1788 15 May.. La Perouse Bay. the Boussole Two sail had appeared off Botany Bay the 24th, under French colours, and anchored there before the Sirius left it-the Boussole and the Astrolabe. These ships were commanded by Monsr. La Perouse, who, having exprest a desire of sending letters in Botany to Europe, I sent an officer over, it being only eight miles, to tell him in what time it was probable the ships might sail. Voyage of Captain Clonard had left the ship in one of their boats the same and the morning, and Lieut. Shortland, the agent for the transports, is Astrolabe. charged with the letters he brought. They are addressed to the French Ambassador. The officer I sent over was informed that Monsr. La Perouse sailed from France in June, 1785; that he had been to Sta. Catherina, had run along the coast of Chili and California, and had been at Easter Island, Noatka Sound, Cook's River, Kamtschatka, Manilla, Isles des Navigateurs, Sandwich, and the Friendly Islands. He had, likewise, anchored off Norfolk Island, but could not land on account of the surf. In this voyage he had not lost any of his people by sickness, but had lost two boats' crews in a surf on the north-west part of America, and at Maouna (one of the Isles des Navigateurs) Monsr. De Langle, Misfortunes capt. of the Astrolabe, was cut off by the natives, with twelve French. officers and men. Many were wounded, and two long-boats he had on shore destroyed. The ships were then under sail, and De Langle went on shore to fill some water-casks. The boats were suffered to ground, and the natives, with whom they had been on the most friendly terms, and who had supply'd them with refreshments in the greatest abundance, attacked them when they were endeavouring to get them afloat. He had forty officers and men with him, and the ships, being round a point of land, knew nothing of the accident till the small boats returned. These ships, while in Botany Bay, set up two long-boats, the frames of which they had brought from Europe. They sailed the 10th of Departure of March, I believe to return to the northward. of the La Perouse. The clearing the ground for the people and for erecting store- Clearing the houses was begun as soon as the ships got round, a labour of ground. which it will be hardly possible to give your Lordship a just idea. The necks of land that form the different coves, and near the slow water for some distance, are in general so rocky that it is sur- progress. prizing such large trees should find sufficient nourishment, but the soil between the rocks is good, and the summits of the rocks, as well as the whole country round us, with few exceptions, are covered with trees, most of which are so large that the removing them off the ground after they are cut down is the greatest part of the labour; and the convicts, naturally indolent, having none to attend them but overseers drawn from amongst themselves, and who fear to exert any authority, makes this work go on very slowly. situation Your Lordship will permit me to observe that our situation The best tho' so very different from what might be expected, is neverthe- available. 1788 15 May. No large watercourses. less the best that offered. My instructions did not permit me to detain the transports a sufficient length of time, to examine the coast to any considerable distance, it was absolutely necessary to be certain of a sufficient quantity of fresh water, in a situation that was healthy, and which the ships might approach within a reasonable distance for the conveniency of landing the stores and provisions, and I am fully persuaded that we should never have succeeded had it been attempted to move them only one mile from where they were landed. There are some parts of this harbour where the trees stand at a considerable distance from each other, and where there are small runs of water, which shall be cultivated when our numbers permit, and when the country inland can be examined. I make no doubt but some good situations will be found that have water, which I have never yet been able to find, either in Botany Bay or in this harbour, but in very small streams. Some land that is near, and where the trees stand at a considerable distance from each other, will, as soon as convicts can Cultivation be spared, be cultivated by the officers for raising a little corn for their stock; and this I have endeavoured to promote as much as possible, for I fear the consequences if a ship should be lost in her passage out with provisions. scurvy. As there are only twelve convicts who are carpenters, as many as could be procured from the ships have been hired to work on the hospital and store-houses. The people were healthy when Outbreak of landed, but the scurvy has, for some time, appeared amongst them, and now rages in a most extraordinary manner. Only sixteen carpenters could be hired from the ships, and several of the convict carpenters were sick. It was now the middle of February; the rains began to fall very heavy, and pointed out the necessity of hutting the people; convicts