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Fiji Expedition of 1840

The Fiji Expedition of 1840 was one part a scientific exploration expedition and two parts punitive expedition, which itself was a part of the wider United States Exploring Expedition or (U.S. Ex. Ex.).

Background

The Ex. Ex. under the command of Lieutenant Charles Wilkes had just discovered that Antarctica was a continent, and finished surveying Wilkes Land.^[1]^{: 182–183} However, Wilkes was facing a significant deadline. Wilkes was originally given a deadline of 3 years to conduct the necessary research for all the allotted study location goals for the expedition. Unfortunately for him he only had two months to conduct the studies for Fiji expedition, then he would immediately have to journey to the Columbia river expeditions to finish the rest of the studies for the rest of the year. If he did not the sailors' and marines' enlist service would expire, and the expedition's future would have been put in jeopardy.^[1]^: 189

This put much pressure on Wilkes. As it was, besides the Columbia river expedition, the Fiji expedition was considered the most paramount research destination for several reasons. New England merchants and whalers frequented Fiji for its whale and sandalwood, and competed with the British and the French for the bêche-de-mer populations to sell in China. However, Fiji possessed many uncharted reefs, rocks, and currents, with a culture well known for its cannibalism,and a noted penchant for dragging boats for dragging boats to shore and killing all on board. No dependable navigation charts existed, and in the 12 years prior to 1840 8ships (5 of them being American had been destroyed in the area. These condition made travel to and around these Islands so precarious, that the East India Marine Society of Salem, Massachusetts, United States had petitioned the federal government for local charts for sailors navigating these waters.^[1]^{: 13–14, 118, 190, 196, 199–200}

Although surveying was the primary reason for the Ex. Ex. in general, the Ex. Ex. also brought along a group of scientists which were also deployed for the Fiji expedition.^[1]^{: 49, 119}

Now that the Antarctic discoveries were finished, Wilkes' fleet traveled to Sydney, Australia, then to the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, and finally they rendezvoused at Tongatapu, in Tonga, and prepared for their next mission in Fiji.^[1]^{: 184–191} Wilkes had already had his four ships furnished at Syndey. His current fleet at the time of the Fiji expedition consisted of Wilkes' flagship the USS Vincennes (sloop-of-war, 780 tons, 18 guns), the USS Peacock (sloop-of-war, 650 tons, 22 guns), the USS Porpoise (brig, 230 tons, 10 guns), and the USS Flying Fish (schooner, 96 tons, 2 guns).^[1]^{: 64–65, 191}. Furthermore, Wilkes had prepared at least a dozen gigs, cutters, and whaleboats were prepared for travel against the hazardous reefs. Each of the vessels were given surveying equipment and a supply of forward mounted blunderbusses, and a number of them were furnished with Congreve rocket artillery frames.^[1]^{: 190–191}Wilkes believed he was going to lose at least two ships and his officers wrote their wills to their loved ones for fear at the prospect of being shipwrecked or cannibalized.^[1]^: 195

Beginning of the expedition

Wilkes' fleet set sail in April or May of that year. He dispatched the Porpoise under Lieutenant Cadwalader Ringgold to the Lau Group of the Fiji Islands, while the rest of the fleet went to the Koro Sea. The 3 ships headed for the Island of Ovalau, but by the morning of May 7th, the Flying Fish under the command of Lieutenant George Sinclair went missing, after it got caught on a reef. Wilkes pressed on with the Peacock and the Vincennes and anchored by the village Levuka.^[1]^{: 195–197, 199}

Upon Wilkes arrival, a white shipwrecked survivor of the Oneo and Nantucket man named David Whippey and one of his sons paddled up to the Vincennes. Whippey was what was called a beachcomber, which in this context meant a "tame white man". This was a sort of mercenary, military advisor, and translator. The earliest beachcomber Charlie Savage and those like him taught Fijians how to use fire arms. This revolutionized Fijian warfare, and they were greatly by war chiefs, who rewarded them with riches and women.^[1]^: 197^[2] Whippy had risen to the title of "Mata-ki-Bau" (the Royal Messanger of Bau).^[1]^: 198

