Bythispartitionitmaybefairlypresumed，thateverysourceoffuturelitigationbetweentheDutchanduswillbeforevercutoff，asthediscoveriesofEnglishnavigatorsalonearecomprizedinthisterritory。
NorhaveGovernmentbeenmorebackwardinarmingMr。Phillipwithplenitudeofpower，thanextentofdominion。NomentionismadeofaCounciltobeappointed，sothatheislefttoactentirelyfromhisownjudgment。
AndasnostatedtimeofassemblingtheCourtsofjusticeispointedout，similartotheassizesandgaoldeliveriesofEngland，thedurationofimprisonmentisaltogetherinhishands。ThepowerofsummoningGeneralCourtsMartialtomeetheisalsoinvestedwith，buttheinsertioninthemarinemutinyact，ofasmallernumberofofficersthanthirteenbeingabletocomposesuchatribunal，hasbeenneglected:sothataMilitarycourt，shoulddetachmentsbemadefromheadquarters，orsicknessprevail，maynotalwaysbefoundpracticabletobeobtained，unlessthenumberofofficers，atpresentintheSettlement，shallbeincreased。
ShouldtheGovernorseecause，heisenabledtograntpardonstooffendersconvicted，\"inallcaseswhatever，treasonandwilfulmurderexcepted，\"
andeveninthese，hasauthoritytostaytheexecutionofthelaw，untiltheKing’spleasureshallbesignified。IncaseoftheGovernor’sdeath，theLieutenantGovernortakeshisplace;andonhisdemise，theseniorofficeronthespotisauthorisedtoassumethereinsofpower。
Notwithstandingthepromisesmadeononeside，andtheforbearanceshewnontheother，joinedtotheimpendingrodofjustice，itwaswithinfiniteregretthateveryonesaw，infourclaysafterwards，thenecessityofassemblingaCriminalCourt，whichwasaccordinglyconvenedbywarrantfromtheGovernor，andconsistedofthejudgeAdvocate，whopresided，threenaval，andthreemarineofficers。
AstheconstitutionofthiscourtisaltogethernewintheBritishannals，IhopemyreaderwillnotthinkmeprolixinthedescriptionIamabouttogiveofit。Thenumberofmembers，includingthejudgeAdvocate，islimited，byActofParliament，toseven，whoareexpresslyorderedtobeofficers，eitherofHisMajesty’sseaorlandforces。Thecourtbeingmet，completelyarrayedandarmedasatamilitarytribunal，theJudgeAdvocateproceedstoadministertheusualoathstakenbyjurymeninEnglandtoeachmember;
oneofwhomafterwardsswearshiminalikemanner。Thisceremonybeingadjusted，thecrimelaidtotheprisoner’schargeisreadtohim，andthequestionofGuilty，orNotguilty，put。Nolawofficeronthesideofthecrownbeingappointed，（forIpresumetheheadofthecourtoughthardlytoconsiderhimselfinthatlight，notwithstandingthetitlehebears）
toprosecutethecriminalisleftentirelytotheparty，atwhosesuitheistried。Allthewitnessesareexaminedonoath，andthedecisionisdirectedtobegivenaccordingtothelawsofEngland，\"orasnearlyasmaybe，allowingforthecircumstancesandsituationofthesettlement，\"
byamajorityofvotes，beginningwiththeyoungestmember，andendingwiththepresidentofthecourt。Incases，however，ofacapitalnature，noverdictcanbegiven，unlessfive，atleast，ofthesevenmemberspresentconcurtherein。Theevidenceonbothsidesbeingfinished，andtheprisoner’sdefenceheard，thecourtiscleared，and，onthejudgementbeingsettled，isthrownopenagain，andsentencepronounced。Duringthetimethecourtsits，theplaceinwhichitisassembledisdirectedtobesurroundedbyaguardunderarms，andadmissiontoeveryonewhomaychoosetoenterit，granted。Oflate，however，ourcolonistsaresupposedtobeinsuchatrainofsubordination，astomakethepresenceofsolargeamilitaryforceunnecessary;andtwocentinels，inadditiontotheProvostMartial，areconsideredassufficient。
Itwouldbeasneedless，asimpertinent，toanticipatethereflectionswhichwillariseinreadingtheaboveaccount，whereinaregardtoaccuracyonlyhasbeenconsulted。BycomparingitwiththemodeofadministeringjusticeintheEnglishcourtsoflaw，itwillbefoundtodifferinmanypointsveryessentially。Andifweturnoureyestotheusageofmilitarytribunals，itnolessdepartsfromthecustomsobservedinthem。Letnotthenoveltyofit，however，prejudiceanyonesofarastodisputeitsefficacy，andthenecessityofthecasewhichgaveitbirth。
