ected, and shed tears. At length they
began to converse. Our ignorance of the language prevented us from knowing
much of what passed; it was, however, easily understood that his friends
asked him why he did not jump overboard, and rejoin them. He only sighed,
and pointed to the fetter on his leg, by which he was bound.

In going down the harbour he had described the names by which they
distinguish its numerous creeks and headlands: he was now often heard to
repeat that of 'Weerong' (Sydney Cove), which was doubtless to inform his
countrymen of the place of his captivity; and perhaps invite them to rescue
him. By this time his gloom was chased away, and he parted from his friends
without testifying reluctance. His vivacity and good humour continued all
the evening, and produced so good an effect on his appetite, that he ate
for supper two kangaroo rats, each of the size of a moderate rabbit, and in
addition not less than three pounds of fish.

Two days after he was taken on a similar excursion; but to our surprise the
natives kept aloof, and would neither approach the shore, or discourse with
their countryman: we could get no explanation of this difficulty, which
seemed to affect us more than it did him. Uncourteous as they were, he
performed to them an act of attentive benevolence; seeing a basket made
of bark, used by them to carry water, he conveyed into it two hawks and
another bird, which the people in the boat had shot, and carefully covering
them over, left them as a present to his old friends. But indeed the
gentleness and humanity of his disposition frequently displayed themselves:
when our children, stimulated by wanton curiosity, used to flock around
him, he never failed to fondle them, and, if he were eating at the time,
constantly offered them the choicest part of his fare.

February, 1789. His reserve, from want of confidence in us, continued
gradually to wear away: he told us his name, and Manly gave place to
Arabanoo. Bread he began to relish; and tea he drank with avidity:
strong liquors he would never taste, turning from them with disgust and
abhorrence. Our dogs and cats had ceased to be objects of fear, and were
become his greatest pets, and constant companions at table. One of our
chief amusements, after the cloth was removed, was to make him repeat the
names of things in his language, which he never hesitated to do with
the utmost alacrity, correcting our pronunciation when erroneous. Much
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