Ecd 791P a^^:"^ -/u: YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY IN MEMORY OF SAMUEL AMOS YORK YALE 1863 FROM THE FUND ESTABLISHED IN 1924 BY HIS SON SAMUEL ALBERT YORK YALE 1890 VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD, 1 N THE GORGON MAN OF WAR: Captain JOHN PARKER. PERFORMED AND WRITTEN BY HIS WIDOW; FOX THE ADVANTAGE OF A NUMEROUS FA^MfX-X, DEDICATED, BY PERMISSION, HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS OF WALES. LONDON: puiN-TED BY John Nichols, Rkd-Lion-Passaoz, fLEET-SxPlsT. AND SOLD BY Mr. DiBRETT, Piccadilly; Mr. Pkidden, . No. roo, Fleet-StJ-cet ; Mcflrs. WiLKiE, raternofter-Rovir J and Mr. Richarbso;^ at the Royitl Exchange. 1795. /YATEv TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS OF WALES, WITH GRATEFUL THANKS FOR HER CONDESCENDING PERMISSION, THE FOLLOWING WORK IS MOST HUMBLY DEDICATED BY HER ROYAL HIGHNESs's MOST DEVOTED, AND MOST OBEDIENT SERVANT, MARY ANN PARKER. No. 6, Little CkelJeM, Junat,, 1795. I V ] PREFACE. IT having .been moil unjuftly and injurioufly reported, that the Au- thorefs is worth a confiderable fum of money; fhe thiiiks it her duty thus publicly to avow, that nothing but the greatef): diftrefs could ever have induced her to folicit bene^ ficence in the manner fhe has done, for the advantage of her family, a 3 If [ .i ] If this traducing report originates (and it can no otherwife) from Captain Parker's being entitled to a Ihare of prize-money, accruing from fucceffes in the Weft-Indies ; fhe has to lament, that his debts are unfortunately too confiderable to give his children one hope of any thing coming to them after they are difcharged. — It is her duty to bring them up not to expe6l any thing, as it is her firft wifh that the credi tors fliould be juftly reimburfed their demands. The [ vi! ] The unhoped-for fuccefs fhe has met with in Subfcriptions to this publication demands her acknow ledgements ; and ihe trufts her fitua- tion as a nurfe, and being obliged to attend fo much to her domeftic concerns, will be accepted as an apology for the brevity and other greater demerits of the book. a 4 LIST LIST O F SUBSCRIBERS. A. SIR Jofeph Andrews, Bart, of Shawe. Lieut. Colonel Affleck, 23d Dragoons Captain John Arbuthnot, Royal Artillery. Lieut. Anftruther, Royal Navy. William Arbuthnot, Efq. Cariacou, Wejl Indies. George Arbuthnot, Efq. Navy Fay-Office. Robert Arbuthnot, Jun. Efq. Captain Afkew, Romney Fencibles; Alexander Adair, Efq. Pali-Mall. S. Alderfey, [ ^ ] S. Alderfey, Efq. Nai^y ? ay-Office. Mr. Edmund Antrobus, Strand. Mr. Joffeph Ainfworth, Blackburn. - Mr. William Afpinall, Ditto, Mr. Frederick Accurn. Mr. Richard Atkinfon. Mr. Thomas Aloes. Mr. Adams. B. Eight Hon. Earl of Banbury. Sir Jofeph Banks, Bart. Lady Banks. Colonel Biftiopp, KnJghtJhridge. Lieut. Col.Braddyll, I\1.P. R.Lancafhire Militia. Eon. Major Bridgeman, M. P. Ditto. Hon. Mrs. Bofcawen, South Audley-Street. Major Eyron, late of the lath Regiment. Captain Burnett, Bengal Artillery. Captain Rootle, Royal Lancalhire Militia. Captain Brlftow, VViltlhire Militia, Mifs Eriftow. Mr. Briftow. Captain Robert Burrows, Francis Eajl-Indiaman, Francis Barker, Efq. Knightjhridge, Rev. T. Brown, Dornjby, Lincolnjlnre. Nicholas [ ^^ 1 Nicholas Bond, Efq. Sloane-Street. Richard Barker, Efq. 2d Life Guards. Robert Barnwell, Efq. . .x. Jeremiah Berry, Efq. Norfolk. John Beddingfield, Efq. Navy Pay-OJfice. T. D. Bofwell, Efq. Ditto. William Barclay, Efq. Ditto. William Bankes, Efq. Winjlanley. David Bull, Efq. Edward Blair, Efq. Hork/ley. Mr. Jofeph Budworth, F. S. A. Sloane-Street. Mrs. Budworth. Rev. W. Beloe, F. S. A. James-Street, Wefiminfler. Mr. George Barke, Brompton. Mr. Edward Bill, New Bridge-Street. Mr. John Berwick, Pall-Mall. Mr.Browell, Scotland-Tard. Mr. Barke, Knightjhridge. Mr. Arthur Brocas, Francis Eajl-Indiaman. Mrs. Brocas. Mr. J. Bainbridge, jun. Sloam-Sirett. Mr. Battey, Ditto. Mr. Biflet, Ditto. Mrs. Barley. Mrs. Bell. Mifs Blaihfield, Sloane-Street. Mr. John Blackwell. Mr. Mr. Biddulph. Mr. Browne,- Mr. Barlow, Mr. Blackett. Mr. Alexander Butler, Blackburi^, Mr. Richard Birley, Ditto. Mr. Samuel Bower, Ditto. Mr. Robert Broadbelt, Ditto^ Mr. David Bleffett, Ditto. Mrs. Brook, Ditto. Mifs Babington, Skcfne'Streef, Mrs. Bofquet. Mr. Thomas Burch. C. Right Hon. Lord Compton. Admiral Sir Roger Curtis. Colonel J. F. Cradock. Major Clayton, Wigan. Captain Chefshyre, Royal Navy. Captain Crooke, Royal Lancalhire Militia. Captain Chriftian, Royal Navy. Lieutenant Clotwyk, South Hants Militia. Richard Cardwell, Efq. Blackburn. Richard Cardwell, Jun. Efq. Ditto, Henry [ xiii ] Henry Craoftoun, Efq. Navy Pay-Office. Chriflopher Cook, Efq. Ditto. John Church, Efq. Ditto. S. Child, Efq. Ditto. William Creffwell, Efq. Ditto. John Clarke, Efq. Knightjhridge. Thomas Carter, Efq. Sloane-Street. Richard Henry Croft, Efq. Pall-MalL George Cloake, Efq. Turnbam-Green. William Cowan, Efq. Mr. William Clofe, Pall-MaU. Mifs Cocks, Sloane-Street. Mr. P. Cooper, Arundel-Street. Mr. Carrol, Sloane-Street. Mr. Codd, Flans-Place. Mr. Charles CuUen. Mr. Capel. Mr. Chalmers. D. Colonel Delhofte, R. M. V. Captain Drummond, Knightfbridge. Captain Darby. John Davies, Efq. Navy Pay-Office. Richard Draper, Efq. Ditto* Mr. [ xiy ] Mr. R, Dolton, at Mr. Glover's, Knightjhridge. Mr. James Dewar, Clement's Inn. Mr. Thomas Docker, Surgeon in the Army. Mr. Jofeph Docker, Pall-MalL Mr. H. H. Deacon, Sloane-Street. Mr. William Dawes, Fenchurch-Street. Mr. Thornas Dowding. Mr. Douglas. Mr.DunelL F. Major John Edwards, P. Sir James Foulis, Bart. Captain Frith, North Hants Militia. George Fcnnell, Efq. Navy Pay-Office. T.Fitzgerald, Efq. Ditto. Ed ward Bofcawen Frederick, Efq. Berkeley-Square. C. W. Flint, Efq. Samuel Felton, Efq. F.R.S. E. Foulker, Efq. James Fallowfield, Efq. John Fofter, Efq. Rev. Mr. Ferrers, Bath, Mifs [ XV ] Mifs Fernfide. Mrs. Fowden, Wigan. Mr. Henry Fielden, Blackburn. Mr. John Fielden, Ditto. Mr. William Fielden, Ditto. G. Capt. Lord Vifcount Garlics, Royal Navy. Sir Nigel Bowyer Grefley, Bart'. Colonel Gledftanes. Mrs. Gledftanes. Lieutenant Colonel Hen;:y Grey. Major Thomas Grey. Captain William Grey. Captain George Grey, Royal Navy. Major Grymes, Sloane-Street. Captain Grueber, Ditto. Captain Gage. < , Captain Gillam, Madras Infantry. Willia.-n Gillam, Efq. G. J. Gafcoigne, Efq. Navy Pay-Office. J. Glover, Efq. Jobbing's Buildings, Knightjhridge. Rev J. Gamble, Knightjhridge Lieutenant John Gardiner, Royal Navy. Willianj [xvi J William Gardiner, Efq. Jafper Leigh Goodwin, Efq. William Grefley, Efq. Twickenham. Thomas Gardner, Efq. Upper Grofvenor-Street. Rev. Mr, Gamman, Cheapjide. ^rs. Gines. Mrs. Grefley. Mr. Thomas Gill. Mr. Goldney. Mr. John Grant, Cockfpur-Streeti Mr. Ifaac Glover, Blackburn. Mr. Green, Dartford. Mr. Robert Gray. Mr. Gray. Mrs. Gray. H. Right Hon. Lady Caroline Herbert. ' . Charles Herbert, Efq. Honorable Lady Honeywood. Colonel Stephens Howe, Aid de Camp to His Majejly. Colonel Henderfon. Colonel Otho Hamilton, James Street, Wejiminffier., Captain Hamilton, 3d Life Guards, Ditte. Captain Howarth. Dr. HarHngton, M. D. Bath. 7 Captain I xvii ] Captain Hopwood, Royal Lancafliire Miiltlai Lieut. Thomas Hitchbone, late of latll Reg.' D. 11 irmood, Efq. Navy Pay-Office^ William Hutton, Efq. Ditto. Alexander Hiflop, Efq. DitfOi William Hamerton, Efq. William Higden, Efq. John Hale, Efq. John Fowdeti-Hiildle, Efq. Blackburn. Hugh Robert Hughes,' Efq. Pall-MalL Rev. E. Harris, Sloane-Street. Mrs. Harris. Mifs Harris. Mifs Sophia Harris. Rev. Mr. Harrifon, Brompton. Rev. James Holme, Vicar of Shap, Wejimorland. Mifs Catherine Hunter, Adelphi. Mr. Thomas Hollis, Park-Place, Kmghtjhrid^e, Mr. Peyton Hadley. Mr. Howifon, Hdmmerfmith. Mrs. Holland, Hans Town* Mifs Holland. Mr. Holme, Ihames-Streeti Mrs. Hockley, Blacklands. Mr. Harding. Mr. Ham. John Hull, M. D. Blackburn,, b Mti [ xviii ] Mr. William Hornby, Blackburn, Mr. John Hornby, Ditto. Mr. Hicks. Captain Jekyll, 43d Regiment. George Jeffries, Efq. Sloane-Street* George Jeffries, Efq. Jun. Mr. Jackfon, Knightjhridge. Mrs. Jackfon. Mrs. Jarvis. Mr. Johnfton. K. Mr. Kelly, Sloane-Street. Mrs. Kearlley, JVigan. L. Captain Sir Wilfred Lawfon, Bart. R. L. M. Lady Lawfon. Captain Lyons, i ith Dragoons, 1 ^^^ ] Mrs. Lyons. Captain Lane, Sloane-Street. Captain John Larkins, Greenwich. Lieut. Lutwidge, R. Laqcafliire Militia; Library at Bampton Vicarage, Wejimorland'. William Lockhart, Efq. Navy Pay-Officet Lewis, Efq. Mifs Eliz. Locker, Greenwich. Mr. Ralph Lattic, Blackburn. Mr. John Livefay, DittOi Mr. Lonqueti Mr. Long, Upper Brook Street Mr. Henry Longbottam, Borough; M* Sir John Miller,, Barti General Melvill. Honourable Captain Murray, Royal Na^y'i Captain Richard Morrice, Ditto* Captain Simon Miller, Ditto. Captain Maude, Ditto. Mrs. Maude. Captain Machell, R. Lancafliire Militia^ Dr. Moore. .Mifs Hannah More, Bathi Thorny Maberley, Efq. b ^ f boriiSi [ XX i Thomas Maude, Efq. Downing-Street. Henry Grey Mainall, Efq. M. D. Samuel Maflcall, Efq. John Minyer, Efq. D. Minors, Jun. Efq. Mifs Merry. Mr. Mafli, St. James's Palace. Mifs Murray, Clarges-Street. Rev. James Mac Quhoe, Blackburn. Mr. William Miller, Bond Street. Mr. John Marfliall, AJdermary Church-Tard. Mrs. Marlhall. Mr. Michie, Sloane-Street. Mr. William Maude, koyal Navy. Mifs Milles. Mr. Mills. Mr. Maundrill, Knightjhridge. Mr. MauLidrill, Jun. • Mrs. Middleditch. Mr. Donald Maclean, Blackburn. Mr. Bertie Markland, Ditto. Mr. Charles Mprgan, Ditto. N. Eniigtt [ xxi ] N. Enfign Neville, 3d Guards. ¦ Norris, Efq. J. Nelbitt, Efq. M. P. William Newton, Efq. Sloane-Street. Mr. John Neville, Blackburn. Rev.R. Nares, F.S. A. James-Street, Wejlminjler. Mr. John Noble, Fleet-Street. Mr. William Noble, Pall-MalL Mr. Deputy Nichols'. Mifs Nichols. Mr. John-Bo wyer Nichols. Mr. Naylor, Mile End. O. Rev. George Ogle. Mrs. Orrell. Mr. Thomas Oldfield, Union-Street. b 3 P. Vifcountefs I xxii ] P. Vifcountefs Palmetfton. N. Pierce, Efq. Navy Pay-Office., C. Purvis, Efq. Ditto. G. Player, Efq. Ditto. Roger Palmer, Efq. Oxford- Street. Francis Palmer, Efq, Sloane-^Street. William Pollock, Efq. Jofeph Potter, Efq. Chel/ea^ Charles Phillips, Efq. Thomas Poole, Efq. Captain Parker, i ith Light Dragoons, Rev. John Pridden, M. A. F. S. A. Mifs Phillips, Sloane-Street. Mr. William Parrys, Knightjhridge. Mr. Plaflcett. Mr, James de la Pryme, Blackburn^ Mr. John Parkhoufe. Mr. Peyton, Navy-Office. Mr. Edward Powell. Mr. Palmer, 5/. James's Street^ Mrs. Pocock. Mr. Pettiwpod, [ xxiii ] Mr. Parfons. Mr. J. Plumridge, Sloane-Street. Mr. Charles Pincent, Edward-Street. Mr. Edward Powell. Mr. G. Puffer, Knightjhridge. R. General Raiiisford. Mrs. Rainsford. Captain Edward Ridgway, R. Lancalhire Militia, Lieutenant Radford, Ditto. Kemys RadcliSe, Efq. Navy Pay-Office, Walter Reed, Efq. Ditto. George Rofs, Efq. Duke-Street, Adelphi, Major Andre^v Rofs, Ditto, William Roberts, Efq. John Reid, Efq. Rev. Dr. Reynett, Prefcott-Street. Mrs. Reynett. Mr. J. A. Rucker, Sloane-Street ^ Mrs. Ruflell. Mr. Rieman. Chevalier Rufpini, Pall-MaU. Mr. Ramfay Robinfon, Kenjington. Mr. Thomas Richardfon. b 4 Mrs; [ xxlv :] Mrs. Ricketts, Lower Seymour- Street. Mr. William" Rpthwell, Sloane-Street. Mr, Randoll, S, Right Honourable the Earl of Scarborough. Colonel Hans Sloane, M. P. Upper Harley-Street, Lieut. Colonel William Ske.ryett. Major Smith, Royal Artillery. Captain Squires, Royal Navy. Captain John Schank, Ditto, Captain Skinner. Dr. Shufan, New Bridge-Street, Mrs. Stephens, Adelphi. Mifs Stevens. George Swaffield, Efq. iV^irv Pay-Offi^e^ John Swaffield, .Efq.