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AUSTRALIANA FACSIMILE EDITIONS No. 185

Reproduced by the Libraries Board of South Australia from a copy held in the State Library of South Australia

Adelaide Libraries Board of South Australia 1968

The State Library of South Australia has catalogued the original of this facsimile as under:

PHILLIP, Arthur, 1738-1814

The voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay; with an account of the establishment of the colonies of Port Jackson and Norfolk Island; compiled from authentic papers . . . to which are added the journals of Lieuts. Short- land, Watts, Ball, and Capt. Marshall, with an account of their new discoveries. London, printed for John Stockdale, 1789.

296 p., 74 p., 55 plates (8 maps and charts) 31 cm. Ferguson 47

1. New South Wales -History 2. Norfolk Island -History

I. Shortland, John, 1769-1810 II. Watts, John Ill. Ball, Henry Lidgbird IV. Marshall, John

V. Title

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APRA ANY VA eran,

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See tat io At

T HE

VO Y A G E

GOVERNOR PHILLIP T O BOTANY BAY; with an

Uccount of Me Cilla ment ok the SE fs PORT JACKSON & NORFOLK ISLAND, compiled from Authentic Papers,

whith. bave been cllained fron the several Lepurimencs. to which are added ,

- of Liat? Shertland Waits Dall, by Cap Marshall

wth an Acccunét f their New Descoverces

embslli shed with fifty five lipper Fates, The Maps and Charts taken from Actual Surveys , Khe OEE Aner the pice, by Capt, Llunter, Lieut! Shortland, Watis, Lawes, Bradley, Capt, Marshall, &

Leo N D ON Bratied fer Sehn Frooitale, Peedilly)

MDCCLXXXIX.

[BRAS APR 4 1968

Facsimile edition 1968

TO THE MOST NOBLE

teense NM Ah OU TS or sAL IS BUR Y;

LORD CHAMBERLAIN OF HIS MAJESTY’s HOUSHOLD, & &c

ViewOe i 0 ME;

CONTAINING ALL THAT IS YET KNOWN OF THE

wan bb MPN Tt ar S YDNEY-COV E,

IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, BY

HIS LORDSHIP’s MUCH OBLIGED, AND MOST FAITHFUL

HUMBLE SERVANT,

NovEMBER 25,

89. ee jl Wass O CKD A L &.

ory bokeN OR PHILL I P.

Rep PHILIP is one of thofe officers, who, like Drake, Dampier, and Cook, has raifed himfelf by his merit and his fervices, to diftinction and command. His father was Jacob Phillip, a native of Frankfort, in Germany, who having fettled in England, maintained his family and educated his fon by teaching the languages. His mother was Elizabeth Breach, who married for her firft hufband, Captain Herbert of the navy, a kinfman of Lord Pembroke. Of her marriage with Jacob Phillip, was her fon, Arthur, born in the parifh of Allhallows, Bread-ftreet, within the city of London, on the 11th of October, 1738.

Being defigned for a feafaring life, he was very pro- perly fent to the fchool of Greenwich, where he received

Sz ste a oR

an

4 AUN EG DOF eis Our

an education fuitable to his early propenfities. At the age of fixteen, he began his maritime career, under the deceafed Captain Michael Everet of the navy, at the commencement of hoftilities, in 1755: and at the fame time that he learned the rudiments of his profeffion under that able officer, he partook with him in the early misfortunes, and fubfequent glories of the feven years war. Whatever opulence Phillip acquired from the capture of the Havannah, certain it is, that, at the age of twenty-three, he there was made a Lieutenant into the Stirling-caftle, on the 7th of June, 1761, by Sir George Pococke, an excellent judge of naval accom- plifhments.

But of nautical exploits, however they may raife marine officers, there muft be an end. Peace, with its bleffings, was reftored in 1763. And Phillip now found leifure to marry; and to fettle at Lyndhurf, in the New Foreft, where he amufed himfelf with farming, and like other country gentlemen, difcharged affiduoufly thofe provincial offices, which, however un- important, occupy refpectably the owners of land, who, in this ifland, require no office to make them im-

portant.

But failors, like their own element, are feldom at reft, Thofe occupations, which pleafed Phillip while they

GlO Wer RONTOUR® SIP El ie 1 Tee. 5

they were new, no longer pleafed him when they became familiar. And he haftened to offer his {kill and his fer- vices to Portugal when it engaged in warfare with Spain. His offer was readily accepted, becaufe fuch {kill and fer- vices were neceffary amidft an arduous ftruggle with a too powerful opponent And, fuch was his conduct and fuch his fuccefs, that when the recent interference of France, in 1775, made it his duty to fight for his king, and to defend his country, the Portugueze court regretted his departure, but applauded his motive.

His return was doubtlefs approved by thofe who, knowing his value, could advance his rank : For he was made mafter and commander into the Bafilifk firefhip, on the 2d of September, 1779. But in her he had little opportunity of difplaying his zeal, or of adding to his fame. This f{tep, however, led him up to a higher fituation; and he was made poft-captain into the Ariadne frigate, on the 13th of November, 1781, when he was upwards of three and forty. This is the great epoch in the lives of our naval officers, becaufe it is from this that they date their rank. In the Ariadne, he had little time for active adventures, or for gainful prizes, being appointed to the Europe of fixty-four guns, on the 23d of December, 1781. During the memorable year 1782, Phillip promoted its enterprizes, and fhared in its glo- ries. And in January, 1783, he failed with a reinforce-

ment

6 Al N TE ICD" OSs 4S; eee:

ment to the Eaft Indies, where fuperior bravery con- tended again{t fuperior force, till the policy of our negotiators put an end to unequal hoftilities by a necef- fary peace.

The activity, or the zeal of Phillip, was now turned to more peaceful objects. And when it was determined to form a fettlement on that part of New Holland, deno- minated New South Wales, he was thought of as a proper officer to conduct an enterprize, which required profefional knowledge, and habitual prudence. His equipment, his voyage, and his fettlement, in the other hemifphere, will be found in the following volume. When the time fhall arrive that the European fettlers on Sydney Cove demand their hiftorian, thefe authentic anecdotes of their priftine legiflator will be fought for as curious, and confidered as important.

E ROR A T A.

Page 1, line 15, for enterprizes, read enterprifes. 13. l. penult. for only fifty, read an hundred. Ibid. }. ult. for Penryn, read Penrhyn. 75, 1.7, for furprize, read furprife. 87, 1.14, after 17, dele 14. 96, 1. 13, for into, read in. 149, 1. 10, for Kangooroo, read Kangurco. The orthography of a word derived only from oral found is in fome degree arbitrary; but it ought to be confiftent. The plates, by miftake, have Kangzsoroo 185, 1. 14, for it were were, read if it were. 203, 1. 3, for Fobn, read Thomas. 213, 1. 10, for four, read forty. 228, 1. 23, bis, for Macauley, read Macaulay, 231, 1.15, for Patri, read Pabi. 252, Margin, for May, read Sune. 253, Ditto. 255, Margin, for Fuly, read Fune. 256, Ditto. 232, 1.18, for Taba, read Toba. 242, 1.9, for who, read whem. 246, 1. 25, for veer’d, read near’d. N. B. Some of the early impreffions of the plates have erroneoufly Wulpine Oppoffum for Mahe Opofum. After a few were work’d off the fault was perceived, and corrected.

obey EB Rea S BM EN: T.

z HE arrangement of materials in this volume being in fome refpects lefs perfect than might be wifhed,

it is necefiary that fomething fhould be faid to obviate any imputation of negligence. The truth will be the beft, and, as it ought, the only apology. The official papers of Governor Phillip, which were liberally com- municated by Government, formed at firft our principal fource of intelligence. Thefe, from their nature, could contain but little information on fubjects of natural hiftory, and many other points, concerning which the curiofity of every reader would naturally be excited. The efforts of the publifher to give fatisfaction to the public in thefe refpects produced a gradual influx of materials; and the fucceffive arrival of different vef- fels from the Indian feas, occafioned additions to the work, which made it neceflary to engrave new plates. aU While,

ADV E Rt 4s ev eed

While, therefore, the completion of the book was anxioufly prefled by many who were eager to pof- fefs it, that defirable point has conftantly been deferred by the communications of thofe who were ftudious to render it more valuable; and the word Fvwis, has feemed to fly from us, like Italy before the wandering Trojans. From the combination of thefe circumftances it has arifen, that every feparate part has been hurried on in the execution; and yet, in the finifhing of the whole, more time has elapfed, than would have been necef- fary to complete a much more ample volume. The defects that proceed from thefe caufes, it is hoped, the reader will forgive, and accept with complacency a volume in which, it is confidently hoped, no- thing material has been omitted that is connected with its principal objet, the formation of a fettlement promifing both glory and advantage to this country ; in which feveral important difcoveries are announced ; no fmall acceffion is made to the ftores of natural hiftory ; and interefting notices are communicated of countries vifited before, and perfons in whofe fate the public has long felt an intereft.

The publifher thinks it his duty, in this place, to re- turn thanks to the following noblemen and gentlemen,

for their kind affiftance and free communications. The

5 Marquis

ADV OE Re tf Ske ME NT.

Marquis of Salifbury, Vifcount Sydney, Lord Hood, Sir Jofeph Banks, Bart. Mr. Rofe, Mr. Nepean, Mr. Stephens, Sir Charles Middleton, Sir Andrew Snape Ham- mond, Mr. Dalrymple, and Mr. Chalmers: but, to Mr. Latham particularly, the moft grateful acknowledgements are due, for having furnifhed many drawings and accu- rate defcriptions, which ftamp a value on the natural hiftory contained in this work, and muft for ever render it an object of attention to all lovers of that fcience: and to Lieutenant Shortland, Licutenant Watts, and Cap- tain Marfhall, of the Scarborough tranfport, the public owe whatever important difcoveries and ufeful know- ledge may be found in their journals, which they com- municated with a difintereftednefs that the publifher will be always happy to acknowledge.

2, AVCICOU NT

itl

OO heres V1. G Nereis

rT HE elegant vignette in the title-page, was engraved

from a medallion which the ingenious Mr. Wedge- wood caufed to be modelled from a {mall piece of clay brought from Sydney Cove. The clay proves to be of a fine texture, and will be found very ufeful for the manu- factory of earthern ware. The defign is allegorical; it reprefents Hope encouraging Art and Labour, under the influence of Peace, to purfue the employments neceffary to give fecurity and happinefs to an infant fettlement. The following verfes upon the fame fubjeé, and in allufion to the medallion, were written by the author of The Bo- tanic Garden, and will {peak more powerfully for them- felves than any encomium we could beftow.

V I Seige

Nault esl Oc eligsO «P\ E

ow Sty wDUN El YR-GYO..vE; NEAR BO TAN Y = B A YX.

WHERE Sydney Cove her lucid bofom {wells, Courts her young navies, and the ftorm repels ;

High on a rock amid the troubled air

HOPE ftood fublime, and wav’d her golden hair ; Calm’d with her rofy {mile the toffing deep,

And with fweet accents charm’d the winds to fleep ; To each wild plain fhe ftretch’d her fnowy hand, High-waving wood, and fea-encircled ftrand.

«¢ Hear me,” fhe cried, “ ye rifing Realms! record «« Time’s opening fcenes, and Truth’s unerring word. “« There fhall broad ftreets their ftately walls extend, “¢ ‘The circus widen, and the crefcent bend ;

“‘ There, ray’d from cities o’er the cultur’d land,

«¢ Shall bright canals, and folid roads expand. “© There the proud arch, Coloffus-like, beftride

«* Yon glittering ftreams, and bound the chafing tide ; << Embellith’d villas crown the land{cape-fcene,

«< Farms wave with gold, and orchards blufh between. “« There fhall tall {pires, and dome-capt towers afcend, «« And piers and quays their mafly ftructures blend ;

«¢ While with each breeze approaching veffels glide,

<< And northern treafures dance on every tide!” Then ceas’d the nymph And Joy’s loud voice was heard from fhore to fhore Her graceful fteps defcending prefs’d the plain,

And Peace, and ArT, and LaBour, join’d her train.

tumultuous echoes roar,

Vrrw

View of thé FLEET and ESTABLISHMENT /ent out with

GOVERNOR PHILLIP #o New SouTH WALEs.

Captain ArTHUR PHILLip of the Navy, Governor and Commander in Chief of the territory of New South Wales, and of bis Majefty’s hips and veffels employed on that coaft.

Major Robert Rofs, Lzeutenant Governor. Richard Johnfon, Chaplain.

Andrew Miller, Commiffary. David Collins, Fudge Advocate. John Long, Adjutant. James Furzer, Quarter-Ma/frer. * George Alexander, Provo? Martial. John White, Surgeon.

Thomas Arndell, Afi/tant Ditto. William Balmain, Détto Ditto.

His Majeity’s fhip Sirius, Captain Arthur Phillip. Captain John Hunter.

His Majefty’s armed tender Supply, Lieutenant H. L. Ball.

* This gentleman did not go. Six

[ vii J Six tranfports carrying the convicts,

Alexander 210 menconviéts. women convicts.

Scarborough 210 ditto.

Friendfhip 80 ditto. 24. Charlotte 100 ditto. 24. Prince of Wales ~ - 100 Lady Penrhyn - - 102

Each tranfport had a detachment of marines on board. Three ttore thips :

The Golden Grove, Fifhburn, and Borrowdale ;

With provifions, implements for hufbandry, cloathing, &c. for the convicts.

Lieutenant John Shortland, agent for the tranfports.

The garrifon is formed from the marines.

i var 4

Diftribution of the Detachment of Marines for New Soutu Wates, with the Number embarked on board of each o the Tranfports upon that Service.

Ships Names. Names of Officers. Embarked.

Captain Campbell Lieut G. Johnfton Lieut. William Collins

Lady Penrhyn, 0} 3}Portfmouth.

Captain Shea Scarborough, Lieutenant Kellow 1] 2 26|Ditto. Lieutenant Morrifon

Captain Lieut. Meredith Friendthip, Lieutenant Clarke 1] 2 1} 36|Plymouth. Lieutenant } addy Captain Tench

Charlotte, Lieutenant Creffwell 1| 2 34|Ditto. Lieutenant Poulden

Lieutenant J. Johnfton

Je : z Alexander, Lieutenant Shairp

1| 30]Woolwich.

Lieutenant Davy Prince of Wales, |Lieutenant Timmins fo) Provoft Martial

—|—— [| — | |

5

20 %6 ———-|— ,— ——| jefty’s thip Sirius, as

Total of the detachment} 4}12|s2]12| 8|160] fupernumeraries.

Cet ee a en

Forty women, wives to the Marines, permitted to go out with the Garrifon.

CanO wep =e wie NTS,

COetiy ease EeoR! or. Page PUBLIC utility of voyages—Peculiar circumftances of this— New Holland properly a continent—Reafons for fixing our

Settlement there—Tranfportation to America, its origin, ad- vantages, and ceffation—Experiments made—The prefent

plan adopted —Difadvantages of other expedients,

Coon gow Ff ot EF RI.

Preparation of the fleet ordered to Botany Bay—Particulars of

its arrangement— Departure and paffage to the Canary Ifles, 11

A Ci bisa, P=

CC O° Ne (lee Ne ie

C H A P fT ER a

Page Reafons for touching at the Canary Ifles—Precautions for pre-

serving Health—Their admirable Succe[s—Some Account of

the Canaries—Fables refpecting them— Attempt of a Convict

to efcape—Departure, - ~ - 18 Report of the Marines and Convitts under medical treatment,

“fune 4, 1787, = = . 25

C: He AS Pe ie Ey Ree FINE

Attempt to put in at Port Praya—Relinquifbed—Weather— Sail for Rio de ‘faneiro—Reafons for touching at a South American port—The Fleet paffes the Line—Arrives at Rio de Faneiro—Account of that Place—Tranfattions there— Departure, - - - - 26

G "HY AYP 2 Seen ae

Profpercus paffage from Rio to the Cape—Account of the Harbours there—The Cape of Good Hope not the moft

Southern point—Height of Table Mountain and others— Supinenefs of the European nations in neglecting to occupy the Cape—Live fiock laid in—Departure—Separation of the fieet-— Arrival of the Supply at Botany Bay, - 36

C H AP

GO N Ff EN TF S,

Geet! ©A @P AL GE #h** Vi.

Firft interview with the natives—the bay examined—arrival of the whole fleet-—Port Fackfon examined—fecond interview with the natives—and third—Governor Phillip returns to Botany Bay—and gives orders for the evacuation of it,

Cena Pr Tr ER Ri #éOUVIdL-.

Removal from Botany Bay—Arrival of two French fhips— Account of them—Preparations for encampment—Difi- culties—Scurvy breaks out—Account of the red and yellow gum trees, - - - =

Cy A Pf TFT EF R (VIL

Defcription of Port SFackfon and the adjacent country—The Governor's commiffion read—his Speech—his humane refolu- tions refpecting the Natives—difficulties in erecting huts and other buildings—departure of Lieutenant King to Norfolk Ifland, - - - - =

Infiructions for P.G. King, Efg; Superintendant and Com- mandant of the Settlement of NorroLtk IsLanp,

iti

Page

44

53

62

71

2 Colt A P-

GC ON BE We es

Ciy H fA eP Gi SE en is

Page

A Criminal Court held—Broken Bay explored by Governor Phillip—Interviews with the Natives—Peculiarities re- marked—Friendly behaviour and extraordinary courage of

an old man, - - = = =

G Hi AL PE Ti es Bayes

Departure of the French fhips—Death of M. Le Receveur— Return of the Supply from Norfolk Iand—Defcription of

that Place—Lord Howe Iffand difcovered, ~ Particulars of the life of P.G. King, E/q; = =

Ga A PP tf EE ae

Three of the tranfports cleared—Two excurfions made into the country, on the fifteenth of April, and on the twenty-fecond— Huts of the natives—Sculpture, and other particulars,

Defcription of the Kanguroo - - -

Dimenfions of the fluffed Kanguroo, in the poffefion of Mr. Stockdale, = = - = -

Account of the live ftock in the fettlement at Port Fackfon, May 1, 1788, - - - = =

75

86 95

GS Oo NN G& & NN BW -S:

Cel Ay CP i iar 7 Xi.

The Supply returns from Lord Howe Ifland—Some conviéts affaulted by the natives—excurfion of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay by Land—interview with many natives—the fourth of Sune celebrated—fome account of the climate,

Return of Sick, &c. Fune 30, 1 785, - =

Gears PP Yr ER ~ XI.

Particular defcription of Sydney Cove—Of tke buildings actu- ally erected—and of the intended town—A fettlement made at the head of the harbour, = ~ -

Crier eee TE RC XIV,

Fifh violently feized by the natives—Another expedition of the Governor—Further account of the manners and manufactures of the native inhabitants of New South Wales—Diffculty of obtaining any intercourfe, - - -

Remarks and Direétions for failing into Port Jackson, by Capt. J. Hunter, of the Sirius, - - -

Height of neap and fpring tides, at full and change of the

moon, = = S a L

Page

120

I22

132

142

GC oO A Bt Er Rea

Page Some Specimens of Animals from New South Wales; : defcription of The fpotted Opofum; Vulpine Opoffum ; Norfolk Ifland Flying-Squirrel. Blue Bellied Parrot; Labuan Parrot; Pennantian Parrot; Pacific Parra- heet ; Sacred King’s-fifher ; Superb Warbler, male; Su- perb Warbler, female; Cafpian Tern; Norfolk Ifland Petrel; Bronze-winged Pigeon; White-fronted Heron ; Wattled Bee-Eater ; Pfittaceous Hornbill, dimenfions of a large Kanguroo. - - - - 144

C HH, A PT ek Oe

Papers relative to the fettlement at Port Sackfon.— General return of marines.—Return of officers.—Artificers belonging to the Marine Detachment.—Lift of officers and privates defirous of remaining in the country.—Return of provi- fions.—Return of Sick. - - - 169

CH Ae

Ce On New Ee ES INY FO 8. vil

C.4H AL Pe D i RR XVII.

Page Nautical directions, and other detached remarks, by Lieu-

tenant Ball, concerning Rio de Saneiro, Norfolk Ifland, Ball's Pyramid, and Lord Howe Ifland, 177

Coan AP © EF R XVIII.

Concife account of Lieutenant Shortland—His various fervices — Appointed agent to the tranfports fent to New South

Wales—Ordered by Governor Phillip to England, by Ba- tavia—Fournal of bis voyage—New difcoveries, 183

Copia] Boel) EB, «R XIX.

