Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/162

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the VSth Feb. 179D, Pliillip said: '* Benniloiig lives with me, and will soon be able to inform ns of their customs and manners/' As Pbilhp mentions that Bemiilong had ** re- covered from the small-pox before" he was captured, the evidence obtained from Bennilong must have been useful to the medical n;entlemen who, according to Jamison (the principal sur^^eon) l)eiieved that the disease was introduced by the Freneh. In December a convict employed in shooting game was speared by a notable warrior, Pemulwy. The man averred that he had given no provocation, and had nevx^r tired at a native except on one occasion, when be possibly wounded the spearman/ Pemulwy, Phillip was by this time able to show his sense of justice without appearing revengeful, and sent out two armed parties to punish the offender. They were out four days, but failed in their object **to destroy or make prisoners of six of the offending tribe." It is notice- able that at this time Phillip was so far trusted by the natives, that several of them remained contentedly in the settlement while the avenging army (for it contained fifty- two persons) went against their countrymen. He who was true to his word, when once known to the natives, was always trusted by, and miglit always trust, them. Another party sallied out at night to surprise the natives at their lires, but after two days they returned without having seen one native. Phillip issued an order on this occasion to the effect that he would make a severe example of natives wounding anyone ; and declared that the troops would put six natives to death if they could not capture that niunber. Bennilong had returned to Sychiey wdien the avenging expedition was sent against his countrymen. Captain Tench, wlio commanded the expedition, said that the slain convict *'had long been suspected by us, of having, in his excursions, shot and injured them." At Parramatta good feeling existed generally, hut in June 171)1, the wanton destruction of a canoe of a native who had left it while he went with iish to the townsliip, enraged its owner, Baloodery, beyond all bounds. He tbreatened to revenge himself on all white men. It w^as of no avail that the government punished the six offenders, and tried to delude hhn into the belief that one had been hanged. Th©