Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/49

 THE TAMIKE OF 1789^90. 33 it could be procured, and a little Indian com which had ^^ been reserved, was ground and appropriated to his use. In spite of all these aids, want of food has been known to make him furious, and often melancholy."* Bennilong made his escape on the Srd May, and was not seen again for some months. Eventually he was induced to return to the settle- hia retain, ment voluntarily, and became greatly attached to Phillip, with whom he went to England, in December, 1792. Notwithstanding the critical position of afEairs, Phillip did not lose couraffe. He was confident that relief from pwrnp's oonfidenoe. England must come very soon, and he never aUowed him- self to utter a word of doubt on the subject. But while looking with hourly anxiety for a signal at the South Head announcing the arrival of a ship from England, he ordered the Supply, immediately after her return from Norfolk Island with the unwelcome news of the loss of the Sirius, to be ffot ready for Batavia. Her commander. Lieutenant The supply, sent to Ball, was directed to call at Norfolk Island, and take on Bataria, board Lieutenant Bradley, of H.M.S. Sirius. On arriving at Batavia, he was to ship, at once, eight months' supplies for the ship's company ; make immediate arrangements for the. purchase of the following provisions : — 200,000 lb. of flour, 60,000 lb. of pork, Provirions 80,000 fb. of beef, 70,000 ft), of rice, ^t^ed together with small quantities of hospital necessaries ; charter a suitable vessel for the conveyance of the same to Sydney, and, leaving Lieutenant Bradley to follow and assist in the navigation of the storeship, return in the Supply with aU possible speed to Sydney Cove. The stock of provisions in the public store on the 18th ^J^^^g,^,^ April, 1790 (four days before the departure of the Supply), »t Sydney. was.as follows . — F6rk, 23,851 B>. Pease, 17 bushels. Beef, 1,280 „ Flour, 66,884 Jb. Rice, 24,455 „ Biscuit, 1,924. „ ^ Tenoh, Complete Aoconnt, p. 44. VOL. H. — C