SamuelPeyton，convict，forhavingontheeveningoftheKing’sbirth—daybrokeopenanofficer’smarquee，withanintenttocommitrobbery，ofwhichhewasfullyconvicted，hadsentenceofdeathpassedonhimatthesametimeasCorbet;andonthefollowingdaytheywerebothexecuted，confessingthejustnessoftheirfate，andimploringtheforgivenessofthosewhomtheyhadinjured。Peyton，atthetimeofhissuffering，wasbuttwentyyearsofage，thegreatestpartofwhichhadbeeninvariablypassedinthecommissionofcrimes，thatatlengthterminatedinhisignominiousend。
Thefollowingletter，writtenbyafellowconvicttothesufferer’sunhappymother，Ishallmakenoapologyforpresentingtothereader;itaffordsamelancholyproof，thatnottheignorantanduntaughtonlyhaveprovokedthejusticeoftheircountrytobanishthemtothisremoteregion。
SydneyCove，PortJackson，NewSouthWales，24thJune，1788。
"Mydearandhonouredmother！
"Withaheartoppressedbythekeenestsenseofanguish，andtoomuchagitatedbytheideaofmyverymelancholycondition，toexpressmyownsentiments，Ihaveprevailedonthegoodnessofacommiseratingfriend，todomethelastsadofficeofacquaintingyouwiththedreadfulfatethatawaitsme。
"Mydearmother！withwhatagonyofsouldoIdedicatethefewlastmomentsofmylife，tobidyouaneternaladieu！
mydoombeingirrevocablyfixed，anderethishourto—morrowIshallhavequittedthisvaleofwretchedness，toenterintoanunknownandendlesseternity。Iwillnotdistressyourtendermaternalfeelingsbyanylongcommentonthecauseofmypresentmisfortune。Letitthereforesufficetosay，thatimpelledbythatstrongpropensitytoevil，whichneitherthevirtuouspreceptsnorexampleofthebestofparentscoulderadicate，Ihaveatlengthfallenanunhappy，thoughjust，victimtomyownfollies。
"ToolateIregretmyinattentiontoyouradmonitions，andfeelmyselfsensiblyaffectedbytheremembranceofthemanyanxiousmomentsyouhavepassedonmyaccount。
Forthese，andallmy，othertransgressions，howevergreat，IsupplicatetheDivineforgiveness;andencouragedbythepromisesofthatSaviourwhodiedforusall，Itrusttoreceivethatmercyintheworldtocome，whichmyoffenceshavedeprivedmeofallhope，orexpectationof，inthis。
Theafflictionwhichthiswillcostyou，IhopetheAlmightywillenableyoutobear。Banishfromyourmemoryallmyformerindiscretions，andletthecheeringhopeofahappymeetinghereafter，consoleyouformyloss。Sincerelypenitentformysins;sensibleofthejusticeofmyconvictionandsentence，andfirmlyrelyingonthemeritsofaBlessedRedeemer，Iamatperfectpeacewithallmankind，andtrustIshallyetexperiencethatpeace，whichthisworldcannotgive。CommendmysoultotheDivinemercy。
Ibidyouaneternalfarewell。
"YourunhappydyingSon，"SAMUELPEYTON。"
AfterthisnothingoccurredwithwhichIthinkitnecessarytotroublethereader。Thecontentsofthefollowingchapterscouldnot，Iconceive，besoproperlyinterwoveninthebodyofthework;Ihave，therefore，assignedthemaplacebythemselves，withaviewthattheconclusionsadoptedinthemmaybemorestronglyenforcedonthemindsofthose，towhomtheyaremoreparticularlyaddressed。
CHAPTERXV。
TheFaceoftheCountry;itsProductions，Climate，&c。
Tothegeographicalknowledgeofthiscountry，suppliedbyCaptainCook，andCaptainFurneaux，weareabletoaddnothing。ThelatterexploredthecoastfromVanDiemen’slandtothelatitudeof39degsouth;andCookfromPointHicks，whichliesin37deg58min，toEndeavourStreights。
TheintermediatespacebetweentheendofFurneaux’sdiscoveryandPointHicks，is，therefore，theonlypartofthesouth—eastcoastunknown，anditsohappenedonourpassagethither，owingtotheweather，whichforbadeanypartoftheshipsengagingwiththeshore，thatweareunabletopronouncewhether，ornot，astreightintersectsthecontinenthereabouts:thoughIbegleavetosay，thatIhavebeeninformedbyanavalfriend，thatwhenthefleetwasoffthispartofthecoast，astrongset—offshorewasplainlyfelt。
