iy 9 6.] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 321 



It was remarked with concern, that the crops of this feafon proved 

 in general bad, the wheat being almoft every where mixed with a 

 weed named by the farmers Drake. It was occafioned by the ground 

 being overwrought, from a greedinefs to make it produce golden har- 

 vefts every feafon, without allowing it time to recruit itfelf from crop 

 to crop, or being able to afford it manure. 



At the Hawkefbury, where alone any promife of agricultural ad- 

 vantage was to be found, the fettlers were immerfed in intoxication. 

 Riot and madnefs marked their conduct ; and this was to be attributed 

 to the fpirits that, in defiance of every precaution, found their way 

 thither. Robberies were every where more frequent now than they 

 had been for fome time ; fcarcely a night pafling without at leaft an 

 attempt being made, 



Reports were again received during the month, of frefli outrages 

 committed by the natives at the river. The fchooncr which had been 

 fent round v/ith provifions faw fome of thefe people off a high point 

 of land named Portland Head, who menaced tliem with their fpears, 

 &nd carried in their appearance every mark of hoftiiity. The governor 

 being at this time on an excurfion to that fettlement (by water), one 

 of his party landed on the Ihore oppofite Portland Head, and faw at 

 a. fhort diftance a large body of natives, who he underftood had affem- 

 bled for the purpofe of burning the corpfe of a man who had been 

 killed in fome conteft among themfelves. 



About this time Bennillong, who occasionally (hook off the habits 

 of civilized life, and went into the woods for a few days with his lif- 

 ters and other friends, fent in word that he had had a conteft with his 

 bofom friend Cole-be, in which he had been fo much the fufferer, that 

 until his wounds were healed he could not with any pleafure to him- 

 felf appear at the governor's table. This notification was accom- 

 panied with a requeft, that -his clothes, which he had left behind 

 when he went away, might be fent him, together with fome victuals, 

 of which he was much in want. 



t t On 



