3<x> ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [Jvm+ 



The cattle were, in general, in very good condition; of the number 

 arrived, forty were for draught, fixty for breeding, and the remainder 

 calves ; but fome of thefe fo large, as to be valued and taken at fifteen 

 guineas per head, 



The 4th of June, as had ever been- the cuftom in the fettlement,. 

 was fet apart as a holiday. 



On the 1 8th the Britannia failed! for India; As the flare of the fet- 

 tlement at her departure required every exertion to be made in pro- 

 curing an immediate fupply of provifions, Mr. Raven was directed to 

 repair to Batavia, to procure, if poffible, a cargo of European falted: 

 meat. The neceffi'ty of his immediate return was fo urgent, that if he 

 found on his arrival that only half a. cargo could be hadj he was to 

 fill up the remainder of the ftowage with rice and fugar, and make 

 the beft of his- way back: ; but if falted provifions were not to be got at 

 Batavia, he was to proceed to Calcutta* Should circumftanees prove 

 fo adverfe to the colony, as to caufe his- failure at both thefe ports, Mr e 

 Raven was at liberty to return by the way of the Cape of Good Hope, 

 as provifions were at any rate to be procured if poffible.. 



The cattle lately arrived feemed to fufFer by their change of climate 

 one cow and feveral calves died, perhaps as much from mifmanage- 

 ment as by the weather ; for, with very few exceptions, it was impof- 

 fible to felecT from among the prifoners, or thofe who had been fuch 3 . 

 any who would feel an honeft intereft in executing the fervice in 

 which they were employed* They would pilfer half the grain en- 

 trufted to their care for the cattle ; they would lead them into the 

 woods for pafturage, and there leave them until obliged to conduct 

 them in ; they would neither clean them nor themfelves.. Indolent, 

 and by long habit worthlefs, no dependence could be placed on them* 

 lii every ihftance they endeavoured to circumvent ; . and whenever 

 their exertions were called for, they firft looked about them to dif- 

 cover how thofe exertions might be turned to their own advantage. 

 Could it then be wondered at* if little had been done fince the efta- 

 blifhment of the colony ?, and muft it not rather excite admiration to 



fee. 



