84 ' A VOYAGE TO 
^ ^ix ^' ^^^^ ^^^'^ immediately feized a fpear, and coming clofe 
r — ' up to the Governor, poized it, and feemed determined 
to ftrike. But feeing that his threats were difregarded, 
(for his antagonift chofe rather to rifk: the effe6ls of his 
anger than to fire upon him) or perhaps diifuaded by 
fomething the other natives faid, in a few moments he 
dropped the fpear and went away. It was impoffible n.ot 
to be ftruck with the courage difplayed by him on this 
occafion, for Governor Phillip at the time was not alone, 
but had feveral officers and men about him. From this 
and other fimilar events, perfonal bravery appears to be 
a quality in which the natives of New South Wales are 
- . ' not by any means deficient. The old man returned the 
next morning with many other natives, but, in order to 
convince him of his fault, he was lefs noticed than 
his companions, who were prefented with hatchets and 
. various other articles, 
i. 
March 9tii, It was now the oth of March, and Governor Phillip 
returned to Port Jackfon : having gained fome ufeful 
knowledge of the country, and maintained an inter- 
courfe with the natives without departing from his 
favourite plan of treating them with the utmoft kind- 
iiefs. He had endeavoured at the fame time to gain 
their confidence, if poffible, and fecure their friendfliip. 
If tliefe humane endeavours were afterwards rendered 
fruitlefs by the wanton profligacy of fome depraved 
indivi- 
