great abundance: those who were in health, as well as the sick, were very glad to introduce them into their messes, and found them a pleasant as well as wholesome addition to the ration of salt provisions.

The public stock, consisting of one bull, four cows, one bull-calf, one stallion, three mares, and three colts, was removed to a spot at the head of the adjoining Cove, which was cleared for a small farm, intended to be placed under the direction of a person brought out by the governor.

Some ground having been prepared near his Excellency's house on the east side, the plants from Rio de Janeiro and the Cape of Good Hope were safely brought on shore; and the new settlers soon had the satisfaction of seeing the grape, the fig, the orange, the pear, and the apple, those delicious fruits of the Old, taking root and establishing themselves in their New World.

Houses for the reception of the stores were begun as soon as sufficient ground was cleared for that purpose; and it was found most to the advantage of the public service to employ the convicts in task-work, alloting a certain quantity of ground to be cleared by a certain number of persons in a given time, and allowing them to employ what time they might gain, till called on again for public service, in bringing in materials and erecting huts for themselves. But these unfortunate people for the most part preferred passing in idleness the hours that might have been so profitably spent, straggling into the woods, or visiting the French ships in Botany Bay.

Among the buildings that were early erected was an observatory on the western point of the Cove, to receive the astronomical instruments which had been sent out by the Board of Longitude, for the purpose of observing the comet which was to be seen at the end of this year.

The Governor having also received instructions to establish a settlement at Norfolk Island, the Supply sailed for that place about the middle of February, having on board Lieute

D

nant King of the Sirius, named by Captain Phillip superintendant and commandant of the settlement to be formed there. Lieutenant King took with him one surgeon, one petty officer, two private soldiers, two persons who pretended to some knowledge in flax-dressing, and nine male and six female convicts, mostly volunteers. This little party was to be landed with tents, clothing for the convicts, implements of husbandry, tools for dressing flax, &c. and provisions for six months; before the expiration of which time it was designed to send them a fresh supply. To prevent repetitions, it may perhaps be best to unite, in this place, a description of the island.

Norfolk Island is about seven leagues in circumference, and if not originally formed, like many other small islands, by the eruption of Volcanic matter from the bed of the sea, must doubtless have contained a volcano. It is exceedingly well watered. At, or near Mount Pitt rises a strong and copious stream, which, flowing through a very fine valley, divides itself into several branches, each of which retains sufficient force to be used in turning mills: and in various parts of the island excellent springs have been discovered..

The island was one entire wood, or rather a garden overrun with the noblest pines, in straightness, size, and magnitude, far superior to any ever seen. Nothing can exceed the fertility of its soil, being a rich black mould, of the depth of five or six feet and the grain and garden seeds which have been sown, such only excepted as were damaged in the carriage, or by the weevil, have vegitated with the utmost luxuriance.

The climate is pure, salubrious, and delightful, preserved. from oppressive heats by constant breezes from the sea, and of so mild a temperature throughout the winter, that vegetation continues there without interruption, one crop succeeding another. Reffeshing showers from time to time maintain perpetual verdure; not indeed of grass, for none has yet been seen upon the island, but of the trees, shrubs, and other vege

tables which in all parts grow abundantly. On the leaves of these, and of some kinds in particular, the sheep, hogs, and goats, not only live, but thrive and fatten very much.

Fish are caught in great plenty, and in the proper season very fine turtle. The woods are inhabited by innumerable tribes of birds, many of them very gay in plumage. The most useful 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 first so tame as to suffer themselves to be taken by the hand. Of plants that afford vegetables for the table, the chief are cabbage palm, the wild plantain, the fern tree, a kind of wild spinage, and a tree which produces a diminutive fruit, bearing some resemblance to a currant. But the productions which give the greatest importance to Norfolk Island are the pines and the flax plant, the former rising to a size and perfection unknown in other places, and promising the most valuable supply of masts and spars for our navy in the East Indies; the latter not less estimable for the purposes of making sail-cloth, cordage, and even the finest manufactures; growing in great plenty, and with such luxuriance as to attain the height of eight feet. The pines measure frequently one hundred and sixty, or even one hundred and eighty feet in height, and are sometimes nine or ten feet in diameter at the bottom of the trunk. They rise to about eighty feet without a branch; the wood is said to be of the best quality, almost as light as that of the best Norway masts; and the turpentine obtained from it is remarkable for purity and whiteness. The fern tree is found also of a great height for its species, measuring from seventy to eighty feet, and affords excellent food for the sheep and other small cattle. A plant producing pepper, and supposed to be the true oriental pepper, was discovered in the island, growing in great plenty; and specimens were been sent to England, in order to ascertain this important point.

The chief disadvantage experienced by those who were sent to Norfolk Island, was the want of a good landing place. The bay which was used for this purpose being inclosed by a reef of coral rock, through which there is a passage only for a boat; and during the tide of flood, when the wind is westerly, the landing is rather dangerous.

It was natural to suppose that the curiosity of the natives of Botany Bay would be attracted by observing, that, instead of quitting, their visitors were occupied in works that indicated an intention of remaining in their country; but during the first six weeks, only two came near them. These men strolled into the camp one evening, and remained in it for about half an hour. They appeared to admire whatever they saw, and, after receiving each a hatchet (of the use of which the eldest instantly and curiously shewed his knowledge, by turning up his foot and sharpening a piece of wood on the sole with the hatchet), took their leave, apparently well pleased with their reception. The fishing-boats also frequently reported their having been visited by many of these people when hauling the seine; at which labour they often assisted with cheerfulness, and in return were generally rewarded with part of the fish taken.

Every precaution was used to guard against a breach of this friendly and desirable intercourse, by strictly prohibiting every person from depriving them of their spears, fizgigs, gum, or other articles, which it was soon perceived they were accustomed to leave under the rocks, or loose and scattered about upon the beaches.

There was, however, great reason to believe, that these precautions were first rendered fruitless by the ill conduct of a baat's crew belonging to one of the transports, who had attempted to land in one of the coves at the lower part of the harbour, but were prevented, and driven off with stones by the natives. A party of them, consisting of sixteen or eighteen persons, some time after landed on the island, where the peo

ple of the Sirius were preparing a garden, and, with much artifice watching their opportunity, carried off a shovel, a spade, and a pick-axe. On their being fired at, and hit on the legs by one of the people with small shot, the pick-axe was dropped, but they carried off the other tools.

The weather during the latter end of January and the month of February was very close, with rain, at times very heavy, and attended with much thunder and lightning, by which some sheep, lambs, and pigs, were destroyed.

CHAP. V.

Broken Bay visited-M. de la Perouse sails-Wharf begun-ScurvySome Convicts wounded by the Natives-Rush Cutters killedCattle lost-Bad Conduct of the Convicts.

EARLY in March, the governor, accompanied by some officers, went by water to survey the harbour of Broken Bay; which proved equal in magnitude to Port Jackson, but the land in general was very high, and in most parts rocky and barren. The weather turned out very unfavourable to this excursion in a country where the residence for each night was to be provided for by the travellers themselves; and some of the party returned with dysenteric complaints. The weather at Port Jackson had been equally adverse to labour; and the governor found, at his return, upwards of two hundred patients under the surgeon's care, in consequence of the heavy rains that had fallen. A building for the reception of the sick was now absolutely necessary, and one was put in hand, to be divided into a dispensary (all the hospital-stores being at that time under tents) a ward for the troops, and another for the convicts. The heavy rains also pointed out the necessity of sheltering the detachment; and until barracks could