- Ditto. James Slade, Efq. Ditto. Henry Slade, Efq. Ditto. Walter Stirling, Efq. Ditto.. Thomas Sermori, Efq: Walter Stott, Efq. Liverpool. Henry Sudell, Efq. Blackburn. Samuel Swindon, Efq, Sloane- Sii cet. Alexander Scott, Efq. WUUaoi [ XXV J William Smith, Jun. Efq. Lombard-Street. James Symes, Efq. Robert Saunders, Efq. Southend, Kent. Rev. Mr. Symes. Edward Gray Saunders, Efq. Oxford-Street. Rev. Thomas Staikie, M. A, Vicar of Blackburn. Edward Stuart, Efq. Mr. Sealey. Mr. Seaman, Strand. Mr. Thomas Somers. Mrs. Saunders, Sloane-Street. O. B. Smyth, M.D. Mr. Henry Stacie, late Soldier 58th Regiment. Mrs. Smith, Woodjiock. Mrs. Sones. Mrs. Stuart. Mrs. Shepherd, Kelvedon. . Mrs. Seaten, Suffolk-Street. Mrs. Shricol, Wejham. ,T. Admiral Charles Thompfon. Captain Thornton, Royal Artillery. Captain Thomas, nth Light Dragoons. Captain Trotty, Royal Navy. Captain Taylor, Carteret Packet, Alexander [ xxvl ] AlcKander Trotter, Efq. Navy Pay-Office, William Taylor, Efq. Ditto. William Taylor, Jan. Efq. D\tto. Adam Thomfon, Efq. Ditto. Mr. Charles Tweidie, Ditto. Charles Tweedie, Jun. Efq. Ditto. Rev. Dr. John Trotter, Hans Square. John Turing, Efq. Sloane Street, Mrs. Turing. ¦¦ Mifs Turing, William Thompfon, LL. D. John Thoyts, Efq. Merton, Pi.ev. Mr. Thomas, Strand. D,Ir. Thomas Turner, Blackburn. Mifs Travcrs, Ditto. Mr. Thomas Thompfon, Cajtle-Street, Mr. F. Trecourt, Sloane-Street. Mr. John Townfend. Mr. Richard Twifs, Mr. Toulmin, U. Capt. Vefey, 39th Regiment, Lieut. Upton, R. Lancafliire Militia. G, Urquhart, Navy Pay-Office. Mr, Virtue, Hammerjmith, W. Major [ xxvii ] W, Major Wathen. Captain Charles White, Royal Navy, Captain Williamfon, Royal Lancalhire, Captain Wright, 99th Regiment. Thomas Wilfon, Efq. Navy Pay-Office. Thomas Walker, Efq. Ditto, Mr. William Ward, Ditto. William Webb, Efq. Conduit-Street. William Walter, Efq. New Bridge- Street, Thomas Watfan, Efq. Walker, Efq. J. Warner, Efq. Knighiffiridge, Jekyll Wyatt, Efq. Thomas Watfon, Efq, Mrs. Wallace, Sloane-Street. Mr. Wilmot, Thornhaugh.Street, Mr. Watklns. Mrs. Welcher, Sloane-Street, Mifs Welcher. Mr. Richard White, Piccadilly^ Mr. John Wright, Old Bond-Street, Mifs White, ^a/i'. Mr. William W*^are, Sloane-Street, Mr. White. Mr, Richard Wimburn. Mr, Wagner, Pall-MalL CON' [ xxix ] CONTENTS. CHAP. I. Page, Reo Jons for undertaking ihe voyage— -ft out for Portfmouth — paffitngers on-board — fail from Spithead — arrive at the ifland of Teneriffe — pay a vifit to the Gover nor — -defcription of ihe town cf Santa Cruz — an excurfion to Puerto Oratava — a laughable occurrence — Lieutenant Rye — another excurfton — return to the fhip — and fet fail. - - - r. CHAP. II. Ceremony of croffing the Equator — arrive at St. Jago — defcription of the Portugueze inhabitants — a violent gale— fee the ifland of Saint Trinidad — a defcription of . that ifland — arrive at Simon's Bay — fet ojit for the Cape. - - 24, CHAP. V-F^ SXS C ON T E N T Si CHAP. iir. Set cfffdr Cape 'town— flop at. Ealfe-hay- meet a party of Soldiers — refleElions- — ar rive' at the Cape — Mrs. De Witt— Jhip- imreck of the Guardian-— Lieutenant Riou ' — a Cape breakfajl—^abjer'i^ations on tbe ifiwn and its inhabitants. 35* CHAP. IV. VJit Cslohel Gordon — arrival of the Nep-* tune — receive intelligence ftom New South Wales— arrival of Captain P atterfori and , his Lady^^a Cape dance — a Hottentot Song-^njtf^ . Mr. Fandrian's brewery-— prepare for our- departure.-^Set fail, 49* C M A P. V. The voyage continued — a melancholy acddent j ' fingular infance of fraternal affeEiion — death of Lieutenant Rofs — a dreadful form — the falling of a ball of fire — obfer- nations and rejledions* 664 CHAP, cont!ents. jcsxl CHAP. VL Arrive at Port Jackfon — Governor King and Captain Parker zvait upon Governor Phillip with ihe difpatches — account of Jhips arrived in the harbour ; and of a dreadful mortality which had taken place on-board the tranfports — iniercfllng par ticulars refpeSling the propriety of efablijh- ing a whale fjhery on the coajl of New' Holland. - .¦ 70, CHAP. VIL Governor Phillip bre'akfafls on-board — vifit Sidney Cove — go on Jhore-^-Jhort dejcrip- tion of fhrubs — birds, beajis, ^c. cf Botany Bay — excurfton to, and defcription of. Paramatta — vifit the Governor. - 8j| CHAP. VIII. Defcription of the inhabitants of New South Wales — thdr huts-^their extraordinary honejly — account ofBandlong — an injiance of his fenftbility — obfervalicns on ihe Slave Trade, 9^* CHAP^ lIcxxH G 0 Kf T E N T S, CHAP. IX. Preparations for our departure — repair on^ board — fet fail — fee Lord Howe's Ifland — Mount Lidgbird — Mount Gower — Three King's Head I/land — New Zea land — Cape Maria. • - - 103 CHAP. X. The voyage continued — rdifcover a number of jce-iflands — defcription of them — fingular ftory of a Shark — with an anecdote rela tive thereto. - - 113. CHAP. XL Arrive at Table-Bay — take up our abode at Mr. Peter de Witt's — mild treatment of the Slaves at the Cape — a Gentoo— a vifit to Conjlantia — return to Cape Town. 127 CHAP. XIL Some account of Cape Town— departure from the Cape — Afcenfion- Road — the voyage continued — reach Saint Helens — land at Portfmouth — arrive in London — Conclu- fion. - - - 139 A VOYAGE NARRATIVE OK A NTOYAGE R0UNI3 THE WO^LD. CHAP. 1. Reafons for undertaking the voyage — ¦ fet out for Portfmouth — -paffengers on board— -fail from Spithead — ar rive . at the ifland of Teneriffe — ¦ pay a vifit to the Governor — defcrip tion of the town of Santa Cruz — an excurfion to Puerto Oratava — a laughable occurrence — Lieutenant B Rye-^ [ => ] Rye — another excurfion — return to thejhip—andfet fail. ON \hQfirfi day of January I79i» my late husband, Captam John Parker, was appdinted by the Right Honourable the Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty to the command of His Majefty's fhip the Gorgon. — On t\iGfecond he received his conimiffion. Tjie (hip was then lying at her moor ings off Common-hand in Portf mouth harbour, refitting for -her in tended voyaige to New South Wales, and exchartgirig the provifions fhe then had, for the neweft and beft in ftore. There were embarked for their palTage to the aforenamed colony, a part [ 3 ] part of the new corps that had been raifed for that place, commanded by Major Grofe. By the laft day of Janu ary the fhip was ready for fea ; and on ihtfirji day of February the pilot came on board, in order to condudt her out of the harbour to Spithead. When things were in this flate of forwardnefs, it was propofed to me to accompany Captain Parker in the intended expedition to New Holland. A fortnight was allowed me for my decifion. An indulgent husband waited my anfwer at Portfmouth : I did not therefore take a minute's con- fideration ; but, by return of poft, forwarded one perfedlly confonant to his requefl, and my moft fanguine wifhes — that of going with him to B 2 the [ 4 ] the renioteft parts of the globe ; al though my confiderate readers wiU naturally fuppofe that my feelings were fomewhat wounded at the thoughts of being fo long abfent from two dear children, and a mother, with \vhom I had travelled intp France, Italy, and Spain ; and from whom I had never been feparated a fortnight at one time during the whole courfe of my life. Attended by an intimate friend, I repaired to the Wefl end of the town,. and fet off for Portfmouth the next morning. We remained at Spithead until the 1 2th of March. In the iur terim orders had arrived to receive on board Captain Gidley King, of the Royal Navy, the intended Lieutenant Governor [ 5 1 governor of Norfolk Ifland in the Pacific Ocean, together with Mrs. King and their family ; alfo to dif- embark Major Grofe, and fuch part of the corps as were on board, except Mr. Burton a botanifl:, Mr. Baines the chaplain, and Mr. Grimes, who, with their attendants, were directed to be continued on board, and to take their pafTage for the new fettlement. On Tuefday, the 15th of March, we failed from Spithead, by way of 3t. Helens; and, after a. fortnight's feafoning and buffeting in the chan nel, I began to enjoy the voyage I bad undertaken ; and with the polite attention of the ofScers on board, and my amiable companiotl Mrs. King, we glided over many a watery grave B 3 wit^ [ 6 ] with peace of mind, and uninterrupt ed happinefs ; although many calms tended to render our pafTage to the iflaild of 'Teneriffe ¦ fottiewh^t tedious. We arrived, however, fafe in the bay of Santa CrUz on xhJt fifteenth of April ; and captain Parker fent the fecond lieutenant on fhOre, to acquaint the Governor of our having put into that port for refrefhment, and of fered to exchange falutes, provided his Excellency would afTure him the return of an equal number of guns from the garrifon ; at the fame time informing him that he fhould have the honour, together with the of ficers, of waiting on hini the enfuing day ; and that lieutenant governor King of Norfolk Ifland was a paf- fenger, [ 7 ] feriger, and alfo intended to do him- felf the honour of paying his refpeds to his Excellency. The officer returned with tbe Go vernor's anfwer, that whatever the fhip flood in need of, {he might have; and that an officer fhould be fent on board, to lignify the time when it would be moft convenient for His Ex cellency to receive the compliments we had been fo polite as to offer, of waiting on him ; hut that l^e had orders from his Court not to return any falute to a foreign Ship of War. About half an hour after the return of the officer, one of the Governor's Aid-de-Camps came on board : he congratulated us^ in his Excellency's B 4 napae, C 8 ] name, on our fafe arrival, and in^ formed us that the Governor would be happy" to fee us, and requefted that we would favour him with our com-^ pany to dine with him on the enfuing day, The invitation was accepted. Our party confifted of Lieutenant Govern nor King, his lady, our officers, to gether with Mr. Grimes, • and Mr. Baines. The company at Don Aur- tonio di Gatiere? (that was the name of the Governor) were ; the former Governor the Marquis di Branciforti, the Lieutenant Governor and his lady, with feveral other officers and their ladies.. The reception we met with, and par ticularly the compliments di las ma- noSy [ 9 ] «oj*, would have ftruck me by their fingularity, had I not refided when' very young upwards of three years in Spain ; during which time I had every reafon to believe thern particu» larly attentive to the Englifh ladies : and I hope it will be allowed me to remark the great fatisfa<5lion which they exprelTed at my being capable of coriverfing in their own language—^ a pleafure which I could not help participating with them, from having it in my power to be of fome fer^ vice, as Interpreter General to the par ty with whom I had the fatisfa^lion of failing. * A compliment paid in Spain by the ladies to each other on entering a room. The laft comer juft touches the hand of every lady, at the fame time curtfeyihg and repeating continually " di Its f manoi." It C IO ] It bfing Paffion-week, the dinner, although fumptuous, confifted of many difhes dreffed with oil.