SEIZURE OF THE DAPHNE 133 
islands for the pearl oyster. They proceeded to 
their destination, but had scarcely commenced their 
pearl-fishing, when the natives attacked the crew, 
barbarously murdered the first and second officers, 
who were men of fine stature and benevolent dis¬ 
positions ; and killing one of the seamen, took pos¬ 
session of the ship. Mr. Shelly’s life was threatened, 
and only spared at the instance of two Tahitians, 
who, anxious to save him, requested that he might 
be kept, to navigate the vessel to Tahiti, whither 
they intended to return. One of these natives was 
Upaparu, a chief of rank, present secretary to 
the government of Tahiti, and a steady friend to 
foreigners. When the vessel arrived at Tahiti, 
Pomare succeeded in securing to Mr. Shelly its 
restoration, though most of the property had been 
plundered. Matting was procured for sails, and 
the vessel, pursuing her homeward voyage, reached 
Port Jackson in safety. 
Flushed with the success that had attended the 
savage and daring effort of the Raiateans, the 
Tahitians, whom Captain Fodger had employed on 
board his vessel the Daphne, for the purpose of 
diving among the pearl islands, rose upon the ship’s 
company, murdered the captain and some of the 
men, took possession of the vessel, and brought 
her to Tahiti. Mr. G. Bicknell, a nephew of 
Mr. Bicknell, was on board at the time, but his 
life was spared, amidst the general carnage that 
attended the assault. The mutinous natives re¬ 
turned to their own island, but were met as they 
were about to enter the harbour by Capt. Walker 
of the Endeavour, who succeeded in retaking the 
vessel, and thus deprived them of their plunder. 
These acts of daring outrage and appalling 
crime, on the one side, and of increasing and 
