WHITENS JOURNAL OF A 
September 5th. About half after fix in the evening, we 
faw an aurora auftralis_, a phasnomenon un common in the 
fouthern hemifphere. 
Odober 2d. His Majefty's fhip the Sirius failed for the 
Cape of Good Hope, for a fupply of flour, it being difco- 
vcred that our ftock of this article bore no proportion ta 
the fait beef and pork. 
The fame day the Golden Grove failed for Norfolk Ifland,, 
with a reinforcement of male and female convidts ; two free 
men, as gardeners ; a midfliipman from the Sirius, to fill 
up the vacancy occafioned by the death of Mr. Cunningham; 
a fergeant, corporal, and fix privates ; and a fupply of 
necefiTaries for eighteen months. 
4th. A convidt, named Cooper Handley, who went out 
with an armed party of marines to collect wild vegetables 
and fweet tea, ftrayed from them, and was afterwards 
met by the natives, who murdered and mutilated him in a 
(hocking manner. The natives were fo near our men, that 
they heard them very diftindlly fhouting and making a 
great noife, yet were unable to overtake them in the purfuit. 
In the evening, a party of foldiers and convids were fent 
out to bury the deceafed, 
loth. 
