1823.} 
tor, who had prebably not much trou- 
bled Coke upon Lyttleton, confined 
them separately on the poop, under 
the charge of sentinels, for the greater 
part of the day ; when at length, the 
accomplice becoming weary of his 
situation, and finding no profit likely 
to accrue from it, in the cant language 
split, and acknowledged the imposi- 
tion: when tbe principal got repaid— 
with the cat-o’-nine-tails. 
Another species of depredation 
threatened still more serious conse- 
quences. When we had been at sea 
about six weeks, it was discovered that 
several of the convicts were intoxi- 
cated, and quarrelled among them- 
selves, for some days-in succession ; 
and, notwithstanding a minute exami- 
nation, and the utmost exertion of 
Vigilance, no clue could be found to 
point out how this could be accom- 
plished, every care being exerted to 
keep spirits out of their reach. Sus- 
, picions fell upon the steward, and upon 
others; the keys were taken from 
them, and liqaors, taken out for other 
purposes, carefully put under other 
superintendance: but, to the general 
surprise, the drunkenness continued. 
At length a swab,—that is, a large 
bunch of picked cordage, used to dry 
up moisture from the decks, the same 
as a mop in a house,—was observed 
for several days to remain in one spot 
in the boy’s prison ; and, on being re- 
moved, the deck, three inches thick, 
was found cut through large enough 
.to admit a boy, who, being thusdowered 
into the hold, broached acask of rum, 
and had drawn off, as it appeared on 
examination, thirty five gallons. These 
ingenious thieves were of course duly 
rewarded for their industry. 
Sometimes they become sulky, im- 
pudent, and intractable; insulting 
those whom they cannot otherwise 
assail. One of the officers, who had 
been particularly attentive to their 
comforts, found himself more than once 
indirectly jostled and obstructed in 
passing through the prison, from a 
mere spirit of wantonness; and at 
length one evening, when nearly dusk, 
and being unaccompanied, received a 
volley of bones, from the day’s dinner, 
at his head. Pretty certain of the 
guarter whence they came, he sprung 
at the offender, aud collared -bim, 
calling for assistance. An attempt 
was made at a rescue and hustle, and 
lie would have fared ijl, had not some 
Mosruty Mac. No, 385. 
Voyage in a Convict-Ship to New South Wales. 
17 
of the guard promptly arrived: the 
fellow was smartly punished; and the 
resolution displayed by the assailed 
in securing him, inspired an awe that 
prevented any future interruption. 
The voyage, which was on the whole 
fine, except now and then a gale, occu- 
pied something more than seventeen 
weeks. Madeira, and the Islands of 
St. Paul and Amsterdam, in the 
Southern Indian Ocean, were the only 
lands seen till we made the entrance 
to Bass’s Straits. On the left hand, 
or New Holland shore, appeared Cape 
Otway, Wilson’s Promontory, Cape 
Dromedary, Rondeau’s, and Curtis’s, 
and Kent’s, groups of islands; after 
weathering the latter of which, you 
are clear of the straits, and may then 
safely shape a course direct for “Port 
Jackson. To the right lay King’s 
Island, aud many. others; only one 
group of which, named Furneaux’s, 
was visible from the ship. ‘Vhe first 
sign of approaching our destination 
was Macquarrie light-house, discerni- 
ble forty miles distant at sea, which has 
a revolving light, to distinguish it from 
the numerous fires along the coast at 
night, lighted by the natives, and 
which have frequently misled shipping 
as to their relative position. he 
tower which supports it'stands on the 
most eleyated part of the south head; 
or left-hand entrance; is ninety feet 
high, and was erected by the governor 
whose name it bears. ‘The appearance 
of the coast in the vicinity resembles 
that near Dover in steepness and 
abruptness, but differs from it in being 
of a reddish colour. On entering the 
harbour, the view, which without is 
bleak and dreary, instantiy changes. 
It is strewed with innumerable small 
islands, green and pleasant to the eye; 
the land of the main slopes gradually 
to the water’s edge, with several coves 
or small bays, and on the left-hand 
side are seen some pleasant houses : 
one the pilot-house; onc named Vau- 
cluse, formerly the residence of Sir 
Henry Brown Hayes; one Capt. 
Piper’s marine villa, beside others 
whose names and owners I do not 
recollect. 
The distance from the heads or 
eulrance to Sydney Cove, the usual 
anchorage, is about seven miles, si- 
tuated on the south side of the har- . 
bour, and of course from the name, 
bordering the town. Much of this 
extensive harbour, particularly on the 
D north 
