It appears as if some of the Indian families confine their
society and connections within their own pale: but that this cannot
always be the case we know; for on the north-west arm of Botany Bay
stands a village, which contains more than a dozen houses, and
perhaps five times that number of people; being the most considerable
establishment that we are acquainted with in the country. As a striking
proof, besides, of the numerousness of the natives, I beg leave to
state, that Governor Phillip, when on an excursion between the head of
this harbour and that of Botany Bay, once fell in with a party which
consisted of more than three hundred persons, two hundred and twelve of
whom were men: this happened only on the day following the murder of the
two convict rush cutters, before noticed, and his Excellency was at
the very time in search of the murderers, on whom, could they have been
found, he intended to inflict a memorable and exemplary punishment. The
meeting was unexpected to both parties, and considering the critical
situation of affairs, perhaps not very pleasing to our side, which
consisted but of twelve persons, until the peaceable disposition of
the Indians was manifest.
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