86 VOYAGE TO THE 



ing there three or four hours, Adams, thinking all 

 was quiet, stole to his yam-plot for a supply of pro- 

 visions ; his movements however did not escape the 

 vigilance of the blacks, who attacked and shot him 

 through the body, the ball entering at his right 

 shoulder, and passing out through his throat. He 

 fell upon his side, and was instantly assailed by 

 one of them with the butt end of the gun ; but he 

 parried the blows at the expense of a broken finger. 

 Tetaheite then placed his gun to his side, but it 

 fortunately missed fire twice. Adams, recovering a 

 little from the shock of the wound, sprang on his 

 legs, and ran off with as much speed as he was able, 

 and fortunately outstripped his pursuers, who seeing 

 him likely to escape, offered him protection if he 

 would stop. Adams, much exhausted by his wound, 

 readily accepted their terms, and was conducted to 

 Christian's house, where he was kindly treated. 

 Here this day of bloodshed ended, leaving only four 

 Englishmen alive out of nine. It was a day of 

 emancipation to the blacks, who were now masters 

 of the island, and of humiliation and retribution to 

 the whites. 



Young, who was a great favourite with the 

 women, and had, during this attack, been secreted 

 by them, was now also taken to Christian's house. 

 The other two, M'Coy and Quintal, who had always 

 been the great oppressors of the blacks, escaped to 

 the mountains, where they supported themselves 

 upon the produce of the ground about them. 



The party in the village lived in tolerable tran- 

 quillity for about a week ; at the expiration of 

 which, the men of colour began to quarrel about the 

 right of choosing the women whose husbands had 



