with my hand. Tim moft readily bore his part in this act of humanity, and a returning warmth encouraged us to redouble our efforts; in a few moments we perceived a faint puliation, which gradually increafed : at this juncture we were Surprized by the return of his filter, accompanied by her father, another elderly man, and a boy about twelve years of age; feeing usbufied about the body, they flopped fhort at the entrance of the httt, fcaningly at a lofs for our conduct. I beckoned { T35 ) I beckoned my young friend, who advanced with the utmoft confidence, and giving her the hand of her brother, fhe exclaimed, with great emotion, " D'idgerry-goor, didgerry-goor" I thank you, I thank you ;—~md turning to her father, called him to her: I immediately quitted my ftation, and refigned him to their care; the old man examined the wound, and with great feeming fkill extracted the barb. During the operation the youth lifted up his eyes, and obferving his father, a glance of filial affection beamed forth. Hope now tranquilifed the boding fears of the little group ; Yeariana, his filler, fup-ported him while the father and his friend were contriving how they fhould remove him to their dwelling; finding it neceffary to difpatch fome one for their canoe, the river which paffed their habitation winding within fifty paces of us, and which was the fafijft and only conveyance he could bear; Yeariana propofed going for it; and it being our direct road to Paramatta, 1 feized the opportunity of accompanying her; in lefs than an hour wc arrived at tbe foot of a fmall mountain, when Yeariana, like an arrow from a bow, abruptly quitted us: leaving her brother, the boy before mentioned, as our guide, we were not long before wTe difcovered near a dozen natives, with Yeariana at their head, waiting our arrival; fhe had lent off the canoe for her brother, and had got fome dried fifh, which fhe prefented us, and led us to her liutor cave, whirl) was a large excavated rock on the bank of a very pleafant branch of the river. The reception we met with from this grateful people almoft bordered upon ado* ration ; the mother of Yeariana was quite trbublefbme with her careffes for my fcrviccs to her fon ; and I could perceive in the mild eye of her daughter that it anXibuf-ly fought a farther acquaintance. Upon enquiry I found R 2 we we wer* near five miles from Paramatta, but that none of them had ever vifited the fettlement; however, Batcherry, her brother, offered to be our conductor, provided I would take care of him, and fee him part of the way back next day ; promifmg to fee her again fhortly, I took my leave, and arrived at Paramatta about noon, heartily fatigued, My abfence had notcaufed any alarm at the fettlement, as they thought I had gone to Sydney Cove, which I had done twice or thrice, and fluid there all night. Every obje<£t thr.t prefented itfplf to Batcherry filled him with furprize and aftonifhment, and the poot lad had fcarce time to eat or drink, fo much was he taken up with admiration of the wonders that furrounded him. The next morning I fet him on his way home, giving hirn a hatchet for himfelf, and a firing of beads for his iiilcr, whofc image had made a flrong imprcflion on my mind, being the moft intereding I ever faw: with a form that might ferve as a perfect model for the moft fcrupu-lous ftatuary ; her face and hair unlike any thing I h;id ever feen in this'country; the fir ft of a perfect oval, or Grecian fhape, with features regularly beautiful, and as fine a pair of eyes as can be imagined; the latter long, and of a fhining black ; fhe was likewife of a much lighter colour than any of her countrywomen, and might eufily have been taken for a beautiful Oriental Cicqle. Taking three men, and the boy Tim, we went in fea^h of the fpot where we had concealed the Kangaroo, and with fome difficulty found it; we cut a couple of flout flicks, and laying the animal acrofs it, took fpcll and fpell till we reached home, when I rewarded the men with a, fore quarter for their trouble. It was more than a week ere I could fpare time to pay .a vifit to the abode of my charming Yeariana; when arranging my bufinefs fo that, fhould I be detained all night, my abfence would be of no material confequence, I took Tim with me, and with much more facility than I expected found my way to Paculbenah, the name of the place where the family of Yeariana refided ; Batcherry faw us as we turned the foot of the mountain, and running back to the cave, gave notice of our coming; the whole family, except Palerino, who was not fufRciently recovered, were ranged at the entrance of their cave; their joy at feeing me was evident in their countenances ; the old man took me by the hand, and led me to his fon, who was now out of danger ; he expreffed his thanks by a hearty fqueeze of the hand, and a look that amply explained his meaning; his filler was not deficient in ex-preflions of fatisiaction, by every little attention in her power. Having brought plenty of beef, bread, and