Wilkes had Whippey sent a message to Tanoa chief/Vunivalu of Bau and head of the notorious Lasakau sea warriors, and asked to meet with him. After a messenger was sent, Whippey took Wilkes and 25 of his officers and naturalists (including the commander of the Peacock Lieutenant William L. Hudson and Navy Geographer and Passed midshipman Henry Eld), along with an entourage of natives, on a tour and hike of Mount Nadelaiovalau. At the top of the mountain Wilkes and his scientists could clearly see the surrounding area including nearby reefs and other nearby landmarks. The group set out right away making charts, sketches, and measurements for recording.^[1]^{: 198–199}

On May 8th Wilkes deployed two surveying parties on boats. One was to be led by Lieutenant James Alden Jr. who would leave Ovalau to explore the northern shore of Viti Levu Island. The second boat was led by Lieutenant George F. Emmons, who in turn scouted the south shore. Wilkes gave the officer further orders that after exploring their respective shores that they should assemble at the Island of Malolo which was to the west of Viti Levu. That same day Lieutenant Sinclair arrived with the Flying Fish at Levuka and reported to Wilkes.^[1]^: 199

On May 9th chief Tanoa arrived in a finally decorated 100 foot, double hulled, outrigger canoe with sail and a 40 man crew. and landed at Levuka's harbor. He boarded the Vincennes and through Whippey was able to negotiate a trade deal between Bau and the United States.^[1]^{: 199–201}

Capture of Chief Veidovi

After a few says an Irish beachcomber named Paddy O'Connell met with Wilkes. O'Connell attempted to hire himself out to Wilkes, which Wilkes at first dismissed him. However, a single story caught his interest. O'Connell informed Wiles that he was a witness to the murder of several of the crew of the American bêche-de-mer merchant ship the Charles Doggett in the year 1834. Wilkes learned that a Fijian chief named Veidovi was the man who organized the attack. Wilkes sent O'Connell to Lieutenant Hudson on the Peacock to arrest Veidovi.^[1]^: 201^[3]^[4]

O'Connell met Hudson and gave Hudson Wilkes' orders and the two of them set out for Rewa in Viti Levu where Veidovi lived. Hudson quickly concocted a plan to trap Veidovi. Hudson invited the chief of Rewa and his 3 brothers onboard the Peacock to a welcoming reception. Over 100 local Fijians showed up along with the chief himself, but Veidovi was noticeably absent. Hudson lured the native royals into his cabin with an offering of a meal and then called for battle stations. The royals were split away from their retainers. Hudson promised mercy to the chiefs in exchange for them delivering Veidovi to them. After a spout of protest the chief of Rewa agree and one of the chiefs brothers was released to arrest Veidovi dead or alive.^[1]^{: 201–202}^[3]^[4]

The following day Veidovi arrived and agreed to go quietly in exchange for the freedom of his family and their families respectively. Hudson took Veidovi to his personal cabin for interrogation and Veidovi openly conceded to orchestrating the Charles Doggett killings. Veidovi explained that he lured the mate of the ship into a trip and feigned a friendly greeting to the mate of the ship. Then his men seized the mate and clubbed him to death, and then proceeded to kill more of the ship hands. Veidovi added that his motivations were to acquire firearms and that he was only following his culture in that "...he had only followed the Fegee customs & done what his people had often done before.". Hudson decided to punish Veidovi by forcing him to travel with the Ex. Ex. and then live in America for a few years, where he would learn to be civilized and not kill white people. Veidovi was dismayed, since as a chief he had 55 wives and numerous children that he would have to leave behind.^[1]^: 202^[3]^[4]

Arrival of Captain Edward Belcher

In June 1840 a British flotilla (including the HMS Sulphur (1826) HMS Starling (1829)) commanded by Captain Edward Belcher arrived in Fiji. Belcher was conducting his own separate surveying expedition and had just come from the Vavaʻu island group in Tonga. Belcher traveled to Rewa where one of his ships had lost a rudder from a reef. After encountered other members of the Ex. Ex. and through messangers, Wilkes gave Belcher a spare rudder from the fleet. Later, Wilkes came to meet Belcher aboard his ship and spoke together in Belcher's cabin. However, despite Wilkes' goodwill in offering Belcher an extra rudder, Belcher was less than pleased to see him. Belcher was required to pay port charges due to the trade deal that he had set up between the U.S. and cheif Tanoa. The meeting did not accomplish much, although Wilkes found out that Belcher had explored the Columbia River the year before in 1839, and that based off Belcher's descriptions Wilkes would definitely need to extend the length of the Ex. Ex. by at least a year. The two parted cordially and Belcher and his ships later sailed to Vanuatu.^[1]^{: 204, 261}^[5]^[6]

