Page:The aborigines of Australia.djvu/125

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THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA.

being made it was found that he had decamped, leaving behind every article of an excellent suit of clothing with which he had been presented.

Thus were these last efforts of the Governor to domesticate an aboriginal most vexatiously frustrated, after so large an amount of labour and perseverance had been expended in the task. What force and application, however, could not effect time brought about without trouble or difficulty. Binnelong and Cole-be were afterwards frequently seen by parties of the whites in their expeditions over the harbour or around the country, and although the one had so flagrantly deceived them, and although the other had fled their companionship with such determination on a former occasion, they now appeared nowise shy or fearful of their whilom captors, conversing and exchanging civilities with them whenever they came into the neighbourhood of their encampments or haunts. On one of these occasions Binnelong sent his compliments to the Governor, who had uniformly treated him with kindness and consideration, and expressed a desire to see him. He added that he was unwilling to proceed to the settlement, but said that he would meet the Governor at an appointed place, on a certain day, if the latter chose to come. The information being conveyed to Governor Phillip, he determined to comply with Binnelong's wish, believing that by so doing he would be advancing the interests of the community entrusted to his charge, and accordingly, on the day fixed, set out