248 MBUA BAY AND MUTHUATA. 



party had killed three of the people of the opposite party, in revenge 

 for the death of the one who had been killed during the former visit 

 of the Peacock. One human body had already been brought over 

 and just feasted upon. Shortly afterwards a canoe came alongside, 

 bringing the skull yet warm from the fire, much scorched, and 

 marked with the teeth of those who had eaten of it. The brain had 

 been roasted and taken out, as well as the eyes and teeth. Another 

 canoe came alongside with some roasted flesh in it. 



While Mr. Spieden and others were agreeing with the natives for 

 the purchase of the skull for a fathom of cloth, a native stood near 

 him holding something in his right hand, which he soon applied to 

 his mouth, and began to eat. To their utter astonishment they dis- 

 covered it to be the eye of the dead man, which the native had 

 plucked from the skull a few moments before. So revolting and 

 unexpected a sight produced a feeling of sickness in many ; this 

 ocular proof of their cannibal propensities fully satisfied them. The 

 native was eating it, and exclaiming at the same time, " Vinaka, 

 vinaka," (good, good.) Another was seen eating the last of the 

 flesh from the thigh-bone. This was witnessed by several of the 

 officers and men, who all testify to the same facts. 



Previous to this occurrence, no one in the squadron could say that 

 he had been an eye-witness to cannibalism, though few doubted its 

 practice, but the above transaction placed it beyond all doubt, and 

 we have now the very skull which was bought from those who were 

 picking and eating it, among our collections. 



Tui Mbua came alongside with his family, and asked permission 

 to remain all night, which was granted him. Mr. Agate succeeded 

 in getting a good likeness of him. 



Lieutenant Budd, and the boats under his charge, came alongside 

 in the evening, and left the ship again the next morning, to complete 

 the survey and bring it down to Mbua Bay. 



The next day, being the 4th of July, they beat through Monkey- 

 Face Passage, and on reaching Ruke-ruke Bay, Captain Hudson 

 anchored, after which the crew kept the 4th of July, by feasting on 

 a turtle, and enjoyed themselves with their double allowance of 

 grog. 



On the 5th, the Peacock anchored in Mbua Bay, about an hour 

 before the Vincennes reached it, all well and in good spirits. The 

 naturalists were now ordered to return on board the Vincennes, and 



