a complete account of the settlement-第6章

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！


　concerned　therein；　either　by　entrance　into　any　suspected　hut　or　dwelling；　or　by　such　other　measure　as　may　seem　to　them　expedient。

II。　　Those　parts　in　which　the　convicts　reside　are　to　be　divided　and　numbered；　in　the　following　manner。　　The　convict　huts　on　the　eastern　side　of　the　stream；　and　the　public　farm；　are　to　be　the　first　division。　　Those　at　the　brick…kilns；　and　the　detached　parties　in　the　different　private　farms　in　that　district；　are　to　be　the　second　division。　　Those　on　the　western　side　of　the　stream；　as　far　as　the　line　which　separates　the　district　of　the　women　from　the　men；　to　be　the　third　division。　　The　huts　occupied　from　that　line　to　the　hospital；　and　from　there　to　the　observatory；　to　be　the　fourth　division。

III。　Each　of　these　districts　or　divisions　is　to　be　under　the　particular　inspection　of　one　person；　who　may　be　judged　qualified　to　inform　himself　of　the　actual　residence　of　each　individual　in　his　district；　as　well　as　of　his　business；　connections；　and　acquaintances。

IV。　　Cognizance　is　to　be　taken　of　such　convicts　as　may　sell　or　barter　their　slops　or　provisions；　and　also　of　such　as　are　addicted　to　gaming　for　either　of　the　aforesaid　articles；　who　are　to　be　reported　to　the　judge　advocate。

V。　　　Any　soldier　or　seaman　found　straggling　after　the　beating　of　the　tattoo；　or　who　may　be　found　in　a　convict's　hut；　is　to　be　detained；　and　information　of　him　immediately　given　to　the　nearest　guard。

VI。　　Any　person　who　may　be　robbed　during　the　night；　is　to　give　immediate　information　thereof　to　the　watch　of　his　district；　who；　on　the　instant　of　application　being　made；　shall　use　the　most　effectual　means　to　trace　out　the　offender；　or　offenders；　so　that　he；　she；　or　they；　may　be　brought　to　justice。

VII。　The　watch　of　each　district　is　to　be　under　the　direction　of　one　person；　who　will　be　named　for　that　purpose。　　All　the　patrols　are　placed　under　the　immediate　inspection　of　Herbert　Keeling。　　They　are　never　to　receive　any　fee；　gratuity；　or　reward；　from　any　individual　whatever；　to　engage　their　exertions　in　the　execution　of　the　above　trust。　　Nor　will　they　receive　any　stipulated　encouragement　for　the　conviction　of　any　offender。　But　their　diligence　and　good　behaviour　will　be　rewarded　by　the　governor。　And　for　this　purpose　their　conduct　will　be　strictly　attended　to；　by　those　who　are　placed　in　authority　over　them。

VIII。　The　night…watch　is　to　go　out　as　soon　as　the　tattoo　ceases　beating：　to　return　to　their　huts　when　the　working　drum　beats　in　the　morning：　and　are　to　make　their　report　to　the　judge　advocate；　through　Herbert　Keeling；　of　all　robberies　and　misdemeanors　which　may　have　been　committed。　Any　assistance　the　patrols　may　require；　will　be　given　to　them；　on　applying　to　the　officer　commanding　the　nearest　guard；　and　by　the　civil　power；　if　necessary；　for　which　last；　application　is　to　be　made　to　the　provost　martial。

IX。　　Any　negligence　on　the　part　of　those　who　shall　be　employed　on　this　duty；　will　be　punished　with　the　utmost　rigour　of　the　law。

X。　　　The　night…watch　is　to　consist　of　12　persons。


Every　political　code；　either　from　a　defect　of　its　constitution；　or　from　the　corruptness　of　those　who　are　entrusted　to　execute　it；　will　be　found　less　perfect　in　practice　than　speculation　had　promised　itself。　　It　were；　however；　prejudice　to　deny；　that　for　some　time　following　the　institution　of　this　patrol；　nightly　depredations　became　less　frequent　and　alarming：　the　petty　villains；　at　least；　were　restrained　by　it。　　And　to　keep　even　a　garden　unravaged　was　now　become　a　subject　of　the　deepest　concern。

For　in　October　our　weekly　allowance　of　provisions；　which　had　hitherto　been　eight　pounds　of　flour；　five　pounds　of　salt　pork；　three　pints　of　pease；　six　ounces　of　butter；　was　reduced　to　five　pounds　five　ounces　of　flour；　three　pounds　five　ounces　of　pork；　and　two　pints　of　pease。