Accidents involving the Peacock

The Peacock had several accidents associated with or on it during this expedition. At Vita Levu the ship sustained considerable, but non fatal damages to its hull. While one of the Peacocks cutter boats had overturned and sank. At one point one man lost 3 fingers to an anchor chain. On another occasion a man accidentally shot off his index finger. A third sailor nearly had his leg entirely detached. Later, another sailor had an accident while winding the capstan and broke his ribs. However, perhaps the worst accident occurred when a sailor unwittingly placed a gunpowder cartridge under his shirt while preparing to fire a cannon (for non offensive purposes). A spark flew off from the igniter and hit the cartridge the man was carrying which exploded over 3 pounds of gunpowder, and the man was badly charred from the ordeal.^[1]^{: 205–206}

Discoveries, acquisitions, and accomplishments made during the expedition

Acquisition of a Cannibalized Skull

During one occasion of the expedition the Peacock was off the coast of Tavea when a chief and his wife and an escort of 3 canoes approached the ship. Hoping to antagonize the crew, the natives explained that they had captured 3 prisoners from an enemy village and had "roasted them & eaten part!". They displayed a piece of one of the bodies that had been preserved in plantain leaves to show the crew. Then they produced a half gnawed on skull to be exhibited. The crew also noticed one native eating an eyeball, with flesh dangling from his mouth. Some of the men vomited at this spectacle. Later the expeditions pursuer bought the skull to be added to the Ex. Ex.'s artifact collection in exchange for some cloth.^[1]^: 207

Discoveries of the science team

William Brackenridge the horticulturalist and Charles Pickering the naturalist teamed up to make several discoveries together while at Fiji. With their mutual cooperation, they discovered over 650 different plant species. This included a new species of tomato and poison ivy. Moreover, Pickering made the discovery that if the science team did not bring anything that appeared valuable to the natives, they could travel about the Islands without great fear of danger or harassment. This gave them ample time an opportunity to conduct their research. And Brackenridge, for his part, found the last existing variant of sandalwood on Fiji, which up until that point was thought to have been extinct from over harvesting.^[1]^{: 207–208}

Horatio Hale, the teams' philologist and anthropologist documented over 5,600 words in the Fiji language and documented their craftsmanship in producing various canoes, dwellings, and pottery.^[1]^: 208

James Dwight Dana the team's geologist made a titanic discovery in his field. He proved Charles Darwin's theory of subsidence, which Darwin had spoke about publicly, but was formally addressed in his book The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs. In the theory of subsidence after a volcanic Island is formed and after a lengthy period of time a fringing reef forms along the edges or "fringes" of the Island. After that and given more time the Island begins to erode and sink and a lagoon begins to form around the island and the fringing reef becomes a barrier reef. Then after further erosion and sinking over time the island sinks into the sea and only the reef and lagoon it forms remains becoming an atoll. Darwin at first thought he could not adequately prove his theory, but Dana proved it by finding all 3 stages of reef formations on the islands of Cicia, Matuku, and Nanuku.^[1]^: 208

Burning of Solevu

In early July, Lieutenant Oliver Hazard Perry, Jr. (of the Perry Family) and Passed midshipman Samuel R. Knox led a two cutter survey to chart Solevu bay. The pair and their crews had been stuck in in the bay by a storm for numerous days, with dwindling supplies. While the boats anchored a group of natives taunted them threateningly from the beach. Eventually their food ran out and both Perry and Knox felt compelled to escape. Knox made a lone attempt with his crew. The winds blew hard as the crew made for the shore. Open disembarking the boat, the sailors were encircled by several natives with clubs, spears, and a small amount of firearms. The crews gunpowder was wet and so if it came down to a fight the crew would need to resort to hand-to-hand combat. However in an unprecedented move by Western accounts the chief in charge of the natives took pity on the explorers. Knox and his men swam back to Perry's boat, which became overloaded.^[1]^{: 209–210}^[4]