Appearance of the fcurvy—The boats land at one of the Pelew Tlands— Account of the Natives who were feen, and con- jectures concerning them—Di/ftreffes—The Friendfhip cleared and funk—Miferable condition of the Alexander when fhe

reached Batavia.—Conclufion, - - - 206

Ger AS P=

Vill Ci OF NH he Ea IN elena co:

Page Lieutenant Wattss Narrative of the Return of the Lady

Penrhyn Tranfport ; containing an Account of the Death of Omai, and other interefting Particulars at Otaheite, 222

Gii;H Ay Pl aie XXI.

The Scarborough leaves Port “fackfon—Touches at Lord Howe Ifland—Foins the Charlotte—Fall in with a large Shoal—Difcover a number of Iflands—Short account of the Inhabitants—Canoes defcribed—Ornaments—Dif- cover Lord Mulgrave’s Iftands—Arrival ct Tinian—Sick people fent on fhore—Departure from Tinian—Arrival in Macao Roads, = . & = 249

GHA: (Poy ee aes XXII.

Supplemental Account of Animals from New South Wales, con-

taining, Defcriptions of the Bankian Cockatoo; Red-/hould-

ered Parrakect ; Crefted Goat Sucker; New Holland Cafp-

wary; White Gallinule; Dog from New South Wales ; Spote

ted Martin; Kanguroo Rat; Laced Lizard; Port Fackfon

Shark; Bag Throated Baliftes; Unknown Fifh from New South Wales ,

CecOrEN BE SEP UNG PP ts.

Page

Wales ; Watts's Shark; Great Brown Kingsfifber.—Add:- tional Account of the Kanguroo—Anecdote of Captain Cook and Otoo, by Mr. Webber.—Dr. Blane’s Account of the good Effects of the Yellow Gum.—Botany Bay Plants.—Lieut. Watts's Account of the Weather at Botany Bay and Port

Fackfon.—Conclufion. — — ath

oO ON TF FE N YT S

OF THE

Peeee. PF E ND I

Table I. Route of the Alexander, Lieutenant Shortland, from the Cape of Good Hope to Botany Bay, II. Route of the Supply, Lieut. Ball, after parting with the Alexander, to Botany Bay, III. Route of the Supply, Lieut. Ball, from Port Fackfon to Norfolk Ifland, - z

267

CONTENTS OF THaE ALPEN DIX

TableIV. Route of the Supply from Norfolk Ifland to Port Fackfon, - - = V. Route of the Supply from Port fackfon to Lord Howe Ifland, and from thence to Port “fackfon, - = = VI. Route of the Alexander, Lieut. Shortland, from Port ‘fackfon to Batavia, - - VII. Route of the Lady Penrhyn, Capt. Sever, from Port Fackfon to Otabeite, - - VIII. Route of the Lady Penrhyn, Capt. Sever, from Otabeite to China, = = iz IX. Route of the Scarborough, Capt. Marfhall, from Port Fackfon to China, = = Lift of the Convicts fent to New South Wales, at &

Page

XV1

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OF THE

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Clarke, Mr. bookfeller, Manchefter

Collins, Mr. bookfeller, Salifbury

Conftable, Golding, Efq.

Cook, Mr. bookfeller, Godalming, 2 copies.

Clarke, Mr. bookfeller, 6 copies

Cuthell, Mr. bookfeller, 3 copies

Charlton, Sc. John, Efq.

Cooper, Dr.

D.

Dickens, Francis, Efq. M. P. De Salis, Rev. Dr. Dod{well, T. Efq. Pool-court De Lancy, Colonel

Agrerts 1) Oh igi io U Biol€ Ry Bins.

Donowe]], Mr. archite& Dalrymple, Alexander, Efq. Dayrell, Edmund, Efq.

Davies, Mr. bookfeller, 6 copies Debrett, Mr. bookfeller, 6 copies Dalling, Sir John, Bart. Dartmouth, Earl of

De Freire, Chevalier, 2 copies Dacre, Lord

Davifon, Alexander, Efq.

Dilly, Mr. bookfeller, 50 copies Dangerfield, Mr. bookdfeller Drewry, Mr. bookfeiler, Derby Dover, Lord

Dawes, John, Efq. M. P. Delaval, Lord

Drummond, John, Efq. M.P.

Jee

Effingham, Earl of

Effex, Earl of

Faft, Gilbert, Efq.

Eliott, Lord

Egerton, Colonel William, M. P.

Enderby, Mr. Samuel

Eardley, Lord

Elliott, William, Efq.

Erving, George, Efq.

Edwards, Captain

Eyre, Edward, Efq.

Evans, Mr. bookfeller, 30 copies

Eeertons, Mefirs. bookfellers, 12 copies

Edwards, Mr. bookfeller, 20 copies

Edwards, Mr. bookfeller, Halifax

Enderby, Mr. Charles

Ernft, Anthony, Efg. jun. Camberwell

Enderby, Mr. George

FEdmifton, Rev. William

Elmfiey, Mr. bookfeller, 6 copies 3

i

Fairford, Lord

Finch, Hon. William

Ford, Richard, Efq. M.P.

Fitzgerald, Lord Robert

Fane, Francis, Efq. M. P.

Froft, John, Efq.

Frederic, Sir John, Bart. M. P.

Fletcher, Mr. bookfeller, Oxford, 6 copies

Fortefcue, Earl of

Forfter, Mr. bookfeller, 12 copies

Forfyth, William, Efq. Kenfineton

Faulder, Mr. bookfeller, 31 copies

Fife, Earl of

Fetherfton, Thomas, Efq. Lincoln’s-inn

Ferrier, Robert England, Efq.

Faden, Mr. book{feller, 3 copies

G. Goulding, Mr. Geo. bookfeller, 28

copies Glover, Richard, Efq. Grigby, Jofhua, Efq. M. P. Greame, Charles, Efq. Graham, Sir James, Bart. M. P. Gregory, Rev. Idward Langar Grenville, Hon. Mrs. Gardner, Mr. bookfeller, 25 copies Gernay, Mr. bookfeller, Dublin, so copies Goodwyn, Henry, Efq. Goodwin, Henry, Efq. jun. Grey de Wilton, Lord Grote, George, Efq.

A “EUSP Ore

eG

Hopetoun, Earl of

Hawke, Lord

Hanmer, Job, Efq. Holbrook Hall

Harpur, Sir Harry, Bart.

Hunt, Jofeph, Efq.

Hoods Mordavie

Houghton, Sir Henry, Bart. M. P.

Hayes, Mr. Charles

Hetherington, J. Efq.

Hodges, Mr.

Humphries, Captain James

Hannay, John, Efq

Herman, Francis Anthony, Efq.

Hanrot, Mr.

Hamilton, Duke of

Hardinge, George, Efq. M. P.

Hannay, Sir Samuel, Bart. M. P,

Hill, Mr. bookfeller, 12 copies

Hughes, Mr.

Hobart, Major, M. P.

Howard de Walden, Lord

Hoare, Charles, Efq.

Hawkins, Chriftopher, Efq. M. P.

Hinuber, Mr.

Haydon and fon, bookfellers, Ply- mouth, 5 copies

Hooper, Mr.

Hookham, Mr. bookfeller, 25 copies

Haftings, Warren, Efg.

Hill, Sir Richard, Bart. M. P.

Harlow, Mrs. bookfeller, 12 copies

Hall, Micah, Efq.

I.

Johnfton, Peter, Efq. Jenkyns, Mr. Irwin, , Efq.

q Jackfon, William, jun. Efq. Exeter

THE SUBSCRIBERS.

Jolliffe, Mr. bookfeller, 6 copies Inchiquin, Earl of, M. P. Johnfon, Mr. bockfeller, 20 capies

K.

Keith, Captain, R.N.

Kingfmill, Captain, R. N. M. P. Kynafton, John, Efg. M. P.

Kent, Sir Charles, Bart. M. P. Kenfingion, Charles, Efq,

Kirby, Mr. bookfeiler

King, Mr. bookfeller, 4 copies Knight and Son, bookfellers, 3 copies

L

Lewifham, Lord

JLambert, J. Efq.

Law, Edward, Efq.

Lane, Mr. bookfeller, 2 copies

Lane, Mrs.

Loveden, Edward Loveden, Efq. M. P. Long, , Efq. Aldermafton Latrobe, Mr. Benjamin Henry Lucas, Mr. William

Lovaine, Lord

Long, Samuel, Efq.

Lee, Mr. James, Hammerfinith Longmate, Mr, engraver Lindergreen, Andrew, Efq. Leinfter, Duke of

Lodge, John, Efq,

Lifter, 1 homas, Efg. M. P.

Long, Sir James Tylney, Bart. M. P. Le Mefurier, Paul, Efq. M. P. Lowndes, Mr. bookfeller, 6 copies Longman, Mr.-bookfeller, 20 copies Law, Mr. bookfeller, 20 copies Lackington, Mr. book{eller, 25 copies

AVE ESI OF DHE SUBSCRIBERS,

Le Fleming, Sir Michael, Bart. M. P.

Latham, John, Ffq. M. D. Latham, John, jun. Efq. Latham, Mifs Ann

Langfton, John, Efq. M. P. Luttrell, Lady Elizabeth Lewifham, Vifcount, M.P. Little, Richard, Efq. Kenfington Lewis, Mr. bookfeller, 6 copies

M

Mitchel, Capt. A. R.N.

Miles, William, Efq.

Mornington, Lord, M. P.

Moreau, Simon, Efq. Cheltenham

Martin, George, Efq.

Martin, Edwin, Efg. Priory

Mazell, Mr. Peter, engraver

Medland, Mr. engraver

Macclesfield, Earl of

Middleton, R. Efq.

Mineur, Mr.

Marthall, Lieutenant S. E.

Mehaux, John, Efq.

Milnes, Richard Slater, Efq. M. P.

Mecormick, Mrs.

Murray, Mr. bookfeller, 18 copies

Marfhall, John, Efq.

Maberly, Mr, Stephen

Martindale, John, Efq.

Mulgrave, Lord, M. P.

Monro, Dr.

M‘Queen, Mr. bookfeller, 6 copies

Matthews, Mr. bookfeller, 6 copies

Merrill, Mr. bookfeller, Cambridge

Mapletoft, Mr.

Macbride, Captain John, Efg. M.P. R.N.

Mainwaring, William, Efq. M. P.

Macnamara, John, Efq. M.P.

Middleton, William, Efq. M. P.

Morfhead, Sir John, Bart. M. P. Muncafter, Lord, M. P.

Marth, Samuel, Efq.

Marfham, Charles, Efq. Melbourne, Lady

Montolieu, Lewis, Efq.

N

Nepean, Evan, Efq.

Norton, Mr. James, bookfeller, Briftol, 6 copies

Nares, Rev. Mr.

Nicol, Mr. George, bookfeller, 12 copies

Neville, Richard Aldworth, Efq. M. P.

Nicholls, Frank, Efq. Whitchurch

Nafh, Mr. jun.

Neuss Henry Conftantine, Efq. Ship- ake

Newberry, Mrs. bookfeller, 6 copies

O

Orchard, Paul, Efq. M. P.

Ogilvie and Speare, bookfellers, 9 copies

Otridge, Mr. bookfeller, 18 copies

P

Portlock, Capt. Nathaniel, R. N. Pye, Walter, Efq.

Potenger, Thomas, Efq.

Pratcent, Mr. engraver

Pitt, Right Hon. William, M. P. Pocock, Sir lfaac, Bart. Reading Peachey, John, Efq. M. P. Penn, Granville, Efq.

Pochin, William, Efg. M. P. Phiney, Mr. bookfeller, 6 copies

A Pisco

Parkyns, Thomas Boothby, Efq. M. P. F. R.S. and7A. S:

Pennant, Thomas, E/q.

Pitman, Thomas, Efq. Loxford Hall

Pye, Henry James, Efg. M. P.

Putland, William, Efq.

Peachey, Sir James, Bart.

Popham, Home, Efq.

Policck, W. Efq.

Pierfe, Henry, Efq. M. P.

Pery, Rev. John

Prince and Cook, bookfellers, Oxford, 6 copies

Patterfon, Captain

Phillips, Mr. bockfeller, 6 copies

Peat and Newcomb, bookfellers, Stam- ford

Pearfon and Rollafon, bookfellers, Bir- mingham

Payne and Son, bookfellers, 12 copies

Petrie, William, Efq.

Plampin, Lieutenant, R. N.

Phipps, Hon. Henry, M. P.

Pitt, William Morton, Efg. M. P.

Popham, Willizm, Efq. M. P.

R

Rivers, Lord

Richards, Mr.

Ramfay, Capt. John

Rofe, George, Efqa Mo R:

Robinfon, William, Efq.

Rolle, John, Efg. M. P.

Rawftorne, Lieut. Col.

Robinfons, Mefirs. bookfellers, copies

Richardfon, Mr. bookfeller, 20 copies

Rome, George, Efq.

Roberts, Mr.

Ramsford, Nicholas, Efq.

Rous, Sir John, Bart. M. P.

200

THE SUBSCRIBERS.

Rodney, James, Efq.

Rivington, and Sons, bookfellers, 20 copies

Robfon and Clarke, bookfellers, 25 copies

Salifoury, Marquis of, 2 copies

Salifbury, Marchionefs of

St. Albans, Duke of

Stanley, Thomas, Efq. M. P.

Sturt, Charles, Efq. M. P.

Speke, Mrs.

Swale, John, Efq.

Smyth, John, Efq.

Saville, Hon. Henry

Scott, Major, M. P.

Shuckburgh, Sir George, Bart. M. P.

Stephens, Philip, Efq. M. P.

Skipwith, Sir Thomas George, Bart.

Sykes, Sir Francis, Bart. M.P.

St. John, St. Andrew, Efq.

Stanley, John, Efq. M.P.

Shore, Samuel, Efq.

Sitwell, Francis, Efg.

Spooner, Ciarles, Ef.

Smith, Sir John, Bart.

Smart, Baptiit, Efq.

Sydney, Vifcount, two copies

Spence, Mr. George

Scott, Thomas, Efq. M.P.

Sotheron, William, Efq. M. P.

Strahan, Mr. bookfeller, 6 copies

Steele, Mr. bookfeller, 6 copies

Scatcherd and Whittaker, bookfellers, 6 copies

Sewell, Mr. bookfeller, 6 copies

Spens, Walter, Efq.

Silvefter, Mr. John, architect

Smith and Gardner, boolifellers

A LIST 4OF VERE SUBSCRIBE RS,

Simmons and Kerby, bookfellers, Can- terbury

Swinney, Mr. bookfeller, Birmingham

Smart and Cowflade, bookfellers, Reading

Steele, Thomas, Efq. M. P.

Secker, George, Efq.

Swain, Rev. John Hadley

Scowen, James, Efq.

Staunton, G. T. Efq.

Sumner, John, Efq.

Society, the Philofophical, Derby

Stockdale, Mr. Jeremiah

Selkirk, Lord

Sumner, George, Efq. M. P.

Stanley, John Thomas, Efq.

Stalker, Mr. bookfeller, 12 copies

Southern, Mr. bookfeller, 3 copies

si

Townfend, Hon. John Thomas, M. P. Thomfon, Rev. Doctor, Kenfington Temple, Grenville, Efq.

Tullock, Mr.

Turnor, John, Efq. Gray’s-inn Tatterfall, Mr. jun.

Townley, Charles, Efq.

Todd, Mr. bookfeller, York, 6 copies Tutte, Rev. Mr.

Townfon, Lieutenant

Thorkelin, Dr. G. J.

Teffyman, Mr. bookfeller, York Trewman, Mr. bookfeller, Exeter Trotman, Fiennes, Efq. M. P. Thorold, Sir John, Bart. M. P. Temple, Sir John, Bart.

Thornton, Mr. bookteller, 6 copies

Vv

Vanfittart, George, Efg. M. P. Vanfittart, Nicholas, Efq. Vernor, Mr. bookfeller, 18 copies

W.

Weymouth, Lord

Warren, Sir John Borlafe, Bart.

Wolfe, Arthur, Efq. Attorney-General, Treland

Walth, John, Efq.

Wentworth, Lord

Willis, H. N. Efq.

Wright, Mr.

Woodford, Col. John

Wray, Sir Cecil, Barr.

Willis, Rev. Thomas

Wolfe, Lewis, Efq.

Watts, Lieutenant John, R.N.

Watts, Mr. D. P.

Wilton, George, Efq.

Wale, G. Efq.

Watts, Mr. Thomas

Warren, Sir George, M. P.

Walter, Mr. bookfeller, 12 copies

Webber, Mr. John

Walker, James, Efq.

Watfon, Serjeant

Welch, Mr. Jofeph

White and Son, bookfellers, 12 copies

Ware and Son, bookfellers, White- haven

Woodimafon, Mr.

Williamfon, Captain

Wright, Mr. Thomas

Walcot, Jonn, Efq.

Wood, Mr. bookfeller, Shrewsbury

A LIST OF THE SUBSCRIBERS.

Wilfon, Mr. Y Wetton, Mr. bookfeller, Chertfey Wenman, Mr. bookfeller, 3 copies Yorke, Hon. Philip, M. P.

Wigglefworth, John, Efq. Yorke, Charles, Efq.

Wedgewood, Jofiah, Efq. Young, Sir Wm. Bart. M. P. Wheeler, Mr. G. Wanftead Yorke, the Hon. Mrs. Sydney-Farm Wilkie, Mr. bookfeller, 6 copies Young, William, Efq.

Whieldon, Mr. bookfeller, 12 copies | Yonge, Right Hon. Sir George, Bart. Williams, Mr. bookfeller, 6 copies M. P.

Walker, Mr. bookfeller, 3 copies Younge, Major William, Little Darn- Wynne, Mr. bookfeller, 6 copies ford Place.

OF THE

I. Heap of Governor Phillip, — Frontifpiece.

2. View of Botany Bay, — to face page 46 3. Yellow Gum Plant, - = - 60 4. View in Port Jackfon, ~ - 62 5. Cafpian Tern, - - = - a7 6. Natives of Botany Bay, - - 82 7. Chart of Norfolk Ifland, - - 87 8. Lieutenant King, ~ - ~ 96 9. Hut in New South Wales, - - 102 10. The Kanguroo, ~ - - 106 11. View in New South Wales, - - 119 12. Sketch of Sydney Cove, - - 123 13. Axe, Bafket, and Sword, - - I 36

3 i4, Plan

I4. We. 16. 17 Los 19. 20. OTs 226 23% 24. 25. 26. O78 28. 29. 20.

Bie 32. 2) 34: 35° 20. 37/0 Zoe 39:

iol Sol) OF ° Poe |e Aw Es:

Plan of Port Jackfon, - to face page 142 Spotted Opoffum, - ~ ~ 147 Vulpine Opoffum “ - - 150 Flying Squirrel, - = - 151 Blue-bellied Parrot, - - - 152 Tabuan Parrot, - ~ - i563 Pennantian Parrot, - ~ - 154 Pacific Parrakeet, - - = $s Sacred Kings-fifher, - - - 156 Male Superb Warbler, - - 157 Female ditto, - - = = 159 Norfolk Ifland Petrel, - = = 161 Bronze-winged Pigeon, = . 162 White-fronted Heron, - - 163 Wattled Bee-eater, = - - 164 Pfittaceous Hornbill, = - - 165

Skeleton of the Head of the Kanguroo and Vulpine Opoffum, - - 168 Map and View of Lord Howe Ifland, - 180 Ball’s Pyramid, - - - 18r Lieutenant Shortland, - - 183 Chart of the Track of the Alexander, - 187 Shortland’s Chart of New Georgia, - 202 Curtis’s Ifles, ~ ~ ~ 228 Macaulay’s Ifles, ~ - - 229 Track of the Scarborough, - ~ 249 A Canoe, &c. Mulgrave’s Range, - 256 9 40. Ban-

ist Or fH Pb A Tt ES.

. Bankian Cockatoo, - . Red Shouldered Parrakeet, - New Holland Goat-fucker, . New Holland Caffowary,

. White Gallinule, - - Dog of New South Wales, . Martin Cat, = -

Kanguroo Rat, -

aeizaced) Lizard, =

. Bag-throated Baliftes,

. Fifth of New South Wales, . Port Jackfon Shark, -

. Watt’s Shark, ~

. Great brown Kingsfifher,

. Black flying Opoffum,

. Vignette in title page.——For an explanation fee the

Preface.

to face page 267

287 297

ee arte Tare, Bee - “Eo wif. ee @ ss

i C= Sa * ; ‘ 7 4 : v bs 1k i ole Ute S i « ui —_ ure, = } r ee eS

waits, oS

Netenvei5 O.U.l H W ALES.

Cre Et ER I.

Public utility of voyages—Pecultar circumftances of this—New Hol- land properly a continent—Reafons for fixing our fettlement there —Tranfportation to America, its origin, advantages, and cef- fation—Experiments made—The prefent plan adopted—Difad-

vantages of other expedients.

