The Aborigines of Australia/Chapter 12
CHAPTER XII.
CONFIDENCE AND CAUTION— CAPTURE AND ESCAPE
OF BINNELONG AND COLE-BE — SUBSEQUENT
HISTORY OF BINNELONG.
No sooner had the ceremony of inaugurating the settlement been gone through, at the head of Sydney Cove, on the 26th January, 1788, than a tribe of aborigines made their appearance among the surrounding wood, peeping cautiously through the trees at the new occupants of the beach. They had been attracted to the spot by the firing of the military, three volleys from whose muskets announced the planting of the British ensign among these solitudes, and they came, as might be expected, completely armed and prepared to act on the defensive. Governor Phillip, wishing to cultivate in every possible manner the goodwill of the aborigines, leaving the encampment, approached unarmed the foremost of the tribe, for the purpose of allaying their apprehensions and obtaining an interview. As soon as the object of the Commandant became understood, one of the savages, who appeared to be the chief, laying down his spear and other arms, approached half-way to the interview, and the Governor having made him understand by signs that he was desirous that his people and the blacks should live as friends, invited him into the encampment for the purpose of inspecting the objects of wonder which the Europeans were enabled to show. To this the chief consented, and accompanied the Governor alone for that purpose. On approaching close to the beach, however, where the tents were erected, and where he beheld all the soldiers of the expedition drawn up under arms, his confidence partially forsook him, and suddenly standing, he gazed for a few moments at the scene before him, and then glancing behind in the direction of his friends and countrymen, and seeing that he had now approached too far to retreat, he commenced a most animated harangue in his native tongue, in which, judging by his looks and gestures, he gave the Governor to understand that if any treachery were practised towards him his people would revenge him in the most signal manner on the entire colony. Having thus entered his protest against any unfair dealing, and having cautioned those in whose power he found himself placed against the consequences of any act of theirs against his life or his liberty, he advanced with his former boldness within the lines of the camp, the Governor having again assured him as best he could that no treachery was intended. He then proceeded to inspect the several strange objects which presented themselves — the muskets and accoutrements of the soldiery, the implements of the workmen, the tents, the cooking apparatus, and concluded his scrutiny by gazing anxiously for some moments into a pot in which some meat was being boiled for the mess of the people. He was finally presented with some suitable gifts in the shape of a hatchet and some other articles of less value, with which he departed, highly pleased with his interview.
The name of Binnelong has been already mentioned more than once in the course of these sketches, in connection with the early colonization of the country. His name is now introduced in conjunction with that of another aboriginal of Port Jackson, a black named Cole-be, who, although a chief of one of the tribes, while Binnelong was only a common man, did not occupy so prominent a position in his day, and has not been rendered so celebrated as the latter. The names of these two men, however, stand most conspicuous among the aborigines who figured in those days, and it will, perhaps, therefore be interesting to know something of their history and their fate. When the first colonists arrived it was at once deemed advisable, for several reasons, to cultivate the fellowship and goodwill of the aboriginal inhabitants. The first step towards this end would be, of course, to become acquainted with their language, and impart to them a knowledge of the language of the colonists. Owing to the timidity of the blacks, however, as well as their impatience of restraint, and their indisposition to remain among the colonists for any lengthened period, it was found impossible to carry out the plan proposed by the means at first adopted. These means consisted in enticing the blacks to the settlement by presents, and afterwards seeking to induce them to remain, by kind and conciliatory treatment. Sometimes an individual would be induced to stay among his new companions for a day or two, but just as his teachers and guardians would deem that they had succeeded in domesticating their unsophisticated ward, Nature would resume her sway over her élève and he would fly to her arms amid the depths of his native woods. Repeated experiments were thus made, and terminated in the manner just described, until the authorities at length perceived that some other method must be resorted to besides allurement for the purpose of subjecting one or more of the natives of the country to the yoke of European customs, and imparting to them a knowledge of their intentions and wishes. Accordingly the only course now left, that of a gentle compulsion, was determined upon, and a party was thereupon despatched down the harbour in a boat, with instructions to seize the first intelligent-looking aboriginal they might come across. In pursuance of their orders this party proceeded to one of those bays to which they knew the blacks were accustomed to resort for fishing and other purposes, and there they met with a small party of those for whom they sought, and in a short time succeeded in bringing them to a parley. A few of the crew of the boat, having been previously instructed by the officer in charge how to proceed, now stepped ashore, and, watching their opportunity, seized one of the best-looking of the blacks at a moment when he was separated from his companions, and carrying him through the water in their arms, threw him into the boat, where he was held till the party had rowed beyond the reach of the spears or other missiles of the captive's companions on shore. He was then tied in the bottom of the boat, and thus conveyed to the Governor's residence, all the time crying piteously, and calling in vain for assistance to his brethren on the beach. These latter had fled panic- stricken into the bush on first observing the aggressive intentions of the party of whites, but returned on seeing that the latter were content with the possession of one of their number, and continued to follow the boat along the shore, and to respond to the calls of the captive so long as they were audible and while the treacherous craft remained in sight. The aboriginal who had thus been so unceremoniously and suddenly carried from the midst of his companions and countrymen, and hurried a captive into the society of strange and unsympathizing men, was the afterwards redoubtable Binnelong. On being carried before the Governor, the