第25章

Accordingly on the following day we rowed to the spot,carrying with us the stolen property.We found here several natives,but not Baneelon.

We asked for him,and were told that he was gone down the harbour with Barangaroo to fish.Although disappointed at his breach of promise,we went on shore,and mingled without distrust among those we found,acquainting them that we had brought with us the articles of which they had been plundered.On hearing this account,they expressed great joy,and Imeerawanyee darting forward,claimed the sword.It was given to him,and he had no sooner grasped it,than he hastened to convince his mistress,that his prowess in war,was not inferior to his skill in courtship.

Singling out a yellow gum-tree for the foe,he attacked it with great fierceness,calling to us to look on,and accompanying his onset with all the gestures and vociferation which they use in battle.Having conquered his enemy,he laid aside his fighting face,and joined us with a countenance which carried in it every mark of youth and good nature.

Whether Abaroo's coyness,and preference of another,had displeased him,or it was owing to natural fickleness,he paid her no farther attention,but seemed more delighted with us.He had no beard,but was highly gratified in being combed and having his hair clipped.

All the stolen property being brought on shore,an old man came up,and claimed one of the fish-gigs,singling it from the bundle,and taking only his own;and this honesty,within the circle of their society,seemed to characterize them all.

During this time,it was observed,that one of the Indians,instead of mixing with the rest,stood aloof,in a musing posture,contemplating what passed.

When we offered to approach him,he shunned us not,and willingly shook hands with all who chose to do so.He seemed to be between 30and 40years old,was jolly,and had a thoughtful countenance,much marked by the smallpox.

He wore a string of bits of dried reed round his neck,which I asked him to exchange for a black stock.He smiled at the proposal,but made no offer of what I wanted;which our young friend,Imeerawanyee,observing,flew to him,and taking off the necklace,directly fixed it about my neck.I feared he would be enraged,but he bore it with serenity,and suffered a gentleman present to fasten his black stock upon him,with which he appeared to be pleased.To increase his satisfaction,some other trifle was given to him.

Having remained here an hour we went in quest of Baneelon,agreeably to the directions which his companions pointed out.We found him and Barangaroo shivering over a few lighted sticks,by which they were dressing small fish,and their canoe hauled up on the beach near them.

On first seeing the boat,they ran into the woods;but on being called by name,they came back,and consented to our landing.We carried on shore with us the remaining part of the fish-gigs and spears which had been stolen,and restored them to Baneelon.Among other things,was a net full of fishing lines and other tackle,which Barangaroo said was her property and,immediately on receiving it,she slung it around her neck.

Baneelon inquired,with solicitude,about the state of the governor's wound,but he made no offer of restoring the dirk;and when he was asked for it,he pretended to know nothing of it,changing the conversation with great art,and asking for wine,which was given to him.

At parting,we pressed him to appoint a day on which he should come to Sydney,assuring him,that he would be well received,and kindly treated.Doubtful,however,of being permitted to return,he evaded our request,and declared that the governor must first come and see him,which we promised should be done.

The governor did not hesitate to execute the engagement which we had contracted for him.But Baneelon still resisted coming among us,and matters continued in this fluctuating state until the 8th of October,when a fire,which they had agreed to light as a signal for us to visit them,was observed.

The eager desire by which we were stimulated to carry our point of effecting an intercourse had appeared.Various parties accordingly set out to meet them,provided with different articles,which we thought would prove acceptable to them.We found assembled,Baneelon,Barangaroo,and another young woman,and six men,all of whom received us with welcome,except the grave looking gentleman before mentioned,who stood aloof in his former musing posture.

When they saw that we had brought hatchets,and other articles with us,they produced spears,fish-gigs,and lines,for the purpose of barter,which immediately commenced,to the satisfaction of both parties.

I had brought with me an old blunted spear,which wanted repair.An Indian immediately undertook to perform the task,and carrying it to a fire,tore with his teeth a piece of bone from a fish-gig,which he fastened on the spear with yellow gum,rendered flexible by heat.

[It had long been our wish to establish a commerce of this sort.It is a painful consideration,that every previous addition to the cabinet of the virtuosi,from this country,had wrung a tear from the plundered Indian.]

October,1790.Many of them now consented to be shaved by a barber whom we had purposely brought over.As I thought he who could perform an operation of such importance must be deemed by them an eminent personage,I bade him ask one of them for a fine barbed spear which he held in his hand;

But all the barber's eloquence was wasted on the Indian,who plainly gave him to understand that he meant not to part with his spear,without receiving an equivalent.Unfortunately,his price was a hatchet,and the only one which I had brought with me was already disposed of to the man who had pointed my spear.In vain did I tempt him with a knife,a handkerchief,and a hat;nothing but a hatchet seemed to be regarded.