AND THE NATIVES. 121 The loss must have been keenly felt by Phillip, whose 1789 hopes of friendly communication with the natives were then, for the time at least, extinguished. But his first experiment having been so far a success, he determined to make another; and in November of the same year two natives were seized and brought up to the settlement. Their names were Coalby oooiby and and Bennilong ; but both of them made their escape before they had been many weeks in captivity, and rejoined their friends in the bush. They were afterwards induced to pay friendly visits to the settlement : — As the Governor and every other person in the settlement had ever been kind to them, they were inclined to depend on the Governor's promise, and did come to Sydney ; were kindly received, went from house to house, and saw all their old acquaintances; Friendly they received many little presents, and returned to their friends ^^^' when they thought proper. This confidential visit from two men, who appeared to have some influence among their countrymen, soon brought about a more general intercourse, and the next visit from those men brought the same favour from their wives and families, whose example was followed by many others; so that every gentleman's house was now become a resting or sleeping open place for some every night; whenever they were pressed for hun- ^"**' ger, they had immediately recourse to our quarters.'^ It was by these means that Phillip endeavoured to estab- lish a good understanding with the natives, and as far as it was possible for him to succeed in such a matter, he may be said to have succeeded. But it was not possible for him to make everyone else follow his example, or even obey his in imitating our tones." — Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jack- son, p. 13. Their musical capacity was noticed by Tench while the ships were at Botany Bay : — ** The Indians, though terrified at the report (of the ffun), did not mn away ; but their astonismnent exceeded their alarm, on iookinff at the shield which the ball had perforated. As this produced a little shyness, the officer, to dissipate their fears and remove their jealousy, whistled the air of MaJhrooke, which they appeared highly charmed with, and imitated him with equal pleasure and readiness. I cannot help remark- ing here, what I was afterwards told hy Monsieur De P^rouse, that the natives of Califomia, and throughout all the islands of the Pacific Ocean, and in short wherever he had been, seemed equally touched and delighted with this little plaintive air." — Narrative, p. 58. • Hunter, p. 206. Digitized by Google
