298 MALOLO. 



green spot where we had performed the last rites to our murdered 

 companions. A gentle breeze, which was blowing through the 

 casuarina trees, gave out the moaning sound that is uttered by the 

 pines of our own country, producing a feeling of depression inse- 

 parable from the occasion, and bringing vividly to my thoughts the 

 sad impression which this melancholy and dreadful occurrence would 

 bring upon those who were far away. 



Towards four o'clock, the sound of distant wailings was heard, 

 which gradually drew nearer and nearer. At the same time, the 

 natives were seen passing over the hills towards us, giving an effect 

 to the whole scene which will be long borne in my memory. They 

 at length reached the foot of the hill, but would come no farther, until 

 assured that their petition would be received. On receiving this 

 assurance, they wound upward, and, in a short time, about forty men 

 appeared, crouching on their hands and knees, and occasionally stop- 

 ping to utter piteous moans and wailings. When within thirty feet 

 of us, they stopped, and an old man, their leader, in the most piteous 

 manner, begged pardon, supplicating forgiveness, and pledging that 

 they would never do the like again to a white man. He said, that 

 they acknowledged themselves conquered, and that the island be- 

 longed to us ; that they were our slaves, and would do whatever I 

 desired ; that they had lost every thing ; that the two great chiefs of 

 the island, and all their best warriors, had been killed, all their pro- 

 visions destroyed, and their houses burned. They acknowledged a 

 loss of fifty-seven killed. Whether the twenty -five that were opposed 

 to Lieutenant Emmons were included in this number, I know not, 

 but I am rather inclined to believe that they were ; for accounts sub- 

 sequently received, give the same number. They declared that 

 they were now convinced that they never could make war against the 

 white men (Papalangis); and that they had brought two of the chief's 

 daughters as a present for the great chief. During the whole time 

 that the old man was speaking, they all remained bent down with 

 their heads to the ground. 



I asked them many questions, and, among others, what had induced 

 them to murder the little chiefs. They acknowledged that the offi- 

 cers had done them no harm, and confessed that they had been 

 killed without the slightest cause. They stated that all the murderers 

 were slain, and that the act was planned and executed by the people 

 of Sualib, none of whom were then present, or could be found ; and 

 said that the persons present were the only ones uninjured. Some of 

 the officers believed that they recognised several of them as having 



