NEW SOUTH WALES. 201 



It was discovered that a boat belonging to a 

 settler, which had been stolen some time, and 

 was supposed to have been driven out to sea 

 and lost, had been taken by the natives, after 

 murdering the men who were in her. The boat, 

 on a search being made, was found in the pos- 

 session of the natives. 



This was a novel circumstance, but it was 

 too true; the white people living amongst 

 them had been the instigators of this mischief. 



A bridge, capable of bearing any weight, was 

 erected over Duck river, for the convenience 

 of land carriage between the towns of Sydney 

 and Paramatta. 



During November, a scarcity of wheat once 

 more visited the public stores, and the Gover- 

 nor ordered a reduction of that article till the 

 crops were gathered. 



The success which attended the seizure of 

 the Cumberland, and the other escapes of two 

 parties of convicts, tempted 14 others to form 

 a plan for taking away a boat, and making* the 

 same effort. Having secreted all the stores 

 they meant to carry away, the night for their 

 departure was settled; and they were on the 

 point of embarking, when they were surrounded 

 (by a party of magistrates and constables, who 

 itook them and their stores into custody ; for 

 jthey had not proceeded with the caution neces- 

 sary for such an enterprize, and information 

 Was given just in time to defeat their project; 



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