a complete account of the settlement-第16节
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at without a large supply of cattle nothing can be done。 They have not at this time either horse； cow； or sheep here。 I asked him how the stock they had was coming on。 The fowls he said multiplied exceedingly； but the hogs neither thrived or increased in number； for want of food。 He pointed out to us his best wheat； which looks tolerable； and may perhaps yield 13 or 14 bushels per acre**。 Next came the oats which are in ear； though not more than six inches high： they will not return as much seed as was sown。 The barley； except one patch in a corner of a field； little better than the oats。 Crossed the river and inspected the south side。 Found the little patch of wheat at the bottom of the crescent very bad。 Proceeded and examined the large field on the ascent to the westward： here are about twenty…five acres of wheat； which from its appearance we guessed would produce perhaps seven bushels an acre。 The next patch to this is in maize； which looks not unpromising； some of the stems are stout； and beginning to throw out large broad leaves； the surest sign of vigour。 The view from the top of the wheat field takes in； except a narrow slip； the whole of the cleared land at Rose Hill。 From not having before seen an opening of such extent for the last three years； this struck us as grand and capacious。 The beautiful diversity of the ground （gentle hill and dale） would certainly be reckoned pretty in any country。 Continued our walk； and crossed the old field； which is intended to form part of the main street of the projected town。 The wheat in this field is rather better； but not much； than in the large field before mentioned。 The next field is maize； inferior to what we have seen； but not despicable。 An acre of maize； at the bottom of the marine garden； is equal in luxuriancy of promise to any I ever saw in any country。
＇*The best crop of barley ever produced in New South Wales； was sown by a private individual； in February 1790； and reaped in the following October。＇
＇**As all the trees on our cleared ground were cut down； and not grubbed up； the roots and stumps remain； on which account a tenth part of surface in every acre must be deducted。 This is slovenly husbandry； but in a country where immediate subsistence is wanted； it is perhaps necessary。 None of these stumps； when I left Port Jackson； showed any symptoms of decay； though some of the trees had been cut down four years。 To the different qualities of the wood of Norfolk Island and New South Wales； perhaps the difference of soil may in some measure be traced。 That of Norfolk Island is light and porous： it rots and turns into mould in two years。 Besides its hardness that of Port Jackson abounds with red corrosive gum； which contributes its share of mischief。＇
The main street of the new town is already begun。 It is to be a mile long； and of such breadth as will make Pall Mall and Portland Place 〃hide their diminished heads。〃 It contains at present thirty…two houses completed； of twenty…four feet by twelve each； on a ground floor only； built of wattles plastered with clay； and thatched。 Each house is divided into two rooms； in one of which is a fire place and a brick chimney。 These houses are designed for men only； and ten is the number of inhabitants allotted to each； but some of them now contain twelve or fourteen； for want of better accommodation。 More are building。 In a cross street stand nine houses for unmarried women； and exclusive of all these are several small huts where convict families of good character are allowed to reside。 Of public buildings； besides the old wooden barrack and store； there is a house of lath and plaster； forty…four feet long by sixteen wide； for the governor； on a ground floor only； with excellent out…houses and appurtenances attached to it。 A new brick store house； covered with tiles； 100 feet long by twenty…four wide； is nearly completed； and a house for the store…keeper。 The first stone of a barrack； 100 feet long by twenty…four wide； to which are intended to be added wings for the officers； was laid to…day。 The situation of the barrack is judicious； being close to the store…house； and within a hundred and fifty yards of the wharf； where all boats from Sydney unload。 To what I have already enumerated； must be added an excellent barn； a granary； an inclosed yard to rear stock in； a commodious blacksmith's shop； and a most wretched hospital； totally destitute of every conveniency。 Luckily for the gentleman who superintends this hospital； and still more luckily for those who are doomed in case of sickness to enter it； the air of Rose Hill has hitherto been generally healthy。 A tendency to produce slight inflammatory disorders； from the rapid changes* of the temperature of the air； is most to be dreaded。
＇*In the close of the year 1788； when this settlement was established； the thermometer has been known to stand at 50 degrees a little before sunrise； and between one and two o' clock in the afternoon at above 100 degrees。＇
'The hours of labour for the convicts are the same here as at Sydney。 On Saturdays after ten o'clock in the morning they are allowed to work in their own gardens。 These gardens are at present； from the long drought and other causes； in a most deplorable state。 Potatoes； I think； thrive better than any other vegetable in them。 For the public conveniency a baker is established here in a good bakehouse； who exchanges with every person bread for flour； on stipulated terms； but no compulsion exists for any one to take his bread； it is left entirely to every body's own option to consume his flour as he pleases。 Divine service is performed here； morning and afternoon； one Sunday in every month； when all the convicts are obliged to attend church； under penalty of having a part of their allowance of provisions stopped； which is done by the chaplain； who is a justice of the peace。
'For the punishment of offenders； where a criminal court is not judged necessary； two or more justices； occasionally assemble； and order the infliction of slight corporal punishment； or short confinement in a strong room built for this purpose。 The military present here consists of two subalterns； two sergeants； three corporals； a drummer； and twenty…one privates。 These have been occasionally augmented and reduced； as circumstances have been thought to render it necessary。
Brick…kilns are now erected here； and bricks manufactured by a convict of the name of Becket； who came out in the last fleet； and has fifty…two people to work under him。 He makes 25；000 bricks weekly。 He says that they are very good； and would sell at Birmingham； where he worked about eighteen months ago； at more than 30 shillings per thousand。
Nothing farther of public nature remaining to examine； I next visited a humble adventurer； who is trying his fortune here。 James Ruse； convict； was cast for seven years at Bodmin assizes； in August 1782。 He lay five years in prison and on board the 'Dunkirk' hulk at Plymouth； and then was sent to this country。 When his term of punishment expired； in August 1789； he claimed his freedom； and was permitted by the governor； on promising to settle in the country； to take in December following； an uncleaned piece of ground； with an assurance that if he would cultivate it； it should not be taken from him。 Some assistance was given him； to fell the timber； and he accordingly began。 His present account to me was as follows。
I was bred a husbandman； near Launcester in Cornwall。 I cleared my land as well as I could； with the help afforded me。 The exact limit of what ground I am to have； I do not yet know； but a certain direction has been pointed out to me； in which I may proceed as fast as I can cultivate。 I have now an acre and a half in bearded wheat； half an acre in maize； and a small kitchen garden。 On my wheat land I sowed three bushels of seed； the produce of this country； broad cast。 I expect to reap about twelve or thirteen bushels。 I know nothing of the cultivation of maize； and cannot therefore guess so well at what I am likely to gather。 I sowed part of my wheat in May； and part in June。 That sown in May has thrived best。 My maize I planted in the latter end of August； and the beginning of September。 My land I prepared thus： having burnt the fallen timber off the ground； I dug in the ashes； and then hoed it up； never doing more than eight； or perhaps nine； rods in a day； by which means； it was not like the government farm； just scratched over； but properly done。 Then I clod…moulded it； and dug in the grass and weeds。 This I think almost equal to ploughing。 I then let it lie as long as I could； exposed to air and sun； and just before I sowed my seed； turned it all up afresh。 When I shall have reaped my crop； I purpose to hoe it again； and harrow it fine； and then sow it with turnip…seed； which will mellow and prepare it for next year。 My straw； I mean to bury in pits； and throw in with it every thing which I think will rot and turn to manure。 I have no person to help me； at present； but my wife； whom I married in this country； she is industrious。 The governor； for some time； gave me the help of a convict man； but he is taken away。 Both my wife and myself receive our provision
