9G 



porter's journal. 



ly wet as though we had been under water the whole time, 

 and we scarcely entertained a hope that a single cartridge 

 or musket had escaped. The Indians kept exclaiming that 

 our muskets were spoiled, and anxiously wished us to re- 

 treat in time ; but notwithstanding my fears on the subject, 

 I endeavoured to impress them with a belief that water 

 could do them no injury. As soon as it was light enough, I 

 went among my men and inquired into the state of their 

 arms and ammunition. The first had escaped better than 

 I had any reason to hope ; but of the latter more than one 

 half was wet and unfit for service. 



The Happah village lay on one side of the mountain, as 

 I before observed, the Typee on the other, and when it 

 was hght enough to see down into the valley of the latter, 

 we were astonished at the greatness of the height we were 

 elevated above them, and the steepness of the mountain 

 by which we should have to descend to get to them. A 

 narrow pathway pointed out the track, but it was soon 

 lost among the chffs. The Indians informed me that in 

 the present slippery state of the mountain no one could 

 descend, and as our men were much harassed with fatigue, 

 overcome with hunger, shivering, and uncomfortable, I 

 determined to take up my quarters in the Happah valley 

 until next day, to enable us to refresh, and I hoped by that 

 time the weather would prove more favourable. The 

 chief soon arrived, and I communicated to him my inten- 

 tions, directing him to send down and have houses provided 

 for us, as also hogs and fruit, all of which he promised 

 should be done. Before! left the hill, I determined, by firing 

 a volley, to show the natives that our muskets had not re- 

 ceived as much injury as they had expected, fori believed, 

 under their impressions, at that moment, the Happahs 

 would not have hesitated in making an attack on us, and to 

 avoid any difficulties with them, I thought it best tq con- 

 vince them we were still formidable. I had other motives 

 also for firing, the Tayeehs and Happahs, I knew, would 

 accompany us into the Typee valley; and as I had 

 put off our descent until the next day, I concluded that it 

 would be best to give them timely notice of our approach, 

 that they might be enabled to remove their women and 

 children, their hogs, and most valuable effects. Although 

 I felt it necessary to self-defence, to chastise them into 



