Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-02-26
From the st. Louis New Era.
NEWS FROM THE EXPLORING En-
DED1TION

PEDlllOV.
We have been permitted, by Maj. SANFORD,
of this city, to make an extract from letter re-
ceived from his brother, who is an officer at
tached to the U. States Exploring Expedition
of date much later than has been received III
the U. States, and which is of much interest.
The letter was received via New Orleans, and
must have come from the Pacific by an over
land route. 1t will be seen, that the Expedl-
ton does not return to the U. S. until May,
1912 land that two officers have fallen victims,
to the ferocity Of the savages.
u. S. SHIP VINCENNES.
Honolulu, OAHU IsLD.
Oct. Gath, 1910.
believe gave you all the movements OF
the squadron up to the date of nv last letter.
After leaving New Zealand, we bore away Tor
Tongataboo, one of the Tonga Islands, where
| we arrived after a rather protracted voyage:
| During our stay there Of a week, we attempted
| N effect reconciliation between the Heather
and Christian parties, who had been very be-
| l;gerant towards each other for some time pre-
yious to our arrival, but without success. The
cause of this warfare was, to use the emphatic
expression of the Heathens, the Christians
wished "to cram religion down their threats
without their wish or consent" The Heathens
are by far the strongest; but the Christians
possess more effective weapons, which make
up for their deficiency in numbers.
Since we left there, we have heard OF the
death Of Capt. Croker Of the British Frlgate
Favorite, as also fifteen Of his men, who were
killed in skirmish with the Heather party.
He was sent out by the Colonial Government
of New Wales, to assist the Christians and
protect the resident Missionaries. From Ton
ga we sailed direct for the Feegee Islands,
where we remained about three months, ma
king d complete survey of the Gulf. Here we
had "hard times," indeed. The natives in
savage ferocity, treachery. and cannabalism,
exceed the bounds almost of conception itself.
Two of our most efficient and worthy officers,
(and ship mates of mlne,) Lieut.. UNDERWOOD,
and Midshipman WILKES HENRY, whilst out
on surveying cruise in boats, were most bar
barously murdered by the natives of Moolo Is
land. The day subsequent, large party from
the squadron attacked and killed about one
hundred of the natives, burnt their towns, and
destroyed every kind of Vegetable and fruit on
the Island. We made treaty with ''Tauva.' y
the s. King of the Cannibal Islands, but will
he conform to it ! is question which only time
can to certainty, answer,
] say he will not. No dependence should
be placed in any protestation or promises, that
he may make. Every one ought to depend
more upon their means Of intimidatng them
into doing what is right and proper, than on
vows and promises. Their blacklist designs
are concealed urder smiling and apparently
hospitable exterior. Age, misfortune, or op.
preston, finds no sympathy, and instead Of ap-
pea|ing 10 their pity, calls down upon those
who are too weak to resist, fresh injuries, and
sometimes even death.
Enough of this abominable race.-When we
meet, you shall hear more to horrify you, than
| could write in month. We sailed for this
place on the 18th of August. n look
forward to our arrival 10 the United States
which is definite, May, 1912.