TRANSACTIONS AT NORFOLK ISLAND AND PORT JACKSON
March 1790 to April 1790
-The arrival of the Sirius and Supply at
Norfolk-Island.--The loss of the Sirius.--Captain Hunter and the
crew saved.--A general meeting of the officers convened.--Sundry
regulations adopted.--Martial-Lawproclaimed.--Lieutenant-Governor
Ross takes thecommand.--Lieutenant King leaves
Norfolk-Island.--Description of Norfolk-Island.--Face of the
country.--Water--Soil--Climate--Timber--Insects--Fish--Seasons--Winds--Coast,
and Bays.--Present state of cultivation.--General behaviour of
the convicts.--Number of inhabitants on the island.--Grain and
live-stock.--Lieutenant King arrives at Port Jackson.--Finds the
country greatly improved.--Manners and customs of the
natives.--Vocabulary of the language.-
At the break of day on the 13th of March, I was alarmed with a
tumultuous noise of huzzaing and rejoicing; on enquiry into the
cause, I found that two vessels were seen in the offing. Every
one of us were now fully persuaded that the long looked for and
much expected relief was at length arrived, and we began to
felicitate each other that the time was now come, when we should
hear news from England: some of us anticipated pleasing and
unpleasing accounts from our friends in the northern hemisphere,
as we had been near three years absent, without having received
the least intelligence from our relatives, or native country.
As the wind blew strong at south-west, and a great sea was
running in the bay; the vessels, (which we found were the Sirius
and Supply,) bore up for Ball-Bay, to which place I went, and
received from Lieutenant Ball my letters from Governor Phillip.
Our expectations were once more blasted, for, instead of those
pleasing hopes being realized, which the appearance of the
vessels had created in the morning, we were informed that no
relief had arrived, nor had any intelligence been received from
England.
I found by the governor's letter, that he had sent
Lieutenant-Governor Ross in the Sirius, to take the command at
Norfolk-Island, as the service rendered it necessary for my
returning to England, in order to give such information to his
Majesty's ministers, respecting the settlement I had established,
as could not be conveyed by letter. I was also directed to
furnish Lieutenant-Governor Ross with copies of all such orders
as I had from time to time received from the governor, and which
had not been put in execution; together with all the information
I had acquired respecting the nature of the soil, and the mode of
cultivation which had been followed; as also my observations
respecting the climate, and the general line of conduct of the
people under my direction; and to leave him such rules and
regulations as I had established for preserving good order and
regularity among the convicts.
I was farther directed to embark on board the Sirius, whose
commander had orders to receive me on board, with all such petty
officers, seamen, and marines, belonging to that ship, who were
not desirous of becoming settlers; directions having been given
the Lieutenant-Governor to that effect. Lieutenant-Governor Ross
brought with him, one captain, five subalterns, a number of
non-commissioned officers and privates, with the colours: also a
number of male and female convicts, and children; with their
proportion of cloaths, provisions, and stores.
The two vessels went round to Cascade-Bay, where part of the
detachment of marines and some of the convicts were landed; and
the next forenoon, the remainder of the marines and convicts,
with a great part of their baggage, were landed, and they marched
to the settlement. The Lieutenant-Governor arrived at the
settlement at noon. In the orders for the night, he requested
that I would continue the command of the island until my
departure.
On the 15th, the remains of the provisions and other stores on
the island were surveyed by Captain Johnston and Lieutenants
Cresswell and Clark: after which, I got the receipts from Mr.
Roger Morley, to whom I had given an order to act as
store-keeper, with the approbation of Governor Phillip. The wind
blew strong from the east-south-east; and on the 16th, we had
strong gales from the north-east, with almost constant heavy
rain. The Sirius and Supply were seen from Mount Pitt, some
distance at sea, in the south-east quarter.
This day, Jeremiah Leary, a convict, ran the gantlet among the
convicts for a theft, and was severely punished.
We had very strong gales from the north-east on the 17th,
attended with almost constant rain. The two vessels were working
up for the island; and at one o'clock in the afternoon, the
Supply came into the road, and landed a quantity of luggage, some
stock, and thirteen casks of provisions. No landing could be
attempted on the 18th, the wind still blowing very strong at
north-east; but on the 19th, the wind shifted to the
east-south-east, and grew more moderate; so that at day-light,
the Supply came into the road, and the Sirius was at some
distance to the southward, standing in for the island. There
being very fine landing, I made the signal that large boats could
land safely, and by ten o'clock every thing was received from the
Supply.
Soon afterwards, the Sirius hove to, in order to hoist her
boats out, which, being accomplished, she made sail; but the tide
of flood still ran very strong, and she could not weather the
outer rock of the reef which runs off Point Ross: after an
unsuccessful attempt to stay, she wore and came to the wind on
the starboard tack: unfortunately, the wind shifted to the
south-east, and the strong hold which the tide had on the ship,
forced her near the island, and she got to the back of the reef:
she was now hove in stays, but having fresh stern way, she tailed
on the reef and struck. The masts were instantly cut away, and
the surf increasing along-side of her, only two boats load of
provisions could be got out: an anchor was let go, which
prevented the ship from coming broadside to on the reef. From
noon until four o'clock, every person was employed in getting a
hawser from the ship, and fastening it to a tree on the shore: a
heart was fixed on the hawser as a traveller, and a grating was
slung to it, fastened to a small hawser, one end of which was on
shore and the other end on board.
At five o'clock, the surgeon's mate came on shore by the
grating, being hauled through a very great surf: he brought me a
note from Captain Hunter, desiring to know if I thought it would
be safe for the sailors to abide by the wreck all night. The wind
was now at south, and the weather had a very threatening
appearance, and as the surf had risen considerably, I thought
there was the utmost danger of the ship's parting at the flowing
tide, the consequence of which must have been the destruction of
every person on board: I therefore made a signal for the wreck to
be quitted, and by the time it grew dark, the captain and most of
the sailors were on shore, being dragged through a very heavy
surf; many of them received violent blows from the rocks over
which they were dragged.
Captain Hunter and Mr. Waterhouse were got on shore together,
and just as they got footing on the reef, the captain was so much
exhausted, that he had nearly quitted his hold: the first and
second lieutenant, with some of the sailors, remained on board
all night.
The instant the ship struck, Lieutenant-Governor Ross ordered
the drums to assemble all the marines and convicts: martial law
was then proclaimed, and the people were told that if any one
killed any animal or fowl, or committed any robbery whatever,
they would be instantly made a severe example of. The officers
and marines were ordered to wear their side-arms: guards were set
over the barn and store-houses, and some other necessary
regulations were ordered by the Lieutenant-Governor.
On the 20th, we had very strong gales of wind at south, and a
great surf running: by four o'clock, every person were got out of
the wreck without any other accident than receiving a few
bruises. Those who came last from the wreck, reported, that the
beams of the lower deck were started from the side, and that at
high water, the sea came to the after hatchway on the lower deck,
the fore part of the ship being under water; and that the
provisions were mostly on deck.
