ft HISTORY OF 



,; CHAP. IV. 



. ■ 



dlenesj. theTmotner of all vices, held an 

 absolute sway over the convicts, but this was 

 not the only evil to be complained of. Thefts; 

 which may be called the children of idleness, 

 were no strangers to the colony, one com- 

 mitted a robbery, and fled to the woods, but 

 came every night to rob the tents and huts, 

 and once effected a robbery on the pub- 

 lic store, however he was taken, tried, and 

 hung. Another for, stabbing a woman with 

 whom he lived, was sentenced to have 700 

 lashes, half of which he had at the time it 

 other was executed. When one of our boats 

 went down the harbour with convicts to cut 

 rushes, some natives stole three jackets, on the 

 discovery they were pursued, when they left 

 their canoe, and landing ran into the woods ; 

 but our people, notwithstanding the continual 

 orders, to touch nothing belonging to the na- 

 tives, retained the canoe, on seeing which they 

 threw a spear and wounded the cockswain. The 

 young native that was taken to the colony in 

 December, was now taken down the harbour, 

 and conversed several times with his friends, 

 but had no wish to leave the settlement. To 

 prevent the convicts practice of selling their 



