Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/175

 APTEB THE ABBIVAL OP THE SECOND ELEET. U7 This rigorous measure, althoagh it did not prevent the ^'^ escape of convicts by the transports, at all events kept down the practice; but there was another kind of absconding which could not be guarded against in the same manner. The longing for freedom and the distaste for work were so Attempts to strong in some of the convicts that they braved the greatest dangers and encountered the most terrible hardships in order to escape from the settlement. A remarkable instance occurred in September, 1790.* Phillip does not appear to have made any report on the subject to the English authorities, but Collins gives a full account of the affair : — '' In the night of the 26th [September, 1790] a desertion of an extraordinary nature took place. Five male convicts conveyed themselves, in a small boat called a punt, from Hose Hill undis- covered [to Sydney]. They there exchanged the punt, which would ^SeoL have been unfit for their purpose, for a boat, though very small and weak, with a mast and sail, with which they got out of the harbour. On sending to Rose Hill, people were found who could give an account of their intentions and proceedings, and who knew that they purposed steering for Otaheite. They had each taken provisions for one week; their cloaths and bedding; three iron pots, and some other utensils of that nature. They all came out in the last fleet, and took this method of speedily accomplishing their sentences of transportation, which were for the term of their natural lives. Their names were John Tarwood, a daring, desperate character, and the principal in the scheme ; Joseph Sutton, who was found secreted on board the Neptune, and punished ; George Lee, George Gonnoway, and John Watson. A boat with an officer was sent to search for them in the north-west branch of this harbour, but returned, after several hours' search, without discovering the least trace of them. They no doubt pushed directly out upon that ocean its probable which, from the wretched state of the boat wherein they trusted themselves, must have proved their grave."! A more desperate adventure it would be difficult to imagine. As discovery of the fugitives by any of the search parties that were sure to be sent out would mean return to • Another instamoe is noticed in Vol. i, pp. 172-174. t Collins, Tol. i, p. 136.