312 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [November, 



Nothing was heard of the natives at the river : all was quiet there. 

 About Sydney their attention had been for fome time engroffed by 

 Ben-nil-long, who arrived with the Governor. On his firft appearance, 

 he conducted himfelf with polifhed familiarity toward his lifters and 

 other relations ; but to his acquaintance he was diftant, and quite the 

 man of confequence. He declared, in a tone and with an air that 

 feemed to expect compliance, that he fhould no longer fuffer them 

 to fight and cut each other's throats, as they had done; that he mould 

 introduce peace among them, and make them love each other. He 

 expreffed his with, that when they vifited him at Government-houfe, 

 they would contrive to be fomewhat more cleanly in their perfons, 

 and lefs coarfe in their manners ; and he feemed abfolutely offended 

 at fome little indelicacies which he obferved in his filler Gar-rang-ai- 

 rang, who came in fuch hafte from Botany Bay, with a little nephew 

 on her back, to vifit him, that fhe left her habiliments behind her. 

 Ben-nil-long had certainly not been an inattentive obferver of the 

 manners of the people among whom he had lived : he conducted 

 himfelf with great propriety at table, particularly in the obfervance of 

 thofe attentions which are chiefly requifite in the prefence of women. 

 His drefs appeared to be an object of no fmall concern with him ; 

 and every onewho knew him before he left the country, and who 

 faw him on his return, pronounced without hefitation, that Ben-nil- 

 long had not any defire to renounce the habits and comforts of the 

 civilized life which he appeared fo readily and fo fuccefsfully to adopt. 



His inquiries were directed, immediately on his arrival, after his 

 wife Go-roo-bar-roo-bool-lo ; and her he found with Caruey. On 

 producing a very fafhionable rofe-coloured petticoat and jacket made 

 of a coarfe fluff, accompanied with a gypfy bonnet of the fame colour, 

 {he deferted her lover, and followed her former hufband. In a few 

 days, however, to the furprife of every one, the lady was feen walk- 

 ing unincumbered with clothing of any kind, and Ben-nil-long was 

 miffing. Caruey was fought for ; and it was then difcovered that he 

 had been feverely beaten by Ben-nil-long ; who retained fo much of 



4 Englifh 



