friends, all burning with revenge, and eager
to punish his brother for his unnatural perfidy.
It was thought that unless George interfered,
much bloodshed might ensue; and it may
readily be imagined how anxious we were
that this dreaded meeting should be over;
yet I (for one) had determined that I would
be a witness of it. Therefore, when word was
brought to me that Atoi was crossing the bay,
I hastened down to the beach. There I
found all parties assembled from both villages.
George and his followers, who were to act as
mediators, sat immediately in front of the
place of landing; behind them were Atoi’s
brother, and all his partizans; and in the
rear were all the women and children, with
about a dozen white faces scattered amongst
them. The scene was picturesque and exceedingly
interesting. It was near the close
of a lovely summer’s day,—the sun fast sinking
towards the horizon, threw a warm and
mellow glow over the wide expanse of the
far-spreading bay, whose smooth waters were
only disturbed by the approaching canoe
cutting its foamy way. It was crowded with
naked warriors, urging their rapid course
towards the shore; and we heard the loud
and furious song of the chief; animating his
friends to exertion; we saw his frantic gestures,
as he stood in the centre of his canoe,
bi'andishing his weapons. As they came near
the place of landing, George ran into the
stream, and as the canoe touched the shore,
attacked Atoi, but in a playful manner, splashing
water over him. Thus irritated, Atoi
jumped on land, and with a double-ban elled
musket in his hand, ran towards his brothei,
and doubtless would have killed him on the
spot, had he not been prevented. I now saw
the advantage of George and his party being
present. He and three of his subjects seized
upon Atoi, and tried to wrest the weapon
from his hands, which if they had been able
to effect, a mortal combat could not take
place, such being the custom here. Atoi was
a very powerful man of about thirty, and
those who attacked him had a most difficult
task; twice he broke from them ; and I then
watched the countenance of his brother, which
was perfectly cool and collected, though the
h 4