按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
were dressing small fish； and their canoe hauled up on the beach near them。 On first seeing the boat； they ran into the woods； but on being called by name； they came back； and consented to our landing。 We carried on shore with us the remaining part of the fish…gigs and spears which had been stolen； and restored them to Baneelon。 Among other things； was a net full of fishing lines and other tackle； which Barangaroo said was her property and； immediately on receiving it； she slung it around her neck。
Baneelon inquired； with solicitude； about the state of the governor's wound； but he made no offer of restoring the dirk； and when he was asked for it； he pretended to know nothing of it； changing the conversation with great art； and asking for wine； which was given to him。
At parting； we pressed him to appoint a day on which he should come to Sydney； assuring him； that he would be well received； and kindly treated。 Doubtful； however； of being permitted to return； he evaded our request； and declared that the governor must first come and see him； which we promised should be done。
The governor did not hesitate to execute the engagement which we had contracted for him。 But Baneelon still resisted coming among us； and matters continued in this fluctuating state until the 8th of October； when a fire； which they had agreed to light as a signal for us to visit them； was observed。 The eager desire by which we were stimulated to carry our point of effecting an intercourse had appeared。 Various parties accordingly set out to meet them； provided with different articles； which we thought would prove acceptable to them。 We found assembled； Baneelon； Barangaroo； and another young woman； and six men； all of whom received us with welcome； except the grave looking gentleman before mentioned； who stood aloof in his former musing posture。 When they saw that we had brought hatchets； and other articles with us； they produced spears； fish…gigs； and lines； for the purpose of barter；* which immediately commenced； to the satisfaction of both parties。 I had brought with me an old blunted spear； which wanted repair。 An Indian immediately undertook to perform the task； and carrying it to a fire； tore with his teeth a piece of bone from a fish…gig； which he fastened on the spear with yellow gum； rendered flexible by heat。
＇*It had long been our wish to establish a commerce of this sort。 It is a painful consideration； that every previous addition to the cabinet of the virtuosi； from this country； had wrung a tear from the plundered Indian。＇
October； 1790。 Many of them now consented to be shaved by a barber whom we had purposely brought over。 As I thought he who could perform an operation of such importance must be deemed by them an eminent personage； I bade him ask one of them for a fine barbed spear which he held in his hand； but all the barber's eloquence was wasted on the Indian； who plainly gave him to understand that he meant not to part with his spear； without receiving an equivalent。 Unfortunately； his price was a hatchet； and the only one which I had brought with me was already disposed of to the man who had pointed my spear。 In vain did I tempt him with a knife； a handkerchief； and a hat； nothing but a hatchet seemed to be regarded。 'Bulla mogo parrabugo' （two hatchets to…morrow） I repeatedly cried； but having probably experienced our insincerity； he rejected the proposal with disdain。 Finding him inflexible； and longing to possess the spear； I told him at length that I would go to Sydney and fetch what he required。 This seemed to satisfy； and he accompanied me to my boat； in which I went away； and as quickly as possible procured what was necessary to conclude the bargain。 On my return； I was surprised to see all our boats rowing towards home； and with them a canoe； in which sat two Indians paddling。 I pulled to them； and found that Baneelon； and another Indian； were in one of the boats； and that the whole formed a party going over to visit the governor。 I now learned； that during my absence； the governor had passed in a boat； on his return from Rose Hill； near the place where they were standing； and that finding he would not come to them； although they had called to him to do so； they had at once determined to venture themselves unreservedly among us。 One of the men in the canoe was the person to whom I was to give the hatchet I had been to fetch； and directly as he saw me； he held up his spear； and the exchange took place； with which； and perhaps to reward me for the trouble I had taken； he was so delighted that he presented me with a throwing…stick 'gratis'。
Not seeing Barangaroo of the party； I asked for her； and was informed that she had violently opposed Baneelon's departure。 When she found persuasion vain； she had recourse to tears； scolding； and threats； stamping the ground； and tearing her hair。 But Baneelon continuing determined； she snatched up in her rage one of his fish…gigs； and dashed it with such fury on the rocks； that it broke。 To quiet her apprehensions on the score of her husband's safety； Mr。 Johnson； attended by Abaroo； agreed to remain as a hostage until Baneelon should return。
We landed our four friends opposite the hospital； and set out for the governor's house。 On hearing of their arrival； such numbers flocked to view them that we were apprehensive the crowd of persons would alarm them； but they had left their fears behind； and marched on with boldness and unconcern。 When we reached the governor's house； Baneelon expressed honest joy to see his old friend； and appeared pleased to find that he had recovered of his wound。 The governor asked for Wileemarin； and they said he was at Broken Bay。 Some bread and beef were distributed among them but unluckily no fish was to be procured； which we were sorry for； as a promise of it had been one of the leading temptations by which they had been allured over。 A hatchet apiece was； however； given to them； and a couple of petticoats and some fishing tackle sent for Barangaroo； and the other woman。
The ceremony of introduction being finished； Baneelon seemed to consider himself quite at home； running from room to room with his companions； and introducing them to his old friends； the domestics； in the most familiar manner。 Among these last； he particularly distinguished the governor's orderly sergeant； whom he kissed with great affection； and a woman who attended in the kitchen； but the gamekeeper； M'Entire*； he continued to hold in abhorrence； and would not suffer his approach。
＇*Look at the account of the governor being wounded； when his detestation of this man burst forth。＇
Nor was his importance to his countrymen less conspicuous in other respects。 He undertook to explain the use and nature of those things which were new to them。 Some of his explanations were whimsical enough。 Seeing； for instance； a pair of snuffers； he told them that they were 〃Nuffer* for candle；〃which the others not comprehending； he opened the snuffers； and holding up the fore…finger of his left hand； to represent a candle； made the motion of snuffing it。 Finding； that even this sagacious interpretation failed； he threw down the snuffers in a rage； and reproaching their stupidity； walked away。
＇*The S is a letter which they cannot pronounce； having no sound in their language similar to it。 When bidden to pronounce sun； they always say tun； salt； talt； and so of all words wherein it occurs。＇
It was observed； that a soft gentle tone of voice； which we had taught him to use； was forgotten； and his native vociferation returned in full force。 But the tenderness which （like Arabanoo） he had always manifested to children； he still retained； as appeared by his behaviour to those who were presented to him。
The first wish they expressed to return； was complied with； in order to banish all appearance of constraint； the party who had conducted them to Sydney returning with them。 When we reached the opposite shore； we found Abaroo and the other woman fishing in a canoe； and Mr。 Johnson and Barangaroo sitting at the fire； the latter employed in manufacturing fish…hooks。 At a little distance； on an adjoining eminence； sat an Indian； with his spear in his hand； as if sentinel over the hostages； for the security of his countrymen's return。 During our absence； Barangaroo had never ceased whining； and reproaching her husband。 Now that he was returned； she met him with unconcern； and seemed intent on her work only； but this state of repose did not long continue。 Baneelon； eyeing the broken fish…gig； cast at her a look of savage fury and began to interrogate her； and it seemed more than probable that the remaining part would be demolished about her head had we not interposed to pacify him。 Nor would we quit the place until his forgiveness was complete； and his good humour restored。 No sooner； however； did she find her husband's rage subsided； than her hour of triumph commenced。 The alarm and trepidation she had manifested disappeared。 Elated at his condescension； and emboldened by our presence and the finery in which we had decked her； she in turn assumed a haughty demeanour； refused to answer his caresses； and viewed him with a reproaching eye。 Although long absence from fem