444 APPENDIX. 



P. S. If you should meet with the Porpoise, you will show these 

 orders to Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold. 



Respectfully, 



C. W. 



COPY OF STATEMENT RELATIVE TO THE DEATH OF JAMES CUNNINGHAM. 



I sailed from the ship, then at Ragi-ragi, to cruise to Muthuata, in 

 the cutter Young Philips. We arrived at Muthuata on the 14th of 

 March. On the same day, and at a place called " Navendarra," the 

 natives made signal for us by smokes. It being inconvenient for us to 

 stop, I proceeded to Muthuata, and concluded to call there on my 

 return, which I accordingly did on the afternoon of the 15th of March. 

 Soon after we had anchored, I sent James Cunningham on shore in 

 the boat, to ascertain if there was any shell on shore. He soon returned, 

 and reported that there were three head of shell, and that if he would 

 come on shore in the morning they would bring it off to sell. I accord- 

 ingly despatched him early the next morning, with orders not to 

 remain any length of time, as I was anxious to get back to the ship 

 as soon as possible. After waiting two hours, I fired a gun as a 

 signal for him to return ; immediately after which, the natives gave 

 the war-shout and fired their muskets at us, the balls all falling short 

 of us. I then got under way and stood across the bay several times, 

 but neither saw nor heard any thing of the man until I arrived at 

 Tavea, when I was informed that he had been killed and eaten ; and 

 I have no doubt it was done by the order of Gingi, a chief of Mu- 

 thuata and of the town where the man was killed. We had no 

 communication with these people, except what has been stated. 



(Signed) John Winn, 



First Officer, Ship Leonidas. 



I believe the foregoing statement to be correct. 



(Signed) J. H. Egleston, 



Master, Ship Leonidas. 

 Naloa Bay, June 13th, 1840. 



