Burke seemed to be
getting worse, although he ate his supper; he said he felt
convinced he could not last many hours, and gave me his watch,
which he said belonged to the committee, and a pocket-book to give
to Sir William Stawell, and in which he wrote some notes. He then
said to me, "I hope you will remain with me here till I am quite
dead--it is a comfort to know that some one is by; but, when I am
dying, it is my wish that you should place the pistol in my right
hand, and that you leave me unburied as I lie." That night he spoke
very little, and the following morning I found him speechless, or
nearly so, and about eight o'clock he expired. I remained a few
hours there, but as I saw there was no use remaining longer I went
up the creek in search of the natives. I felt very lonely, and at
night usually slept in deserted wurleys belonging to the natives.
Two days after leaving the spot where Mr. Burke died, I found some
gunyahs where the natives had deposited a bag of nardoo, sufficient
to last me a fortnight, and three bundles containing various
articles. I also shot a crow that evening; but was in great dread
that the natives would come and deprive me of the nardoo.
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