Atthedistanceof60milesinland，aprodigiouschainofloftymountainsrunsnearlyinanorthandsouthdirection，furtherthantheeyecantracethem。Shouldnothingintervenetopreventit，theGovernorintends，shortly，toexploretheirsummits:and，Ithinktherecanbelittledoubt，thathiscuriositywillnotgounrewarded。Iflargeriversdoexistinthecountry，whichsomeofusarealmostscepticalenoughtodoubt，theirsourcesmustariseamidstthesehills;andthedirectiontheyrunin，foraconsiderabledistance，mustbeeitherduenorth，orduesouth。
ForitisstrikinglysingularthatthreesuchnobleharboursasBotanyBay，PortJackson，andBrokenBay，alikeendinshallowsandswamps，filledwithmangroves。
Thegeneralfaceofthecountryiscertainlypleasing，beingdiversifiedwithgentleascents，andlittlewindingvallies，coveredforthemostpartwithlargespreadingtrees，whichaffordasuccessionofleavesinallseasons。
Inthoseplaceswheretreesarescarce，avarietyoffloweringshrubsabound，mostofthementirelynewtoanEuropean，andsurpassinginbeauty，fragrance，andnumber，allIeversawinanuncultivatedstate:amongthese，atallshrub，bearinganelegantwhiteflower，whichsmellslikeEnglishMay，isparticularlydelightful，andperfumestheairaroundtoagreatdistance。
Thespeciesoftreesarefew，and，Iamconcernedtoadd，thewooduniversallyofsobadagrain，asalmosttoprecludeapossibilityofusingit:
theincreaseoflabouroccasionedbythisinourbuildingshasbeensuch，asnearlytoexceedbelief。Thesetreesyieldaprofusionofthickredgum（notunlikethe’sanguisdraconis’）whichisfoundserviceableinmedicine，particularlyindysentericcomplaints，whereithassometimessucceeded，whenallotherpreparationshavefailed。Tobluntitsacridqualities，itisusualtocombineitwithopiates。
Thenatureofthesoilisvarious。ThatimmediatelyroundSydneyCoveissandy，withhereandthereastratumofclay。Fromthesandwehaveyetbeenabletodrawverylittle;butthereseemsnoreasontodoubt，thatmanylargetractsoflandarounduswillbringtoperfectionwhatevershallbesowninthem。Togivethismatterafairtrial，somepracticalfarmerscapableofsuchanundertakingshouldbesentout;forthespotswehavechosenforexperimentsinagriculture，inwhichwecanscarcebesupposedadepts，havehithertobutillrepaidourtoil，whichmaybeimputabletoourhavingchosensuchasareunfavourableforourpurpose。
Exceptfromthesizeofthetrees，thedifficultiesofclearingthelandarenotnumerous，underwoodbeingrarelyfound，thoughthecountryisnotabsolutelywithoutit。OfthenaturalmeadowswhichMr。CookmentionsnearBotanyBay，wecangivenoaccount;nonesuchexistaboutPortJackson。
Grass，however，growsineveryplacebuttheswampswiththegreatestvigourandluxuriancy，thoughitisnotofthefinestquality，andisfoundtoagreebetterwithhorsesandcowsthansheep。Afewwildfruitsaresometimesprocured，amongwhichisthesmallpurpleapplementionedbyCook，andafruitwhichhastheappearanceofagrape，thoughintastemorelikeagreengooseberry，beingexcessivelysour:probablywereitmelioratedbycultivation，itwouldbecomemorepalatable。
Freshwater，asIhavesaidbefore，isfoundbutininconsiderablequantities。
Forthecommonpurposesoflifethereisgenerallyenough;butweknowofnostreaminthecountrycapableofturningamill:andtheremarkmadebyMr。Anderson，ofthedrynessofthecountryroundAdventureBay，extendswithoutexceptiontoeverypartofitwhichwehavepenetrated。
PrevioustoleavingEnglandIremembertohavefrequentlyhearditasserted，thatthediscoveryofmineswasoneofthesecondaryobjectsoftheexpedition。
