第3章

Betweenthetwolastisanentirebedofimpassablerocks,manyofthemabovewater。ThelatitudeoftheEddystoneis43deg531/2min,longitude147deg9min;thatofSwilly43deg54minsouth,longitude147deg3mineastofGreenwich。

Inthenightthewesterlywind,whichhadsolongbefriendedus,diedaway,andwassucceededbyonefromthenorth—east。Whendayappearedwehadlostsightoftheland,anddidnotregainituntilthe19th,atonlythedistanceof17leaguesfromourdesiredport。Thewindwasnowfair,theskyserene,thoughalittlehazy,andthetemperatureoftheairdelightfullypleasant:joysparkledineverycountenance,andcongratulationsissuedfromeverymouth。IthacaitselfwasscarcelymorelongedforbyUlysses,thanBotanyBaybytheadventurerswhohadtraversedsomanythousandmilestotakepossessionofit。

\"Heavilyincloudscameontheday\"whichusheredinourarrival。

Tousitwas\"agreat,animportantday,\"thoughIhopethefoundation,notthefall,ofanempirewillbedatedfromit。

Onthemorningofthe20th,byteno’clock,thewholeofthefleethadcastanchorinBotanyBay,where,toourmutualsatisfaction,wefoundtheGovernor,andthefirstdivisionoftransports。Oninquiry,weheard,thatthe’Supply’hadarrivedonthe18th,andthetransportsonlytheprecedingday。

Thus,afterapassageofexactlythirty—sixweeksfromPortsmouth,wehappilyeffectedourarduousundertaking,withsuchatrainofunexampledblessingsashardlyeverattendedafleetinalikepredicament。

Oftwohundredandtwelvemarineswelostonlyone;andofsevenhundredandseventy—fiveconvicts,putonboardinEngland,buttwenty—fourperishedinourroute。Towhatcausearewetoattributethisunhopedforsuccess?

IwishIcouldanswertotheliberalmannerinwhichGovernmentsuppliedtheexpedition。Butwhenthereaderistold,thatsomeofthenecessaryarticlesallowedtoshipsonacommonpassagetoWestIndies,werewithheldfromus;thatportablesoup,wheat,andpickledvegetableswerenotallowed;andthataninadequatequantityofessenceofmaltwastheonlyantiscorbuticsupplied,hissurprisewillredoubleattheresultofthevoyage。Foritmustberemembered,thatthepeoplethussentoutwerenotaship’scompanystartingwitheveryadvantageofhealthandgoodliving,whichastateoffreedomproduces;butthemajorpartamiserablesetofconvicts,emaciatedfromconfinement,andinwantofcloaths,andalmosteveryconveniencetorendersolongapassagetolerable。

Ibegleave,however,tosay,thattheprovisionsservedonboardweregood,andofamuchsuperiorqualitytothoseusuallysuppliedbycontract:

theywerefurnishedbyMr。Richards,junior,ofWalworth,Surrey。

CHAPTERVIII。

FromtheFleet’sArrivalatBotanyBaytotheEvacuationofit;

andtakingPossessionofPortJackson。InterviewswiththeNatives;

andanAccountoftheCountryaboutBotanyBay。

Wehadscarcelybideachotherwelcomeonourarrival,whenanexpeditionuptheBaywasundertakenbytheGovernorandLieutenant—Governor,inordertoexplorethenatureofthecountry,andfixonaspottobeginouroperationsupon。None,however,whichcouldbedeemedveryeligible,beingdiscovered,hisExcellencyproceededinaboattoexaminetheopening,towhichMr。CookhadgiventhenameofPortJackson,onanideathatashelterforshippingwithinitmightbefound。Theboatreturnedontheeveningofthe23rd,withsuchanaccountoftheharbourandadvantagesattendingtheplace,thatitwasdeterminedtheevacuationofBotanyBayshouldcommencethenextmorning。

Inconsequenceofthisdecision,thefewseamenandmarineswhohadbeenlandedfromthesquadron,wereinstantlyreimbarked,andeverypreparationmadetobidadieutoaportwhichhadsolongbeenthesubjectofourconversation;

whichbutthreedaysbeforewehadenteredwithsomanysentimentsofsatisfaction;andinwhich,aswehadbelieved,somanyofourfuturehoursweretobepassed。Thethoughtsofremovalbanishedsleep,sothatIroseatthefirstdawnofthemorning。Butjudgeofmysurprizeonhearingfromaserjeant,whorandownalmostbreathlesstothecabinwhereIwasdressing,thatashipwasseenofftheharbour’smouth。AtfirstIonlylaughed,butknowingthemanwhospoketometobeofgreatveracity,andhearinghimrepeathisinformation,Iflewupondeck,onwhichIhadbarelysetmyfoot,whenthecryof\"anothersail\"struckonmyastonishedear。

