Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/391

 ** a very strong bony Btallion was brought from England by an officer." The studs had thus been improved, and thei'e were more than BOO brood mares, but the Governor looked br more benefit *' if two blood stallions could be sent by a safe conveyance." In the memorable March of 1806 trouble from the elements descended upon the settlement. "The f^reat flood'* took place at the Hawkesbury. Traces of high Hoods had been observed by Phillip and his companions when they discovered the river. The natives contirmed theii- surmises. Partial floods occurred after the farms had been taken up, and damage was done, especially in March 1801 ; hut the mountain torrents of the Nepean, the Wollondilly, the Grose, and other tributaries had never poured down their fii]ly-collected wrath upon the colonists until 1806. Early in March a flood covered the lower por- tions of the alluvial flats betw^een the river and tlie low ranges at a varying distance from its chanoeL More rain fell. The waters rose higher and higher ; and at last the only refuge for the hapless settlers, who bad not betaken themselves to the distant hills while yet the waters permitted, were the roofs of islanded huts round which the tawny torrent was foaming and gurgling* Many cast themselves on heaps of straw, which, tioating on thtj waters, still cohered as a mass and moved ungovernably in the current, some of them even reaching the sea with wretched pigs and poultry clinging to them.^^ Mr. Arndell, the magistrate who represented the government in 1804, was still at the Hawkesbury, and guided the work of saving lives. Boats under liis orders plied their lumiane mission. But the boats were few, and the flooded huts were many. Several settlers distinguished themselves by noble acts of daring and endurance. At night the howling of dogs, the fiignal'Shots of distress, the surging, sullen, sound of the sea of waters, not overwhelming but saddening every voice, gave a horror to the scene which can be understood only proceeded to appropriate them, l>ut were stopped by the tJovenior, who claimed them for tlieir owners if they could be found ; if not, after pay- ment of salvage, to be divided amongst the most neceasitoua who nave loHi their stacks.
 * Niiitj large stacka floated to the Lower Branch, and aoine settlers there