300 MALOLO. 



attending to the duty, that it would have been as well for them to 

 have been killed in battle as to die of hard work. They toiled thus 

 until nearly sunset, and procured about three thousand gallons of 

 water for us. They also brought twelve good-sized pigs for the 

 crews, some yams, and about three thousand cocoa-nuts. 



Among the articles restored, was the silver watch of Lieutenant 

 Underwood, almost entirely melted up, and a piece of the eye-glass 

 of Midshipman Henry. 



When I went on shore, I saw the chief and about twenty of the old 

 men, who were not able to take part in the work. I had a long talk 

 with them, through the interpreter, and explained to them that they 

 had brought this trouble upon themselves. I pointed out, particu- 

 larly, that the blow had fallen upon the town of Arro, as well as upon 

 that of Sualib, because its inhabitants had fired at the boats from the 

 mangrove-bushes, which was wrong ; and if it occurred again, or they 

 ever molested the Papalangis, they would meet with exemplary punish- 

 ment. They all listened with great attention, and said it should never 

 occur again, and that when any Papalangis came to their island, they 

 would do every thing for them, and treat them as friends and children. 



At evening, I had the chief who was our prisoner brought up and 

 liberated. He had now, from the death of the one at Sualib, become 

 the highest chief of the island. I gave him good advice, and assured 

 him, that if he allowed any white man to be injured, he would sooner 

 or later be punished. He promised me, that as long as he lived they 

 should always be treated as friends and children ; that he would be 

 the first to befriend them ; that he now considered the island as be- 

 longing to the Papalangis; that he had noted all that I had said; that 

 it was good, and he would be very careful to observe it; that he 

 would, if he had no canoe, swim off to the white people's ships to do 

 them all the service in his power ; and that his people should do so 

 also. He was then, with the natives who had been captured, put on 

 shore. When they landed, the whole population were heard crying 

 and wailing over him at his return. 



The above are all the important facts relative to this tragical affair, 

 both to the natives and ourselves. I feel little disposed to cast blame 

 any where, but it must be apparent that if the precautions directed 

 in the orders given for the conduct of the officers on boat duty had 

 been adhered to, this misfortune would not have occurred. It is there- 

 fore to be regretted, that a strict regard had not been paid to these 

 orders, and that care and watchfulness to preserve and keep all on 