— ^After having, from hunger and politenefs, ate more than we wifhed of the leaft rancid difhes, not expe<5t;ing any plain ones to make their appearance; we were quite furprized when a large xoafted Turkey, dreffed quite in the Englifh fafhion, was brought on the table '.-^ — had. it made an eariier en trance, it would have been vvell finifhed, but, unfortunately, it came fo unexpeiledly, that our appetites had been fatisfied, with a previous courfe of rancid plenty. After dinner our formidable party paraded the town, \vhich I fuppofe to be very riear a mile in length, and about [. " ] about half a vnile in breadth. There are feveral neat churches in it, but only one good ftreet, which is re markably broad : — the reft are gene rally very narrow, and abound in beg gars, who are extremely troublefome to travellers. At fun-fet we returned on board, well fatisfied with the reception vve had met with ; and on the following day, the fame party dined at Mr. Rooney's, a Gentleman in partnerfhip with the Englilh houfe of MefT. Little and Co. and to whom Captain Par ker had been introduced by means of a letter frora Sir Andrew Harnmond. From a defir« of making me acquaint ed with fome Spanilh ladies, Mr. Rooney engaged us in an afternoon's walk C 13 ] , walk to * vifit Captain Adams, the Captain of the Port, and there I had the pleafure Of nieeting with feveral females. They feemed highly de^ lighted with my hat and direfs, and took fingular fatisfadion in repeat^edly taking off the fqrmer, and in examin ing my coat, which was half uniform. My having formerly travelled in Spain, and confequently having acquired a tolerable knowledge of their language procured me unufual attention, fucl^ as I fhall ever remember with plea fure, though mingled with a degree of regret, arifing from the improba- , bility of my ever revifiting a country, in which I had the happinefs to meet; with unlimited kindnefs. The next morning we were pre- fented with fallads, fruits, lemons, &c. t '3 3 &c. from different inhabitants of the town, who feemed to vie with each other in prefenting us with thofe falu- tary refrefhments. The following day was fixed for an excurfion to Puerto Oratava. Ac companied by Governor King, his lady, our firft Lieutenant, and a young gentleman belonging to Meff. Little and Co. we went on fhore at day-break, and after breakfafting mounted our buricos or donkeys. The roads (hardly deferving that appellation) were rugged indeed ; in fome places the ftones were fufficiently out of the ground to afford us feats, but the good humour which reigned amongft our party made ample amends for any trifling difficulty of that nature — and indeed E 14 1 indeed little difficulties make fecial, excui^ons more interefting. Our firft halting-place was a fmall hut, where Mr. Malcolme, a gentle man belonging to the fame houfe, had taken care to provide us with bifcuits, wine,'&c. Having refrefhed ourfelves we continued our ride un til meridian., when it was judged pru dent for lis to tarry during the heat of the day. Here Mr. Malcolme had alfo procured a cold collation, or a firft dinner. — Two fultry hours hav ing paffed away very cheerfully; we again rnounted our buricos, and, upon my making ufe of the'Spanifh method of quickening their pace, my animal fet off on full fpeed, left the niuleteer ftaring with aftonifhment, and poor me L IS ] me rolling down a fteep hill ; but perceiving the party, who had not gdt up with us, •coming rapidly to my affiftance, fearful left they fhould gallop over me, larofe as quickly as poffible, and fcrambling to a'ftone fat r myfetf down upon it, and laughed as heartily as I everrecoUeded to have done in my life. This little accident "let my muleteer into the ftcret of my having underftood the chief of his cbnverfation with the 'Other, who h^d the honour of attending ray corapanion Mrs. King, which was " his indination to ftop at all the ¦/)0- fadoes, or public houfes, we had pai^d by." At a fhort diftance frora this laugh able feene, we were met by Mr. Lit- I tie, [ i6 ] tie, who very politely conduced uS to his town refidence, where he had prepared a moft fplendid entertain ment replete with every , delicacy, of the feafon. The .fruits and vegetables were luxuries indeed to us, who had been accuftomed to little choice during our pafTage. From this town, on the fame even* ing, one of Our officers. Lieutenant Rye, accompanied by Mr. Burton the , botanift, took his departure for the Peak of Teneriffe, in which enter- prize, notwithftanding the great dan ger pointed out to him at that feafon of the year, he was fortunate enough to fucceed, and arrived at its fumrait* On his return to England, his ex curfion was publifhed ; and I recom mend [ '7 ] mend it to the perufal of my readers ; yet muft at the fame time take the liberty of obferving, that although he has been minute as to -particulars that tend to the information and benefit of fuch as may hereafter wifh to vifit the Peak, he has been too diffident in mentioning the extreme fatigues and difficulties which he un derwent in the accomplifhment of his wifhes. The inhabitants fpoke of his courage in terms of aft onifh- ment — too much cannot be faid in praife pf his perfeverance, it is fuffi- fient of itfelf to convince us tjiat no difficulties are infuperable to the pru dent and brave, and at the fame time brings to my remembrance the follow ing lines of Mr.iRowe : G " The [ i8 ] " The wife and prudent conquer difficulties " By daring to attempt them : Sloth and folly " Shiver and fhrink at fight of toil andhazard, " Ahd make th' impoffibility they fear." We were the next morning regaled 'with a breakfaft equally profufe and delicate as the preceding meals. The greater ^axt of that day being too 'fultry to walk, we were much in debted to the polite and refpedtful- at tention of the aforementioned gen tlemen, who, ftudying' our amufe- raent, propofed an evening excurfion to their country refidence, fituated at a fhort diftance from the town. It is afmall neat houfe, ftanding upon a hill, commanding an extenfive view of the Bay of Santa-Cruz ; the gar- .den is enclofed with myrtle hedges, the walks were fhaded with vines, and [ 19 ] and lofty, lemon trees, and the par terre before the door arranged with pots of moft beautiful carna tions. Having comfortably regaled our felves, we returned back to tea and fupper; retired early, and arofe at four the next morning. After break fafting \ve fet out upon our return ; at eleven we ftoi)ped to partake of fome refrefliments, and then proceed ed two leagues farther, when we again alighted to avoid the intenfe heat ; during which time Mrs. King and myfelf ftrolled to feveral little huts. The inhabitants were furprized at fee ing ftrangers of our fex alone ; but their aftoniflimentfoon fubfided when I fpoke a few words to them in Spa- C 2 nifh ; [ 20 ] nifh;— from this moment pleafure Was vifible in every countenance ; in proof of which, although their fpot of ground was fmall, their kindnefs induced them to prefent us with fome fage, and an egg apiece— the little all they had to proffer us; and I make no doubt but we were remembered, by them the remainder of tlie day ; nay I will even think they have not yet forgotten us. Returning to. our party, and find ing all ready, we remounted, and after riding a few miles our Englilh friends took leave of us. Their uniform attention has induced me to name themfo often in this narrative- — the only return I fliall ever have it in my power to make them. 3 It [ »' ] It may afford a fmile to my readers to add, that, after it was found out that I could fpeak Spanifh, I entered into converfation with my muleteer, which made him fo proud of his charge, that, previous to our enter ing any town or village, he, with great form, fequefted me to fit up right, and then fpread my hair very curioufly over my fhoulders.— -Poor fellow ! could I be difpleafed with his requeft; fince it arofe, without doubt, from a defire of making me appear to the greateft advantage ? Thus, by the favour of a ferene evening, we returned to Mr. Rooney's, who wifhed us to fleep on fhore, as the wind began to blow frefli, and C 3 the [ *v] the furf rendered it very unpleafant for us to go on-rboard ; but having refolved prior to my leaving England, to bear every difficulty, if poffible, and' determined to ftart none, I, with my good friends, took leave ; and, after a few lifts over a heavy fea, we reached the wifhedr-for vefTeJ. The next morning we paid a vifit to the Spanifh Lieutenant Governor's Lady, who introduced us to feveral ladies. The following day IVIr. Rooney and Mr, Malcolme favoured us with their company on-board. After dinner they took leave of us, and fhortly after we received from them a prefent of fome lemons, and fuch other fruit as they deemed moft acceptable for our intended voyage; Oft [ ^3 ] On the 24th of April we attempted to fail ; but unfortunately the anchor of our vefTel hooked the cable of a Spanifh brig, owing to a ftrong tide ; which broke the window, and carried away part of our quarter gallery. This accident detained us until the follow ing day, when we failed with a frefh and favourable breeze, and faw the Peak many leagues diftant. C 4 CHAP. V n- ] CHAP. II. Ceremony of croffmg the Equator-— ar rive at St. Jago — defcription of the Portugueze inhabitants — a violent gale — fee the ifland of Saint Tri nidad — a defcription of that ifland-^ — arrive at Simon^s Bay — fet out for the Cape. Ol 'N the 27th of April we got into the Trade- Winds, On the 29th we croffed the line, and paid the ufual forfeit to Amphitrite and Neptune. Thofe failors who had croffed the line before burlefqued the new-com ers as much as poffible, calling'^them- felves Neptune and Amphytrite with their [ «s ] their aquatic attendants. They have the privilege to make themfelves merry ; and thofe who have never been in South latitudes purchafe their freedom by a fmall quantity of liquor. But the failor or foldier who has none to give is the objed of their mirth ; and, the more reftive he is, the more keen they are to proceed to bufinefs. A large tub of fait water, with a feat over it, is placed in the fore-part of the fhip, on which the new comer is reludantly put— the feat is drawn from under him ; and, when rifing from the tub, feveral pails of water are thrown over him — he is then pufhed forward amongft his laughing fhipmates, and is as bufy as the reft to get Others in the fame predica ment. The [ 26 ] TYitfirfl of .May we expeded to. make the ifland of Sal — faw many porpoifes, and, having had. moderate breezes, arrived at St. Jago on the third. Being