MALOLO, 271 
them. As soon as the boats took the bottom, all jumped out except 
two boat-keepers, and waded in, occasionally firing at the natives, 
who now retreated, carrying off their dead and wounded, and soon 
disappeared among the mangrove-bushes. 
Before reaching the beach, J. G. Clark was met badly wounded, and 
was taken at once to the boats. On the beach lay Lieutenant Under- 
wood, partly stripped, and Midshipman Henry, quite naked, with a 
native close by the latter, badly wounded, who was at once despatched. 
The party, picking up the bodies, bore them to the boats. On the 
first inspection, some faint hopes were entertained that Midshipman 
Henry was not dead ; but a second examination dissipated this idea. 
The boats now hauled off, and made sail to join the tender, where 
they had seen her in the morning at anchor. 
Every attention was paid to the wounded and dead by the officers 
that affection and regard could dictate; and I could not but feel a 
melancholy satisfaction in having it in my power to pay them the last 
sad duties, and that their bodies had been rescued from the shambles 
of these odious cannibals. Yet, when I thought that even the grave 
might not be held sacred from their hellish appetites, I felt much 
concern relative to the disposition of the bodies. I thought of com- 
mitting them to the open sea; but one of the secluded sand-islands 
we had passed the day before occurred to me as a place far enough 
removed from these condor-eyed savages to permit them to be en- 
tombed in the earth, without risk of exhumation, although there was 
no doubt that our movements were closely watched from the highest 
peaks. On consultation with the officers, they concurred with my 
views on this point. 
There being no doubt, from the reports of all parties present, that this 
outrage was entirely unprovoked, I had no hesitation in determining 
to inflict the punishment it merited, and this, not by the burning of 
the towns alone, but in the blood of the plotters and actors in the 
massacre. 
The two first cutters of the Vincennes and Peacock were therefore 
directed to take up stations to prevent the escape of any persons from 
the island, and before daylight Passed Midshipman Eld was de- 
spatched on the same service with the Leopard. 
The tender got under way at the same time, and proceeded towards 
the spot I had chosen for the place of burial. 
The sun rose clearly, and nothing could look more beautiful and 
peaceful than did the little group of islands, as we passed them in suc- 
cession on our melancholy errand. At the last and largest, about ten 
miles from Malolo, we came to anchor. Dr. Fox and Mr. Agate went 
