BOWDITCH ISLAND. 31 



his visit terminated at an early hour. He left the ship apparently very 

 much gratified with his visit, or, in other words, with the presents he 

 had received. 



On the 22d, they took leave of their kind friends, the missionaries 

 and residents, with many wishes that they might be successful in their 

 operations. The winds were light, and two days were spent before 

 they reached the harbour of Saluafata, where they anchored on the 

 evening of the 24th. 



At daylight, orders were sent to Acting-Master Knox, in charge of 

 the tender, to anchor, with the assistance of the boats, abreast of the 

 town of Saluafata, to cover the landing party, and clear the town. 

 At the same time, special orders were given by Captain Hudson 

 to the first lieutenant (Mr. Walker) of the Peacock, placing under 

 his direction the boats of that ship. These will be found in Appendix I. 



On an examination of the passage through the reef, Mr. Knox 

 reported, contrary to the account given by Lieutenant Emmons when 

 he surveyed the harbour, that there was not water enough for the 

 tender. Fearing some difficulty, Captain Hudson had anchored the 

 Peacock as near the reef as possible, and not wishing to risk the tender 

 in any way, countermanded part of his orders, and determined to clear 

 the town with the Peacock's guns, being aware that none but the 

 fighting men remained, and that all their valuables and movable pro- 

 perty had been removed. 



Preparations were therefore made for swinging the broadside to the 

 town, and the necessary arrangements for landing completed. Captain 

 Hudson, however, still thought it proper to wait a few hours, in the 

 hope of receiving some communication from the natives, and that they 

 would at the last moment, agree to give up or punish the murderer. 

 But no overtures whatever being made, at nine o'clock the boats were 

 manned, and lay on their oars, ready for the signal to proceed. A fire 

 was now opened from the ship, the balls being elevated so as to pass 

 over the town ; after which the boats pushed for the shore, the party 

 landed, and the town of Saluafata, which consisted of about seventy- 

 five houses, was reduced to ashes. The towns of Fusi and Salelese, 

 of some fifty more, shared the same fate. The party then returned to 

 the ship, without any accident to themselves or the natives, having 

 met with no opposition whatever, notwithstanding the great boastings 

 and bravado messages which had been sent by the chiefs and in- 

 habitants. 



This act was performed with great reluctance, and not until the 

 most perfect conviction of its being absolutely necessary to secure the 

 safety of the crews of such of our whaling fleet as touch at this island, 



