NEW SOUTH WALES. 313 



ber cf beings to continue in one mind 3 or to 

 furnish food in their miserable situation for so 

 many, they thought proper that one half 

 should deceive the other, and while these were 

 asleep, those who were prepared took away the 

 boat, leaving their seven unsuspecting compa- 

 nions on a desolate island," the situation of 

 which this man could not describe so as to en- 

 able it to be found. Their number reduced to 

 seven, they thought themselves in danger near 

 this port ; they had been lurking for some time 

 near Broken Bay, with a view of stealing a 

 better boat loaded with grain, which they 

 effected, first by taking the boat of Cavanagh, 

 by means of which he had long been enabled to 

 support his wife and children; securing him, 

 they took possession of a smaller boat, with 

 above 50 bushels of wheat. Finding Cava- 

 nagh's the largest and best, they ran out from 

 the land, and shifted their prisoners into the 

 smaller boat and stood off to the Northward. 



Wilson lately came from the woods, and among 

 other information mentioned finding above 50 

 skeletons, which the natives said, were those of 

 white men, who had lost their way ; which 

 was corroborated by old shoes, &c lying about. 



On the 20th, the Francis returned. Previous 

 to his departure for the wreck, Capt. Hamilton 

 informed the Governor that she had on board 

 7000 gallons of spirits, and wished to bring 

 back part with him by the Francis. The Go- 

 vernor averse to the introduction of spirits, 

 would have opposed the application ; but 



