179*-] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 141 



pened which fhewed the inconvenience confequent thereon, and de- 

 termined the Governor to deviate from the inftru&ions, whenever, by 

 adhering to them, the fettlers were likely to be material fufferers. 



In the beginning of Auguft information was received, that a much 

 larger party of the natives than had yet been feen aflembled at any 

 one time, had deflroyed a hut belonging to a fettlcr at Profpect Hill, 

 who would have been murdered by them, but for the timely and acci- 

 dental appearance of another fettler with a mufquet. There was no 

 doubt of the hut having been deflroyed, and by natives, though per- 

 haps their numbers were much exaggerated ; the Governor, therefore, 

 determined to place other fettlers upon allotments which had been re- 

 ferved for the Crown ; by which means affiftance in fimilar or other 

 accidents would be more ready. 



On the arrival of the Matilda, orders were given that the weekly 

 allowance of flour mould be increafed to five pounds for each man, 

 and three pounds and a half for each woman. 



The platform which had been fome time conrtructing on the Weft 

 point being ready for the reception of the cannon, they were moved 

 thither. 



On the 20th, the Atlantic tranfport anchored in the cove from Ply- 

 mouth, whence fhe failed with two other tranfports ; from whom (he 

 had parted five weeks fince in bad weather between Rio de Janeiro and 

 Port Jackfon, the pavTage from which had not been more than ten 

 weeks. She had on board a ferjeant's party of the new corps as a 

 guard to two hundred and twenty male convicts, eighteen of whom 

 had died on the pafTage : except nine who were fick, the remainder 

 were very healthy. The evening before her arrival fhe flood into a 

 capacious bay, fituated between Long Nofe and Cape St. George, 

 where they found good anchorage and deep water. The naval agent 

 on board, who landed, defcribed the foil to be fandy, and the country 

 thickly covered with timber. He did not fee any natives, but found a 

 canoe upon the beach, whofe owners perhaps were not far off. The 



canoe, 