The gale continued very strong on the 21st, with a heavy surf
running; but the wreck being in the same position as the
preceding day, we entertained the pleasing hopes of being able to
save all the provisions, and most of the ship's effects.
At ten in the morning, Lieutenant-Governor Ross, Captain
Hunter, all the commissioned officers of marines and of the
Sirius, and myself, assembled in the government-house, when the
lieutenant governor laid the situation of the island before the
meeting, and pointed out the necessity of a law being made, by
which criminals might be punished with death for capital crimes,
there being no law in force on the island that could notice
capital offences: he also proposed the establishment of martial
law until further orders, which was unanimously agreed to; and
that in all cases where sentence of death was pronounced, five
persons out of seven should concur in opinion: it was also
resolved, that all private stock, Indian corn, and potatoes
should be given in to the store-keeper, and appropriated for the
use of the public; and that every person should go to half
allowance of provisions until it should be known what quantity
could be saved from the wreck; also, that three locks should be
put on the store-house and barn; one key to be in the possession
of Captain Hunter, another in possession of a person to be named
by the lieutenant-governor, and the third to be kept by a person
to be named by the convicts.
These resolutions were agreed to, and signed by the
lieutenant-governor and the rest of the officers assembled.
At eight o'clock in the morning of the 22d, all persons on the
island were assembled near the lower flag-staff, on which the
union was hoisted: the marines were drawn up in two lines,
leaving a space in the center, at the head of which was the
union. The colours of the detachment were then unfurled, and the
Sirius's crew were drawn up on the right, and the convicts on the
left, the officers being in the center. The proclamation was then
read, declaring, that the island was to be governed by martial
law, until further orders: the lieutenant-governor next addressed
the convicts, and, after pointing out the situation of the
settlement, he exhorted them to be honest, industrious, and
obedient. This being concluded, the whole gave three cheers; and
every person, beginning with the lieutenant-governor, passed
under the union flag, taking off their hats as they passed it, in
token of an oath to submit and be amenable to the martial law,
which had then been declared.
After this ceremony was concluded, the convicts and the
Sirius's crew were sent round to Cascade-Bay, where a proportion
of flour and pork was received from the Supply, and brought round
to the settlement.
In the afternoon, John Brannagin and William Dring (two
convicts) offered to go on board the wreck, in order to heave the
live stock over-board; and having obtained the permission of
Captain Hunter and the Lieutenant-Governor, they went to the
wreck, and sent a number of pigs and some poultry on shore, but
they remained on board; and at the dusk of the evening, a light
was perceived in the after part of the ship; on which, a volley
of small arms were fired, to make them quit the wreck, or put the
light out; which not being done, a three pounder shotted was
fired into the wreck, but with no effect: on this, John Arscot, a
convict carpenter, offered to go off; and although it was quite
dark, and the surf ran very high, yet he got on board, and
obliged the other two convicts to quit the wreck by the hawser.
Arscot hailed the shore, but we could not understand what he
said, except that he should stay on board the wreck. Brannagin
(one of the convicts) was drunk when he came on shore.
On the 23d, we had very strong gales of wind at west by north,
but the landing was good early in the morning, and the large
coble was sent on board the Supply, (which was in the road) with
some of my baggage, and the officers and men belonging to the
Sirius, who were going to Port Jackson. The master of the Sirius,
with eight men, went on board the wreck by the hawser, and a
triangle was erected on the reef, to keep the bight of the hawser
from the ground; which would greatly facilitate the landing any
article from the wreck. The master informed Captain Hunter, by a
note, that Brannagin and Dring (the two convicts) had set fire to
the wreck, which had burnt through the gun deck; but had been
happily extinguished by Arscot, who went on board to send them
out of the ship: on this, they were ordered into confinement
previous to their being tried for setting fire to the wreck.
The weather being moderate and pleasant in the morning of the
24th, I went on board the Supply, along with Lieutenants
Waterhouse and Fowell, and twenty-two of the crew, belonging to
the late Sirius; and at noon, we made sail for Port Jackson.
As I have now taken leave of this island, I shall add my
general observations on it; and although several of them may
probably have been made before, in the course of this journal,
yet it perhaps may not be amiss to collect them together in one
point of view.
NORFOLK ISLAND.
By the mean of several meridional altitudes of the sun, and a
great number of lunar observations, the latitude of Sydney-Bay is
29° 04' 40" south, and its longitude 168° 12' east, of
Greenwich. The form of the island is a long square, and it
contains about fourteen thousand acres: it is six miles in length
and four in breadth.
Face of the country_.--The island is very hilly, and
some of the valleys are tolerably large, considering the size of
the island; but most of them are only deep hollows, formed by the
steep hills on each side, some of which rise so perpendicular
that they cannot be cultivated. There are some extensive plains
on the summits of the hills. Mount Pitt is the only remarkable
hill on the island, and is about two hundred fathoms high. The
cliffs round the island are about forty fathoms high, and are
quite perpendicular: the basis of them, as well as most of the
rocks and reefs round the island, is a hard, firm clay, of a very
fine texture. The whole island is covered with a very thick
forest, choaked up with underwood, which makes it impassable
until it is cleared away.
-Water_.--The island is well supplied with many streams
of very fine water, some of which are sufficiently large to turn
a number of mills: it is probable that most of these rivulets
originate from springs near Mount Pitt. On a hill, near the
middle of the island, between Cascade and Sydney bays, there is a
pond of fresh water, about half an acre: there is no rivulet near
it, nor can any spring be perceived, yet, in the greatest
drought, it constantly remains full, and has a very good taste.
All these streams abound with very fine eels.
-Soil_.--From the sides of the cliffs which surround the
coast, to the summit of Mount Pitt, there is a continuation of
the finest soil, varying from a rich brown mould to a light red
earth. Some large stones are found on different parts of the
island.
-Air_.--As a proof of the salubrity and wholesomeness of
the air, it is to be remarked, that there had been scarcely any
sickness since I landed, nor had we any illness whatever, except
a few colds.
-Timber and trees_.--There are only five sorts of trees
on the island which can be called timber; viz. the pine, a wood
resembling the live oak; a yellow wood; a hard black wood; and a
wood resembling the English beech. The pine-trees are of a great
size, many of them being from one hundred and eighty to two
hundred and twenty feet high, and from four to eight feet
diameter some distance from the ground. Those trees, which
measure from one hundred to one hundred and eighty feet high, are
in general sound, and are without branches for eighty or ninety
feet, but the upper part is too knotty and hard to be useful;
indeed, it frequently happens, that after twenty feet have been
cut off from the butt, the trees becomes rotten and shaky, and is
also very brittle; for which reason, no dependance can be put on
them for masts or yards. The turpentine which exudes freely from
the bark, is of a milk-white glutinous substance; but it is
rather remarkable, that there is none in the timber. We tried to
render this turpentine useful in paying boats, and other
purposes, but without success; as it would neither melt nor burn:
we also tried to make pitch or tar, by burning the old pines; but
there being no turpentine in the wood, our efforts were useless.
