94 UPOLU — M ANON — S AVAIL 



to put his kinsman to death, and immediately afterwards laughing 

 at something ludicrous which had occurred to him. 



Pea was seconded in his endeavours by Vavasa, of Manono, one of 

 the finest-looking of the chiefs, whose attitudes and movements were 

 full of grace, and his manner exceedingly haughty and bold. 



In reply to their arguments, Captain Hudson stated, that however 

 freely other sins might be forgiven, in consideration of their late 

 benighted state, even the darkness of Paganism could not extenuate 

 the crime of murder. He told them that the Scriptures said, " "Whoso 

 sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed;" that nothing 

 but the life of the offender could satisfy the demands of justice, and 

 that they must execute the criminal themselves. 



This announcement caused much excitement; the chiefs again 

 asserted that they knew no such laws ; that by the customs of Samoa, 

 the anger of the friends and relations of a person who had been killed 

 was to be appeased by a present from the criminal or his relations, 

 and by a form of submission, which consisted in knocking their heads 

 three times on the ground. To this it was replied, that the guilt of 

 the prisoner had been proved and admitted — he must die. 



The chiefs, after much reluctance, consented, but expressed great 

 repugnance to an immediate execution. They urged in the most 

 strenuous manner, that the criminal should be carried on board ship, 

 and executed there, or that he should be taken to some uninhabited 

 island and left. These alternatives were refused by Captain Hudson, 

 and the chiefs seemed in great distress. 



At this point of the discussion, the Vincennes was announced as 

 being in sight, and the proceedings were suspended. An officer was 

 immediately despatched, who, as has been already mentioned, boarded 

 that vessel off the harbour. 



When I landed, I found the assembly anxiously awaiting the result 

 of my arrival. Captain Hudson and myself had a private interview, 

 in which he detailed all the facts, and stated that it had been his 

 intention to compel the chiefs to make all the preparations for the 

 execution, but before it was carried into effect to come forward and 

 reprieve the criminal, at the same time requesting Mr. Mills to make 

 an appropriate speech, stating the reasons for the pardon. 



After a full discussion of the whole subject, we came to the con- 

 clusion, that it would be best to transport the criminal to some other 

 island ; for it appeared probable that this would have a better effect 

 than even his execution, as it would be longer remembered, while 



