268 MALOLO. 
waded off to his boat, but he ordered them off, and directed the officer 
with him, Midshipman Clark, to keep his boat afloat, and not suffer 
them to approach her during his absence. This order was strictly 
attended to, and although a similar attempt was again made, the 
natives when ordered off retired as before. 
Lieutenant Underwood’s boat drew too much water to get across 
the reef, and grounded, upon which a number of natives collected 
around her, and joining with the boat’s crew, assisted to drag her over 
the reef. At this time the natives got a knowledge of the feebleness 
of the armament of Lieutenant Underwood’s boat. To my surprise I 
have since learned that Lieutenant Underwood had left the greater 
part of the armament with which he had been furnished on board the 
brig some few days before. Seven rifles had been put on board that 
vessel, under the idea that it would lighten the boat, and no more than 
three out of the ten he took with him from the Vincennes remained. 
On landing they found no more than two pigs tied to a tree for sale, 
instead of the four they had been promised as presents. These the 
natives declined selling until the chief, who was out upon the reef 
fishing, should réturn. A messenger was sent for him, and he soon 
made his appearance, but conducted himself haughtily, and refused to 
part with his hogs except for a musket, powder, and ball, which being 
against orders was refused. 
Lieutenant Alden entertained some uneasiness at the number of 
natives that had crowded around the Leopard, and proceeded to join 
her, but was detained near the reef about twenty minutes before the 
tide would allow the boat to pass over, the first cutter drawing more 
water than the Leopard. On entering the bay, he found the Leopard 
at anchor about two thousand feet from the shore, in just sufficient 
water to enable his boat to get alongside. He was informed by the 
boat’s crew that Lieutenant Underwood had gone on shore, leaving a 
hostage in the Leopard, whom Lieutenant Alden immediately took 
into his own boat. Lieutenant Underwood was accompanied to the 
shore by J. Clark, armed with a rifle and sheath-knife; J. Dunnock 
and J. M’Kean, armed with cutlasses; William Leicester, who had the 
trade-box, unarmed; John Sac, interpreter, unarmed; Jerome Davis 
and Robert Furman, unarmed. The rest of his men remained in the 
boat, armed with cutlasses and two rifles. 
Lieutenant Underwood was now seen on the beach, endeavouring to 
trade with a party of about fifteen natives, whence he sent off Robert 
Furman, a coloured boy, to Lieutenant Alden, to say that the natives 
would not trade, except for powder, shot, and muskets. Furman was 
sent back by Lieutenant Alden to say, that he would not consent to 
