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l more important。 To repress the inroads of depredation； and to secure to honest industry the reward of its labour； had become matter of the most serious consideration； hardly a night passing without the commission of robbery。 Many expedients were devised； and the governor at length determined to select from the convicts； a certain number of persons； who were meant to be of the fairest character； for the purpose of being formed into a nightly…watch； for the preservation of public and private property； under the following regulations； which； as the first system of police in a colony； so peculiarly constituted as ours； may perhaps prove not uninteresting。
I。 A night…watch； consisting of 12 persons； divided into four parties； is appointed； and fully authorized to patrol at all hours in the night； and to visit such places as may be deemed necessary； for the discovery of any felony； trespass； or misdemeanor； and for the apprehending and securing for examination； any person or persons who may appear to them concerned therein； either by entrance into any suspected hut or dwelling； or by such other measure as may seem to them expedient。
II。 Those parts in which the convicts reside are to be divided and numbered； in the following manner。 The convict huts on the eastern side of the stream； and the public farm； are to be the first division。 Those at the brick…kilns； and the detached parties in the different private farms in that district； are to be the second division。 Those on the western side of the stream； as far as the line which separates the district of the women from the men； to be the third division。 The huts occupied from that line to the hospital； and from there to the observatory； to be the fourth division。
III。 Each of these districts or divisions is to be under the particular inspection of one person； who may be judged qualified to inform himself of the actual residence of each individual in his district； as well as of his business； connections； and acquaintances。
IV。 Cognizance is to be taken of such convicts as may sell or barter their slops or provisions； and also of such as are addicted to gaming for either of the aforesaid articles； who are to be reported to the judge advocate。
V。 Any soldier or seaman found straggling after the beating of the tattoo； or who may be found in a convict's hut； is to be detained； and information of him immediately given to the nearest guard。
VI。 Any person who may be robbed during the night； is to give immediate information thereof to the watch of his district； who； on the instant of application being made； shall use the most effectual means to trace out the offender； or offenders； so that he； she； or they； may be brought to justice。
VII。 The watch of each district is to be under the direction of one person； who will be named for that purpose。 All the patrols are placed under the immediate inspection of Herbert Keeling。 They are never to receive any fee； gratuity； or reward； from any individual whatever； to engage their exertions in the execution of the above trust。 Nor will they receive any stipulated encouragement for the conviction of any offender。 But their diligence and good behaviour will be rewarded by the governor。 And for this purpose their conduct will be strictly attended to； by those who are placed in authority over them。
VIII。 The night…watch is to go out as soon as the tattoo ceases beating： to return to their huts when the working drum beats in the morning： and are to make their report to the judge advocate； through Herbert Keeling； of all robberies and misdemeanors which may have been committed。 Any assistance the patrols may require； will be given to them； on applying to the officer commanding the nearest guard； and by the civil power； if necessary； for which last； application is to be made to the provost martial。
IX。 Any negligence on the part of those who shall be employed on this duty； will be punished with the utmost rigour of the law。
X。 The night…watch is to consist of 12 persons。
Every political code； either from a defect of its constitution； or from the corruptness of those who are entrusted to execute it； will be found less perfect in practice than speculation had promised itself。 It were； however； prejudice to deny； that for some time following the institution of this patrol； nightly depredations became less frequent and alarming： the petty villains； at least； were restrained by it。 And to keep even a garden unravaged was now become a subject of the deepest concern。
For in October our weekly allowance of provisions； which had hitherto been eight pounds of flour； five pounds of salt pork； three pints of pease； six ounces of butter； was reduced to five pounds five ounces of flour； three pounds five ounces of pork； and two pints of pease。
In order to lessen the consumption from the public stores； the 'Supply' was ordered to touch at Lord Howe Island； in her way from Norfolk Island； to try if turtle could be procured； for the purpose of being publicly served in lieu of salt provisions。 But she brought back only three turtles； which were distributed in the garrison。
December； 1789。 At the request of his excellency； lieutenant Dawes of the marines； accompanied by lieutenant Johnston and Mr。 Lowes； about this time undertook the attempt to cross the Nepean river； and to penetrate to Carmarthen mountains。 Having discovered a ford in the river； they passed it； and proceeded in a westerly direction。 But they found the country so rugged； and the difficulty of walking so excessive； that in three days they were able to penetrate only fifteen miles； and were therefore obliged to relinquish their object。 This party； at the time they turned back； were farther inland than any other persons ever were before or since； being fifty…four miles in a direct line from the sea coast when on the summit of mount Twiss； a hill so named by them； and which bounded their peregrination。
Intercourse with the natives； for the purpose of knowing whether or not the country possessed any resources； by which life might be prolonged*； as well as on other accounts； becoming every day more desirable； the governor resolved to make prisoners of two more of them。
＇*One of the convicts； a negro； had twice eloped； with an intention of establishing himself in the society of the natives； with a wish to adopt their customs and to live with them： but he was always repulsed by them； and compelled to return to us from hunger and wretchedness。＇
Boats properly provided； under the command of lieutenant Bradley of the 'Sirius'； were accordingly dispatched on this service； and completely succeeded in trepanning and carrying off； without opposition； two fine young men； who were safely landed among us at Sydney。
Nanbaree and Abaroo welcomed them on shore； calling them immediately by their names； Baneelon （Bennelong）； and Colbee。 But they seemed little disposed to receive the congratulations； or repose confidence in the assurances of their friends。 The same scenes of awkward wonder and impatient constraint； which had attended the introduction of Arabanoo； succeeded。 Baneelon we judged to be about twenty…six years old； of good stature； and stoutly made； with a bold intrepid countenance； which bespoke defiance and revenge。 Colbee was perhaps near thirty； of a less sullen aspect than his comrade； considerably shorter； and not so robustly framed； though better fitted for purposes of activity。 They had both evidently had the smallpox； indeed Colbee's face was very thickly imprinted with the marks of it。
Positive orders were issued by the governor to treat them indulgently； and guard them strictly； notwithstanding which Colbee contrived to effect his escape in about a week； with a small iron ring round his leg。 Had those appointed to watch them been a moment later； his companion would have contrived to accompany him。
But Baneelon； though haughty； knew how to temporize。 He quickly threw off all reserve； and pretended； nay； at particular moments； perhaps felt satisfaction in his new state。 Unlike poor Arabanoo； he became at once fond of our viands； and would drink the strongest liquors； not simply without reluctance； but with eager marks of delight and enjoyment。 He was the only native we ever knew who immediately shewed a fondness for spirits： Colbee would not at first touch them。 Nor was the effect of wine or brandy upon him more perceptible than an equal quantity would have produced upon one of us； although fermented liquor was new to him。
In his eating； he was alike compliant。 When a turtle was shown to Arabanoo； he would not allow it to be a fish； and could not be induced to eat of it。 Baneelon also denied it to be a fish； but no common councilman in Europe could do more justice than he did to a very fine one； that the 'Supply' had brought from Lord Howe Island； and which was served up at the governor's table on Christmas Day。
His powers of mind were certainly far above mediocrity。 He acquired knowledge； both of our manners and language； faster than his predecessor had done。 He willingly communicated information； sang； danced； and capered； told us all the customs of his country； and all the details of his family economy。 Love and war s