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diff --git a/28955-8.txt b/28955-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e271982 --- /dev/null +++ b/28955-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3613 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Narrative of the Mutiny, on Board the +Ship Globe, of Nantucket, in the Pacific Ocean, Jan. 1824, by William Lay and Cyrus M. Hussey + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Narrative of the Mutiny, on Board the Ship Globe, of Nantucket, in the Pacific Ocean, Jan. 1824 + And the journal of a residence of two years on the Mulgrave + Islands; with observations on the manners and customs of + the inhabitants + +Author: William Lay + Cyrus M. Hussey + +Release Date: May 24, 2009 [EBook #28955] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A NARRATIVE OF THE MUTINY *** + + + + +Produced by Sam W. and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images generously made available by The Internet +Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + A + NARRATIVE + + OF THE + MUTINY, + + ON BOARD THE + SHIP GLOBE, + OF NANTUCKET, + + IN THE + PACIFIC OCEAN, JAN. 1824 + AND THE + JOURNAL + + OF A + RESIDENCE OF TWO YEARS + ON THE + MULGRAVE ISLANDS; + + WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE MANNERS AND + CUSTOMS OF THE INHABITANTS. + + + BY WILLIAM LAY, OF SAYBROOK, CONN. AND + CYRUS M. HUSSEY, OF NANTUCKET: + + The only Survivors from the Massacre of the Ship's Company + by the Natives. + + + NEW-LONDON: + PUBLISHED BY WM. LAY, AND C. M. HUSSEY. + + 1828. + + + + + INTRODUCTION. v + CHAPTER I. 11 + CHAPTER II. 27 + CHAPTER III. 50 + CHAPTER IV. 72 + CHAPTER V. 77 + CHAPTER VI. 98 + CHAPTER VII. 130 + CHAPTER VIII. 138 + CHAPTER IX. 154 + VOCABULARY. 165 + + + + +DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, TO WIT + + _District Clerk's Office._ + +Be it remembered, that on the twenty-fourth day of October, A. D. +1827, in the fifty-second year of the independence of the United +States of America, WILLIAM LAY and CYRUS M. HUSSEY, of the said +District, have deposited in this Office, the title of a Book, the +Right whereof they claim as Proprietors, in the words following, to +wit: + +"A Narrative of the mutiny on board the Ship Globe, of Nantucket, in +the Pacific Ocean, Jan. 1824, and a Journal of a residence of two +years on the Mulgrave Islands, with observations on the manners and +customs of the inhabitants. By William Lay, of Saybrook, Conn. and +Cyrus M. Hussey, of Nantucket, the only Survivors from the Massacre of +the Ship's Company, by the Natives." + +In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States entitled +"an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the Copies of +Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies +during the times therein mentioned:" and also to an act entitled "an +act supplementary to an act, entitled an act, for the encouragement of +learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books to the +Authors and Proprietors of such copies, during the times therein +mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of +Designing, Engraving, and Etching Historical and other Prints." + + JNO. W. DAVIS, + _Clerk of the District of Massachusetts._ + +-------------------- +_S. Green, Printer._ +-------------------- + + + + +TO JOHN PERCIVAL, ESQ. + +OF THE U. S. NAVY, + +Who, under the auspices of Government, visited the Mulgrave Islands, +to release the survivors of the Ship Globe's crew, and extended to +them every attention their unhappy situation required--the following +Narrative is most respectfully dedicated, by + + WILLIAM LAY, & + CYRUS M. HUSSEY, + The Authors. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +Formerly whales were principally taken in the North Seas: the largest +were generally found about Spitzbergen, or Greenland, some of them +measuring ninety feet in length. At the commencement of the hazardous +enterprize of killing whales, before they had been disturbed by man, +they were so numerous in the bays and harbours, that when taken the +_blubber_ was for the most part boiled into oil upon the contiguous +coast. + +The _pure_ oil and whale bone were only preserved in those days; +consequently a ship could carry home the product of a greater number +of whales than a ship of the same size now can.--Indeed, so plentiful +were the whales in those seas, and taken with such facility, that the +ships employed, were not sufficient to carry home the oil and bone, +and other ships were often sent to bring home the surplus quantity. +But the coasts of these countries, were soon visited by ships from +Denmark, Hamburgh, and Holland, as well as from England; and from +frequently being killed in the shoal water near the coasts, the whales +gradually receded from the shores, and have since been found only in +deeper water, and at a much greater distance from the land. + +In the earlier stages of the whale fishery, of which we are now +treating, the ships were generally on the whaling waters, early in +May, and whether successful or not, they were obliged to commence +their return by the succeeding August, to avoid the early accumulation +of ice in those seas. But it not unfrequently happened, that ships +procured and returned with a cargo in the months of June and July, +making a voyage only about three months, whereas, a voyage to the +Pacific Ocean is now often protracted to three years! + +Among the early whalers it was customary to have six boats to a ship, +and six men to a boat, besides the harpooner. What at _that time_ was +considered an improved method in killing whales, consisted in +discharging the harpoon, from a kind of swivel; but it was soon found +to be attended with too much inconvenience to be much practised, and +the muscular arms and steady nerves of the harpooner, have ever since +performed the daring duty, of first _striking_ the whale. The ropes +attached to the harpoon, used to be about 200 fathoms in length, and +some instances occurred, that all the lines belonging to six boats, +were fastened together and ran out by one whale, the animal descending +in nearly a perpendicular line from the surface. Instead of going +prepared to bring home a ship load of _oil_, it was customary to bring +only the blubber, and instead of trying the oil out and putting it +into casks on board, the fat of the whale was cut up into suitable +pieces, pressed hard in tubs carried out for the purpose, and in this +situation was the return cargo received at home. + +Of so great consequence was the whale fishery considered to Great +Britain, that a bounty of 40s. for every ton, when the ship was 200 +tons, or upwards, was given to the crews of ships engaged in that +business in the Greenland seas, under certain conditions. But this +bounty was found to draw too largely upon the treasury; and while the +subject was under discussion in the British Parliament, in 1786, it +was stated that the sums which that country had paid in bounties to +the Greenland fishers, amounted to 1,265,461 pounds sterling. Six +thousand seamen were employed in that fishery, and each cost the +government £13 10s. _per annum_. The great encouragement given to that +branch of commerce, caused so large a number to engage in it, that the +oil market became glutted, and it was found necessary to export +considerable quantities. + +In 1786, the number of British ships engaged in the whale fishery to +Davis's Strait and the Greenland seas, was 139, besides 15 from +Scotland. In 1787, notwithstanding the bounty had been diminished, the +number of English ships was 217, and the following year 222. + +The charter right of the Island of Nantucket, was bought by Thomas +Mayhew, of Watertown, of Joseph Ferrick, steward to Lord Sterling, in +1641; and afterwards sold to Tristram Coffin, and his associates, who +settled upon it in 1659. On the 10th of May, 1660, Sachems, Wonnook, +and Nickannoose, for and in behalf of the nations of the Island, in +consideration