"No;this day's muster gave only 460.The rest are either sick and removed to the hospital,or are run away in the woods."
"How much is each labourer's daily task?"
"Seven rods.It was eight,but on their representing to the governor that it was beyond their strength to execute,he took off one."
Thirteen large huts,similar to those beforementioned,contain all the people here.To every hut are appointed two men,as hutkeepers,whose only employment is to watch the huts in working hours to prevent them from being robbed.This has somewhat checked depredations,and those endless complaints of the convicts that they could not work because they had nothing to eat,their allowance being stolen.The working hours at this season (summer)are from five o'clock in the morning until ten;rest from ten to two;
return to work at two;and continue till sunset.This surely cannot be called very severe toil;but on the other hand must be remembered the inadequacy of a ration of salt provisions,with few vegetables,and unassisted by any liquor but water.
Here finished my remarks on every thing of a public nature at Rose Hill.
But having sufficient time,I determined to visit all the private settlers to inspect their labours,and learn from them their schemes,their hopes and expectations.
In pursuance of my resolution,I crossed the country to Prospect Hill,at the bottom of which live the following thirteen convicts,who have accepted allotments of ground,and are become settlers.
Men's names.|Trades.|Number of |Number of acres ||acres in each |in cultivation.
allotment.
John Silverthorne Weaver 4013/4
Thomas Martin "4011/2
John Nichols Gardener 402
William Butler,and his wife Seaman 50)--Lisk Watchmaker 40)4
William Parish,wife,and a child Seaman 6023/4
William Kilby,and his wife Husbandman 6011/4
Edward Pugh,wife,and two children Carpenter 7021/2
Samuel Griffith John Herbertt
James Castle Joseph Marlow
John Williams,and his wife
[In partnership.[Butler and Lisk]
[Not out of his time;but allowed to work here at his leisure hours,as he has declared his intention of settling.]
[In a similar predicament with Herbert.]
The terms on which these allotments have been granted are:
that the estates shall be fully ceded for ever to all who shall continue to cultivate for five 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 a mile and a half.All the settlers complain sadly of being frequently robbed by the runaway convicts,who plunder them incessantly.
December 6th.Visited the settlements to the northward of the rivulet.
The nearest of them lies about a mile due north of Mr.Clarke's house.
Here are only the undernamed five settlers.
Men's names.|Trades.|Number of |Number of acres ||acres in each |in cultivation.
Allotment.
Thomas Brown,wife,and child ---60)
William Bradbury ---30)31/2
William Mold ---30)
Simon Burne,and wife Hosier 503
--Parr,and wife Merchant's clerk 5031/2
[These three cultivate in partnership.(Brown,Bradbury,Mold.)]
These settlers are placed on the same footing in every respect which concerns their tenure and the assistance to be granted to them as those at Prospect Hill.Near them is water.Parr and Burne are men of great industry.They have both good houses which they hired people to build for them.Parr told me that he had expended thirteen guineas on his land,which nevertheless he does not seem pleased with.
Of the three poor fellows who work in partnership,one (Bradbury)is run away.
