第7章

Twostonehatchets,andtwospearshetookfromhiscanoe,andpresentedtothegovernor,whoinreturnforhiscourteousgenerosity,gavehimtwoofourhatchetsandsomebread,whichwasnewtohim,forheknewnotitsuse,butkeptlookingatit,untilColbeeshewedhimwhattodo,whenheeatitwithouthesitation.Wepursuedourcourse,andtoaccommodateus,ournewacquaintancepointedoutapathandwalkedattheheadofus.Acanoe,alsowithamanandaboyinit,keptgentlypaddlingupabreastofus.

Wehaltedforthenightatourusualhour,onthebankoftheriver.

Immediatelythatwehadstopped,ourfriend(whohadalreadytoldushisname)

Gombeeree,introducedthemanandtheboyfromthecanoetous.TheformerwasnamedYellomundee,thelatterDeeimba.Theeasewithwhichthesepeoplebehavedamongstrangerswasasconspicuous,asunexpected.Theyseatedthemselvesatourfire,partookofourbiscuitandpork,drankfromourcanteens,andheardourgunsgoingoffaroundthemwithoutbetrayinganysymptomoffear,distrustorsurprise.Ontheoppositebankoftherivertheyhadlefttheirwivesandseveralchildren,withwhomtheyfrequentlydiscoursed;andweobservedthattheselastmanifestedneithersuspicionoruneasinessofourdesignstowardstheirfriends.

Havingrefreshedourselves,wefoundleisuretoenterintoconversationwiththem.Itcouldnotbeexpectedthattheyshoulddiffermateriallyfromthetribeswithwhomwewereacquainted.Thesamemannersandpursuits,thesameamusements,thesamelevityandfickleness,undoubtedlycharacterisedthem.Whatwewereabletolearnfromthemwasthattheydependbutlittleonfish,astheriveryieldsonlymullets,andthattheirprincipalsupportisderivedfromsmallanimalswhichtheykill,andsomeroots(aspeciesofwildyamchiefly)whichtheydigoutoftheearth.Ifwerightlyunderstoodthem,eachmanpossessestwowives.Whencecanarisethissuperabundanceoffemales?Neitherofthemenhadsufferedtheextractionofafronttooth.Wewereeagertoknowwhetherornotthiscustomobtainedamongthem.ButneitherColbeenorBoladereewouldputthequestionforus;

andonthecontrary,showedeverydesiretowavethesubject.

Theuneasinesswhichtheytestified,wheneverwerenewedit,ratherservedtoconfirmasuspicionwhichwehadlongentertained,thatthisisamarkofsubjectionimposedbythetribeofCameragal,(whoarecertainlythemostpowerfulcommunityinthecountry)ontheweakertribesaroundthem.

Whetherthewomencutoffajointofoneofthelittlefingers,likethoseontheseacoast,wehadnoopportunityofobserving.Thesearepettyremarks.

Butonevarietystruckusmoreforcibly.Althoughournativesandthestrangersconversedonaparandunderstoodeachotherperfectly,yettheyspokedifferentdialectsofthesamelanguage;manyofthemostcommonandnecessarywordsusedinlifebearingnosimilitude,andothersbeingslightlydifferent——

EnglishNameontheseacoastNameattheHawkesbury——

TheMoonYeneedaCondoenTheEarGooreeBennaTheForeheadNulloNarranTheBellyBarangBindeeTheNavelMuneeroBoombongTheButtocksBoongBayleeTheNeckCalangGangaTheThighTaraDaraTheHairDeewaraKeewara——

Thatthesediversitiesarisefromwantofintercoursewiththepeopleonthecoastcanhardlybeimagined,asthedistanceinlandisbutthirty-eightmiles;andfromRoseHillnotmorethantwenty,wherethedialectoftheseacoastisspoken.Itdeservesnoticethatallthedifferenttermsseemedtobefamiliartobothparties,thougheachinspeakingpreferreditsown*.

