Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/399

The population^[1] of New South Wales and its dependencies was thus distributed when King left:—

Among the personal occurrences during King's government the mysterious fate of Bass the explorer deserves mention. That he considered himself slighted by the English Government is shown in several letters. He wrote to King (31st Jan. 1802) from Matavai Bay (Tahiti), that though he had little to communicate, he "would not be thought to fail in that esteem which I have ever held and professed for you out of your official capacity." He had touched at Dusky Bay (New Zealand). He commended the civility of the missionaries at Matavai:

"This civility is all we want, as it appears to be indeed all they have to bestow, for I should not conceive that men in their situation either would wish, or can if they wished it, have much authority amongst the islanders or over us. We neither conceive them to be able to protect an establishment if it was threatened by the natives, nor to chastise us should either Bishop [Bass's partner] or myself be for a moment inclined to relinquish the path of right and just conduct which has for years past been our guide. I would tell you my ideas of the state of hogs in this island, but perhaps you would suspect something of the hocus-pocus in it, as also of the Attabooroo war, but that more will be known of it before this letter leaves Otaheite. Please to present my most respectful compliments to Mrs. King, and believe me to be your faithful friend and humble servant,

Bass carried a cargo of pork and salt safely to Sydney from Tahiti, and received £2351 12s. 3d. for it. In Dec. 1802 he wrote from his brig, Venus, Sydney Cove. He proposed "the extension of the rising commerce of this territory," and doubted not to receive the Governor's "encouragement." "It is said, but your Excellency is the best judge of its truth, that an island abounding with salt has been discovered by Captain Flinders upon the S.W.