How arrival of the First Fleet affected the Gadigal Peoples
Watkin Tench
Source: 1788
Author: Watkin Tench, Captain of Marines - Edited by Tim Flannery
Link: No link - taken from book
Source type: Primary source
Useful for: The experiences of Aborigines following arrival of the First Fleet.
About
Watkin Tench was a marine officer who travelled with the First Fleet to New South Wales. His book, A Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay (1789), is one of the best-known eyewitness accounts of the voyage and the early years of British settlement. Tench lived in Port Jackson for almost four years, from 20 January 1788 to 18 December 1891.
This source is especially useful for Stage 2 because it helps students describe what life was like on board the First Fleet. Tench records the development of the settlement and relationships with the Aborigines.
Settlement chapters
Selected excerpts
BOOK TWO - Overview of the colony to date
Aborigines - Capture of Manly (Arabanoo)
With the natives we were very little more acquainted than on our arrival in the country. Our intercourse with them was neither frequent nor cordial. They seemed studiously to avoid us, either from fear, jealousy or hatred. When they met with unarmed stragglers they sometimes killed and sometimes wounded them. I confess that, in common with many others, I was inclined to attribute this conduct to a spirit of malignant levity. But a farther acquaintance with them, founded on several instances of their humanity and generosity has entirely reversed my opinion and led me to conclude that the unprovoked outrages committed upon them by unprincipled individuals among us caused the evils we had experienced. To prevent them from being plundered of their fishing-tackle and weapons of war, a proclamation was issued forbidding their sale among us, but it was not attended with the good effect which was hoped for from it.
...Tired of this state of petty warfare and endless uncertainty, the governor at length determined to adopt a decisive measure by capturing some of them and retaining them by force, which we supposed would either inflame the rest to signal vengeance or else it would induce an intercourse... And farther, it promised to unveil the cause of their mysterious conduct, by putting us in possession of their reasons for harassing and destroying our people in the manner I have related...
...PURSUANT to his resolution, the governor on the 31st of December (1788) sent two boats, under the command of Lieutenant Ball of the Supply and Lieutenant George Johnston of the marines, down the harbour with directions to those officers to seize and carry off some of the natives. The boats proceeded to Manly Cove, where several Indians were seen standing on the beach, who were enticed by courteous behaviour and a few presents to enter into conversation. A proper opportunity being presented, our people rushed in among them, and seized two men. The rest fled, but the cries of the captives soon brought them back, with many others, to their rescue, and so desperate were their struggles that in spite of every effort on our side, only one of them was secured; the other effected his escape.
The boats put off without delay and an attack from the shore instantly commenced. They threw spears, stones, firebrands, and whatever else presented itself at the boats; nor did they retreat, agreeable to their former custom, until many muskets were fired over them.
The prisoner was now fastened by ropes to the thwarts of the boat and, when he saw himself irretrievably disparted from his countrymen, set up the most piercing and lamentable cries of distress. His grief, however, soon diminished. He accepted and ate of some broiled fish which was given to him and sullenly submitted to his destiny.
When the news of his arrival at Sydney was announced I went with every other person to see him. He appeared to be about thirty years old, not tall, but robustly made; and of a countenance which, under happier circumstances, I thought would display manliness and sensibility. His agitation was excessive and the clamorous crowds who flocked around him did not contribute to lessen it. Curiosity and observation seemed, nevertheless, not to have wholly deserted him. He ... wondered at all he saw. Though broken and interrupted with dismay, his voice was soft and musical, when its natural tone could be heard; and he readily pronounced with tolerable accuracy the names of things which were taught him. To our ladies he quickly became extraordinarily courteous, a sure sign that his terror was wearing off.
Every blandishment was used to soothe him, and it had its effect... When pictures were shown to him, he knew directly those which represented the human figure. Among others, a very large handsome print of Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cumberland being produced, he called out 'woman', a name by which we had just before taught him to call the female convicts...
His curiosity here being satiated, we took him to a large brick house, which was building for the governor's residence... He dined at a side-table at the governor's and ate heartily of fish and ducks, which he first cooled. Bread and salt meat he smelled at, but would not taste; all our liquors he treated in the same manner, and could drink nothing but water...