The pine is very useful in buildings, and being dispersed in
various parts of the island, is well calculated for such
buildings as hereafter may be necessary: from what I have been
able to observe, it is very durable, as that which we had used
for erecting houses, stood the weather very well. Two cobles were
built of this wood, one of which was built in June, 1788: she was
water-soaked, owing to our want of any kind of stuff to pay her
with.
The live-oak, yellow-wood, black-wood, and beech, are all of a
close grain, and durable; in general they are from fourteen to
twenty inches diameter. The branches of the live-oak are fit for
timbers and knees of boats or small vessels.
There are a variety of other small trees on the island, but as
they are not useful, it is unnecessary to enumerate them here;
though I should not omit the fern-tree, the bark of which serves
many purposes, instead of twine and rope. The cabbage-palm were
in great plenty when I first landed on the island, but, by
continual cutting, they were almost destroyed. There is a plant
among the underwood, which produces a kind of pepper; its leaves
are broad, and have an aromatic, pungent taste: the core which
contains the seed, shoots out between the leaf and the stalk, and
is in general two or three inches long, and full of small seeds,
which have nearly the same taste as the leaves; but, on their
being dried, the smell and taste leaves them: it is also
difficult to find them in a state of ripeness, as the parroquets
destroy them before they can arrive at any degree of
perfection.
The flax-plant of New Zealand, grows spontaneously, and in
great quantities on many parts of the island, but chiefly on the
coasts and in the vallies near the sea: the leaves of this plant,
when full grown, are from six to eight feet long, and six inches
wide at the bottom: each plant contains seven leaves, and a woody
stalk rises from the center, which bears the flowers: it seeds
annually, and the old leaves are forced off by the young one
every year. The method of soaking and preparing European flax and
hemp, had been tried, but with no other effect than separating
the vegetable part from the fibres; and a ligneous substance
still remaining, it could not be reduced to an useful state. Some
lines have been made of it, but they were not very strong; though
the flax appears capable of being worked into a very fine
substance, if the method of preparing it were known.
-Insects_.--These have already been described. The ground
is much infested by the grub-worm, which are very destructive to
the growth of vegetables: they are mostly troublesome about the
spring. Various methods have been tried to destroy these vermin,
but without effect. The caterpillar has also been very
troublesome in the spring; having destroyed acres of Indian corn
and acres of wheat: they came in upon the grain quite suddenly,
and after remaining three weeks, they went away with the same
rapidity.
-Fish_.--The coasts of the island abound with very fine
fish, which are principally the snapper, and weigh from four to
eight pounds each. A few fish are at times caught from the shore;
this, however, happens but seldom; so that a supply of fish must
depend on the weather and the surf permitting boats to go out. In
moderate weather, boats might land in Collins's-Bay, on
Phillip-Island, where a great quantity of fish might be cured,
from March to September; after which time the fly prevents
it.
-Seasons_.--The spring is very visible in August, but the
trees on many parts of the island are in a constant succession of
flowering and seeding the whole year round. The summer is very
hot: I had no thermometer to determine the degree of heat, but it
is excessive. From the 23d of September, 1789, to the 22d of
February, 1790, not one drop of rain fell, excepting on two days
in December; but it should be remarked, that we had no drought in
the former year. All the grain, and the European plants seeded in
December. From February to August may be called the rainy season;
not that I think there is any regular time of rains during these
months, as the weather is sometimes very fine for a fortnight
together; but when the rain does fall, it pours in torrents. I do
not recollect more than three claps of thunder, or lightning,
during the time I remained on the island. The winter, (which may
be said to commence in April, and end in July,) is very pleasant;
there is never any frost; but when the south-west winds blow,
which are very frequent and violent in these months, the air is
raw and cold. It is very remarkable, that during some days in
December and January, the weather has been much colder than in
the winter months. The south-east, and east winds are very
parching and dry, as no dew falls when those winds prevail.
-Winds_.--During the winter months, the wind is mostly
from south to west, blowing with great violence for a week
together; afterwards it veers round to the southward and
south-east, which brings fine weather for a few days, then it
veers to east, north-east, and north-west, blowing in heavy
gales, and generally accompanied with violent torrents of rain:
after which it shifts to south-west: indeed, I do not remember
one instance of the wind coming to the north-east, round by west.
The south-east wind blows during the summer with very little
variation, and sometimes very strong.
-Coasts of the island_.--The coasts of the island are in
general steep to, and (excepting Sydney, Anson, Ball, and Cascade
Bays,) are inaccessible; being surrounded by steep cliffs, which
rise perpendicularly from the sea. A number of large rocks lie
scattered about close to the shore, on which a continual surf
breaks with great force.
SYDNEY-BAY, (which was so named after Lord Viscount Sydney,)
lies on the south side of the island, and here the settlement was
formed: this bay is formed by Point Hunter and Point Ross, which
lie east half north, and west half south of each other, and are
about a mile and three-quarters asunder. A reef of clay and coral
extends from Point Hunter, at the distance of 150 yards from the
shore, and parallel to it, for about three-quarters of a mile:
close to the back of this reef, there is four fathoms water; it
terminates abreast of the settlement with a corner, round which
is the landing place; but, as the surf breaks with great violence
on the reef, it sometimes breaks into the passage off the corner,
so that landing is then impossible. The landing in this bay,
entirely depends on the state of the sea without, and the
direction of the wind; great attention should also be paid to the
signals from the shore. I have seen the landing, for a month
together, as good as could be wished; and sometimes a very heavy
surf would continue for a fortnight: on the whole, the best time
for landing is from half ebb to half flood, and an easterly,
north-east, and north-west wind, generally make smooth water.
There is another reef off Point Ross, which stretches about
half a mile into the sea; and no vessel ought ever to go within
the outer breaker of this reef, and the south point of
Nepean-Isle. The tide sets right through between the islands, and
when the flood runs to the westward, it sets very strong round
Nepean-Island into the bight of Sydney-Bay; therefore all vessels
ought to be particularly cautious not to go within Nepean-Island
with an inblowing wind: should the wind be from the eastward or
westward, vessels might stand very close in; but even this ought
not to be done, except for the purpose of taking a boat up, and
then the tide must be considered.
The passage between Point Hunter and Nepean-Island is a very
good one, there being three fathoms water close to Nepean-Isle,
and nine fathoms in mid-channel. There lies a rock off Point
Hunter in the direction of south-west with one fathom and a half
on it, but it is out of the passage. The tide occasions a very
strong race between the islands, which makes it very difficult
for vessels to have communication with the shore, as they cannot
anchor, the bottom being rocky. The ebb runs nine hours to the
east, and the flood three hours to the west, but at times, the
flood has been observed to run five hours: it flows in this bay
at seven hours and an half, full and change, and rises seven feet
perpendicular.
ANSON-BAY, (which was named after George Anson, the member of
parliament for Litchfield,) is a small bay with a sandy beach:
the landing here is tolerably good in settled weather, and when
the sea is quite smooth; but as the interior parts of the island
are so very difficult of access from thence, no ship's boats have
ever landed there.