[*Howeasilypeople,unusedtospeakthesamelanguage,mistakeeachother,everyoneknows.WehadlivedalmostthreeyearsatPortJackson(formorethanhalfofwhichperiodnativeshadresidedwithus)beforeweknewthattheword"beeal",signified"no",andnot"good",inwhichlattersensewehadalwaysuseditwithoutsuspectingthatwewerewrong;andevenwithoutbeingcorrectedbythosewithwhomwetalkeddaily.Thecauseofourerrorwasthis.Theepithet"weeree",signifying"bad",weknew;andastheuseofthiswordanditsoppositeaffordthemostsimpleformofdenotingconsentordisapprobationtouninstructedIndians,inordertofindouttheirwordfor"good",whenArabanoowasfirstbroughtamongus,weusedjokinglytosaythatanything,whichhelikedwas"weeree",inordertoprovokehimtotellusthatitwasgood.Whenwesaid"weeree",heanswered"beeal",whichwetranslatedandadoptedfor"good";whereashemeantnomorethansimplytodenyourinference,andsay"no"——itisnotbad.Afterthis,itcannotbethoughtextraordinarythatthelittlevocabularyinsertedinMr.Cook"saccountofthispartoftheworldshouldappeardefective——

evenwerewenottotakeinthegreatprobabilityofthedialectsatEndeavourRiverandVanDiemen"slanddifferingfromthatspokenatPortJackson.Anditremainstobeprovedthattheanimalcalledhere"patagaram"isnottherecalled"kangaroo".]

Stretchedoutateasebeforeourfire,allsidescontinuedtochatandentertaineachother.Gombeereeshewedusthemarkofawoundwhichhehadreceivedinhissidefromaspear.Itwaslarge,appearedtohavepassedtoaconsiderabledepth,andmustcertainlyhavebeenattendedwithimminentdanger.Bywhomithadbeeninflicted,andonwhatoccasion,heexplainedtoColbee;andafterwards(asweunderstood)heenteredintoadetailofthewars,and,aseffectsleadtocauses,probablyofthegallantriesofthedistrict,forthewordwhichsignifiesawomanwasoftenrepeated.Colbee,inreturnforhiscommunication,informedhimwhowewere;ofournumbersatSydneyandRoseHill,ofthestoreswepossessedand,aboveall,ofthegoodthingswhichweretobefoundamongus,enumeratingpotatoes,cabbages,turnips,pumpkins,andmanyothernameswhichwereperfectlyunintelligibletothepersonwhoheardthem,butwhichheneverthelesslistenedtowithprofoundattention.

PerhapstherelationgivenbyGombeeree,ofthecureofhiswound,nowgaverisetothefollowingsuperstitiousceremony.Whiletheyweretalking,Colbeeturnedsuddenlyroundandaskedforsomewater.Igavehimacupful,whichhepresentedwithgreatseriousnesstoYellomundee,asIsupposedtodrink.Thislastindeedtookthecupandfilledhismouthwithwater,butinsteadofswallowingit,threwhisheadintoColbee"sbosom,spitthewateruponhimand,immediatelyafter,begantosuckstronglyathisbreast,justbelowthenipple.Iconcludedthatthemanwassick;

andcalledtothegovernortoobservethestrangeplacewhichhehadchosentoexoneratehisstomach.Thesilentattentionobservedbytheothernatives,however,soonconvincedusthatsomethingmorethanmerelytheaccommodationofYellomundee,wasintended.Theceremonywasagainperformed;and,afterhavingsuckedthepartforaconsiderabletime,theoperatorpretendedtoreceivesomethinginhismouth,whichwasdrawnfromthebreast.

Withthisheretiredafewpaces,puthishandtohislipsandthrewintotheriverastone,whichIhadobservedhimtopickupslily,andsecrete.

Whenhereturnedtothefireside,Colbeeassuredusthathehadreceivedsignalbenefitfromtheoperation;andthatthissecondMachaonhadextractedfromhisbreasttwosplintersofaspearbywhichhehadbeenformerlywounded.

Weexaminedthepart,butitwassmoothandwhole,sothattotheforceofimaginationalonemustbeimputedboththewoundanditscure.

Colbeehimselfseemedneverthelessfirmlypersuadedthathehadreceivedrelief,andassuredusthatYellomundeewasa"caradyee",or"Doctorofrenown".AndBoladereeaddedthatnotonlyhebutalltherestofhistribewere"caradyee"ofespecialnoteandskill.

