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."
