THE PAPUAN RACE. 



157 



evidently a good deal disturbed. The parting of Veindovi from his 

 immediate adherents, was really affecting. They embraced his knees, 

 and some even offered to accompany him, which, for a Feejeean, is no 

 slight sacrifice. 



Veindovi's offence, was the murder of part of the crew of an Ame- 

 rican vessel, some years previous. According, however, to his own 

 version of the affair, he was deputed by higher authority; which is not 

 at all unlikely. As an example of the Feejeean idea of justice, I will 

 mention, that subsequently on our arrival at Oahu, Veindovi expressed 

 penitence; declaring, "that he perceived, what he had never before 

 believed, that White men had told him the truth about the houses 

 and customs of civilized countries ; and he intended therefore, on his 

 return to the Feejee Islands, to put to death all those persons who had 

 assisted him in killing the Whites." 



The Feejeeans, according to the testimony of residents, are yearly 

 becoming bolder and more dangerous in their schemes for capturing 

 vessels. When successful, the lives of the crew are sacrificed ; and 

 it is highly imprudent, under present circumstances, for an unarmed 

 ship to venture among the Feejee Islands. In seeking to accomplish 

 their purposes, natives have been known, during a stormy night, to 

 climb up the cables of a vessel at anchor. In the recent capture of a 

 French brig, the principal allurement was said to have been, " the 

 sight of some glass decanters." 



On the 23d, a Hawaiian came on board, to act as barber to Vein- 

 dovi. He had been sent by Thokanauto ; who placed in his hands 

 the sum of ten dollars, with which to make purchases in America; 

 and the articles wanted, were very particularly specified. This man, 

 was subsequently transferred to a different vessel, and being thus 

 separated from Veindovi, he concluded not to leave the Feejee Islands. 



The Peacock sailed on the morning of the 23d ; and we were for 

 some time in sight of Kantavu; but being becalmed, the intention of 

 touching there was finally abandoned. We next passed near Vatu- 

 LELE ; which presented every appearance of a raised coral island ; not 

 so high as Metia, but resembling it on a smaller scale. 



On the 26th, the Peacock entered the great barrier reefs, on the 

 leeward side of the group; and we obtained a view of the island of 

 Melolo; which was soon afterwards the seat of a tragedy. Our pilot 

 stated, that the inhabitants of this and the other Asaua islands, 

 "spoke a different dialect from the remaining Feejeeans, with whom 



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