ROM voyages undertaken exprefsly for the purpofe c HAP.

of difcovery, the public naturally looks for infor- Las mation of various kinds: and it is a fact which we cannot but contemplate with pleafure, that by the excellent publications fubfequent to fuch enterprizes, very confiderable additions have been made, during the prefent reign, to our general knowledge of the B globe,

2 AV TO FAP Gr LO

CHAP. globe, of the various tribes by which it is peopled, and “~— of the animals and vegetables to which it gives fupport.

An expedition occafioned by motives of legiflative policy, carried on by public authority, and concluded by a fixed eftablifhment in a country very remote, not only excites an unufual intereft concerning the fate of thofe fent out, but promifes to lead us to fome points of knowledge which, by the former mode, however judici- oufly employed, could not have been attained. A tran- fient vifit to the coaft of a great continent cannot, in the nature of things, produce a complete information re- fpecting its inhabitants, productions, foil, or climate: all which when contemplated by refident obfervers, in every poffible circumftance of variation, though they fhould be viewed with lefs philofophical acutenefs, muft yet gradually become more fully known: Errors, fometimes infeparable from hafty obfervation, will then be correfted by infallible experience; and many objects will prefent themfelves to view, which before had efcaped notice, or had happened to be fo fituated that they could not be obferved.

The full difcovery of the extent of New Holland, by our illuftrious navigator, Capt.Cook, has formed a fingular epocha in geography ; a doubt having arifen from it, whe- ther toa land of fuch magnitude the name of ifland or that of continent may more properly be applied. To this quef-

6 tion

NEE W S7O U iy WrAw: E S.

3

tion it may be anfwered, that though the etymology of © HAP.

the word ifland,* and of others fynonymous to it, points “~—~

out only a Jand furrounded by the fea, or by any water, (in which fenfe the term is applicable even to the largeft portions of the habitable globe) yet it is certain that, in the ufual acceptation, an ifland is conceived to fignify a land of only moderate extent, furrounded by the feat To define at what point of magnitude pre- cifely, a country fo fituated fhall begin to be a continent, could not anfwer any purpofe of utility; but the beft and cleareft rule for removing the doubt appears to be the following: As long as the peculiar advantages of an infular fituation can be enjoyed by the inhabitants of fuch a country, let it have the title of an ifland; when it exceeds thofe limits let it be confidered as a con- tinent. Now the firft and principal advantage of an ifland, is that of being capable of a convenient union under one government, and of deriving thence a fecurity from all external attacks, except by fea. In lands of very great magnitude fuch an union is difficult, if not impracticable, and a diftin¢étion founded on this circum-

* Infula, from which ifland is derived, is formed from im fal, in the fea; and sheoc, the correfponding word in Greek, is ufually deduced from Ȏw to fwim, as ap- pearing, and probably having been originally fuppofed to {wim in the fea.

+ Thus when Dionyfius Periegetes confiders the whole ancient world as furrounded by the fea, he calls it vacos améipsros; an immenfe ifland; on which Eufta- thius remarks, that. the addition of the epithet zmmenfe was neceflary, otherwife the expreflion would have been low and inadequate.

B 2 ftance,

4

Core AGP. I.

7

A BV OY eR Ar G: BE: SO

{tance, is therefore fufficient for convenience at leaft, if * not for fpeculative accuracy. If we fuppofe this ex- tent to be fomething about one thoufand miles each way, without, however, affecting much rigour in the limitation, the claim of New Holland to be called a continent, will be indifputable : The greateft extent of that vaft coun- try being, from Eaft to Weft, about two thoufand four hundred Englifh miles, and, from North to South, not lefs than two thoufand three hundred.t

ToNew South Wales England has the claim which a tacit confent has generally made decifive among the European States, that of prior difcovery. The whole of that Eaftern coaft, except the very Southern point, having been untouched by any navigator, till it was explored by Captain Cook. This confideration, added to the more favourable accounts given of this fide of the continent than of the other, was fufficient to decide the choice of

* We do not here confider whether a country be a@tually united under one government, but whether from its fize it might be fo conveniently. If we might derive vios from 140, or valw to inhabit, the etymological diftinG@ion would be complete on thefe principles. Anifland being one diftin& habitation of men; anda continent land continued from one ftate to another. The former derivation might be rendered {pecious by remarking how fingularly Homer and others ufe yeas with salw, 2s if they had a natural connection. Sce Il. B.626. and, Sophoc. Ajax. 601.

+ In or near the latitude of 30° South, New Holland extends full 40 degrees of Jongitude, which, under that parallel, may be eftimated at 60 Englifh miles to a degree. The extent from York Cape to South Cape is full 33 degrees of latitude, which are calculated of courfe at 69% Englifh miles each.

8 the

NE We SeOPUr iE Wr Avis? ES.

the Britifh government, in appointing a place for the banifhment of a certain clafs of criminals.

The caufe of the determination to fend out in this manner the convicts under fentence of tran{portation, was, as is well known, the neceffary ceffation of their re- moval to America; and the inconveniences experienced in the other modes of deftination adopted after that period.

Virginia, greatly 1m want, at its firft fettlement, of labourers to clear away the impenetrable forefts which impeded all cultivation, was willing, from very early times, to receive as fervants, thofe Englifh crimi- nals whom our Courts of Law deemed not fufh- ciently guilty for capital punifhment.* The planters hired their fervices during a limited term; and they were latterly fent out under the care of contractors, who were obliged to prove, by certificates, that they had difpofed of them, according to the intention of the law.

* Banifhment was firft ordered as a punifhment for rogues and vagrants, by ftatute 39 Eliz. ch.4. See Blackft, Com. IV. chap. 31, But no place was there fpecified. The practice of tranfporting criminals to America is faid to have com- menced in the reign of JamesI; the year 1619 being the memorable epoch of its origin: but that deftination is firft exprefsly mentioned in 18 Car. II. ch. 2,— The tranfport traffic was firft regulated by ftatute 4 George I. ch. 11. and the caufes exprefled in the preamble to be, the failure of thofe who undertook to tranfport

themfelves, and the great want of fervants in his Majefty’s plantations. Subfe- quent Acts enforced further regulations.

The

5 CHAP. I. es

6

Gabi Agr: it eee)

NS VO? Naeal 16 SE T O

The benefits of this regulation were various. The colonies received by it, at an eafy rate, an affiftance very neceflary; and the mother country was relieved from the burthen of fubjects, who at home were not only ufe- lefs but pernicious : befides which, the mercantile returns, on this account alone, are reported to have arifen, in latter times, to a very confiderable amount.* The individuals themfelves, doubtlefs, in fome inftances, proved incorrigi- ble; but it happened alfo, not very unfrequently, that, during the period of their legal fervitudg they became reconciled to a life of honeft induftry, were altogether retormed in their manners, and rifing gradually by laudable efforts, to fituations of advantage, independence, and eftimation, contributed honourably to the population and profperity of their new country.t

By the conteft in America, andthe fubfequent fepara- tion of the thirteen Colonies, this traffic was of courfe deftroyed. Other expedients, well known to the public, have fince been tried; fome of which proved highly objectionable ;§ and ail have been found to want fome of

* Tt is faid, forty thoufand pounds per annum, about two thoufand convidts being fold for twenty pounds each,

+ The Abbe Raynal has given his full teftimony to the policy of this fpecies of banifhment, in the fourteenth Book of his Hiftory, near the beginning.

§ Particularly, the tranfporting of criminals to the coaft of Africa, where what was meant as an alleviation of punifhment too frequently ended in death.

the

NeEVW “StOLU VI HY W AIL. ESS.

7

the principal advantages experienced from the ufual CHAP mode of tranfportation.—The deliberations upon this “~~

fubject, which more than once employed the attention of Parliament, produced at length the plan of which this volume difplays the firft refult. On December 6, 1786, the proper orders were iffued by his Majefty in Council, and an Act eftablifhing a Court of Judicature in the place of fettlement, and making fuch other regulations as the occafion required, received the fanction of the whole legiflature early in the year 1787.

To expatiate upon the principles of penal law is foreign to the purpofe of this work, but thus much is evident to the plaineft apprehenfion, that the objects moit to be defired in it are the reftriction of the number of capital inflictions, as far as is confiftent with the fecurity of fociety ; and the employment of every method that can be devifed for rendering the guilty perfons fer- viceable tothe public, and juft to themfelves; for correcting their moral depravity, inducing habits of induftry, and arming them in future againft the temptations by which they have been once enfnared.

For effectuating thefe beneficial purpofes, well regu- Jated penitentiary houfes feem, in fpeculation, to afford the faireft opportunity; and a plan of this kind, formed by the united efforts of Judge Blackftone, Mr.

Eden,

8 A AVE OF Nery 1G Gr T O

CHAT. Eden, and Mr. Howard, was adopted by Parliament in

“—~— the year 1779. Difficulties however occurred which prevented the execution of this defign: a circumftance which will be fomething the lefs regretted when it fhall be confidered, that it is perhaps the fate of this theory, in com- mon with many others of a very pleafing nature, to be more attractive in contemplation than efficacious in real practice. A perfe& defign, carried on by imperfect agents, is liable to lofe the chief part of its excellence; and the beft di- gefted plan of confinement muft in execution be com- mitted, chiefly, to men not much enlightened, very little armed againft corruption, and conftantly expofed to the danger of it. The vigilance which in the infancy of fuch inftitutions effectually watches over the conduct of thefe public fervants, will always in a little time be relaxed; and it will readily be conceived that a large penitentiary houfe, very corruptly governed, would be, of all affociations, one of the moft pernicious to thofe confined, and moft dangerous to the peace of fociety.

In fome countries, malefactors not capitally convicted, are fentenced to the gallies or the mines; punifhments often more cruel than death, and here, on many accounts, impracticable. In other places they are employed in public works, under the care of overfeers. This method has been partially tried in England on the Thames, but has been found by no means to produce the benefits ex-

pected

NeERWe SIOMUPaE We All BPS: 9

pected from it. There is, therefore, little temptation to CHAP. purfue it to a further extent. The employment of cri- ented minals in works carried on under the public eye, is per-

haps too repugnant to the feelings of Englifhmen ever

to be tolerated. Reafon, indeed, acquiefces in the me- lancholy necefflity of punifhing, but chains and badges

of fervitude are unpleafing objects, and compaffion will

always revolt at the fight of actual infliction. Convicts

fo employed would either by an ill placed charity be re- warded, or the people, undergoing a change of character

far from defirable, would in time grow callous to thofe impreffions which naturally impel them to give relief.

It remains therefore, that we adhere as much as pof- fible to the practice approved by long experience, of em- ploying the fervices of fuch criminals in remote and rifing fettlements. For this purpofe the eftablifhment on the eaftern coaft of New Holland has been projected, and carried on with every precaution to render it as bene- ficial as poffible. That fome difficulties will arife in the commencement of fuch an undertaking muft be ex- pected; but it is required by no moral obligation that convicts fhould be conveyed to a place of perfect conve- nience and fecurity ; and though the voluntary emigrants and honourable fervants of the ftate, muft in fome mea-

'@; fure,

10 AL OV O° Yo atGeE sli.

CHAP. fure, be involved for a time in the fame difadvantages,

—— yet to have refifted difficulties is often finally an advan- tage rather than an evil; and there are probably few perfons fo circumftanced who will repine at moderate hardfhips, when they reflect that by undergoing them they are rendering an effential and an honourable fervice to their country.

CHAP TS

Wee We Ss © UF Rate WeA EE: S:

Crepile GA ie pier IT.

Preparation of the fleet ordered to Botany Bay—Particulars of ets arrangement,—Departure and paffage to the Canary Lfles.

ap HE fquadron deftined to carry into execution the above defign, began to affemble at its appointed rendezvous, the Mother Bank, within the Ifle of Wight, about the 16th of March, 1787. ‘This fmall fleet con- fitted of the following fhips: His Majefty’s frigate Szrius, Captain John Hunter, and his Majefty’s armed tender Supply, commanded by Lieutenant H. L. Ball. Three ftore-fhips, the Golden Grove, Fifbburn, and Borrow- dale, for carrying provifions and ftores for two years; including inftruments of hufbandry, clothing for the troops and convicts, and other neceffaries ; and laftly, fix tranfports, the Scarborough, and Lady Penrbyn, trom Portfmouth ; the Friend/bip, and Charlotte, from Ply- mouth ; the Prince of Wales, and the Alexander, from Woolwich. ‘Thefe were to carry the convicts, with a detachment of Marines in each, proportioned to the na- ture of the fervice; the largeft where refifiance was moft to be expected, namely, in thofe fhips which carried the C 2 greateft

It

@ HVA P: ity CH.

March 16th, 1787.

12

At VY AOR Y GAS Gra: TO

CHAT. greateft number of male conviéts. Altogether they “~—~ formed a little {quadron of eleven fail.

They only who know the nature of fuch equipments, and confider the particular neceffity in the prefent inftance for a variety of articles not ufually provided, can judge properly of the time required for furnifhing out this fleet. Such perfons will doubtlefs be the leaft furprized at being told that nearly two months had elapfed before the fhips were enabled to quit this ftation, and proceed upon their voyage: and that even then fome few arti- cles were either unprepared, or, through mifapprehen- fion, neglected. ‘The former circumftance took place refpecting fome part of the cloathing for the female convicts, which, being unfinifhed, was obliged to be left behind ; the latter, with refpect to the ammunition of the marines, which was furnifhed only for imme- diate fervice, inftead of being, as the Commodore appre- hended, completed at their firft embarkation: an omif- fion which, in the courfe of the voyage, was eafily fupplied.

This neceffary interval was very ufefully employed, in making the convicts fully fenfible of the nature of their fituation; in pointing out to them the advantages they would derive from good condudt, and the certainty of fevere and immediate punifhment in cafe of turbu-

lence

NEW SOUTH WALES.

i)

lence or mutiny. Ufeful regulations were at the fame cre P. time eftablifhed for the effectual governing of thefe “~~

people; and fuch meafures were taken as could not fail to render abortive any plan they might be defperate enough to form for refifting authority, feizing any of the tranfports, or effecting, at any favourable period, an efcape. We have, however, the teftimony of thofe who commanded, that their behaviour, while the fhips re- mained in port, was regular, humble, and in all refpects fuitable to their fituation: fuch as could excite neither fufpicion nor alarm, nor require the exertion of any kind of feverity.

When the fleet was at length prepared for failing, the complement of convicts and marines on board the tranfports was thus arranged. The Friend/hip carried a Captain and forty-four marines, fubalterns and privates, with feventy-fevenn male and twenty female convicts. The Charlotte, a Captain and forty-three men, with eighty-eight male and twenty female convicts. In the Alexander, were two Lieutenants and thirty-five ma- rines, with two hundred and thirteen convicts, all male. In the Scarborough, a Captain and thirty-three marines, with male convicts only, two hundred and eight in num- ber. The Prince of Wales tranfport had two Lieute- nants and thirty marines, with only fifty convicts, all female. And the Lady Penryn, a Captain, two Licute-

nants,

14

CRAP. Il.

——

& 2 VO" & AMG E TC

nants, and only three privates, with one hundred and two female convicts. Ten marines, of different deno- minations, were alfo fent as fupernumeraries on board the Sirius. The whole complement of marines, includ- ing officers, amounted to two hundred and twelve; befides which, twenty-eight women, wives of marines, carrying with them feventeen children, were permitted to accompany their hufbands. The number of convicts was feven hundred and feventy-eight, of whom five hundred and fifty-eight were men. ‘Two, however, on board the Alexander, received a full pardon before the departure of the fleet, and confequently remained

in England.

Governor Phillip, on his arrival at the ftation, hoifted his flag on board the Sirius, as Commodore of the {fquadron: and the embarkation being completed, and the time requiring his departure, at day break on the 13th of May, he gave the fignal to weigh anchor. To the diftance of about an hundred leagues clear of the channel, his Majefty’s frigate Hyena, of twenty-four guns, was ordered to attend the fleet, in order to bring intelligence of its paflage through that moft difficult part of the voyage; with any difpatches which it might be requifite for the Governor to fend home.

9 On

NEW SSO U ERE W AL ES.

On the 2oth of May, the fhips being then in latitude 47° 57, and longitude 12°14’ weft of London, the Hyena returned. She brought, however, no exact ac- count of the ftate of the tranfports; for the fea at that time ran fo high, that the Governor found it diffi- cult even to fit to write, and quite impracticable to fend on board the feveral fhips for exact reports of their fituation, and of the behaviour of the convicts. All, however, had not been perfectly tranquil; the con- victs in the Scarborough, confiding probably in their numbers, had formed a plan for gaining pofleffion of that fhip, which the officers had happily detected and fruftrated. This information was received from them juft before the Hyena failed, and the Governor had ordered two of the ringleaders on board the Sirius for punifhment. Thefe men, after receiving a proper chaftifement, were feparated from their party by being removed into another fhip, the Prince of Wales. No other attempt of this kind was made during the voyage.

We may now confider the adventurers in this fmall fleet as finally detached, for the prefent, from their native country; looking forward, doubtlefs with very various emotions, to that unknown region, which, for a time at leaft, they were deftined to inhabit. If we

would

oe) CAHACR. US hy

May zoth, 1787-

16

AY V= (OF XC 4G ee 1be (6)

CHAP. would indulge a f{peculative curiofity, concerning the

“--—’ tendency of fuch an enterprize, there are few topics

which would afford an ampler fcope for conjecture. The fanguine might form expectations of extraordinary confequences, and be juftified, in fome degree, by the reflection, that from {maller, and not more refpectable beginnings, powerful empires have frequently arifen. The phlegmatic and apprehenfive might magnify to themfelves the difficulties of the undertaking, and prog- nofticate, from various caufes, the total failure of it. Both, perhaps, would be wrong. The opinion nearett to the right was probably formed by the Governor him- felf, and fuch others among the leaders of the expedi- tion, as from native courage, felt themfelves fuperior to all difficulties likely to occur; and by native good fenfe were fecured from the feduétion of romantic reveries. To all it muft appear a ftriking proof of the flourifh- ing ftate of navigation in the prefent age, and a fin- gular illuftration of its vaft progrefs fince the early nautical efforts of mankind; that whereas the ancients coafted with timidity along the fhores of the Mediterra- nean, and thought it a great effort to run acrofs the narrow fea which feparates Crete from Egypt, Great Britain, without hefitation, fends out a fleet to plant a fettlement near the antipodes.

5 The

NEW SOUTH WALES. 17

The high fea which had impeded the intercourfe be- CHAP. tween the fhips, as they were out of the reach of rocks Reis and fhoals, was not, in other refpects, an unfavourable 1787. circumftance. Onthe whole, therefore, the weather was reckoned fine, and the pafflage very profperous from Spit- head to Santa Cruz, in the Ifle of Teneriffe, where the

fleet anchored on the 3d of June.

D CEVA? © ER

AW V eOVyYRANMG GE TD

G VCH OVATE ee eR qi

Reafons for touching at the Canary Ifles—Precautions for preferving Health—Their admirable Succe{s—Some Account of the Canaries —Fables refpecting then—Attempt of a Convitt to efcape—De-

parture.

HE chief object propofed by Governor Phillip in touching at Teneriffe, was the obtaining a frefh fupply of water and vegetables. It was advifeable alfo at this period to give the people fuch advantages and refrethments, for the fake of health, as this place would readily fupply, but which can only be obtained on fhore. In this, and every port, the crews, foldiers, and convicts, were indulged with frefh meat, fruit, vege- tables, and every thing which could conduce to preferve them from the complaints formerly inevitable in long voy- ages. The allowance was, tothe marines, a pound of bread, a pound of beef, and a pint of wine per man, daily: the convicts had three quarters of a pound of beef, and of bread, but no wine. The fruits obtained here were only figs and mulberries, but thefe were plentiful and excellent. How fuccefsfully precautions of every kind, tend-

NeESW TS "OCW shir WrATL ES.

tending to this great end, were employed throughout ©

1g

HAP, Il.

the voyage, the reports of the number of fick and “~~

dead will fufficiently evince.

Captain Cook had very fully fhown, how favourable fuch expeditions might be made to the health of thofe engaged in them; and Governor Phillip was happy enough to confirm the opinion, that the fuccefs of his great predeceffor, in this effential point, was not in any degree the effect of chance, but arofe from that care and attention of which he has humanely given us the detail; and which, in fimilar circumftances, may gene- rally be expected to produce the fame refult. If the number of convicts who died between the time of embarkation and the arrival of the fleet at this place, fhould feem inconfiftent with this affertion, it muft be confidered that the deaths were confined entirely to that clafs of people, many of whom were advanced in years, or labouring under difeafes contracted in prifon or elfe- where, while they were yet on fhore.

A week was paffed at this place, during which time the weather was very moderate, the thermometer not exceeding 70° of Fahrenheit’s fcale. The barometer

{tood at about 30 inches.

