Transactions of the Colony to the end of November, 1791.
The extreme dryness of the preceding summer has been noticed. It had
operated so far in the beginning of June that we dreaded a want of water
for common consumption most of the little reservoirs in the neighbourhood
of Sydney being dried up. The small stream near the town was so nearly
exhausted (being only the drain of a morass) that a ship could not have
watered at it, and the 'Supply' was preparing to sink casks in a swamp when
rain fell and banished our apprehensions.
June, 1791. On the second instant, the name of the settlement, at the head
of the harbour (Rose Hill) was changed, by order of the governor, to that
of Parramatta, the native name of it. As Rose Hill has, however, occurred
so often in this book, I beg leave, to avoid confusion, still to continue
the appellation in all future mention of it.
Our travelling friend Boladeree, who makes so conspicuous a figure in the
last chapter, about this time committed an offence which we were obliged
to notice. He threw a spear at a convict in the woods, and wounded him. The
truth was, some mischievous person belonging to us had wantonly destroyed
his canoe, and he revenged the injury on the first of our people whom he
met unarmed. He now seemed to think the matter adjusted; and probably such
is the custom they observe in their own society in similar cases. Hearing,
however, that an order was issued to seize him, or in case that could not
be effected, to shoot him, he prudently dropped all connection with us and
was for a long time not seen.
But if they sometimes injured us, to compensate they were often of signal
benefit to those who needed their assistance: two instances of which had
recently occurred. A boat was overset in the harbour Baneelon and some
other natives, who saw the accident happen, immediately plunged in, and
saved all the people. When they had brought them on shore, they undressed
them, kindled a fire and dried their clothes, gave them fish to eat and
conducted them to Sydney.
The other instance was of a soldier lost in the woods, when he met a party
of natives. He at first knew not whether to flee from them, or to implore
their assistance. Seeing among them one whom he knew, he determined to
communicate his distress to him and to rely on his generosity. The Indian
told him that he had wandered a long way from home, but that he would
conduct him thither, on the single condition of his delivering up a gun
which he held in his hand, promising to carry it for him and to restore
it to him at parting. The soldier felt little inclination to surrender
his arms, by which he would be put entirely in their power. But seeing no
alternative, he at last consented; on which the whole party laid down their
spears and faithfully escorted him to the nearest part of the settlement,
where the gun was given up, and they took their leave without asking for
any remuneration, or even seeming to expect it.
The distressful state of the colony for provisions continued gradually to
augment until the 9th of July, when the Mary Anne transport arrived from
England. This ship had sailed from the Downs so lately as the 25th of
February, having been only four months and twelve days on her passage. She
brought out convicts, by contract, at a specific sum for each person. But
to demonstrate the effect of humanity and justice, of 144 female convicts
embarked on board only three had died, and the rest were landed in perfect
health, all loud in praise of their conductor. The master's name was Munro;
and his ship, after fulfilling her engagement with government, was bound on
the southern fishery. The reader must not conclude that I sacrifice to
dull detail, when he finds such benevolent conduct minutely narrated.
The advocates of humanity are not yet become too numerous: but those
who practise its divine precepts, however humble and unnoticed be their
station, ought not to sink into obscurity, unrecorded and unpraised, with
the vile monsters who deride misery and fatten on calamity.
July, 1791. If, however, the good people of this ship delighted us with
their benevolence, here gratification ended. I was of a party who had rowed
in a boat six miles out to sea, beyond the harbour's mouth, to meet them;
and what was our disappointment, on getting aboard, to find that they had
not brought a letter (a few official ones for the governor excepted) to any
person in the colony! Nor had they a single newspaper or magazine in their
possession; nor could they conceive that any person wished to hear news;
being as ignorant of everything which had passed in Europe for the last
two years as ourselves, at the distance of half the circle. "No war--the
fleet's dismantled," was the whole that we could learn. When I asked
whether a new parliament had been called, they stared at me in stupid
wonder, not seeming to comprehend that such a body either suffered
renovation or needed it.
"Have the French settled their government?"
"As to that matter I can't say; I never heard; but, damn them, they were
ready enough to join the Spaniards against us."
"Are Russia and Turkey at peace?"
"That you see does not lie in my way; I have heard talk about it, but don't
remember what passed."
"For heaven's sake, why did you not bring out a bundle of newspapers? You
might have procured a file at any coffee house, which would have amused
you, and instructed us?"
"Why, really, I never thought about the matter until we were off the Cape
of Good Hope, when we spoke a man of war, who asked us the same question,
and then I wished I had."
To have prosecuted inquiry farther would have only served to increase
disappointment and chagrin. We therefore quitted the ship, wondering and
lamenting that so large a portion of plain undisguised honesty should be so
totally unconnected with a common share of intelligence, and acquaintance
with the feelings and habits of other men.
By the governor's letters we learned that a large fleet of transports, with
convicts on board, and His Majesty's ship Gorgon, (Captain Parker)
might soon be expected to arrive. The following intelligence which they
contained, was also made public.
