CHAPTER II.
Transactions of the Colony from the sailing of the First Fleet in July, 1788, to the Close of that Year.
It was impossible to behold without emotion the departure of the ships.

On their speedy arrival in England perhaps hinged our fate; by hastening our supplies to us.
On the 20th of July, the 'Supply' sailed for Norfolk Island, and returned to us on the 26th of August; bringing no material news, except that the soil was found to suit grain, and other seeds, which had been sown in it, and that a species of flax-plant was discovered to grow spontaneously on the island.
A survey of the harbour of Port Jackson was now undertaken, in order to compute the number of canoes, and inhabitants, which it might contain: sixty-seven canoes, and 147 people were counted.

No estimate, however, of even tolerable accuracy, can be drawn from so imperfect a datum; though it was perhaps the best in our power to acquire.
In July and August, we experienced more inclement tempestuous weather than had been observed at any former period of equal duration.

And yet it deserves to be remarked, in honour of the climate, that, although our number of people exceeded 900, not a single death happened in the latter month.
The dread of want in a country destitute of natural resource is ever peculiarly terrible.

We had long turned our eyes with impatience towards the sea, cheered by the hope of seeing supplies from England approach.