their arms, ranged themselves under their
different leaders, and a general discharge of
muskets immediately took place.
Almost at the beginning of the combat,
George received a shot, which broke both his
legs : his brother and friends endeavoured to
support him in their arms. It being then
nearly dark, added much to the confusion, as
it was difficult to distinguish friend from foe j
indeed, so sudden had been the onset, that
many could scarcely have been aware of the
cause of the contest. But our unhappy friend,
who seemed particularly marked out in this
unfortunate affray, soon after received another
bullet, which struck him on the throat, and
terminated his existence ; thus dying before a
week had passed since the death of his rival
Shunghie. I heard from one of his friends
who supported him in his last moments, that
he died like a hero: finding both his legs
were broken, and that consequently he was
totally unable to move, he begged those
friends who were about him to leave him to
his fate, and*either again enter the fight, or
make their escape while they yet had time.
He then gave his musket to one ; took off his
mantle to present to another ; and while thus
in the act of exhorting his friends, and distributing
amongst them his tokens of regard, he
received his death-wound, and expired without
a groan. When George fell, a general
flight took place; and though the engagement
had lasted but a short time, great numbers
had fallen on both sides.
This news caused mourning and lamentation
along our beach, and filled all the Europeans
with dismay. We could not calculate
the extent of the injury we might receive, but
felt certain we should be considerable sufferers
in some way or other. The light of
day seemed to add to, rather than to diminish,
the moans of George’s faithful subjects. The
violent sobbings from every dwelling were
most dismal. Groups were scattered about,
forming small crying parties, and cutting their
skins deeply with knives and pieces of broken
glass ; in short, nothing was heard but yelling
and groaning, and nothing was seen but
streams of blood!
But however shocked I might feel by the