a complete account of the settlement-第30节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
｜ ｜ allotment。 ｜ John Silverthorne Weaver 40 1 3/4 Thomas Martin 〃 40 1 1/2 John Nichols Gardener 40 2 William Butler*； and his wife Seaman 50 ） Lisk* Watchmaker 40 ） 4 William Parish； wife； and a child Seaman 60 2 3/4 William Kilby； and his wife Husbandman 60 1 1/4 Edward Pugh； wife； and two children Carpenter 70 2 1/2 Samuel Griffith John Herbertt** James Castle Joseph Marlow*** John Williams； and his wife
＇*In partnership。＇Butler and Lisk＇
＇**Not out of his time； but allowed to work here at his leisure hours； as he has declared his intention of settling。＇
＇***In a similar predicament with Herbert。＇
The terms on which these allotments have been granted are： that the estates shall be fully ceded for ever to all who shall continue to cultivate for five years； or more； that they shall be free of all taxes for the first ten years； but after that period to pay an annual quit…rent of one shilling。 The penalty on non…performance of any of these articles is forfeiture of the estate； and all the labour which may have been bestowed upon it。 These people are to receive provisions； （the same quantity as the working convicts）； clothes； and medicinal assistance； for eighteen months from the day on which they settled。
To clear and cultivate the land； a hatchet； a tomahawk； two hoes； a spade and a shovel； are given to each person； whether man or woman； and a certain number of cross…cut saws among the whole。 To stock their farms； two sow pigs were promised to each settler； but they almost all say they have not yet received any； of which they complain loudly。 They all received grain to sow and plant for the first year。 They settled here in July and August last。 Most of them were obliged to build their own houses； and wretched hovels three…fourths of them are。 Should any of them fall sick； the rest are bound to assist the sick person two days in a month； provided the sickness lasts not longer than two months； four days labour in each year； from every person； being all that he is entitled to。 To give protection to this settlement； a corporal and two soldiers are encamped in the centre of the farms； as the natives once attacked the settlers and burnt one of their houses。 These guards are； however； inevitably at such a distance from some of the farms as to be unable to afford them any assistance in case of another attack。
With all these people I conversed and inspected their labours。 Some I found tranquil and determined to persevere； provided encouragement should be given。 Others were in a state of despondency； and predicted that they should starve unless the period of eighteen months during which they are to be clothed and fed； should be extended to three years。 Their cultivation is yet in its infancy； and therefore opinions should not be hastily formed of what it may arrive at； with moderate skill and industry。 They have at present little in the ground besides maize； and that looks not very promising。 Some small patches of wheat which I saw are miserable indeed。 The greatest part of the land I think but indifferent； being light and stoney。 Of the thirteen farms ten are unprovided with water； and at some of them they are obliged to fetch this necessary article from the distance of a mile and a half。 All the settlers complain sadly of being frequently robbed by the runaway convicts； who plunder them incessantly。
December 6th。 Visited the settlements to the northward of the rivulet。 The nearest of them lies about a mile due north of Mr。 Clarke's house。 Here are only the undernamed five settlers。
Men's names。 ｜ Trades。 ｜ Number of ｜ Number of acres ｜ ｜ acres in each ｜ in cultivation。 ｜ ｜ allotment。 ｜ Thomas Brown*； wife； and child … 60 ） William Bradbury* … 30 ） 3 1/2 William Mold* … 30 ） Simon Burne； and wife Hosier 50 3 Parr； and wife Merchant's clerk 50 3 1/2
＇*These three cultivate in partnership。（Brown； Bradbury； Mold。）＇
These settlers are placed on the same footing in every respect which concerns their tenure and the assistance to be granted to them as those at Prospect Hill。 Near them is water。 Parr and Burne are men of great industry。 They have both good houses which they hired people to build for them。 Parr told me that he had expended thirteen guineas on his land； which nevertheless he does not seem pleased with。 Of the three poor fellows who work in partnership； one （Bradbury） is run away。 This man had been allowed to settle； on a belief； from his own assurance； that his term of transportation was expired； but it was afterwards discovered that he had been cast for life。 Hereupon he grew desperate； and declared he would rather perish at once than remain as a convict。 He disappeared a week ago and has never since been heard of。 Were I compelled to settle in New South Wales； I should fix my residence here； both from the appearance of the soil； and its proximity to Rose Hill。 A corporal and two privates are encamped here to guard this settlement； as at Prospect。
Proceeded to the settlement called the Ponds； a name which I suppose it derived from several ponds of water which are near the farms。 Here reside the fourteen following settlers。
Men's names。 ｜ Trades。 ｜ Number of ｜ Number of acres ｜ ｜ acres in each ｜ in cultivation。 ｜ ｜ allotment。 ｜ Thomas Kelly Servant 30 1 1/2 William Hubbard； and wife Plasterer 50 2 1/4 Curtis Brand； and wife Carpenter 50 3 John Ramsay； and wife Seaman 50 3 1/2 William Field … 30 2 1/2 John Richards* Stone…cutter 30 ） 4 1/2 John Summers* Husbandman 30 ） Varnell … 30 1 Anthony Rope**； and wife； and two children Bricklayer 70 1 Joseph Bishop； and wife None 50 1 1/2 Mathew Everingham； and wife Attorney's clerk 50 2 John Anderson； and wife … 50 2 Edward Elliot*** Husbandman 30 ） 2 Joseph Marshall*** Weaver 30 ）
＇*They （Richards and Summers） cultivate in partnership。＇ ＇**A convict who means to settle here； and is permitted to work in his leisure hours。＇ ＇***They （Elliot and Marshall） cultivate in partnership。＇
The Prospect Hill terms of settlement extend to this place。 My private remarks were not many。 Some spots which I passed over I thought desirable； particularly Ramsay's farm； and he deserves a good spot； for he is a civil； sober； industrious man。 Besides his corn land； he has a well laid out little garden； in which I found him and his wife busily at work。 He praised her industry to me； and said he did not doubt of succeeding。 It is not often seen that sailors make good farmers； but this man I think bids fair to contradict the observation。 The gentleman of no trade （his own words to me） will； I apprehend； at the conclusion of the time when victualling from the store is to cease； have the honour of returning to drag a timber or brick cart for his maintenance。 The little maize he has planted is done in so slovenly a style as to promise a very poor crop。 He who looks forward to eat grapes from his own vine； and to sit under the shade of his own fig…tree； must labour in every country。 He must exert more than ordinary activity。 The attorney's clerk I also thought out of his province。 I dare believe that he finds cultivating his own land not half so easy a task as he formerly found that of stringing together volumes of tautology to encumber； or convey away； that of his neighbour。 Hubbard's farm； and Kelly's also； deserve regard； from being better managed than most of the others。 The people here complain sadly of a destructive grub which destroys the young plants of maize。 Many of the settlers have been obliged to plant twice； nay thrice； on the same land； from the depredations of these reptiles。 There is the same guard here as at the other settlements。
Nothing now remains for inspection but the farms on the river side。
December 7th。 Went to Scheffer's farm。 I found him at home； conversed with him； and walked with him over all his cultivated ground。 He had 140 acres granted to him； fourteen of which are in cultivation； twelve in maize； one in wheat and one in vines and tobacco。 He has besides twenty…three acres on which the trees are cut down but not burnt off the land。 He resigned his appointment and began
