a complete account of the settlement-第23节
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riods of transportation were expired； and who voluntarily offered to become settlers in the country。 The terms on which they settled； and their progress in agriculture； will be hereafter set forth。
CHAPTER XIV。
Travelling Diaries in New South Wales。
From among my numerous travelling journals into the interior parts of the country； I select the following to present to the reader； as equally important in their object； and more amusing in their detail； than any other。
In April 1791 an expedition was undertaken； in order to ascertain whether or not the Hawkesbury and the Nepean； were the same river。 With this view； we proposed to fall in a little above Richmond Hill*； and trace down to it； and if the weather should prove fine to cross at the ford； and go a short distance westward； then to repass the river and trace it upward until we should either arrive at some spot which we knew to be the Nepean； or should determine by its course that the Hawkesbury was a different stream。
＇*Look at the map for the situation of this place （Unfortunately； there is no map accompanying this etext。 Ed。）＇
Our party was strong and numerous。 It consisted of twenty…one persons； viz。 the governor； Mr。 Collins and his servant； Mr。 White； Mr。 Dawes； the author； three gamekeepers； two sergeants； eight privates； and our friends Colbee and Boladeree。 These two last were volunteers on the occasion； on being assured that we should not stay out many days and that we should carry plenty of provisions。 Baneelon wished to go； but his wife would not permit it。 Colbee on the other hand； would listen to no objections。 He only stipulated （with great care and consideration） that； during his absence； his wife and child should remain at Sydney under our protection； and be supplied with provisions。
But before we set out； let me describe our equipment； and try to convey to those who have rolled along on turnpike roads only； an account of those preparations which are required in traversing the wilderness。 Every man （the governor excepted） carried his own knapsack； which contained provisions for ten days。 If to this be added a gun； a blanket； and a canteen； the weight will fall nothing short of forty pounds。 Slung to the knapsack are the cooking kettle and the hatchet； with which the wood to kindle the nightly fire and build the nightly hut is to be cut down。 Garbed to drag through morasses； tear through thickets； ford rivers and scale rocks； our autumnal heroes； who annually seek the hills in pursuit of grouse and black game； afford but an imperfect representation of the picture。
Thus encumbered； the march begins at sunrise； and with occasional halts continues until about an hour and a half before sunset。 It is necessary to stop thus early to prepare for passing the night； for toil here ends not with the march。 Instead of the cheering blaze； the welcoming landlord； and the long bill of fare； the traveller has now to collect his fuel； to erect his wigwam； to fetch water； and to broil his morsel of salt pork。 Let him then lie down； and if it be summer； try whether the effect of fatigue is sufficiently powerful to overcome the bites and stings of the myriads of sandflies and mosquitoes which buzz around him。
Monday； April 11； 1791。 At twenty minutes before seven o'clock； we started from the governor's house at Rose Hill and steered* for a short time nearly in a north…east direction； after which we turned to north 34 degrees west； and steadily pursued that course until a quarter before four o'clock； when we halted for the night。 The country for the first two miles； while we walked to the northeast； was good； full of grass and without rock or underwood。 Afterwards it grew very bad； being full of steep； barren rocks； over which we were compelled to clamber for seven miles； when it changed to a plain country apparently very sterile； and with very little grass in it； which rendered walking easy。 Our fatigue in the morning had； however； been so oppressive that one of the party knocked up。 And had not a soldier； as strong as a pack…horse； undertaken to carry his knapsack in addition to his own； we must either have sent him back； or have stopped at a place for the night which did not afford water。 Our two natives carried each his pack； but its weight was inconsiderable； most of their provisions being in the knapsacks of the soldiers and gamekeepers。 We expected to have derived from them much information relating to the country； as no one doubted that they were acquainted with every part of it between the sea coast and the river Hawkesbury。 We hoped also to have witnessed their manner of living in the woods； and the resources they rely upon in their journeys。 Nothing； however； of this sort had yet occurred； except their examining some trees to see if they could discover on the bark any marks of the claws of squirrels and opossums； which they said would show whether any of those animals were hidden among the leaves and branches。 They walked stoutly； appeared but little fatigued； and maintained their spirits admirably； laughing to excess when any of us either tripped or stumbled； misfortunes which much seldomer fell to their lot than to ours。
＇*Our method； on these expeditions； was to steer by compass； noting the different courses as we proceeded； and counting the number of paces； of which two thousand two hundred； on good ground； were allowed to be a mile。 At night when we halted； all these courses were separately cast up； and worked by a traverse table； in the manner a ship's reckoning is kept； so that by observing this precaution； we always knew exactly where we were； and how far from home； an unspeakable advantage in a new country； where one hill； and one tree； is so like another that fatal wanderings would ensue without it。 This arduous task was always allotted to Mr。 Dawes who； from habit and superior skill； performed it almost without a stop； or an interruption of conversation： to any other man； on such terms； it would have been impracticable。＇
At a very short distance from Rose Hill； we found that they were in a country unknown to them； so that the farther they went the more dependent on us they became； being absolute strangers inland。 To convey to their understandings the intention of our journey was impossible。 For； perhaps； no words could unfold to an Indian the motives of curiosity which induce men to encounter labour； fatigue and pain； when they might remain in repose at home； with a sufficiency of food。 We asked Colbee the name of the people who live inland； and he called them Boorooberongal； and said they were bad； whence we conjectured that they sometimes war with those on the sea coast； by whom they were undoubtedly driven up the country from the fishing ground； that it might not be overstocked； the weaker here； as in every other country； giving way to the stronger。
We asked how they lived。 He said； on birds and animals； having no fish。 Their laziness appeared strongly when we halted； for they refused to draw water or to cleave wood to make a fire； but as soon as it was kindled （having first well stuffed themselves）； they lay down before it and fell asleep。 About an hour after sunset； as we were chatting by the fire side and preparing to go to rest； we heard voices at a little distance in the wood。 Our natives caught the sound instantaneously and； bidding us be silent； listened attentively to the quarter whence it had proceeded。 In a few minutes we heard the voices plainly； and； wishing exceedingly to open a communication with this tribe； we begged our natives to call to them； and bid them to come to us； to assure them of good treatment； and that they should have something given them to eat。 Colbee no longer hesitated； but gave them the signal of invitation； in a loud hollow cry。 After some whooping and shouting on both sides； a man with a lighted stick in his hand advanced near enough to converse with us。 The first words which we could distinctly understand were； 'I am Colbee； of the tribe of Cadigal。' The stranger replied； 'I am Bereewan； of the tribe of Boorooberongal。' Boladeree informed him also of his name and that we were white men and friends； who would give him something to eat。 Still he seemed irresolute。 Colbee therefore advanced to him； took him by the hand and led him to us。 By the light of the moon； we were introduced to this gentleman； all our names being repeated in form by our two masters of the ceremonies； who said that we were Englishmen and 'budyeeree' （good）； that we came from the sea coast； and that we were travelling inland。
Bereewan seemed to be a man about thirty years old； differing in no respect from his countrymen with whom we were acquainted。 He came to us unarmed； having left his spears at a little distance。 After a long conversation with his countrymen； and having received some provisions； he departed highly satisfied。
Tuesday； April 12th； 1791。 Started this morning at half past six o'clock； and in two hours reached the river。 The whole of the country we passed was poor； and the soil within a mile of the river changed to a coarse deep sand； which I have invariably found to compose its banks in every part without exception that I ever saw。 The stream at this p
