第36章

By nine o'clock this terrific procession reached the peninsula at the head of Botany Bay,but after having walked in various directions until four o'clock in the afternoon,without seeing a native,we halted for the night.

At daylight on the following morning our search recommenced.We marched in an easterly direction,intending to fall in with the south-west arm of the bay,about three miles above its mouth,which we determined to scour,and thence passing along the head of the peninsula,to proceed to the north arm,and complete our Search.However,by a mistake of our guides,at half past seven o'clock instead of finding ourselves on the south-west arm,we came suddenly upon the sea shore,at the head of the peninsula,about midway between the two arms.Here we saw five Indians on the beach,whom we attempted to surround;but they penetrated our design,and before we could get near enough to effect our purpose,ran off.We pursued;

but a contest between heavy-armed Europeans,fettered by ligatures,and naked unencumbered Indians,was too unequal to last long.They darted into the wood and disappeared.

The alarm being given,we were sensible that no hope of success remained,but by a rapid movement to a little village (if five huts deserve the name)

which we knew stood on the nearest point of the north arm,where possibly someone unapprised of our approach,might yet be found.Thither we hastened;

but before we could reach it three canoes,filled with Indians,were seen paddling over in the utmost hurry and trepidation,to the opposite shore,where universal alarm prevailed.All we could now do was to search the huts for weapons of war:but we found nothing except fish gigs,which we left untouched.

On our return to our baggage (which we had left behind under a small guard near the place where the pursuit had begun)we observed a native fishing in shallow water not higher than his waist,at the distance of 300yards from the land.In such a situation it would not have been easily practicable either to shoot,or seize him.I therefore determined to pass without noticing him,as he seemed either from consciousness of his own security,or from some other cause,quite unintimidated at our appearance.At length he called to several of us by name,and in spite of our formidable array,drew nearer with unbounded confidence.Surprised at his behaviour I ordered a halt,that he might overtake us,fully resolved,whoever he might be,that he should be suffered to come to us and leave us uninjured.Presently we found it to be our friend Colbee;and he joined us at once with his wonted familiarity and unconcern.We asked him where Pimelwi was,and found that he perfectly comprehended the nature of our errand,for he described him to have fled to the southward;and to be at such a distance,as had we known the account to be true,would have prevented our going in search of him,without a fresh supply of provisions.

When we arrived at our baggage,Colbee sat down,ate,drank,and slept with us,from ten o'clock until past noon.We asked him several questions about Sydney,which he had left on the preceding day;and he told us he had been present at an operation performed at the hospital,where Mr.White had cut off a woman's leg.The agony and cries of the poor sufferer he depicted in a most lively manner.

[He had it seems visited the governor about noon,after having gained information from Nanbaree of our march,and for what purpose it was undertaken.

This he did not scruple to tell to the governor;proclaiming at the same time,a resolution of going to Botany Bay,which his excellency endeavoured to dissuade him from by every argument he could devise:a blanket,a hatchet,a jacket,or aught else he would ask for,was offered to him in vain,if he would not go.At last it was determined to try to eat him down,by setting before him his favourite food,of which it was hoped he would feed so voraciously,as to render him incapable of executing his intention.

A large dish of fish was accordingly set before him.But after devouring a light horseman,and at least five pounds of beef and bread,even until the sight of food became disgusting to him,he set out on his journey with such lightness and gaiety,as plainly shewed him to be a stranger to the horrors of indigestion.]

At one o'clock we renewed our march,and at three halted near a freshwater swamp,where we resolved to remain until morning:that is,after a day of severe fatigue,to pass a night of restless inquietude,when weariness is denied repose by swarms of mosquitoes and sandflies,which in the summer months bite and sting the traveller,without measure or intermission.

Next morning we bent our steps homeward;and,after wading breast-high through two arms of the sea,as broad as the Thames at Westminster,were glad to find ourselves at Sydney,between one and two o'clock in the afternoon.

The few remarks which I was able to make on the country through which we had passed,were such as will not tempt adventurers to visit it on the score of pleasure or advantage.The soil of every part of the peninsula,which we had traversed,is shallow and sandy,and its productions meagre and wretched.When forced to quit the sand,we were condemned to drag through morasses,or to clamber over rocks,unrefreshed by streams,and unmarked by diversity.Of the soil I brought away several specimens.

Our first expedition having so totally failed,the governor resolved to try the fate of a second;and the 'painful pre-eminence'again devolved on me.