Confoundedbyathousandideaswhicharoseinmymindinaninstant,Ispranguponthebarricadoandplainlydescriedtwoshipsofconsiderablesize,standinginforthemouthoftheBay。Bythistimethealarmhadbecomegeneral,andeveryoneappearedlostinconjecture。NowtheywereDutchmensenttodispossessus,andthemomentafterstoreshipsfromEngland,withsuppliesforthesettlement。Theimprobabilitieswhichattendedboththeseconclusions,weresunkintheagitationofthemoment。

ItwasbyGovernorPhillip,thatthismysterywasatlengthunravelled,andthecauseofthealarmpronouncedtobetwoFrenchships,which,itwasnowrecollected,wereonavoyageofdiscoveryinthesouthernhemisphere。Thuswereourdoubtsclearedup,andourapprehensionsbanished;

itwas,however,judgedexpedienttopostponeourremovaltoPortJackson,untilacompleteconfirmationofourconjecturescouldbeprocured。

Hadtheseabreezesetin,thestrangeshipswouldhavebeenatanchorintheBaybyeighto’clockinthemorning,butthewindblowingout,theyweredrivenbyastrongleecurrenttothesouthwardoftheport。

Onthefollowingdaytheyre—appearedintheirformersituation,andaboatwassenttothem,withalieutenantofthenavyinher,toofferassistance,andpointoutthenecessarymarksforenteringtheharbour。Inthecourseofthedaytheofficerreturned,andbroughtintelligencethattheshipsweretheBoussoleandAstrolabe,sentoutbyorderoftheKingofFrance,andunderthecommandofMonsieurDePerrouse。TheastonishmentoftheFrenchatseeingus,hadnotequalledthatwehadexperienced,foritappeared,thatinthecourseoftheirvoyagetheyhadtouchedatKamschatka,andbythatmeanslearntthatourexpeditionwasincontemplation。

Theydroppedanchorthenextmorning,justaswehadgotunderweightoworkoutoftheBay,sothatforthepresentnothingmorethansalutationscouldpassbetweenus。

BeforeIquitBotanyBay,Ishallrelatetheobservationswewereenabledtomakeduringourshortstaythere;aswellasthosewhichoursubsequentvisitstoitfromPortJacksonenabledustocomplete。

TheBayisveryopen,andgreatlyexposedtothefuryoftheS。E。winds,which,whentheyblow,causeaheavyanddangerousswell。Itisofprodigiousextent,theprincipalarm,whichtakesaS。W。direction,beingnotless,includingitswindings,thantwentyfourmilesfromthecapeswhichformtheentrance,accordingtothereportoftheFrenchofficers,whotookuncommonpainstosurveyit。Atthedistanceofaleaguefromtheharbour’smouthisabar,onwhichatlowwater,notmorethanfifteenfeetaretobefound。Withinthisbar,formanymilesuptheS。W。

arm,isahaven,equalineveryrespecttoanyhithertoknown,andinwhichanynumberofshipsmightanchor,securedfromallwinds。ThecountryaroundfarexceedsinrichnessofsoilthataboutCapeBanksandPointSolander,thoughunfortunatelytheyresembleeachotherinonerespect,ascarcityoffreshwater。

Wefoundthenativestolerablynumerousasweadvanceduptheriver,andevenattheharbour’smouthwehadreasontoconcludethecountrymorepopulousthanMr。Cookthoughtit。ForontheSupply’sarrivalintheBayonthe18thofthemonth,theywereassembledonthebeachofthesouthshore,tothenumberofnotlessthanfortypersons,shoutingandmakingmanyuncouthsignsandgestures。Thisappearancewhettedcuriositytoitsutmost,butasprudenceforbadeafewpeopletoventurewantonlyamongsogreatanumber,andapartyofonlysixmenwasobservedonthenorthshore,theGovernorimmediatelyproceededtolandonthatside,inordertotakepossessionofhisnewterritory,andbringaboutanintercoursebetweenitsoldandnewmasters。TheboatinwhichhisExcellencywas,roweduptheharbour,closetotheland,forsomedistance;theIndianskeepingpacewithheronthebeach。Atlastanofficerintheboatmadesignsofawantofwater,whichitwasjudgedwouldindicatehiswishoflanding。

