340 



ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [October, 



The abundance of mill- (tones, and the quantity of wood fit for 

 millwrights' work, with the convenient fituation of the different 

 ftreams, will admit of any number of water-mills being ere&ed. 



Two well- finished wind-mills had alfo been built by fettlers, which 

 anfwered extremely well. 



Not more than ten fettlers had been able to creel dwellings better 

 than log-huts, which are neither warm nor durable. Offchools there 

 were two, viz, one for young children, who were intruded by women 

 of good character ; and the other kept by a man who taught reading, 

 writing, and arithmetic. A third inftitution on a permanent footing 

 was added, for the reception of fuch orphan female children as had 

 loft or been deferted by their parents. 



The number of births at Norfolk Ifland, from November 12, 1791, 

 to September 31, 1796, amounted to 191, and that of deaths to 137. 



State of the Flax Manufactory. 



Not more than nine men and nine women can be employed in pre- 

 paring and manufacturing the flax, which barely keeps them in prac- 

 tice. There is only one loom on the ifland, and the flay or reed is, 

 defigned for coarfe canvas ; nor do they pofTefs a fingle tool required 

 by flax-drefTers or weavers, beyond the poor fubftitutes which they are 

 obliged to fabricate themfelves. If there were introduced proper flays 

 or reeds, brufhes, and other articles indifpenfably neceflary for flax- 

 drefling and weaving, with more people to work the flax, and a greater 

 number of weavers, this ifland would foon require very little afliftance 

 in clothing the convicts ; but for the want of thefe neceflary articles,, 

 the only cloth that can be made is a canvas, fomething finer than No. 

 7, which is thought to be equally ftrong and durable as that made from 

 European flax. 



This ufeful plant needs no cultivation. An experiment has been 

 made to cultivate it, and anfwered extremely well 5 but the produce 

 was not fo much fuperior to that growing in a natural ftate, as to make 

 it advifable to beftow any pains on its culture. 



Before 



