42 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [December, 



ing into and plundering a houfe; for which he fufFered death. Before 

 he was turned off, he confeffed that he had committed feveral thefts, 

 to which he had been induced by bad connections, and pointed out 

 two women who had received part of the property for the aequifition 

 of which he was then about to pay fo dear a price. Thefe women 

 were immediately apprehended, and one of them made a public ex- 

 ample of, in the hope of deterring others from offending in the like 

 manner. The convi&s being all affembled for mutter, me was di reeled 

 .to ftand forward ; and her head having been previoufly deprived of 

 its natural covering, me was clothed with a canvas frock, on which 

 was painted, in large characters R. S. G. (Receiver of Stolen Goods,) 

 and threatened with puniffiment if ever fhe was feen without it. This 

 was done in the idea that fhame might operate, at leaft with the fe- 

 male part of the prifoners, to the prevention of crimes ; but a great 

 number of both fexes had too long been acquainted with each other 

 in fcenes of difgrace, for this kind of punifhment to work much re- 

 formation among them. This, however, muft be underftood to be 

 fpoken only of the lowed clafs of thefe people, among whom the 

 commifllon of offences was chiefly found to exift ; for there were con- 

 victs of both fexes who were never known to aiTociate with the com- 

 mon herd, and whofe conduct was marked by attention to their la- 

 bour, and obedience to the orders which they received. 



On the nth, the Governor fet off with a fmall party in boats, to 

 examine the different branches of Botany Bay, and, after an excurfion 

 of five days, returned, well fatisfied that no part of that extenfive bay. 

 was adapted to the purpofe of a fettlement ? thus fully confirming the 

 reports which he had received from others, and the opinion that he had) 

 himfelf formed. 



A convict having been found dead in the woods, an enquiry into- 

 the caufe of his death was made ; when it appeared from the evidence- 

 of the furgeon who opened him, and of the people who lived with; 

 the deceafed, that he died through want of nourishment. It feemed 1 

 that he had not for more than a week paft eaten his allowance of pro~ 



vifionSj, 



