ATTACK OF 100 MOUNTAINEERS ON MESSRS. GAUL AND ABBOTT.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 535, 27 September 1871, Page 2

ATTACK OF 100 MOUNTAINEERS ON MESSRS. GAUL AND ABBOTT.

Mr. Burnosa arrived last Wednesday from Raki Baki, with particulars which lie had received by letter from Captain Puller of a double attack made by some of the inountaiueers of Vitu Levu, upon the plantation of Mosars. Gaul and Thomas. On Thursday night, 31st ult., Mr. Abbott was awakened by a noise outside the 'house, which is a weathei-board one, and' got up to discover the; cause. Instead of going out he looked through a loophole, and' saw a large number of mountaineers inside the fence. One of them was shaking the handle of the door, with, the! evident ints.-.tion of inducing'those inside to open it;'a second and third were standing at either: side with, guna.pointed and cocked, and a fourth and L fifth; standing ready to rush in if the others failed. Mr. Abbott at once roused Mr. Gaul, "and the'two men put their guns through the .loopholes arid fired into the ambuscade. The nativeß-tben beat a hasty retreat. With daylight they examined the ground, which- bore inarka of blood, and of where some body had,been dragged along. Expecting another attack, they made very possible preparation, aud Haying ft spare guv, loaded it with slt4gß.. About midnight on Friday a large force came iulo the enclosure, having ■ made a large-gap in,;the fence, evidently imagining that tboyi r were unseen by their iutended victims. SereraJ were loaded with fuel for the purpose of firing the house. The white men waited,:and ai'tlio wretches neaied the housV eiiohi.singled out his man, and fired; the natives immediately beating a retreat, to get out of harm's way. Another volley was fired into the retreating crowd, which also deceived Hie charge of slugs'. Next mornir.g the corpse of either a brother 01 son of one of the chiefs was found among too cotton, and there were large pools of, blood along till) ' track, and also marks of bodies having been dragged along. They are of opinion that not leas thun six of the natises,* must have been killed or wounded.: Twb'gttM were left behind by the natives. It is the inteiition of Messrs. Gaul and l'homas, we are informed, to send up the white women and children, and remain, behind to . hold ; toew property. , : . . :: . This attack, we are informed, is a purely local matter, and has no connection with'the Ba expedition, it being in consequence of some old grudge. A short time before the Ba affair these men attempted to take the life of one ot the settlers at,the same place, but were driven off. "With reference to the late attack by the mountaineer* on the plantation of Messrs. Abbott and Gaul, we have received further particulars from a rosident on the Ra Coast. The natives who made the attack were^p 1 Colos, and belong to the town of NufcteugaryAfter the first attack, Messrs. Abbott and Gaul made- every: preparation 'in expectation of a second one, and took tho pre0?" 1? 0 *, cutting port-holes all round the building. I"8 natives came the second time, one fire for the purpose of firing the: hojjS&Plr' when fired, upon they : hurriedly reW taU ing the dead body of the chiefs s®| them. The report of firearm^ h^o,, brought us a lot of coast natives; oi{"'/ approach the mountaineer! made^off, "^vi1?1" the dead' than, who was shot through*'!• nfck, behind them. A report whs broughi w the settlers that the chief of NatiUgai'f/T sent a "tambua" td four neighbouring 'to* 11, B. stilting that lie was "hungry for white*" fltsh,!' and asking them to join him on»n attack upon the whites on Saturday. !ja' ; d>;j passed over, however, without^ any Q : irunstrution beiug made by the native^ -