166 ACCOUNT OF NEINMAL. 



like to be a soldier. The poor fellow suffered much 

 from cold during' the passage 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 glad then when Lieut. Yule, who was about 

 to revisit Port Essington, g-enerously 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 with 

 Mr. Tilston, the assistant-surgeon, then in charge, 

 and endeavom-ed to dissuade him from his purpose. 

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

 the manner already recorded. His natural courage 

 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 savages thirst- 

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

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

 you want to kiU 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 



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