204

TRANSACTIONS AT

darkness they got off to a neighbouring island;and early in the morning, the wind becomingmore favourable, they proceeded on theirvoyage.

In the mean while a man ran away from theenemy’s garrison, and brought information of thedeparture of Maccapapa to attack the Hapai ex-pedition. Finow ordered several large canoesto put to sea immediately, in pursuit of them.This was speedily accomplished, and in thecourse of a few hours they came up with Mac-capapa’s canoes, and took ten of them. Manyattempted to make their escape to the shore;but being prevented by the large canoes fromproceeding to the regular landing-places, theywere under the necessity of venturing theirnecks by climbing up steep rocks that rose al-most perpendicularly from the water. In thisattempt some fell and were killed. Thus wereFinow’s men revenged.

A fortnight now elapsed without any materialcircumstance occurring: almost every day,however, there was some little skirmish withthe enemy; but which led to no particular re-sult. At the end of this time, the canoes fromHapai not being yet returned, Finow beganto turn his thoughts more seriously than evertowards the large field of yams before spokenof. He made preparations therefore for an at-