首页 >出版文学> A Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay>第2章
  CHAPTERV。
  FromtheArrivaloftheFleetatRiodeJaneiro,tillitsDeparturefortheCapeofGoodHope;withsomeRemarksontheBrazils。
  BrazilisacountryveryimperfectlyknowninEurope。ThePortugueze,frompoliticalmotives,havebeensparingintheiraccountsofit。
  Whenceourdescriptionsofit,inthegeographicalpublicationsinEngland,aredrawn,Iknownot:thattheyaremiserablyerroneousanddefective,iscertain。
  ThecityofSt。Sebastianstandsonthewestsideoftheharbour,inalowunhealthysituation,surroundedonallsidesbyhills,whichstopthefreecirculationofair,andsubjectitsinhabitantstointermittentsandputriddiseases。Itisofconsiderableextent:Mr。CookmakesitaslargeasLiverpool;butLiverpool,in1767,whenMr。Cookwrote,wasnottwo—thirdsofitspresentsize。PerhapsitequalsChester,orExeter,intheshareofgrounditoccupies,andisinfinitelymorepopulousthaneitherofthem。
  Thestreetsintersecteachotheratrightangles,aretolerablywellbuilt,andexcellentlypaved,aboundingwithshopsofeverykind,inwhichthewantsofastranger,ifmoneyisnotoneofthem,canhardlyremainunsatisfied。
  Aboutthecentreofthecity,andatalittledistancefromthebeach,thePalaceoftheViceroystands,along,lowbuilding,nowiseremarkableinitsexteriorappearance;thoughwithinaresomespaciousandhandsomeapartments。Thechurchesandconventsarenumerous,andrichlydecorated;
  hardlyanightpasseswithoutsomeofthelatterbeingilluminatedinhonouroftheirpatronsaints,whichhasaverybrillianteffectwhenviewedfromthewater,andwasatfirstmistakenbyusforpublicrejoicings。
  AtthecornerofalmosteverystreetstandsalittleimageoftheVirgin,stuckroundwithlightsinanevening,beforewhichpassengersfrequentlystoptoprayandsingveryloudly。Indeed,theheighttowhichreligiouszealiscarriedinthisplace,cannotfailofcreatingastonishmentinastranger。
  Thegreatestpartoftheinhabitantsseemtohavenootheroccupation,thanthatofpayingvisitsandgoingtochurch,atwhichtimesyouseethemsallyforthrichlydressed,enchapeaubras,withtheappendagesofabagforthehair,andasmallsword:evenboysofsixyearsoldareseenparadingabout,furnishedwiththeseindispensablerequisites。Exceptwhenattheirdevotions,itisnoteasytogetasightofthewomen,andwhenobtained,thecomparisonsdrawnbyatraveller,latelyarrivedfromEngland,arelittleflatteringtoPortuguezebeauty。Injustice,however,totheladiesofSt。Sebastian,Imustobserve,thatthecustomofthrowingnosegaysatstrangers,forthepurposeofbringingonanassignation,whichDoctorSolander,andanothergentlemanofMr。Cook’sship,metwithwhenhere,wasneverseenbyanyofusinasingleinstance。Weweresodeplorablyunfortunateastowalkeveryeveningbeforetheirwindowsandbalconies,withoutbeinghonouredwithasinglebouquet,thoughnymphsandflowerswereinequalandgreatabundance。
  Amongotherpublicbuildings,Ihadalmostforgottomentionanobservatory,whichstandsnearthemiddleofthetown,andistolerablywellfurnishedwithastronomicalinstruments。Duringourstayhere,someSpanishandPortuguesemathematicianswereendeavouringtodeterminetheboundariesoftheterritoriesbelongingtotheirrespectivecrowns。Unhappily,however,forthecauseofscience,thesegentlemanhavenothithertobeenabletocoincideintheiraccounts,sothatverylittleinformationonthishead,tobedependedupon,couldbegained。Howfarpoliticalmotivesmayhavecausedthisdisagreement,Idonotpresumetodecide;thoughitdeservesnotice,thatthePortugueseaccusetheAbbeedelaCaille,whoobservedherebyorderoftheKingofFrance,ofhavinglaiddownthelongitudeofthisplaceforty—fivemilestoomuchtotheeastward。
  Untiltheyear1770,alltheflourinthesettlementwasbroughtfromEurope;
  butsincethattimetheinhabitantshavemadesorapidaprogressinraisinggrain,astobeabletosupplythemselveswithitabundantly。