BALL-BAY, (which was named after Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird
Ball,) goes in about three-quarters of a mile: the beach is
formed of large loose stones, which renders beaching boats here
dangerous, though it often happens that the landing here is very
good when the surf has increased so much in Sydney-Bay as to
render landing there impracticable. A good landing place was
cleared away here, but in the course of three months the stones
were washed into it again, although many of them weighed two
hundred pounds each. This bay is surrounded by very steep hills,
which renders the access to the settlement from hence rather
difficult.
CASCADE-BAY.--The south-west winds, which generally prevail
during the winter months, make this the best side of the island
for landing on at that season. A good landing place may easily be
made, where any thing might be landed from half ebb to half
flood. It is the intention of the lieutenant-governor to erect a
store-house, and make a good landing place; indeed this would
have been done before, but the want of hands prevented it. The
Golden-Grove and Supply have both lain at anchor in this bay,
bringing the great Cascade to bear south-west, at one mile from
the shore, in seventeen fathoms coral and sand, but the bottom is
foul, as there is great reason to suppose it is all round the
island.
-Present state of cultivation_.--The proper time for
sowing wheat or barley is from May to August: that which is sown
in sheltered situations, should be sown in May, June, and July:
and that which is sown in places that are exposed to the
sea-winds on the south side of the island, should not be sown
before July; and if so late as August, it would yield well. The
wheat, which has been sown, produced more than twenty fold; and,
I think in future, it will yield a still greater increase. We
have found a bushel and an half of seed sufficient for an acre of
ground newly broke up. Two bushels of barley sown in May on an
acre of ground yielded twenty-four bushels. Indian corn should be
planted from June until August, in places not much exposed to the
sea winds: it yields well, and is in my opinion the best grain to
cultivate, on account of the little trouble attending its growth,
and the manufacturing it for food.
The sugar-cane grows very strong, and I think will come to
perfection; although it suffers much from the blighting winds,
and the grub-worm. Vines, orange, and lemon trees, are in a very
thriving state: the banana trees found growing on the island,
will, I make no doubt, thrive very well, when those which have
been planted out from the old trees come to perfection; indeed
some of them have already yielded good fruit. That useful article
of food, the potatoe, thrives amazingly, and two crops a year may
be obtained with ease: I have seen 120 potatoes at one root, 80
of which were larger than an hen's egg. Every kind of garden
vegetable (which the grub spares,) grows well and comes to great
perfection: cabbages weigh from ten to twenty-seven pounds each:
melons and pumpkins also grow very fine.
I think situations might be found on the island, where cotton
and indigo will thrive: of the latter, there are two trees, both
which are very large and fine, but the ant destroys the blossom
as fast as it flowers. Rice has been sown twice, viz. once each
year, but the south-east winds blighted a great part of it: that
which escaped the blight, yielded a great increase. The quantity
of ground cleared and in cultivation on the 13th of March, 1790,
was thirty acres belonging to the crown, and about eighteen acres
cleared by free people and convicts, for their gardens.
It was my intention to put as many labourers as could be
spared from other necessary work, to clear ground for
cultivation; and I had reason to believe that I should have had
from fifty to seventy acres sown with grain by the end of
October: I purposed to continue clearing ground in Arthur's Vale,
and on the hill round it, in order to have all the cultivated
lands belonging to the public as much connected together as
possible; this would have answered much better for the growth of
wheat, Indian corn, or barley, than their being sown in confined
situations; which experience had shown were not at all
productive: the parroquets and other birds would not have
destroyed so much of the grain before it was got in, and it might
be much better guarded from thieves than if the cultivated
grounds were dispersed in different parts of the island: another
very material reason for clearing all the ground in this
particular situation was, that the barn was situated in the
center of the vale.
I proposed building a strong log store-house at Cascade-Bay,
and making the landing place there more easy of access; which,
from the increased number of the inhabitants on the island, was
now become absolutely necessary; especially as landing there is
much oftener practicable than in Sydney-Bay: indeed, I should
have got this business done, but that it would have been a great
hindrance to cultivation, which I ever thought was the principal
object to attend to. The other buildings which I meant to erect,
were barracks for the soldiers, of 54 feet long by 16 feet wide;
a granary, 36 feet long by 20 feet wide, and a store-house, 60
feet long by 24 feet wide; all which, I hoped, would have been
completed by the ensuing December.
Respecting the flax, although we made repeated trials, yet,
having no person conversant in the preparation of it, I found it
could not at present be brought to an useful state: but I may
venture to say, that if proper flax-dressers could be sent to New
Zealand, to observe their method of manufacturing it, they might
render it a valuable commodity, both to furnish the inhabitants
with cloathing, and for other purposes.
It was my intention to have built an house and a shed on
Phillip-Island, and, after landing three or four months water on
it, to have sent six convicts with a boat to catch and cure fish;
this would have been a great resource for Norfolk-Island; but the
fish must have been cured from April to September, on account of
the fly.
I apprehend, from the goodness of the soil, that
Norfolk-Island is very capable of maintaining at least one
hundred families, allowing to each an hundred acres of ground,
and reserving two thousand acres for fuel: with industry, they
would have in a short time, all the necessaries of life, except
cloathing, and that must depend on the flax of the island, or the
growth of European flax.
The want of a safe harbour for vessels to lie in, is a very
great inconvenience, and renders it difficult to have access to
the island; indeed, vessels may load and unload, by going to the
lee-side, and embracing other favourable opportunities, but
unfortunately the vast quantity of coral rocks which cover the
bottom, render anchorage very unsafe.
However, should the settlement at Port Jackson be continued,
in the course of a few years these difficulties will scarcely be
thought on, when compared with the advantages arising from the
quantity of grain that there is every reason to suppose may be
drawn from this island, for the support of the inhabitants of New
South-Wales.
-General behaviour of the convicts, and other
remarks_.--The few convicts that first landed with me, in
general behaved well; but, as their numbers increased, they
renewed their wicked practices: the most artful and daring thefts
were now almost daily committed, and the perpetrators could
seldom be discovered; and nothing but the certainty of meeting
with a very severe punishment, and the mustering them frequently
during the night in their huts could prevent these thefts in any
degree whatever: indeed, they were often troublesome, and some of
them were incorrigible, notwithstanding every encouragement was
held out to them, and the indulgencies they received were fully
sufficient to convince them that they would be treated according
to their deserts: some few of them were susceptible of the
advantages arising from industry and good behaviour; those of
this description had the satisfaction of enjoying a quantity of
Indian corn, potatoes, and other vegetables, which were a great
assistance to them at the time they were put to short allowance
of provisions; and some of them had cleared from one to three
acres of ground, which they proposed sowing with Indian corn and
potatoes: these formed a respectable set of convicts, compared to
the greater part, who were idle, miserable wretches.
When I first landed on the island, the convicts were kept at
day-work, having stated times for their dinners and other meals:
this method answered very well whilst there were few to look
after; but when their numbers increased, I had not people of
confidence to overlook them and keep them at work: I therefore
judged it would be more eligible to task them, taking the opinion
of those whom I thought most conversant in the different kinds of
work that were going forward.
