1797*1 W NEW SOUTH WALES* 40 1 



It was obferved with regret, that the favage inhabitauts of the 

 country, inftead of lofing any part of their native ferocity of manners 

 by an intercourfe with the Europeans among whom they dwelt, 

 feemed rather to delight in exhibiting themfelves as monfters of the 

 greateft cruelty, devoid of reafon, and guided folely by the impulfe of 

 the worft of paffions : a linking proof of this was given by their 

 conduct to a little native girl of feven years old, whom they inhumanly 

 murdered. The father and mother of this poor child belonged to a 

 party of natives who had committed lb many depredations upon the 

 fettlers at the Hawkefbury, attended with fuch ads of cruelty, as to 

 render them extremely formidable : infomuch that it became neceffary 

 to fend an armed party in purfuit of them. They were foon found, and, 

 being fired upon, the parents of this little female were among thofe who 

 fell. She was with them at the time, and readily accompanied our 

 people to the fettlement, where Ihe was received. Being a well-dif- 

 pofed child, fhe foon became a great favourite at Government-houfe, 

 where fhe refided. This, and her being a native of the country of 

 Broken Bay, excited the jealoufy of fome of the natives who lived at 

 and about Sydney, which rnanifefted itfelf in their putting her to death 

 in the mo ft cruel manner. The body was found in the woods, fpeared 

 in feveral places, and with both the arms cut off ; whence it was taken 

 to Sydney and buried. The Governor was much incenfed at this in- 

 human act, and, could he have difcovered the offenders, would have fe- 

 verely punifhed them ; but they had withdrawn into the woods. 



The weather during the month had been very bad ; heavy rains 

 prevailing, with thunder and lightning, and wind ftrong at eaft, which 

 greatly retarded the getting-in of the harveft. 



The Governor, always anxious to promote the good of the fettle- 

 ment by every means in his power, having determined to vifit at that 

 feafon the part of it which was lituated on the banks of the Hawkef- 

 bury, fet off towards the latter end of December, with a party of 

 officers, by land, to Broken Bay, where they got on board the Colo- 

 nial fchooner, and continued in her two days, failing up that pleafant 



3 F river- 