  TheprincipalcorncountryliesaroundRioGrande,inthelatitudeof32degsouth,wherewheatflourishessoluxuriantly,astoyieldfromseventytoeightybushelsforone。Coffeealso,whichtheyformerlyreceivedfromPortugal,nowgrowsinsuchplentyastoenablethemtoexportconsiderablequantitiesofit。Butthestaplecommodityofthecountryissugar。Thattheyhavenot,however,learnttheartofmakingpalatablerum,theEnglishtroopsinNewSouthWalescanbeartestimony;alargequantity,veryillflavoured,havingbeenboughtandshippedherefortheuseofthegarrisonofPortJackson。
  Itwasin1771thatSt。Salvador,whichhadformorethanacenturybeenthecapitalofBrazil,ceasedtobeso;andthattheseatofGovernmentwasremovedtoSt。Sebastian。Thechangetookplaceonaccountofthecolonialwar,atthattimecarriedonbytheCourtsofLisbonandMadrid。
  And,indeed,weretheobjectofsecurityalonetodeterminetheseatofGovernment,IknowbutfewplacesbettersituatedinthatrespectthantheoneIamdescribing;thenaturalstrengthofthecountry,joinedtothedifficultieswhichwouldattendanattackonthefortifications,beingsuchastorenderitveryformidable。
  ItmaybepresumedthatthePortugueseGovernmentiswellapprizedofthiscircumstanceandofthelittlerisquetheyruninbeingdeprivedofsoimportantapossession,elseitwillnotbeeasytopenetratethereasonswhichinducethemtotreatthetroopswhocomposethegarrisonwithsuchcruelnegligence。Theirregimentswereorderedoutwithapromiseofbeingrelieved,andsentbacktoEuropeattheendofthreeyears,inconformitytowhichtheysettledalltheirdomesticarrangements。
  ButthefaithofGovernmenthasbeenbroken,andattheexpirationoftwentyyears,allthatislefttotheremnantoftheseunfortunatemen,istosufferinsubmissivesilence。IwasoneeveningwalkingwithaPortugueseofficer,whenthissubjectwasstarted,andonmytellinghim,thatsuchabreachofpublichonourtoEnglishtroopswouldbecomeasubjectofparliamentaryenquiry,heseizedmyhandwithgreateagerness,"Ah,Sir!"
  exclaimedhe,"yoursisafreecountry——we"!————Hisemotionsspokewhathistonguerefused。
  AsIammentioningthearmy,Icannothelpobserving,thatIsawnothingheretoconfirmtheremarkofMr。Cook,thattheinhabitantsoftheplace,whenevertheymeetanofficerofthegarrison,bowtohimwiththegreatestobsequiousness;andbyomittingsuchaceremony,wouldsubjectthemselvestobeknockeddown,thoughtheotherseldomdeignstoreturnthecompliment。
  Theinterchangeofcivilitiesisgeneralbetweenthem,andseemsbynomeansextorted。Thepeoplewhocouldsubmittosuchinsolentsuperiority,would,indeed,deservetobetreatedasslaves。
  Thepoliceofthecityisverygood。Soldierspatrolethestreetsfrequently,andriotsareseldomheardof。Thedreadfulcustomofstabbing,frommotivesofprivateresentment,isnearlyatanend,sincethechurchhasceasedtoaffordanasylumtomurderers。Inotherrespects,theprogressofimprovementappearsslow,andfetteredbyobstaclesalmostinsurmountable,whosebanefulinfluencewillcontinue,untilamoreenlightenedsystemofpolicyshallbeadopted。Frommorningtonighttheearsofastrangeraregreetedbythetinklingoftheconventbells,andhiseyessalutedbyprocessionsofdevotees,whoseadorationandlevityseemtokeepequalpace,andsucceedeachotherinturns。"Doyouwanttomakeyoursonsickofsoldiering?ShewhimtheTrainbandsofLondononafield—day。"
  LethimwhowouldwishtogivehissonadistastetoPopery,pointouttohimthesloth,theignorance,andthebigotryofthisplace。
  Beingnearlyreadytodepartbythe1stofSeptember,asmanyofficersaspossiblewentonthatdaytothepalacetotakeleaveofhisExcellency,theViceroyoftheBrazils,towhomwehadbeenpreviouslyintroduced;
  whoonthis,andeveryotheroccasion,waspleasedtohonouruswiththemostdistinguishedmarksofregardandattention。Somepart,indeed,ofthenumerousindulgenciesweexperiencedduringourstayhere,mustdoubtlessbeattributedtothehighrespectinwhichthePortugueseheldGovernorPhillip,whowasformanyyearsacaptainintheirnavy,andcommandedashipofwaronthisstation:inconsequenceofwhich,manyprivilegeswereextendedtous,veryunusualtobegrantedtostrangers。