Thecourt，whosemeetingisalreadyspokenof，proceededtothetrialofthreeconvicts，oneofwhomwasconvictedofhavingstruckamarinewithacooper’sadze，andotherwisebehavinginaveryriotousandscandalousmanner，forwhichhewassentencedtoreceiveonehundredandfiftylashes，beingasmallerpunishmentthanasoldierinalikecasewouldhavesufferedfromthejudgementofacourtmartial。Asecond，forhavingcommittedapettytheft，wassenttoasmallbarrenisland，andkeptthereonbreadandwateronly，foraweek。Andthethirdwassentencedtoreceivefiftylashes，butwasrecommendedbythecourttotheGovernor，andforgiven。
Hitherto，however，（February）nothingofaveryatrociousnaturehadappeared。
Butthedaywasathand，onwhichtheviolationofpublicsecuritycouldnolongerberestrained，bytheinflictionoftemporarypunishment。
Asetofdesperateandhardenedvillainsleaguedthemselvesforthepurposesofdepredation，and，asitgenerallyhappens，hadartenoughtopersuadesomeothers，lessdeeplyversedininiquity，tobetheinstrumentsforcarryingiton。Fortunatelytheprogressofthesemiscreantswasnotoflongduration。Theyweredetectedinstealingalargequantityofprovisionsatthetimeofissuingthem。Andonbeingapprehended，oneofthetoolsofthesuperiorsimpeachedtherest，anddisclosedthescheme。
Thetrialcameonthe28thofthemonth，andoffourwhowerearraignedfortheoffence，threewerecondemnedtodie，andthefourthtoreceiveaveryseverecorporalpunishment。Inhopesthathislenitywouldnotbeabused，hisExcellencywas，however，pleasedtoorderoneonlyforexecution，whichtookplacealittlebeforesun—setthesameday。ThenameoftheunhappywretchwasThomasBarret，anoldanddesperateoffender，whodiedwiththathardyspirit，whichtoooftenisfoundintheworstandmostabandonedclassofmen。Duringtheexecutionthebattalionofmarineswasunderarms，andthewholeoftheconvictsobligedtobepresent。
Thetwoassociatesofthesuffererwereorderedtobekeptcloseprisoners，untilaneligibleplacetobanishthemtocouldbefixedon;aswerealsotwomore，whoonthefollowingdaywerecondemnedtodieforasimilaroffence。
BesidestheCriminalcourt，thereisaninferioronecomposedoftheJudgeAdvocate，andoneormorejusticesofthepeace，forthetrialofsmallmisdemeanours。Thiscourtislikewiseempoweredtodecidealllawsuits，anditsverdictisfinal，exceptwherethesumindisputeamountstomorethanthreehundredpounds，inwhichcaseanappealtoEnglandcanbemadefromitsdecree。Shouldnecessitywarrantit，anAdmiraltycourt，ofwhichLieutenantGovernorRossisjudge，canalsobesummoned，forthetrialofoffencescommittedonthehighseas。
Frombeingunwillingtobreakthethreadofmynarrative，Iomittedtonoteinitsproperplacethesailingofthe’Supply’，Lieut。Ball，onthe15thofthemonth，forNorfolkIsland，whichtheGovernorhadinstructionsfromtheministrytotakepossessionof。Lieut。KingoftheSiriuswassentassuperintendentandcommandantofthisplace，andcarriedwithhimasurgeon，amidshipman，asawyer，aweaver，twomarines，andsixteenconvicts，ofwhomsixwerewomen。Hewasalsosuppliedwithacertainnumberofliveanimalstostocktheisland，besidesgardenseeds，grain，andotherrequisites。
CHAPTERXI
ADescriptionoftheNativesofNewSouthWales，andourTransactionswiththem。
IdoubtnotmyreaderswillbeasgladasIfeelmyself，toconcludethedulldetailofthelastchapter。Iftheyplease，theymayturnfromthesubtleintricaciesofthelaw，tocontemplatethesimple，undisguisedworkingsofnature，inhermostartlesscolouring。
Ihavealreadysaid，wehadbeenbutveryfewdaysatPortJackson，whenanalterationinthebehaviourofthenativeswasperceptible;andIwishIcouldadd，thatalongerresidenceintheirneighbourhoodhadintroducedagreaterdegreeofcordialityandintermixturebetweentheold，andnew，lordsofthesoil，thanatthedayonwhichthispublicationisdatedsubsists。
