hem
is a point which all our future inquiry never completely determined. It is
certain that no second instance of this sort was ever witnessed by us.

CHAPTER XII.

Transactions of the Colony in Part of December, 1790.

On the 9th of the month, a sergeant of marines, with three convicts, among
whom was McEntire, the governor's gamekeeper (the person of whom Baneelon
had, on former occasions, shown so much dread and hatred) went out on a
shooting party. Having passed the north arm of Botany Bay, they proceeded
to a hut formed of boughs, which had been lately erected on this peninsula,
for the accommodation of sportsmen who wished to continue by night in the
woods; for, as the kangaroos in the day-time, chiefly keep in the cover, it
is customary on these parties to sleep until near sunset, and watch for the
game during the night, and in the early part of the morning. Accordingly,
having lighted a fire, they lay down, without distrust or suspicion.

About one o'clock, the sergeant was awakened by a rustling noise in the
bushes near him, and supposing it to proceed from a kangaroo, called to his
comrades, who instantly jumped up. On looking about more narrowly, they saw
two natives with spears in their hands, creeping towards them, and three
others a little farther behind. As this naturally created alarm, McEntire
said, "don't be afraid, I know them," and immediately laying down his gun,
stepped forward, and spoke to them in their own language. The Indians,
finding they were discovered, kept slowly retreating, and McEntire
accompanied them about a hundred yards, talking familiarly all the while.

One of them now jumped on a fallen tree and, without giving the least
warning of his intention, launched his spear at McEntire and lodged it in
his left side. The person who committed this wanton act was described as a
young man with a speck or blemish on his left eye That he had been lately
among us was evident from his being newly shaved.

The wounded man immediately drew back and, joining his party, cried, "I am
a dead man". While one broke off the end of the spear, the other two set
out with their guns in pursuit of the natives; but their swiftness of foot
soon convinced our people of the impossibility of reaching them. It was now
determined to attempt to carry McEntire home, as his death was apprehended
to be near, and he expressed a longing desire not to be left to expire in
the woods. Being an uncommonly robu