  Wewereallowedthelibertyofmakingshortexcursionsintothecountry,andontheseoccasions,aswellaswhenwalkinginthecity,themortifyingcustomofhavinganofficerofthegarrisonattendinguswasdispensedwithonourleavingournamesandranks,atthetimeoflanding,withtheadjutantofordersatthepalace。Ithappened,however,sometimes,thatthepresenceofamilitarymanwasnecessarytopreventimpositionintheshopkeepers,whofrequentlymadeapracticeofaskingmorefortheirgoodsthantheworthofthem。Inwhichcaseanofficer,whenappliedto,alwaystoldustheusualpriceofthecommoditywiththegreatestreadiness,andadjustedthetermsofthepurchase。
  OnthemorningofthefourthofSeptemberweleftRiodeJaneiro,amplyfurnishedwiththegoodthingswhichitshappysoilandclimesoabundantlyproduce。Thefuturevoyagermaywithsecuritydependonthisplaceforlayinginmanypartsofhisstock。Amongthesemaybeenumeratedsugar,coffee,rum,portwine,rice,tapioca,andtobacco,besidesverybeautifulwoodforthepurposesofhouseholdfurniture。
  Poultryisnotremarkablycheap,butmaybeprocuredinanyquantity;
  asmayhopsatalowrate。Themarketsarewellsuppliedwithbutcher’smeat,andvegetablesofeverysortaretobeprocuredatapricenexttonothing;
  theyamsareparticularlyexcellent。Orangesaboundsomuch,astobesoldforsixpenceahundred;andlimesaretobehadontermsequallymoderate。
  Bananas,cocoanuts,andguavas,arecommon;butthefewpineapplesbroughttomarketarenotremarkableeitherforflavour,orcheapness。
  Besidestheinducementstolayoutmoneyalreadymentioned,thenaturalistmayaddtohiscollectionbyanalmostendlessvarietyofbeautifulbirdsandcuriousinsects,whicharetobeboughtatareasonableprice,wellpreserved,andneatlyassorted。
  Ishallclosemyaccountofthisplacebyinformingstrangers,whomaycomehere,thatthePortuguesereckontheirmoneyinrees,animaginarycoin,twentyofwhichmakeasmallcopperpiececalleda’vintin’,andsixteenoftheselasta’petack’。Everypieceismarkedwiththenumberofreesitisworth,sothatamistakecanhardlyhappen。Englishsilvercoinhaslostitsreputationhere,anddollarswillbefoundpreferabletoanyothermoney。
  CHAPTERVI。
  ThePassagefromtheBrazilstotheCapeofGoodHope;
  withanAccountoftheTransactionsoftheFleetthere。
  OurpassagefromRiodeJaneirototheCapeofGoodHopewasequallyprosperouswiththatwhichhadprecededit。Westeeredawaytothesouth—east,andlostsightoftheAmericancoastthedayafterourdeparture。
  Fromthistimeuntilthe13thofOctober,whenwemadetheCape,nothingremarkableoccurred,exceptthelossofaconvictintheshipIwasonboard,whounfortunatelyfellintothesea,andperishedinspiteofoureffortstosavehim,bycuttingadriftalifebuoyandhoistingoutaboat。
  Duringthepassage,aslightdysenteryprevailedinsomeoftheships,butwasinnoinstancemortal。WewereatfirstinclinedtoimputeittothewaterwetookonboardattheBrazils,butastheeffectwasverypartial,someothercausewasmoreprobablytheoccasionofit。
  Atseveno’clockintheeveningofthe13thofOctober,wecastanchorinTableBay,andfoundmanyshipsofdifferentnationsintheharbour。
  LittlecanbeaddedtothemanyaccountsalreadypublishedoftheCapeofGoodHope,though,ifanopiniononthesubjectmightberisqued,thedescriptionstheycontainaretooflattering。WhencontrastedwithRiodeJaneiro,itcertainlysuffersinthecomparison。Indeedwearrivedatatimeequallyunfavourableforjudgingoftheproduceofthesoilandthetemperofitscultivators,whohadsufferedconsiderablyfromadearththathadhappenedtheprecedingseason,andcreatedageneralscarcity。
  Norwasthechagrinofthesedeprivationslessenedbythenewsdailyarrivingoftheconvulsionsthatshooktherepublic,whichcouldnotfailtomakeanimpressionevenonBatavianphlegm。
