A Voyage to Botany Bay by George Barrington

The natives continued to visit Sydney after Banalong's recent behaviour, and conducted themselves in such a manner as gave great reason to suppose he would never return: this, however, was not the case; for having previously visited the fishing-boats, to know if Governor Philip was still angry with him, and if he would shoot him; he appeared very desirous of knowing if he might go to the governor's house, at the same time naming a man who had stole the hatchet, and denied having used any threats; however not being pleased with the answers that were given to his questions, he went away, but returned in a few days, and went to the governor's, who, happening to see him come to the gate, ordered him away. He was seen soon afterwards, and seemed very desirous of being received again into favour; he disclaimed any knowledge of the hatchet, or any intention of revenging the death of a man who had been shot. Governor Philip appeared to believe him, and he was suffered to go into the yard, which was always open to the natives; some bread and fish were given him, but he was not permitted to enter the house as usual: though this degradation did not a little hurt his pride, he frequently repeated his visits.

Governor Philip had been very desirous of learning the reason that the females had two of the joints of the little finger cut off, and of seeing in what manner that operation was performed; he had now an opportunity of gratifying a part of his wish: Coalby's wife coming to the settlement with a new born female, brought her infant to the governor's house; and being told that his excellency would be present at the operation, it was accordingly performed. A ligature was applied round the little finger at the second joint; but two days afterwards they brought the child again, the ligature was either broken or taken off; this being told the mother, she took some hairs from the head of an officer who was present and bound them very tight round the finger; after some time a gangrene took place; and though the child seemed uneasy when it was touched, it did not cry, nor was any attention paid to it after the ligature was applied. This operation had always been performed on the left hand, but this child was an exception, for it was the little finger of the right hand which underwent the operation: this bandage was continued until the finger was ready to drop off, when its parents took it to the surgeon, who, at their request, separated it with a knife.