Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/393

THE NATIVES. 281 importance^ it is not surprising to find the greater part of 1788 Phillip's despatch occupied with extracts from his journal on i^ May. the subject. The interest he took in it is evident from the tone of his remarks. He seems not to have lost any op- portunity of going among the natives whenever and wherever The native they were to be met with, making particular inquiries into their habits and customs, and endeavouring by every means in his power to conciliate them. Notwithstanding the dis- turbances which took place occasionally between them and the people under his command, his efforts to establish good relations with the savages were tolerably successful. Writing in 1796, Collins related (p. 543) that after many untoward occurrences and a considerable lapse of time, that friendly intercourse with the natives which had been so earnestly desired was at length established ; and having J|*J{J^ , never been materially interrupted, these remote islanders poucy. have been shown living in considerable numbers among us without fear or restraint ; acquiring our language ; readily falling in with our manners and customs; enjoying the comforts of our clothing, and relishing the variety of our food. We saw them die in our houses, and the places of the deceased instantly filled by others, who observed nothing in the fate of their predecessors to deter them from living with us, and placing that entire confidence in us which it was our interest and our pleasure to cultivate." With respect to the natives, it waw my determination from my first landing that nothing less than the most absolute necessity should ever make- me fire iipon them, and though preserving this ^*^"«f^" resolution has at times been rather difficult, I have hitherto been so fortunate that it never has been necessary. Mons. La P^rouse while at Botany Bay was not so fortunate ; he was obliged to fire on them, in consequence of which, with the bad behaviour of some of the transports' boats and some convicts, the natives have lately avoided us, but proper measures are taken to regain their confidence. The few hours I have to collect and put into method the obser- vations I liave made of these people will, I hope, excuse me to your pwnip's lordship for sending only extracts from my journal, as they have ^^^*™*^ Digitized by Google