第13章

III.Each of these districts or divisions is to be under the particular inspection of one person,who may be judged qualified to inform himself of the actual residence of each individual in his district;as well as of his business,connections,and acquaintances.

IV.Cognizance is to be taken of such convicts as may sell or barter their slops or provisions;and also of such as are addicted to gaming for either of the aforesaid articles,who are to be reported to the judge advocate.

V.Any soldier or seaman found straggling after the beating of the tattoo;

or who may be found in a convict's hut,is to be detained;and information of him immediately given to the nearest guard.

VI.Any person who may be robbed during the night,is to give immediate information thereof to the watch of his district,who,on the instant of application being made,shall use the most effectual means to trace out the offender,or offenders,so that he,she,or they,may be brought to justice.

VII.The watch of each district is to be under the direction of one person,who will be named for that purpose.All the patrols are placed under the immediate inspection of Herbert Keeling.They are never to receive any fee,gratuity,or reward,from any individual whatever,to engage their exertions in the execution of the above trust.Nor will they receive any stipulated encouragement for the conviction of any offender.

But their diligence and good behaviour will be rewarded by the governor.

And for this purpose their conduct will be strictly attended to,by those who are placed in authority over them.

VIII.The night-watch is to go out as soon as the tattoo ceases beating:

to return to their huts when the working drum beats in the morning:

and are to make their report to the judge advocate,through Herbert Keeling,of all robberies and misdemeanors which may have been committed.

Any assistance the patrols may require,will be given to them,on applying to the officer commanding the nearest guard;and by the civil power,if necessary;for which last,application is to be made to the provost martial.

IX.Any negligence on the part of those who shall be employed on this duty,will be punished with the utmost rigour of the law.

X.The night-watch is to consist of 12persons.

Every political code,either from a defect of its constitution,or from the corruptness of those who are entrusted to execute it,will be found less perfect in practice than speculation had promised itself.It were,however,prejudice to deny,that for some time following the institution of this patrol,nightly depredations became less frequent and alarming:

the petty villains,at least,were restrained by it.And to keep even a garden unravaged was now become a subject of the deepest concern.

For in October our weekly allowance of provisions,which had hitherto been eight pounds of flour,five pounds of salt pork,three pints of pease,six ounces of butter,was reduced to five pounds five ounces of flour,three pounds five ounces of pork,and two pints of pease.

In order to lessen the consumption from the public stores,the 'Supply'was ordered to touch at Lord Howe Island,in her way from Norfolk Island,to try if turtle could be procured,for the purpose of being publicly served in lieu of salt provisions.But she brought back only three turtles,which were distributed in the garrison.

December,1789.At the request of his excellency,lieutenant Dawes of the marines,accompanied by lieutenant Johnston and Mr.Lowes,about this time undertook the attempt to cross the Nepean river,and to penetrate to Carmarthen mountains.Having discovered a ford in the river,they passed it,and proceeded in a westerly direction.

But they found the country so rugged,and the difficulty of walking so excessive,that in three days they were able to penetrate only fifteen miles,and were therefore obliged to relinquish their object.

This party,at the time they turned back,were farther inland than any other persons ever were before or since,being fifty-four miles in a direct line from the sea coast when on the summit of mount Twiss,a hill so named by them,and which bounded their peregrination.

Intercourse with the natives,for the purpose of knowing whether or not the country possessed any resources,by which life might be prolonged,as well as on other accounts,becoming every day more desirable,the governor resolved to make prisoners of two more of them.