in the Pacific Ocean. 



89 



drums, mats, callabashes, and other household utensils, as well as 

 hogs, cocoa-nuts and other fruit. They also brought with them 

 large quantities of the plant with which they make their finest 

 cloth, which grows nearly as thick as the wrist, and is highly 

 esteemed by them. They came also laden with plunder, which 

 the enemy had not time to remc^ve ; for they could not be made 

 to believe, that a handful of men could drive them. 



It was shocking to see the manner they treated such as were 

 knocked over with a shot-; they rushed on them with their war 

 clubs, and soon dispatched them ; then each seemed anxious to 

 dip his spear into the blood, which nothing could induce them to 

 wipe off — the spear, from that time, bore the name of the dead 

 warrior^ and its value, in consequence of that trophy, was greatly 

 enhanced. 



I proceeded to the house of Gattanewa, which I found filled with 

 women making the most dreadful lamentations, and surrounded 

 by a large concourse of male natives. On my appearance there 

 was a general shout of terror; all fixed their eyes on me with 

 looks of fear and apprehension. I approached the wife of Gatta- 

 newa, and required to know the cause of this alarm. She said, 

 now that we had destroyed the Happahs, they were fearful we 

 should turn on them : she took hold of my hand, which she kiss- 

 ed, and moistened with her tears : then placing it on her head, 

 knelt to kiss my feet. She told me they were willing to be our 

 slaves, to serve us, that their houses, their lands, their hogs, and 

 every thing belonging to them were ours; but begged that I 

 would have mercy on her, her children, and her family, and not 

 put them to death. It seemed that they had worked themselves 

 up to the highest pitch of fear, and on my appearance, with a 

 sentinel accompanying me, they could see in me nothing but the 

 demon of destruction, t raised the poor old woman from her 

 humble posture, and begged her to banish her groundless fears, 

 that I had no intention of injuring any person residing in the 

 valley of Tieuhoy : that if the Happahs had drawn on themselves 

 our vengeance, and felt our resentment, they had none to blame 

 but themselves. I had offered them peace ; but they had pre- 

 ferred war ; I had proffered them my friendship, and they had 

 spurned at it. That there was no alternative left me. I had 

 chastised them, and was appeased. 



We had but little opportunity of gaining a knowledge of 

 their language while we remained among them; but from the 

 little we became acquainted with, we were satisfied that it was 

 not copious ; few words serve to express all they wish to say ; 

 and one word has oftentimes many significations; as for ex- 

 ample, the word mot^e signifies / thank 2/ou, I have enough, 

 J do not want it, I do 7iot like it, keep it yourself, take it 

 Voyages and Travels, No, XLVII. VoL VIII. n 



