HO CUSTOMS OF THE FEEJEE GROUP. 



He also found that, a desire was evinced that he should not go further 

 in the vessel. In consequence, Paddy, while on the way to Kantavu, 

 mentioned his suspicions to Captain Bachelor, and advised him to be 

 on his guard. When they arrived at Kantavu, they proceeded to a 

 small island near its eastern end, where the biche de mar house was 

 erected, and a chief of the island was, as usual, taken on board as a 

 hostage. The clay after he came on board, he feigned sickness, and 

 was, in consequence, permitted to go on shore. He departed with 

 such unusual exhibitions of friendly disposition, as served to confirm 

 Paddy's previous suspicions ; but he felt assured that all would be 

 safe so long as the captain remained on board. 



On the following morning, (Sunday,) Vendovi came off, saying 

 that the young chief was very sick, and he wanted the captain to 

 come to the biche de mar house, where he said he was, to give him 

 some medicine. In this house eight of the men were employed, of 

 whom two were Sandwich Islanders. The captain was preparing to 

 go ashore with the medicine, when Paddy stepped aft to him, and 

 told him that to go on shore was as much as his life was worth, for 

 he was sure that the natives intended to kill him, and to take all their 

 lives. The captain in consequence remained on board, but the mate 

 went on shore, and took with him the bottle of medicine. Vendovi 

 went in the boat, and landed with the mate, but could not conceal his 

 disappointment that the captain did not come also. Paddy now 7 

 was convinced, from the arrangements that had been made to get the 

 people and boats away from the brig, that the intended mischief was 

 about to be consummated. He therefore kept a sharp look-out upon 

 the shore, and soon saw the beginning of an affray, the mate, Mr. 

 Chitman, killed, and the building in flames. The others were also 

 slain, with the exception of James Housman, who had been engaged 

 at the same time with Paddy, and who swam off and was taken on 

 board. Those in the brig opened a fire from the great guns, but 

 without effect. 



On the following day Paddy was employed to bargain with the 

 natives for the bodies, seven of which were brought down to the shore 

 much mutilated, in consideration of a musket. The eighth, a negro, 

 had been cooked and eaten. Captain Bachelor had the bodies sewed 

 up in canvass, and thrown overboard, in the usual manner. They 

 however floated again, and fell into the hands of the savages, who, as 

 he afterwards understood, devoured them all. They complained, 

 however, that they did not like them, and particularly the negro, 



