THE PELEW ISLANDS. 
\ . ■ ; 
King by the Malay favourite, as it totally contradicted that 
open generality with which they at all times conducted 
holtilities. 
As to their putting their prifoners to death, Raa Kook, 
on being cenfured for it by Captain Wilson, faid, it had 
not always been Jo ; and, in aliigning reafons for being com¬ 
pelled to do it, feemed to Ihelter the proceeding under the 
plea of political necejjity . 
The number captured in any of their battles mult, from 
their mode of engaging, be at all times very trifling. In the 
mod: conliderable engagement our people witnelfed at Ar- 
tingall, no more than nine were made prifoners, which 
the natives accounted a great many ; nor were thefe put to 
death in cold blood, it rather might be called the clofe of the 
battle. It was generally the effeCt of unfubfided pafiion or 
revenge, the terminating blow being, in mod: cafes, given 
by fome one who had loft a near relation, or friend, in the 
battle, or was himfelf fufFering under the pain of a wound. 
Situated, belide, fo nearly as thefe iilands were to each 
other, it was next to impofhble to detain their captives; 
they had no prifons to confine them; no cartel canoes to 
negotiate an exchange; and, going about the ifland freely, 
the lives of the Sovereign, or his Chiefs, were at all times 
affailable by any vindictive fpirit. They had, as the General 
told Captain Wilson, ineffectually drove to detain them as 
menial fervants. Therefore, revolting as the idea is, if they 
a have 3 
335 
