Officers and men belonging to the detachment

Cows 1
Goats 12
Hogs 10
Pigs 17
Rabbits 2
Turkies 6
Geese 9
Ducks 8
Fowls 55
Chickens 25

Staff

Sheep 11
Goats 5
Hogs 7
Pigs 1
Turkies 2
Geese 6
Ducks 6
Fowls 36
Chickens 62

Other individuals

Hogs 1

Totals

Stallions 1
Mares 3
Colts 3
Bulls 2
Cows 5
Sheep 29
Goats 19
Hogs 49
Pigs 25
Rabbits 5
Turkies 18
Geese 29
Ducks 35
Fowls 122
Chickens 87

(Signed,) Andrew Miller, Commissary.

Chapter XII.

May 1788 to June 1788

The Supply returns from Lord Howe Island—­Some convicts assaulted by the natives—­excursion of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay by Land—­interview with many natives—­the fourth of June celebrated—­some account of the climate.

25 May 1788

On the 25th of May, the Supply tender returned from Lord Howe Island, but unfortunately without having been able to procure any turtle.  She had met with squally weather, and had been obliged to cut away her best bower anchor, but suffered no other damage.  The three transports bound for China had all appeared off the island while the Supply remained there.

About this time one of the convicts who, in searching for vegetables, had gone a considerable way from the camp, returned very dangerously wounded in the back.  He said, that another man who had gone out for the same purpose, had been carried off by the natives in his sight, after having been wounded in the head.  A shirt and hat were afterwards found, both pierced with spears, in one of the huts of the natives; but no intelligence of the man could be gained.  There could be little doubt that the convicts had been the aggressors, though the man who returned strongly denied having given any kind of provocation.

30 May 1788

On the thirtieth of May, two men who had been employed in collecting rushes for thatch at some distance from the camp, were found dead.  One of them had four spears in his body, one of which had pierced entirely through it:  the other had not any marks of violence upon him.  In this case it was clearly proved that the first injury had been offered by the unfortunate men, who paid so dearly for their dishonesty and disobedience of orders; for they had been seen with a canoe, which they had taken from one of the fishing places.  These events were much regretted by Governor Phillip, as tending entirely to the frustration of the plan he had so much at heart, of conciliating the affections of the natives, and establishing a friendly intercourse with them.