NEW SOUTH WALES. 211 



argument more likely to convince them of 

 their folly than by ordering a severe corporal 

 punishment to be inflicted at Sydney 'on those 

 who appeared to be the principals in this busi- 

 ness, which was put in execution ; seven of them 

 received two hundred lashes each ; the remain- 

 der, after being punished at Paramatta, were 

 sent to hard labour and well looked after. 



The necessity of checking this spirit of emi- 

 gration, determined the Governor to convince 

 them, by their own experience, of the dangers at- 

 tending it, he therefore ordered four of the strong-? 

 est among them to be chosen, and prepared for a 

 journey of discovery. They were to be accom- 

 panied by three men, who were to lead them 

 back, when fatigued and exhausted with their 

 journey, over the very worst and most dan- 

 gerous parts of the country ; but this plan was 

 no sooner settled, than the Governor was in- 

 formed that a party concerted with the four 

 fellows elected, to meet them at a particular 

 place, and there murder the persons intended 

 as their guides, possess themselves of their arms 

 and provisions, and afterwards pursue their 

 own course. This infernal scheme was coun- 

 teracted by an addition of four soldiers to the 

 guides ; and on the 14th they set off from Pa- 

 ramatta. 



On the 24th the military brought back three 

 of the fellows, who, having gained the foot of 

 the first mountains, were so completely sick of 

 their journey, and the prospect before them, 

 that they intreated the soldiers to return, who 