In　order　to　lessen　the　consumption　from　the　public　stores；　the　'Supply'　was　ordered　to　touch　at　Lord　Howe　Island；　in　her　way　from　Norfolk　Island；　to　try　if　turtle　could　be　procured；　for　the　purpose　of　being　publicly　served　in　lieu　of　salt　provisions。　　But　she　brought　back　only　three　turtles；　which　were　distributed　in　the　garrison。

December；　1789。　　At　the　request　of　his　excellency；　lieutenant　Dawes　of　the　marines；　accompanied　by　lieutenant　Johnston　and　Mr。　Lowes；　about　this　time　undertook　the　attempt　to　cross　the　Nepean　river；　and　to　penetrate　to　Carmarthen　mountains。　　Having　discovered　a　ford　in　the　river；　they　passed　it；　and　proceeded　in　a　westerly　direction。　But　they　found　the　country　so　rugged；　and　the　difficulty　of　walking　so　excessive；　that　in　three　days　they　were　able　to　penetrate　only　fifteen　miles；　and　were　therefore　obliged　to　relinquish　their　object。　This　party；　at　the　time　they　turned　back；　were　farther　inland　than　any　other　persons　ever　were　before　or　since；　being　fifty…four　miles　in　a　direct　line　from　the　sea　coast　when　on　the　summit　of　mount　Twiss；　a　hill　so　named　by　them；　and　which　bounded　their　peregrination。

Intercourse　with　the　natives；　for　the　purpose　of　knowing　whether　or　not　the　country　possessed　any　resources；　by　which　life　might　be　prolonged*；　as　well　as　on　other　accounts；　becoming　every　day　more　desirable；　the　governor　resolved　to　make　prisoners　of　two　more　of　them。

＇*One　of　the　convicts；　a　negro；　had　twice　eloped；　with　an　intention　of　establishing　himself　in　the　society　of　the　natives；　with　a　wish　to　adopt　their　customs　and　to　live　with　them：　　but　he　was　always　repulsed　by　them；　and　compelled　to　return　to　us　from　hunger　and　wretchedness。＇


Boats　properly　provided；　under　the　command　of　lieutenant　Bradley　of　the　'Sirius'；　were　accordingly　dispatched　on　this　service；　and　completely　succeeded　in　trepanning　and　carrying　off；　without　opposition；　two　fine　young　men；　who　were　safely　landed　among　us　at　Sydney。

Nanbaree　and　Abaroo　welcomed　them　on　shore；　calling　them　immediately　by　their　names；　Baneelon　（Bennelong）；　and　Colbee。　　But　they　seemed　little　disposed　to　receive　the　congratulations；　or　repose　confidence　in　the　assurances　of　their　friends。　　The　same　scenes　of　awkward　wonder　and　impatient　constraint；　which　had　attended　the　introduction　of　Arabanoo；　succeeded。　　Baneelon　we　judged　to　be　about　twenty…six　years　old；　of　good　stature；　and　stoutly　made；　with　a　bold　intrepid　countenance；　which　bespoke　defiance　and　revenge。　　Colbee　was　perhaps　near　thirty；　of　a　less　sullen　aspect　than　his　comrade；　considerably　shorter；　and　not　so　robustly　framed；　though　better　fitted　for　purposes　of　activity。　They　had　both　evidently　had　the　smallpox；　indeed　Colbee's　face　was　very　thickly　imprinted　with　the　marks　of　it。

Positive　orders　were　issued　by　the　governor　to　treat　them　indulgently；　and　guard　them　strictly；　notwithstanding　which　Colbee　contrived　to　effect　his　escape　in　about　a　week；　with　a　small　iron　ring　round　his　leg。　Had　those　appointed　to　watch　them　been　a　moment　later；　his　companion　would　have　contrived　to　accompany　him。

But　Baneelon；　though　haughty；　knew　how　to　temporize。　　He　quickly　threw　off　all　reserve；　and　pretended；　nay；　at　particular　moments；　perhaps　felt　satisfaction　in　his　new　state。　　Unlike　poor　Arabanoo；　he　became　at　once　fond　of　our　viands；　and　would　drink　the　strongest　liquors；　not　simply　without　reluctance；　but　with　eager　marks　of　delight　and　enjoyment。　He　was　the　only　native　we　ever　knew　who　immediately　shewed　a　fondness　for　spirits：　　Colbee　would　not　at　first　touch　them。　　Nor　was　the　effect　of　wine　or　brandy　upon　him　more　perceptible　than　an　equal　quantity　would　have　produced　upon　one　of　us；　although　fermented　liquor　was　new　to　him。

