Page:New history of Botanybay (sic) and Port Jackson.pdf/22

 English to retire; but seeing the Governor approach alone, unarmed, and in a friendly manner, he gave his spear away, and met him with perfect confidence; and, in less than three minutes, the English party found themselves surrounded by two hundred and twelve men; but nothing appeared of treachery in the inhabitants or taking any advantage of superiority of numbers; the moment the friendship was accepted, they laid down their spears and stone hatchets, and joined the party in a most amicable manner: numbers of women and children remained at a distance, but were brought down by the men to receive some presents, which were given them. And when they saw that the English were going towards the next Cove, one of them, an old man made signs that he might be allowed to go first. He ascended the hill, called out, holding up both his hands, signifying to the natives, that they who were advancing were friends. The Governor saw about forty men; and from the parties he had seen in Botany-Bay, Port-Jackson, and Broken-Bay, he was of opinion the inhabitants could not exceed one thousand, five hundred: and in crossing the hills at this time, smoke was seen on the top of Lansdown-Hills, which show that the country is inhabited as far as those mountains, no less than fifty miles from the sea.

The natives of New Holland seem to have no great aversion to the new settlers; the only acts of hostility they ever committed, were on account of our occupying the fishing grounds, which the natives justly supposed to belong to