1791.] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 129 



In the courfe of the night of the 28th, a convict of the name of 

 Bryant, whofe term of tranfportation, according to his own account, 

 had recently expired, eluded the watch that was kept upon him, and 

 made his efcape, together with his wife and two children (one an 

 infant at the breaft), and feven other convicts, in a fifhing-boat. Their 

 flight was not difcovered until they had been feveral hours without 

 the heads. 



They were traced from Bryant's hut to the Point ; and in the path 

 were found a hand-faw, a fcale, and four or five pounds of rice, 

 fcattered about in different places, which it was evident they had 

 dropped in their hafte. A feine belonging to government was like- 

 wife found, which, being too large for Bryant's purpofe, he had 

 exchanged for a fmaller that he had made for an officer. 



As foon as it was known in the fettlement that Bryant had got out 

 of reach, information was given that Detmer Smith, the matter of the 

 fnow from Batavia, had fold him a compafs and a quadrant, and had 

 furnifhed him with a chart, together with fuch information as w T ould 

 affift him in his paffage to the northward. Though Bryant had for fome 

 time been fufpected of intending to efcape when opportunity offered, 

 yet fuch had been the addrefs w r ith which he had conducted himfelf, 

 that at this period his motions had been lefs attended to than ufual. 

 Moft of his companions were connected with female convicts ; but if 

 they knew of their intention they were too faithful to thole whom 

 they lived with to reveal it. Yet, had thefe women been bound to 

 them by any ties of affection, fear for their fafety, or the diflike to 

 part, would furely have induced fome of them to defeat an enterprife 

 fo hazardous, and to a thinking mind fo hopelefs ; we mud therefore 

 conclude, that either thefe women were ignorant of the plan, or that, 

 not having any intereft either in their flight or in their remaining, 

 they were filent on the fubject. For one young woman a letter was 

 found from one of the adventurers, conjuring her to relinquifh the 

 purfuit of thofe vices which, he told her, prevailed in the fettlement, 

 leaving her what little property he did not take with him, and affign- 



