Friday, February 7, 2014

Vindovi, a Prisoner on Board the Vincennes. (October 1840)

Source: The Polynesian. Honolulu: October 3, 1840


Image Credit: American Antiquarian Society. Click here. 

We understand that the name of the Fiji chief who is now a prisoner on board the Vincennes, is Vindovi, and that he is from the town of Rewa, one of the most important places in the group. He was, moreover, hereditary chief of the large island of Kandavu, at which place the outrage was committed for which he has been seized. It appears that in the autumn of 1834, the American brig “Charles Daggett,” was cruising among those islands to obtain beach-le-mar, and that the Captain (Bachelor) having, as he supposed, obtained the goodwill of Vindovi, determined to make his island one of his principal stations. He previously took on board as pilots and interpreters two or three white men who are living on the island, and it is from them that the details of the transaction has been obtained. 

The captain also took the precaution, at first, of keeping a chief as hostage onboard; but after a few days, pretending to be sick, he was in cautiously set on shore. One of the interpreters, who was then at beach-le-mar, perceiving this and seeing, at the same time, some suspicious movements among the natives, became convinced that they had formed the design of taking the brig, and as soon as he saw the mate coming ashore, he went to him and told him what he had observed. The mate immediately came to the same conclusion, and turned to walk to the landing place where he had left his boat; but Vindovi, who was in company with him, suspected that his treachery was discovered and determined to secure at least what was in his power. 

He took the hand of the mate in a friendly manner, and walked along a short distance with him. Then suddenly stopping he seized both the arms of his companion, and pinioned them to his side, giving the signal for the assault. Some of the savages beat out the brains of the mate, while he was held by Vandovi, and a great number attacked the house in which the other men were and killed two of them. 

The interpreter and a Tahitian escaped with great difficulty by swimming off to a boat. The next day the bodies of the murdered men were obtained by paying a musket for them and were sewed up in a sail and buried alongside. The capture of Vindovi was effected by seizing upon the principal chiefs of Reva, and keeping them on board the Peacock, until he was given up. Although it is to be regretted that so many years were allowed to elapse before any notice was taken of this outrage, yet the case, as it has occurred, will be of use by convincing the natives that the lapse of time alone, will not secure them against the consequences of their perfidy. 

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