Thenativesdirectlycomprehendedwhathewanted,andpointedtoaspotwherewatercouldbeprocured;onwhichtheboatwasimmediatelypushedin,andalandingtookplace。Asontheeventofthismeetingmightdependsomuchofourfuturetranquillity,everydelicacyonoursidewasrequisite。

TheIndians,thoughtimorous,shewednosignsofresentmentattheGovernor’sgoingonshore;aninterviewcommenced,inwhichtheconductofbothpartiespleasedeachothersomuch,thatthestrangersreturnedtotheirshipswithamuchbetteropinionofthenativesthantheyhadlandedwith;

andthelatterseemedhighlyentertainedwiththeirnewacquaintance,fromwhomtheycondescendedtoacceptofalookingglass,somebeads,andothertoys。

Owingtothelatenessofourarrival,itwasnotmygoodfortunetogoonshoreuntilthreedaysafterthishadhappened,whenIwentwithapartytothesouthsideoftheharbour,andhadscarcelylandedfiveminutes,whenweweremetbyadozenIndians,nakedasatthemomentoftheirbirth,walkingalongthebeach。Eagertocometoaconference,andyetafraidofgivingoffence,weadvancedwithcautiontowardsthem,norwouldthey,atfirstapproachnearertousthanthedistanceofsomepaces。Bothpartieswerearmed;

yetanattackseemedasunlikelyontheirpart,asweknewittobeonourown。

Ihadatthistimealittleboy,ofnotmorethansevenyearsofage,inmyhand。Thechildseemedtoattracttheirattentionverymuch,fortheyfrequentlypointedtohimandspoketoeachother;andashewasnotfrightened,Iadvancedwithhimtowardsthem,atthesametimebaringhisbosomand,shewingthewhitenessoftheskin。Onthecloathsbeingremoved,theygavealoudexclamation,andoneoftheparty,anoldman,withalongbeard,hideouslyugly,cameclosetous。Ibademylittlechargenottobeafraid,andintroducedhimtotheacquaintanceofthisuncouthpersonage。TheIndian,withgreatgentleness,laidhishandonthechild’shat,andafterwardsfelthiscloaths,mutteringtohimselfallthewhile。Ifounditnecessary,however,bythistimetosendawaythechild,assuchacloseconnectionratheralarmedhim;andinthis,astheconclusionverified,Igavenooffencetotheoldgentleman。

Indeeditwasbutputtingourselvesonaparwiththem,asIhadobservedfromthefirst,thatsomeyouthsoftheirown,thoughconsiderablyolderthantheonewithus,were,keptbackbythegrownpeople。

Severalmorenowcameup,towhom,wemadevariouspresents,butourtoysseemednottoberegardedasveryvaluable;norwouldtheyforalongtimemakeanyreturnstothem,thoughbeforeweparted,alargeclub,withaheadalmostsufficienttofellanox,wasobtainedinexchangeforalooking—glass。

Thesepeopleseemedatalosstoknow(probablyfromourwantofbeards)

ofwhatsexwewere,whichhavingunderstood,theyburstintothemostimmoderatefitsoflaughter,talkingtoeachotheratthesametimewithsuchrapidityandvociferationasIhadneverbeforeheard。Afternearlyanhour’sconversationbysignsandgestures,theyrepeatedseveraltimesthewordwhurra,whichsignifies,begone,andwalkedawayfromustotheheadoftheBay。

Thenativesbeingdeparted,wesetouttoobservethecountry,which,oninspection,ratherdisappointedourhopes,beinginvariablysandyandunpromisingforthepurposesofcultivation,thoughthetreesandgrassflourishingreatluxuriancy。ClosetouswasthespringatwhichMr。Cookwatered,butwedidnotthinkthewaterveryexcellent,nordiditrunfreely。Intheeveningwereturnedonboard,notgreatlypleasedwiththelatterpartofourdiscoveries,asitindicatedanincreaseofthosedifficulties,whichbeforeseemedsufficientlynumerous。

Betweenthisandourdeparturewehadseveralmoreinterviewswiththenatives,whichendedinsofriendlyamanner,thatwebegantoentertainstronghopesofbringingaboutaconnectionwiththem。Ourfirstobjectwastowintheiraffections,andournexttoconvincethemofthesuperioritywepossessed:forwithoutthelatter,theformerweknewwouldbeoflittleimportance。

