I
understood the captain to say that they attempted to take his life, and
this big man, armed with a large sugar-cane knife, was coming close up,
and he shot him dead. The captain's foot was frightfully cut. He had a
spear-head in his side, and several other wounds.
The principal people seemed friendly, and kept assuring us that all was
right, we should not be harmed. Great was the wailing when the body was
landed, and arms were up and down pretty frequently. Canoes began to
crowd in from the regions around. A man who has all along been very
friendly and kept close by us advised us strongly to leave during the
night, as, assuredly, when the war canoes from the different parts came
in, we should be murdered. Mrs. Chalmers decidedly opposed our leaving.
God would protect us. The vessel was too small, and not provisioned, and
to leave would be losing our position as well as endangering Teste and
East Cape. We came here for Christ's work, and He would protect us.
In the dusk, one of the crew came ashore, saying that the captain was
very ill, and wanted to go off to Murray Island.
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