92 



porter's journal. 



we returned to the beach much fatigued and harassed with 

 inarching and fighting, and with no contemptible opinion 

 of the enemy we had encountered, or the difficulties we 

 should have to surmount in conquering them. 



On my arrival, I found the boat which had been missing, 

 together with a reinforcement of men from the Essex 

 Junior, and a supply of ammunition. 1 was desirous of 

 sounding the Typees before I proceeded to further extre- 

 mities, as also to impress our allies with the idea that we 

 could carry all before us. Assuming the air and language 

 of a conqueror (although I must confess I felt little like 

 one) I directed one of the ambassadors to proceed to the 

 Typee fort, to tell them, that with a handful of men we had 

 driven them into their fortifications, that we had killed two 

 and wounded several of them, and had now a force suffi- 

 cient to drive them out of the valley ; that I did not wish 

 to do them further injury, and still offered to them the 

 terms I had first proposed. They told my messenger to 

 tell me, that they had killed my chief warrior (for such 

 they supposed Mr. Downes to be ;) that they had wounded 

 several of my people, and compelled us to retreat. It 

 was true, they said, we had killed two of them, and wound- 

 ed many others ; but considering their superior numbers, 

 what was this compared to the injury they had done us. 

 They had men to spare, we had not. If we were able to 

 drive them from their valley, what could I promise myself 

 by telling them of it. I must know they would not believe 

 me until 1 had done it. They said they had counted our 

 boats ; they knew the number that each would carry, and 

 were as well acquainted with my force as myself. They 

 knew their strength, and the numbers they could oppose ; 

 and held our bouhies in more contempt than ever; they 

 frequently missed fire, rarely killed, and the wounds they 

 occasioned were not as painful as those of a spear or stone. 

 They added, they knew they would prove perfectly useless 

 to us should it come on to rain. They dared us to renew 

 the contest ; and assured us they would not retreat beyond 

 where we had left them. 



Overcome with fatigue, and discouraged by the formida- 

 ble appearance of their fortress, my men also fatigued and 

 disheartened from the number of wounded, I determined 

 to leave them for the present, but meditated a severe 



