January, 1789.] 



OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



45 



Chap. in. 



NEW YEAR'S DAY. — HER MAJESTY'S BIRTH-DAY. — CONVICTS HOW EM- 

 PLOYED. THEIR DISPOSITION TO IDLENESS AND VICE. — HOW OCCUPIED. 



-—THE SUPPLY SAILS FOR NORFOLK ISLAND. PUBLIC WORKS, — NATIVES. 



—CONVICTS KILLED. — STORES ROBBED. — THE SUPPLY RETURNS — INSUR- 

 RECTION PROJECTED AT NORFOLK ISLAND. HURRICANE THERE. 



. SMALL POX AMONG THE NATIVES- — CAPTAIN HUNTER IN THE SIRIUS- 



RETURNS WITH SUPPLIES FROM THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. DANGER OF 



WANDERING IN THE FORESTS OF AN UNKNOWN COUNTRY.— -CONVICTS 

 PERFORM A PLAY. — A REINFORCEMENT SENT TO NORFOLK ISLAND.—* 

 GOVERNOR PHILLIP MAKES AN EXCURSION OF DISCOVERY. TRANSAC- 

 TIONS, — HAWK E SBURY RIVER DISCOVERED. — IMPORTANT PAPERS LEFT 

 BEHIND IN ENGLAND. 



'J* HE firft day of the new year (January 1789) was marked as a 

 holiday by a fufpenfion of all kinds of labour, and by hoifting of 

 colours at the fort. The ration of provifions, though ftill lefs by a 

 pound of flour than the proper allowance, was yet fo fufficient as not 

 to be complained of; nor was labour diminifhed by it. Upon a calcu- 

 lation of the different people employed for the public in cultivation, it 

 appeared, that of all the numbers in the colony there were only two 

 hundred and fifty fo employed : — a very fmall number indeed to pro- 

 cure the means of rendering the colony independent of the mother- 

 country for the necefTaries of life. The reft were occupied in carry- 

 ing on various public works, fuch as {lores, houfes, wharfs^ &c 

 A large number were incapable, through age or infirmities, of 

 being called to labour ; and the civil eftablifhment, the military, fe- 

 males, and children, filled up the catalogue of thofe unafTifting in 

 cultivation* 



The 



