A Little Native Boy Named Bondel, Who Had Long
Particularly Attached Himself To Captain Hill, Accompanied Him, At His Own
Earnest Request.
His father had been killed in battle and his mother bitten
in two by a shark:
So that he was an orphan, dependant on the humanity
of his tribe for protection*. His disappearance seemed to make no impression
on the rest of his countrymen, who were apprized of his resolution to go.
On the return of the 'Supply' they inquired eagerly for him, and on being told
that the place he was gone to afforded plenty of birds and other good fare,
innumerable volunteers presented themselves to follow him, so great
was their confidence in us and so little hold of them had the amor patriae.
[*I am of opinion that such protection is always extended to children
who may be left destitute.]
March, 1791. The snow had but just sailed, when a very daring manoeuvre
was carried into execution, with complete success, by a set of convicts,
eleven in number, including a woman, wife of one of the party, and two
little children. They seized the governor's cutter and putting into her
a seine, fishing-lines, and hooks, firearms, a quadrant, compass,
and some provisions, boldly pushed out to sea, determined to brave
every danger and combat every hardship, rather than remain longer in a captive
state. Most of these people had been brought out in the first fleet,
and the terms of transportation of some of them were expired.
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