179°-] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 79 



longing to the detachment, the Governor dire&ed, that a boat mould 

 in future be employed three times in the week to fifh for the public ; 

 and that the whole quantity caught mould be hTued at the above rate 

 to every perfon in turn. This allowance was in addition to the ration 

 of provifions ; and was received with much fatisfa&ion feveral times 

 during the month. 



The bricklayers were now employed in building a Difpenfary conti- 

 guous to the Hofpital ; the medicines and chirurgical inftruments 

 being much expofed to damps in the place where they had neceflarily 

 been kept. 



The firft fignal from the flag-ftaff at the South head was difpl'ayed 

 on the 10th of February; and though every imagination firit. turned 

 to the expecTed flranger, yet happening about the time at which the 

 Supply was expe&ed from Norfolk Ifland, conjecture foon fixed on 

 the right object ; and the temporary fufpence was put an end to, by 

 word being brought that the Supply, unable to get into Port Jackfon, 

 had borne up for Botany Bay, in which harbour fhe anchored in the 

 dufk of the evening. By her Lieutenant King wrote, that his people 

 continued healthy, and his fettlement went on well. His wheat had 

 turned out twenty fold, notwithstanding he had had much dry wea- 

 ther. He ftated, that the convicts under his orders had in general 

 very good gardens, and that many of them would have a very large 

 produce of Indian corn. 



The Supply had not met with any fuceefs at Lord Howe Ifland ; fo 

 that no dependanee was to be placed on the turtle it might furnifh. 

 The ifland had been examined and frefh water found in cavities, 

 but not in any current. The Supply had been abfent juft five 

 weeks. 



Lieutenant King having conftantly'written in high terms of the rich- 

 nefs of the foil of Norfolk Ifland, the Governor, on comparing the 

 fituation of the convicts there and in his fettlement, where their gar- 

 dens had not that fertility to boaft of, and where the ration from the 

 ftore was with too many haflily devoured, and with raoft derived but 



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