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[Page 2]
Eighth of May arrived at Port Jackson. Upon Examination it was found that the Ship could not go to Sea before she had a Good repair which took up near the whole Year.
When this year came & finding no supplys from England, it was Judged necessary to divide the Settlement & send part to Norfolk Islands, as every thing grew much better than at Port Jackson. Norfolk Island abounds with Timber & has a very rich Clay Soil but the Island is surround'd by a Reef of dangerous Coral Rocks, so that it is very difficult to Land, there being only two places practicable, the one Sydney Bay where the Settlement is, & the other Cascade Bay, the last place, the Boats Stern must be backed in & the people Jump out on a Rock, & this can only be done at half Tide the Rock where they land on being an Island at high Water. at Sydney Bay there is a passage between the Reef only wide enough for a Boat to go in & there is generally such a Scurf running that makes it very Dangerous especially if the Wind on Shore
March 7th, having embark'd on board the Supply & part of the Detatchment of Marines, with the Lieutenant Governor, & about 120 Men Convicts & 70 Women with Provision in proportion, we set sail from Port Jackson & on the 13 arrived at Norfolk Island, employed till the 19th in Standing off & in embraceing every opportunity of Landing the People & Provision, had landed all the people & light Baggage, & where Standing into Sydney Bay, the Signal being up for good landing run into the Bay & brought too, hoisted out the Boats & began to Land them, when the Supply hail'd us & desired us to make sail we being too nigh in & made Sail herself & instantly Tacked & with great difficulty Weather'd us. We made all sail