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CHAPTER XII.

Distress of the Colony.

FROM what has already been stated respecting the provisions, it will not appear extraordinary, that much uneasiness should have prevailed in the colony at the commencement of this year (1790). The flour which the governor had so providentially obtained from the Cape, was already in part consumed. The salt provisions were much reduced,and ifanydelay in the receipt of supplies should take place, would require a still more sparing distribution. The resources of fishing and shooting were extremely uncertain, and the quantities of grain or vegetables produced at Rose Hill, or in the neighbourhood of Sydney, were inconsiderable as a public supply. The utmost that could be expected at the present allowance, was that the colony should subsist till June.

Had it been known that within a few days of this very time, that on the 23rd of December, in latitude 45° 54′ south, longitude 41° 30′ east, the Guardian, a ship of war of forty-four guns, coming to the colony with the most

Besides an immense carried out a large

abundant supplies from England, had struck upon an island of ice, and that in order to save her, it had been found necessary to throw overboard the greatest part of her valuable cargo, after which, by the admirable conduct of her commander and crew, she had been able, with the utmost difficulty, and nearly a wreck, to get back to the Cape of Good Hope, where she had recently touched, the general anxiety would have been converted into despair. This vessel had been equipped with a view, not only to the exigencies of the colony, but even to convenience and luxury. quantity of provisions, she supply of clothing, of bedding, of sails, of cordage, of wine, of medicines, of tools, of agricultural implements, an an assortment of plants and seeds arranged under the direction of Sir Joseph Banks and completed at the Cape, a number of horses, cows, sheep, goats, deer, and many other objects too tedious to enumerate. As the colonists were ignorant of this terrible blow, so they were unable to foresee the extent of hardship and privation which they were still to encounter. Their auguries however were of no favourable kind. They considered that the delay must proceed either from neglect or accident. They saw

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the unreasonableness of the former of these suppositions, and the latter might involve their inevitable destruction. One of the first measures of precaution adopted under these circumstances, was to send the Supply to Norfolk Island with some convicts, only twenty-four in number, but with the view principally of ascertaining to what extent that island might be further capable of disburthening the principal settlement. The luxuriance of its gardens, the quantity of fish on its coasts, and still more the multitude of birds there, afforded a hope that much might be done in this way. There was a small island, or rather an immense rock, between Port Jackson and Norfolk Island, in latitude 31° 46′, longitude 159° 4′ east, remarkable principally as a haunt of birds and for the quantity of turtle upon its shores. It had been named Lord Howe's Island. Besides the chief object of this expedition, the Supply was directed, for the purpose of procuring as many turtle as possible, to leave some of her people at this island as she went out, and bring them off on her return. She sailed on the 7th of January.

The general expectation of relief now engrossed the minds of all, and the constant employment of those who could command any

of

leisure, 'was to seek some eminence, from which they might espy the first sail that should approach. Captain Hunter offered with a few men from the Sirius, to go to the south head of the main harbour, there to build a look-out and erect a flag-staff upon the height which might be seen from the sea, and which might also communicate information of the appearance ships on the coast. The governor approved the proposal and the captain accordingly went with eight men, accompanied by Mr. Worgan surgeon of the Sirius, and Mr. White, and pitched a tent at the proposed spot. He there passed some time and erected a flag-staff together with a small but tolerable adjoining habitation, He was then relieved by Mr. Bradley with a fresh party.

A draught of fish larger than common, becomes under such circumstances as these an historical event, and the more so, as it was a thing not very frequent at this time. A sufficiency was taken in one night, to supply two pounds the next day to every person in the settlement.

A convict belonging to Rose Hill, who was employed about this time, in some of the waters of the main harbour, in striking the sting-ray, had the imprudence to engage in some quarrel with a party of natives on the

beach, who, with their characteristic violence, aggravated perhaps by other and recent provocations, were proceeding to kill him, when one of their women rushed to his deliverance, and with the eloquence inspired by compassion, prevailed on them to spare his life; thus exhibiting on the desolate shores of New Holland and amidst the most barbarous of the human race, a moral scene that might have engaged the attention of the poet or tragedian. So true it is that human nature is every where the same!

The first signal from the flag-staff at the south head, was displayed on the 10th of February; but hope, on this occasion, was of short duration. The sail was soon discovered to be the Supply, on her return from Norfolk Island. Being unable to work into Port Jackson, she bore down for Botany Bay, in which harbour she anchored in the dusk of the evening. The next morning, the letters she had brought were received at Sydney. From these, the governor conceived he had sufficient grounds to put into execution his plan of disburdening the principal settlement of a part of its population. The Sirius had undergone a complete repair, and he resolved to send a number of people by her and the Supply, under

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