22 4 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [August, 



* be performed. He faid, that the uncertainty of a place where they 

 might attend had prevented many from coming ; but he hoped that 

 now the attendance would be regular. 



The provisions by the Boddington proved to be in moft excellent 

 condition, not a fingle article being damaged. 



Much apprehenfion was entertained for the wheat, which began to 

 look yellow and parched for want of rain. Toward the latter end of 

 the month, however, fome rain fell during three days and nights, which 

 confiderably refrefhed it. But there being no fixed period at which 

 wet weather was to be expected in that country, it might certainly be 

 pronounced too dry for wheat. 



Unproductive as the Indian corn fown lad year on the public 

 grounds had proved, the fettlers' crops mud have been more for- 

 tunate ; for, after referving a fufficiency of feed for the enfuing feafon, 

 and for their domeflic purpofes, a few had raifed enough to enable 

 them to fell twelve hundred buQiels to government, who, on receiving 

 it into the public (lores, paid five (hillings per bufhel to the bringer.' 

 Government, however, was not reforted to in the firft inftance by the 

 fettler, who preferred difpofing of his corn where he could receive 

 fpirits in payment (which he retailed for labour), to bringing it to 

 the commiffary for five millings a bufliel ; but at this price, from whofe 

 hands foever it might come, it was received into the public (lores. 



It might have been fuppofed, that the fatal confequence of endea- 

 vouring to find in the woods of New South Wales a place where the 

 means of life could be obtained without labour, had been fufficiently 

 felt by the convicts who had tried it, to have deterred others from rufli- 

 ino* into the fame error, as they would doubtlefs acquaint the new 

 comers with the ill fuccefs which had attended all their fchemes of that 

 nature. Several of thofe, however, who came out in the Boddington, 

 w r ent off into the woods foon after their landing; and a fmall party, 

 compofed of fome defperate characters, about the fame time dole a boat, 

 and, as they were not heard of for fome days after, it was fuppofed 

 that they had either got out of the harbour, or were lying concealed 

 7 ^ until. 