As night fell, the natives lit fires on the beach and occasionally took pot shots at Perry and his men. In the cover of the night the natives stealthily began diving and swimming to the ship, and attempted to either lift the anchor and cut the anchor chain to drag the boat ashore. The sailors began firing into the water, and eventually were able to capture 2 of the tribesmen. When morning came Perry made a second attempt to escape the bay. This time he attempted to maneuver his cutter around the shallow reefs and into the open ocean. The Natives upon realizing what Perry was attempting to accomplished assembled around the edges of the reef. At one point there was a bump along the reef and the boat took on water. The men attempted to bail and keep their distance from the natives.^[1]^: 210

Perry was able to escape with his crew and prisoners, and on July 12th met with the Vincennes, Flying Fish, and Peacock which had all rendezvoused at Bau Bay. After learning what had happened Wilkes assembled 11 boats, 80 men, and the Flying Fish to exact retribution, and retrieve the stolen cutter.^[1]^{: 209–210}

The flotilla arrived in the afternoon at low tide. As the waters were shallow a mudflat had formed between Wilkes' ships and the stolen cutter. Wilkes met with the chiefs representatives and used Whippy as a translator. Wilkes commanded the natives to return the boat and all items that were in it. The natives were intimidated as up until this point in Fijian history there was never before a time when so many westerners had gathered threatening war. The chief returned the boat, but did not return the boats equipment and belongings of the crew.^[1]^: 211

Outraged Wilkes landed most of his men armed with muskets, but remained on a gig from which he would direct a Congreve rocket. Wilkes ordered the burning of Solevu village. The natives fled into the hills and Wilkes fired rockets into them. The village was destroyed, but due to the simplicity of the villages material structure would be repaired in a few weeks. Aside from loss or damage to property no side suffered any casualties.^[1]^{: 211–212}^[4]

Battle of Malolo

Background

Part of the Ex. Ex. soon moved on from Solevu to the Mamanuca Islands to continue their survey mission. Whippy informed Wilkes that this set of islands were particularly notorious for being perilous to westerners. Wilkes acknowledged the danger and made sure his boats were grouped together and well escorted. He deployed 3 boats and the Porpoise and Flying Fish for this mission. The boats were led by Lieutenants Alden, Emmons, and Joseph Underwood.^[1]^: 213

On July 23rd the squadron reached Drawaqa Island at the southern most end of the Yasawa Islands. Wilkes divided his squadron. He sent 2 boats led by Alden and Underwood to the middle of the Mamanucas, the Porpoise took the Western side, and the Flying Fish and Emmons' cutter took the Western end. The goal was for all 3 groups to complete their surveying that day and then assemble together at Malolo Island the next day.^[1]^: 214

Alden and Underwood finished their surveying without issue, and anchored on the east side of Malolo next to Malolo Lailai for the night. In the morning Underwood and Alden noticed the Flying Fish and Emmons boat anchored in the distant East along Malolo. An hour later, Emmons boat approached Underwood and Alden's. They inquired for food, but Emmons regrettably told them that the Flying Fish was entirely bereft of anymore supplies. This distressed the officers as only a few days ago Wilkes had cut the food rations by a third due to low provision levels, and currently Underwood and Alden's men only had a few yams with them. It was decided to try and trade with the local natives for food.^[1]^{: 209, 215}

Underwood found a group of local natives and through a Māori interpreter named John Sac, Underwood negotiated for food. Underwood was able to negotiate a tentative deal between himself and the natives.^[7] The village of Malolo was on the Southwest part of the island and the natives proposed making an exchange for a few hogs. However, in order to get them Underwood would have to accompany the natives and one of the boats would have to sail to the Southwestern part of the island to pick them up. The local chief's son was among the bartering group of natives, and Underwood agreed to travel with the natives to their village provided that the chiefs son stay with his boat as a captive and guarantee of Underwood's safety.^[1]^: 215

Underwood used his own boat (the Leopard) as it was smaller than Alden and Emmons cutters and could more easily go over the shallows without getting trapped. He left all but 3 his muskets with the Porpoise in order to further reduce weight and increase the ease of travel. This was actually against the standing orders that Wilkes had laid out for safety, but Underwood did not believe that the Fijians were as dangerous as was commonly supposed. Underwood brought Sac with him to translate, along 6 other men, while the rest stayed with the Leopard (commanded by Alden) and their hostage on the beach.^[1]^: 216

