ve years, or more; that they shall be free of all taxes for the first ten
years; but after that period to pay an annual quit-rent of one shilling.
The penalty on non-performance of any of these articles is forfeiture of
the estate, and all the labour which may have been bestowed upon it.
These people are to receive provisions, (the same quantity as the working
convicts), clothes, and medicinal assistance, for eighteen months from the
day on which they settled.

To clear and cultivate the land, a hatchet, a tomahawk, two hoes, a spade
and a shovel, are given to each person, whether man or woman; and a certain
number of cross-cut saws among the whole. To stock their farms, two sow
pigs were promised to each settler, but they almost all say they have not
yet received any, of which they complain loudly. They all received grain
to sow and plant for the first year. They settled here in July and August
last. Most of them were obliged to build their own houses; and wretched
hovels three-fourths of them are. Should any of them fall sick, the rest
are bound to assist the sick person two days in a month, provided the
sickness lasts not longer than two months; four days labour in each year,
from every person, being all that he is entitled to. To give protection to
this settlement, a corporal and two soldiers are encamped in the centre of
the farms, as the natives once attacked the settlers and burnt one of their
houses. These guards are, however, inevitably at such a distance from
some of the farms as to be unable to afford them any assistance in case of
another attack.

With all these people I conversed and inspected their labours. Some I found
tranquil and determined to persevere, provided encouragement should be
given. Others were in a state of despondency, and predicted that they
should starve unless the period of eighteen months during which they are to
be clothed and fed, should be extended to three years. Their cultivation is
yet in its infancy, and therefore opinions should not be hastily formed
of what it may arrive at, with moderate skill and industry. They have
at present little in the ground besides maize, and that looks not very
promising. Some small patches of wheat which I saw are miserable indeed.
The greatest part of the land I think but indifferent, being light and
stoney. Of the thirteen farms ten are unprovided with water; and at some of
them they are obliged to fetch this necessary article from the distance
of