Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-02-11

L.,
age breadth of three hundred feet
There were several masses smaller than
this. and to the southwark others but lit
tie less in extent and hight; the whole
making a natural amphitheater, in the
centre Of which, at the base of the conf
cal peaks and between them, lay the town
of Lomati, containing one hundred and
twenty-five houses-the largest, most
strongly fortified by nature, and the most
inaccessible place that had been seen
among the islands. The whole scene
was wild and beautiful in the extreme.
Anchoring in a snug little harSor,
Lieut.. Caldwell at once dispatched the
chief Ratava, to the village of Yamatha-
ba, lover which the chief exercised juris-
liction by right Of conquest,) with
message to be taken by its chief to the
chiefs of Lomati, demanding the murder
ers of Bauer and Homer, and requesting
visit from the chief Dorasivu, with a
pledge guaranteeing his safe arrival and
departure. The object was to get the
murderers, and then indemnity for the
property.
Ravata subsequently returned with in
formation that the natives were decidedly
hostile, and expressed the opinion that
they would resist any demonstration that
, might be made. Later in the afternoon
rhe chief Of Yamathaba came on board,
bearing a defiance from the chiefs of Lo-
matt, which ran as follows:
Do you suppose we killed the two
: white men for nothing? No, we killed
them, and we have eaten them. We are
! great warriors, and we delight in war
We have heard Of the Papillangi; we
wish to meet them in battle. We are
= glad to see the little man-of- war why did
= you not bring the large one? Come Pa
+ piIlangi, our fires are lighted, our ovens
T are hot; has not the Evil Spirit given
u you to US? Come"
= After the delivery of this speech, one
II Of the principal chiefs stepped forward
IS and slapping his thigh, spoke thus: That
e leg is bully-my7cow leg and tomorrow
q it will carry dead PapiIlangi. We
o have killed all our hogs, and tonight we
lie offer them in feast to the Evil Spirit
a. tomorrow we will offer in greater feas
N to the same spirit, the bodies of the white
5. men" These savages acknowledge I
IL great and good spirit, but they never
D. seek him, or do him service. Their bolC
OF and insolent bearing was doubtless owing
/; to the strong natural position of thei
"a town, situated as it was on the summit O
y a mountain sixteen hundred feet high
ne and approachable only through ravine
n filled with rocks, chasms and precipice;
he and dense growth of forest trees an
ed underground. Within this fastness th
e. rich earth yielded them all the necesss
iri ries Of life in abundance. In addition t
ed all this, they had hitherto defeated all al
I'd tempts at subjugation, and considere
nd themselves invincible, with their thre
ed hundred warriors. They were noted fc
'ts their ferocity and cruelty, and all Ii
nd tribes on the route had displayed til
yes most intense satisfaction on learning ii
IN object Of the expedition.
es After the reception of the defanc
he preparations were at once begun for cal
nd turing and destroying the town, an
ut bringing the inhabitants to an engag
al nent. 1t was determined to take how
Ky itzer along, and TO follow the upper rou
as to the town, where the Chief Rava
he said the gun might be carried. Havir
lc- arrived at the period of offensive oper
to tons, we will let the narrator descril
re- the subsequent exciting experiences
ty, the expedition in his own words:
.es, All our arrangements were complet,
OF during the evening, and at o'clock ne
en- morning all hands were called, the m
Sht breakfasted, armed and equipped, and
and ), just as the day was breaking, the CT
nee ter left with the first landing party, CO
and sisting of the marines and a party of st
OF men. The former were ordered to SC.
ere the first hill, an exceedingly precipito
ascent Of two or three hundred feet, a
rec hold it until joined by the rest of t
ned men; the seamen were marched to t
sed base Of the hill, ready to support the n
and rines, or assist to drag up the howitz
re- As soon as the boat returned with (
ices rest Of the men and the howitzer, we
s a commenced ascending the hill, draggi
the it to the top. 1t was an extremely di
the cult task, and just as it was accomplish
i'm, the strap, and preventer strap for A
and drag rope both parted, the howitzer ri
e Of ming down the hill, iniuring the whe