Twostonehatchets,andtwospearshetookfromhiscanoe,andpresentedtothegovernor,whoinreturnforhiscourteousgenerosity,gavehimtwoofourhatchetsandsomebread,whichwasnewtohim,forheknewnotitsuse,butkeptlookingatit,untilColbeeshewedhimwhattodo,whenheeatitwithouthesitation.Wepursuedourcourse,andtoaccommodateus,ournewacquaintancepointedoutapathandwalkedattheheadofus.Acanoe,alsowithamanandaboyinit,keptgentlypaddlingupabreastofus.
　　Wehaltedforthenightatourusualhour,onthebankoftheriver.
　　Immediatelythatwehadstopped,ourfriendwhohadalreadytoldushisname
　　Gombeeree,introducedthemanandtheboyfromthecanoetous.TheformerwasnamedYellomundee,thelatterDeeimba.Theeasewithwhichthesepeoplebehavedamongstrangerswasasconspicuous,asunexpected.Theyseatedthemselvesatourfire,partookofourbiscuitandpork,drankfromourcanteens,andheardourgunsgoingoffaroundthemwithoutbetrayinganysymptomoffear,distrustorsurprise.Ontheoppositebankoftherivertheyhadlefttheirwivesandseveralchildren,withwhomtheyfrequentlydiscoursed;andweobservedthattheselastmanifestedneithersuspicionoruneasinessofourdesignstowardstheirfriends.
　　Havingrefreshedourselves,wefoundleisuretoenterintoconversationwiththem.Itcouldnotbeexpectedthattheyshoulddiffermateriallyfromthetribeswithwhomwewereacquainted.Thesamemannersandpursuits,thesameamusements,thesamelevityandfickleness,undoubtedlycharacterisedthem.Whatwewereabletolearnfromthemwasthattheydependbutlittleonfish,astheriveryieldsonlymullets,andthattheirprincipalsupportisderivedfromsmallanimalswhichtheykill,andsomerootsaspeciesofwildyamchieflywhichtheydigoutoftheearth.Ifwerightlyunderstoodthem,eachmanpossessestwowives.Whencecanarisethissuperabundanceoffemales?Neitherofthemenhadsufferedtheextractionofafronttooth.Wewereeagertoknowwhetherornotthiscustomobtainedamongthem.ButneitherColbeenorBoladereewouldputthequestionforus;
　　andonthecontrary,showedeverydesiretowavethesubject.
　　Theuneasinesswhichtheytestified,wheneverwerenewedit,ratherservedtoconfirmasuspicionwhichwehadlongentertained,thatthisisamarkofsubjectionimposedbythetribeofCameragal,whoarecertainlythemostpowerfulcommunityinthecountryontheweakertribesaroundthem.
　　Whetherthewomencutoffajointofoneofthelittlefingers,likethoseontheseacoast,wehadnoopportunityofobserving.Thesearepettyremarks.
　　Butonevarietystruckusmoreforcibly.Althoughournativesandthestrangersconversedonaparandunderstoodeachotherperfectly,yettheyspokedifferentdialectsofthesamelanguage;manyofthemostcommonandnecessarywordsusedinlifebearingnosimilitude,andothersbeingslightlydifferent——
　　EnglishNameontheseacoastNameattheHawkesbury——
　　TheMoonYeneedaCondoenTheEarGooreeBennaTheForeheadNulloNarranTheBellyBarangBindeeTheNavelMuneeroBoombongTheButtocksBoongBayleeTheNeckCalangGangaTheThighTaraDaraTheHairDeewaraKeewara——
　　Thatthesediversitiesarisefromwantofintercoursewiththepeopleonthecoastcanhardlybeimagined,asthedistanceinlandisbutthirty-eightmiles;andfromRoseHillnotmorethantwenty,wherethedialectoftheseacoastisspoken.Itdeservesnoticethatallthedifferenttermsseemedtobefamiliartobothparties,thougheachinspeakingpreferreditsown*.
