remony went and washed at a neighbouring stream.

This done, they returned to the old chief's house, where a feast was
prepared; and having eaten as much food and drunk as much angona as they
could, they got up and commenced dancing in the most frantic manner,
making a most hideous uproar with their drums, conch-shells, and other
instruments, and shrieking and howling at the top of their voices.
After this, the principal chiefs entered the houses of the late chief's
wives, armed with a sort of bowstring. With these they proceeded
deliberately to kill the unfortunate women, one after the other, till
about twenty were thus executed. The new chief's mother had before
died, or she would have been murdered in the same way. Many of them
seemed perfectly willing to submit to their fate, though several, with
shrieks and cries, endeavoured to escape, but were brought back and
compelled to submit their necks to the executioners.

The young man at once assumed the functions of chief, and seemed
disposed to be no less cruel and bloodthirsty than his father. Soon
after, the news was brought that a vessel had anchored in a bay a short
distance from the town. She was said to be full of all sorts of
valuable commodities; of fire-arms and weapons of all sorts; of cloths,
and tools, and other articles likely to be attractive to savages. At
once the cupidity of the young chief was excited. If he could get
possession of these things, he might become the most wealthy and
powerful of all the chiefs of his nation, and bring the other tribes
into perfect subjection to him. A council of his most trusty followers
was called, and his plan explained to them. They at once agreed to aid
him in its execution.

I trembled for the fate of the unfortunate crew of the ship, and
resolved, if possible, to warn them of their danger. How was I to
succeed? I would try, I thought, and swim off to the vessel; I would
risk my own life for the purpose. Pretending not to have understood
what was proposed, I walked about in as unconcerned a manner as
possible. I lay down at night in my usual place in the chief's house,
intending to get up when all were asleep, and run along the shore till I
came abreast of where I supposed the vessel would be. Anxiously I
waited for the time. I got up and reached the door. Just as I stepped
out into the night air I felt a hand placed on my shoulder! I must have
trembled. It was the hand of the chief.

"Ah, I k