第7章

Much information relating to the customs and manners of his country was also gained from him:but as this subject will be separately and amply treated,I shall not anticipate myself by partially touching on it here.

On the 2nd of February died Captain John Shea of the marines,after a lingering illness:he was interred on the following day,with the customary military honours,amidst the regret of all who knew him.

In consequence of his decease,appointments for the promotion of the oldest officer of each subordinate rank were signed by the major commandant of the marine battalion,until the pleasure of the lords of the admiralty should be notified.

[These appointments were confirmed by the admiralty.]

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;when he found she was under sail,every effort was tried without success to exhilarate him;

At length,an opportunity being presented,he plunged overboard,and struck out for the nearest shore:believing that those who were left behind would fire at him,he attempted to dive,at which he was known to be very expert:

but this was attended with a difficulty which he had not foreseen:

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.When brought on board,he appeared neither afraid or ashamed of what he had done,but sat apart,melancholy and dispirited,and continued so until he saw the governor and his other friends descend into a boat,and heard himself called upon to accompany them:he sprang forward,and his cheerfulness and alacrity of temper immediately returned,and lasted during the remainder of the day.The dread of being carried away,on an element of whose boundary he could form no conception,joined to the uncertainty of our intention towards him,unquestionably caused him to act as he did.

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.Their forbearance of open and determined attack upon can be accounted for only by recollecting their knowledge of our numbers,and their dread of our fire-arms:

that they wanted not sufficient provocation to do so,will appear from what I am about to relate.

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 pursuit.The governor was justly incensed at what had happened,and instituted the most rigorous scrutiny into the cause which had produced it.

At first the convicts were unanimous in affirming,that they were quietly picking sweet-tea,when they were without provocation assaulted by the natives,with whom they had no wish to quarrel.Some of them,however,more irresolute than the rest,at last disclosed the purpose for which the expedition had been undertaken;and the whole were ordered to be severely flogged:Arabanoo was present at the infliction of the punishment;

And was made to comprehend the cause and the necessity of it;but he displayed on the occasion symptoms of disgust and terror only.

[A vegetable creeper found growing on the rocks,which yields,on infusion in hot water,a sweet astringent taste,whence it derives its name:to its virtues the healthy state of the soldiery and convicts must be greatly attributed.It was drank universally.]

On the 24th instant the 'Supply'arrived from Norfolk Island,and Lord Flowe Island,bringing from the latter place three turtles.

An awful and terrible example of justice took place towards the close of this month,which I record with regret,but which it would be disingenuous to suppress.Six marines,the flower of our battalion,were hanged by the public executioner,on the sentence of a criminal court,composed entirely of their own officers,for having at various times robbed the public stores of flour,meat,spirits,tobacco,and many other articles.