advifed not to go on fhore, we waited till we had pro cured abundance of all kinds of re frefhments ; in particular, fruit, poul try, and goats ; all of which articles were very fcarce at Teneriffe, owing to itS' being fo early in the Spring.. The turkeys upon this ifland are re markably fine, and would do credit to the plumpeft that Norfolk could, produce. The fhips then in Port Praya Bay were The Phoenix «and Lord Camden Eaft Indiamen ; and, during our fhort ftay. [ ^'i ] ftay, The Dutton, Albemarle, Bar- rington, and Adive tranfports, ar rived. Here we had the pleafure of becoming acquainted with Captain Patterfon, of the New South Wales corps, and his Lady. We treated ourfelves with cocoa-nuts and pine apples, of which there are great abundance in this ifland. The Por tugueze inhabitants have chiefly been defaulters in their native country ; and the fallownefs of their com plexions proves what a fickly climate they have to buffet with. The black inhabitants are robuft, and much in clined, like their mafters, to take ad vantage of ftrangers ; nay, I have been credibly informed, that they make no ceremony of cheating one sji^other, whenever a fuitable oppor tunity [ *8 ] tunity occurs. They are fond of old cloaths in their exchange for fruit, &c. and a fhabby fuit of old black is efteemed twice as valuable as any other colour. We left this ifland on the 6th of May — had frefli breezes and violent heat until the loth. Many fharks were caught, and the tails of the youngeft of them eaten by the men : porpoifes were feen rolling about with great force all around us. We experienced much heat be tween the trade- winds, until the 19th, when, for a change, we were over; taken by a moft violent fquall of wind, attended with thunder, light ning, and rain, and the fhip pitched very much. The [ ^9 1 The greateft inconvenience I fuf- fered from thefe fqualls was the ne- ceffity we were under of having in the dead lights, Which are ftrong fliutters wedged in to prevent a fol lowing fea from breaking into the fhip. The noife made by" the work ing of the vefiel, and the Twinging of theglafs fhades that held our lights, rendered tbe cabin very difmal. This fqually weather continued* with little variation, until' the 23d, when we fpoke with a French fhip, bound to Port L'Orient. They had nothing to difpofe of ; but feht us a fine turtle, which vs/as a great treat to thofe who were fond of the variety Of good food it Contains. On On the 29 th we faw the ifland of .Saint Trinida(i, which appears a very beautiful little fpot: Captain D Au vergne, in a cutter belonging tio Com modore' Johnftone's fleet, was caft away here. I am told they made themfeiyes quite comfortable, as they faved great part of their ftbres ; and, having fom.e garderi feeds, they greyv; up quickly, arid cabbages thrived par ticularly well. J This, ifland is about nine miJ^r^'^ circ,umference, well wooded, and watered with, fertile y^l- leys; and the Englilh colony, who were the only inhabitants, leit it with regret. We faw a great quantity of birds hovering all around ;, a-nd, . as they are not often dilHirbed by mari^^ they range in native freedom, 'the a fea- [ 31 ] fea-birds have plenty of food, from ,the variety of fifh, particularly the Plying-fiflijk which, is conftantly tor mented both by Bonetas and Dolphins, and the birds darting upon them, in their flying efforts to efcape.. On the 30th the weather was very fqually, and fhe fea rough. We faw pintado-birds, and others ufual in thefe latitudes ; alfo Mother Gary's Chickens — fmall birds, that fly very faft, and are not unlike the fwallow : they are- feldom feen but in rough weather ; and failors fay they are the attendants * upon ftorms — of courfe they are not partial to -them. This I 3» J This weather ^lontinued feveral days ; once we were obliged, on ac count of the roughnefs of the fea, to dine on the deck in the cabin ; hut thefe little difficulties were fcareely felt, the party being in good humour, and our fpirits well fupported by good broth, roaft pig, and plumb- puddings — thanks to my caterer, who had ^o well provided for fa long a voyage. With little variation, we failed till the 19th of June, when land was once more in fight. At ten the next morning the Bellows Rock opened to view ; and on the 21ft, ztfour in the afternoon, we arrived, at Simon's Bay ; this being the Bay where fhips gene^ rally C 33 I rally lay during the winter-feafon, as the fudden hurricanes, which fweep round the mountains at this period, make the Bay at Cape town too dan gerous to rifk a veffel at. An officer was fent on fhore, to in form the Commandant of our having put in for refrefliment : he fhortly returned, and brought us word, that every thing wanted fliould be readily fupplied ; and the next morning the Commandant paid us a vifit on board. Governor King alfo wrote to Mr. Peter de Witt, a merchant at the Cape of Good Hope ; in confequence of which he waited upon us, and brought with him two carriages to condu(5t us to the Cape ; the one a D chaife, [ 34 ] chaife, drawn by four, the other a kind of waggon, drawn by eight horfes.: On the 23d, eager for a little fhor© amufement, we rofe isarly, and, after breakfafting upon rolls^ and fuch fruit as WQ had procured from the Bay, Lieutenant Governor King, Mrs. King, our firft Lieutenant, Captain Parker, and myfelf,. went on fhore — ^^the fort faluting with fifteen guns, and our fhip returning the compliment with an equal number. CHAP. C 35 ] CHAP. Ill, Bet off for Cape Town—flop at Falfe- bay — meet a party of Soldiers — rc' JleBions — arrive at the Cape — Mrs. De Witt — -fhipwreck of the Guar dian — Lieutenant Riou — a Cape- breakfaji — obfervdtibns on the town and its inhabitants, 1 GOULD riot help beirig well- pleafed at finding myfelf once more fafe landed. We loitered fome time at Mr. Brank's, where we met Colo nel Burrington, of the Bengal army, who was then at the Gape, for the re-eftabhfliment of his health. In a D 2 ihoit t 36 1 fhort time we fet off for Cape Town, Captain> King and Mr. De Witt in the chaife and four, and the reft of us in the carriage drawn with eight horfes, fomewhat refembling a covered wag gon, except having feats within, arid little gaudy decorations. The road was exceffively bad, and the carriage not being hung with fprings rendered travelling moft jol- tingly difagreeable. After having rode about eight or nine miles, we anived at a houfe fituated in the bottom of Palfe Bay, called Muffleburg: this houfe, when firft built, was in tended by the Governor and Council, as a temporary refidence, being fitu-? ateid in a good fifhing neighbourhood, and as a place of refrefliment to travellers [ 37 3 travellers paffing to and from Cape- Town and Simon's Bay. — After the jolting of our vehicle, we had reafon to think it a place of relief; and when we arrived there, we found feveral officers, with' their wives arid chil dren, at dinner. We had 'alfo met feveral different parties of foldiers on the road ; upon enquiry, we found it was a regiment marching to Simon's Bay, in order to be embarked on board a Dutch Indiaman bound to Ba tavia ; there having been recently at that place a great mortality amongft all claffes of Europeans, faid to be caufed by the Malays, the natives of Java, having poifoned the waters. In relating this circumftance, I can not but feel myfelf deeply affe feated, the lady of the houfe makes tea and coffee at a fide-table, which the flaves hand round to the com pany. The day being very rainy, and our baggage advancing flower than we had done, it was mutually agreed to remain at home. We Were vifited by Mynheer Van Graaffe, the Gover nor, who was at that time about to refign ; alfo by Colonel Burrington and other Gentlemen. A defcription of Cape Town having repeatedly been given by authors of knowledge and tafte ; I only intend, with [ 45 ] with fubmiffion to my readers, to commit to paper my own flender re marks on the various objeCts which engaged my attention. The town I thought both clean and pleafant ; its environs afford feve ral delightful rides : the road to the Company's houfe, by the fea-fide, brought to my recollection one from Puerta Colonela, at Leghorn, round the Lazarettos, to Monti Negro. I was ftruck with the uncommon dex terity of the Cape-drivers, who ma nage eight horfes in hand, and turn the corners with the greateft fwift- nefs. The carriages ufed for thefe excurfions are entirely open, and confift, fome of two, and others of four feats. In t 45 ] In this town there are no public amufements, nor any particular pro* menade§, excepting the Governor's garden, at the end of which there is a very large aviary. There are not any public fliops, as in other towns : the merchants difpofe of their goods* both by wholefale and retail, in the following method : if you wifh to make any purchafe you fend for a la^e book, upon the leaves of which are pafted patterns of edgings, di-^ mities, filks, muflins, &C. with the prices annexed ; and if you make any large purchafe, you go and view the different articles in the parlours^ Butcher, baker, &:c. are all equally. private; in faCt, the moft pleafing fight is in the market-place at day- ' break. t 47 ] break, when the flaves, moftly two by two, bring their baflcets by the means of poles on their fhoulders. Qftrich feathers are very plentiful. There is alfo every fort of fruit in great abundance ; that which was moft remarkable to me was the rofe- apple, not having met with it in any of my former travels in France, Spain, and Italy : . there is a faintnefs in the tafte of this apple which few palates would approve of.; but the odoriferous fmell it difperfes around renders it very acceptable when placed amongft other fruit. The women Of the Cape are re markable for their bulk ; which I am apt to attribute to their going without ftays, and fitting much in the houfe 5 with [ 48 ] with their feet continually lifted on a chair. They have good teeth, and in general their features are pleafing; after marriage they are totally neglect ful of their perforis. Neither hat nor bonnet is fafhion- able amongft them ; high caps, with cloaks or fhawls, are worn in their ftead ; the latter they have frequent opportunities of receiving, in return for the hofpitality fliewn to our Bri- tifh Eaft India fhips. The churches at Cape Town are open at eight in the morning, when the genteel claffes go in fedan chairs, which are ufually kept in the entrance of their houfes. CHAP. [ 49 ] CHAP. IV. Fifit Colonel Gordon. — Arrival of the Neptune. — Receive intelligence from . \ Nezv South JVales. — Arrival of Cap tain Patterfon and his Lady. — A Cape Dance.-^A Hottentot Song.