D2 The

Ii]

AT ONECOY Yeas eG eee fee SG

The Governor of the Canaries, at this time, was the

ms Marquis de Brancifort, by birth a Sicilian. He was

refident as ufual at Santa Cruz, and paid to Governor Phillip, and the other officers, a polite attention and refpect equally honourable to all parties. The port of Santa Cruz, though not remarkably fine, is yet the beft in the Canaries, and the ufual place at which veffels touch for refrefhment; the refidence of the Governor General is therefore fixed always in Teneriffe, for the fake of a more frequent intercourfe with Europe: in pre- ference to the great Canary Ifle, which contains the Metropolitan church, and the palace of the Bifhop. The Marquis de Brancifort has lately eftablifhed fome ufeful manufactures in Teneriffe.

To enter into much detail concerning the Canary Iflands, which lie exactly in the courfe of every fhip that fails from Europe to the Cape, and confe- quently have been defcribed in almoft every book of voyages, muft be fuperfluous. A few general notices concerning them may, perhaps, not be unacceptable. They are in number about fourteen, of which the principal, and only confiderable are, Canary, Teneriffe, Fortaventure, Palma, Ferro, Gomera, Lancerotta. ‘Their diftance from the coaft of Africa is from about forty to eighty leagues. The circumference of Teneriffe is not above one hundred and twenty miles, but that of Ca-

9 nary,

NEE W SHOuU Ty We AVE ES:

21

nary, or as it is ufually called, the Great Canary, is one CHAP. hundred and fifty. They have been poffeffed and colo- “~~

nized by Spain from the beginning of the 15th century.

There is no reafon to doubt that thefe are the iflands flightly known to the ancients under the name of Fortunate: though the miftake of Ptolemy con- cerning their latitude has led one of the commentators on Solinus to contend, that this title belongs rather to the Iflands of Cape Verd. Pliny mentions Canaria, and accounts for that name from the number of large dogs which the ifland contained; a circumftance which fome modern voyagers, perhaps with little accuracy, repeat as having occafioned the fame name to be given by the Spaniards. Nivaria, fpoken of by the fame author, is evidently Teneriffe, and fynonymous, if we are rightly informed, to the modern name*. Ombrion, or Pluvialia, is fappofed to be Ferro; where the drynefs of the foil has at all times compelled the inhabitants to depend for water on the rains.

Ifthe ancients made thefe iflands the region of fable, and their poets decorated them with imaginary charms to fupply the want of real knowledge, the moderns cannot wholly be exempted from a fimilar imputation. Travellers have delighted to fpeak of the Peak of Tene-

* Occafioned by the perpetual fnows with which the Peak is covered. Tener is faid to mean fnow, and itte or iffe a mountain, in the language of the ifland.

riffe,

22

CHAP. Il.

sae

AS VIO? Yoval iG GE tT 1O

riffe, as the higheft mountain in the ancient world, whereas, by the beft accounts, Mont Blanc exceeds it * by 3523 feet, or near a mile of perpendicular altitude. The Ifle of Ferro, having no fuch mountain to diftin- guifh it, was celebrated for a century or two on the credit of a miraculous tree, fingle in its kind, enveloped in perpe- tual mifts, and diftilling fufficient water for the ample fupply of the ifland¢. But this wonder, though vouched by feveral voyagers, and by fome as eye-witneffes, va- nifhed at the approach of fober enquiry, nor could a fin- gle native be found hardy enough to affert its exiftence. The truth is, that the Canary Ifles, though a valuable

* The height of Mont Blanc, on a mean of the beft accounts, is 15,673 Englith feet from the level of the fea, Teneriffe 12,150.

+ Clipperton {peaks of it as a fact, Harris’s Voyages, Vol. I. p. 187. Mandel- floe pretended to have feen it, ibid. p. 806. Baudrand was the firft who by careful enquiry deteéted the ition. An account of this imaginary tree, curious from being fo circumftantial, is here given from a French book of geography, of fome credit in other refpects. ‘* Mais ce qu’il-y-a de plus digne de remarque, eft cet arbre merveilleux qui fournit d’eau toute l’ifle, tant pour les hommes que pour les bétes. Cet arbre, que les habitans appellent Caro¢, Garoé, ou Arbre Saint, unique en fon efpéce, eft gros, et large de branches; fon tronc a environ douze pieds ce tour; fes feuilles font un peu plus grofles que celles des noiers, et toujours vertes; il porte un fruit, femblable a un gland, qui a un noiau d’un gout aromatique, doux et piquant. Cet arbre eft perpétuellement convert d’un nuage, qui l"humeéte partout, en forte que l’eau en diftille goutte a goutte par les branches et par les feuilles, en telle quantité qu’on en peut emplir trente tonneaux par jour. Cette eau eft ex- trémemient fraiche, claire, fort bonne a boire, et fort faine. Elle tombe dans deux baffins de pierre que les infulaires ont batis pour la recevoir. La nuage qui couvre cet arbre ne fe diffipe pas ; feulement dans les grandes chaleurs de ]’été il fe diminue un peu; mais en échange la mer envoie une vapeur epaifie, qui fe jette fur l’arbre, et qui fupplée a ce manquement.” Du Bois Geogr. Part. iii. ch. 17. Can all this have arifen from Pliny’s arbores ex quibus aque exprimantur ?

4. poffeffion

INBEY on OPU sir W ACL Jess.

poffeffion to Spain, and an excellent refource to voy-

agers of all nations, contain no wonders, except what belong naturally to volcanic mountains fuch as the Peak, which, though it always threatens, has not now been noxious for more than eighty years *.

The capital of Teneriffe is Laguna, or more properly San Chriftoval de la Laguna, St. Chriftopher of the Lake, fo called from its fituation near a Jake. Both this and Santa Cruz are built of ftone, but the appearance of the latter is more pleafing than that of Laguna. They are diftant from each other about four miles. The capital of the Great Canary, and properly of the whole government, is the City of Palms: But that place has been for fome time the centre of ecclefiaftical government only. The cuftom of reckoning the firft meridian as paffing through thefe ifles was begun by Ptolemy; and perhaps it is ftill to be wifhed that the French regu- lations on that fubject were generally adopted.

Our fhips were at length preparing to depart, when on the evening of the oth of June, a convict belonging to the Alexander, having been employed on deck, found means to cut away the boat, and make a temporary efcape; but he was miffed and foon retaken. It is not probable that he had

* See Captain Glafle’s elaborate account of the Canaries, and Captain Cook’s laft Voyage.

formed

CHTALP. IIL. en

June gth, 17876

a Jd

24

Cece: Il. ee eed

June roth, 1787.

AL | VO O° Yi A eer ies 1 0)

formed any definite plan of efcape; the means of ab- fconding muit have been accidentally offered, and fud- denly embraced; and for making fuch an attempt, the vague hope of liberty, without any certain profpedct, would naturally afford fuflicient temptation.

By the roth of June the fhips had completed their water, and early the next morning, the Governor gave the fignal for weighing anchor, and the fleet purfued its courfe.

Report

NEW SOUTH WALES. 26

Report of the marines and convicts under medical © HAP. treatment, given in to Governor Phillip, June 4th, <™

0787).

Charlotte, — Marines 4. Convicts 16 Alexander, — Marines 2 Convicts 26 Scarborough, — Marine I Convicts 9 Friendfbip, — Convicts 13 Lady Penrhyn, Convicts 11 Prince of Wales, Marines 2 Convicts G) Total Marines 9 Convicts 72 Convicts dead fince the firft embarkation 21 Children of convicts 3

Of thefe only fifteen, and one child, had died fince the departure from Spithead.

E CH A P-

CHAR, IVE ae eed

A OVO YA (Gee “WT so

GQ CAR ae rN

Attempt to put in at Port Praya—Relinquifhed—W eather—Sail for Rio de “faneiro—Reafons for touching at a South American port— The Fleet paffes the Line—Arrives at Rio de ‘fanetro—Account of that Place—Tranfactions there—Departure.

EGETABLES nct having been fo plentiful at Santa Cruz as to afford a fufficient fupply, it

was the intention of Governor Phillip to anchor for about twenty-four hours in the Bay of Port Praya. The iflands on this fide of the Atlantic, feem as if ex-= prefsly placed to facilitate the navigation to and from the Cape of Good Hope: by offering to veffels, without any material variation from their courfe, admirable {tations for fupply and refrefhment. About latitude 40, north, the Azores; in 33, the Madeiras; between 29 and 27, the Canaries; and between 18 and 16, the Iflands of Cape Verd, fucceffively offer themfelves to the voyager, affording abundantly every fpecies of ac- commodation his circumftances can require. On the Southern fide of the Equator, a good harbour and abundance of turtles give fome confequence even to the little

NOE We oO holy W AVL. Es.

little barren ifland of Afcenfion ; and St. Helena, by the induftry of the Englifh fettlers, has become the feat of plenty and of elegance. Without the affiftance derived, in going or returning, from fome of thefe places, the interval of near forty degrees on each fide of the line, in a fea expofed to violent heat, and fubject to tedious calms, would be fufficient to difcourage even the navi- gators of the eighteenth century.

On the 18th of June, the fleet came in fight of the Cape Verd Iflands, and was directed by fignal to fteer for St. Jago. But the want of favourable wind, and the oppofition of a ftrong current making it probable that all the fhips would nct be able to get into the Bay, the Governor thought it beft to change his plan. The fig- nal for anchoring was hauled down, and the fhips were directed to continue their firft courfe; a circumftance of much difappointment to many individuals on _ board, who, as is natural in long voyages, were eager on every occafion to enjoy the refrefhments of the fhore. As an additional incitement to fuch wifhes, the weather had now become hot; the thermometer ftood at 82°, which, though not an immoderate heat for a tropical climate, is fufficient to produce confiderable annoyance. But, unmoved by any confideration except that of expe- dience, Governor Phillip perfifted in conducting his fhips

E 2 to

z] CHAP. IV.

oem yomcenad)

June 18th, 17876

PP

3 A Ve (OF YOUR (Ge OE eo

char. to their next intended ftation, the harbour of Rio de

== Janeiro.

It may appear perhaps, on a flight confideration, rather extraordinary, that veffels bound to the Cape of Good Hope fhould find it expedient to touch at a harbour of South America. To run acrofs the Atlantic, and take as a part of their courfe, that coaft, the very exiftence of which was unknown to the firft navigators of thefe feas, feems a very circuitous method of performing the voyage. A little examination will remove this apparent difficulty. The calms fo frequent on the African fide, are of them- felves 2 fufficient caufe to induce a navigator to keep a very wetterly courfe; and even the iflands at which it is fo often convenient to touch will carry him within a few degrees of the South American coaft.—The return- ing tracks of Captain Cooks’s three voyages all run within a very fimall fpace of the 45th degree of weft longitude, which is even ten degrees further to the weft than the extremity of Cape St. Roque: and that courfe appears to have been taken voluntarily, without any extraordinary inducement. But in the latitudes to which Governor Phillip’s {quadron had now arrived, the old and new con- tinent approach {o near to each other, that in avoiding the one it becomes neceffary to run within a very moderate diftance of the oppofite land.

In

Nena “cFOsU i Hy W AtLECS: 29

In the paffage from the Cape Verd Ifands, the fleet © Ba P. fuffered for fome time the inconvenience of great heat, —~— attended by heavy rains. The heat, however, did not at any time exceed the point already fpecified,* and the precautions unremittingly obferved in all the fhips hap- pily continued efficacious in preventing any violent fick- nefs. Nor did the oppreffion of the hot weather continue fo long as in thefe latitudes might have been expected ; for before they reached the equator the temperature had become much more moderate.

On July 5, 1787, being then in Iong. 26° 10 weft Jaty gn, from Greenwich, the Botany Bay fleet paffed from the xa Northern into the Southern Hemifphere. About three weeks more of very favourable and pleafant weather conveyed them to Rio de Janeiro. On the sth of oe ee Auguft they anchored off the harbour, and on the even- ing of the 6th were at their ftation within it. The land of Cape Frio had been difcovered fome days before, but a deficiency of wind from that time a little flackened their courfe.

Rio de Yaneiro, or Fanuary River, fo called becaufe difcovered by Dias de Solis on the feaft of St. Januarius,

* 82°, 51. It is not unufual in England, to have the thermometer, for a day or two in a fummer, at 81°.

(Sept.

- 39

Ac, GVi--O! Nees BGaeE iT 7O

ca? (Sept. 19) 1525, is not in fact a river, though its name “—~—_ denotes that it was then fuppofed to be fo: it is an arm

of the fea, into which a confiderable number of {mall rivers def{cends.

The city of Rio de Janeiro, called by fome writers St. Sebaftian, from the name of its tutelar patron, is fituated on the weft fide of this bay, within lefs than a degree of the tropic of Capricorn, and about 43° weft of Greenwich. It is at prefent the capital of all Brafil, and has been for fome time the refidence of the Viceroy. Thefe diftinCtions it obtained in preference to St. Salvador, which was formerly the capital, by means of the diamond mines difcovered in its vicinity, in the year 1730. The place increafing rapidly by the wealth thus brought to it, was fortified and put under the care of a governor in 1738. The port is one of the fineft in the world, very narrow at the entrance, and within capacious enough to contain more fhips than ever were affembled at one ftation. It has foundings from twenty to one hun- dred and twenty fathoms. <A hill fhaped like a fugar loaf, fituated on the weft fide, marks the proper bear-

ing for entering the harbour: the fituation of which is fully pointed out at the diftance of two leagues and a

half by fome fmall iflands, one of which, called Rodonda, is very high, and in form not unlike a haycock. The mouth

NOE We SeOeU en tel OW 2A LESS.

B31

mouth of the harbour is defended by forts, particularly CHAP. two, called Santa Cruz and Lozia; and the ufual an- “~~

chorage within it is before the city, north of a {mall ifland named Dos Cobras.

There are in this port eftablifhed fees, which are paid by all merchant fhips, Portuguefe as well as itrangers : 3/. 125. each on entering the bay, the fame on going out, and ss. 6d. a day while they remain at anchor. The entrance fee was demanded for the tran{ports in this expedition, but when Governor Phillip had alledged that they were loaded with King’s ftores, the payment was no more infifted upon. Neverthelefs, the Captain of the Port gave his attendance, with his boat’s crew, to affift the fhips in coming in, there being at that time only a light air, hardly fufficient to carry them up the bay.

In the narrative of Captain Cook’s Voyage in 1768, we find, on his arrival at this place, great appearance of fufpicion on the part of the Viceroy, harfh prohibitions of landing, even to the gentlemen employed in philofo- phical refearches, and fome proceedings rather of a vio- lent nature. The reception given by the prefent Vice- roy to Governor Phillip and his officers was very dif- ferent: it was polite and flattering to a great degree, and free from every tincture of jealous caution.

3 Don

a ~ re)

CH I

AP. V.

A VO -¥ A UGHE 25 Ee:

Don Lewis de Varconcellos, the reigning Viceroy, be-

“—-—~ longs to one of the noble{t families in Portugal ; is brother

to the Marquis of Cafello Methor, and to the Count of Pombeiro. Governor Phillip, who ferved for fome years as a Captain in the Portuguefe navy, and is defervedly much honoured by that nation, was not perfonally un- known to the Viceroy, though known in a way which, in a lefs liberal mind, might have produced very diffe- rent difpofitions. There had been fome difference be- tween them, on a public account, in this port, when Governor Phillip commanded the Europe: each party had acted merely for the honour of the nation to which he belonged, and the Viceroy, with the true fpirit of a man of honour, far from refenting a conduct fo fimilar to his own, feemed now to make it his object to obliterate every recollection of offence. As foon as he was fully in- formed of the nature of Governor Phillip’s commiffion, he gave it out in orders to the garrifon that the fame honours fhould be paid to that officer as to himfelf, This diftinétion the Governor modettly wifhed to de- cline, but was not permitted. His officers were all introduced to the Viceroy, and were, as well as himfelf, received with every poffible mark of attention to them, and regard for their country. They were allowed to vifit all parts of the city, and even to make excurfions as far as five miles into the country, entirely unattended: an indulgence very unufual to itrangers, and confidering

8 what

INGE, We ssOn) Ton Wr AVIL EUS.

33

what we read of the jealoufy of the Portuguefe Govern- CAP.

ment refpecting its diamond mines, the more extra- “—~—

ordinary.

Provifions were here fo cheap, that notwithftanding the allowance of meat was fixed by Governor Phillip at twenty ounces a day, the men were victualled completely, rice, frefh vegetables, and firing included, at three-pence three-farthings a head. Wine was not at this feafon to be had, except from the retail dealers, lefs was therefore purchafed than would otherwife have been taken, Rum, however, was laid in; and all fuch feeds and plants pro- cured as were thought likely to flourifh on the coaft of New South Wales, particularly coffee, indigo, cotton, and the cochineal fig.* As a fubftitute for bread, if it fhould become fcarce, one hundred facks of caffada were pur- chafed at a very advantageous price.

Caffada, the bread of thoufands in the tropical cli- mates, affords one of thofe inftances in which the inge- nuity of man might be faid to triumph over the inten- tions of nature, were it not evidently the defign of Pro- vidence that we fhould in all ways exert our invention and fagacity to the utmoft, for our own fecurity and fup- port. It isthe root of a fhrub called Caffada, or Caffava Fatropba, and in its crude ftate is highly poifonous. By

* Caétus Cochinilifer, of Linnzus.. F wafhing,

34

A ‘"Ve.O! “YOU 16Oee ate

CHAP. wafhing, preffure, and evaporation, it is deprived of all “—~— its noxious qualities, and being formed into cakes be-

comes a falubrious and not an unpalatable fubftitute for bread.

By the indulgence of the Viceroy, the deficiency in the military ftores obferved at the departure of the tranfports from England, was made up by a fupply pur- chafed from the Royal arfenal; nor was any affiftance withheld which either the place afforded, or the ftores of government could furnifh.

The circumftances, which in this place moft aftonifh a ftranger, and particularly a Proteftant, are, the great abun- dance of images difperfed throughout the city, and the de- votion paid to them. They are placed at the corner of almoft every ftreet, and are never paffed without a re- fpectful falutation; but at night they are conftantly fur- rounded by their refpe€tive votaries, who offer up their prayers aloud, and make the air refound in all quarters with the notes of their hymns. The ftrictnefs of man- ners in the inhabitants is not faid to be at all equivalent to the warmth of this devotion; but in all countries and climates it is found much eafier to perform external acts of reputed piety, than to acquire the internal habits fo much more effential. It muft be owned, however, that our people did not find the ladies fo indulgent as fome voyagers have reprefented them.

a It

NEW SO WTA WALES: 35

It was near a month before Governor Phillip could CHA? furnifh his fhips with every thing which it was ne- “~—” ceffary they fhould now procure. At length, on the 4th of September he weighed anchor, and as he paffed eos As the fort, received from the Viceroy the laft compliment ee it was in his power to pay, being faluted with twenty- one guns. The falute was returned by an equal number from the Sirius; and thus ended an intercourfe honour- able to both nations, and particularly to the principal officer employed in the fervice of each.

F 2 CHA P-

36 AS? VROwY PARCHES Gos

C tll WAPSP SaG RE? GR tee

Profpercus paflage from Rio to the Cape—Account of the Harbours there—The Cape of Good Hope not the moft Southern point—Height of Table Mountain and others—Supinenefs of the European na- tions in neglecting to occupy the Cape—Live ftock laid in—De- parture—Separation of the fleet-— Arrival of the Supply at Botany Bay.

CHa: A Profperous courfe by fea, like a ftate of profound a peace and tranquility in civil fociety, though moft tere - advantageous to thofe who enjoy it, is unfavourable to the purpofes of narration. The ftriking facts which

the writer exerts himfelf to record, and the reader is

eager to perufe, arife only from difficult fituations : uni-

form profperity is defcribed in very few words. Of this acceptable but unproductive kind was the pafflage of the Botany Bay fleet from Rio de Janeiro to the Cape of

Good Hope; uniformly favourable, and not marked by

any extraordinary incidents. This run, from about lat. 22°

fouth, long. 43 weft of London, to lat. 34° fouth, long.

18° eaft of London, a diftance of about four thoufand

9 miles,

NG We SIO the WAL ES.

miles, was performed in thirty-nine days: for having left Rio on the 4th of September, on the 13th of Odcto- ber the fhips came to anchor in Table Bay. Here they were to take their final refrefhment, and lay in every kind of ftock with which they were not already pro- vided. In this period no additional lives had been loft, except that of a fingle convict belonging to the Char/otte tranfport, who fell accidentally into the fea, and could not by any efforts be recovered.

