Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/154

 great loyalty, and accepting La Perouse's declaration that only necessity induced him to allow the natives to be fired at, Phillip, nevertheless, recorded his mortification at these untoward events. Thefts, and assaults upon the native women, by convicts, who (Collins writes) "were everywhere straggling about," were indeed sufficient to provoke ill- feeling without the addition of violence with fire-arms. In March, 1788, several convicts came in from the woods, one wounded with a spear, others much bruised. They denied (but Collins said there was too much reason to believe) that they had been the aggressors, as Phillip on returning from an excursion found natives shy who had formerly been friendly, and who, after much invitation, pointed to bruises upon their bodies.

By the 21st May, 1788, violence had reached the phase of murder; a convict's clothes were brought in bloody and pierced with spears. Phillip wrote: "I have not any doubt that the natives have killed him, nor have I the least doubt of the convicts being the aggressors." On the 30th of the same month two more convicts were found killed. The annalist says: "As it was improbable that these murders should be committed without provocation, inquiry was made, and it appeared that these unfortunate men had a few days previous to their being found, taken away and detained a canoe belonging to the natives, for which act of violence and injustice they paid with their lives." Phillip went to the spot with an armed party. On returning he met about 200 natives, but had no means of discovering murderers among them. He wrote to Lord Sydney: "Whether from their superiority of numbers, for we were only twelve, or from their not being accustomed to act with treachery, the moment the friendship I offered was accepted on their side they joined us, most of them laying down their spears and stone-hatchets with the greatest confidence." Phillip sighed for more efficient guards over the convicts, and for more faithful co-operation on the part of the commanding officer of the marines.