Nor Had They The Good Fortune
To See Any Quadrupeds Worth Notice, Except A Few Kangaroos.
To Their Great Surprize,
They observed indisputable tracks of the natives
having been lately there, though in their whole route none of them were
To be seen; nor any means to be traced, by which they could procure subsistence
so far from the sea shore.
On the 6th of May the 'Supply' sailed for Lord Howe Island, to take on board
turtle for the settlement; but after waiting there several days was obliged
to return without having seen one, owing we apprehended to the advanced season
of the year. Three of the transports also, which were engaged by the
East India Company to proceed to China, to take on board a lading of tea,
sailed about this time for Canton.
The unsuccessful return of the 'Supply' cast a general damp on our spirits,
for by this time fresh provisions were become scarcer than in a blockaded town.
The little live stock, which with so heavy an expense, and through so many
difficulties, we had brought on shore, prudence forbade us to use; and fish,
which on our arrival, and for a short time after had been tolerable plenty,
were become so scarce, as to be rarely seen at the tables of the first
among us. Had it not been for a stray kangaroo, which fortune now and then
threw in our way, we should have been utter strangers to the taste
of fresh food.
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