The Sun.
London, England, 1828-11-14 00:00:00

, the win
We have extracted ionog narrative of
the romantic events which led the way to the dis-
covery of the .relies of La Perouse, froni a Cal-
cutta Paper. Captain Dillon has 'arrived in
England
(Fr au, the Calcutta goiwnirivat Gazette of May 8.)
Captain Dillon,. we understand,
.proceeds in
relies
a which Thu
ce
ocpoi I,e cot erd,
aast
the Mary Ann to England, charge of the
nd
reotti nctd9:f-bIV4;-atliie-
colo
natives, Tticeopeea.
It it a curious fact, that the discovery of the
wreck ofLa Perouse'sships,arose out of a massacre
at the, Feejee islands, in 1818. The particularaof
this massacre were published in the -Government
Gazette of the 6th of Febrtiary, 1817, but as few
of our readers may recollect the circumstance, we
repeat them here :--
MASSACRE AT THB FEB.TRE IsLANDs.
From Mr. 'Dillon, master of the Elizabeth
cutter, which sailed from hence in November last,
as tender to the shit) Hunter, Capt. Robson,
we -receive the melancholy information of a
number of persons being unhappily cut okhy the . .
natives of an island called Highlya, among whom
were three youths belch to this colon.yolititip..
whose parents and • relatives we most sensibly
lament their premature destiny.
The ship arrived at the , above islands for the
purpose of proeuring.. sandal-wood, Sze., the 19th
of February, and was not joined by the cutter,
which had . sailed from hence before tier; till the
Ist of May.- In the course of duty, the' vessels
were frequently from 50 to 60 Miles apart; arid
by the beginning of September had procured a
.cargo of about 150 tons of sandal wood,
and two tons of beehe le ?nar, Which the
Hunter has taken on with her to Canton. On
the neighbouring island of Bough several Euro-
peaus and other strangers had for sometime re-
sided in very social habits, and.assisted in pro-
curing the Cargo. These persons were Charles
Savage, John-Graham, Michael M'Cave,
Fence MUM, Joseph. 'Atkinsint, Wm. Williams,
two Lasears, a Chinaman, and an Otaheitan.
These persons had done considerable service to
the natives Of that island, and were' itpon that ac-
count much disliked by the Highlyans, with
whom they were frequently at war.
About the 4th of September, a letter was re-
ceived onboard the elate' froM Mr. Norman, chief
officer of the ship, which wa; then about forty
miles distant, informing the people that a plot
had been formed to eta them off first, as all the
Europeans; except himself and. Captain Robson,
were with the cutter, and afterwards fall uioii the
ship,which wasmanned viith Lascias only. '9l; re-
ceipt of this information; eight of the natives
who were considered the Most forward in the
design were made prisciners, and sent on board.
The ship, in the ine.antime got aground, lost her
false keel, and sustained much other injury.
The cutter ReWise had been several'tinier
aground; 'and for the safety of the crews it was
considered necessary then), both should be hove
down and repaired. The friendly natives of
Bough represented the step as dangerous as long
as the Highlyans were in possession of their
numerous canoes, with which they could attack
them at pleasure in very large numbers,
and 'therefore advised the capture of then-
canoes. 'The appearance shortly after .of a
fi..t or 1:":0 ,vcn7inaunea canoe
seemed to justify: the proposed measure ; the flee
was attacked._ accordingly, and 14 canoes taken,
in performing which one native of Highiya
Was unfortunately killed. Four of the canoes
belonging to the Chief of Meyenball, were re-
stored to him, as he had no concern in the con-
spiracy. While the assault upon the canoes yeas
performing by the cutter, Mr. Norman had been
no less active with the ship's people, in setting
tiro to a native town, comprising about forty'
huts, one-half of which they destroyed.

The next 'morning (Sept. 6) the cutter and
ship, in company, got all clear to. heave-the cut-
ter down ; previous to effecting which the Bough
natives strongly exhorted the Captain and Offi-
cers to go on shore again, and take the remain-
der of the boats, to prevent being attacked by
them.; and the advice was unfortunately ap-
proved. The vessels' boats were manned with-
out delay, and the people landed, under no ex-
pectation that the Inhabitants of the town had
been reinforced.

' The tide was now too low to get off the
cables : a• number of natives, who sheaved them-
'selves, insulted the assailants with shouts and
gestures, and in a passionate moment. 'several
huts were set on fire. The people froM the
vessels, unconscious of their danger, were sepa_
rated into straggling parties ; andlo! in an in-
stant, as if by some signal g,tYen, they' were on
all sides surrounded by at least eight. thousand
armed men, assembled from_ all parts .of the
coast, possibly with intent to, attack the vessels.
Six of the Europeans, among whom were Mr.
Norman, M'Cave, and Graham, confounded at
the charge, threw down their muskets and ran
towards the boats, but Were intercepted, 'and
massacred with spears
811(1 clubs. Nine others,
among whom was Mr,. Dillon (who reports this
tragical:event), collected themselves, with a.de-
termination to resist as long as they were able :
they made for the summit of a hill near the sea,
and six reached the top, but left three of their
companions on the way, dead or dying of their
spear anti arrow wounds.
As they were now beyond the reach of spears
and stones, and by a high wind
.providentially
shielded from the arrows, whole flights of which
were blown out of their destructive course, they
defended themselves with their ninskets, the dread
of which deterred their opponents from any at-
tempt to ascend the hill ; and iti
,this hopeless
state having continued several hours, a priest
ventured to approach them with friendly ges-
tures, and was welcomed up. The business of
his mission was to, promise there security, pro-
vided they would release the eight natives who
were prisoners in. the vessels. Gladly
.consent-
ing to this proposition, one of the Europeans ac-
companied the priest, who was of the highest
order and consideration, down to the boats; he
went on board, and the eight natives were re-
leased accordingly.; but during- this interval, two
of the Europeans were, by pacific signs and de_
elarations, induced to quit the summit of the
hilt, and go down among them, against the
advice of Mr. D. and his two remaining corn-
panions, who; after 'refusing to follow their ex-
ample, had the mortification to see those also
perish beneath the weight of innumerable weapons.
The defenders of the hill, being g so reduced in
number, were now furiously assaulted with stones
and arrows upon all sides ; but the muskets still
kept them at a distance.
After about four hours the priest, followed by
the eight natives,. appeared in view, and hostili-
ties were again . suspended. They went up the
hill, and proffered to conduct Mr. Dillon, and
the two remaining companions in safety to their