latter ordered, as one of the writers of the day expresses it, that he should be "ornamented with an iron shackle, placed round one leg, to prevent escape." A little further on, however, the reader is given to understand that to the shackle was attached a rope, at one end of which was an individual holding it in his hand, whose duty it was to accompany the future interpreter throughout the limited peregrinations permitted to him, and thus effectually guard against his flight. It now suggested itself to the mind of the Governor that it was not desirable that the captive should be thus entirely sequestered from the companionship of his old and more congenial associates. It was seen, on the contrary, that it would prove consoling to the mind of the latter, as well as materially facilitate the end in view, if another black could be procured for training at the settlement. Accordingly it was resolved to capture another, and this resolve it was which led to the seizure of Cole-be. The manner in which this feat was accomplished differs somewhat from the mode of Binnelong's seizure. A party were ordered to hover about the outskirts of the town at all hours of the day and night, in readiness to seize the first black who made his appearance — an occurrence for which they were not likely to wait long, as several blacks were accustomed to visit the stockades at all hours by stealth, either actuated by curiosity or bent on an errand of plunder. The first who presented himself was the luckless Cole-be. He was the chief of one of the tribes, and the friend of Binnelong, and had probably been loitering about the town for the purpose of having a stolen interview with the latter, with a view to effecting his deliverance. In this, however, if it were his design, he not only signally failed, but literally ran his own head into the snare, for the kidnapping party, suddenly springing up round him, threw a halter round his neck, and in this manner conveyed him, overwhelmed with terror, before the Governor. He was "ornamented with an iron shackle" and placed along with Binnelong. The two friends being now placed in communication, the first thing they turned their attention to was the concerting of measures for their escape. This they could not hope to effect either by force or stealth, and they accordingly resolved to employ stratagem. Pretending, therefore, after a few days, to become more reconciled to their loss of liberty, they succeeded so far as in some degree to lessen the vigilance of their keepers; and one evening, while they and their guards went to their evening meal. Cole-be, on some pretence, obtained permission to sit outside the hut, the man who held the cord attached to his leg sitting inside with Binnelong and his companions. The latter, as previously arranged, succeeded in engaging the attention of the inmates of the hut — among whom was Cole-be's keeper — by chaunting aboriginal songs and going through divers entertaining antics, while Cole-be slipped the cord off the shackle, and, clearing at one bound the fence which interposed a final barrier between him and liberty, was in a moment beyond the reach of pursuit After the escape of his companion Binnelong appeared to be more contented than before, and dissembled so well the irksomeness with which he submitted to his condition that in a short time his guard was removed and he was permitted to roam at liberty over the premises in which he lived. One day, however, he was missed by the people about the Governor's residence, where he had latterly been living; and a search being made it was found that he had decamped, leaving behind every article of an excellent suit of clothing with which he had been presented.
Thus were these last efforts of the Governor to domesticate an aboriginal most vexatiously frustrated, after so large an amount of labour and perseverance had been expended in the task. What force and application, however, could not effect time brought about without trouble or difficulty. Binnelong and Cole-be were afterwards frequently seen by parties of the whites in their expeditions over the harbour or around the country, and although the one had so flagrantly deceived them, and although the other had fled their companionship with such determination on a former occasion, they now appeared nowise shy or fearful of their whilom captors, conversing and exchanging civilities with them whenever they came into the neighbourhood of their encampments or haunts. On one of these occasions Binnelong sent his compliments to the Governor, who had uniformly treated him with kindness and consideration, and expressed a desire to see him. He added that he was unwilling to proceed to the settlement, but said that he would meet the Governor at an appointed place, on a certain day, if the latter chose to come. The information being conveyed to Governor Phillip, he determined to comply with Binnelong's wish, believing that by so doing he would be advancing the interests of the community entrusted to his charge, and accordingly, on the day fixed, set out for the appointed place. And now, reader, you behold a scene which perhaps you could hardly have deemed possible — the founder and Governor of the colony, the representative of King George the Third and a commodore in the Royal Navy, proceeding in the most ceremonious manner, surrounded by several of his chief officers, to hold a parley with a rude aboriginal of the coast of New Holland. The spot fixed for the interview was one of those bays of the harbour lying towards the Heads, the usual places of assemblage for the aborigines in those days. Here the Governor and his party were met on landing by Binnelong, who, true to his promise, had proceeded thither at the appointed hour, accompanied by a number of his companions and friends. The meeting was cordial and frank on both sides, the Europeans evincing no inclination to allude to Binnelong's former breach of confidence, while the latter, on his part, met the advances of the former without the slightest appearance of distrust or dread of treachery. As a considerable portion of the day had been spent in proceeding to the place of meeting and in the subsequent interview, the party resolved upon dining on the spot, and bringing forth a stock of provisions which they had carried with them, they partook of a meal seated on the green sward, under the shade of the surrounding gum trees, Binnelong and his companions sharing the Governor's hospitality. At the termination of the rustic feast, the Governor presented the aboriginals with sundry gifts, and having obtained from Binnelong a promise to return to Government House on an appointed day, the interview terminated, and the Governor's party re-embarked. Cole-be does not appear to have been present on this occasion, although he afterwards was accustomed to frequent the settlement and enjoy the favour of the officers.
