按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ounted 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； pointing to his leg； to show that he had freed himself from the fetter which was upon him； when he had escaped from us。
When Baneelon was told that the governor was not far off； he expressed great joy； and declared that he would immediately go in search of him； and if he found him not； would follow him to Sydney。 〃Have you brought any hatchets with you？〃 cried he。 Unluckily they had not any which they chose to spare； but two or three shirts； some handkerchiefs； knives； and other trifles； were given to them； and seemed to satisfy。 Baneelon； willing to instruct his countrymen； tried to put on a shirt； but managed it so awkwardly； that a man of the name of M'Entire； the governor's gamekeeper； was directed by Mr。 White to assist him。 This man； who was well known to him； he positively forbade to approach； eyeing him ferociously； and with every mark of horror and resentment。 He was in consequence left to himself； and the conversation proceeded as before。 The length of his beard seemed to annoy him much； and he expressed eager wishes to be shaved； asking repeatedly for a razor。 A pair of scissors was given to him； and he shewed he had not forgotten how to use such an instrument； for he forthwith began to clip his hair with it。
During this time； the women and children； to the number of more than fifty； stood at a distance； and refused all invitations； which could be conveyed by signs and gestures； to approach nearer。 〃Which of them is your old favourite； Barangaroo； of whom you used to speak so often？〃
〃Oh；〃 said he； 〃she is become the wife of Colbee！ But I have got 'bulla muree deein' （two large women） to compensate for her loss。〃
It was observed that he had received two wounds； in addition to his former numerous ones； since he had left us； one of them from a spear； which had passed through the fleshy part of his arm； and the other displayed itself in a large scar above his left eye。 They were both healed； and probably were acquired in the conflict wherein he had asserted his pretensions to the two ladies。
Nanbaree； all this while； though he continued to interrogate his countrymen； and to interpret on both sides； shewed little desire to return to their society； and stuck very close to his new friends。 On being asked the cause of their present meeting； Baneelon pointed to the whale； which stunk immoderately； and Colbee made signals； that it was common among them to cat until the stomach was so overladen as to occasion sickness。
Their demand of hatchets being re…iterated； notwithstanding our refusal； they were asked why they had not brought with them some of their own？ They excused themselves by saying； that on an occasion of the present sort； they always left them at home； and cut up the whale with the shell which is affixed to the end of the throwing…stick。
Our party now thought it time to proceed on their original expedition； and having taken leave of their sable friends； rowed to some distance； where they landed； and set out for Broken Bay； ordering the coxswain of the boat； in which they had