a complete account of the settlement-第26节
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but it is certainly very superior to that which we had seen on the former creek。 In many places it might be cultivated； provided the inundations of the stream can be repelled。
In passing along we shot some ducks； which Boladeree refused to swim for when requested； and told us in a surly tone that they swam for what was killed； and had the trouble of fetching it ashore； only for the white men to eat it。 This reproof was； I fear； too justly founded； for of the few ducks we had been so fortunate as to procure； little had fallen to their share except the offals； and now and then a half…picked bone。 True； indeed； all the crows and hawks which had been shot were given to them； but they plainly told us that the taste of ducks was more agreeable to their palates； and begged they might hereafter partake of them。 We observed that they were thoroughly sick of the journey； and wished heartily for its conclusion： the exclamation of 〃Where's Rose Hill； where？〃 was incessantly repeated； with many inquiries about when we should return to it。
Saturday April 16th； 1791。 It was this morning resolved to abandon our pursuit and to return home； at hearing of which our natives expressed great joy。 We started early； and reached Rose Hill about three o'clock； just as a boat was about to be sent down to Sydney。 Colbee and Boladeree would not wait for us until the following morning； but insisted on going down immediately to communicate to Baneelon and the rest of their countrymen the novelties they had seen。
The country we passed through was； for the most part； very indifferent； according to our universal opinion。 It is in general badly watered。 For eight miles and a half on one line we did not find a drop of water。
RICHMOND HILL
Having eluded our last search； Mr。 Dawes and myself； accompanied by a sergeant of marines and a private soldier； determined on another attempt； to ascertain whether it lay on the Hawkesbury or Nepean。 We set out on this expedition on the 24th of May； 1791； and having reached the opposite side of the mouth of the creek which had in our last journey prevented our progress； we proceeded from there up to Richmond Hill by the river side； mounted it； slept at its foot； and on the following day penetrated some miles westward or inland of it until we were stopped by a mountainous country； which our scarcity of provisions； joined to the terror of a river at our back； whose sudden rising is almost beyond computation； hindered us from exploring。 To the elevation which bounded our research we gave the name of Knight Hill； in honour of the trusty sergeant who had been the faithful indefatigable companion of all our travels。
This excursion completely settled the long contested point about the Hawkesbury and Nepean。 We found them to be one river。 Without knowing it； Mr。 Dawes and myself had passed Richmond Hill almost a year before （in August 1790）； and from there walked on the bank of the river to the spot where my discovery of the Nepean happened； in June 1789。 Our ignorance arose from having never before seen the hill； and from the erroneous position assigned to it by those who had been in the boats up the river。
Except the behaviour of some natives whom we met on the river； which it would be ingratitude to pass in silence； nothing particularly worthy of notice occurred on this expedition。
When we had reached within two miles of Richmond Hill； we heard a native call。 We directly answered him and conversed across the river for some time。 At length he launched his canoe and crossed to us without distrust or hesitation。 We had never seen him before； but he appeared to know our friend Gombeeree； of whom he often spoke。 He said his name was Deedora。 He presented us with two spears and a throwing…stick； and in return we gave him some bread and beef。 Finding that our route lay up the river； he offered to accompany us and； getting into his canoe； paddled up abreast of us。 When we arrived at Richmond Hill it became necessary to cross the river； but the question was； how this should be effected？ Deedora immediately offered his canoe。 We accepted of it and； Mr。 Dawes and the soldier putting their clothes into it； pushed it before them； and by alternately wading and swimming； soon passed。 On the opposite shore sat several natives； to whom Deedora called； by which precaution the arrival of the strangers produced no alarm。 On the contrary； they received them with every mark of benevolence。 Deedora； in the meanwhile； sat talking with the sergeant and me。 Soon after； another native； named Morunga； brought back the canoe； and now came our turn to cross。 The sergeant （from a foolish trick which had been played upon him when he was a boy） was excessively timorous of water； and could not swim。 Morunga offered to conduct him； and they got into the canoe together； but； his fears returning； he jumped out and refused to proceed。 I endeavoured to animate him； and Morunga ridiculed his apprehensions； making signs of the ease and dispatch with which he would land him； but he resolved to paddle over by himself； which； by dint of good management and keeping his position very steadily； he performed。 It was now become necessary to bring over the canoe a third time for my accommodation； which was instantly done； and I entered it with Deedora。 But； like the sergeant； I was so disordered at seeing the water within a hair's breadth of the level of our skiff （which brought to my remembrance a former disaster I had experienced on this river） that I jumped out； about knee…deep； and determined to swim over； which I effected。 My clothes； half our knapsacks； and three of our guns yet remained to be transported across。 These I recommended to the care of our grim ferrymen； who instantaneously loaded their boat with them and delivered them on the opposite bank； without damage or diminution。
During this long trial of their patience and courtesyin the latter part of which I was entirely in their power； from their having possession of our armsthey had manifested no ungenerous sign of taking advantage of the helplessness and dependance of our situation； no rude curiosity to pry into the packages with which they were entrusted； or no sordid desire to possess the contents of them； although among them were articles exposed to view； of which it afterwards appeared they knew the use； and longed for the benefit。 Let the banks of those rivers； 〃known to song〃； let him whose travels have lain among polished nations produce me a brighter example of disinterested urbanity than was shown by these denizens of a barbarous clime to a set of destitute wanderers on the side of the Hawkesbury。
On the top of Richmond Hill we shot a hawk； which fell in a tree。 Deedora offered to climb for it and we lent him a hatchet； the effect of which delighted him so much that he begged for it。 As it was required to chop wood for our evening fire； it could not be conveniently spared； but we promised him that if he would visit us on the following morning； it should be given to him。 Not a murmur was heard； no suspicion of our insincerity； no mention of benefits conferred； no reproach of ingratitude。 His good humour and cheerfulness were not clouded for a moment。 Punctual to our appointment； he came to us at daylight next morning and the hatchet was given to him； the only token of gratitude and respect in our power to bestow。 Neither of these men had lost his front tooth。
THE LAST EXPEDITION
Which I ever undertook in the country I am describing was in July 1791； when Mr。 Dawes and myself went in search of a large river which was said to exist a few miles to the southward of Rose Hill。 We went to the place described； and found this second Nile or Ganges to be nothing but a saltwater creek communicating with Botany Bay； on whose banks we passed a miserable night from want of a drop of water to quench our thirst； for as we believed that we were going to a river we thought it needless to march with full canteens。
On this expedition we carried with us a thermometer which （in unison with our feelings） shewed so extraordinary a degree of cold for the latitude of the place that I think myself bound to transcribe it。
Monday； 18th July 1791。 The sun arose in unclouded splendor and presented to our sight a novel and picturesque view。 The contiguous country as white as if covered with snow； contrasted with the foliage of trees flourishing in the verdure of tropical luxuriancy*。 Even the exhalation which steamed from the lake beneath contributed to heighten the beauty of the scene。 Wind SSW。 Thermorneter at sunrise 25degrees。 The following night was still colder。 At sunset the thermometer stood at 45 degrees； at a quarter before four in the morning； it was at 26degrees； at a quarter before six at 24 degrees； at a quarter before seven； at 23 degrees； at seven o'clock； 22。7 degrees； at sunrise； 23 degrees； after which it continued gradually to mount； and between one and two o'clock； stood at 59。6 degrees in the shade。 Wind SSW。 The horizon perfectly clear all day； not the smallest speck to be seen。 Nothing but demonstration could have convinced me that so severe a degree of cold ever existed in this low latitude。 Drops of water on a tin pot； not altogether out o