-—' . vifit Mr, Fandrian's B.rew£ry. — Pre pare for our Departure. — Set fail. o U R baggage arrived the next day, and we were bufily employ ed, having engaged ourfelves to dine with Colonel Gordon. The hour of dinner was two o'clock ; the Colo nel obligingly fent his carriage for us, which vvas very acceptable, the wea- E ther r so. ] ther being intenfely hot, and the pavement intolerably bad. The Villa where the Colonel refides is fituated a few miles from the town, on the fummit of a hill comraanding a raoft pleafant and extenfive view by fea and - land. The good Colonel is already well known for his Mufeura, and Manufcripts relative to Natural Hif- tory, and his many enterprifing jour neys to the interior parts of that country ; for which he Was eminent ly qualified on account of his exten five knowledge of the language, < manners, and cuftoms of the Hotten tots, by whom he is almoft adored. — The refpeCt and regard which I bear to this family forbids my paffing over in filence the polite and friendly atten tion I received from Mrs, Gordon, who is [,Si ] is A Swifs lady, and who moft agree ably acquiefces in whatever may tend to render thofe comfortable who have the happinefs of being ranked amongft her acquaintance. After what I have faid, it will eaflly be fuppofed that their children are taUght the fame engaging attention to ftrangers. On the next day, the Neptune and the Lady Juliana anchored in Falfe Bay; both, of them had been ffiips fent out by Government with Con victs and Stores id the colony of New South Wales, and, aft^r having ful filled their contract with Government, were permitted to go to China, to take in a freight of Teas on account of the Eaft-lndia Company. We did not receive any favourable account of the E 2 place place we were ffiortly going to vifit ; on the contrary. We learnt from the commander of the Neptune, .Mr. D. Trail, that, on his leaving it, there. were only fix months provifions in the Settlement, at full allowance ; we alfo learnt the difappointment of the Governor and Officers of that Co lony at the non-arrival of the;Guar- dian : — in fhort, every circumftance feryed to affure us how. anxioufly they waited the appearance of our happy bark .;..^and made Captain Parker as anxious to relieve them, .^ ^.-^ About this time the arrival of the Britannia and Albemarle tranfports was announced : this circumftance afforded us confiderable fatisfaCtion, as we were in expectation of again meet ing ¦ L 53 ] ing with Mrs. Patterfon, the Lady of Captain Patterfon of the new corps. This gentleman once accompanied Colonel Gordon in his excurfion up the country. An unexpected meeting with thofe of our kingdom is always agreeable to travellers : it pro ved fo to us ; and the more efpecially as it chiefly confifted of thofe who were engaged upon fervices, fimilar in their nature with our intended voyage. ' But, though furrounded with no velties and amufements, I could not forget the perilous iituation of my hufband, who was gone to bring the fhip round to Table Bay, the winter- feafon rendering it very unfafe on ac count of the Monfoons which are pre- E 3 valent [ 54 ] valent at that time of the year ; but,' thanks to the Supreme Being! the fhip appeared in fight on Sunday the 17 th of July, and Captain parker came on fhore to dinner. We received anothef invitation from Mrs. Gordon, and ac cordingly went in the afternoon to Green Point to tea ; after which, we returned home to fppper, and the ev^mng concluded with dancing, which they arQ remarkably fond of at this town ; particularly a (:lance fomewhat like the Allemande, except ing the figure, which is not variable, and the long continuance of turning round : it is furprizing that the ladies are not giddy with the fwiftnefs of the motion ; for it would certainly turn any perfon's head unaccuftomed to if. The * [ 55 ] The next morning we again vifited the hofpitable villa, where we were regaled in a manner that befpoke the attention of the providers: during a defert that would have gained ap- plaufe from the niceft Epicure, fing- ing was introduced, in the courfe of which we were favoured with a Hot tentot fong from the Colonel : to de- fcribe any part of it would be im- poffible ; but, without a wifh to of fend,. I muft fay that it appeared to me the very reverfe of all that is mufical or harmonious ; and the Colonel, who gave us ftriCt charge not to be frightened with what we were to hear, feemed to enjoy the laughter it occafioned. Different fongs having gone round, the Colo nel's fon amufed us with feyeraj pieces E 4 upon [ 56 ] upon the organ ; and fhortly after we were agreeably furprized with the bands belonging to the regiraents without: nor did this conclude the amufement ; -for, after drinking cof fee, we danced until our return into town, when the fame mufic accora- panied us, to prevent, I fuppofe, our fpirits from drooping at the thought of leaving fuch good company. The next day Captaiii Patterfon and his Lady arrived from Falfe Bay ; who, fortunately for our little parties, remained at the houfe in which we refided. Through the friendly in troduction of this gentleman I became one of the party at Mr. Vandrian's ; .and I cannot but acknowledge the polite attention I received from this family [ 57 ] family during my ftiort acquain tance. On the 24th, a feleCt party of us dined at Colonel Gordon's, where we met Colonel Burrington *, Major De Lifle, with fome other Dutchmen, and Mr. Pitt, a relation of Lord Chatham, who was fortunately faved out of tlie wreck of the Guardian. We were oc cupied in feafting and finging till the evening, when we returned home, and found the company waiting for us. Upon our arrival, the dances imme diately began ; and, after eating an excellent fupper, we retired to our * Whilft writing the above, intelligence has been received of the death of this gentleman, in an engagement with the Rohilla Chiefs, on the 26th of October, 1794. apart- [ 58 i apartments ; but, from the coolriefs of (the night, the moon fliining de lightfully, and the mufic parading the ftreets, we were unwilling to confign ourfelves to " dull oblivion," The next day we vifited Mr. Van- drian, at the Brewery ; where we met with a welcome reception : the houfe and gardens are very pleafant ; the brewery is an extenfive building, fituated between Cape Town and Falfe Bay, very near the latter; and, ftrange to fay, not far diftant from Paradife ! a fpot of ground fo called, from the fituation ; and about which the Silver Tree grows in great perfection : nei ther is it far from Conftarttia. The Governor, having rode out that morning, ftopped and joined the party. [ 59 ] party, who were then at dinner ; and, the evening proving rainy, we re-- turned with him in his voiture d'Hol- lande. The following day we were bufily employed in getting our cloaths ready for fea, and in fending them on-board, as we expected to erabark that after noon ; ' however, the bufinefs of the fhip not being actually accomplifhed, we flept on fhore that night ; and on the enfuing morning, the 31ft of July, we all repaired on-board, ef- corted to the key by the greater part of Mr. de Witt's family : Mr. Peter de Witt accompanied us on-board, and faw us under weigh. CHAP. [ 6o ] CHAP. V. Tbe. voyage continued— ^a melancholy accident ; fingular infiance of fra ternal affeBion^death of Lieutenant Rofs — a dreadful f tor m — the falling cf a ball of fre — obfervations and reflexions, JL/URING our refidence at the Cape, great care had been taken amply to provide for the remainder of our voyage ; the crew were well fupplied with frefh provifions, and we re turned to our little fea-amufements in peace and tranquillity of mind, 2 With [, 6i ] With my companion Mrs. King, and the fociety of the fliip, I feldom, if ever, found any thing unpleafant,, except the pitching of the fliip, which motion- proved very difagreeable. to me to the end of our voyage. We proceeded favourably on our paffage, haying, in general, good weather, and brifk winds, until the yth of September, vi'hen we met with the following melancholy occurrences. At 6 o'clock, P. M. a carpenter fell overboard ; the cutter was imme diately fent to refcue him, if poffible, from the mercilefs waves ; but to na effeCt, the fea running high, and the wind blowing frefh : one difmal hour had fcarcely elapfed when the cutter returned, [6. ] returned, and, while hoifting it in, another poor man fell overboard : the cutter was again fent out ; but, alas ! the earneft attempts of the failors to fave the life of their comrade unfor- tunately proved abortive ; his bro ther, who was in the boat, 'had been refcued by the deceafed from a fimilar accident only a few months before ; his gratitude to, and affeCtion for, this brother, loft before him, drove him into a delirium ; in which dreadful ftate he continued for fome time. A difmal flcy and a deluge of rain con cluded this difaftrous and eventful night. The enfuirig morning was equally ftormy as the preceding even ing, and the weather continued ranch the fame until the nth, when we faw the Coaft of New Holland. In [ 63 ] In the evening of this day we had the misfortune of lofing Mr. George Rofs, midfhipman, after a fevere ill- nefs fince leaving the Cape. This young gentleman was the fon of Lieu tenant Rofs'of the Navy, and brought up at Portfmouth Academy ; he was a very promifing youth, and his death was fincerely regretted by all his fhip mates, and the fuperior officers of the fliip, for his attention to his duty. The fame melancholy evening died fuddenly James Key, a feaman. The enfuing day the bodies of the de ceafed were committed to the deep, after having performed the ufual fu neral fervice. On the 1 2th we had frefli gales, with favourable weather, which continued [ ^4 ] continued until the 17th, when we came in fight of Mount Dromedary, fo called from 'the fimilarity of its fliape. This day we were engaged to dine with the officers in the ward room : under the expectation of ar riving fhortly at Port Jackfon, the time paffed away very fociably ; but a fudden fquall and perverfe, winds coming on, deprived us of the fatis faCtion of reaching the wiflied-for haven for three long days — at leaft they appeared fo to every one of us ; when we reflected that the colony flood in fuch great need of the fup- plies with which we were fo plen- teoufly ftored ; however, with pa tience, the fovereign remedy of all evils, and the trayellers heft fupport, I paffed the time in adjufting the ca bin, t 65 ] bin, and in other preparations prior to our going on Ihore, The enfuing day, being Sunday, was pleafant and ferene, as if to af ford us an opportunity of imploring a continuance of the Divine Protec tion, which we had hitherto expe rienced in a fingular degree. On Monday the 3 9th, at noon, we were in latitude 35°. \s\ S. and longitude 149°. it'\ E. from the riieridian of Greenwich, when a point of land appeared in fight, called by Captain Cook Long Nofe, on account of its pointed fhape. At fun-fet the hover ing clouds feemed to forebode the event of the evening ; at eight came on a tremendous thunder- fquall, attended F with C 66 ] with moft dreadful lightning and conftant heavy rains, which , con tinued upwards of an hour and a half. About half pzCi e/ght the light ning ftruck the pole of the main-top- gallant-maft, fliivered it and the head of the maft entirely to pieces ; thence it communicated to the main-top- maft, under the hounds, and fplit it exactly in the middle, iihowe one third down the maft; it next took the