1795*] OP NEW SOUTH WALES. 2 8; 



alive to his employers, one ftallion, twenty-nine mares, three fillies, 

 and twelve fheep. 



Towards the end of March fome of the Englifh witnefFed an extra- 

 ordinary tranfa&ion which took place among the natives at the brick- 

 fields. A young man, of the name of Bing-yi-wan-ne, well known 

 in the fettlement, being detected in an amour with Maw-ber-ry, the 

 companion of another native Ye-ra-ni-be Go-ru-ey, the latter fell upon 

 him with a club, and, being a powerful man, and of fuperior ftrength, 

 abfolutely beat him to death, Bing-yi-wan-ne had fome friends, who 

 on the following day called Ye-ra-ni-be to an account for the murder : 

 when, the affair being conducted with more regard to honour than 

 juftice, he came off with only a fpear-wound in his thigh. 



The Toongabbe hills being reported to be worn out, it was deter- 

 mined to let them remain fallow for that feafon ; and a fpot called the 

 Ninety Acres, and the hills between Parramatta and Toongabbe, which 

 had before been prepared, were now fown. It being April, the 

 farmers were every where putting their wheat into the ground, except 

 at the river, where they had fcarcely made any preparations, confum- 

 ing their time and fubftance in drinking and rioting; and trufling to 

 the extreme fertility of the foil, which they declared would produce 

 an ample crop at any time without much labour. So filly and thought- 

 lefs were thefe people, who were thus unworthily placed on the banks 

 of a river which, from its fertility, and the effects of its inundations, 

 might not improperly be termed the Nile of New South Wales. 



From the reduced ftate of the falted provifions, it became neceffary 

 (fuch had been but too often the preamble to an order) to diminish the 

 ration of that article ; and half the beef and half the pork was ftopped 

 at once. In fome meafure to render this great reduction lighter, three 

 pints of peafe were added. This circumftance induced the command- 

 ing officer, on the day when the alteration took place, to hire the Bri- 

 tannia to proceed to India for a cargo of falted provifions. Supplies 

 might arrive before {he could return ; but the war in which England 

 was engaged increafed the chances againft them. In the mean time, to 



fave 