Underwood met a group of natives near the village by a tree with many throwing and maiming clubs tied to the branches, and two thin hogs next to it. Underwood tried to barter for the swine, but he was informed that no transaction could be made without the chiefs approval. After half an hour the chief appeared after returning from a fishing trip. The Chief demanded a musket with ammo and powder in exchange for the hogs.^[1]^{: 216–217}

Meanwhile, the sailors on the beach were getting agitated. The tide was coming in and Alden didn't trust the natives as much as Underwood did. A messenger soon came from Underwood giving him an update of the situation. Alden sent a message to Underwood to stop negotiating and return to the ship. He sent Wilkes' Nephew Midshipman Wilkes Henry (who was named after his Uncle), to deliver the message. Soon after, a Canoe came up alongside the Leopard and began talking to the chief's son. The Fijian attempted to get out of the boat, but Aden pulled him down. Another half an hour passed, and negotiations seemed to be progressing. Another messenger from Underwood informed Alden that the chief wanted a hatchet and then the hogs would go to the sailors. Alden gave the man the hatchet and he ran to give it to Underwood.^[1]^: 217

Not long after Emmons arrived in one of the cutters. He and his crew had been looking for an area to eat the pigs at the nearby Malolo Lailai island, and began discussing it with Alden. Alden was sharing with Emmons his anxieties over the negotiations and the chief's son's attempted escape, when the native leaped out of the boat and ran in the opposite direction from the village. Alden feared ordered one of his men to shoot over the native's head to entice him to return.^[1]^{: 217–218}

The Killing of Lieutenant Underwood and Midshipman Wilkes Henry

Accounts differ as to what happened next, however when the shot went off. Alden and Emmons claimed that the chief's son's escape attempt was a signal for the natives to attack. While those who were negotiating with the chief claimed that the attack began after the shot was fired. Either way, the chief shouted that he thought that the sailors on the beach had killed his son, and ordered an assault. Two Fijians graded a the musket of one of Underwood's men, named Joseph Clark. Clark gripped the musket and then brandished a knife. He stabbed one native and then bashed another with the muskets' shoulder stock. Then, several natives began spilling out of the mangrove bushes. Underwood's men began to retreat to the two boats and began firing their muskets.^[1]^: 218

About a hundred native began to give chase to the men retreating on the beach and threw spears and throwing clubs at their enemy. Wilkes Henry and Underwood covered the retreat. Henry was hit by a club and then shot the man who threw it at him. Then another native hit him in the back of the head. Henry collapsed to the ground with his face in the water, was surrounded by natives, and then stripped. Joseph Clark was hit by a glancing blow in the mouth and the spear landed in Underwood's left arm. Clark shot the man who threw the spear in the head and then another native knocked Clark out with a club. He fell into the water, but the pain from the salt water on his bloody face soon woke him. Clark stood up and witnessed Underwood being clubbed in the back of the head. Clark attempted to draw Underwood to safety with one arm, and hit away other natives with his other. But Clark was hit twice more and fell down. He got back up when he noticed another native was about to club the unconscious Underwood and stabbed him repeatedly. Clark grabbed Underwood again who briefly came to and told him to tell his wife that he loved her. Then Underwood took had his head clubbed in and died. Clark was left in a state of shock and delirium, he got up and lipped to the rest of the escaping sailors. His face was covered in blood and dangling flesh and in his absent minded state and laughed and sang at the natives. The natives were perplexed by Clark's actions and stayed clear of him for the rest of the engagement. ^[1]^{: 218–220}

Once the other retreaters had assembled at the boats with Alden and Emmons, Alden a handful of men went back to look for Underwood and Henry. They encountered Clark in his delusional state and sent him back to the boats. The natives had retreated back to their village, and then they found the bodies of both of Underwood and Henry almost completely naked. Underwoods face was smashed beyond recognition. As for Henry, aside from the bruising and his nudity, Henry looked unharmed, but his mourners soon realized that Henry had drowned while unconscious.^[1]^: 220^[4]

