Here The Ceremony Ended, Unaccompanied
By Any Invocation To A Superior Being, Or Any Attendant Circumstance
Whence An Inference Of Their Religious Opinions Could Be Deduced.
[*No solution of this difficulty had been given when I left the country,
in December, 1791.
I can, therefore, only propose queries for the ingenuity
of others to exercise itself upon: is it a disease indigenous to the country?
Did the French ships under Monsieur de Peyrouse introduce it? Let it be
remembered that they had now been departed more than a year; and we had never
heard of its existence on board of them. Had it travelled across the continent
from its western shore, where Dampier and other European voyagers
had formerly landed? Was it introduced by Mr. Cook? Did we give it birth
here? No person among us had been afflicted with the disorder
since we had quitted the Cape of Good Hope, seventeen months before.
It is true, that our surgeons had brought out variolous matter in bottles;
but to infer that it was produced from this cause were a supposition
so wild as to be unworthy of consideration.]
An uninhabited house, near the hospital, was allotted for their reception,
and a cradle prepared for each of them. By the encouragement of Arabanoo,
who assured them of protection, and the soothing behaviour of our medical
gentlemen, they became at once reconciled to us, and looked happy and grateful
at the change of their situation. Sickness and hunger had, however,
so much exhausted the old man, that little hope was entertained
of his recovery. As he pointed frequently to his throat, at the instance
of Arabanoo, he tried to wash it with a gargle which was given to him;
but the obstructed, tender state of the part rendered it impracticable.
'Bado, bado' (water), was his cry: when brought to him, he drank largely
at intervals of it. He was equally importunate for fire, being seized
with shivering fits; and one was kindled. Fish were produced, to tempt him
to eat; but he turned away his head, with signs of loathing.
Nanbaree (the boy), on the contrary, no sooner saw them than he leaped
from his cradle, and eagerly seizing them, began to cook them. A warm bath
being prepared, they were immersed in it; and after being thoroughly cleansed,
they had clean shirts put on them, and were again laid in bed.
The old man lived but a few hours. He bore the pangs of dissolution
with patient composure; and though he was sensible to the last moment,
expired almost without a groan. Nanbaree appeared quite unmoved at the event;
and surveyed the corpse of his father without emotion, simply exclaiming,
'boee' (dead). This surprised us; as the tenderness and anxiety of the old man
about the boy had been very moving. Although barely able to raise his head,
while so much strength was left to him, he kept looking into
his child's cradle; he patted him gently on the bosom; and, with dying eyes,
seemed to recommend him to our humanity and protection.
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