In　his　eating；　he　was　alike　compliant。　　When　a　turtle　was　shown　to　Arabanoo；　he　would　not　allow　it　to　be　a　fish；　and　could　not　be　induced　to　eat　of　it。　Baneelon　also　denied　it　to　be　a　fish；　but　no　common　councilman　in　Europe　could　do　more　justice　than　he　did　to　a　very　fine　one；　that　the　'Supply'　had　brought　from　Lord　Howe　Island；　and　which　was　served　up　at　the　governor's　table　on　Christmas　Day。

His　powers　of　mind　were　certainly　far　above　mediocrity。　　He　acquired　knowledge；　both　of　our　manners　and　language；　faster　than　his　predecessor　had　done。　He　willingly　communicated　information；　sang；　danced；　and　capered；　told　us　all　the　customs　of　his　country；　and　all　the　details　of　his　family　economy。　Love　and　war　seemed　his　favourite　pursuits；　in　both　of　which　he　had　suffered　severely。　　His　head　was　disfigured　by　several　scars；　a　spear　had　passed　through　his　arm；　and　another　through　his　leg。　　Half　of　one　of　his　thumbs　was　carried　away；　and　the　mark　of　a　wound　appeared　on　the　back　of　his　hand。　The　cause　and　attendant　circumstances　of　all　these　disasters；　except　one；　he　related　to　us。

〃But　the　wound　on　the　back　of　your　hand；　Baneelon！　　How　did　you　get　that？〃

He　laughed；　and　owned　that　it　was　received　in　carrying　off　a　lady　of　another　tribe　by　force。　　〃I　was　dragging　her　away。　　She　cried　aloud；　and　stuck　her　teeth　in　me。〃

〃And　what　did　you　do　then？〃

〃I　knocked　her　down；　and　beat　her　till　she　was　insensible；　and　covered　with　blood。　　Then。。。〃

Whenever　he　recounted　his　battles；　〃poised　his　lance；　and　showed　how　fields　were　won〃；　the　most　violent　exclamations　of　rage　and　vengeance　against　his　competitors　in　arms；　those　of　the　tribe　called　Cameeragal　in　particular；　would　burst　from　him。　　And　he　never　failed　at　such　times　to　solicit　the　governor　to　accompany　him；　with　a　body　of　soldiers；　in　order　that　he　might　exterminate　this　hated　name。

Although　I　call　him　only　Baneelon；　he　had　besides　several　appellations；　and　for　a　while　he　chose　to　be　distinguished　by　that　of　Wolarawaree。　Again；　as　a　mark　of　affection　and　respect　to　the　governor；　he　conferred　on　him　the　name　of　Wolarawaree；　and　sometimes　called　him　'Beenena'　（father）；　adopting　to　himself　the　name　of　governor。　　This　interchange　we　found　is　a　constant　symbol　of　friendship　among　them*。　　In　a　word；　his　temper　seemed　pliant；　and　his　relish　of　our　society　so　great；　that　hardly　any　one　judged　he　would　attempt　to　quit　us；　were　the　means　of　escape　put　within　his　reach。　　Nevertheless　it　was　thought　proper　to　continue　a　watch　over　him。

＇*It　is　observable　that　this　custom　prevails　as　a　pledge　of　friendship　and　kindness　all　over　Asia；　and　has　also　been　mentioned　by　Captain　Cook　to　exist　among　the　natives　in　the　South　Sea　Islands。＇




CHAPTER　VI。



Transactions　of　the　Colony；　from　the　Beginning　of　the　Year　1790　until　the　End　of　May　following。


Our　impatience　of　news　from　Europe　strongly　marked　the　commencement　of　the　year。　　We　had　now　been　two　years　in　the　country；　and　thirty…two　months　from　England；　in　which　long　period　no　supplies；　except　what　had　been　procured　at　the　Cape　of　Good　Hope　by　the　'Sirius'；　had　reached　us。　　From　intelligence　of　our　friends　and　connections　we　had　been　entirely　cut　off；　no　communication　whatever　having　passed　with　our　native　country　since　the　13th　of　May　1787；　the　day　of　our　departure　from　Portsmouth。　　Famine　besides　was　approaching　with　gigantic　strides；　and　gloom　and　dejection　overspread　every　countenance。　Men　abandoned　themselves　to　the　most　desponding　reflections；　and　adopted　the　most　extravagant　conjectures。

Still　we　were　on　the　tiptoe　of　expectation。　　If　thunder　broke　at　a　distance；　or　a　fowling…piece　of　louder　than　ordinary　report　resounded　in　the　woods；　〃a　gun　from　a　ship〃　was　echoed　on　every　side；　and　nothing　but　hurry