ich latter sense we
had always used it without suspecting that we were wrong; and even without
being corrected by those with whom we talked daily. The cause of our error
was this. The epithet 'weeree', signifying 'bad', we knew; and as the
use of this word and its opposite afford the most simple form of denoting
consent or disapprobation to uninstructed Indians, in order to find out
their word for 'good', when Arabanoo was first brought among us, we used
jokingly to say that any thing, which he liked was 'weeree', in order to
provoke him to tell us that it was good. When we said 'weeree', he answered
'beeal', which we translated and adopted for 'good'; whereas he meant no
more than simply to deny our inference, and say 'no'--it is not bad.
After this, it cannot be thought extraordinary that the little vocabulary
inserted in Mr. Cook's account of this part of the world should appear
defective--even were we not to take in the great probability of the
dialects at Endeavour River and Van Diemen's land differing from that
spoken at Port Jackson. And it remains to be proved that the animal called
here 'patagaram' is not there called 'kangaroo'.]

Stretched out at ease before our fire, all sides continued to chat and
entertain each other. Gombeeree shewed us the mark of a wound which he had
received in his side from a spear. It was large, appeared to have passed to
a considerable depth, and must certainly have been attended with imminent
danger. By whom it had been inflicted, and on what occasion, he explained
to Colbee; and afterwards (as we understood) he entered into a detail of
the wars, and, as effects lead to causes, probably of the gallantries of
the district, for the word which signifies a woman was often repeated.
Colbee, in return for his communication, informed him who we were; of our
numbers at Sydney and Rose Hill, of the stores we possessed and, above all,
of the good things which were to be found among us, enumerating potatoes,
cabbages, turnips, pumpkins, and many other names which were perfectly
unintelligible to the person who heard them, but which he nevertheless
listened to with profound attention.

Perhaps the relation given by Gombeeree, of the cure of his wound, now
gave rise to the following superstitious ceremony. While they were talking,
Colbee turned suddenly round and asked for some water. I gave him a cupful,
which he presented with great seriousness to Yellomundee, as I supposed to
drink. This las