Both Parties Were Armed;
Yet An Attack Seemed As Unlikely On Their Part, As We Knew It To Be On Our Own.
I had at this time a little boy, of not more than seven years of age,
in my hand.
The child seemed to attract their attention very much,
for they frequently pointed to him and spoke to each other; and as he was
not frightened, I advanced with him towards them, at the same time baring
his bosom and, shewing the whiteness of the skin. On the cloaths being
removed, they gave a loud exclamation, and one of the party, an old man,
with a long beard, hideously ugly, came close to us. I bade my little charge
not to be afraid, and introduced him to the acquaintance of this uncouth
personage. The Indian, with great gentleness, laid his hand on the
child's hat, and afterwards felt his cloaths, muttering to himself
all the while. I found it necessary, however, by this time to send away
the child, as such a close connection rather alarmed him; and in this,
as the conclusion verified, I gave no offence to the old gentleman.
Indeed it was but putting ourselves on a par with them, as I had observed
from the first, that some youths of their own, though considerably older
than the one with us, were, kept back by the grown people.
Several more now came up, to whom, we made various presents, but our toys
seemed not to be regarded as very valuable; nor would they for a long time make
any returns to them, though before we parted, a large club, with a head
almost sufficient to fell an ox, was obtained in exchange for a looking-glass.
These people seemed at a loss to know (probably from our want of beards)
of what sex we were, which having understood, they burst into the most
immoderate fits of laughter, talking to each other at the same time
with such rapidity and vociferation as I had never before heard. After nearly
an hour's conversation by signs and gestures, they repeated several times
the word whurra, which signifies, begone, and walked away from us
to the head of the Bay.
The natives being departed, we set out to observe the country, which,
on inspection, rather disappointed our hopes, being invariably sandy
and unpromising for the purposes of cultivation, though the trees and grass
flourish in great luxuriancy. Close to us was the spring at which
Mr. Cook watered, but we did not think the water very excellent,
nor did it run freely. In the evening we returned on board, not greatly
pleased with the latter part of our discoveries, as it indicated an increase
of those difficulties, which before seemed sufficiently numerous.
Between this and our departure we had several more interviews with the natives,
which ended in so friendly a manner, that we began to entertain strong hopes
of bringing about a connection with them. Our first object was to win
their affections, and our next to convince them of the superiority
we possessed: for without the latter, the former we knew would be
of little importance.
An officer one day prevailed on one of them to place a target, made of bark,
against a tree, which he fired at with a pistol, at the distance of some paces.
The Indians, though terrified at the report, did not run away,
but their astonishment exceeded their alarm, on looking at the shield
which the ball had perforated. As this produced a little shyness, the officer,
to dissipate their fears and remove their jealousy, whistled the air
of Malbrooke, which they appeared highly charmed with, and imitated him
with equal pleasure and readiness. I cannot help remarking here,
what I was afterwards told by Monsieur De Perrouse, that the natives
of California, and throughout all the islands of the Pacific Ocean,
and in short wherever he had been, seemed equally touched and delighted
with this little plaintive air.
CHAPTER IX.
The taking Possession of Port Jackson,
with the Disembarkation of the Marines and Convicts.
Our passage to Port Jackson took up but few hours, and those were spent
far from unpleasantly. The evening was bright, and the prospect before us
such as might justify sanguine expectation. Having passed between the capes
which form its entrance, we found ourselves in a port superior, in extent
and excellency, to all we had seen before. We continued to run up the harbour
about four miles, in a westerly direction, enjoying the luxuriant prospect
of its shores, covered with trees to the water's edge, among which many
of the Indians were frequently seen, till we arrived at a small snug cove
on the southern side, on whose banks the plan of our operations
was destined to commence.
The landing of a part of the marines and convicts took place the next day,
and on the following, the remainder was disembarked. Business now sat
on every brow, and the scene, to an indifferent spectator, at leisure
to contemplate it, would have been highly picturesque and amusing.
In one place, a party cutting down the woods; a second, setting up
a blacksmith's forge; a third, dragging along a load of stones or provisions;
here an officer pitching his marquee, with a detachment of troops parading
on one side of him, and a cook's fire blazing up on the other. Through the
unwearied diligence of those at the head of the different departments,
regularity was, however, soon introduced, and, as far as the unsettled state
of matters would allow, confusion gave place to system.
Into the head of the cove, on which our establishment is fixed, runs
a small stream of fresh water, which serves to divide the adjacent country
to a little distance, in the direction of north and south. On the eastern side
of this rivulet the Governor fixed his place of residence, with a large body
of convicts encamped near him; and on the western side was disposed
the remaining part of these people, near the marine encampment.
From this last two guards, consisting of two subalterns, as many serjeants,
four corporals, two drummers, and forty-two private men, under the orders
of a Captain of the day, to whom all reports were made, daily mounted
for the public security, with such directions to use force, in case
of necessity, as left no room for those who were the object of the order,
but to remain peaceable, or perish by the bayonet.
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