ome stones which were washed into it. The wheat which
was sown the latter end of August, was reaped on the 29th, and
the Indian corn was nearly fit for the sickle.

I now began to perceive a very great difference between the
work done since the arrival of the convicts by the Golden-Grove,
and what was done before, in proportion to our numbers; the
reason was, that when the number of convicts was increased, I had
not persons sufficient to overlook them and keep them at work: I
therefore adopted the plan of talking them; for which purpose I
consulted those whom I thought conversant in the different
employments that were carrying on; and their opinions, added to
what I had observed myself, determined me to six the different
tasks as follow, with which they were all contented. Six men were
to cut the timber down on an acre of ground in one week: six men
to clear away and turn up an acre of ground fit for receiving
seed, in twenty-eight days: two sawyers to saw one hundred feet
of sawing each day. At these tasks the convicts would have an
opportunity of saving time to themselves; and, as that time was
to be employed in clearing gardens and ground to cultivate for
their own use, what was thus saved from the public work would not
be lost to society; although it was to be feared that some would
pass their time in idleness.

Having six musquets on the island, exclusive of the marines
arms, I thought it necessary to instruct the few free persons I
had (which were six) in the use of fire-arms, in case the marines
should be sick, or any other exigency should happen; I therefore
gave orders to Mr. Dunavan to exercise them every Saturday
morning; and the serjeant was to exercise the marines at the same
time, or oftener: I intended that the former, after they were a
little expert, should fire half a dozen rounds once a month.

I went in the boat on the 5th, and examined the north and west
side of the island, which I found every where surrounded by
perpendicular cliffs. I landed on the beach in Anson's-Bay, where
I found the remains of a canoe, which had been washed there by
the tide; a very good cocoa-nut was also found. This beach is
very small, and appeared to be a mere quicksand; there is no
fresh water near it, and the bay is surrounded by steep hills, on
which there grows a quantity of the flax-plant.

The 8th ushered a male child into the world, and as he was the
first born on the island, he was baptized by the name of Nor