It were superfluous to say,that nothing which medical skill and unremitting attention could perform,were left unexerted to mitigate his sufferings,and prolong a life,which humanity and affectionate concern towards his sick compatriots,unfortunately shortened.
During his sickness he reposed entire confidence in us.Although a stranger to medicine,and nauseating the taste of it,he swallowed with patient submission innumerable drugs,which the hope of relief induced us to administer to him.The governor,who particularly regarded him,caused him to be buried in his own garden,and attended the funeral in person.
[Very different had been his conduct on a former occasion of a similar kind.
Soon after he was brought among us he was seized with a diarrhoea,for which he could by no persuasion be induced to swallow any of our preions.After many ineffectual trials to deceive,or overcome him,it was at length determined to let him pursue his own course,and to watch if he should apply for relief to any of the productions of the country.He was in consequence observed to dig fern-root,and to chew it.Whether the disorder had passed its crisis,or whether the fern-root effected a cure,I know not;but it is certain that he became speedily well.
The regard was reciprocal.His excellency had been ill but a short time before,when Arabanoo had testified the utmost solicitude for his case and recovery.It is probable that he acquired,on this occasion,just notions of the benefit to be derived from medical assistance.
A doctor is,among them,a person of consequence.It is certain that he latterly estimated our professional gentlemen very highly.]
The character of Arabanoo,as far as we had developed it,was distinguished by a portion of gravity and steadiness,which our subsequent acquaintance with his countrymen by no means led us to conclude a national characteristic.
In that daring,enterprising frame of mind,which,when combined with genius,constitutes the leader of a horde of savages,or the ruler of a people,boasting the power of discrimination and the resistance of ambition,he was certainly surpassed by some of his successors,who afterwards lived among us.His countenance was thoughtful,but not animated:
his fidelity and gratitude,particularly to his friend the governor,were constant and undeviating,and deserve to be recorded.
Although of a gentle and placable temper,we early discovered that he was impatient of indignity,and allowed of no superiority on our part.
He knew that he was in our power;but the independence of his mind never forsook him.If the slightest insult were offered to him,he would return it with interest.At retaliation of merriment he was often happy;and frequently turned the laugh against his antagonist.
He did not want docility;but either from the difficulty of acquiring our language,from the unskillfulness of his teachers,or from some natural defect,his progress in learning it was not equal to what we had expected.For the last three or four weeks of his life,hardly any restraint was laid upon his inclinations:so that had he meditated escape,he might easily have effected it.He was,perhaps,the only native who was ever attached to us from choice;and who did not prefer a precarious subsistence among wilds and precipices,to the comforts of a civilized system.
By his death,the scheme which had invited his capture was utterly defeated.
Of five natives who had been brought among us,three had perished from a cause which,though unavoidable,it was impossible to explain to a people,who would condescend to enter into no intercourse with us.The same suspicious dread of our approach,and the same scenes of vengeance acted on unfortunate stragglers,continued to prevail.
