*794-] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 275 



the main piece of the Refolution's rudder fprung, and the fails ar4 

 rigging of both worn out. During a tremendous gale of wind, accord- 

 ing to the fuperftitious feamen, and which they took care to infert in 

 their proteft, blue lights were feen dancing on each marl-head and 

 yard in the Salamander. 



By thefe mips they learned his Majefty's appointment of John 

 Hunter, Efq. to be Governor, in the room of Captain Phillip, who 

 had refigned his office. Mr. Phillip's fervices, they underftood, had 

 been remunerated by a penfion of five hundred a year. 



On the 1 7th of the month there was a violent gale of wind at fouth- 

 weft ; and at Parramatta, during the gale, a public granary, in which 

 were upwards of two thoufand four hundred bufhels of melled maize, 

 caught fire, through the careleffhefs of fome fervants who were boiling 

 food for ftock clofe to the building ; and all the corn, together with a 

 number of fine hogs, the property of an individual, were deftroyed. 



Some fevere contefts among the natives took place during the month 

 of Auguft in and about the town of Sydney. In fact, the inhabitants 

 flill knew very little of the manners and cuftoms of thefe people, not- 

 withstanding the advantage which they poITeiTed in the conftant refi- 

 dence of many of them, and the defire that they Ihewed of cultiva- 

 ting their friendmip* At the Hawkefbury they were not fo friendly 

 a fettler there and his fervant were nearly murdered in their hut by 

 fome natives from the woods, who ftole upon them with fuch fecrecy, 

 as to wound and overpower them before they could procure affiftance. 

 A few days after this circumftance, a body of natives attacked the fet- 

 tlers, and carried oft their clothes, provifions, and whatever elfe they 

 could lay their hands on. The fufferers collected what arms they 

 could, and, following them, feven or eight of the plunderers were 

 killed upon the fpot. This mode of treating them had become abfo- 

 lutely necelTary, from the frequency and evil efTe&s of their vifits ; but 

 whatever the fettlers at the river fuffered was entirely brought on 

 them by their own mifcondutt : there was not a doubt but that many 

 natives had been wantonly fired upon ; and when their children, after 



n n 2 the 



