17930 OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 227 



thofe of the inhabitants of the coaft. As they live by climbing trees, 

 if there really was any fuch difference, it might perhaps have been oc- 

 cafioned by the cuftom of hanging by their arms and refting on their 

 feet at the utmoft ftretch of the body, which they pradife from their in- 

 fancy. The party returned on the 2 2d, having been abfent about ten 

 days. In their walk to Pitt Water, they met with the boat which had 

 been ftolen by fome of the Irifh convids ; and a few days after their re- 

 turn, fome of thofe who had run into the woods came into Parramatta, 

 with an account of two of their party having been fpeared and killed 

 by the natives. The men who were killed were very bad charaders^ 

 and had been the principals in the intended mutiny on board the Bod- 

 dington. Their deftrudion was confirmed by fome of the natives who 

 lived in the town. 



The foundation of another barrack for officers was begun. For the 

 privates, one only was yet ereded ; but this was attended with no in- 

 convenience to them, as all thofe who were not in quarters had built 

 themfelves comfortable huts. This indulgence, no doubt, was pleafant 

 to the foldiers; but it had ever been confidered, that foldiers could no 

 where be fo well regulated as when living in quarters, where, by fre- 

 quent infpedions and vifitings, their charaders would be known, and 

 their condud attended to. In a multiplicity of fcattered huts, the eye 

 of vigilance would with difficulty find its objed ; and the foldier in 

 poffeffion of a habitation of his own, might, in courfe of time, think 

 of himfelf more as an independent citizen than as a fubordinate foldier* 



C G % 



C HAP, 



