*797-] 



OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



remony, the women, howled and cried exceffively 5 but this was the 

 effect: of the violent gufts of pafTion into which the men every moment 

 threw themfelves. At this time many fpears were thrown, and fome 

 blows were inflicted with clubs ; but all leemed determined on the 

 death of Cole-be ; for the man whofe life he had in fo cowardly a 

 manner taken away was much beloved by his countrymen. 



Cole* be, finding that he muft either fubmit to the trial ufual on 

 fuch occafions, or live in the continual apprehenfion of being taken 

 off by a midnight murder and a fingle hand, determined to come 

 forward, and fuffer the bufmefs to be decided one way or the other. 

 Having fignified his refolution, a day was appointed, and he repaired 

 armed to the place of rendezvous. The rage and violence fhewn by 

 the friends of the deceafed were indefcribable ; and Cole-be would cer- 

 tainly have expiated his offence with his life, but for the interference 

 of feveral of the military. Although active, and extremely dextrous in 

 the ufe of the fhield, he was overpowered, and, falling beneath their 

 fpears, would certainly have been killed on the fpot ; but feveral fol- 

 diers rufhed in, and prevented their putting him to death where he 

 lay, by bearing him off to the barracks. 



Ben-nil-long was prefent at this meeting ; but, it was fuppofed, 

 without intending to take any part in it either way. The atrocity of 

 his friend's conduct had been fuch, that he could not openly efpoufe 

 his quarrel ; perhaps he had no ftomach to the fight ; and certainly, 

 if he could avoid it, he would not, by appearing againft him, add to 

 the number of his enemies. He was armed, however, and unencum- 

 bered with clothing of any kind, and remained a filent fpe&ator of 

 the tumultuous fcene, undl the moment when the foldiers ruihed in 

 to lave the life of Cole-be. His conduct here became inexplicable. 

 On a hidden, he chofe to be in a rage at fomething or other, and 

 threw a fpear among the foldiers, which dreadfully took effecl: on one 

 of them, entering at his back, and coming out at his belly clofe to 

 the navel. For this he would inftantly have been killed on the fpot, 

 had not the provoft-marfhal interfered and taken him away, boiling 



with 



