Journal of a First Fleet Surgeon

I think I hear You saying, "Where the D--ce is Sydney Cove Port Jackson"?
and see You whirling the Letter about to find out the the Name of the
Scribe: Perhaps You have taken up Salmons Gazetteer, if so, pray spare
your Labour, and attend to Me for half an Hour--We sailed from the Cape
of Good Hope on the 12th of November 1787-– As that was the last
civilized Country We should touch at, in our Passage to Botany Bay We
provided ourselves with every Article, necessary for the forming a
civilized Colony, Live Stock, consisting of Bulls, Cows, Horses Mares,
Colts, Sheep, Hogs, Goats Fowls and other living Creatures by Pairs. We
likewise, procured a vast Number of Plants, Seeds & other Garden
articles, such, as Orange, Lime, Lemon, Quince Apple, Pear Trees, in a
Word, every Vegetable Production that the Cape afforded. Thus Equipped,
each Ship like another Noah's Ark, away we steered for Botany Bay, and
after a tolerably pleasant Voyage of 10 Weeks & 2 Days Governour
Phillip, had the Satisfaction to see the whole of his little Fleet safe
at Anchor in the said Bay.

As we were sailing in We saw 8 or 10 of the Natives, sitting on the
Rocks on the South Shore, and as the Ships bordered pretty near thereto,
we could hear them hollow, and observe them talking to one another very
earnestly, at the same time pointing towards the Ships; they were of a
black reddish sooty Colour, entirely naked, walked very upright, and
each of them had long Spears and a short Stick in their hands, soon
after the Ships had anchored, the Indians went up into the Wood, lit a
Fire, and sat Around about it, as unconcerned (apparently,) as tho'
nothing had occurred to them. Two Boats from the Sirius, were now Manned
and armed, and the Governor, accompanied by Cap.tn Hunter, and several
other Officers, went towards the Shore, where they had seen the Natives,
who perceiving the Boats making towards the Beach, came out of the Wood,
and walked along, some distance from the Water-side, but immediately on
the Boats landing, they scampered up into the Woods again, with great
Precipitation. On this, the Governor, advised, that we should seem quite
indifferent about them, and this apparent Indifference had a good
Effect, for they very soon appeared in sight of Us, When, the Governor
held up some Beads, Red Cloth & other Bawbles and made signs for them to
advance, but they still were exceedingly shy & timid, and would not be
enticed by our allurements; which the Governor perceiving, He shewed
them his Musket, then laid it on the Ground, advancing singly towards
them, they now seeing that He had nothing in his Hands like a Weapon one
of ye oldest of the Natives gave his Spears to a younger, and approached
to meet the Governor, but not without discovering manifest tokens of
Fear, and distrust, making signs for the things to be laid on the Ground
which, the Governor complying with, He advanced, tooke them up, and went
back to his Companions; Another, came forth and wanted some of the same
kind of Presents, which, were given to Him by the same Method, at
length, after various Methods to impress them with the Belief that We
meant them no harm, they suffered Us to come up to them, and after
making them all presents, which they received with much the same kind of
Pleasure, which Children shew at such Bawbles, just looking at them,
then holding out their Hands for more, some laughing heartily, and
jumping extravagantly; they began to shew a Confidence, and became very
familiar, and curious about our Cloaths, feeling the Coat, Waistcoat,
and even the Shirt and on seeing one of the Gentlemen(Unclear:), pull
off his Hat, they all set up a loud Hoop, one was curious enough to take
hold of a Gentlemans Hair that was cued, and called to his Companions to
look at it, this was the occasion of another loud Hoop, accompanied with
other Emotions of Astonishment. In a Word, they seemed pretty well
divested of their Fears, and became very funny Fellows.

They suffered the Sailors to dress them with different coloured Papers,
and Fools-Caps, which pleased them mightily, the strange contrast these
Decorations made with their black Complexion brought strongly to my
Mind, the Chimney-Sweepers in London on a May-Day.--They were all Men &
Boys in this Tribe.