TheDoctorsremainedwithusallnight,sleepingbeforethefireinthefullnessofgoodfaithandsecurity.Thelittleboysleptinhisfather"sarms,andweobservedthatwheneverthemanwasinclinedtoshifthisposition,hefirstputoverthechild,withgreatcare,andthenturnedroundtohim.

Friday,April15th,1791.Thereturnoflightarousedustotherepetitionoftoil.Ourfriendsbreakfastedwithus,andprevioustostartingGombeereegaveaspecimenoftheirmannerofclimbingtreesinquestofanimals.

Heaskedforahatchetandoneofourswasofferedtohim,buthepreferredoneoftheirownmaking.Withthistoolhecutasmallnotchinthetreeheintendedtoclimb,abouttwofeetandahalfabovetheground,inwhichhefixedthegreattoeofhisleftfoot,andsprungupwards,atthesametimeembracingthetreewithhisleftarm.Inaninstanthehadcutasecondnotchforhisrighttoeontheothersideofthetreeintowhichhesprung,andthus,alternatelycuttingoneachside,hemountedtotheheightoftwentyfeetinnearlyasshortaspaceasifhehadascendedbyaladder,althoughthebarkofthetreewasquitesmoothandslipperyandthetrunkfourfeetindiameterandperfectlystrait.Tousitwasamatterofastonishment,buttohimitwassport;forwhileemployedthushekepttalkingtothosebelowandlaughingimmoderately.Hedescendedwithasmucheaseandagilityashehadraisedhimself.Evenournativesallowedthathewasacapitalperformer,againstwhomtheydarednottoenterthelists;

forastheysubsistchieflybyfishingtheyarelessexpertatclimbingonthecoastthanthosewhodailypracticeit.

Soonaftertheybadeusadieu,inunabatedfriendshipandgoodhumour.

ColbeeandBoladereepartedfromthemwithaslightnodofthehead,theusualsalutationofthecountry;andweshookthembythehand,whichtheyreturnedlustily.

Atthetimewestartedthetidewasflowinguptheriver,adecisiveproofthatwewerebelowRichmondHill.Wehadcontinuedourmarchbutashorttimewhenwewereagainstoppedbyacreek,whichbaffledallourendeavourstocrossit,andseemedtopredictthattheobjectofourattainment,thoughbutaveryfewmilesdistant,wouldtakeusyetaconsiderabletimetoreach,whichthrewadamponourhopes.Wetracedthecreekuntilfouro"clock,whenwehaltedforthenight.Thecountry,onbothsides,wethoughtingeneralunpromising;butitiscertainlyverysuperiortothatwhichwehadseenontheformercreek.Inmanyplacesitmightbecultivated,providedtheinundationsofthestreamcanberepelled.

Inpassingalongweshotsomeducks,whichBoladereerefusedtoswimforwhenrequested,andtoldusinasurlytonethattheyswamforwhatwaskilled,andhadthetroubleoffetchingitashore,onlyforthewhitementoeatit.

Thisreproofwas,Ifear,toojustlyfounded;forofthefewduckswehadbeensofortunateastoprocure,littlehadfallentotheirshareexcepttheoffals,andnowandthenahalf-pickedbone.True,indeed,allthecrowsandhawkswhichhadbeenshotweregiventothem;buttheyplainlytoldusthatthetasteofduckswasmoreagreeabletotheirpalates,andbeggedtheymighthereafterpartakeofthem.Weobservedthattheywerethoroughlysickofthejourney,andwishedheartilyforitsconclusion:theexclamationof"Where"sRoseHill,where?"wasincessantlyrepeated,withmanyinquiriesaboutwhenweshouldreturntoit.

SaturdayApril16th,1791.Itwasthismorningresolvedtoabandonourpursuitandtoreturnhome;athearingofwhichournativesexpressedgreatjoy.Westartedearly;andreachedRoseHillaboutthreeo"clock,justasaboatwasabouttobesentdowntoSydney.ColbeeandBoladereewouldnotwaitforusuntilthefollowingmorning,butinsistedongoingdownimmediatelytocommunicatetoBaneelonandtherestoftheircountrymenthenoveltiestheyhadseen.

Thecountrywepassedthroughwas,forthemostpart,veryindifferent,accordingtoouruniversalopinion.Itisingeneralbadlywatered.