　　[*Howeasilypeople,unusedtospeakthesamelanguage,mistakeeachother,everyoneknows.WehadlivedalmostthreeyearsatPortJacksonformorethanhalfofwhichperiodnativeshadresidedwithusbeforeweknewthattheword'beeal',signified'no',andnot'good',inwhichlattersensewehadalwaysuseditwithoutsuspectingthatwewerewrong;andevenwithoutbeingcorrectedbythosewithwhomwetalkeddaily.Thecauseofourerrorwasthis.Theepithet'weeree',signifying'bad',weknew;andastheuseofthiswordanditsoppositeaffordthemostsimpleformofdenotingconsentordisapprobationtouninstructedIndians,inordertofindouttheirwordfor'good',whenArabanoowasfirstbroughtamongus,weusedjokinglytosaythatanything,whichhelikedwas'weeree',inordertoprovokehimtotellusthatitwasgood.Whenwesaid'weeree',heanswered'beeal',whichwetranslatedandadoptedfor'good';whereashemeantnomorethansimplytodenyourinference,andsay'no'——itisnotbad.Afterthis,itcannotbethoughtextraordinarythatthelittlevocabularyinsertedinMr.Cook'saccountofthispartoftheworldshouldappeardefective——
　　evenwerewenottotakeinthegreatprobabilityofthedialectsatEndeavourRiverandVanDiemen'slanddifferingfromthatspokenatPortJackson.Anditremainstobeprovedthattheanimalcalledhere'patagaram'isnottherecalled'kangaroo'.]
　　Stretchedoutateasebeforeourfire,allsidescontinuedtochatandentertaineachother.Gombeereeshewedusthemarkofawoundwhichhehadreceivedinhissidefromaspear.Itwaslarge,appearedtohavepassedtoaconsiderabledepth,andmustcertainlyhavebeenattendedwithimminentdanger.Bywhomithadbeeninflicted,andonwhatoccasion,heexplainedtoColbee;andafterwardsasweunderstoodheenteredintoadetailofthewars,and,aseffectsleadtocauses,probablyofthegallantriesofthedistrict,forthewordwhichsignifiesawomanwasoftenrepeated.Colbee,inreturnforhiscommunication,informedhimwhowewere;ofournumbersatSydneyandRoseHill,ofthestoreswepossessedand,aboveall,ofthegoodthingswhichweretobefoundamongus,enumeratingpotatoes,cabbages,turnips,pumpkins,andmanyothernameswhichwereperfectlyunintelligibletothepersonwhoheardthem,butwhichheneverthelesslistenedtowithprofoundattention.
　　PerhapstherelationgivenbyGombeeree,ofthecureofhiswound,nowgaverisetothefollowingsuperstitiousceremony.Whiletheyweretalking,Colbeeturnedsuddenlyroundandaskedforsomewater.Igavehimacupful,whichhepresentedwithgreatseriousnesstoYellomundee,asIsupposedtodrink.Thislastindeedtookthecupandfilledhismouthwithwater,butinsteadofswallowingit,threwhisheadintoColbee'sbosom,spitthewateruponhimand,immediatelyafter,begantosuckstronglyathisbreast,justbelowthenipple.Iconcludedthatthemanwassick;
　　andcalledtothegovernortoobservethestrangeplacewhichhehadchosentoexoneratehisstomach.Thesilentattentionobservedbytheothernatives,however,soonconvincedusthatsomethingmorethanmerelytheaccommodationofYellomundee,wasintended.Theceremonywasagainperformed;and,afterhavingsuckedthepartforaconsiderabletime,theoperatorpretendedtoreceivesomethinginhismouth,whichwasdrawnfromthebreast.
　　Withthisheretiredafewpaces,puthishandtohislipsandthrewintotheriverastone,whichIhadobservedhimtopickupslily,andsecrete.
　　Whenhereturnedtothefireside,Colbeeassuredusthathehadreceivedsignalbenefitfromtheoperation;andthatthissecondMachaonhadextractedfromhisbreasttwosplintersofaspearbywhichhehadbeenformerlywounded.
　　Weexaminedthepart,butitwassmoothandwhole,sothattotheforceofimaginationalonemustbeimputedboththewoundanditscure.
　　Colbeehimselfseemedneverthelessfirmlypersuadedthathehadreceivedrelief,andassuredusthatYellomundeewasa'caradyee',or'Doctorofrenown'.AndBoladereeaddedthatnotonlyhebutalltherestofhistribewere'caradyee'ofespecialnoteandskill.