Table Bay, on the north-weit fide of the Cape of Gocd Hope, is named from the Table Mountain, a pro- montory of confiderable elevation, at the foot of which, and almoft in the centre of the Bay, ftands Cape Town, the principal Dutch fettlement in this territory. This Bay cannot properly be called a port, being by no means a ftation of fecurity; it is expofed to all the violence of the winds which fet into it from the fea; and is far from fufficiently fecured from thofe which blow from the land. The gufts which defcend from the fummit of Table Mountain are fufficient to force fhips from their anchors, and even violently to annoy perfons on the fhore, by deftroying any tents or other temporary edi-- fices which may be erected, and raifing clouds of fine duft, which produce very troublefome effects. A gale of this kind, from the fouth-eaft, blew for three days fuc- ceffively when Capt. Cook lay here in his firft voyage, at which time, he informs us, the Refolution was the only

fhip

37 CHAP: We Ca pe)

O€tober 13, 1787.

38 AY 1V> OYE AG rE Go

CHA? fhip in the harbour that had not dragged her anchors.

—.— The ftorms from the fea are ftill more formidable; fo much fo, that fhips have frequently been driven by them from their anchorage, and wrecked at the head of the Bay. But thefe accidents happen chiefly in the guaade mouffon, or winter months, from May 14 to the fame day of Auguft; during which time few fhips venture to anchor here. Our fleet, arriving later, lay perfectly unmolefted as long as it was neceflary for it to remain in this ftation.

Falfe Bay, on the fouth-eaft fide of the Cape, is more fecure than Table Bay, during the prevalence of the north-weft winds, but {till lefs fo in ftrong gales from the fouth-eaft. It is however lefs frequented, being twenty- four miles of very heavy road diftant from Cape Town, whence almoft all neceffaries muft be procured. The moft fheltered part of Falfe Bay is a recefs on the weft fide, called Simon’s Bay.

The Cape of Good Hope, though popularly called, and perhaps pretty generally efteemed fo, is not in truth the moft fouthern point of Africa. The land which projects furtheft to the fouth is a point to the eaft of it, called by the Englifh Cape Lagullus; a name corrupted from the original Portugueze das Agulbas, which, as well as the French appellation des Aiguilles, is defcriptive of its form, and would rightly be tranflated Needle Cape. Three eminences, divided by very narrow paffes, and appear-

ing

NEW SOUTH WALES, 39

ing in a diftant view like three fummits of the fame © HAP. mountain, ftand at the head of Table Bayw—They are —~— however of different heights, by which difference, as well

as by that of their fhape, they may be diftinguifhed. Table Mountain is fo called from its appearance, as it terminates

in a flat horizontal furface, from which the face of the rock defcends almoft perpendicularly. This mountain rifes to

about 3567 feet above the level ofthe fea. Devil's Head,

called alfo Charles mountain, is fituated to the eaft of the former, and is not above 3368 feet in height; and

on the weft fide of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, whofe

name is alfo meant to be defcriptive, does not exceed 2764

feet. In the neighbourhood of the latter lies Con/tantia,

a diftriét confifting of two farms, wherein the famous

wines of that name are produced.

Our voyagers found provifions lefs plentiful and lefs reafonable in price at Cape Town than they had been taught to expect. Board and lodging, which are to be had only in private houfes, ftood the officers in two rix- dollars a day, which is near nine fhillings fterling. This town, the only place in the whole colony to which that title can be applied with propriety, is of no great extent; it does not in any part exceed two miles: and the country, colonized here by the Dutch, is in general fo unfavour- able to cultivation, that it is not without fome aftonifh- ment that we find them able to raife provifions from it in fufficient abundance to fupply themfelves, and

the

40

AV OO XY AVC TQ

oi P. the fhips of fo many nations which conftantly refort =v" toithelGape:

When we confider the vaft advantages derived by the Dutch colonifts from this traffic, and the almoft indif- penfible neceflity by which navigators of all nations are driven to feek refrefhment there, it cannot but appear extraordinary, that from the difcovery of the Cape in 1493, by Barthelemi Diaz, to the year 1650, when, at the fuggeftion of John Van Riebeck, the firft Dutch colony was fent, a fpot fo very favourable to commerce and navigation fhould have remained unoccupied by Europeans. Perhaps all the perfeverance of the Dutch character was neceffary even to fuggeft the idea of main- taining an eftablifhment in a foil fo burnt by the fun, and fo little difpofed to repay the toil of the cultivator. The example and fuccefs of this people may ferve, how- ever, as an ufeful inftruation to all who in great under- takings are deterred by trifling obftacles ; and who, rather than contend with difficulties, are inclined to relinquifh the moft evident advantages.

But though the country near the Cape had not charms enough to render it as pleafing as that which furrounds Rio de Janeiro, yet the Governor, Mynheer Van Graaffe, was not far behind the Viceroy of Brazil in attention to the Englifh officers. They were admitted to his table,

where

NEE AV ssOcU 2 oH: W AL ESS. 41

where they were elegantly entertained, and had reafen to © HAP.

be pleafed in all refpeéts with his behaviour and difpo- fition. Yet the minds of his people were not at this time in a tranquil ftate; the accounts from Holland

ae)

were fuch as occafioned much uneafinefs, and great pre- parations were making at the fort, from apprehenfion of a rupture with fome other power.

In the courfe of a month, the live ftock and other provifions were procured ; andthe fhips, having on board not lefs than five hundred animals of different kinds, but chiefly poultry, put on an appearance which natu- rally enough excited the idea of Noah’s ark. This fup- ply, confidering that the country had previoufly fuf- fered from a dearth, was very confiderable ; but it was purchafed of courfe at a higher expence confiderably than it would have been in a time of greater plenty.

On the 12th of November the fleet fet fail, and was r2th Novem. for many days much delayed by ftrong winds from the ae fouth-eaft. On the 25th, being then only 80 leagues ape bien, to the eaftward of the Cape, Governor Phillip left the ‘” Sirius and went on board the Supply tender; in hepes, by leaving the convoy, to gain fufficient time for ex- amining the country round Botany Bay, fo as to fix on the fituation moft eligible for the colony, before the tranfports fhould arrive. At the fame time he ordered

G the

42 CEnyAwr Wie

en aed

3d January, 1787.

AS UV OO! Ae Aya: TIES

the agents for the tranfports, who were in the Alex- ander, to feparate themfelves from the convoy with that fhip, the Scarborough and Friendfhip, which, as they were better failors than the reft, might reafonably be expected fooner: in which cafe, by the labour of the convicts they had on board, much might be done in making the neceflary preparations for landing the pro- vifions and ftores.

Major Rofs, the Commandant of Marines, now left the Sirius, and went on board the Scarborough, that he might accompany that part of the detachment which probably would be landed firft. Captain Hunter, in the Sirius, was to follow with the {tore-fhips, and the re- mainder of the tranfports; and he had the neceffary inftructions for his future proceedings, in cafe the Sup- ply had met with any accident. Lieutenant Gidley King, fince appointed Commandant of Norfolk Ifland, accompanied Governor Phillip in the Supply.

From this time to the 3d of January, 1788, the winds were as favourable as could be wifhed, blowing generally in very ftrong gales from the north-weit, weit, and fouth-weft. Once only the wind had {hifted to the eaft, but continued in that direction not more than a few hours. Thus affifted, the Supply, which failed but very indifferently, and turned out, from what fhe had

fuffered

NOE We SkO .U Tf Fi W ACL EJS. 7

fuffered in the voyage, to be hardly a fafe conveyance, © HAP. performed in fifty-one days a voyage of more than feven ma thoufand miles. On the day abovementioned fhe was within fight of the coaft of New South Wales. But

the winds then became variable, and a current, which

at times fet very ftrongly to the fouthward, fo much impeded her courfe, that it was not till the 18th that

fhe arrived at Botany Bay.

G2 CHAP-

44

CHAP. VI. ———— Jan. 18th,

17838,

A’ V O Ya Gee We

C UR TAR 92 A? eve

Firft interview with the natives—the bay examined—arrival of the whole fleet—Port “fackfon examined—fecond interview with the natives—and third—Governor Phillip returns to Botany Bay— and gives orders for the evacuation of it.

T the very firft landing of Governor Phillip on

the fhore of Botany Bay, an interview with the natives took place. They were all armed, but on feeing the Governor approach with figns of friendfhip, alone and unarmed, they readily returned his confidence by laying down their weapons. They were perfectly devoid of cloathing, yet feemed fond of ornaments, putting the beads and red baize that were given them, on their heads or necks, and appearing pleafed to wear them. The prefents offered by their new vifitors were all rea- dily accepted, nor did any kind of difagreement arife while the fhips remained in Botany Bay. This very pleafing effe¢t was produced in no fmall degree by the perfonal addrefs, as well as by the great care and atten- tion of the Governor. Nor were the orders which enforced

NEW SOUTH WALES.

45

enforced a conduct fo humane, more honourable to the c H AP, I

perfons from whom they originated, than the punctual ——~

execution of them was to the officers fent out: it was evident that their wifhes coincided with their duty; and that a fanguinary temper was no longer to difgrace the European {ettlers in countries newly difcovered.

The next care after landing was the examination of the bay itfelf, from which it appeared that, though ex- tenfive, it did not afford a fhelter from the eafterly winds: and that, in confequence of its fhallownefs, fhips even of a moderate draught, would always be obliged to anchor with the entrance of the bay open, where they muft be expofed to a heavy fea, that rolls in whenever it blows hard from the eaftward.

Several runs of frefh water were found in different parts of the bay, but there did not appear to be any fituation to which there was not fome very {trong ob- jection. In the northern part of it is a {mall creek, which runs a confiderable way into the country, but it has water only for a boat, the fides of it are frequently overflowed, and the low lands near it are a perfect fwamp. The weftern branch of the bay is continued to a great extent, but the officers fent to examine it could not find there any fupply of frefh water, except in very {mall drains. I

Point

46

\

CHAP. fe

A IVE CGE Were AG aE: Y ©

Point Sutherland offered the moft eligible fituation,

“~~ having arun of good water, though not in very great

abundance. But to this part of the harbour the fhips could not approach, and the ground near it, even in the higher parts, was in general damp and {pungy. Smaller numbers might indeed in feveral fpots have found a comfortable refidence, but no place was found in the whole circuit of Botany Bay which feemed at all calcu- lated for the reception of fo large a fettlement. While this examination was carried on, the whole fleet had arrived. The Supply had not fo much outfailed the other fhips as to give Governor Phillip the advantage he had expected in point of time. On the roth of Janu- ary, the Alexander, Scarborough, and Friendfhip, catt anchor in Botany Bay; and on the goth, the Sirius, with the remainder of the convoy*. Thefe fhips had all continued very healthy ; they had not, however, yet arrived at their final ftation.

The opennefs of this bay, and the dampnefs of the foil, by which the people would probably be rendered unhealthy, had already determined the Governor to feek another fituation. He refolved, therefore, to examine Port Jackfon, a bay mentioned by Captain Cook as im- mediately to the north of this. There he hoped to find,

* The annexed view of Botany Bay, reprefents the Supply, &c. at anchor, and tlie Sirius with her convoy coming into the bay.

not

SOR PPHML- ge Le, beh! Ly un PY OP

oAVG ANVLOG AO MAIA V

SSS

SSS ee

——— =

= = = I ——— —— = SSS

SSS

INGE SHOR Te Eig Wir Ay lL) Exs: 47

not only a better harbour, but a fitter place for the CHAP. eftablifhment of his new government. But that no “~~ time might be loft, in cafe of a difappointment in thefe particulars, the ground near Point Sutherland was ordered immediately to be cleared, and preparations to be made for landing, under the direction of the Lieute-

nant Governor.

Thefe arrangements having been fettled, Governor Phillip prepared to proceed to the examination of Port Jackfon: and as the time of his abfence, had he gone in the Supply, muft have been very uncertain, he went round with three boats; taking with him Captain Hunter and feveral other officers, that by examining feveral parts of the harbour at once the greater difpatch might be made. On the 22d of January they fet out 22d Janvary, upon this expedition, and early in the afternoon arrived a at Port Jackfon, which is diftant about three leagues.

Here all regret arifing from the former difappointments was at once obliterated; and Governor Phillip had the fatisfaGtion to find one of the fineft harbours in the world, in which a thoufand fail of the line might ride

in perfect fecurity.

The different coves of this harbour were examined with all poffible expedition, and the preference was given to one which had the fineft {pring of water, and

9 in

48 AY OVA OF Yooh 1G z 7

oes as in which fhips can anchor fo clofe to the fhore, that at

\—.——’ a very {mall expence quays may be conftruéted at which the largeft veffels may unload. This cove is about half a mile in length, and a quarter of a mile acrofs at the entrance. In honour of Lord Sydney, the Governor diftinguifhed it by the name of Syduey Cove.

On the arrival of the boats at Port Jackfon, a fecond party of the natives made its appearance near the place of landing. Thefe alfo were armed with lances, and at firft were very vociferous ; but the fame gentle means ufed towards the others eafily perfuaded thefe alfo to difcard their fufpicions, and to accept whatfoever was offered. One man in particular, who appeared to be the chief of this tribe, fhewed very fingular marks both of confidence in his new friends, and of determined refo- lution. Under the guidance of Governor Phillip, to whom he voluntarily intrufted himfelf, he went to a part of the beach where the men belonging to the boats were then boiling their meat: when he approached the marines, who were drawn up near that place, and faw that by proceeding he fhould be feparated from his com- panions, who remained with feveral of the officers at fome diftance, he ftopped, and with great firmnefs, feemed by words and geftures to threaten revenge if any advantage fhould be taken of his fituation. He then went on with perfect calmnefs to examine what was

boiling

NeW Sse#OrwU iG Ey WwW A LL Ers:

49

boiling in the pot, and by the manner in which he ex- a Es prefied his admiration, made it evident that he intended ——~

to profit by what he faw. Governor Phillip contrived to make him underftand that large fhells might conveni- ently be ufed for the fame purpofe, and it is probable that by thefe hints, added to his own obfervation, he will be enabled to introduce the art of boiling among his countrymen. Hitherto they appear to have known no other way of drefling food than broiling. Their methods of kindling fire are probably very imperfect and labori- ous, for it is obferved that they ufually keep it burning, and are very rarely feen without either a fire actually made, or a piece of lighted wood, which they carry with them from place to place, and even in their canoes.* The perpetual fires, which in fome countries formed a part of the national religion, had perhaps no other origin than a fimilar inability to produce it at pleafure; and if we fuppofe the original fame to have been kindled by lightning, the fiction of its coming down from heaven will be found to deviate very little from the

truth.

In paffing near a point of land in this harbour, the boats were perceived by a number of the natives, twenty of whom waded into the water unarmed, received what

* In Hawkfw. Voy. vol. iii. p. 234, it is faid that they produce fire with great facility, &c. which account is the more correct, time will probably fhow.

H was

Lie)

Ay VO Wares IG AO

Chek was offered them, and examined the boat with a “~— curiofity which impreffed a higher idea of them than

any former accounts of their manners had fuggefted. This confidence, and manly behaviour, induced Governor Phillip, who was highly pleafed with it, to give the place the name of Manly Cove. The fame people after- wards joined the party at the place where they had landed to dine. They were then armed, two of them with fhields and fwords, the reft with lances only. The {words were made of wood, {mall in the gripe, and ap- parently lefs formidable than a good ftick. One of thefe men had a kind of white clay rubbed upon the upper part of his face, fo as to have the appearance of a mafk. This ornament, if it can be called fuch, is not common among them, and is probably affumed only on particular occafions, or as a diftinction to a few individuals. One woman had been feen on the rocks as the boats paffed, with her face, neck and breafts thus painted, and to our people appeared the moft difgufting figure imaginable ; her own countrymen were perhaps delighted by the beauty of the effect.

During the preparation for dinner the curiofity of thefe vifitors rendered them very troublefome, but an innocent contrivance altogether removed the inconve- nience. Governor Phillip drew a circle round the place where the Englifh were, and without much difficulty

a made

INGEey) TSeOrGiaiwia WV ACL. ES.

ai

made the natives underftand that they were not to pafs © ae P, that line; after which they fat down in perfect quietnefs. —~—™

Another proof how tractable thefe people are, when no infult or injury is offered, and when proper means are to influence the fimplicity of their minds.

On the 24th of January, Governor Phillip having fuf= January 24th,

ficiently explored Port Jackfon, and found it in all re- {pects highly calculated to receive fuch a fettlement as he was appointed to eftablifh, returned to Botany Bay. On his arrival there, the reports made to him, both of the ground which the people were clearing, and of the upper parts of the Bay, which in this interval had been more particularly examined, were in the greateft degree unfavourable. It was impoffible after this to hefitate concerning the choice of a fituation; and orders were accordingly iffued for the removal of the whole fleet to Port Jackfon.

That Botany Bay fhould have appeared to Captain Cook in a more advantageous light than to Governor Phillip, is not by any means extraordinary. Their ob- jects were very different; the one required only fhelter and refrefhment for a {mall veffel, and during but a fhort time : the other had great numbers to provide for, and was neceffitated to find a place wherein fhips of very confi-

lal derable

CHAP.

AV §O VY FAWGrE To

derable burthen might approach the fhore with eafe, and lie at all times in perfect fecurity. The appearance of the place is picturefque and pleafing, and the ample har- vet it afforded, of botanical acquifitions, made it intereft- ing to the philofophical gentlemen engaged in that expe- dition ; but fomething more effential than beauty of ap- pearance, and more neceffary than philofophical riches, muft be fought in a place where the permanent refidence of multitudes is to be eftablifhed.

CH A E-

INGE We SiOrU) fakin VW AVL, us:

CP Ae Re i R Vii.

Removal from Botany Bay—Arrival of two French fhips—Account of them—Preparations for encampment—Dificulties—Scurvy breaks out—Account of the red and yellow gum trees.

eo IONS for a general removal were now

made with all convenient expedition: but on the morning of the 24th the greateft aftonifhment was fpread throughout the fleet by the appearance of two {fhips, under French colours. In this remote region vifitors from Europe were very little expected, and their arrival, while the caufe of it remained unknown, produced in fome minds a temporary apprehenfion, accompanied by a multiplicity of conjectures, many of them fufficiently ridiculous. Governor Phillip was the firft to recollect that two fhips had been fent out fome time before from France for the purpofe of difcovery, and rightly con- cluded thefe to be the fame. But as the oppofition of the wind, and a ftrong current prevented them at prefent from working into the harbour, and even drove them out of fight again to the fouth, he did not think proper

to

6)

CHAP, Vil

es aed

January 24, 1783.

= CHA. VIL.

Ss

January 25th, 8§

176 .

January 26th, 1788.

A Vo OF ¥ TAR G Bs a 3S

to delay his departure for the fake of making further enquiry.

On the 25th of January therefore, feven days after the arrival of the Supply, Governor Phillip quitted Botany Bay in the fame fhip, and failed to Port Jackfon. The reft of the fleet, under convoy of the Sirius, was ordered to follow, as foon as the abatement of the wind, which then blew a {trong gale, fhould facilitate its working out of the Bay. The Supply was fcarcely out of fight when the French fhips again appeared off the mouth of the harbour, anda boat was immediately fent to them, with offers of every kind of information and affiftance their fituation could require. It was now learnt that thefe were, as the Governor had fuppofed, the Boufo/e and the Ajirolabe, on a voyage of difcovery, under the conduct of Monfieur La Peroufe.

On the 26th, the tranfports and ftore fhips, attended by the Sirius, finally evacuated Botany Bay ; and ina very fhort time they were all affembled in Sydney Cove, the place now deftined for their port, and for the re- ception of the new fettlement. The French fhips had come to anchor in Botany Bay juft before the departure of the Sirius; and during the intercourfe which then took place, M. la Peroufe had expreffed a {trong defire of having fome letters conveyed to Europe. Governor

Phillip

NEW SOU 4H W AL E'S,

55

Phillip was no fooner informed of this, than he difpatched © a P, an officer to him with full information of the time when “~~

it was probable our fhips would fail, and with affurances that his letters fhould be punctually tranfmitted. By this officer the following intelligence was brought back concerning the voyage of the Aftrolabe and Bouffole.

