MALOLO. 281 
Every thing was now prepared, agreeably to the orders of the night 
before, and the whole force was landed; but instead of moving on to 
make farther devastation and destruction, we ascended the eastern 
knoll. This is covered with a beautiful copse of casuarina trees, 
resembling somewhat the pines of our own country. Here we took 
our station, and remained from-about ten in the morning till four 
o’clock in the afternoon. 
The day was perfectly serene, and the island, which, but a few hours 
before, had been one of the loveliest spots in creation, was now entirely 
laid waste, showing the place of the massacre, the ruined town, and the 
devastated plantations. The eye wandered over the dreary waste to 
the beautiful expanse of waters beyond and around, with the long lines 
of white sparkling reefs, until it rested, far in the distance, on the small 
green spot where we had performed the last rites to our murdered 
companions. A gentle breeze, which was blowing through the casua- 
rina trees, gave out the moaning sound that is uttered by the pines of 
our own country, producing a feeling of depression inseparable from 
the occasion, and bringing vividly to my thoughts the sad impression 
which this melancholy and dreadful occurrence would bring upon 
those who were far away. 
Towards four o’clock, the sound of distant wailings was heard, 
which gradually drew nearer and nearer. At the same time, the 
natives were seen passing over the hills towards us, giving an effect 
to the whole scene which will be long borne in my memory. They 
at length reached the foot of the hill, but would come no farther, until 
assured that their petition would be received. On receiving this 
assurance, they wound upward, and in a short time, about forty men 
appeared, crouching on their hands and knees, and occasionally stop- 
ping to utter piteous moans and wailings. When within thirty feet 
of us, they stopped, and an old man, their leader, in the most piteous 
manner, begged pardon, supplicating forgiveness, and pledging that 
they would never do the like again to a white man. He said, that 
they acknowledged themselves conquered, and that the island belonged 
to us ; that they were our slaves, and would do whatever I desired; that 
they had lost every thing ; that the two great chiefs of the island, and 
all their best warriors had been killed, all their provisions destroyed, 
and their houses burned. They acknowledged a loss of fifty-seven 
killed. Whether the twenty-five that were opposed to Lieutenant 
Emmons were included in this number, I know not, but I am rather 
inclined to believe that they were; for accounts subsequently received, 
give the same number. They declared that they were now convinced 
that they never could make war against the white men (Papalangis) ; 
VOL. III. 36 
