my old
mistress, who sympathized with me, but said if the chiefs had
determined it, there was no hope for me. I now was made acquainted
with the cause of their dislike, which was no less than a
superstitious idea, that we were the cause of a malady, then raging to
considerable extent!

This disease consisted in the swelling of the hands and feet, and in
many instances the faces of the youth swelled to such a degree, that
they were blind for a number of days. Such a disease they had never
before been afflicted with. I had now an opportunity of most solemnly
protesting my total inability to injure them in this way, and as the
disease had as yet caused no death, I had a hope of being spared. I
learned that a majority of the chiefs in council, were for putting me
to death, but one of them in particular, protested against it, fearing
it might be the cause of some worse calamity. As the vote to carry
into effect any great measure, must be unanimous, this chief was the
means by his dissenting, of saving my life.

The afflicted began to recover, and my fears were greatly lessened;
but as these people are of a very unstable and changeful character, I
could not entirely divest myself of apprehensions.

As soon as the harvest was completed, great preparations were made for
the embarkation of the chiefs, who were going to make their annual
visit to the different Islands. They told me that the King, whom they
called La-boo-woole-yet, lived on an Island at the N. W. and if he did
not receive his yearly present of preserved bread fruit and _pero_, he
would come with a great party to fight them. Twelve canoes were put
in the water, each one carrying a part of the provisions, and manned
by about two hundred persons.

After an absence of four or five days, during which time we exchanged
civilities with numerous chiefs, we returned to _Milly_, and hauled up
the canoes. I now learned that the principal chief, had said that it
would have been wrong to kill me, firmly believing that the disease
with which they had been afflicted, had been sent by their God, as a
punishment for having killed Payne and the others! The malady having
now entirely disappeared, they considered that crime as expiated!

About two days after my return, there was great excitement, in
consequence of the appearance of a ship! Seeing the natives were very
much displeased at the circumstance, I concealed as well as I could,
the gladdening emotions which filled my br