HAWAII AND OAHII. 105 



Smith, with an intent to kill him. On meeting Smith, he asked him 

 for the siapo, which he denied having, upon which he killed him with 

 the axe." •> 



From other evidence, it fully appeared that all the family of Palasi 

 were cognizant of the fact; and the chiefs having refused to give 

 him up, or try him for murder, it became necessary to show these 

 islanders that they could not commit such acts with impunity. Captain 

 Hudson was, therefore, instructed to inquire into the facts, and take 

 such measures as would secure our citizens from molestation in future, 

 and cause the islanders to respect their own regulations. 



From the Samoan Group the Peacock was to proceed to examine 

 and survey Ellice's Group ; thence north to the Kingsmill Group, and 

 passing through the Rurick Chain, visit the Pescadores, to ascertain, 

 if possible, any circumstances that would throw light on the fate of a 

 Captain Dowsett, who it was supposed might have been detained in 

 captivity by the natives. The following particulars from his wife were 

 furnished me by Mr. Brinsmade, the American consul at Oahu : they 

 are all that is known of his fate. 



The schooner Victoria was in charge of Captain Dowsett, and went 

 to the Pescadores, on a shelling voyage ; there he landed with several 

 of the crew, and among them a boy named Brown. Some difficulty 

 occurred on shore, and the captain and such of the crew as were with 

 him were set upon, and were not seen afterwards. The boy escaped. 

 The survivors describe the people as a fishing party, unarmed and 

 unwarlike, with no other weapons but sticks and pieces of iron hoops 

 purchased from the schooner. They had neither clubs nor spears. A 

 report afterwards reached Oahu, that a canoe had been picked up 

 with some natives, who reported that Captain Dowsett and his men 

 were alive ; that one of them was named Sam, (the Christian name of 

 Captain Dowsett,) and another George, (the name of a New Zealander.) 

 Mr. H. A. Pierce, a merchant of Honolulu, in consequence, despatched 

 the schooner Waverley in search of them. This vessel has never been 

 heard of, but reports reached Honolulu, that Captain Scott, had suc- 

 ceeded in getting the chief on board, and had recognised several 

 articles belonging to Captain Dowsett, which his wife had sent him. 

 Some misunderstanding occurring between the master of the Waverley 

 and the chief, the former cut off the beard of the latter and sent him on 

 shore. 



The cause of the difficulty that occurred between Mr. Dowsett and 

 the natives is unknown. The boy, Brown, was at a distance from the 

 party when it took place, and did not see Mr. Dowsett. Dowsett and 

 the chief had been previously on the most friendly terms, and had 



VOL. IV. 14 



