296 MALOLO, 



most made sail to leeward to join their companions, and when 

 they had accomplished this, all struck their sails and advanced to 

 attack him, manoeuvring together. In each canoe there were about 

 eight warriors, having a kind of breastwork to protect them from the 

 shot, while Lieutenant Emmons's boat's crew consisted only of seven. 

 After a short but severe contest, only one of the canoes escaped ; the 

 others were all destroyed, together with their warriors. Lieutenant 

 Emmons reached the brig, with three of his prizes, a little before 

 midnight. 



Shortly after daylight, a few natives were seen on the beach oppo- 

 site to the tender. I had been hoping throughout the night that some 

 overture would be made, and at once took my gig, with the interpreter, 

 and pulled for them. As we approached the edge of the reef, which 

 was now bare, it being low water, all the men retired, leaving a 

 young native woman standing, with the different articles near her 

 belonging to Lieutenant Underwood and Midshipman Henry. She 

 held a white cock in her arms, which she was desirous of my accept- 

 ing; but, believing it to be an emblem of peace with this people, 

 (which I found afterwards was the case,) I refused it, but took the 

 other articles. I declined the pacific offering, because I had no idea 

 of making peace with them until it should be sued for after their own 

 fashion. I had obtained a sufficient knowledge of their manners and 

 customs to know that it was usual for them, when defeated, and at 

 the mercy of their enemies, to beg pardon and sue for mercy, before 

 the whole of the attacking party, in order that all might be witnesses. 

 I also knew that they never acknowledged themselves conquered 

 unless this was done, and would construe my failing to require it of 

 them into an admission that I had not succeeded in overcoming them. 

 Many messages were, indeed, delivered to me by this girl from the 

 chiefs, expressive of their sorrow for having attacked and killed our 

 little chiefs; but, in Feejee language, this amounted to nothing; and, 

 I was determined to receive from them a formal acknowledgment 

 of defeat, according to their own mode, before I made peace with 

 them, however anxious I was to avoid any more bloodshed. I there- 

 fore sent the chiefs and people a message that they must come and 

 beg pardon and sue for mercy, before all our warriors, on a hill that I 

 pointed out, on the south end of the island, saying that I should land 

 there in a little while to receive them, and that if they did not come 

 they must be responsible for the consequences. 



At about eight o'clock I went on board the Porpoise, where I had 



