In November 1789 a substitute for Arabanoo was sought resulting in the capture of Bennelong and Colebee at Manly Cove. Phillip had sent a party to the Cove in an attempt to deal with what the British regarded as the most influential group – the Gamaragal. Instead they captured a Wangal (Bennelong) and a Cadigal (Colebee). Their presence among the Gamaragal may have been the result of normal relations between the groups or as a result of impacts of ‘smallpox’ on both the Wangal and Cadigal and the dislocation of survivors from these groups.
The task of carrying out the abduction on 25 November 1789 fell to Lieutenant William Bradley who remarked that the ‘crying & screaming of the women and children together with the situation of the two miserable wretches in our possession was really a most distressing scene; they were much terrified’. Bradley added that ‘it was by far the most unpleasant service I was ever ordered to Execute’. Tench, who was not present, remarked at the ease of which the two men were captured.[1]
Following capture and return to the settlement they were identified by name by Nanbarry and Boorong. Imprisoned – both refused to communicate and attempted escape at the first opportunity – Colebee escaped seventeen days later but Bennelong remained in captivity.[2] With the more senior Colebee gone Bennelong began to converse with his captors. Bennelong was interviewed throughout his captivity and provided names for the people inhabiting the Port Jackson region as well as language, family connections and some cultural information.[3]
That Bennelong remained in captivity may have been not so much a matter of choice on Bennelong’s part but a requirement to learn something of the habits, customs and strength of the newcomers. Some of the information provided by Bennelong during this first phase of contact was confusing. He regarded the Gamaragal as enemies and sought assistance to exterminate them but then quickly changed his mind. Later events would suggest that his relationship with the Gamaragal may have been one of dependence following the break-down of the traditional Eora social structure and that he continued to maintain close contact with them.[4] Alternatively Bennelong may have been attempting to encourage direct and open conflict with the Gamaragal in order to bring matters to a head. With Colebee at large the arrangement of such encounter was feasible. Time spent in the settlement however, may have tempered such a stratagem.
Bennelong communicated with a number of officers within the settlement. Time spent with Lieutenant William Dawes helped the language spoken by the Eora to survive to this day. Although Bennelong was not the primary informant he did provide information regarding places and people, as well as grammar, to Dawes.
The officer with whom Bennelong developed the closest relationship was Governor Phillip. What developed was a respectful relationship between men of seniority within their own communities. Phillip, being the older man, was however the senior of the two. Bennelong recognised this by an exchange of names and reference to Phillip as “father”. This may have been an attempt to open a new phase of dealing with the invaders – negotiation. Whether this was self-serving on Bennelong’s part or a plan that would preserve the livelihood of the survivors of the epidemic is unclear. Bennelong certainly benefited in the short-term and would later use this period of captivity to further his position within the surviving Eora communities.[5]
Bennelong’s apparent compliance and willingness to absorb both the language and customs of his captors seemed to indicate that a reliable interlocutor between the two societies had been found.[6]
In March 1790 the loss of the Sirius on Norfolk Island placed the Colony at Port Jackson in peril with a reduced capacity to obtain supplies and to communicate with the world beyond Port Jackson. The settlement was placed on reduced rations with no clear end to the situation in sight. The vulnerability of the settlement was concealed from Bennelong by providing him with as much food as could be gathered.[7]
In May 1790 Bennelong escaped from captivity and generally avoided any contact with Europeans in the period immediately thereafter. He had been detained for almost six months and during that period gained knowledge of his captors’ language, customs and strength.[8]
Phillip reflected on Bennelong’s escape in a letter to Sir Joseph Banks in which he stated that ‘our native has left us, & that at a time when he appeared to be happy & contented … I think that Mans leaving us proves that nothing will make these people amends for the loss of their liberty’.[9]
Bennelong’s next encounter with his former hosts took place on 7 September 1790. A small party under Captain Nepean with Nanbarry as interpreter landed at Manly Cove with the intention of exploring the land northward to Broken Bay. At Manly Cove the party came upon up to 200 people feasting on the carcass of a beached whale.[10]
When informed that the Governor was not far-off an invitation was extended to Phillip to attend. Phillip arrived shortly after and resumed what appeared to be a friendly dialogue with Bennelong.
A spear described by Phillip as “being longer than common, and appeared to be a very curious one, being barbed and pointed with hard wood” was placed on the ground by Bennelong.[11] On being introduced to Willemering, a stranger in their midst, Phillip approached him at which point Willemering picked up the spear and hurled it into Phillip’s shoulder. The inactivity of both Bennelong and Colebee may indicate that the spearing had been orchestrated by them as ritual payback for their time in custody, and in order to restore any influence lost by Bennelong’s detention. The British saw this action as a misinterpretation of Phillip’s advances to someone unfamiliar with Europeans. If the spearing was payback then the action was organised at very short notice. [12] Whether deliberate or accidental the spearing had a significant effect on relations between the two communities. There was no retribution and perhaps for Eora – and Bennelong in particular – there had been redress for his imprisonment.