TRANSACTIONS AT NORFOLK ISLAND
February 1789 to March 1790
-A violent hurricane at Norfolk Island.--Arrival
of the Supply.--Convicts sent from Port Jackson.--Provisions and
stores.--Departure of the Supply.--Robberies
committed.--Employment of the convicts.--Wheat infested with
caterpillars.--A store-house erected.--Arrival of a party of
marines from Port Jackson.--Thefts committed.--Orders read for
preserving regularity.--A female convict punished.--Pernicious
effects of the grub-worm.--Gardens plundered.--A granary
erected.--Wheat destroyed by paroquets.--Number of inhabitants on
the island.-
The interval of fine weather, which gave us an opportunity of
examining the state of our provisions, and cleaning the damaged
flour, was succeeded by a hurricane that was dreadful beyond
description. In the morning of the 25th, we had light winds from
the north-east, and very dismal, dark, cloudy weather, with
constant torrents of heavy rain: towards noon, the wind blew a
heavy gale, and kept increasing in violence. At midnight, it
shifted to east-south-east, and blew with great fury, attended
with constant deluges of rain. At four o'clock the next morning
several of the largest pines were blown up by the roots, one of
which fell on the hog-stye and killed a very fine English sow and
a litter of seven pigs that were my property, and three sows and
two boars belonging to the crown. This was a severe loss to young
colonists, but a still worse accident afterwards happened, and
which had nearly deprived us of our flour.
From four in the morning until noon, the wind increased to a
very severe hurricane, with the heaviest rain I ever saw or heard
of. Pines, and oak-trees of the largest size, were blown down
every instant; the roots were torn up, together with rocks that
surrounded them; frequently leaving pits at least ten feet deep.
Some of the very large trees, which measured 180 feet in length,
and four feet diameter, were thrown by the violence of the
tempest to a considerable distance from the place where they
grew; and others, whose roots were too deep in the earth to be
torn up, bent their tops nearly to the ground.
In addition to the horror of this scene, a very large tree
fell across the granary and dashed it to pieces, staving a number
of flour casks that were in it; but by the general activity of
every person on the settlement, the flour, Indian corn, and
stores were in a short time collected, and removed to my house,
with the loss of a few pounds of flour and some small stores that
were blown away.
The gale now raged with the most violent fury, which defies
all description: whole forests seemed, as it were, swept away by
the roots, and many of the trees were carried to a considerable
distance. By one o'clock in the afternoon, there were as many
trees blown down round the settlement as would have employed
fifty men for a fortnight to cut down. The swamp and the
adjoining vale were overflowed, and had every appearance of a
large, navigable river: the surf ran mountains high, but did not
overflow the bank, although very near its level: in the road, the
sea ran very high, often eclipsing Nepean Isle.
At two in the afternoon, the gardener, two convict men, and
one woman, who lived in the vale, came to the settlement, having
narrowly escaped with their lives from the falling of trees, and
great depth of water in many parts of the valley; and their
houses, which had been built and framed with strong logs, were
blown down. Three acres of ground that had recently been cleared
were almost covered with trees: every thing in the gardens was
nearly destroyed, and an acre of Indian corn, which was in a
promising state, and nearly fit for reaping, was laid flat and
covered with water four feet deep; nay, incredible as it may
appear, the violence of the wind blew up cabbages, turnips, and
other vegetables by the roots; and what remained in the gardens
were turned as black as if they had been burnt.
At three o'clock, the wind veered round to south, and
moderated, and at sun-set, the weather was very pleasant.
It was a providential circumstance that the discovery of the
plot (as has already been related) happened previous to this
dreadful storm, as, on that account, the convicts had altogether
been employed in cutting down large trees round the settlement,
to make room for building other houses: had not this been done,
our houses would probably have been destroyed and many lives
lost, as we had no asylum or retreat whatever: fortunately,
however, only one man was hurt; he received a violent contusion
on his right side by the branch of a tree falling on him. There
was no appearance on any part of the island of such a storm
having ever happened before.
During the remainder of the month we had very pleasant
weather; the wind at south-west, but a heavy surf kept still
running.