　　TheDoctorsremainedwithusallnight,sleepingbeforethefireinthefullnessofgoodfaithandsecurity.Thelittleboysleptinhisfather'sarms,andweobservedthatwheneverthemanwasinclinedtoshifthisposition,hefirstputoverthechild,withgreatcare,andthenturnedroundtohim.
　　Friday,April15th,1791.Thereturnoflightarousedustotherepetitionoftoil.Ourfriendsbreakfastedwithus,andprevioustostartingGombeereegaveaspecimenoftheirmannerofclimbingtreesinquestofanimals.
　　Heaskedforahatchetandoneofourswasofferedtohim,buthepreferredoneoftheirownmaking.Withthistoolhecutasmallnotchinthetreeheintendedtoclimb,abouttwofeetandahalfabovetheground,inwhichhefixedthegreattoeofhisleftfoot,andsprungupwards,atthesametimeembracingthetreewithhisleftarm.Inaninstanthehadcutasecondnotchforhisrighttoeontheothersideofthetreeintowhichhesprung,andthus,alternatelycuttingoneachside,hemountedtotheheightoftwentyfeetinnearlyasshortaspaceasifhehadascendedbyaladder,althoughthebarkofthetreewasquitesmoothandslipperyandthetrunkfourfeetindiameterandperfectlystrait.Tousitwasamatterofastonishment,buttohimitwassport;forwhileemployedthushekepttalkingtothosebelowandlaughingimmoderately.Hedescendedwithasmucheaseandagilityashehadraisedhimself.Evenournativesallowedthathewasacapitalperformer,againstwhomtheydarednottoenterthelists;
　　forastheysubsistchieflybyfishingtheyarelessexpertatclimbingonthecoastthanthosewhodailypracticeit.
　　Soonaftertheybadeusadieu,inunabatedfriendshipandgoodhumour.
　　ColbeeandBoladereepartedfromthemwithaslightnodofthehead,theusualsalutationofthecountry;andweshookthembythehand,whichtheyreturnedlustily.
　　Atthetimewestartedthetidewasflowinguptheriver,adecisiveproofthatwewerebelowRichmondHill.Wehadcontinuedourmarchbutashorttimewhenwewereagainstoppedbyacreek,whichbaffledallourendeavourstocrossit,andseemedtopredictthattheobjectofourattainment,thoughbutaveryfewmilesdistant,wouldtakeusyetaconsiderabletimetoreach,whichthrewadamponourhopes.Wetracedthecreekuntilfouro'clock,whenwehaltedforthenight.Thecountry,onbothsides,wethoughtingeneralunpromising;butitiscertainlyverysuperiortothatwhichwehadseenontheformercreek.Inmanyplacesitmightbecultivated,providedtheinundationsofthestreamcanberepelled.
　　Inpassingalongweshotsomeducks,whichBoladereerefusedtoswimforwhenrequested,andtoldusinasurlytonethattheyswamforwhatwaskilled,andhadthetroubleoffetchingitashore,onlyforthewhitementoeatit.
　　Thisreproofwas,Ifear,toojustlyfounded;forofthefewduckswehadbeensofortunateastoprocure,littlehadfallentotheirshareexcepttheoffals,andnowandthenahalf-pickedbone.True,indeed,allthecrowsandhawkswhichhadbeenshotweregiventothem;buttheyplainlytoldusthatthetasteofduckswasmoreagreeabletotheirpalates,andbeggedtheymighthereafterpartakeofthem.Weobservedthattheywerethoroughlysickofthejourney,andwishedheartilyforitsconclusion:theexclamationof"Where'sRoseHill,where?"wasincessantlyrepeated,withmanyinquiriesaboutwhenweshouldreturntoit.
　　SaturdayApril16th,1791.Itwasthismorningresolvedtoabandonourpursuitandtoreturnhome;athearingofwhichournativesexpressedgreatjoy.Westartedearly;andreachedRoseHillaboutthreeo'clock,justasaboatwasabouttobesentdowntoSydney.ColbeeandBoladereewouldnotwaitforusuntilthefollowingmorning,butinsistedongoingdownimmediatelytocommunicatetoBaneelonandtherestoftheircountrymenthenoveltiestheyhadseen.
　　Thecountrywepassedthroughwas,forthemostpart,veryindifferent,accordingtoouruniversalopinion.Itisingeneralbadlywatered.
　　Foreightmilesandahalfononelinewedidnotfindadropofwater.
