The next morning at daylight we stood in to another part of the coast. We saw several canoes quietly engaged in fishing, and so we guessed that the alarm had not spread thus far. We accordingly stood close in, when several canoes came off to us. The captain, as usual, invited the people on board. Some of them spoke English, which the captain did not understand, and I was not inclined to answer them. As they might have been alarmed had they seen armed men at the hatchway, those who had been stationed there were withdrawn. The new arrivals spoke rather loudly to each other; their voices were heard by their countrymen below, who, making a sudden rush at the fore hatch, forced it off and sprang upon deck.
The alarm was given immediately; those who had last come, as well as our captives, began to leap overboard. We all rushed upon them, knocked those we could catch down, and shut close the hatchway. The captain then ordered us to fire on the people in the water swimming for the shore, while the boats were manned and sent in pursuit of the fugitives. Two or three were hit, some sank, and only a few succeeded in gaining one of the canoes; the rest were all retaken. In the canoe which escaped was one young man who was shot just as he got into it: his companions, however, managed to paddle off. Those who had been retaken were well beaten, and forced down below.
As there was no use remaining longer at Savage Island, we sailed for Samoa.
We avoided the principal harbours, and kept cruising along the coast, picking up several canoes which came off to us. Occasionally we went on shore to obtain water and vegetables, always being on our guard lest our business might be suspected, and we ourselves entrapped. At one place where we landed for this purpose, we found the natives under an old warrior chief preparing to attack a neighbouring tribe. This is just the opportunity for us, observed our supercargo; if we help the old chief, we may bargain that we are to have all the prisoners. The supercargo on this began to talk to the chief about the arms and men we possessed, and to hint that we might possibly be persuaded to assist him in conquering his enemies. The old chief at once took the bait, and promised us anything we might ask if we would assist him. The supercargo replied that our captain would be very moderate in his demands, and that we should be content if we might have all the prisoners. We agreed to come on shore with ten men to help him. The captain, however, had arranged to send all the boats, which were to keep in the rear of the enemy, and, as soon as the battle began, the crews were to land, and carry off as many warriors as they could lay hands on.
Early the next morning we landed with our muskets, and found the army drawn up for battle. The warriors were armed with spears and short clubs, and their hair dressed up in the strangest fashion, and stuck full of feathers. They were almost naked, with the exception of kilts round their waists. We kept in the rear, ready to advance when called upon to act, and the warriors marched forward, singing songs and shouting their war-cries. In a short time they came in front of the enemy, who were seen drawn up in a wood. Both parties halted and began abusing each other, our friends telling their enemies that they were women, and would soon run away; and warning them that they only came to be killed, if they dared to advance further. After this style of compliment had been exchanged for some time, they rushed towards each other grinning and making faces, when they once more halted, and began throwing their spears. We on this advanced, and fired a volley, which threw them into the greatest confusion. It was evidently totally unexpected, and, before they could recover, our friends rushed in on them, speared some and made others prisoners. We, meantime, were loading, and, having done so, advanced
and fired a second volley. The enemy, though brave fellows, began to fly, when our friends dashed in among them, and, with our assistance, a large number were captured. Many of those who escaped were seized by the crews of the boats, and at once dragged off. The victory was complete, and the old chief at once handed over to us all the prisoners he had taken. This was an advantage to them, for they would otherwise have been killed.
By this means we collected about forty men, whom we carried at once on board.
We may as well have some of our friends, observed the supercargo, and he accordingly returned on shore to invite the old chief, and as many people as he chose to bring off to visit the ship, and receive some presents which he was told we had prepared for him. The chief looked highly pleased, and much to the satisfaction of the supercargo, accepted his polite invitation.
Next morning the chief and several people came alongside. The chief said he desired to thank us for the service we had rendered him, and to present us with some cocoa-nut oil and rolls of cloth which would be prepared in a day or two if we would wait for them.