The murder of Comdre. Goodenough (Aug. 12), at Carlisle Bay,
Santa Cruz Island, only a few miles from the spot where Bishop Patteson lost his life, is another proof of the difficulty of bringing civilisation in direct contact with savagery without provoking a disastrous collision. The Sandfly had been attacked last year at Carlisle Bay, and Commodore Goodenough, who was the senior officer on the Australian station, determined to visit the island in person, with the hope of conciliating the natives, and opening a friendly intercourse with them. He was well received on land- ing, and was about returning to his ship, the ' Pearl,' when the treacherous islanders suddenly attacked the visitors with poisoned arrows. The Commodore and two sailors were killed and several Englishmen wounded. According to the established rule of the unwritten European code in these waters, the Pearl' imme- diately burnt the village in which the treachery was perpetrated. The retribution was deserved, but it, unfortunately, defeats the object for which Captain Goodenough risked his life. The islanders of Santa Cruz will more than ever dread the approach of the " great ships."
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