Oh, the rest, the satisfaction, and, I may say, the thankfulness we
felt. We shortened sail, and rounded to for a pilot, who came on board,
and took us up to a berth opposite to Sydney, or the camp, as it was
even then frequently called. As soon as we had dropped our anchor and
furled sails, we one and all of us, young and old, my wife and daughters
and my boys, and White and the crew, went down on our knees and returned
thanks to the God of love and mercy who had thus brought us in safety in
our small vessel across the great ocean. The tempest raged on without,
but we lay quiet and secure within the harbour. I cannot describe to
you how free from care I slept that night, and yet many people would
have said that our troubles were only now going to begin.
As soon as the morning broke, all on board assembled on deck to look out
on the new world to which we had come. The magnificent harbour, its
surrounding heights and numerous points and inlets were the same then as
now, but the ground on which the large city of Sydney now stands was
then dotted over with a few Government buildings and merchants' stores,
and here and there a large private residence, and not a few big
public-houses; but most of the dwelling-houses were of plank, and some
even of canvas, belonging to newcomers. Still there was evidence of
progress, and as the day advanced, and people began to move about, a
good deal of animation and activity was visible.
We were soon surrounded by boats, with people eager to know where we had
come from, and what cargo we had got. Many of the visitors were not
pleasant-looking customers, and I was in no wise inclined to encourage
them on board. Those who did come looked with very great interest at
the sheep, and I soon found from their remarks that they considered them
of much value, and that the speculation was likely to prove a good one.
Before, however, I entered into any engagements, I went on shore to
ascertain the state of affairs. I found that I could obtain a large
grant of land free, and that as many convicts would be assigned to me as
I could maintain, to cultivate the land. I knew a little about farming,
and I forgot at the time that the convicts were not likely to become
very pleasant servants, so that everything to be done appeared plain and
easy before me, and in high spirits I returned on board.
My family were, of course, all eager to get on shore, but as they had no
home to go to, it was arranged that I and Charley White and John should
set out at once to select some land, while Peter remained on board to
take care of the family and look after the vessel. We none of us knew
much about land, as to which was likely to prove good or bad, but then
we could take advantage of the experience of earlier settlers. We could
ascertain how some had failed, and others had been successful, and
follow, with such modifications as circumstances might require, the
example of the latter. We each carried a knapsack with provisions, and
a cloak to sleep in at night; said Charley, who was a good shot, had a
gun, that he might kill a kangaroo, or any other animal we might fall in
with, for food. We each of us had also a pocket compass, without which
no man should attempt to travel in a new country like Australia.
My wife and daughters seemed very anxious when we were all ready and
about to set out, but I reminded them that we were only just going to do
what we had come all the way from England to do, and that there were no
wild beasts or other dangers that I knew of to fear. "Oh, but there are
those hideous black men, father," exclaimed Susan; "do take care of
them, for I am sure that they look as if they would do any mischief."
"No fear," answered Charley, "they look worse than they are, and we
shall be able to manage any number of them, even if they should take it
into their heads to play us tricks. Mary is not afraid, you see." Mary
looked as if she thought Charley would be able, with his single arm, to
put to flight a whole host of blacks. Those we had seen, though ugly
enough, were not very terrific-looking fellows. We heard, however, that
away from Sydney, where the white settlers had found some blacks
pilfering, and had shot them dead, the survivors had retaliated, and
murdered two or three white men.
As horses were at that time very dear, I did not wish to purchase any
for our journey, and none were to be hired. We had therefore to trudge
forward on foot. One thing we wanted, and that was a guide who knew the
nature of the country, the best mode of traversing it, and where farms
were situated. Unaccustomed to walking, we felt very weary the first
day of our journey as night approached, and yet no house appeared in
sight. We were travelling along a high road made by convicts. The
worst characters were employed on the roads, a labour which they
especially detested. They were generally doubly convicted felons. They
were worked in chains, but sometimes even then they broke away, and,
taking to the bush, robbed every one they met, and murdered those who
resisted them.
We thought at last that we should have to camp out, instead of getting
the shelter of a roof, which we had expected to do. Just, however, as
we were about to stop, a light appeared ahead. We made for it. The
door of a cottage stood open. We entered. A fire was blazing on the
hearth, with a large damper baking under the ashes, and a huge teapot of
tea was steaming away on a table set out for a meal; while a joint of a
kangaroo was among the good things which gladdened our eyes.
"You may walk in, strangers, and welcome," said a rough-looking man, who
at that moment appeared from the back part of the cottage. "Here,
missus, I see you have supper ready, where are you?" His wife, a buxom
dame, came when called from an inner room, and welcomed us as her
husband had done. We were soon seated at the table, doing justice to
the kangaroo and damper. When our host and his wife heard that we had
lately arrived, they were eager for us to tell them all the news from
England, but what we had to say was not what they cared much to hear,
that was very evident. As I examined their countenances, I did not like
the expression they bore, nor warn the way they spoke altogether
satisfactory. I suspected, and I was right, that they were convicts.
At that time there were many of that class, who had already risen to
considerable wealth, in the colony.