1.1 Sydney Cove...Davie Duncan swims ashore at Norfolk Island...

        Sydney Cove.  Drawn by Captain. John Hunter. The second Governor.

       "You see? That one, over there!"

  Even now that I am a grown man, those words and the events from them are still very clear.

        "Hmmm, yes I have observed him before."

  The two marine officers, Captain Campbell who had been on this transport ship the  Lady Penryhn for nine months with his little boy who I had looked after a little, and Captain Lieutenant Tench from the transport ship Charlotte, were discussing me!

       I was a boy seaman, with hopes of becoming a Masters Mate some day. I was bending or joining a fresh length of rope to another older length. One piece between my toes, my mouth full of twine that I was chewing to soften before I used it to tie off the ends. In my right hand a marlin spike, while the fingers of my left hand was opening up the fibres. Hearing their conversation, I nearly choked!

        We were at anchor in this little cove in this new Port, called Port Jackson. The other ships of the fleet were anchored around us. Most of the Navy Officers , Marines and convicts were on shore. Our ship was nearly empty of people. The two marine officers were standing in the waiste of the ship Lady Penryhn, looking directly at me.

        "Surgeon Bowes has observed him over the voyage from England Watkin, and has a reasonable opinion of him. He is big and strong, can defend himself, can swim, and can read and write a little."

         Captain Tench then said, " I do remember him handing down your seven year old relative to me in the ships gig. In fact he also dived in the water and swam to the shore at the Beach on Botany Bay, and walked along the beach with us when that old Indian came up to us and inspected the boy. Your little boy likes and trusts him."

        "What do you think?" said Captain Campbell.

        "Well, Surgeon Bowes has been asked by Lieutenant King to select the convict women, of good behavior from this ship, to go with him with other convicts and people to Norfolk Island to form the settlement there. If he agrees that the lad is suitable, I will ask Lieutenant Dawes, Lieutenant King's friend to approach him on your behalf."

        "If Lieutenant King agrees you could then ask the boy seaman. The seaman will regard you as his patron, and will expect you to help him sometime in the future."

        "It would certainly help me in this intolerable situation, so that I can organize a safe place for him to come to. Most of the people of the fleet, about 1000 are on shore. At Norfolk the population will be about 24. I can't get over it! The men and women convicts went mad, the first night ashore. So did the sailors and marines. Drinking and fighting stealing and general disgusting behavior! My men were going to disobey orders. I have to be careful what I order my Company of Marines to carry out at the moment. I want to flog a few, that will make them obey me instantly."

         "The Governor is weak, always making excuses for everybody. I agree with Major Ross, the Lieutenant Governor, we should shoot a dozen convicts then all will settle down. We are going to hang that convict Thomas Barrett in two days time. That should have a salutary effect on these vile people and this vile country. He was showing everyone that you can do as you like and the authorities won't harm you. So we will see about that."

         The result of that overheard conversation, was that I would go to the new colony at Norfolk Island as a free seaman, with the little boy James Duncan Campbell and look after him as much as possible, for some weeks, until proper law and order was established at Sydney Cove. When it was safe Captain Campbell would arrange for him to return to Sydney Cove. I would then be free to join another merchant ship that called at Port Jackson. Maybe the merchant ship would be sailing to China to load tea for England. That is where this ship, the Lady Penryhn is sailing to next. I really wanted to go to that foreign place.

         Lt. King agreed that he would accept two extra "seamen", but I was to work as a free sailor at all tasks given me, and also looking after the boy. Captain Campbell would have to pay for 6 months rations for the boy, and the boy would have to be seen as pulling his weight in doing light tasks. Collecting fire wood, and water and doing jobs around the camp otherwise everyone would become resentful of his position. This was only to be for a very small amount of time before being returned to Port Jackson on the next ship passing.

         Well here I was at Norfolk Island, in a ships dinghy, getting ready for a dangerous swim to the shore.

        "Don't forget now, clear a little space around that funny shaped bush. The Lieutenant will want somewhere with the landing party to stand and look around."

         I understood what the Masters Mate of the Supply vessel Mr. Davie Blackburn, wanted me to do. The ships boat from the Supply, was just about fifty feet out from the very small break in the coral reef. It was rising and falling in the wave swell, with the occasional dipping of oars just to keep it in that place. I was to jump in, swim ashore in between the gap in the reef, and clear a little patch of ground just above the little sandy beach. The ships boat would then be able to run ashore onto the beach and land Lieutenant King and his party.

          On Mr. Blackburn's command I jumped over the bows. Down and down I went, the water very clear and bluish. I could see the bottom. When my head finally pushed up out of the water, the boat was like a large whale ten feet away, I could see all their faces looking at me. The next thing a smooth wave picked me up and propelled me between the coral entrance.

         On and on it pushed me, faster and faster, with me head sometimes underwater others times above water so that I could see ahead. On and on it pushed, on and on, I pulled with my arms and kicked with my legs. Over small smooth rocks, then finally the momentum stopped. My whole body just lay on the beach. Great fun, although I was a bit worried about sharks. I staggered up the little beach and turned around towards the sea. The boat was already heading towards the Supply

        With great energy, I set about hacking off the small bushes close to the ground. Presently I could see the boat from Supply returning with Lt. King standing in the bow. I went in the water and grabbed the bow so that Lt. King could step ashore, then the others in the boat did the same.

        After he spent some time in looking around I could see that Lt. King was very pleased. He gave the order to Lt. Ball the Supply Captain, that the next day he would disembark the people and stores, clear more land of bushes and erect the tents and setup a cooking fire.

         At daybreak the next day all the stores and most of the people for the settlement, left the Supply in two ships boats and landed on Norfolk.

          I was given the task of cutting down a small tree to act as a flag pole, and to dig a hole to put the end in. Mr. Cunningham, our Masters Mate from the Sirius, who will stay with the colony, gave me my orders and the rope to fasten the truck with at the top of the flag pole, so that the up haul line would pull the flag up.

         I was to get the flag from the Marine John Batchelor. What a pig he is. He pretended he was in charge of me and gave me orders and was very bossy with me, also with young James Duncan Campbell, who was collecting and making a pile of the small branches for me. He also bossed some of the convicts who were working around.

          When the pole erection was completed Lt. King ordered the colours hoisted.

          Before sunset, everything and every person belonging to the settlement were onshore and the tents pitched. It had been a very very busy time. All people were gathered together, and also Lt. Ball and some other Supply men. Lt. King then formally took possession of the Island for His Majesty the King by reading aloud from a document. We all then had to give three very loud cheers.

          I noticed the only other person my age about fourteen years old, a convict, Charles McLennan, was standing with a bad attitude, and muttering to himself. If we had been on my ship and the Quartermaster had seen him he would have given him a whack with his cane. He was lucky no one had seen him. I went over to be friendly.

         "Hello." I said.

          He just stared sneeringly at me, "Leave me alone" he replied, and just turned his back on me. I was very disappointed, we were about the same age, and he could have been a friend.

         Lt. King, continued talking to us. He said his title was now Commandant, acting Lieutenant Governor of the Island. He said he expected everyone to carry out their given tasks without complaint or rebellion. No stealing, and no fighting. He would punish severely bad behavior, and reward those who worked diligently. Those that turned out to be very bad he would send back to Port Jackson where punishment was very harsh.

         The women convicts were to assist wherever it was physically possible. They would also have cooking and washing duties and also keep the area around the tents clean and tidy. If any man or woman wanted to get married they were free to do so with his permission.

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