of the sum of 26_l._ sterling, conveyed by deed, about +half of the Island, to the first ten purchasers, who afterwards took +in other associates. + +Whaling from Nantucket, was first carried on from the shore in boats. +In 1672, James Loper entered into a contract with the inhabitants of +the Island, for the purpose of prosecuting the whale fishery, by which +it appears that James Loper agreed to be one third in the enterprize, +and sundry other people of the Island, the other two thirds, in every +thing connected with the undertaking. It was further stipulated, that +for every whale killed by any one of the contracting party, the town +should receive five shillings, and for the encouragement of James +Loper, the town granted him ten acres of land in some convenient +situation, and liberty for the _commonage_ of three cows, twenty sheep +and one horse, with necessary wood and water for his use, on condition +that he should follow the _trade_ of whaling for two years, build upon +his land, &c. &c. + +Thus it will be seen that the commencement of whaling at Nantucket, +was on a very small scale, and practised only along the shores of the +Island;--whereas, at this time, our ships leave no seas unexplored in +pursuit of these monsters of the deep. We might pursue the subject +through the various stages of improvement up to this time, but it +would swell this introduction beyond the limits designed. It is +proper, however, to observe that the present number of ships employed +in the whale fishery from Nantucket, is about 70, averaging about 350 +tons each, and manned by about 1500 seamen. + + + + +NARRATIVE, &c. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +The Ship Globe, on board of which vessel occurred the horrid +transactions we are about to relate, belonged to the Island of +Nantucket; she was owned by Messrs. C. Mitchell, & Co. and other +merchants of that place; and commanded on this voyage by Thomas Worth, +of Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard. William Beetle, (mate,) John Lumbert, +(2d mate,) Nathaniel Fisher, (3d mate,) Gilbert Smith, (boat steerer,) +Samuel B. Comstock, do. Stephen Kidder, seaman, Peter C. Kidder, do. +Columbus Worth, do. Rowland Jones, do. John Cleveland, do. Constant +Lewis, do. Holden Henman, do. Jeremiah Ingham, do. Joseph Ignasius +Prass, do. Cyrus M. Hussey, cooper, Rowland Coffin, do. George +Comstock, seaman, and William Lay, do. + +On the 15th day of December, we sailed from Edgarton, on a whaling +voyage, to the Pacific Ocean, but in working out, having carried away +the cross-jack-yard, we returned to port, and after having refitted +and sent aloft another, we sailed again on the 19th, and on the same +day anchored in Holmes' Hole. On the following day a favourable +opportunity offering to proceed to sea, we got under way, and after +having cleared the land, discharged the pilot, made sail, and +performed the necessary duties of stowing the anchors, unbending and +coiling away the cables, &c.--On the 1st of January 1823, we +experienced a heavy gale from N. W. which was but the first in the +catalogue of difficulties we were fated to encounter.--As this was our +first trial of a seaman's life, the scene presented to our view, "mid +the howling storm," was one of terrific grandeur, as well as of real +danger. But as the ship scudded well, and the wind was fair, she was +kept before it, under a close reefed main-top-sail and fore-sail, +although during the gale, which lasted forty-eight hours, the sea +frequently threatened to board us, which was prevented by the skillful +management of the helm. On the 9th of January we made the Cape Verd +Islands, bearing S. W. twenty-five miles distant, and on the 17th, +crossed the Equator. On the 29th of the same month we saw sperm +whales, lowered our boats, and succeeded in taking one; the blubber of +which, when boiled out, yielded us seventy-five barrels of oil. +Pursuing our voyage, on the twenty-third of February we passed the +Falkland Islands, and about the 5th of March, doubled the great +promontory of South America, Cape Horn, and stood to the Northward. + +We saw whales once only before we reached the Sandwich Islands, which +we made on the first of May early in the morning. When drawing in with +the Island of Hawaii about four in the afternoon, the man at the mast +head gave notice that he saw a shoal of black fish on the lee bow; +which we soon found to be canoes on their way to meet us. It falling +calm at this time prevented their getting along side until night fall, +which they did, at a distance of more than three leagues from the +land. We received from them a very welcome supply of potatoes, sugar +cane, yams, cocoanuts, bananas, fish, &c. for which we gave them in +return, pieces of iron hoop, nails, and similar articles. We stood off +and on during the next day, and after obtaining a sufficient supply of +vegetables and fruit, we shaped our course for Oahu, at which place we +arrived on the following day, and after lying there twenty hours, +sailed for the coast of Japan, in company with the whaling ships +Palladium of Boston, and Pocahontas of Falmouth; from which ships we +parted company when two days out.--After cruising in the Japan seas +several months, and obtaining five hundred and fifty barrels of oil, +we again shaped our course for the Sandwich Islands, to obtain a +supply of vegetables, &c. + +While lying at Oahu, six of the men deserted in the night; two of them +having been re-taken were put in irons, but one of them having found +means to divest himself of his irons, set the other at liberty, and +both escaped. + +To supply their places, we shipped the following persons, viz: Silas +Payne, John Oliver, Anthony Hanson, a native of Oahu, Wm. Humphries, a +black man, and steward, and Thomas Lilliston.--Having accommodated +ourselves with as many vegetables and much fruit as could be +preserved, we again put to sea, fondly anticipating a successful +cruise, and a speedy and happy meeting with our friends. After leaving +Oahu we ran to the south of the Equator, and after cruising a short +time for whales without much success, we steered for Fannings Island, +which lies in lat. 3, 49 N. and long. 158, 29 W. While cruising off +this Island an event occurred which, whether we consider the want of +motives, or the cold blooded and obstinate cruelty with which it was +perpetrated, has not often been equalled.--We speak of the want of +motives, because, although some occurrences which we shall mention, +had given the crew some ground for dissatisfaction, there had been no +abuse or severity which could in the least degree excuse or palliate +so barbarous a mode of redress and revenge. During our cruise to Japan +the season before, many complaints were uttered by the crew among +themselves, with respect to the manner and quantity in which they +received their _meat_, the quantity sometimes being more than +sufficient for the number of men, and at others not enough to supply +the ship's company; and it is fair to presume, that the most +dissatisfied, deserted the ship at Oahu. + +But the reader will no doubt consider it superfluous for us to attempt +an unrequired vindication of the conduct of the officers of the Globe +whose aim was to maintain a correct discipline, which should result in +the furtherance of the voyage and be a benefit to all concerned, more +especially when he is informed, that part of the men shipped at Oahu, +in the room of the deserters, were abandoned wretches, who frequently +were the cause of severe reprimands from the officers, and in one +instance one of them received a severe flogging. The reader will also +please to bear in mind, that Samuel B. Comstock, the ringleader of the +mutiny, was an officer, (being a boat-steerer,) and as is customary, +ate in the cabin. The conduct and deportment of the Captain towards +this individual, was always decorous and gentlemanly, a proof of +intentions long premeditated to destroy the ship. Some of the crew +were determined to leave