On the 2d of March, at day-light, we saw the Supply in the
road; on which I sent Mr. Dunavan on board her: he soon returned,
bringing letters for me from Governor Phillip, who, I learnt, had
sent twenty-one men and six women convicts, with three children
in the Supply, to be landed on this island. As I had the fullest
confidence in the few free persons who were with me, I did not
hesitate one moment in receiving the additional number of
convicts who were now arrived, although some of them had very bad
characters. By the Supply I also received a bushel of potatoes,
and some seed-wheat and barley, that had been saved at Port
Jackson; and in the course of the day, all the convicts and the
greatest part of the provisions and stores were landed. One turn
of provisions were got on shore early the next morning, but the
surf increasing, no more boats passed that day.
Landing was very practicable on the 4th, and we received the
remainder of the provisions and stores; also two three-pounders
and their carriages belonging to the Supply, which should have
been landed when I first came to the island, but were prevented
by the surf. The surf ran so high on the 5th, that no boats could
land: at two o'clock the Supply parted her cable, and stood off
and on during the night. The Supply's boats were employed during
the 6th, in sweeping for her anchor, as no landing could be
attempted; but the surf abating on the 7th, we received every
article on shore that was intended for the settlement.
I now ordered the surgeon to examine all the convicts who had
lately arrived, in order to discover if any of them were infected
with diseases, or troubled with complaints of any kind; but on
examination, he found them all healthy.
The Supply having ineffectually swept for her anchor till the
morning of the 10th, she made sail for Port Jackson at ten
o'clock in the forenoon. The ground in the road off Sydney-Bay is
very foul in general, although there may be some clear spots. The
Golden-Grove parted her cable in the road, but regained her
anchor, which the Supply was not lucky enough to accomplish; and
she had the additional misfortune of nearly ruining two new
cables in sweeping for it. It is somewhat remarkable, that the
beach in Sydney-Bay has at times five feet of sand on the stones,
and at other times it is all cleared away: this has happened when
the wind has been at south-east, and when the beach was filled
with sand, the wind has been at south-west: this probably may be
the case in the road.
I gave the convicts who were newly arrived until the 18th, to
build habitations for themselves; the others were employed at
task-work. The numbers now on the island were as follows,
viz.
Officers, marines, and free men, 16
Male convicts, 50
Female convicts, 23
Children, 5
Total 94
In order to prevent the water from overflowing the cultivated
grounds in the upper part of Arthur's Vale, I set eight labourers
to work on the 19th, in cutting a water-way of sixty rods long,
by six feet deep.
I have hitherto forborn mentioning the numerous thefts that
had almost daily been committed; and, notwithstanding the utmost
vigilance, we had not been able to detect any person. Gardens had
been constantly plundered; the harness cask, containing the
provisions that were daily issued out, had been robbed; and one
night an attempt was made to get into the upper part of my house,
where the slops were deposited. Great rewards had been offered to
tempt one or other to discover their accomplices, but without
effect: however, at eleven o'clock in the night of the 23d,
Thomas Watson, a convict, was detected in another convict's
house, stealing a bag of flour.
From the number of daring thefts which had been committed,
without my being able to fix on the thief, it became necessary to
inflict a very severe punishment on this offender; and as I had
no authority to give him any very severe corporal chastisement;
after examining witnesses upon oath, and fully proving the theft,
I ordered him into confinement, with an intention of sending him
to Port Jackson to take his trial. In order to prevent these
depredations as much as possible in future, I gave orders for the
convicts to be mustered in their huts three times every night,
and the hour of muster to be constantly changed: this had a good
effect, but did not entirely prevent robberies from being
committed.
James Davis, a convict, was punished with twenty-four lashes,
on the 25th, for using seditious expressions, and throwing away
some fish which had been issued, in a contemptuous manner.
On inspecting the seed-wheat, I found the weevil had begun its
depredations, on which, I set some of the labourers to winnow and
clear it. On the 30th, some atrocious villain stabbed one of the
hogs belonging to the crown, which occasioned its death: this,
amongst many other actions which happened, of a similar nature,
served to show that there are wretches equal to any act of
inhumanity and barbarity.
The sugar-cane, which I planted soon after my arrival on the
island, being in a very exposed situation, I removed it on the
31st, and planted out 106 very good joints, which were produced
from only four canes. The Indian corn, that had been damaged by
the hurricane, was reaped this afternoon.