Perhapstherearemines;butasnopersoncompetenttoformadecisionistobefoundamongus，Iwishnoonetoadoptanidea，thatImeantoimpresshimwithsuchabelief，whenIstate，thatindividuals，whosejudgementsarenotdespicable，arewillingtothinkfavourablyofthisconjecture，fromspecimensoforeseeninmanyofthestonespickeduphere。Icannotquitthissubjectwithoutregretting，thatsomeonecapableofthrowingabetterlightonit，isnotinthecolony。NorcanIhelpbeingequallyconcerned，thatanexperiencedbotanistwasnotsentout，forthepurposeofcollectinganddescribingtherareandbeautifulplantswithwhichthecountryabounds。Indeed，weflatteredourselves，whenattheCapeofGoodHope，thatMason，theKing’sbotanicalgardener，whowasemployedthereincollectingfortheroyalnurseryatKew，wouldhavejoinedus，butitseemshisordersandengagementspreventedhimfromquittingthatbeatentrack，toenteronthissceneofnoveltyandvariety。
Tothenaturalistthiscountryholdsoutmanyinvitations。Birds，thoughnotremarkablynumerous，areingreatvariety，andofthemostexquisitebeautyofplumage，amongwhicharethecockatoo，lory，andparroquet;butthebirdwhichprincipallyclaimsattentionis，aspeciesofostrich，approachingnearertotheemuofSouthAmericathananyotherweknowof。Oneofthemwasshot，ataconsiderabledistance，withasingleball，byaconvictemployedforthatpurposebytheGovernor;itsweight，whencomplete，wasseventypounds，anditslengthfromtheendofthetoetothetipofthebeak，sevenfeettwoinches，thoughtherewasreasontobelieveithadnotattaineditsfullgrowth。Ondissectionmanyanatomicalsingularitieswereobserved:
thegall—bladderwasremarkablylarge，thelivernotbiggerthanthatofabarn—doorfowl，andafterthestrictestsearchnogizzardcouldbefound;
thelegs，whichwereofavastlength，werecoveredwiththick，strongscales，plainlyindicatingtheanimaltobeformedforlivingamidstdeserts;
andthefootdifferedfromanostrich’sbyformingatriangle，insteadofbeingcloven。
Goldsmith，whoseaccountoftheemuistheonlyoneIcanreferto，says，"thatitiscoveredfromthebackandrumpwithlongfeathers，whichfallbackward，andcovertheanus;thesefeathersaregreyontheback，andwhiteonthebelly。"Thewingsaresosmallashardlytodeservethename，andareunfurnishedwiththosebeautifulornamentswhichadornthewingsoftheostrich:allthefeathersareextremelycoarse，buttheconstructionofthemdeservesnotice——theygrowinpairsfromasingleshaft，asingularitywhichtheauthorIhavequotedhasomittedtoremark。Itmaybepresumed，thatthesebirdsarenotveryscarce，asseveralhavebeenseen，someofthemimmenselylarge，buttheyaresowild，astomakeshootingthemamatterofgreatdifficulty。Thoughincapableofflying，theyrunwithsuchswiftness，thatourfleetestgreyhoundsareleftfarbehindineveryattempttocatchthem。Thefleshwaseaten，andtastedlikebeef。
Besidestheemu，manybirdsofprodigioussizehavebeenseen，whichpromisetoincreasethenumberofthosedescribedbynaturalists，wheneverweshallbefortunateenoughtoobtainthem;butamongthesethebatoftheEndeavourRiverisnottobefound。Inthewoodsarevariouslittlesongsters，whosenotesareequallysweetandplaintive。
Ofquadrupeds，exceptthekangaroo，Ihavelittletosay。Thefewmetwitharealmostinvariablyoftheopossumtribe，buteventhesedonotabound。
Tobeastsofpreyweareutterstrangers，norhaveweyetanycausetobelievethattheyexistinthecountry。Andhappyitisforusthattheydonot，astheirpresencewoulddepriveusoftheonlyfreshmealsthesettlementaffords，thefleshofthekangaroo。ThissingularanimalisalreadyknowninEuropebythedrawinganddescriptionofMr。Cook。Tothedrawingnothingcanbeobjectedbutthepositionoftheclawsofthehinderleg，whicharemixedtogetherlikethoseofadog，whereasnosuchindistinctnessistobefoundintheanimalIamdescribing。ItwastheChevalierDePerrousewhopointedoutthistome，whilewewerecomparingakangaroowiththeplate，which，ashejustlyobserved，iscorrectenoughtogivetheworldingeneralagoodideaoftheanimal，butnotsufficientlyaccurateforthemanofscience。
