Bennelong ? Bennelong took readily to life among the white men, relished their food, acquired a taste for liquor, learned to speak English and became particularly attached to the governor, in whose house he lodged. In May he escaped, and no more was seen of him until September when he was among a large assembly of natives at Manly, one of whom wounded Phillip with a spear.
The attack seems to have been the result of a misunderstanding, and Bennelong took no part in it; indeed, he expressed concern and frequently appeared near Sydney Cove to inquire after the governor's health. The incident was thus the means of re-establishing contact between them and, when assured that he would not be detained, Bennelong began to frequent the settlement with many of his compatriots, who made the Government House yard their headquarters. In a brick hut, 12 feet sq.
Had he penetrated our state, perhaps he might have given his countrymen such a description of our diminished numbers, and diminished strength, as would have emboldened them to become more troublesome.
Every expedient was used to keep him in ignorance. His allowance was regularly received by the governor's servant, like that of any other person, but the ration of a week was insufficient to have kept him for a day. The deficiency was supplied by fish whenever it could be procured, and a little Indian corn, which had been reserved was ground and appropriated to his use.
In spite of all these aids, want of food has been known to make him furious and often melancholy. About two o'clock in the morning, he pretended illness, and awaking the servant who lay in the room with him, begged to go down stairs. The other attended him without suspicion of his design; and Baneelon no sooner found himself in a backyard, than he nimbly leaped over a slight paling, and bade us adieu. White, accompanied by little Nanbaree, and a party of men, went in a boat to Manly Cove, intending to land there, and walk on to Broken Bay.
On drawing near the shore, a dead whale, in the most disgusting state of putrefaction, was seen lying on the beach, and at least two hundred Indians surrounding it, broiling the flesh on different fires, and feasting on it with the most extravagant marks of greediness and rapture.
As the boat continued to approach, they were observed to fall into confusion and to pick up their spears, on which our people lay upon their oars and Nanbaree stepping forward, harangued them for some time, assuring them that we were friends. White now called for Baneelon who, on hearing his name, came forth, and entered into conversation. He was greatly emaciated, and so far disfigured by a long beard, that our people not without difficulty recognized their old acquaintance.
His answering in broken English, and inquiring for the governor, however, soon corrected their doubts. He seemed quite friendly. And soon after Colbee came up, pointing to his leg, to show that he had freed himself from the fetter which was upon him, when he had escaped from us. When Baneelon was told that the governor was not far off, he expressed great joy, and declared that he would immediately go in search of him, and if he found him not, would follow him to Sydney. Unluckily they had not any which they chose to spare; but two or three shirts, some handkerchiefs, knives, and other trifles, were given to them, and seemed to satisfy.
Baneelon, willing to instruct his countrymen, tried to put on a shirt, but managed it so awkwardly, that a man of the name of M'Entire, the governor's gamekeeper, was directed by Mr.
White to assist him. This man, who was well known to him, he positively forbade to approach, eyeing him ferociously, and with every mark of horror and resentment. He was in consequence left to himself, and the conversation proceeded as before. The length of his beard seemed to annoy him much, and he expressed eager wishes to be shaved, asking repeatedly for a razor. A pair of scissors was given to him, and he shewed he had not forgotten how to use such an instrument, for he forthwith began to clip his hair with it.
As they expressed not any consternation on seeing us row to the beach, governor Phillip stepped out unarmed, and attended by one seaman only, and called for Baneelon, who appeared, but, notwithstanding his former eagerness, would not suffer the other to approach him for several minutes.
Gradually, however, he warmed into friendship and frankness, and presently after Colbee came up. They discoursed for some time, Baneelon expressing pleasure to see his old acquaintance, and inquiring by name for every person whom he could recollect at Sydney; and among others for a French cook, one of the governor's servants, whom he had constantly made the butt of his ridicule, by mimicking his voice, gait, and other peculiarities, all of which he again went through with his wonted exactness and drollery.
He asked also particularly for a lady from whom he had once ventured to snatch a kiss; and on being told that she was well, by way of proving that the token was fresh in his remembrance, he kissed Lieutenant Waterhouse, and laughed aloud. On his wounds being noticed, he coldly said, that he had received them at Botany Bay, but went no farther into their history.
