Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/227

 AND THE NATIVES. 123 friendly. We relanded on Lance Point [so named by King from 1788 the lance having been thrown to frighten him] and the same body of natives appeared, brandishing their.lances and defying us. How- ever, we rowed close in shore, and the Governor disembarked with Phuiiii's some presents, which one of them came and received. Thus peace "^p**"^ was established, much to the satisfaction of all parties. Phillip had no diflSculty in making friends of the men wbom King found it necessary to frighten with gunpowder. Why tbp natives readily made peace with one man while they repelled the other, is a question that can only be answered in one way. The result could not have been owing to any other cause than Phillip's tact, courage, and self-possession Hiatact and in dealing with them.* Another instance of his success may be seen in the incident which occurred on a subsequent occasion. Having set out in search of some natives who had killed two men at Eushcutters' Bay, he suddenly came upon a large number of them, "and in less than three minutes we were surrounded by two hundred and twelve men." It was a critical moment, and no doubt he felt the danger of his position : — Had I gone up to them with all the party, though only twelve, a critical or hesitated a moment, a lance would have been thrown, and it "^™*^" • would have been impossible to have avoided a dispute. Fortunately, he had time enough to halt his men while he advanced alone, and by that means he avoided the collision coUision which otherwise would have been inevitable. The event justified his theory that the only means of warding off a conflict with the natives was to place confidence in them. Another instance of his coolness in these cases may be found in his account of a trip to Broken Bay. A native At Broken who had shown signs of friendship towards the white men, ** having helped himself to a spade, was promptly corrected by Phillip, who gave him two or three slaps on the shoulder and pushed him away. sonal address, as well as by the great care and attention of the Governor." — Phillip's Voyage, p. 44. ^ Digitized by Google
 * ''This very pleasing effect was produced in no small degree by the per-