MALOLO. 311 



of Ambau, although he at the same time acknowledged himself under 

 many obligations to the captain, and professed a great Feejee friend- 

 ship towards him. The captain was warned by the traders as to the 

 danger of trusting the natives as much as he did. But he disregarded 

 these cautions, and the consequence was the loss both of the vessel 

 and his own life.* 



The brig was cut off through the instrumentality of six of the na- 

 tives of Viwa, whom he had on a former visit taken on board and 

 carried with him to Tahiti. These went on board on the afternoon 

 of 19th July, leaving at the fish-house Charley, an English resident 

 of Viwa, and a Frenchman named Clermont. When the natives 

 came on board and were in the gangway, the second officer, with the 

 cook and steward, was standing on the forecastle, and the captain was 

 on the quarter-deck. One of the natives called the attention of the 

 captain to the small schooner which was then lying at a short distance 

 from the brig, telling him that she was full of water. The captain 

 took his spyglass to examine her, and while he was looking through 

 it, one of the natives struck him on the head with a club, and killed 

 him on the spot. They then rushed on the second officer and boat- 

 swain, and killed them also, although the death of the latter had not 

 entered into their plans. The lives of the cook and steward were 

 spared, and they were sent on shore. 



Immediately after the murder of the captain, Rata Mura and Na- 

 mosimalua went on board, and a general plunder began. 



The native who gave the captain his mortal wound, was the 

 adopted son of Namosimalua, and had been treated by the captain 

 with great kindness, on which account he had long refused to join in 

 the plot. At length, however, the chiefs of Ambau threatened to 

 strangle him if he would not give his aid. After the deed was 

 committed, he was seen in tears, and told those around him that he 

 would not have done it except to save his own life. 



The bodies were thrown overboard, and that of the captain was not 

 again seen ; but the other two drifted on shore, where Mr. Osborne 

 and Charley obtained permission from the chiefs of Ambau to bury 

 them. 



From all that Mr. Osborne saw, he was satisfied that those chiefs 

 were the instigators of the deed, and had forced Namosimalua into 

 the plot. The natives of Ambau were seen the day after the act was 



* See Appendix XVII., for Captain Egleston's Letter. 



