a complete account of the settlement-第17章
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experienced。 We were immersed； nearly to the waist in mud； so thick and tenacious； that it was not without the most vigorous exertion of every muscle of the body； that the legs could be disengaged。 When we had reached the middle； our distress became not only more pressing； but serious； and each succeeding step； buried us deeper。 At length a sergeant of grenadiers stuck fast； and declared himself incapable of moving either forward or backward； and just after； Ensign Prentice and I felt ourselves in a similar predicament； close together。 'I find it impossible to move； I am sinking；' resounded on every side。 What to do I knew not： every moment brought increase of perplexity； and augmented danger； as those who could not proceed kept gradually subsiding。 From our misfortunes； however； those in the rear profited。 Warned by what they saw and heard； they inclined to the right towards the head of the creek； and thereby contrived to pass over。
Our distress would have terminated fatally； had not a soldier cried out to those on shore to cut boughs of trees*； and throw them to usa lucky thought； which certainly saved many of us from perishing miserably； and even with this assistance； had we been burdened by our knapsacks； we could not have emerged； for it employed us near half an hour to disentangle some of our number。 The sergeant of grenadiers in particular； was sunk to his breast…bone； and so firmly fixed in that the efforts of many men were required to extricate him； which was effected in the moment after I had ordered one of the ropes； destined to bind the captive Indians； to be fastened under his arms。
＇*I had often read of this contrivance to facilitate the passage of a morass。 But I confess； that in my confusion I had entirely forgotten it； and probably should have continued to do so until too late to be of use。＇
Having congratulated each other on our escape from this 'Serbonian Bog；' and wiped our arms （half of which were rendered unserviceable by the mud） we once more pushed forward to our object； within a few hundred yards of which we found ourselves about half an hour before sunrise。 Here I formed the detachment into three divisions； and having enjoined the most perfect silence； in order； if possible； to deceive Indian vigilance； each division was directed to take a different route； so as to meet at the village at the same moment。
We rushed rapidly on； and nothing could succeed more exactly than the arrival of the several detachments。 To our astonishment； however； we found not a single native at the huts； nor was a canoe to be seen on any part of the bay。 I was at first inclined to attribute this to our arriving half an hour too late； from the numberless impediments we had encountered。 But on closer examination； there appeared room to believe； that many days had elapsed since an Indian had been on the spot； as no mark of fresh fires； or fish bones； was to be found。
Disappointed and fatigued； we would willingly have profited by the advantage of being near water； and have halted to refresh。 But on consultation； it was found； that unless we reached in an hour the rivers we had so lately passed； it would be impossible； on account of the tide； to cross to our baggage； in which case we should be without food until evening。 We therefore pushed back； and by dint of alternately running and walking； arrived at the fords； time enough to pass with ease and safety。 So excessive； however； had been our efforts； and so laborious our progress； that several of the soldiers； in the course of the last two miles； gave up； and confessed themselves unable to proceed farther。 All that I could do for these poor fellows； was to order their comrades to carry their muskets； and to leave with them a small party of those men who were least exhausted； to assist them and hurry them on。 In three quarters of an hour after we had crossed the water； they arrived at it； just time enough to effect a passage。
The necessity of repose； joined to the succeeding heat of the day； induced us to prolong our halt until four o'clock in the afternoon； when we recommenced our operations on the opposite side of the north arm to that we had acted upon in the morning。 Our march ended at sunset； without our seeing a single native。 We had passed through the country which the discoverers of Botany Bay extol as 'some of the finest meadows in the world*。' These meadows； instead of grass； are covered with high coarse rushes； growing in a rotten spongy bog； into which we were plunged knee…deep at every step。
＇*The words which are quoted may be found in Mr。 Cook's first voyage； and form part of his description of Botany Bay。 It has often fallen to my lot to traverse these fabled plains； and many a bitter execration have I heard poured on those travellers； who could so faithlessly relate what they saw。＇
Our final effort was made at half past one o'clock next morning； and after four hours toil； ended as those preceding it had done； in disappointment and vexation。 At nine o'clock we returned to Sydney； to report our fruitless peregrination。
But if we could not retaliate on the murderer of M'Entire； we found no difficulty in punishing offences committed within our own observation。 Two natives； about this time； were detected in robbing a potato garden。 When seen； they ran away； and a sergeant and a party of soldiers were dispatched in pursuit of them。 Unluckily it was dark when they overtook them； with some women at a fire； and the ardour of the soldiers transported them so far that； instead of capturing the offenders； they fired in among them。 The women were taken； but the two men escaped。
