^02 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [August, 



The effects of this ration foon appeared ; feveral attacks were made 

 on individuals, one wretch dole a very fine greyhound,, and, instead 

 of fecretly employing him in procuring occafionally a frelh meal, he 

 actually killed the poor animal and fold it to different people in the 

 town for kangooroo at nine-pence per pound ; probably applauding 

 himfelf for a. trick that be thought would, go down with the hungry • 

 but being detected in his villainous traffic, he was feverely punimed. 



From the fcanrinefs of faked provisions, the article of fait was become 

 as fcarce. One of the fettlers lately arrived; caufed h to be reported, 

 that among other ufeful knowledge, he poffeffed that of making fait 

 from fea-water, and offered his fervices for that purpofe. His offers, 

 were accepted,, and an eligible fpot being chofen he began his ope- 

 rations, for which he had feven men allowed him ; whofe labour > 

 however, only produced three or four bufliels of fait in more than as 

 many weeks. 



On the 1 2th, of Auguft his Royal Highnefs trie Prince of Wales's 

 birth-day was celebrated by his diftant, but not the lefs ardent, ad- 

 mirers. 



Wilfon, or as the natives termed him, Bun-bo-e, immediately 

 after his return from Port Stephens with the deputy-furveyor, went 

 off to the natives at the river. Another vagabond, who like himfelf 

 had been a convicT, thinking that there muft be fome fweets in the 

 life which Wilfon preferred, determined to mare them with him, and 

 w T ent off to the woods. About the middle of the month they both re- 

 turned to Sydney, accompanied by fome of their favage companions. 

 On the day following it appeared that their vifit was for the purpofe 

 of forcing a wife from among their countrywomen ; for in the midft 

 of a considerable uproar, which was heard near the bridge, Wilfon 

 and Knight his friend were difcovered, each dragging a girl' by the 

 arm (whofe age could not have exceeded nine or ten years), affifled 1 

 by their new affbciates. The two white men being lecured, and the 

 children taken care of, the mob difperfed ; and Wilfon and Knight 

 were Uken to the cells and punimed. It was intended to have kept 



them 