Anofficeronedayprevailedononeofthemtoplaceatarget,madeofbark,againstatree,whichhefiredatwithapistol,atthedistanceofsomepaces。

TheIndians,thoughterrifiedatthereport,didnotrunaway,buttheirastonishmentexceededtheiralarm,onlookingattheshieldwhichtheballhadperforated。Asthisproducedalittleshyness,theofficer,todissipatetheirfearsandremovetheirjealousy,whistledtheairofMalbrooke,whichtheyappearedhighlycharmedwith,andimitatedhimwithequalpleasureandreadiness。Icannothelpremarkinghere,whatIwasafterwardstoldbyMonsieurDePerrouse,thatthenativesofCalifornia,andthroughoutalltheislandsofthePacificOcean,andinshortwhereverhehadbeen,seemedequallytouchedanddelightedwiththislittleplaintiveair。

CHAPTERIX。

ThetakingPossessionofPortJackson,withtheDisembarkationoftheMarinesandConvicts。

OurpassagetoPortJacksontookupbutfewhours,andthosewerespentfarfromunpleasantly。Theeveningwasbright,andtheprospectbeforeussuchasmightjustifysanguineexpectation。Havingpassedbetweenthecapeswhichformitsentrance,wefoundourselvesinaportsuperior,inextentandexcellency,toallwehadseenbefore。Wecontinuedtorunuptheharbouraboutfourmiles,inawesterlydirection,enjoyingtheluxuriantprospectofitsshores,coveredwithtreestothewater’sedge,amongwhichmanyoftheIndianswerefrequentlyseen,tillwearrivedatasmallsnugcoveonthesouthernside,onwhosebankstheplanofouroperationswasdestinedtocommence。

Thelandingofapartofthemarinesandconvictstookplacethenextday,andonthefollowing,theremainderwasdisembarked。Businessnowsatoneverybrow,andthescene,toanindifferentspectator,atleisuretocontemplateit,wouldhavebeenhighlypicturesqueandamusing。

Inoneplace,apartycuttingdownthewoods;asecond,settingupablacksmith’sforge;athird,draggingalongaloadofstonesorprovisions;

hereanofficerpitchinghismarquee,withadetachmentoftroopsparadingononesideofhim,andacook’sfireblazingupontheother。Throughtheunwearieddiligenceofthoseattheheadofthedifferentdepartments,regularitywas,however,soonintroduced,and,asfarastheunsettledstateofmatterswouldallow,confusiongaveplacetosystem。

Intotheheadofthecove,onwhichourestablishmentisfixed,runsasmallstreamoffreshwater,whichservestodividetheadjacentcountrytoalittledistance,inthedirectionofnorthandsouth。OntheeasternsideofthisrivulettheGovernorfixedhisplaceofresidence,withalargebodyofconvictsencampednearhim;andonthewesternsidewasdisposedtheremainingpartofthesepeople,nearthemarineencampment。

Fromthislasttwoguards,consistingoftwosubalterns,asmanyserjeants,fourcorporals,twodrummers,andforty—twoprivatemen,undertheordersofaCaptainoftheday,towhomallreportsweremade,dailymountedforthepublicsecurity,withsuchdirectionstouseforce,incaseofnecessity,asleftnoroomforthosewhoweretheobjectoftheorder,buttoremainpeaceable,orperishbythebayonet。

Asthestragglingoftheconvictswasnotonlyadesertionfromthepubliclabour,butmightbeattendedwithillconsequencestothesettlement,incaseoftheirmeetingthenatives,everycarewastakentopreventit。

TheProvostMartialwithhismenwasorderedtopatrolethecountryaround,andtheconvictsinformed,thattheseverestpunishmentwouldbeinflictedontransgressors。Inspite,however,ofallourprecautions,theysoonfoundtheroadtoBotanyBay,invisitstotheFrench,whowouldgladlyhavedispensedwiththeircompany。

