78 HISTORY OF 



covered that the store was infested with rats, 

 and on removing them, eight casks of flour 

 were found destroyed, 



In the beginning of November, the quantity 

 of provisions issued to the males in the colony 

 was reduced one-third, except spirits. This 

 measure was adopted from the uncertainty of 

 hearing from England, it was however found 

 requisite to issue this ration of provisions on 

 Saturdays and Wednesdays, to make them last 

 theproper.time. 



Captain Hunter, on the 7th of November, 

 brought the Siriiis into the cove perfectly re- 

 paired and fit for sea. The supply on the 1 1th 

 sailed for Norfolk Island, and was to call at 

 Lord Howe Island in quest of turtle. By the 

 activity of the watchmen, a female convict was 

 taken up for house breaking, and received sen- 

 tence to die, when she pleaded being with child, 

 but a jury of women pronouncing otherwise she 

 was executed, and previous to being hung, ac- 

 knowledged she only said she was so, to save her 

 life. One of the colony boats caught as many 

 fish in the seine as would have served the whole 

 settlement a day, had it not burst, and a boat 

 belonging to the Sinus caught near fifty large 

 fish, which were called light horsemen from a 

 bone that grew out of the head like a helmet. 

 On the 25th of November two natives were 

 secured, they were known by the children, who 

 informed them of the safety they were in, but 

 being dissatisfied, one effected his escape with 

 an iron on his ancle, and the other was detected 



