160 MASSACRE OF LIEUTENANT UNDERWOOD 



Accordingly, the first cutters of the " Vincennes " and 

 " Peacock," now in charge of Mr. Eld, were dispatched tc 

 keep guard round the island, and prevent the escape of any of 

 the inhabitants, while the schooner got under-way, and pro- 

 ceeded to a small island to inter the dead. Here they were 

 laid side by side in the same grave. It was a lonely and suit- 

 able spot that had been chosen in a shade so dense that scarce 

 a ray of the sun could penetrate it. The grave was dug deep 

 in the pure white sand, and sufficiently wide for the two 

 corpses. Mr. Agate read the funeral service. After the 

 graves had been closed,- three vollies were fired over them. 

 Every precaution was then taken to obliterate all marks that 

 might indicate to the odious cannibals, the resting-place of the 

 sacred dead. Places remote from the grave were more dis- 

 turbed by footsteps and digging than the grave itself, and 

 leaves were scattered over a large space of ground. 



The islet where they repose, is called Henry's island, and 

 the cluster to which it belongs bears the name of Under- 

 wood's Group. 



A single canoe attempted to leave Malolo during the burial 

 of the dead, but was driven back with the loss of one of her 

 people. The natives came to the beach in large numbers, 

 taunting the boats with the cry of " Lagoini, lagoini papa 

 langa ;" in English, " Come on, come on, white men ;" but 

 the orders expressly forbade a landing, or any other demon- 

 stration which might abate their arrogant confidence. 



About noon the schooner reached her former berth, and 

 shortly after the " Porpoise " hove in sight. When she an- 

 chored, Mr. Emmons boarded her, and communicated the 

 melancholy news to Captain Ringgold. Preparations were 

 now commenced in good earnest to punish the savages ; the 

 arms were got in good order, the parties duly organized, and 



