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[Page 5]
arrival. As I have enclosed a drawing of the Bird, I shall give you no further description. We had, besides our Friends the Pittites, (the Vulgar Appellation) another very capital resource if the weather would have permitted fishing, which in this Season of the year is so very unsettled, that, on an average, we have had but 3 fine Days our of 15 fit for fishing: therefore our reliance, on this very precarious resource, was of little note when compared to the Birds, which were to be had, in any number, for going for. They are very fine eating, exceeding fat and firm, and I think (though no connoisseur) as good as any I ever eat.
They are a kind of Snapper, and as I am but a poor hand at description, I have enclosed a small drawing, which is here much wanted, and greatly esteemed. We had given up all hopes of a relief, till about November, December, and January, and were all turned Gardiners for our own support. We, (Mr Bryan, Mr Shortland, and myself) the only three non-commissioned officers, wrecked from the Sirius that Capn Hunte [Hunter] kept with the remainder of the Crew, the others being returned to Port Jackson in the Supply (as before observed) had a most excellent Garden; which, though we did not clear from the trees, we fenced round, dug up, planted, set, and sowed, with the assistance of only one of our Seamen; besides, one of us had to attend the Duty of the Day in rotation: therefore, you may judge, we had but very little idle time. However, when the relief arrived, our crops were flourishing, having a good prospect of digging upwards of 30 Bushels of Potatoes, picking vast quantities of french Beans, and cutting many fine heart Cabbages, and Lettuces &c, &c, and that very day the relief arrived we
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our Garden abt. ¼ of an Acre.