292 MALOLO. 



attempt to get her off. I therefore left her with Tom Granby, mortified 

 at his bad luck, and disappointed in not having to play a conspicuous 

 part as her commander, for which he had evidently prepared himself. 



The boats now pulled towards the north end of the island. As we 

 proceeded in that direction, towards the town of Arro, which I now 

 intended to attack, we heard a distant hail from the shore-party, who 

 were on the top of the ridge of the island, informing us that five 

 canoes were in sight to the northward, standing for the island. 



As soon as we reached the town of Arro, perceiving no natives to 

 oppose us, I despatched Lieutenant Emmons to pull towards the 

 approaching canoes and intercept them, while with the rest of the 

 boats' crews the town of Arro was burnt. In doing this we met with 

 no hindrance, for although the place was large, evidently populous, 

 and well fortified with a ditch and fence, it was found deserted. 

 Many of the male inhabitants, as I afterwards learned, had gone to 

 Sualib, to aid in the defence of that town, while others had accom- 

 panied the women and children to the mountains, whither all their 

 movable property had also been carried. This fact shows that the 

 islanders were not ignorant of the consequences that were likely to 

 follow the murder of our officers, and had made timely preparations 

 to resist our attack on one of the towns, and save themselves from 

 serious loss at the other. 



Having completed the destruction of Arro, I proceeded in the gig 

 towards the northwest point of the island, for the purpose of joining 

 Lieutenant Emmons, on rounding which, I observed the smoke of the 

 burning of Sualib. As I pulled around the island, I saw many of 

 the natives on the highest peaks, whither they had retreated for 

 safety, and others upon the beach, who, on seeing the boat, fled 

 towards the mountains. In pursuit of these, the "fiery spirits," were 

 frequently sent, to their great alarm. When I had proceeded far 

 enough to get a view of the bay in front of Sualib, neither boat nor 

 canoe were in sight, and I turned back, to rejoin the other boats 

 off Arro. 



On reaching them, Lieutenant Alden reported that he had executed 

 the orders, and had, at high water, towed off or destroyed all the 

 canoes. During my absence, an old man had ventured down to the 

 beach, with two others in his company, and made signs that he 

 wished to speak with them. They held a parley with him, through 

 the interpreter, and learned that he was the chief of Arro. He told 

 them that he was houseless, had lost his property, his son, and many 