the ship provided she touched at Fannings +Island, and we believe had concerted a plan of escape, but of which +the perpetration of a deed chilling to humanity, precluded the +necessity. We were at this time in company with the ship Lyra, of +New-Bedford, the Captain of which, had been on board the Globe during +the most of the day, but had returned in the evening to his own ship. +An agreement had been made by him with the Captain of the Globe, to +set a light at midnight as a signal for tacking. It may not be amiss +to acquaint the reader of the manner in which whalemen keep watch +during the night. They generally carry three boats, though some carry +four, five, and sometimes six, the Globe, however, being of the class +carrying three. The Captain, mate, and second mate stand no watch +except there is _blubber_ to be boiled; the boat-steerers taking +charge of the watch and managing the ship with their respective boats +crews, and in this instance dividing the night into three parts, each +taking a third. It so happened that Smith after keeping the first +watch, was relieved by Comstock, (whom we shall call by his sir name +in contradistinction to his brother George) and the _waist boat's +crew_, and the former watch retired below to their births and +hammocks. George Comstock took the helm, and during his _trick_, +received orders from his brother to "keep the ship a good full," +swearing that the ship was too nigh the wind. When his time at the +helm had expired he took the _rattle_, (an instrument used by +whalemen, to announce the expiration of the hour, the watch, &c.) and +began to shake it, when Comstock came to him, and in the most +peremptory manner, ordered him to desist, saying "if you make the +least damn bit of noise I'll send you to hell!" He then lighted a lamp +and went into the steerage. George becoming alarmed at this conduct of +his unnatural brother, again took the _rattle_ for the purpose of +alarming some one; Comstock arrived in time to prevent him, and with +threatenings dark and diabolical, so congealed the blood of his +trembling brother, that even had he possessed the power of alarming +the unconscious and fated victims below, his life would have been the +forfeit of his temerity! + +Comstock, now laid something heavy upon a small work bench near the +cabin gangway, which was afterwards found to be a boarding knife. It +is an instrument used by whalers to cut the _blubber_ when hoisting it +in, is about four feet in length, two or three inches wide, and +necessarily kept very sharp, and for greater convenience when in use, +is two edged. + +In giving a detail of this chilling transaction, we shall be guided by +the description given of it by the younger Comstock, who, as has been +observed, was upon deck at the time, and afterwards learned several +particulars from his brother, to whom alone they could have been +known. Comstock went down into the cabin, accompanied by Silas Payne +or Paine, of Sag-Harbour, John Oliver, of Shields, Eng., William +Humphries, (the steward) of Philadelphia, and Thomas Lilliston; the +latter, however, went no farther than the cabin gangway, and then ran +forward and _turned in_. According to his own story he did not think +they would attempt to put their designs in execution, until he saw +them actually descending into the cabin, having gone so far, to use +his own expression, to show himself as brave as any of them. But we +believe he had not the smallest idea of assisting the villains. +Comstock entered the cabin so silently as not to be perceived by the +man at the helm, who was first apprised of his having begun the work +of death, by the sound of a heavy blow with an axe, which he +distinctly heard. + +The Captain was asleep in a hammock, suspended in the cabin, his state +room being uncomfortably warm; Comstock approaching him with the axe, +struck him a blow upon the head, which was nearly severed in two by +the first stroke! After repeating the blow, he ran to Payne, who it +seems was stationed with the before mentioned boarding knife, to +attack the mate, as soon as the Captain was killed. At this instant, +Payne making a thrust at the mate, he awoke, and terrified, exclaimed, +"what! what! what!" "Is this----Oh! Payne! Oh! Comstock!" "Don't kill +me, don't;" "have I not always----" Here Comstock interrupted him, +saying, "Yes! you have always been a d--d rascal; you tell lies of me +out of the ship will you? It's a d--d good time to beg now, but you're +too late," here the mate sprang, and grasped him by the throat. In the +scuffle, the light which Comstock held in his hand was knocked out, +and the axe fell from his hand; but the grasp of Mr. Beetle upon his +throat, did not prevent him from making Payne understand that his +weapon was lost, who felt about until he found it, and having given it +to Comstock, he managed to strike him a blow upon the head, which +fractured his skull; when he fell into the pantry where he lay +groaning until despatched by Comstock! The steward held a light at +this time, while Oliver put in a blow as often as possible! + +The second and third mates, fastened in their state rooms, lay in +their births listening, fearing to speak, and being ignorant of the +numerical strength of the mutineers, and unarmed, thought it best to +wait the dreadful issue, hoping that their lives might yet be spared. + +Comstock leaving a watch at the second mate's door, went upon deck to +light another lamp at the binnacle, it having been again accidentally +extinguished. He was there asked by his terrified brother, whose agony +of mind we will not attempt to portray, if he intended to hurt Smith, +the other boat-steerer. He replied that he did; and inquired where he +was. George fearing that Smith would be immediately pursued, said he +had not seen him.--Comstock then perceiving his brother to be shedding +tears, asked sternly, "What are you crying about?" "I am afraid," +replied George, "that they will hurt me!" "I _will_ hurt you," said +he, "if you talk in that manner!" + +But the work of death was not yet finished. Comstock, took his light +into the cabin, and made preparations for attacking the second and +third mates, Mr. Fisher, and Mr. Lumbert. After loading two muskets, +he fired one through the door, in the direction as near as he could +judge of the officers, and then inquired if either was shot! Fisher +replied, "yes, I am shot in the mouth!" Previous to his shooting +Fisher, Lumbert asked if he was going to kill him? To which he +answered with apparent unconcern, "Oh no, I guess not." + +They now opened the door, and Comstock making a pass at Mr. Lumbert, +missed him, and fell into the state room. Mr. Lumbert collared him, +but he escaped from his hands. Mr. Fisher had got the gun, and +actually presented the bayonet to the monster's heart! But Comstock +assuring him that his life should be spared if he gave it up, he did +so; when Comstock immediately ran Mr. Lumbert through the body several +times!! + +He then turned to Mr. Fisher, and told him there was no hope for +_him_!!--"You have got to die," said he, "remember the scrape you got +me into, when in company with the Enterprise of Nantucket." The +"scrape" alluded to, was as follows. Comstock came up to Mr. Fisher to +wrestle with him.--Fisher being the most athletick of the two, handled +him with so much ease, that Comstock in a fit of passion _struck him_. +At this Fisher seized him, and laid him upon deck several times in a +pretty rough manner. + +Comstock then made some violent threats, which Fisher paid no +attention to, but which now fell upon his soul with all the horrors of +reality. Finding his cruel enemy deaf to his remonstrances, and +entreaties, he said, "If there is no hope, I will at least die like a +man!" and having by order of Comstock, turned back too, said in a firm +voice, "_I am ready!!_" + +Comstock then put the muzzle of the gun to his head, and fired, which +instantly put an end to his existence!