1810.) 
their flight; but, in fact, so sudden and so 
dreadiul was the consternation that suc- 
ceeded the defeat of the unhappy natives 
of 'Taffere, as no doubt to paralyse the 
minds of the wretched creatures, when 
prompt consideration could alone be ser= 
viceable to their deplorable condition. 
The conquerors appeared to anticipate 
with inordinate, delight, the festival with 
which this sad event had gratified their 
horrible expectation. Forty-two bodies 
were extended on one platform in Bul- 
Jandam’s canoe; and one of these, a 
young female, chanting most to attract 
his attention, he desired that his second 
in command would have it laid by for 
themselves. 
The Tafferians being wholly defeated 
and dispersed, the island was taken pos- 
session of by Bullandam’s furces, which 
were very numerous. This principal 
chief invited Mr. Smith on shore, as he 
seemed inclined to shew him favour ; and 
Mr. Sinith declares it to be one of the 
most beautiful places he had ever seen: 
the*houses, in number about a bundred, 
ranged on the declivity of a bill, inter- 
spersed with cocoa-nut, bread-frurt, and 
other trees, and each house defended 
with a wall of piled stone. ‘The buildings 
were however ail set fire to by Bullan- 
dam’s order; and Mr. Smith becoming 
solicitous for his release, was informed 
by the chief, that as soun as all the vic- 
tims were devoured, he should be set at 
liberty with hiscompanions. The dead 
bodies were got into the canoes, and the 
whole fleet left affere on their return to 
the main island, where many others 
joined in the horrible festivity, whieh was 
conducted with rude peals of acclama- 
tion. Mr. Smith was on this occasion 
also taken on shore by the great chief, 
and here had again to experience a detes- 
table spectacle. The bodies had been 
dismembered of their limbs, which were 
suspended on the boughis of trees in rea- 
diness fur coukery; and afterwards part 
of a human leg was offered to Mr. Smith, 
who had never broke his fast for five 
days. The offer he rejected with ab- 
horrence ; and upon his captors appear- 
ing astonished at the refusal, he gave 
them to understand, that if ine ate of 
human flesh he would instantly die. They 
Were satisfied with this excuse, and con- 
tinued their abominable festivity the 
whole night. ‘fi : 
On the 15th, the chief in the canoe 
that captured Mr. Smith’s boat, applied 
to Bullandam for the prisoners, and the 
2. 
at Taffere, one of the Fejee Islands. 
23 
long boat, in order to return them to 
their ship, declaring his intention to de- 
mand three whale teeth and twelve 
hatchets for their ransom; but this pro- 
posal was not then attended to. ‘Twenty 
or thirty men then arrived at the place 
of rendezvous, each bringing a basket of 
human flesh half roasted; which mode, 
Mr. Smith.learnt, they took to preserve 
it. The day of deliverance at length 
approached from a captivity the most 
afflicting, from a diversity of causes that 
man could be exposed to; and after en- 
during it nine days, and totally fasting 
he was at length turned over to the 
charge of the chief of Niri, with orders 
to demand the ransom for ‘himself, and 
six of his companions, But previous to 
guitting the voracious party, a new in- 
cident of cruelty occurred. (ne of the 
unfortunate inbabitants of Tatlere had 
swam from his distressed island to the 
main, but was perceived as soon as he 
gained the shore, and was In consequence 
pursued by a multitude, armed with bows 
and arrows, spears and clubs: the pur- 
suit terminated with “the life of the 
wretched fugitive, whose body presented 
2 new source of exultation and cannibal 
festivity. 
On the 16th, Mr. Smith was restored to 
his overjoyed shipmates, with all his 
companions except two, one of whom 
was Mr. Lockerby, who were afterwards 
indebted for their rescue to a deter- 
mined perseverance in the captain, his 
officers, and people, which was highly 
creditable and meritorious. Mr. Smith, 
Mr. Lockerby, and all the others, had 
been repeatedly on the very point of as- 
sassination, to which these people seem 
to possess no kind-of repugnance what- 
soever, but on the contrary, it appears 
their chief object of delight. Their de= 
termined obstinacy in effecting every 
thing they attempt, cat alone be equalled 
by the extraordinary precision of their 
arrangements, wich are planned methos 
dically, and executed with an energy and 
calmness that surprise even an “Earo- 
pean; with strength of body they possess 
a thorough contempt of danger, and a 
heedtessness of pain. Their prese:.t 
conqueror, Bullandam, has already be- 
eome terrible, and bids fair to possess 
himself of the sole sovereignty of the 
islands. - But though implacable and san-= 
guinary mn his resentments, yet we are 
assured that in his disposition, strong 
traces of kindness were perceivable to- 
wards all except the enemues of his arms. 
te 
