LOCKYER TO MACLEAY. 471 Sunday, 14th.—At eleven o'clock ordered the Prisoners to be assem- 1827. bled for muster and inspection in general; found them very decent 22 Jan- and clean; ordered the Indulgence of Tea, Sugar and Tobacco to be Journai 0f disallowed to John Ryan, one of the sawyers for the next week, E. Lockyer. for gross insolence and general misconduct; the natives have not been Generai seen today; ordered the Prisoners not to go further than half a mile transactions. from the Camp, and on no pretence to go into the plain at the back of the Hill without orders and their names to be called'every four hours on Sunday. Therm, at noon 75. Monday, 15th.—A Party at work in the Garden and others col­ lecting Wood, etc., for additional Huts for the use of the Officers, etc., of the settlement. Yesterday was counted twelve large smokes or fires at the back of the encampment about two miles apart, forming a complete semicircle; what the motive was for it cannot be known, but from so many fires there must be assembled a number of the Natives. The wind has been very unpleasant, blowing hard from the westward, covers everything in the Tent with dust and sand. Therm, at noon 76. Tuesday, 16th.—People employed as yesterday a,t the Garden and collecting Materials for Huts and clearing ground, the stores being- all landed, and having no further cause for detaining the Brig than will be necessary to make the required reports for His Excellency's Proposed sailing information of the Progress made in the settlement, etc., Lieut, of bug Amity. Festing proposes quitting this for Sydney calling at western Port in about a week; it is but Justice to this Officer to say that I am under great obligations for his assistance and that He has exerted himself Testimony to on all occasions to the utmost for the good of the Public Service, services of and which I am confident will be duly appreciated by His Excellency; C' Festlng- on departure of the Brig, I should be considerably at a loss for two experienced Seaman as Boat-Keepers, and who would be able to act as Pilots to bring Vessels into the Harbour from the sound, as well as Necessity for to visit oyster Harbour occasionally, as also to enable us to draw the two experienced seine and to preserve it in good order; on the propriety of the above, s^?f " +s Lieut. Festing also agrees with me, as he has promised and undertaken pi to make them acquainted with the proper Channel to take Vessels in and out. It will be also necessary to have some local regulations regarding Vessels casually visiting this place, which on their arrival should be made known to them. Two Seamen having volunteered to remain for rations and wages Engagement that is given Government Vessels, under these considerations I have of seamerl- consented to their remaining to be employed as above until the approval of His Excellency the Governor shall be made known. It appears that a French Ship of War* has been here in October or No­ vember last and made a survey of the Harbours and Sound and left this to Visit Sydney. Therm, at noon 76. Wednesday, 17th.—Had the two Guns taken from the Beach to the Mounting of point over the Landing place, where they are to be mounted and the guns. Flag Staff put up. From the lawless manner in which these Sealers are ranging about Necessity for requires some immediate measures to control them as, from what we control of know as also from what I have learnt from themselves, they are a sea ers' complete set of Pirates going from Island to Island along the southern coast from Rottenest Island to Bass's Strait in open Whale Boats, having their Chief resort or Den at Kangaroo Island, making occa­ sional descents on the main Land and carry off by force native women, and when resisted make use of the Fire arms with which they * Note 1C2. 472 HISTORICAL RECORDS OF AUSTRALIA. 1827. are provided; amongst themselves they rob each other, the weak being 2£Jan. obliged to give way to the stronger; at Kangaroo Island a great scene Journal of of villainy is going on, where to use their own words there are a great E. Lockyer. many graves, a number of desperate Characters, runaway Prisoners Necessity for from Sydney and Van Diemen's Land. control of A Government Vessel or small man of War to be kept for the purpose sealers. of Cruising on this would cheek a great deal of the Lawless pro­ ceedings now going on, as also restrictions should be made respecting the seal Fishery, which from their destroying the Cubs as well as old ones will cause them to become scarce. I should think it would prove both Beneficial to Government and to the Merchants and speculators If these Islands were farmed Out to those who offer a reasonable rent for them, for a certain extent of coast subject to such Regulations as Government exact. Immense quantities of salt can be collected on this Coast at Middle Island particularly, as also in these Harbours; a quantitv of good fish taken. Therm. 