On the beach, there lay the bodies of ten Fijians from the attack. One of them stirred and was still alive, and in a fit of fury and vengeance, shot and stabbed him several times, before cutting off his head. A number of the men, wanted to pursue the natives back to their village. But there was less than two dozen men, and the natives could return at any moment and overwhelm them. Alden commanded that the men make a swift retreat back to the rest of the expedition. The bodies of Henry were gingerly placed in the cutter and covered in jackets to uphold their dignity, and the 2 boats sailed back to the Flying Fish.^[1]^{: 220–221}

Once the bodies were brought on board they were placed in the ships port side and covered in tarp. Wilkes wept bitterly for his nephew, knelt and kissed him. He called Underwood a "poor fellow". The cadavers were stitched into hammocks, draped in flags, buried on a nearby small island, and hidden out of feat that the natives would dig up and cannibalize the bodies. Wilkes named the Island Henry Island after his Nephew (not to be confused with Henry Island (Washington), which he also named after his Nephew later in the expedition).^[1]^{: 222–223}^[4]

Prelude to the main battle

That night (July 23rd) Wilkes set up boat patrols command by Alden, Emmons, and Eld around Malolo to ensure no native escaped. It became evident that the natives also expected a counter attack. Fijians in full war paint and equipped with muskets were scattered around the shoreline and would fire pot shots at the boat crews. The crews would occasionally fire back, but the natives would take cover and drop prone before a musket ball could hit them.^[1]^: 223

In the morning of July 24th, Wilkes sent a force of about 70 men in 3 divisions and commanded by Lieutenant Ringgold, to land in Southern Malolo. Wilkes gave orders to kill all men and burn the village, but "spare only the women and the children.". From there the men began marching to the fortified village of Sualib (also called Sualib) just outside of where Underwood and Henry were killed. The Flying Fish and Porpoise waited on the coast with their cannons fixed on the shore^[1]^{: 223–224}^[4]

In the meantime Wilkes organized a small fleet of boats commanded by Alden, Emmons, and Clark who's mission was to search and destroy and and all hostile escaping canoes. There other objective was to approach the smaller Arro (sometimes called Yaro) village and neutralize it while Ringgold's force would destroy Sualib and link up with Wilkes flotilla in Arro.^[1]^: 224

The engagement at Sualib village

As the landing party was disembarking, 3 canoes appeared and were headed to Malolo Lailai. Emmons and Alden took 2 boats and pursued them. Once they were close enough an interpreter asked the natives where they were from. A native responded that they were from Malolo. Emmons fired the forward mounted blunderbuss and killed 6 natives and the rest jumped in the water. Alden ordered that the rest be taken as prisoners, but his men had bloodlust and shouted "Kill" repeatedly. One man was grabbed a Fijian woman by the hair and was about to slash her with his sword when Alden aimed his pistol at him. Alden was able to reign in his men and together Emmons captured several men, women, and children. The men were handcuffed and kept captive, but the women and children were released on the beach.^[1]^: 224

The ground force split up in to 3 groups as Wilkes had ordered, and led by Lieutenants Ringgold and Robert Johnson and passed Midshipman Henry Eld. The forces split up and surrounded the fort. The fort itself was circular, with a 12 foot wide ditch which they used as a trench, and a ten foot tall coconut tree and whicker palisade on all sides. The natives had occupied the trench and the palisade edges, and together they either aimed their muskets outside of the trench, or through small holes in the palisade walls. A number of chiefs recognizable by their white headdresses, commanded the warriors in between the trenches and stockade and shouted obscenities at the oncoming attackers.^[1]^{: 197, 224–225}

The Americans fired a Congreve rocket and their muskets at the fort, and the Fijians quickly dashed into the fort. As the enemy retreated a portion of Johnson's division, without orders stormed the fort, spearheaded by Sinclair with a double barrel shotgun. When Sinclair entered the fort he quickly realized that it was a trap. The ditch which had been built outside of the palisades also extended into the interior and was occupied by a large number of natives including women armed with bows who fought with their men. Retreat for Sinclair and his advance was impractical and decidedly more dangerous then it was worth, as the fort was purposefully built like a fish weir trap, with a wide opening, but a narrow escape. Sinclair got shot with an arrow in his lapel, but it only penetrated the fabric and not the skin.^[1]^: 225

