74 TUTUILA. 



dared to venture from the mountains, whither they had fled during the 

 massacre, they collected the bodies, which they found in a state of 

 nudity, dressed them in native cloth, and buried them in the beach, as 

 they were accustomed to bury their own chiefs. The actors in the 

 massacre proceeded at once to Upolu, which will account for their 

 having been afterwards seen there, and recognised by the French. Our 

 inquiries relative to the spot where they had buried the bodies, were not 

 satisfactorily answered. How the carpenter's son escaped is not known. 

 He is said to be still living at a village on the eastern part of the 

 island. There appears to be mention made of a boy among the 

 missing, in La Perouse's account. Levasii, a chief of the district of 

 Faleletai, was at the massacre of the party of La Perouse. He was then 

 a boy of thirteen years of age. He remembered the occurrence, and 

 that three of the Papaiangi were killed. 



The perpetrators of the deed were some young chiefs from the dis- 

 trict, who were on a " malanga" to Tutuila. At that time Aana district 

 had the rule, or was the " Malo" party, and domineered over the 

 inhabitants of the other islands and districts. 



The village of Pago-pago contains about thirty dwellings, and a 

 council-house, which is in use as a church, until the large one they 

 are engaged in building shall be finished. Every village has a council- 

 house for the entertainment of visiters, and the accommodation of 

 meetings. 



This island is under several chiefs, each of whom rules over a 

 town, district, or bay. The present chief of Pago-pago is Mowna, 

 the adopted son of the last chief, Pomale, who died not long since, 

 leaving an only son, also called Pomale, who from his great modesty 

 lost his inheritance. Mowna was more crafty than Pomale, and 

 understood well his rival's character. After the death of the old chief, 

 these two young men, about the same age, became candidates for the 

 succession. Mowna, through his intrigues, succeeded in getting the 

 whole family together to decide between them. Both Mowna and 

 Pomale were present, the former appearing dejected, silent, and 

 willing to leave the decision to the meeting; whilst Pomale, when 

 asked who should be chief, said with his usual modesty that he was in 

 favour of Mowna, who was accordingly made chief. Mowna, how- 

 ever, is now so in name only, for Pomale rules in fact. This arises 

 from his good character, and the influence he derives from the mis- 

 sionaries, of whom he is one of the most active and pious supporters, 

 and withal a great preacher. So great is the confidence Mr. Murray 

 has in Pomale, that he is frequently left to take charge of the congre- 

 gation, during the absence of Mr. Murray in another part of the island. 