In the afternoon his hair was closely cut, his head combed and his beard shaved; but he would not submit.to these operations until he had seen them performed on another person, when he readily acquiesced...
To this succeeded his immersion in a tub of water and soap, where he was completely washed and scrubbed from head to foot; after which a shirt, a jacket and a pair of trousers were put upon him. Some part of this ablution I had the honour to perform, in order that I might ascertain the real colour of the skin of these people. My observation then was (and it has since been confirmed in a thousand other instances) that they are as black as the lighter cast of the African Negroes.
Many unsuccessful attempts were made to learn his name. The governor therefore called him Manly, from the cove in which he was captured...
To prevent his escape, a handcuff with a rope attached to it was fastened around his left wrist, which at first highly delighted him. He called it 'bengàdee' (or ornament), but his delight changed to rage and hatred when he discovered its use... A convict was selected to sleep with him and attend him wherever he might go.
...Ist January 1789. Today being New Year's Day, most of the officers were invited to the governor's table. Manly dined heartily on fish and roasted pork. He was seated on a chest near a window, out of which, when he had done eating, he would have thrown his plate had he not been prevented. During dinner time a band of music played in an adjoining apartment and, after the cloth was removed, one of the company sang in a very soft and superior style; but the powers of melody were lost on Manly, which disappointed our expectations, as he had before shown pleasure and readiness in imitating our tunes. Stretched out on his chest, and putting his hat under his head, he fell asleep.
To convince his countrymen that he had received no injury from us, the governor took him in a boat down the harbour, that they might see and converse with him. When the boat arrived and lay at a little distance from the beach, several Indians who had retired at her approach, on seeing Manly, returned. He was greatly affected, and shed tears...
February 1789. His reserve, from want of confidence in us, continued gradually to wear away. He told us his name, and Manly gave place to Arabanoo. Bread he began to relish and tea he drank with avidity. Strong liquors he would never taste, turning from them with disgust and abhorrence...
On the 17th of February the Supply again sailed for Norfolk Island. The governor went down the harbour in her and carried Arabanoo with him, who was observed to go on board with distrust and reluctance... At length, an opportunity being presented, he plunged overboard and struck out for the nearest shore... but ... His clothes proved so buoyant that he was unable to get more than his head under water. A boat was immediately dispatched after him and picked him up, though not without struggles and resistance on his side...
One of the principal effects which we had supposed the seizure and captivity of Arabanoo would produce seemed yet at as great a distance as ever. The natives neither manifested signs of increased hostility on his account, or attempted to ask any explanation of our conduct through the medium of their countryman who was in our possession, and who they knew was treated with no farther harshness than in being detained among us.
March 1789. Sixteen convicts left their work at the brick-kilns without leave and marched to Botany Bay, with a design to attack the natives and to plunder them of their fishing tackle and spears. They had armed themselves with their working tools and large clubs. When they arrived near the bay, a body of Indians, who had probably seen them set out and had penetrated their intention from experience, suddenly fell upon them. Our heroes were immediately routed, and separately endeavoured to effect their escape by any means which were left. In their flight one was killed and seven were wounded, for the most part very severely. Those who had the good fortune to outstrip their comrades and arrive in camp first gave the alarm, and a detachment of marines, under an officer, was ordered to march to their relief.
The officer arrived too late to repel the Indians, but he brought in the body of the man that was killed and put an end to the pur-suit. The governor was justly incensed at what had happened and instituted the most rigorous scrutiny into the cause which had produced it... the whole were ordered to be severely flogged...
April-May 1789 - Smallpox decimates Aboriginal population
AN extraordinary calamity was now observed among the natives. Repeated accounts, brought by our boats, of finding bodies of the Indians in all the coves and inlets of the harbour, caused the gentlemen of our hospital to procure some of them for the purposes of examination and anatomy. On inspection, it appeared that all the parties had died a natural death. Pustules, similar to those occasioned by the smallpox, were thickly spread on the bodies; but how a disease to which our former observations had led us to suppose them strangers could at once have introduced itself, and have spread so widely, seemed inexplicable. Whatever might be the cause, the existence of the malady could no longer be doubted. Intelligence was brought that an Indian family lay sick in a neighbouring cove.