The numbers of inhabitants I left on Norfolk Island were as follow:
Civil, military, and free 90
Belonging to the Sirius 80
Male convicts 191
Female convicts 100
Children 37
Total 498
The quantities of grain, potatoes, and live stock I left were
as follow:
Wheat, from 250 to 300 bushels.
Barley 6 bushels.
Indian corn 130 to 140 bushels.
Potatoes, one acre, would be ready to dig in May.
Hogs, large and small, belonging to the public, 26, besides 18
hogs, a quantity of poultry, 3 goats, and 1 ewe, my property; and
some stock belonging to individuals.
Before I take my final leave of this island, (where I remained
two years) I cannot help acknowledging the great assistance I
have received from the few officers I had with me; nor was this
propriety of conduct confined to the officers alone, as all the
marines and other free people were steady and regular in their
behaviour; and it gives me a sensible satisfaction to remark,
that, excepting on one or two occasions, I never had any reason
to be dissatisfied with any of the few free persons I had under
my command.
Exclusive of this general approbation of the good conduct of
the free people, I must particularise Mr. Cresswell, the officer
of marines; Mr. Stephen Dunavan, midshipman; and Mr. Thomas
Jamieson, surgeon's mate, of the Sirius, I feel the greatest
satisfaction in saying that a constant, uniform propriety of
conduct, and a readiness in forwarding the service, were ever
zealously shown by these gentlemen.
At noon on the 24th, the Supply made sail, and we arrived at
Port Jackson on the 4th of April.
When I left Port Jackson in February, 1788, the ground about
Sydney-Cove was covered with a thick forest, but on my arrival at
this time, I found it cleared to a considerable distance, and
some good buildings were erected. The governor, the
lieutenant-governor, the judge-advocate, and the greatest part of
the civil and military officers were comfortably lodged. The
governor's house is built of stone, and has a very good
appearance, being seventy feet in front. The
lieutenant-governor's house is built of brick, as are also those
belonging to the judge and the commissary: the rest of the houses
are built with logs and plaistered; and all the roofs are either
covered with shingles or thatched. The hospital is a good
temporary building: the soldiers were in barracks, and the
officers had comfortable huts, with gardens adjoining to them;
but unfortunately, these gardens afford but little, as there is
not more than two feet of soil over a bed of rocks, and this soil
is little better than black sand; and to this inconvenience must
be added, the depredations of rats and thieves.
At the distance of an hour's walk from Sydney-Cove, the soil
is better in some places, and these are occupied by the officers
and others, as their farms: there are also brick-kilns and a
pottery, both which articles they make very well, but a great
inconvenience arises in their not being able to glaze the
earthenware.
From the little I saw of the soil about Sydney-Cove, I think
it is very bad, most of the ground being covered with rocks, or
large stones, which are used for building, and when cut, greatly
resemble the Portland stone; they are easily worked, and harden
very much after being wrought. A little below Sydney-Cove, there
is another, called Farm-Cove, at the head of which there are
about fifteen acres of ground in cultivation, but the soil is
very indifferent.
Governor Phillip, it seems, had made several excursions, in
order to inform himself more fully about the nature of the soil,
and to find out a place more proper for cultivation, than the
land about the lower part of the harbour; and, at length, had
fixed on a situation at the head of it, about eleven miles from
Sydney-Cove. The soil here was found to be much better than at
Sydney-Cove, and a number of convicts were sent there in 1789,
with a captain's guard, in order to prevent any disputes with the
natives, and to preserve regularity amongst the convicts.
I accompanied Governor Phillip to this place, which is named
Rose-Hill, on the 9th: we left Sydney-Cove at eight in the
morning, and arrived at Rose-Hill before noon. About two miles
below this settlement, the harbour becomes quite narrow, being
not more than ten or twelve yards across, and the banks are about
six feet high: here, the country has the appearance of a park. In
rowing up this branch, we saw a flock of about thirty kangaroos
or paderong, but they were only visible during their leaps, as
the very long grass hid them from our view. We landed about half
a mile from the settlement, and walked up to it.
This settlement is on an elevated ground, which joins to a
fine crescent, as regular as if formed by art; it is probable
that this crescent, and the regular slopes which surround the
settlement, have been formed by very heavy rains. The soil is
loam, sand, and clay: the trees are not so large here as lower
down the harbour, but the large roots lying on the ground render
it difficult to clear. A fine stream of fresh water runs into the
head of the harbour, which, in the winter, and when heavy rains
fall, sometimes rises seven or eight feet, and becomes a rapid
torrent. A redoubt is constructed here, in which are very good
barracks for officers and soldiers: there is likewise a
store-house.
On the opposite side of the brook, there is a farm-house,
where a servant of Governor Phillip's resides, who is charged
with the superintendence of the convicts and the cultivation of
the ground; to which charge he is very equal, and is of the
greatest service to the governor, as he has no other free person
whatever to overlook any piece of work carrying on by the
convicts. Near to this farm-house, there is a very good barn and
a granary. The convicts houses form a line at some distance, in
front of the barracks, with very good gardens before and behind
each house: indeed, the whole, joined to the pleasantness of the
situation, makes it a beautiful landscape.
In 1789, the quantity of ground sown with wheat here, and at
Sydney-Cove, was twenty-two acres; with barley, seventeen acres;
flax, Indian corn, and beans, three acres. The quantity of wheat
raised was two hundred bushels; of barley, sixty bushels; flax,
beans, and other seeds, ten bushels: the wheat is a fine full
grain. This year (1790) near one hundred acres will be cleared at
Rose-Hill, of which forty are to be sown with wheat.
After dinner, I accompanied the governor from Rose-Hill to
Prospect-Hill, which is about four miles distant: we walked
through a very pleasant tract of country, which, from the
distance the trees grew from each other, and the gentle hills and
dales, and rising slopes covered with grass, appeared like a vast
park. The soil from Rose-hill to Prospect-Hill is nearly alike,
being a loam and clay. It is remarkable, that although the
distance between these two places is only four miles, yet the
natives divide it into eight different districts.
Prospect-Hill is a small elevation, which commands a very
extensive prospect of the country to the southward: a range of
very high mountains bound the view to the westward: these
mountains, which lie nearly north and south, are about forty
miles from Prospect-Hill; and the intervening country is a thick
forest: the northernmost of these mountains is called
Richmond-Hill, at the foot of which the Hawkesbury takes its rise
from a bed of fresh water coal.
A river has been discovered by Captain Tench, of the marines,
which runs near the foot of Lansdown-Hills; its direction appears
to be north and south, but how far it runs to the southward
cannot be ascertained, though there is great reason to suppose it
runs a considerable way, as it does not empty itself into
Botany-Bay, it therefore appears probable that it may come into
the sea about Long-Nose, or Cape St. George, where there is an
appearance of a good harbour.
There were at this time three of the natives who lived at Port
Jackson, viz. a man about twenty-eight years old, a girl about
thirteen, and a boy about nine years old. The man was taken by
stratagem, by Lieutenant Bradley, who enticed him and another
native to the boat by holding up a fish: they were both secured,
a number of the natives being at the same time on the shore;
these threw a number of spears, and although they are only made
of wood, yet one of them went through four folds of the boat's
sail, and struck the apron of the boat's stern with such violence
as to split it. One of these natives made his escape presently
afterwards, but the other grew reconciled to his situation, and
lives with the governor: he is a very intelligent man, and much
information may, no doubt, be procured from him, when he can be
well understood. Mr. Collins, the judge-advocate, is very
assiduous in learning the language, in which he has made a great
progress.
