BY JAMES BACKHOUSE WALKER. 



167 



Lady 

 storm, 

 all bet 



part of her cargo ; and on the 4th day, after great exer- Paterson 

 tions, she was got off, fortunately without damage, and *° ~ a ™ de a % 5 

 came to an anchor in Outer Cove (George Town). 

 Here the military, prisoners, and stores were landed, Paterson 

 the tents were pitched, and on the 11th November to King , ^ 

 possession was formally taken by hoisting H.M. Colours ■' 



under a royal salute from the Buffalo and three volleys 

 from the troops. 



The other two ships did not arrive till the 21st, the 

 Nelson having suffered much damage from the 

 having had her decks swept, and having lost 

 live stock. Before leaving, Captain Kent erected 

 a flagstaff at Low Head, and other beacons for the 

 guidance of vessels entering the port. 



The day after taking possession (12th November), the ibid. 

 camp was approached by a body of some 80 natives, 

 under the lead of a chief. Presents were offered to the 

 chief— a looking-glass, two handkerchiefs, and a toma- 

 hawk. Paterson says that the looking-glass puzzled 

 them much, and that, 'like monkeys, on looking at it they 

 put their hands behind it to feel if there was any one 

 there. When they came to the boat they wanted to 

 carry off everything they saw, but when made to under- 

 stand that this could not be allowed they retired peace- 

 ably. Shortly afterwards, however, the blacks returned 

 in greater force and made an attack on an outpost. A 

 correspondent of the Sydney Gazette thus describes io Dec, 1804. 

 the incident :— " An interview took place with the 

 natives, which began very amicably, but, unfortunately, 

 their natural impetuosity' has caused a temporary suspen- 

 sion of civilities, having attempted to throw a sergeant 

 from a rock into the sea, and attacked his guard of two 

 men, which compelled them to fire in their own defence." 

 One black was killed, and another wounded in this affray. 

 The hurried landing at Outer Cove was necessitated 

 by the accident to the Buffalo, and the pressing need of 

 immediately unloading her. As there was a sufficient Paterson 

 stream of water for present use, and about 100 acres of to Kins, ^^ 

 land that might do for cultivation, Paterson thought it '' 



best to keep his people at the spot where they had landed 

 until he should have had time to explore the river. 

 Captain Kemp, Dr. Mountgarrett, and Mr. Reilly, General order, 

 the storekeeper, were appointed the first magistrates of 19 Nov. 1804. 

 the settlement, Dr. Mountgarrett acting as Superin- 

 tendent of Public Works. Mr. Thos. Massey was made 

 chief constable, with three subordinates ; two overseers 

 were appointed, and Jas. Hill, the solitary settler, was 