--Mr. Lumbert, during this time, +was begging for life, although no doubt mortally wounded. Comstock, +turned to him and said, "I am a bloody man! I have a bloody hand and +_will_ be avenged!" and _again_ run him through the body with a +bayonet! He then begged for a little water; "I'll give you water," +said he, and once more plunging the weapon in his body, left him for +dead! + +Thus it appears that this more than demon, murdered with his own hand, +the whole! Gladly would we wash from "memory's waste" all remembrance +of that bloody night. The compassionate reader, however, whose heart +sickens within him, at the perusal, as does ours at the recital, of +this tale of woe, will not, we hope, disapprove our publishing these +melancholy facts to the world. As, through the boundless mercy of +Providence, we have been restored, to the bosom of our families and +homes, we deemed it a duty we owe to the world, to record our +"unvarnished tale." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +Smith, the other boat-steerer, who had been marked as one of the +victims, on hearing the noise in the cabin, went aft, apprehending an +altercation between the Captain and some of the other officers, little +dreaming that innocent blood was flowing in torrents. But what was his +astonishment, when he beheld Comstock, brandishing the boarding knife, +and heard him exclaim, "I am the bloody man, and will have revenge!" +Horror struck, he hurried forward, and asked the crew in the +forecastle, what he should do. Some urged him to secrete himself in +the hold, others to go aloft until Comstock's rage should be abated; +but alas! the reflection that the ship afforded no secure hiding +place, determined him to confront the ringleader, and if he could not +save his life by fair means, to sell it dearly! He was soon called +for by Comstock, who upon meeting him, threw his bloody arms around +his neck, and embracing him, said, "you are going to be with us, are +you not?" The reader will discover the good policy of Smith when he +unhesitatingly answered, "Oh, yes, I will do any thing you require." + +All hands were now called to make sail, and a light at the same time +was set as a signal for the Lyra to tack;--while the Globe was kept +upon the same tack, which very soon caused a separation of the two +ships. All the reefs were turned out, top-gallant-sails set, and all +sail made on the ship, the wind being quite light. + +The mutineers then threw the body of the Captain overboard, after +wantonly piercing his bowels with a boarding knife, which was _driven +with an axe_, until the point protruded from his throat!! In Mr. +Beetle, the mate, the lamp of life had not entirely gone out, but he +was committed to the deep. + +Orders were next given to have the bodies of Mr. Fisher, and Mr. +Lumbert brought up. A rope was fastened to Fisher's neck, by which he +was hauled upon deck. A rope was made fast to Mr. Lumbert's feet, and +in this way was he got upon deck, but when in the act of being thrown +from the ship, he caught the plank-shear; and appealed to Comstock, +reminding him of his promise to save him, but in vain; for the monster +forced him from his hold, and he fell into the sea! As he appeared to +be yet capable of swimming, a boat was ordered to be lowered, to +pursue and finish him, fearing he might be picked up by the Lyra; +which order was as soon countermanded as given, fearing, no doubt, a +desertion of his murderous companions. + +We will now present the reader, with a journal of our passage to the +Mulgrave Islands, for which groupe we shaped our course. + +1824, Jan. 26th. At 2 A. M. from being nearly calm a light breeze +sprung up, which increased to a fresh breeze by 4 A. M. This day +cleaned out the cabin, which was a scene of blood and destruction of +which the recollection at this day chills the blood in our +veins.--Every thing bearing marks of the murder, was brought on deck +and washed. + +Lat. 5° 50' N. Long. 159° 13' W. + +Jan. 27th. These twenty-four hours commenced with moderate breezes +from the eastward. Middle and latter part calm. Employed in cleaning +the small arms which were fifteen in number, and making cartridge +boxes. + +Lat. 3° 45' N. Long. 160° 45' W. + +Jan. 28. This day experienced fine weather, and light breezes from N. +by W. The black steward was hung for the following crime. + +George Comstock who was appointed steward after the mutiny, and +business calling him into the cabin, he saw the former steward, now +called the purser, engaged in loading a pistol. He asked him what he +was doing that for. His reply was, "I have heard something very +strange, and I'm going to be ready for it." This information was +immediately carried to Comstock, who called to Payne, now mate, and +bid him follow him. + +On entering the cabin they saw Humphreys, still standing with the +pistol in his hand. On being demanded what he was going to do with it, +he said he had heard something which made him afraid of his life! + +Comstock told him if he had heard any thing, that he ought to have +come to him, and let him know, before he began loading pistols. He +then demanded to know, what he had heard. Humphreys answered at first +in a very suspicious and ambiguous manner, but at length said, that +Gilbert Smith, the boat-steerer who was saved, and Peter Kidder, were +going to re-take the ship. This appeared highly improbable, but they +were summoned to attend a council at which Comstock presided, and +asked if they had entertained any such intentions. They positively +denied ever having had conversation upon the subject. All this took +place in the evening. The next morning the parties were summoned, and +a jury of two men called. Humphreys under a guard of six men, armed +with muskets, was arraigned, and Smith and Kidder, seated upon a chest +near him. The prisoner was asked a few questions touching his +intentions, which he answered but low and indistinctly. The trial, if +it may be so called, had progressed thus far, when Comstock made a +speech in the following words. "It appears that William Humphreys _has +been accused guilty_, of a _treacherous and base act_, in loading a +pistol for the purpose of shooting Mr. Payne and myself. Having been +tried the jury will now give in their verdict, whether Guilty or Not +Guilty. If guilty he shall be hanged to a studding-sail boom, rigged +out eight feet upon the fore-yard, but if found not guilty, Smith and +Kidder, shall be hung upon the aforementioned gallows!" But the doom +of Humphreys had been sealed the night before, and kept secret _except +from the jury_, who returned a verdict of Guilty.--Preparations were +immediately made for his execution! His watch was taken from him, and +he was then taken forward and seated upon the rail, with a cap drawn +over his face, and the rope placed round his neck. + +Every man was ordered to take hold of the execution rope, to be ready +to run him up when Comstock should give the signal, by ringing the +ship's bell! + +He was now asked if he had any thing to say, as he had but fourteen +seconds to live! He began by saying, "little did I think I was born to +come to this------;" the bell struck! and he was immediately swung to +the yard-arm! He died without a struggle; and after he had hung a few +minutes, the rope was cut, to let him fall overboard, but getting +entangled aloft, the body was towed some distance along side, when a +_runner hook_,[A] was attached to it, to sink it, when the rope was +again cut and the body disappeared. His chest was now overhauled, and +sixteen dollars in specie found, which he had taken from the Captain's +trunk. Thus ended the life of one of the mutineers, while the blood of +innocent victims was scarcely washed from his hands, much less the +guilty stain from his soul. + + [A] A large hook used when hoisting in the blubber. + +Feb. 7th. These twenty-four hours commenced with thick squally +weather. Middle part clear and fine weather.