258 TYE AND SUALIB. 



for the most part built,) to a running fire of musketry, that every one 

 believed that a general fight was taking place in the parts distant and 

 opposite to him. 



About an hour sufficed to reduce the whole to ashes, leaving the 

 village a heap of smoking ruins. We then returned to our boats in 

 the same good order in which we landed. 



The town of Tye contained about sixty dwellings, built of bamboo, 

 besides a number of yam-houses, wherein they had gathered their 

 crops. The upper and outer yams were well roasted, but the heat 

 from the light material was of short duration, so that few in reality 

 were lost. Another small collection of yam-houses, about a quarter 

 of a mile distant, was also burnt. 



Few things were found in the town, for the natives had removed 

 all the articles that could be carried away. Three or four weeks of 

 labour would, therefore, suffice to rebuild their houses, and restore 

 them to the same state as before the burning. 



There was no opposition made to this attack ; all the Feejee men 

 had retired out of gun-shot, and were only now and then seen from 

 behind the bushes, or on some craggy peak on the sides of the neigh- 

 bouring hills, from which they were occasionally dislodged by our 

 rockets. This firework produced consternation, and dispersed them 

 in every direction. As the boats were pulling off from the shore, a 

 few balls fell near us, but did no damage. 



As we pulled off, the launch (Lieutenant Perry) was just seen 

 making her appearance, having got aground in the passage up, and 

 lain the whole of the tide. His men being much exhausted, were 

 transferred to the tender, and others put in their stead. We then all 

 set out for the ships, which we reached a little before midnight. 



The infliction of this punishment I deemed necessary ; it was effi- 

 ciently and promptly done, and, without the sacrifice of any lives, 

 taught these savages a salutary lesson. 



In the first cutter was private and public property to the value of 

 over one thousand dollars, which was all lost. 



By reference to my instructions, it will be seen, that cases of theft 

 were expressly mentioned as occasions that might require punish- 

 ment to be inflicted on the natives ; yet this transaction formed the 

 gist of one of the charges preferred against me by the administration, 

 on my return to the United States. 



The conduct of the officers and men on this occasion showed a 

 promptness and energy that were highly creditable, and gave me the 



