by Watkin Tench
So complete an opportunity of forming a judgment enables me to speak decisively of a place which has often engaged conversation and excited reflection. Variety of opinions here disappeared. I shall, therefore, transcribe literally what I wrote in my journal, on my return from the expedition. ‘We were unanimously of opinion, that had not the nautical part of Mr Cook’s description, in which we include the latitude and longitude of the bay, been so accurately laid down, there would exist the utmost reason to believe that those who have described the contiguous country had never seen it. On the sides of the harbour, a line of sea coast more than thirty miles long, we did not find 200 acres which could be cultivated.’
September 1789. But all our attention was not directed to explore inlets and toil for discovery. Our internal tranquillity was still more important. To repress the inroads of depredation, and to secure to honest industry the reward of its labour, had become a matter of the most serious consideration, hardly a night passing without the commission of robbery. Many expedients were devised, and the governor at length determined to select from the convicts a certain number of persons, who were meant to be of the fairest character, for the purpose of being formed into a nightly watch for the preservation of public and private property under the following regulations which, as the first system of police in a colony, so peculiarly constituted as ours, may perhaps prove not uninteresting.
I. A night-watch, consisting of twelve persons divided into four parties, is appointed and fully authorised to patrol at all hours in the night; and to visit such places as may be deemed necessary for the discovery of any felony, trespass or misdemeanour; and for the apprehending and securing for examination any person or persons who may appear to them 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. Cognisance 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 misdemeanours 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 twelve 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 peas, six ounces of butter, was reduced to five pounds five ounces of flour, three pounds five ounces of pork, and two pints of peas.
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,*2 as well as on other accounts, becoming every day more desirable, the governor resolved to make prisoners of two more of them.
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, Bàneelon and Còlbee.†4 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 temporise. 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 showed 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’,†5 the most violent exclamations of rage and vengeance against his competitors in arms, those of the tribe called Cameragal in particular, would burst from him. 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 Wolarawàree. Again, as a mark of affection and respect to the governor, he conferred on him the name of Wolarawaree and sometimes called him Beenèna (father), adopting to himself the name of governor. This interchange we found is a constant symbol of friendship among them.*3 In a word, his temper seemed pliant, and his relish of our society so great that hardly anyone 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.
6
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 and agitation prevailed. For eighteen months after we had landed in the country, a party of marines used to go weekly to Botany Bay to see whether any vessel, ignorant of our removal to Port Jackson, might be arrived there. But a better plan was now devised on the suggestion of Captain Hunter. A party of seamen were fixed on a high bluff, called the South Head, at the entrance of the harbour, on which a flag was ordered to be hoisted whenever a ship might appear, which should serve as a direction to her, and as a signal of approach to us. Every officer stepped forward to volunteer a service which promised to be so replete with beneficial consequences. But the zeal and alacrity of Captain Hunter and our brethren of the Sirius rendered superfluous all assistance or co-operation.
Here on the summit of the hill, every morning from daylight until the sun sunk, did we sweep the horizon in hope of seeing a sail. At every fleeting speck which arose from the bosom of the sea, the heart bounded and the telescope was lifted to the eye. If a ship appeared here, we knew she must be bound to us; for on the shores of this vast ocean (the largest in the world) we were the only community which possessed the art of navigation, and languished for intercourse with civilised society.
To say that we were disappointed and shocked would very inadequately describe our sensations. But the misery and horror of such a situation cannot be imparted, even by those who have suffered under it.
March 1790. Vigorous measures were become indispensable. The governor therefore, early in February, ordered the Sirius to prepare for a voyage to China; and a farther retrenchment of our ration, we were given to understand, would take place on her sailing.
But the Sirius was destined not to reach China. Previously to her intended departure on that voyage, she was ordered, in concert with the Supply, to convey Major Ross, with a large detachment of marines and more than two hundred convicts, to Norfolk Island, it being hoped that such a division of our numbers would increase the means of subsistence, by diversified exertions. She sailed on the 6th of March, and on the 27th of the same month, the following order was issued from headquarters.
Parole—Honour
Counter sign—Example
The expected supply of provisions not having arrived, makes it necessary to reduce the present ration. And the commissary is directed to issue, from the 1st of April, the undermentioned allowance, to every person in the settlement without distinction.
Four pounds of flour, two pounds and a half of salt pork, and one pound and a half of rice, per week.
On the 5th of April news was brought that the flag on the South Head was hoisted. Less emotion was created by the news than might be expected. Everyone coldly said to his neighbour, ‘the Sirius and Supply are returned from Norfolk Island.’ To satisfy myself that the flag was really flying, I went to the observatory and looked for it through the large astronomical telescope, when I plainly saw it. But I was immediately convinced that it was not to announce the arrival of ships from England; for I could see nobody near the flagstaff except one solitary being, who kept strolling around, unmoved by what he saw. I well knew how different an effect the sight of strange ships would produce.
April 1790. The governor, however, determined to go down the harbour and I begged permission to accompany him. Having turned a point about halfway down, we were surprised to see a boat which was known to belong to the Supply rowing towards us. On nearer approach I saw Captain Ball make an extraordinary motion with his hand, which too plainly indicated that something disastrous had happened; and I could not help turning to the governor, near whom I sat, and saying, ‘Sir, prepare yourself for bad news.’ A few minutes changed doubt into certainty; and to our unspeakable consternation we learned that the Sirius had been wrecked on Norfolk Island on the 19th of February. Happily, however, Captain Hunter and every other person belonging to her were saved.
Dismay was painted on every countenance when the tidings were proclaimed at Sydney. The most distracting apprehensions were entertained. All hopes were now concentred in the little Supply.
At six o’clock in the evening all the officers of the garrison, both civil and military, were summoned to meet the governor in council, when the nature of our situation was fully discussed and an account of the provisions yet remaining in store laid before the council by the commissary. Th
is account stated that on the present ration* the public stores contained salt meat sufficient to serve until the 2nd of July, flour until the 20th of August and rice, or peas in lieu of it, until the 1st of October.
Several regulations for the more effectual preservation of gardens and other private property were proposed and adopted, and after some interchange of opinion the following ration was decreed to commence immediately, a vigorous exertion to prolong existence, or the chance of relief, being all now left to us.
Two pounds of pork, two pounds and a half of flour, two pounds of rice, or a quart of peas, per week, to every grown person, and to every child of more than eighteen months old.
To every child under eighteen months old, the same quantity of rice and flour, and one pound of pork.*2
The immediate departure of the Supply, for Batavia, was also determined.†
Nor did our zeal stop here. The governor being resolved to employ all the boats, public and private, in procuring fish— which was intended to be served in lieu of salt malt—all the officers, civil and military, including the clergyman and the surgeons of the hospital, made the voluntary offer, in addition to their other duties, to go alternately every night in these boats in order to see that every exertion was made, and that all the fish which might be caught was deposited with the commissary.
The best marksmen of the marines and convicts were also selected and put under the command of a trusty sergeant, with directions to range the woods in search of kangaroos, which were ordered, when brought in, to be delivered to the commissary.
And as it was judged that the inevitable fatigues of shooting and fishing could not be supported on the common ration, a small additional quantity of flour and pork was appropriated to the use of the gamekeepers; and each fisherman who had been out during the preceding night had, on his return in the morning, a pound of uncleaned fish allowed for his breakfast.
