238 A MISSION TO VITI. 



that they should entertain a feeling of superiority over 

 the native races whom they subdued ; but in conse- 

 quence of an unlucky affair, almost forgotten in Eng- 

 land, they look down upon all Europeans, and boast of 

 having beaten a British man-of-war. In 1840, Captain 

 Croker, of H.M.S. Favourite, visited the Tongan Islands, 

 and was persuaded to take part with a body of native 

 Christians against the heathens that opposed them, then 

 shut up in several native forts at Bea. Carronades were 

 brought within 106 yards of the principal fort, and all 

 hopes of a peaceable arrangement having vanished, 



" The command was given to make the attack, the captain 

 leading the way. The sergeant of marines was ordered to scale 

 the barricade and to fire. The attack was soon answered by 

 the cannon at the entrances [of the fort] , and by a volley of 

 musketry ; and the captain and several of his men were 

 wounded. Notwithstanding his wound, Captain Croker ex- 

 erted himself to the utmost to enter the stockade ; but failing 

 in the attempt, and becoming faint from the loss of blood, he re- 

 tired to a little distance, and while leaning against a tree for 

 support, was shot through the heart, and dropped lifeless on 

 the ground. His men continued the attack, but at great disad- 

 vantage : the enemy was screened by their defences ; while the 

 English, on the open ground, were exposed to the hot fire of 

 the enemy. This sad affair ended in the death of two officers, 

 besides the captain. The first lieutenant and nineteen men were 

 dangerously wounded. It was with great difficulty that the sur- 

 vivors contrived to carry off their dead and wounded." * 



The officer who succeeded Captain Croker in com- 

 mand saw the absolute folly of losing any more men, 

 and relinquished all thoughts of renewing the attack. 

 One or two carronades had fallen into the hands of the 



* ' Tonga and the Friendly Islands.' By S. S. Farmer. London, 1855. 

 Page 325 et seq. 



