62 ELLICE'S AND KINGS MILL GROUP. 



his conduct. These will be found in Appendix III. Messrs. Peale, 

 Hale, and Agate, accompanied the expedition. 



The expedition consisted of seven boats ; in them were embarked 

 about eighty officers and men. About nine o'clock they approached 

 the town. The first object that attracted attention was a column of 

 smoke arising from the small building that stood on piles in front of 

 the town, before spoken of. On arriving near the beach, the three 

 divisions formed in a line abreast, according to the directions. Lieu- 

 tenant Walker, with Mr. Hale, (who acted as interpreter,) now showed 

 the white flag, and pulled in toward the beach in front, in order to 

 hold a parley, make further inquiries relative to Anderson, and 

 endeavour to have him given up, if alive. There were about five 

 hundred natives, well armed, on the beach, and others were constantly 

 coming in from all sides : they shouted and shook their weapons with 

 threatening gestures. Many of them, however, seemed undecided how 

 to act ; and their whole appearance, though formidable enough, was 

 yet quite ludicrous in the eyes of the men, equipped as the savages 

 were in their cumbrous coats of mail and fish-skin helmets. 



As the boat approached, several of the natives advanced towards it, 

 preceded by a chief fully equipped in armour, and holding a spear in 

 his right hand. Mr. Hale then explained the object they had in view, 

 and showed the large quantity of tobacco which they had brought for 

 a ransom. The chief appeared to understand, and pointed to the 

 shore, making signs at the same time for them to come in. The 

 savages who attended the chief had now increased in numbers, and 

 were close to the boat, while the whole body was advancing slowly 

 forwards. Finding that it was not only useless but dangerous to con- 

 tinue the parley, the boat was pulled back into line. 



Having thus failed to procure the desired end, the most humane 

 manner of effecting their punishment was conceived to be at once to 

 show them the power of our arms, and sacrifice some of the most 

 prominent among the savages. Lieutenant Walker, therefore, re- 

 quested Mr. Peale, the best shot of the party, to give them a proof of 

 it, and thus prevent the farther effusion of blood. This was accord- 

 ingly done by singling out one of the foremost, and a rocket was also 

 discharged, which took its flight towards the great body of them. 

 The latter missile caused great confusion, and many of them turned 

 to seek the shore, but their terror did not last long, and they made 

 another stand, brandishing their spears and weapons as if bent 

 upon a trial of strength with their opponents; the falling of their 