The different employments of the convicts were as follows:
At task-work, clearing away ground for cultivation, 30
Sawyers, sawing boards, for building a store-house, 2 2 free.
Carpenters, building a store-house, 2 1 free.
Blacksmith, making fish-hooks, and other necessary work, 1 1 free.
Coble-men fishing, 3
Gardeners, 3 1 free.
Making shingles, 4
Schoolmaster, 1; officers servants, 3; care of stock, 1, 5
Total 50 5
On the 2d of April, three quarters of an acre of ground was
sown with wheat, the produce of that ground which had been first
cleared on the north side of Mount George. The season for sowing
wheat was as yet rather early, but I did it to try different
periods, and to see which would answer best.
April On the 5th, (Sunday) after divine service, Thomas Jones,
a convict, acquainted me that the term of his transportation
expired that day. I had been informed by Governor Phillip that
the different terms for which the convicts were sentenced was not
known, as the masters of the transports had left the papers
necessary for that information with their owners; but that he had
wrote to England for them, and until their arrival no steps could
be taken, as the convicts words were not sufficient: I therefore
informed Thomas Jones that he was at liberty to work for whom he
pleased, and if he chose to work for the public good, he would be
used the same as others were, until I received further orders
concerning him.
An acre of ground, in Arthur's Vale, was sown with wheat on
the 6th; and on the 8th, Noah Mortimer, a convict, was punished
with sixty lashes, for refusing to work, on being ordered by the
overseer, and being abusive. The 10th, being Good-Friday, I
performed divine service, and no work was done on the
settlement.
On the 13th, three acres of wheat were sown with four bushels
of seed. Every garden vegetable, now growing, were much blighted
by west and south-west winds; indeed, this was a very improper
time to sow any garden seeds, it being the commencement of
winter; but the potatoes I had by me grew out so very fast, that
I was obliged to sow them all. I had found the last year that
June and July were the best months for sowing the general crop.
We had a very heavy gale of wind this day from the south-west,
which was the first southerly wind that had blown with any degree
of force since last August; and the last year, the southerly
winds did not begin until the 10th of April: from which I
conclude that southerly and westerly winds are not frequent in
the summer; especially as we had not one gale from that quarter
during the last summer.
Three acres of wheat were sown in Arthur's vale on the 16th,
and by the 21st eight acres of wheat were up, and had a promising
appearance.
As there was a projection of the reef where boats used to
land, which, if taken away, would greatly lessen the danger of
landing; I set six men to work about removing it on the 22d, with
orders to continue at the employment every tide until it was
finished.
Notwithstanding every convict had suffered exemplary
punishment for their crimes, whenever they were detected; yet
this was not sufficient to keep the free people in proper
subordination; for on the 26th, John Williams, a marine, quitted
his guard, and raised a quarrel in a convict's house; the
consequence of which was a battle between himself and another
marine: on which, I assembled the marines and all the other free
people under arms, under the flag-staff, on which the colours
were hoisted; and I punished him with twenty-four lashes, for
quitting his post, and fighting with his comrade.
I observed on the 7th of May, that all the wheat which
hitherto had a very fine appearance, was blighted in many places,
and particularly where it was thinnest sown: on examining it, I
found it entirely covered with a small black caterpillar, which
had eat off the stems within an inch of the ground: these
destructive vermin kept on the wheat during the whole month; they
began on the lower part of the eight acres that were sown in
Arthur's Vale, and proceeded regularly through it, destroying
every blade. We tried various methods to extirpate them, such as
rolling the wheat with a heavy roller, and beating it with
turf-beaters, in order to kill them, but with little effect; for
in an hour's time they were as numerous as ever, and daily
increased in size. I found they were bred from a small moth, vast
numbers of which infested the air in the mornings and evenings:
the number of these caterpillars on the wheat was incredible; and
they were so thick in the gardens that we swept them in heaps:
the adjoining rivulet was also covered with them. The whole wheat
of eight acres (which was a foot high when these pernicious
vermin first attacked it) was eat close to the ground by the
28th, and three acres of it never grew afterwards. Having gone
through the gardens and wheat, these destructive insects left us
on the 29th.
The carpenters had now finished the new store-house: its
dimensions were thirty feet long by eighteen feet wide, and ten
feet under the eaves: the sides were covered with weather
boarding, and the roof was shingled. I ordered the provisions to
be brought from my house and from the surgeon's, and deposited in
the new store-house: the stores were also removed, and lodged
there.
