the weather being cold and very tempestuous. At length I arrived in sight of a long pole, or staff, with the British colours hoisted upon it; and there I also saw a sort of camp. I now was overwhelmed with feelings connected with the past, the present, and the future. My being an absconder from the operations of the sentence imposed upon me by the authorities, and the consequences of having so done; the present, with reference to my then unmistakable liberty, and perfect freedom from all such consequences; and, as to the future, there was what before me?—captivity, and probable punishment; who could tell?
Whilst sitting in deep thought musing over all these matters, I saw one of the white men take a bucket and go with it to a well some way off, and when he had left it with his load, I went there also, in order to gradually recover my senses, and act upon my ultimate determination, whatever it might be.
From the well I had a good view of all about me, and observed that the natives had pitched their tents near those of the white men—the former being seated round their fires, evidently in great excitement. Presently some of the natives saw me, and turning round, pointed me out to one of the white people; and seeing they had done so, I walked away from the well, up to their place, and seated myself there, having my spears and other war and hunting implements between my legs. The white men could not make me out—my half-cast colour, and extraordinary height and figure—dressed, or rather undressed, as I was—completely con-
