C H A P . X IX .
T H E GOVERNOR VISITS TH E S E T T L ER S UPON GEORGE’S R IV ER .— T H E
NORFOLK SLOOP R E TURNS FROM AN EXCURSION TOi TH E N O R TH WARD.___
ACCOUNT OF H ER PROCEEDINGS.— ENTERS SHOAL- RAY.----
PA R T IC U LA R S RESPEC TING IT .— DESCRIPTION OF A PALM N U T T R E E .
__ EN TER S GLASS-HOUSE-BAY.— L IE U T . FLINDERS MEETS SOME N A T
IV E S .----HAS AN IN T E RV IEW W ITH TH EM .---- PA R T IC U LA R S . — POINT
SKIRMISH.— PROCEEDS TO A R IV ER IN GLASS-HOUSE-BAY.'
Auguft.] I n the beginning o f this month the governor fpent fome
days in an excurfion from Profpeft-Hill to the fettlement which he
had eftablilhed on the banks of George’s river. Having before
examined the country between Paramatta and that river, he now
traced it in another direction, and had the gratification of finding it
equally favourable to cultivation with what he had before obferved.
The diftance from the hill was about five miles, over excellent
ground, well adapted both* for cultivation and pafturage, and equal
to any on the banks o f the Nile of New South Wales. The fettlers
whom he had placed there were all doing well, had not any complaints
to make, and had not been molefted lately by the natives. On
quitting them he proceeded down the river to Botany Bay, and
thence walked over-land to Sydney, between which places there
was nothing but barren and uneven ground, but every where covered
with the moil beautiful flowering heath.
Shortly after his return, the Norfolk Hoop came in from the
northward, having been abfent about fix weeks upon a particular
fervice, the following account of which is taken from the journal of
Lieutenant Flinders, which he delivered to the governor after his
arrival.
The
22J
The governor being very defirous of gaining fome information
refpedting the coaft to the Northward of Port Jackfon, particularly
■ of two large openings marked by Captain Cook, the Northernmoft
o f which he named Hervey Bay, and appeared to lie about the latitude
o f 240. 36' fouth, he directed Lieutenant Flinders, who had
been employed' before with Mr. Bafs in the circumnavigation o f
Van Diemen’s Ifland, to proceed in the Norfolk Hoop to the northward,
and examine them with as much accuracy as the limited
time o f fix weeks would admit. He was alfo directed, if on his
return he Ihould find that he had fome time to fpare, to enter
Hunter’s river, there to make what obfervations he could relative to
its extent, the quantity o f coal to be found there, and the nature of
the country.
The veflel was manned with volunteers from the two king’s fhips,
and Lieutenant Flinders was accompanied by Bong-ree, a native of
the north-fide o f Broken-Bay, who had been noted for his good
difpofition, and open and manly conduft. To guard againft accidents,
they were fupplied with provifions for eleven weeks, and on this
fervice they failed on the 8th o f the laft month, Ju ly , and proceeded
to the Northward.
At half paft feven in the morning o f Sunday the 9th they founded,
but without finding ground with fifteen fathoms of line, at the diftance
o f half a mile from a fmall reef o f black rocks, which ran off
from a fugar-loaf point. There were two very low, and therefore
dangerous rocks, lying at S'. 201’ E. three or four miles, and S. E.
about two miles from this point. Captain Cook palled this part o f the
coaft in the night, and therefore did not fee the rocks ; but they required
to be particularly looked out for by any veflel coming near the
land.* The latitude of the point is about 3 2 0. %-j' S., Cape Hawke
* Tills and other nautical obfervations made by Lieutenant Flinders are inferted, as it is prefumed
they (never having been publifhed) may be of ufe to fuch fhips as may hereafter be employed
in the whale fifhejy upon the coaft.
vox. Si G G lying