The 4th of June, being the anniversary of his Majesty's
birth-day, it was observed as a holiday. The colours were hoisted
at sun-rise: at noon, the marines and free people drew up under
arms, to the right and left of the two three-pounders which were
on the parade, in front of my house. The male convicts were also
drawn up on the right, and the females on the left. Three rounds
of the guns and musquetry were fired; after which, the whole
party gave three cheers, and were dismissed.
In consideration of the behaviour of the convicts on the day
when the hurricane happened, and their general conduct since the
discovery of the plot, I was induced to let them partake of the
general festivity of the day; and ordered half a pint of rum for
each man, and a pint of wine for each woman, for them to drink
his Majesty's health: the officers dined at my table, and on our
drinking the King's health after dinner, three rounds of the
great guns were fired: in the evening bonfires were lighted up,
and the front windows of my house were illuminated with the
initials G. R.
When every person was assembled, and before the firing began,
I ordered the prisoner, Thomas Watson, who was in confinement for
a theft, (and whom I proposed sending to Port Jackson to be
tried) to be brought out, and in consideration of the day I
forgave him.
The remaining four acres of wheat, which the caterpillars had
not totally destroyed, were now shot out again, and had a very
promising appearance.
On the 11th, I drilled thirty pints of wheat into sixty roods
of ground; and, as I had but little seed left, this was, in my
own opinion, disposing of it to the best advantage; especially as
it was probable that the increase would be equal to that which
had been sown at a broad cast: I also drilled in eighteen pints
of marrow-fat peas.
At day-light in the morning of the 13th, we perceived his
Majesty's armed tender, the Supply, in the road: the surf at that
time ran very high in Sydney-Bay, and there being but little
easterly wind, with a strong flood-tide, she could not get to
Ball-Bay before three o'clock in the afternoon; when I received
my letters from Governor Phillip, who informed me, that he had
sent Lieutenant John Cresswell, of the marines, with fourteen
privates, to the island; that Mr. Cresswell was to put himself
under my command; and that in case of my death, or absence, the
government of the island was to devolve on him. I had also the
pleasing satisfaction to find that my conduct was approved of by
Governor Phillip.
The surf ran very high on the 14th, until three o'clock in the
afternoon, when Lieutenant Cresswell landed with his detachment
and part of their baggage; but nothing else could be received on
shore until the 17th, when part of the provisions and stores were
landed. As another boat was now become necessary for the use of
the settlement, I wrote to Lieutenant Ball, requesting him to
send his carpenter on shore to build a coble, that being the most
convenient sort of boat for going out and coming into this place.
The carpenter landed in the afternoon, and immediately got to
work in building a boat.
During the 18th, all the provisions were received on shore,
except sixteen casks of flour; but the surf increasing very much
in the evening, I made a signal for the Supply to hoist the coble
in. The sea ran so very high, that no boat could land until the
21st, when we received the remainder of the provisions and
stores; after which, the boats were employed in carrying off
water for the Supply, and planks for Port Jackson.
Two pecks of wheat were drilled into an acre of ground in
Arthur's Vale, on the 24th; and on the next day, one acre and a
quarter was sown with half a bushel of wheat at a broad cast.
We now had very strong gales at south-west, and at nine
o'clock in the morning the Supply passed between Nepean Isle and
Point Hunter. The gale continuing heavy from the south-west, I
sent a person round to the lee side of the island on the 26th, to
look for the Supply; but she could not be seen until day-light in
the morning of the 30th, when she was perceived hull down to the
southward, and working up to the island. By this time the new
boat was in great forwardness, and my own workmen being able to
finish it, I sent the carpenter of the Supply on board; and at
four in the afternoon that vessel made sail for Port Jackson.
Lieutenant Ball had orders to examine a shoal, which was seen
by the master of the Golden Grove, on her return from this island
in October last, in latitude 29° 25' south, longitude
159° 59' east of Greenwich: he was also to look for an island
and shoal that were seen by Lieutenant Shortland, in the
Alexander transport: the shoal, in latitude 29° 20' south,
longitude 158° 40' east, and the island 28° 10' south
latitude, and 159° 50' east longitude. Mr. Shortland named
them Sir Charles Middleton's Island and Shoal, and imagined they
were joined together.
