for permission to do so.
The captain then inquired for their chief, and said that if he would
come off and receive part of the payment, the remainder would be given
after the spars had been brought on board, and as a proof of his good
intentions, he sent the chief a present of an axe and a piece of cloth.
This had the desired effect; and in a short time an old warrior came
alongside in his canoe, and announced himself as the chief of the
district. The Sandwich islander then explained what the captain wished,
and certain articles which had been agreed on were given to him, he
undertaking, while the trees were being cut down and carried off, to
keep his people at a distance to prevent the possibility of any dispute
arising.

As soon as the chief and his followers had returned to the shore, two
boats' crews, well armed, put off, and while one party were engaged in
felling the trees, the other remained drawn up to guard against any
attack which the natives might treacherously venture to make. The spars
having been brought on board, the old chief returned for the promised
remainder of the payment. He seemed highly pleased with the
transaction.

"I see that you are wise and just people," he observed. "If all whites
who come to our shores acted in the same way, we would be their friends;
but it has not been always so, and after they have ill-treated and
cheated us, we have been tempted to take advantage of their folly and
carelessness to revenge ourselves."

This remark induced the captain, through the interpreter, to make
inquiries as to what the chief alluded to. At length he learned that
some time before a vessel, with white people on board, had come into the
harbour to obtain sandal wood; that after the natives had supplied a
large quantity, sufficient to fill her, the captain had refused the
promised payment; but, in spite of this, that the crew were allowed to
go on shore and wander about in small parties, when some of them had
quarrelled with the natives and ill-treated them. In consequence the
sailors had been set upon, and killed every man of them. A party of
warriors then put off for the ship, and pretending they had come to
trade, clambered up her sides before the part of the crew who had
remained on board had heard of the massacre, or suspected their
intentions. The savages thus taking them at a disadvantage, put every
person to death, with the exception of a woman and child, who were saved
by the inte