278 MALOLO. 
do little damage, for they, as I had before been informed was their 
practice, put charges into them according to the size of the person they 
intended to shoot at. They believe that it requires a larger load to 
kill a large man than it does to kill a small one. The bows and 
arrows were for the most part used by the women. 
The moment the flames were found to be spreading, a scene of con 
fusion ensued that baffles description. The shouts of men were inter- 
mingled with the cries and shrieks of the women and children, the 
roaring of the fire, the bursting of the bamboos, and an occasional 
volley of musketry. 
The heat became so intense, that Lieutenant-Commandant Ring- 
gold drew off the divisions to a cocoa-nut grove in the neighbourhood, 
where he waited until the conflagration should have exhausted its fury. 
After the lapse of an hour, the whole town was reduced to ashes, anda 
few of the officers and men were able, although with difficulty, to enter 
within its ditch. It was evident that large quantities of water and pro- 
visions (pigs, &c.,) had been stored up, in the anticipation of a long 
siege. Numerous clubs, spears, bows and arrows, with several mus- 
kets, were picked up, together with fish-nets, tapa, &c., and the cap of 
Lieutenant Underwood. Only four bodies were found, among whom 
was that of a child, which had been seen during the conflagration, 
apparently deserted, and in a state of danger, from which our men 
would gladly have relieved it, had it been possible. 
Our party sustained but little injury. Only one man was struck by 
a ball, which, however, did no other harm than to tear his jacket. 
Several were wounded by arrows, but only Samuel Stretch, quarter- 
gunner, so severely as to cause any solicitude. 
After the destruction of the town, the third division, under Lieu- 
tenant Maury, was ordered to return to the brig, along the beach of 
the western side of the island. This route was chosen for the sake of 
the wounded man, who was unable to travel over the hills. The first 
and second divisions marched across the island to the town of Arro. 
The officers describe the scene that lay before them, when they had 
reached the highest part of the ground that lay in their route, as ex- 
tremely beautiful. In the valley below them, and on the declivities 
of the hills, were to be seen yam and taro-patches kept in the neatest 
order, with the small yam-houses (lololo) in the midst, surrounded by 
groves of tall cocoa-trees, and plantations of bananas. All looked 
quiet and peaceful, in strong contrast to the exciting contest in which 
they had just been engaged, and the character of the ruthless and 
murderous race who had been the occupants of the smiling valley. 
Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold, with these divisions, reached the 
