MALOLO. 319 



regret, for their situation is a most deplorable one, and I sincerely 

 wished them safely fixed in another and a happier position, and that 

 they had some other protector than the brute Tui Illa-illa, in whose 

 hands their fate seems to be continually precarious. 



Here I received information of the wreck of the whale-ship Shylock 

 on Turtle Island, and felt extremely desirous of sending one of the 

 vessels to the assistance of the crew and preservation of the cargo, if 

 any remained. 



I had promised the king and chief that I would show him some of 

 our " fiery spirits" after it grew dark ; and when eight o'clock came, 

 the rockets were set off. The loudest shoutings were heard from the 

 beach, where the whole koro had gathered to witness the " fiery 

 spirits" flying in the air. I had promised that they should do them 

 no harm, as we were friends. A rocket happened to be placed just 

 over one of the guns, which, like the others, was kept primed and 

 with the apron on ; but the latter not being fastened, the rocket blew 

 it off and set fire to the charge, which went off at the same time. 

 The gun was loaded with grape and canister. Fortunately the 

 tender was lying so that the shot flew obliquely towards the beach, 

 and fell in the water before reaching it. A point or two nearer, and 

 they would have had a practical illustration of our " devils" by their 

 sweeping the arms, legs, and heads of many of them off. The firing 

 of the gun produced great astonishment both to them and ourselves. 



The news of Captain Croker's attack on the town of Bea, at Tonga, 

 reached us here, and excited a good deal of interest, as I had but a 

 few months before been endeavouring to mediate a peace between 

 the hostile parties. It appears that Captain Croker, being desirous 

 of bringing the war and difficulties to an end, espoused warmly the 

 missionary cause, and determined to bring all the natives into acquie- 

 scence. The town of Bea being one of the strongest of those belonging 

 to the principal chief of the devil's party, he undertook to capture it, 

 but underrated the strength of its fortification and its means of de- 

 fence. For this purpose he landed a large party from his ship (the 

 Favourite sloop-of-war), and proceeded to the town of Bea, on reaching 

 which he sent a message to the purport that its inhabitants must come 

 to terms within an hour, and gave them no time to consult or arrange 

 matters, after their own fashion. As soon as the hour was up, he 

 called upon them to surrender, which they refused to do, upon 

 which he at once proceeded to attack the gate. The native warriors 

 resisted and fired upon him. The affair resulted in the loss of his 



