118 A VISIT TO THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



The Hong Kong papers ata4» that two gentlemen on 

 horseback witnessed the attack from a short cUstance, but^ 

 being unarmed, tbcy could render no assistance I 



Lieutenant X P. Leite, tlic aide-de-camp, stated that, 

 wboii tlie Governor's hoi-ao shied fr-om the six Cliiimmeti, 

 he made an attempt to go to his assistance j on whicli 

 three of them turned upon him, and cut him down from 

 his horse : ho stiU held the rein ; but on attempting to 

 get up he recefv^ed a second cut on tlie head, and the 

 pony escaped. When he was on the ground he observed 

 the Governor falUng ofF, but did not hear a sound fi'om 

 him : he saw the CMncso gathering round and liacking at 

 the body. He then got upon bis feet, and ran forward, 

 pui"sued for several paces by two of the murderem. 



Thei-e were various sm*mise5 as to the motive for tins 

 foul deed ; and most people were inclined to believe that 

 it liad been instigated by the Chinese Government. 



That a murder eo cunningly devised, and m boldly 

 executed, was not the act of common robbers Is evident 

 from the fact, that the murderers did not plunder their 

 victim : a ivatch and other valuables were left on the 

 body of the unfortunate Governor, That it was a poiitical 

 murder is proved by the fact, that the head and hand were 

 taken away, to serve for evidence that the hired assassins 

 had performed their horrid office, for which no doubt tbcy 

 were promised a large reward. 



It is pretty certain that twenty-four hours aftei' the 

 murder the ghastly proofs of it were in possession of the 