were therefore appointed to assist the detachment in this work. Settlement Island. February the 14th the Supply sailed for Norfolk Island, with of Norfolk Philip Gidley King, second lieutenant of his Majesty's ship Sirius, for the purpose of settling that island. He only carried with him a petty officer, surgeon's mate, two marines, two men who understood the cultivation of flax, with nine men and six women convicts. Their number shall be increased when a small detachment of marines can be spared. I have the honour of transmitting your Lordship a copy of the order and instructions Command- given to that officer,* and I beg leave to recommend him as an officer of merit, and whose perseverance in that or any other service may be depended upon. King as ant. Broken Bay. The 2d of March I went with a long-boat and cutter to examine the broken land mentioned by Captain Cook, about *Post, pp. 136-138. King was Superintendent and Commandant of Norfolk Island from March, 1788, to March, 1790; Lieutenant-Governor from November, 1791, to October, 1796; Governor of New South Wales, from September, 1800, to August, 1806. 1788 15 May Water eight miles to the northward of Port Jackson. We slept in the boat that night within a rocky point, in the north-west part of the bay (which is very extensive), as the natives, tho' very friendly, appeared to be numerous; and the next day, after passing a bar that had only water for small vessels, entered a very extensive branch, from which the ebb tide came out so strong that the boats could not row against it in the stream; Brisbane and here was deep water. It appeared to end in several small branches, and in a large lagoon that we could not examine for want of time to search for a channel for the boats amongst the banks of sand and mud. Most of the land on the upper part of this branch was low and full of swamps. Pelicans and variety of birds were here seen in great numbers. Leaving this branch, which I called the north-west branch, we proceeded across the bay and went into the south-west branch, which is very extensive, and from which a second branch runs to the westward, The affording shelter for any number of ships, and as far as we bury. examined there is water for the largest ships, having seven fathoms at the entrance, and deep water as you go up. But the almost continual rains prevented any kind of survey. Here the land is much higher than at Port Jackson, more rocky, and equally covered with timber, large trees growing on the summits of mountains that appear to be accessible to birds only. Hawkes Immediately round the headland that forms the southern entrance into the bay there is a third branch, which I think the finest piece of water I ever saw, and which I honoured with the name of Pitt Water.* It is, as well as the south-west branch, of Pittwater. sufficient extent to contain all the Navy of Great Britain, but has only eighteen feet at low water on a narrow bar which runs across the entrance. Within the bar there are from seven to fifteen fathom water. The land here is not so high as in the south-west branch, and there are some good situations where the land might be cultivated. We found small springs of water in most of the coves, and saw three cascades falling from a height Return to which the rains then rendered inaccessible. I returned to Port Jackson Jackson after being absent eight days in the boats. Some of the people feeling the effects of the rain, which had been almost constant, prevented my returning by land, as I intended, in order to examine a part of the country which appeared open and free from timber. Port Norfolk Lieutenant Ball, who commands the Supply, arrived the 19th News from of March. He made Norfolk Island on the 29th of February, Island. and was five days before a place could be found at which it was possible to land the provisions, and saw very few places at which it was possible to land a man, so compleatly do the rocks surround that island. They succeeded, however, having found a small opening in a reef that runs across a bay that is at * In honor of the Prime Minister. 1788 The whole island a forest. the south end of the island, and the six months' provisions were 15 May. all safely landed. Lieut. King describes this island as one intire wood, without a single acre of clear land that had been found when the Supply left them, and says that the pine-trees rise fifty and sixty feet before they shoot out any branches. There are several other kinds of timber on the island, which, as far as he could examine it, was a rich black mould, with great quantities of pumice-stone. The trees are so bound together by a kind of supple-jack that the penetrating into the interior parts of the island was very difficult. Several good springs of water were found, and I apprehend his Majesty's ships in the East Indies may be supplied from this island with masts and yards, which will render it a very valuable acquisition. The cultivation of the flax-plant will be attended to when people can be sent to clear the ground. Valuable timber. Lord Howe transports. A small island being seen on the passage to Norfolk Island, Lieutenant Ball examined it on his return, and says it abounds in turtle, but unfortunately has no good anchoring-ground. He named it after Lord Howe.