5 g AUSTRALASIA ILLUSTRA 



abundance. The convicts were many of them incorrigibly idle, and improvident beyond 

 belief. The weekly allowance given them was consumed and wasted during the first 

 day or two, and then in the destitution of the latter part of the week they came with 

 pitiful appeals to the Governor for relief. One man, on receiving his week's allowance, 

 eight pounds of flour, made it into cakes, consumed the whole at a meal, and died 

 next day of the surfeit. The stores were constantly broken into and the provisions 

 carried off. The men put to work on the farms broke or secreted their tools, careless 

 of the fact that their indolence might mean want of food. A convict who had been 

 set to watch the few head of cattle that had been brought to the colony negligently 

 allowed them to stray away. When they were discovered some years afterwards, on the 

 banks of the Nepean, their number had increased to sixty. In addition to all these 

 troubles, Phillip suffered considerable annoyance from his military subordinates, strained 

 relations having existed between himself and Major Ross, who was at the head of the 

 small force, ever since their landing. Phillip was anxious that the officers should use 

 their personal and moral influence in dealing with the convicts, while the officers, on the 

 other hand, stood on their dignity, and declined to accept his .suggestions. A series of 

 petty squabbles and irritations, fomented by Major Ross, who was supported by his 

 brother officers, eventually resulted in the Major being dispatched to Norfolk Island, 

 with a commission as Lieutenant-Governor. 



The first stone for the foundation of a temporary Government House was laid by 

 the Governor in Pitt Street on the I5th of May, 1788. In November the ration of 

 each man, including officers and the Governor alike, was reduced by a third, and in 

 March, 1 790, as the stock of provisions was becoming alarmingly low, two hundred and 

 eighty persons were sent over to Norfolk Island, where it was thought there would 

 soon be plenty. The Sirius was to take them over, and then to sail to Europe to 

 procure provisions for the colony at Sydney. But as she neared the island heavy 

 weather set in ; she was standing off and on to land the people, when suddenly the 

 vessel was driven on to the rocks and lost. The passengers and crew were saved, but 

 their effects were destroyed. Then came the disappointing news to the half-drowned 

 men and women who landed, that just the month before the island had been visited 

 by a hurricane, which had swept away granaries, casks, bags and crops in one wild 

 confusion. What the winds had spared a rising flood had carried away. When this 

 news reached Sydney the Governor still further decreased the ration, and parties were 

 sent out to supplement the fast-diminishing stores by fishing and shooting. 



In June there arrived another transport with two hundred and twenty-two female 

 prisoners ; and the sad intelligence was brought that the Guardian, store-ship, after 

 rounding the Cape of Good Hope, had struck an iceberg, and to save the vessel nearly 

 the whole of a two years' supply of provisions had to be thrown overboard, while with 

 the rest she returned to the Cape for repairs. 



Again the daily ration was reduced, till it was little more than a quarter of that 

 which had at first been issued. A curious illustration of the scarcity of food is to be 

 found in the fact that du'ring the severest pinch persons who were invited to dine with 

 the Governor were requested to bring their own fare with them. The Supply was sent 

 for provisions to Batavia. She would be absent at least six months, and at the decreased 



