a complete account of the settlement-第15节
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fused to answer his caresses； and viewed him with a reproaching eye。 Although long absence from female society had somewhat blunted our recollection； the conduct of Barangaroo did not appear quite novel to us； nor was our surprise very violent at finding that it succeeded in subduing Baneelon who； when we parted； seemed anxious only to please her。
Thus ended a day； the events of which served to complete what an unhappy accident had begun。 From this time our intercourse with the natives； though partially interrupted； was never broken off。 We gradually continued； henceforth； to gain knowledge of their customs and policy； the only knowledge which can lead to a just estimate of national character。
CHAPTER X。
The arrival of the 'Supply' from Batavia； the State of the Colony in November； 1790。
Joy sparkled in every countenance to see our old friend the 'Supply' （I hope no reader will be so captious as to quarrel with the phrase） enter the harbour from Batavia on the 19th of October。 We had witnessed her departure with tears； we hailed her return with transport。
Captain Ball was rather more than six months in making this voyage； and is the first person who ever circumnavigated the continent of New Holland。 On his passage to Batavia； he had discovered several islands； which he gave names to and； after fighting his way against adverse elements and through unexplored dangers； safely reached his destined port。 He had well stored his little bark with every necessary and conveniency which he judged we should first want； leaving a cargo of rice and salt provisions to be brought on by a Dutch snow； which he had hired and freighted for the use of the settlement。 While at Batavia； the 'Supply' had lost many of her people by sickness； and left several others in the general hospital at that place。
As the arrival of the 'Supply' naturally leads the attention from other subjects to the state of the colony； I shall here take a review of it by transcribing a statement drawn from actual observation soon after； exactly as I find it written in my journal。
Cultivation； on a public scale； has for some time past been given up here； （Sydney） the crop of last year being so miserable； as to deter from farther experiment； in consequence of which the government…farm is abandoned； and the people who were fixed on it have been removed。 Necessary public buildings advance fast； an excellent storehouse of large dimensions； built of bricks and covered with tiles； is just completed； and another planned which will shortly be begun。 Other buildings； among which I heard the governor mention an hospital and permanent barracks for the troops； may also be expected to arise soon。 Works of this nature are more expeditiously performed than heretofore； owing； I apprehend； to the superintendants lately arrived； who are placed over the convicts and compel them to labour。 The first difficulties of a new country being subdued may also contribute to this comparative facility。
Vegetables are scarce； although the summer is so far advanced； owing to want of rain。 I do not think that all the showers of the last four months put together； would make twenty…four hours rain。 Our farms； what with this and a poor soil； are in wretched condition。 My winter crop of potatoes； which I planted in days of despair （March and April last）； turned out very badly when I dug them about two months back。 Wheat returned so poorly last harvest； that very little； besides Indian corn； has been sown this year。 The governor's wound is quite healed； and he feels no inconveniency whatever from it。 With the natives we are hand and glove。 They throng the camp every day； and sometimes by their clamour and importunity for bread and meat （of which they now all eat greedily） are become very troublesome。 God knows； we have little enough for ourselves！ Full allowance （if eight pounds of flour and either seven pounds of beef； or four pounds of pork； served alternately； per week； without either pease； oatmeal； spirits； butter； or cheese； can be called so） is yet kept up； but if the Dutch snow does not arrive soon it must be shortened； as the casks in the storehouse； I observed yesterday； are woefully decreased。
The convicts continue to behave pretty well； three only have been hanged since the arrival of the last fleet； in the latter end of June； all of whom were newcomers。 The number of convicts here diminishes every day； our principal efforts being wisely made at Rose Hill； where the land is unquestionably better than about this place。 Except building； sawing and brickmaking； nothing of consequence is now carried on here。 The account which I received a few days ago from the brickmakers of their labours； was as follows。 Wheeler （one of the master brick…makers） with two tile stools and one brick stool； was tasked to make and burn ready for use 30000 tiles and bricks per month。 He had twenty…one hands to assist him； who performed every thing； cut wood； dug clay； etc。 This continued （during the days of distress excepted； when they did what they could） until June last。 From June； with one brick and two tile stools he has been tasked to make 40000 bricks and tiles monthly （as many of each sort as may be）； having twenty…two men and two boys to assist him； on the same terms of procuring materials as before。 They fetch the clay of which tiles are made； two hundred yards； that for bricks is close at hand。 He says that the bricks are such as would be called in England； moderately good； and he judges they would have fetched about 24 shillings per thousand at Kingston…upon…Thames （where he resided） in the year 1784。 Their greatest fault is being too brittle。 The tiles he thinks not so good as those made about London。 The stuff has a rotten quality； and besides wants the advantage of being ground； in lieu of which they tread it。
King （another master bricklayer） last year； with the assistance of sixteen men and two boys； made 11；000 bricks weekly； with two stools。 During short allowance did what he could。 Resumed his old task when put again on full allowance and had his number of assistants augmented to twenty men and two boys； on account of the increased distance of carrying wood for the kilns。 He worked at Hammersmith； for Mr。 Scot； of that place。 He thinks the bricks made here as good as those made near London； and says that in the year 1784； they would have sold for a guinea per thousand and to have picked the kiln at thirty shillings。'
Such is my Sydney detail dated the 12th of November； 1790。 Four days after I went to Rose Hill； and wrote there the subjoined remarks。
November 16th。 Got to Rose Hill in the evening。 Next morning walked round the whole of the cleared and cultivated land； with the Rev。 Mr。 Johnson； who is the best farmer in the country。 Edward Dod； one of the governor's household； who conducts everything here in the agricultural line； accompanied us part of the way； and afforded all the information he could。 He estimates the quantity of cleared and cultivated land at 200 acres。 Of these fifty…five are in wheat； barley； and a little oats； thirty in maize； and the remainder is either just cleared of wood； or is occupied by buildings； gardens； etc。 Four enclosures of twenty acres each； are planned for the reception of cattle； which may arrive in the colony； and two of these are already fenced in。 In the centre of them is to be erected a house； for a person who will be fixed upon to take care of the cattle。 All these enclosures are supplied with water； and only a part of the trees which grew in them being cut down； gives to them a very park…like and beautiful appearance。
Our survey commenced on the north side of the river。 Dod says he expects this year's crop of wheat and barley from the fifty…five acres to yield full 400 bushels。 Appearances hitherto hardly indicate so much。 He says he finds the beginning of May the best time to sow barley；* but that it may continue to be sown until August。 That sown in May is reaped in December； that of August in January。 He sowed his wheat； part in June and part in July。 He thinks June the best time； and says that he invariably finds that which is deepest sown； grows strongest and best； even as deep as three inches he has put it in； and found it to answer。 The wheat sown in June is now turning yellow； that of July is more backward。 He has used only the broad…cast husbandry； and sowed two bushels per acre。 The plough has never yet been tried here； all the ground is hoed； and （as Dod confesses） very incompetently turned up。 Each convict labourer was obliged to hoe sixteen rods a day； so that in some places the earth was but just scratched over。 The ground was left open for some months； to receive benefit from the sun and air； and on that newly cleared the trees were burnt； and the ashes dug in。 I do not find that a succession of crops has yet been attempted； surely it would help to meliorate and improve the soil。 Dod recommends strongly the culture of potatoes； on a large scale； and says that were they planted even as late as January they would answer； but this I doubt。 He is more than ever of opinion that without a large supply of cattle nothing can be done。 They have not at this time either horse； c
