Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-07
POSSIBILITIES WITH THE coMoRo ISLANDERS

by accounts just hand from the Comoro Islands
It appears that hostile attack has been made in that
quarter by an American Government vessel Johanna
the chiei Island OF that group, has been for time
place OF resort for American whalers Who it is affirmed
have been repeatedly subjected to outrages from the King
of the Islands In August $780, it appears that he seized
and threw into prison Capt MOORE of the baroue Maria
OF New BEDFORD We do not remember the nature of this
transaction; but as we understand, Government dis
patched the ssop-of-war Dale Captain PEARSON to OBJ
tain redress for the outrage The King having refused
TINS Captain PEARSON cannonaded the town. and brought
the King to terms, the 9th of August last The
following account of the transaction is from Capt
CUTLER, Of the barque Dolphin published in the Warren
R ~ Star:
Capt Pearson, after making all inquiries of both the
English squadron this station and the masters of Ame
can ships in the harbor and also of the English residents
nere beng convinced OF the fragrant injustice done
oap Moore and others at this Island demanded of the
hing S2O,OOO and required an immediate answer
After waiting all night and receiving no answer he
dspatched another letter. informing the King that if he
did not give him at or before twelve clock he
should commence hostites. The King replied to the
last note offering $500 in cash and $500 worth bull
locks and rnkes Capt Pearson refused this and cot
his ship under weigh and moored her off the town one
hundred yards from the beach, with his broadside the
town
The King then sent off and offered to pay s5ooO if he
could get It any way would give trinkets CATTLE and
cotton cloth to make up the Capt Pearson then
gave the King hours more to consider Of it,
at the same time telling him not to make any warke de-
nonstraton IN the mean time; il he did, he should
slider it breach of faith and should commence hos
tties He also notified the King that he did come
to some definite terms, to send the and children
out Of the place by the next dayhe should then
commence firing upon them.
AT daylight the 9th there large number Of troops
ON the shore and they sent word to Capt Pear
any thing AT nine A. M the Dale commenced firing shot
at the fort After FIVE shots they white aag Capt
Pearson Immediately ceased firing, and Lieut. Fair
fax with flag of truce inquire what the white flag
was set for, and if they were ready to treat with
him. They answered that they wished the firing to
cease and said they could not the demand They
were told to haul down the flag of truce but they refused
to do So Capt Pearson learning their answer sent
another message to them informing them that they did
not haul down the flag he should again firing
with it up After waiting proper length of time, Capt
Pearson again commenced firing at the fort and block
house at the of the town. but strictly avoiding FIR
ing into the town. After nineteen shots and shells they
set signal on the beach, and Lieut. Parker sent
with flag of truce At this time the King offered to
pay ST 900, give bond for So OOO and surrender the
town; said that he very sorry that he had done
wrong and faithfully promised not to do in future
He would give up his houses his slaves his cattle, but
that he could only give 900 in money and thirty head
Of cattle. Capt Pearson wishing to avoid boodshed
cepted his Offer condition that the King should make
treaty with the American Government placing Americans
on an equal footing with the most favored nations
AT Am. on the 7th Capt. Pearson hauled his ship
from the town, and every thing has gone quiet since
SO far
Comoro Islands lie in the northern part Of the Mozam
bique Channel, between Madagascar and the African
coast Joanna Johanna hechief island has popula
ton of about thirty thousand. The natives
grel race, combining Arabian with African blood They
have been generally regarded peaceabe and humane
though their King rules with arbitrary sway The Islands
very fertile and abound with live stock they are
In consequence much frequened by ships want of sup
plies. The town Of Joanna contains three hundred
houses, built mostly Of stone No European settlement
mas ever been made in these Isands-Boston Courier.