  Asaconsiderablequantityofflour,andtheprincipalpartofthelivestock,whichwastostoreourintendedsettlement,weremeanttobeprocuredhere,GovernorPhilliplostnotimeinwaitingonMynheerVanGraaffe,theDutchGovernor,torequestpermission(accordingtothecustomoftheplace)topurchaseallthatwestoodinneedof。Howfarthedemandextended,Iknownot,norMynheerVanGraaffe’sreasonsforcomplyingwithitinpartonly。Tothisgentleman’spoliticalsentimentsIconfessmyselfastranger;thoughIshoulddohispolitenessandliberalityathisowntableaninjustice,wereInottotakethispublicopportunityofacknowledgingthem;
  norcanIresisttheopportunitywhichpresentsitself,toinformmyreaders,inhonorofM。VanGraaffe’shumanity,thathehasmaderepeatedeffortstorecovertheunfortunateremainsofthecrewoftheGrosvenorIndiaman,whichwaswreckedaboutfiveyearsagoonthecoastofCaffraria。
  ThisinformationwasgivenmebyColonelGordon,commandantoftheDutchtroopsattheCape,whoseknowledgeoftheinteriorpartsofthiscountrysurpassesthatofanyotherman。AndIamsorrytosaythattheColoneladded,theseunhappypeoplewereirrecoverablylosttotheworldandtheirfriends,bybeingdetainedamongtheCaffres,themostsavagesetofbrutesonearth。
  HisExcellencyresidesattheGovernmenthouse,intheEastIndiaCompany’sgarden。Thislastisofconsiderableextent,andisplantedchieflywithvegetablesfortheDutchIndiamenwhichmayhappentotouchattheport。
  Someofthewalksareextremelypleasantfromtheshadetheyafford,andthewholegardenisveryneatlykept。Theregularlinesintersectingeachotheratrightangles,inwhichitislaidout,will,nevertheless,affordbutlittlegratificationtoanEnglishman,whohasbeenusedtocontemplatethenaturalstylewhichdistinguishesthepleasuregroundsofhisowncountry。Attheheadofthecentrewalksstandsamenagerie,onwhich,aswellasthegarden,manypompouseulogiumshavebeenpassed,thoughinmyownjudgment,consideringthelocaladvantagespossessedbytheCompany,itispoorlyfurnishedbothwithanimalsandbirds;atyger,azebra,somefineostriches,acassowary,andthelovelycrown—fowl,areamongthemostremarkable。
  Thetableland,whichstandsatthebackofthetown,isablackdrearylookingmountain,apparentlyflatattop,andofmorethanelevenhundredyardsinheight。Thegustsofwindwhichblowfromitareviolenttoanexcess,andhaveaveryunpleasanteffect,byraisingthedustinsuchclouds,astorenderstirringoutofdoorsnexttoimpossible。Norcananyprecautionpreventtheinhabitantsfrombeingannoyedbyit,asmuchwithindoorsaswithout。
  Atlengththewished—forday,onwhichthenexteffortforreachingtheplaceofourdestinationwastobemade,appeared。Themorningwascalm,butthelandwindgettingupaboutnoon,onthe12thofNovemberweweighedanchor,andsoonleftfarbehindeverysceneofcivilizationandhumanizedmanners,toexplorearemoteandbarbarousland;andplantinitthosehappyarts,whichaloneconstitutethepre—eminenceanddignityofothercountries。
  TheliveanimalswetookonboardonthepublicaccountfromtheCape,forstockingourprojectedcolony,were,twobulls,threecows,threehorses,forty—foursheep,andthirty—twohogs,besidesgoats,andaverylargequantityofpoultryofeverykind。Aconsiderableadditiontothiswasmadebytheprivatestocksoftheofficers,whowere,however,underanecessityofcircumscribingtheiroriginalintentionsonthisheadverymuch,fromtheexcessivedearnessofmanyofthearticles。Itwillreadilybebelieved,thatfewofthemilitaryfounditconvenienttopurchasesheep,whenhaytofeedthemcostssixteenshillingsahundredweight。
  Theboarding—housesonshore,towhichstrangershaverecourse,aremorereasonablethanmightbeexpected。Foradollarandahalfperdaywewerewelllodged,andpartookofatabletolerablysuppliedintheFrenchstyle。Shouldatraveller’sstockoftearunshort,itisathousandchancestoonethathewillbeabletoreplenishithereatacheaperratethaninEngland。Hemayprocureplentyofarrackandwhitewine;alsoraisins,anddriedfruitsofothersorts。Ifhedislikestoliveataboarding—house,hewillfindthemarketswellstored,andthepriceofbutcher’smeatandvegetablesfarfromexcessive。
