i 3 © ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [March, 



ing as a reafon for his flight the feverity of his fituation, being trans- 

 ported for life, without the profpecT of any mitigation, or hope of ever 

 quitting the country, but by the means that he was about to adopt. 

 It was conjedured that they would fleer for Timor, or Batavia, as 

 their affiftance and information were derived from the Dutch fnow. 



The depredations at Rofe Hill were now fo frequent and extenfive, 

 that it became abfolutely neceffary to punifh fuch offenders as were 

 dete&ed with a feverity that might deter others : to this end, iron 

 collars of feven pounds weight were ordered as a punifhment for flagrant 

 offenders, who were alfo linked together by a chain, without which 

 precaution they would ftill have continued to plunder the public 

 grounds. The baker at that fettlement abfconded with a quantity of 

 flour with which he had been intrufled, belonging to the military on 

 duty there, and other perfons. It muft be remarked, however, that 

 all thefe thefts were for procuring provifions, and that offences of any 

 other tendency were very feldom heard of. 



Some time in March, James Rufe, the firft fettler in this country, 

 ^vho had been upon his ground about fifteen months, declared himfelf 

 defirous of relinquifhing his claim to any further provifions from the 

 ftore, faying that he was able to fupport himfelf by the produce of his 

 farm. 



The fupplies of provifions which had been received in the laft year 

 not warranting the continuing any longer at the ration now iffiied, 

 the governor thought it expedient to make a reduction of flour, rice, 

 and fait provifions: accordingly, early in April each man, woman, 

 and child above ten years of age, was to receive 



3 pounds of flour, i pound taken off ; 

 3 pounds of rice, ditto ; 

 3 pounds of pork, ditto ; 

 or when beef was ferved4 pounds, 2 ditto. 



A fmall proportion was to be given to children under ten years of 

 age. Of this allowance, the flour was the beft article ; the rice was 

 found to be full of weevils ; the pork ill-flavoured, rufty, and fmoked ; 



and 



