he styled himself,) a chief of great power,
who controlled the whole of the district where
we were. We all felt grateful to him for his
manifestations of friendship, and at the same
time were conscious of enjoying a greater degree
of security by his proximity. He was
the first chief who offered protection to “ the
white people,” and he has never been known
to have broken his engagement. An unexpected
and* remarkable instance of his adherence
to their interests, in spite of temptation,
took place a few years since, which I
deem wurthy of relation here.
The ship “ Brompton,” in endeavouring to
work out of the bay, by some accident got on
shore, and finally became a complete wreck.
This fine vessel, with a valuable cargo on
board, lay helpless on the beach, and the crew
and passengers expected nothing less than
plunder and destruction. The natives from
the interior, hearing of the circumstance,
hastened down in vast numbers to participate
in the general pillage. But King George
summoned all his warriors to his aid, and with
this party placed himself between the wreck
and those who came to plunder it. I was informed
by several who were present at the
time, that, after declaring that “ not an article
should be taken till himself and all his party
were destroyed,” he advanced, and thus explained
his reasons for protecting the strangers
and their property: —
“ You ” (said King George) “ come from
the interior: all of you think only of what
you can get, without considering the consequences
; which, indeed, are but of little import
to you, living as you do out of reach of
the reproaches and vengeance of the white
men. But look how differently I am situated.
I live on the beach ; this Bay is my residence :
X invite the white men to come and tiade
here under the promise of my protection: they
come ; several years of profitable trading have
passed between us. King George, they say,
is a good man : now an accident has befallen
one of their ships in my territory, what must
King George do ? Why, he must assist them;
which he will do, and defend them against
every one who shall attempt to injure them.”
In consequence of this speech, and his ex-
e 4