This native has no less than five names, viz. "-Bannelon,
Wollewarre, Boinba, Bunde-bunda, Wogé trowey_," but he
likes best to be called by the second: he is a stout, well made
man, about five feet six inches high, and now that the dirt is
washed from his skin, we find his colour is a dark black: he is
large featured, and has a flat nose; his hair is the same as the
Asiatics, but very coarse and strong: he is very good-natured,
being seldom angry at any jokes that may be passed upon him, and
he readily imitates all the actions and gestures of every person
in the governor's family; he sits at table with the governor,
whom he calls "-Beanga_," or Father; and the governor calls
him "-Dooroow_," or Son: he is under no restraint, nor is he
the least aukward in eating; indeed, considering the state of
nature which he has been brought up in, he may be called a polite
man, as he performs every action of bowing, drinking healths,
returning thanks, etc. with the most scrupulous attention. He
is very fond of wine, but cannot bear the smell of spirits,
although they have often tried to deceive him, by mixing very
weak rum or brandy and water, instead of wine and water; but he
would instantly find out the deception, and on these occasions he
was angry: his appetite is very good, for he soon began to
perceive the difference between a full and a short allowance.
He walks about constantly with the governor, who, to make him
sensible of the confidence he placed in him, always took off a
small sword which he usually wore, and gave it to
Wolle-warrè, who put it on, and was not a little pleased
at this mark of confidence. His dress is a jacket, made of the
coarsest red kersey, and a pair of trowsers; but on Sundays, he
is drest in nankeen. The governor's reason for making him wear
the thick kersey is, that he may be so sensible of the cold as
not to be able to go without cloaths.
Wolle-warre has had a wife, who, it seems, died a short time
before he was taken: he sometimes mentions this circumstance, and
it occasions a momentary gloom; but this his natural gaiety soon
dissipates: he sings, when asked, but in general his songs are in
a mournful strain, and he keeps time by swinging his arms:
whenever asked to dance, he does it with great readiness; his
motions at first are very slow, and are regulated by a dismal
tune, which grows quicker as the dance advances, till at length
he throws himself into the most violent posture, shaking his
arms, and striking the ground with great force, which gives him
the appearance of madness. It is very probable that this part of
the dance is used as a sort of defiance, as all the natives which
were seen when we first arrived at Port Jackson, always joined
this sort of dance to their vociferations of "-woroo,
woroo_," go away.
To what I have already said, respecting this man, a few more
particulars will be added in the following vocabulary, which Mr.
Collins permitted me to copy.
The native boy lived with Mr. White, the surgeon, who, with
that humanity for which he is distinguished, cured both the boy
and girl of a confluent small-pox, which swept off hundreds of
the natives in the winter of 1788. This dreadful disorder, which,
there is no doubt, is a distemper natural to the country,
together with the difficulty of procuring a subsistance, renders
the situtation of these poor wretches truly miserable.
The girl lived with the chaplain's wife, and both she and the
boy were very tractable; but the girl at times would be out of
temper, and could not bear to be thwarted.
I shall now add a vocabulary of the language, which I procured
from Mr. Collins and Governor Phillip; both of whom had been very
assiduous in procuring words to compose it; and as all the
doubtful words are here rejected, it may be depended upon to be
correct*.
[* This Vocabulary was much enlarged by Captain
Hunter.]
Allocy, _To stay_.
Annegar, _To ask any thing_.
A-ra-goon, _A war shield_.
Ar-row-an, _Distant, or far off_.
Bòe, _or_ Bo-y, _Dead_.
Bourbillie remul, _Buried_.
*Bado-burra, _or_ Burra-bado, _To pour water_.
[* It should be observed, that in speaking, Wolle-warre
frequently changes the position of his words, as in Bado-burra:
so when walking one night from Prospect-Hill to Rose-Hill, we
frequently stumbled against the roots, and he exclaimed
"Wèrè Wadè, and Wadè Werè,"
bad wood, or bad roots.]
Bado-go-bally-vuida, _I am dry, or I want water to
drink_.
Barong-boruch, _A belly-full_.
Boor emil diow, _To put on_.
Bo-me, _To breathe_.
Bo-gay, _To dive_.
Boorana, _Yesterday_.
Boora-Carremay, _A fine day_.
Beal, _or_ Bidgeree, _Good_.
Byalla, _To speak_.
Bomar, _A grave_.
Bourra, _A cloud, or the clouds_.
Bengalle, _Ornaments in general_.
Barrong, _The belly_.
Booroow, _The testicles_.
Boon-abbiey, _To kiss each other_.
Berille, _The finger-
Bib-be, _The ribs_.
Boot Boot, _The heart_.
Bur-ra, _A fish-book_.
Bur-boga, _To rise_.
Bir-ra, _The cheek_.
Bin-ning, _The leg_.
Bin-yang, _A bird_.
Bee-an-bing, _A quail_.
Ba-ra-goo-la, _The flood-tide_.
Birrang, _The stars_.
Be-anga, _A father_.
Boon-ya, _To kiss_.
Ban-ga-ray, _The red kanguroo_.
Bo-ra-ya, _To sing_.
Bur-ra-doo, _or_ Moona, _A louse_.
Ba-rin, _An apron worn by young females_.
Bin-ny, _With young_.
Bul-mie, _To clap hands in dancing_.
Ba-na-rang, _The blood_.
Barbuka, _To get up_.
Boming, _A bird called the red-bill_.
Bun-ya-dil, _To singe the beard off_.
Bolwara, _To stare, or open the eyes_.
Bur-ra-nè, _To-morrow_.
Baggy, _The skin_.
Boo-roo-an, _An island_.
Bò-ye, _Death, or a ghost_.
Cowull, _The male of animals_.
Car-re-nar-e-bille, _To cough_.
Cannadinga, _To burn_.
Can-no-can, _Any vegetable fit to eat_.
Cà-ma, _To call_.
Carre-mille-bado, _To soak, or wash in water_.
Coing-bibo-la, _The sun-rise_.
Coing-burra-go-lah, _The sun-set_.
Camurra, _A day_.
Chiang, _or_ Chang-ulah, _To chew_.
Cot-ban-jow, _Broken_.
Cot-bàniè, _or_ Cot-barry, _To cut_.
Carra-duin, _A fishing-line_.
Canno, _A belly-full_.
Caberra, _The head_.
Cad-lwar, _or_ Col-liang, _The neck_.
Corungun, _A nail_.
Carra-mah, _A gut_.
Camye, _A spear, or lance_.
Ca-la-ra, _A large fish-gig, with four prongs_.
Ca-rall, _The black cockatoo_.
Ca-ra-ga-rang, _The sea_.
Ca-ra-goo-la, _The cbb-tide_.
