1^2 WHITE'S JOURNAL OF A 
1788. it cannot, Iiovvever, be compared to Port Jackfon. While 
March. there, he faw a great many of the natives, Ibme of 
whom he thinks he had obferved before, either at Botany 
Bay or in the neighbourhood of Port Jackfon. One of the 
females happened to fall in love with his great coat ; and to 
obtain it, fhe ufed a variety of means. Firft, fhe danced, 
and played a number of antic tricks ; but finding this mode 
ineffedlual, fhe had recourfe to tears, which fhe fhed plenti- 
fully. This expedient not anfwering, fhe ceafed from weeping, 
and appeared as cheerful as any of the party around her. 
From this little incident it may be feen that they are not a 
people devoid of art. At Broken Bay many of the females, 
young and old, had the firil joint of the little finger, on 
their left hand, cut off. As this was the cafe with thofe 
who were married, or appeared to be fo from their having 
young children, as well as with thofe who were too young 
for a connexion of that nature, it was not poflible to ac- 
count for the caufe of fuch an amputation. Thefts and depre- 
dations on one another have become fo very frequent and glaring 
among the convicfls, that fcarcely a day pafTes without fome of 
thefe miferable delinquents being puniflied. So hardened in 
svickednefs and depravity are many of them, that they feem 
infenfible 
