a complete account of the settlement-第22章
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ce of our situation； no rude curiosity to pry into the packages with which they were entrusted； or no sordid desire to possess the contents of them； although among them were articles exposed to view； of which it afterwards appeared they knew the use； and longed for the benefit。 Let the banks of those rivers； 〃known to song〃； let him whose travels have lain among polished nations produce me a brighter example of disinterested urbanity than was shown by these denizens of a barbarous clime to a set of destitute wanderers on the side of the Hawkesbury。
On the top of Richmond Hill we shot a hawk； which fell in a tree。 Deedora offered to climb for it and we lent him a hatchet； the effect of which delighted him so much that he begged for it。 As it was required to chop wood for our evening fire； it could not be conveniently spared； but we promised him that if he would visit us on the following morning； it should be given to him。 Not a murmur was heard； no suspicion of our insincerity； no mention of benefits conferred； no reproach of ingratitude。 His good humour and cheerfulness were not clouded for a moment。 Punctual to our appointment； he came to us at daylight next morning and the hatchet was given to him； the only token of gratitude and respect in our power to bestow。 Neither of these men had lost his front tooth。
THE LAST EXPEDITION
Which I ever undertook in the country I am describing was in July 1791； when Mr。 Dawes and myself went in search of a large river which was said to exist a few miles to the southward of Rose Hill。 We went to the place described； and found this second Nile or Ganges to be nothing but a saltwater creek communicating with Botany Bay； on whose banks we passed a miserable night from want of a drop of water to quench our thirst； for as we believed that we were going to a river we thought it needless to march with full canteens。
On this expedition we carried with us a thermometer which （in unison with our feelings） shewed so extraordinary a degree of cold for the latitude of the place that I think myself bound to transcribe it。
Monday； 18th July 1791。 The sun arose in unclouded splendor and presented to our sight a novel and picturesque view。 The contiguous country as white as if covered with snow； contrasted with the foliage of trees flourishing in the verdure of tropical luxuriancy*。 Even the exhalation which steamed from the lake beneath contributed to heighten the beauty of the scene。 Wind SSW。 Thermorneter at sunrise 25degrees。 The following night was still colder。 At sunset the thermometer stood at 45 degrees； at a quarter before four in the morning； it was at 26degrees； at a quarter before six at 24 degrees； at a quarter before seven； at 23 degrees； at seven o'clock； 22。7 degrees； at sunrise； 23 degrees； after which it continued gradually to mount； and between one and two o'clock； stood at 59。6 degrees in the shade。 Wind SSW。 The horizon perfectly clear all day； not the smallest speck to be seen。 Nothing but demonstration could have convinced me that so severe a degree of cold ever existed in this low latitude。 Drops of water on a tin pot； not altogether out of the influence of the fire； were frozen into solid ice in less than twelve minutes。 Part of a leg of kangaroo which we had roasted for supper was frozen quite hard； all the juices of it being converted into ice。 On those ponds which were near the surface of the earth； the covering of ice was very thick； but on those which were lower down it was found to be less so； in proportion to their depression； and wherever the water was twelve feet below the surface （which happened to be the case close to us） it was uncongealed。 It remains to be observed that the cold of both these nights； at Rose Hill and Sydney； was judged to be greater than had ever before been felt。
＇*All the trees of New South Wales； may I apprehend； be termed evergreen。 For after such weather as this journal records； I did not observe either that the leaves had dropped off； or that they had assumed that sickly autumnal tint； which marks English trees in corresponding circumstances。＇
CHAPTER XV。
Transactions of the Colony to the end of November； 1791。
The extreme dryness of the preceding summer has been noticed。 It had operated so far in the beginning of June that we dreaded a want of water for common consumption most of the little reservoirs in the neighbourhood of Sydney being dried up。 The small stream near the town was so nearly exhausted （being only the drain of a morass） that a ship could not have watered at it； and the 'Supply' was preparing to sink casks in a swamp when rain fell and banished our apprehensions。
June； 1791。 On the second instant； the name of the settlement； at the head of the harbour （Rose Hill） was changed； by order of the governor； to that of Parramatta； the native name of it。 As Rose Hill has； however； occurred so often in this book； I beg leave； to avoid confusion； still to continue the appellation in all future mention of it。
Our travelling friend Boladeree； who makes so conspicuous a figure in the last chapter； about this time committed an offence which we were obliged to notice。 He threw a spear at a convict in the woods； and wounded him。 The truth was； some mischievous person belonging to us had wantonly destroyed his canoe； and he revenged the injury on the first of our people whom he met unarmed。 He now seemed to think the matter adjusted； and probably such is the custom they observe in their own society in similar cases。 Hearing； however； that an order was issued to seize him； or in case that could not be effected； to shoot him； he prudently dropped all connection with us and was for a long time not seen。
