friends, and had passed many an evening in
our hut. I had taken leave of him only the
day before, when he had set out, full of health
and spirits, on this hog expedition, which had
terminated thus fatally.
The death of this young man excited the
highest indignation in the minds of his coun-
trymen, as well as in those of his numerous
intimate friends and relations ; for a report
was industriously circulated that he had fallen
by the hands of a slave. This was considered
by his tribe as a degradation infinitely
worse than the murder itself. The offended
chiefs assembled on our beach, with all their
followers, armed: and none appeared more
indignant at the transaction than our friend
George, who, with his brother Kiney Kiney,
placed themselves at the head of the party, to
revenge,the insult which had been offered
them.
The night before they started on this expedition,
George spent the evening with us.
He was in particularly low spirits, and said
he did not at all like the business he was
going upon: but, as he was the nearest relation
of the deceased, and the eldest of the
tribe, he went in hopes of being able to prevent
a great effusion of blood, and also to
restrain the impetuosity of the young men.
Little did we then think he would be the first
victim; although his unusual depression of
mind brought to my remembrance the prophecy
of Shunghie ; and, spite of my endeavours
to banish my forebodings, I felt convinced
that the prediction would in all probability
be fulfilled.
Three days had elapsed from the time the
avenging party had gone on their mission,
when, at midnight, a messenger, faint and
nearly exhausted, arrived on our beach with
the following dreadful intelligence ; and that
night no other sounds were heard than those
of agony and woe, the yelling of women, and
the shrieks of slaves.
The substance of the man’s information
was, that George and the offending party had
met ; but, as several days had passed since
the murder of their friend, their feelings were
in some degree appeased, and they had contented
themselves with a general plunder of
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