ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [June, 



reprefents a party thus occupied, and gives a correct view of their 

 perfons and manners. The figure leaning upon his fhield, the atti- 

 tude of the woman dancing, and the whole group, are accurate deli- 

 neations of a party aflembled by the light of a fire at the mouth of one 

 of their excavated rocks. 



It might be fuppofed, that with this exercife, and the company of 

 their females, their angry and turbulent pafTions would be at reft, 

 and the idea of murder could not enter their minds ; yet have they 

 been often known to Mart away, in fearch of fome unfufpecting ob- 

 ject of their hatred, who, before the morning, has received a dozen 

 fpears through his body : and this is man in his uncultivated flate ! 



The weather nearly throughout the month of June had been ex- 

 tremely tempefluous, blowing a heavy gale from the fouthward, at- 

 tended with a deluge of rain. The ravages of this florm were fo 

 great, that the fettlement was thrown back a full twelvemonth in 

 thofe works which at the time were expected very fhortly to be 

 completed. The weather had never, from the eftablifhment of the 

 colony, been obferved to be fo fevere. The fettlement had, indeed, 

 between the fires of the fummer, and the floods and gales of the win- 

 ter, fuffered very confiderably. Added to thefe, at this time, were 

 the inconveniences arifing from an unproductive harvefl, from an 

 exhaufted flore in the very elTential articles of clothing and bedding, 

 from the hoflile difpofition of many of the natives, and from the 

 annihilation of morality, honefty, and induftry, in the major part of 

 • the colonifts. 



As this picture is not exaggerated, the fituation and feelings of the 

 rational part of the fettlement were certainly not to be envied. 



Every exertion was immediately made to remedy the misfortunes 

 occafioned by the late tempefluous weather. The erecting of a flone 

 prifon at Sydney being found to create much expenfe, as well as to 

 require much time, the Governor called a meeting of the officers, 

 principal inhabitants, and landholders, and propofed an afTefTment to 

 be furnifhed by each, as well of money as of labour ; which was 



readily 



