Twostonehatchets,andtwospearshetookfromhiscanoe,andpresentedtothegovernor,whoinreturnforhiscourteousgenerosity,gavehimtwoofourhatchetsandsomebread,whichwasnewtohim,forheknewnotitsuse,butkeptlookingatit,untilColbeeshewedhimwhattodo,whenheeatitwithouthesitation.Wepursuedourcourse,andtoaccommodateus,ournewacquaintancepointedoutapathandwalkedattheheadofus.Acanoe,alsowithamanandaboyinit,keptgentlypaddlingupabreastofus.
  Wehaltedforthenightatourusualhour,onthebankoftheriver.
  Immediatelythatwehadstopped,ourfriendwhohadalreadytoldushisname
  Gombeeree,introducedthemanandtheboyfromthecanoetous.TheformerwasnamedYellomundee,thelatterDeeimba.Theeasewithwhichthesepeoplebehavedamongstrangerswasasconspicuous,asunexpected.Theyseatedthemselvesatourfire,partookofourbiscuitandpork,drankfromourcanteens,andheardourgunsgoingoffaroundthemwithoutbetrayinganysymptomoffear,distrustorsurprise.Ontheoppositebankoftherivertheyhadlefttheirwivesandseveralchildren,withwhomtheyfrequentlydiscoursed;andweobservedthattheselastmanifestedneithersuspicionoruneasinessofourdesignstowardstheirfriends.
  Havingrefreshedourselves,wefoundleisuretoenterintoconversationwiththem.Itcouldnotbeexpectedthattheyshoulddiffermateriallyfromthetribeswithwhomwewereacquainted.Thesamemannersandpursuits,thesameamusements,thesamelevityandfickleness,undoubtedlycharacterisedthem.Whatwewereabletolearnfromthemwasthattheydependbutlittleonfish,astheriveryieldsonlymullets,andthattheirprincipalsupportisderivedfromsmallanimalswhichtheykill,andsomerootsaspeciesofwildyamchieflywhichtheydigoutoftheearth.Ifwerightlyunderstoodthem,eachmanpossessestwowives.Whencecanarisethissuperabundanceoffemales?Neitherofthemenhadsufferedtheextractionofafronttooth.Wewereeagertoknowwhetherornotthiscustomobtainedamongthem.ButneitherColbeenorBoladereewouldputthequestionforus;
  andonthecontrary,showedeverydesiretowavethesubject.
  Theuneasinesswhichtheytestified,wheneverwerenewedit,ratherservedtoconfirmasuspicionwhichwehadlongentertained,thatthisisamarkofsubjectionimposedbythetribeofCameragal,whoarecertainlythemostpowerfulcommunityinthecountryontheweakertribesaroundthem.
  Whetherthewomencutoffajointofoneofthelittlefingers,likethoseontheseacoast,wehadnoopportunityofobserving.Thesearepettyremarks.
  Butonevarietystruckusmoreforcibly.Althoughournativesandthestrangersconversedonaparandunderstoodeachotherperfectly,yettheyspokedifferentdialectsofthesamelanguage;manyofthemostcommonandnecessarywordsusedinlifebearingnosimilitude,andothersbeingslightlydifferent——
  EnglishNameontheseacoastNameattheHawkesbury——
  TheMoonYeneedaCondoenTheEarGooreeBennaTheForeheadNulloNarranTheBellyBarangBindeeTheNavelMuneeroBoombongTheButtocksBoongBayleeTheNeckCalangGangaTheThighTaraDaraTheHairDeewaraKeewara——
  Thatthesediversitiesarisefromwantofintercoursewiththepeopleonthecoastcanhardlybeimagined,asthedistanceinlandisbutthirty-eightmiles;andfromRoseHillnotmorethantwenty,wherethedialectoftheseacoastisspoken.Itdeservesnoticethatallthedifferenttermsseemedtobefamiliartobothparties,thougheachinspeakingpreferreditsown*.
  [*Howeasilypeople,unusedtospeakthesamelanguage,mistakeeachother,everyoneknows.WehadlivedalmostthreeyearsatPortJacksonformorethanhalfofwhichperiodnativeshadresidedwithusbeforeweknewthattheword'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;andafterwardsasweunderstoodheenteredintoadetailofthewars,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.DawesandmyselfhadpassedRichmondHillalmostayearbeforeinAugust1790,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.Thesergeantfromafoolishtrickwhichhadbeenplayeduponhimwhenhewasaboy
  wasexcessivelytimorousofwater,andcouldnotswim.Morungaofferedtoconducthim,andtheygotintothecanoetogether;but,hisfearsreturning,hejumpedoutandrefusedtoproceed.Iendeavouredtoanimatehim,andMorungaridiculedhisapprehensions,makingsignsoftheeaseanddispatchwithwhichhewouldlandhim;butheresolvedtopaddleoverbyhimself,which,bydintofgoodmanagementandkeepinghispositionverysteadily,heperformed.Itwasnowbecomenecessarytobringoverthecanoeathirdtimeformyaccommodation,whichwasinstantlydone,andIentereditwithDeedora.But,likethesergeant,Iwassodisorderedatseeingthewaterwithinahair'sbreadthofthelevelofourskiffwhichbroughttomyremembranceaformerdisasterIhadexperiencedonthisriver
  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.
  OnthisexpeditionwecarriedwithusathermometerwhichinunisonwithourfeelingsshewedsoextraordinaryadegreeofcoldforthelatitudeoftheplacethatIthinkmyselfboundtotranscribeit.
  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;andwhereverthewaterwastwelvefeetbelowthesurfacewhichhappenedtobethecaseclosetous
  itwasuncongealed.Itremainstobeobservedthatthecoldofboththesenights,atRoseHillandSydney,wasjudgedtobegreaterthanhadeverbeforebeenfelt.
  [*AllthetreesofNewSouthWales,mayIapprehend,betermedevergreen.
  Foraftersuchweatherasthisjournalrecords,Ididnotobserveeitherthattheleaveshaddroppedoff,orthattheyhadassumedthatsicklyautumnaltint,whichmarksEnglishtreesincorrespondingcircumstances.]
  CHAPTERXV.
  TransactionsoftheColonytotheendofNovember,1791.
  Theextremedrynessoftheprecedingsummerhasbeennoticed.IthadoperatedsofarinthebeginningofJunethatwedreadedawantofwaterforcommonconsumptionmostofthelittlereservoirsintheneighbourhoodofSydneybeingdriedup.Thesmallstreamnearthetownwassonearlyexhaustedbeingonlythedrainofamorassthatashipcouldnothavewateredatit,andthe'Supply'waspreparingtosinkcasksinaswampwhenrainfellandbanishedourapprehensions.
  June,1791.Onthesecondinstant,thenameofthesettlement,attheheadoftheharbourRoseHillwaschanged,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,tofindthattheyhadnotbroughtaletterafewofficialonesforthegovernorexceptedtoanypersoninthecolony!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',CaptainNicholswho,of155menlostonlyfive;andthe'WilliamandAnne'CaptainBunckerwhoof187menlostonlyseven,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.