Attempt to capture Opotuno. SA MO A N GROUP. BSSja!?* 



chief n[ tin! neighbouring island of Savaii, had, as 

 has been stated, committed m-vit.iI murders niiil 

 other outrages. Among oilier acts, he had taken 



— — inn <•(" tu<> l,,..:i-- H s< nt on shore by the wltal-- 

 ship William Peiiu, Captain Swain, of Nantucket, 

 Killing llir chief mate ami the two boat-slecrer*. 

 The third officer «f the vessel w:ih also wounded, 

 uiiil left for dead upon the beach; lie was, however, 

 picked up by sumo females, who removed him to a 

 liut, wli.-re, through their kind attentions, he re- 

 covered. He did not, however, rejoin his ship, 

 but remained for mime time on the Wand. 



The must surprising part of the history of this 

 transaction is that Captain Tohy, of the ship Swift, 

 of New lledford, afterwards purchased these boats 

 from Opotuno, although he knew that chief had 

 oh:. lined them by murdering this captain's own 

 countrymen. 



Captain Hudson fell in with the Flying-Fish, on 

 his way to Savaii, and took her with him, to bid in 

 carrying on the stratagem by which the watchful- 

 ness and Hn^pictotiB of the wary chief were to be 

 hilled tn rest. 



On their arrival off the part of the island w here 

 Opotunn usually resides, they made for the shore 

 under pretence of surveying, and reached the 

 village of Setipetea, which adjoins that where he 

 dwells. We afterwards learned that no sooner 

 had the boats got within the reef, than he prepared 

 fur his tight to the mountains. The news of the 

 capture of Tuvui, ami the n -appearance of boats 

 from a vessel (the Peacock) which had passed 

 about ten days before, served to put him on the 

 alert. He had, however, become so daring that 

 ho did not at once fly, but nwaited more decided 

 indications of hostility; and when Captain Hudson, 

 accompanied by only two men, passed through his 

 village, having left his boats only a mile distant, 

 he entertained the intention of shooting him. lie 

 had actually cocked his gun for tins purpose, when 

 one of his followers advised him not to fire, as he 

 would bring great trouble on the island if he shot 

 a chief. When the boats' crews afterwards entered 

 Opotuno's village, the inhabitants showed much 

 alarm, but die chief was mi-sing. It was therefore 

 considered advisahle to make no hostile demons! ra- 

 tions; as no good purpose could have been effected 

 by fol li i wing him to the mountains, where it would 

 have been impossible to apprehend him. 



The boats therefore returned, and although with- 

 out succeeding in the main object of the expedition, 

 something was gained in reviving his apprehensions 

 of being captured. I lis village was not destroyed, 

 In .-.in-,' to ill sn would have been no injury to him, 

 but only distressing to its poor inhabitants. He 

 would have laughed at tlto idea of his being 

 piuiiflhed by the burning of their habitation-, as it 

 is said In- did so when an attempt was made, 

 during a previous cruise of the Vincennes, by her 

 commander, who visited his village, and burned 

 two or three of his houses. 



The impunity he has hitherto enjoyed bos served 

 IB render him audacious, and it is not long r-inee he 

 put to, death an American seaman, who had been 

 left sick in his charge. 



Opotuno is detested by his brother chiefs, not 

 only for his aggressions upon foreigners, hut on 

 his countrymen also. Only a short time before 

 our arrival, he seduced and carried off the wife of 

 Vavasa. This act was considered so outrageous, 



ntut was so deeply resented, that we were informed 

 a war was only prevented by the near relationship 

 of these two chiefs. The Sann tans regard with 

 horror the idea of those connected |.y n.- .,f con- 

 sanguinity lighting agaiiiht each other. 



Opotuno is not only related to Vavasa, but is the 

 adopted nun of old Pea of Manono, a connexion 

 which was not without its effect in averting 

 hostilities. 



On the 4th of November, a fonn was held, ac- 

 cording to the appointment made with Maiictoa, 

 in the fah -tele of Apia. All the officers who could 

 be spared from the ships were ordered to attend, 

 old Pea, the chief of Apia, seemed to be the 

 master of ceremonies on the occaM.m. ("ran mats 

 were spread for the chiefs, and chairs and benches 

 borrowed from the missionaries' houses were placed 

 for us, opposite to them. All the highest chiefs of 

 fh<- ".Main" party were present, exeept Pea of 



Manono, and two minor chiefs of .Savaii. Maiictoa 

 presided, Mis whole demeanour was dignified, 

 composed, and thoughtful. His pev-enal nppear- 

 I ance has already been spoken of, and the form of 

 his head, his white hair, and dignified bearing, 

 again reminded us of General Jackson. He is 

 •deudcr and tall, although somewhat bent by nge. 

 It was to be regretted that Ins dress was ill chosen, 

 and rather detracted from the respect he would 

 have inspired had he appeared in his native gavb ; 

 he wore pantaloons, a round jacket, and a pink 

 and white striped cotton shirt. 



Tooa, the nephew of Maiictoa, who acted as 

 spokesman, and w hose countenance betokened the 

 interest he felt m the business, attracted attention 

 in the second degree. Then came Mole, the sou 

 of Malieton, Mak-tnti, their general, the most re- 

 nowned leader in the war of A ana, and Tai-tna-le- 

 lagi, Malietoa's brother. There were also present 

 a number of chiefs of less distinction, among whom 

 was old Pea of A [da; although he was compelled 

 to take his place, yet he did not fail to be con- 

 spicuous, not merely by his personal appearance, 

 but by his ofBciotumesa. 



The proceedings were conducted with great 

 ceremony, but there was a marked difference be- 

 tween lliis foTio niol the solemnity of our Indian 

 councils. The Samoaa assembly appeared more 

 Utiieseciit, the proceedings exhibited more re- 

 finement, and the customs partook of an Asiatic 

 character. 



In all such meetings n rigid order of precedence, 

 that seems well understood by every one, is esta- 

 blished ; all conversation in carried on in a whisper ; 

 no one is seen standing in the prviem-i- <.f a supe- 

 rior, and sitting with outstretched legs is considered 

 indecorous. Articles were never passed over a 

 person, and no native ever ventured to come in 

 contact with a chief. 



The background on the side of the natives was 

 filled up with inhabitants from different parts of 

 the Lsl.mil. 



On the opposite side of the building, the officers 

 of the iq^MMroti and the missionaries formed a nu- 

 merous group. Among the latb r was our friend Mr. 

 Williams and his sou, whom I had appointed to act 

 as consul until the pleasure of the government of 

 the Tinted Slates was known, and whom it was in- 

 tendnd to present in this capacity to the meeting, 

 in order that he might be recognized formally by 

 the chiefs; Messrs. Heath, Mills, and Wilson were 



