a complete account of the settlement-第12章
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in a boat； on his return from Rose Hill； near the place where they were standing； and that finding he would not come to them； although they had called to him to do so； they had at once determined to venture themselves unreservedly among us。 One of the men in the canoe was the person to whom I was to give the hatchet I had been to fetch； and directly as he saw me； he held up his spear； and the exchange took place； with which； and perhaps to reward me for the trouble I had taken； he was so delighted that he presented me with a throwing…stick 'gratis'。
Not seeing Barangaroo of the party； I asked for her； and was informed that she had violently opposed Baneelon's departure。 When she found persuasion vain； she had recourse to tears； scolding； and threats； stamping the ground； and tearing her hair。 But Baneelon continuing determined； she snatched up in her rage one of his fish…gigs； and dashed it with such fury on the rocks； that it broke。 To quiet her apprehensions on the score of her husband's safety； Mr。 Johnson； attended by Abaroo； agreed to remain as a hostage until Baneelon should return。
We landed our four friends opposite the hospital； and set out for the governor's house。 On hearing of their arrival； such numbers flocked to view them that we were apprehensive the crowd of persons would alarm them； but they had left their fears behind； and marched on with boldness and unconcern。 When we reached the governor's house； Baneelon expressed honest joy to see his old friend； and appeared pleased to find that he had recovered of his wound。 The governor asked for Wileemarin； and they said he was at Broken Bay。 Some bread and beef were distributed among them but unluckily no fish was to be procured； which we were sorry for； as a promise of it had been one of the leading temptations by which they had been allured over。 A hatchet apiece was； however； given to them； and a couple of petticoats and some fishing tackle sent for Barangaroo； and the other woman。
The ceremony of introduction being finished； Baneelon seemed to consider himself quite at home； running from room to room with his companions； and introducing them to his old friends； the domestics； in the most familiar manner。 Among these last； he particularly distinguished the governor's orderly sergeant； whom he kissed with great affection； and a woman who attended in the kitchen； but the gamekeeper； M'Entire*； he continued to hold in abhorrence； and would not suffer his approach。
＇*Look at the account of the governor being wounded； when his detestation of this man burst forth。＇
Nor was his importance to his countrymen less conspicuous in other respects。 He undertook to explain the use and nature of those things which were new to them。 Some of his explanations were whimsical enough。 Seeing； for instance； a pair of snuffers； he told them that they were 〃Nuffer* for candle；〃which the others not comprehending； he opened the snuffers； and holding up the fore…finger of his left hand； to represent a candle； made the motion of snuffing it。 Finding； that even this sagacious interpretation failed； he threw down the snuffers in a rage； and reproaching their stupidity； walked away。
＇*The S is a letter which they cannot pronounce； having no sound in their language similar to it。 When bidden to pronounce sun； they always say tun； salt； talt； and so of all words wherein it occurs。＇
It was observed； that a soft gentle tone of voice； which we had taught him to use； was forgotten； and his native vociferation returned in full force。 But the tenderness which （like Arabanoo） he had always manifested to children； he still retained； as appeared by his behaviour to those who were presented to him。
The first wish they expressed to return； was complied with； in order to banish all appearance of constraint； the party who had conducted them to Sydney returning with them。 When we reached the opposite shore； we found Abaroo and the other woman fishing in a canoe； and Mr。 Johnson and Barangaroo sitting at the fire； the latter employed in manufacturing fish…hooks。 At a little distance； on an adjoining eminence； sat an Indian； with his spear in his hand； as if sentinel over the hostages； for the security of his countrymen's return。 During our absence； Barangaroo had never ceased whining； and reproaching her husband。 Now that he was returned； she met him with unconcern； and seemed intent on her work only； but this state of repose did not long continue。 Baneelon； eyeing the broken fish…gig； cast at her a look of savage fury and began to interrogate her； and it seemed more than probable that the remaining part would be demolished about her head had we not interposed to pacify him。 Nor would we quit the place until his forgiveness was complete； and his good humour restored。 No sooner； however； did she find her husband's rage subsided； than her hour of triumph commenced。 The alarm and trepidation she had manifested disappeared。 Elated at his condescension； and emboldened by our presence and the finery in which we had decked her； she in turn assumed a haughty demeanour； refused to answer his caresses； and viewed him with a reproaching eye。 Although long absence from female society had somewhat blunted our recollection； the conduct of Barangaroo did not appear quite novel to us； nor was our surprise very violent at finding that it succeeded in subduing Baneelon who； when we parted； seemed anxious only to please her。
