9& HISTORY OF 



would reach Timor in safety, for it was under- 

 stood they meant to make that place. 



In the course of this month, the first settler, 

 James Ruse, after having been fifteen months 

 on his ground, became desirous of giving up all 

 claims on the public store, as he found he could 

 live on the produce of his farm. As much had 

 been suffered for want of provisions, the Gover- 

 nor esteemed it prudent to guard against a 

 second suffering, by lowering the ration in 

 time; therefore on the first Saturday in April, 

 3lbs. of flour, 3lbs. of rice, and 3lbs. of pork, 

 or 4~lbs. of beef were served to every man, 

 woman, and child above ten years old; and a 

 smaller to those under that age. A plan was 

 now discovered, to take away a sixteen oared 

 boat; but to guard against tins, and all other 

 similar attempts, a centinel was placed on the 

 wharf; and no boat suffered to leave the cove 

 without the knowledge of the officer of the 

 guard. The native, Cole- be, who had lately 

 attached himself to Mr. White, came one day 

 with a musquet in his hand, which he found at 

 the bottom of the sea while diving; it was 

 thought to have belonged to one of the men who 

 were drowned with Mr. White's boat. The 

 Supply did not return from Norfolk Island till 

 the 30th of May, and her long absence began 

 to cause great anxiety, which was accounted 

 for on her arrival, as she had been driven off by 

 contrary winds for ten days. The provisions at 

 Norfolk Island were likewise low, and it was 

 2 



