第24章

Transactions of the Colony in part of September and October,1790.

From so unfavourable an omen as I have just related,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.At a distance stood some children,who,though at first timorous and unwilling to approach,were soon persuaded to advance,and join the men.

A bottle of wine was produced,and Baneelon immediately prepared for the charge.Bread and beef he called loudly for,which were given to him,and he began to eat,offering a part of his fare to his countrymen,two of whom tasted the beef,but none of them would touch the bread.

Having finished his repast,he made a motion to be shaved,and a barber being present,his request was complied with,to the great admiration of his countrymen,who laughed and exclaimed at the operation.They would not,however,consent to undergo it,but suffered their beards to be clipped with a pair of scissors.

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.

So little fitted are we to judge of human nature at once!And yet on such grounds have countries been described,and nations characterized.

Hence have arisen those speculative and laborious compositions on the advantages and superiority of a state of nature.But to resume my subject.

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.

Nor was a circumstance which had happened in the morning interview,perhaps,wholly unremembered by the girl.We had hinted to Baneelon to provide a husband for her,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.The young lover was not,however,easily repulsed,but renewed his suit,on our return in the afternoon,with such warmth of solicitation,as to cause an evident alteration in the sentiments of the lady.

To heighten the good humour which pervaded both parties,we began to play and romp with them.Feats of bodily strength were tried,and their inferiority was glaring.One of our party lifted with ease two of them from the ground,in spite of their efforts to prevent him,whereas in return,no one of them could move him.They called him 'murree mulla'(a large strong man).Compared with our English labourers,their muscular power would appear very feeble and inadequate.

Before we parted,Baneelon informed us that his countrymen had lately been plundered of fish-gigs,spears,a sword,and many other articles,by some of our people,and expressed a wish that they should be restored,promising,that if they were,the governor's dirk should be produced and returned to us to-morrow,if we would meet him here.