Thefe veffels had failed from France in June 1785. They had touched at the Ifle of Santa Catharina on the coaft of Brafil, from thence had gone by the extremity of South America into the Pacific Ocean, where they had run along by the coafts of Chili and California. They had afterwards vifited Eafter Ifland, Nootka Sound, Cook’s River, Kam{chatka, Manilla, the Ifles des Navigateurs, Sandwich and the Friendly Iflands. M. la Peroufe had alfo anchored off Norfolk Ifland, but could not land, on account of the furf. In this long voyage he had not loft any of his people by ficknefs; but two boats crews had unfortunately perifhed in a furf on the north-weft coaft of America; and at Mafuna, one of the Ifles des Navigateurs, M. L‘Angle, Captain of the Aftrolabe, had met with a fate ftill more unfortunate. That officer had gone afhore with two long boats for the purpofe of filling fome water cafks. His party amounted to forty men, and the natives, from whom the French had received abundance of refrefhments, and with whom they had been uniformly on the beft terms, did not on their land-

in g

£6

=

CG HAGE. avauke

AY VO GO" NA SA GE T O

ing fhow any figns of a change of difpofition. Malice

“~—_ unprovoked, and treachery without a motive, feem in-

confiftent even with the manners of favages ; the French officers therefore, confiding in this unbroken ftate of amity, had fuffered their boats to lie aground. But whether it were that the friendly behaviour of the natives had proceeded only from fear, or that fome unknown of- fence had been given, they feized the moment when the men were bufied in getting out the boats, to make an attack equally furious and unexpected. The affault was made with ftones, of which prodigious numbers were thrown with extraordinary force and accuracy of direction. To this treachery M. L’Angle fell a facrifice, and with him twelve of his party, officers and men, the long-boats were deftroyed, and the remainder of thofe who had gone afhore efcaped with difficulty in their {mall boats. The fhips in the mean time were under fail, and having paffed a point of land that intercepted the view, knew nothing of this melancholy and unac- countable affray till the boats returned. This fatal refult from too implicit a confidence, may, perhaps very properly, increafe the caution of Europeans in their commerce with favages, but ought not to excite fufpi- cion. The refentments of fuch people are fudden and fanguinary, and, where the intercourfe of language is wanting, may eafily be awakened by mifapprehenfion : but it feems poffible to treat them with fufficient marks

8 of

NEW S\OsU D HP W AVE. ES.

$7

of confidence, without abandoning the guards of pru- CUA? dence. Offence is often given by the men, while the “~~

officers are moft ftudious to preferve harmony, and againft the tranfports of rage which arife on fuch occa- fions, it is always neceffary to be prepared. Perhaps, alfo, a degree of awe fhould always be kept up, even to preferve their friendfhip. It has been uniformly re- marked by our people, that defencelefs ftragglers are generally ill-treated by the natives of New South Wales, while towards parties armed and on their guard, they behave in the moft amicable manner.

The debarkation was now made at Sydney Cove, and the work of clearing the ground for the encampment, as well as for the ftorehoufes and other buildings, was begun without lofs of time. But the labour which attended this neceffary operation was greater than can eafily be imagined by thofe who were not fpectators of it. The coaft, as well as the neighbouring country in general, is covered with wood; and though in this fpot the trees {tood more apart, and were lefs incumbered with underwood than in many other places, yet their magnitude was fuch as to render not only the felling, but the removal of them afterwards, a tafk of no {mall difficulty. By the habitual indolence of the convicts, and the want of proper overfeers to keep them to their duty,

I their

58 CHAP. Vil. Cee

January 26th 1788.

A.) WhO Ye AeGee ae

their labour was rendered lefs efficient than it might have been. In the evening of the 26th the colours *were difplayed on fhore, and the Governor, with feveral of his principal officers and others, affembled round the flag-ftaff, drank the king’s health, and fuccefs to the fettlement, with all that difplay of form which on fuch occafions is efteemed propitious, becaufe it enlivens the fpirits, and fills the imagination with pleafing prefages. From this time to the end of the firft week in Febru- ary all was hurry and exertion. They who gave orders and they who received them were equally occupied ; nor is it eafy to conceive a bufier fcene than this part of the coaft exhibited during the continuance of thefe firft efforts towards eftablifhment. The plan of the encampment was quickly formed, and places were marked out for every different purpofe, fo as to introduce, as much as poffible, {trict order and regularity. The materials and frame work to conftrucé a flight temporary habitation for the Governor, had been brought out from England ready formed: thefe were landed and put together with as much expedition as the circumiftances would allow. Hofpital tents were alfo without delay erected, for which there was foon but too much occafion. In the paflage from the Cape there had been but little ficknefs, nor had many died even among the convicts; but foon after landing, a dyfentery prevailed, which in feveral inftances

5 proved

INGE ee oeO aide rT) WeoAYE, E7S.

59

iru- CHAP. proved fatal, and the fcurvy began to rage with a viru- CiiA

lence which kept the hofpital tents generally fupplied “~~

with patients. For thofe afflicted with this diforder, the advantage of fifth or other frefh provifions could but rarely be procured; nor were efculent vegetables often obtained in fufficient plenty to produce any material alleviation of the complaint. In the dyfentery, the red gum of the tree which principally abounds on this coaft, was found a very powerful remedy. The yellow gum has been difcovered to poffefs the fame property, but in an inferior degree.

The tree which yields the former kind of gum is very confiderable in fize, and grows to a great height before it puts out any branches. The red gum is ufually compared to that called /angurs draconis, but differs from it by being perfectly foluble in water, whereas the other, being more properly a refin, will not diffolve except in {pirits of wine. It may be drawn from the tree by tapping, or taken out of the veins of the wood when dry, in which it is copioufly diftributed. The leaves are long and narrow, not unlike thofe of a willow. The wood is heayy and fine grained, but being much interfected by the channels containing the gum, fplits and warps in fuch a manner as foon to become entirely ufelefs; efpecially when worked up, as neceffity

I 2 at

(Te)

A~ (Vs OY Yea 1G GE rT 4O

ci at firft occafioned it to be, without having been properly —+— feafoned.

The yellow gum as it is called, is ftridly a refin, not being at all foluble in water; in appearance it ftrongly refembles gamboge, but has not the property of ftaining. The plant that produces it is low and {mall, with long grafly leaves; but the fructification of it fhoots out in a fingular manner from the centre of the leaves, on a fingle ftraight ftem, to the height of twelve or fourteen feet. Of this ftem, which is {trong and light, like fome of the reed clafs, the natives ufually make their fpears; fometimes pointing them with a piece of the fame fubftance made fharp, but more frequently with bone. The refin is generally dug up out of the foil under the tree, not collected from it, and may perhaps be that which Tafman calls “* gum lac of the ground.” The form of this plant is very exactly delineated in the annexed plate, and its proportion to other trees may be collected from the plate, entitled, A View in New South Wales, in which many of this {pecies are introduced.

The month of February was ufhered in by a very violent ftorm of thunder and rain. The lightning ftruck and fhivered a tree, under which a fhed had been

I erected

YELLOW GUM PLANT.

YO Altec June 7. 789.0 DIV EELE le/,

Neen oO On Wit Eig WW. ARIE Ee) S. 61

erected for fome fheep, and five of thofe animals were ©{T A? Apetaehiame time unfortunately deftroyed by it. The —~— encampment ftill went on with great alacrity, fo that

in the beginning of this month the work of building

public ftorehoufes was undertaken; and unremitting diligence began, though very gradually, to triumph

over the obftacles which the nature of the place pre- fented.

CEA PE ER

CN Nw

A VA OF YITA Gee zt O

G (oH. Ape Pog Eee

Defeription of Port ‘fackfon and the adjacent country—The Gover- nor's commiffion read—bis Speech—bis humane refolutions refpect- ing the Natives—dificulties in erecting huts and other buildings— departure of Lieutenant King to Norfolk Iland.

ORT JACKSON was not vifited or explored by Captain Cook; it was feen only at the diftance of between two or three miles from the coaft: had any good fortune conducted him into that harbour, he would have found it much more worthy of his attention as a feaman, than that in which he paffed a week. Gover- nor Phillip himfelf pronounces it to be a harbour, in extent and fecurity, fuperior to any he has ever feen: and the moft experienced navigators who were with him fully concur in thatopinion. From an entrance not more than two miles acrofs, Port Jackfon gradually extends into a noble and capacious bafon; having foundings fufficient for the largeft veffels, and {pace to accommo- date, in perfect fecurity, any number that could be affembled. It runs chiefly in a weftern direction, about

ces

te

TT

Hittite 4 ai) { Wh IK My neh = Wey t \ i!) i yet H RAIN i

SSS SSS ts SSS SS —— = ——$<——SSaS = = = —— > == SS =

————— == ae = SSS

=a

———

i

:

o

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og

VIEW IN PORT JACKS ON Vebiisted Suly 13, (789 ty I Stedbdale:

al semi i fe ee 4

Nec = S OLWU aE WoeAT ly Ers.

63

about thirteen miles into the country, and contains not CHAP.

VIII.

lefs than an hundred fmall coves, formed by narrow “~™

necks of land, whofe projections afford admirable fhelter from all winds. Sydney Cove lies on the South fide of the harbour, between five and fix miles from the entrance. The necks of land that form the coves are moftly covered with timber, yet fo rocky that it is not eafy to comprehend how the trees could have found fufficient nourifhment to bring them to fo confiderable a magnitude; but the foil between the rocks is very good, and into thofe fpaces the principal roots have found their way. ‘The foil in other parts of the coaft immediately about Port Jackfon is of various qualities. That neck of land which divides the fouth end of the harbour from the feais chiefly fand. Between Sydney Cove and Botany Bay the firft {pace is occupied by a wood, in fome parts a mile and a half, in others three miles acrofs ; beyond that, is a kind of heath, poor, fandy, and full of fwamps. As far as the eye can reach to the weftward, the country is one continued wood. The head of the bay in Port Jackfon, feemed at firft to offer fome advantages of ground, but as it is partly left dry at low water, and as the winds are much obftructed there by the woods and by the windings of the channel, it was deemed that it muft probably be unhealtnful, till the country can be cleared.

There

64 CHAP. TUT, a

Feb. 7th, 1788,

A [Vi ©) SSAlicare T O

There are feveral parts of the harbour in which the trees {tand at a greater diftance from each other than in Sydney Cove; fome of thefe which have {mall runs of water, and a promifing foil, Governor Phillip purpofed to cultivate as foon as hands could be fpared; but the advantage of being able to land the ftores and provi- fions with fo much eafe, unavoidably determined his choice of a place for the principal fettlement. Had it been attempted to remove thofe neceffaries only one mile from the fpot where they were landed, the undertaking probably would have been fruitlefs; fo many were the obftacles to land carriage. At the head of Sydney Cove, therefore, Governor Phillip had fixed the feat of his government; but intent upon providing the beft and earlieft accommodation for thofe who were to be en- camped with him; and wholly occupied by the con- tinual neceffity of giving directions, he had not yet found leifure for affuming regularly his powers and title of Governor. At length the hurry of the firft preparations gave way to this more tranquil bufinefs.

The 7th of February, 1788, was the memorable day which eftablifhed a regular form of Government on the coaft of New South Wales. For obvious reafons, all poffible folemnity was given to the proceedings neceffary on this occafion. On a {pace previoufly cleared, the whole colony was affembled; the military drawn up, and

NeW SeOsew i Ee Wo A EVs.

65

under arms; the convicts ftationed apart; and near the CJEAP.

Ill.

perfon of the Governor, thofe who were to hold the “~~

principal offices under him. The Royal Commiffion was then read by Mr. D. Collins, the Judge Advocate. By this inftrument Arthur Phillip was conftituted and appointed Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over the territory, called New South Wales; extending from the northern cape, or extremity of the coaft, called Cape York, in the latitude of ten degrees, thirty-feven minutes fouth, to the fouthern extremity of the faid territory of New South Wales, or South Cape, in the latitude of forty-three degrees, thirty-nine minutes fouth, and of all the country inland to the weftward, as far as the one hundred and thirty-fifth degree of eaft longitude, reckoning from the meridian of Greenwich, including all the iflands adjacent in the Pacific Ocean, within the latitudes aforefaid of 10°. 37. fouth, and 43°. 39. fouth, and of all towns, garrifons, caftles, forts, and all other fortifications, or other military works which may be hereafter erected upon the faid territory, or any of the faid iflands. ‘The act of Parliament eftablifhing the courts of judicature was next read; and laftly, the patents under the great feal, em- powering the proper perfons to convene and hold thofe courts whenever the exigency fhould require. The Office of Lieutenant Governor was conferred on Major Rofs, of the Marines. A triple difcharge of mufquetry concluded this part of the ceremony; after which

K Governor

64

GHAR: Vil.

en aammend

A) OV) OC) WEI aG aE ig @)

Governor Phillip advanced, and addreffing firft the private foldiers, thanked them for their fteady good conduét on every occafion: an honour which was re- peated to them in the next general orders. He then turned to the convicts, and diftinctly explained to them the nature of their prefent fituation. The greater part, he bade them recollect, had already forfeited their lives to the juftice of their country: yet, by the lenity of its Jaws, they were now {fo placed that, by induftry and good behaviour, they might in time regain the advantages and eftimation in fociety of which they had deprived themfelves. They not only had every encouragement to make that effort, but were removed almoft entirely from every temptation to guilt. There was little in this infant community which one man could plunder from another, and any difhoneft attempts in fo fmall a fociety would almoft infallibly be difcovered. To per- fons detected in fuch crimes, he could not promife any mercy; nor indeed to any who, under their circum- ftances, fhould prefume to offend againft the peace and good order of the fettlement. What mercy could do for them they had already experienced; nor could any good be now expected from thofe whom neither paft warnings, nor the peculiarities of their prefent fituation could preferve from guilt. Againft offenders, therefore, the rigour of the law would certainly be put in force: while they whofe behaviour fhould in any degree pro-

2 mife

NEE W S720 U Goa Wi AVE ES.

mife reformation, might always depend upon encou- ragement fully proportioned to their deferts. He par- ticularly noticed the illegal intercourfe between the fexes as an offence which encouraged a general profligacy of manners, and was in feveral ways injurious to fociety. To prevent this, he ftrongly recommended marriage, and promifed every kind of countenance and aflfiftance to thofe who, by entering into that ftate, fhould mani- feft their willingnefs to conform to the laws of morality and religion. Governor Phillip concluded his addrefs, by declaring his earneft defire to promote the happinefs of all who were under his government, and to render the fettlement in New South Wales advantageous and honourabe to his country.

This fpeech, which was received with univerfal accla- mations, terminated the ceremonial peculiar to the day. Nor was it altogether without its proper effect: For we are informed, that in the courfe of the enfuing week four- teen marriages took place among the convicts. The affembly was now difperfed, and the Governor pro- ceeded to review the troops on the ground cleared for a parade: after which, he gave a dinner to the officers, and the firft evening of his government was concluded propitioufly, in good order and innocent feftivity, amidft the repetition of wifhes for its profperity.

A rifing government could not eafily be committed to better hands. Governor Phillip appears to have every Ke 2 requifite

67

CEECASES Wages

Se en aimed

68

A WO! YUA (GSE 2 ae

cae requifite to enfure the fuccefs of the undertaking in- “—— trufted to him, as far as the qualities of one man can

enfure it. Intelligent, active, perfevering with firm- nefs to make his authority refpected, and mildnefs to render it pleafing, he was determined, if poffible, to bring even the native inhabitants of New South Wales into a voluntary fubjection ; or at leaft to eftablifh with them a ftrict amity and alliance. Induced alfo by motives of humanity, it was his determination from his firft landing, to treat them with the utmoft kindnefs : and he was firmly refolved, that, whatever differences might arife, nothing lefs than the moft abfolute necef- fity fhould ever compel him to fire upon them. In this refolution, by good fortune, and by his own great addrefs, he has happily been enabled to perfevere. But notwithftanding this, his intentions of eftablifhing a friendly intercourfe have hitherto been fruftrated. M. De la Peyroufe,** while he remained in Botany Bav, had fome quarrel with the inhabitants, which unfortunately obliged him to ufe his fire-arms againft them: this affair, joined to the ill behaviour of fome of the con- victs, who in fpite of all prohibitions, and at the rifque of all confequences, have wandered out among them, has produced a fhynefs on their parts which it has not yet been poffible to remove, though the propereft means have been taken to regain their confidence. Their

* This is the right form of that officer’s name; it was printed otherwife in a former paflage by miftake.

diflike

NEW SOUTH WALES.

diflike to the Europeans is probably increafed by difco- vering that they intend to remain among them, and that they interfere with them in fome of their beft fifhing places, which doubtlefs are, in their circum- ftances, objects of very great importance. Some of the convicts who have ftraggled into the woods have been killed, and others dangeroufly wounded by the natives, but there is great reafon to fuppofe that in thefe cafes the convicts have ufually been the aggreffors.

As the month of February advanced heavy rains began to fall, which pointed out the neceffity of procuring fhelter for the people as foon as poflible. To have ex- pedited this work in the degree which was defirable a great number of artificers would have been required. But this advantage could not be had. Only fixteen car- penters could be hired from all the fhips ; among the con- victs no more than twelve were of this profeffion, and of them feveral were fick. Thefe therefore together formed but a fmall party, in proportion to the work which was to be done. One hundred convicts were added as labourers ; but with every effort, it was found impoffible to com- plete either the barracks for the men, or the huts for the officers, as foon as was defired. As late as the mid- dle of May thefe were yet unfinifhed, as well as the hofpital, and the ftorehoufe for thofe provifions which were not landed at firft. The Governor himfelf at that time

69

CHAP. VIII. ae)

70 GiHvAer: VIII. LU

February 14, 1788,

A LV 30: 4 GAR CaeE gb

was {till lodged in his temporary houfe of canvas, which was not perfectly impervious either to wind or weather.

On the 14th of February a party was fent out in the Supply, to fettle on a fmall ifland to the north-weft of New Zealand, in latitude 29° fouth, and longitude 168”. ro. eaft from London, which was difcovered and much commended by Captain Cook, and by him named Nor- folk Ifland, in honour of the noble family to which that title belongs. To the office of fuperintendant and com- mandant of this ifland, and the fettlement to be made upon it, Governor Phillip appointed Philip Gidley King, fecond lieutenant of his Majefty’s fhip Sirius, an officer much efteemed by him as of great merit in his pro- feffion; and highly fpoken of in his letters as a man, whofe perfeverance in that or any other fervice might fully be depended on. As it was known that there were no inhabitants on Norfolk Ifland, there was fent with Lieut. King only a fmall detachment, confift- ing of one fubaltern officer, and fix marines, a very promifing young man who was a midfhipman, a fur- geon,* two men who underftood the cultivation and dreffing of flax, with nine men and fix women convicts. That the nature of this fettlement may be fully under- {tood, a copy of the inftructions delivered to Mr. King at his departure is fubjoined to this chapter.

* The furgeon’s name is Jamifon, whofe intelligent letters to Lewis Wolfe, Efq; were kindly lent to the publifher, and have afforded much ufeful information.

INSTRUCTIONS

NEE WwW “ssOcG EOHY W AVI ELS.

71

INSTRUCTIONS for PHILIP GIDLEY KING, E/q; Super- CHAP,

Vill.

intendant and Commandant of the Settlement of Nor- at a

FOLK ISLAND.

WitTH thefe inftructions you will receive my Com- miffion, appointing you to fuperintend and command the fettlement to be formed in Norfolk Ifland, and to obey all fuch orders as you fhall from time to time re- ceive from me, his Majefty’s Governor in Chief, and Captain General of the territory of New South Wales and its dependencies, or from the Lieutenant-Governor in my abfence.

You are therefore to proceed in his Majefty’s armed tender Supply, whofe commander has my orders to re- ceive you, with the men and women, ftores and provi- fions neceffary for forming the intended fettlement ; and on your landing on Norfolk Ifland you are to take upon you the execution of the truft repofed in you, caufing my commiffion, appointing you {uperintendant over the faid fettlement, to be publicly read.

After having taken the neceffary meafures for fecur- ing yourfelf and people, and for the prefervation of the ftores and provifions, you are immediately to proceed to the cultivation of the Flax Plant, which you will find

growing

7

2

~

CHAP, VIL

A VeCOr YuA (GSE To

growing {pontaneoufly on the ifland: as likewife to the

—~\— cultivation of cotton, corn, and other plants, with the

feeds of which you are furnifhed, and which you are to regard as public ftock, and of the increafe of which you are to fend me an account, that I may know what quan- tity may be drawn from the ifland for public ufe, or what fupplies it may be neceflary to fend hereafter. It is left to your difcretion to ufe fuch part of the corn that is raifed as may be found neceffary; but this you are to do with the greateft ceconomy ; and as the corn, flax, cotton, and other grains are the property of the Crown, and as fuch are to be accounted for, you are to keep an exact account of the increafe, and you will in future receive directions for the difpofal thereof.

You are to inform yourfelf of the nature of the foil, what proportion of land you find proper for the cultiva- tion of corn, flax, and cotton, as likewife what quantity of cattle may be bred on the ifland, and the number of people you judge neceffary for the above purpofe. You will likewife obferve what are the prevailing winds in the different feafons of the year, the beft anchorage accord- ing to the feafon, the rife and fall of the tides, likewife when the dry and rainy feafons begin and end.