Foreightmilesandahalfononelinewedidnotfindadropofwater.

RICHMONDHILL

Havingeludedourlastsearch,Mr.Dawesandmyself,accompaniedbyasergeantofmarinesandaprivatesoldier,determinedonanotherattempt,toascertainwhetheritlayontheHawkesburyorNepean.Wesetoutonthisexpeditiononthe24thofMay,1791;andhavingreachedtheoppositesideofthemouthofthecreekwhichhadinourlastjourneypreventedourprogress,weproceededfromthereuptoRichmondHillbytheriverside;

mountedit;sleptatitsfoot;andonthefollowingdaypenetratedsomemileswestwardorinlandofituntilwewerestoppedbyamountainouscountry,whichourscarcityofprovisions,joinedtotheterrorofariveratourback,whosesuddenrisingisalmostbeyondcomputation,hinderedusfromexploring.

TotheelevationwhichboundedourresearchwegavethenameofKnightHill,inhonourofthetrustysergeantwhohadbeenthefaithfulindefatigablecompanionofallourtravels.

ThisexcursioncompletelysettledthelongcontestedpointabouttheHawkesburyandNepean.Wefoundthemtobeoneriver.Withoutknowingit,Mr.DawesandmyselfhadpassedRichmondHillalmostayearbefore(inAugust1790),andfromtherewalkedonthebankoftherivertothespotwheremydiscoveryoftheNepeanhappened,inJune1789.Ourignorancearosefromhavingneverbeforeseenthehill,andfromtheerroneouspositionassignedtoitbythosewhohadbeenintheboatsuptheriver.

Exceptthebehaviourofsomenativeswhomwemetontheriver,whichitwouldbeingratitudetopassinsilence,nothingparticularlyworthyofnoticeoccurredonthisexpedition.

WhenwehadreachedwithintwomilesofRichmondHill,weheardanativecall.

Wedirectlyansweredhimandconversedacrosstheriverforsometime.

Atlengthhelaunchedhiscanoeandcrossedtouswithoutdistrustorhesitation.Wehadneverseenhimbefore;butheappearedtoknowourfriendGombeeree,ofwhomheoftenspoke.HesaidhisnamewasDeedora.

Hepresenteduswithtwospearsandathrowing-stick,andinreturnwegavehimsomebreadandbeef.Findingthatourroutelayuptheriver,heofferedtoaccompanyusand,gettingintohiscanoe,paddledupabreastofus.WhenwearrivedatRichmondHillitbecamenecessarytocrosstheriver;butthequestionwas,howthisshouldbeeffected?

Deedoraimmediatelyofferedhiscanoe.Weacceptedofitand,Mr.Dawesandthesoldierputtingtheirclothesintoit,pusheditbeforethem,andbyalternatelywadingandswimming,soonpassed.Ontheoppositeshoresatseveralnatives,towhomDeedoracalled,bywhichprecautionthearrivalofthestrangersproducednoalarm.Onthecontrary,theyreceivedthemwitheverymarkofbenevolence.Deedora,inthemeanwhile,sattalkingwiththesergeantandme.Soonafter,anothernative,namedMorunga,broughtbackthecanoe,andnowcameourturntocross.Thesergeant(fromafoolishtrickwhichhadbeenplayeduponhimwhenhewasaboy)

wasexcessivelytimorousofwater,andcouldnotswim.Morungaofferedtoconducthim,andtheygotintothecanoetogether;but,hisfearsreturning,hejumpedoutandrefusedtoproceed.Iendeavouredtoanimatehim,andMorungaridiculedhisapprehensions,makingsignsoftheeaseanddispatchwithwhichhewouldlandhim;butheresolvedtopaddleoverbyhimself,which,bydintofgoodmanagementandkeepinghispositionverysteadily,heperformed.Itwasnowbecomenecessarytobringoverthecanoeathirdtimeformyaccommodation,whichwasinstantlydone,andIentereditwithDeedora.But,likethesergeant,Iwassodisorderedatseeingthewaterwithinahair"sbreadthofthelevelofourskiff(whichbroughttomyremembranceaformerdisasterIhadexperiencedonthisriver)

thatIjumpedout,aboutknee-deep,anddeterminedtoswimover,whichIeffected.Myclothes,halfourknapsacks,andthreeofourgunsyetremainedtobetransportedacross.TheseIrecommendedtothecareofourgrimferrymen,whoinstantaneouslyloadedtheirboatwiththemanddeliveredthemontheoppositebank,withoutdamageordiminution.