But if they sometimes injured us； to compensate they were often of signal benefit to those who needed their assistance： two instances of which had recently occurred。 A boat was overset in the harbour Baneelon and some other natives； who saw the accident happen； immediately plunged in； and saved all the people。 When they had brought them on shore； they undressed them； kindled a fire and dried their clothes； gave them fish to eat and conducted them to Sydney。
The other instance was of a soldier lost in the woods； when he met a party of natives。 He at first knew not whether to flee from them； or to implore their assistance。 Seeing among them one whom he knew； he determined to communicate his distress to him and to rely on his generosity。 The Indian told him that he had wandered a long way from home； but that he would conduct him thither； on the single condition of his delivering up a gun which he held in his hand； promising to carry it for him and to restore it to him at parting。 The soldier felt little inclination to surrender his arms； by which he would be put entirely in their power。 But seeing no alternative； he at last consented； on which the whole party laid down their spears and faithfully escorted him to the nearest part of the settlement； where the gun was given up； and they took their leave without asking for any remuneration； or even seeming to expect it。
The distressful state of the colony for provisions continued gradually to augment until the 9th of July； when the Mary Anne transport arrived from England。 This ship had sailed from the Downs so lately as the 25th of February； having been only four months and twelve days on her passage。 She brought out convicts； by contract； at a specific sum for each person。 But to demonstrate the effect of humanity and justice； of 144 female convicts embarked on board only three had died； and the rest were landed in perfect health； all loud in praise of their conductor。 The master's name was Munro； and his ship； after fulfilling her engagement with government； was bound on the southern fishery。 The reader must not conclude that I sacrifice to dull detail； when he finds such benevolent conduct minutely narrated。 The advocates of humanity are not yet become too numerous： but those who practise its divine precepts； however humble and unnoticed be their station； ought not to sink into obscurity； unrecorded and unpraised； with the vile monsters who deride misery and fatten on calamity。
July； 1791。 If； however； the good people of this ship delighted us with their benevolence； here gratification ended。 I was of a party who had rowed in a boat six miles out to sea； beyond the harbour's mouth； to meet them； and what was our disappointment； on getting aboard； to find that they had not brought a letter （a few official ones for the governor excepted） to any person in the colony！ Nor had they a single newspaper or magazine in their possession； nor could they conceive that any person wished to hear news； being as ignorant of everything which had passed in Europe for the last two years as ourselves； at the distance of half the circle。 〃No warthe fleet's dismantled；〃 was the whole that we could learn。 When I asked whether a new parliament had been called； they stared at me in stupid wonder； not seeming to comprehend that such a body either suffered renovation or needed it。
〃Have the French settled their government？〃
〃As to that matter I can't say； I never heard； but； damn them； they were ready enough to join the Spaniards against us。〃
〃Are Russia and Turkey at peace？〃
〃That you see does not lie in my way； I have heard talk about it； but don't remember what passed。〃
〃For heaven's sake； why did you not bring out a bundle of newspapers？ You might have procured a file at any coffee house； which would have amused you； and instructed us？〃
〃Why； really； I never thought about the matter until we were off the Cape of Good Hope； when we spoke a man of war； who asked us the same question； and then I wished I had。〃
To have prosecuted inquiry farther would have only served to increase disappointment and chagrin。 We therefore quitted the ship； wondering and lamenting that so large a portion of plain undisguised honesty should be so totally unconnected with a common share of intelligence； and acquaintance with the feelings and habits of other men。
By the governor's letters we learned that a large fleet of transports； with convicts on board； and His Majesty's ship Gorgon； （Captain Parker） might soon be expected to arrive。 The following intelligence which they contained； was also made public。
That such convicts as had served their period of transportation； were not to be compelled to remain in the colony； but that no temptation should be offered to induce them to quit it； as there existed but too much reason to believe； that they would return to former practices； that those who might choose to settle in the country should have portions of land； subject to stipulated restrictions； and a portion of provisions assigned to them on signifying their inclinations； and that it was expected； that those convicts who might be possessed of means to transport themselves from the country； would leave it free of all incumbrances of a public nature。
The rest of the fleet continued to drop in； in this and the two succeeding months。 The state of the convicts whom they brought out； though infinitely preferable to what the fleet of last year had landed； was not unexceptionable。 Three of the ships had naval agents on board to control them。 Co
