Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/60

twelve children), 253; of convicts (with eleven children), 729.

On the 13th May the fleet sailed, accompanied by the frigate Hyena, deputed to attend it through the Channel, "the most difficult part of the voyage," and to return with despatches. She returned on the 20th, taking no "account of the state of the transports, for the sea at that time ran so high that the Governor found it difficult even to sit to write, and quite impracticable to send on board the several ships for exact reports of their situation, and of the behaviour of the convicts." In this short space of time, however, the convicts on board the Scarborough had formed a plan for seizing the ship, and two ringleaders, having been taken on board the Sirius for "proper chastisement," were removed into the Prince of Wales. An early chronicler expatiated upon the flourishing state of navigation which. thus enabled England "without hesitation to send out a fleet to plant a settlement near the antipodes."

Phillip wrote (by the Hyena), "The provost-martial, who had not been seen for a considerable time before we sailed, is left behind; as it will be very necessary to have such an officer on the spot, I have ordered Mr. Henry Brewer to act as such, and shall be very glad if he is approved of."

Phillip touched at Teneriffe, to obtain water and vegetables. On the 5th Aug. the fleet anchored at Rio Janeiro. There Phillip received marked attention from the Governor, Don Lewis de Varconcellos, obtained provisions, procured tobacco and other seeds, orange and lemon trees, coffee, indigo, cotton, and other plants, and sailed away on the 4th Sept. Phillip's knowledge of Spanish was grateful to his hosts, and useful. Besides an official report (2nd Sept.), he wrote (to "My dear Nepean"): "At the Cape I shall have more time, for here, as the only one that understands the language, I have been obliged to be linguist and commissary."

On the 13th Oct. the fleet anchored at the Cape of Good Hope. The Dutch Governor hospitably entertained his visitors, and Phillip took in provisions and live stock. "The ships, having on board not less than 500 animals of different kinds, but chiefly poultry, put on an appearance