76. Thursday, 18th.—Several natives visited the settlement today that I have every reason to hope that they are getting reconciled. Settled Date for sailing with Lieut. Festing that the Brig shall leave this on Tuesday next, as of bng Amity, jjjg p,oat, that was expected is not arrived that the persons expected by her said to be concerned in the murder of the native. I have requested that Lieut. Festing will, if it does not take him out of his way and cause him too great a delay, to call at the Islands to the Eastward, and if possible secure the persons named in the Information and take them to Sydney. Therm, at noon 74. General Friday, 19th.—About a Dozen of the natives came into the settlement transactions. this morning, and after satisfying their curiosity went away pleased with the presents made to them. Therm, at noon 76. Saturday, 20th.—Employed the prisoners as before in Collecting materials and Gardening. We have in and coming through the Ground a Quarter of an Acre of Potatoes, Turnips, Cabbages, peas and Beans sown. The natives have again visited us with several strange faces, the Sydney Native pidgeon extremely useful in communicating with them, though he cannot understand a word of their Language. Sunday, 21st.—This day at sunrise the colors were displayed on the Royal salute Flagstaff; at twelve o'clock a Royal salute was firedfro m the Battery fired and colors aild a Feu de Joie by the Troops, and an extra allowance of Flour with displayed. Raisins and suet was ordered on the occasion to be issued to the Troops and Convicts; a number of the natives having come to the settlement in the morning the seine was Hauled on purpose to give them a feast; about Three hundred weight was taken of Capital Fish. The day proved fine and the whole went off well. As the Amity is to sail on Tuesday, I have ordered that the little Girl Fanny, who was taken off the main Land to the Eastward of this and having no means of restoring her to the tribe to which she belongs, to be taken to Sydney for the disposal of His Excellency; not Inability to having been able to visit the Interior for the present, I cannot of report on course give any opinion as to how far this part of the Country will country. guit the yiews of Settlers, though I have little doubt that there is good soil perfectly fit for cultivation, as I am informed by the sealers, some Statements of them having been a considerable way up the Swan River, which is by sealers. about 180 miles to the W.N. West of this, that there is plenty of fine Cedar on its Banks and plenty of fine pine of very large size. I propose leaving this on an Expedition in about a week or ten days. LOCKYER TO MACLEAY. 473 [Sub-enclosure A.] AL8?7, ii J (111 • INFORMATION of William Hook, Native of New Zealand, Mariner and ~ late belonging to the Schooner Brisbane of Hobart Town, touching w.°HookVe the murder of a Male Native on Green Island, Oyster Harbour, outrages by King George's Sound, and forcibly taking away and carrying off sealers on two Female Natives, and also forcibly taking away from the Main natives- Land at Oyster Harbour four Male Natives, and landing them on Michaelmas Island in King George's Sound, and there leaving them to perish, of the truth of which he, William Hook, volun­ tarily maketh Oath before Edmund Lockyer, Esquire, Major if His Majesty's 57 Regt. of Infantry, and Justice of the Peace of His Majesty's Territory in New South Wales and Commandant of the Settlement at King George's Sound, this Twelfth day of January, One thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty Seven. THAT he, William Hook, being with the following persons at Oyster Harbour that composed the Crew of a Boat employed Sealing, John Randall Steersman, James Kirby, George Magennis and Samuel Bailey, with another Boat belonging to a Mr. Robinson of Hobart 'Town, and of which one Everitt was Steersman, the names of the Crew he does not recollect, whilst there, had frequently been visited by the Natives, who were friendly, accompanying the Sealers fishing in their Boats, though the Native Women were never seen or came to the place where the Sealers hutted.