72 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [November, 



months of that time difembarked, and the public (lore had been aided 

 only by a fmall Turpi us of the provifions which remained of what had 

 been furnifhed by the contractor for the pafTage, and the fupply of 

 four months flour which had been received by the Sirius from the 

 Cape of Good Hope. All this did not produce fuch an abundance 

 as would juftify any longer continuance of the full ration ; and, al- 

 though it was reafonable to fuppofe, as they had not hitherto received 

 any fupplies, that {hips would arrive before their prefent ftock was 

 exhaufted s yet, if the period of diftrefs fhould ever arrive, the con- 

 icioufnefs that they had early forefeen and ftrove to guard againft it 

 would certainly foften the bitternefs of their reflections ; and, 

 guarding thus againft the worft, that worft providentially might ne- 

 ver happen. The Governor, whofe humanity was at all times con- 

 fpicuous, directed that no alteration mould be made in the ration to 

 be ifTued to the women. They were already upon two-thirds of the 

 man's allowance ; and mimy of them either had children who could 

 very well have eaten their own and part of the mother's ration, or 

 they had children at the breaft ; and although they did not labour, 

 }(et their appetites were never fo delicate as to have found the full 

 ration too much, had it been ifTued to them. The mips' companies 

 of the Sirius and Supply TufTered the fame reduction. 



Thus opened the month of November in this fettlement ; where, 

 though they had not the accompanying gloom and vapour of their 

 own climate to render it terrific to their minds, yet they had that 

 before them in the mid ft of all their funfhine, which gave it the com- 

 plexion of the true November fo inimical to their countrymen. 



It was foon obferved, that of the provifions ifTued at this ration 

 on the Saturday, the major part of the convi&s had none left on the 

 Tuefday night ; it was therefore ordered, that the provifions fhould 

 be Terved in future on Saturdays and Wednefdays. By thefe means, 

 the days which would otherwiTe pafs in hunger, or in thieving from 

 the few who were more provident, would be divided, and the people 

 themfelves be more able to perform the labour which was required 



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