ness to throw, if any resistance should be made. The argument was too powerful for immediate opposition, but orders were given that a petty officer should always, in future, accompany the fishing boats down the harbour.

The success of the governor's game-killers, though of less public moment than that of the fishers, was at least equally gratifying to the curiosity of the new comers. A bird of the

ostrich genus, but of a species very different from any other in the known world, was killed and brought in. Its length was between seven and eight feet; its flesh was good and thought to resemble beef. It has obtained the name of the New South Wales Emu. An incredible variety of birds, of the most splendidly beautiful plumage, were found here. If the melody of the groves was wanting to the ear, a profuse compensation was made to the eye. The kangaroo was frequently shot. The form of this animal is, perhaps, now too generally known to need any description here. disproportionately short fore-legs, the powerful spring in its tail, which aids it to make its way with great rapidity by successive leaps, and many of its other peculiarities, distinguish it very remarkably from the animal productions of any other part of the world. Its size is

Its

considerable. It is often much more than a hundred weight. Its flesh is good, though nearly destitute of fat, and may be compared to that of the animal called chevreuil upon the continent of Europe.

Nature may be said to have in this country indulged in whim. She sometimes mimicks herself in giving to smaller animals, such as the native rat, the general form and characteristics of the kangaroo; she gives to a great variety of species, the false belly of that animal; in numerous instances, animals were discovered which might at first sight be considered as monstrous productions, such as an aquatic quadruped, about the size of a rabbit, with the eyes, colour, and skin of a mole, and the bill and web-feet of a duck, a parrot with the slender legs of a sea-gull, a skate with a head like that of a shark.-The whole animal creation appeared to be different from that of every other region: nor less so the vegetable; every tree and shrub, perhaps without exception, was of a species peculiar to the soil, and another Flora diffused an endless variety of unknown tints and forms.

CHAPTER VIII.

Sirius dispatched to the Cape.

THE HE governor, after paying the usual honours to his Majesty's birth-day, entertained a numerous company at dinner; on which occasion the name and boundaries of the first county in his Majesty's territory of New South Wales, were fixed. It was named Cumberland. Its limits northward, were to extend to the northernmost point of Broken Bay, southward to the southernmost point of Botany Bay, and westward to the mountains.

The Alexander, Prince of Wales, and Friendship transports, with the Borrowdale store-ship, having completed their preparations for sea, now sailed together for Europe. Only two transports remained of the fleet that had come out from England, and preparations were making for clearing and discharging these from government service.

The following report was at this time made by the principal surgeon, of the state of the sick in the settlement: the number of marines under medical treatment, thirty-six; number

of convicts, sixty-six; convicts unfit for labour, from old age and infirmities, fifty-two.

It was time now to attend to the necessities of the colony at Norfolk Island, and accordingly, the Supply was dispatched for it on the 20th of June, with provisions and stores. In the afternoon of the 22nd, there was a slight shock of an earthquake which lasted a few seconds, and was accompanied with a noise like the distant report of cannon.

In the evening of the 27th, two convicts came in, one of whom had been wounded by the natives with a lance. They had been out in order to gather such esculent plants as the country afforded, and had wandered through the woods and heaths, nearly as far as Botany Bay. They represented the assault as unprovoked; and this the circumstances of this case rendered very probable. It was, however, generally found, on such occasions, that some injury, real or imaginary, had been received by the natives from some of the colonists; and it is the temper of savages to direct their resentment, with equal violence, against the whole body or description of people, to which the individual that has offended them belongs.

It had, from the first, been an object with

the governor, to induce some of the natives to live at Sydney. He thought that many advantages might result from such an intercourse, particularly from the means it would afford of interpreting to them the friendly disposition of the colonists towards them, and of preventing their attributing to them generally, the injuries they might receive from individuals. He had used every method he could devise to effect his purpose, whether by supplying the cravings of their natural wants, or by suggesting to them artificial ones. It had, however, been observed with regret, that except at the hauling of the seine, an operation which was always an irresistible attraction to them, they had become extremely shy. They seemed particularly to avoid the town, or what indeed might still be with more propriety called the encampment. They had certainly received frequent injuries from the convicts, and several of the sailors, when about to leave the coast, had purloined their arms, fishing-tackle, and other things that belonged to them, and which their habitual confidence amongst themselves made them careless of. The only instance, that had for some time occurred, of a visit from them at Sydney, was about this time, when two of them strolled in and made a short stay, during which