main-maft by the main-yard, on the larboard fide, and in a fpherical di rection ftruck it in fix different places;. the fliock electrified every perfon on "the quarter-deck; thofe who were un fortunately near the main-maft were knocked down, but recovered in a few minutes:' this continued until about i*^^ paft ten^ when a moft awful C ^1 3 awful fpeCtacle prefented itfelf to the view of thofe on deck; whilft we who were below felt a fudden fhock, which gave us every reafon to fear that the fliip had ftruck againft a rock ; from which dreadful appre- henfion we were however relieved upon being informed that it was. oc cafioned by a ball of fire which fell at that moment. The lightning dfo broke over the fliip in every direction : it was allowed, to be a difmal refem- blance of a befieged garrifon; and, if I might hazard an opinion, I fhould think it was the effeCt of an earth- . quake. The fea ran high, and feem ed to foam with anger at the feeble refiftance which our lone bark occa- fioried, At midnight the wind ffiift- ed to the weftward, which brought Fa on [ 68 ] on fine clear weather, and I found myfelf onee more at leifure to anti- cipate the fatisfaCtion which our ar rival would diftufe throughout the colony; for, owing to the lofs of his majefty's fliip The Guardian, the go vernor and officers were reduced to fuch fcanty allowance, that, in addir tion to tiie fatigues and hardfhips which they had experienced when the colony was in its infant 'ftate, they were obliged, from a fcarcity of pro vifions, to toil through the wearifome day with the anxious and melan choly expectations of increafing diffi culties. What then cxDuld afford us more heart-felt pleafure than the near event of relieving them ? for it is furely happinefs to fuccour the dif- treffed ; a fatisfaCtion we fully ex perienced. • [ 69 ] perienced. Our defire of reaching the colony was alfo increafed by the reflection, that the greater part of the marine officers were to return with us once more to vifit Old Eng land,, and to render happy fuch of their friends and relations as had lin gered out their abfence with many an aching heart. With what anxiety did they await the fliip's arrival ! with what eagernefs did they haften on-board ! The circumftances are too deeply engraven on my memory ever to be eradicated ; but, alas I my pen is utterly incompetent to the tafk of defcrit>ing our feelings on this oc- eafion^ F 3 CHAP. [ 70 ] ^ CHAP, V|. Arrive at Port Jackfon— Governor King and Captain Parker wait upon. Governor Phillip with the dif patches — Account of fhips arrived in the harbour ; 'and of a dreadful mortality which had taken place on- board the tranfports — Interejiing particulars refpeBing the propriety of eflablifhirig a whale-fifhery on the; coafi of New Holland^ _/\_T fun-rife we faw the coaft of New Holland, extending from South Weft to North Weft, diftant from thq neareft part about nine or ten miles,- During the night we were driven to - ¦''¦¦- ¦ ' ,'¦ '¦ " ' ¦. the C 71 ] the Northward, and paffed Port Jack fon, the port to which we were bound ; however, on the enfuing day, the 2 1 ft, we arrived fafe in the above harbour. As foqn as the fliip an chored feveral officers came on-board ; and, fliortly after. Governor King, ac companied by Captain Parker, went on fhore, and waited on his Excel lency Governor Phillip, with the governmentrdifpatches : they were welcome vifjtprs ; and I raay fafely fay, that the arrival of our fhip dif- fufed univerfal joy throughout the whole fetileraei^t, We found lying here his Majefty's armed tender The Supply, with her Jower mafts both put of repair ; they ^ere fo bad, that fh^ was obliged to F 4 have I 7^ J have others made of the wood of the country, which ' was procured with great difficulty, feveral hundred trees being cut down without finding any fufficiently found at the core. . Lieu tenant Bowen, with four fail of tranf ports ulider his direction, was arrived here ; alfo The Mary^Anne, a tranf- port-fhip, that had been fent out alone, with only women-conviCts and provifions on-board. A dreadful mortality had taken place on-board of moft of the tra.nf- ports which liad been fent to this country; the poor miferable objeCts that, were landed died in great num bers, fo that they were foon reduced to at leaft one third of the number that quitted England. " Their [ 73 ] ^ <* Their appearance," to ufe the words of Captain Parker, " will be " ever frefh in my memory. I vifited " the hofpital, and was furrounded? " by mere flceletons of men— ;»in every *' bed, and on every fide, lay the " dying and the dead. Horrid fpec^, *' tacle ! it makes ine fliudder when *' I reflect, that it will not be the laft "-exhibition of this kind of human " niifery that will take place in this " country, whilft the prefent method " of tranfporting thefe miferable " wretches is purfued ; for, the more " of them that die, the more it re- *' dounds to the intereft of the fliip - *' owners and mafters, who are paid " fo much a-head by government, for " each individual, whether they ar-> ** rive in the colony or not." 7 But [ 74 1 But to return to my narrative.r-^Or^ ihe a 5th, in confequence of the aur niverfary of his majefty's acceffion tq the throne, his Excellency Governor Phillip gave a public dinner to all the army and navy officers in the cot lony. The Gorgon dreffed ffiip as well as her fcanty allowance of colours would permit ; and, at the ufual hour, flred t\yenty-one guns. About this time, Mr. Melvin, maf: ter of The Britannia tranfpbrt, arr rived here ; with this, and with feve ral other gentlemeq. Captain Parker held various conferences on the pro priety of eftablifliing a Whale-Fiffi- ery on the Coaft of Nevv Holland. Minutes of thefe conferences were pref?rv^d, E 75 1 preferyed by my hufband ; and, as they appear to nie rather interefting, I fhall take the liberty of inferting them in this place. f* Mr. Melvin gave it as his opmion that a very good Whale-Fifhery might be eftabliflied upon this coaft.; and that fifh were infinitely more nume rous than on the American. In his paffage from Van Deimarits Land to Port Jackfon, he afferted that he faw more fhoals of fpermaceti whales in. the courfe of that voyage, than in any one of a great number which he had made in the South Whale-Fifhery. This afternoon he failed, upon ex periment, accompanied by the Wil- jiam and Anne, Edward Bunker, maf- ter. The day after their leaving Port Jackfon, [ 76 ] Jackfon, they fell-in with a flioal of whales ; the boats belonging to the two fhips ftruck feven of them ; but the wind blew fo hard that each fhip faved but one ; and, in confequence of the weather, were obliged to return from the cruize. As foon as the agreement between Government and the ftiijis had ended, which was when they had landed their conviCts. and difcharged their lading, the mafters of them were at full liberty to proceed upon their owners' employ. Five of the number , had permiffion from the Eaft Iiidia^ Company to load with cotton at Bom bay ; the others, being fifliery-ffiips, went out and returned frequently. During the time of our ftay at Port Jackfon, [ 77 ] Jackfon, they faw abundance of fifh ; but, always meeting with tempeftuous weather and a ftrong current fetting to windward, their fuccefs was not adequate to their expectations. One of them, named the Matilda, took three fifh, which yielded about thirty barrels of oil, and the mafter told me that it was in its quality more valuable, by ten pounds in the ton, than the Oil which they procured on the coaft of America. One of them gave me , a fmall keg of it, which I brought home with me as a fpecimen. They alfo told me, that nothing but the fear of lofing the time of their employers prevented them from continuing on this coaft, for they had many good har bours to run into if need required ; an advantage of confiderable impor- ¦¦.ui tance, [ 78 1 tance> as. it enabled them always fo have a good fupply of water, which was not the cafe when fifhing on the American -coaft : they had alfo great relief from wild herbs gathered here, particularly that called Sweet Tea, which makes a very, pleafa.nt and wholefome beverage. Thefe, with other confiderations, were fufficient to influence thofe employed in the Whale-Fifhery to prefer this coaft to the other, where they have no port to go into, as, by treaty, they are not to approach nearer than one hun dred leagues of the fliore : in confe quence of which, their crew muft be greatly infeCted with the fcurvy, for want of that affiftance which they can fo plenteoufly meet with on the coaft of New South Wales, They have [ 79 ] have alfo an opportunity of keeping their fhips .in much better repair, having harbours to go into when neceffity required, whereas on the coaft of America it is quite the re verfe. New Holland abounds in good har bours ; we have thoroughly invefti- gated the greater part of them, and there are many others at prefent but imperfectly known ; yet, if a Whale- Fifhery were once eftabliflied, they would foon become familiar to us ; and, if peculiar emoluments were granted to Ships that took fifh on this coaft in preference to that of America, great advantages might accrue to Go vernment therefrom : the number of vefiels which would be in that era- ploy [ So ] ploy muft greafly leffen the freight of tranfports, and give us continual opportunities of fupplying the fettle ment at a moderate ex pence to govern ment : it would alfo be an encourage ment to fettlers to go over ; and until that takes place the maintaining the Colony of New South Wales will be a continually accumulating burthen to the mother-country. Were we to fend fettlers from England, with fome little property of their own, and to givQ the men fufficient encourage ment by allotting them ground, build ing them convenient houfes, allowing them a certain number of conviCts, giving them tools of hufbandry, feeds of various kinds adequate to the num ber of acres in , their pOffeffion, and victualling them and their , men, for at [ 8t ] at leaft eighteen months, out of the public ftores, at the expiration of which time they and their men were to provide for themfelves- — Were, we to do thefe things, it might probably be able to fupport itfelf in a few years. But to return to the Whale Fifhery : it might be carried on by finall veffels at the different harbours with which we are at prefent acquainted ; if they contained cafks enough, to hold the blubber which two or three Whales might produce, and were able to carry three or four Whale-Boats, they would be fufficiently large.. When they took any fifh, if it were not convenient to run for Port Jackfon, let them make any of the other harbours, im mediately boil down the oil, and then G watch [ 8» ] watch for the opportunity to proceed id fea again. It is to be obferved, that, at the full and change of the Moon, the weather is very tempeftuous itrid unfettled on this, coaft, and alfo that there is a ftrong- current always fetting to windward ; the harder it blows, the ftronger if fets, and caufes a turbulent, irregular, and very high fea. In the courfe