MALOLO. 289 



and of whom we had been so suddenly bereaved. The quiet of the 

 scene, the solemnity of the occasion, and the smallness of the number 

 who assisted, were all calculated to produce an unbroken silence. 

 The bodies were quietly taken up and borne along to the centre of 

 the island, where stood a grove of ficus trees, whose limbs were 

 entwined in all directions by running vines. It was a lonely and 

 suitable spot that had been chosen, in a shade so dense that scarce a 

 ray of the sun could penetrate it. 



The grave was dug deep in the pure white sand, and sufficiently 

 wide for the two corpses. Mr. Agate read the funeral service so 

 calmly and yet with such feeling, that none who were present will 

 forget the impression of that sad half hour. After the bodies had been 

 closed in, three volleys were fired over the grave. We then used 

 every precaution to erase all marks that might indicate where these 

 unfortunate gentlemen were interred. I felt as if to refrain from 

 marking the spot where they were laid, deprived us of one of the 

 consolations that alleviate the loss of a relative and friend, but was 

 relieved when it occurred to me to fix a more enduring mark on that 

 place, by naming the island after my nephew, " Henry," and the 

 pretty cluster of which it forms one, " Underwood Group." 



Places remote from the grave were now more disturbed by footsteps 

 and digging than the grave itself, and our tracks were obliterated 

 from the sand, leaves being thrown about to obscure all indications 

 that might lead the wary savage to the resting-place of the dead. 



We wandered about the beach a short time, after which we 

 embarked, and weighed our anchor to return to Malolo. Shortly 

 after, we discovered the Porpoise entering the Malolo Passage, with 

 whom we soon joined company, and anchored again in the bay on 

 the east side of Malolo before dark. 



Preparations were now actively commenced to punish the actors 

 in this foul deed ; the arms were prepared, and the parties duly 

 organized in the course of the night. 



Upon the island there are two towns, Sualib and Arro. The former 

 was on the southwest side, and the residence of the principal actors 

 in the massacre. Upon this I intended to inflict the heaviest blow. 

 The latter, whose inhabitants had also taken a part in the tragedy, 

 and whose unprovoked hostility had been exhibited by their firing 

 upon the boats from the rnangrove-bushes, I determined to burn to 

 the ground. It was also necessary to be prepared upon the water to 

 prevent any attempt at escape, or the more desperate effort to capture 



vol. ni. 73 



