8 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



and a generous distribution of mulberries and green figs served 

 as a valuable and palatable anti-scorbutic. 



Captain Phillip and his officers appear to have had a very 

 pleasant time on the island, being most hospitably entertained by 

 the Governor, and though, of course, no special relaxation was 

 permitted to the prisoners, the picturesque panorama spread out 

 before them, and the balmy atmosphere around, must have ap- 

 peared like an approach to Paradise after their experience of English 

 prison life and its concomitants. The day before they left, the first 

 attempt at escape was made by one of the convicts, John Powers. 

 Seized with an irresistible impulse at the sight of an unoccupied 

 boat alongside the ship, he dropped quietly into it, under cover of 

 the darkness, and rowed off to a Dutch East Indiaman that had 

 just arrived, begging to be taken on board. The Hollanders, 

 however, probably suspecting his character, refused to receive 

 him, and he desperately pulled ashore, casting his boat adrift, 

 and concealing himself among the rocks. As the master of each 

 transport was liable to a penalty of 40 for every convict he failed 

 to account for, there was sufficient inducement to go in search of 

 him. The boat, drifting about off his hiding-place, gave a sufficient 

 clue, and early next morning he was run down, and taken on board 

 the Sirius for punishment. Fortunately for him, Captain Phillip 

 took a humane view of the case and the temptation to which 

 he had succumbed, and he escaped the anticipated flogging, 

 being returned to the transport, and ordered to be kept in extra 

 irons. 



At daybreak on the 10th of June the fleet weighed anchor, and 

 made sail for the Cape Verde Islands. Eight days of gentle breezes 

 and long rolling seas brought them within the tropics and in sight 

 of the islands, where they purposed a further augmentation of 

 their water supply. Early on the morning of the 19th of June they 

 were close to the island of St. lago, with the signal flying for 

 preparing to anchor ; but a sudden change of wind rendering 

 entrance to the harbour difficult, if not dangerous, Captain Phillip 

 abandoned his intention, and made signals to hoist all canvas and 

 bear away to the south. Great was the disappointment at this 

 unexpected deprivation of another pleasant break in the monotony 