Cow-ee, _To come_.
Can-ning, _A cave in the rock_.
Can, _A snake, guana, or lizard_.
Ca-la-ba-ran, _A large sword, or scymetar_.
Ca-ra-goon, _A centipede_.
Cud-yal, _Smoak_.
Ca-ban, _An egg_.
Cal-loo-a, _To climb_.
Cur-ra-yura, _The sky_.
Cot-ban-la, _It is broke_.
Cot-ban, _To break_.
Diera, _A bone_.
Din, _and_ Din aillon, _Women_.
Derra-bangel-dion crelli bow, _To take off, or imitate_.
Dyennibbe, _Laughter_.
Dère-nignan, _To sneeze_.
Didgerry-goor, _I thank you_.
Didgerry goor Wogul Banne, _I thank you for a bit_.
Die, _Here_.
Diàm-o-wau, _Where are you?-
Dara, _The teeth_.
Diwarra, _The hair_.
Da-ma-na Beril, _The hand and fingers_.
Duralia, _A hearn_.
Doo-roy, _The grass_.
Doo-ra, _A musquito_.
Doo-ra-gy-a, _To spit_.
Door-a-lang, _To prick_.
Dir-gally, _To scratch_.
Dar-ra-Burra-Boorià, _To pick the teeth_.
Dooroow, _A son_.
Eo-ra, _Men or People_.
Era-mad-ye-winnia, _To snatch_.
Eranga, _T'other side of the hill_.
Eri, _Full_.
Elabi-la-bo, _To make water_.
E-roo-ka, _To sweat_.
E-li-mang, _A small shield, made of bark_.
Gall Gall, _Small-pox_.
Gnoowing, _The night-
Gna-oong, _The nose ornament_.
Gnia-na, _To sigh_.
Go-wally, _A shag, or cormorant_.
Goomun, _The fir-tree_.
Godie-by, _Rotten, or decayed_.
Go-roon, _A muscle_.
Gorey, _Juice_.
Gnia, _I myself!-
Ger-rub-ber, _Any thing that gives fire, as a gun,
etc_.
Gorai, _The ear_.
Gor-rook, _The knee_.
Gading, _The arm_.
Gwo-meil, _Feathers_,
Gnal-loa, _To sit_.
Go-ril, _A parrot_.
Ga-ra-way, _A white cockatoo_.
Girra-girra, _A fishing-gull_.
Gwarra, _The wind_.
Gur-gy, _The fern-root-
Gon-yi, _A house or hut_.
Goor-ing, _A female child_.
Gwee-ang, _Fire_.
Gar-ree, _To cough_.
Go-mi-ra, _A hole_.
Goon-gan, _A barbed spear, for close fighting_.
Gur-go, _A meteor, or shooting star_.
Gong-ara, _Ornamental scars on the body_.
Gweè-rang, _Ornaments made of reeds, and strung round
the waist or neck_.
Gna-ra, _A knot in a line_.
Goora, _To drown_.
Gu-na-murra, _A stink, or bad smell_.
Gitte-Gittim, _To tickle_.
Go-roo-da, _To snore when asleep_.
Ilga, _To leap_.
Jamel Jamel, _A hawk_.
Kalga, _The mouth_.
Kamai, _A spear_.
Kibba, _A rock_.
Ka-ra-ma, _To steal_.
Mogo, _A stone hatchet_.
Mulla, _A man_.
Moola, _Sick, to vomit_.
Maugerry, _Fishing_.
Murray, _Every thing large_.
Murray-nowey, _The Sirius_.
Murray-cara-diera, _Swelled wrist_.
Mediey, _I do not know_.
Maracry, _or_ Mar-ry-ang, _The emu_.
Mullin-ow-ule, _To-morrow morning_.
Murray-yannadah, _Full moon_.
Marroway, _To creep_.
Manioo, _To pick up any thing_.
Morun-gle, _Thunder_.
Moor-rone, _A large fly that bites_.
Morungle-birrong mongle, _Struck with thunder and
lightning_.
Murong, _Sand_.
Man-ye-ro, _I do not know_.
Mi, _The eye_.
Murray-can-na dinga mi, _The effect of the hot burning sun on
the eye_.
Menoe, _The foot_.
Me-noe-wa, _The feet_.
Moo-tang, _A small fiz-gig_.
Mur-tin, _Milk_.
Med-yanq, _A sore_.
Ma-gra, _Fish_.
Mang-a, _Lightning_.
My-ang-a, _A fly_.
Mong, _An ant_.
Man-a-ro, _The navel_.
Moo-tang, _Living_.
Me-gal, _Tears_.
Ma-na-ran, _The teeth of the kanguroo stuck in the head with
gum as an ornament_.
Mawn, _A ghost or apparition_.
Moono, _The bill of a bird_.
Mo-ro, _A path or road_.
Min-ney, _To scrape_.
Myi-mogro, _To shut the eyes_.
Maur, _To take hold_.
Narrong, _Any thing small_.
Nowey, _A canoe_.
Narrong nowey, _The Supply_.
Narra-dew, _To hear_.
Noone, _Now_.
Nogur, _The nose_.
Naga, _The liver_.
Nar-ra-mee, _A net_.
Nan-ga-ra, _To sleep_.
Nabanq, _Womens breasts-
Nul-la, _The forehead_.
Na-ro-wang, _A paddle_.
Nang-oon, _A bone or piece of wood thrust through the septum of
the nose_.
Nam-mel, _A sinker for a fish-line_.
Narri-keebu, _Stand on the rock_.
Oôna, _The elbow_.
Pyalla-pya-bow, _To fight or beat_.
Pan-nie-jeminga, _To give one the hand_.
Patanga, _An oyster_.
Paddewah, _A fish called a flat-head_.
Parry-buga, _To-morrow_.
Paran-banie-diow, _Eating (the act of)_.
Pa-boo-nang, _A black ant_.
Parra-berry, _Empty_.
Par-rangle, _The throat_.
Pan-ne-ra, _The blood_.
Pow-book, _An owl_.
Pan-na, _Rain_.
Pa-ta-ga-rang, _The large grey kanguroo_.
Pil-lia, _To laugh_.
Pe-mall, _Earth or clay_.
Po-cul-bee, _The flag or iris of this country_.
Teura, _A musquito_.
Teura-dieny, _Musquito bite_.
Tag-go-rah-yago, _To shiver_.
Taboa-millie, _Painted white_.
Tonga-doro, _You must say_.
Talling, _or_ Ta-lang, _The tongue_.
Tamira, _The hand_.
Tarra, _The leg_.
Tarong, _The shoulder_.
Troo-gad-ya, _A large gull_.
Ta-ga-ra, _Cold_.
Tingo, _A dog_.
Tonga, _To weep_.
Tang o-ra, _To dance_.
Te-re-nang, _To sneeze_.
Ta-ra, _Teeth_.
Ter-ra-wan-a, _A magpie_.
Ta-lang-a, _To yawn_.
Ter-ral, _Feathers used as an ornament for the head_.
Taman, _A berry_.
Toon, _The tail of a bird, or any animal_.
