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a complete account of the settlement-第3章

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 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。  But this must have been an erroneous conjecture; for the elephant; rhinoceros; and several others; which we must have discovered did they exist in the country; were of the number。  Again; on the other hand; those he did not point out; were equally unknown to him。

His curiosity here being satiated; we took him to a large brick house; which was building for the governor's residence:  being about to enter; he cast up his eyes; and seeing some people leaning out of a window on the first story; he exclaimed aloud; and testified the most extravagant surprise。  Nothing here was observed to fix his attention so strongly as some tame fowls; who were feeding near him:  our dogs also he particularly noticed; but seemed more fearful than fond of them。

He dined at a side…table at the governor's; and ate heartily of fish and ducks; which he first cooled。  Bread and salt meat he smelled at; but would not taste: all our liquors he treated in the same manner; and could drink nothing but water。  On being shown that he was not to wipe his hands on the chair which he sat upon; he used a towel which was gave to him; with great cleanliness and decency。

In the afternoon his hair was closely cut; his head combed; and his beard shaved; but he would not submit to these operations until he had seen them performed on another person; when he readily acquiesced。  His hair; as might be supposed; was filled with vermin; whose destruction seemed to afford him great triumph; nay; either revenge; or pleasure; prompted him to eat them! but on our expressing disgust and abhorrence he left it off。

To this succeeded his immersion in a tub of water and soap; where he was completely washed and scrubbed from head to foot; after which a shirt; a jacket; and a pair of trousers; were put upon him。  Some part of this ablution I had the honour to perform; in order that I might ascertain the real colour of the skin of these people。  My observation then was (and it has since been confirmed in a thousand other instances) that they are as black as the lighter cast of the African negroes。

Many unsuccessful attempts were made to learn his name; the governor therefore called him Manly; from the cove in which he was captured:  this cove had received its name from the manly undaunted behaviour of a party of natives seen there; on our taking possession of the country。

To prevent his escape; a handcuff with a rope attached to it; was fastened around his left wrist; which at first highly delighted him; he called it 'bengadee' (or ornament); but his delight changed to rage and hatred when he discovered its use。  His supper he cooked himself:  some fish were given to him for this purpose; which; without any previous preparation whatever; he threw carelessly on the fire; and when they became warm took them up; and first rubbed off the scales; peeled the outside with his teeth; and ate it; afterwards he gutted them; and laying them again on the fire; completed the dressing; and ate them。

A convict was selected to sleep with him; and to attend him wherever he might go。  When he went with his keeper into his apartment he appeared very restless and uneasy while a light was kept in; but on its extinction; he immediately lay down and composed himself。

Sullenness and dejection strongly marked his countenance on the following morning; to amuse him; he was taken around the camp; and to the observatory: casting his eyes to the opposite shore from the point where he stood; and seeing the smoke of fire lighted by his countrymen; he looked earnestly at it; and sighing deeply two or three times; uttered the word 'gweeun' (fire)。

His loss of spirits had not; however; the effect of impairing his appetite; eight fish; each weighing about a pound; constituted his breakfast; which he dressed as before。  When he had finished his repast; he turned his back to the fire in a musing posture; and crept so close to it; that his shirt was caught by the flame; luckily his keeper soon extinguished it; but he was so terrified at the accident; that he was with difficulty persuaded to put on a second。

1st。 January; 1789。  To…day being new…year's…day; most of the officers were invited to the governor's table:  Manly dined heartily on fish and roasted pork; he was seated on a chest near a window; out of which; when he had done eating; he would have thrown his plate; had he not been prevented:  during dinner…time a band of music played in an adjoining apartment; and after the cloth was removed; one of the company sang in a very soft and superior style; but the powers of melody were lost on Manly; which disappointed our expectations; as he had before shown pleasure and readiness in imitating our tunes。  Stretched out on his chest; and putting his hat under his head; he fell asleep。

To convince his countrymen that he had received no injury from us; the governor took him in a boat down the harbour; that they might see and converse with him:  when the boat arrived; and lay at a little distance from the beach; several Indians who had retired at her approach; on seeing Manly; returned:  he was greatly affected; and shed tears。 At length they began to converse。  Our ignorance of the language prevented us from knowing much of what passed; it was; however; easily understood that his friends asked him why he did not jump overboard; and rejoin them。 He only sighed; and pointed to the fetter on his leg; by which he was bound。

In going down the harbour he had described the names by which they distinguish its numerous creeks and headlands:  he was now often heard to repeat that of 'Weerong' (Sydney Cove); which was doubtless to inform his countrymen of the place of his captivity; and perhaps invite them to rescue him。 By this time his gloom was chased away; and he parted from his friends without testifying reluctance。  His vivacity and good humour continued all the evening; and produced so good an effect on his appetite; that he ate for supper two kangaroo rats; each of the size of a moderate rabbit; and in addition not less than three pounds of fish。

Two days after he was taken on a similar excursion; but to our surprise the natives kept aloof; and would neither approach the shore; or discourse with their countryman:  we could get no explanation of this difficulty; which seemed to affect us more than it did him。  Uncourteous as they were; he performed to them an act of attentive benevolence; seeing a basket made of bark; used by them to carry water; he conveyed into it two hawks and another bird; which the people in the boat had shot; and carefully covering them over; left them as a present to his old friends。  But indeed the gentleness and humanity of his disposition frequently displayed themselves: when our children; stimulated by wanton curiosity; used to flock around him; he never failed to fondle them; and; if he were eating at the time; constantly offered them the choicest part of his fare。

February; 1789。  His reserve; from want of confidence in us; continued gradually to wear away:  he told us his name; and Manly gave place to Arabanoo。  Bread he began to relish; and tea he drank with avidity: strong liquors he would never taste; turning from them with disgust and abhorrence。  Our dogs and cats had ceased to be objects of fear; and were become his greatest pets; and constant companions at table。 One of our chief amusements; after the cloth was removed; was to make him repeat the names of things in his language; which he never hesitated to do with the utmost alacrity; correcting our pronunciation when erroneous。 Much information relating to the customs and manners of his country was also gained from him:  but as this subject will be separately and amply treated; I shall not anticipate myself by partially touching on it here。

On the 2nd of February died Captain John Shea of the marines; after a lingering illness:  he was interred on the following day; with the customary military honours; amidst the regret of all who knew him。 In consequence of his decease; appointments for the promotion of the oldest officer of each subordinate rank were signed by the major commandant of the marine battalion; until the pleasure of the lords of the admiralty should be notified。*

'*These appointments were confirmed by the admiralty。'

On the 17th of February the 'Supply' again sailed for Norfolk Island。 The governor went down the harbour in her; and carried Arabanoo with him; who was observed to go on board with distrust and reluctance; when he found she was under sail; every effort was tried without success to exhilarate him; at length; an opportunity being presented; he plunged overboard; and struck out for the nearest shore:  believing that those who were left behind would fire at him; he attempted to dive; at which he was known to be very expert: but this was attended with a difficulty which he had not foreseen: his clothes proved so
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