se, that
the natives of California, and throughout all the islands of the Pacific
Ocean, and in short wherever he had been, seemed equally touched and
delighted with this little plaintive air.

CHAPTER IX.

The taking Possession of Port Jackson, with the Disembarkation of the
Marines and Convicts.

Our passage to Port Jackson took up but few hours, and those were spent
far from unpleasantly. The evening was bright, and the prospect before
us such as might justify sanguine expectation. Having passed between the
capes which form its entrance, we found ourselves in a port superior, in
extent and excellency, to all we had seen before. We continued to run
up the harbour about four miles, in a westerly direction, enjoying the
luxuriant prospect of its shores, covered with trees to the water's
edge, among which many of the Indians were frequently seen, till we
arrived at a small snug cove on the southern side, on whose banks the
plan of our operations was destined to commence.

The landing of a part of the marines and convicts took place the next
day, and on the following, the remainder was disembarked. Business
now sat on every brow, and the scene, to an indifferent spectator,
at leisure to contemplate it, would have been highly picturesque and
amusing. In one place, a party cutting down the woods; a second, setting
up a blacksmith's forge; a third, dragging along a load of stones or
provisions; here an officer pitching his marquee, with a detachment of
troops parading on one side of him, and a cook's fire blazing up on
the other. Through the unwearied diligence of those at the head of the
different departments, regularity was, however, soon introduced, and, as
far as the unsettled state of matters would allow, confusion gave place
to system.

Into the head of the cove, on which our establishment is fixed, runs a
small stream of fresh water, which serves to divide the adjacent country
to a little distance, in the direction of north and south. On the
eastern side of this rivulet the Governor fixed his place of residence,
with a large body of convicts encamped near him; and on the western
side was disposed the remaining part of these people, near the marine
encampment. From this last two guards, consisting of two subalterns, as
many serjeants, four corporals, two drummers, and forty-two private men,
under the orders of a Captain of the day, to whom all reports were
made, daily mounted for the public security,