The governor, attended by Arabanoo and a surgeon, went in a boat immediately to the spot. Here they found an old man stretched before a few lighted sticks and a boy of nine or ten years old pouring water on his head from a shell which he held in his hand. Near them lay a female child dead, and a little farther off, its unfortunate mother. The body of the woman showed that famine, superadded to disease, had occasioned her death. Eruptions covered the poor boy from head to foot, and the old man was so reduced that he was with difficulty gọt into the boat. Their situation rendered them incapable of escape and they quietly submitted to be led away. Arabanoo, contrary to his usual character, seemed at first unwilling to render them any assistance, but his shyness soon wore off, and he treated them with the kindest attention. Nor would he leave the place until he had buried the corpse of the child. That of the woman he did not see from its situation and as his countrymen did not point it out the governor ordered that it should not be shown to him. He scooped a grave in the sand with his hands, of no peculiarity of shape, which he lined completely with grass, and put the body into it, covering it also with grass; and then he filled up the hole and raised over it a small mound with the earth which had been removed. Here the ceremony ended, unaccompanied by any invocation to a superior being...
*Did we give it birth here? No person among us had been afflicted with the disorder since we had quitted the Cape of Good Hope, seventeen months before. It is true that our surgeons had brought out variolous matter in bottles, but to infer that it was produced from this cause were a supposition so wild as to be unworthy of consideration... (In addition, the French at Botany Bay had left 12 months earlier)...
... Arabanoo's behaviour during the whole of the transactions of this day was so strongly marked by affection to his countryman and by confidence in us that the governor resolved to free him from all farther restraint and at once to trust to his generosity, and the impression which our treatment of him might have made, for his future residence among us.
The fetter was accordingly taken off his leg.
In the evening, Captain Ball and I crossed the harbour, and buried the corpse of the woman before mentioned.
Distress continued to drive them in upon us. Two more natives, one of them a young man and the other his sister a girl of fourteen years old (Nanbaree and Abaroo), were brought in by the governor's boat in a most deplorable state of wretchedness from the small-pox. The sympathy and affection of Arabanoo... here manifested themselves immediately...
I feel assured that no reader who will not join in regretting the premature loss of Arabanoo, who died of the smallpox on the 18th (May 1789) after languishing in it six days... The governor, who particularly regarded him, caused him to be buried in his own garden and attended the funeral in person. The character of Arabanoo, as far as we had developed it, was distinguished by a portion of gravity and steadiness which our subsequent acquaintance with his countrymen by no means led us to conclude a national characteristic. In that daring, enterprising frame of mind which, when combined with genius, constitutes the leader of a horde of savages, or the ruler of a people, boasting the power of discrimination and the resistance of ambition, he was certainly surpassed by some of his successors who afterwards lived among us. His countenance was thoughtful but not animated. His fidelity and gratitude, particularly to his friend the governor, were constant and undeviating and deserve to be recorded. Although of a gentle and placable temper, we early discovered that he was impatient of indignity and allowed of no superiority on our part. He knew that he was in our power, but the independence of his mind never forsook him. If the slightest insult were offered to him, he would return it with interest. At retaliation of merriment he was often happy, and frequently turned the laugh against his antagonist. He did not want docility, but either from the difficulty of acquiring our language, from the unskilfulness of his teachers, or from some natural defect, his progress in learning it was not equal to what we had expected. For the last three or four weeks of his life, hardly any restraint was laid upon his inclinations, so that had he meditated escape, he might easily have effected it. He was, perhaps, the only native who was ever attached to us from choice, and who did not prefer a precarious subsistence among wilds and precipices to the comforts of a civilised system.
