SETTLEMENT OF NORFOLK ISLAND. 



9 



breeding-ground, which was hollowed by innumerable burrows. 

 The seamen, marines, and convicts went out to Mount Pitt 

 every evening, arriving soon after dark. They lighted small 

 fires to attract the birds, which alighted faster than the people 

 could knock them down. After killing 2000 to 3000 birds 

 every night there was no sensible diminution in their numbers 

 at the end of May. The people called the bird " Pittites ;" 

 Phillip in his voyage gives it the name of the Norfolk Island 

 Petrel. It is known to us in Tasmania as the Mutton Bird. 



Captain Hunter in his journal calls it the Bird of Pro- 

 vidence. Such it undoubtedly was to the Norfolk Islanders, 

 who, but for its timely and wholly unexpected arrival, must 

 have perished in numbers from starvation. It is true that the 

 sea abounded in fish, and the neighbouring islets (Phillip 

 Island and Nepean Island) swarmed with countless multitudes 

 of sea fowl, but they were unattainable. For a month together 

 the surf ran so high that not more than once or twice during 

 that time was it possible to launch a boat, and even then the 

 fishing was often unsuccessful, while the islands that the sea- 

 birds frequented were usually inaccessible on account of the 

 tremendous surf. 



Towards the end of July the birds on Mount Pitt began to 

 get scarce. As only 10 or 12 days' salt provisions at short 

 allowance were now left, the Lieut. -Governor reduced the ration 

 to three lbs. flour or maize meal and one pint of rice per week. 

 The people were so reduced by want of food that hardly any 

 work could be done, and it was with great difficulty that the 

 little crops could be got in. 



On the 4th August, while in this deplorable state, with 

 famine staring them in the face, one of the sailors came running 

 into the settlement, crying out — "A ship! a ship !" Men, 

 women, and children rushed out to welcome her, and Captain 

 Hunter and many of the people hurried across to the north of 

 the island to communicate with her ; but when they arrived in 

 sight of her, in spite of their signals, she stood off before the 

 wind and sailed away. Hunter, in his journal published some 

 years later, speaks of their bitter disappointment and indig- 

 nation at the want of humanity in the captain who, although 

 he might have nothing for them, might at least have informed 

 them of the near approach of relief. 



From the appearance of the ship the people were convinced 

 that relief was not far distant, and three days later two ships 

 hove in sight. They proved to be the Justinian and Surprise, 

 from Port Jackson, with provisions and 200 convicts. The 

 mystery of the non-arrival of supplies from England was now 

 cleared up. The Guardian, Captain Biou, had sailed from 

 Plymouth for Sydney with provisions in August, 1789, but she 

 had been wrecked at the Cape, and it was not until the arrival 



