APPENDIX. 435 



to the course to be pursued ; that which you adopt will be satisfactory 

 to me. I am, &c, 



Charles Wilkes, 



Commanding Exploring Expedition. 



Captain Hudson, 



U. S. Ship Peacock, Rewa. 



DEPOSITION OF JAMES MAGOTJN. 



The following is the deposition of James Magoun, a native of 

 Salem, Massachusetts, in relation to the murder of the crew of the 

 brig Charles Doggett, Captain Bachelor, at the island of Kantavu. 



COPY. 



On the 1st of September, 1834, I joined the brig Charles Doggett, 

 in the Moturiki Passage, as a supernumerary, to be employed in 

 curing the biche de mar. The crew of the vessel consisted at that 

 time of twenty-five men, besides an Irishman by the name of Patrick 

 Connel, long a resident among the Feejees, by whom he is called 

 Berry. On Thursday, September 3d, we arrived at Kantavu, and 

 came to anchor within musket-shot of the shore. Vendovi, the chief 

 who was to have charge of the party, immediately came on board, 

 and having received a present, returned to the shore with Captain 

 Bachelor. It was there agreed between these two, that on Monday 

 following a large boat should be despatched to Kantavu-levu, to 

 purchase tortoise-shell, while the pinnace went for water, and during 

 their absence a large canoe should go alongside, with a present of 

 yams and taro. On Saturday, September 7th, I was on shore with 

 eleven men, curing biche de mar, when an unusual noise outside the 

 house attracted my attention, and I went out to see what was the 

 matter. The natives answered to my inquiries, that our pigs had got 

 out of the pen, and they were driving them back again ; but on 

 looking into the pen, I saw all the pigs safe. This circumstance 

 awakened my suspicions, which I immediately communicated to the 

 men that were at work with me. Early on Sunday morning, I 

 applied to the natives who were in our employ to make me some 

 ava, but they all hung down their heads, and excused themselves on 

 frivolous pretences : this confirmed my suspicions of the previous 

 night, and I reported my fears to Barton and Clark. Vendovi was at 

 this time in the spirit-house, and the natives were offering us yams 