By his death, the scheme which had invited his capture was utterly defeated. Of five natives who had been brought among us, three had perished from a cause which, though unavoidable, it was impossible to explain to a people who would condescend to enter into no intercourse with us. The same suspicious dread of our approach, and the same scenes of vengeance acted on unfortunate stragglers, continued to prevail.
December 1789 - Capture of Baneelon (Bennelong) & Còlbee
Intercourse with the natives, for the purpose of knowing whether or not the country possessed any resources by which life might be prolonged, as well as on other accounts, becoming every day more desirable, the governor resolved to make prisoners of two more of them.
Boats properly provided, under the command of Lieutenant Bradley of the Sirius, were accordingly dispatched on this service and completely succeeded in trepanning and carrying off, without opposition, two fine young men, who were safely landed among us at Sydney.
Nanbaree and Abaroo welcomed them on shore, calling them immediately by their names, Baneelon and Còlbee. (Baneelon - Bennelong, who gave his name to the point where the Sydney Opera House now stands, the site of his house in the settlement.) But they seemed little disposed to receive the congratulations or repose confidence in the assurances of their friends. The same scenes of awkward wonder and impatient constraint, which had attended the introduction of Arabanoo, succeeded. Baneelon we judged to be about twenty-six years old, of good stature and stoutly made, with a bold intrepid countenance which bespoke defiance and revenge. Colbee was perhaps near thirty, of a less sullen aspect than his comrade, considerably shorter and not so robustly framed, though better fitted for purposes of activity.
They had both evidently had the smallpox; indeed Colbee's face was very thickly imprinted with the marks of it.
Positive orders were issued by the governor to treat them indulgently and guard them strictly; notwithstanding which, Colbee contrived to effect his escape in about a week, with a small iron ring round his leg...
Baneelon, though haughty, knew how to temporise. He quickly threw off all reserve, and pretended, nay, at particular moments, perhaps felt satisfaction in his new state. Unlike poor Arabanoo, he became at once fond of our viands and would drink the strongest liquors, not simply without reluctance but with eager marks of delight and enjoyment. He was the only native we ever knew who immediately showed a fondness for spirits; Colbee would not at first touch them. Nor was the effect of wine or brandy upon him more perceptible than an equal quantity would have produced on one of us...
His powers of mind were certainly far above mediocrity. He acquired knowledge, both of our manners and language, faster than his predecessor had done. He willingly communicated information, sang, danced and capered, told us all the customs of his country and all the details of his family economy. Love and war seemed his favourite pursuits, in both of which he had suffered severely. His head was disfigured by several scars; a spear had passed through his arm and another through his leg.
Half of one of his thumbs was carried away, and the mark of a wound appeared on the back of his hand. The cause and attendant circumstances of all these disasters, except one, he related to us.
But the wound on the back of your hand, Baneelon! How did you get that?'
He laughed and owned that it was received in carrying off a lady of another tribe by force. I was dragging her away. She cried aloud, and stuck her teeth in me.'
'And what did you do then?'
*I knocked her down, and beat her till she was insensible, and covered with blood.'
Whenever he recounted his battles, poised his lance, and showed how fields were won,,t the most violent exclamations of rage and vengeance against his competitors in arms, those of the tribe called Cameeragal in particular, would burst from him. And he never failed at such times to solicit the governor to accompany him, with a body of soldiers, in order that he might exterminate this hated name.
Although I call him only Baneelon, he had besides several appellations, and for a while he chose to be distinguished by that of Wolarawàree. Again, as a mark of affection and respect to the governor, he conferred on him the name of Wolarawaree and sometimes called him Beenèna (father), adopting to himself the name of governor. This interchange we found is a constant symbol of friendship among them. In a word, his temper seemed pliant, and his relish of our society so great that hardly anyone judged he would attempt to quit us were the means of escape put within his reach...
May 1790 - Baneelon escapes
...Our friend Baneelon, during this season of scarcity, was as well taken care of as our desperate circumstances would allow. We knew not how to keep him and yet were unwilling to part with him. Had he penetrated our state, perhaps he might have given his countrymen such a description of our diminished numbers and diminished strength as would have emboldened them to become more troublesome. Every expedient was used to keep him in ignorance. His allowance was regularly received by the governor's servant, like that of any other person, but the ration of a week was insufficient to have kept him for a day.
