To convince his countrymen that he had received no injury from us, the governor took him in a boat down the harbour, that they might see and converse with him:  when the boat arrived, and lay at a little distance from the beach, several Indians who had retired at her approach, on seeing Manly, returned:  he was greatly affected, and shed tears.  At length they began to converse.  Our ignorance of the language prevented us from knowing much of what passed; it was, however, easily understood that his friends asked him why he did not jump overboard, and rejoin them.  He only sighed, and pointed to the fetter on his leg, by which he was bound.

In going down the harbour he had described the names by which they distinguish its numerous creeks and headlands:  he was now often heard to repeat that of ‘Weerong’ (Sydney Cove), which was doubtless to inform his countrymen of the place of his captivity; and perhaps invite them to rescue him.  By this time his gloom was chased away, and he parted from his friends without testifying reluctance.  His vivacity and good humour continued all the evening, and produced so good an effect on his appetite, that he ate for supper two kangaroo rats, each of the size of a moderate rabbit, and in addition not less than three pounds of fish.

Two days after he was taken on a similar excursion; but to our surprise the natives kept aloof, and would neither approach the shore, or discourse with their countryman:  we could get no explanation of this difficulty, which seemed to affect us more than it did him.  Uncourteous as they were, he performed to them an act of attentive benevolence; seeing a basket made of bark, used by them to carry water, he conveyed into it two hawks and another bird, which the people in the boat had shot, and carefully covering them over, left them as a present to his old friends.  But indeed the gentleness and humanity of his disposition frequently displayed themselves:  when our children, stimulated by wanton curiosity, used to flock around him, he never failed to fondle them, and, if he were eating at the time, constantly offered them the choicest part of his fare.

February, 1789.  His reserve, from want of confidence in us, continued gradually to wear away:  he told us his name, and Manly gave place to Arabanoo.  Bread he began to relish; and tea he drank with avidity:  strong liquors he would never taste, turning from them with disgust and abhorrence.  Our dogs and cats had ceased to be objects of fear, and were become his greatest pets, and constant companions at table.  One of our chief amusements, after the cloth was removed, was to make him repeat the names of things in his language, which he never hesitated to do with the utmost alacrity, correcting our pronunciation when erroneous.  Much information relating to the customs and manners of his country was also gained from him:  but as this subject will be separately and amply treated, I shall not anticipate myself by partially touching on it here.