Outrages of Opotuno, a native chief. 

 Rev. Mr. Williams. 



SAMOAN GROUP. 



gana. Interview with 

 Malietoa. 



larly their complaints against the American whalers. 

 They said that some of them had evaded their 

 port charges, and refused to pay for the provisions 

 with which they had been furnished. To this I 

 replied that I was ready to indemnify them for 

 their losses, nnd should ask no other proof of 

 them than their own statement. They appeared 

 struck with the unexpected liberality of this offer ; 

 but, after consultation, as if to manifest a corre- 

 sponding feeling, declined to accept it. I then in- 

 formed them that their port-charges for the 

 squadron should be paid, which gave much satis- 

 faction, particularly to old Pea, who would derive 

 the principal benefit from them. The fono then 

 broke up in great good humour. 



Pea and some of the other chiefs were very 

 anxious to hear from me what sort of an island 

 Tuvai was to be put upon. They asked many 

 questions in relation to it, and always among the 

 first, whether there would be any cocoa-nut trees, 

 nature's first and best gift to them, upon it. Wish- 

 ing to make the intended punishment as terrible 

 as possible to them, I always replied that there 

 would be none whatever. 



After Tuvai was again on board ship, old Pea 

 paid him a visit, in the course of which the former 

 melted into tears, howled bitterly, and begged that 

 he might be taken on shore to be put to death, in 

 order that his body might be buried in his native 

 soil. It appeared from information that we re- 

 ceived, that this was a part of a concerted plan to 

 obtain a further commutation of his sentence, and 

 that this affecting interview was got up in order to 

 excite our sympathies. Finding it did not produce 

 the desired effect, old Pea went about the ship 

 with a doleful visage, exclaiming, " Eoloisa-ia-tu 

 Tuvai" have compassion on Tuvai. 



I was in hopes to find the surveys of Upolu 

 nearly, if not quite finished ; but the Flying-Fish, 

 which was to have aided in performing them, had 

 not yet been seen or heard from. This was no 

 small disappointment, as it might compel me to 

 bring the Vincennes into the harbour, and thus 

 incur a serious delay. 



Before I had decided upon this step, I learned 

 that a chief of the name of Opotuno, whose cap- 

 ture had been considered so important by our 

 government that a ship of war had been despatched 

 for the express purpose, had again become trouble- 

 some, and was threatening vengeance upon all the 

 whites who might fall in his power. I therefore 

 determined to make an attempt to obtain posses- 

 sion of his person by stratagem. Lest, however, 

 such an attempt should create disturbance in the 

 island, or be productive of injury to the white 

 residents, I determined, before putting my purpose 

 into effect, to have an interview with the Rev. Mr. 

 Williams, the principal missionary in these islands, 

 both to consult as to the best mode of accomplish- 

 ing this object, and to learn what effect it would 

 be likely to have on the operations of the mis- 

 sionaries*. I accordingly set out for his residence 

 at Fasetootai, about twenty miles to the westward 

 of Apia, in the hope of seeing him. Mr. Cunning- 

 ham, H. B. M. vice-consul, was kind enough to 

 accompany me. 



Mr. Williams is the author of the well-known Polyne- 

 sian Missionary Researches, and it will be our melancholy 

 office hereafter, to speak of his falling a martyr in his efforts 

 to propagate the Gospel. 



We left the Peacock at sunset, and reached 

 Mr. Williams's snug cottage about midnight. No- 

 thing could be kinder than the welcome he gave 

 us ; and the pleasure he expressed at our visit 

 soon made us feel at home. He gave us supper, 

 and provided us with comfortable beds. Shortly 

 after our arrival, another party was welcomed, 

 consisting of three ladies and a gentleman of the 

 mission, who were in like manner provided for, 

 without apparent inconvenience. 



Mr. Williams seemed to me exactly what a mis- 

 sionary ought to be, pious, cheerful, and meek, al- 

 though resolute. His whole thoughts seemed to 

 be directed to the welfare of those whom he had 

 undertaken to enlighten. His views were pointed 

 not only to the diffusion of the Gospel, but also to 

 the extension of the useful arts, and whatever could 

 tend to elevate the condition and eradicate the 

 vices of the natives. 



After a long consultation, Mr. Williams came to 

 the conclusion that there was no reason for fearing 

 that the arrest of Opotuno would be the cause of 

 any injury to the whites or missionaries. He said 

 that Opotuno was a blood-thirsty fellow, and that 

 it would be doing the islands a great service should 

 he be removed ; that there was not a shadow of 

 doubt that he had murdered twelve whites, of 

 whom several were Americans ; that he was a 

 determined enemy to the whites, and in the habit 

 of saying that he would omit no opportunity of 

 killing all who might come within his power. 

 Mr. Williams, however, doubted the success of 

 any attempt to take Opotuno, unless it was made 

 under disguise ; for upon the approach of all men- 

 of-war, and during their stay, he lived in the 

 mountains of Savaii, where it was impossible to 

 find him. 



The situation of Mr. Williams's cottage is pretty; 

 it stands within a few rods of the beach, and is sur- 

 rounded by a nicely-dressed lawn, on which are 

 several fine trees; the background is filled up with 

 cocoa-nut, bread-fruit, and a variety of other trees. 

 Near by is the tiny ship-yard of his son, Mr. John 

 Williams, who was taken by his father to England, 

 and there taught all the mechanical trades. He 

 has returned thence within a few months, with his 

 wife, and by the aid of a few natives has already 

 built himself a vessel of about twenty-five tons' bur- 

 den, which he proposes to employ in trading among 

 these islands. 



The next day we returned to Apia. On our way 

 we stopped at Sagana for the purpose of visiting 

 Malietoa, the principal chief of the Malo or con- 

 quering party. 



I have rarely seen a place where more attention 

 is paid to cleanliness than at Sagana. A similar 

 regard to neatness prevails in the walks around the 

 village, and in the cultivation of the taro, melons, 

 and bananas, which is carried on in the immediate 

 vicinity. The paths leading to these cultivated 

 grounds pass through fine shady groves. The pre- 

 servation of the broad walks and paths appears to 

 be rather an amusement than a labour to the 

 villagers. 



Here Malietoa was seen in his domestic circle, 

 with his wives and children around him. I found 

 him in a small house, enjoying the afternoon breeze, 

 with his daughter playing about him. She was 

 about fifteen years of age, and decidedly the pret- 

 tiest girl we had seen in this group; her name was 