The deficiency was supplied by fish whenever it could be procured, and a little Indian corn which had been reserved was ground and appropriated to his use. In spite of all these aids, want of food has been known to make him furious and often melancholy.
There is reason to believe that he had long meditated his escape, which he effected in the night of the 3rd instant. About two o'clock in the morning he pretended illness and, awaking the servant who lay in the room with him, begged to go downstairs. The other attended him without suspicion of his design and Baneelon no sooner found himself in a backyard than he nimbly leaped over a slight paling and bade us adieu.
September 7,1790 - Baneelon recaptured
On the 7th instant, Captain Nepean of the New South Wales corps, and Mr White, accompanied by little Nanbaree and a party of men, went in a boat to Manly Cove, intending. to land there and walk on to Broken Bay...
Mr White now called for Baneelon who, on hearing his name, came forth and entered into conversation. He was greatly emaciated, and so far disfigured by a long beard that our people not without difficulty recognised their old acquaintance.
His answering in broken English, and inquiring for the governor, however, soon corrected their doubts. He seemed quite friendly. And soon after Colbee came up, pointing to his leg to show that he had freed himself from the fetter which was upon him when he had escaped from us.
When Baneelon was told that the governor was not far off, he expressed great joy and declared that he would immediately go in search of him, and if he found him not, would follow him to Sydney. 'Have you brought any hatchets with you?' cried he.
Unluckily they had not any which they chose to spare; but two or three shirts, some handkerchiefs, knives and other trifles were given to them, and seemed to satisfy. Baneelon, willing to instruct his countrymen, tried to put on a shirt...
...The length of his beard seemed to annoy him much, and he expressed eager wishes to be shaved, asking repeatedly for a razor. A pair of scissors was given to him, and he showed he had not forgotten how to use such an instrument, for he forthwith began to clip his hair. During this time, the women and children, to the number of more than fifty, stood at a distance and refused all invitations which could be conveyed by signs and gestures to approach nearer. Which of them is your old favourite, Barangaroo, of whom you used to speak so often?'
'Oh,' said he, 'she is become the wife of Colbee! But I have got bulla murree deein (two large women to compensate for her loss'...
September-October,1790 - Barangaroo
...On reaching Manly Cove, three Indians were observed standing on a rock, with whom they entered into conversation.
The Indians informed them that the man who had wounded the governor belonged to a tribe residing at Broken Bay, and they seemed highly to condemn what he had done. Our gentlemen asked them for a spear, which they immediately gave. The boat's crew said that Baneelon and Colbee had just departed, after a friendly intercourse. Like the others, they had pretended highly to disapprove the conduct of the man who had thrown the spear, vowing to execute vengeance upon him.
From this time until the 14th (Sept), no communication passed between the natives and us. On that day, the chaplain and Lieutenant Dawes, having Abaroo with them in a boat, learned from two Indians that Wileemarin was the name of the person who had wounded the governor. These two people inquired kindly how His Excellency did and seemed pleased to hear that he was likely to recover. They said that they were inhabitants of Rose Hill and expressed great dissatisfaction at the number of white men who had settled in their former territories. In consequence of which declaration, the detachment at that post was reinforced on the following day.
... FROM so unfavourable an omen as I have just related (escape of five convicts from Rose Hill), who could prognosticate that an intercourse with the natives was about to commence! That the foundation of what neither entreaty, munificence or humanity could induce, should be laid by a deed which threatened to accumulate scenes of bloodshed and horror was a consequence which neither speculation could predict, or hope expect to see accomplished.
On the 15th, a fire being seen on the north shore of the harbour, a party of our people went thither, accompanied by Nanbaree and Abaroo. They found there Baneelon and several other natives, and much civility passed, which was cemented by a mutual promise to meet in the afternoon at the same place. Both sides were punctual to their engagement, and no objection being made to our landing, a party of us went ashore to them unarmed. Several little presents, which had been purposely brought, were distributed among them; and to Baneelon were given a hatchet and a fish...
