THE PELEW ISLANDS. 
iqr 
«• fary, and firing amongfi: them when any appeared near J 7 8 3 - 
SEPTEMBER. 
«• enough to be reached by the mufquets. The engage- 
ment from beginning to end did not exceed three hours; 
a and, after parading along their fhore, and in vain pro- 
a - yoking a frefh combat, Abba Thulle ordered the canoes 
«■ to make a difpofition to return, which was foon done, and 
6( we fet forward towards Pelew. 
a All the nine prifoners had received wounds in battle; 
66 and, in fpite of whatever we could urge againft the cruelty 
a of putting them to death, yet they would hear nothing in 
u their behalf, and foon exterminated them.—In juftifica- 
66 tion of a proceeding which fo ftrongly contradicted the 
general humanity of the natives of Pelew, they alledged' 
u the neceflity of doing it for their own fecurity, afiuring 
u us that they had formerly only detained them prifoners, 
H and kept them as menial fervants, but that they always 
a found means to get hack to their own country, and hav- 
u ing by living amongfi: the Pelew people become well* 
iL acquainted with the channels and creeks of the ifland, 
«. they had afterwards made ufe of that knowledge to land* 
frequently by Health, and commit great depredations; and 
a that, on this confideration* that ftep which we fo much- 
condemned had become neceflary to them. 
a Among the prifoners was a Rupack , who had a bone 
i( on his wrifi:; the Pelew people, after he was captured, 
a - ftrove all in their power to take from him this mark of dig- 
«■ nityj, 
