OF NEW SOUTH WALES. * 95 



there, and the changing the hours of labour. The convi&s had 

 more time given to them, for the purpofe not only of avoiding the 

 heat of the day, but of making theinfelves comfortable at home. 

 They were dire&ed to work from five in the morning until nine; reft 

 until four in the afternoon, and then labour until fun-fet. 



The weather during December had been extremely hot. On the 5th 

 the wind blew ftrong from the northward of weft ; and, to add to the 

 intenfe heat of the atmofphere, the country was every where on fire. 

 At Sydney, the grafs at the back of the hill on the weft fide of the 

 cove, having either caught or been fet on fire by the natives, the 

 flames, aided by the wind which at that time blew violently, fpread 

 and raged with incredible fury. One houfe was burnt down ; feveral 

 gardens with their fences were deftroyed, and the whole face of the 

 hill was on fire, threatening every thatched hut with deftru&ion. 

 The conflagration was, with much difficulty, (notwithftanding the ex- 

 ertions of the military,) got under, after fome time, and prevented 

 from doing any further mifchief* At different times during this un- 

 comfortable day diftant thunder was heard, the air darkened, and fome 

 few drops of rain fell. The apparent danger from the fires, drew all 

 perfons out of their houfes 5 and on going into the parching air, it was 

 fcarcely poffible to breathe 5 the heat was infupportable; and vegetation 

 feemed to fufTer much, the leaves of many culinary plants being re- 

 duced to powder. The thermometer in the made rofe above one hun- 

 dred degrees. Some rain falling toward evening, this exceffive heat 

 abated. 



At Parramatta, and Toongabbe, alfo, the heat was extreme ; the 

 country there too was every where in flames. One fettler was a great 

 fufferer. The fire had fpread to his farm ; but, by the efforts of hfo 

 people and neighbours was got under, and its progrefs fuppofed to be 

 effe&ually checked^ when an unlucky fpark from a tree, which 

 had been on fire to the topmoft branch, flying upon the thatch of 

 the hut where his people lived, it blazed out, and the hut, with all 

 the out-buildings, and thirty bufhels of wheat juft got into a ftack, 



were 