On being asked where their women were, they pointed to the spot but seemed not desirous that we should approach it.
However, in a few minutes, a female appeared not far off, and Abaroo was dispatched to her. Baneelon now joined with Abaroo to persuade her to come to us, telling us she was Barangaroo, and his wife, notwithstanding he had so lately pretended that she had left him for Colbee. At length she yielded, and Abaroo, having first put a petticoat on her, brought her to us. But this was the prudery of the wilderness, which her husband joined us to ridicule, and we soon laughed her out of it. The petticoat was dropped with hesitation, and Barangaroo stood 'armed cap-a-pee in nakedness'. At the request of Baneelon, we combed and cut her hair, and she seemed pleased with the operation. Wine she would not taste, but turned from it with disgust, though heartily invited to drink by the example and persuasion of Baneelon. In short, she behaved so well, and assumed the character of gentleness and timidity to such advantage that, had our acquaintance ended here, a very moderate share of the spirit of travelling would have sufficed to record that amidst a horde of roaming savages in the desert wastes of New South Wales might be found as much feminine innocence, softness and modesty (allowing for inevitable difference of education) as the most finished system could bestow, or the most polished circle produce...
Supposing that by a private conversation she might be induced to visit Sydney, which would be the means of drawing her husband and others thither, Abaroo was instructed to take her aside and try if she could persuade her to comply with our wish. They wandered away together accordingly, but it was soon seen that Barangaroo's arguments to induce Abaroo to rejoin their society were more powerful than those of the latter to prevail upon her to come among us; for it was not without manifest reluctance, and often repeated injunctions, that Abaroo would quit her countrywomen; and when she had done so she sat in the boat in sullen silence, evidently occupied by reflection on the scene she had left behind, and returning inclination to her former habits of life.
...We hinted to Baneelon to provide a husband for (Abaroo), who should be at liberty to pass and repass to and from Sydney as he might choose. There was, at the time, a slender fine-looking youth in company called Imeerawanyee, about sixteen years old. The lad, on being invited, came immediately up to her and offered many blandishments, which proved that he had assumed the toga virilis. But Abaroo disclaimed his advances, repeating the name of another person who we knew was her favourite...
(Baneelon and Barangaroo departed and were later found fishing together. Some time elapsed as he stayed with Barangaroo.)
October 1790 - Not seeing Barangaroo of the party I asked of her and was informed that she had violently opposed Baneelon's departure... But Baneelon continuing determined, she snatched up in her rage one of his fish-gigs, and dashed it with such fury on the rocks that it broke. To quiet her apprehensions on the score of her husband's safety, Mr Johnson, attended by Abaroo, agreed to remain as a hostage until Baneelon should return.
We landed our four friends opposite the hospital and set out for the governor's house. On hearing of their arrival, such numbers flocked to view them that we were apprehensive the crowd of persons would alarm them, but they had left their fears behind and marched on with boldness and unconcern.
When we reached the governor's house, Baneelon expressed honest joy to see his old friend, and appeared pleased to find that he had recovered of his wound... A hatchet apiece was, however, given to them, and a couple of petticoats and some fishing tackle sent for Barangaroo and the other woman.
The ceremony of introduction being finished, Baneelon seemed to consider himself quite at home, running from room to room with his companions and introducing them to his old friends, the domestics, in the most familiar manner...
Nor was his importance to his countrymen less conspicuous in other respects. He undertook to explain the use and nature of those things which were new to them. Some of his explanations were whimsical enough...
The first wish they expressed to return was complied with, in order to banish all appearance of constraint, the party who had conducted them to Sydney returning with them. When we reached the opposite shore we found Abaroo and the other woman fishing in a canoe, and Mr Johnson and Barangaroo sitting at the fire, the latter employed in manufacturing fish-hooks...
