WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 243 



fallen Indian chiefs bleeding by his side. He accosted 

 him by name, and said he hoped he was not much hurt. 

 The dying Indian had just strength enough to answer, 

 " Oh no," — and then expired. The other chief was lying 

 quite dead. He must have received his mortal wound 

 just as he was in the act of cocking his gun to fire on the 

 negroes ; for it appeared that the ball which gave him his 

 death wound, had carried off the first joint of his thumb, 

 and passed through his forehead. By this time his wife, 

 who had accompanied the expedition, came up. She was 

 a fine young woman, and had her long black hair fancifuUy 

 braided in a knot on the top of her head, fastened with a 

 silver ornament. She unloosed it, and, falling on her 

 husband's body, covered it with her hair, bewailing his 

 untimely end with the most heartrending cries. 



The blood was now running out of Mr. Edmonstone's 

 shoes. On being raised up, he ordered his men to pursue the 

 flying Maroons, requesting at the same time that he might 

 be left where he had fallen, as he felt that he was mortally 

 wounded. They gently placed him on the ground, and 

 after the pursuit of the Maroons had ended, the corporal 

 and sergeant returned to their commander, and formed 

 their men. On his asking what this meant, the sergeant 

 replied, " I had the General's orders, on setting out from 

 town, not to leave you in the forest, happen what might." 

 By slow and careful marches, as much as the obstructions 

 in the woods would admit of, the party reached Plantation 

 Alliance, on the bank of the Demerara, and from thence it 

 crossed the river to Plantation Vredestein. 



The news of the rencounter had been spread far and 

 wide by the Indians, and had already reached town. 

 The General, Captains Macrai and Johnstone, and Doctor 

 Dunkin, proceeded to Vredestein. On examining Mr. 

 Edmonstone's wounds, four slugs were foimd to have 



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