CH. VI.] ORIGIN OF THE DISPUTE. 273 



to custom. It, now turned out, that the tea-kettle which 

 Jones carried, had been the sole cause of the quarrel. Ashe 

 was ascending the river bank with the water, Thomas Jones 

 (the sailor) being- stationed on the bank, covering the other 

 with his pistol, as was usual and necessary on this journey ; 

 king Peter, who had come along the bank with several other 

 natives, met him when halfway up, and smilingly took hold 

 of the pot, as if meaning to assist him in carrying it up ; but 

 on reaching the top of the bank, he, in the same jocose way, 

 held it fast, until a gin said something to him, upon which he 

 relinquished the pot and seized the kettle with his left hand, 

 and at the same time grasping his waddy or club in his right, 

 he immediately struck Joseph Jones senseless to the ground, 

 by a violent blow on the forehead. On seeing this, the saiior 

 Jones fired, and wounded, in the thigh or groin, king Peter, 

 who thereupon dropped his club, reeled over the bank, swam 

 across the river, and scrambled up the opposite side. This delay 

 gave Jones time to reload for defence against the tribe, who 

 were now advancing towards him. One man who stood covered 

 by a tree, quivered his spear ready to throw, and Jones on 

 firing at him, missed him. His next shot was discharged 

 amongst the mob, and most unfortunately wounded the gin 

 already mentioned ; who, with a child fastened to her back, 

 slid down the bank, and lay, apparently dying, with her legs 

 in the water. Just at this time the supports arrived, which 

 the fellow behind the tree observing, passed from it to the 

 river, and was swimming across, when Charles King shot 

 him in the breast, and he immediately went down. These 

 people swim differently from Europeans ; generally back 

 foremost, and nearly upright, as if treading the water. On 

 the arrival of our three men from the camp, the rest of the 

 tribe took to the river, and were fired at in crossing, but 

 without much or any effect. The party next proceeded 

 along the river bank towards the bullock-drivers, who were 

 then at work stript and defenceless, endeavouring to raise 

 a bullock bogged in the muddy bank. The tribe, on the 



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