ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH ; i*6 COLONY [179?.
for China. Captain Cameron, her commander, was allowed to receive
on board about 50 perfons who had completed their period o f
tranfportation, and politely offered to touch at Norfolk-Ifland, for
the purpofe o f landing any people whom the governor might have
occafion to fend thither. In this fhip Mr. Robert Campbell, who
arrived here in the Hunter from Bengal, took his paflage to China.
B y this gentleman the governor addreffed a letter to the governor-
general o f India, informing his lordfhip, that having tranfmitted to
the Secretary o f State copies of the letters upon the fubjed o f railing
recruits in this country for the army in India, which had
been received in the year 17 9 6 * , by the officers who were fent
from Calcutta in the Britannia, it was the opinion o f his Majefty’s
•minifters, that the inconveniencies attending fuch a meafure woukf
more than counter-balance the advantages o f it, and that permit-
fion for that purpofe could not therefore be granted.
Indeed, had it been adopted, the army in India could not have
been much benefited; fince, i f the recruiting officers were nice as
to the point o f character, fmall would be the number o f their recruits
; and, i f not overnice in this particular, fmall would be the
portion o f morality that they would introduce.
In order to encourage as far as poflible the rearing o f fwine in
the colony, as well as o f every other kind o f live flock, a circum-
ftance that muft not only prove a great benefit to the public, but
be alfo highly to the advantage of thofe who devoted a part o f their
time to this ufeful purpofe, and which, from the advanced flate o f
the private farms, might now be done with far lefs trouble and
expence than formerly, the fettlers and others were informed, that
when any individual fhould have prepared a number o f fuch animals
fit for the public ftore,they might make the fame known to the
commiffary, who, in order to prevent any unneceffary expence to the
feeder, would give immediate notice o f the day and place when
S e p t e m b e r . ] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 117
and where he would receive them. He was alfo at liberty to enter
into an agreement or contrail for a certain length of time, and
on fuch conditions as fhould be agreed, with any perfon who
would engage to furnifh the public ftore either at Sydney, Parramatta,
or the Hawkefbury, with any certain quantity at flated
periods.
The commander o f the Hunter fnow, Mr. Fern, having found,
like moft o f thofe who had preceded him, that a voyage to New
South Wales was not a bad fpeculation, refolved on deriving fome
profit from his return. It was underftood at his departure, which
was on the 20th, that he was bound for New Zealand, for the purpofe
o f cutting fpars to load with back to Bengal*.
Two men, who had been exploring the country to the northweft
o f Richmond Hill and o f the river Hawkefbury, fell in with the
bones o f two mares which had been ftolen fome time fince from Parramatta.
It was very probable,'that the people who ftole them
had, after fome time and experience, found that travelling was not
quite fo practicable in this country as they had imagined, and that,
not being able to procure a fupply o f food, they had been compelled
by hunger to the neceffity o f deftroying their cattle, and living
upon them as long as they could poffibly eat o f them; after
which they, no doubt, followed fuch route as their judgment was
capable o f pointing out; but, unfortunately for them, they could
not have known which way they went. The bones o f the mares,
the heads o f which the men brought in to prevent any doubt o f
their ftory, were found at not more than a good day’s journey
from the Hawkefbury, which river they had no doubt crofied at
one o f its branches higher up, where there are many fordable places.
• M r. Robert Campbell, who returned fome time after to Port Jackfon, mentioned, that
Captain Fern proceeded to the river Thames in New Zealand, where his people cut down a
quantity o f Wry fine fpars, fufficient to load his vefiel; but, being rather ihort o f hands, he
could not have (hipped them, had not the natives with much alacrity and good humour afiifted
his people in getting them to the water’s fide. See Vol. I. p. 410 -
Some