i;88.] 



OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



convi&s had been the aggreffbrs ; as the Governor, at his return from 

 Broken Bay, on landing at Camp Cove, found the natives there, who 

 had before frequently come up to him with confidence, unufually fhy, 

 and feemingly afraid of him and his party ; and one, who after much 

 invitation did venture to approach, pointed to fome marks upon his 

 fhoulders, making figns that they were caufed by blows given with a 

 flick. This, with their running away, were flrong indications that 

 they had been ill-treated by the ftragglers. Eleven canoes full of 

 people palled very near the Sirius, which was moored without the 

 points of the Cove, but paddled away very fad upon the approach of 

 fome boats toward them. 



The curiofity of the new fettlers was excited and gratified for 

 a day or two by the fight of an emu, which was mot. It was re- 

 markable, by every ftem having two feathers proceeding from it. 

 Its height was feven feet four inches, and the flefh. was very well 

 flavoured. 



The run of water that fupplied the fettlement was obferved to be 

 only a drain from a fwamp at the head of it. To protect it, there- 

 fore, as much as poffible from the fun, an order was given out, for- 

 bidding the cutting down of any tree within fifty feet of it. 



It being now April, and the winter of this hemifphere approach- 

 ing, it became neceffary to expedite the buildings intended for the de- 

 tachment. Every carpenter that could be procured among the con- 

 victs was fent to affift, and as many as could be hired from the trans- 

 ports were employed at the hofpital and ftorehoufe. The long-boats 

 ftill continued to bring up the cabbage-tree from the lower part of the 

 harbour, and a range of huts was begun on the Weft fide for fome of 

 the female convicts. 



The little camp now began to wear the afpect of difrrefs, from the 

 great number of fcorbutic patients that were daily feen creeping to and 

 from the hofpital tent ; and the principal furgeon fuggefted the ex- 

 pediency of another fupply of turtle from Lord Howe Ifland ; but it 

 was generally thought that the feafon was too far advanced, and that 



e the 