--Hove to at 2 A. M., and +at 6 made sail, and steered W. by S. At ½ past 8 made an Island ahead, +one of the Kingsmill groupe. Stood in with the land and received a +number of canoes along side, the natives in them however having +nothing to sell us but a few beads of their own manufacture. We saw +some cocoanut, and other trees upon the shore, and discovered many of +the natives upon the beach, and some dogs. The principal food of these +Islanders is, a kind of bread fruit, which they pound very fine and +mix it with fish. + +Feb. 8. Commences squally with fresh breezes from the +northward.--Took a departure from Kingsmill Island; one of the groupe +of that name, in Lat. 1° 27' N. and Long. 175° 14' E. In the morning +passed through the channel between Marshall's and Gilbert's Islands; +luffed to and despatched a boat to Marshall's Island, but did not +land, as the natives appeared hostile, and those who swam off to the +boat, endeavoured to steal from her. When about to leave, a volley of +musketry was discharged at them, which probably killed or wounded some +of them. The boat then gave chase to a canoe, paddled by two of the +natives, which were fired upon when within gunshot, when they +immediately ceased paddling; and on the boat approaching them, +discovered that one of the natives was wounded. In the most +supplicating manner they held up a jacket, manufactured from a kind of +flag, and some beads, being all they possessed, giving their inhuman +pursuers to understand, that all should be theirs if they would spare +their lives! The wounded native laid down in the bottom of the boat, +and from his convulsed frame and trembling lip, no doubt remained but +that the wound was mortal. The boat then returned on board and we made +sail for the Mulgrave Islands. Here was another sacrifice; an innocent +child of nature shot down, merely to gratify the most wanton and +unprovoked cruelty, which could possibly possess the heart of man. The +unpolished savage, a stranger to the more tender sympathies of the +human heart, which are cultivated and enjoyed by civilized nations, +nurtures in his bosom a flame of revenge, which only the blood of +those who have injured him, can damp; and when years have rolled away, +this act of cruelty will be remembered by these Islanders, and made +the pretext to slaughter every white man who may fall into their +hands. + +Feb. 11th. Commenced with strong breezes from the Northward. At ½ past +meridian made the land bearing E. N. E. four leagues distant. Stood in +and received a number of canoes along side. Sent a boat on shore; and +brought off a number of women, a large quantity of cocoanuts, and some +fish.--Stood off shore most of the night, and + +Feb. 12th, in the morning stood in shore again and landed the +women.--We then stood along shore looking out for an anchorage, and +reconnoitering the country, in the hope of finding some spot suitable +for cultivation; but in this we were disappointed, or more properly +speaking, they, the mutineers; for we had no will of our own, while +our bosoms were torn with the most conflicting passions, in which Hope +and Despair alternately gained the ascendency. + +Feb. 13th. After having stood off all night, we in the morning stood +in, and after coasting the shores of several small Islands, we came to +one, low and narrow, where it was determined the Ship should be +anchored. When nearly ready to let go, a man was sent into the chains +to sound, who pronounced twelve fathoms; but at the next cast, could +not get bottom. We continued to stand in, until we got regular +sounding, and anchored within five rods of the shore, on a coral rock +bottom, in seven fathoms water. The ship was then moored with a kedge +astern, sails furled, and all hands retired to rest, except an _anchor +watch_. + +Feb. 14th, was spent in looking for a landing place. In the morning a +boat was sent to the Eastward, but returned with the information that +no good landing place could be found, the shore being very rocky. At 2 +P. M. she was sent in an opposite direction, but returned at night +without having met with better success; when it was determined to land +at the place where we lay; notwithstanding it was very rocky.--Nothing +of consequence was done, until + +Sunday, 15th Feb. 1824, when all hands were set to work to construct a +raft out of the spare spars, upon which to convey the provisions, &c. +on shore. + +The laws by which we were now governed had been made by Comstock, +soon after the mutiny, and read as follows: + +"That if any one saw a sail and did not report it immediately, he +should be put to death! If any one refused to fight a ship he should +be put to death; and the manner of their death, this--They shall be +bound hand and foot and boiled in the _try pots_, of boiling oil!" +Every man was made to seal and sign this instrument, the seals of the +mutineers being _black_, and the remainder, _blue_ and _white_. The +raft or stage being completed, it was anchored, so that one end rested +upon the rocks, the other being kept sea-ward by the anchor. During +the first day many articles were brought from the ship in boats, to +the raft, and from thence conveyed on shore. Another raft, however, +was made, by laying spars upon two boats, and boards again upon them, +which at high water would float well up on the shore. The following, +as near as can be recollected, were the articles landed from the ship; +(and the intention was, when all should have been got on shore, to +haul the ship on shore, or as near it as possible and burn her.) One +mainsail, one foresail, one mizen-topsail, one spanker, one driver, +one maintop gallantsail, two lower studdingsails, two royals, two +topmast-studdingsails, two top-gallant-studdingsails, one +mizen-staysail, two mizen-top-gallantsails, one fly-gib, (thrown +overboard, being a little torn,) three boat's sails (new,) three or +four casks of bread, eight or ten barrels of flour, forty barrels of +beef and pork, three or more 60 gal. casks of molasses, one and a half +barrels of sugar, one barrel dried apples, one cask vinegar, two casks +of rum, one or two barrels domestic coffee, one keg W. I. coffee, one +and a half chests of tea, one barrel of pickles, one do. cranberries, +one box chocolate, one cask of tow-lines, three or more coils of +cordage, one coil rattling, one do. lance warp, ten or fifteen balls +spunyarn, one do. worming, one stream cable, one larboard bower +anchor, all the spare spars, every chest of clothing, most of the +ship's tools, &c. &c. The ship by this time was considerably unrigged. + +On the following day, Monday 16th February, Payne the second in the +mutiny, who was on board the ship attending to the discharge of +articles from her, sent word to Comstock, who with Gilbert Smith and a +number of the crew were on shore, attending to the landing of the +raft; "That if he did not act differently with regard to the plunder, +such as making presents to the natives of the officers' fine clothing, +&c. he would do no more, but quit the ship and come on shore." +Comstock had been very liberal to the natives in this way, and his +object was, no doubt, to attach them as much as possible to his +person, as it must have been suggested to his guilty mind, that +however he himself might have become a misanthrope, yet there were +those around him, whose souls shuddered at the idea of being forever +exiled from their country and friends, whose hands were yet unstained +by blood, but who might yet imbrue them, for the purpose of escape +from lonely exile, and cruel tyranny. + +When the foregoing message was received from Payne, Comstock commanded +his presence immediately on shore, and interrogated him, as to what he +meant by sending such a message. After considerable altercation, which +took place in the tent, Comstock was heard to say, "I helped to take +the ship, and have navigated her to this place.