An episode in the Tootmanyoso's life when, alone and unarmed in his
study, he was surrounded by a band of armed men, who had bound
themselves by oath to murder him unless he complied with their
rebellious demands, is here recorded in a picture, in which is portrayed
the noble figure of the Tootmanyoso, unarmed and bareheaded, at the
mercy of these furious armed men, who have the expression of wild beasts
in their rage. The painter nevertheless has succeeded in giving to the
faces of the rebels a cowering expression, as if they were inwardly awed
by the undaunted calmness and aspect of the man they had come to
destroy.