8 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [1783. 



courfe of that time they had failed five thoufand and twenty-one 

 iea<nies : had touched at the American and African continents; and 

 had at lafi refted within a few days fail of the Antipodes of their 

 native country, without meeting any accident in a fleet of eleven 

 fail, nine of which were merchantmen that had never before failed in 

 that diftant and imperfectly explored ocean ; and when it was confi- 

 dered that there was on board a large body of convicts, many of whom 

 were embarked in a very fickly ftate, they might be deemed pecu- 

 liarly fortunate, that of the whole number of all descriptions of per- 

 forms coming to form the new fettlement, only thirty-two had died 

 fince their leaving England, among whom were to be included one or 

 two deaths by accident ; although previous to their departure, it had 

 been conjectured, that before they mould have been a month at fea, 

 one of the tranfports would have been converted into an hofpital (hip* 

 Fortunately, however, it happened otherwife. Their provifions were 

 excellent, and they had all partaken liberally of refrefhments at the 

 Cape of Good Hope and Rio de Janeiro. 



The governor had employed the fhort time which he had pained, 

 in examining the bay ; but on their arrival he had not feen any fpot 

 to which fome {trong objection did not apply. If in one place he met 

 with a promifing foil, it was deficient in that grand effential, frefh wa- 

 ter, and was befides too confined for their numbers. He therefore 

 determined on examining the adjacent harbours of Port Jackfon and 

 Broken Bay ; and for that purpofe fet off the day following the arri- 

 val of the Sinus and her convoy, in three open boats accompanied by 

 fome of the officers of the fettlement. 



The coaft as he drew near Port Jackfon wore a moft unpromifing 

 appearance, and the natives every where greeted the little fleet with 

 fhouts of defiance and prohibition, the words At Warra warra," Go 

 away, go away, refounding wherever they appeared. The govern- 

 or's utmoft expectation, as he drew near the harbour, being to find 

 what Captain Cook, as he paflfed it by, thought might be found, (hel- 

 ler for a boat j he was raoft agreeably furprifed at difcovering, on his 



entrance^ 