You will be furnifhed with a four oared boat, and you are not on any confideration to build, or to permit 5 the

NEW SOUTH WALES. 73

the building of any veffel or boat whatever that is decked; © ne P,

or of any boat or veffel that is not decked, whofe length —~—~ of keel exceeds twenty feet: and if by any accident any

veffel or boat that exceeds twenty feet keel fhould be

driven on the ifland, you are immediately to caufe fuch

boat or veffel to be fcuttled, or otherwife rendered unfer- viceable, letting her remain in that fituation until you

receive further directions from me.

You will be furnifhed with fix months provifions, within which time you will receive an additional fupply, but as you will be able to procure fifh and vegetables, you are to endeavour to make the provifions you receive ferve as long as poffible.

The convicts being the fervants of the Crown, till the time for which they are fentenced is expired, their labour is to be for the public; and you are to take parti- cular notice of their general good or bad behaviour, that they may hereafter be employed or rewarded according to their different merits.

You are to caufe the Prayers of the Church of Eng- land to be read with all due folemnity every Sunday, and you are to inforce a due obfervance of religion and good

order, tran{mitting to me, as often as opportunity offers, L a full

74 AS WO) VICAR Gee Gr vo

Cc ne P. a full account of your particular fituation and tranf- = actions:

You are not to permit any intercourfe or trade with any fhips or veffels that may ftop at the ifland, whether Englifh or of any other nation, unlefs fuch fhips or veffels fhould be in diftrefs, in which cafe you are to afford them fuch affiftance as may be in your power.

Given under my hand, at Head Quarters in Port

Jackfon, New South Wales, this rath day of Fe- bruary, 1788.

(Signed)

ARTHUR PHELIgnE:

C BAeE-

INGEN We Se@ WW) Ret WAU ES:

Chats nN. (Pay BE RE IX:

A Criminal Court beld—Broken Bay explored by Governor Phillip— Interviews with the Natives—Peculiarities remarked—Friendly

behaviour and extraordinary courage of an old man.

enor PHILLIP {oon found with great regret, though doubtlefs without much furprize, that in

the community committed to his care the {trict enforce- ment of the fanctions of law was peculiarly neceffary. There were in it many individuals whom neither lenity could touch, nor rigour terrify; who, with all fenfe of focial duty, appeared to have loft all value for life itfelf, and with the fame wantonnefs expofed themfelves to the darts of the favages, and to the fevere punifhments which, however reluctantly, every fociety muft inflict when milder methods have been tried without fuccefs. Towards the latter end of February a criminal court was convened, in which fix of the convicts received fentence of death. One, who was the head of the gang, was executed the fame day; of the reft, one was pardoned; the other four were reprieved, and afterwards exiled to 12: a fmall

75

AO Ve ROM Ye Ar GP rh ©

cHA?. a fmall ifland within the bay, where they were kept on

“—— bread and water. Thefe men had frequently robbed the ftores, and the other convicts. He who fuffered, and two others, had been detected in ftealing from the ftores the very day that they had received a week’s provifion ; at a time when their allowance, as fettled by the Navy Board, was the fame as that of the foldiers, {pirituous liquors excepted. So inveterate were their habits of difhonefty, that even the apparent want of a motive could not reprefs them.

eee On the 2d of March Governor Phillip went with a long boat and cutter to examine the broken land, men- tioned by Captain Cook, about eight miles to the north- ward of Port Jackfon, and by him named Broken Bay. This bay proved to be very extenfive. The firft night they flept in the boats, within a rocky point in the north-weft part of the bay, as the natives, though friendly, appeared to be numerous; and the next day, after paffing a bar that had only water for {mall veffels, they entered a very extenfive branch, from which the ebb tide came out fo ftrong that the boats could not row againft it in the ftream; and here was deep water. This opening appeared to end in feveral {mall branches, and in a large lagoon which could not then be examined, as there was not time to feek a channel for the boats among the banks of fand and mud. Most of the land in the

9 upper

SSS NN: sy) i

CASPIAN TERN.

Ticbliihil Jaby "7 19789. by IT lochdale

Nee SrORUP TE We Ayr, EPs. a5

upper part of this branch was low and full of fwamps. ¢ Hae Pelicans and various other birds were here feen in great ——~——~ numbers. Among the reft an uncommon kind, called

then the Hooded Gui/, and fuppofed to be a non defcript ;

but it appears from a drawing fent to England, a plate

from which is here inferted, to be of that fpecies called

by Mr. Latham the Ca/pian Tern, and is defcribed by

him as the fecond variety of that fpecies.*

Leaving this north-weft branch they proceeded acrofs the bay, and went into the fouth-weft branch. This is alfo very extenfive ; and from it runs a fecond opening to the weftward, affording fhelter for almoft any number of fhips. In this part, as far as could then be exa- mined, there is water for veflels of the greateft burthen, the foundings being at the entrance feven fathoms, and in going up ftill more. Continual rains prevented them from taking a furvey. The land here was found much higher than at Port Jackfon, more rocky, and equally covered with timber. Large trees were feen growing even on the fummits of the mountains, which appeared acceffible only to birds. Immediately round the head- land that forms the fouthern entrance into the bay, there is a third branch, which Governor Phillip thought the fineft piece of water he had ever feen; and which there-

* Latham’s Synopfis of Birds, vol. vi. p. 351.

fore

led

/

8

A Vi OF AA (Gt a 39

cHAP. fore he thought worthy to be honoured with the name

IX. “_— of Pitt Water. This, as well as the fouth-weft branch,

is of fufficient extent to contain all the navy of Great Britain. But on a narrow bar which runs acrofs the entrance it has only eighteen feet depth at low water. Within the bar there are from feven to fifteen fathoms. The land is not fo high in this part as in the fouth-weft branch, and there are fome good fituations where the land might be cultivated. Small fprings of water were feen in moft of the coves, and three cafcades falling from heights, which the rains at that time rendered inac- ceffible.

In this excurfion fome interviews with the natives took place. When the party firft landed in Broken Bay feveral women came down to the beach with the men. One of thefe, a young woman, was very talkative and remarkably cheerful. This was a fingular inftance, for in general they are obferved on this coaft to be much lefs cheerful than the men, and apparently under great awe and fub- jection. They certainly are not treated with much ten- dernefs, and it is thought that they are employed chiefly in the canoes, in which women have frequently been feen with very young children at the breaft. The lively young lady, when fhe joined the party the fecond day in her canoe, ftood up and gave a fong which was far

from

Nee We SiOs0 I Hy Wr AVL ENS.

U2)

from unpleafing. ‘The men very readily gave their Cae: affiftance to the Englifh in making a fire, and behaved “~~

in the moft friendly manner. In a bay where Governor Phillip and his company landed to draw the feine, a num- ber of the natives again cameto them. It was now firft obferved by the Governor that the women in general had loft two joints from the little finger of the left hand. As thefe appeared to be all married women, he at firft conjectured this privation to be a part of the marriage ceremony; but going afterwards into a hut where were feveral women and children, he faw a girl of five or fix years of age whofe left hand was thus mutilated; and at the fame time an old woman, and another who ap- peared to have had children, on both of whom all the fingers were perfect. Several inftances were after- wards obferved of women with child, and of others that were evidently wives, who had not loft the two joints, and of children from whom they had been cut. What- ever be the occafion of this mutilation, it is performed on females only; and confidering the imperfection of their inftruments, muft be a very painful operation. Nothing has been feen in the poffeffion of thefe people that is at all calculated for performing fuch an amputa- tion, except a fhell fixed to a fhort ftick, and ufed ge- nerally for pointing their fpears, or for feparating the oyfters from the rocks. More fingers than one are never

cut 5

8

80

A. AVA! GIR 1G eas T O

cue Gu, and in every inftance it is the fame finger that has ——’_ fuffered.*

The men are diftinguifhed in a different manner: their fingers are not mutilated, but moft of them, as other voyagers have obferved, want the right front tooth in the upper jaw. Governor Phillip having remarked this, pointed out to them that he had himfelf loft one of his front teeth, which occafioned a general clamour; and it was thought he derived fome merit in their opinion from this circumftance. The perforation of the cartilage that divides the noftrils, and the ftrange disfiguring or- nament of a long bone or ftick thruft through it, was now obferved, as defcribed by Captain Cook; and the fame appellation of /prit-/ail yard, was ludicroufly applied to it by the failors. But feveral very old men were feen in this excurfion who had not loft the tooth, nor had their nofes prepared to receive that grotefque appendage: probably, therefore, thefe are marks of diftinction: ambition muft have its badges, and where cloaths are not worn, the body itfelf muft be compelled to bear them.

* In Patterfon’s Travels in Africa, lately publifhed, we are told, that he met with a tribe of Hottentots near Orange River, all of whom had loft the firft joint of the little finger: the reafon they gave for cutting it off was, that it was a cure for a particular ficknefs to which they were fubje& when young. Fourth Fourncy,

p. 117. It would be a curious coincidence of cuftoms fhould it be difcovered that the natives of New Holland do it for any fimilar reafon.

Whether

NSE ShORU Mi He WV x LL OBAS.

$1

Whether the fcars raifed upon the fkin were of this © 1,4?

kind, or as Captain Cook underftood by their figns, marks of forrow for deceafed friends, could not now be learnt. They are of avery fingular nature: fometimes the {kin is raifed from the flefh for feveral inches, ap- pearing as if it were filled with wind, and forming a round furface of more than a quarter of an inch dia- meter. Their bodies are fcarred in various parts, par- ticularly about the breaft and arms, and frequently on the inftep. Nor does the head always efcape; one man in particular, putting afide the hair on the forepart of his head, fhowed a fcar, and then pointing to one on the foot, and to others on different parts of the body, feemed to intimate that he thought himfelf much ho- noured by having thefe marks upon him from head to foot. The women did not appear equally forward to produce the mutilated finger; nor was it always poffible to afcertain whether they had loft the joints or not. For though they made no attempt to fecrete themfelves, nor feemed impreffed with any idea that one part of the body more requires concealment than another, yet there was a fhynefs and timidity among them which frequently kept them at a diftance. They never would approach fo readily as the men, and fometimes would not even land from their canoes, but made figns that what was offered fhould be given to the men. We are not yet enough acquainted with the manners of the

M people

aay

82

AC AM OY) ARG FT RO

CHAP people to decide whether this referve proceeds from “~~ the fears of the women, or from the jealoufy of their

hufbands, by whom they are evidently kept in great fub- ordination.

One of their modes of fifhing was now obferved: their hooks are made of the infide of a fhell refembling mother of pearl. When a fifh which has taken the bait is fuppofed to be too itrong to be landed with the line, the canoe is paddled to fhore, and while one man gently draws the fifh along, another ftands prepared to ftrike it with a fpear: in this attempt they feldom fail. In the plate which reprefents this action, the engraver has inadvertently left the bodies of the figures rather too white; in other refpects it is very accurate.

When the fouthern branch of Broken Bay was firft vifited, the getting round the headland that feparates the branches, was attended with fome difficulty, on account of very heavy fqualls of wind, accompanied with rain. An attempt was made to Jand, where there proved not to be fufficient water for the boat. During this tranfaction, an old man and a youth were ftanding on the rocks where the boat was trying to approach. Having feen how much our men had laboured to get under land, they were very folicitous to point out the deepeft water. Afterwards they brought fire, and feemed willing to render any fervice in their power. Two of the officers

6 fuffered

-IVG@ KNVLOG FO SHAILVN

NEE Ayers) “G

are UY

NSE W SOUTH WAL ES.

83

fuffered themfelves to be conducted by the old man to ee P. a cave at fome diftance, but declined going in, though “~~

he invited them by all the figns he could invent. This was rather unfortunate, as the rain was falling very violently, and the cave was found next day fufficiently large to have fheltered the whole party. The old man certainly took great pains to make this under{ftood, but the motive of his earneftnefs unluckily was miftaken, and his vifitors fuffered for their fufpicions. He after- wards affifted in clearing away the bufhes, and making preparations for the party to fleep on fhore, and next morning was rewarded with prefents for his very friendly behaviour. Two days afterwards, when Governor Phillip returned to the fame fpot, the old man met him with a dance and a fong of joy. His fon was with him, and feveral of the natives; a hatchet was given them and other prefents ; and as the Governor was to return next day to Port Jackfon, it was hoped that the friendfhip thus begun, and fo ftudioufly cultivated, would have continued firm. But as foon as it was dark, the old man ftole a fpade, and was caught with it in his hand. Go- vernor Phillip thought it neceffary, on this occafion, to fhew fome tokens of difpleafure, and therefore when the delinquent approached, he gave him two or three flight flaps on the fhoulder, and then pufhed him away, at the fame time pointing to the fpade. This gentle chaftifement at once deftroyed their friendfhip. The

M 2 old

84 CoH eAGR. IX

een nae

March gth, 1788.

AT (VO. Xe A (Gos tT 20

old man immediately feized a fpear, and coming clofe up to the Governor, poized it, and feemed determined to ftrike. But feeing that his threats were difregarded, (for his antagonift chofe rather to rifk the effects of his anger than to fire upon him) or perhaps diffuaded by fomething the other natives faid, in a few moments he dropped the {pear and went away. It was impoffible not to be ftruck with the courage difplayed by him on this occafion, for Governor Phillip at the time was not alone, but had feveral officers and men about him. From this and other fimilar events, perfonal bravery appears to be a quality in which the natives of New South Wales are not by any means deficient. The old man returned the next morning with many other natives, but, in order to convince him of his fault, he was lefs noticed than his companions, who were prefented with hatchets and

various other articles.

It was now the 9th of March, and Governor Phillip returned to Port Jackfon: having gained fome ufeful knowledge of the country, and maintained an inter- courfe with the natives without departing from his favourite plan of treating them with the utmoft kind- nefs. He had endeavoured at the fame time to gain their confidence, if poffible, and fecure their friendfhip. If thefe humane endeavours were afterwards rendered fruitlefs by the wanton profligacy of fome depraved

indivi-

NEW S Oud HM W A L ES. 85

individuals, however he might regret it, he could have © ue P. no reafon to reproach himfelf. S—

The rain, which was almoft conftant, prevented the Governor from returning by land, which otherwife he meant to have done, for the fake of exploring a part of the country which appeared to be good and free from timber.

CHA P-

86

March roth, 17838.

Ay VO Yi A "GOE 140

CG. JE Ag Py gals ee Nee

Departure of the French fhips—Death of M. Le Receveur—Return of the Supply from Norfolk Iland—Defcription of that Place— Howe Iland difcovered.

N the roth of March, the French fhips failed from Botany Bay. M. De la Peyroufe during his ftay there had fet up two long boats, the frames of which he had brought with him from Europe. There had not been much intercourfe between the French and Englifh in this interval: both being too bufily employed to wafte their time in parties of pleafure. Captain Clo- nard had waited on Governor Phillip with the letters which were to be forwarded to the French ambaffador ; and a few of the Englifh officers had gone over by land about the fame time to pay a vifit in Botany Bay; both parties were of courfe received with politenefs and hof- pitality. Some few of the convicts contrived to abfcond, and endeavoured to get admitted into the French fhips, but were, with great propriety, rejected. Thofe veffels returned

prillip

Hland

Sydney Bay “) a

*

D (2) i ~% VIOTRIRARGS

WHirailley win 1700.

§y + Duncombe Bay St : ay

q

se Howe

NORFOLK ISLAND

att

Scake of 5 Miles .

SYDNEY Bay

A Scale of'one Mile ca

S, END of NORFOLK ISLAND

NGE TW SSeORU ie] “WeATLUES.

returned towards the north, where they were to make another voyage.

During the ftay of M. De la Peyroufe in Botany Bay, Father Le Receveur, who had come out in the A{tro- labe as a naturalift, died. His death was occafioned by wounds which he received in the unfortunate rencoun- ter at the Navigator’s Iflands. A flight monument was erected to his memory, with the following in{fcription.

Hic jacet Le Recevevr,

E. F. F.. Minimis Galliz Sacerdos, Phyficus in circumnavigatione Mundi,

Duce De La Peyrouse,

Ob. 17th Feb. 1788.

The monument being foon after deftroyed by the natives, Governor Phillip caufed the infcription to be engraved on copper, and affixed to a neighbouring tree. M. De la Peyroufe had paid a fimilar tribute of refpect to the memory of Captain Clerke, at the harbour of St. Peter and Paul in Kamtfchatka,

87 CHAP. ».G ee)

On the roth of this month, Lieutenant Ball arrived March roth,

in the Supply from Norfolk Ifland. He had made that ifland on the 29th of February, but was five days off the coaft before a place could be found at which it was poffible to land the ftores and provifions. So com-

pletely

1788.

8

Q

fe)

AY We OF Yara Ge oe sia ©)

CHAP. pletely do the rocks furround the ifland, that it was not

+— eafy to find a place even toland a man. At length, how-

ever, they fucceeded, having difcovered at the fouth-weft end, a {mall opening ina reef that runs acrofsa bay. Here the people, provifions and ftores were all put on fhore in perfect fafety. The Commandant wrote in high {fpirits at the promifing appearance of his new territory ; and fubfequent accounts have proved, that the opinion he then formed was not erroneous. He defcribed Norfolk Ifland as one entire wood, or rather as a garden over- run with the nobleft pines, in ftraightnefs, fize, and magnitude, far fuperior to any he had ever feen. No- thing can exceed the fertility of its foil. Wherever it has been fince examined, a rich black mould has been found to the depth of five or fix feet: and the grain and garden feeds which have been fown, fuch only excepted as were damaged in the carriage, or by the weevil, have vegetated with the utmoft luxuriance. To prevent repetitions, it may perhaps be beft to unite in this place the accounts which have been received of this ifland, though many of them will eafily be per- ceived to be greatly pofterior to this firft return of the

Supply.

Norfolk Ifland is about feven leagues in circumfe- rence, and if not originally formed, like many other {mall iflands, by the eruption of volcanic matter from the

4 bed

NED We SeORU Seria Wo ALIS ES:

bed of the fea, mui{t doubtlefs have contained a volcano. This conclufion is formed from the vaft quantity of pumice ftone which is fcattered in all parts of it, and mixed with the foil. The crater, or at leaft fome traces of its former exiftence, will probably be found at the fummit of a {mall mountain, which rifes near the middle of the ifland. To this mountain the Commandant has given the name of Mount Pitt. The ifland is exceed- ingly well watered. At, or near Mount Pitt, rifes a ftrong and copious ftream, which flowing through a very fine valley, divides itfelf into feveral branches, each of which retains fufficient force to be ufed in turning mills: and in various parts of the ifland excellent {prings have been difcovered.

The climate is pure, falubrious, and delightful, pre- ferved from oppreffive heats by conftant breezes from the fea, and of fo mild a temperature throughout the winter, that vegetation continues there without interruption, one crop fucceeding another. Refrefhing fhowers from time to time maintain perpetual verdure; not indeed of grafs, for none has yet been feen upon the ifland, but of the trees, fhrubs, and other vegetables which in all parts grow abundantly. On the leaves of thefe, and of fome kinds in particular, the fheep, hogs, and goats, not only live, but thrive and fatten very much. To the falubrity of the air every individual in this little

N colony

89

CHAP. xe

een yom

9°

Aly [Va 'O Yoo 1G Oe 4 a0:

CHAP. colony can bear ample teftimony, from the uninterrupted ~\— ftate of good health which has been in general en-

joyed.

When our fettlers landed, there was not a fingle acre clear of wood in the ifland, and the trees were fo bound together by that kind of creeping fhrub called fupple jack, interwoven in all directions, as to render it very difficult to penetrate far among them. The Comman- dant, {mall as his numbers were at firft, by indefatigable activity foon caufed a {pace to be cleared fufficient for the requifite accommodations, and for the produétion of efculent vegetables of all kinds in the greateit abun- dance. When the laft accounts arrived, three acres of barley were in a very thriving ftate, and ground was prepared to receive rice and Indian corn. In the wheat there had been a difappointment, the grain that was fown having been fo much injured by the weevil, as to be unfit for vegetation. But the people were all at that time in commodious houfes; and, according to the de- clarations of Mr. King himfelf, in his letters to Governor Phillip, there was not a doubt that this colony would be in a fituation to fupport itfelf entirely without affiftance, in lefs than four years: and with very little in the inter- mediate time. Even two years would be more than fufficient for this purpofe, could a proper fupply of black cattle be fent.

Fifh

NOE AW ssOnG a Ht W AU EVs,

gi

i ; ‘OE CineArr. Fifh are caught in great plenty, and in the pro ae per feafon very fine turtle. The woods are inhabited “~~

by innumerable tribes of birds, many of them very gay in plumage. The moft ufeful are pigeons, which are very numerous, and a bird not unlike the Guinea fowl, except in colour, (being chiefly white,) both of which were at firft fo tame as to fuffer themfelves to be taken by hand. Of plants that afford vegetables for the table, the chief are cabbage palm, the wild plantain, the fern tree, a kind of wild fpinage, and a tree which pro- duces a diminutive fruit, bearing fome refemblance to a currant. ‘This, it is hoped, by tranfplanting and care, will be much improved in fize and flavour.