of a feafon thefe fmall veffels would in all probability firocure a fufficient quantity of oil to load fuch ffiips as ffiould be fent from England to receive it ; but, if any ob jection be made to fmall craft from the apprehenfion of conviCts running away with them, let all the ffiips that Government take up belong to the Whale-fifliery ; let them fail from England in the Months of October, November, [ 83 ] November, and December; and after having landed their ftores, or what ever they may have brought out for Government, let them refit their fliips and then proceed on the fiffiery, re turning to Port Jackfon when they want refrefliments, or into any of the harbours with which we are acquaint ed. Lieutenant Bowen, of the At lantic tranfport, difcovered a bay, which, in honour to Sir John Jervis, he named after him. This bay has been fince explored by Mr. Weather- head, mafter of The Mary and Anne tranfport ; who, in one of his cruizes after whales, was twice there, and has given me a draught of it. There are two other ports known to the Northward of Port Jackfon ; G 2 the t 84 ] the firft \% Broken Bay, which has been well furveyed by Captain Hunter, of his majefty's ffiip TheSirius ; and is a very fine harbour, forming into different branches : one branch enters the river Hawkesbury ; another runs to the Weftward, and forms a fine piece of water, which has been named, by Governor Phillip, Pitt- water.' The next harbour to the Northward of this is Port Stephens, which has not been explored ; but fome of the fiffi-ffiips have been clofe in with it, and make no doubt but that it is a very good port." CHAP, I 85 ] CHAP. VII. Governor Phillip hreakfafts on-board — vifit Sidney Cove — go on-fhore — fhort defcription of fhrubs, birds, beafts, ^c. of Botany Bay — excurfon tOy and defcription of Paramatta — vift the Governor. XjUT to return to my narrative, — On the 30th Governor Phillip did us the honour to breakfaft on-board ; fo did alfo Mr, Coflins, Judge Advocate ; and Mr,^ Palmer, the Commiffary. The converfation was very interefting ; the one party anxioufly making en quiries after their relatives in Eng G 3 Idod , [ 86 J land ; and the other attentively lif- tening to the troubles and anxieties which had attended the improve ments made in that diftant colony. When the company returned on- ffiofe, we' amufed onrfelves with the pleafing novelties of Sidney Cove, fo flamed by the Governor in honour of Lord Sidney : from this Cove, al though it is very rocky, a moft plea fant verdure proceeds on each fide : the little habitations on ffiore, to gether With the canOes around Us, and the uncommon manners of the natives in theraj, were more than fuf ficient amufements fOr that day ; the next was occupied in receiving vifits from feveral officers belongiri|; to fhi^ fettlement.' When I S7 ] When we went on ffiore, we were all admiration at the natural beauties raifed by the hand of Providence without expence or toil : I mean the various flowery flirubs, natives of this country, that grow apparently from rock itfelf. The gentle afcents, the winding valleys, and the abundance of flowering ffirubs, render the face of the country very delightful. The ffirub which moft attracted my atten tion was one which bears a white fl.ower, very much refembling our Engiiffi Hawthorn ; the fmell of it is both fweet and fragrant, and per fumes the air around to a confiderable diftance. There is alfo plenty of grafs, which groWs with the greateft vigour and luxuriance, but which, G 4 how- [ 88 ] however, as Captain Tench juftly obferves, is not of the fineft quality, and, is found to .agree better with' horfes and cows than with flieep. i In Botany Bay there are not many land, fowls : of the larger fort, only eagles; were feen; of the fmaller kind, r^ though not numerous, there is' a variety, from the fize of a wren to that of a lark ; all of which are re markable for fine loud notes, and heautifjul plumage, particularly thofe pf the paroquet kind. Crows are alfo found here, exaCtly the fame as thofe in England. But defcriptions, infi nitely, beyond the abilities of her who now, folely for the benefit of her little flock, is advifed to fet forth this narrative, having been already pub- C 89 ]i publiffied, it would be prefumptive to attempt any thing farther. Our amufements here, although neither numerous nor expenfive, were to me perfectly novel and agreeable : the fatherly attention of the good Governor upon all occafions, with the friendly politenefs of the officers ren dered onr fejour perfectly happy and comfortable. After our arrival here, Governor King and his Lady, refided on ffiore at Governor Phillip's, to whofe houfe I generally repaired after breakfafting on-board : indeed it always proved a home for me ; under this hofpitable roof, I have often ate part of a Kin- garoo, with as much glee as if I had , been [ 90 ] been a partaker of fome of the greateft delicacies of this metropolis, although latterly I was cloyed with them, and found them very difagreeable. The prefents of eggs, milk, and vegetables, which I was often favoured with from the officers on ffiore, were always very acceptable ; and the precaution which Captain Parker had taken, pre vious to our departure from the Cape of Good Hope, made me fully con tented with my fituation. Our parties generally confifted of Mrs. King, Mr. Johnfon, and the La dies who refided at the colony. We made feveral pleafant excurfions up the Cove to the fettlement called Paramatta. The numerous branches, creeks, and inlets, that are formed in 3 t^^ [ 9' ] the harbour of Port Jackfon, and the wood that covers all their ffiores down to the very edge of the water, make the fcenery beautiful : the North branch is particularly fo, from the floping of its ffiores, the interfperfioh of tufted woods, verdant lawns, and the fmall Iflatnds, which are covered with trees, fcattered up and down. Upon our firft arrival at Paramatta^ I was furprifcd to find that fo great a progrefs had been made in this new fettlement, which contains above one thoufand conviCts, befides the mili tary. There is a very good level road, of great breadth, that runs nearly a mile in a ftraight direction from the landing place to the Governor's houfe, which is a fmall convenient building, placed C 92 3 placed upon a gentle alcent, and fur rounded by about a couple' of acres of garden ground: this fpot is called Rofe-Hill. On both fides of the road are fmall thatched huts, at an equal diftance from each other. After fpending the day very agreeably at the Governor's, we repaired to the lodging which had been provided for us, where we had the comfort of a large wood fire, and found every thing perfectly quiet, although furrounded by more than one thoufand conviCts. We enjoyed our night's repofe ; and in the morning, without the previous aid of toilet or mirror, we fet out for the Governor's to breakfaft, and re turned with the fame party on the enfuing day. This [ 93 ] This little excurfion afforded us an opportunity of noticing the beautiful plumage of the birds in general, and of the Emu in particular, two of which we difcovered in the woods : their plumage is remarkably fine, and ren dered particularly. curious, as each hen has two feathers generally of a light brown ; the wings are fo fmall as hardly to deferve the name; and, though incapable of flying, they can run with fuch fwiftnefs that a grey hound can with difficulty keep pace with them. The fleffi taftes fome what like beef. In this cove there are fome cool receffes, where with Captain Parker and the officers I have been many times [ 94 1 times revived after the intenfe heat of the day, taking with us what was iieceffary to quench our thirft. Here we have feafted upon Oifters juft taken out of the fea; — the atten tion of our failors, and their care in opening and placing them round their hats, in lieu of plates, by no means diminiffiing the fatisfaCtion we had in eating them. Indeed, the Oifters here are both good and plentiful : I have pnnchafed a large thre^-quart bowl of .them^ for a pound and a half of tobacco, befides having them opened for me into the bargain. CHAP. I 95 ] CHAP. VIII. Defcription of tbe inhabitants of Nev9 South Wales— -their huts — their ex- traordinary bonejiy — account of Banalong — an infiance of hisfenfi^ bility. — obfervations on the Slave Trade. 1 HE Inhabitants of New South Wales, both male and female, go with out apparel.- Their colour is of a dingy copper; their nofe is broad and flat, their lips wide and thick, and their eyes circular. From a difagree able practice they have of rubbing themfelves with fiffi-oil, they fmell fo loath- [ 56 ] loathfome, that it is almoft impoffiblc to ajiproach them without difguft. The men in general appeared to be from five feet fix to five feet nine inches high, are rather flender, but ftraight and well made : they have buffiy beards, and the hair on their heads is ftuck full with the teeth of fiffi, and bits of ffiells : they alfo or nament themfelves with a fiffi-bone faftened in the griftle of the nofe, which makes them appear really frightful ; and are generally armed with a ftick about a yard long, and a lance which they throw with confider able velocity. The ftature of the women is fome what lefs; than that of the men — their j nofes t 97 i riofes are broad, their mouths wiile, and their lips thick. They are ex tremely negligent of their perfons, and are filthy to a degree fcarcely credible : their faces and bodies are befmeared with the fat of animals, and the falutary cuftom of wafliing feenis entirely unknown to them.. Their huts or habitations are con- ftruCled in the moll: rude and barba rous manner : they confift of pieces of bark laid together fomewhat in the form of an oven, with a fmall en trance at one end. Their fole re fidence, however, is not in thefe huts ; on the contrary, they depend lefs on them for ffielter than on the numerous excavations Which are formed in the rocks by the waffiing H of [ 98 ] of the fea ; and it is no uncommon thing to fee fifty or fixty of them comfortably lodged in one of thefe caves. Notwithftanding the general ap pearance of the natives, I never felt the leaft fear when in their company, being always with a party more than fufficient for my proteftion. I have been feated in the woods with twelve or fourteen of them, men, women, and children. Had I objected, or ffiewn any difguft at their appearance, it would have given them fome rea fon to fuppofe that I was not what they term their damely, or friend ; and would have rendered my being in their company riot only unpleafant, but unfafe. Before t ^9 ] Before i conclude my defcri^tibri tof the natives, it is but juftice tO re mark, that, in comparifon with the inhabitants of moft of the South-Sea Mands, they appear very little given to thieving ; and their confidence irt the honefty of one another is fo great^ that they will leave their fpears arid Other implements on the fea-ffiorej in full and perfeCt fecurity of their remaining untouched; From the treatment which I in* variably experienced, I am inclined to think