26 BOWDITCH ISLAND. 



On the third day, his messengers arrived at Apia, and brought word 

 that the chiefs and people were determined that the murderer should 

 not be given up or punished; that they defied the Papalangis and their 

 power; and that, if Captain Hudson chose to come and take him, they 

 would give him a fight. The messenger further stated, that they well 

 knew he would be demanded according to their own regulations, but 

 they would take care he should not be punished or given up, for they 

 were prepared to resist any attempt that would be made. Many other 

 insulting messages were received ; among them, one from the murderer 

 and his friends, that when "he could kill a few more white men, he 

 would be given up." 



Such were their threats and boasting: iheir conduct was conforma- 

 ble to them, as represented by our consul, the missionaries, and Mr. 

 Cunningham, H. B. M. vice-consul. Captain Hudson now saw the 

 necessity of taking some steps that would check this criminal and 

 audacious spirit, and prove to the natives that we had the power to 

 punish these aggressions on our citizens. 



The attempt to take the chief was designed to bring them to terms, 

 without any further difficulty; but not being successful, it was neces- 

 sary to take some effectual measures for their punishment, particularly 

 as the three towns had now united with their chiefs in setting our force 

 at defiance. The missionaries also saw the necessity of doing some- 

 thing to insure the safety of those who may hereafter have communi- 

 cation with the natives, by renewing in their minds the fear of our 

 power. 



Notwithstanding the weather was so very unpropitious, the natural- 

 ists made excursions to the different parts of the island. They all 

 describe the luxuriance of the vegetation as exceeding any thing they 

 had before witnessed : the rich soil, combined with the heat and copious 

 rains, rendered every spot fertile, and seemed to give new life to the 

 vast variety of parasitic plants with which all the trees were covered, 

 and which, in the groves, were so thick as to form masses impene- 

 trable to the rays of the sun. A remarkable ficus was passed on this 

 trip, of which Mr. Agate made a characteristic drawing, and which 

 will give a good idea of their size and manner of growth : the road or 

 path passes through its trunk. A number of other trees were remark- 

 able : among them the " ife," a gigantic chestnut, with its projecting 

 buttresses around the trunk. The woods were enlivened by many birds, 

 and the air filled with their songs and chirpings. 



At Siusinga, a devil's town, Messrs. Rich, Peale, and Agate, saw 

 Seeovedi, better known as Joe Gimblet, the great priest of his creed. 

 He lay on a mat by himself, no one speaking or going near him, and 



