Ocean, and in short wherever he had been, seemed equally touched and
delighted with this little plaintive air.




CHAPTER IX.



The taking Possession of Port Jackson, with the Disembarkation of the
Marines and Convicts.


Our passage to Port Jackson took up but few hours, and those were spent
far from unpleasantly. The evening was bright, and the prospect before
us such as might justify sanguine expectation. Having passed between the
capes which form its entrance, we found ourselves in a port superior, in
extent and excellency, to all we had seen before. We continued to run
up the harbour about four miles, in a westerly direction, enjoying the
luxuriant prospect of its shores, covered with trees to the water's
edge, among which many of the Indians were frequently seen, till we
arrived at a small snug cove on the southern side, on whose banks the
plan of our operations was destined to commence.

The landing of a part of the marines and convicts took place the next
day, and on the following, the remainder was disembarked. Business
now sat on every brow, and the scene, to an indifferent spectator,
at leisure to contemplate it, would have been highly picturesque and
amusing. In one place, a party cutting down the woods; a second, setting