efore he united with the natives, he was
accustomed to pursue them with all the virulence of a savage. In company
with a convict servant he would face the darkness, and go out "to storm
the huts" he had seen in the day. On one such occasion, in spite of
prohibitions, he set out at night; but the natives had observed him, and
decamped, leaving behind them large fires to deceive their enemy.
Returning at midnight, he was mistaken for a Tasmanian black; and, but
for discovery at the moment, would have suffered the fate he deserved.

It was said by Mr. G. Robertson, that the first murders of Musquito were
committed in self defence. He associated with the Oyster Bay tribe, and
his power over them was great: he even prevailed on them to perform some
rude agricultural labor. He had high notions of his own worth: he would
stalk into the cottages of the settlers, seat himself with great
dignity: his followers, to the number of one or two hundred, patiently
awaiting his signal to approach.

As the influence of Musquito enlarged, it became more pernicious. He not
only misled his immediate followers, but propagated his spirit. Deeds of
great enormity were committed at his direction; several by his own hand.
He drew a man from his house at Pittwater, by the _cooey_, and then
speared him to death. A servant of Mr. Cassidy, and another of Mr.
Evans, met a similar fate. In concert with Tom, a Tasmanian black, he
became a terror to the colony. Their parties moved in large bodies, and
acted under a common impulse. In carrying on their depredations, their
tactics aimed at military unity and skill. A party of sixty appeared
before the premises of Mr. Hobbs, at the Eastern Marshes (1824): they
watched the servants deliver their fire, and before they could reload
their muskets, they rushed upon them, and by weight of numbers drove
them off the ground. A few days after, the natives again appeared: a
small party came forward first, and reconnoitred; then returning to a
hill, they made signals to a body of a hundred and fifty, in an opposite
direction. Both divisions bore down on the establishment. The English
were now well armed, and maintained the post for five hours; but escaped
when they saw the natives prepare to surround the dwelling with fire.
Overcome with terror, for several days they refused to return, and the
property was left to its fate. Mr. Hobbs was specially unfortunate: his
house lay in the track, both of the natives and bushra