284 MALOLO. 



lander heretofore mentioned) as interpreter, from Lieutenant Alden's 

 boat. He, in consequence, shoved off, leaving the other boat to follow 

 him as soon as the tide would allow it to cross the reef between the 

 islands. Lieutenant Emmons then pushed his boat for the shore, and 

 landed, with three armed men, on Malolo-lai-lai, in order to obtain 

 some angles from the top of a hill. On his approaching the beach, 

 the natives waded off to his boat, but he ordered them off, and directed 

 the officer with him, Midshipman Clark, to keep his boat afloat, and 

 not suffer them to approach her during his absence. This order 

 was strictly attended to, and although a similar attempt was again 

 made, the natives when ordered off retired as before. 



Lieutenant Underwood's boat drew too much water to get across 

 the reef and grounded, upon which a number of natives collected 

 around her, and joining with the boat's crew, assisted to drag her over 

 the reef. At this time the natives got a knowledge of the feebleness 

 of the armament of Lieutenant Underwood's boat. To my surprise I 

 have since learned that Lieutenant Underwood had left the greater 

 part of that with which he had been furnished on board the brig some 

 few days before. Seven rifles had been put on board that vessel, 

 under the idea that it would lighten the boat, and no more than three 

 out of the ten he took with him from the Vincennes remained. 



On landing they found no more than two pigs tied to a tree for 

 sale, instead of the four they had been promised as presents. These 

 the natives declined selling until the chief, who was out upon the 

 reef fishing, should return. A messenger was sent for him, and he 

 soon made his appearance, but conducted himself haughtily, and 

 refused to part with his hogs except for a musket, powder, and ball, 

 which being against orders was refused. 



Lieutenant Alden entertained some uneasiness at the number of 

 natives that had crowded around the Leopard, and proceeded to join 

 her, but was detained near the reef about twenty minutes before the 

 tide would allow the boat to pass over, the first cutter being much 

 heavier than the Leopard. On entering the bay, he found the 

 Leopard at anchor about two thousand feet from the shore, in just 

 sufficient water to enable his boat to get alongside. He was informed 

 by the boat's crew that Lieutenant Underwood had gone on shore, 

 leaving a hostage in the Leopard, whom Lieutenant Alden imme- 

 diately took into his own boat. Lieutenant Underwood was accom- 

 panied to the shore by J. Clark, armed with a rifle and sheath-knife ; 

 J. Dunnock and J. M'Kean, armed with cutlasses; William Leicester, 



