Baneelon And Colbee Disappeared
And Several Spears Were Thrown From Different Quarters, Though Without Effect.
Our Party Retreated As Fast As They Could, Calling To Those Who Were Left
In The Boat, To Hasten Up With Firearms.
A situation more distressing
than that of the governor, during the time that this lasted, cannot readily
be conceived:
The pole of the spear, not less than ten feet in length,
sticking out before him, and impeding his flight, the butt frequently striking
the ground, and lacerating the wound. In vain did Mr. Waterhouse try
to break it; and the barb, which appeared on the other side, forbade
extraction, until that could be performed. At length it was broken,
and his excellency reached the boat, by which time the seamen with the muskets
had got up, and were endeavouring to fire them, but one only would go off,
and there is no room to believe that it was attended with any execution.
When the governor got home, the wound was examined. It had bled a good deal
in the boat, and it was doubtful whether the subclavian artery might not
be divided. On moving the spear, it was found, however, that it might be
safely extracted, which was accordingly performed.
Apprehension for the safety of the party who had gone to Broken Bay,
now took place. Lieutenant Long, with a detachment of marines,
was immediately sent to escort them back, lest any ambush might be laid
by the natives to cut them off. When Mr. Long reached Manly Cove,
the sun had set; however, he pursued his way in the dark, scrambling over
rocks and thickets, as well as he could, until two o'clock on the following
morning, when he overtook them at a place where they had halted to sleep,
about half-way between the two harbours.
At day-break they all returned, and were surprised to find tracks in the sand
of the feet of the Indians, almost the whole way from the place where
they had slept to the Cove. By this it should seem as if these last
had secretly followed them, probably with hostile intentions but,
on discovering their strength, and that they were on their guard,
had abandoned their design.
On reaching Manly Cove, three Indians were observed standing on a rock,
with whom they entered into conversation. The Indians informed them,
that the man who had wounded the governor belonged to a tribe residing
at Broken Bay, and they seemed highly to condemn what he had done.
Our gentlemen asked them for a spear, which they immediately gave.
The boat's crew said that Baneelon and Colbee had just departed,
after a friendly intercourse. Like the others, they had pretended highly
to disapprove the conduct of the man who had thrown the spear,
vowing to execute vengeance upon him.
From this time, until the 14th, no communication passed between the natives
and us. On that day, the chaplain and lieutenant Dawes, having Abaroo
with them in a boat, learned from two Indians that Wileemarin was the name
of the person who had wounded the governor.
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