Thus ended a day； the events of which served to complete what an unhappy accident had begun。 From this time our intercourse with the natives； though partially interrupted； was never broken off。 We gradually continued； henceforth； to gain knowledge of their customs and policy； the only knowledge which can lead to a just estimate of national character。
CHAPTER X。
The arrival of the 'Supply' from Batavia； the State of the Colony in November； 1790。
Joy sparkled in every countenance to see our old friend the 'Supply' （I hope no reader will be so captious as to quarrel with the phrase） enter the harbour from Batavia on the 19th of October。 We had witnessed her departure with tears； we hailed her return with transport。
Captain Ball was rather more than six months in making this voyage； and is the first person who ever circumnavigated the continent of New Holland。 On his passage to Batavia； he had discovered several islands； which he gave names to and； after fighting his way against adverse elements and through unexplored dangers； safely reached his destined port。 He had well stored his little bark with every necessary and conveniency which he judged we should first want； leaving a cargo of rice and salt provisions to be brought on by a Dutch snow； which he had hired and freighted for the use of the settlement。 While at Batavia； the 'Supply' had lost many of her people by sickness； and left several others in the general hospital at that place。
As the arrival of the 'Supply' naturally leads the attention from other subjects to the state of the colony； I shall here take a review of it by transcribing a statement drawn from actual observation soon after； exactly as I find it written in my journal。
Cultivation； on a public scale； has for some time past been given up here； （Sydney） the crop of last year being so miserable； as to deter from farther experiment； in consequence of which the government…farm is abandoned； and the people who were fixed on it have been removed。 Necessary public buildings advance fast； an excellent storehouse of large dimensions； built of bricks and covered with tiles； is just completed； and another planned which will shortly be begun。 Other buildings； among which I heard the governor mention an hospital and permanent barracks for the troops； may also be expected to arise soon。 Works of this nature are more expeditiously performed than heretofore； owing； I apprehend； to the superintendants lately arrived； who are placed over the convicts and compel them to labour。 The first difficulties of a new country being subdued may also contribute to this comparative facility。
Vegetables are scarce； although the summer is so far advanced； owing to want of rain。 I do not think that all the showers of the last four months put together； would make twenty…four hours rain。 Our farms； what with this and a poor soil； are in wretched condition。 My winter crop of potatoes； which I planted in days of despair （March and April last）； turned out very badly when I dug them about two months back。 Wheat returned so poorly last harvest； that very little； besides Indian corn； has been sown this year。 The governor's wound is quite healed； and he feels no inconveniency whatever from it。 With the natives we are hand and glove。 They throng the camp every day； and sometimes by their clamour and importunity for bread and meat （of which they now all eat greedily） are become very troublesome。 God knows； we have little enough for ourselves！ Full allowance （if eight pounds of flour and either seven pounds of beef； or four pounds of pork； served alternately； per week； without either pease； oatmeal； spirits； butter； or cheese； can be called so） is yet kept up； but if the Dutch snow does not arrive soon it must be shortened； as the casks in the storehouse； I observed yesterday； are woefully decreased。
The convicts continue to behave pretty well； three only have been hanged since the arrival of the last fleet； in the latter end of June； all of whom were newcomers。 The number of convicts here diminishes every day； our principal efforts being wisely made at Rose Hill； where the land is unquestionably better than about this place。 Except building； sawing and brickmaking； nothing of consequence is now carried on here。 The account which I received a few days ago from the brickmakers of their labours； was as follows。 Wheeler （one of the master brick…makers） with two tile stools and one brick stool； was tasked to make and burn ready for use 30000 tiles and bricks per month。 He had twenty…one hands to assist him； who performed every thing； cut wood； dug clay； etc。 This continued （during the days of distress excepted； when they did what they could） until June last。 From June； with one brick and two tile stools he has been tasked to make 40000 bricks and tiles monthly （as many of each sort as may be）； having twenty…two men and two boys to assist him； on the same terms of procuring materials as before。 They fetch the clay of which tiles are made； two hundred yards； that for bricks is close at hand。 He says that the bricks are such as would be called in England； moderately good； and he judges they would have fetched about 24 shillings per thousand at Kingston…upon…Thames （where he resided） in the year 1784。 Their greatest fault is being too brittle。 The tiles he thinks not so good as those made about London。 The stuff has a rotten quality； and besides wants the advantage of being ground； in lieu of which they tread it。
King （another master bricklayer） last year； with the assistance of sixteen men and two boys； made 11；000 bricks weekly； with two stools。 During short allowance did what he could。 Resumed his old task when put again on full allowance and had his number of assistants augmented to twenty men and two boys； on account of the increased distance of
