428 APPENDIX. 



minutes after, a small canoe came alongside, and after an exchange of 

 some words with the hostage, he displayed a little anxiety to return 

 with them to the shore. As they pushed off, he attempted to leave the 

 boat, when I took him by the arm and directed him to sit down, giving 

 him to understand, as well as possible, that he must keep quiet till the 

 return of our party. Shortly after, Lieutenant Emmons rejoined me, 

 and made his boat fast to mine. 



In about half an hour Jerome Davis came off to say, that with 

 another hatchet Lieutenant Underwood could purchase all required. I 

 directed Davis to take it to him, and say to Mr. Underwood, that I 

 desired to see him without delay ; to come off with what he could get 

 as soon as possible. In the mean time, the water having risen, I 

 ordered the Leopard to drop in as near the landing as possible. She 

 had been gone about ten minutes, when the hostage jumped overboard 

 and made for the beach, which was the first intimation I received of 

 any thing going wrong on the shore. I immediately seized my rifle 

 and directed it at him, when he slackened his pace. I then ordered 

 two men to follow and secure him ; he thereupon resumed his course, 

 when I determined to shoot him, but stayed my hand lest his death 

 should bring destruction to our absent people. As I turned to direct 

 my boat to be got under way, I noticed Midshipman Clark in the act 

 of firing, and ordered him to fire over his head, at the same time 

 directed Lieutenant Emmons to pull after and take him if possible, 

 dead or alive. The report of fire-arms then reached us from the 

 beach, to which ensued a general melee, the natives having suddenly 

 increased to about fifty. By this time my boat was flying before a 

 fresh breeze to the stage of conflict, and I called to Lieutenant 

 Emmons to follow me. In a few moments we passed the Leopard 

 shoving out, when I was informed of the death of Lieutenant Under- 

 wood. The boats had not yet grounded, but we immediately jumped 

 overboard, and with all speed hastened to the beach, opening a fire 

 upon the natives as soon as they were within range, when they imme- 

 diately dispersed, carrying off their dead and wounded. Before we 

 got upon the beach, we found J. G. Clark (seamen), badly wounded, 

 and delirious ; I directed some one to take him to the boat, and con 

 tinued my course. When I reached the beach nothing living was to 

 be seen. About ten paces from the water I found Lieutenant Under- 

 wood lying upon his back, partially stripped of his clothing. I raised 

 his head upon my arm, and hope was for a moment flattered on per- 

 ceiving some signs of life ; but, alas ! he breathed twice only. Turning 

 aside from the melancholy spectacle, my eye fell on Midshipman Henry, 

 who lay very much in the same situation in which I had found Lieu- 