Fromtheireasyreceptionofusinthebeginning，manywereinducedtocallinquestiontheaccountswhichMr。Cookhadgivenofthispeople。
Thatcelebratednavigator，wewerewillingbelieve，hadsomehowbyhisconductoffendedthem，whichpreventedtheintercoursethatwouldotherwisehavetakenplace。Theresult，however，ofourrepeatedendeavourstoinducethemtocomeamongushasbeensuchastoconfirmmeinanopinion，thattheyeitherfearordespiseustoomuch，tobeanxiousforacloserconnection。
AndIbegleaveatonce，toapprizethereader，thatallIcanhere，orinanyfuturepartofthiswork，relatewithfidelityofthenativesofNewSouthWales，mustbemadeupofdetachedobservations，takenatdifferenttimes，andnotfromaregularseriesofknowledgeofthecustomsandmannersofapeople，withwhomopportunitiesofcommunicationaresoscarce，astohavebeenseldomobtained。
Intheirpersons，theyarefarfrombeingastoutraceofmen，thoughnimble，sprightly，andvigorous。Thedeficiencyofoneoftheforeteethoftheupperjaw，mentionedbyDampier，wehaveseeninalmostthewholeofthemen;
buttheirorgansofsightsofarfrombeingdefective，asthatauthormentionsthoseoftheinhabitantsofthewesternsideofthecontinenttobe，areremarkablyquickandpiercing。Theircolour，Mr。Cookisinclinedtothinkratheradeepchocolate，thananabsoluteblack，thoughheconfesses，theyhavetheappearanceofthelatter，whichheattributestothegreasyfilththeirskinsareloadedwith。Oftheirwantofcleanlinesswehavehadsufficientproofs，butIamofopinion，allthewashingintheworldwouldnotrenderthemtwodegreeslessblackthananAfricannegro。Atsomeofourfirstinterviews，wehadseveraldrollinstancesoftheirmistakingtheAfricanswebroughtwithusfortheirowncountrymen。
Notwithstandingthedisregardtheyhaveinvariablyshewnforallthefinerywecoulddeckthemwith，theyarefondofadorningthemselveswithscars，whichincreasetheirnaturalhideousness。Itishardlypossibletoseeanythinginhumanshapemoreugly，thanoneofthesesavagesthusscarified，andfartherornamentedwithafishbonestruckthroughthegristleofthenose。
Thecustomofdaubingthemselveswithwhiteearthisalsofrequentamongbothsexes:but，unliketheinhabitantsoftheIslandsinthePacificOcean，theyrejectthebeautifulfeatherswhichthebirdsoftheircountryafford。
Exclusiveoftheirweaponsofoffence，andafewstonehatchetsveryrudelyfashioned，theiringenuityisconfinedtomanufacturingsmallnets，inwhichtheyputthefishtheycatch，andtofish—hooksmadeofbone，neitherofwhichareunskilfullyexecuted。Onmanyoftherocksarealsotobefounddelineationsofthefiguresofmenandbirds，verypoorlycut。
Oftheuseorbenefitofcloathing，thesepeopleappeartohavenocomprehension，thoughtheirsufferingsfromtheclimatetheylivein，stronglypointoutthenecessityofacoveringfromtherigouroftheseasons。
Bothsexes，andthoseofallages，areinvariablyfoundnaked。Butitmustnotbeinferredfromthis，thatcustomsoinuresthemtothechangesoftheelements，astomakethembearwithindifferencetheextremesofheatandcold;forwehavehadvisibleandrepeatedproofs，thatthelatteraffectsthemseverely，whentheyareseenshivering，andhuddlingthemselvesupinheapsintheirhuts，orthecavernsoftherocks，untilafirecanbekindled。
Thanthesehutsnothingmorerudeinconstruction，ordeficientinconveniency，canbeimagined。Theyconsistonlyofpiecesofbarklaidtogetherintheformofanoven，openatoneend，andverylow，thoughlongenoughforamantolieatfulllength。Thereisreason，however，tobelieve，thattheydependlessonthemforshelter，thanonthecavernswithwhichtherocksabound。
Tocultivationofthegroundtheyareutterstrangers，andwhollydependforfoodonthefewfruitstheygather;therootstheydigupintheswamps;