Tan-naing, _Mine_. _(My property.)-
Ury-diow, _To sit nearer any one_.
Wering, _Female_.
Womerraa, _To run_.
Womerra-berra, _To jump_.
Wèrè, _Bad_.
Wadby, _To swim_.
Warre-wee, _To stand_.
Wanne-bow, _To throw away_.
Waltegal, _A large fish_.
Woolamie, _A fish called a light-horseman_.
Waré, _Where_.
Wogan-minnering, _Cutting off_.
Womar, _A throwing-stick_.
Wea-ja-minga, Wea-jow-inia. Wianga, _Relating to the giving of
any thing_.
Wal-lu-merun-wea, _Will you have any more?-
Walloo-bu-diown, _To turn when walking_.
Woroo-woroo! _Go away, or an exclamation of defiance_.
Willin, _The lips_.
Wallo, _The chin_.
Woo-da, _A club_.
Wee-de, _To drink or suck_.
Wan-aree, _The eyebrow_.
Wee-lang, _Lips_.
War-ra, _The breast of a man_.
Wa-gan, _A crow_.
Wir-gan, _A bird called fryar_.
Wad-dy, _A stick or tree_.
Wong-ara, _A male child_.
Wy-anga, _A mother_.
Wo-la-ba, _A young kanguroo_.
Waregal, _A large dog_.
Wy-a-jenuriga, _Give me_.
Wur-ra, _A rat_.
Wil-bing, _To fly, or the wing of a bird_.
Wa-ra-bee, _A cockel_.
Worgye, _To whistle_.
Wya-bo-in-ya, _Take this_.
We-ring, _The female of animals_.
Wa, _Where_.
Wong-ara jug-ga-me, _A child carried on the shoulder_.
Yenu, Yenmow, Yenminia, Yen, _The termination of the verb--to
walk_.
Yu-ru-gurra, _Hungry_.
Yenna, _Gone_.
Yennibun, _Walking away_.
Yagoona, _To-day_.
Yannadah paragi, _New moon_.
Yery, _or_ Curna, _To throw_.
Yery-dioma, _To fall down_.
Ya-ban, _To sing_.
Yarre, _or_ Yerring, _A beard_.
Yer-ra, _A sword_.
Yen-our-yenna, _Go away_.
Yo-ra, _A number of people_.
Goang-un, _A spear about eight feet long, with four barbs on
each side_.--The natives make use of this spear when they
advance near their adversary, and the thrust, or rather the
stroke, is made at the side, as they raise the spear up, and have
a shield in the left-hand. A wound from this spear must be
mortal.
The only colours we have as yet discovered they have any
knowledge of, are--Red, _Morjal_; White, _Taboa_;
Black, _Nand_; Green, _Boolga_.
The females of each tribe are distinguished by the word
"-Leon_," added to the name which distinguishes the chief:
it is supposed that the word "-Gal_," signifies
-tribe_, and the word preceding it is the word of
distinction; probably, it is the place where the tribe
resides.
The following instances may serve to confirm these
suppositions.
MEN. WOMEN.
Camera-gal Cameragal-leon.
Cadi-gal. Cadigal-leon.
Won-gal. Wongal-leon.
Gwea-gal. Gwea-gal-leon.
Boora me di-gal. Booramedigal-leon.
Norongera-gal. Norongera-gal-leon.
Wallume-de-gal. Wallume-degal-leon.
Borogegal-yurrey. Borogegal-leon.
Gommerigal-tongara. Gommerigal-leon.
We have every reason to believe, that the natives are divided
into tribes, and that the persons belonging to each tribe derive
their name from the chief. We have heard much of
-Camme-ro-gal_, who lives in the interior part of the
country, and is a great warrior. Wolare-warrè must have
had some severe conflicts with this chief, as he showed several
scars which proceeded from wounds that he had received from
him.
The tribe of Camerra inhabit the north side of Port Jackson.
The tribe of Cadi inhabit the south side, extending from the
south head to Long-Cove; at which place the district of Wanne,
and the tribe of Wangal, commences, extending as far as
Par-ra-mata, or Rose-Hill. The tribe of Wallumede inhabit the
north shore opposite Warrane, or Sydney-Cove, and are called
-Walumetta_. I have already observed, that the space between
Rose-Hill and Prospect-Hill is distinguished by eight different
names, although the distance is only four miles.
Wolare-warrè has given us to understand, that there are
apparitions in the country which he calls "-Manè:-"
he describes them as coming up with a strange noise, and catching
hold of any one by the throat: he made use of many words on this
occasion, and pointed up to the sky: he also informed us, that
these apparitions singe the beards and the hair: this, he
describes as a very painful operation, rubbing his face after
every application of the brand.
They put their dead, for some time, in a fire, after which
they are laid at length in a grave, dug very clean out, the
bottom being first very carefully covered with long grass, or
fern; the body is then put in, and covered over with long grass,
and the grave is then filled with earth, the mould rising above
it as in England.
No signs of any religion have been observed among them, yet
they are not entirely ignorant of a future state, as they say the
bones of the dead are in the grave, and the body is in the
clouds; or, as those we have had with us may have been
misunderstood, they probably mean that the soul is in the clouds:
Wolare-warrè once asked the judge-advocate, if the white
men went to the clouds also. The sun, moon, and stars, they call
-Werè_ (bad): the native girl once went into very
violent convulsions on seeing a falling star, and said that every
body would be destroyed, although some who were about her
observed, that she particularly alluded to the "-Murray
nowey_," the Sirius.
The Emu, (Maroang) the Patagorang, and the Menagine, (a small
animal) are all named "-Goa-long_," which term is supposed
to mean an animal, as Wolarewarrè uses it in
contradistinction to a bird or a fish: on being asked, if the Emu
was a bird, (Binyan) he shook his head, and said,
"-Goa-long_." He calls Governor Phillip, _Beanga-
(father); and names himself, _Dooroow_ (son): the judge and
commissary he calls _Babunna_ (brother). He sings a great
deal, and with much variety: the following are some words which
were caught--"E eye at wangewah-wandeliah chiango wandego
mangenny wakey angoul barre boa lah barrema." He throws the spear
ninety yards with great force and exactness. In counting the
numerals, he cannot reckon beyond four; viz. One, Wogul, or
Ya-ole; Two, Bulla and Yablowxe; Three, Boorooi, or Brewè;
Four, Cal-una-long. On laying down a fifth object, he named it
with the rest, "-Marry-diolo_." He calls the four principal
winds by the following names:--The North, Boo-roo-way; The South,
Bain-marree; The West, Bow-wan; The East, Gonie-mah.
The natives sing an hymn or song of joy, from day-break until
sunrise. They procure fire with infinite labour, by fixing the
pointed end of a round piece of stick into a hole made in a flat
piece of wood, and twirling it round swiftly betwixt both hands,
sliding them at the same time upwards and downwards until the
operator is fatigued, when he is relieved by some of his
companions, who are all seated in a circle for that purpose, and
each takes his turn in the operation until fire is procured: this
being the process, it is no wonder that they are never seen
without a piece of lighted wood in their hand.