But the productions which give the greateft impor- tance to Norfolk Ifland are the pines and the flax plant, the former rifing to a fize and perfection unknown in other places, and promifing the moft valuable fupply of mafts and {pars for our navy in the Eaft Indies; the latter not lefs eftimable for the purpofes of making fail-cloth, cordage, and even the fineft manufactures; growing in great plenty, and with fuch luxuriance as to attain the height of eight feet.* The pines meafure frequently

one

* The flax plant is thus defcribed in Captain Cook’s firft voyage, vol. iii. p. 39. as found at New Zealand. ‘ There is, however, a plant that ferves the inhabi- tants inftead of hemp and flax, which excels all that are put to the fame purpofes in other countries. Of this plant there are two forts; the leaves of both refemble

N 2 thofe

CHAP:

hk «¥ @ #2aGeE eg

one hundred and fixty, or even one hundred and eighty feet in height, and are fometimes nine or ten feet in dia- meter at the bottom of the trunk. They rife to about eighty feet without a branch; the wood is faid to be of the beft quality, almoft as light as that of the beft Norway mafts; and the turpentine obtained from it is remarkable for purity and whitenefs. The fern tree is found alfo of a great height for its {pecies, meafuring from feventy to eighty feet, and affords excellent food for the fheep and other {mall cattle. A plant producing pepper, and fup- pofed to be the true oriental pepper, has been difcovered lately in the ifland, growing in great plenty; and fpeci- mens have been fent to England, in order to afcertain this important point.

The chief difadvantage experienced by thofe who are fent to Norfolk Ifland, is the want of a good landing place. The bay which has been ufed for this purpofe is

thofe of flags, but the fiowers are {maller and their clufters more numerous; in one kind they are yellow, and in the other a deep red. Of the leaves of thefe plants, with very little preparation, they make all their common apparel; and of thefe they alfo make their ftrings, lines, and cordage for every purpofe, which are fo much ftronger than any thing we can make with hemp, that they will not beara comparifon. From the fame plant, by another preparation, they draw long flender fibres which fhine like filk, and are as white as fnow: of thefe, whichare alfo fur- prizingly ftrong, the finer clothes are made; and of the leaves, without any other preparation than fplitting them into proper breadths and tying the ftrips together, they make their fifhing nets ; fome of which, as I have before remarked, are of an enormous fize.’’ Itis added, that itis foundin every kind of foil. It is perennial, and has a bulbous root. Some of the roots have lately been fent to England.

inclofed

NOE W SeOuU Dee Wi Ack ES.

inclofed by a reef of coral rock, through which there is a paflage only for a boat; and during the tide of flood, when the wind is wefterly, the landing is rather dan- gerous. In one of the debarkations a midfhipman, who was ordered to lie within the reef, that he might attend the boats coming to fhore, imprudently fuffered his own boat to drive into the furf, and was loft, with four men. He had been once before overfet in confe- quence of a fimilar inattention, and then had loft one man. On the coaft of the ifland are feveral {mall bays, and there are {till hopes that a better landing place may be difcovered; but the neceflity of employing all the men in fheltering themfelves and the ftores from the weather, or in clearing ground for various purpofes, has hitherto prevented Mr. King from fending out any per- fons to complete the examination. Should this enquiry prove unfuccefsful, it is propofed to attempt the blow- ing up of one or two fmall rocks, by which the reef is rendered dangerous. If this expedient alfo fhould fail, the evil muit be borne with patience. In fummer the landing will generally be fufficiently fecure ;_ and fea- men, who have feen the bay of Riga, in the Baltic, de- clare, that it will at all times be fafer for a fhip to load with matfts and {pars at Norfolk Ifland, than in that place, where fo many fhips are freighted yearly.

Rats

93 CH A:P. X. KY

94 A) ive OF YH & Ge age

CHAP. Rats are the only quadrupeds which have been found

—,—~ in this ifland; and from thefe, as well as from the ants, it was feared the crops might fuffer; but no great in- convenience has yet been experienced from them; and proper exertions feldom fail in a fhort time to reduce the number of fuch enemies, enough to make their depreda- tions very inconfiderable. On the whole, Norfolk Ifland certainly deferves to be confidered as an acquifition of fome importance, and is likely to anfwer even the moft fanguine expectations. Some canoes have been found on the rocks, which were fuppofed to have been driven from New Zealand; but the appearance of a frefh cocoa nut and a {mall piece of manufactured wood, which feemed to have been only a {mall time in the water, has lately fuggefted an idea that probably fome inhabited ifland may lie at no great diftance. There has not been as yet any opportunity to determine whether this opinion be well founded or not.

A {mall ifland, but entirely uninhabited, was difco- vered by Lieutenant Ball in his paflage to Norfolk Ifland. In his return he examined it, and found that the fhore abounded with turtle, but there was no good anchorage. He named it Lord Howe Ifand. It isin 31° 36 fouth lati- tude, and 159° eaft longitude. Part of this ifland being very high may be feen at the diftance of fixteen leagues,

8 and

NEW SOUTH WAL ES. 95

and a rock to the fouth-eaft of it, may be difcerned even ¢ ya p, at eighteen leagues. In latitude 29° 25’ fouth, longi- een, tude 159° 59 eaft, a very dangerous reef has fince been feen. The fhip from which it was obferved was then four leagues to the fouthward, and it could not at that time be afcertained how far it extends to the northward.

To expedite the cultivation of Norfolk Ifland a frefh detachment was fent thither in October, confifting of an officer and eight marines, with thirty convicts, confift- ing of ten women and twenty men: Thus, there exifted on this iflet, when the laft accounts were tran{mitted, forty- four men and fixteen women, who, having eighteen months provifions, lived comfortably on this fequeftered fpot, under the prudent management of a youthful ruler, of whofe bufy life the reader may wifh to know all the particulars, which at prefent can be authentically told.

Philip Gidley King, who had the honour to conduct the original fettlers to Norfolk Ifland, was born at Laun- cefton in Cornwall, on the 23d of April, 1758. He is the fon of Philip King, of that town, draper, who married the daughter of John Gidley, of Exeter, attor- ney at law. Much as he owes to his parents, he is indebted for his fcholaftic learning to Mr. Bailey at Yarmouth. He derives, probably, fome advantages from making an early choice of his profeffion. At

the

96

Acs Ve Or Yor eqGae a @

cHap, the age of twelve, he went to the Eaft Indies on

ee board the Swallow frigate, Captain Shirley, by whom

he was rated a midfhipman. From this ftation he returned to England, at the end of five years, with much knowledge of his bufinefs, and fome acquaintance with the world. In 1775, he entered upon real fervice ; and has continued in active employment from that pe- riod to this great epoch of his life. He went to Virginia with Captain Bellew, in the Liverpool, during the year 1775; with whom he continued till the fhipwreck of that frigate in Delaware Bay. And having entered on board the Princefs Royal, in October 1778, he was made a Lieutenant by Admiral Byron, into the Renown, on the 26th of November following. He returned to England in the fubfequent year; and ferved in the Channel on board the Kite cutter, and Ariadne frigate, till the beginning of 1783. With Captain Phillip he went to the Eaft Indies, as Lieutenant of the Europe, in January 1783; from whence he returned on the reftoration of complete peace, in May 1784. In this fervice it was, that Phillip and King became acquainted with the merit of each other. And when the expedition to New South Wales was pro- jected, King was appointed Lieutenant of the Sirius, on the 25th of October, 1786, at the fame time that Phillip was nominated Commander of the voyage.

5 CH 2A

ewe Ze

NOE OW SPOS an He We AI, EAs,

Gen A LP Mig bw BR XI.

Three of the tranfports cleared—Two excurfions made into the coun- try, on the fifteenth of April, and on the twenty-fecond—Huts of

the natives—Sculpture, and other particulars.

N the 25th of March, the Charlotte, Lady Penrhyn, and Scarborough tranfports, having been cleared of

97

CHAP. ite ee,

all their ftores, were difcharged from government fer- ata

vice, and left at liberty to proceed for China, whenever their commanders fhould think proper. The other fhips were of neceffity detained till the ftore-houfes could be

finifhed.

The month of April was not diftinguifhed by any events that deferve to be related, except two expeditions of Governor Phillip for the purpofe of exploring the country. On the firft of thefe excurfions he fet out on the 15th with provifions for four days; attended by fe- veral officers, and a fmall party of marines. They landed at the head of a {mall cove, called Shell Cove, near the entrance of the harbour on the north fide. Pro-

O ceeding

April rsth, 1788.

98

AQ 'V © WY AUG lis 9,

Cc ae P. ceeding in this direction they arrived at a large lake,

“~— which they examined, though not without great labour.

It was furrounded by a confiderable extent of bog and marfhy ground, in which, in the courfe of their progrefs, they were frequently plunged up to the waift. On this lake they firft obferved a black fwan, which fpecies, though proverbially rare in other parts of the world, is here by no means uncommon, being found on moft of the lakes. This was a very noble bird, larger than the common {wan, and equally beautiful inform. On being fhot at, it rofe and difcovered that its wings were edged with white: the bill was tinged with red.

In three days, with great difficulty, they pafled the fwamps and marfhes which lie near the har- bour. Nothing can more fully point out the great im- provement which may be made by the induftry of a civilized people in this country, than the circumftances of the {mall {treams which defcend into Port Jackfon. They all proceed from fwamps produced by the ftagna- tion of the water after rifing from the fprings. When the obftacles which impede their courfe can be removed, and free channels opened through which they may flow, the adjacent ground will gradually be drained, and the ftreams themfelves will become more ufeful ; at the fame time habitable and falubrious fituations will be gained in

8 places

NOE W SsOMUr are WreAvkl EJS.

places where at prefent perpetual damps prevail, and the air itfelf appears to ftagnate.

On leaving thefe low grounds, they found them fuc- ceeded by a rocky and barren country. The hills were covered with flowering fhrubs, but by means of various obftacles the afcending and defcending was difficult, and in many parts impracticable. At the diftance of about fifteen miles from the fea coaft Governor Phillip obtained a very fine view of the inland country and its moun- tains, to feveral of which he now gave names. The moft northern of them he named Carmarthen Hills, the moft fouthern Lanfdown Hills; one which lay between thefe was called Richmond Hill. From the manner in which thefe mountains appeared to rife, it was thought almoft certain that a large river muft defcend from among them. But it wasnow necefflary to return, with- out making any further examination.

On the 22d another excurfion of the fame kind was undertaken : Governor Phillip landed with his party near the head of the harbour. Here they found a good country, but ina fhort time arrived at a very clofe cover ; and after paffing the chief part of the day in fruitlefs at- tempts to make their way through it, were obliged to relinquifh the attempt, and return. The next day,

O 2 by

99 CHAP. XI.

ee amend

April 22d, 1788.

100

AG IVA OD YR AN Gale 3b 'G)

CHAP. by keeping clofe to the banks of a {mall creek for about —~— four miles, they contrived to pafs the cover, and for the

three fucceeding days continued their courfe to the weft- ward. The country through which they travelled was fingularly fine, level, or rifing in fmall hills of a very pleafing and picturefque appearance. The foil excellent, except in a few fmall fpots where it was ftony. The trees growing at the diftance of from twenty to forty feet from each other, and in general entirely free from underwood, which was confined to the ftony and barren fpots. On the fifth day they afcended a {mall eminence, whence, for the firft time in this fecond expedition, they faw Carmarthen and Lanfdown Hills. The country round this hill was fo beautiful, that Governor Phillip gave it the name of Bel/e-vue. They were ftill appa- rently thirty miles from the mountains which it had been their object to reach, and not having found it practicable, with the tents, arms, and other neceffaries, to carry more than fix days provifions, were obliged to return. Even with this fmall ftock, the officers as well as men, had been under the neceflity of carrying heavy loads. Water for the ufe of the day was always taken; for though it happened in every inftance that pvols of water were found which had remained after the rains, yet this was a fupply on which they could not previoufly depend. The extraordinary difficulty of penetrating into this country had now been fully experienced; where

unexpected.

NEW TStOsUsi Haw Ai ES.

unexpected delays from deep ravines and other obftacles, frequently force the traveller from his direct courfe, and baffle every conjecture concerning the time required for paffing a certain tract. The utmoft extent of this excurfion in a direct line had not been more than thirty miles, and it had taken up five days. The return of the party was effected with much more eafe; the track was made, and the trees marked the whole way where they had paffed ; with thefe affiftances they reached their boats in a day and a half.

It was ftill the general opinion that the appearance of the country promifed the difcovery of a large river in that diftrid, whenever the line now taken could be fully purfued. Another expedition was therefore planned, in which it was determined, if poffible, to reach either Lanfdown or Carmarthen Hills: and the hope of fo important a difcovery as that of a river made every one anxious to go, notwithftanding the great fatigue with which thefe undertakings were attended. But this defign was for the prefent unavoidably deferred. Go- vernor Phillip, who had not been perfectly well even at the time of fetting out on the excurfion to Broken Bay, had then contracted a fevere pain in his fide, by ileeping frequently on the wet ground. This complaint had in the two laft journeys received fo much increafe, that he

found

Io!

CHAP. XI. Sa

102

AM VECO TY A Gee Te

CHA? found it abfolutely neceffary to allow himfelf the refpite

“~— of a few weeks, before he again encountered fo much

fatigue.

The country explored in this laft journey was fo good and fo fit for the purpofes of cultivation, that the Gover- nor refolved to fend a detachment to fettle there, as foon as a fufficient number could be fpared from works of more immediate neceffity. But notwithftanding the goodnefs of the foil it is a matter of aftonifhment how the natives, who know not how to avail themfelves of its fertilitv, can fubfift in the inland country. On the coaft fifh makes a confiderable part of their food, but where that cannot be had, it feems hardly poffible that with their fpears, the only mifflile weapon yet obferved among them, they fhould be able to procure any kind of animal food. With the affiftance of their guns the Englifth gentlemen could not obtain, in the laft fix days they were out, more than was barely fufficient for two meals. Yet, that thefe parts are frequented by the natives was undeniably proved by the temporary huts which were feen in feveral places. Near one of thefe huts the bones of a kanguroo were found, and feveral trees were feen on fire. A piece of a root refembling that of the fern tree was alfo picked up by Governor Phillip; part of this root had been chewed, and fo recently that it was thought it could not have been left many minutes. It

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feemed evident by feveral marks, that the natives had CA? only fled at the approach of the Englifh party, but fo “~~

effectually did they conceal themfelves that not one was

feen.

The number of the natives in thefe inland parts muft, however, be very fmall. Whether thefe refide by choice where they muft encounter fo many difficulties, or whether they are driven from the fociety of thofe who inhabit the coaft, has not yet been difcovered. The huts feen here confifted of fingle pieces of bark, about eleven feet in length, and from four to fix in breadth, bent in the middle while frefh from the tree, and fet up fo as to form an acute angle, not a little refembling cards fet up by children. In the plate in- ferted here, not only the huts, but fome of the {pears of the natives are introduced. It was conjectured, that the chief ufe of thefe imperfect ftructures might be, to conceal them from the animals for which they muft frequently be obliged to lie in wait. They may alfo afford fhelter from a fhower of rain to one en two who fit or lie under them. The bark of

any trees was obferved to be cut into notches, as if for the purpofe of climbing; and in feveral there were holes, apparently the retreat of fome animal, but enlarged by the natives for the purpofe of catching the inhabitant. The enlargement of thefe holes with their

imperfect

104

A, GVA OF You IGE a AO

CHap. imperfect inftruments, muft itfelf be a work of time, and xr u.— mutt require no little patience. In fome places, where

the hole was rather too high to be reached from the ground, boughs of trees were laid to facilitate the afcent. The animals that take refuge in thofe places are probably the fquirrel, the opoffum, or the kanguroo-rat. At the bottom of one of thefe trees, the {kin of a flying fquirrel was found.

In many places fires had lately been made; but in one only were feen any fhells of oyfters or mufcles, and there not more than half a dozen. Fifh-bones were not found at all, which feems to prove, that in thcir jour- nies inland thefe people do not carry with them any pro- vifions of that kind. Kanguroos were frequently feen, but were fo fhy that it was very difficult to fhoot them. With refpect to thefe animals, it is rather an extraordi- nary circumftance, that, notwithftanding their great fhynefs, and notwithftanding they are daily fhot at, more of them are feen near the camp than in any other part of the country. ‘The kanguroo, though it refem- bles the jerboa in the peculiarity of ufing only the hinder legs in progreffion, does not belong to that genus. The pouch of the female, in which the young are nurfed, is thought to conneét it rather with the opoffum tribe. This extraordinary formation, hitherto efteemed peculiar to that one genus, feems, however, in New

Holland

NEW SOUTH WALES. 105

Holland not to be fufficiently characteriftic: it has been € oe foun@deboth in the rat and the fquirre! ‘kind: ~The —~-— largeft kanguroo which has yet been fhot weighed about one hundred and forty pounds. But it has been difco- vered that there are two kinds, one of which feldom exceeds fixty pounds in weight: thefe live chiefly on the high grounds: their hair is of a reddifh caft, and the head is fhorter than in the larger fort. Young kangu- roos which have been taken, have in a few days grown very tame, but none have lived more than two or three weeks. Yet it is {till poffible that when their proper food fhall be better known, they may be domefticated. Near fome water, in this journey, was found the dung of an animal that fed on grafs, which, it was fuppofed, could not have been lefs than a horfe. A kanguroo, fo much above the ufual fize, would have been an ex- traordinary phenomenon, though no larger animal has yet been feen, and the limits of growth in that fpecies are not afcertained. The tail of the kanguroo, which is very large, is found to be ufed as a weapon of offence, and has given fuch fevere blows to dogs as to oblige them to defift from purfuit. Its flefh is coarfe and lean, nor would it probably be ufed for food, where there was not a fcarcity of frefh provifions. The dif- proportion between the upper and lower parts of this animal is greater than has been fhown in any former P deli-

106

AY .2V°O “SA 7G TO

a delineations of it, but is well expreffed in the plate —~—"_ inferted here.

The dimenfions of a ftuffed kanguroo in the poffef- fion of Mr. Nepean, are thefe,

Length from the point of the nofe to the end of

i. Salts

the tail; 6 +.

of ‘the ails — o— 2

head, — — o's

fore legs, a — ae ©)

hinder legs, — 2S

Circumference of the forepart, by the legs, rg lower parts, = a2

The middle toe of the hind feet is remarkably long, ftrong, and fharp.

The natives of New South Wales, though in fo rude and uncivilized a ftate as not even to have made an attempt towards clothing themfelves, notwithftanding that at times they evidently fuffer from the cold and wet, are not without notions of fculpture. In all thefe excurfions of Governor Phillip, and in the neighbour- hood of Botany Bay and Port Jackfon, the figures of animals, of fhields, and weapons, and even of men, have been feen carved upon the rocks, roughly indeed, but fufficiently well to afcertain very fully what was the

5 the

THE KANGOOROO.

TFabtished as eee 1789. ee y fr Cockedale’.

NaH W SOW ME WAL ES. 107

the object intended. Fifh were often reprefented, and © #4 P in one place the form of a large lizard was {ketched out —~~— with tolerable accuracy. On the top of one of the hills,

the figure of a man in the attitude ufually aflumed by

them when they begin to dance, was executed in a ftill fuperior ftyle. That the arts of imitation and amufe-

ment, fhould thus in any degree precede thofe of necef-

fity, feems an exception to the rules laid down by theory

for the progrefs of invention. But perhaps it may

better be confidered as a proof that the climate is never

fo fevere as to make the provifion of covering or fhelter

a matter of abfolute neceffity. Had thefe men been expofed to a colder atmofphere, they would doubtlefs

have had clothes and houfes, before they attempted to become {culptors.

In all the country hitherto explored, the parties have feldom gone a quarter of a mile without feeing trees which had been on fire. As violent thunder f{torms are not uncommon on this coaft, it is poffible that they may have been burnt by lightning, which the gum-tree is thought particularly to attract; but it is probable alfo that they may have been fet on fire by the natives. The gum-tree is highly combuttible, and it is a common practice with them to kindle their fires at the root of one of thefe trees. When they

Pz quit

108

A We Or YANG aE tT 20

CF A quit a place they never extinguifh the fire they have “—\~-~ made, but leave it to burn out, or to communicate

its flames to the tree, as accidental circumftances may determine.

Governor Phillip, on his return from this excurfion, had the mortification to find that five ewes and a lamb had been killed very near the camp, and in the mid- dle of the day. How this had happened was not known, but it was conjectured that they muft have been killed by dogs belonging to the natives. The lofs of any part of the ftock of cattle was a ferious misfortune, fince it muft be a confiderable time before it could be replaced. Fifth affords, in