ncy to throw every light on this unhappy and
mysterious business did not, however stop here, for he instituted the
most rigorous inquiry to find out, if possible, whether the convicts
had at any time ill treated or killed any of the natives; and farther,
issued a proclamation, offering the most tempting of all rewards, a
state of freedom, to him who should point out the murderer, in case such
an one existed.

I have thus impartially stated the situation of matters, as they stand,
while I write, between the natives and us; that greater progress in
attaching them to us has not been made, I have only to regret; but that
all ranks of men have tried to effect it, by every reasonable effort
from which success might have been expected, I can testify; nor can
I omit saying, that in the higher stations this has been eminently
conspicuous. The public orders of Governor Phillip have invariably
tended to promote such a behaviour on our side, as was most likely
to produce this much wished-for event. To what cause then are we to
attribute the distance which the accomplishment of it appears at? I
answer, to the fickle, jealous, wavering disposition of the people we
have to deal with, who, like all other savages, are either too indolent,
too indifferent, or too fearful to form an attachment on easy terms,
with those who differ in habits and manners so widely from themselves.
Before I close the subject, I cannot, however, omit to relate the
following ludicrous adventure, which possibly may be of greater use in
effecting what we have so much at heart, than all our endeavours.

Some young gentlemen belonging to the Sirius one day met a native, an
old man, in the woods; he had a beard of considerable length, which his
new acquaintance gave him to understand, by signals, they would rid him
of, if he pleased; stroaking their chins, and shewing him the smoothness
of them at the same time; at length the old Indian consented, and one of
the youngsters taking a penknife from his pocket, and making use of the
best substitute for lather he could find, performed the operation with
great success, and, as it proved, much to the liking of the old man, who
in a few days after reposed a confidence in us, of which we had hitherto
known no example, by paddling along-side the Sirius in his canoe, and
pointing to his beard. Various arts were ineffectually tried to induce
him to enter the ship; but as he continued to decline the invitation,
a barber was sen