PHILLIP AND THE NATIVES?. 125 erniit me to l>egin so long a letter again, the canvas ioiise I am imder being neither wind nor water-proof." Phillip was not the onl}^ one who recorded the friendly bearing of the inhabitants. Golluis informs U8 that at the outset they
- conducted themselves aociatily and peaceaLly towards all the parties of
our officers and people, and by no means seemed to regard them as Demies or mvaders of their countiy and traiiquilUty, How grateful to rery feeling of himiantty would it be, could we conclude tliis narrative rithout being conipolkMl to atiy that these inott'endiug people had found reason to change both their opinions and their conduct/- Bnt though Phillip used every precaution, and strictly enjoined his subjects not to deprive the nativeis of their I pears, then* boomerangs (called wooden swords by the Snglish at first), their gum, and other articles, which, here being no thievmg amongst themselves (Collins says),
- we soon perceived they were accustomed to leave under
the rocks, or loose and scattered about upon the beaches/' the white man was unrestrainable- It was too late dis- covered that a boat's crew from one of the transports had first given offence, and had been driven off with stones ^J^y the blacks, "ftliat cared condcts (who could obtain ^B^ few shillhigs for a stolen w^eapon) for Phillip's prudence 7 ^^Vhat recked the crews of the transports, who were coUect- ing curiosities, the manner in which convicts had obtained them ? fcAgam, the French — who as birds of passage had no such ogent reasons for good conduct as weighed upon PiuUip— lad no scruple in firing on the natives with or without Tovocation. Thus the very tribe, and often, perhaps, the very men, whom Phillip endeavoured to conciliate at Sydney, and with whom he had himself established friendly relations, were wantonly fired upon at Botany Bay .^ With
- 18114, Though the editor of the ** History of New SoiUh Wales from
he Records** tafcu-s exception to this use of the word *' wantonly/' the kutbor cannot withdraw it. Not onl3' Phillip, but many others have khown that an otlicer, like Peronsie, living in a '* stockade guarded by two «'* at Botany Uay was under nfi necessity to tire upon the natives. Ifiring was evidently wanton^ Mr. P»arton say-s there '*i=i no evidence I ftiiy natives were kille4l by the French/' It is quite as Uiuch to the purpose to say that there is no evidence to the contrary, find that the act of ** tiring on them was confessed by the French, and U nfficiaily recorded by GoverTior PhiUip as having been so confessed. It can hardly be liiontended that a slayer should escape condemnation by meaiY^ ol ^.^^e.^.
