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he afternoon； when we recommenced our operations on the opposite side of the north arm to that we had acted upon in the morning。 Our march ended at sunset； without our seeing a single native。 We had passed through the country which the discoverers of Botany Bay extol as 'some of the finest meadows in the world*。' These meadows； instead of grass； are covered with high coarse rushes； growing in a rotten spongy bog； into which we were plunged knee…deep at every step。
＇*The words which are quoted may be found in Mr。 Cook's first voyage； and form part of his description of Botany Bay。 It has often fallen to my lot to traverse these fabled plains； and many a bitter execration have I heard poured on those travellers； who could so faithlessly relate what they saw。＇
Our final effort was made at half past one o'clock next morning； and after four hours toil； ended as those preceding it had done； in disappointment and vexation。 At nine o'clock we returned to Sydney； to report our fruitless peregrination。
But if we could not retaliate on the murderer of M'Entire； we found no difficulty in punishing offences committed within our own observation。 Two natives； about this time； were detected in robbing a potato garden。 When seen； they ran away； and a sergeant and a party of soldiers were dispatched in pursuit of them。 Unluckily it was dark when they overtook them； with some women at a fire； and the ardour of the soldiers transported them so far that； instead of capturing the offenders； they fired in among them。 The women were taken； but the two men escaped。
On the following day； blood was traced from the fireplace to the sea…side； where it seemed probable that those who had lost it； had embarked。 The natives were observed to become immediately shy； but an exact knowledge of the mischief which had been committed； was not gained until the end of two days； when they said that a man of the name of Bangai （who was known to be one of the pilferers） was wounded and dead。 Imeerawanyee； however； whispered that though he was wounded； he was not dead。 A hope now existed that his life might be saved； and Mr。 White； taking Imeerawanyee； Nanbaree； and a woman with him； set out for the spot where he was reported to be。 But on their reaching it； they were told by some people who were there that the man was dead； and that the corpse was deposited in a bay about a mile off。 Thither they accordingly repaired； and found it as described； coveredexcept one leg； which seemed to be designedly left barewith green boughs and a fire burning near it。 Those who had performed the funeral obsequies seemed to have been particularly solicitous for the protection of the face； which was covered with a thick branch； interwoven with grass and fern so as to form a complete screen。 Around the neck was a strip of the bark of which they make fishing lines； and a young strait stick growing near was stripped of its bark and bent down so as to form an arch over the body； in which position it was confined by a forked branch stuck into the earth。
On examining the corpse； it was found to be warm。 Through the shoulder had passed a musquet ball； which had divided the subclavian artery and caused death by loss of blood。 No mark of any remedy having been applied could be discovered。 Possibly the nature of the wound； which even among us would baffle cure without amputation of the arm at the shoulder； was deemed so fatal； that they despaired of success； and therefore left it to itself。 Had Mr。 White found the man alive； there is little room to think that he could have been of any use to him； for that an Indian would submit to so formidable and alarming an operation seems hardly probable。
None of the natives who had come in the boat would touch the body； or even go near it； saying； the mawn would come； that is literally； 'the spirit of the deceased would seize them'。 Of the people who died among us； they had expressed no such apprehension。 But how far the difference of a natural death； and one effected by violence； may operate on their fears to induce superstition； and why those who had performed the rites of sepulture should not experience similar fears and reluctance； I leave to be determined。 Certain it is （as I shall insist upon more hereafter）； that they believe the spirit of the dead not to be extinct with the body。
Baneelon took an odd method of revenging the death of his countryman。 At the head of several of his tribe； he robbed one of the private boats of fish； threatening the people； who were unarmed； that in case they resisted he would spear them。 On being taxed by the governor with this outrage； he at first stoutly denied it； but on being confronted with the people who were in the boat； he changed his language； and； without deigning even to palliate his offence； burst into fury and demanded who had killed Bangai。
CHAPTER XIII。
The Transactions of the Colony continued to the End of May； 1791。
December； 1790。 The Dutch snow from Batavia arrived on the 17th of the month； after a passage of twelve weeks； in which she had lost sixteen of her people。 But death； to a man who has resided at Batavia； is too familiar an object to excite either terror or regret。 All the people of the 'Supply' who were left there sick； except one midshipman； had also perished in that fatal climate。
The cargo of the snow consisted chiefly of rice； with a small quantity of beef； pork； and flour。
A letter was received by this vessel； written by the Shebander at Batavia； to governor Phillip； acquainting him that war had commenced between England and Spain。 As this letter was written in the Dutch language we did not find it easy of translation。 It filled us； however； with anxious perturbation； and with wishes as impotent； as they were eager； in the cause of our country。 Though far beyond the din of arms； we longed to contribute to her glory； and to share in her triumphs。
Placed out of the reach of attack； both by remoteness and insignificancy； our only dread lay lest those supplies intended for our consumption should be captured。 Not； however； to be found totally unprovided in case an enemy should appear； a battery was planned near the entrance of Sydney Cove； and other formidable preparations set on foot。
The commencement of the year 1791； though marked by no circumstances particularly favourable； beamed far less inauspicious than that of 1790 had done。
January； 1791。 No circumstance； however apparently trivial； which can tend to throw light on a new country； either in respect of its present situation； or its future promise； should pass unregarded。 On the 24th of January； two bunches of grapes were cut in the governor's garden； from cuttings of vines brought three years before from the Cape of Good Hope。 The bunches were handsome； the fruit of a moderate size； but well filled out and the flavour high and delicious。
The first step after unloading the Dutch snow was to dispatch the 'Supply' to Norfolk Island for captain Hunter； and the crew of the 'Sirius' who had remained there ever since the loss of that ship。 It had always been the governor's wish to hire the Dutchman； for the purpose of transporting them to England。 But the frantic extravagant behaviour of the master of her； for a long time frustrated the conclusion of a contract。 He was so totally lost to a sense of reason and propriety； as to ask eleven pounds per ton； monthly； for her use； until she should arrive from England； at Batavia。 This was treated with proper contempt； and he was at last induced to accept twenty shillings a ton； per month （rating her at three hundred tons） until she should arrive in Englandbeing about the twenty…fifth part of his original demand。 And even at this price she was； perhaps； the dearest vessel ever hired on a similar service； being totally destitute of every accommodation and every good quality which could promise to render so long a voyage either comfortable or expeditious。
February； 1791。 On the 26th； Captain Hunter； his officers and ship's company joined us； and on the 28th of March the snow sailed with them for England； intending to make a northern passage by Timor and Batavia； the season being too far advanced to render the southern route by Cape Horn practicable*。
＇*They did not arrive in England until April； 1792。＇
Six days previous to the departure of captain Hunter； the indefatigable 'Supply' again sailed for Norfolk Island； carrying thither captain Hill and a detachment of the New South Wales corps。 A little native boy named Bondel； who had long particularly attached himself to captain Hill； accompanied him； at his own earnest request。 His father had been killed in battle and his mother bitten in two by a shark： so that he was an orphan； dependant on the humanity of his tribe for protection*。 His disappearance seemed to make no impression on the rest of his countrymen； who were apprized of his resolution to go。 On the return of the 'Supply' they inquired eagerly for him； and on being told that the place he was gone to afforded plenty of birds and other good fare； innumerable volunteers presented themselves to follow him； so great was their confidence in us and so little hold of them had the amor patriae。
＇*I am of opinion t