Demand of the body of Opotuno. 

 Speech of Malietoa. 



SAMOAN GROUP. 



Speech of Malietoa. Reward offered 

 for the apprehension of Opotuno. 



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also present ; and Mr. Heath, who was believed to 

 j be best acquainted with the Samoau language, was 

 kind enough to officiate as our interpreter. 



The object I had in view in requesting the fono 

 to be called, was to procure the formal enactment 

 of laws and regulations which might secure to our 

 whale-ships a certainty of protection and security, 

 and at the same time to prevent impositions being 

 practised by them upon the native government, of 

 which, as has been stated, complaint had been 

 made. To the breach of these laws it was intended 

 that the penalty of a fine should be attached, in 

 order to secure obedience to them. 



The meeting being organized, I in the first place 

 presented Mr. John Williams, as the consul of the 

 United States, whom the chiefs recognized as such 

 with great willingness and satisfaction. 



We then entered upon the discussion of the pro- 

 posed regulations, which were adopted in a form 

 which promises to be mutually beneficial, being 

 highly advantageous to them, and at the same time 

 insuring a certainty of security to American vessels 

 that may visit the islands they could not before enjoy. 



One of the articles referred to the redress of in- 

 juries committed by the natives, and provided for 

 the punishment of those who had been guilty of 

 crime, by giving them up. 



Wishing to rid these islands of a pest both to na- 

 tives and foreigners, I now, as authorized by the 

 spirit of this article, made a demand for the mur- 

 derer Opotuno, and stated that a compliance with 

 this would settle all disputes between us. This de- 

 mand produced a great sensation among the chiefs, 

 and much excitement prevailed in the meeting. 

 Malietoa, in reply to it, expressed himself strongly 

 in detestation of the character of Opotuno, and 

 stated that his capture by us would give him satis- 

 faction, but argued that the regulations now en- 

 acted could not apply to his past misdeeds, and 

 that he would only come within its operation should 

 he be again guilty of like crimes. He in short 

 pleaded that the law could have no ex post facto 

 bearing. 



He next argued, that the inevitable consequence 

 of any attempt on their part to seize Opotnno, 

 would be to involve the whole group in a civil war, 

 for he was not only a powerful chief himself, but 

 connected with others still more so ; and that a 

 civil war was that which he most desired to avoid. 

 Ke however went on to say, that so far as he was 

 concerned, no opposition would be made to any 

 steps on our part to secure one whom they knew to 

 be guilty of great outrages ; but he could not in any 

 way assist. 



In conclusion, he stated that the islands had, 

 until within the few years that had elapsed since 

 he obtained the command, been the seat of con- 

 tinual wars ; that they were now aware of the 

 advantages of peace, and had a just sense of the 

 benefits they in consequence enjoyed ; and declared 

 that he should do all in his power to preserve the 

 blessings of peace, and maintain the unwonted 

 state of prosperity. For these blessings he as- 

 cribed high acknowledgments to the missionaries, 

 saying that he hoped the Samoan people would in 

 due time profit by the lessons taught them, and 

 adopt all the improvements of the Papalangis. 



Few persons have ever inspired me with more 

 respect than this old chief, and his sentiments were 

 delivered by Tooa in an impressive manner. 



It was not my object to drive them to extremities, 

 or to press for an instant decision. I also wished 

 to give them time to reflect upon and canvass the 

 regulations just adopted, and perceived that they 

 began to be fatigued with the length of the con- 

 ference. I therefore proposed that before they 

 gave me a final answer in relation to Opotuno, 

 they should take time for consideration and re- 

 flection, for which purpose I suggested that the 

 meeting should be adjourned until the next day, 

 which was accordingly done. 



On the 5th November we again met, when the 

 arguments urged the day before were a second 

 time brought forward, and the necessity of their 

 taking measures that should effectually prevent 

 outrages upon the persons and depredations on the 

 property of white men, strongly set before them. 

 They met these arguments with complaints against 

 the white men who had come to the islands or been 

 left upon them, saying that many of them were 

 bad fellows, and had caused much trouble. I at 

 once told them that if they would bring these tur- 

 bulent persons to me, I would take them away 

 from the islands, and that the laws they had now 

 assented to, were such as would secure their punish- 

 ment for any future offences. 



In this state of the proceed ings we were favoured 

 with a set speech from the official orator of Ma- 

 lietoa, an old blind chief, who stood up, supporting 

 himself by leaning with both hands upon a long 

 stick. In this attitude he poured forth such a 

 torrent of words as few of us had ever before 

 heard; and if eloquence be composed of elocution 

 and a ready flow of language, he was fully entitled 

 to the praise of possessing it. 



As we learned from the translation of this 

 speech, its object was to urge the necessity of 

 going to war, in order to secure the murderer, 

 Opotuno, for the purpose of delivering him up. 

 This, however, was intended only for effect; for 

 these, as we well knew, were not the real senti- 

 ments entertained by Malietoa. 



This speech was made up of short and distinct 

 sentences, was spoken in a loud voice, and con- 

 tained many repetitions. 



However contrary this speech may have been to 

 the cool determination of Malietoa, it seemed to 

 meet the popular feeling; and there is no saying 

 what might have been the consequence, had not 

 the missionaries contrived to check the outburst. 

 It was now proposed that the fono should receive 

 and publish a document, offering a large reward 

 for the seizure and delivery of Opotuno, dead or 

 alive. This proposition was a new source of ex- 

 citement, and old Malietoa exclaimed with em- 

 phasis, " Give me the paper ! I will put it upon 

 my house, where all the world shall see it." 



A copy was then nailed on the pillars of the 

 council-house, which Pea was made responsible 

 for, and others were prepared and distributed to 

 the several chiefs. 



The meeting was then dissolved, and every one 

 present evinced the greatest satisfaction that the 

 whole of the business before it had been concluded 

 in so satisfactory a manner. 



The island of Upolii is divided into three districts, 

 viz. Atua, Tua-Masanga, and Aana. Each of these 

 was formerly governed by a separate and inde- 

 pendent chief, styled Tui. Atua occupies the 

 eastern end of the island, which extends as far 



Hi 