That such convicts as had served their period of transportation, were not
to be compelled to remain in the colony; but that no temptation should be
offered to induce them to quit it, as there existed but too much reason to
believe, that they would return to former practices; that those who might
choose to settle in the country should have portions of land, subject to
stipulated restrictions, and a portion of provisions assigned to them
on signifying their inclinations; and that it was expected, that those
convicts who might be possessed of means to transport themselves from the
country, would leave it free of all incumbrances of a public nature.
The rest of the fleet continued to drop in, in this and the two succeeding
months. The state of the convicts whom they brought out, though
infinitely preferable to what the fleet of last year had landed, was not
unexceptionable. Three of the ships had naval agents on board to control
them. Consequently, if complaint had existed there, it would have been
immediately redressed. Exclusive of these, the 'Salamander', (Captain
Nichols) who, of 155 men lost only five; and the 'William and Anne'
(Captain Buncker) who of 187 men lost only seven, I find most worthy of
honourable mention. In the list of convicts brought out was Barrington, of
famous memory.
Two of these ships also added to our geographic knowledge of the country.
The 'Atlantic', under the direction of Lieutenant Bowen, a naval agent, ran
into a harbour between Van Diemen's land, and Port Jackson, in latitude 35
degrees 12 minutes south, longitude 151 degrees east, to which, in honour
of Sir John Jervis, Knight of the Bath, Mr. Bowen gave the name of Port
Jervis. Here was found good anchoring ground with a fine depth of water,
within a harbour about a mile and a quarter broad at its entrance, which
afterwards opens into a basin five miles wide and of considerable length.
They found no fresh water, but as their want of this article was not
urgent, they did not make sufficient researches to pronounce that none
existed there.* They saw, during the short time they stayed, two kangaroos
and many traces of inhabitants. The country at a little distance to the
southward of the harbour is hilly, but that contiguous to the sea is flat.
On comparing what they had found here afterwards, with the native produce
of Port Jackson, they saw no reason to think that they differed in any
respect.
[*Just before I left the country, word was brought by a ship which had put
into Port Jervis, that a large fresh water brook was found there.]
The second discovery was made by Captain Wetherhead, of the 'Matilda'
transport, which was obligingly described to me, as follows, by that
gentleman, on my putting to him the underwritten questions.
"When did you make your discovery?"
"On the 27th of July, 1791."
"In what latitude and longitude does it lie?"
"In 42 degrees 15 minutes south by observation, and in 148 1/2 east by
reckoning"
"Is it on the mainland or is it an island?"
"It is an island, distant from the mainland about eight miles."
"Did you anchor?"
"Yes; and found good anchorage in a bay open about six points."
"Did you see any other harbour or bay in the island?"
"None."
"Does the channel between the island and the main appear to afford good
shelter for shipping?"
"Yes, like Spithead."
"Did you find any water on the island?"
"Yes, in plenty."
"Of what size does the island appear to be?"
"It is narrow and long; I cannot say how long. Its breadth is
inconsiderable."
"Did you make any observations on the soil?"
"It is sandy; and many places are full of craggy rocks."
"Do you judge the productions which you saw on the island to be similar to
those around Port Jackson?"
"I do not think they differ in any respect."
"Did you see any animals?"
"I saw three kangaroos."
"Did you see any natives, or any marks of them?"
"I saw no natives, but I saw a fire, and several huts like those at Port
Jackson, in one of which lay a spear."
"What name did you give to your discovery?"
"I called it, in honour of my ship, Matilda Bay."
November, 1791. A very extraordinary instance of folly stimulated to
desperation occurred in the beginning of this month among the convicts at
Rose Hill. Twenty men and a pregnant woman, part of those who had arrived
in the last fleet, suddenly disappeared with their clothes, working tools,
bedding, and their provisions, for the ensuing week, which had been just
issued to them. The first intelligence heard of them, was from some convict
settlers, who said they had seen them pass, and had enquired whither
they were bound. To which they had received for answer, "to China." The
extravagance and infatuation of such an attempt was explained to them by
the settlers; but neither derision, nor demonstration could avert them from
pursuing their purpose. It was observed by those who brought in the account
that they had general idea enough of the point of the compass in which
China lies from Port Jackson, to keep in a northerly direction.
An officer with a detachment of troops, was sent in pursuit of them; but
after a harassing march returned without success. In the course of a week
the greatest part of them were either brought back by different parties who
had fallen in with them, or were driven in by famine. Upon being questioned
about the cause of their elopement, those whom hunger had forced back,
did not hesitate to confess that they had been so grossly deceived as to
believe that China might easily be reached, being not more than 100 miles
distant, and separated only by a river. The others, however, ashamed of the
merriment excited at their expense, said that their reason for running
away was on account of being overworked and harshly treated, and that they
preferred a solitary and precarious existence in the woods to a return
to the misery they were compelled to undergo. One or two of the party
had certainly perished by the hands of the natives, who had also wounded
several others.
I trust that no man would feel more reluctant than myself to cast an
illiberal national reflection, particularly on a people whom I regard in an
aggregate sense as brethren and fellow-citizens; and among whom, I have the
honour to number many of the most cordial and endearing intimacies which
a life passed on service could generate. But it is certain that all these
people were Irish.