  Justbeforethesignalforweighingwasmade,aship,underAmericancolours,enteredtheroad,boundfromBoston,fromwhenceshehadsailedonehundredandfortydays,onatradingvoyagetotheEastIndies。
  Inherroute,shehadbeenluckyenoughtopickupseveraloftheinferiorofficersandcrewoftheHarcourtEast—Indiaman,whichshiphadbeenwreckedononeoftheCapedeVerdIslands。Themaster,whoappearedtobeamanofsomeinformation,onbeingtoldthedestinationofourfleet,gaveitashisopinion,thatifareceptioncouldbesecured,emigrationswouldtakeplacetoNewSouthWales,notonlyfromtheoldcontinent,butthenewone,wherethespiritofadventureandthirstfornoveltywereexcessive。
  CHAPTERVII。
  ThePassagefromtheCapeofGoodHopetoBotanyBay。
  Wehadhardlyclearedthelandwhenasouth—eastwindsetin,and,exceptatshortintervals,continuedtoblowuntilthe19thofthemonth;
  whenwewereinthelatitudeof37deg40minsouth,andbythetime—keeper,inlongitude11deg30mineast,sothatourdistancefromBotanyBayhadincreasednearlyanhundredleaguessinceleavingtheCape。
  Asnoappearanceofachangeinourfavourseemedlikelytotakeplace,GovernorPhillipatthistimesignifiedhisintentionofshiftinghispennantfromtheSiriustothe’Supply’,andproceedingonhisvoyagewithoutwaitingfortherestofthefleet,whichwasformedintwodivisions。Thefirstconsistingofthreetransports,knowntobethebestsailors,wasputunderthecommandofaLieutenantofthenavy;andtheremainingthree,withthevictuallers,leftinchargeofCaptainHunter,ofhisMajesty’sshipSirius。Inthelastdivisionwasthevessel,inwhichtheauthorofthisnarrativeserved。Variouscausespreventedtheseparationfromtakingplaceuntilthe25th,whenseveralsawyers,carpenters,blacksmiths,andothermechanics,wereshiftedfromdifferentshipsintothe’Supply’,inordertofacilitatehisExcellency’sintentionofforwardingthenecessarybuildingstobeerectedatBotanyBay,bythetimetherestofthefleetmightbeexpectedtoarrive。LieutenantGovernorRoss,andtheStaffofthemarinebattalion,alsoremovedfromtheSiriusintotheScarboroughtransport,oneoftheshipsofthefirstdivision,inordertoaffordeveryassistancewhichthepublicservicemightreceive,bytheirbeingearlyonthespotonwhichourfutureoperationsweretobeconducted。
  Fromthistimeasuccessionoffairwindsandpleasantweathercorrespondedtooureagerdesires,andonthe7thofJanuary,1788,thelongwishedforshoreofVanDiemengratifiedoursight。Wemadethelandattwoo’clockintheafternoon,theveryhourweexpectedtoseeitfromthelunarobservationsofCaptainHunter,whoseaccuracy,asanastronomer,andconductasanofficer,hadinspireduswithequalgratitudeandadmiration。
  Aftersolongaconfinement,onaservicesopeculiarlydisgustingandtroublesome,itcannotbematterofsurprisethatwewereoverjoyedatthenearprospectofachangeofscene。Bysunsetwehadpassedbetweentherocks,whichCaptainFurneauxnamedtheMewstoneandSwilly。
  TheformerbearsaverycloseresemblancetothelittleislandnearPlymouth,whenceittookitsname:itslatitudeis43deg48minsouth,longitude146deg25mineastofGreenwich。
  Inrunningalongshore,wecastmanyananxiouseyetowardstheland,onwhichsomuchofourfuturedestinydepended。Ourdistance,joinedtothehazinessoftheatmosphere,preventedus,however,frombeingabletodiscovermuch。Withourbestglasseswecouldseenothingbuthillsofamoderateheight,cloathedwithtrees,towhichsomelittlepatchesofwhitesandstonegavetheappearanceofbeingcoveredwithsnow。
  Manyfireswereobservedonthehillsintheevening。
  AsnopersonintheshipIwasonboardhadbeenonthiscoastbefore,weconsultedalittlechart,publishedbySteele,oftheMinories,London,andfoundit,ingeneral,verycorrect;itwouldbemoreso,werenottheMewstonelaiddownattoogreatadistancefromtheland,andoneobjectmadeoftheEddystoneandSwilly,when,infact,theyaredistinct。