1788.] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 19 



perfectly convinced that nothing fhort of the greateft necefiity could 

 have induced M. de la Peroufe to take fuch a ftep ; as he had 

 been heard to declare, that it was among the particular inftructions 

 which he received from his fovereign, to endeavour by every poffible 

 means to acquire and cultivate the friendfhip of the natives of fuch 

 places as he might difcover or vifit, and to avoid exercifing any act of 

 hoftility upon them. In obedience to this humane command, there 

 was no doubt but he forbore ufing force until forbearance would have 

 been dangerous ; and he had been taught a leflbn at Maouna, one of 

 the Ifles des Navigateurs, that the tempers of favages were not to be 

 trufted too far; having, on the very day and hour of their departure 

 from that ifland, had the boats of the two fhips, which were fent on 

 more for a laft load of water, attacked by the natives with ftones.and 

 clubs, and M. de 1' Angle, the captain of the Aftrolahe, with eleven 

 officers and men, put to death ; thofe who were fo fortunate as to get 

 off in the fmall boats that attended on the watering launches (which 

 were deftroyed) efcaped, but not without many wounds and contu- 

 fions. It was conjectured, that fome one of the feamen by ill conduct 

 muft have provoked this outrage, as the natives during the time when 

 the mips were at the ifland had lived with the officers and people on 

 terms of the greateft harmony. This was not the firft misfortune that 

 thofe fhips had met with during their voyage ; for on the north-weft 

 coaft of America they loft two boats, with their crews and feveral 

 young men of family, in the furf. 



Notwithstanding the pre (lure of important bufinefs at Sidney, the 

 difcharge of religious duties was never omitted ; divine fervice being 

 performed every Sunday that the weather would permit ; at which 

 time the detachment of marines paraded with their arms, the whole 

 body of convicts attended, and were obferved to conduct themfelves 

 in general with the refpect and attention due to the occafion on which 

 they were affembled. 



It was obferved with fatisfaction, that many couples were an- 

 nounced for marriage ; but on ftrictly fcrutinizing into the motive, it 



D 2 was 



