Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/161

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that he was ^oin^ to seize him as a prisoner, Hffced a spear from the grass with his foot, and fixing it on his throwing- stick, in an instant darted it at the Governor/' As on two occasions natives had heen violently seized by Pliilhp's command, the fears of the savage were not unnatural. The fipear entered above the cohar-bone, and the barb passed out at Philhp's back. Other spears w^ere thrown, but with- out effetit. The boatmen lancled with their muskets, only one of whic*h would go off. The Governor's party retired, Lt. Waterhouse having with difficulty broken the offending spear^— and in about two hours the trovernor reached Sydney, where the spear was extracted, and the wound pro- nounced not mortal. Phillip gave strict orders that the natives should not be tired at.^ The untoward occurrence, which might have embittered more and more the relations between the whites and blacks, really led to their improve- ment, Bennilong promptly resumed intercourse with the settle- aent. The native girl, who had been kindly treated, and lived with the clergyman's wife, played her part in bringing about a reconciliation. Some officers accompanied her to the North Shore to meet Bennilong and his friends, and Bennilong declared that he had severely beaten Willemering lor wounding the Governor, hut that the spear had been thrown by Willemering under the influence of fear, ami an impulse of self-preservation- In ten days the Governor himself, with an armed party, visited Bennilong, and received his explanations^ presenting at the same time to the natives some hsh taken the preceding day, when the largest quantity ever caught (nearly 4000 of 51bs, average weight) had been taken *' in two hauls of the seine." I Proof that the Governor was not angered by the assault iupon him bore appro^iriate fruit. Bennilong, after some days, kept his promise to visit the Governor; and being now con- vinced of Phillip's sincerity, applied in October for a hut in the settlement. Ii was built for him of bricks twelve feet square. In November lie took possession of ii, and Philhp's ^kindness and perseverance were rewarded by the establish- " aent of complete and friendly communication. Writing on Summary of PbiUifi'ia Despatches, HmiUft Journal, p. 4B4» 1793, Quarto eiiition.