　　RICHMONDHILL
　　Havingeludedourlastsearch,Mr.Dawesandmyself,accompaniedbyasergeantofmarinesandaprivatesoldier,determinedonanotherattempt,toascertainwhetheritlayontheHawkesburyorNepean.Wesetoutonthisexpeditiononthe24thofMay,1791;andhavingreachedtheoppositesideofthemouthofthecreekwhichhadinourlastjourneypreventedourprogress,weproceededfromthereuptoRichmondHillbytheriverside;
　　mountedit;sleptatitsfoot;andonthefollowingdaypenetratedsomemileswestwardorinlandofituntilwewerestoppedbyamountainouscountry,whichourscarcityofprovisions,joinedtotheterrorofariveratourback,whosesuddenrisingisalmostbeyondcomputation,hinderedusfromexploring.
　　TotheelevationwhichboundedourresearchwegavethenameofKnightHill,inhonourofthetrustysergeantwhohadbeenthefaithfulindefatigablecompanionofallourtravels.
　　ThisexcursioncompletelysettledthelongcontestedpointabouttheHawkesburyandNepean.Wefoundthemtobeoneriver.Withoutknowingit,Mr.DawesandmyselfhadpassedRichmondHillalmostayearbeforeinAugust1790,andfromtherewalkedonthebankoftherivertothespotwheremydiscoveryoftheNepeanhappened,inJune1789.Ourignorancearosefromhavingneverbeforeseenthehill,andfromtheerroneouspositionassignedtoitbythosewhohadbeenintheboatsuptheriver.
　　Exceptthebehaviourofsomenativeswhomwemetontheriver,whichitwouldbeingratitudetopassinsilence,nothingparticularlyworthyofnoticeoccurredonthisexpedition.
　　WhenwehadreachedwithintwomilesofRichmondHill,weheardanativecall.
　　Wedirectlyansweredhimandconversedacrosstheriverforsometime.
　　Atlengthhelaunchedhiscanoeandcrossedtouswithoutdistrustorhesitation.Wehadneverseenhimbefore;butheappearedtoknowourfriendGombeeree,ofwhomheoftenspoke.HesaidhisnamewasDeedora.
　　Hepresenteduswithtwospearsandathrowing-stick,andinreturnwegavehimsomebreadandbeef.Findingthatourroutelayuptheriver,heofferedtoaccompanyusand,gettingintohiscanoe,paddledupabreastofus.WhenwearrivedatRichmondHillitbecamenecessarytocrosstheriver;butthequestionwas,howthisshouldbeeffected?
　　Deedoraimmediatelyofferedhiscanoe.Weacceptedofitand,Mr.Dawesandthesoldierputtingtheirclothesintoit,pusheditbeforethem,andbyalternatelywadingandswimming,soonpassed.Ontheoppositeshoresatseveralnatives,towhomDeedoracalled,bywhichprecautionthearrivalofthestrangersproducednoalarm.Onthecontrary,theyreceivedthemwitheverymarkofbenevolence.Deedora,inthemeanwhile,sattalkingwiththesergeantandme.Soonafter,anothernative,namedMorunga,broughtbackthecanoe,andnowcameourturntocross.Thesergeantfromafoolishtrickwhichhadbeenplayeduponhimwhenhewasaboy
　　wasexcessivelytimorousofwater,andcouldnotswim.Morungaofferedtoconducthim,andtheygotintothecanoetogether;but,hisfearsreturning,hejumpedoutandrefusedtoproceed.Iendeavouredtoanimatehim,andMorungaridiculedhisapprehensions,makingsignsoftheeaseanddispatchwithwhichhewouldlandhim;butheresolvedtopaddleoverbyhimself,which,bydintofgoodmanagementandkeepinghispositionverysteadily,heperformed.Itwasnowbecomenecessarytobringoverthecanoeathirdtimeformyaccommodation,whichwasinstantlydone,andIentereditwithDeedora.But,likethesergeant,Iwassodisorderedatseeingthewaterwithinahair'sbreadthofthelevelofourskiffwhichbroughttomyremembranceaformerdisasterIhadexperiencedonthisriver
　　thatIjumpedout,aboutknee-deep,anddeterminedtoswimover,whichIeffected.Myclothes,halfourknapsacks,andthreeofourgunsyetremainedtobetransportedacross.TheseIrecommendedtothecareofourgrimferrymen,whoinstantaneouslyloadedtheirboatwiththemanddeliveredthemontheoppositebank,withoutdamageordiminution.
