native, that he fnatched up a {pear, and in a rage threw it with all
his force at Mo-roo-bra. ' The fpear entered his right fide, juft
over the hip bone, and went inclining downwards quite through
the body, penetrating the bladder in its paflage. Of this wound
he died in about an hour. On the fame evening this generous
fellow was attacked by the friends o f the deceafed in the ufual w a y ;
and, as might be expefted, defended himfelf with great gallantry.
He was, however, fpeared twice through the thigh, once through
the leg, and received a bad wound in the right hand. The fpear
entered’ at the fide of the hand, rather on the back; part of it, came
out in the palm, entered again under the ball o f the thumb, and
came out on the back of the hand, near the tendon o f the fore-
finger. The very little inflammation that attended thefe painful
wounds was remarkable.
' Both the officiating magiftrates at Sydney being at this time much
indifpofed, fo great an inconvenience was felt, that the governor
found it neceffary, through the want of other magiftrates-, to take
upon himfelf the execution o f fome part of their troublefome office.
It muft be obferved, that the governor for the time being is a juftice
o f the peace, by virtue of his hlajefty s letters patent.
Towards the latter end of the month, he went up to Parramatta,
attended by his aid-de-camp, to examine the progrefs o f the works
carrying on there. .
While oh this fervice, an Irifh convhft, who had efcaped from
his work, and had been for fome time miffing, was brought in.
He had wandered about for feveral days in fearch o f a road which
he expected to have found, and which was to have conducted him
to China, or the new colony ; but, his, ftrength failing with his
provifions, he grew faint, and, defpairing o f meeting with any relief,
he had juft fenfe enough to reverfe the written inftru£tions
which had been calculated folely to carry him out, directing him
to keep the fun on a particular part of his body, varying according
to
to the time; of the day. B y this method he travelled eaftward, and
in a diredlion that led him nearly, to the head of George’s; river,
, where a few people were fettlecj ; and, having.one morning heard
the report/of a'gun at a diftance, he endeavoured to walk towards
it, but was unable to make himfelf heard by hallooing, when night
overtook him. Being faint and wearied, he took a little-flour,
which he ftill had in his pocket, and fprinkling it on fome frefli
water, drank it, and laid himfelf down to reft. In the morning,
being fomewhat refrefhed, he again exerted himfelf to get forward
in the direftion whence the report of the gun had revived him, and
foon after heard a man’s, voice, upon which he hallooed again,
and to his infinite jo y was anfwered. The man, who was one of
the fettlers, took him to his houfe, recruited his fpirits, and brought
him into the town. On being queftioned how he found his way
back, he faid, “ that a paper compafs which had been given him
was o f no utility; he therefore kept his face toward the place
where the fun came from; but if the hord had not been on his fide,
he fhould have been loft, for he had been two whole days without
any food, except a little flour and water.”
Among the public works that were carrying on during this
month muft be reckoned the laying another floor in the granary
at Parramatta ; repairing the military barracks, ftore-houfes, and
every brick building belonging to government, which were fo far
decayed as to be fcarcely able to fupport their own weight. Thefe
repairs, which they had long been in want of, and which i f fooner
attended to would have preferved them from the ruin they were fall
approaching, with the various other buildings that were fo eflen-
tially requifite, completely flood in the way o f making any exertions
in clearing and cultivating land, and confiderably added to
the expences of the colony. At Sydney the tower o f the fe-
cond wind-mill was begun; and on the 3 1ft, the building being
completed for its reception, the public clock was fet up, and,
M2 - for