1796'] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 317 



very kindly, and conducted them to a convenient place for landing. 

 After diftrrbuting fome prefents among them, with which they ap- 

 peared very much fatisfied, it was propofed, that MelTrs. Carter, Shaw, 

 and Afcott, mould proceed to the top of a high land which they had 

 noticed,' and that Captain Hill mould ftay by the boat, with her crew, 

 confifting oi tour feamen belonging to the Chefterfield. 



The inland party, taking the precaution to arm, and provide them- 

 felves with a neceflary quantity of ammunition, fet off. Nothing un- 

 friendly occurred during their walk, though feveral little circumftances 

 happened, which induced Afcott to fufpect that the natives had fome 

 defign upon them ; an idea, however, which was fcouted by his 

 companions. 



On their return from the hill, hoftile defigns became apparent, and 

 the natives feemed to be deterred from murdering them merely by the 

 activity of Afcott, who, by prefenting his mufket occafionally, kept 

 them off ; but, notwithstanding his activity and vigilance, the natives 

 at length made their attack. They began by attempting to take Afcott's 

 mufket from him, rinding that he was the moft likely to annoy them; 

 directly after which, Mr. Carter, who was the foremoft of the party, 

 was heard to exclaim, " My God, my God ! they have murdered 

 me." Afcott, who ftill retained his mufket, immediately fired, on 

 which the natives left them and fled into the bufhes. Afcott now had 

 time to look about him, and faw what he juftly deemed a horrid fpec- 

 tacle, Mr. Carter lying bleeding on the ground, and Mr. Shaw with a 

 large wound in his throat. They were both, however, able to rife, 

 and proceed down the hill to the boat. On their arrival at the beach, 

 they called to their companions to fire ; but, to their extreme horror, 

 they perceived Captain Hill and one of the feamen lying dead on the 

 fand, cut and mangled in a moft barbarous manner. Two others of 

 the feamen they faw floating on the water, with their throats cut from 

 ear to ear. The fourth failor they found dead in the boat, mangled in 

 the fame mocking manner. With much difficulty thefe unhappy 

 people got into their boat, and, cutting her grapnel, pulled off from 



6 this 



