Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/137

 FOE THE EXPEDITION. 39 The greatest care will be necessary to prevent any of the con- 1787 victs from being sent that have any venereal complaints. During the passage, when light airs or calms permit it, I shall visit the infection transports to see that they are kept clean, and receive the allow- tion. ance ordered by Government ; and at these times shall endeavour to make them sensible of their situation, and that their happiness and misery is in their own hands ; that those who behave well will be rewarded by being allowed to work occasionally on the small lots of land set apart for them, and which they will be put in possession of at the expiration of the time for which they are transported. On landing in Botany Bay, it will be necessary to throw up a Portmca- slight work as a defence against the natives — who, though only **^°' seen in small numbers by Captain Cook, may be very numerous on other parts of the coast — and against the convicts ; for this, my own little knowledge as a field engineer will be sufficient, and will be the work of a few days only ; but some small cannon for a redoubt will be necessary. Within the lines the stores and pro- visions will be secured, and I should hope that the situation I should be able to take may admit of having the small rivers between the garrison and the convicts so situated that I may be able to prevent their having any intercourse with the natives. I shall think it a great point gained if I can proceed in this The nativea business without having any dispute with the natives, a few of which I shall endeavour to persuade to settle near us, and who I mean to furnish with everything that can tend to civilise them, and to give them a high opinion of their new guests ; for which purpose it will he necessary to prevent the transports' crews from having any intercourse with the natives, if possible. The convicts must have none, for if they have, the arms of the natives will be very formidable in their hands, the women abused, and the natives disgusted. The keeping of the women apart merits great consideration, and I don't know but it may be best if the most abandoned are per- intercourse mitted to receive the visits of the convicts in the limits allotted sexes, them at certain hours, and under certain restrictions. Something of this kind was the case on Mill Bank formerly. The rest of tho women I should keep apart, and by permitting the men to be in their company when not at work they will, I should suppose, marry, *"**®" Digitized by Google