C H A P . X V III.
TH E BUFFALO A R R IV E S FROM EN G LAN D , AND B R IN G S C A T T L E FROM
TH E C A P E .— A M AR IN E S E T T L E R K IL L E D .— N A T IV E S .— A C R IM IN A L
COURT H E LD .— TA Y LO R E X E C U T ED .— LOWE PU NISHED.— A HIGHWAY
RO BB ER Y .— PROVISIONS IN STORE*— RATION A L T E R E D .~ JU N E , TWO
WHALERS COME IN FROM SEA. — IDEAS OF A WHALE F ISH E R Y .----TEM PESTUOUS
W EA TH E R— EFFECTS. — THE ALBION W H A L E R A R R IV E S
FROM EN G LAN D .— HER PA S SAG E .— JU L Y , A MISSIONARY MURD ER ED .
— TH E M URD ER ER S T R IED AND E X E C U T ED .— ORDERS PU BL ISH ED .
__ ST A T E OF TH E FARMS.— THE HILLSBOROUGH A R R IV E S FROM EN G LAN
D .— M O R TA L IT Y ON BOARD.— PU BL IC WORKS.
May.] O N the third day o f this month his Majefty’ s fliip Buffalo
arrived from England, but laft from the Cape o f Good Hope,
whence fhe brought fixty-fix head of cattle, which, confidering the
length of the voyage, were landed in good condition. She had
alfo on board fome tools and articles of hardware for the ufe o f the
colony ; but, unfortunately, no bedding or clothing o f any kind. -
This Ihip arrived under the command o f Mr. William Raven,
whofe fervices to the colony in the private Ihip Britannia cannot ea-
fily be forgotten ; and was fent out to replace the Supply, which
had been condemned as unferviceable, and whofe commander,
Lieutenant William Kent, was with her officers and crew to be removed
into the Buffalo ; the governor being directed to furnifh Mr.
Raven with a paffage to England.
Although this Ihip was named the Buffalo, yet her head was the
carved figure o f a kangooroo, which very much amufed the natives,
who
who could have had nö idea o f feeing the animals o f their country
repréfented in wood.
Some o f thefe people, ever hoftile to the fettlers, had lately fp'ear-
ed one of them, a marine fet-tler (as thofe were ftiled who had formerly
belonged to thé marine detachment) at George’s river, fo effectually,
that he died o f his wounds. The natives belonged to the
tribe of which Pe-mul-wy was the leader.
Savage as thefe being's certainly were toward our people, and to
each other, yet they Could unbend, and divert themfelves with the
foftèramufemehts of fingiffg and dancing. The annexed E ngraving
réprèféiità a' party thus occupied, and gives a correCt view of
their perfons ând mariners. The figure leaning upon his ihieki, the
attitude o f the woman dancing, and the whole group-, afè accurate
delineations of a party affembled by the light of à fire at the mouth
o f one o f their excavated rocks.
It might be fuppofed, that with this exercife, and the company of
their females, their angry and turbulent paffions would be at reft,
and that the idea o f murder could not enter their minds ; yet have
they been known to ftart away, in fearch o f fome unfufpeding object
o f their revenge or hatred, who before the morning has received
a dozen fpears through his body : and this is man in his uncultivated
ftate. !
Several offenders having been fecured for trial, it became neceffary
to affémble the court of Criminal judicature ; and on the 16th Simon
Taylor was brought before it, accufed o f the murder of his wife ; o f
which offence being clearly conviaed, he received fentence of death,
and was executed on the 20th at Parramatta. This unhappy man
was thoroughly fenfible o f the enormity o f his guilt, and in his laft
moments admonifhed the fpeaators againft indulging in drunken-
nefs, which had brought him to that untimely and difgraceful
end.
v o l . r & E E At