where he spent five weeks in ranging along its west coast, to the extent of 900 miles. The first anchorage he made was in Shark's Bay, so named by him from the abundance of that voracious fish he found there, in latitude 25 degrees south. He describes the country which he visited as being fenced by a chain of sand hills towards the sea, which effectually conceal the interior from the view. The land in general is low and level, partly savannas and partly woodland; the former affords a coarse kind of grass, and the latter groves of trees, not above twelve or fourteen feet in height. There are few land-animals or fowls; but sea-fowls are remarkably numerous. Fish, of various kinds, are very abundant, and the shore is covered with very beautiful shells, differing in colour and shape. He also discovered some green turtle, and whales were observed in great numbers. The few natives who were seen are described as horribly ugly and repulsive; a set of human beings thrust to the extreme verge of misery, and whose only covering consisted of a bit of kangaroo skin thrown carelessly over the shoulders; every other part of the body being entirely naked. Hitherto we had been confined to the western coast of New Holland, and were obliged to Dampier for the principal part of our knowledge of its soil, productions, and inhabitants; for the discoveries of the Dutch were not only suppressed, but even the property seized and the persons imprisoned, of such as ventured to sail in these latitudes, without permission of the Dutch East India Company. To that illustrious navigator, Captain James Cook, we are indebted for the fullest description of New Holland. On the 19th of April, 1770, he fell in with this extensive tract of country in latitude 38 south, and accurately surveyed the coast to 10 deg. 39 min. a course of upwards of 2000 miles. During this run he frequently set up the British flag on the shore, and, with the usual solemnities, took possession of it for his Majesty King George III. under the name of NEW SOUTH WALES. 4 Botany Bay was described by Captain Cook as affording capacious, safe, and convenient anchorage for ships, and was so named from the great variety of plants which were found here by his scientific companions. We shall not, however, repeat his description of this country or the inhabitants, as we are now in possession of more recent and more particular accounts, which will be given in the sequel. The full discovery of the extent of New Holland has formed a singular epoch in geography; a doubt having arisen from it, whether to a land of such magnitude the name of island or that of continent may more properly be applied. To this question it may be answered, that though the etymology of the word island, and of others synonimous to it, points out only a land surrounded by the sea, or by any water, (in which sense the term is applicable even to the largest portions of the habitable globe), yet it is certain that, in the usual acceptation, an island is conceived to signify a land of only moderate extent, surrounded by the sea. To define at what point of magnitude precisely a country so situated shall begin to be a continent, could not answer any purpose of utility; but the best and clearest rule for removing the doubt appears to be the following: As long as the peculiar advantages of an insular situation can be enjoyed by the inhabitants of such a country, let it have the title of an island; when it exceeds those limits, let it be considered as a continent. Now the first and principal advantage of an island is that of being capable of a convenient union under one government, and of deriving thence a security from all external attacks, except by sea. In lands of very great magnitude such a union is difficult, if not impracticable, and a distinction founded on this circumstance is therefore sufficient for convenience at least, if not for speculative accuracy. If we suppose this extent to be something about one thousand miles each way, without, however, affecting much rigour in the limitation, the claim of New Holland to be called a continent will be indisputable: The greatest extent of that vast.country being, from east to west, about two thousand four hundred English miles, and, from north to south, not less than two thousand three hundred. : CHAP. II. Preparation of the Fleet ordered to Botany Bay-Particulars of its LONG experience having approved the practice of employing the services of felons in remote and rising settlements, Government about the end of the year 1786 engaged six transports, and three store ships, to convey the persons designed to form a new settlement at Botany Bay. Stores and provisions necessary for their use and consumption were also provided. Of the latter, sufficient for two years were put on board; and among the former, were tools, implements of agriculture, and such other articles as were considered necessary to a colonial establishment. The government of the colony was intrusted by his His Majesty to Arthur Phillip, Esq. a post-captain in the service, who hoisted his pendant on board the Sirius, a ship which mounted only twenty guns, but which from the strength of her construction (having been built for the East-India Company's service) was judged to be well calculated for such an expedition. Associated with her in the service of the colony, was the Supply brig, the command of which was given to Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball; and it being thought necessary to appoint another captain to the Sirius, who should command her on any service in which she might be employed for the colony, while Captain Phillip should be engaged in his government, an order was signed by His Majesty in council, directing the Admiralty Board to appoint John Hunter, Esq. then a commander in the navy, to be the second captain of the Sirius, with the rank of post. When the fleet was prepared for sailing, the complement of convicts and marines on board the transports was thus arranged. The Friendship carried a captain and forty-four marines, subalterns and privates, with seventy-seven male and twenty female convicts. The Charlotte, a captain and fortythree men, with eighty-eight male and twenty female convicts. In the Alexander were two lieutenants and thirty-five marines, with two hundred and thirteen convicts, all male. In the Scarborough, a captain and thirty-three marines, with male convicts only, two hundred and eight in number. The Prince of Wales transport had two lieutenants and thirty marines, with one hundred convicts, all female. And the lady Penryn, a captain, two lieutenants, and only three privates, with one hundred and two female convicts. Ten marines, of different denominations, were also sent as supernumeraries on board the Sirius. The whole complement of marines, including one major commandant, 4 captains, 12 lieutenants, 12 serjeants, 12 corporals, 8 drummers, and 160 privates, with an adjutant and quarter-master, amounted to two hundred and twelve; besides which, twenty-eight women, wives of marines, carrying with them seventeen children, were permitted to accompany their husbands. The number of convicts was seven hundred and seventy-eight, of whom five hundred and fifty-eight were men. On Sunday the 13th of May, 1787, the ships, which had previously collected at the Mother Bank, sailed with a leading wind through the Needle Passage, accompanied by the Hon. Captain de Courcy, in the Hyæna frigate. As this ship was to proceed with the fleet only to a certain latitude, she soon quitted it, and this band of adventurers were left to pursue their way to the island of Teneriffe, which port they shortly after reached. The ships were immediately moored, the masters taking the precaution of buoying their cables with empty casks, to prevent their being injured by rocks or foul ground; an inconvenience which had been frequently experienced by navigators in this road. His Excellency the Marquis de Branceforte, the governor of the island, politely offering Captain Phillip whatever assistance he might need, and that was in his power to furnish, the provisioning and watering of the fleet was soon completed, and at the end of a week it again put to sea. Nothing remarkable occurred during their stay here, except the desertion of John Powers, one of the convicts, who was, however, by the activity of the master of the transport in which he had embarked, (a penalty of forty pounds being the forfeiture on his entire escape), and a party of marines, soon recovered, and sent on board his ship, with directions for his being heavily ironed. The passage of the fleet to Rio de Janeiro was performed without any material accident in eight weeks, and had fortunately been unattended with any disease, the surgeon reporting that they had brought in only 95 sick, comprehending every description of persons in the fleet. Many, however, of this number, were bending only under the pressure of age and attendant infirmities, having no other complaints among them. During their stay in this port, which was about a month, the convicts were each served daily with a pound of rice, and a pound and a half of fresh meat (beef), together with a suitable proportion of vegetables. Great numbers of oranges (a fruit with which the place abounded) were at different times distributed amongst them; and every possible care was taken to refresh and put them into a state of health and condition to resist the attacks of the scurvy, should it make its appearance in the long passage over the ocean which was yet between them and New South Wales. The next and last port of refreshment at which the fleet was to stop, was the Cape of Good Hope. Thither it bent its course, on quitting Rio de Janeiro; and in the short space of five weeks and four days, crossed over from one continent to |