Hospitality too, which ever
acquires a double relish by being extended, was not forgotten on the 4th
of June, when each prisoner, male and female, received an allowance of
grog; and every non-commissioned officer and private soldier had the
honor of drinking prosperity to his royal master, in a pint of porter,
served out at the flag staff, in addition to the customary allowance
of spirits. Bonfires concluded the evening, and I am happy to say, that
excepting a single instance which shall be taken notice of hereafter, no
bad consequence, or unpleasant remembrance, flowed from an indulgence so
amply bestowed.
About this time (June) an accident happened, which I record with much
regret. The whole of our black cattle, consisting of five cows and a
bull, either from not being properly secured, or from the negligence
of those appointed to take care of them, strayed into the woods, and in
spite of all the search we have been able to make, are not yet found.
As a convict of the name of Corbet, who was accused of a theft, eloped
nearly at the same time, it was at first believed, that he had taken the
desperate measure of driving off the cattle, in order to subsist on them
as long as possible; or perhaps to deliver them to the natives.
Pages:
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102