sorter's journal. 



93 



punishment for them. The Happahs had now descended 

 the hills with their arms ; the Shouemes appeared on the 

 other side, and " the Typees have driven the white men," 

 was the constant topic of conversation. We were still 

 but a handful, and were surrounded by several thousand 

 Indians ; and although they professed friendship, 1 did not 

 feel safe. 1 therefore directed every body to embark and 

 proceed to the Essex Junior, anxious to know the state of 

 lieutenant Downes. We had scarcely arrived at the ship 

 before the Typees rushed on our allies, who had remained 

 behind, and drove them into their canoes and into the 

 water. We sprang into our boats, and pulled towards the 

 shore, when they precipitately retreated, and our allies 

 pursued in turn, and knocked over with a stone one of the 

 Typee warriors, whose body they triumphantly bore off. 

 Finding they would not face us in a clear space, and being 

 perfectly sick of bush fighting, I returned to Massachusetts 

 Bay with my boats, and directed the Essex Junior to fol- 

 low when the wind suited. 



The behaviour of the friendly natives, and particularly 

 the Happahs, after this supposed defeat of my party, con- 

 vinced me I had now no alternative, but to prove our 

 superiority by a successful attack upon the Typees. It 

 was obvious that the whole of the Tribes would join the 

 conquering side, as is always the case with savages, and I 

 became fully convinced that the safety of my people, as 

 well as the interests of my government, would be compro- 

 mised by any delay in the renewal of hostilities. Accord- 

 ingly, the next day I determined to proceed with a force 

 which I believed they could not resist, and selected two 

 hundred men from the Essex, the Essex Junior (which 

 had now arrived,) and from the prizes. 1 directed boats 

 to be prepared to start with them before daylight next 

 morning, and cautioned every one to be secret as to my 

 intentions, not wishing to be annoyed by the noise and con- 

 fusion of either of the tribes of Indians, whom we had 

 always found useless to us. In the evening, the boats 

 being leaky and unable to carry the men, I caused the party 

 to be sent on shore, and determined to go by land. We 

 had a fine moonhght night, and I hoped to be down in the 

 Typee valley long before daylight. We had guides which 

 we believed could be depended upon for their knowledge 



