DO 



Outrage* of Opolurm, a native cliief. 

 Hev Mr. Vfilhnmr 



s a Moan group. 



8»g»n*.— taturvtev witii 



Mdllefon. 



larly their complaints against the American whalers. 

 They said that snmc of them had evaded their 

 port charges, nnd refused to pay for the provisions 

 with which they had heen furnished. To thin I 

 replied that I was ready to indemnify them for 

 their losses, nnd should ask no other proof of 

 them than their own statement. They appeared 

 struck with the unexpected liberality of this offer ; 

 but, after cnnsnlmtioii, oh if to manifest a corre- 

 sponding feeling, declined to accept it. I then in- 

 formed them thnt their port-charges for the 

 snuadron should be paid, which gave much satis- 

 faction, particularly to old I'ea, who would derive 

 l he principal benefit from them. The fono then 

 broke up in great good humour. 



Pea and some of the n titer chiefs were very 

 anxious to hear from me what sort of an island 

 Tuvai was to be put upon. They asked many 

 questions in relation to it, and always among tho 

 first, whether there would he any cocoa-nut trees, 

 nature's tirst and host gift to them, upon it. Wish- 

 ing to make the intended punishment as terrible 

 as possible to them, 1 always replied that there 

 would he none whatever. 



After Tn vat was ngain on hoard ship, old Pes 

 paid him a visit, in the course of which the former 

 melted into tear*, howled bitterly, nnd begged that 

 he might be taken uti shore to be put to death, in 

 order that his body might he buried in his native 

 Boil. Iw appeared from in format ion that wo re- 

 ceived, that this was a part of a concerted plan to 

 obtain n further commutation or his sentence, and 

 that thin affecting interview was got up in order to 

 excite our sympathies. Finding it did not produce 

 the desired effect, old Pea went about the ship 

 with a doleful visage, exclaiming, " Eoluiga-ia-tu 

 Tuvai" — have compassion on Tuvai. 



1 was in hopes to hud the surveys of Upolu 

 nearly, if not quite finished ; but the Flying-Pish, 

 which was to have aided in performing them, had 

 not yet heen seeti or heard from. This was no 

 small disappointment, as it mi^ht compel me to 

 bring the Viiicennes into the harbour, and thus 

 incur a serious delay. 



Before I had decided upon this step, I learned 

 that a chief of the name of Opotutto, whwtc cap- 

 ture had been considered so important by our 

 government that a ship nf war had been despatched 

 for the express purpose, had again become trouble- 

 some, and was threatening vengeance upon all the 

 whites who might fall in his power. I therefore 

 determined to make on attempt to obtain posses- 

 sion of his person hy stratagem. Lest, however, 

 such on attempt should create disturbance in the 

 island, or be productive of injury to the white 

 residents, I determined, before pulling my purpose 

 into effect, to have an interview with the Rev. Mr, 

 Williams, the principal missionary in these islands, 

 both to consult as to the best mode of accomplish- 

 ing this object, and to learn what effect it would 

 be likely to have on the operations of the mis- 

 sionaries*. I accordingly set out for bis residence 

 at Fasetootai, about twenty miles to the westward 

 of Apia, in the hopu of seeing hint. Mr. Cunning- 

 ham, 11. It. M. vice-consul, was kind euuugh to 

 accompany me. 



• Mr. Wllilam* U tlie autlmr of tlie well-known Polyne- 

 sian Missionary Rcsearchen, and it will be our melancholy 

 office hereafter, to ipeftk of lift fulling a maru r In bf« rfrurti 



to propagate the Gn*rn?l 



W e left the Peacock at sunset, and reached 

 Mr. Williams's snug cottage about midnight. No- 

 thing could be kinder than the welcome he gave 

 us ; and the pleasure he expressed at our visit 

 Mum made us feel at home, lie gave us supper, 

 and provided us with comfortable beds. Shortly 

 after our arrival, another party was welcomed, 

 consisting of three ladies mid a genlletnan of tlie 

 mission, who were in like maimer provided for, 

 without ap|«irent inconvenience. 



Mr. Williams seemed to me exactly what a mis- 

 sionary ought to be, pious, cheerful, and meek, al- 

 though resolute. His whole ihoughts seemed to 

 be directed to the welfare of those whom he bad 

 undertaken to enlighten. His views were pointed 

 not only to the diffusion of the Gospel, but also to 

 the extension of the useful arts, and whatever could 

 lend to elevate the condition and eradicate the 

 vices of the natives. 



After a long consultation, Mr. Williams came to 

 the conclusion that there was no reason for fearing 

 that tho arrest of Opotuso would be the cause of 

 any injury to the w bites or missionaries. He said 

 that Opotuuo was a blood-thirsty fellow, and that 

 it would be doing the islands a great service should 

 he be removed; that there was not a shadow of 

 doubt that hu had murdered twelve whites, of 

 whom several were Americans ; that he was a 

 determined enemy to the whiles, and in the habit 

 of saying tlmt he would otnil DO opportunity of 

 killing nil who might come within lus power. 

 Mr. Williams, however, doubted the success of 

 nny attempt to take Opotuno, unless it wus made 

 under disguise ; for upon the approach of all men- 

 of-war, and during their stay, he lived in the 

 mountains of Suvaii, where it was impossible to 

 find him. 



The situation of Mr. Williams's cottage i-> pretty; 

 it stands within a few rods of the beach, and is sur- 

 rounded by a nicely- dressed lawn, on which are 

 several fine trees; the backgruuud is lilted up with 

 cocoa-nut, bread-fruit, nnd a variety of other trees. 

 Near by is the liny ship-yard of his son, Mr. John 

 Williams, who was taken by hifl father to England, 

 and there taught all the mechanical trades. lie 

 has returned thence with in a few mouths, with his 

 wife, and by the aid of a few natives has already 

 built himself a vessel of about twenty-five tons* bur- 

 den, which he proposes lo employ in tradiug among 

 these islands. 



Tho next day we returned to Apia. On our way 

 we stopped at Saguna for the purpose of visiting 

 Mali etna, the principal chief of iho Malo or con- 

 quering party. 



I have rarely seen a place where more attention 

 is paid to cleanliness than at Sagana. A similar 

 regard to neatness prevails in the walks around the 

 village, mid in tlie cultivation of the taro, melons, 

 and bananas, which is carried on in the immediate 

 vicinity, Tlie paths leading to these cultivated 

 grounds pass i brooch fine shady gruvi s. The pre- 

 servation of the broad walks and palhs appears to 

 be rather an amusement than a labour to the 

 villagers. 



Here Malicloa was seen in his domestic circle, 

 with his wives and children around him. I found 

 him in a small house, enjoying the afternoon breeze, 

 with his daughter playing about him. She was 

 alxnit fifteen years of age, and decidedly the pret- 

 tiest girl we had seen in this group; h<r name was 



