84 ACCOUNT .OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [April, 



remained alive ; the owners, not having wherewith to feed them, 

 were obliged to turn them loofe to browfe among the grafs and fhrubs, 

 or turn up the ground for the fern-root ; and as they wandered with- 

 out any one to prevent their doing mifchief, they but too often found 

 an eafy paffage over fences and through barriers which were now 

 growm weak and perifliing. It was ordered, however, that the flock 

 ihould be kept up during the night ; and every damage that could be 

 proved to have been fuftained during that time was to be made good 

 by the owners ; or the animals themfelves were to be forfeited. 



The carpenters were employed in preparing a roof for a new ftore- 

 houfe, thofe which were firffc erected being fa ft decaying. It was ne- 

 ver expected to get up a- building of one hundred feet in front, which 

 this was deflgned to be, upon fo reduced a ration as the prefent ; but 

 while the people did labour, it was proper to turn that little labour to 

 the public account. 



The working gangs being now fo much reduced by the late em- 

 barkation, the hoy was employed in bringing the timber neceifary for 

 this building from the coves where it was cut down and depofited for 

 that purpofe. This veffel was, when unemployed for public fervices, 

 given to the officers, and by them fent down the harbour to procure 

 cabbage-tree for their flock, in the prefervation and maintenance of 

 which every one felt an immediate and anxious concern. 



The weather had been very wet during this month ; torrents of 

 rain again laid every place under water ; and many little habitations, 

 which had withftood the inundations of the laft month, now fuf- 

 fered considerably. 



With the firft of April the reduced ration, and the change in the 

 working hours commenced ; much time was not confumed at the 

 ftore, and the people went away to drefs the fcanty allowance which 

 they had received. 



Attention to religious duties was never omitted, and Divine fervice 

 was performed on the morning of Good Friday ; when the convicts 

 were recommended to employ the remainder of it in working in 



their 



