the rocks, or lying upon the beaches and points of the different coves, the bodies of many of the wretched natives of the country. The cause of this mortality remained unknown, until a family was brought into the settlement and the disorder pronounced to have been the small-pox. It was not a desirable circumstance to introduce a disorder into the colony which was raging with such fatal violence among the natives of the country; but the saving the lives of any of these people was an object of no small importance, as the knowledge of our humanity and the benefits which might be rendered them, would, it was hoped, do away the evil impressions which they had received. Two elderly men, a boy, and a girl, were received, and placed in a separate hut at the hospital. The men were too far overcome by the disease to derive any benefit from the exertions of the medical gentlemen who attended them; but the children did well. From the native who resided in the settlement it was understood that many families had been swept off by this scourge of the human race; and that others, to avoid it, had fled into the interior parts of the country. Whether it had ever appeared among them before, could not be discovered; but it was certain that they gave it a name (gal-gal-la); a circumstance which seemed to indicate a pre-acquaintance with it. It had been greatly feared, from the first introduction of the boy and girl into the settlement, that the native who had been some time there, and whose attention to them during their illness excited the admiration of every one that witnessed it, would take the disorder; as on his person were found none of those traces of its ravages which are frequently left behind. It happened as had been predicted; he fell a victim to the disease in eight days after he was seized with it, to the infinite regret of every one who had witnessed how little of the savage was found in his manner, and how quickly he was substituting in its place a docile, affable, and truly amiable deportment. * CHAP. VII. Description of Port Jackson-The Governor makes an ExcursionHawkesbury River discovered-The Sirius returns from the Cape of Good Hope-Intelligence from Norfolk Island-Police established -Successful haul of Fish-Ration of Provisions reduced-Mr Hill lost-Reinforcement sent to Norfolk Island. THE Governor pronounced Port Jackson to be a harbour, in extent and security, superior to any he had ever seen; and the most experienced navigators who were with him fully concurred in that opinion. From an entrance not more than two miles across, Port Jackson gradually extends in a noble and capacious bason, having soundings sufficient for the largest vessels, and space to accommodate, in perfect security, any number that could be assembled. It runs chiefly in a western direction, about thirteen miles into the country, and contains not less than an hundred small coves, formed by narrow necks of land, whose projections afford admirable shelter from all winds. Sydney Cove lies on the south side of the harbour, between five and six miles from the entrance. The necks of land that form the coves are mostly covered with timber, yet so rocky that it is not easy to comprehend how the trees could have found sufficient nourishment to bring them to so considerable a magnitude; but the soil between the rocks is very good, and into those spaces the principal roots have found their way. The soil in other parts of the coast immediately about Port Jackson is of various qualities. There are few things more pleasing than the contemplation of order and useful arrangement, arising gradually out of tumult and confusion; and perhaps this satisfaction cannot any where be more fully enjoyed than where a settlement of civilized people is fixing itself upon a newly discovered or savage coast. The wild appearance of land entirely untouched by cultivation, the close and perplexed growing of trees, interF rupted now and then by barren spots, bare rocks, or spaces overgrown with weeds, flowers, flowering shrubs, or underwood, scattered and intermingled in the most promiscuous manner, are the first objects that present themselves; afterwards, the irregular placing of the first tents which are pitched, or huts which are erected for immediate accommodation, wherever chance presents a spot tolerably free from obstacles, or more easily cleared than the rest, with the bustle of various hands busily employed in a number of the most incongruous works, increases rather than diminishes the disorder, and produces a confusion of effect, which for a time appears inextricable, and seems to threaten an endless continuance of perplexity. But by degrees large spaces are opened, plans are formed, lines marked, and a prospect at least of future regularity is clearly discerned, and is made the more striking by the recollection of the former confusion. Sydney Cove lies open to the north-east, and is continued in a south-west direction for near a thousand yards, gradually decreasing from the breadth of about one thousand four hundred feet, till it terminates in a point, where it receives a small stream of fresh water. The anchorage extends about two thousand feet up the cove, and has soundings in general of four fathoms near the shore, and five, six, or seven, nearer the middle of the channel. It is perfectly secure in all winds; and for a considerable way up on both sides, ships can lie almost close to the shore: nor are there, in any part of it, rocks or shallows to render the navigation dangerous. Such a situation could not fail to appear desirable to a discerning man, whose object it was to establish a settlement, which he knew must for some time depend for support on the importation of the principal necessaries of life. On the 6th of June the Governor set off with a party on a second excursion to Broken Bay, in the hope of being able, from the head of that harbour, to reach the mountains inland. His Excellency returned to the settlement on the evening of the 16th, having discovered a capacious fresh-water river ! |