Farther Transactions of the Colony in November, 1790.
During the intervals of duty, our greatest source of entertainment now
lay in cultivating the acquaintance of our new friends, the natives. Ever
liberal of communication, no difficulty but of understanding each other
subsisted between us. Inexplicable contradictions arose to bewilder our
researches which no ingenuity could unravel and no credulity reconcile.
Baneelon, from being accustomed to our manners, and understanding a little
English, was the person through whom we wished to prosecute inquiry, but he
had lately become a man of so much dignity and consequence, that it was not
always easy to obtain his company. Clothes had been given to him at various
times, but he did not always condescend to wear them. One day he would
appear in them, and the next day he was to be seen carrying them in a net
slung around his neck. Farther to please him, a brick house of twelve feet
square was built for his use, and for that of such of his countrymen as
might choose to reside in it, on a point of land fixed upon by himself. A
shield, double cased with tin, to ward off the spears of his enemies, was
also presented to him, by the governor.
Elated by these marks of favour, and sensible that his importance with his
countrymen arose in proportion to our patronage of him, he warmly attached
himself to our society. But the gratitude of a savage is ever a precarious
tenure. That of Baneelon was fated to suffer suspension, and had well nigh
been obliterated by the following singular circumstance.
One day the natives were observed to assemble in more than an ordinary
number at their house on the point, and to be full of bustle and agitation,
repeatedly calling on the name of Baneelon, and that of 'deein' (a woman).
Between twelve and one o'clock Baneelon, unattended, came to the governor
at his house, and told him that he was going to put to death a woman
immediately, whom he had brought from Botany Bay. Having communicated
his intention, he was preparing to go away, seeming not to wish that the
governor should be present at the performance of the ceremony. But His
Excellency was so struck with the fierce gestures, and wild demeanour of
the other, who held in his hand one of our hatchets and frequently tried
the sharpness of it, that he determined to accompany him, taking with him
Mr. Collins and his orderly sergeant. On the road, Baneelon continued
to talk wildly and incoherently of what he would do, and manifested such
extravagant marks of fury and revenge, that his hatchet was taken away from
him, and a walking-stick substituted for it.
When they reached the house, they found several natives, of both sexes
lying promiscuously before the fire, and among them a young woman, not
more than sixteen years old, who at sight of Baneelon, started, and raised
herself half up. He no sooner saw her than, snatching a sword of the
country, he ran at her, and gave her two severe wounds on the head and one
on the shoulder, before interference in behalf of the poor wretch could
be made. Our people now rushed in and seized him; but the other Indians
continued quiet spectators of what was passing, either awed by Baneelon's
superiority or deeming it a common case, unworthy of notice and
interposition. In vain did the governor by turns soothe and threaten him.
In vain did the sergeant point his musquet at him. He seemed dead to every
passion but revenge; forgot his affection to his old friends and, instead
of complying with the request they made, furiously brandished his sword
at the governor, and called aloud for his hatchet to dispatch the unhappy
victim of his barbarity. Matters now wore a serious aspect. The other
Indians appeared under the control of Baneelon and had begun to arm and
prepare their spears, as if determined to support him in his violence.
Farther delay might have been attended with danger. The 'Supply' was
therefore immediately hailed, and an armed boat ordered to be sent on
shore. Luckily, those on board the ship had already observed the commotion
and a boat was ready, into which captain Ball, with several of his people
stepped, armed with musquets, and put off. It was reasonable to believe
that so powerful a reinforcement would restore tranquillity, but Baneelon
stood unintimidated at disparity of numbers and boldly demanded his
prisoner, whose life, he told the governor, he was determined to sacrifice,
and afterwards to cut off her head. Everyone was eager to know what could
be the cause of such inveterate inhumanity. Undaunted, he replied that her
father was his enemy, from whom he had received the wound in his forehead
beforementioned; and that when he was down in battle, and under the lance
of his antagonist, this woman had contributed to assail him. "She is now,"
added he, "my property: I have ravished her by force from her tribe: and
I will part with her to no person whatever, until my vengeance shall be
glutted."
