1788 is, with the wood ashes made by burning the body, covered lightly over with mould, fern, and a few stones. A grave was opened 15 May. by Captain Hunter, in which part of a jawbone was found, not consumed by the fire, but we have seen very few of these graves, and none near their huts. the native It is not possible to determine with any accuracy the number of Number of natives, but I think that in Botany Bay, Port Jackson, Broken Bay, ? population. and the intermediate coast they cannot be less than one thousand five hundred. Narrabeen. In going to examine a cove near the entrance of the harbour (Shell Cove) I found a passage with deep water into a branch of the harbour that runs to the north-west, and finding on examining that there was a run of fresh water that came from the westward, I went a few days after to examine the source. I landed with four days' provision, several officers, and a small party of marines, and found to the northward of this part of the harbour a large Lake lake, which we examined, tho' not without great labour, for it is surrounded with a bog and large marsh, in which we were frequently up to the middle There we saw a black swan; it was larger than the common swan, and when it rose, after being fired at, the wings appeared to be edged with white; there is some red on the bill, and it is a very noble bird. With great labour, in three days we got round the swamps and marshes, from which all the fresh water drains that this harbour is supplied with. then and The country we past thro' when we left the low grounds was the most rocky and barren I ever saw; the ascending and descending of the mountains being practicable only in particular places, but covered with flowering shrubs; and when about fifteen miles from the sea-coast we had a very fine view of the mountains inland, the northermost of which I named Carmarthen Hills,* and the Carmarsouthermost Lansdowne Hills. A mountain between I called Lansdowne Richmond Hill, and from the rising of these mountains I did not Hills. doubt but that a large river would be found, in search of which I set off the 22nd of April, with six days' provision. We were eleven officers and men, and landed near the head of the harbour. Here the country was good, but we soon came to a close cover, that we endeavoured for some time to get thro', but were obliged to return, and the next day past this cover by keeping along the banks of a small creek for about four miles. The three following days we proceeded to the westward, finding the country in Fine general as fine as any I ever saw, the trees growing from twenty the to forty feet from each other, and, except in particular places westward, where the soil was stony and very poor, no underwood. The Named after the Marquis of Carmarthen, afterwards Duke of Leeds, who was Secretary of State for the Foreign Department, and administered the affairs of the colonies during a part of the year 1783. + Named after the Marquis of Lansdowne (Earl of Shelburne). Named, it is supposed, after the Duke of Richmond, then Master-General of the Ordnance. country to 1788 15 May. checked. country thro' which we past was mostly level, or only rising in small hills, which gave it a pleasing and picturesque appearance. The fifth day we got to a rising ground, and for the first time since we landed saw Carmarthen Hills, as, likewise, the hills to the southward. The country round this hill was so beautiful that I called the hill Bellevue, but the hills we wished to reach still appeared to be at least thirty miles from us. We had been five days out, and the want of provisions obliged us to return to the spot we left, by the track we went, otherwise our journey might be Exploration lengthened several days longer than we expected, by meeting with deep ravines, which we might be obliged to go round; and, I believe, no country can be more difficult to penetrate into than this is, tho' we always found pools of water that had remained after the rainy season, yet, as that could not be depended on, the water necessary for the day was always carried, which, with the provisions, arms, and a couple of tents, obliged every officer and man to carry a very heavy load, but which at present was so much lightened, and having the trees marked, in one day and a half we got back to the head of the harbour. We had been thirty miles to the westward, and had seen a country that might be cultivated with ease, and I Land fit for intended returning in a few days in hopes of reaching the bottom of Landsdown or Carmarthen Hills; and the tracing of the natives inland, added to the hopes of finding a large river, which the appearance of the country promised, made everyone, notwithstanding the fatigue, desirous of being of the party; but my having when I went to Broken Bay, before I was perfectly recovered from the complaint Hardships of which had been so general, slept several nights