Duringthislongtrialoftheirpatienceandcourtesy——inthelatterpartofwhichIwasentirelyintheirpower,fromtheirhavingpossessionofourarms——theyhadmanifestednoungeneroussignoftakingadvantageofthehelplessnessanddependanceofoursituation;norudecuriositytopryintothepackageswithwhichtheywereentrusted;ornosordiddesiretopossessthecontentsofthem;althoughamongthemwerearticlesexposedtoview,ofwhichitafterwardsappearedtheyknewtheuse,andlongedforthebenefit.Letthebanksofthoserivers,"knowntosong",lethimwhosetravelshavelainamongpolishednationsproducemeabrighterexampleofdisinterestedurbanitythanwasshownbythesedenizensofabarbarousclimetoasetofdestitutewanderersonthesideoftheHawkesbury.

OnthetopofRichmondHillweshotahawk,whichfellinatree.

Deedoraofferedtoclimbforitandwelenthimahatchet,theeffectofwhichdelightedhimsomuchthathebeggedforit.Asitwasrequiredtochopwoodforoureveningfire,itcouldnotbeconvenientlyspared;butwepromisedhimthatifhewouldvisitusonthefollowingmorning,itshouldbegiventohim.

Notamurmurwasheard;nosuspicionofourinsincerity;nomentionofbenefitsconferred;noreproachofingratitude.Hisgoodhumourandcheerfulnesswerenotcloudedforamoment.Punctualtoourappointment,hecametousatdaylightnextmorningandthehatchetwasgiventohim,theonlytokenofgratitudeandrespectinourpowertobestow.Neitherofthesemenhadlosthisfronttooth.

THELASTEXPEDITION

WhichIeverundertookinthecountryIamdescribingwasinJuly1791,whenMr.DawesandmyselfwentinsearchofalargeriverwhichwassaidtoexistafewmilestothesouthwardofRoseHill.Wewenttotheplacedescribed,andfoundthissecondNileorGangestobenothingbutasaltwatercreekcommunicatingwithBotanyBay,onwhosebankswepassedamiserablenightfromwantofadropofwatertoquenchourthirst,foraswebelievedthatweweregoingtoariverwethoughtitneedlesstomarchwithfullcanteens.

Onthisexpeditionwecarriedwithusathermometerwhich(inunisonwithourfeelings)shewedsoextraordinaryadegreeofcoldforthelatitudeoftheplacethatIthinkmyselfboundtotranscribeit.

Monday,18thJuly1791.Thesunaroseinuncloudedsplendorandpresentedtooursightanovelandpicturesqueview.Thecontiguouscountryaswhiteasifcoveredwithsnow,contrastedwiththefoliageoftreesflourishingintheverdureoftropicalluxuriancy*.Eventheexhalationwhichsteamedfromthelakebeneathcontributedtoheightenthebeautyofthescene.

WindSSW.Thermorneteratsunrise25degrees.Thefollowingnightwasstillcolder.Atsunsetthethermometerstoodat45degrees;

ataquarterbeforefourinthemorning,itwasat26degrees;

ataquarterbeforesixat24degrees;ataquarterbeforeseven,at23degrees;atseveno"clock,22.7degrees;atsunrise,23degrees,afterwhichitcontinuedgraduallytomount,andbetweenoneandtwoo"clock,stoodat59.6degreesintheshade.WindSSW.Thehorizonperfectlyclearallday,notthesmallestspecktobeseen.Nothingbutdemonstrationcouldhaveconvincedmethatsosevereadegreeofcoldeverexistedinthislowlatitude.Dropsofwateronatinpot,notaltogetheroutoftheinfluenceofthefire,werefrozenintosolidiceinlessthantwelveminutes.Partofalegofkangaroowhichwehadroastedforsupperwasfrozenquitehard,allthejuicesofitbeingconvertedintoice.

