William Bryant, who had been continued in the direction of the fishing-boat after the discovery of his malpractices, was, at the latter end of the month, overheard consulting in his hut after dark, with five other convicts, on the practicability of carrying off the boat in which he was employed.  This circumstance being reported to the governor, it was determined that all his proceedings should be narrowly watched, and any scheme of that nature counteracted.  The day following this conference, however, as he was returning from fishing with a boat-load of fish, the hook of the fore tack giving way in a squall of wind, the boat got stern-way, and filled, by which the execution of his project was for the present prevented.  In the boat with Bryant was Bennillong’s sister and three children, who all got safe on shore, the woman swimming to the nearest point with the youngest child upon her shoulders.  Several of the natives, on perceiving the accident, paddled off in their canoes, and were of great service in saving the oars, mast, etc. and in towing the boat up to the cove.

In addition to other works in hand this month, the surveyor was employed in clearing and deepening the run of water which supplied the settlement at Sydney, and which, through the long drought, was at this time very low, although still sufficient for the consumption of the place.  Fresh water was indeed every where very scarce, most of the streams or runs of water about the cove being dried up.

At Rose Hill the heat on the 10th and 11th of the month, on which days at Sydney the thermometer stood in the shade at 105 degrees, was so excessive (being much increased by the fire in the adjoining woods) that immense numbers of the large fox bat were seen hanging at the boughs of the trees, and dropping into the water, which, by their stench, was rendered unwholesome.  They had been observed for some days before regularly taking their flight in the morning from the northward to the southward, and returning in the evening.  During the excessive heat many dropped dead while on the wing; and it was remarkable, that those which were picked up were chiefly males.  In several parts of the harbour the ground was covered with different sorts of small birds, some dead, and others gasping for water.

The relief of the detachment at Rose Hill unfortunately took place on one of these sultry days, and the officer having occasion to land in search of water was compelled to walk several miles before any could be found, the runs which were known being all dry; in his way to and from the boat he found several birds dropping dead at his feet.  The wind was about north-west, and did much injury to the gardens, burning up every thing before it.  Those persons whose business compelled them to go into the heated air declared, that it was impossible to turn the face for five minutes to the quarter from whence the wind blew.

                                            8 a.m. 2 p.m, 10 p.m. 
The greatest height of the thermometer
   during this month was, 90 105 84
The least height of the thermometer
   during this month was, 62 641/2 61