PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
51 
the priest, after shaking the dried branch of a palm tree, to which 
was hung a bunch of human hair, repeated a few words, when 
three shouts were given by the warriors, as if with one voice, each 
shout accompanied with a loud clap of the hands, after which the 
drums beat for the space of about five minutes, during which tithe 
they all sung with loud voices and animated gestures until their 
voices gradually dying away silence ensued—this ceremony was 
three times performed, and at each time with more and more ani¬ 
mation: they repeatedly pointed to the dead bodies, and would, at 
times, address themselves to me. Wilson told me they were 
singing their victory over theii 1 enemies, and returning thanks to 
their gods for sending me to their aid. After the ceremony was 
over, the priest asked me if it was not motahee , very fine, and on 
my signifying my assent, it gave the most lively pleasure. 
I now inquired if they had heard from the Happahs since the 
battle: they told me one of that tribe had that morning arrived. I 
directed him to be sent for: he approached, trembling for his safe¬ 
ty; but on my offering my hand, which I had taught all the na¬ 
tives was a token of friendship, his fears seemed to subside. I 
learnt from him that many of the tribe were badly wounded, and 
that the whole were in the utmost dismay, and desired nothing 
more ardently than peace. I represented to him the folly of op* 
posing their arms to ours, and to convince him of the superiority 
of muskets, I fired at a tree some distance off; the ball penetrated 
the middle of it, about the height of a man’s heart. I then called 
on all the warriors to try their spears and slings at the same ob¬ 
ject; but they all shook their heads, as an acknowledgment of the 
inferiority of their weapons. The Happah was much astonished 
at the correctness with which we fired, and said he should pro¬ 
ceed to hasten his brethren to a reconciliation. I gave him a 
white handkerchief, which was attached to a spear, and informed 
him the bearer of that should be respected. 
On my return to the camp I found a large supply of hogs, co¬ 
coa-nuts, bananas, bread-fruit, tarra, and sugar-cane, with several 
roots of kava, partly the plunder of the Happahs, but chiefly the 
contributions of the tribes of Tieuhoy. 
VOL. II. 
