238 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
for the first time, and the work was named Fort 
Dundas, under a royal salute from itself 
From this time the place began to assume the 
appearance of a fortified village ; quarters were 
constructed within the walls of the fort for the 
accommodation of the officers belonging to the 
establishment, and about thirty huts of various 
kinds were erected, and thatched with rushes 
for the soldiers and convicts. A deep well was 
sunk near the fort ; a good substantial wharf ran 
out into the water ; and, as soon as a commis- 
sariat storehouse was finished, ail the provisions 
were landed from the Countess of Harcourt and 
secured there. 
“ The soil in the neighbourhood of the settle- 
ment being exceedingly good, gardens were 
cleared and laid out, and soon produced all 
kinds of vegetables. In our stock we were 
rather unfortunate, for of six sheep that were 
landed for the purpose of breeding, five died, 
supposed from the effieet produced by eating some 
pernicious herb in the woods : pigs, ducks, and 
fowls seemed, however, in a fair way of doing 
well, and had increased considerably since they 
were landed ; but great inconvenience was ex- 
perienced for want of some horses or draught 
oxen, which would not only have materially ex- 
