1834, JULY. LETTER TO R. CHARLTON, ESQ. 319 



from them were as follows : — ^ttat Mr. D. left Eohala Point last week, 

 in company with a foreigner (an Englishman), as a guide, and proceeded 

 to cross Mouna Roa on the North side — ^that on the 12th he dismissed 

 his guide, who cautioned him, on parting, to be very careful lest he should 

 fall into the pits excavated for the purpose mentioned above ; describing 

 them as near the place where the cattle resorted to drink — ^that soon after 

 Mr. D. had dismissed his guide, he went back a short distance to get 

 some bundle which he had forgotten, and that as he was retracing his steps, 

 at some fatal moment he tumbled into one of the pits in which a buUock 

 had previously fallen — that he there was found dead by these same natives, 

 who, ignorant of the time of his passing, were in pursuit of cattle, and 

 observed a small hole in one end of the covering of the pit. At first they 

 conjectured that a calf had fallen in ; but on further examination they 

 discerned traces of a man's footsteps, and then saw his feet, the rest of 

 the body being covered with dust and rubbish. They went in pursuit 

 of the guide, who returned, shot the beast in the hole, took out the corpse, 

 and hired the natives at the price of four bullocks, which he kUled im- 

 mediately, to convey the body to the sea-shore. He himself accompanied 

 them, and procured the native who related the afiair to bring the corpse 

 to this place, promising to come himself immediately, and that he would 

 bring the compass, watch (w'hich was somewhat broken, but stUl going), 

 some money foimd in Mr. D.'s pocket, and the little dog, that faithful 

 companion of our departed friend. — Thus far the report of the native, 

 who brought the corpse in his canoe, and who professes to relate the facts 

 to us, as he learned them from the natives who came down from the 

 mountain. We do not stop, at present,' to examine how far it is consistent 

 or inconsistent with itself, as we have not the means of making full in- 

 vestigation into the matter. On reaching the canoe, our first care was 

 to have the remains conveyed to some suitable place, where we could 

 take proper care of them, and Mr. Dibble's family being absent, it was 

 determined to carry the body to his house. But what an affecting spectacle 

 was presented, as we removed the bullock's hide in which he had been 

 conveyed ! — we will not attempt to describe the agony of feeling which 

 we experienced at that moment : can it be he ? can it be he ? we each 

 exclaimed — can it be the man with whom we parted but a few days before, 

 and who then was borne up with so high spirits and expectations, and 

 whom, but an hour previously, we were fondly anticipating to welcome 

 to our little circle. The answer was but too faithfully contained in the 

 familiar articles of dress — in the features, and in the noble person before 

 us. They were those of our friend. The body, clothes, &c. appeared' 

 to be in the same state they were in when taken from the pit : the face 

 was covered with dirt, the hair fiUed with blood and dust ; the coat, 

 pantaloons, and shirt, considerably torn. The hat was missing. On 

 washing the corpse, we found it in a shocking state : there were ten to 

 twelve gashes on the head — a long one over the left eye, another, rather 

 deep, just above the left temple, and a deep one behind the right ear ; 

 the left cheek-bone appeared to be broken, and also the ribs on the left 

 side. The abdomen was also much bruised, and also the lower parts of 



