112 H A W A I I A N D O A H U. 



and take such measures as would secure our citizens from molestation 

 in future, and cause the islanders to respect their own regulations. 



From the Samoan Group, the Peacock was to proceed to examine 

 and survey Ellice's Group ; thence north to the Kingsmill Group, and 

 passing through the Rurick Chain, visit the Pescadores, to ascertain, 

 if possible, any circumstances that would throw light on the fate of a 

 Captain Dowsett, who it was supposed might have been detained in 

 captivity by the natives. The following particulars from his wife 

 were furnished me by Mr. Brinsmade, the American consul at Oahu: 

 they are all that is known of his fate. 



The schooner Victoria was in charge of Captain Dowsett, and went 

 to the Pescadores, on a shelling voyage ; there he landed with several 

 of the crew, and among them a boy named Brown. Some difficulty 

 occurred on shore, and the captain and such of the crew as were with 

 him were set upon, and were not seen afterwards. The boy escaped. 

 The survivors describe the people as a fishing party, unarmed and 

 unwarlike, with no other weapons but sticks and pieces of iron hoops 

 purchased from the schooner. They had neither clubs nor spears. 

 A report afterwards reached Oahu, that a canoe had been picked 

 up with some natives, who reported that Captain Dowsett and his 

 men were alive ; that one of them was named Sam, (the Christian 

 name of Captain Dowsett,) and another George, (the name of a New 

 Zealander.) Mr. H. A. Pierce, a merchant of Honolulu, in conse- 

 quence, despatched the schooner Waverley in search of them. This 

 vessel has never been heard of, but reports reached Honolulu, that 

 Captain Scott, had succeeded in getting the chief on board, and had 

 recognised several articles belonging to Captain Dowsett, which his 

 wife had sent him. Some misunderstanding occurring between the 

 master of the Waverley and the chief, the former cut off" the beard of 

 the latter and sent him on shore. 



The cause of the difficulty that occurred between Mr. Dowsett and 

 the natives is unknown. The boy. Brown, was at a distance from the 

 party when it took place, and did not see Mr. Dowsett. Dowsett and 

 the chief had been previously on the most friendly terms, and had 

 exchanged tokens of friendship. I was desirous of clearing up the 

 mystery that hung over their fate, and also that of the Waverley, and 

 directed the Peacock to visit, for this purpose, Strong's and Ascension 

 Islands, after leaving the Pescadores. 



The facts known concerning the Waverley are very few, but they 