on the wet ground, exploring. brought on a pain in the side, which this journey increased so much that I found a few weeks' rest necessary after I returned. cultivation. Good country near the settlement. Gunyahs. Trees on fire. I have had the honor of informing your Lordship that we now know there is a good country near us, and it shall be settled and cultivated early in the spring. In this journey I was surprized to find temporary huts made by the natives far inland, where they must depend solely on animals for food, and to procure which we have never yet seen any other weapon than the spear, which is certainly very inferior to our guns, and with which in this journey, tho' we were in want of provisions for the last two days, procured us barely sufficient for two meals. These huts consist of only a single piece of bark, about eleven feet in length, and from four to six feet in breath, being, when stripped from the tree, bent in the middle, and sat up as children put up a card, affording shelter against a shower of rain if you sit under it. The hut may, perhaps, only be intended to hide them from the animals they lay in wait for. Near one of these huts we found some of the bones of a kangaroo, and saw several trees that were on fire; the natives, I suppose, had left them on our approach. I also found the root of fern, or something like the fern root, that had been chewed by 1788 15 May. one of the natives; he could only have left the spot a few minutes; but we never saw any of them, and I believe their numbers in these woods must be very small. Whether they live in the woods by choice, or are driven from the society of those who inhabit the sea-coast, or whether they travel to a distant part of the country, I can form no judgment at present. The bark of many of the trees were cut in notches, and at the foot of one tree we found the fur of a flying squirrel. Many trees were seen with holes that had been enlarged by the natives to get at the animal, either the How the squirrel, kangaroo rat, or opossum, for the going in of which perhaps natives they wait under their temporary huts, and as the enlarging these small game. holes could only be done with the shell they use to separate the oysters from the rocks, must require great patience. Against several trees where the hole was near the ground, but too high to reach, boughs of trees were laid for to climb up by. We saw many places where the natives had made fires, but at one place only were any oyster or muscle shells seen, and there not more than half-a-dozen, and no fish-bones, so that when they go inland they certainly do not carry any fish to support them. catch carving. In Botany Bay, Port Jackson, and Broken Bay we frequently Aboriginal saw the figures of men, shields, and fish roughly cut on the rocks; and on the top of a mountain I saw the figure of a man in the attitude they put themselves in when they are going to dance, which was much better done than I had seen before, and the figure of a large lizard was sufficiently well executed to satisfy every one what animal was meant. Traces of In all the country thro' which I have passed I have seldom gone a quarter of a mile without seeing trees which appear to have fire. been destroyed by fire. We have seen very heavy thunderstorms, and I believe the gum-tree strongly attracts the lightning, but the natives always make their fire, if not before their own huts, at the root of a gum-tree, which burns very freely, and they never put a fire out when they leave the place. Near some water we saw the dung of an animal that fed on Plenty of grass, and which I thought could not be less than a horse. game. Kangaroos were frequently seen, but very shy, and it is a little extraordinary that more of these animals are seen near the camp than in any other part of the country, notwithstanding they are fired at almost daily. Black swans are found on most of the Black swans. lakes, and a bird as large as the ostrich was killed while I was at Broken Bay. It differs both from the ostrich and the emu. Several have been seen, but they are very shy, and much swifter than the greyhounds. Here are wild ducks, teal, and quails, Wild ducks. with great variety of small birds. by native On my return from this excursion I had the mortification to find Sheep killed that five ewes and a lamb had been killed in the middle of the day, dogs. and very near the camp, I apprehend by some of the native dogs. 1788 15 May. Departure of transports for China the Supply Howe Buildings. Writing under difficulties. 