dexterity, until fome one, lefs brave and mo-re treacherous than the
reft, took a Ration unebferved on one fide, and launched a fpear,
which went into his back and there remained. Seeing this, they
■ were proceeding a fecond time to rufti in upon him, when he had
juft ftrength enough left to make his efcape .into an adjoining houfe,
-where he received fhelter, and from the feverity of his wounds immediately
fainted.
The fpear was withdrawn, and his wounds dreffed, by one of
the furgeons who happened to be prefent; and in a few days he
was able to walk about again. His brother, who had accompanied
him to the field o f battle, flood up in his defence, and was wounded
in the leg and thigh.
The principal fufferer in this affair was known in the fettlemeot
by the name o f William and Ann, (corrupted by their pronunciation
to Wil-lam-an-nan) which he had adopted from a Ihip of
the fame name that arrived here in the year 17 9 1 .
Several o f their women attended upon this occafion, and, as is
common with them, howled and cried alternately during the moft
o f the time ; but when they were enraged, which often happened,
they danced, and beat their fides with their arms,; a certain proof
o f their paflions being wrought up to the higheft pitch.
Shortly after this, thefe people again exhibited themfelves to the
notice o f the fettlement, but in a very different point o f view. On
the 3 1ft, an open boat arrived from the Hawkefbury, with a cargo
o f Indian corn, having been boarded in her paffage down by a
party of natives in canoes. Affuming an appearance o f friendlhip,
they were fuffered to come into the boat, when, watching an opportunity,
they threw off the mafk, and made an attempt to feize
the fmall arms. This occafioned a ftruggle, in which the boat’s
crew prevailed, but not before fome of thefe unexpected pirates had
paid for their ralhnefs with their lives.
It was now difcovered, that a boat belonging to a fettler, which
had been for fome time miffing, and was fuppofed to have been
driven
driven out to fea and loft with her crew and cargo o f Indian corn, had
actually been taken by the natives in the river, after murdering the
men who were in her. The boat, on fearching, was afterwards
found in the poffeffion of fome o f thefe people.
This was fo novel a circumftance that it could fcarcely be ere- *
dited} but it was no lefs true ; and there was but little doubt, that
the white people who were living amongft them had been the un-
feen inftigators of this mifehief.
During this-month a ftrong and durable bridge, capable of fuf-
taining any weight which it might have occafion to bear, was
ereCted over Duck river, for the convenience o f land carriage between
the towns of Sydney and Parramatta.
The military hofpital which flood on the weft fide o f the Cove
was taken to pieces ; and, a ftone foundation (it had been hitherto
fixed on blocks o f wood) having been laid farther from the road
fide, it was removed during this month, and put together again in
its new fituation.
The wheat every where wore the moft promifing appearance,
and the weather had been very favourable for bringing it to maturity.
Decreafing daily as did the number o f working men in the employ
o f government, yet the governor could not refufe granting
certificates to fuch convicts as had ferved their refpeCtive times o f
tranfportation; and no lefs than 12 5 men were at this time’certified
by him to be free. Moft of thefe people had no other view
in obtaining this certificate, than the enabling them when an opportunity
offered to quit the fettlement, or following their own pur-
fuits until that time fhould arrive.
November.] There being a fcarcity o f wheat in the public ftores,
owing to fome local difappointments, the governor was obliged to
make a reduction in the weekly allowance o f that article, until the
prefent crops ffiould be gathered.
vo l . ri. 1 The