favourably of them ; And fully believe that they would never injure our people j were they not firft of fended by themi Hz i cari^ [ IPO ] I cannot help obferving that one of the men had a moft engaging deport ment ; his countenance was pleafing, and his manners far beyond what I could poffibly have expeCted. He was pleafed to feat himfelf by me, changed names with Captain Parker, and took particular notice of the travelling knife and fork with which I was eating, and which I did myfelf the fatisfaCtion to give him : he paid us a vifit on-board the enfuing day,' and fhewed me that he had not loft my preferit, but made ufe of it, though fomewhat aukwardly, whilft he deraoliffied two or three pounds of the ffiip's pork. The [ '^^ I The natives very frequently fur rounded our veffel with their canoes. The women often held up their little ones, as if anxious to have them no ticed by us. Sjometimes, for the fake of amufement, I have thrown them ribbands and other trifles, which they would as frequently tye round their toes as any other part of their perfon. Since my return to England, Bana long, one of the natives brought hither by Governor Phillip, came to fee me. To defcribe the pleafure that overfpread this poor fellow's counte nance when my little girl prefented to him the picture of her dear father, is impoffible ; it was then that the Hv3 tear [ I02 1 tear of fenfibility trickled down his cheeks; he immediately recognized thofe features which will never be obliterated frora my memory, and fpoke, with all the energy of Nature, of the pleafing excurfion which they had made together up the country. The above is one amongft many in- ftances which I could relate of the natural goodnefs of their hearts ; and I flatter myfelf that the time is hafteh-i ing when they will no longer be con-. fidered as mere favages; — and where-i fore ffiould they ? ' " Fleecy locks, and black complexion;, " Cannot forfeit Natufe'§ claim ; f Skins may differ, but affedion " Dvs'ells in white and black the fame." ^ ijs CHAPt [ 1^3 ] CHAP. IX. Preparations for our departure — repair on-board— fet fail — difcover Lord Howe's Ifland — Mount Lidgbird — Mount Gower — Three Kings Head Ifland — New Zealand—Cape Maria, I. N the courfe of this month (Octo ber), the Britannia tranfport anchored at this place, as did alfo the Admiral Barrington, The arrival of the latter afforded us the jpleafure of feeing Mrs. Patterfon again, whofe company added much to the happinefs of our little parties. The 25th was quite a bufy day with us, it being the com memoration of His Majefty's acceffion to the throne : after amufing our- H 4 felves [ 1^4 ll felves in the morning with looking at fome ffiips which were bufily em ployed in going diit of the cove on a iifliing expedition, and the full 4^efs of our bark in cpmpliment to the day, we repaired to the Governor's, >vhofe unremitting attention to his guefts rendered the day very agree- able, could we but have forgotten that it v\ as the eve of our feparation frp.ni Captain King and his Lady, whofe affability had fo ranch contri buted to the pleafantry of our voyage thus far ; and who, with Captain and Mrs. Patterfon and feveral other military officers deftined for Norfolk Ifland, fet fail the next day, accom panied to the end of the coVe by the Governor, Judge Advocate, Gaptair^ Parker, and many others, who were anxious [ loS ] anxious to be in their company as long as poffible. ! , , From the firft of our arrival at port Jackfon, no time had been loft in preparing for our return to Eng land. The embarkation of the ma rines, with their wives twenty five in number? andtheirchildren forty-feven, the caulking of the veffel, the clergy man of the New Corps coming on board to read divine fervice for the laft time, in ffiort every thing began to remind irve of our departure. The ffiip, when ready for fea, was very differently ftored to what it was when we left the Cape of Good Hope in July. In lieu of Uve ftock and all kind of neceffary provifions, our bark [ lo6 ] bark was now crowded with Kanga roos, Oppofums, and every curiofity which that country produced. The quarter-deck was occupied with ffirubs and plants, whilft the cabin was hung around with ikins of animals. We had alfo procured a variety of birds. I was fo fortunate as ^o bring to Eng land a bronzed wing, and two pair of Norfolk Ifland pigeons ; they are now alive and well, and are, I believe the only birds of the kind ever brought to this country. Thc uniform attention which the Governor paid us during our ffiort ftay at the colony will always be remembered with fingular fatisfaC tion : — he may be juftly called, like |:he Monarch of Great Britain, " The 4 ' f* Father [ ^07 ] " Father of his People-,'* zrvdi the Con vict, who has forfaken the crimes that fent him to this country, looks up to him with reverence, and enjoys the reward of his induftry in peace and thankfulnefs : — indeed, the kind nefs which we experienced from all around was fuch, that to have left the colony without a confiderable degree of regret at parting from them would have ffiewn much ingratitude. On the 17th of December, after fupping at the Governor's, we repaired on-board, where every one was bufily engaged in lafliing and fecuring fuch things as were intended to be convey ed to England : it was my occupation to look after the birds, and to place them in the fafeft and moft convenient planner I poffibly could. jSth. Anchpy iSth. Anchor being weighed, we fet fail at 7 o'clock P. M. 19th. Freffi breezes, and rather lijually. 20th. We found ourfelves at the North Head of Port Jackfon, with freffi breezes. At midnight hard fgualls from all parts of the compafs. sift. At 4 A.M. heavy rain with lightning ; at 6, violent fqualls of wind, with a deluge of rain, fcvere thunder and lightning, the wind fly ing around the compafs, and the ffiip labouring very much. At 10, we brought-to, the unfettled weather not .permitting us to fail, except on the C ^°9 J the Southerly tack.' At 8 P. M. the fea ftruck the veffel on the ftarboard quarter, which occafioned the plants on the deck to give way, the noife of which founded fo difmal in the cabbin, that I, who was at that time much oppreffed with the fea-ficknefs, ima gined that the fate of our bark was faft approaching. 2 2d, Still fqually and much rain. a3d. The dead-lights in; every thing very wet from the quantity of rain which had fallen, and myfelf very fick. 24th. The weather moderate throughout the 24 hours, — On this day the ffiip's company were put to the [ "0 1 the allowance of five pints of Water per day, as a neceffary precaution againft future accidents. 25th. Moderate and cloudy, with lightning to the Southward, On looking out for land, we faw Lord Howe's Ifland, a fmall fpot difcovered by Captain Wallis, and called, by the inhabitants of the Society Ifland, Mo- phea; it fies in South latitude 1 6° 46% and Weft longitude 154° 8''. At 5, P.M. we faw Momit. Lidgbird S, E. by E. The Cutters were fent on ffiore to feek for turtle ; Lieutenant Ball having met with plenty when he firfl difcovered this Ifland, 26th. We tacked the ffiip to the Northward of Lord Howe's Ifland. The [ in ] The Cutters returned without meet ing with any fuccefs. There are goats, and a great number of brown birds about the fize of our crows : the noife made by this bird is loud and un pleafant, and when dreffed the flavour is ftrong and difagreeable. 27th, At 4 A. Ms we faw Mount Gower, diftance about 8 or 9 leagues N. N. E. from Ball's Pyramid. At 6 A. M. we difcovered Ring's Point. At noon we met with freffi breezes and fqually weather, which, continued with little variation to the end of the month. On the I ft day of January, 1792, about midnight, a large Meteor was feen in the South- Weft quarter, which took [ '" 3 took its / courfe towards the North- Weft, Until the 5th inftant, we had moderate weather, Which afforded me the fatisfaCtion of partaking in the chearful parties of thofe who were within our wooden walls. Upon looking out for land, we difcovered the Three Kings Head Ifland off the North end of New Zealand. At 4 we faw the Coaft of New Zealand* At half paft 4, faw Cape Maria, at which time Van Dieman's land bore S, by W. and the North Cape S. E. by I • E. diftant 7 or 8 leagues. It is re markable that the land from Cape Maria to the North Cape appears to be defolate, barren, and rocky, with out the leaft verdure or tree, except ing on the fummit of a hill over Sandy Bay^ where there appear ^i?^ ox fix. ^6 CHAP. [ 113 ] CHAP, X. Tbe voyage continued — difcover a num ber of Ice-iflands — defcription of them — -fingular Jlory of a Shark — with an anecdote relative thereto. \ Shall not here trouble my readers with the regular dates and little varia tions cuftomary in thefe diftant lati tudes ; but fimply notice the weather, which was moftly freffi breezes, hazy, and fqually — fplitting of. fails, paf fing rock-weed, fea-weed, and fuch like occurrences, met Nvith by voyagers in G;eneral. On the i^4th we faw feveral whales, much rock-weed, and birds of diffe rent forts. I 1 6th. [ ^14 1 1 6th, Cloudy, with a heavy fwell -from N.E. Saw a number of filver birds, ] 7th. Obferved a curious porpoife, with a white bill and under-jaw, alfo a number of brown-winged birds around the ffiip, i8th. Freffi gales and fqually; paffed a number of porpoifes, 1 9th. At 4 P. M. the wind ffiifted fuddenly with a heavy fquall from N. N. E, to W.S.W. and continued fo the remainder of the night. 2 0th. The fame uncomfortable weather, with a long Wefterly fwell. Saw feveral whales. This weather continued [ IIJ ] continued with little variation during the remainder of the month. The beginning of February, we had frequent fqualls and heavy feas, with r.iin, hail, and fleet. On the 7 th, we difcovered Terra del Fuego, and Tork Minfier, bearing N. E. by N. diftant about 7 or 8. leagues. 8th. Freffi breezes and hazy; York Minfter bore N. N, W. ^ W. 8 or 9 leagues. — In the afternoon of the fame day, the central Ifle of // de Fonzo bore N. N. W. | W, 8 or 9 leagues. At 4, land was feen at the raaft-head, fuppofed to be the Ifland Diego. The extreme land to the N. W, \ W. was fuppofed to be Cape I a Horn^ [ ,i6 } Horn, and that to the Eaft ward Barn well Iflands. At \ paft 5, the land fuppofed Cape Horn bore W. N. W. 6 Or 7 leagues. The 1 2th was thick and, foggj5,_ with rain and. freffi breezes. We faw albertroffes, penguins, and apparently fome land-birds fuppofed to come from Saint George's or Falkland Iflands. 14th'. We had almoft a calm, faw fonle land-birds, and caught one which was rather larger than a full-fized pigeon. Paffed ^Villis's Ifland, South Georgia,' Eaft 1 35 leagues. ^ 1 6th. DifcQvered periguins and vari ous other birds. The. fea ran very high, and a hard gale ftruck the fliip violently.. 17th. The [ "7 ] 1 7th. The fame bluftering weather, with increafing gales. Saw feveral feals, penguins, and porpoifes, whales and fea-weed. The enfuing morning, at 4 o'clock, feveral Ice-iflands appeared in fight. By the advice of Captain Parker I arofe to partake of this uncommonj(^^^^^/