PORTER’S JOURNAL- 
102 
The chiefs and the people of the Happah tribe now became 
intimidated and brought and baked hogs in greater abundance 
than were required; friendship was re-established, and the wo¬ 
men returned. 
When night approached, proper look outs were placed, fires 
made before each house: those of the tribe of Tayeehs remained 
with us, the Happahs retired. All not on guard devoted themselves 
to sleep, and at day light, next morning, we equally divided our 
ammunition, and the line <5f march was formed. All had put 
their arms in a good state for service, and all were fresh and vi¬ 
gorous; each being supplied with a small quantity of provisions 
for the day. 
On ascending the ridge, where we had passed such a disa¬ 
greeable night, we halted to take breath, and view, for a few mi¬ 
nutes, this delightful valley, which was soon to become a scene of 
desolation. From the hill we had a distant view of every part, 
and all appeared equally delightful. The valley was about nine 
miles in length and three or four in breadth, surrounded on every 
part, except the beach, where we formerly landed, by lofty moun¬ 
tains: the upper part was bounded by a precipice of many hundred 
feet in height, from the top of which a handsome sheet of water was 
precipitated, and formed a beautiful river, which ran meander¬ 
ing through the valley and discharged itself at the beach. Vil¬ 
lages were scattered here and there, the bread-fruit and cocoa-nut 
trees flourished luxuriantly and in abundance; plantations laid out 
in good order, inclosed with stone walls, were in a high state of 
cultivation, and every thing bespoke industry, abundance, and hap* 
piness—never in my life did I witness a more delightful scene, 
or experience more repugnancy than I now felt for the necessi¬ 
ty which compelled me to punish a happy and heroic people. 
Many may censure my conduct as wanton and unjust; they 
may inquire what necessity could compel me to pursue them into 
their valley; where, in fact, was any necessity for hostilities with 
them so long as they left us in quietness at bur camp: But let 
such reflect a moment on our peculiar situation—a handful of men 
residing among numerous warlike tribes, liable every moment to 
be attacked by them and all cut off; our only hopes of safety was 
in convincing them of our great superiority over thenij and from 
