In the Pacific Ocean. 



105 



tlie swamp, we felt new life and spirits; byt this joy was of 

 short duration, for on casting up our eyes, we perceived a strong 

 and extensive wall of seven feet in height, raised on an eminence 

 crossing our road, and flanked on each side by an impenetrable 

 thicket. In an instant afterwards we were assailed by such a 

 shower of stones; accompanied by the most horrid yells, as left 

 no doubt in our minds that we had here to encounter their prin- 

 cipal strength, and that we should here meet with much resist- 

 ance in passing this barrier. It fortunately happened, that a 

 tree wliich afforded me shelter from their stones, enabled me, 

 accompanied by Lieutenant Gamble, and Doctor Hoffman, a 

 very valuable officer, to annoy them as they would raise above 

 the wail to throw at us. These were the only muskets which could 

 be employed to any advantage. Others kept up a scattering fire 

 without effect. Finding we could not dislodge them, I gave or- 

 ders for pushing on and endeavouring to take it by storm. But 

 some of my men had by this time expended all their cartridges, 

 and there were few who had more than three or four remain- 

 ing. This discouraging news threw a damp on the spirits of the 

 whole party. Without ammunition our neuskets were rendered 

 inferior to the weapons of the Typees, and if we could not ad- 

 vance, there could be no doubt we should be under the necessity of 

 fighting our way back ; and to attempt this with our few remain- 

 ing cartridges, would be hazarding too much. My number was 

 now reduced to nineteen men ; there was no officer but myself; 

 the Indians had all deserted me except Mouina ; and to add to 

 our critical and dangerous situation, three of the men remain- 

 ing with me were knocked down with stones. We retreated 

 for a few paces, and in an instant the Indians rushed on us 

 with hideous yells. The first and second which advanced were 

 killed at the distance of a few paces, and those who attempted 

 to carry them off were wounded. This checked them, they 

 abandoned their dead, and precipitately retreated to their fort. 



Not a moment was now to be lost in gaining the opposite 

 side of the river. Taking advantage of the terror they were 

 thrown into, we marched off with our wounded. Scarcely had 

 we crossed the river before we were attacked with stones. But 

 here they halted, and we returned to the beach much fatigued , 

 and harassed with marching and fighting, and with no contempti- 

 ble opinion of the enemy we had encountered, or the difficulties 

 we should have to surmount in conquering them. 



The behaviour of the friendly natives, and particularly the Hap- 

 pahs, after this supposed defeat of my party, convinced me I had 

 now no alternative, but to prove our superiority by a successful at- 

 tack upon the Typees. It was obvious that the whole of the tribes 

 would join the conquering side, as is always the case with savages. 



Voyages and Travels, No. XLVII. Vol. VIII. p 



