After The Strictest Search The Governor
Was Obliged To Return Without Having Gained Any Information.
The laudable
perseverance of his Excellency to throw every light on this unhappy
and mysterious business did not, however
Stop here, for he instituted
the most rigorous inquiry to find out, if possible, whether the convicts had
at any time ill treated or killed any of the natives; and farther,
issued a proclamation, offering the most tempting of all rewards, a state of
freedom, to him who should point out the murderer, in case such an one existed.
I have thus impartially stated the situation of matters, as they stand,
while I write, between the natives and us; that greater progress in attaching
them to us has not been made, I have only to regret; but that all ranks of men
have tried to effect it, by every reasonable effort from which success might
have been expected, I can testify; nor can I omit saying, that in the higher
stations this has been eminently conspicuous. The public orders of
Governor Phillip have invariably tended to promote such a behaviour
on our side, as was most likely to produce this much wished-for event.
To what cause then are we to attribute the distance which the accomplishment
of it appears at? I answer, to the fickle, jealous, wavering disposition
of the people we have to deal with, who, like all other savages, are either
too indolent, too indifferent, or too fearful to form an attachment
on easy terms, with those who differ in habits and manners so widely
from themselves. Before I close the subject, I cannot, however, omit to relate
the following ludicrous adventure, which possibly may be of greater use
in effecting what we have so much at heart, than all our endeavours.
Some young gentlemen belonging to the Sirius one day met a native, an old man,
in the woods; he had a beard of considerable length, which his new acquaintance
gave him to understand, by signals, they would rid him of, if he pleased;
stroaking their chins, and shewing him the smoothness of them at the same time;
at length the old Indian consented, and one of the youngsters taking a penknife
from his pocket, and making use of the best substitute for lather
he could find, performed the operation with great success, and, as it proved,
much to the liking of the old man, who in a few days after reposed a confidence
in us, of which we had hitherto known no example, by paddling along-side
the Sirius in his canoe, and pointing to his beard. Various arts were
ineffectually tried to induce him to enter the ship; but as he continued
to decline the invitation, a barber was sent down into the boat along-side
the canoe, from whence, leaning over the gunnel, he complied with the wish
of the old beau, to his infinite satisfaction. In addition to the consequences
which our sanguine hopes led us to expect from this dawning of cordiality,
it affords proof, that the beard is considered by this people more as
an incumbrance than a mark of dignity.
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