156 ACCOUNT OF NEINMAL, 



like to be a soldier. The poor fellow suffered much 

 from cold during" the passag-e round Cape Leeuwin 

 and was ill when landed at Sydney^ but soon reco- 

 vered. Although his thoughts were always cen- 

 tred in his native home^ and a girl to whom he was 

 much attached^ he yet volunteered to accompany 

 me to England^ when the Fly was about to sail^ but 

 as I had then no immediate prospect of returning" 

 to Australia^ I could not undertake the responsi- 

 bility of having* to provide for him for the future. 

 I was g*lad then when Lieut. Yule^ who was about 

 to revisit Port Essing'ton^ generously offered to take 

 him there— while in the Bramble he made himself 

 useful in assisting* the steward^ and^ under the 

 tuition of Dr. MacClatchie^ made some proficiency 

 in acquiring* the rudiments of reading and writing*. 

 At Port Essington^ the older members of his family 

 evinced much jealousy on account of the attention 

 shewn him^ and his determination to remain ^vith 

 Mr. Tilston^ the assistant-surg'eon^ then in charge^ 

 and endeavoured to dissuade him from his purpose. 

 While upon a visit to his tribe he met his death in 

 the manner already recorded. His natm'al courag*e 

 and presence of mind did not desert him even at the 

 last extremity^ when he was roused from sleep to 

 find himself surrounded by a host of savag'es thirst- 

 ing for his blood. They told him to rise^ but he 

 merely raised himself upon his elbow, and said— " If 

 you want to kill me do so where I am, I won't get 

 up— give me a spear and club, and I'll fight you all 

 one by one !" He had scarcely spoken when a man 