Onthosepondswhichwerenearthesurfaceoftheearth,thecoveringoficewasverythick;butonthosewhichwerelowerdownitwasfoundtobelessso,inproportiontotheirdepression;andwhereverthewaterwastwelvefeetbelowthesurface(whichhappenedtobethecaseclosetous)

itwasuncongealed.Itremainstobeobservedthatthecoldofboththesenights,atRoseHillandSydney,wasjudgedtobegreaterthanhadeverbeforebeenfelt.

[*AllthetreesofNewSouthWales,mayIapprehend,betermedevergreen.

Foraftersuchweatherasthisjournalrecords,Ididnotobserveeitherthattheleaveshaddroppedoff,orthattheyhadassumedthatsicklyautumnaltint,whichmarksEnglishtreesincorrespondingcircumstances.]

CHAPTERXV.

TransactionsoftheColonytotheendofNovember,1791.

Theextremedrynessoftheprecedingsummerhasbeennoticed.IthadoperatedsofarinthebeginningofJunethatwedreadedawantofwaterforcommonconsumptionmostofthelittlereservoirsintheneighbourhoodofSydneybeingdriedup.Thesmallstreamnearthetownwassonearlyexhausted(beingonlythedrainofamorass)thatashipcouldnothavewateredatit,andthe"Supply"waspreparingtosinkcasksinaswampwhenrainfellandbanishedourapprehensions.

June,1791.Onthesecondinstant,thenameofthesettlement,attheheadoftheharbour(RoseHill)waschanged,byorderofthegovernor,tothatofParramatta,thenativenameofit.AsRoseHillhas,however,occurredsoofteninthisbook,Ibegleave,toavoidconfusion,stilltocontinuetheappellationinallfuturementionofit.

OurtravellingfriendBoladeree,whomakessoconspicuousafigureinthelastchapter,aboutthistimecommittedanoffencewhichwewereobligedtonotice.Hethrewaspearataconvictinthewoods,andwoundedhim.Thetruthwas,somemischievouspersonbelongingtoushadwantonlydestroyedhiscanoe,andherevengedtheinjuryonthefirstofourpeoplewhomhemetunarmed.Henowseemedtothinkthematteradjusted;andprobablysuchisthecustomtheyobserveintheirownsocietyinsimilarcases.Hearing,however,thatanorderwasissuedtoseizehim,orincasethatcouldnotbeeffected,toshoothim,heprudentlydroppedallconnectionwithusandwasforalongtimenotseen.

Butiftheysometimesinjuredus,tocompensatetheywereoftenofsignalbenefittothosewhoneededtheirassistance:twoinstancesofwhichhadrecentlyoccurred.AboatwasoversetintheharbourBaneelonandsomeothernatives,whosawtheaccidenthappen,immediatelyplungedin,andsavedallthepeople.Whentheyhadbroughtthemonshore,theyundressedthem,kindledafireanddriedtheirclothes,gavethemfishtoeatandconductedthemtoSydney.

Theotherinstancewasofasoldierlostinthewoods,whenhemetapartyofnatives.Heatfirstknewnotwhethertofleefromthem,ortoimploretheirassistance.Seeingamongthemonewhomheknew,hedeterminedtocommunicatehisdistresstohimandtorelyonhisgenerosity.

TheIndiantoldhimthathehadwanderedalongwayfromhome,butthathewouldconducthimthither,onthesingleconditionofhisdeliveringupagunwhichheheldinhishand,promisingtocarryitforhimandtorestoreittohimatparting.Thesoldierfeltlittleinclinationtosurrenderhisarms,bywhichhewouldbeputentirelyintheirpower.

Butseeingnoalternative,heatlastconsented;onwhichthewholepartylaiddowntheirspearsandfaithfullyescortedhimtothenearestpartofthesettlement,wherethegunwasgivenup,andtheytooktheirleavewithoutaskingforanyremuneration,orevenseemingtoexpectit.

Thedistressfulstateofthecolonyforprovisionscontinuedgraduallytoaugmentuntilthe9thofJuly,whentheMaryAnnetransportarrivedfromEngland.ThisshiphadsailedfromtheDownssolatelyasthe25thofFebruary,havingbeenonlyfourmonthsandtwelvedaysonherpassage.Shebroughtoutconvicts,bycontract,ataspecificsumforeachperson.Buttodemonstratetheeffectofhumanityandjustice,of144femaleconvictsembarkedonboardonlythreehaddied,andtherestwerelandedinperfecthealth,allloudinpraiseoftheirconductor.

