m SUb,UU * JOn p^p£ ChiCfa FEEJEE G ROUP. bflectlu. ttemn. 



without the aliglitcst cause. They stated that all 

 tho murdereru were slain, aud that the act was 

 planned and executed by tJie people of Sualib, 

 none of whom were then present, ur could he 

 fouttd ; and Bait] tbat tbe persons present were tlte 

 only ones uninjured. Sumo of tlie officers believed 

 that they recognised several of them as having 

 been in the fight. I then, through the interpreter, 

 dwelt upon the atrocity of their crime, and pointed 

 out to thorn how justly we were offended with 

 them, and how much they deserved the punish- 

 ment they had received. 1 told them they might 

 consider themselves fortunate that we did not 

 exterminate them ; and farther assured them, that 

 if ever a like act was committed, or any aggm«ii>n 

 on the whites again took place, the most terrible 

 punishment would await them ; that wo did not 

 wish to do them any harm, but came among them 

 as friends, and wished to be treated as such ; that 

 they must now see the folly of opposing us, as they 

 had lost their best warriors, while we had not lost 

 one; that we never fought against women or chil- 

 dren, aud never received any gifts or presents ; 

 that I granted them pardon, but they must do as 

 1 was about to direct them. 



I then told them, that to-morrow, very early, 

 they must all come to the town of Arro unarmed, 

 and bring back every article they had taken from 

 tho officers, with what provisions they could gather, 

 and that they would he employed to bring water 

 for the vessels. This wan according to their cus- 

 toms, that the countered should do work for the 

 victors. 



They readily assented to all these demands, but 

 wiid that many of the articles belonging to the 

 little chiefs must have been destroyed by fire, and 

 that they knew not where to obtain them, or where 

 To rind any thing to eat. 1 knew that tho lust 

 assertion was false, as I had seen many plantations 

 on the north-west side of the island which had not 

 suffered, and remained untouched. I therefore 

 told them they must comply with all they had been 

 ordered to do. 



They were then dismissed, and instantly vanished 

 from before us. Orders were now given to embark, 

 and we reached the vessels at sunset. 



I had great reason to be satisfied with the result 

 of this day's proceedings ; for I felt, tbat after 

 administering to the savages a very severe punish, 

 ment, I had probably effected the desirable end of 

 preventing any further bloodshed. 



Early on the morning of the 2tlth, the tender 

 and brig got under way, ami anchored off the town 

 of Arm, where tho natives, to the number of 

 seventy, came down to the beach, with every ap- 

 pearance nf humility, to carry into effect the terms 

 we had made with them. The water-bags and 

 breakers were given to them to fill and bring to 

 the beach for the boats. They found tins very 

 liard work, nud often expressed themselves to the 

 interpreters, who were with the officers attending 

 to the duty, that it would have been as well for 

 i hem to have been killed in battle as to die of hard 

 work. They toiled thus until nearly sunset, ami 

 procured about three thousand gallons of water for 

 OB. They also brought twelve good-sized nigs for 

 the crews, sotue yams and about three thousand 

 cocoa- nuts. 



Among the articles restored, was the silver 

 watch of Lieutenant. Underwood, almost entirely 



melted up, and a piece of tho eye-glass of Midship- 

 man Ueury. 



When I went on shore, 1 saw the chief and 

 about twenty of the old men, who were not able to 

 take part in the work. I hail a long talk with 

 them, through tho interpreter, and explained to 

 them that they had brought this trouble upon 

 themselves. 1 pointed out, particularly, that tho 

 blow had fallen upon tho town of Arro, as well as 

 upon thnt of .Sua lib, because its inhabitant* had 

 tired at the boats from the mangrove-bushes, which 

 was wrong ; and if it occurred again, or they ever 

 molested the Papnlangis, they would meet with 

 exemplary punishment. They nil listened with 

 great attention, and said it should never occur 



aainj aud that when any Pupulangia came to their 

 and, they would do every thing for them, and 

 treat them as friends and children. 



At evening, I bad the chief who was our pri- 

 soner brought up and liberated. He had now, from 

 the death of the one nt Sualib, become the highest 

 chief of the island. 1 gave him good advice, and 

 assured him, that if he allowed any white man to 

 be injured, he would sooner or later be punished, 

 lie promised me, that as long as he lived they 

 should always be treated a* friends noil eliililivu ; 

 that he would be the first to befriend them ; that 

 ho now considered the island as belonging to tho 

 Papalnngis ; thnt he had noted all that i had said; 

 that it was good, and he would lie very careful to 

 observe it ; that ho would, if he had no canoe, 

 swim off to the white people's ships to do them nil 

 the service in his power ; and thnt his |>eople 

 should do so also. He was then, with the unlives 

 win* had been captured, put on shore. Wli- n lie y 

 lauded, the whole population were heard crying and 

 wailing over him at his return. 



The above are all the important facts relative to 

 this tragical affair, both to the natives and our- 

 selves. I feel little disposed to cast blame any 

 where, hut it must be apparent that if the precau- 

 tions directed in the orders given for the conduct 

 of tho officers on l^af duty had been adhered to, 

 this misfortune would not have occurred. It is 

 therefore to be regretted, that a strict regard bad 

 not been paid to these orders, and thnt care and 

 watchfulness to preserve and keep nil on their 

 guard hud not been constantly manifested. It is 

 difficult to imagine how some of the officer** should, 

 in spite of all warnings, have indulged an over- 

 confidence in the peaceable disposition aud good 

 intentions of the natives; and it is still more sur- 

 prising that this should have been the case with 

 Lieutenant Alden, who had charge of the party 

 for the lime being, and who had frequently ex- 

 pressed himself satisfied, and bad also warned 

 others, that the natives of Malolo were not to bo 

 trusted. This opinion was u..( adopted by him 

 without good grounds; for on his former visit, 

 about six weeks before, they had shown a disposi- 

 tion to cut off' the launch and first cutter, of which 

 he was then iu charge. There was no absolute 

 necessity for obtaining provisions, and still leas for 

 his allowing Lieutenant Underwood to remain an 

 hour and a half on shore, chaffering for two or 

 three pigs, when they knew the tender was in sight, 

 and that she would reach tho place of rendezvous 

 before nighL 



Tho whole of this afflicting tragedy I cannot but 

 believe grew out of a want of proper care and 