Interviews such as the one just described were in those days very frequent in the colony. In addition to the desire which the colonists naturally entertained of cultivating the friendship of the aborigines, they were urged to cultivate their society by other motives. In a community such as then formed the colony, the number of those with whom the officers and the more honourable portion of the colonists could associate must have been very small. In order, therefore, to lessen the monotony of their avocations and relieve the dullness which, as a matter of course, prevailed in the new settlement, they courted the society of the aborigines, in whom they found men as yet untainted by the multiplied vices which prevailed among the great bulk of their own countrymen. Independent of that recommendation they also found among the New Hollanders men whose bravery, intrepidity, intelligence, and candour excited their admiration and commanded their esteem — men with whose character the term savage was utterly incompatible, and whose rudeness extended no further than their uncouth appearance and their uncivilized mode of life. Hence the reason why Governor Phillip and his officers could condescend to comply with an invitation from a mere "blackfellow," exchange compliments with him and his companions, and, finally, as the last act of condescension, invite the aboriginal band to partake of his cheer and eat with him at the same meal.
On the appointed day Binnelong presented himself before the Governor, dressed in a suit of clothes which had been forwarded to him at his own request in order that he might present a decent and becoming appearance when he again joined the company of his old friends. An apartment was allotted to him in the Governor's residence; every attention was bestowed on his comfort and convenience, and he did not again quit the colony till he accompanied Governor Phillip to Europe. Of his career in England but little has been ascertained. Whether he was carried before the King and royal family by his protector, whether he was visited by lords and ladies, whether he was run after and cheered by the populace, whether, in fine, he was regarded as a prodigy and a hero, inasmuch as he was the first aboriginal inhabitant of the antipodes who visited England, no evidence exists to enable us to say or gainsay. Certain it is, however, that amid the wonders of civilization by which he was surrounded, amid the glare of the most gorgeous creations of art and science, and in the possession of all the comforts and luxuries which the capital of Great Britain could afford, he sighed for the sunny clime of his youth, and anxiously looked forward to the time when the returning ship should bear him back to the scenes of his boyhood and the land of his birth.
At length the wished-for time did arrive, and he embarked with a light and joyous heart on his voyage towards his Australian home, where in due time he arrived, and was in some degree recompensed for his temporary exile by the warm greetings of his friends and countrymen. The brilliancy of Binnelong's career was, however, destined to be clouded at this period by a circumstance which is known to have embittered the life of many a greater hero, if the stories of some poets and historians are to be credited. His faithless "gin," either wearied of the loneliness which his absence imposed, or allured from her fidelity by seductive wiles, had, during his stay in England, transferred her fealty to another lord. This injury Binnelong did not allow to pass unresented, and a battle took place in which both the aggressor and the aggrieved suffered considerable personal injury; but, although our hero fought and bled in defence of his honour, he did not resume possession of his faithless wife, but sought and won another bride.
Collin's "Account of the Colony," from which these particulars are chiefly gleaned, contains a portrait of Binnelong, taken while he was in England, in which he is represented in a sort of military uniform. He is said to have accommodated himself wonderfully to civilized customs and habits, imitating with considerable success the manners and ceremonies of his betters. In personal appearance he was one of the best specimens of the aboriginal race. His hair, of which he possessed a luxuriant crop, had, during his stay in England, acquired a smoothness and gloss which attracted general attention, completely controverting the erroneous opinion which for a long time prevailed, and which is now entertained by some, that the New Hollanders were of negro origin.
He continued to reside at Government House after his return, and was accustomed to assume a patronizing and authoritative tone towards the aborigines of the neighbourhood, declaring that it was his resolution to put a stop to those barbarous practices in which they had previously indulged; that he would compel them to wear clothing and adopt an industrious and settled mode of life. On one occasion his dignity was greatly shocked by his sister running to Government House to welcome him home, with her infant seated on her shoulder in the usual style, and wearing only the scanty habiliments of her caste. He thenceforth prohibited any of his relatives or friends appearing near Government House till they had arrayed themselves in a suitable costume. In this way did Binnelong pass the remainder of his days in the colony, treated by the whites as a man distinguished from his fellows by superior intelligence and by his knowledge of European society, and honoured by the blacks on account of the favour which he enjoyed at the hands of the colonists and the Government