A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson | Page 9

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 buoyant,
that he was unable to get more than his head under water: a boat was
immediately dispatched after him, and picked him up, though not
without struggles and resistance on his side. When brought on board,

he appeared neither afraid or ashamed of what he had done, but sat
apart, melancholy and dispirited, and continued so until he saw the
governor and his other friends descend into a boat, and heard himself
called upon to accompany them: he sprang forward, and his
cheerfulness and alacrity of temper immediately returned, and lasted
during the remainder of the day. The dread of being carried away, on an
element of whose boundary he could form no conception, joined to the
uncertainty of our intention towards him, unquestionably caused him to
act as he did.
One of the principal effects which we had supposed the seizure and
captivity of Arabanoo would produce, seemed yet at as great a distance
as ever; the natives neither manifested signs of increased hostility on
his account, or attempted to ask any explanation of our