It accidentally happened that while we were sitting together on deck, it became necessary to spread the awning, on which the officer of the watch ordered the men aft to perform this duty. The word of command for this is usually given with much quickness, and a number of men instantly came aft to obey it, whose sudden appearance caused such a panic in the breasts of the chiefs, that many of them sprang on their feet in a moment, and some actually popped overboard through the ports, while two of them rushed down the companion and concealed themselves in the cabin. All this happened so suddenly, that at first I could not imagine the cause. The others, who were somewhat acquainted with the usages of a ship, remained seated, and laughed heartily at the ungrounded fears of their more ignorant countrymen. The chiefs of Sebeano now seeing their mistake, returned on board very much ashamed, and making ludicrous gestures. I returned to the shore in the morning, according to my promise, having previously sent twenty seamen, according to my usual custom, to add more solemnity to the meeting. In the mean time the interpreters had returned, with the agreeable intelligence that the chiefs would willingly receive my intervention, and abide by the decision I might come to. An enquiry into the causes of their wars will assist in giving an idea of the disposition of these people: I will, therefore, give a short account of the causes of the enmity which had arisen against the people of Romian, which were as follows:-- The people of Romian happened to have more success at the trepang fishery than the people of the other villages during two successive years, which gave rise to an envious feeling on the part of their neighbours, which was increased by a Chinese vessel having remained at Romian to trade, while only one of the Chinamen belonging to her proceeded to Ewena, to barter with the inhabitants. These circumstances gave rise to distrust and estrangement, and the people of both villages began to avoid each other, though without coming to an open rupture. A third accidental circumstance which occurred, tended to enlarge the breach. While the children belonging to the two villages were playing with small bows and arrows, a child from Ewena happened to wound slightly one of those from Romian. The inhabitants of the latter place viewing the accident as an intentional offence, demanded satisfaction, and whenever parties from each village met, they proceeded from words to blows, and at length broke out into open war with each other. Each party robbed the other of their women, destroyed their fisheries, and put a stop to their agriculture, becoming more embittered at the occurrence of every deed, until at length, a few weeks before my arrival, a downright skirmish ensued, in which the people of Ewena had one man killed and nine wounded, while ten belonging to the other party were wounded also.