On the 1st of July, the new coble was finished, and her bottom
payed: her dimensions were twenty-two feet long, by six feet six
inches wide. This business being compleated, the sawyers and
carpenters began to erect a house for Lieutenant Cresswell, of
eighteen feet long, by 12 feet wide, with a back part nine feet
square. The garden in Arthur's Vale being quite exposed and open,
I employed six men to surround it with a wattled hedge.
Edward Gaff, a convict, was punished with 100 lashes on the
6th, for stealing three quarts of wheat: indeed, scarcely a day
passed without complaints being made of thefts, which were
committed with such dexterity that it was impossible to detect
them. That thefts in so small a society should so frequently
happen was really astonishing; but when it is considered, that
the greatest part of that society were hardened villains, the
wonder will cease.
Eleven acres of wheat were now up in Arthur's Vale, and had a
very promising appearance: every vegetable in the gardens were
also in a thriving state.
Nothing material happened in the course of this month until
the 28th, when a tree fell on John Bryant, a convict, which
bruised his head so much that he died two hours afterwards. This
man was one among the very few honest convicts which I had on the
island.
Two bushels of seed wheat, being the remaining part of what I
had left, was sown this day, on the sides of Mount George, on two
acres of ground. Most of the marines who came to the island with
Lieutenant Cresswell, had now very comfortable huts and good
gardens.
In the month of August we had, in general, heavy gales of
wind, chiefly at north-west and south-west, attended with
rain.
The general employment of the convicts was now as follows:
Clearing away ground for cultivation and other necessary work 30
Sawyers sawing scantlings, and boards for buildings 2 2 free.
Carpenters building a house for Lieutenant Cresswell 2 1 free.
Blacksmith making and repairing necessary iron work 1 1 free.
Coblemen fishing 3
Gardeners 2 1 free.
Making shingles 4
Schoolmaster 1, officers servants 3, care of stock 1 5
Total 49 5
The 12th, being the anniversary of his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales's birth-day, the colours were hoisted at
sun-rise, and it was observed with the same ceremony as his
Majesty's birth-day, except giving liquor to the convicts, as
their recent behaviour, with regard to thefts, had totally
excluded them from that indulgence. As the wheat in Arthur's Vale
grew very rank, I was advised to crop it, which was done on the
13th: however, I let three acres remain in order to see which way
it would be most productive.
The carpenters having finished the shell of Lieutenant
Cresswell's house, I employed them in building an addition to the
back part of my habitation, as I was apprehensive of its being
blown down by the violent south-west winds, which were now almost
constant. After divine service on the 16th, (Sunday) the
following orders were read for preserving regularity and good
order among the inhabitants of the island.
ORDERS
I. All persons on the island are regularly to attend muster
and divine service, unless prevented by sickness: a disobedience
of this order will be punished by extra-work, or by stopping a
day's provisions for the first offence; which, if repeated, will
be punished by corporal chastisement.
II. No persons are to absent themselves from their quarters,
either by night or day, except they have obtained leave, or are
going to their respective work; and if any one is observed
lurking about after the watch is set, he will be fired at by the
centinel.
III. The working hours are to be regularly attended to, and
all persons absent from their work after the drum beats for that
purpose, will lose a portion of the time they may save from their
tasks; and in case of a second offence, they will be severely
punished.
IV. The tasks will be continued as usual, and the time saved
by the gangs is at their own disposal: those who distinguish
themselves by employing their time in cultivating their gardens,
and clearing ground for their own use, will meet with
encouragement and reward.
V. If the overseers, or the greatest part of any gang, should
have reason to complain of the idleness of any one man belonging
to that gang, and the complaint should be found just, the
offender will be severely punished.
VI. Those who render themselves unable to work by their
neglect or obstinacy, in not building themselves warm huts, or
who cut themselves through carelessness, will have a part of
their provisions stopped until they are able to go to work
again.
VII. All the tools and utensils are to be returned regularly
every night to the store-house when the retreat beats; and any
person who is found secreting any tool, or any article of the
King's stores, or committing any robbery whatever, will, on
detection and conviction, receive such punishment on the island
as his Majesty's Justices of the peace may judge the offence
deserves; or the offender will be sent to Port Jackson, to be
tried by the criminal court, as the commandant may judge
proper.