On the following day； blood was traced from the fireplace to the sea…side； where it seemed probable that those who had lost it； had embarked。 The natives were observed to become immediately shy； but an exact knowledge of the mischief which had been committed； was not gained until the end of two days； when they said that a man of the name of Bangai （who was known to be one of the pilferers） was wounded and dead。 Imeerawanyee； however； whispered that though he was wounded； he was not dead。 A hope now existed that his life might be saved； and Mr。 White； taking Imeerawanyee； Nanbaree； and a woman with him； set out for the spot where he was reported to be。 But on their reaching it； they were told by some people who were there that the man was dead； and that the corpse was deposited in a bay about a mile off。 Thither they accordingly repaired； and found it as described； coveredexcept one leg； which seemed to be designedly left barewith green boughs and a fire burning near it。 Those who had performed the funeral obsequies seemed to have been particularly solicitous for the protection of the face； which was covered with a thick branch； interwoven with grass and fern so as to form a complete screen。 Around the neck was a strip of the bark of which they make fishing lines； and a young strait stick growing near was stripped of its bark and bent down so as to form an arch over the body； in which position it was confined by a forked branch stuck into the earth。
On examining the corpse； it was found to be warm。 Through the shoulder had passed a musquet ball； which had divided the subclavian artery and caused death by loss of blood。 No mark of any remedy having been applied could be discovered。 Possibly the nature of the wound； which even among us would baffle cure without amputation of the arm at the shoulder； was deemed so fatal； that they despaired of success； and therefore left it to itself。 Had Mr。 White found the man alive； there is little room to think that he could have been of any use to him； for that an Indian would submit to so formidable and alarming an operation seems hardly probable。
None of the natives who had come in the boat would touch the body； or even go near it； saying； the mawn would come； that is literally； 'the spirit of the deceased would seize them'。 Of the people who died among us； they had expressed no such apprehension。 But how far the difference of a natural death； and one effected by violence； may operate on their fears to induce superstition； and why those who had performed the rites of sepulture should not experience similar fears and reluctance； I leave to be determined。 Certain it is （as I shall insist upon more hereafter）； that they believe the spirit of the dead not to be extinct with the body。
Baneelon took an odd method of revenging the death of his countryman。 At the head of several of his tribe； he robbed one of the private boats of fish； threatening the people； who were unarmed； that in case they resisted he would spear them。 On being taxed by the governor with this outrage； he at first stoutly denied it； but on being confronted with the people who were in the boat； he changed his language； and； without deigning even to palliate his offence； burst into fury and demanded who had killed Bangai。
CHAPTER XIII。
The Transactions of the Colony continued to the End of May； 1791。
December； 1790。 The Dutch snow from Batavia arrived on the 17th of the month； after a passage of twelve weeks； in which she had lost sixteen of her people。 But death； to a man who has resided at Batavia； is too familiar an object to excite either terror or regret。 All the people of the 'Supply' who were left there sick； except one midshipman； had also perished in that fatal climate。
The cargo of the snow consisted chiefly of rice； with a small quantity of beef； pork； and flour。
A letter was received by this vessel； written by the Shebander at Batavia； to governor Phillip； acquainting him that war had commenced between England and Spain。 As this letter was written in the Dutch language we did not find it easy of translation。 It filled us； however； with anxious perturbation； and with wishes as impotent； as they were eager； in the cause of our country。 Though far beyond the din of arms； we longed to contribute to her glory； and to share in her triumphs。
Placed out of the reach of attack； both by remoteness and insignificancy； our only dread lay lest those supplies intended for our consumption should be captured。 Not； however； to be found totally unprovided in case an enemy should appear； a battery was planned near the entrance of Sydney Cove； and other formidable preparations set on foot。
The commencement of the year 1791； though marked by no circumstances particularly favourable； beamed far less inauspicious than that of 1790 had done。
January； 1791。 No circumstance； however apparently trivial； which can tend to throw light on a new country； either in respect of its present situation； or its future promise； should pass unregarded。 On the 24th of January； two bunches of grapes were cut in the governor's garden； from cuttings of vines brought three years before from the Cape of Good Hope。 The bunches were handsome； the fruit of a moderate size； but well filled out and the flavour high and delicious。
The first step after unloading the Dutch snow was to dispatch the 'Supply' to Norfolk Island for captain Hunter； and the crew of the 'Sirius' who had remained there ever since the loss of that ship。 It had always been the governor's wish to hire the Dutchman； for the purpose of transporting them to England。 But the frantic e