andthefishtheypickupalongshore，orcontrivetostrikefromtheircanoeswithspears。Fishing，indeed，seemstoengrossnearlythewholeoftheirtime，probablyfromitsformingthechiefpartofasubsistence，which，observationhasconvincedus，nothingshortofthemostpainfullabour，andunweariedassiduity，canprocure。Whenfisharescarce，whichfrequentlyhappens，theyoftenwatchthemomentofourhaulingtheseine，andhavemorethanoncebeenknowntoplunderitscontents，inspiteoftheoppositionofthoseonthespottoguardit:andthisevenafterhavingreceivedapartofwhathadbeencaught。Theonlyresourceatthesetimesistoshewamusquet，andifthebaresightisnotsufficient，tofireitovertheirheads，whichhasseldomfailedofdispersingthemhitherto，buthowlongtheterrorwhichitexcitesmaycontinueisdoubtful。
Thecanoesinwhichtheyfishareasdespicableastheirhuts，beingnothingmorethanalargepieceofbarktiedupatbothendswithvines。
Theirdexterousmanagementofthem，addedtotheswiftnesswithwhichtheypaddle，andtheboldnessthatleadsthemseveralmilesintheopensea，are，nevertheless，highlydeservingofadmiration。Acanoeisseldomseenwithoutafireinit，todressthefishby，assoonascaught:
firetheyprocurebyattrition。
Fromtheirmannerofdisposingofthosewhodie，whichwillbementionedhereafter，aswellasfromeveryotherobservation，thereseemsnoreasontosupposethesepeoplecannibals;nordotheyevereatanimalsubstancesinarawstate，unlesspressedbyextremehunger，butindiscriminatelybroilthem，andtheirvegetables，onafire，whichrenderstheselastaninnocentfood，thoughintheirrawstatemanyofthemareofapoisonousquality:asapoorconvictwhounguardedlyeatofthemexperienced，byfallingasacrificeintwenty—fourhoursafterwards。IfbreadbegiventotheIndians，theychewandspititoutagain，seldomchoosingtoswallowit。
Saltbeefandporktheylikeratherbetter，butspiritstheynevercouldbebroughttotasteasecondtime。
Theonlydomesticanimaltheyhaveisthedog，whichintheirlanguageiscalledDingo，andagooddealresemblesthefoxdogofEngland。
Theseanimalsareequallyshyofus，andattachedtothenatives。OneofthemisnowinthepossessionoftheGovernor，andtolerablywellreconciledtohisnewmaster。AstheIndiansseethedislikeofthedogstous，theyaresometimesmischievousenoughtosetthemonsinglepersonswhomtheychancetomeetinthewoods。Asurlyfellowwasonedayoutshooting，whenthenativesattemptedtodivertthemselvesinthismannerathisexpense。Themanboretheteazingandgnawingofthedogathisheelsforsometime，butapprehendingatlength，thathispatiencemightemboldenthemtousestillfartherliberties，heturnedroundandshotpoorDingodeadonthespot:theownersofhimsetoffwiththeutmostexpedition。
Thereisnopartofthebehaviourofthesepeople，thathaspuzzledusmore，thanthatwhichrelatestotheirwomen。Comparativelyspeakingwehaveseenbutfewofthem，andthosehavebeensometimeskeptbackwitheverysymptomofjealoussensibility;andsometimesofferedwitheveryappearanceofcourteousfamiliarity。Cautious，however，ofalarmingthefeelingsofthemenonsotenderapoint，wehaveconstantlymadearuleoftreatingthefemaleswiththatdistanceandreserve，whichwejudgedmostlikelytoremoveanyimpressiontheymighthavereceivedofourintendingaught，whichcouldgiveoffenceonsodelicateasubject。Andsosuccessfulhaveourendeavoursbeen，thataquarrelonthisheadhasinnoinstance，thatIknowof，happened。Thetoneofvoiceofthewomen，whichispleasinglysoftandfeminine，formsastrikingcontrasttotheroughgutturalpronunciationofthemen。OftheothercharmsoftheladiesIshallbesilent，thoughjusticeobligesmetomention，that，intheopinionofsomeamongstus，theyshewadegreeoftimidityandbashfulness，whichare，perhaps，inseparablefromthefemalecharacterinitsrudeststate。Itisnotalittlesingular，thatthecustomofcuttingoffthetwolowerjointsofthelittlefingerofthelefthand，observedintheSocietyIslands，isfoundhereamongthewomen，whohaveforthemostpartundergonethisamputation。Hithertowehavenotbeenabletotraceoutthecauseofthisusage。Atfirstwesupposedittobepeculiartothemarriedwomen，orthosewhohadbornechildren;butthisconclusionmusthavebeenerroneous，aswehavenorighttobelievethatcelibacyprevailsinanyinstance，andsomeoftheoldestofthewomenarewithoutthisdistinction;
