Barbers.
3 Gardeners, and others, employed at the hospital.
3 Employed by the governor bringing in of wood, etc.
316
413 Under medical treatment.
---
729

AT ROSE-HILL.

2 Employed at the store.
3 Servants to the three superintendants.
1 Employed in taking care of the stock.
2 Employed at the hospital.
5 Men who work with the axe in building huts.
1 Baker.
1 Cook.
4 Boys variously employed.
1 Assistant to the provost marshal.
3 Thatchers.
1 Servant to the store-keepers.
1 Ditto to the assistant surgeon.
4 Overseers.
25 Sick.
113 Clearing and cultivating the ground.
12 Sawyers.
---
179

Chapter XVIII

TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON

August 1790 to October 1790

-An excursion into the country.--An interview
with the natives.--Governor Phillip wounded with a spear.--A
second interview with the natives.--Occurrences on that
occasion.--Five convicts effect their escape in a boat.--The
settlement visited by the natives.--Their customs.--Arrival of
the Supply from Batavia.-

Towards the latter end of August, 1790, several officers made
an excursion into the country, and going south-south-west
from-Prospect-Hill for twenty miles, they came to a run of water,
which they supposed to be the head of the Nepean river. They
described the country through which they passed to be good land
for ten miles, the rest ordinary ground, intersected by deep
ravines and a large marsh, which they supposed, formed a very
extensive piece of water, after heavy rains.

A number of convicts going out to search for sweet tea, some
of them separated from the rest, and were lost in the woods for
several days, and one of them was never heard of afterwards. It
is hardly possible to conceive the obstinacy and inattention of
many of these people, even in matters which concern only their
own safety.

In the morning of the 7th of September, Governor Phillip went
down the harbour to fix on a spot for raising a brick column,
which might point out the entrance to ships which were
unacquainted with the coast, as the flag-staff could not be seen
by vessels until they drew very near the land, and was also
liable to be blown down.

A rising ground at the distance of a cable's length from the
south head was chosen, and the stone necessary for the base of
the column being already cut, that work was immediately begun,
and the party were returning to Sydney, when the governor was
informed by some officers, who had landed in Manly-Bay, a