第26章

'Bulla mogo parrabugo'(two hatchets to-morrow)I repeatedly cried;but having probably experienced our insincerity,he rejected the proposal with disdain.

Finding him inflexible,and longing to possess the spear,I told him at length that I would go to Sydney and fetch what he required.This seemed to satisfy,and he accompanied me to my boat,in which I went away,and as quickly as possible procured what was necessary to conclude the bargain.

On my return,I was surprised to see all our boats rowing towards home,and with them a canoe,in which sat two Indians paddling.I pulled to them,and found that Baneelon,and another Indian,were in one of the boats,and that the whole formed a party going over to visit the governor.

I now learned,that during my absence,the governor had passed in a boat,on his return from Rose Hill,near the place where they were standing;

and that finding he would not come to them,although they had called to him to do so,they had at once determined to venture themselves unreservedly among us.One of the men in the canoe was the person to whom I was to give the hatchet I had been to fetch;and directly as he saw me,he held up his spear,and the exchange took place,with which,and perhaps to reward me for the trouble I had taken,he was so delighted that he presented me with a throwing-stick 'gratis'.

Not seeing Barangaroo of the party,I asked for her,and was informed that she had violently opposed Baneelon's departure.When she found persuasion vain,she had recourse to tears,scolding,and threats,stamping the ground,and tearing her hair.But Baneelon continuing determined,she snatched up in her rage one of his fish-gigs,and dashed it with such fury on the rocks,that it broke.To quiet her apprehensions on the score of her husband's safety,Mr.Johnson,attended by Abaroo,agreed to remain as a hostage until Baneelon should return.

We landed our four friends opposite the hospital,and set out for the governor's house.On hearing of their arrival,such numbers flocked to view them that we were apprehensive the crowd of persons would alarm them,but they had left their fears behind,and marched on with boldness and unconcern.When we reached the governor's house,Baneelon expressed honest joy to see his old friend,and appeared pleased to find that he had recovered of his wound.The governor asked for Wileemarin,and they said he was at Broken Bay.Some bread and beef were distributed among them but unluckily no fish was to be procured,which we were sorry for,as a promise of it had been one of the leading temptations by which they had been allured over.A hatchet apiece was,however,given to them,and a couple of petticoats and some fishing tackle sent for Barangaroo,and the other woman.

The ceremony of introduction being finished,Baneelon seemed to consider himself quite at home,running from room to room with his companions,and introducing them to his old friends,the domestics,in the most familiar manner.Among these last,he particularly distinguished the governor's orderly sergeant,whom he kissed with great affection,and a woman who attended in the kitchen;but the gamekeeper,M'Entire,he continued to hold in abhorrence,and would not suffer his approach.