Themaster"snamewasMunro;andhisship,afterfulfillingherengagementwithgovernment,wasboundonthesouthernfishery.ThereadermustnotconcludethatIsacrificetodulldetail,whenhefindssuchbenevolentconductminutelynarrated.Theadvocatesofhumanityarenotyetbecometoonumerous:butthosewhopractiseitsdivineprecepts,howeverhumbleandunnoticedbetheirstation,oughtnottosinkintoobscurity,unrecordedandunpraised,withthevilemonsterswhoderidemiseryandfattenoncalamity.

July,1791.If,however,thegoodpeopleofthisshipdelighteduswiththeirbenevolence,heregratificationended.Iwasofapartywhohadrowedinaboatsixmilesouttosea,beyondtheharbour"smouth,tomeetthem;andwhatwasourdisappointment,ongettingaboard,tofindthattheyhadnotbroughtaletter(afewofficialonesforthegovernorexcepted)toanypersoninthecolony!Norhadtheyasinglenewspaperormagazineintheirpossession;norcouldtheyconceivethatanypersonwishedtohearnews;beingasignorantofeverythingwhichhadpassedinEuropeforthelasttwoyearsasourselves,atthedistanceofhalfthecircle."Nowar——thefleet"sdismantled,"wasthewholethatwecouldlearn.WhenIaskedwhetheranewparliamenthadbeencalled,theystaredatmeinstupidwonder,notseemingtocomprehendthatsuchabodyeithersufferedrenovationorneededit.

"HavetheFrenchsettledtheirgovernment?"

"AstothatmatterIcan"tsay;Ineverheard;but,damnthem,theywerereadyenoughtojointheSpaniardsagainstus."

"AreRussiaandTurkeyatpeace?"

"Thatyouseedoesnotlieinmyway;Ihaveheardtalkaboutit,butdon"trememberwhatpassed."

"Forheaven"ssake,whydidyounotbringoutabundleofnewspapers?

Youmighthaveprocuredafileatanycoffeehouse,whichwouldhaveamusedyou,andinstructedus?"

"Why,really,IneverthoughtaboutthematteruntilwewereofftheCapeofGoodHope,whenwespokeamanofwar,whoaskedusthesamequestion,andthenIwishedIhad."

Tohaveprosecutedinquiryfartherwouldhaveonlyservedtoincreasedisappointmentandchagrin.Wethereforequittedtheship,wonderingandlamentingthatsolargeaportionofplainundisguisedhonestyshouldbesototallyunconnectedwithacommonshareofintelligence,andacquaintancewiththefeelingsandhabitsofothermen.

Bythegovernor"sletterswelearnedthatalargefleetoftransports,withconvictsonboard,andHisMajesty"sshipGorgon,(CaptainParker)

mightsoonbeexpectedtoarrive.Thefollowingintelligencewhichtheycontained,wasalsomadepublic.

Thatsuchconvictsashadservedtheirperiodoftransportation,werenottobecompelledtoremaininthecolony;butthatnotemptationshouldbeofferedtoinducethemtoquitit,asthereexistedbuttoomuchreasontobelieve,thattheywouldreturntoformerpractices;thatthosewhomightchoosetosettleinthecountryshouldhaveportionsofland,subjecttostipulatedrestrictions,andaportionofprovisionsassignedtothemonsignifyingtheirinclinations;andthatitwasexpected,thatthoseconvictswhomightbepossessedofmeanstotransportthemselvesfromthecountry,wouldleaveitfreeofallincumbrancesofapublicnature.

Therestofthefleetcontinuedtodropin,inthisandthetwosucceedingmonths.Thestateoftheconvictswhomtheybroughtout,thoughinfinitelypreferabletowhatthefleetoflastyearhadlanded,wasnotunexceptionable.Threeoftheshipshadnavalagentsonboardtocontrolthem.Consequently,ifcomplainthadexistedthere,itwouldhavebeenimmediatelyredressed.Exclusiveofthese,the"Salamander",(CaptainNichols)who,of155menlostonlyfive;andthe"WilliamandAnne"(CaptainBuncker)whoof187menlostonlyseven,Ifindmostworthyofhonourablemention.InthelistofconvictsbroughtoutwasBarrington,offamousmemory.

