Ben-nil-long, the particular friend and companion o f Cole-be,
■was 'prelent at this meeting; but, it was fuppofed, without intending
to take any part in it either way. The atrocity of his friend s
condud had been fuch that he could not openly efpoufe his-
quarrel; perhaps he had no ftomach to the fight; and certainly, if
he could avoid it, he would not, by appearing againft him, add
to, the number of his enemies. He was armed, however, and
unencumbered with clothing of any kind, and remained a filent
fpedator of the tumultuous fcene, until the moment when the fol-
diers rulhed in to fave the life of Cole-be. His conduct here became
inexplicable. On a fudden, he chofe to be in a rage at fome-
thing or other, and threw a fpear among the foldiers, which dreadfully
took effect on one o f them, entering at his back and coming
out at the belly, clofe to the navel. For this he would inftantly-
have been killed on the fpot, had not Mr. Smith, the provoft-mar-.
lhal, interfered,and brought him away, boiling with the mod favage
rage ; for he had received a blow on the head with the butt-end o f
a mufquet.
Ft became neceffary to confine him during the night, as well to
prevent the mifchief with which he threatened the white people,
as to fave him from the anger o f the military, and on the following
morning he quitted the town.
This man, inftead of making himfetf ufeful, or fhewing the leaft
gratitude for the attentions which he received from every one,
had become a mod infolent and troublefome favage. . As it was im-
poffible fometimes to avoid- cenfuring him for his conduct, he had
been known to walk about armed, and heard to declare it was for
the exprefs purpofe of fpearing the governor whenever he faw him.
This laft outrage o f his had rendered him more hateful than any of
his countrymen ; and, a s the-natives who had fo conftantly refided-
and received fo many comforts in the fettlement were now afraid
to appear in the town, believing that, like themfelves, we Ihould
punifli all for the mifconduct of one, it might rather be expeded
that Ben-nil-long could not be far from meeting that punifhment
which he certainly provoked and merited.
During the time that Ye-ra-ni-be was alive, the attendance o f the
natives who were then in the town, was called to the performance of
the ceremony named Yoo-lahng Era-ba-diang, the particulars o f
which have been deferibed in the preceding* part of this account.
The place o f meeting at this time was in the middle harbour; and
the various exhibitions which took place were not obferved to differ
-from thofe o f the preceding years. The feafon o f the yean
was -the fame, but not precifely the month, which confirmed the
conjedure o f their not being influenced by any particular motive
in the choice o f the month o f February for the celebration of this
curious arid peculiar ceremony.
Ben-nil-long, who affifted at it, returned without his wife, the
lady having been without much difficulty perfuaded by her mother,
whom fhe accidentally met at the Yoo-lahng, to leave her huf-
bandj and return with her to the place o f her refidence. Ben-
nil-long, notwithftanding the European poliffi which he could attunes
aflume, was by no means a.favourite with, or held in much
eflimation by the females o f his; own complexion. I f any unfortunate
girl was feen to be in-his train for any time, ffie was well
known to be aduated lefs by inclination than by the fear of his e x -
ercifing that right which- the ftronger always claimed the privilege of
pofleffitjg over the weaker fex.
: The bufmefs of the fettlement now reclaims our notice.
; .Some time in this, month the houfe of John Mitcham, a fettler in
the diftrid of Concord, was attacked by three villains, and fet on
fire, together with a flack o f wheat, which he had juft completed
and fecured againft the weather. This unfortunate man
was indebted about 3 3b which the contents of his .wheat-ftack
would have paid o ff; but now, befides being very much beaten,
Vide. Appendix to Vol. I .
hej