Butasseverityalonewasknowntobeinadequateatoncetochastizeandreform,noopportunitywasomittedtoassuretheconvicts,thatbytheirgoodbehaviourandsubmissivedeportment,everyclaimtopresentdistinctionandfuturefavourwastobeearned。Thatthiscautionwasnotattendedwithallthegoodeffectswhichwerehopedfromit,Ihaveonlytolament;thatitoperatedinsomecasesisindisputable;norwillacandidandhumanemindfailtoconsiderandallowforthesituationtheseunfortunatebeingssopeculiarlystoodin。Whiletheywereonboardship,thetwosexeshadbeenkeptmostrigorouslyapart;but,whenlanded,theirseparationbecameimpracticable,andwouldhavebeen,perhaps,wrong。Licentiousnesswastheunavoidableconsequence,andtheiroldhabitsofdepravitywerebeginningtorecur。Whatwastobeattempted?Topreventtheirintercoursewasimpossible;andtopalliateitsevilsonlyremained。Marriagewasrecommended,andsuchadvantagesheldouttothosewhoaimedatreformation,ashavegreatlycontributedtothetranquillityofthesettlement。

OntheSundayafterourlandingdivineservicewasperformedunderagreattree,bytheRev。Mr。Johnson,ChaplainoftheSettlement,inthepresenceofthetroopsandconvicts,whosebehaviourontheoccasionwasequallyregularandattentive。InthecourseofourpassagethishadbeenrepeatedeverySunday,whiletheshipswereinport;

andinadditiontoit,Mr。Johnsonhadfurnishedthemwithbooks,atoncetendingtopromoteinstructionandpiety。

TheIndiansforalittlewhileafterourarrivalpaidusfrequentvisits,butinafewdaystheywereobservedtobemoreshyofourcompany。

Fromwhatcausetheirdistaste:arosewenevercouldtrace,aswehadmadeitourstudy,ontheseoccasions,totreatthemwithkindness,andloadthemwithpresents。Noquarrelhadhappened,andwehadflatteredourselves,fromGovernorPhillip’sfirstreceptionamongthem,thatsuchaconnectionmightbeestablishedaswouldtendtotheinterestofbothparties。Itseems,thatonthatoccasion,theynotonlyreceivedourpeoplewithgreatcordiality,butsofaracknowledgedtheirauthorityastosubmit,thataboundary,duringtheirfirstinterview,mightbedrawnonthesand,whichtheyattemptednottoinfringe,andappearedtobesatisfiedwith。

CHAPTERX。

ThereadingoftheCommissions,andtakingPossessionoftheSettlement,inform。

WithanAccountoftheCourtsofLaw,andModeofadministeringPublicJusticeinthisCountry。

Owingtothemultiplicityofpressingbusinessnecessarytobeperformedimmediatelyafterlanding,itwasfoundimpossibletoreadthepubliccommissionsandtakepossessionofthecolonyinform,untilthe7thofFebruary。Onthatdayalltheofficersofguardtookpostinthemarinebattalion,whichwasdrawnup,andmarchedofftheparadewithmusicplaying,andcoloursflying,toanadjoiningground,whichhadbeenclearedfortheoccasion,whereontheconvictswereassembledtohearHisMajesty’scommissionread,appointinghisExcellencyArthurPhillip,Esq。GovernorandCaptainGeneralinandovertheterritoryofNewSouthWales,anditsdependencies;togetherwiththeActofParliamentforestablishingtrialsbylawwithinthesame;andthepatentsundertheGreatSealofGreatBritain,forholdingthecivilandcriminalcourtsofjudicature,bywhichallcasesoflifeanddeath,aswellasmattersofproperty,weretobedecided。WhentheJudgeAdvocatehadfinishedreading,hisExcellencyaddressedhimselftotheconvictsinapointedandjudiciousspeech,informingthemofhisfutureintentions,whichwere,invariablytocherishandrenderhappythosewhoshewedadispositiontoamendment;

andtolettherigourofthelawtakeitscourseagainstsuchasmightdaretotransgresstheboundsprescribed。Attheclosethreevollieswerefiredinhonouroftheoccasion,andthebattalionmarchedbacktotheirparade,wheretheywerereviewedbytheGovernor,whowasreceivedwithallthehonoursduetohisrank。HisExcellencywasafterwardspleasedtothankthem,inpublicorders,fortheirbehaviourfromthetimeoftheirembarkation;

andtoasktheofficerstopartakeofacoldcollationatwhichitisscarcenecessarytoobserve,thatmanyloyalandpublictoastsweredrankincommemorationoftheday。

IntheGovernor’scommission,theextentofthisauthorityisdefinedtoreachfromthelatitudeof43deg49minsouth,tothelatitudeof10deg37minsouth,beingthenorthernandsouthernextremitiesofthecontinentofNewHolland。Itcommencesagainat135thdegreeoflongitudeeastofGreenwich,and,proceedinginaneasterlydirection,includesallislandswithinthelimitsoftheabovespecifiedlatitudesinthePacificOcean。