I 



1793- ] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 217 



e natives had latterly become very troublefome, particularly in 

 lurking between the difFerent fettlements, and forcibly taking pro- 

 vi.fi on s and clothing from the convicts who were palling from one to 

 another. One or two convicts having been wounded by them, fome 

 fmall armed parties were fent out to drive them away, and to throw a 

 few mot among them ; but with pofitive orders to be careful not to 

 take a life. 



Several of thefe people, however, continued to refide in the town, 

 and to mix with its inhabitants in the moft unrefcrved manner. It 

 was no uncommon circumftance to fee them coming in with bundles 

 of fire-wood which they had been hired to procure, or bringing water 

 from the tanks ; for which fervices they thought themfelves well 

 repaid with any worn-out jacket or trowfers, or blankets, or a piece 

 of bread. Of the latter article they were exceedingly fond ; and their 

 conftant prayer was for bread, importuning with as much earneftnefs 

 and perfeverance as if begging for bread had been their profeffion 

 from their infancy. 



On the fir ft of July the Daedalus failed to convey to Captain Van- 

 couver the provifions and ftores which had been required by that 

 officer. Lieutenant Hanfon, the naval agent on board, received the 

 moft pointed orders for the fhip to return to that port immediately 

 after having executed the fervicc on which fhe was then going. The 

 Dsedalus was confidered as a colonial fhip ; and nothing but Captain 

 Vancouver's exprefs requifition to have the ftores and provifions which 

 were on board her (the ftores being chiefly articles of traffic) fent back to 

 him, to enable him to fulfil the inftrudions that he had received, would 

 have induced the Lieutenant-Governor, in the then fituation of the 

 colony, to have parted with her, when it was highly probable that 

 her fervices might be wanting to procure fupplies, and at no diftant 

 period, if fbips did not very fpeedily arrive to their affiftance. 



On board the Dsedalus was embarked a native of the country, who 

 was fent by the Lieutenant-Governor for the purpofe of acquiring 

 the Englifh language, Lieutenant Hanfon was directed by no means 