　　Duringthislongtrialoftheirpatienceandcourtesy——inthelatterpartofwhichIwasentirelyintheirpower,fromtheirhavingpossessionofourarms——theyhadmanifestednoungeneroussignoftakingadvantageofthehelplessnessanddependanceofoursituation;norudecuriositytopryintothepackageswithwhichtheywereentrusted;ornosordiddesiretopossessthecontentsofthem;althoughamongthemwerearticlesexposedtoview,ofwhichitafterwardsappearedtheyknewtheuse,andlongedforthebenefit.Letthebanksofthoserivers,"knowntosong",lethimwhosetravelshavelainamongpolishednationsproducemeabrighterexampleofdisinterestedurbanitythanwasshownbythesedenizensofabarbarousclimetoasetofdestitutewanderersonthesideoftheHawkesbury.
　　OnthetopofRichmondHillweshotahawk,whichfellinatree.
　　Deedoraofferedtoclimbforitandwelenthimahatchet,theeffectofwhichdelightedhimsomuchthathebeggedforit.Asitwasrequiredtochopwoodforoureveningfire,itcouldnotbeconvenientlyspared;butwepromisedhimthatifhewouldvisitusonthefollowingmorning,itshouldbegiventohim.
　　Notamurmurwasheard;nosuspicionofourinsincerity;nomentionofbenefitsconferred;noreproachofingratitude.Hisgoodhumourandcheerfulnesswerenotcloudedforamoment.Punctualtoourappointment,hecametousatdaylightnextmorningandthehatchetwasgiventohim,theonlytokenofgratitudeandrespectinourpowertobestow.Neitherofthesemenhadlosthisfronttooth.
　　THELASTEXPEDITION
　　WhichIeverundertookinthecountryIamdescribingwasinJuly1791,whenMr.DawesandmyselfwentinsearchofalargeriverwhichwassaidtoexistafewmilestothesouthwardofRoseHill.Wewenttotheplacedescribed,andfoundthissecondNileorGangestobenothingbutasaltwatercreekcommunicatingwithBotanyBay,onwhosebankswepassedamiserablenightfromwantofadropofwatertoquenchourthirst,foraswebelievedthatweweregoingtoariverwethoughtitneedlesstomarchwithfullcanteens.
　　OnthisexpeditionwecarriedwithusathermometerwhichinunisonwithourfeelingsshewedsoextraordinaryadegreeofcoldforthelatitudeoftheplacethatIthinkmyselfboundtotranscribeit.
　　Monday,18thJuly1791.Thesunaroseinuncloudedsplendorandpresentedtooursightanovelandpicturesqueview.Thecontiguouscountryaswhiteasifcoveredwithsnow,contrastedwiththefoliageoftreesflourishingintheverdureoftropicalluxuriancy*.Eventheexhalationwhichsteamedfromthelakebeneathcontributedtoheightenthebeautyofthescene.
　　WindSSW.Thermorneteratsunrise25degrees.Thefollowingnightwasstillcolder.Atsunsetthethermometerstoodat45degrees;
　　ataquarterbeforefourinthemorning,itwasat26degrees;
　　ataquarterbeforesixat24degrees;ataquarterbeforeseven,at23degrees;atseveno'clock,22.7degrees;atsunrise,23degrees,afterwhichitcontinuedgraduallytomount,andbetweenoneandtwoo'clock,stoodat59.6degreesintheshade.WindSSW.Thehorizonperfectlyclearallday,notthesmallestspecktobeseen.Nothingbutdemonstrationcouldhaveconvincedmethatsosevereadegreeofcoldeverexistedinthislowlatitude.Dropsofwateronatinpot,notaltogetheroutoftheinfluenceofthefire,werefrozenintosolidiceinlessthantwelveminutes.Partofalegofkangaroowhichwehadroastedforsupperwasfrozenquitehard,allthejuicesofitbeingconvertedintoice.
