He mentioned the narrow escape he had during the fray; a musquet being
levelled at him, which he avoided by skulking behind the boat; and
another man, who stood close to him, was shot dead. As soon as the
musquet was discharged, he instantly seized the opportunity to attack Mr
Rowe, who commanded the party, and who defended himself with his hanger,
(with which he wounded Kahoora in the arm,) till he was overpowered by
numbers.

Mr Burney, who was sent by Captain Furneaux the next day, with an armed
party, to look for his missing people, upon discovering the horrid
proofs of their shocking fate, had fired several vollies amongst the
crowds of natives who still remained assembled on the spot, and were
probably partaking of the detestable banquet. It was natural to suppose
that he had not fired in vain; and that, therefore, some of the
murderers and devourers of our unhappy countrymen had suffered under our
just resentment. Upon enquiry, however, into this matter, not only from
Kahoora, but from others who had opportunities of knowing, it appeared
that our supposition was groundless, and that not one of the shot fired
by Mr Burney's people had taken effect, so as to kill, or even to hurt,
a single person.[143]

[Footnote 143: Mr Burney was not warranted in firing. It was not
possible for him, at the time, to know whether or not his comrades had
been justly punished for aggressions on the savages. He acted,
therefore, from the impulse of blind revenge. But such a motive, though
natural enough it may be, must, nevertheless, be condemned by every law
recognised among civilized nations. Even his observing these people
engaged in feasting on the victims of their fury, much indeed as it
would necessarily augment his abhorrence, could not be allowed a
sufficient plea for his attacking them; because the principles which
ought to govern the conduct of a member of such a society as he belonged
to, are indiscriminately imperative in their nature, and do not allow
any latitude of dispensation to an individual. The only thing that
warrants the violation of them, is the necessity imposed by a still
higher law,--that of preserving his own existence. But, in the present
instance, it does not appear that he was in any danger.--E.]

It was evident, that most of the natives we had met with since our
arrival, as they knew I was fully acquainted with the history of the
massacre, expected I should avenge it with the death of Kahoora. And
m