EBAMANGA. 309 



the customary vague accusations, ignoring contradictory 

 evidence based upon ascertained facts. 



Tlius tlie murder of Williams and Harris, in Dillon's Bay, 

 was, according to him, an inexcusable atrocity, though he 

 must have been perfectly aware that the well-known 

 missionary Mr. Murray, in his report of his visit to that 

 island in 1854,^ had expressed his opinion on the subject 

 when giving an account of his interview with a chief who 

 had been previously anxious to have a teacher placed upon 

 the island, and who, to his surprise, turned out to be the 

 man who killed WilUams. "When questioned upon the 

 subject the chief ' looked sorry and ashamed,' but said, ' he 

 did not know Mr. Williams was a missionary.' To tlie 

 question why he killed him he replied, ' it was on account 

 of outrages committed by foreigners some time before.' 

 And does Mr. Murray credit this statement ? He does, and 

 adds significantly, ' Avho can wonder at what he did when it 

 is remembered that, in the affray referred to, between the 

 foreigners and Eramangans, his oivn son was murdered?' 

 (the italics are his) ; and such was the confidence he and Mr. 

 Sunderland had in him, that, in compliance with his request, 

 it was arranged that one of the teachers, in another part of 

 the island, shordd be transferred to his part of the bay. 

 But of these important statements Mr. Inghs seems to know 

 not a word. Then again, as respects Tanna, there are 

 allusions to asserted acts of violence by the natives, while 



' ' Missions in Western Polynesia,' p. 195. 



