n . Departure of the Vincennes from Tutuila. c * iv/m A XT 

 Appearance of Upolu. bAMOAN 



Native trial for murder. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

 SAMOAN GROUP. UPOLU. S AVAIL 



DEPARTURE OF THE VINCENNES FROM TCTUILA HER NARROW ESCAPE FROM WRECK APPEARANCE OF UPOLU 

 MESSAGE FROM CAPTAIN HUDSON TRIAL OF TUVAI FOR MURDER COUNCIL OF THE CHIEFS ARGUMENTS IN 

 BEHALF OF TUVAI CAPTAIN HUDSON'S REPLY DECISION OF THE CASE OF TUVAI HIS BEHAVIOUR COMPLAINTS 

 OF THE NATIVES AGAINST WH ALERS PEA'S VISIT TO TUVAI OUTRAGES OF OPOTUNO, A NATIVE CHIEF VISIT 



TO MR. WILLIAMS INTF.RVIEW WITH MALIETOA HIS DAUGHTER LAKE OF LAUTO ITS LEGEND SUPERSTITION 

 REGARDING IT ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE OPOTUNO FONO, OR COUNCIL, OF HIGH CHIEFS ITS OBJECT MR. J. 

 WILLIAMS RECOGNIZED AS CONSUL REGULATIONS DISCUSSED AND ADOPTED DEMAND FOR OPOTUNO FONO 

 ADJOURNKD ITS SECOND ME-ETING SPEECH OF MALIETOA's ORATOR REWARD OFFERED FOR THE APPREHEN- 

 SION OF OPOTUNO TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS OF UPOLU TYRANNY OF TAMAFAGO WAR OF AANA DESOLATION 

 OF THAT DISTRICT ISLAND OF MANONO ISLAND OF APOLIMA PROCEEDINGS OF THE PORPOISE AT SAVAII- 

 DR. PICKERING AND L1EUTF.NANT MAURY LAND THERE SURVEY OF THE COAST OF SAVAII VILLAGE OF 

 FELIALUPO INLET OF ASAU BAY OF MATAATUA PECULIARITIES OF ITS INHABIT ANTS SAPAPALE DR. 

 PICKERING'S JOURNEY IN THE INTERIOR OF SAVAII CURIOSITY OF THE NATIVES FISHING ON THE CORAL 

 REEF DESCRIPTION OF SAVAII THE PORPOISE PROCEEDS TO TUTUILA AND UPOLU REUNION OF THE SQUADRON 

 REVIEW OF THE MARINES EARTHftUAKES. 



THE surveys of the island of Tutuila having been 

 completed by the 23rd November, we made pre- 

 parations for our departure, and on the 25th we 

 weighed anchor. In leaving the harbour we had a 

 narrow escape from wreck ; the almost constant 

 south-east wind, which is fair to a vessel entering 

 the bay, and makes it easy of access, is ahead on 

 going out, which renders egress difficult; it there- 

 fore becomes necessary to make frequent tacks, 

 and a vessel must be well manoeuvred to escape 

 accident, for to miss stays would be almost certain 

 to bring about shipwreck. When we beat out, the 

 wind was light, and it failed altogether just as we 

 reached the most dangerous part of the channel; 

 we were in consequence brought within an oar's 

 length of the reef, on which a heavy surf was 

 breaking. The moment was a trying one, and the 

 event doubtful ; all were at their stations, and not a 

 word was spoken. Of my own feelings on the 

 occasion I have no very precise recollection ; merely 

 remembering that I felt as if I breathed more 

 freely after the crisis had passed and we were 

 in safety. 



The afternoon was fine, and we sailed along the 

 southern shore of the island, admiring its diversi- 

 fied surface, its luxuriant groves, and the smiling 

 villages that crown its bays. Where the valleys 

 come out from between the ridges to the shore, 

 there is usually a level plain extending inwards for 

 a couple of miles; these plains are occupied for the 

 most part by groves of cocoa-nut and bread-fruit, 

 beneath whose shade lie the dwellings of the na- 

 tives. Many of 'the inhabitants were abroad in 

 their canoes, employed in fishing; some of them 

 scarcely seemed to notice the ship, passing them 

 rapidly with all sail set, while others appeared 4,o 

 regard her with intense curiosity. In the evening 

 we had much lightning, but no thunder. 



The distance between Tutuila and Upolu, of 

 thirty-six miles, was soon passed, and in the morn- 

 ing we were delighted with the view of the latter 

 island as we ran down its coast to the westward. 

 It appears much richer and more fruitful than the 

 other islands of this group, and may be described 

 as of moderate height, rising gradually in a succes- 



sion of ridges from a low shore; here and there 

 broad and fertile valleys are seen, with numerous 

 streams falling from the mountains in cascades. 

 The eastern portion of the island is much more 

 rugged than the western ; the main ridge runs 

 east and west, and ridges or spurs run back to it 

 from the northern coast in a south-east direction. 

 Between these lateral ridges are broad and fertile 

 valleys, decreasing in width as they recede from 

 the coast. The shore is lined with a coral reef, 

 which is now and then interrupted by chan- 

 nels, and forms snug and convenient harbours. 



At noon we descried the Peacock lying in the 

 harbour of Apia, and shortly afterwards I received 

 a message from Captain Hudson, saying that my 

 presence was required on shore. In the hope that 

 it was not a business of such a nature as to cause 

 detention, I left the Vincennes in the offing, while 

 I went ashore in my boat. On reaching the land, 

 1 found the chiefs engaged in the trial of a native 

 called Tuvai, who had killed an American named 

 Edward Cavenaugh, a native of New Bedford. 



It appeared that on Captain Hudson's arrival, 

 the murderer was pointed out to him in the village, 

 upon which he very properly determined to have 

 the offender punished, and gave orders to have him 

 arrested. He was in consequence seized in a 

 house near the water, and carried on board the 

 Peacock. Being taken by surprise, he offered no 

 resistance to his capture. Captain Hudson then 

 requested a conference with the neighbouring 

 chiefs, who in consequence had assembled on the 

 27th. 



The/owe), as such assemblies are called, was held 

 in the council-house, or fale-tele, where the chiefs 

 were collected. The Rev. Mr. Mills acted as 

 interpreter on the occasion. Captain Hudson, 

 through him, stated that the object of his having 

 requested them to assemble was to bring the 

 accused to a trial before them, in order that if his 

 guilt were established, he might be brought to 

 condign punishment : he then pointed out to them 

 the guilt and consequences of the crime of murder, 

 and declared the course he had considered it his 

 duty to adopt. The chiefs listened attentively to 



