LIFE OF JAMES DWIGHT DANA 



and who has thus made Samoan life and ways familiar to 

 thousands of readers. 



While the expedition was in this region, the harbor 

 became the scene of a remarkable trial before the native 

 chiefs, a native Tavai having been arraigned, on Captain 

 Hudson's complaint, for the murder of an American, 

 Edward Cavenaugh of New Bedford. Wilkes visited 

 Rev. Mr. Williams, the author of Polynesian missionary 

 researches, and consulted with him about the arrest of 

 a bloodthirsty fellow named Opotuno, whose capture had 

 been so desirable that the United States government had 

 once sent a ship-of-war for that purpose. 



At Sagana, a call was made upon the chief Malietoa, 

 who was said to bear " a striking resemblance to General 

 Jackson." His portrait was taken, and that of his wife 

 and his daughter Emma, by Agate, the artist of the 

 party. Dana and Couthouy examined a lake called 

 Lauto, in the centre of an extinct volcano, two or three 

 thousand feet above the sea, " Lauto, untouched by 

 withered leaf," the scene of legend and the home of 

 superstition. Here, in the shape of eels, dwelt the spirits 

 of Samoan mythology. The most important occurrence 

 during the stay of the squadron was the fono, or council, 

 held by the highest chiefs of the Malo party in the pres- 

 ence of the naval officers and the missionaries, to guar- 

 antee protection for the American whale-ships. Among 

 other satisfactory conclusions a large reward was offered 

 for the capture of Opotuno, the renegade just mentioned. 



At the end of a month the ships weighed anchor, hav- 

 ing completed the surveys and accumulated a great 

 amount of information respecting the geology, the 

 natural products, the manners and customs of the na- 

 tives, their language, songs, and games. To the mis- 

 sionaries the squadron was indebted in a great degree 

 for the facilities that were enjoyed in learning the ways 

 of the Samoans. 



