This first exchange was initially quite peaceful but after a short while one of the natives threw a lance, not directly at the landing party, but to one side and with such force that king ‘required an exertion to pull it out’. This and subsequent meetings between foreigners and natives continued with a mixture of threats and gifts. At one point king noted in his journal that after the native threw a lance, king ordered a marine to fire with powder only. king was avoiding injury to any of the natives while demonstrating that his men had the ability to defend themselves if necessary. In his journal he expressed his opinion that ‘I must do them the justice to say that I believe them to be concientiously [sic] honest.’4 When they found we were not disposed to part with any more things, they entered into conversation with us, which was very fully interpreted by very plain Signs they wanted to know of what sex we were, which they explained by pointing where it was distinguishable, As they took us for women, not having our beards grown, I ordered one of the people to undeceive them in this particular when they made a great shout of Admiration, & pointing to the shore, which was but ten yards from us we saw a great number of Women & Girls with infant children on their THE TRAFALGAR CHRONICLE 10 The First Fleet entering Botany Bay January 1788, by Lieutenant William Bradley RN. From the Journal of Lt William Bradley of HMS Sirius 1786–92. (Caird Library © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London)
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