A marine sergeant and three convicts, including…
December 1790 CE
After they pass the northern arm of Botany Bay, they decide to stay at a hut formed of boughs, which had been erected by other sportsmen who hunt for game at night.
At about 1:00 am the sergeant is awakened by rustling bushes and, assuming it to be from a kangaroo, calls to his comrades, who immediately draw their weapons.
However, on closer inspection the origin of the noise is found to be two natives armed with spears.
McEntire attempts to defuse the situation by laying down his gun and telling his comrades not to be afraid.
He then begins speaking with the natives in their own language, and they slowly retreat about one hundred yards (ninety-one meters) as McEntire follows them.
Without warning, Pemulwuy jumps on a fallen tree and launches his spear at McEntire, which lodges in his left side.
McEntire immediately withdraws to rejoin his party and alerts them to what had happened.
Two of the armed marines set out in pursuit of the natives but they have already escaped.
They then escort the wounded man back to the colony, arriving in Sydney at 2 am the next morning.