Beschreibung:

ARTHUR PHILLIP (1738-1814) METAL SPEARHEAD with accompanying label inscribed (in late ninteenth-century hand): "Spearhead - taken out of Gov.r Phillips shoulder by Capt.n Waterhouse - NSW" length 7cm width of blade 0,6cm ; together with a 14pp. notebook by Captain Henry Waterhouse including his account of this incident, attributing the ownership of the spearhead to BENNELONG, the Aborigine taken in by Governor Phillip during the early days of the settlement at Port Jackson. The wounding of Governor Arthur Phillip at Manly Cove, New South Wales on 7 September 1790 is a celebrated incident in the history of Phillip's effort to establish contact with the Aborigines. His attitude towards them from the time of his arrival with the First Fleet in 1788 was liberal. His men had captured two Aborigines, Bennelong and Coleby, at Manly in November 1789 with the intention of learning about their customs and language. Although Coleby escaped after three weeks, Bennelong was intrigued by the Europeans and he lodged at Government House for six months providing Phillip with "a large vocabulary" and other invaluable information. To Phillip's regret Bennelong disappeared in May 1790 so that when news was recieved that he had been sighted at Manly Cove, Phillip hastened there with two of his officers, Captain David Collins and Lieutenant Henry Waterhouse, and four soldiers. They found a large assembly of Aborigines who had gathered to feast on a whale which had been stranded on the beach. Although Phillip makes no mention of the subsequent encounter in his despatches, Collins includes an account of this in his history of the early settlement of Port Jackson ( An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales ... , London, 1798-1802, pp. 133-6). Collins states that at the meeting between Phillip and Bennelong, the latter introduced several Aborigines by name, and Phillip advanced to meet one in particular with outstretched hands. The Aborigine took fright, perhaps believing he was to be taken prisoner and, according to Collins, "lifted a spear from the grass with his foot, and fixing it on his throwing-stick, in an instant darted it at the governor". Collins identifies the Aborigine as Willemering (Wille ma ring) and states that Bennelong had later assured Phillip that the attack was made "for the impulse of self-preservation". The narrative by Waterhouse included in this lot provides many more details and leaves the impression of having been written soon after the events occurred: Waterhouse had initially remained with the rowing boat, Phillip and Collins proceeding together to search for Bennelong who eventually appeared and enquired particularly after Waterhouse himself. The latter was sent for and shook hands with both Bennelong and Coleby, helping Bennelong to put on his jacket which Phillip had brought for him. Waterhouse continues, "Benalong [ sic ] on the Governors going up had a remarkable good Spear which the Governor asked him for ... he either would or could not understand him but took it & lay'd it down in the Grass". As the Aborigines began to throng around the three British officers (Waterhouse states that there were nineteen Aborigines and each was armed), Phillip ordered a retreat to the boat. He promised Bennelong he would return in two days and bring him clothes to wear and hatchets. Just as they began to withdraw Bennelong pointed out and named several Aborigines, towards one of whom Phillip advanced with hand outstretched. The Aborigine took fright, seized the spear Bennelong had laid on the grass, fixed his throwing-stick and hurled it "with astonishing violence" into the Governor's shoulder. Waterhouse believed at first that Phillip had been killed, but then saw him running towards the boat holding the spear with both hands in an attempt to keep the shaft off the ground. Phillip collapsed. "He then begged me for Gods sake to haul the spear out". Waterhouse, himself wounded by another spear which grazed his hand, but was