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

 the 13th Feb. 1790, Phillip said: "Bennilong lives with me, and will soon be able to inform us of their customs and manners." As Phillip mentions that Bennilong had "recovered from the small-pox before" he was captured, the evidence obtained from Bennilong must have been useful to the medical gentlemen who, according to Jamison (the principal surgeon) believed that the disease was introduced by the French.

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 never fired at a native except on one occasion, when he "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 might always trust, them. Another party sallied out at night to surprise the natives at their fires, 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 number. Bennilong had returned to Sydney when the avenging expedition was sent against his countrymen. Captain Tench, who 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, but in June 1791, the wanton destruction of a canoe of a native who had left it while he went with fish to the township, enraged its owner, Baloodery, beyond all bounds. He threatened to revenge himself on all white men. It was of no avail that the government punished the six offenders, and tried to delude him into the belief that one had been hanged. The