MALOLO. 313 
portions of the flags stolen as he had been able to recover, soliciting 
pardon for the offence of his people, and making an offering of ten hogs 
and one thousand yams for the flags not returned. This offering, 
Captain Hudson received, determining before leaving to repay their 
full value. 
Captain Eagleston, in the Leonidas, having completed his cargo of 
biche de mar at Mali, again anchored at Muthuata, and communicated 
that Gingi, the chief suspected of the murder of Cunningham, had told 
him that the old king of Muthuata had never sent after the murderers as 
he had promised. 
An officer was at once sent on shore, with David Whippy as inter- 
preter, to tell the king what had been heard, and to demand the mur- 
derers forthwith. The king, on his part, made many asseverations 
that he had uttered no lies, and had not deceived us, but had made 
every attempt to take the murderers; that his people were now in the 
bush, and that when they returned he would call a meeting, and let 
Captain Hudson know in the morning. 
The Porpoise joined the squadron from Ovolau, on the 7th of 
August. 
As nothing was heard from the king, Lieutenant Walker was des- 
patched on shore, with the interpreter, to ascertain the cause. The 
king replied, that he was afraid, for the people of the town of Naven- 
darra, where the murder had taken place, had sent him word, “ That 
if he interfered, they would come and burn him out.” This proved 
what had been for a long time suspected, that the old king’s power was 
all but extinct; and Captain Hudson, under the circumstances, did not 
feel justified in punishing them. 
The day before his departure, he paid the king and chiefs a visit, 
gave them some advice relative to their future conduct, and mentioned 
to them that he was going away. The king and chiefs, with great 
naiveté, replied that they were extremely glad to hear it, for they 
had been in constant dread of having their town burnt, in conse- 
quence of the number of lies that were constantly told to him of 
them. 
During the stay of the vessels at Muthuata, one of the mountaineers 
who frequented the town, stole a comb from the king’s house. On 
search being made, the thief was discovered among the mangrove- 
bushes, where he was captured and taken before the king, who ordered 
his punishment after the following mode. They laid him on a canoe- 
mast, about seven inches in diameter, one end resting on a log a little 
above the ground; his hands were tied, and his arms stretched beyond 
VOL. Ill. 40 