　　Onthosepondswhichwerenearthesurfaceoftheearth,thecoveringoficewasverythick;butonthosewhichwerelowerdownitwasfoundtobelessso,inproportiontotheirdepression;andwhereverthewaterwastwelvefeetbelowthesurfacewhichhappenedtobethecaseclosetous
　　itwasuncongealed.Itremainstobeobservedthatthecoldofboththesenights,atRoseHillandSydney,wasjudgedtobegreaterthanhadeverbeforebeenfelt.
　　[*AllthetreesofNewSouthWales,mayIapprehend,betermedevergreen.
　　Foraftersuchweatherasthisjournalrecords,Ididnotobserveeitherthattheleaveshaddroppedoff,orthattheyhadassumedthatsicklyautumnaltint,whichmarksEnglishtreesincorrespondingcircumstances.]
　　CHAPTERXV.
　　TransactionsoftheColonytotheendofNovember,1791.
　　Theextremedrynessoftheprecedingsummerhasbeennoticed.IthadoperatedsofarinthebeginningofJunethatwedreadedawantofwaterforcommonconsumptionmostofthelittlereservoirsintheneighbourhoodofSydneybeingdriedup.Thesmallstreamnearthetownwassonearlyexhaustedbeingonlythedrainofamorassthatashipcouldnothavewateredatit,andthe'Supply'waspreparingtosinkcasksinaswampwhenrainfellandbanishedourapprehensions.
　　June,1791.Onthesecondinstant,thenameofthesettlement,attheheadoftheharbourRoseHillwaschanged,byorderofthegovernor,tothatofParramatta,thenativenameofit.AsRoseHillhas,however,occurredsoofteninthisbook,Ibegleave,toavoidconfusion,stilltocontinuetheappellationinallfuturementionofit.
　　OurtravellingfriendBoladeree,whomakessoconspicuousafigureinthelastchapter,aboutthistimecommittedanoffencewhichwewereobligedtonotice.Hethrewaspearataconvictinthewoods,andwoundedhim.Thetruthwas,somemischievouspersonbelongingtoushadwantonlydestroyedhiscanoe,andherevengedtheinjuryonthefirstofourpeoplewhomhemetunarmed.Henowseemedtothinkthematteradjusted;andprobablysuchisthecustomtheyobserveintheirownsocietyinsimilarcases.Hearing,however,thatanorderwasissuedtoseizehim,orincasethatcouldnotbeeffected,toshoothim,heprudentlydroppedallconnectionwithusandwasforalongtimenotseen.
　　Butiftheysometimesinjuredus,tocompensatetheywereoftenofsignalbenefittothosewhoneededtheirassistance:twoinstancesofwhichhadrecentlyoccurred.AboatwasoversetintheharbourBaneelonandsomeothernatives,whosawtheaccidenthappen,immediatelyplungedin,andsavedallthepeople.Whentheyhadbroughtthemonshore,theyundressedthem,kindledafireanddriedtheirclothes,gavethemfishtoeatandconductedthemtoSydney.
　　Theotherinstancewasofasoldierlostinthewoods,whenhemetapartyofnatives.Heatfirstknewnotwhethertofleefromthem,ortoimploretheirassistance.Seeingamongthemonewhomheknew,hedeterminedtocommunicatehisdistresstohimandtorelyonhisgenerosity.
　　TheIndiantoldhimthathehadwanderedalongwayfromhome,butthathewouldconducthimthither,onthesingleconditionofhisdeliveringupagunwhichheheldinhishand,promisingtocarryitforhimandtorestoreittohimatparting.Thesoldierfeltlittleinclinationtosurrenderhisarms,bywhichhewouldbeputentirelyintheirpower.
　　Butseeingnoalternative,heatlastconsented;onwhichthewholepartylaiddowntheirspearsandfaithfullyescortedhimtothenearestpartofthesettlement,wherethegunwasgivenup,andtheytooktheirleavewithoutaskingforanyremuneration,orevenseemingtoexpectit.
　　Thedistressfulstateofthecolonyforprovisionscontinuedgraduallytoaugmentuntilthe9thofJuly,whentheMaryAnnetransportarrivedfromEngland.ThisshiphadsailedfromtheDownssolatelyasthe25thofFebruary,havingbeenonlyfourmonthsandtwelvedaysonherpassage.Shebroughtoutconvicts,bycontract,ataspecificsumforeachperson.Buttodemonstratetheeffectofhumanityandjustice,of144femaleconvictsembarkedonboardonlythreehaddied,andtherestwerelandedinperfecthealth,allloudinpraiseoftheirconductor.
