Page "Arthur Phillip" Paragraph 20

The early days of the settlement were chaotic and difficult.

With limited supplies, the cultivation of food was imperative, but the soils around Sydney were poor, the climate was unfamiliar, and moreover very few of the convicts had any knowledge of agriculture.

Farming tools were scarce and the convicts were unwilling farm labourers.

The colony was on the verge of outright starvation for an extended period.

The marines, poorly disciplined themselves in many cases, were not interested in convict discipline.

Almost at once, therefore, Phillip had to appoint overseers from among the ranks of the convicts to get the others working.

This was the beginning of the process of convict emancipation which was to culminate in the reforms of Lachlan Macquarie after 1811.