arrival of every ship, as in the beginning of our narrative, when such incidents were often of great importance.

The population of the colony was now considerably increased.

The following is a list of this year's mortality. Two settlers, seven soldiers, seventy-. eight male convicts, twenty-six female convicts and twenty-nine children. Of the above persons, one was executed, one was killed by the fall of a tree, two by lightning, six were lost in the woods and one found dead in the woods.

CHAPTER XVII.

New Zealanders.

Ir may be recollected, that a vessel was brought out in parts by the Pitt for the service of the colony. This vessel, which had been put together and named the Francis, now sailed for Norfolk Island (January 5th, 1794). The last accounts from thence were dated so long before as the month of March. In April supplies had been sent there by the Shah Hormuzear, but as there could be no certainty of their having been safely landed, some anxiety began at this time to prevail with regard to the exact state of that settlement; though least upon the article of provisions, as at the date of the last letters, it was expected there, that the crops of wheat and maize would produce more grain than would be sufficient for a twelvemonths' consumption of a thousand persons, which was nearly the number upon the island. Some information relating to the settlement, was in fact the only advantage proposed from the present voyage of the Francis: for whatever Mr. King's wants might be, the

stores at Sydney were at this time too low to afford him assistance.

This period was distinguished by the formation of a settlement on the banks of the Hawkesbury, about sixteen miles beyond Paramatta, where there was a richer soil than any that had yet been opened in the colony.

In the township of Paramatta, the disappearance of an old herdsman of the name of Lewis, gave reason to imagine that he had

been murdered. It was recollected that he had a short time before, in bad company, inconsiderately suffered some money to be seen which he constantly carried about him. After much and fruitless inquiry and search, a remarkable expedient was resorted to for the ascertaining of the suspected fact. It was proposed to drive the cattle to those parts of the wood, in which he had lately been in the habit of herding them; those who had observed the nature of these animals, imagining that they would by some symptoms indicate the place where the corpse was. This was accordingly executed, and on approaching a particular spot, their snorting and uneasiness led to the examination of a ravine or hollow, where it was found covered with logs, boughs and stones. The wild dogs, by gnawing off both

the hands and the entire flesh of one arm, had rendered still more horrid, the spectacle which the body exhibited on being freed from the load of rubbish that had been heaped upon it.

At Sydney, several gardens and houses were robbed at this time, a circumstance in some degree attributed to the distress attendant on a reduction of the ration, which had now taken place. Amongst Amongst others, the hut of a serjeant of the New South Wales corps, who was absent at night on duty, was broken into and robbed of some apparel and several moveables, with twenty-seven pounds in guineas and dollars. The hut stood outermost of a new row in the precincts of the town, and ought not to have been left without some person to take care of it. The plunder no doubt soon passed through several hands.

On the 12th of February, the Francis returned from Norfolk Island, having been absent five weeks and three days. It appeared by information from that settlement, that the Shah Hormuzear and the Chesterfield arrived there on the 2nd of May, and that after landing the stores and provisions, both ships sailed for India, purposing to attempt the passage between New Holland and New Guinea. The accounts respecting every produce of the island, were

highly favourable.

By means of the two natives of New Zealand, who had been conveyed there from Sydney, some knowledge had been acquired in the dressing of the flaxplant: but still, as one of them was a warrior and the other a priest, they were less qualified for such a communication than many others would have been; the manufacturing it being confined to the lower classes.

The circumstances relating to these savages are not without, interest. The inhabitants of, New Zealand are a race of people both very different from, and very superior to, those of New South Wales; vivacious, active, acute, with a knowledge of such useful arts as put them above the state of depending on a casual subsistence. They manufacture their flax and several other substances with much ingenuity, and not only give a regular cultivation to this useful plant, but to some of the native esculent vegetables. They also adopted speedily and with avidity, the use of several European productions, particularly the potatoe, which became, almost as soon as introduced, a favourite food with them. In fishing, their skill in some instances surpasses that of the most civilized nations. It will be read with surprise, that the seines they make use of on their coasts, are