--I have also done all +I could to get the sails and rigging on shore, and now you may do what +you please with her; but if any man wants any thing of _me_, I'll take +a musket with him!" + +"That is what I want," replied Payne, "and am ready!" This was a check +upon the murderer, who had now the offer of becoming a duellist; and +he only answered by saying, "I will go on board once more, and then +you may do as you please." + +He then went on board, and after destroying the paper upon which were +recorded the "Laws," returned, went into the tent with Payne, and +putting a sword into a scabbard, exclaimed, "_this_ shall stand by me +as long as I live." + +We ought not to omit to mention that during the time he was on board +the ship, he challenged the persons there, to fight him, and as he was +leaving, exclaimed "I am going to leave you; _Look out for +yourselves!_" + +After obtaining from Payne permission to carry with him a cutlass, a +knife, and some hooks and lines, he took his departure, and as was +afterwards ascertained, immediately joined a gang of natives, and +endeavoured to excite them to slay Payne and his companions! At dusk +of this day he passed the tent, accompanied by about 50 of the +natives, in a direction of their village, upwards of a league distant. +Payne came on board, and after expressing apprehensions that Comstock +would persuade the natives to kill us all, picked out a number of the +crew to go on shore for the night, and stationed sentinels around the +tent, with orders to shoot any one, who should attempt to approach +without giving the countersign. The night, however, passed, without +any one's appearing; but early on the morning of the + +17th Feb.; Comstock was discovered at some distance coming towards the +tent. It had been before proposed to Smith by Payne, to shoot him; but +poor Smith like ourselves, dare do no other than remain upon the side +of neutrality. + +Oliver, whom the reader will recollect as one of the wretches +concerned in the mutiny, hurried on shore, and with Payne and others, +made preparations to put him to death. After loading a number of +muskets they stationed themselves in front of the tent, and waited his +approach--a bushy spot of ground intervening, he did not make his +appearance until within a short distance of the tent, which, as soon +as he saw, drew his sword and walked quick towards it, in a menacing +manner; but as soon as he saw a number of the muskets levelled at +him, he waved his hand, and cried out, "don't shoot me, don't shoot +me! I will not hurt you!" At this moment they fired, and he +fell!--Payne fearing he might _pretend_ to be shot, ran to him with an +axe, and nearly severed his head from his body! There were four +muskets fired at him, but only two balls took effect, one entered his +right breast, and passed out near the back bone, the other through his +head. + +Thus ended the life, of perhaps as cruel, blood-thirsty, and +vindictive a being as ever bore the form of humanity. + +All hands were now called to attend his burial, which was conducted in +the same inconsistent manner which had marked the proceedings of the +actors in this tragedy. While some were engaged in sewing the body in +a piece of canvas, others were employed in digging a grave in the +sand, adjacent to the place of his decease, which, by order of Payne, +was made five feet deep. Every article attached to him, including his +cutlass, was buried with him, except his watch; and the ceremonies +consisted in _reading a chapter from the bible over him, and firing a +musket_! + +Only twenty-two days had elapsed after the perpetration of the +massacre on board the ship, when with all his sins upon his head, he +was hurried into eternity! + +No duty was done during the remainder of the day, except the selection +by Payne, of six men, to go on board the ship and take charge of her, +under the command of Smith; who had communicated his intentions to a +number of running away with the ship. We think we cannot do better +than to give an account of their escape in the words of Smith himself. +It may be well to remark, that Payne had ordered the two binacle +compasses to be brought on shore, they being the only ones remaining +on board, except a hanging compass suspended in the cabin. Secreting +one of the binacle compasses, he took the hanging compass on shore, +and the exchange was not discovered. + +"At 7 P. M. we began to make preparations for our escape with the +ship.--I went below to prepare some weapons for our defence should we +be attacked by Payne, while the others, as silently as possible, were +employed in clearing the running rigging, for every thing was in the +utmost confusion. Having found one musket, three bayonets, and some +whale lances, they were laid handy, to prevent the ship being boarded. +A handsaw well greased was laid upon the windlass to saw off the +cable, and the only remaining hatchet on board, was placed by the +mizen mast, to cut the stern moorings when the ship should have +sufficiently swung off. Taking one man with me, we went upon the +fore-top-sail-yard, loosed the sail and turned out the reefs, while +two others were loosing the main-top-sail and main sail. I will not +insult the reader's good sense, by assuring him, that this was a duty, +upon the success of which seemed to hang our very existence. By this +time the moon was rising, which rendered it dangerous to delay, for +those who had formed a resolution to swim on board, and accompany us. +The _bunts_ of the sails being yet confined aloft, by their respective +gaskets, I sent a man on the fore-yard and another upon the +fore-top-sail-yard, with orders to _let fall_, when I should give the +word; one man being at the helm, and two others at the fore tack. + +"It was now half past nine o'clock, when I took the handsaw, and in +less than two minutes the cable was off!--The ship _payed off_ very +quick, and when her head was off the land, there being a breeze from +that quarter, the hawser was cut and all the sail we could make upon +the ship immediately set, a fine fair wind blowing. A raft of iron +hoops, which was towing along side, was cut adrift, and we +congratulated each other upon our fortunate escape; for even with a +vast extent of ocean to traverse, hope excited in our bosoms a belief +that we should again embrace our friends, and our joy was heightened +by the reflection, that we might be the means of rescuing the +innocents left behind, and having the guilty punished." + +After a long and boisterous passage the ship arrived at Valparaiso, +when she was taken possession of by the American Consul, Michael +Hogan, Esq. and the persons on board were put in irons on board a +French frigate, there being no American man-of-war in port. Their +names were, Gilbert Smith, George Comstock, Stephen Kidder, Joseph +Thomas, Peter C. Kidder, and Anthony Henson. + +Subsequently they were all examined before the U. S. Consul; and with +the following, an examination of Gilbert Smith, we shall commence +another chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + + U. S. Consulate, + Valparaiso, 15th June, 1824. + +Gilbert Smith examined on oath, touching the mutiny and murder on +board the whale ship Globe, of Nantucket, Massachusetts, in the +Pacific Ocean. + +_Question._ Who were the Captain and mates of the ship Globe? + +_Ans._ Thomas Worth, Captain; William Beetle, first mate; John +Lumbert, second mate; Nathaniel Fisher, third mate. + +_Q._ Where was you born? + +_A._ In the town of Edgarton, State of Massachusetts. + +_Q._ Did you sail from thence in the ship Globe of Nantucket, 20th +Dec. 1822, and in what capacity? + +_A._ Yes; as a boat-steerer. + +_Q._ Was there any thing like mutiny on board the ship during her +passage to the Sandwich Islands? + +_A._ No. + +_Q._ How many men belonged to the ship on sailing from Nantucket? + +_A._ Twenty-one in all. + +_Q._ Did any run away at the Sandwich Islands? + +_A._ Six men ran away, and one was discharged. + +_Q._ How many men were shipped in their places? + +_A._ John Oliver, of Shields, England; Silas Payne, of Rhode Island; +Thomas Lilliston, of Virginia; William Steward, of Philadelphia, +(black;) Anthony Henson, of Barnstable; and a native of the Sandwich +Islands. + +_Q._ On what day or night did this murderous mutiny take place? + +_A._ On Sunday night the 26th of January, this year; in the morning of +that day there was a great disturbance, in consequence of Joseph +Thomas having insulted the Captain, for which he was whipped by the +Captain, with the end of the main buntline. The part of the crew not +_stationed_ stood in the hatchway during the punishment. + +_Q._ Did any thing happen in consequence, during that day? + +_A._ No: I lived aft; I heard nothing about it; Capt. Joy of the Lyra, +was on board nearly all day. + +_Q._ How were you stationed during the night? + +_A._ The Captain, first and second mates, kept no watch during that +night; the rest of the crew were stationed in three watches, in charge +of the third mate and boat-steerers. + +_Q._ Who had charge of the first watch during that night? + +_A._ I had charge of the watch from 7 to 10 o'clock. At 8 the Captain +came on deck, and had two reefs taken in the topsails, and at 9 went +down, leaving me the orders for the night, to keep the ship _by the +wind_, until two o'clock, and not to tack until the other watch came +up; and on tacking, a light to be set for the Lyra who was in company, +to tack also. + +At 10 o'clock I went below, being relieved by the boat-steerer Comstock, +to whom I passed the orders given me by the Captain,----(Here follows a +detailed account of the mutiny, with which the reader has already been +made acquainted.) + +_Q._ Do you believe that Joseph Thomas had any knowledge of Comstock's +intent to commit murder that night? + +_A._ I think he must have known something about it, according to his +talk. + +_Q._ Do you believe that any other person in the ship, besides those +persons who committed the murder, knew of the intention? + +_A._ Thomas Lilliston knew about it, because he went to the cabin door +with an axe, and a _boat knife_ in his hand, in company with the +murderers, but he did not go below. + +_Q._ Did you live with them aft, afterwards? + +_A._ No: I lived in the forecastle, but all on board eat in the cabin. + +_Q._ Name all the persons you left on the Island, where you cut the +cable of the ship and escaped. + +_A._ Silas Payne, John Oliver, (being the principal mutineers next to +Samuel B. Comstock,) Thomas Lilliston, Rowland Coffin, _William Lay_, +_Cyrus M. Hussey_, Columbus Worth, Rowland Jones, and the Sandwich +Island native, called Joseph Brown. The last five I believe ignorant +of any knowledge of the intent to murder. + +_Q._ What became of Samuel B. Comstock, who was the head mutineer +after he landed upon the Island? + +_A._ He was shot on the morning of the 17th Feb. by Silas Payne, and +John Oliver, his associates in all the mutiny and murderous course +they had pursued, and buried five feet deep on the beach near their +tent; a chapter was read from the bible by me, acting under the orders +of Payne, and muskets were fired by his orders, by the men. + +_Q._ Why did they murder Comstock? + +_A._ For giving away to the natives clothes and other articles before +they were divided. + +_Q._ Were the natives friendly and quiet? + +_A._ Yes; very peaceable, gave away any thing they had; bread fruit, +cocoanuts and other things. + +_Q._ How did Joseph Thomas conduct himself during the passage from the +Isle to this port? + +_A._ In common, when help was called, he was the first man +disobedient, and frequently said he would do as he pleased. + +_Q._ Did he often speak of the murder, or of his knowing it about to +take place? + +_A._ I only remember, having heard him twice. I told him when we +arrived, I would inform the American Consul of it; to which he +replied, he should own all he knew about it. + +_Q._ To what State does he belong to your knowledge? + +_A._ To the State of Connecticut, he says. + + (Signed) GILBERT SMITH. + Sworn to, before me at Valparaiso, + this eighteenth day of June, 1824. + + (Signed) MICHAEL HOGAN, + U. S. Consul. + +The examination of the others who came in the ship, was but a +repetition of the foregoing. All, however, concurred in believing, +that Joseph Thomas was privy to the intention to mutiny, and murder +the officers. + +The ship was then furnished with necessary sails and rigging, and +placed in charge of a Captain King, who brought her to the Island of +Nantucket, arriving on Sunday 21st November, 1824. Another examination +was held before Josiah Hussey, Esq. and all testified, as before the +American Consul at Valparaiso. + +Thomas, who was put in irons as soon as the land was discovered, was +arraigned before the above named justice, and after an elaborate +hearing, the prisoner was committed to jail, to take his trial at the +following term of the U. S. District Court, and the witnesses +recognised in the sum of three hundred dollars each. + +Leaving Thomas, awaiting his trial, and the others in the enjoyment of +the society of their families and friends, we will return to the +Mulgrave Islands, the scene of no inconsiderable portion of our +distresses and adventures. + +On the 17th Feb. when night came, the watch was set consisting of two +men, whose duty it was to guard against the thefts of the natives. At +about 10 P. M. all hands were awakened by the cry; "The ship has gone, +the ship has gone!" Every one hastened to the beach and verified the +truth of the report for themselves. Some who were ignorant of the +intention of Smith and others, to take the ship, were of opinion that +the strong breeze then blowing, had caused her to drag her anchor, and +that she would return in the morning. + +The morning came, but nothing was to be seen upon the broad expanse +of ocean, save here and there a solitary seagull, perched upon the +crested billow. Payne in a paroxism of rage, vented the most dreadful +imprecations; swearing that could he get them once more in his power, +he would put them to instant death. Not so with us; a ray of hope shot +through our minds, that this circumstance might be the means of +rescuing us from our lonely situation.--The writers of this narrative +were upon the most intimate terms, and frequently, though carefully, +sympathized with each other upon their forlorn situation. We dare not +communicate our disaffection to the Government of the two surviving +mutineers, (Payne and Oliver,) to the others, fearing they might not +agree with us in opinion, and we had too good reason to believe, that +there was _one_, who although unstained by blood, yet from his +conduct, seemed to sanction the proceedings of the mutineers. + +The natives assembled in great numbers around the tent, expressing +great surprise at the ship's having left,--Payne gave them to +understand that the wind had forced her to sea, and that from her want +of sails, rigging, &c. she must be lost, and would never return.--The +natives received the assurance with satisfaction, but it was evident, +Payne apprehended her safe arrival at some port, and his own +punishment; for we were immediately set to work, to tear one boat to +pieces, for the purpose of raising upon another, which was to have _a +deck_; Payne, alleging as a reason for this, that the natives might +compel us to leave the Island. We leave the reader to judge, however, +of his motives, while we proceed to give an account of what actually +did transpire. + +The natives in considerable numbers continued to attend us, and while +the work was progressing, exhibited a great deal of curiosity. Their +deportment towards us continued to be of the most friendly nature, +continuing to barter with us, giving us bread fruit, cocoanuts, &c. +for which they received in return, pieces of iron hoop, nails, and +such articles as we could conveniently spare. + +The small Islands of this groupe are frequently only separated by what +are sometimes denominated causeways, or in other words, connected by +reefs of coral, extending from the extreme point of one Island and +connecting it with another. These reefs are nearly dry at low water, +and the communication is easily kept up between them by the natives on +foot. + +On the 19th, in the morning, having obtained permission, several of us +left the tent, travelling to the Eastward.