336 
SOUTH SEA 
the town, and opposite the : governor’s palace, as it is 
called ; which affair was certainly the most blood-thirsty 
and barbarous that stains the annals of any people. 
Captain Stavers was the master of a whaler, and had 
put into the harbour of Guam to refit his ship and 
refresh his crew,— and had, a few days’ previous to the 
transaction which cost him his life, held some dealings 
with the governor, who it appears acted in a very sinister 
manner with some of Stavers’ property, and had after- 
wards refused to admit him into his house, or give him 
any kind of redress whatever. This conduct of the 
governor irritated the mind of the captain to an un- 
governable extent, and he left his ship for the purpose 
of going up to the town, observing at the same time 
that he would also go to the palace, and oblige the 
governor to give him some kind «of satisfaction for the 
injuries and insults he had repeatedly received from 
him. 
In the afternoon of the same day, the captain, who 
was a most bold and resolute man, and who was also 
unfortunately addicted to habits of intemperance, but 
still possessed of many excellent and amiable traits, was 
observed opposite the palace in a state of intoxication, 
armed with a brace of pistols, with which he challenged 
the governor out to fight. Many of the people who 
knew him — for he had often visited this island before— 
were well acquainted with his boisterous though harm- 
less nature — they well knew that his words were “ full 
of sound and fury, signifying nothing,” they therefore 
eiruYd at him as they passed, and thought of his con- 
