HAWAII AND OAHU. m 



him to keep the articles, for all that they wanted was their white man. 

 Smith refused to return, and said that all he desired was his jacket, 

 which was soon after brought, and then the articles were returned. 

 Smith was advised not to walk about, or leave the village after dark, 

 until the chiefs anger was over ; but he appears not to have heeded 

 this advice, having gone to Murivai, part of the town of Saluafata, and 

 after dark went out, for the purpose of going to a house about three 

 hundred yards distant. The moon was full, and it was quite light. 

 About half an hour after he set out, a native inquired for Smith, and 

 said that he had stepped in something that was in the path, which 

 was not water, but felt like blood. The alarm was immediately 

 given, and, on search being made, the body of Smith was found, with 

 a cut on the right side of the neck, which had nearly severed the head 

 from the body, another on the left side, a deep wotmd with an axe on 

 the breast, and one on the head. 



Suspicion at once rested upon Vave, alias Tagi, Palasi's brother, 

 who was heard inquiring for Smith, having an axe in his hand at the 

 time. This man was examined before the consul, and when asked if 

 he had murdered the white man, said "Yes." On being asked the 

 reason, he said, " Because his heart was pained with his theft." Being 

 further questioned, as to the circumstances, he said, " That when 

 Smith first landed, he came to him with another white man, to pro- 

 cure a wife, offering an American axe and jacket as a reward or 

 purchase for her. After a few days Smith wished to change his 

 lodgings, and live with another man by the name of Maitland, taking 

 his wife with him. The day after, a report reached the family that 

 the girl had cried all night, and that Smith had hurt her. They 

 returned and lived a short time together at her house, after which 

 Smith again left it, with the articles. These, Tagi said, had been all 

 returned except a siapo belonging to the girl. The failure to return 

 the latter caused them to be very angry, and he took up an axe to go 

 in search of Smith, with an intent to kill him. On meeting Smith, 

 he asked him for the siapo, which he denied having, upon which he 

 killed him with the axe." 



From other evidence, it fully appeared that all the family of Palasi 

 were cognizant of the fact; and the chiefs having refused to give 

 him up, or to try him for murder, it became necessary to show these 

 islanders that they could not commit such acts with impunity. 

 Captain Hudson was, therefore, instructed to inquire into the facts, 