Sinclair's fortune did not stop at his lapel, the Americans began running up to the palisade and shooting into the village through the small holes the Fijians had previously been using. Musket fire and Congreve rockets poured into Sualib. Americans began trickling into the village, in twos, by a narrow bridge, through the gate, and into the fort following Sinclair's example. At one point Sinclair shot a chief with his pistol, which turned out to be the chief of Sualib. Several natives carried the chiefs limp body to a hut that was close by.^[1]^{: 225–226}

The battle creeped on in a state of havoc for about 15 minutes before a Congreve rocket hit the top of a dry roof and caught fire. A native warrior got on to of the roof in an effort to remove the rocket before the fire spread, but he was cut down in a hail of built. The fire proliferated and began to engulf the village. The blaze forced the natives to flee the ditch and into American musket fire, which cut them down. The resulting spectacle was pure pandemonium. A translator attempted to shout that the women and children would be allowed to escape, fire and gun smoke were everywhere, children were weeping, pigs were crying, the fire roared, the noise was ear splitting. The Americans cheered their success and then fell back to a coconut grove, as the village burned.^[1]^: 226

After roughly an hour, the fires had settled to an approachable state, the Americans reentered the village. They soon discovered based on the remaining native supplies that the natives had expected a lengthy engagement. The Americans found piles of hollowed out calabashes filled with water, burnt yams, charred pigs. Discarded muskets, spears, and clubs littered the floor of the ditch. After searching the still standing huts, Underwood's bloody cap was discovered. Out of the bodies only 4 or 5 survived being burnt to ashes including a little girl and the chief of Sualib. The preservation of the chief's cadaver was soon ended, as with a streak of vengeance, the Americans through his body into a burning house. ^[1]^{: 226–227}

Evidence of the horror that had occurred before was still present to the senses of the Americans. The treelined were pierced by misfired arrows. The smoke filled to nostrils of the sailors and marines smelt of burnt human flesh, and approached the heavens in an otherwise blue sky. It was in this setting that the otherwise exhausted combatants decided to rest and refresh themselves on coconuts to quench their thirst. While the men drank, it was discovered that the most significant injury among them was a sailor who suffered a solitary gash on the leg from an arrow.^[1]^: 227

The destruction of Arro village

After the brief respite, the force divided into the marching lines to the nearby village of Arrow and burnt several houses and farms along the way. It was suspected that most of the surviving villagers were hiding somewhere in the hills, however they did encounter one native on the way who was instantly bayonetted multiple times to death. Upon arriving there, they had found that Arro had already been burned down by Alden.^[1]^: 227^[4]

Final engagement

The last skirmish that occurred during the battle took place throughout much of the day. After midday, Lieutenant Emmons had been tracking 5 canoes that had been spotted in the morning, had escaped Malolo, and were hiding near Malolo Lailai. Each canoe contained about 8 fighters and their sides were reinforced to curb a potential attack. He was using his cutter which was at this point only at half its normal capacity and had only seven men under his command. In any case, he made full sail and pulled up alongside the closest canoe. Emmons fired the forwards mounted blunderbuss and killed several natives. Emmons and another sailor jumped on the canoe. Emmons grappled with a spear throwing native and then the sailor killed him with a hatcher. One canoe got away, but the natives in the other canoes jumper overboard and were either shot, slashed, or axed by the Americans as they swam for the shallows. Emmons sailed back to the Porpoise before midnight, and in the morning it was discovered that the bodies of the natives killed by Emmons and his men were eaten by sharks.^[1]^{: 227–228}

Aftermath of the battle

The next day (July 25th), an assembly of natives congregated on the beach near the flying fish. Wilkes summoned an interpreter and together they sailed on a gig to shore. As Wilkes drew nearer the crowd dispersed, leaving behind a lone native woman to treat with Wilkes. The native offered Wilkes some of Underwood and Henry's clothes and belongings and a chicken in an offer of peace. Wilkes retrieved the recovered items from his fallen crewmen, but refused the chicken. Wilkes was under the impression that according to Fijian tradition, for a nation to be truly conquered the populace of that nation must be present to witness a peace declaration. Instead Wilkes entreated that woman he and his men would meet on a hill in southern Malolo to discuss peace terms. If however, the remaining chiefs and peoples of Malolo did not make an appearance, then Wilkes and his men would continue the onslaught.^[1]^{: 228–229}