　　Themaster'snamewasMunro;andhisship,afterfulfillingherengagementwithgovernment,wasboundonthesouthernfishery.ThereadermustnotconcludethatIsacrificetodulldetail,whenhefindssuchbenevolentconductminutelynarrated.Theadvocatesofhumanityarenotyetbecometoonumerous:butthosewhopractiseitsdivineprecepts,howeverhumbleandunnoticedbetheirstation,oughtnottosinkintoobscurity,unrecordedandunpraised,withthevilemonsterswhoderidemiseryandfattenoncalamity.
　　July,1791.If,however,thegoodpeopleofthisshipdelighteduswiththeirbenevolence,heregratificationended.Iwasofapartywhohadrowedinaboatsixmilesouttosea,beyondtheharbour'smouth,tomeetthem;andwhatwasourdisappointment,ongettingaboard,tofindthattheyhadnotbroughtaletterafewofficialonesforthegovernorexceptedtoanypersoninthecolony!Norhadtheyasinglenewspaperormagazineintheirpossession;norcouldtheyconceivethatanypersonwishedtohearnews;beingasignorantofeverythingwhichhadpassedinEuropeforthelasttwoyearsasourselves,atthedistanceofhalfthecircle."Nowar——thefleet'sdismantled,"wasthewholethatwecouldlearn.WhenIaskedwhetheranewparliamenthadbeencalled,theystaredatmeinstupidwonder,notseemingtocomprehendthatsuchabodyeithersufferedrenovationorneededit.
　　"HavetheFrenchsettledtheirgovernment?"
　　"AstothatmatterIcan'tsay;Ineverheard;but,damnthem,theywerereadyenoughtojointheSpaniardsagainstus."
　　"AreRussiaandTurkeyatpeace?"
　　"Thatyouseedoesnotlieinmyway;Ihaveheardtalkaboutit,butdon'trememberwhatpassed."
　　"Forheaven'ssake,whydidyounotbringoutabundleofnewspapers?
　　Youmighthaveprocuredafileatanycoffeehouse,whichwouldhaveamusedyou,andinstructedus?"
　　"Why,really,IneverthoughtaboutthematteruntilwewereofftheCapeofGoodHope,whenwespokeamanofwar,whoaskedusthesamequestion,andthenIwishedIhad."
　　Tohaveprosecutedinquiryfartherwouldhaveonlyservedtoincreasedisappointmentandchagrin.Wethereforequittedtheship,wonderingandlamentingthatsolargeaportionofplainundisguisedhonestyshouldbesototallyunconnectedwithacommonshareofintelligence,andacquaintancewiththefeelingsandhabitsofothermen.
　　Bythegovernor'sletterswelearnedthatalargefleetoftransports,withconvictsonboard,andHisMajesty'sshipGorgon,CaptainParker
　　mightsoonbeexpectedtoarrive.Thefollowingintelligencewhichtheycontained,wasalsomadepublic.
　　Thatsuchconvictsashadservedtheirperiodoftransportation,werenottobecompelledtoremaininthecolony;butthatnotemptationshouldbeofferedtoinducethemtoquitit,asthereexistedbuttoomuchreasontobelieve,thattheywouldreturntoformerpractices;thatthosewhomightchoosetosettleinthecountryshouldhaveportionsofland,subjecttostipulatedrestrictions,andaportionofprovisionsassignedtothemonsignifyingtheirinclinations;andthatitwasexpected,thatthoseconvictswhomightbepossessedofmeanstotransportthemselvesfromthecountry,wouldleaveitfreeofallincumbrancesofapublicnature.
　　Therestofthefleetcontinuedtodropin,inthisandthetwosucceedingmonths.Thestateoftheconvictswhomtheybroughtout,thoughinfinitelypreferabletowhatthefleetoflastyearhadlanded,wasnotunexceptionable.Threeoftheshipshadnavalagentsonboardtocontrolthem.Consequently,ifcomplainthadexistedthere,itwouldhavebeenimmediatelyredressed.Exclusiveofthese,the'Salamander',CaptainNicholswho,of155menlostonlyfive;andthe'WilliamandAnne'CaptainBunckerwhoof187menlostonlyseven,Ifindmostworthyofhonourablemention.InthelistofconvictsbroughtoutwasBarrington,offamousmemory.
