rioufly if he fhould die of the blow, he thought it prudent to ab-
fcond for a .while, and Ye-ra-ni be was taken care o f . by fome of
his white friends. This happened on the loth, and on the 16th
he died. In this interval he was conftantly attended by fome o f
his male and female affociates, particularly by his two friends, Collins
(for Gnung-a Gnung-a ftill went by the late judge-advocate’s
name) and Mo-roo-bra. On one o f the nights when a moft difi-
mal fong of lamentation had been fung over him, in which t-he
women were the principal performers, his male friends, after Aliening
for fome time with great’ apparent attention, fuddenly ftarted
up, and, feizing their weapons, went off in a moft favage rage, determined
on revenge. Knowing pretty well where to meet with
Cole-be, they beat him very feverely, but would not kill him, re-
ferving that gratification of their revenge until the fate o f their companion
fhould be decided. On the following night,. Collins and
Mo-roo-bra attacked a relation o f Cole-be’s, Boo-ra-wan-ye, whom
they beat about the head, with fuch cruelty that his recovery was
doubtful. As their vengeance extends to all the family and relations
o f a culprit, what a misfortune it muft be to be connedted with
a man of a choleric difpofition !
Ye-ra-ni-be was buried the day after his deceafe by the fide o f
the. public road, - below the military barracks. He was placed by
his friends upon, a large piece of bark, and laid into a grave, which
was formed by them after, our manner (.only not fo deep), they
feeming in this inftance to be defirous of imitating our cuftom. Ben-
nil-long, affifted at the ceremony, placing the head o f the corpfe,
by which he {luck, a beautiful war-ra-taw, and covering the body
with the blanket on which he died. Being fupplied with fome
fpades, the earth was thrown in by the by-ftanders, during which,
and indeed throughout the whole of the ceremony, the women
howled and cried exceffively; but this was the effect o f the violent
gufts of paffion into which the men every moment threw
themfelves. At this time many fpears were thrown, and fome
blows
| |
blows were inflicted with clubs ; but no ferious mifcliief enfued.
On the death ,of Gole-be, all feemed determined ; for the man
whofe life he had in.fo cowardly a manner taken away was much
beloved by his countrymen.
With this defign, a number of natives affembled-a few days afterwards
before the barracks, breathing revenge ; at which time a
young man, a relation to the objeCt of their vengeance, received fo
many wounds, that he was nearly killed ; and a lad, who was alfo
related to him (Nan-bar-ray, the fame who formerly lived with
Mr. White, the principal furgeon), was to have, been facrificed ;
but he was faved for the prefent by the appearance of a foldier,
who had been fent to the place with him for his protection; and it
was thought that when the préfent tumult againft his uncle (for
Cole-be was the brother of this boy’s* father) had fubfided, nothing
more would be thought o f him.
Cole-be, finding that he muft eithér fubmit to the trial ufual on
fuch occafions, or live in the continual apprehenfion o f being taken
off by a midnight murder and a fingle hand, determined to come
forward, and fuffer the bufinefs to be decided one way or the
other. Having fignified his refolution, a day was appointed, and
he repaired armed to the place o f rendezvous^ The rage and violence
Ihewn by the friends o f the deceafed were indefcribable; and
Cole-be would certainly have, expiated his offence with his life,
but for the interference o f feveral of the military, before whofe
barrack the affair took place. Although aCtive, and extremely au
fa it in the ufe o f the Afield, he was overpowered, and, falling beneath
their fpears, would certainly have been killed on the fpot,
but feveral foldiers rufhed in, and prevented their putting him to
death where he lay ; he himfelf, from the many fevere wounds
which he had received, being wholly incapable of making any refinance.
His friends, the foldiers, lifted him from the ground, and
between them bore him into the barracks.
K 2 Ben