Large snakes beautifully
variegated have been killed, but of the effect of their bites we are happily
ignorant. Insects, though numerous, are by no means, even in summer,
so troublesome as I have found them in America, the West Indies,
and other countries.
The climate is undoubtedly very desirable to live in. In summer the heats
are usually moderated by the sea breeze, which sets in early; and in winter
the degree of cold is so slight as to occasion no inconvenience; once or twice
we have had hoar frosts and hail, but no appearance of snow. The thermometer
has never risen beyond 84, nor fallen lower than 35, in general it stood
in the beginning of February at between 78 and 74 at noon. Nor is
the temperature of the air less healthy than pleasant. Those dreadful putrid
fevers by which new countries are so often ravaged, are unknown to us:
and excepting a slight diarrhoea, which prevailed soon after we had landed,
and was fatal in very few instances, we are strangers to epidemic diseases.
On the whole, (thunder storms in the hot months excepted) I know not
any climate equal to this I write in. Ere we had been a fortnight on shore
we experienced some storms of thunder accompanied with rain, than which
nothing can be conceived more violent and tremendous, and their repetition
for several days, joined to the damage they did, by killing several
of our sheep, led us to draw presages of an unpleasant nature. Happily,
however, for many months we have escaped any similar visitations.
CHAPTER XVI.
The Progress made in the Settlement; and the Situation of Affairs
at the Time of the Ship, which conveys this Account, sailing for England.
For the purpose of expediting the public work, the male convicts have been
divided into gangs, over each of which a person, selected from among
themselves, is placed. It is to be regretted that Government did not take
this matter into consideration before we left England, and appoint proper
persons with reasonable salaries to execute the office of overseers;
as the consequence of our present imperfect plan is such, as to defeat
in a great measure the purposes for which the prisoners were sent out.
The female convicts have hitherto lived in a state of total idleness;
except a few who are kept at work in making pegs for tiles, and picking up
shells for burning into lime. For the last time I repeat, that the behaviour
of all classes of these people since our arrival in the settlement
has been better than could, I think, have been expected from them.
Temporary wooden storehouses covered with thatch or shingles, in which
the cargoes of all the ships have been lodged, are completed; and an hospital
is erected. Barracks for the military are considerably advanced;
and little huts to serve, until something more permanent can be finished,
have been raised on all sides. Notwithstanding this the encampments
of the marines and convicts are still kept up; and to secure their owners
from the coldness of the nights, are covered in with bushes, and thatched over.
The plan of a town I have already said is marked out. And as freestone
of an excellent quality abounds, one requisite towards the completion
of it is attained. Only two houses of stone are yet begun, which are intended
for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. One of the greatest impediments
we meet with is a want of limestone, of which no signs appear.
Clay for making bricks is in plenty, and a considerable quantity of them
burned and ready for use.
In enumerating the public buildings I find I have been so remiss as to omit
an observatory, which is erected at a small distance from the encampments.
It is nearly completed, and when fitted up with the telescopes and other
astronomical instruments sent out by the Board of Longitude, will afford
a desirable retreat from the listlessness of a camp evening at Port Jackson.
One of the principal reasons which induced the Board to grant this apparatus
was, for the purpose of enabling Lieutenant Dawes, of the marines,
(to whose care it is intrusted) to make observations on a comet which is
shortly expected to appear in the southern hemisphere. The latitude
of the observatory, from the result of more than three hundred observations,
is fixed at 33 deg 52 min 30 sec south, and the longitude at
151 deg 16 min 30 sec east of Greenwich. The latitude of the south head
which forms the entrance of the harbour, 33 deg 51 min, and that of the
north head opposite to it at 33 deg 49 min 45 sec south.
Since landing here our military force has suffered a diminution of only
three persons, a serjeant and two privates. Of the convicts fifty-four
have perished, including the executions. Amidst the causes of this mortality,
excessive toil and a scarcity of food are not to be numbered,
as the reader will easily conceive, when informed, that they have the same
allowance of provisions as every officer and soldier in the garrison;
and are indulged by being exempted from labour every Saturday afternoon
and Sunday. On the latter of those days they are expected to attend
divine service, which is performed either within one of the storehouses,
or under a great tree in the open air, until a church can be built.
Amidst our public labours, that no fortified post, or place of security,
is yet begun, may be a matter of surprise. Were an emergency in the night
to happen, it is not easy to say what might not take place before troops,
scattered about in an extensive encampment, could be formed, so as to act.
An event that happened a few evenings since may, perhaps, be the means
of forwarding this necessary work.
