1 793-1 OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 2l r 



gabbe and other places, which they thought would anfwer well for 

 ftock. This was the caffre corn of Africa, and had every appearance 

 of proving a ufeful grain. 



An extraordinary appearance in the fky was obferved by feveral peo- 

 ple between five and fix o'clock in the evening of Friday the 12th of 

 the month. It was noticed in the north-weft, and appeared as if a 

 ray of forked lightning had been ftationary in that quarter of the fky 

 for about fifteen minutes, which was the time it was vifible. It was 

 not to be difcerned, however, after the fun had quitted the horizon. 



In the beginning of the month the weekly ration had been altered, 

 the male convicts receiving, inftead of feven, four pounds of flour • to 

 which were added four pounds of wheat and fix pounds of maize in 

 the cob : the allowance of fait provifions remained unaltered ; but 

 the oil being expended, fix ounces of fugar were ifTued in lieu of that 

 article. The people themfelves allowed this to be a good ration. 



With a ration that they admitted to be a good one, with about fix 

 hours labour during five days of the week, and with the advantages 

 of gardens and good huts, the fituation of the convids might at this 

 period be deemed comfortable, and fuch as precluded all excufe for 

 mifconducl:. Robberies were, notwithftanding, often committed, 

 and the maize, which was ftill in the field, fuffered continual de- 

 predations. 



A diftin&ion was again made in the ration ferved to the civil and 

 military; they receiving fix, inftead of four pounds, of flour, which 

 was the convicts' allowance. 



About the middle of the month the weather was extremely bad. 

 On the 15th a report was fpread, in the midft of a moft violent fquail 

 of wind and rain, that a fhip was coming in. Every one believing it 

 to be true, the town was foon in motion, notwithftanding the ftorm ; 

 for, although it was not then fo rare as it had been to hear of a fhip., 

 yet there was always fomething cheering and grateful, and perhaps 

 ever will be, in entertaining the idea that their fociety was about 

 .to be increafed, and that they were on the point of receiving 



J2 e 2 intelligence: 



