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a complete account of the settlement-第4章

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e; 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 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
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