Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/236

 198 THE NATIVES. 1790 BenniloDg pacific intentions explained.*^ The reasoning of the native was very natural. Phillip had caused several of them to be captured, and when he advanced with outstretched hands to the one with whom he wished to make friends, it was not strange that his object should have been misinterpreted. It happened that Bennilong, one of the captured natives, who had escaped a few weeks before, was among the natives at the time, and it was probably owing to his representa- tions, as well as to the judicious conduct of the Governor, that good instead of harm came of the encounter. While Phillip was recovering from his wound, Bennilong was in- duced to return to the settlement as a visitor. He brought three other natives with him, and was so pleased with his reception that he took up his residence at Sydney, in a hut built for him at the eastern point of the cove. This point, on which Port Macquarie now stands, was until recent years known as Bennilong Point.t Bennilong' s return led to the establishment of amicable One instance of the f riend- A small boat belonging to the chief surgeon, Mr. White, was taken by five convicts to fish in the harbour, and was lost with all hands near Middle Head. Portions of the boat were washed ashore, and were found by the natives, who, instead of appro- priating them, placed them in positions from which they might easily be seen from boats passing up and down the harbour.J t " Bennilong, after appointing sereral days to visit the Qovemor, came afe last, on the 8tk [October, 1790], attended by three of his companions. The welcome reception they met with from everyone who saw them inspired the strangers with such a confidence in us that the visit was soon repeated ; and at length Bennilong solicited the GK>vernor to build him a hut at the extremity of the eastern point of the cove. This, the GK)vemor, who was very desirous of preserving the friendly intercourse which seemed to have taken plaoe» readily promised, and gave the necessary directions for its being built." — Collins, vol. i, p. 137. t " The first information that any accident had happened was given by the natiref, who had secured the rudder, mast, an oar, and other parts of the resides at Sydney. Establish. of amicable relations with the native tribes, relations. liness of the blacks is specially noticed by Collins.
 * See Vol. i, p. 124 ; Historical Becords, toI. ii, p. 603.