Watkin Tench's 1788 (13 page)

Our cultivation of the land was yet in its infancy. We had hitherto tried only the country contiguous to Sydney. Here the governor had established a government farm, at the head of which a competent person of his own household was placed, with convicts to work under him. Almost the whole of the officers likewise accepted of small tracts of ground for the purpose of raising grain and vegetables, but experience proved to us that the soil would produce neither without manure and, as this was not to be procured, our vigour soon slackened and most of the farms (among which was the one belonging to government) were successively abandoned.

With the natives we were very little more acquainted than on our arrival in the country. Our intercourse with them was neither frequent or cordial. They seemed studiously to avoid us, either from fear, jealousy or hatred. When they met with unarmed stragglers they sometimes killed and sometimes wounded them. I confess that, in common with many others, I was inclined to attribute this conduct to a spirit of malignant levity. But a farther acquaintance with them, founded on several instances of their humanity and generosity (which shall be noticed in their proper places), has entirely reversed my opinion and led me to conclude that the unprovoked outrages committed upon them by unprincipled individuals among us caused the evils we had experienced. To prevent them from being plundered of their fishing-tackle and weapons of war, a proclamation was issued forbidding their sale among us, but it was not attended with the good effect which was hoped for from it.

During this period, notwithstanding the want of fresh provisions and vegetables and almost constant exposure to the vicissitudes of a variable climate, disease rarely attacked us and the number of deaths was too inconsiderable to deserve mention.

Norfolk Island had been taken possession of by a party detached for that purpose early after our arrival. Few accounts of it had yet reached us and here I beg leave to observe that as I can speak of this island only from the relations of others (never having myself been there), I shall in every part of this work mention it as sparingly as possible. And this more especially as it seems probable that some of those gentlemen, who from accurate knowledge and long residence on it are qualified to write its history, will oblige the world with such a publication.

†
William Shakespeare,
Henry V
, iv, i, 40: ‘Trail'st thou the puissant pike?'

††
Source unidentified.

*
‘The Swedish prisoners, taken at the battle of Pultowa, were transported by the Czar Peter to the most remote parts of Siberia with a view to civilise the natives of the country and teach them the arts the Swedes possessed. In this hopeless situation all traces of discipline and subordination between the different ranks were quickly obliterated. The soldiers, who were husbandmen and artificers, found out their superiority, and assumed it; the officers became their servants.' Voltaire.

2

Transactions of the colony from the sailing of the first fleet in July 1788 to the close of that year

I
T
was impossible to behold without emotion the departure of the ships. On their speedy arrival in England perhaps hinged our fate, by hastening our supplies to us.

On the 20th of July, the
Supply
sailed for Norfolk Island and returned to us on the 26th of August, bringing no material news except that the soil was found to suit grain and other seeds, which had been sown in it, and that a species of flax plant was discovered to grow spontaneously on the island.

A survey of the harbour of Port Jackson was now undertaken in order to compute the number of canoes and inhabitants which it might contain. Sixty-seven canoes and 147 people were counted. No estimate, however, of even tolerable accuracy can be drawn from so imperfect a datum, though it was perhaps the best in our power to acquire.

In July and August we experienced more inclement, tempestuous weather than had been observed at any former period of equal duration. And yet it deserves to be remarked, in honour of the climate, that although our number of people exceeded 900, not a single death happened in the latter month.

The dread of want in a country destitute of natural resource is ever peculiarly terrible. We had long turned our eyes with impatience towards the sea, cheered by the hope of seeing supplies from England approach. But, none arriving, on the 2nd of October the
Sirius
sailed for the Cape of Good Hope, with directions to purchase provisions there for the use of our garrison.

A new settlement, named by the governor Rose Hill, sixteen miles inland, was established on the 3rd of November, the soil here being judged better than that around Sydney. A small redoubt was thrown up and a captain's detachment posted in it to protect the convicts who were employed to cultivate the ground.

The two last of the transports left us for England on the 19th of November, intending to make their passage by Cape Horn. There now remained with us only the
Supply
. Sequestered and cut off as we were from the rest of civilised nature, their absence carried the effect of desolation.

