242 



Capture of the first cutter by the 

 natives in Sualib Bay. 



FEEJEE GROUP. 



Measures taken in consequence. Attack 

 on the town of Tye. Its destruction. 



For a few days, at this time, every one was 

 employed who could work, in repairing the boats, 

 preparatory to the further examinations which I 

 contemplated making on the hourly-expected ar- 

 rival of the Porpoise. 



On the afternoon of the 12th, Lieutenant Perry 

 arrived in the launch, bringing with him Mr. Knox 

 and the crew of the first cutter. That boat had 

 been captured by the natives, at Sualib Bay, about 

 twenty-five miles to windward, on the same island. 

 In this bay the launch and first cutter had taken 

 refuge during the bad weather, although it offers 

 indifferent_accommodation. After being there two 

 or three days, they attempted to beat out, when 

 the cutter, in trying to go about, near the reef, 

 jnissed stays and was thrown on it. At the time 

 \his occurred, it was low water. The natives, who, 

 it was supposed by the party, had anticipated the 

 accident, had followed along the reef, and, as soon 

 as it happened, crowded down, all well armed with 

 clubs, spears, stones, &c. Mr. Knox, finding it 

 impossible to get the boat off, thought of looking 

 into his means of defence, and found himself com- 

 pletely in the power of the natives, for all his arms 

 and ammunition were soaked with salt water. 

 Lieutenant Perry, finding that the launch could 

 not make headway against the wind and sea, had 

 anchored at long gun-shot from the spot where the 

 cutter had gone on shore. As soon as he saw 

 what was going forward, he opened a fire on the 

 natives, but without effect; for they, notwithstand- 

 ing, collected around Mr. Knox's party, and gave 

 them to understand that they must abandon the 

 boat and go on board the launch. Having no 

 choice left, he took out all the arms and the chro- 

 nometers, and, keeping the natives at bay, by 

 pointing the guns at them and threats of killing 

 them, the crew reached the launch in safety. The 

 natives took possession of the first cutter, dragged 

 her over the reef, and stripped her of every thing. 

 They then appeared to be eagerly watching the 

 launch, at which they occasionally fired their 

 muskets, with which they are better provided on 

 this island than elsewhere. They did not prove 

 good marksmen, however, for they did no damage. 



Two natives, from another part of the shore, 

 now swam off to the launch, with offers of assist- 

 ance to Lieutenant Perry; but he supposed that 

 this was done to spy out his weakness, and learn 

 how to take advantage of it. He, therefore, at 

 once seized and retained them. They proved to be 

 a great chief and an inferior one. After he had 

 obtained possession of these men, the natives on 

 shore gave him no further trouble, but remained 

 lurking about the mangroves. 



The next morning, the weather having mo- 

 derated, he was enabled to get out of the bay, and 

 reached the ship at the above date. 



Immediately on receiving the report, I ordered 

 the two prisoners to be put into irons, and the 

 schooner and eight boats, four from each ship, to 

 be ready for service at sunset. Twenty additional 

 men and officers were put on board the tender. 

 Captain Hudson and myself both accompanied the 

 party, which left the ships at the appointed time. 

 Our first rendezvous was about twelve miles from 

 the ship, and it was my intention to reach Sualib 

 by daylight the next morning. 



The cutter, we found, on our arrival at Sualib 

 Bay, had been drawn up to a considerable distance, 



and the tide being low, there was a wide mud-flat 

 between her and the place where we lay at anchor, 

 through which a small tortuous creek led up to 

 her. 



The natives of the two towns on each side of the 

 bay, one called Tye and the other Sualib, seemed 

 both to be active in preparing to give us a warm 

 reception. Our interpreter gave me reason to ex- 

 pect that we should not get the boat without a 

 sharp fight, and that she would be perhaps de- 

 stroyed by fire before we should be able to save 

 her. As it would, in all probability, have been 

 attended with loss of life to make the attempt at 

 low water, I determined to await until the tide 

 rose, and in the mean time to attempt to procure 

 her restoration by negotiation. I therefore sent 

 Whippy and Tom to hold a parley, and to state to 

 the natives, that if they restored the boat and every 

 thing belonging to her, I would, for this time, for- 

 give them. 



My conditions not being complied with, I deter- 

 mined to make an example of these natives, and to 

 show them that they could no longer hope to com- 

 mit acts of this description without receiving 

 punishment. 



We moved on for this purpose in an imposing 

 array, keeping ourselves well prepared for an 

 attack, to which we were necessarily exposed on 

 our approach. A very few men could have done 

 us much mischief, had they been tolerable marks- 

 men and stood their ground. 



To approach the village we had to pass between 

 long lines of mangrove bushes, and I was assured 

 by Whippy, who had been before on a war- party 

 with a formidable force against these natives and 

 been beaten off, that we should have something 

 more than a mere show of resistance to encounter. 

 Under this expectation we proceeded forwards; 

 but all was silent, and no impediment was offered 

 to our course. 



When near the beach the boats were anchored, 

 and the officers and men jumped overboard, and 

 waded in about two feet water to the shore. Every 

 thing was conducted with the most perfect order; 

 the three divisions landed; Captain Hudson, with 

 two, proceeded to burn and destroy the town, and 

 the third remained on the beach as a reserve to 

 protect the boats, for I was apprehensive that an 

 attack might be made on them by those on the 

 other side of the bay, a great many of whom were 

 visible, armed, and apparently ready for a fight. 

 The precaution I had taken to let them know, 

 through Whippy, that I held their chiefs as 

 hostages, and that their safety depended upon the 

 good conduct of the townspeople, I felt was some 

 security, but I had made up my mind not to trust 

 the natives in any way. I therefore kept a large 

 force under my own charge to repel any attack on 

 the boats, and act as a reserve should it become 

 necessary. 



The town was soon fired, but the anxiety of some 

 of the sailors to make a blaze, induced them to fire 

 one or two of the thick thatched roofs to windward, 

 while the rest of the party had gone to begin the 

 work of destruction to leeward. The whole village 

 was in consequence soon wrapped in sheets of flame, 

 and many of the men were exposed to danger on 

 their return, from the intense heat of the burning 

 buildings. So close was the resemblance of the 

 noise made by the bursting of the bamboo canes, 