andgirlsofaverytenderagearemarkedbyit。
Onfirstsettingfootinthecountry，wewereinclinedtoholdthespearsofthenativesverycheap。Fatalexperiencehas，however，convincedus，thatthewoundinflictedbythisweaponisnotatrivialone;andthattheskilloftheIndiansinthrowingit，isfarfromdespicable。Besidesmorethanadozenconvictswhohaveunaccountablydisappeared，weknowthattwo，whowereemployedasrushcuttersuptheharbour，were（fromwhatcauseweareyetignorant）mostdreadfullymangledandbutcheredbythenatives。Aspearhadpassedentirelythroughthethickestpartofthebodyofoneofthem，thoughaveryrobustman，andtheskulloftheotherwasbeatenin。Theirtoolsweretakenaway，butsomeprovisionswhichtheyhadwiththematthetimeofthemurder，andtheircloaths，wereleftuntouched。Inadditiontothismisfortune，twomoreconvicts，whowerepeaceablyengagedinpickingofgreens，onaspotveryremotefromthatwheretheircomradessuffered，wereunawaresattackedbyapartyofIndians，andbeforetheycouldeffecttheirescape，oneofthemwaspiercedbyaspearinthehip，afterwhichtheyknockedhimdown，andplunderedhiscloaths。Thepoorwretch，thoughdreadfullywounded，madeshifttocrawloff，buthiscompanionwascarriedawaybythesebarbarians，andhisfatedoubtful，untilasoldier，afewdaysafterwards，pickeduphisjacketandhatinanative’shut，thelatterpiercedthroughbyaspear。
Wehavefoundthatthesespearsarenotmadeinvariablyalike，someofthembeingbarbedlikeafishgig，andotherssimplypointed。Inrepairingthemtheyarenolessdexterousthaninthrowingthem。AbrokenonebeinggivenbyagentlemantoanIndian，heinstantlysnatchedupanoyster—shell，andconverteditwithhisteethintoatoolwithwhichhepresentlyfashionedthespear，andrendereditfitforuse:inperformingthisoperation，thesoleofhisfootservedhimasawork—board。Noraretheirweaponsofoffenceconfinedtothespearonly，fortheyhavebesideslongwoodenswords，shapedlikeasabre，capableofinflictingamortalwound，andclubsofanimmensesize。Smalltargets，madeofthebarkoftrees，arelikewisenowandthentobeseenamongthem。
Fromcircumstanceswhichhavebeenobserved，wehavesometimesbeeninclinedtobelievethesepeopleatwarwitheachother。Theyhavemorethanoncebeenseenassembled，asifbentonanexpedition。AnofficeronedaymetfourteenofthemmarchingalonginaregularIndianfilethroughthewoods，eachmanarmedwithaspearinhisrighthand，andalargestoneinhisleft:
attheirheadappearedachief，whowasdistinguishedbybeingpainted。
Thoughintheproportionoffivetooneofourpeopletheypassedpeaceablyon。
Thattheirskillinthrowingthespearsometimesenablesthemtokillthekangaroowehavenorighttodoubt，asalongsplinterofthisweaponwastakenoutofthethighofoneoftheseanimals，overwhichthefleshhadcompletelyclosed;butwehaveneverdiscoveredthattheyhaveanymethodofensnaringthem，orthattheyknowanyotherbeastsbutthekangarooanddog。
Whateveranimalisshewnthem，adogexcepted，theycallkangaroo:
astrongpresumptionthatthewildanimalsofthecountryareveryfew。
SoonafterourarrivalatPortJackson，IwaswalkingoutnearaplacewhereIobservedapartyofIndians，busilyemployedinlookingatsomesheepinaninclosure，andrepeatedlycryingout，’kangaroo，kangaroo！’Asthisseemedtoaffordthempleasure，Iwaswillingtoincreaseitbypointingoutthehorsesandcows，whichwereatnogreatdistance。Butunluckily，atthemoment，somefemaleconvicts，employedneartheplace，madetheirappearance，andallmyendeavourstodiverttheirattentionfromtheladiesbecamefruitless。Theyattemptednot，however，toofferthemtheleastdegreeofviolenceorinjury，butstoodatthedistanceofseveralpaces，expressingverysignificantlythemannertheywereattracted。