I793-] OF NEW SOtfTH WALES. £3j 



done, left twelve people for ten months on fo populous an ifland, the 

 inhabitants whereof were known to be favages, fierce and warlike. It 

 might certainly be fuppofed that thefe people were unacquainted with 

 the circumftances of there being any ftrangers near them ; and that con- 

 fequently they had not any communication with the few miferable 

 beings who were occafionally feen in the coves of Dufky Bay. 



On Saturday the 23d of November, the flour and rice in the (lore 

 being nearly expended, the ration was altered to the following pro- 

 portions of thofe articles, viz. : 



To the officers, civil and military, foldiers, overfeers, and the fettlers 

 from free people, were ferved, 



Of bifcuit or flour - - Two pounds. 



Indian corn - Five pounds. 



Wheat - Two pounds. 



Peafe - Three pints. 



"*ro the male convicts were ferved, women and children receiving in 

 the proportions always obferved, 



(Of bifcuit or flour, none,— and for the fir ft time fince the eftablifli- 

 jnent of the colony,) 



Wheat » Three pounds. 



Indian corn - Five pounds. 



Paddy - Two pints. 



Gram - Two ditto* 



This was univerfally felt as the word ration that had ever been 

 ferved from his Majefty's ftores ; and by the labouring convict par- 

 ticularly fo, as no article of grain was prepared for him fo as to be 

 immediately made ufe of. The quantity that was now to be ground, 

 and the numbers who brought grain to the mill, kept it employed all 

 the night as well as the day ; and as, from the fcarcity of mills, every 

 man was compelled to wait for his turn, the day had broke and the 

 drum beat for labour, before many who went into the mill-houfe at 

 night had been able to get their corn ground. The confequence 

 was, that many, not having power to wait, confumed their allowance 



H h unprepared* 



