a complete account of the settlement-第12章
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t of ocean she had passed; brought her crew without sickness into harbour。 When the novelty and boldness of such an attempt shall be recollected; too much praise; on the spirit and activity of Mr。 Maitland; cannot be bestowed。
'*Accident only prevented her from making it in eighteen days less; for she was then in sight of the harbour's mouth; when an unpropitious gale of wind blew her off。 Otherwise she would have reached us one day sooner than the 'Lady Juliana'。 It is a curious circumstance; that these two ships had sailed together from the river Thames; one bound to Port Jackson; and the other bound to Jamaica。 The Justinian carried her cargo to the last mentioned place; landed it; and loaded afresh with sugars; which she returned with; and delivered in London。 She was then hired as a transport; reladen; and sailed for New South Wales。 Let it be remembered; that no material accident had happened to either vessel。 But what will not zeal and diligence accomplish!'
Good fortune continued to befriend us。 Before the end of the month; three more transports; having on board two companies of the New South Wales corps; arrived to add to our society。 These ships also brought out a large body of convicts; whose state and sufferings will be best estimated by the following return。
Names of No。 of people No。 of persons who died No。 landed sick Ships embarked on the passage at Port Jackson … Neptune 530 163 269
Surprise 252 42 121
Scarborough 256 68 96 … 1038 273 486 …
N。B。 Of those landed sick; one hundred and twenty…four died in the hospital at Sydney。
On our passage from England; which had lasted more than eight months and with nearly an equal number of persons; only twenty…four had died; and not thirty were landed sick。 The difference can be accounted for; only by comparing the manner in which each fleet was fitted out and conducted。 With us the provisions; served on board; were laid in by a contractor; who sent a deputy to serve them out; and it became a part of duty for the officers of the troops to inspect their quality; and to order that every one received his just proportion。 Whereas; in the fleet now arrived; the distribution of provisions rested entirely with the masters of the merchantmen; and the officers were expressly forbidden to interfere in any shape farther about the convicts than to prevent their escape。
Seventeen pounds; in full of all expense; was the sum paid by the public for the passage of each person。 And this sum was certainly competent to afford fair profit to the merchant who contracted。 But there is reason to believe; that some of those who were employed to act for him; violated every principle of justice; and rioted on the spoils of misery; for want of a controlling power to check their enormities。 No doubt can be entertained; that a humane and liberal government will interpose its authority; to prevent the repetition of such flagitious conduct。
Although the convicts had landed from these ships with every mark of meagre misery; yet it was soon seen; that a want of room; in which more conveniences might have been stowed for their use; had not caused it。 Several of the masters of the transports immediately opened stores; and exposed large quantities of goods to sale; which; though at most extortionate prices; were eagerly bought up。
Such was the weakly state of the new corners; that for several weeks little real benefit to the colony was derived from so great a nominal addition to our number。 However; as fast as they recovered; employment was immediately assigned to them。 The old hours of labour; which had been reduced in our distress; were re…established; and the most vigorous measures adopted to give prosperity to the settlement。 New buildings were immediately planned; and large tracts of ground; at Rose…hill; ordered to be cleared; and prepared for cultivation。 Some superintendents who had arrived in the fleet; and were hired by government for the purpose of overlooking and directing the convicts; were found extremely serviceable in accelerating the progress of improvement。
July; 1790。 This month was marked by nothing worth communication; except a melancholy accident which befell a young gentleman of amiable character (one of the midshipmen lately belonging to the 'Sirius') and two marines。 He was in a small boat; with three marines; in the harbour; when a whale was seen near them。 Sensible of their danger; they used every effort to avoid the cause of it; by rowing in a contrary direction from that which the fish seemed to take; but the monster suddenly arose close to them; and nearly filled the boat with water。 By exerting themselves; they baled her out; and again steered from it。 For some time it was not seen; and they conceived themselves safe; when; rising immediately under the boat; it lifted her to the height of many yards on its back; whence slipping off; she dropped as from a precipice; and immediately filled and sunk。 The midshipman and one of the marines were sucked into the vortex which the whale had made; and disappeared at once。 The two other marines swam for the nearest shore; but one only reached it; to recount the fate of his companions。
August; 1790。 In the beginning of this month; in company with Mr。 Dawes and Mr。 Worgan; late surgeon of the 'Sirius'; I undertook an expedition to the southward and westward of Rose Hill; where the country had never been explored。 We remained out seven days; and penetrated to a considerable distance in a S。S。W。 direction; bounding our course at a remarkable hill; to which; from its conical shape; we gave the name of Pyramid…hill。 Except the discovery of a river (which is unquestionably the Nepean near its source) to which we gave the name of the Worgan; in honour of one of our party; nothing very interesting was remarked。
Towards the end of the month; we made a second excursion to the north…west of Rose Hill; when we again fell in with the Nepean; and traced it to the spot where it had been first discovered by the party of which I was a member; fourteen months before; examining the country as we went along。 Little doubt now subsisted that the Hawkesbury and Nepean were one river。
We undertook a third expedition soon after to Broken Bay; which place we found had not been exaggerated in description; whether its capacious harbour; or its desolate incultivable shores; be considered。 On all these excursions we brought away; in small bags; as many specimens of the soil of the country we had passed through; as could be conveniently carried; in order that by analysis its qualities might be ascertained。
CHAPTER VIII。
Transactions of the Colony in the Beginning of September; 1790。
The tremendous monster who had occasioned the unhappy catastrophe just recorded was fated to be the cause of farther mischief to us。
On the 7th instant; Captain Nepean; of the New South Wales Corps; and Mr。 White; accompanied by little Nanbaree; and a party of men; went in a boat to Manly Cove; intending to land there; and walk on to Broken Bay。 On drawing near the shore; a dead whale; in the most disgusting state of putrefaction; was seen lying on the beach; and at least two hundred Indians surrounding it; broiling the flesh on different fires; and feasting on it with the most extravagant marks of greediness and rapture。 As the boat continued to approach; they were observed to fall into confusion and to pick up their spears; on which our people lay upon their oars and Nanbaree stepping forward; harangued them for some time; assuring them that we were friends。 Mr。 White now called for Baneelon who; on hearing his name; came forth; and entered into conversation。 He was greatly emaciated; and so far disfigured by a long beard; that our people not without difficulty recognized their old acquaintance。 His answering in broken English; and inquiring for the governor; however; soon corrected their doubts。 He seemed quite friendly。 And soon after Colbee came up; po