Pursuant To His Resolution, The Governor On The 31st Of December Sent
Two Boats, Under The Command Of Lieutenant Ball Of The 'Supply', And
Lieutenant George Johnston Of The Marines, Down The Harbour, With Directions
To Those Officers To Seize And Carry Off Some Of The Natives.
The boats
proceeded to Manly Cove, where several Indians were seen standing on the beach,
who were enticed by courteous behaviour and a few presents to enter
into conversation.
A proper opportunity being presented, our people rushed in
among them, and seized two men: the rest fled; but the cries of the captives
soon brought them back, with many others, to their rescue: and so desperate
were their struggles, that, in spite of every effort on our side, only one
of them was secured; the other effected his escape. The boats put off
without delay; and an attack from the shore instantly commenced:
they threw spears, stones, firebrands, and whatever else presented itself,
at the boats; nor did they retreat, agreeable to their former custom,
until many musquets were fired over them.
The prisoner was now fastened by ropes to the thwarts of the boat; and when
he saw himself irretrievably disparted from his countrymen, set up
the most piercing and lamentable cries of distress. His grief, however,
soon diminished: he accepted and ate of some broiled fish
which was given to him, and sullenly submitted to his destiny.
When the news of his arrival at Sydney was announced, I went with every other
person to see him: he appeared to be about thirty years old, not tall,
but robustly made; and of a countenance which, under happier circumstances,
I thought would display manliness and sensibility; his agitation was excessive,
and the clamourous crowds who flocked around him did not contribute
to lessen it. Curiosity and observation seemed, nevertheless, not to have
wholly deserted him; he shewed the effect of novelty upon ignorance;
he wondered at all he saw: though broken and interrupted with dismay,
his voice was soft and musical, when its natural tone could be heard;
and he readily pronounced with tolerable accuracy the names of things
which were taught him. To our ladies he quickly became extraordinarily
courteous, a sure sign that his terror was wearing off.
Every blandishment was used to soothe him, and it had its effect.
As he was entering the governor's house, some one touched a small bell
which hung over the door: he started with horror and astonishment;
but in a moment after was reconciled to the noise, and laughed at the cause
of his perturbation. When pictures were shown to him, he knew directly
those which represented the human figure: among others, a very large handsome
print of her royal highness the Dutchess of Cumberland being produced,
he called out 'woman', a name by which we had just before taught him to call
the female convicts. Plates of birds and beasts were also laid before him;
and many people were led to believe, that such as he spoke about and pointed to
were known to him.
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