CATTLE LOST AND SHEEP DEAD. 343 I am sorry to have been so long without knowing more of these 1788 people, but I am unwUling to use any force, and hope this summer 28 Sept to persuade a family to live with us, unless they attempt to burn our crops, of which I am apprehensive, for they certainly are not pleased with our remaining amongst them, as they see we deprive Domestic them of fish, which is almost their only support ; but if they set wUhnaUvcs. fire to the com, necessity will oblige me to drive them to greater distance, though I can assure your lordship that I shall never do it but with the greatest reluctance and from absolute necessity. As there are paths which are much frequented between this har- Native hour and Broken Bay, I apprehend they frequently change their ^***** situation, but have no reason to suppose they go to the northward in the winter and return in the summer. The kangaroo is the only animal of any size that we have yet seen, and they are frequently killed. They are of two sorts, one Kangaroos, seldom weighing more than sixty pounds ; these live chiefly on the high grounds. The hair is of a reddish cast, and the head shorter than the large sort, some of which have been killed that weighed one hundred and fifty pounds. Both are of the opossum kind, and the young ones, several of which have been taken, grow very tame in a few days, but none have ever lived more than two or three weeks. I have now given up all hopes of recovering the two bulls and four cows that were lost ; and one sheep only remains of upwards cattie lost, of seventy which I had purchased at the Cape on my own account JSisonoJby and on Government's account It is the rank grass under the trees which has destroyed them, for those who have only had one or two sheep, which have fed about their tents, have preserved them. Hogs and poultry thrive and increase fast. Black cattle will thrive full as well : and as we shall be able in future to guard against their straying, your lordship will please to determine whether it would not be necessary i;o order any ship that was coming to the settlement with provisions, to purchase at the Cape p^sh stock. as many cows as could be conveniently received on board, with a couple of young bulls. But the ship for that purpose should be able to stow them between decks : and T beg leave to observe that a forty or fifty gun ship that brought out provisions and stores, leaving her guns out, would answer the purpose better than any Digitized by Google
