22 



ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [March, 



the neceffity of flickering the detachment ; and until barracks could 

 he built, mod of them covered their tents with thatch, or erected for 

 themfelves temporary clay huts. The barracks were begun early in 

 March ; but much difficulty was found in providing proper materials, 

 the timber being in general fhakey and rotten. They were to confift 

 of four buildings, and were placed at a convenient di fiance from each 

 other for the benefit of air and c'ieanlinefs, and with a fpace in the 

 centre for a parade. 



On or about the ioth of March, the French fhips failed from Botany 

 Bay, bound, as they faid, to the northward, and carrying with them 

 the moft unfavourable ideas of this country and its native inhabitants ; 

 the officers having declared, that in their whole voyage they nowhere 

 found fo poor a country, nor fuch miferable people. There had 

 been, during their May in this country, a very friendly and pleafant 

 intercourfe kept up between them and the Englifh ; they had among 

 their officers men of abilities, whofe obfervations and exertion^ in the 

 fearch after knowledge will moft amply illuftrate the hiftory of their 

 voyage ; and it reflected much credit on the minifler, when he ar- 

 ranged the plan of it, that people of the firft talents for navigation, af- 

 tronomy, natural hiftory, and every other fcience that could render 

 it confpicuoufty ufeful, fhould have been fele&ed for that purpofe. 



A wharf for the convenience of landing ftores was begun, under the 

 diredion of the furveyor-general : the ordnance, confiding of two 

 brafs fix-pounders on travelling carriages, four iron twelve-pounders, 

 and two iron fix-pounders, were landed; the tranfports, which were 

 chartered for China, were cleared ; the long-boats of the fhips in the 

 Cove were employed in bringing cabbage-tree from the lower part of 

 the harbour, where it grew in great abundance, and was found, when 

 cut into proper lengths, very fit for the purpofe of ereding tempo- 

 rary huts ; the pofts and plates of which, being made of the pine of 

 the country, and the fides and ends filled with lengths of the cabbage- 

 tree, plaftered over with clay, formed a very good hovel. The roofs 

 were generally thatched with the grafs of the gum-rufh 5 fome were 



covered 