a little brandy withus, left we might ftand in need of refreshment, we feated ourfelves in a circle on the ground, and fpread our fare on a piece of canvas which had contained it; every eye was fixed on me, and every motion gave frefli caufe of wonder. There being no knives among them, I carved the meat for them all, and gave to every one a part ; the beef they eat with great avidity, but did not rehfh the bread, and rinfed their mouths feveral times after it. When the meat was all eaten, they produced fome dried fiih, roots, two or three kind of berries, and a nut rcfcmbiing the Chefnut in tafte : every perfon having finifiicd eating, Wanjarkoo, the father, clapping his hands thrice they all ftartid upon their feet, and prepared to refume their ufual avocations; the old man and his wife went to the canoe to rinifh their day's fifhin-;; fifhing ; Batcherry to cut grafs ; and Yeariana was left to attend her brother, Palerino, who lay on a bed of dried grafs in one corner of the hut; fhe, after fome minutes paufe, took my hand, and drawing me towards Palerino, joined it with his, and whifpering fomething to him, he cried " Boodjerie, Boodjerief Good, good, Palermo.— and by figns afked my name, when I repeated «* George/* two or three times; then fqueezing my hand to his bread, he made me underftand that he would change names with me, and I muft call him George, and he would call me Palerino, and that he would come and bring Yeariana with him to the fettlement, as foon as he was well: this ceremony was finifhed by his After kifling us both, repeating " Boodjerie Palerino, Boodjcrie George" Good Palerino, good George,—and appeared quite overjoyed. They now made me underftand, that the day before I found them, as they had been out together, fearch-ing for a kind of grub, which is a part of their food, they were furprized by two of the tribe of Wangal, their mortal enemies, one of whom her brother had killed with a fifh-gig; during the conflict fhe had thrown aftone at the furvivor, which fo difabled him that he retreated with difficulty to his canOe, and rowed off with precipitation : Palerino, faint with the lofs of blood, could not reach their habitation, and night approaching they had turned from the road to flicker themfelves in the cave where I found them, Highly pleafed with my vifit, I took leave an hour before funfet, when they repeated their af'urances of coming to the fettlement, which was what I ardently wifhed for, as I flattered myfelf that 1 fhould be able toperfuade them to flay fome time with uss and thereby cement that friendship. [ '39 J flnp which had juft taken root, and might eventually prove beneficial to the fettlement, as well as promote cer* tain views juft: dawning on my mind with refpect to Yeariana. Mr. Went worth, who refides at Norfolk I Hand, had been appointed to the fame ftation there that I occupy at Paramatta, which, joined to his fkill in furgery, renders him an invaluable acquifkion ; and, a? we frequently cor-refpond, he has kindly promifed me an account of the rife and progrefs of that fettlement: he fpeaks with rapture of the urbanity of governor King to all ranks and defcriptions, and whofe unremitting attention to the clearing and cultivating the land, already enables the fettiers, ©f which there are between forty and fifty tailors and marines, who have parcels of land allotted them of fixty acres each, and about twenty convicts, who have ten acres each, not only to fupport themfelves, but to have fomething to fpare: indeed, they have greatly the advantage of thofe fettled at Sidney and Paramatta, the ground being much more fertile; the wheat frequently producing an increafe of twenty fold, and it is conjectured that future harvefts will be more productive. Potatoes thrive exceedingly, upwards of an hundred hav--ing been feen to a fiwgle root; and every kind of garden-vegetable fhoots up in abundance, and in the greatefs perfection^ To afcertain in what time a man might be able to cultivate ground fufficient to fupport himfelf, the governor,-about a twelve-month ago, ordered an acre of ground to be cleared in a good fituation; it was then given to a-very decent iteady convict:, who was told, that if he was induftrious,. induftrious, in order to prove the experiment, he fhould have thirty acres given him, cleared in like manner. He was very affiduous, and, at the expiration of fix months, requefted another acre to be cleared for him, which was granted ; and he is now able to fupport himfelf, without drawing any afftftance whatever from the public floras. The declining health of our worthy governor rendering his return to England indifpenfable for its re-eftab-liihment, he made the neceffary arrangements for the future government of the colony; and having perfuaded Banalong and another native to accompany him, embarked on boaid the Atlantic tranfport, and, with the benedictions, of every perfon in the fettlement, proceeded on his voyage to England. 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