202 
HELYILLE ISLAND. 
no arms to be taken out, except by those on whom I 
could dependj and strictly enjoined that they shotild only 
be used against the natives in self-defence, and when by 
the laws of England it would be j ustiiiable, I feel confi- 
dent, also, that these orders were strictly attended to ^ but, 
notwithstanding, they continued until the last day dis- 
trustful, if not even determinedly hostile. They put two 
gentlemen of the settlement, one soldier, and one of the 
prisoners to death, and wantonly wounded several 
others. 
" During my time we were obliged to fire at them 
several times j we never knew of any having been killed, 
although in one or two instances they were wounded j 
they might have died, and the spirit of revenge might 
have excited them to other acta of i-iolence. There was 
a curious inconsistency in their conduct i on one day they 
would appear good-humoured and friendly, and allow 
individuals of our settlement to pass unmolested through 
extended lines of them, and probably on the following 
day would throw their spears at any individual they 
could surprise by stealing upon him, Tbey never came 
^ near us without their spears and waddiea ; but sometimes 
they would leave their spears a few hundred yards in 
their rear, concealed behind trees, amongst the long grass, 
or in possession of some young boys, who would run up 
to them on the first signal j they would then approach 
within fifty or skty paces, extend their arms, throw their 
waddies to the rear in token of amity, and then by signs 
oblige all those who approached them from our side to 
extend their arms also, and turn round to show tliey had 
no weapons concealed ; when satisfied, they would enter 