During our absence, Barangaroo had never ceased whining and reproaching her husband. Now that he was returned, she met him with unconcern, and seemed intent on her work only, but this state of repose did not long continue. Baneelon, eyeing the broken fish-gig, cast at her a look of savage fury and began to interrogate her, and it seemed more than probable that the remaining part would be demolished about her head had we not interposed to pacify him. Nor would we quit the place until his forgiveness was complete and his good humour restored. No sooner, however, did she find her husband's rage subsided than her hour of triumph commenced. The alarm and trepidation she had manifested disappeared. Elated at his condescension, and emboldened by our presence and the finery in which we had decked her, she in turn assumed a haughty demeanour, refused to answer his caresses, and viewed him with a reproaching eye.
Although long absence from female society had somewhat blunted our recollection, the conduct of Barangaroo did not appear quite novel to us, nor was our surprise very violent at finding that it succeeded in subduing Baneelon who, when we parted, seemed anxious only to please. Thus ended a day, the events of which served to complete what an unhappy accident had begun. From this time our intercourse with the natives, though partially interrupted, was never broken off. We gradually continued, henceforth, to gain knowledge of their customs and policy, the only knowledge which can lead to a just estimate of national character.
November, 1790 - Relationship with Aborigines improve
DURING the intervals of duty our greatest source of entertainment now lay in cultivating the acquaintance of our new friends, the natives. Ever liberal of communication, no difficulty but of understanding each other subsisted between us.
Inexplicable contradictions arose to bewilder our researches which no ingenuity could unravel and no credulity reconcile.
Baneelon, from being accustomed to our manners and understanding a little English, was the person through whom we wished to prosecute inquiry, but he had lately become a man of so much dignity and consequence that it was not always easy to obtain his company. Clothes had been given to him at various times, but he did not always condescend to wear them.
One day he would appear in them, and the next day he was to be seen carrying them in a net slung around his neck. Farther to please him, a brick house of twelve feet square was built for his use, and for that of such of his countrymen as might choose to reside in it, on a point of land fixed upon by himself (on Bennelong Point, site of the Opera House). A shield, double cased with tin, to ward off the spears of his enemies, was also presented to him by the governor.
Elated by these marks of favour, and sensible that his importance with his countrymen arose in proportion to our patronage of him, he warmly attached himself to our society...
December, 1790 - Pimelwì
On the 9th of the month a sergeant of marines, with three convicts, among whom was McEntire, the governor's gamekeeper, went out on a shooting party.
Having passed the north arm of Botany Bay, they proceeded to a hut formed of boughs which had been lately erected on this peninsula for the accommodation of sportsmen who wished to continue by night in the woods... About one o'clock, the sergeant was awakened by a rustling noise in the bushes near him... On looking about more narrowly, they saw two natives with spears in their hands, creeping towards them, and three others a little farther behind. As this naturally created alarm, McEntire said, 'Don't be afraid, I know them,' and immediateLy laying down his gun, stepped forward and spoke to them in their own language. The Indians, finding they were discovered, kept slowly retreating, and McEntire accompanied them about a hundred yards, talking familiarly all the while.
One of them now jumped on a fallen tree and, without giving the least warning of his intention, launched his spear at McEntire and lodged it in his left side. The person who committed this wanton act was described as a young man with a speck or blemish on his left eye. That he had been lately among us was evident from his being newly shaved.
...It was now determined to attempt to carry McEntire home, as his death was apprehended to be near...
In the course of the day, Colbee and several more natives came in, and were taken to the bed where the wounded man lay. Their behaviour indicated that they had already heard of the accident, as they repeated twice or thrice the name of the murderer Pimelwì, saying that he lived at Botany Bay... He lingered until the 20th of January, and then expired... The following order was then issued:
Several tribes of the natives still continuing to throw spears at any man they meet unarmed, by which several have been killed or dangerously wounded, the governor, in order to deter the natives from such practices in future, has ordered out a party to search for the man who wounded the convict McEntire in so dangerous a manner on Friday last, though no offence was offered on his part, in order to make a signal example of that tribe. At the same time, the governor strictly forbids, under penalty of the severest punishment, any soldier, or other person, not expressly ordered out for that purpose, ever to fire on any native except in his own defence; or to molest him in any shape, or to bring away any spears, or other articles, which they may find belonging to those people. The natives will be made severe examples of whenever any man is wounded by them; but this will be done in a manner which may satisfy them that it is a punishment inflicted on them for their own bad conduct, and of which they cannot be made sensible if they are not treated with kindness while they continue peaceable and quiet.