VIII. It is recommended to every one to be very careful of
their cloathing, and every free person or convict is strictly
forbid buying or selling any article of slop cloathing: those who
disobey this order will be prosecuted for buying or selling the
King's stores, whether free people or convicts.
IX. Whenever it may be necessary to make any complaint, the
person making the complaint is to inform the corporal of the
guard, who will immediately report it; when the commandant (or,
in his absence, Lieutenant John Cresswell,) will hear the
complaint and decide upon it.
X. Disobedience of orders, insolence to officers or overseers,
or any other improper behaviour, tending to the disturbance of
the peace, or hindrance of the King's service, will meet with
severe punishment; and a regular, honest, good behaviour, will
meet with encouragement and reward.
His Majesty's justices of the peace for this island, viz. the
Commandant and Lieutenant John Cresswell, (on whom the government
of the island devolves, in case of the commandant's death or
absence) have appointed Roger Morley and John Altree, to hold the
office of constables; and every person is ordered to be assisting
to either or both of them in the execution of their office.
Such were the laws, which our then situations required.
Four acres of ground in Arthur's Vale were planted with Indian
corn on the 24th; and, as the rats had dug up most of that which
had been planted in the gardens, I replaced it, putting five
grains of corn into each pit. During the remainder of this month,
we had heavy gales of wind from the south-west, which turned all
the wheat quite black, that was growing on the south side of
Mount George: but I did not apprehend that it was otherwise
injured than by being kept back. This gale was of longer
duration, and blew with greater force than any I had hitherto
observed.
On the 29th, Ann Coombs, a female convict, received fifty
lashes at the cart's tail, for defrauding Thomas Jones, of some
provisions: this punishment, however, did not deter her from
committing crimes of a similar nature; for the very next day she
was detected stealing two new check shirts from Francis Mew, a
private marine, and was punished with 100 lashes.
The weather during the month of September was variable; we had
some heavy gales of wind from the south-west and east-north-east,
but they were not of long duration.
Frequent notice has been taken of the destructive effects of
the grub-worm, and they were now as troublesome as ever. These
pernicious vermin are generated from the eggs of a fly, which are
left on the leaves of plants: here they come to life, and daily
gathering strength and vigour, they destroy the leaves; and
afterwards, falling on the ground, they cut off the roots and
stalks. The surgeon, who, with great perseverance and industry,
had got a very good garden, and every thing in it in great
forwardness, had all his plants and vegetables nearly destroyed
by the grub-worm, and most of the other gardens shared the same
fate. The mischief done at my garden in Arthur's Vale was not so
great, which I attributed to the quantity of cultivated ground
near it; and, probably, when more extensive pieces of ground come
to be cleared, the bad effects of the grub-worm will be in a
great measure prevented, but at present, these destructive
vermin, and the depredations of the convicts, rendered the
cultivation of gardens very discouraging to individuals.
The corporal of marines, who was a very industrious young man,
had cleared and planted a piece of ground, and by attention and
assiduity, had raised a quantity of vegetables, besides a very
fine crop of potatoes, which would have yielded him at least five
bushels; but, on the evening of the 5th, between sun-set and the
time of the watch being set, some villains dug up every one of
the potatoes, and destroyed a quantity of other vegetables; and
although the convicts were mustered in their huts at sun-set, and
three times more during the night, yet the theft was not
discovered until the next morning, when a very strict search was
made, in order to find out the offender, but to no purpose, as
the potatoes were (in the cant phrase) _all planted_; viz.
buried in the ground, so as to be taken out as they were
wanted.
This was one of the many acts of villainy that were daily
committed by these atrocious wretches.
Catherine Johnson, a female convict, was punished with fifty
lashes on the 7th, for abusing the store-keeper, and accusing him
of theft wrongfully.
Two acres were sown with Indian corn on the 16th, and the
ground being quite shaded from the sun, I employed a gang of
labourers to cut down the trees from three acres of land, in
order to let the sun in upon the corn. On the 28th, the produce
of 240 sets of potatoes, which had been planted on three roods of
ground the first of June, were dug up, and yielded five bushels
of very fine potatoes.
