OF NEW SOUTH WALES* 47 



a fmall Ifland that lay near, where the natives landed, leaving the 

 canoe at the rocks. This the cockfwain took away (contrary to an or- 

 der, which had been made very public, on no account to touch a 

 canoe, or any thing belonging to a native,) and towed it to the bay 

 where they had been at work. The natives returned to the fame 

 place unobferved, and, while the cockfwain and his people were col- 

 lecting what rufhes they had cut, threw a fpear at the cockfwain and 

 wounded him in the arm, although they mull have known that at that 

 time one of their people was in the power of his countrymen on whom 

 the injury might be retaliated. This poor native had begun to feem 

 reconciled to his fituation, and did not appear to dread any ill treat- 

 ment from the prefent matters of his deftiny. He was taken down 

 the harbour once or twice, to let his friends fee that he was alive, and 

 had fome intercourfe with them which appeared to give him much 

 fatisfaction. 



For fifteen days in this month the thermometer rofe in the made 

 above eighty degrees : once (on the 8th), at one in the afternoon, it 

 flood at 105 0 in the fhade. 



The convicts being found to continue the practice of felling their 

 cloathing, an order was iflued, directing, that if in future any of 

 them would give information to the provoft marfhal againft the per- 

 fon who had been the purchafer, the feller mould receive the clothes- 

 again, and be permitted to keep whatever was paid for them without 

 receiving any punimment himfelf for the i'ale. It was found necef- 

 fary to direct, that all ftragglers at night who, on being challenged by 

 the patrole, fhould run from them, mould be fired at; but orders, in 

 general, were obferved to have very little effect, and to be attended to 

 only while the impreffion made by hearing them publimed remained 

 upon the mind ; for the convicts had not been accuftomed to live in 

 fituations where their conduct was to be regulated by written orders. 

 Here there was no other mode of communicating to them fuch direc- 

 tions as it was found neceffary to iffue for their obfervance ; and it was- 

 Tery common to have them plead in excule for a breach of any regu- 

 lation 



