The governor told her that he saw through the whole business, and desired that she would no longer be uneasy about the impression which the first account had made upon him.  With this condescension she appeared to be highly gratified; for she had been under much distress and vexation before she met with this accidental opportunity of showing him from whence this mischievous story had originated.

The timber for the new wind-mill was brought in during this month; and the floor of the government house having given way, the carpenters were employed to repair it.

Arrivals from England were now hourly expected, as strong gales had blown for some time from the southward.

CHAPTER XI

Some Irishmen providentially saved from perishing
The Nautilus arrives from Otaheite
Missionaries
Order respecting the sawyers
The Barwell arrives with convicts
A judge-advocate sent out
Information
The Reliance and Schooner sail for Norfolk Island
Information sent thither
Natives
Works and weather in May
June
Ground fixed on for the missionaries
The Hunter arrives from Bengal
Regulations
The commander of the Sydney Cove dies
A decked boat arrives from Norfolk Island
Maize harvest completed
Weather

May.] In the afternoon of the 2nd of this month, certain Irishmen, who had been for some time employed in searching for a road to China (that delirium still remaining unsubdued among them), were brought in by one of the settlers upon George’s river.  They had been wandering through the woods, until they were near perishing for want of food, and were discovered in a most unlooked-for manner.  Some people in going from Botany Bay up George’s river had lost their way, the weather being exceedingly hazy, by following a branch of that river which had never been looked into.  By this mistake, they fell in with these people, whose ignorance of the country had led them down upon a point of land which was placed between two waters, where they had been for nine days, unable to find their way back, and must soon have perished, had it not been for the accidental mistake of the people in the boat.  The account which they gave of their travels and distresses was not worth giving a place to here, being nothing more than what might be conjectured.

It was hoped, however, that their appearance, for they were weak and languid when brought in, together with their story, would teach their countrymen a little more wisdom.

While such vagabonds as these were roaming about the country, the safety of the stock was much endangered.  A fine bull calf belonging to an officer was about this time taken from the herd; and, though considerable rewards were offered for the discovery of the offender, nothing transpired that could lead to it.  This was a serious evil; for the care and attention of years might in one night’s time be destroyed, by the villainy of a few of these lawless people.  It was, however, visible that the improvement which had taken place in the civil police within the last two years had considerably checked the commission of robberies of every kind.