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a complete account of the settlement-第10章

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 morsel; and toast it on a fork before the fire; catching the drops which fell on a slice of bread; or in a saucer of rice。  Our flour was the remnant of what was brought from the Cape; by the 'Sirius'; and was good。  Instead of baking it; the soldiers and convicts used to boil it up with greens。'

The immediate departure of the 'Supply'; for Batavia; was also determined。

Nor did our zeal stop here。  The governor being resolved to employ all the boats; public and private; m procuring fishwhich was intended to be served in lieu of salt meatall the officers; civil and military; including the clergyman; and the surgeons of the hospital; made the voluntary offer; in addition to their other duties; to go alternately every night in these boats; in order to see that every exertion was made; and that all the fish which might be caught was deposited with the commissary。

The best marksmen of the marines and convicts were also selected; and put under the command of a trusty sergeant; with directions to range the woods in search of kangaroos; which were ordered; when brought in; to be delivered to the commissary。

And as it was judged that the inevitable fatigues of shooting and fishing could not be supported on the common ration; a small additional quantity of flour and pork was appropriated to the use of the game…keepers; and each fisherman; who had been out during the preceding night had; on his return in the morning; a pound of uncleaned fish allowed for his breakfast。

On the 17th instant; the 'Supply'; captain Ball; sailed for Batavia。 We followed her with anxious eyes until she was no longer visible。 Truly did we say to her 〃In te omnis domus inclinata recumbit。〃  We were; however; consoled by reflecting; that every thing which zeal; fortitude; and seamanship; could produce; was concentred in her commander。

Our bosoms consequently became less perturbed; and all our labour and attention were turned on one objectthe procuring of food。  〃Pride; pomp; and circumstance of glorious war〃 were no more。

The distress of the lower classes for clothes was almost equal to their other wants。  The stores had been long exhausted; and winter was at hand。 Nothing more ludicrous can be conceived than the expedients of substituting; shifting; and patching; which ingenuity devised; to eke out wretchedness; and preserve the remains of decency。  The superior dexterity of the women was particularly conspicuous。  Many a guard have I seen mount; in which the number of soldiers without shoes exceeded that which had yet preserved remnants of leather。

Nor was another part of our domestic economy less whimsical。  If a lucky man; who had knocked down a dinner with his gun; or caught a fish by angling from the rocks; invited a neighbour to dine with him; the invitation always ran; 〃bring your own bread。〃  Even at the governor's table; this custom was constantly observed。  Every man when he sat down pulled his bread out of his pocket; and laid it by his plate。

The insufficiency of our ration soon diminished our execution of labour。 Both soldiers and convicts pleaded such loss of strength; as to find themselves unable to perform their accustomed tasks。  The hours of public work were accordingly shortened or; rather; every man was ordered to do as much as his strength would permit; and every other possible indulgence was granted。

May; 1790。  In proportion; however; as lenity and mitigation were extended to inability and helplessness; inasmuch was the most rigorous justice executed on disturbers of the public tranquillity。  Persons detected in robbing gardens; or pilfering provisions; were never screened because; as every man could possess; by his utmost exertions; but a bare sufficiency to preserve life*; he who deprived his neighbour of that little; drove him to desperation。 No new laws for the punishment of theft were enacted; but persons of all descriptions were publicly warned; that the severest penalties; which the existing law in its greatest latitude would authorise; should be inflicted on offenders。  The following sentence of a court of justice; of which I was a member; on a convict detected in a garden stealing potatoes; will illustrate the subject。  He was ordered to receive three hundred lashes immediately; to be chained for six months to two other criminals; who were thus fettered for former offences; and to have his allowance of flour stopped for six months。  So that during the operation of the sentence; two pounds of pork; and two pounds of rice (or in lieu of the latter; a quart of pease) per week; constituted his whole subsistence。 Such was the melancholy length to which we were compelled to stretch our penal system。

'*Its preservation in some cases was found impracticable。  Three or four instances of persons who perished from want have been related to me。 One only; however; fell within my own observation。  I was passing the provision store; when a man; with a wild haggard countenance; who had just received his daily pittance to carry home; came out。 His faltering gait; and eager devouring eye; led me to watch him; and he had not proceeded ten steps before he fell。  I ordered him to be carried to the hospital; where; when he arrived; he was found dead。 On opening the body; the cause of death was pronounced to be inanition。'

Farther to contribute to the detection of villainy; a proclamation; offering a reward of sixty pounds of flour; more tempting than the ore of Peru or Potosi; was promised to any one who should apprehend; and bring to justice; a robber of garden ground。

Our friend Baneelon; during this season of scarcity; was as well taken care of as our desperate circumstances would allow。  We knew not how to keep him; and yet were unwilling to part with him。  Had he penetrated our state; perhaps he might have given his countrymen such a description of our diminished numbers; and diminished strength; as would have emboldened them to become more troublesome。  Every expedient was used to keep him in ignorance。 His allowance was regularly received by the governor's servant; like that of any other person; but the ration of a week was insufficient to have kept him for a day。  The deficiency was supplied by fish whenever it could be procured; and a little Indian corn; which had been reserved was ground and appropriated to his use。  In spite of all these aids; want of food has been known to make him furious and often melancholy。

There is reason to believe that he had long meditated his escape; which he effected in the night of the 3rd instant。  About two o'clock in the morning; he pretended illness; and awaking the servant who lay in the room with him; begged to go down stairs。  The other attended him without suspicion of his design; and Baneelon no sooner found himself in a backyard; than he nimbly leaped over a slight paling; and bade us adieu。

The following public order was issued within the date of this chapter; and is too pleasing a proof that universal depravity did not prevail among the convicts; to be omitted。


The governor; in consequence of the unremitted good behaviour and meritorious conduct of John Irving; is pleased to remit the remainder of the term for which he was sentenced to transportation。  He is therefore to be considered as restored to all those rights and privileges; which had been suspended in consequence of the sentence of the law。  And as such; he is hereby appointed to act as an assistant to the surgeon at Norfolk Island。




CHAPTER VII



Transactions of the Colony in June; July; and August; 1790。


At length the clouds of misfortune began to separate; and on the evening of the 3rd of June; the joyful cry of 〃the flag's up〃 resounded in every direction。

I was sitting in my hut; musing on our fate; when a confused clamour in the street drew my attention。  I opened my door; and saw several women with children in their arms running to and fro with distracted looks; congratulating each other; and kissing their infants with the most passionate and extravagant marks of fondness。  I needed no more; but instantly started out; and ran to a hill; where; by the assistance of a pocket glass; my hopes were realized。  My next door neighbour; a brother…officer; was with me; but we could n

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