Who was Captain Arthur Phillips' Aboriginal friend?

Answer 1

BENNELONG (1764?-1813), Aboriginal, was captured in November 1789 and brought to the settlement at Sydney Cove by order of Governor Arthur Phillip, who hoped to learn from him more of the natives' customs and language. 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 it 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 1791 a brick hut, 12 feet sq. (1.1 m²), was built for him on the eastern point of Sydney Cove, now called Bennelong Point. In December 1792 he sailed with Phillip for England where he was presented to King George III. August 1794 found him on board the Reliance in Plymouth Sound, waiting to return to the colony with Governor John Hunter, but the ship did not sail until early in 1795, and on 25 January Hunter wrote that Bennelong's health was precarious because of cold, homesickness and disappointment at the long delay which had 'much broken his spirit'. He reached Sydney in September, and thereafter references to him are scanty, though it is clear that he could no longer find contentment or full acceptance either among his countrymen or the white men. Two years later he had become 'so fond of drinking that he lost no opportunity of being intoxicated, and in that state was so savage and violent as to be capable of any mischief'. In 1798 he was twice dangerously wounded in tribal battles. A censorious paragraph in the Sydney Gazette records his death at Kissing Point on 3 January 1813. His wife, Barangaroo, bore him a daughter named Dilboong who died in infancy. Later he took a second wife, Gooroobaroobooloo, but during his absence in England she found another mate, and disdained Bennelong when he returned. His age, at the time of his capture, was estimated at 25, and he was described as being 'of good stature, stoutly made', with a 'bold, intrepid countenance'. His appetite was such that 'the ration of a week was insufficient to have kept him for a day', and 'love and war seemed his favourite pursuits'. Contemporary accounts reveal him as courageous, intelligent, vain, quick-tempered, 'tender with children' and something of a comedian. Bennelong also had a son who was adopted by Rev. William Walker and christened Thomas Walker Coke. He died after a short illness aged about 20. == Historical Records of New South Wales, vol 1, part 2, vols 2-3; J. Hunter, An Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island (Lond, 1793); D. Collins, An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, vols 1-2 (Lond, 1798-1802); W. Tench, A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson in New South Wales (Lond, 1793); G. Bond, A Brief Account of the Colony of Port Jackson in New South Wales (Southampton, 1803); Sydney Gazette, 9 Jan 1813; V. W. E. Goodin, 'Public Education in New South Wales Before 1848: Part 3', Journal(Royal Australian Historical Society), vol 36, part 3, 1950, pp 130-75. More on the resources Author: Eleanor Dark Print Publication Details: Eleanor Dark, ' Bennelong (1764? - 1813)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 1, Melbourne University Press, 1966, pp 84-85.