a complete account of the settlement-第5节
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； seemed to recommend him to our humanity and protection。 Nanbaree was adopted by Mr。 White； surgeon…general of the settlement； and became henceforth one of his family。
Arabanoo had no sooner heard of the death of his countryman； than he hastened to inter him。 I was present at the ceremony； in company with the governor； captain Ball； and two or three other persons。 It differed； by the accounts of those who were present at the funeral of the girl； in no respect from what had passed there in the morning； except that the grave was dug by a convict。 But I was informed； that when intelligence of the death reached Arabanoo； he expressed himself with doubt whether he should bury； or burn the body； and seemed solicitous to ascertain which ceremony would be most gratifying to the governor。
Indeed； Arabanoo's behaviour； during the whole of the transactions of this day； was so strongly marked by affection to his countryman； and by confidence in us； that the governor resolved to free him from all farther restraint； and at once to trust to his generosity； and the impression which our treatment of him might have made； for his future residence among us： the fetter was accordingly taken off his leg。
In the evening； captain Ball and I crossed the harbour； and buried the corpse of the woman before mentioned。
Distress continued to drive them in upon us。 Two more natives； one of them a young man； and the other his sister； a girl of fourteen years old； were brought in by the governor's boat； in a most deplorable state of wretchedness from the smallpox。 The sympathy and affection of Arabanoo； which had appeared languid in the instance of Nanbaree and his father； here manifested themselves immediately。 We conjectured that a difference of the tribes to which they belonged might cause the preference； but nothing afterwards happened to strengthen or confirm such a supposition。 The young man died at the end of three days： the girl recovered； and was received as an inmate； with great kindness； in the family of Mrs Johnson； the clergyman's wife。 Her name was Booron； but from our mistake of pronunciation she acquired that of Abaroo； by which she was generally known； and by which she will always be called in this work。 She shewed； at the death of her brother more feeling than Nanbaree had witnessed for the loss of his father。 When she found him dying； she crept to his side； and lay by him until forced by the cold to retire。 No exclamation； or other sign of grief； however； escaped her for what had happened。
May 1789。 At sunset； on the evening of the 2d instant； the arrival the 'Sirius'； Captain Hunter； from the Cape of Good Hope； was proclaimed； and diffused universal joy and congratulation。 The day of famine was at least procrastinated by the supply of flour and salt provisions she brought us。
The 'Sirius' had made her passage to the Cape of Good Hope； by the route of Cape Horn； in exactly thirteen weeks。 Her highest latitude was 57 degrees 10 minutes south； where the weather proved intolerably cold。 Ice； in great quantity； was seen for many days； and in the middle of December （which is correspondent to the middle of June； in our hemisphere）； water froze in open casks upon deck； in the moderate latitude of 44 degrees。
They were very kindly treated by the Dutch governor； and amply supplied by the merchants at the Cape； where they remained seven weeks。 Their passage back was effected by Van Diemen's Land； near which； and close under Tasman's Head； they were in the utmost peril of being wrecked。
In this long run； which had extended round the circle； they had always determined their longitude； to the greatest nicety； by distances taken between the sun and moon； or between the moon and a star。 But it falls to the lot of very few ships to possess such indefatigable and accurate observers as Captain Hunter； and Mr。 （now Captain） Bradley； the first lieutenant of the 'Sirius'。
I feel assured； that I have no reader who will not join in regretting the premature loss of Arabanoo； who died of the smallpox on the 18th instant； after languishing in it six days。 From some imperfect marks and indents on his face； we were inclined to believe that he had passed this dreaded disorder。 Even when the first symptoms of sickness seized him； we continued willing to hope that they proceeded from a different cause。 But at length the disease burst forth with irresistible fury。 It were superfluous to say； that nothing which medical skill and unremitting attention could perform； were left unexerted to mitigate his sufferings； and prolong a life； which humanity and affectionate concern towards his sick compatriots； unfortunately shortened。
During his sickness he reposed entire confidence in us。 Although a stranger to medicine； and nauseating the taste of it； he swallowed with patient submission innumerable drugs；* which the hope of relief induced us to administer to him。 The governor； who particularly regarded him； caused him to be buried in his own garden； and attended the funeral in person。
＇*Very different had been his conduct on a former occasion of a similar kind。 Soon after he was brought among us he was seized with a diarrhoea； for which he could by no persuasion be induced to swallow any of our prescriptions。 After many ineffectual trials to deceive； or overcome him； it was at length determined to let him pursue his own course； and to watch if he should apply for relief to any of the productions of the country。 He was in consequence observed to dig fern…root； and to chew it。 Whether the disorder had passed its crisis； or whether the fern…root effected a cure； I know not； but it is certain that he became speedily well。
**The regard was reciprocal。 His excellency had been ill but a short time before； when Arabanoo had testified the utmost solicitude for his case and recovery。 It is probable that he acquired； on this occasion； just notions of the benefit to be derived from medical assistance。 A doctor is； among them； a person of consequence。 It is certain that he latterly estimated our professional gentlemen very highly。＇
The character of Arabanoo； as far as we had developed it； was distinguished by a portion of gravity and steadiness； which our subsequent acquaintance with his countrymen by no means led us to conclude a national characteristic。 In that daring； enterprising frame of mind； which； when combined with genius； constitutes the leader of a horde of savages； or the ruler of a people； boasting the power of discrimination and the resistance of ambition； he was certainly surpassed by some of his successors； who afterwards lived among us。 His countenance was thoughtful； but not animated： his fidelity and gratitude； particularly to his friend the governor； were constant and undeviating； and deserve to be recorded。 Although of a gentle and placable temper； we early discovered that he was impatient of indignity； and allowed of no superiority on our part。 He knew that he was in our power； but the independence of his mind never forsook him。 If the slightest insult were offered to him； he would return it with interest。 At retaliation of merriment he was often happy； and frequently turned the laugh against his antagonist。 He did not want docility； but either from the difficulty of acquiring our language； from the unskillfulness of his teachers； or from some natural defect； his progress in learning it was not equal to what we had expected。 For the last three or four weeks of his life； hardly any restraint was laid upon his inclinations： so that had he meditated escape； he might easily have effected it。 He was； perhaps； the only native who was ever attached to us from choice； and who did not prefer a precarious subsistence among wilds and precipices； to the comforts of a civilized system。
By his death； the scheme which had invited his capture was utterly defeated。 Of five natives who had been brought among us； three had perished from a cause which； though unavoidable； it was impossible to explain to a people； who would condescend to enter into no intercourse with us。 The same suspicious dread of our approach； and the same scenes of vengeance acted on unfortunate stragglers； continued to prevail。
CHAPTER V。
Transactions of the Colony until the Close of the Year 1789。
The anniversary of his majesty's birth…day was celebrated； as heretofore； at the government…house； with loyal festivity。 In the evening； the play of 'The Recruiting Officer' was performed by a party of convicts； and honoured by the presence of his excellency； and the officers of the garrison。 That every opportunity of escape from the dreariness and dejection of our situation should be eagerly embraced； will not be wondered at。 The exhilarating effect of a splendid theatre is well known： and I am not ashamed to confess； that the proper distribution of three or four yards of stained paper； and a dozen farthing candles stuck around the mud walls of a convict…hut； failed not to diffuse general complacency on the countenances of sixty persons； of various descriptions； who were assembled to applaud the representation。 Some of the actors acquitted themselves with great spirit； and received the praises of the audience： a prologue and an epilogu