Ofthenaturalhistoryofthekangaroowearestillveryignorant。Wemay，however，venturetopronouncethisanimal，anewspeciesofopossum，thefemalebeingfurnishedwithabag，inwhichtheyoungiscontained;
andinwhichtheteatsarefound。Theselastareonlytwoinnumber，astrongpresumptiveproof，hadwenootherevidence，thatthekangaroobringsforthrarelymorethanoneatabirth。Butthisissettledbeyondadoubt，frommorethanadozenfemaleshavingbeenkilled，whichhadinvariablybutoneformedinthepouch。Notwithstandingthis，theanimalmaybelookedonasprolific，fromtheearlyageitbeginstobreedat，kangarooswithyounghavingbeentakenofnotmorethanthirtypoundsweight;andthereisroomtobelievethatwhenattheirutmostgrowth，theyweighnotlessthanonehundredandfiftypounds。Amaleofonehundredandthirtypoundsweighthasbeenkilled，whosedimensionswereasfollows:
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Feet。Inches。
Extremelength73
Dittofthetail341/2
Dittoofthehinderlegs32
Dittooftheforepaws171/2
Circumferenceofthetailoftheroot15
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AfterthisperhapsIshallhardlybecredited，whenIaffirmthatthekangarooonbeingbroughtforthisnotlargerthananEnglishmouse。Itis，however，inmypowertospeakpositivelyonthishead，asIhaveseenmorethanoneinstanceofit。
Inrunning，thisanimalconfineshimselfentirelytohishinder，legs，whicharepossessedwithanextraordinarymuscularpower。Theirspeedisverygreat，thoughnotingeneralquiteequaltothatofagreyhound;
butwhenthegreyhoundsaresofortunateastoseizethem，theyareincapableofretainingtheirhold，fromtheamazingstrugglesoftheanimal。Theboundofthekangaroo，whennothardpressed，hasbeenmeasured，andfoundtoexceedtwentyfeet。
Atwhattimeoftheyeartheycopulate，andinwhatmanner，weknownot:
thetesticlesofthemaleareplacedcontrarytotheusualorderofnature。
Whenyoungthekangarooeatstenderandwellflavoured，tastinglikeveal，buttheoldonesaremoretoughandstringythanbullbeef。Theyarenotcarnivorous，andsubsistaltogetheronparticularflowersandgrass。
Theirbleatismournful，andverydifferentfromthatofanyotheranimal:
itis，however，seldomheardbutintheyoungones。
Fish，whichoursanguinehopesledustoexpectingreatquantities，donotabound。Insummertheyaretolerablyplentiful，butforsomemonthspastveryfewhavebeentaken。BotanyBayinthisrespectexceedsPortJackson。TheFrenchoncecaughtneartwothousandfishinoneday，ofaspeciesofgrouper，towhich，fromtheformofaboneintheheadresemblingahelmet，wehavegiventhenameoflighthorseman。Tothismaybeaddedbass，mullets，skait，soles，leather—jackets，andmanyotherspecies，allsogoodintheirkind，astodoubleourregretattheirnotbeingmorenumerous。Sharksofanenormoussizearefoundhere。OneofthesewascaughtbythepeopleonboardtheSirius，whichmeasuredattheshoulderssixfeetandahalfincircumference。Hisliveryieldedtwenty—fourgallonsofoil;andinhisstomachwasfoundtheheadofashark，whichhadbeenthrownoverboardfromthesameship。TheIndians，probablyfromhavingfelttheeffectsoftheirvoraciousfury，testifytheutmosthorroronseeingtheseterriblefish。
Venomousanimalsandreptilesarerarelyseen。Largesnakesbeautifullyvariegatedhavebeenkilled，butoftheeffectoftheirbiteswearehappilyignorant。Insects，thoughnumerous，arebynomeans，eveninsummer，sotroublesomeasIhavefoundtheminAmerica，theWestIndies，andothercountries。
