104 HAWAII AND OAHU. 



touching at the island of Upolu, about the 1st of May, and went to live 

 with a chief, Palasi by name, in the village of Fatua. Here he took a 

 wife, belonging to this chief's family. It appears, that after a few 

 weeks the family did not use him well, and were desirous of getting rid 

 of him, but wished to retain a monkey-jacket belonging to him. For 

 this purpose they got possession of the jacket, and took his wife away 

 from him. After the third night, it appears that Smith left the house, 

 taking with him three axes, five fathoms of cloth, a shawl, and tapa, in 

 payment for his jacket, or until it should be given up to him. The 

 next day, it appears that Palasi and his wife came in search of Smith ; 

 and, on hearing that the articles were in possession of one of his ac- 

 quaintances by the name of Maitland, they told him to keep the articles, 

 for all that they wanted was their white man. Smith refused to re- 

 turn, and said that all he desired was his jacket, which was soon after 

 brought, and then the articles were returned. Smith was advised not 

 to walk about, or leave the village after dark, until the chief's anger 

 was over : but he appears not to have heeded this advice, having gone 

 to Murivai, part of the town of Saluafata, and after dark went out, for 

 the purpose of going to a house about three hundred yards distant. 

 The moon was full, and it was quite light. About half an hour after 

 he set out, a native inquired for Smith, and said that he had stepped in 

 something that was in the path, which was not water, but felt like 

 blood. The alarm was immediately given, and, on search being made, 

 the body of Smith was found, with a cut on the right side of the neck, 

 which had nearly severed the head from the body, another on the left 

 side, a deep wound with an axe on the breast, and one on the head. 



Suspicion at once rested upon Vave, alias Tagi, Palasi's brother, 

 who was heard inquiring for Smith, having an axe in his hand at the 

 time. This man was examined before the consul, and when asked if 

 he had murdered the white man, said " Yes." On being asked the 

 reason, he said, " Because his heart was pained with his theft." Being 

 further questioned, as to the circumstances, he said, " That when 

 Smith first landed, he came to him with another white man, to procure 

 a wife, offering an American axe and jacket as a reward or purchase 

 for her. After a few days Smith wished to change his lodgings, and 

 live with another man by the name of Maitland, taking his wife with 

 him. The day after, a report reached the family that the girl had 

 cried all night, and that Smith had hurt her. They returned and lived 

 a short time together at her house, after which Smith again left it, 

 with the articles. These, Tagi said, had been all returned except a 

 siapo belonging to the girl. The failure to return the latter caused 

 them to be very angry, and he took up an axe to go in search of 