Farther remonstrance would have been wasted. His Excellency therefore
ordered the woman to be taken to the hospital in order that her wounds
might be dressed. While this was doing, one of the natives, a young man
named Boladeree, came up and supplicated to be taken into the boat also,
saying that he was her husband, which she confirmed and begged that he
might be admitted. He was a fine well grown lad, of nineteen or twenty
years old, and was one of the persons who had been in the house in the
scene just described, which he had in no wise endeavoured to prevent, or to
afford assistance to the poor creature who had a right to his protection.
All our people now quitted the place, leaving the exasperated Baneelon and
his associates to meditate farther schemes of vengeance. Before they parted
he gave them, however, to understand that he would follow the object of his
resentment to the hospital, and kill her there, a threat which the governor
assured him if he offered to carry into execution he should be immediately
shot. Even this menace he treated with disdain.
To place the refugees in security, a sentinel was ordered to take post
at the door of the house, in which they were lodged. Nevertheless they
attempted to get away in the night, either from fear that we were not
able to protect them, or some apprehension of being restrained from future
liberty. When questioned where they proposed to find shelter, they said
they would go to the Cameragal tribe, with whom they should be safe. On the
following morning, Imeerawanyee* joined them, and expressed strong fears of
Baneelon's resentment. Soon after a party of natives, known to consist of
Baneelon's chosen friends, with a man of the name of Bigon, at their head,
boldly entered the hospital garden, and tried to carry off all three by
force. They were driven back and threatened, to which their leader only
replied by contemptuous insolence.
[*This good-tempered lively lad, was become a great favourite with us, and
almost constantly lived at the governor's house. He had clothes made up for
him, and to amuse his mind, he was taught to wait at table. One day a lady,
Mrs. McArthur, wife of an officer of the garrison, dined there, as did
Nanbaree. This latter, anxious that his countryman should appear to
advantage in his new office, gave him many instructions, strictly charging
him, among other things, to take away the lady's plate, whenever she should
cross her knife and fork, and to give her a clean one. This Imeerawanyee
executed, not only to Mrs. McArthur, but to several of the other guests.
At last Nanbaree crossed his knife and fork with great gravity, casting a
glance at the other, who looked for a moment with cool indifference at
what he had done, and then turned his head another way. Stung at this
supercilious treatment, he called in rage, to know why he was not attended
to, as well as the rest of the company. But Imeerawanyee only laughed; nor
could all the anger and reproaches of the other prevail upon him to do
that for one of his countrymen, which he cheerfully continued to perform to
every other person.]
Baneelon finding he could not succeed, withdrew himself for two days. At
length he made his appearance, attended only by his wife. Unmindful of what
had so recently happened, he marched singly up to the governor's house,
and on being refused admittance, though unarmed, attempted to force the
sentinel. The soldier spared him, but the guard was instantly sent for, and
drawn up in front of the house; not that their co-operation was necessary,
but that their appearance might terrify. His ardour now cooled, and he
seemed willing, by submission, to atone for his misconduct. His intrepid
disregard of personal risk, nay of life, could not however, but gain
admiration; though it led us to predict, that this Baneelon, whom
imagination had fondly pictured, like a second Omai, the gaze of a court
and the scrutiny of the curious, would perish untimely, the victim of his
own temerity.
To encourage his present disposition of mind, and to try if feelings of
compassion towards an enemy, could be exerted by an Indian warrior, the
governor ordered him to be taken to the hospital, that he might see the
victim of his ferocity. He complied in sullen silence. When about to enter
the room in which she lay, he appeared to have a momentary struggle with
himself, which ended his resentment. He spoke to her with kindness, and
professed sorrow for what he had done, and promised her future protection.
Barangaroo, who had accompanied him, now took the alarm: and as in shunning
one extreme we are ever likely to rush into another, she thought him
perhaps too courteous and tender. Accordingly she began to revile them both
with great bitterness, threw stones at the girl and attempted to beat her
with a club.
Here terminated this curious history, which I leave to the reader's
speculation. Whether human sacrifices of prisoners be common among them
is a point which all our future inquiry never completely determined. It is
certain that no second instance of this sort was ever witnessed by us.