rer
the governor approached, the greater became the terror and agitation of the
Indian. To remove his fear, governor Phillip threw down a dirk, which
he wore at his side. The other, alarmed at the rattle of the dirk, and
probably misconstruing the action, instantly fixed his lance in his
throwing-stick*.

[*Such preparation is equal to what cocking a gun, and directing it at its
object, would be with us. To launch the spear, or to touch the trigger,
only remains.]

To retreat, his excellency now thought would be more dangerous than to
advance. He therefore cried out to the man, Weeeree, Weeree, (bad; you
are doing wrong) displaying at the same time, every token of amity and
confidence. The words had, however, hardly gone forth, when the Indian,
stepping back with one foot, aimed his lance with such force and dexterity,
that striking* the governor's right shoulder, just above the collar-bone,
the point glancing downward, came out at his back, having made a wound of
many inches long. The man was observed to keep his eye steadily fixed on
the lance until it struck its object, when he directly dashed into the
woods and was seen no more.

[*His excellency described the shock to me as similar to a violent blow,
with such energy was the weapon thrown.]

Instant confusion on both sides took place. Baneelon and Colbee disappeared
and several spears were thrown from different quarters, though without
effect. Our party retreated as fast as they could, calling to those
who were left in the boat, to hasten up with firearms. A situation more
distressing than that of the governor, during the time that this lasted,
cannot readily be conceived: the pole of the spear, not less than ten
feet in length, sticking out before him, and impeding his flight, the butt
frequently striking the ground, and lacerating the wound. In vain did Mr.
Waterhouse try to break it; and the barb, which appeared on the other side,
forbade extraction, until that could be performed. At length it was broken,
and his excellency reached the boat, by which time the seamen with the
muskets had got up, and were endeavouring to fire them, but one only would
go off, and there is no room to believe that it was attended with any
execution.

When the governor got home, the wound was examined. It had bled a good deal
in the boat, and it was doubtful whether the subclavian artery might not
be divided. On moving the spear, it was found, however, that it might be
safely