i6o ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [April, 



From the fettlement on the banks of that river the heft reports con- 

 tinued to be received from time to time : every where the fettlers 

 found a rich black mould of feveral feet depth ; and one man had in 

 three months planted and dug a crop of potatoes. The natives, how- 

 ever, had given them fuch interruption as induced a neceffity for firing 

 upon them, by which, it was faid, one man was killed. 



At Toongabbe, where the Indian corn was growing, their vifits and 

 their depredations were fo frequent and extenfive, that the watchmen 

 were compelled to fire on them ; and one party, confiderable in num- 

 ber, after having been driven off, returning diredly to the plunder, 

 was purfued by the watchmen for feveral miles, when a conteft en- 

 fued, in which the natives were worried, and three of them left dead 

 upon the fpot. The watchmen, apprehenfive left their ftory, like 

 many of the fame nature which they had told, mould be doubted y 

 brought in with them, as a teftimonial not to be difputed, the head of 

 one of thofe whom they had flair*. With this witnefs to fupport 

 them, they told many wonderful circumftances of the purfuit and 

 fubfequent fight, which they ftated to have taken place at lead 

 fourteen miles from the fettlement, and to have been very defperately 

 and obftinately fuftained on the part of the natives. It was remarked,, 

 however, that not one of the watchmen had received the fmalleft injury, 

 a circumftance that threw a ITiade over their ftory which led their 

 hearers to believe that they had magnified their valour, and the hu- 

 mane part of them to hope that they had at leaft trebled the deed of 

 daughter which they had actually committed. Whatever might have 

 been the truth, it was certain that a party of natives appeared the fol- 

 lowing day about the corn-grounds, but conducted themfelves with 

 a great deal of caution, ftationing one of their party upon the ftump 

 of a tree which commanded an extenfive view of the cultivated 

 grounds, and retreating the inftant they perceived themfelves to be 

 obferved. 



At Sydney a large party of natives aflembled for the purpofe of 

 burning the body of Carradah, the native mentioned in the trans- 

 actions. 



