1791-3 OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 12; 



not more than between three and four hundred families could be main- 

 tained from the produce of the ifland ; and that even from that num- 

 ber in the courfe of twenty years many would be obliged to emigrate. 



In addition to the other works in hand during the month of Fe- 

 bruary, the furveyor was employed in clearing and deepening the run 

 of water which fupplied the fettlement at Sydney, and which, through 

 the long drought, was at this time very low, although ftill fufficient 

 for the confumption of the place. Frefh water was indeed every 

 where very fcarce, mod of the dreams or runs about the cove being 

 dried up. 



At Rofe Hill, the heat on the tenth and eleventh of the month, on 

 which days at Sydney the thermometer flood in the (hade at 105 0 , was 

 fo exceffive (being much increafed by the fire in the adjoining woods), 

 that immenfe numbers of the large fox bat were feen hanging at the 

 boughs of the trees, and dropping into the water, which, by their 

 ftench, was rendered unwholefome. They had been obferved for fome 

 days before regularly taking their flight in the morning from the north- 

 ward to the fouthward, and returning in the evening. .During the 

 exceffive heat many dropped dead while on the wing ; and it was 

 remarkable, that thofe which were picked up were chiefly males. In 

 feveral parts of the harbour the ground was covered with different 

 forts of fmall birds, fome dead, and others gafping for water. 



The relief of the detachment at Rofe Hill took place on one of thofe 

 fultry days ; and the officer, having occafion to land in fearch of wa- 

 ter, was compelled to walk feveral miles before any could be found, 

 the runs which were known being all dry : in his way to and from 

 the boat, he found a number of birds dropping dead at his feet. The 

 wind was about north-weft, and did much injury to the gardens, 

 burning up every thing before it. Thofe perfons whofe bufinefs com- 

 pelled them to go into the heated air declared, that it was impoffible 

 to turn the face for five minutes to the quarter from whence the wind 

 blew. 



The 



