there appeared little probability of this man being taken, efpecially
when the news of the three others being in cuftody Ihould be fpread
abroad. This determined me not to infill upon any further fearch, on the
conviction that it would be neither prudent nor proper to adopt any
meafures of force to effect an object, that want o f time might oblige me
to abandon and leave unaccomplilhed.
In the afternoon T.ennavee returned without Tohoobooarto. A t this I
was not lefs concerned than lit! prized, and could not but confider his
abfenting himlelf as an indication of fome mifcondufl. The two chiefs
allured me I need be under no fuch apprehenfions, as they were certain
j t was only the fear of revenge from the relations and friends o f the delinquents
that prevented his attendance. Dcfpairing o f his evidence we
had only one further appeal. This was to know from Trytooboory, the
chief of the illand, if he believed thefe were the identical people guilty of
the offence? , and as his indifpofition prevented him from coming on board,
I defired Terrekooa,- who could not be at all interelled in any event that
might take place, and who had condufted himfelf with great fidelity
during* twelve months he had been on board, to accompany Coleman,
and make this inquiry of Trytooboory. This they aceordinglyperformed,
and returned in the evening.
Terrekooa declared, that Trytooboory had pofitively pronounced that all
three o f the prifoners were guilty of the murder with which they were
accufed. This Coleman confirmed, and added, that the chief defired
they might be immediately punilhed with death. T o this declaration
Coleman made oath, in the moll folemn manner, in the prefence-of my^
felf and all the officers of the Ihip, who had attended the inveffigation in
the morning; and who, having maturely confidered the bufinefs, were
unanimoully of opinion with me, that jullice demanded exemplary pu-
nilhment, in order to Hop, or at lead to check, fuch barbarous and unprovoked
outrages in future.
It was clearly ellabhlhed in the courfe of the examination, by the telli-
monies o f all the natives who were queftioned, that neither thofe two unfortunate
gentlemen, nor the people in the boats, had given the leall caufe
for umbrage. This certainly aggravated the crime. After much inquiry
it did not appear that any other witneffes could be procured. And
though we could have wilhed to have had more fatisfa&ory proof of ■
the criminality of the perfons in cullody, yet as they had been apprehended
by their own people, accufed and convicled by their own neighbours,
and condemned by their own chief, it was, after the mod ferious
deliberation and refleflion, deemed fufficient to' authorize the execution
of the three prifoners; but as the day was tob; far fpent it was deferred
until the next morning, contrary to the wilhes of the chiefs,
who were very defirous of its immediately taking place. When they
returned to the lhore, I defired they would ufe their endeavours to
find out and bring on board every perfon, that might be able to prove
the innocence of the perfonS in cullody. This:: injuriffiori was treated-
with indifference, becaufe they were perfectly convinced no fuch perfons
could be found. And as I wilhed that as many of the natives as
could be collefted, Ihould witnefs the awful punilhment that the prifoners
had! brought upon themfelvtes by their barbarity; I defired alfo that
they would make it publicly known that the execution would probably
take place the next forenoon.
On friday morning a few of the natives were about the Ihip, but not Fri*y •«.
fo many as on the former days. ’ After breakfall, Coleman, with Tomoho-
moho and Tennavee, came on board. The two latter demanded the immediate
execution of the prifoners. This however was not complied
with, as it was deemed right that they Ihould again be accufed by their
own chiefs, in the prefence o f all the witneffes, o f the crime with which
they Hood charged, in order, if poffible, to draw from them a cohfeflion
of their guilt, and to renew the opportunity which before had been given
them, o f producing fome evidence in proof of their innocence. Nothing
however could be extorted from any o f them, but that they were totally
ignorant o f any fuch circumllance having ever happened on the
illand. This very alfertion amounted almoll to felf- convifiion, as it is not
eafy to believe, that the execution of their comrades, by Titeeree’s orders,
for the fame offence with which they had been charged, had not come to
their knowledge, or that it could have efcaped their recolleftion.
V ol. II. E e Neither