36 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [August, 



this. Three fting-rays had been taken in the courfe of this month, 

 and two of them, which weighed about three hundred weight, were 

 diftributed among the people. 



On the 26th the Supply returned from Norfolk Ifland, having 

 been abfent rive weeks and two days. From the Commandant 

 the moft favourable accounts were received of the richnefs and depth 

 of the foil, and falubrity of the climate, having been vifited with 

 very little rain, or thunder and lightning. His fearch after the flax- 

 plant had been fuccefsful ; where he had cleared the ground he 

 found it growing fpontaneoufly and luxuriant : a fmall fpecies of 

 plantain alfo had been difcovered. His gardens promifed an ample 

 fupply of vegetables ; but his feed-wheat having been heated in the 

 long paflfage to this country, turned out to be damaged, and did not 

 vegetate. The landing was found to be very dangerous ; and he had 

 the misfortune to lofe Mr. Cunningham, the midmipman, and three 

 people, with the boat that they were in, by the furf on the reef, a 

 few days before the Supply failed. Short, however, as the time was, 

 the carpenter of that veffel replaced the boat, by building him a coble 

 of the timber of the ifland, conftrudted purpofely for going without 

 the reef, and for the hazardous employ in which fhe mud often be 

 engaged. 



The fettlement of Sydney Cove was for fome time amufed with an 

 account of the exiftence and difcovery of a gold mine ; and the im- 

 poftor had ingenuity enough to impofe a fabricated tale on feveral of 

 the people for truth. He pretended to have found it at fome diftance 

 down the harbour ; and, offering to conduct an officer to the fpot, a 

 boat was provided ; but immediately on landing, having previoufly 

 prevailed on the officer to fend away the boat, to prevent his difco- 

 very being made public to more than one perfon, he made a pretence 

 to leave him, and, reaching the fettlement fome hours before the of- 

 ficer, reported that he had been fent up by him for a guard. The 

 fellow knew too well the confequences that would follow on the 

 officer's arrival to wait for that, and therefore fet off dire&ly into 



5 the 