About this time a convict of the name of Daly was hanged, for a burglary. This culprit, who was a notorious thief and impostor, was the author of a discovery of a gold mine a few months before. A composition resembling ore mingled with earth, which he pretended to have brought from it, he produced. After a number of attendant circumstances too ludicrous and contemptible to relate, which befell a party who were sent under his guidance to explore this second Peru, he at last confessed that he had broken up an old pair of buckles and mixed the pieces with sand and stone. On essaying the composition, the brass was detected. The fate of this fellow I should not deem worth recording did it not lead to the following observation, that the utmost circumspection is necessary to prevent imposition in those who give accounts of what they see in unknown countries. We found the convicts particularly happy in fertility of invention and exaggerated descriptions. Hence large freshwater rivers, valuable ores, and quarries of limestone, chalk and marble were daily proclaimed soon after we had landed. At first we hearkened with avidity to such accounts, but perpetual disappointments taught us to listen with caution and to believe from demonstration only.

Unabated animosity continued to prevail between the natives and us. In addition to former losses, a soldier and several convicts suddenly disappeared and were never afterwards heard of. Three convicts were also wounded and one killed by them, near Botany Bay. Similar to the vindictive spirit which Mr Cook found to exist among their countrymen at Endeavour River, they more than once attempted to set fire to combustible matter in order to annoy us.

Early on the morning of the 18th of December, word was brought that they were assembled in force near the brick-kilns, which stand but a mile from the town of Sydney. The terror of those who brought the first intelligence magnified the number to two thousand. A second messenger diminished it to four hundred. A detachment under the command of an officer was ordered to march immediately and reconnoitre them. The officer soon returned and reported that about fifty Indians had appeared at the brick-kilns; but upon the convicts, who were at work there, pointing their spades and shovels at them, in the manner of guns, they had fled into the woods.

Tired of this state of petty warfare and endless uncertainty, the governor at length determined to adopt a decisive measure by capturing some of them and retaining them by force, which we supposed would either inflame the rest to signal vengeance (in which case we should know the worst, and provide accordingly) or else it would induce an intercourse, by the report which our prisoners would make of the mildness and indulgence with which we used them. And farther, it promised to unveil the cause of their mysterious conduct, by putting us in possession of their reasons for harassing and destroying our people in the manner I have related. Boats were accordingly ordered to be got ready and every preparation made which could lead to the attainment of our object.

But as this subject deserves to be particularly detailed, I shall, notwithstanding its being just within the period of time which this chapter professes to comprise, allot it a separate place in the beginning of the next.

Nor can I close this part of my work without congratulating both the reader and the author. New matter now presents itself. A considerable part of the foregoing chapters had been related before, either by others or myself. I was however, unavoidably compelled to insert it in order to preserve unbroken that chain of detail and perspicuity of arrangement at which books professing to convey information should especially aim.

3

Transactions of the colony from the commencement of the year 1789 until the end of March

P
URSUANT
to his resolution, the governor on the 31st of December sent two boats, under the command of Lieutenant Ball of the
Supply
and Lieutenant George Johnston of the marines, down the harbour with directions to those officers to seize and carry off some of the natives. The boats proceeded to Manly Cove, where several Indians were seen standing on the beach, who were enticed by courteous behaviour and a few presents to enter into conversation. A proper opportunity being presented, our people rushed in among them, and seized two men. The rest fled, but the cries of the captives soon brought them back, with many others, to their rescue, and so desperate were their struggles that in spite of every effort on our side, only one of them was secured; the other effected his escape. The boats put off without delay and an attack from the shore instantly commenced. They threw spears, stones, firebrands, and whatever else presented itself at the boats; nor did they retreat, agreeable to their former custom, until many muskets were fired over them.

The prisoner was now fastened by ropes to the thwarts of the boat and, when he saw himself irretrievably disparted from his countrymen, set up the most piercing and lamentable cries of distress. His grief, however, soon diminished. He accepted and ate of some broiled fish which was given to him and sullenly submitted to his destiny.

When the news of his arrival at Sydney was announced I went with every other person to see him. He appeared to be about thirty years old, not tall, but robustly made; and of a countenance which, under happier circumstances, I thought would display manliness and sensibility. His agitation was excessive and the clamorous crowds who flocked around him did not contribute to lessen it. Curiosity and observation seemed, nevertheless, not to have wholly deserted him. He showed the effect of novelty upon ignorance, he wondered at all he saw. Though broken and interrupted with dismay, his voice was soft and musical, when its natural tone could be heard; and he readily pronounced with tolerable accuracy the names of things which were taught him. To our ladies he quickly became extraordinarily courteous, a sure sign that his terror was wearing off.

Every blandishment was used to soothe him, and it had its effect. As he was entering the governor's house someone touched a small bell which hung over the door. He started with horror and astonishment, but in a moment after was reconciled to the noise and laughed at the cause of his perturbation. When pictures were shown to him, he knew directly those which represented the human figure. Among others, a very large handsome print of Her Royal Highness the Duchess 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 storey, 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 ‘
bengàdee
' (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.