During the month of October, the weather was in general very
mild; the wind chiefly from the south-east. On the 1st, the
carpenters, with two men to assist them, began framing a barn,
which I proposed to erect in Arthur's Vale. The grub-worms were
still very numerous, notwithstanding the women convicts were
daily employed in picking them off the plants and out of the
ground: they totally destroyed one acre of Indian corn, and cut
off every cabbage and other plants as fast as they sprang up.
As it would be very convenient to have a path to the west side
of the island, I employed six men to cut a road from the
settlement to Mount Pitt, and from thence to Anson-Bay, which
business was completed on the 21st.
I went out in the morning of the 23d, to survey the west side
of Sydney-Bay, in the course of which, I found most of the bones
belonging to the body of one of the men who were drowned on the
6th of August, 1788: I brought them to the settlement, where they
were interred.
On the 27th, we had a strong gale of wind from the east,
attended with heavy rain, which was the first that had happened
since the 23d of September, and was much wanted. Fifteen acres of
wheat were now in ear, and had a good appearance; and the Indian
corn, of which we had seven acres, was in a thriving state,
although much thinned by the grub-worm: one acre of barley was
also in ear, and the garden vegetables were in great forwardness.
The grub-worm had totally disappeared, but still our calamities
were not at an end; for the parroquets (of which we had myriads)
were constantly destroying the wheat, and the garden productions;
insomuch that we were obliged to keep a number of persons
employed in beating them away with long poles.
During the month of November, the weather was hot and sultry,
with only one shower of rain; the wind from the east-south-east.
The carpenters finished the barn on the 9th: its dimensions were
30 feet long by 16 feet wide, and 17 feet under the eaves, with a
loft over it. The roof was well shingled, and the sides
weather-boarded: in short, it was a complete building, and
conveniently situated, being in the center of the cultivated
grounds in Arthur's Vale.
On the 13th, Lieutenant Cresswell turned a turtle in a small
bay, to the westward of the settlement, which he distributed
amongst the free persons and others, as far as it would go.
Robert Webb, a seaman belonging to the Sirius, went on the
15th, to the valley above the Cascade-Bay; having obtained my
permission to become a settler, if Governor Phillip should have
no objection to it.
Some barley which had been sown the latter end of May, about
three quarters of an acre with one bushel and an half of seed,
was cut this day, and the produce was twenty-three bushels of a
very fine full grain. The potatoes which were sown during the
month of September, in Arthur's vale, were all running to stalk,
and not one potatoe formed at the roots: the fibres were very
strong and shooting out of the ground, notwithstanding they had
been well earthed: this was probably owing to the very great heat
and drought which we had recently experienced. Large flocks of
parroquets still infested the wheat, and made great havock in one
acre; but as it ripened very fast, I did not apprehend much
farther damage from them or the caterpillars, which were again
become very numerous.
As it would be necessary to have the hogs and poultry near the
granary, during the time of harvest, I employed a party of
labourers in bringing logs to make an inclosure round the barn,
and other conveniencies for the stock; and on the 30th, we began
the wheat harvest.
On the 3d of December, at day-light, the Supply arrived in the
road, and soon afterwards, I received my letters from Governor
Phillip. In the course of the day, six men and eight women
convicts were landed, with some provisions and stores for the
settlement. By an order from Governor Phillip, all persons on the
island were to be put to two-thirds allowance of provisions,
which commenced on the 5th: the settlement at Port Jackson went
to this allowance in November. Having received every thing from
the Supply, that vessel sailed for Port Jackson on the 7th.
All the labourers were now employed in reaping, stacking, and
thatching the wheat, which business was all finished by the 24th.
Four acres of the wheat were greatly damaged by some very heavy
rain, which fell from the 14th to the 18th, and caused it to
shoot out; but this was put into a stack by itself for present
consumption. The wheat now reaped had been sown at different
periods, notwithstanding which, it was ripe nearly at the same
time; but the last sown did not stock so well as that which was
put more early in the ground: that which was sown in drills,
suffered much from the blighting winds; and, as this island is
subject to these winds at all times of the year, the method of
drilling wheat or barley in rows, will not answer so well as when
sown at a broad cast. The best time for sowing wheat, is from the
latter end of May to the middle of June; indeed, that which was
sown in August, yielded a very large sound grain; but, (as I have
already observed) it did not stock so well as the other.
