Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/158

ing men and a boy and girl were, with Arabanoo's help, taken to a hut in the settlement. The men died, but the children recovered. We are told by Captain Hunter, that from the moment of their introduction Arabanoo's solicitude excited admiration, and that when he fell a victim to the disease "every person in the settlement was much concerned for the loss of this man."

Even while Arabanoo was alive, hostilites had not ceased, and enraged by the "death of a convict," sixteen others went off (March 1789) to avenge themselves upon any natives they could meet. They encountered some, who killed one of them and wounded six others. The Governor sent out an armed party under an officer, who found the dead convict, and a boy left also for dead.

"The day following, the Governor, judging it highly necessary to make examples of these misguided people, who had so daringly and flagrantly broken through every order which had been given to prevent their interfering with the natives as to form a party expressly to meet with and attack them, directed that those who were not wounded should receive each one hundred and fifty lashes, and wear a fetter for a twelvemonth the like punishment was directed to be inflicted upon those who were in the hospital as soon as they should recover from their wounds; in pursuance of which order seven of them were tied up in front of the provision store, and punished (for example's sake) in the presence of all the convicts."

It was about this time that Major Ross had made his obstructiveness oppressive to the Governor, that famine was severe, and that six marines were executed for robbing the rapidly-diminishing stores, and one cannot but sympathize with the gallant bearing of Phillip under his many-sided difficulties. To maintain a firm front towards the natives, while the convicts were being punished, he sent out two armed parties" one toward Botany Bay, the other in a different direction, that the natives might see that their late act of violence would neither intimidate nor prevent us from moving beyond the settlement whenever occasion required." Such is the testimony of one witness. Phillip afterwards wrote:—

"From the time our native died orders have been given to take another whenever an opportunity offered; but the men were always on their guard, and I was desirous of its being done without the necessity of firing on them. Towards the end of November two natives were taken, and one of them proved to be a chief who had been frequently mentioned to us as a great warrior. The necessary precautions were taken to prevent their