marine foldiers, who had enlifted for three years in the New South
Wales corps, having completed their fervice, were defirous o f
being fettled.
This party, on their arrival at the banks o f George’s river, whither
a boat had been previoufly fent with fome provifions and a
tent, found that at low water it was as frefli as that in the Hawkef-
bury, where the fettlement flood.
Having proceeded down the river, they flopped at a point near
Botany Bay, where they met with feveral parties o f natives, among
whom was Pe-mul-wy, who, having perfectly recovered from his
wounds, had efcaped from the hofpital with an iron about his
leg. He fawand fpoke with one o f the gentlemen o f the party;
enquiring o f him whether the governor was angry,and feemed pleafed
at being told that he was not : notwithflanding which, there could be
but little doubt that his favage brutal difpofition would manifefl it-
felf whenever excited by the appearance o f an unarmed man.
Some time in this month a tree was for the firfl time obferved
growing on the banks o f the Hawkefbury, the bark o f which, when
foaked in water, and beaten, was found to be as good as hemp
for cordage, fpinning eafily, and being remarkably flrong. The
tree grew from 50 to 70 feet high ; its diameter was from the fmall-
ell fize to a foot, and it appeared to be o f quick growth. This
was rather a fortunate difcovery ; for every kind o f cordage belonging
to the fettlement was almofl wholly expended,
The court of criminal judicature was afiembled once in this
month, and three perfons who had ferved their period o f tranf-
portation were a fecond time tranfported; one for 14 years, for
receiving ftolen goods knowing them to be fuch; and two others
for feven years. Thefe two laft were vagabonds who had taken up
their abode in the woods, where they lived at the expence o f the
induftrious, by committing every kind o f depredation on their property.
The
i s
The public works continued the fame as at the end o f the lad
month. The foundation o f the building for the reception o f the
affiftant furgeons was laid, and the lower floor o f the large granary
at Sydney was nearly completed.
Much rain fell during this month. On the morning o f the 27th,
a heavy fquall o f wind came on, which, for want o f proper care
and attention on the part o f thofe employed at the wind-mill fet it
going in fuch a violent manner, that while flying round with great
velocity, one o f the running {tones was broken to pieces; one of
which fo feverely wounded Davis the millwright in the head, that
his life was defpaired of. A gang of carpenters was immediately
ordered to repair the damage it had fuftained, and in a few days it
was again at work.
May.] Notwithflanding the example which had lately been made
o f the natives, they were exceedingly troublefome to the fettlers in
Lane Cove, burning a houfe and killing fome hogs belonging to one
o f them. This was certainly committing a wanton injury; for neither
the burnt houfe, nor the flaughtered animals, which they left
on the {pot, could be o f any benefit to them. At Killing Point,
another diftridt, they dangeroufly wounded a fettler and his wife
firfl burning every article belonging to them. The fettlers in Lane
Cove were fo much and fo perpetually alarmed by thefe people,
that they collcded their whole force, and, a few foldiers being fent
to their affiftance, went out in the night; and, being diredted by
their fires to the place where they lay, they difeovered a large body o f
natives, colledted, no doubt, for the purpofe o f attacking and plundering
the fettlers. Being unwilling to take any o f their lives, a volley
o f mulketry was fired over their heads, which fo alarmed and
terrified them, that they inftantly fled, leaving behind them their
fpears, &c. and about 20 bulhels o f Indian corn which they had
ftolen.
, It was diftreffing to obferve, that every endeavour to civilize thefe
people proved fruitlels. Although they lived among the inhabi-
V O L . 1 1 .