After the people of Tepa had related to me these particulars, many of them came forward and kissed my hands, requesting me not to consider them as accomplices in the crime, as they never wished to have any communication with the people of the back part of the island. They declared that nothing would please them more than that I should go to Aluta, and assist them in chastising its treacherous inhabitants. I endeavoured, by the promise of presents, and of entire forgiveness to the people of the east coast, to induce the chiefs of Tepa to visit Aluta, and bring back with them one of the head men of the place; but in this I was unsuccessful. To my great regret, therefore, I was unable to do any thing in the affair; for there was no path by which I could reach Aluta overland, and it would have been unadviseable, at this period of the year, to have proceeded there with the brig, while the length of the distance, and the insufficiency of their force in case of disturbance, prevented our sending the boats. The chiefs frequently promised me that they would send a prahu there, to inform the people of the desire I had to see them make up their differences, and in the faith of this promise, from which nothing resulted, I delayed my departure from the island several days. On the 8th, having called together the chiefs, I went on shore under an escort of twenty marines, and with the accustomed ceremonies, to read to them the communications sent to them by our Government, which I explained to them in the fullest manner. All appeared to be much moved at the friendly intentions and offers of assistance and protection expressed in the letter, and stated that nothing could better agree with their wishes than that they should be placed under the rule of the Dutch Government, to whom they would become faithful subjects. They assured me that they all felt convinced that this was the only course that could lead to their future prosperity, while they were at the same time aware, that in point of civilization they were inferior to many of their neighbours, which they themselves ascribed to the anarchy which had prevailed among them during a long series of years, and to the disappearance of the Christian religion from among them, through the decease of those who had professed it. They also requested me, in the most earnest manner, to appoint some clever and experienced men from among them, to the chieftainship, and also to send them an Amboynese missionary or teacher, to instruct them in the tenets of Christianity, expressing deep regret at their having relapsed to paganism and wickedness, from the state of Christian harmony in which their forefathers had passed their lives.