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way, and where they spent many of their leisure hours, while we thought they were at home. There is, however, excellent wheat this season in the colony. Would that I had some one interested in my welfare to assist me here! my men are careless of every thing not directly relating to their own advantage. I cannot well attend to gardening, farming, fishing, hunting, grazing, fencing, building, boating, exploring, and marketing.
After the expiration of the time which my servants have to remain with me, I should be glad to have others bound for five years, and would advance their passage money, giving them £5 a year with clothes and diet, or £10 a year without clothing; but retaining in my hands their wages until the passage money be cleared, and with a contract that their servitude should continue until this debt be fully discharged—a bonus of two glasses of rum per day. Mr. B. is advancing the passage money to servants, and giving £10 for the first year, and £40 for each of the two next; repaying himself the money advanced. I want a carpenter sadly, but must wait until I become (if ever) rich enough to employ one; until then, I must make my own doors and window shutters, be they ever so rude.
On the lower part of my meadow flat there is a hollow, with water in it during winter; it is now dry from evaporation, and become a rich compost, which I have dug up and planted with potatoes.
6th.—The young sow has six young ones: I have now twenty-two, old and young; and all, except one, are the offspring of the sow which I bought out of the Cleopatra, besides six which I sold.* * * * *
If you have not written by the mail which is at Sydney, how I shall be disappointed! Always recollect that mails are made up for this, periodically, and sent via Sydney, the Cape, or India, far more frequently than by direct conveyance, If you wish to send a package (shoes, for instance),
