Captain of the Man-of-war, and the white
man would be punished as fast as the black man."

After spending much time, and using peaceably every means in his power
in trying to get the guilty parties on Tanna, and not succeeding, he
shelled two villages,--having the day before informed the Natives that
he would do so, and advising to have all women, children, and sick
removed, which in fact they did. Indeed nearly the whole of the
inhabitants, young and old, went to Nowar's land, where they were
instructed they would be safe, while they witnessed what a Man-of-war
could do in punishing murderers. But before the hour approached, a
foolish host of Tannese warriors had assembled on the beach, painted and
armed and determined to fight the Man-of-war! And the Chief of a village
on the other side of the bay was at that moment assembled with his men
on the high ground within our view, and dancing to a war song in
defiance.

The Commodore caused a shell to strike the hill and explode with
terrific fury just underneath the dancers. The earth and the bush were
torn and thrown into the air above and around them; and next moment the
whole host were seen disappearing over the brow of the hill. Two shots
were sent over the heads of the warriors on the shore, with terrific
noise and uproar: in an instant, every man was making haste for Nowar's
land, the place of refuge. The Commodore then shelled the villages, and
destroyed their property. Beyond what I have here recorded, absolutely
nothing was done.

We returned then for a moment to Sydney. The public excitement made it
impossible for me to open my lips in the promotion of our Mission. The
Rev. Drs. Dunmore, Lang and Steel, along with Professor Smith of the
University, waited on the Commodore, and got an independent version of
the facts. They then called a meeting on the affair by public
advertisement. Without being made acquainted with the results of their
investigations, I was called upon to give my own account of the
_Curacoa's_ visit and of the connection of the Missionaries therewith.
They then submitted the Commodore's statement, given by him in writing.
He exonerated the Missionaries from every shadow of blame and from all
responsibility. In the interests of mercy as well as justice, and to
save life, they had acted as his interpreters; and there all that they
had to do with the _Curacoa_ began and ended. All this was published in
the newspapers next day, along with the spee