9 % ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [May, 



the hofpital, where he died the next morning. On being opened, 

 his ftomach was found quite empty. 



The colony had hitherto been fupplied with fait from the public 

 ftores, a quantity being always fhaken off from the fait provifions, 

 and refer ved for ufe by the {lore-keepers ; but the daily confumptlon 

 of fait provifions was now become fo inconfiderable, and they had 

 been fo long in ftore, that little or none of that article was to be pro- 

 cured. Two large iron boilers were therefore erected at the Eaft point 

 of the cove ; fome people were employed to boil the fait water, and 

 the fait which was produced by this very fimple procefs was iffued to 

 the convi&s. 



The fiftiing tackle began now to decreafe with their_ other necef- 

 faries. To remedy this inconvenience, they were driven by ne- 

 ceffity to avail themfelves of fome knowledge which had been 

 gained from the natives ; and a convict, a rope-maker, was employed 

 to fpin lines from the bark of a tree which they ufed for the fame 

 purpofe. 



The native who had been taken in November convinced his cap- 

 tors how far before every other consideration he deemed the poffeffion 

 of his liberty, by very artfully effecting his efcape from the Governor's 

 houfe, where he had been treated with every indulgence, and had en- 

 joyed every comfort which it was in his Excellency's power to give 

 him. He managed his efcape fo ingenioufly, that it was not fuf- 

 pe&ed until he had completed it, and all fearch was rendered fruitlefs. 

 The boy and the girl appeared to remain perfectly contented among 

 them, but declared that they knew their countryman would never 

 return. 



The greateft quantity of fiih caught at any one time during the 

 month of May was two hundred pounds. Once indeed the feine was 

 full ; but through either the ignorance or the wilfulnefs of the people 

 employed to land it, the greateft part of its contents efcaped. All 

 together upwards of two thoufand pounds were taken in the eourfe 



of 



