Chapter VII

TRANSACTIONS AT NORFOLK ISLAND

February 1790 to February 1791

-The Sirius and Supply sail for Norfolk Island.—­Land the marines and convicts.—­Wreck of the Sirius.—­Some provisions saved.—­Martial Law established.—­Ratio of provisions settled.—­Vast numbers of birds caught.—­In distress for provisions.—­Receive a supply from Port Jackson.—­Officers and crew of the Sirius leave Norfolk Island, and arrive at Port Jackson.—­Norfolk Island described.—­Its situation and extent.—­Soil.—­Climate, etc.—­Table of Winds, etc.-

In February, we began to look a little serious on our disappointment of arrivals:  we had not now more than provisions till June, at the allowance I have already mentioned.  The governor now saw a necessity for dividing the settlement, and signified his intention that such division should take place soon, by sending a certain number of marines and convicts, under the command of Major Ross, the lieutenant-governor, to Norfolk Island; at which place he understood there were many resources, which Port Jackson, or the country round it, did not afford; and the gardens and cultivated lands here also would then be more enjoyed by the remaining numbers.

Accordingly an arrangement took place, and on the 26th of February, I received an order to prepare the Sirius for sea, and to embark the lieutenant-governor, with one company of marines, and the officers, baggage, and also 186 convicts; in all, 221 persons; with such a proportion of the remaining provisions and other stores, as the settlement at that time could furnish; and I was directed to land them upon Norfolk Island:  Lieutenant Ball, commander of his Majesty’s armed tender Supply, was ordered under my command, and he also embarked a company of marines, and twenty convicts.

We sailed from Port Jackson on the 6th of March, and the wind being from the westward, we made Lord Howe’s Island on the 9th, at four in the afternoon, bearing east-north-east, distant about 16 or 18 leagues.  The south end of this island is two very high mountains, nearly perpendicular from the sea; those hills are the only land you see until you come within six or seven leagues, when the lower land begins to appear, extending from the foot of the mountains, northward:  it was calm most of the night, with now and then a light air, with which, and an easterly set of current, which is generally found here, we were enabled to get in with the land by noon of the 10th.  I made the Latitude of the southermost hill: 

(Mount Gower) 31 deg. 35’ S. Longitude, by time-keeper, 159 deg. 10’ 30” E. of Greenwich.  Longitude, by distance of the sun and moon, taken at 10, A. M. 159 deg. 08’ 00” E.