　　Twooftheseshipsalsoaddedtoourgeographicknowledgeofthecountry.
　　The'Atlantic',underthedirectionofLieutenantBowen,anavalagent,ranintoaharbourbetweenVanDiemen'sland,andPortJackson,inlatitude35degrees12minutessouth,longitude151degreeseast,towhich,inhonourofSirJohnJervis,KnightoftheBath,Mr.BowengavethenameofPortJervis.Herewasfoundgoodanchoringgroundwithafinedepthofwater,withinaharbouraboutamileandaquarterbroadatitsentrance,whichafterwardsopensintoabasinfivemileswideandofconsiderablelength.Theyfoundnofreshwater,butastheirwantofthisarticlewasnoturgent,theydidnotmakesufficientresearchestopronouncethatnoneexistedthere.*Theysaw,duringtheshorttimetheystayed,twokangaroosandmanytracesofinhabitants.Thecountryatalittledistancetothesouthwardoftheharbourishilly,butthatcontiguoustotheseaisflat.Oncomparingwhattheyhadfoundhereafterwards,withthenativeproduceofPortJackson,theysawnoreasontothinkthattheydifferedinanyrespect.
　　[*JustbeforeIleftthecountry,wordwasbroughtbyashipwhichhadputintoPortJervis,thatalargefreshwaterbrookwasfoundthere.]
　　TheseconddiscoverywasmadebyCaptainWetherhead,ofthe'Matilda'transport,whichwasobliginglydescribedtome,asfollows,bythatgentleman,onmyputtingtohimtheunderwrittenquestions.
　　"Whendidyoumakeyourdiscovery?"
　　"Onthe27thofJuly,1791."
　　"Inwhatlatitudeandlongitudedoesitlie?"
　　"In42degrees15minutessouthbyobservation,andin1481/2eastbyreckoning"
　　"Isitonthemainlandorisitanisland?"
　　"Itisanisland,distantfromthemainlandabouteightmiles."
　　"Didyouanchor?"
　　"Yes;andfoundgoodanchorageinabayopenaboutsixpoints."
　　"Didyouseeanyotherharbourorbayintheisland?"
　　"None."
　　"Doesthechannelbetweentheislandandthemainappeartoaffordgoodshelterforshipping?"
　　"Yes,likeSpithead."
　　"Didyoufindanywaterontheisland?"
　　"Yes,inplenty."
　　"Ofwhatsizedoestheislandappeartobe?"
　　"Itisnarrowandlong;Icannotsayhowlong.Itsbreadthisinconsiderable."
　　"Didyoumakeanyobservationsonthesoil?"
　　"Itissandy;andmanyplacesarefullofcraggyrocks."
　　"DoyoujudgetheproductionswhichyousawontheislandtobesimilartothosearoundPortJackson?"
　　"Idonotthinktheydifferinanyrespect."
　　"Didyouseeanyanimals?"
　　"Isawthreekangaroos."
　　"Didyouseeanynatives,oranymarksofthem?"
　　"Isawnonatives,butIsawafire,andseveralhutslikethoseatPortJackson,inoneofwhichlayaspear."
　　"Whatnamedidyougivetoyourdiscovery?"
　　"Icalledit,inhonourofmyship,MatildaBay."
　　November,1791.AveryextraordinaryinstanceoffollystimulatedtodesperationoccurredinthebeginningofthismonthamongtheconvictsatRoseHill.Twentymenandapregnantwoman,partofthosewhohadarrivedinthelastfleet,suddenlydisappearedwiththeirclothes,workingtools,bedding,andtheirprovisions,fortheensuingweek,whichhadbeenjustissuedtothem.Thefirstintelligenceheardofthem,wasfromsomeconvictsettlers,whosaidtheyhadseenthempass,andhadenquiredwhithertheywerebound.Towhichtheyhadreceivedforanswer,"toChina."
　　Theextravaganceandinfatuationofsuchanattemptwasexplainedtothembythesettlers;butneitherderision,nordemonstrationcouldavertthemfrompursuingtheirpurpose.ItwasobservedbythosewhobroughtintheaccountthattheyhadgeneralideaenoughofthepointofthecompassinwhichChinaliesfromPortJackson,tokeepinanortherlydirection.