UPOLU — MANONO — SAVAII. 89 



that Tuvai should be promptly punished, in order that others might be 

 deterred from the commission of the same crime. He suggested, 

 however, that in spite of the universal belief in Tuvai's having com- 

 mitted the crime, it was proper that he should undergo a trial, or at 

 least an examination, in order that he might have the privilege of 

 being heard in his own defence. 



This suggestion being approved, Tuvai was brought on shore under 

 a military guard, and placed in the centre of the building. He was an 

 ill-looking fellow, of about twenty-eight years of age, and manifested 

 no fear, but looked about him with the greatest composure. 



The trial was simple enough: he was first asked by the chiefs 

 whether he was guilty of the crime, to which he answered that he was ; 

 being next asked why he had committed it, he replied that he had done 

 it in order to possess himself of the man's property, (clothes and a 

 knife.) 



The chiefs, among whom was Pea, of Apia, to whom the criminal 

 was distantly related, made every effort in their power to save his life ; 

 stating that he was in darkness, and therefore, unconscious of the guilt 

 of the action, when he committed the murder ; that as they had but just 

 emerged from heathenism they ought not to be subjected for past 

 actions, to laws they knew not ; that these laws were made for people 

 who occupied a more elevated station ; that Tuvai was a poor man of 

 no account, and was not a person of sufficient importance to be noticed 

 by a great people like us ; that faa Samoa (the Samoan fashion) did 

 not allow men to be put to death in cold blood, but that after so long a 

 time had elapsed, as in the instance before them, it admitted of a 

 ransom. 



Pea went on to say, that many bad acts had been committed upon 

 natives by white men, with impunity, and asked whether the Christian 

 religion sanctioned the taking of human life. He then appealed to our 

 generosity to pardon the present crime, and assured us that no such 

 offences should be committed in future. 



Pea had one of those countenances which exhibits all that is passing 

 in the mind. It was amusing to see him at one time exhibiting a 

 picture of whimsical distress at the idea of being compelled to put his 

 kinsman to death, and immediately afterwards laughing at something 

 ludicrous which had occurred to him. 



Pea was seconded in his endeavours by Vavasa, of Manono, one of 

 the finest-looking of the chiefs, whose attitudes and movements were 

 full of grace, and his manner exceedingly haughty and bold. 



In reply to their arguments, Captain Hudson stated, that however 

 freely other sins might be forgiven, in consideration of their late 



vol. ii. [f2 12 



