1 7^8.] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 35 



arm of the bay, which, notwithftanding his wounds, he fwam acrofs, 

 and reported that the natives flood on the bank laughing at him. 

 Much credit, indeed, was not to be given to their accounts ; but it 

 muft be remarked, that every accident which had happened was occa- 

 fioned by a breach of pofitive orders repeatedly given. 



Still, notwithftanding this appearance of hoftility in fome of the 

 natives, others were more friendly. In one of the adjoining coves 

 refided a family of them, who were vifited by large parties of the con- 

 victs of both fexes on thofe days in which they were not wanted for 

 labour. Here they danced and fung with apparent good humour, 

 and received fuch prefents as the convicts could afford to make them ; 

 but none of the natives would venture back with their vifitors. 



During the beginning of Auguft much heavy rain fell, and not only 

 prevented the carrying-on of labour, but rendered the work of much 

 time fruitlefs by its effects ; the brick-kiln fell in more than once, and 

 bricks to a large amount were deftroyed ; the roads about the fettle- 

 ment were rendered impaffable ; and fome of the huts were fo far in- 

 jured as to require nearly as much time to repair them as to build 

 them anew. It was not until the 14th of the month, when the weather 

 cleared up, that the people were again able to work. There were at 

 this time in hand barracks for the marine detachment ; an obferva- 

 tory, the houfes ereding for the governor and lieutenant-governor, 

 and the mingling of the HofpitaL 



It had been imagined in England, that fome, if not confiderable 

 favings of provifions might be made, by the quantity of fifti that it was 

 fuppofed would be taken ; but nothing like an equivalent for the ra- 

 tion that was iffued to the colony for a fingle day had ever been 

 brought up. 



It was faid that the French (hips, while in Botany Bay, had met 

 with one very fuccefsful hawl of large fifli, which more than fupplied 

 both mips' companies ; but this good fortune had never attended Go- 

 vernor Phillip's people. Fifh enough was fometimes taken to fupply 

 about two hundred perfons 5 but the quantity very rarely exceeded 



j? 2 this* 



