parently all the arms in the village were
mustered, and all seemed ready for imme,
diate use. On enquiring into the cause of
all these warlike preparations, I was informed
that Shunghie and his chief men were crossing
the bay in several large war canoes; and
though he was considered as a friend and
ally, yet, as he was a man of such desperate
ambition, and consummate cunning, it was
considered necessary to receive him under
arms, which he might take either as a compliment,
or as a proof of how well they were
aware of the guest they were receiving.
This man, Shunghie, was a most extraordinary
character, and a person I had long had
a great curiosity to see, his daring and savage
deeds having often been the subject of conversation
in New South Wales. In his own
country he was looked upon as invulnerable
and invincible. In the year 1821 he had
visited England, during which he had been
honoured by having a personal interview with
George the Fourth, and had received from his
Majesty several valuable presents; amongst
others, were a superb suit of chain armour, and
a splendid double barrelled gun. From possessing
these arms, so far superior to any of
his neighbours, he looked upon himself as
impossible to be conquered, and commenced
a career of warfare and destruction on all his
enemies, and nearly exterminated them. His
friends called him “ a god/’ and his enemies
feared him as “ a devil.” Last year, Shunghie
made war upon, and totally annihilated, the
tribe who had fifteen years previously attacked
and murdered the crew of the “ Boyd.”
He had long determined to take revenge for
that treacherous action, as he always styled
himself “ the friend of the English.” After
this, he removed his residence, and took possession
of the conquered district. But in this
his last battle he had to fight without his
invulnerable coat of mail, his slaves having
stolen it and gone over with it to the enemy.
His people were now confirmed in their
superstition respecting its being proof against
shot, by his having received during the combat
a bullet in the breast, from the effects of
which he is fast sinking into the grave. His
companions related the following extraordi