MALOLO. 313 



coming behind, struck him on the head with a club, and killed him 

 instantly. 



Fimowlangi, thinking that the death of the captain insured him 

 possession of the vessel, jumped immediately into the cabin ; but the 

 mate, Mr. White, who saw the captain fall, ran to his assistance, 

 although unarmed. He was immediately attacked by some of the 

 natives, who had seized upon the captain's cutlass. With this they 

 wounded Mr. White severely in several places, and he fell senseless 

 on the body of the captain. One of the hands, named William Brooks, 

 jumped overboard, where he was also killed. It so happened that an 

 arm-chest with muskets and ammunition had been kept in the fore- 

 top, with which the man who, as we have seen, was stationed there, 

 began an effective fire upon the natives on deck. Two others, one of 

 whom was Rewa Jack, succeeded in reaching the foretop; the rest 

 ran below to seek arms, but were unable for a time to return to the 

 deck, of which the natives had obtained complete possession. The 

 fire from the foretop, however, became so destructive, that the natives 

 began to jump overboard, and those who had gone below were en- 

 abled to return and regain possession of it. 



The whole of these events occurred in less than ten minutes, during 

 which a man of the name of Hunter, who had gone below, and was 

 armed only with a hammer, had a scuffle with Fimowlangi, which 

 was ended by the latter being shot, through the skylight, by one of 

 the men who had regained the deck. 



The vessel being thus recovered and under way, went on to Le- 

 vuka, where she arrived the next day. During the passage, the 

 bodies of the chief and of another native who was found wounded in 

 the forecastle, were thrown overboard. 



It is supposed that this transaction was not the result of a concerted 

 plot, but was conceived on the instant ; for many of the natives appear 

 to have been as much surprised as the crew. Had this not been the 

 case, it is unlikely that the vessel could have been recaptured. 



At Levuka, Captain Egleston, of the American brig Howard, 

 finding that there was no officer left to navigate the brig, put her in 

 charge of Mr. London, and sent her to Sydney, to the agent or owner, 

 Mr. Neill, of that place. We mention with regret, that Captain 

 Egleston has never received the slightest acknowledgment for this 

 important service. 



Vessels that visit Ambau are liable to many exactions, and to have 

 all kinds of difficulties thrown in their way. It may be as well here 



vol. in. 79 