12 Feb. King's ap pointment. to Norfolk Island. The beginning of May the rainy season was once more supposed to be set in, but after a week we had fine weather. The three transports for China* sailed the 5th, 6th, and 8th of May; and the Supply, having been caulked, sailed the 6th to Lord Howe Island, to endeavour to procure turtle, in hopes of checking the scurvy, with which most of the people are affected, and near two hundred rendered incapable of doing any work. It is not possible to send the Sirius to the northward, for she must then have her carpenters, and only three of those hired from the transports now remain; and tho' the detachment began to build barracks for the use of the men and huts for the officers the 14th of February, and near a hundred convicts were given to assist in this work, they are not yet finished, nor is the hospital or the store-house that is to receive the provisions still remaining on board three transports, and on these works the carpenters of the Sirius are employed. I have before pointed out the great labour in clearing the ground as one cause of our slow progress. Your Lordship will, I hope, excuse the confused manner in which I have in this letter given an account of what has past since I left the Cape of Good Hope. It has been written at different times, and my situation at present does not permit me to begin so long a letter again, the canvas house I am under being neither wind nor water proof. I have, &c., By His Excellency Arthur Phillip, Esq., Governor-in-Chief and By virtue of the power and authority vested in me, I do hereby You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of Superintendant and Commandant of the same, by doing and performing all and every such instructions as you have, or may hereafter, from time to time, receive from me, for the good of his Majesty's service. Given under my hand and seal, at head-quarters, in Port To Philip Gidley King, Esq., Superintendant and Commandant of Norfolk Island. By Command of his Excellency. Scarborough, Charlotte, and Lady Penrhyn. Andrew Miller, Secretary. + See Phillip's despatch to Lord Sydney, ante, p. 124. King was afterwards appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Norfolk Island by Commission, post, p. 287. KING APPOINTED COMMANDANT OF NORFOLK ISLAND. [Enclosure.] Instructions for Philip Gidley King, Esq., Superintendant and 137 1788 12 Feb. instructions. Commandant of the Settlement of Norfolk Island. WITH these Instructions you will receive my Commission appoint- King's ing you to superintend and command the settlement to be formed on Norfolk Island, and to obey all such orders as you shall, from time to time, receive from me, his Majesty's Governorin-Chief and Captain-General of the territory of New South Wales and its dependencies, or from the Lieutenant-Governor in my absence. You are therefore to proceed in his Majesty's armed tender Supply, whose commander has my orders to receive you with the men and women, stores and provisions, necessary for forming the intended settlement, and on your landing on Norfolk Island take Settlement upon you the execution of the trust reposed in you, causing my formed. Commission appointing you Superintendant over the said settlement to be publicly read. you to be The island And after having taken the necessary measures for securing to be yourself and people, and for the preservation of the stores and cultivated. provisions, you are immediately to proceed to the cultivation of the flax-plant, which you will find growing spontaneously on the island, as likewise to the cultivation of cotton, corn, and other grains, with the seeds of which you are furnished, and which are to regard as public stock, and of the increase of which you are to send me an account, that I may know what quantity may be drawn from the island for the public use, or what supplies may be necessary to send hereafter. It is left to your discretion to use such part of the corn that is raised as may be found necessary; but this you are to do with the greatest economy. Economy in And as the corn, flax, cotton, and other grains are the property grain. of the Crown, and are as such to be accounted for, you are to keep an exact account of the increase, and you will, in future, receive directions for the disposal thereof. the use of studied. You are to inform yourself of the nature of the soil, what The procapabilities portion of land you find proper for the cultivation of corn, flax, and of the island cotton, as likewise what quantity of cattle may be bred on the to be island, and the number of people you judge necessary for the above purposes. You will likewise observe what are the prevailing winds in the different seasons of the year, the best anchorage according to the season, the rise and fall of the tides, likewise when the dry and rainy seasons begin and end. boats to be You will be furnished with a four-oared boat, and you are not No large, on any consideration to build or to permit the building of any built. vessel or boat whatever that is decked, or of any boat or vessel that is not decked, whose length of keel exceeds twenty feet; and if by any accident any vessel or boat that exceeds twenty feet keel should be driven on the island, you are immediately to |