At sun-rise on the 25th, the colours were hoisted, in
observance of Christmas-day; divine service was performed at ten
o'clock, and I ordered two hogs, belonging to the crown, to be
killed and issued out to the free people and convicts, at the
rate of one pound and an half to each person: and, as the crop of
wheat had turned out tolerably well, I ordered two pounds of
flour to each man, and the women one pound each, to celebrate the
festival.
During the month of January, the weather was very variable,
with frequent strong gales of wind from the south-east. The
general employment of the labourers was clearing away ground for
the next season, and turning up the fifteen acres of wheat
stubble, threshing, making shingles, cutting logs, to make a
log-house for the store-keeper, and other necessary business.
The small union flag had hitherto been used as a signal for
landing, but as it could not easily be distinguished from the
roads, on the 11th, I had a flag-staff fixed in the front of my
house, the lower mast of which was 20 feet long, and the top-mast
36 feet; on which a large union was occasionally to be
hoisted.
Some villain stabbed a very fine sow which was near farrowing,
on the 18th, but though the strictest enquiry was made, I could
not discover who was the perpetrator of this atrocious act.
Most of the labourers were now employed in cutting down,
gathering, and cleaning the Indian corn, a vast quantity of which
was destroyed by the parroquets, although men were constantly
employed in beating them off with long poles.
A greater number of people were sick during this month, than
had been the case since my landing on the island. The complaint,
in general, was a diarrhoea, but those who had this disorder were
soon recovered. The surgeon was of opinion that the great change
of weather which had happened, joined to the great quantity of
vegetables that were daily consumed, was the cause of this
sickness.
The appearance of a vessel in the road at day-light in the
morning of the 29th, caused the greatest acclamations of joy
through the whole settlement; every person imagining that ships
had arrived from England; especially as the Supply had been with
us so recently: but, presently afterwards, we perceived it to be
that vessel; and on receiving my letters from the governor, I
found that no ships had arrived from our native country; which
piece of intelligence being circulated through the settlement, a
dejection took place equal to the joy that was visible a short
time before.
Twenty-two male convicts and one female arrived by the Supply,
but no provisions were sent along with them, there being only a
sufficient quantity at Port Jackson to serve until the latter end
of May, at the present allowance; and as our crops had been good,
and our resources, with respect to fish and vegetables, were
greater than at Port Jackson, the governor had thought proper to
send this additional number of convicts.
Our present numbers were now as follow, viz.
Civil and military, 32
Male convicts, 79
Female convicts, 33
Children, 5
Total 149
I was also informed by Governor Phillip, that as it was
necessary for the Sirius to have her full complement of officers,
he had ordered me to be discharged from that ship; and had
appointed Mr. Newton Fowell to be second-lieutenant in my room,
and Mr. Henry Waterhouse to be third-lieutenant, instead of
Lieutenant George William Maxwell, who was reported by the
surgeons to be insane.
Having received all the convicts from the Supply, and sent my
letters for Governor Phillip on board, she set sail for Port
Jackson on the 2d of February.
During this month we had heavy gales of wind, with some
intervals of fine weather, and the rain becoming frequent, I
ordered sheds to be built over the saw-pits, that the sawyers
might work without interruption.
Those few amongst the convicts who had been industrious, were
now rewarded for it, as some had raised from one thousand to
fifteen hundred cobs of Indian corn; which, together with the
fish that was procured from time to time, was of great service to
them now that their allowance of salt provisions was reduced. The
remainder of the Indian corn was got in on the 19th.
Richard Phillimore, a convict, had informed me that the term
of his transportation expired on the 16th of January; and having
taken the oath administered on that occasion, he signified a wish
of becoming a settler: as he was a sober, industrious man, I gave
him time to consider of it, and to look out for a situation where
he would like to settle at: he informed me on the 22d, that he
still was desirous of fixing on the island, and had found a spot
where he wished to reside; on which, I sent some labourers to
build him an house, and to clear away a little ground for a
commencement; I also gave him a sow with young, and some poultry,
and he was fully of opinion, that in one year, or two at
farthest, he should be able to support himself, without any
assistance from the settlement.
During the month of March, we had a deal of blowing weather,
and much rain; the wind generally from the south-west. The
labourers were employed in clearing ground for cultivation,
husking and stripping Indian corn, and other necessary work; and
six men were sawing frames for building barracks.