in the beginning of this month among the convicts at
Rose Hill. Twenty men and a pregnant woman, part of those who had arrived
in the last fleet, suddenly disappeared with their clothes, working tools,
bedding, and their provisions, for the ensuing week, which had been just
issued to them. The first intelligence heard of them, was from some convict
settlers, who said they had seen them pass, and had enquired whither
they were bound. To which they had received for answer, "to China." The
extravagance and infatuation of such an attempt was explained to them by
the settlers; but neither derision, nor demonstration could avert them from
pursuing their purpose. It was observed by those who brought in the account
that they had general idea enough of the point of the compass in which
China lies from Port Jackson, to keep in a northerly direction.

An officer with a detachment of troops, was sent in pursuit of them; but
after a harassing march returned without success. In the course of a week
the greatest part of them were either brought back by different parties who
had fallen in with them, or were driven in by famine. Upon being questioned
about the cause of their elopement, those whom hunger had forced back,
did not hesitate to confess that they had been so grossly deceived as to
believe that China might easily be reached, being not more than 100 miles
distant, and separated only by a river. The others, however, ashamed of the
merriment excited at their expense, said that their reason for running
away was on account of being overworked and harshly treated, and that they
preferred a solitary and precarious existence in the woods to a return
to the misery they were compelled to undergo. One or two of the party
had certainly perished by the hands of the natives, who had also wounded
several others.

I trust that no man would feel more reluctant than myself to cast an
illiberal national reflection, particularly on a people whom I regard in an
aggregate sense as brethren and fellow-citizens; and among whom, I have the
honour to number many of the most cordial and endearing intimacies which
a life passed on service could generate. But it is certain that all these
people were Irish.

CHAPTER XVI

Transactions of the colony until 18th of December 1791, when I quitted it,
with an Account of its state at that time.

The Gorgon had arrived on the 21st of September, and the hour of departure
to England, for the marine ba