Theclimateisundoubtedlyverydesirabletolivein。Insummertheheatsareusuallymoderatedbytheseabreeze，whichsetsinearly;andinwinterthedegreeofcoldissoslightastooccasionnoinconvenience;onceortwicewehavehadhoarfrostsandhail，butnoappearanceofsnow。Thethermometerhasneverrisenbeyond84，norfallenlowerthan35，ingeneralitstoodinthebeginningofFebruaryatbetween78and74atnoon。Noristhetemperatureoftheairlesshealthythanpleasant。Thosedreadfulputridfeversbywhichnewcountriesaresooftenravaged，areunknowntous:
andexceptingaslightdiarrhoea，whichprevailedsoonafterwehadlanded，andwasfatalinveryfewinstances，wearestrangerstoepidemicdiseases。
Onthewhole，（thunderstormsinthehotmonthsexcepted）IknownotanyclimateequaltothisIwritein。Erewehadbeenafortnightonshoreweexperiencedsomestormsofthunderaccompaniedwithrain，thanwhichnothingcanbeconceivedmoreviolentandtremendous，andtheirrepetitionforseveraldays，joinedtothedamagetheydid，bykillingseveralofoursheep，ledustodrawpresagesofanunpleasantnature。Happily，however，formanymonthswehaveescapedanysimilarvisitations。
CHAPTERXVI。
TheProgressmadeintheSettlement;andtheSituationofAffairsattheTimeoftheShip，whichconveysthisAccount，sailingforEngland。
Forthepurposeofexpeditingthepublicwork，themaleconvictshavebeendividedintogangs，overeachofwhichaperson，selectedfromamongthemselves，isplaced。ItistoberegrettedthatGovernmentdidnottakethismatterintoconsiderationbeforeweleftEngland，andappointproperpersonswithreasonablesalariestoexecutetheofficeofoverseers;
astheconsequenceofourpresentimperfectplanissuch，astodefeatinagreatmeasurethepurposesforwhichtheprisonersweresentout。
Thefemaleconvictshavehithertolivedinastateoftotalidleness;
exceptafewwhoarekeptatworkinmakingpegsfortiles，andpickingupshellsforburningintolime。ForthelasttimeIrepeat，thatthebehaviourofallclassesofthesepeoplesinceourarrivalinthesettlementhasbeenbetterthancould，Ithink，havebeenexpectedfromthem。
Temporarywoodenstorehousescoveredwiththatchorshingles，inwhichthecargoesofalltheshipshavebeenlodged，arecompleted;andanhospitaliserected。Barracksforthemilitaryareconsiderablyadvanced;
andlittlehutstoserve，untilsomethingmorepermanentcanbefinished，havebeenraisedonallsides。Notwithstandingthistheencampmentsofthemarinesandconvictsarestillkeptup;andtosecuretheirownersfromthecoldnessofthenights，arecoveredinwithbushes，andthatchedover。
TheplanofatownIhavealreadysaidismarkedout。Andasfreestoneofanexcellentqualityabounds，onerequisitetowardsthecompletionofitisattained。Onlytwohousesofstoneareyetbegun，whichareintendedfortheGovernorandLieutenantGovernor。Oneofthegreatestimpedimentswemeetwithisawantoflimestone，ofwhichnosignsappear。
Clayformakingbricksisinplenty，andaconsiderablequantityofthemburnedandreadyforuse。
InenumeratingthepublicbuildingsIfindIhavebeensoremissastoomitanobservatory，whichiserectedatasmalldistancefromtheencampments。
Itisnearlycompleted，andwhenfittedupwiththetelescopesandotherastronomicalinstrumentssentoutbytheBoardofLongitude，willaffordadesirableretreatfromthelistlessnessofacampeveningatPortJackson。
OneoftheprincipalreasonswhichinducedtheBoardtograntthisapparatuswas，forthepurposeofenablingLieutenantDawes，ofthemarines，（towhosecareitisintrusted）tomakeobservationsonacometwhichisshortlyexpectedtoappearinthesouthernhemisphere。Thelatitudeoftheobservatory，fromtheresultofmorethanthreehundredobservations，isfixedat33deg52min30secsouth，andthelongitudeat151deg16min30seceastofGreenwich。Thelatitudeofthesouthheadwhichformstheentranceoftheharbour，33deg51min，andthatofthenorthheadoppositetoitat33deg49min45secsouth。