What is this book about?

The book is essentially a private journal compiled by John Price, detailing his experiences and observations over several years, primarily from 1790 to 1805. It chronicles the operations of the First Fleet's establishments, focusing heavily on Norfolk Island, which served as a secondary penal settlement and agricultural base. Price documents the administration of convicts, the management of ships, the collection of revenue (often controversially), the exploration of the region, and the complex relationships with Indigenous Australians. While primarily concerned with the practical aspects of running a colony outpost, it also touches upon the exploration of the Blue Mountains and the attempts to establish convict settlements there, revealing the immense difficulties and ambitions of the early colonial period.