1795'] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 2 8c 



There were at this time feveral convi&s in the woods fubfifting by 

 theft ; and it having been reported, that three of them had been met 

 armed, it became neceffary to fecure them as foon as poffible. People 

 were fent out immediately ; and one of the wretched runaways was 

 foon met with in the a£t of robbing a garden, and, refilling to fur- 

 render, was (hot. The knowledge of his fate drove the others to a 

 greater diftanee from the fettlement. 



About the latter end of the month the natives adjufted fome affairs 

 of honour in a convenient fpot near the brick-fields. Thofe who lived 

 about the fouth more of Botany Bay brought with them a ftranger of 

 an extraordinary appearance and character ; even his name had fome- 

 thing uncommon in the found, Gome-boak. He had been feveral 

 days on his journey from the place where he lived, which was far 

 fouth ward. In height he was not more than five feet two or three 

 inches ; but by far the moft mufcular, fquare, and well-formed native 

 that had been feen in that country. He fought well ; his fpears 

 were remarkably long, and he defended himfelf with a fhield that co- 

 vered his whole body. The inhabitants of Sydney had the fatisfac- 

 tion of feeing him engage with fome of their friends, and of obferv- 

 ing that neither their perfons nor reputations fuffered any thing in the 

 conteft. When the fight was over, on fome of the gentlemen prai- 

 fing to them the martial talents of this ftranger, the ftrength and muf- 

 cle of his arm, and the excellence of his fight, they admitted the 

 praife to be juft ; but hinted, that, with all thefe excellencies, when 

 oppofed to them, he had not gained the flighted advantage ; yet, un~ 

 willing to have him too highly thought of, they, with horror in their 

 countenances, affured thofe with whom they talked, that Gome-boak 

 was a cannibal. 



On the ift of March the Francis returned from Port Stephens 5. 

 when the mailer reported, that he went into two frefh-water branches, 

 up which he rowed, until, at no very great diftance from the entrance, 

 he found them terminate in a fwamp. He deforibed the land on each 

 fide to be low and fandy, and had feen nothing while in that harbour 



which 



