1790.] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. n 7 



the charge for the leagers which contained it, and exclufive of the 

 freight, every pound of flour cofl as nearly as poffible ten-pence 

 three farthings. To make up the deficiency in the flour, Lieutenant 

 Ball purchafed two hundred thoufand pounds of rice, at one rix-dollar 

 and forty-four {livers per hundred weight, over and above the feventy 

 thoufand pounds that he had been directed to procure. The fait pro- 

 vifions were paid for at the rate of feven {livers per pound ; and the 

 amount of the whole cargo, including caflcs, wood for dunnage, hire 

 of cooleys, and of craft for {hipping the provisions, made a total of 

 fifty- eight thoufand four hundred and forty-one rix dollars and thirty- 

 three {livers, or 1 1 ,688 1- fterlingv 



The criminal court had been twice affembled during the month of 

 October, when feveral were tried for felony j two of whom, old and 

 hardened offenders, were executed. 



Early in November the weather evidently became warmer every 

 day; and although the trees had never wholly loft their foliage, yet 

 they gave manifeft figns of returning fpring. 



A fmall boat which had been fent out with a feine was loft fome* 

 where about Middle Head. She had five convicts in her ; and from 

 the reports of the natives, who were witneftes of the accident, it was 

 fuppofed that they had crofted the harbour's mouth, and, having 

 hauled the feine in Hunter's Bay, were returning loaded, when, 

 getting-in too clofe with the rocks and the furf under Middle 

 Head, {he filled and went down. The firft information that any 

 accident had happened was given by the natives, who had fecured 

 the rudder, the mail, an oar, and other parts of the boat, which 

 they had fixed in fuch fituations as were likely to render them 

 confpicuous to any boat pafling that way. Some gentlemen going 

 down foon after found their information too true. One of the bodies- 

 was lying dead upon the beach. 



This appeared to be a {hiking inftance of the good effed of the 

 ilitercourfe which, had been opened with thefe people ; and there 

 feemed wanting only a good underftanding between the parties to 



eftabliJk 



