firelock was in readiness, and the finger on
the trigger, which might despatch him instantly.
All parties sat perfectly quiet during
the desperate struggle; one of the barrels of
Atoi’s piece went off, and the contents flew
amongst us, without however doing any material
injury; and, finally, the musket was
wrested out of his hands. He then sat still
for about twenty minutes, to recover his
breath, when he seized a club, and rushed
upon his brother, (for mortal weapons were
now prohibited); the brother started up,
armed in the same manner; some heavy
blows passed between them ; when, having
thrown aside their clubs, they grappled each
other firmly, and a dreadful struggle ensued.
As they were both completely naked, their
hair was the only thing to take hold b y ; but
being long, thick, and strong, it afforded a firm
grasp, and they committed desperate havoc
on each other’s persons. At this period of
the fight, their poor old mother, who was
quite blind, came forward to try and separate
the combatants; the sister and younger
brothers now followed her example; and,
finally, the fair and frail cause of all this
commotion.
The brothers, having completely exhausted
their strength, were easily separated; and as
their friends had carefully removed all weapons
out of their reach, they of course were deprived
of the means of injuring each other.
The members of Atoi’s family, together with
a few friends, now sat down in a circle, to
converse and consult on the affair. Atoi s
wife totally denied the charge, and protested
her innocence, and many circumstances were
brought forward to corroborate her statements.
The husband at length was satisfied,
and all parties were reconciled.
This affair was scarcely terminated, when
we found that another of a still more serious
nature was likely to arise from it, and which
threatened the peace of both villages. When
King George sent his messenger to inform
Atoi of the infidelity of his wife, the infuriated
husband assaulted the man, and it
was rumoured that he had killed him. This
was an offence not to be forgiven, and George
was so exasperated by-it, that he vowed he