Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/147

] very plenty, for them to be caught in this manner in the open sea. No doubt the fishermen would not have taken all this trouble, had not their hunger been extremely craving; for, as they had no means of dressing their fish in their canoes, they did not hesitate to devour it raw.

About nine in the morning three chiefs came on board, to acquaint us that Toobou, the supreme chief (egui laï) of Tongataboo, Vavao, Anamooka, &c. was coming to pay us a visit, and that he would deliver into our hands the assassin we demanded, and restore the musket that had been stolen. In fact, it was scarcely eleven o'clock when Toobou arrived, with several chiefs. The assassin was at his feet, lying on his belly with his hands bound behind his back. He ordered him on board immediately, and then directed the musket, with its bayonet fixed, which had been taken from one of our sentries, to be brought. Two pieces of stuff, made of the bark of the paper mulberry, so large, that each, if spread out, would have completely covered our vessel, two hogs, and several very large mats, composed the present which he brought to the Commander of our expedition. The warrior Feenou, not disdaining to perform the office of executioner, lifted up his club, to beat out the brains of the culprit, and it was somewhat diffi-