250 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [February, 



while the new^raifed militia took poflfeffion of their arms. On their 

 return, twenty were feletted as mutineers to be fent to Port Tackfon 

 the remainder returning to their duty immediately (but of that num- 

 ber ten were, after a few days confinement, pardoned and liberated); 

 and two days after Mr. King had reftored good order in the fettle- 

 ment the Francis appeared. By her he fent the ten prifoners, under 

 the guard of an officer and as many foldiers as the veflel could con- 

 veniently receive. 



A court of enquiry, compofed of the officers of the regiment at 

 Sydney, was affembled on the arrival of the Francis, to examine into 

 the complaint which had accompanied the foldiers ; when, after five 

 days' deliberation, they reported, that the conduct of the foldiers, in 

 difobeying the orders of their officers, was reprehenfible ; but, on 

 confidering the provocations which had given birth to that difcbe- 

 dience, they recommended them to their commanding-officer's cle- 

 mency. 



On the 27th, the fchoaner failed a fecond time for Norfolk Wand, 

 to convey officers and foldiers in lieu of thofe who had been fent to 

 Sydney, and without whom the detachment on duty there would 

 have been too much weakened. 



The natives again became troublefome. Twice they had attacked, 

 robbed, and beaten, fome of the fettlers' wives, who were repairing 

 between their farms and Parramatta ; and great quantities of corn 

 continued to be ftolen by them. One of thofe women was fo feverely 

 bounded by a party, who robbed and ftripped her of part of her 

 wearing apparel, that fhe lay for a long time dangeroufly ill at the 

 hofpital. It was faid that the people who committed this and other 

 ads of violence and cruelty were occafional vifitors with others at 

 Sydney. 



Not with (landing the woods were infefted by thefe people, numbers 

 of the male convicts, idle, and dreading labour as a greater evil than 

 the riik of being murdered, abfented from the new fettlements, and, 

 after wandering about for a few days, got at length to Sydney, almoft 



6 naked. 



