66 HISTORY OF 



The beginning of August was so very rainy, 

 that all building, and indeed labour of every 

 kind was suspended, and considerable damage 

 was done to the brick-kiln, which fell in, a 

 quantity of bricks were spoilt, and the very 

 roads were unable to be passed. Till the 14th, 

 when the weather changed, no work could be 

 done. During the unfavourable deluge, thefts 

 were frequent, a sheep, intended for celebrat- 

 ing the Prince of Wales's birth day, was stolen, 

 and notwithstanding the Governor offered the 

 reward of emancipation for the discovery, it was 

 without effect; but the Prince's birth day was 

 observed by a cessation from labour, and the 

 colours were displayed at the flag-staff, on this 

 and all other birth-days of the Royal Family. 



A party of natives, on the 21st, landed from 

 five canoes, near where the observatory was 

 building, while some engaged the workmen 

 and officers, the others endeavoured to take 

 away a goat from the hospital, but being re- 

 sisted by a sailor, they held their spears at him 

 till he retreated, then killed the goat, and putting 

 it in a canoe, bore towards Long Cove. The 

 Governor followed them, and got up with some 

 of the party, but neither could meet with the 

 oifenders or the goat. The Supply, on the 26th t 

 arrived from Norfolk Island, with accounts 

 that the fl^x plant had been discovered, and was 

 crowing luxuriently, but the wheat seed was 

 found to have been heated on the passage, and 

 would not vegetate. 



