284 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [February, 



they found one bufhel (or on fome fpots five pecks) of feed fufficient 

 to fow an acre ; and that, if fown as early as the month of April or 

 May, they imagined the ground would produce a fecond crop, and 

 the feafon be not too far advanced to ripen it. Their kitchen gardens 

 were plentifully flocked with vegetables. 



The mailer of the Francis fchooner complained that the navigation 

 of the river was likely to be hurt. The fettlers having fallen many 

 trees into the water, he was apprehenfive that they would drift alrxore 

 on fome of the points of the river, when, in procefs of time, fand, &c. 

 might lodge againfl them, and form dangerous obftruclions in the 

 way of craft which might be hereafter ufed on the river. No doubt 

 remained of the ill and impolitic conduct of fome of the fettlers tow- 

 ard the natives ; as, in revenge for fome cruelties which the favages 

 had experienced, they threatened to put to death three of them by 

 name, and had, through miftake, actually attacked and badly wounded 

 others. Thefe particulars were obtained through the means of one 

 Wilfon, a wild idle young man, who, his term of tranfportation 

 being expired, preferred living among the natives in the vicinity of 

 the river, to earning the wages of honeft induftry by working for fet- 

 tiers. He had formed fomething of an intermediate language between 

 his own and theirs, with which he made a fhift to comprehend moft 

 of what they wiihed to communicate ; for they did not conceal the 

 fenfe they entertained of the injuries which had been done them. 

 As the gratifying of an idle wandering difpofition was the fole object 

 with Wilfon in herding with thefe people, no good confequence was 

 likely to enfue from it ; and it was by no means improbable, that at 

 fome future time, if difgufted with the white people, he might join 

 the blacks, and affifl them in committing depredations, or make ufe 

 of their afTiftance to punifh or revenge his own injuries. Mr. Grimes^ 

 therefore, propofed taking him with him in the fchooaer to Port 

 Stephens, 



There 



