460 APPENDIX. 



away the woman for three successive nights. He, Smith, left the 

 house, on account of this usage, on Friday night, 10th instant, and 

 came to Maitland's lodgings, at twelve o'clock at night, bringing with 

 him three axes, four fathoms of cloth, a shawl, and a tapa, all of which 

 belonged to the family of Palasi. He stated that the people had 

 taken his jacket and detained the woman ; that he had taken these 

 articles till they should think proper to return the jacket. These 

 articles were placed in Maitland's chest. The next morning, Palasi 

 and his wife came and inquired for Smith, and said, " Keep the 

 articles, but give me my white man." Smith refused to go, and 

 said all he wanted was his jacket, which was soon after brought 

 and delivered to Smith, who then returned all the aforesaid articles 

 which he had taken away. Maitland advised Smith not to leave the 

 village, or walk about till the anger of the family was over. De- 

 ceased walked in the evening, in company with Maitland, to Murivai, 

 a division of the village of Saluafata. 



Hearing that two white men had arrived from a distance, and 

 were waiting at a neighbouring house, Smith said he wished to go to 

 them, in order to fetch them to Avhere Maitland and he then were, 

 the distance of which did not exceed three hundred yards. 



Maitland advised him not to go, as there might be danger ; but as he 

 persisted, Maitland told him to be particular and look well about him. 

 The moon was near the full, and the night clear, the fires having been 

 lighted about an hour. About half an hour after Smith left, a native 

 came with food to Maitland. A few minutes after, another native 

 came and inquired for Smith. The native who first came then said, 

 " He had stepped in something on the road : it could not have been 

 water, it must have been blood." Now Seumu said he was afraid 

 something had happened to Smith, as he had been visited by Vave 

 alias Tagi, Palasi's brother, having in his hand an axe, inquiring at 

 the same time for Smith, who he (Vave) said had a piece of siapo or 

 tapa of his. He then said to a boy near Tui, " Come with me, and seek 

 Smith." On hearing this, Maitland ran to some white men and gave 

 the alarm. Having procured lights, they all went to where the native 

 said he had stepped in blood. When they found the blood, the alarm 

 was general ; the natives were assembled and searching for the body 

 of the deceased. Maitland was not on the spot when the body was 

 found, but came a few minutes afterwards. The corpse had one cut 

 on the right side of the neck, which nearly severed the head from the 

 body; another deep cut on the left side of the neck; a deep cut, seem- 



