porter's journal. 



91 



Typees, and if we could not advance, there could be no 

 doubt we should be under the necessity of fighting our way 

 back ; and to attempt this with our few remaining cartrid- 

 ges, would be hazarding too much. Our only safety now 

 depended on holding our ground until we could procure a 

 fresh supply of ammunition, and in reserving the few 

 charges on hand until it could be brought to us. I men- 

 tioned my intentions to my people, exhorted them to save 

 their ammunition as much as possible, and despatched 

 lieutenant Gamble with a detachment of four men to the 

 beach, there to take a boat and proceed to the Essex Junior 

 for a fresh supply. We were from the time of his depar- 

 ture chiefly occupied in eluding the stones which came 

 with redoubled force and numbers. Our fire had become 

 slackened, a few muskets only occasionally were fired to 

 convince them we were not yet disposed to retreat. 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 situa- 

 tion, three of the men remaining with me were knocked 

 down with stones. Mouina begged me to retreat, crying 

 mattee ! mattee ! The wounded entreated me to permit 

 the others to carry them to the beach, but I had none to 

 spare to accompany them. I saw no hopes of succeeding 

 against the Typees, so long as they kept their strong hold ; 

 and determined to endeavour to draw them out by a feign- 

 ed retreat, and by this means to gain an advantage. For to 

 return without gaining some advantage would, I believed, 

 have rendered an attack from the Flappahs certain. I 

 communicated my intentions ; directed the wounded to be 

 taken care of; gave orders for all to run until we were 

 concealed by the bushes, and then halt. 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 at- 

 tempted to carry them off were wounded. This checked 

 them, they abandoned their dead, and precipitately retreat- 

 ed 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 oflf with 

 6ur wounded. Scarcely had we crossed the river before 

 we were attacked with stones. But here they halted, and 



