16 
ing off* this Island an event occurred 
which, whether we consider the want 
of motives, or the cold blooded and ob¬ 
stinate cruelty with which it was perpe¬ 
trated, has not often been equalled.—- 
We speak of the want of motives, be¬ 
cause, although some occurrences which 
we shall mention, had given the crew 
some ground for dissatisfaction, there 
had been no abuse or severity which 
could in the least degree excuse or pal¬ 
liate so barbarous a mode of redress and 
revenge. During our cruise to Japan 
the season before, many complaints 
were uttered by the crew among them¬ 
selves, with respect to the manner and 
quantity in which they received their 
meats the quantity sometimes being 
more than sufficient for the number of 
men, and at others not enough to supply 
the ship’s company ; and it is fair to 
presume, that the most dissatisfied, de¬ 
serted the ship at Oahu. 
But the reader will no doubt consid¬ 
er it superfluous for us to attempt an 
unreouired vindication of the conduct 
