NEW SOUTH WALES. 95 



in their constitutions. In January, the natives 

 stole the colours from the flag-staff. On the 

 22d, the Supply sailed for Norfolk Island, with 

 provisions, and to bring back Capt. Hunter, 

 and the crew of the Sirius ; with which she re- 

 turned on the 26th of February. The greatest 

 distress was suffered there previous to the arrival 

 of the provisions, but now every thing went on 

 well, and the Supply brought some c M > v , as ma- 

 nufactured there, from the flax of the country. 



On a survey of Norfolk Island, it was seen, 

 that only three or four hundred families could 

 be supported by the produce of it. ' 



In February, the heat was so great at Rose- 

 Hill, that a number of birds and bats fell down 

 dead from the trees and while flying in the air. 

 On the 2d of March, Lieut. Thomas Edgar 

 hoisted a pendant on board the Dutch Snow, 

 which the Governor hired to go to England ; 

 and at the end of the month, the officers and 

 seamen who were to return to England, were em- 

 barked, but ten seamen and two marines preferred 

 settling in New South Wales. On the 28th the 

 Snow sailed for England, with Capt Hunter, 

 and the officers, and part of the crew belonging 

 to the Sirius : and in the course of the night of 

 the 28th, one Bryant, (with his wife and two 

 children,) and seven other convicts escaped in a 

 boat; and it was found the master of the 

 Dutch Snow, furnished them with a chart and 

 compass, which as some of them understood 

 the use of, there remained no doubt, but they 