A party, consisting of two captains, two subalterns, and forty privates, with a proper number of non-commissioned officers from the garrison, with three days provisions &c., are to be ready to march tomorrow morning at daylight, in order to bring in six of those natives who reside near the head of Botany Bay; or, if that should be found impracticable, to put that number to death.
Just previous to this order being issued, the author of this publication received a direction to attend the governor at headquarters immediately. I went, and His Excellency informed me that he had pitched upon me to execute the foregoing command. He added that the two subalterns who were to be drawn from the marine corps should be chosen by myself, that the sergeant and the two convicts who were with McEntire should attend as guides; that we were to proceed to the peninsula at the head of Botany Bay; and thence, or from any part of the north arm of the bay, we were, if practicable, to bring away two natives as prisoners; and to put to death ten; that we were to destroy all weapons of war, but nothing else; that no hut was to be burned; that all women and children were to remain uninjured...
His Excellency was now pleased to enter into the reasons which had induced him to adopt measures of such severity. He said that since our arrival in the country no less than seventeen of our people had either been killed or wounded by the natives; that he looked upon the tribe known by the name of Bideegàl, living on the beforementioned peninsula, and chiefly on the north arm of Botany Bay, to be the principal aggressors; that against this tribe he was determined to strike a decisive blow, in order at once to convince them of our superiority and to infuse an universal terror, which might operate to prevent farther mischief. That his observations on the natives had led him to conclude that although they did not fear death individually, yet that the relative weight and importance of the different tribes appeared to be the highest object of their estimation, as each tribe deemed its strength and security to consist wholly in its powers, aggregately considered. That his motive for having so long delayed to use violent measures had arisen from believing
that in every former instance of hostility, they had acted either from having received injury, or from misapprehension.
"To the latter of these causes, I attribute my own wound, but in this business of McEntire, I am fully persuaded that they were unprovoked, and the barbarity of their conduct admits of no extenuation; for I have separately examined the sergeant, of whose veracity I have the highest opinion, and the two convicts; and their story is short, simple, and alike... I am resolved to execute the prisoners who may be brought in, in the most public and exemplary manner, in the presence of as many of their countrymen as can be collected, after having explained the cause of such a punishment; and my fixed determination to repeat it, whenever any future breach of good conduct on their side shall render it necessary."
Here the governor stopped and, addressing himself to me, said if I could propose any alteration of the orders under which I was to act, he would patiently listen to me. Encouraged by this condescension, I begged leave to offer for consideration whether, instead of destroying ten persons, the capture of six would not better answer all the purposes for which the expedition was to be undertaken... This scheme, His Excellency was pleased instantly to adopt, adding, "If six cannot be taken, let this number be shot." (Two expeditions undertaken for this purpose, both unsuccessful.)
...May 1791. Had their (the convicts) marauding career terminated here, humanity would have been anxious to plead in their defence; but the natives continued to complain of being robbed of spears and fishing tackle. A convict was at length taken in the fact of stealing fishing-tackle from Daringa, the wife of Colbee.
The governor ordered that he should be severely flogged in the presence of as many natives as could be assembled, to whom the cause of punishment should be explained. Many of them, of both sexes, accordingly attended Arabanoo's aversion to a similar sight has been noticed; and if the behaviour of those now collected be found to correspond with it, it is, I think, fair to conclude that these people are not of a sanguinary and implacable temper. Quick indeed of resentment, but not unforgiving of injury. There was not one of them that did not testify strong abhorrence of the punishment and equal sympathy with the sufferer. The women were particularly affected; Daringa shed tears, and Barangaroo, kindling into anger, snatched a stick and menaced the executioner. The conduct of these women, on this occasion, was exactly descriptive of their characters. The former was ever meek and feminine, the latter fierce and unsubmissive...