* It is in 31° 36' south latitude, and 159° east longitude. Part of this island may be seen sixteen leagues, and a rock that is five leagues to the southward and eastward of the island may be seen eighteen leagues. Discharge of The Charlotte, Scarborough, and Lady Penrhyn, transports, were cleared of all their stores and discharged from Government employ the 24th and 25th of March, and left at liberty to proceed to China when they judged proper. The other ships remain till The first store-houses can be finished. Your Lordship will not be surprized that I have been under the necessity of assembling a Criminal Court. Six men were condemned to death. One, who was the head of the gang, was executed the same day; the others I reprieved. They are to be exiled from the settlement, and when the season permits I intend they shall be landed near the South Cape, where, by their forming connexions with the natives, some benefit may accrue to the public. These Incorrigible men had frequently robbed the stores and the other convicts. The one who suffered and two others were condemned for robbing the stores of provisions the very day they received a week's provisions, and at which time their allowance, as settled by the Navy Board, was the same as the soldiers, spirits excepted; the others for robbing a tent, and for stealing provisions from other convicts. thieves. Agriculture under difficulties. Loss of live stock. The great labour in clearing the ground will not permit more than eight acres to be sown this year with wheat and barley. At the same time the immense number of ants and field-mice will render our crops very uncertain. Part of the live stock brought from the Cape, small as it was, has been lost, and our resource in fish is also uncertain. Some days * Admiral Howe, First Lord of the Admiralty. great quantities are caught, but never sufficient to save any part of the provisions; and at times fish are scarce. 1788 15 May. Provisions wanted for Your Lordship will, I presume, see the necessity of a regular supply of provisions for four or five years, and of clothing, shoes, and clothing and frocks in the greatest proportion. The necessary implements four or five for husbandry and for clearing the ground brought out will with years. difficulty be made to serve the time that is necessary for sending out a fresh supply. labour. The labour of the convicts shall be, as is directed, for the public Convict stock, but it is necessary to permit a part of the convicts to work for the officers, who, in our present situation, would otherwise find it impossible to clear a sufficient quantity of ground to raise what is absolutely necessary to support the little stock they have; and I am to request that your Lordship will be pleased to direct me to what extent that indulgence may be granted the officers of the garrison. The Sirius shall be sent to the northward to barter for stock, The Sirius to and which shall be employed solely for the purpose of increasing go north for the breed of such cattle as she may procure. The Supply is no ways calculated for this service, as in the least sea her decks are full of water. The very small proportion of females makes the sending out an More women additional number absolutely necessary, for I am certain your required. Lordship will think that to send for women from the Islands, in our present situation, would answer no other purpose than that of bringing them to pine away in misery. of Port I have had the honor of informing your Lordship that this Advantages harbour is, in extent and security, very superior to any other that Jackson. I have ever seen-containing a considerable number of coves, formed by narrow necks of land, mostly rocks, covered with timber, and the face of the country, when viewed from the harbour, is the same, with few exceptions. The neck of land between the harbour and the coast is mostly sand. Between that part of the harbour in which the settlement is made and Botany Bay, after you pass the wood which surrounds us, and which in some parts is a mile and a half, in others three miles across, the country is a poor sandy heath, full of swamps. The country towards the head of the bay* is covered with timber, and here the land appears less rocky, and the trees stand in some parts at a greater distance; but the head of the bay being left dry in several parts at low water, and the winds being obstructed by the woods and the different windings of the channel, must, I conceive, Country render this part of the harbour unhealthy till the country can be clearing, cleared. As far as the eye can reach to the westward the country appears to be one continued wood. wants timber. The timber is well described in Captain Cook's voyage, but Refractory unfortunately it has one very bad quality, which puts us to great * Port Jackson. |
