2o8 WHITENS JOURNAL OF A 
1788. at fome diflance, difcovered .ftrong marks of concern, and 
^^2!,^^^. Icreamed loudly when any of the combatants appeared 
to be wounded. As the boat was returning clofe along 
fhore, a fpear was thrown at the people by fome of the 
natives, who were lurking behind the trees and rocks. It 
was hurled with fuch force, that it flew a confiderable way 
over the boat, although we v/ere between thirty and forty 
yards from the fhore. 
It was late in the evening before we arrived in Sydney 
Cove ; and as foon as the governor landed, he was informed 
that a gold mine had been difcovered, near the entrance of 
the harbour, by a convi6l. During his excellency's 
abfence, the convid had made this difcovery known to the 
lieutenant governor and the judge advocate ; for which, he 
faid, that he hoped and expeded to have his freedom, and 
a pecuniary reward. The gentlemen to whom he applied 
anfwered, that they could not promife to grant his requeft 
until he fhould have put them in poffcffion of the mine; 
but, that they were well aflured that the governor would 
beftow on him a proper recompence, after fufficient proof of 
the difcovery. A boat was, in confequencc, ordered from 
the Sirius, to carry him and Captain Campbell down to the 
place 
