230 
DETAILS RESPECTING THE DEATH OF MR. DOUGLAS. 
addressed to Richard Charlton, Esq., his Britannic Majesty’s Consul 
there. Intelligence of this distressing event reached Hilo on the 
morning of July 14, when a native came up, and, with an expression 
of countenance which indicated but too faithfully that he was the 
bearer of sad tidings, inquired for a Mr. Goodrich. On seeing him, 
he stated that the body of Mr. Douglas had been found on the moun¬ 
tains, in a pit excavated for the purpose of taking wild cattle, and 
that he was supposed to have been killed by the beast which was in 
the pit when Mr. D. fell in. Upon further inquiry, this person related 
in substance as follows:— f That on the evening, the 13th instant, the 
natives who brought the body down from the mountain, came to his 
house at Laupahoihoi, about twenty-five or thirty miles distant from 
Hilo, and employed him to bring it to this place in his canoe/ Mr. D., 
it seems, left Kohala Point during the previous week, in company with 
an Englishman as a guide, and proceeded to cross Monena Kea on the 
north side. On the 12th, Mr. D. dismissed his guide, who cautioned 
him on parting to be aware lest he should fall into some of the pits for 
taking wild cattle, describing them as being near the places to which 
the animals resorted to drink. Soon after Mr. D. had dismissed his 
guide, he went back a short distance to get a bundle which he had 
forgotten; and as he was retracing his steps, in some fatal moment he 
fell into a pit in which a bull had previously fallen. He was found 
dead in the pit by these same natives, who, ignorant at the time of his 
passing, were in pursuit of bullocks ; and, on coming to the pit, found 
a small hole at one end of the covering of it. At first they conjectured 
that a calf had fallen in; but, on further examination, discovered 
traces of a man’s steps, and soon after saw his feet in the pit, his body 
being covered with sand and rubbish. They went immediately in pur¬ 
suit of the guide, who returned, shot the bullock, took out the body, 
and hired the natives, at the price of four bullocks, to convey the body 
to the sea-shore. He himself accompanied them, and engaged the 
natives to convey the body to Hilo, promising to follow immediately, 
and bring with him the compass, the watch, (which was somewhat 
broken, but still going,) some money found in Mr. D.’s pocket, and a 
little dog, a faithful companion of the departed traveller. On viewing 
the body, it was found covered with wounds ; and as the accounts were 
not very clear, it was, therefore, thought due to the friends of Mr. D., 
and to the public, that an examination of the wounds should be made 
by medical men, and of all the circumstances of the case. 
“ As neither the guides nor any natives had arrived by the 16th, two 
foreigners were despatched to the place where the body was received 