Twooftheseshipsalsoaddedtoourgeographicknowledgeofthecountry.

The"Atlantic",underthedirectionofLieutenantBowen,anavalagent,ranintoaharbourbetweenVanDiemen"sland,andPortJackson,inlatitude35degrees12minutessouth,longitude151degreeseast,towhich,inhonourofSirJohnJervis,KnightoftheBath,Mr.BowengavethenameofPortJervis.Herewasfoundgoodanchoringgroundwithafinedepthofwater,withinaharbouraboutamileandaquarterbroadatitsentrance,whichafterwardsopensintoabasinfivemileswideandofconsiderablelength.Theyfoundnofreshwater,butastheirwantofthisarticlewasnoturgent,theydidnotmakesufficientresearchestopronouncethatnoneexistedthere.*Theysaw,duringtheshorttimetheystayed,twokangaroosandmanytracesofinhabitants.Thecountryatalittledistancetothesouthwardoftheharbourishilly,butthatcontiguoustotheseaisflat.Oncomparingwhattheyhadfoundhereafterwards,withthenativeproduceofPortJackson,theysawnoreasontothinkthattheydifferedinanyrespect.

[*JustbeforeIleftthecountry,wordwasbroughtbyashipwhichhadputintoPortJervis,thatalargefreshwaterbrookwasfoundthere.]

TheseconddiscoverywasmadebyCaptainWetherhead,ofthe"Matilda"transport,whichwasobliginglydescribedtome,asfollows,bythatgentleman,onmyputtingtohimtheunderwrittenquestions.

"Whendidyoumakeyourdiscovery?"

"Onthe27thofJuly,1791."

"Inwhatlatitudeandlongitudedoesitlie?"

"In42degrees15minutessouthbyobservation,andin1481/2eastbyreckoning"

"Isitonthemainlandorisitanisland?"

"Itisanisland,distantfromthemainlandabouteightmiles."

"Didyouanchor?"

"Yes;andfoundgoodanchorageinabayopenaboutsixpoints."

"Didyouseeanyotherharbourorbayintheisland?"

"None."

"Doesthechannelbetweentheislandandthemainappeartoaffordgoodshelterforshipping?"

"Yes,likeSpithead."

"Didyoufindanywaterontheisland?"

"Yes,inplenty."

"Ofwhatsizedoestheislandappeartobe?"

"Itisnarrowandlong;Icannotsayhowlong.Itsbreadthisinconsiderable."

"Didyoumakeanyobservationsonthesoil?"

"Itissandy;andmanyplacesarefullofcraggyrocks."

"DoyoujudgetheproductionswhichyousawontheislandtobesimilartothosearoundPortJackson?"

"Idonotthinktheydifferinanyrespect."

"Didyouseeanyanimals?"

"Isawthreekangaroos."

"Didyouseeanynatives,oranymarksofthem?"

"Isawnonatives,butIsawafire,andseveralhutslikethoseatPortJackson,inoneofwhichlayaspear."

"Whatnamedidyougivetoyourdiscovery?"

"Icalledit,inhonourofmyship,MatildaBay."

November,1791.AveryextraordinaryinstanceoffollystimulatedtodesperationoccurredinthebeginningofthismonthamongtheconvictsatRoseHill.Twentymenandapregnantwoman,partofthosewhohadarrivedinthelastfleet,suddenlydisappearedwiththeirclothes,workingtools,bedding,andtheirprovisions,fortheensuingweek,whichhadbeenjustissuedtothem.Thefirstintelligenceheardofthem,wasfromsomeconvictsettlers,whosaidtheyhadseenthempass,andhadenquiredwhithertheywerebound.Towhichtheyhadreceivedforanswer,"toChina."

Theextravaganceandinfatuationofsuchanattemptwasexplainedtothembythesettlers;butneitherderision,nordemonstrationcouldavertthemfrompursuingtheirpurpose.ItwasobservedbythosewhobroughtintheaccountthattheyhadgeneralideaenoughofthepointofthecompassinwhichChinaliesfromPortJackson,tokeepinanortherlydirection.