same manner, until
the whole became an impervious forest.

As I had only twelve men, (one of whom was seventy-two years
old, and another a boy of fifteen,) exclusive of the mate and
surgeon, my progress for some time must of course be very slow.
On the 8th we had strong gales of wind and cloudy weather: at
nine in the morning, we hoisted the colours in a west, as a
signal that the Supply's boat might land; and at eleven, we
received the last of our baggage, provisions, and stores, and
hauled the boat up. In the afternoon, Lieutenant Ball came on
shore to ask if I had any farther occasion for the Supply, and,
as I had not any, he took leave and returned on board; and in the
afternoon sailed for Port Jackson. I sent by him a journal of my
proceedings to Governor Phillip.

The 9th, being Sunday, every person in the settlement
assembled in my tent, where I performed divine service; after
which my commission from the Governor, to whom we were
subordinate, was read, appointing me superintendant and
commandant of this island: I then assured every person, that my
intention was to forward the King's service to the utmost of my
power; and (addressing myself to the convicts) I endeavoured to
convince them, that those who were idle or dishonest should not
escape that punishment, which is due to useless and destructive
members of society: I also informed them what ration of
provisions would be allowed daily, and I held out every
encouragement for them to behave with propriety and industry.

In the afternoon I saw some turtle lying on a sandy beach at
the east end of the bay; two of which we turned and brought to
the tents for general use; they were issued out in lieu of salt
provisions. Finding we had turtle on the island, I gave strict
orders that no person whatever should go near the beach where
they were seen, in order to prevent them from being frightened,
which might occasion the loss of this valuable resource: the two
turtle we had caught weighed two hundred weight each. From this
time until the 15th, every person was employed in clearing away,
and turning up the garden ground, which, when finished, was
enclosed by a hedge, and sown with a small quantity of all the
different kinds of seeds I was furnished with. The size of the
enclosure was eighty-seven feet square: the soil very rich and
deep.

This afternoon I turned three more turtles, which were brought
to the settlement. We generally saw three lying on the beach a