APPENDIX, 413 
at a very unusual place. I called the attention of my comrades to this 
singular procedure, and as the hostage feigning himself sick came 
along, supported by two men, I inquired what was the matter. He 
answered that “the spirit had hit him.” About 8 a. m., I saw the 
captain accompanying Vendovi to the gangway of the brig, and 
immediately walk aft again, to give the mate a bottle. The mate, with 
Vendovi and four men, in the pinnace, now left the brig, and pulled 
for the same unusual landing-place, where the hostage had landed. 
Vendovi, on landing, accompanied Mr. Chitman, the mate, part of the 
way to the biche de mar house, and there left him. I now inquired of 
Mr. Chitman why he came on shore. He answered, “ To bring the 
bottle of medicine to the sick chief.” This he accordingly deposited 
at the door of the house, and went in. I lost no time when he came 
out to repeat my suspicions of the natives to Mr. Chitman, who 
accordingly determined to return without delay to the brig. On his 
way to the boat, Mr. Chitman met Vendovi, who took him by the 
hand and walked along with him a short distance, then suddenly 
seized him by both arms, and held him fast while a native beat him to 
death with a club. I now betook myself to the house, and loud 
shouts ensued outside, in the midst of which I heard Vendovi’s voice 
ordering his people to murder all the whites. While this was in 
progress, the Kantavu chief gave orders to fire the house, which was 
accordingly done in several places. While the house was burning, 
three Tahitians belonging to the brig, all wounded with spears, came 
in and stood beside me: one of them soon left us; the second sat down 
in a corner, saying he would sooner be burned than clubbed to death. 
J remained with the third until I heard a native outside telling another 
that the white men were all dead, and it was time to share the spoils. 
When no longer able to bear the heat, we ran out together and took to 
the water. The Tahitian was a good swimmer, eluded the pursuit of 
the natives, and got safe on board. I was up to my waist in the water, 
when, looking around, I saw a man raising a club to strike me. After 
receiving four blows on my head, back, and hands, I drew my knife to 
defend myself. At this the assassin retreated, and called to the pursuer 
of the Tahitian for assistance to despatch me. By this time I had 
slipped off the bank, and fortunately escaped a spear and club that 
were hurled at me, struggled into deep water, and was picked up by 
the pinnace. In the mean time the brig kept up a fire from her big 
guns, on a cave to which the natives had retreated, and obliged some 
of them to raise a breastwork, from which they ineffectually fired with 
their muskets in return, while others were engaged in dragging the 
dead bodies of our comrades over the beach. On Monday morning 
