HO UPOLU — MANONO — SAVAII. 



of continual 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 ascribed high acknowledgments to the mis- 

 sionaries, 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 conference. I therefore proposed 

 that before they gave me a final answer in relation to Opotuno, they 

 should take time for consideration and reflection, 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 

 turbulent 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 punishment for any future offences. 



In this state of the proceedings we were favoured with a set speech 

 from the official orator of Malietoa, 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, 