Near the afternoon, Wilkes and his men climbed the hill, which perfectly overlooked views of the sheer destruction that yesterday had delivered. Then at approximately 4 P.M. a column of weeping natives began to approach the hill. At first, the native would not go beyond the foot of the hill. However after Wilkes threatened to wipe them out if they did not climb the hill in an act of contrite submission he would wipe them out. The natives crawled on their hands and knees up the hill. An old native man approached Wilkes, spoke for Malolo, begged for mercy, declared that his people would never attack white men again, admitted his people were conquered and had only about 80 surviving men left, and offered Wilkes two young native women in reparation. Wilkes gave a speech through a translator about the power of white people and that if a similar attack ever happened again, then he would drive the people of Malolo to extinction.^[1]^{: 229–230}

July 26th, Wilkes and his men went to what was left of Arro village and had the people fill casks of water for his vessels. On the morning of July 27th, the Flying Fish and Porpoise sailed off the coast of Arro and 70 natives loaded them with 3,000 gallons of water, 12 pigs, and 3,000 coconuts. That same day the natives retrieved Underwood's pocket watch which had melted in the fire, and Henry's glasses.^[1]^: 230

On July 31st the Flying Fish and Porpoise returned to Bua bay where the rest of the fleet was working. Wilkes privately blamed Alden and Underwood for the deaths of Henry and Underwood. In retaliation Wilkes had Underwood's possessions sold at an auction to much protest from the officers, and most notably midshipman James Blair who was the executor of Underwood's freshly written will just prior to the battle of Malolo.^[1]^: 231

Wilkes vindictive streak did not appear to end with Underwood, Wilkes next turned his anger to chief Veidovi. From his capture up until the end of the expedition in Fiji, Veidovi Hudson had been kind to Veidovi and even permitted him to go on deck and speak to the officers. However, Wilkes had Veidovi transferred from the Peacock to his flagship the Vincennes. Now Wilkes kept Veidovi confined to quarters. Moreover Wilkes had the ships barber cut Vincennes hair. This mortified Vincennes, since his hair marked his status abd was important in Fijian culture.^[1]^{: 231–232}

Aftermath

Other stops of the Ex. Ex.

The Ex. Ex. left Fiji in August and set a course for more surveying and scientific work in Hawaii, before temporary splitting up the expedition to survey Hawaii and other islands in Polynesia such as modern day French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, and the Gilbert Islands. Later, the expedition surveyed the Columbia River. On the return trip the expedition traveled to Wake Island, and returned by way of the Philippines, Borneo, Singapore, Polynesia, and the Cape of Good Hope, reaching New York on June 10, 1842.^[1]^{: 233–300}

Fate of Chief Veidovi

While on the surveying expedition for the Columbia river, Wilkes appeared to have loosened his enmity to Veidovi at one point. He began allowing him on the deck of the Vincennes.^[1]^: 265 A few months later on July 4th 1841 Wilkes and his men landed on Vancouver Island and fired off two howitzers in celebration of the holiday. During this occasion Veidovi was allowed to walk on shore.^[1]^: 269 The next year in July of 1842 Veidovi died a few days after landing in New York (possibly from pulmonary tuberculosis), although the Washington Herald inaccurately asserted that Veidovi died from a lack of eating human meat. Soon after Veidovi surgeons at the Brooklyn Naval Hospital removed Veidovi's head, pickled it, and then after a time the flesh was removed, and the skull was thereafter labeled Specimen 292 and was featured in the Smithsonian, and became one of the most popular exhibits.^[1]^: 300^[3]

Prosecution

Soon after Wilkes' arrival in New York several court martials were organized for the entire Ex. Ex. expedition. Wilkes had made many enemies in both the Navy, and the government, and was almost universally despised by his men for many of the actions he took during the expedition.^[1]^{: 303–307} Other officers were charged for various crimes, but Wilkes was charged with 11, and his actions were throughout the Ex. Ex. were criticized in the defense of the other officers.^[1]^{: xvi, 308–313, 320}