Aborigines of Van Diemen's Land, 1830-1840 - Page 171
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[Page 171]
We were pursued by the mob and were surrounded by them in a small gully. There McCandless's gun went off, and, by great good luck he shot the chief of the mob. Some of the mob picked up the chief and placed him on his feet, but he fell down again. I had by that time received five spear wounds, and McCandless two. We moved on slowly towards the plain. About forty of the Blacks followed us about a quarter of a mile, and then they returned to the bush again. At that moment we perceived the bush our hut in flames. The black chief was found afterwards on the spot where he had fallen.
I was informed that he measured 6 ft 2 in. His jaw was sent to England. I forgot to say that he was buried in a heap of stones in a sitting posture and the spear stuck in the ground by his side. I now speak from hearsay only. I attributed this daring conduct to their having discovered that our pieces would not go off.
I was sent on a cart to the Hobarton hospital where I remained under Dr Luttrells care between 4 and 5 months. Between that time and 1824