FEJEE ISLANDS. 143 



yams and taro. On leaving the ship he shook hands with all 

 the officers, and mentioned that he should return to-morrow to 

 Ambou, and in a few days his son Seruh would pay us a visit. 

 May 15th. This morning the " Peacock " got under- way 

 and stood out to sea. I understand she has orders to proceed 

 direct to Rewa, and make every endeavor to capture the chief 

 Vendovi — it being known that he is deeply implicated in the 

 murders committed on the crew of the brig "Charles Daggett." 

 The details of this horrible transaction are, as near as we can 

 learn, as follows : — The brig, some years since, came among 

 these islands to obtain Biche de Mar.* The captain, 

 (Bachelor,) became acquainted with Vendovi, and having, as he 

 supposed, obtained his good-will, determined to make his 

 island one of the principal stations. They previously took on 

 board, as pilots and interpreters, several white men who were 

 living on the islands. He also took the precaution at first of 

 keeping a chief, as hostage, on board ; but who, after a few days, 

 pretending to be sick, was sent on shore. One of the inter- 

 preters, who was then at the Biche de Mar house, perceiving 

 this, and observing at the same time some suspicious move- 

 ments among the natives, became convinced that they had 

 formed the design of taking the vessel, and as soon as he saw 

 the mate told him what he had observed, and cautioned him 

 to be on his guard. The mate immediately came to the same 

 conclusion, and turned to w r alk to the landing-place, where he 

 had left his boat ; but Vendovi, who was in company with him 

 suspected that his treachery had been detected, and he deter- 

 mined to secure him. He took the hand of the mate in a friendly 

 manner, and walked along some distance with him. Then 

 suddenly stopping, he seized both the mate's arms and pinioned 



* This animal is sometimes called Sea-Slug. It is found on the reefs, and when pre- 

 pared, it is sent to China, where it is used as an ingredient in soup. 