Hatchets still continued to be called for with redoubled eagerness, which rather surprised us, as formerly they had always been accepted with indifference. But Baneelon had probably demonstrated to them their superiority over those of their own manufacturing.
To appease their importunity, the governor gave them a knife, some bread, pork, and other articles, and promised that in two days he would return hither, and bring with him hatchets to be distributed among them, which appeared to diffuse general satisfaction.
Baneelon's love of wine has been mentioned; and the governor, to try whether it still subsisted, uncorked a bottle, and poured out a glass of it, which the other drank off with his former marks of relish and good humour, giving for a toast, as he had been taught, "The King. The others by degrees also resumed their former position. He was only nineteen. Six months later, on 25 January , Captain John Hunter, appointed second governor of New South Wales, said he feared that the 'Surviving Man Banilong ' was so ill and 'broken in Spirit' that he might die.
Bennelong had been away for two years and 10 months, 18 months of which he spent on board ships, either at sea or in the docks. His brick house at Bennelong Point was demolished in November , two months after his return to Sydney.
Bennelong [media] had no desire to return to Europe, as he declared on 29 August in a letter addressed to 'Mr. I am at home now. John Washington Price, an Irish-born surgeon on the convict transport ship Minerva , saw Bennelong and wrote in his journal on 19 January Fresh evidence refutes the repeated historical claim that in the second part of his life his own people despised Bennelong.
In , Bennelong officiated at an initiation ceremony on the north shore as he had previously in Sometime after , Bennelong left the Sydney settlement and re-established his authority as leader of a strong Aboriginal group on the Parramatta River west of Ryde.
In , when the French mariner Pierre Bernard Milius invited him to sail to France, Bennelong replied that 'there was no better country than his own and that he did not wish to leave it'. Bennelong [media] spent his last years in the orchard of the friendly ex-convict brewer James Squire c— at Kissing Point.
Squire was granted 30 acres 12 hectares of land at the Eastern Farms in and by was brewing his own beer and owned the Malting Shovel public house. Bennelong's obituary in the Sydney Gazette , the first printed reference to him for seven years, was scathing and patronizing:. Bennelong died on Sunday morning last at Kissing Point. Of this veteran champion of the native tribe little favourable can be said.
His voyage to and benevolent treatment in Great Britain produced no change whatever in his manners and inclinations, which were naturally barbarous and ferocious.
The principal officers of Government had for many years endeavoured, by the kindest of usage, to wean him from his original habits and draw him into a relish for civilised life; but every effort was in vain exerted and for the last few years he has been but little noticed. His propensity for drunkenness was inordinate; and when in that state he was insolent, menacing and overbearing.
In fact, he was a thorough savage, not to be warped from the form and character that nature gave him by all the efforts that mankind could use. A traditional ritual revenge combat was fought in Sydney not long after Bennelong's death. It was not reported in the Sydney newspapers, but was witnessed by 'a free merchant of India', a passenger on the schooner Henrietta , who wrote a letter dated 'off Bass's Straits, 17th April, ', which was printed in the Caledonian Mercury in Edinburgh on 26 May The writer stated that:.
Lately, in the vicinity of the town [Sydney], a battle took place, where about were engaged, I believe in consequence of the death of the celebrated Bennelong, who visited England some years ago, and was taken great notice of. The spears flew very thick, and about thirty men were wounded. It is likely that Colebee's nephew Nanbarry, who died on 12 August , was wounded in the ensuing combat.
There could be no greater mark of respect. Woollarawarre Bennelong. He died at Kissing Point on 3 January and was buried there with his last wife, Boorong.
Bennelong was remembered as courageous, intelligent, vain and quick-tempered but was said to be good with children and something of a comedian. Keep up to date on events, special offers and scientific discoveries with our What's On eNewsletter. Receive the latest news on school holiday programs and much more!
The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands. Image credit: gadigal yilimung shield made by Uncle Charles Chicka Madden.
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