i 7 97-] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



At the head of this river, and upon the banks of that named the 

 Nepean, there was known to be a tract of excellent land, as rich as 

 any on the banks of the Hawkefbury which was then under' cultiva- 

 tion, and where, at fome future period, a fettlement might be advan- 

 tageoufly eftablifhed. 



The Governor, on reaching Toongabbe, had the mortification of 

 feeing a (tack containing eight- hundred bufhels of wheat burnt to the 

 ground, and the country round this place every where in flames: 

 unfortunately, much wheat belonging to Government was Hacked 

 there. The fire had broke out in the evening ; the wind was high, 

 the night extremely dark, and the flames had mounted to the very tops 

 of the lofty woods that furrounded a field called the Ninety Acres, in 

 which were feveral flacks of wheat. The appearance was alarming, 

 and the noife occafioned by the high wind, and the crackling of the 

 flames among the trees, contributed to render the fcene truly awful. 



It became neceffary to make every effort to fave this field and its 

 contents. The jail-gang, who worked in irons, were called out, and 

 told, that if the wheat was faved by their exertions, their chains fhould 

 be knocked off. By providing every man with a large bufh, to beat 

 off the fire as it approached the grain over the ftubble, keeping up this 

 attention during the night, and the wind becoming moderate towards 

 morning, the fire was fortunately kept off; and the promife to the jail- 

 gang was not forfeited. 



Although at this fcafon of the year there were days when, from the 

 extreme heat of the atmofphere, the leaves of many culinary plants 

 growing in the gardens were reduced to a powder, yet there was fome 

 ground for fuppofing that this accident had not arifen from either the 

 heat of the weather or the fire in the woods. The grain that was 

 burnt was the property of Government, and the deftru&ion made 

 room for as many bufhels as fhould be deftroyed, which mud be pur- 

 chafed from the fettlers who had wheat to fell. If, however, this was 

 the diabolical work of defigning felfifh villains, they had art enough to 

 baffle the moft minute inquiry. 



3 f 2 On 