--After crossing upon the +causeways to several adjacent islands, we discovered numerous tracks +of the natives in the sand, and having followed them about seven +miles, came to a village consisting of about twenty or thirty +families; and were received by them with great hospitality. They +presented us with bread fruit and the milk of cocoanuts, while the +wonder and astonishment of those who had not as yet seen us, +particularly the women and children, were expressed by the most +uncouth grimaces, attended with boisterous laughter, and capering +around us. What more particularly excited their astonishment was the +whiteness of our skins, and their mirth knew no bounds when they heard +us converse. + +Early on the morning of the 20th, we were ordered to go to work upon +the boat; but at the request of a number, this duty was dispensed +with, and we permitted to stroll about the Island. A number went to +the village, carrying with them muskets, at the report of which and +the effect produced by the balls, the natives were struck with wonder +and astonishment. The reader will no doubt agree with us when we +pronounce this to have been a bad policy, for they certainly disliked +to have visitors possessed of such formidable and destructive weapons. +They however continued to visit the tent without discovering any +hostile intentions, and we continued to put the utmost confidence in +them, or more properly speaking to live without any fear of them. + +I (William Lay,) left the tent on a visit to the village, where I was +received with the same kindness as before.--An old man between 50 and +60 years of age, pressed me to go to his house and tarry during the +night, which I did.--The natives continued in and around the tent +until a late hour, gratifying their curiosity by a sight of me. I was +provided with some mats to sleep upon, but the rats, with which the +Island abounds, prevented my enjoying much sleep. + +At 10 o'clock I took my leave of them, with the exception of a number, +who accompanied me to the tent. + +Silas Payne and John Oliver, together with two or three others, set +out in one of the boats, for the purpose of exploring the Island, and +making new discoveries, leaving the rest of us to guard the tent. They +were absent but one night, when they returned, bringing with them two +young women, whom Payne and Oliver took as their wives. The women +apparently showing no dissatisfaction, but on the contrary appeared +much diverted. Payne now put such confidence in the natives, that he +dispensed with having a watch kept during the night, and slept as +secure as though he had been in his native country. + +Payne, on awaking near morning, found the woman that he had brought to +live with him was missing. After searching the tent, and finding +nothing of her, concluded she had fled. He accordingly armed himself, +together with John Oliver and Thomas Lilliston, (with muskets,) and +set out for the nearest village, for the purpose of searching her out. +They arrived at the village before it was light, and secreted +themselves near an Indian hut, where they awaited the approach of day, +in hopes of seeing her. Accordingly at the approach of day-light, they +discovered the hut literally thronged with natives, and among the +number, they discovered the woman they were in search of. At this +moment one of them fired a blank cartridge over their heads, and then +presented themselves to their view, which frightened the natives in +such a manner that they left the hut and fled. Payne then pursued +after, firing over their heads till he caught the one he wanted, and +then left the village for his own tent.--On arriving at the tent, he +took her, gave her a severe flogging and then put her in irons, and +carried on in this kind of style until he was by them killed, and +called to render up his accounts to his offended Judge. + +This severity on the part of Payne, irritated the natives, and was +undoubtedly the cause of their committing depredations and theft, and +finally murdering all our remaining crew, excepting myself and Hussey. + +Early on the succeeding morning, it was discovered that the tool chest +had been broken open, and a hatchet, chisel, and some other articles, +purloined by the natives. Payne worked himself into a passion, and +said he would be revenged. During the day he informed a number of the +natives of what had been done, (who signified much regret at the +circumstance,) and vowing vengeance if the articles were not returned. +During this day the natives frequented the tent more than they had +ever done before; and at night one of them came running with _one +half_ of the chisel which had been stolen, it having been broken in +two. + +Payne told them it was but half of what he required, and put the +Indian in irons, signifying to him, that in the morning he must go +with him to the village, and produce the rest of the articles, and +also point out the persons engaged in breaking open the chest. The +poor native seemed much chagrined at his confinement; yet his +companions who remained near the tent during the night, manifested no +dissatisfaction, which we could observe. + +In the morning, Payne selected four men, viz: Rowland Coffin, Rowland +Jones, Cyrus M. Hussey, and Thomas Lilliston, giving them each a +musket, some powder and _fine shot_; declining to give them balls, +saying, the report of the muskets would be sufficient to intimidate +them. The prisoner was placed in charge of these men, who had orders +to go to the village, and recover the hatchet and bring back the +person whom the prisoner might point out as the thief. + +They succeeded in getting the hatchet, but when about to return, the +natives in a great body, attacked them with stones. Finding that they +retreated, the natives pursued them, and having overtaken Rowland +Jones, killed him upon the spot. The remainder, although bruised with +the stones which these Islanders had thrown with great precision, +arrived at the tent with the alarming intelligence of a +difficulty;--while they followed in the rear armed for war! + +No time was lost in arming ourselves, while the natives collected from +all quarters, and at a short distance from the tent, seemed to hold a +kind of council. After deliberating some time, they began to tear to +pieces one of the boats. + +These were of vital importance to our guilty commander, and he +ventured to go to them for the purpose of pacifying them. One of the +Chiefs sat down upon the ground with him, and after they had set a few +moments, Payne accompanied the Chief into the midst of the natives. +After a conference with them which lasted nearly an hour, he returned +to the tent, saying that he had pacified the natives upon the +following conditions. They were to have every article belonging to us, +even to the tent; and Payne had assured them of his willingness, and +that of the others to live with, and be governed by them, and to adopt +their mode of living! We have reason to doubt the sincerity of Payne +in this respect, for what was to us a hope which we cherished with +peculiar pleasure, must have been to him, a source of fearful +anticipation--we mean the probable safe arrival of the ship, in the +U. S. which should result in our deliverance. Our situation at this +time was truly alarming; and may we not with propriety say, +distressing? Surrounded by a horde of savages, brandishing their war +clubs and javelins, our more than savage commanders, (Payne and +Oliver) in anxious suspense as to the result of their negociations +with them; no refuge from _either foe_, and what contributed not a +little to our unhappiness, was a consciousness of being innocent of +having in the least manner wilfully aided the destroyers of the lives +of our officers, and the authors of our now, truly unhappy situation. + +The natives now began to help themselves to whatever articles suited +them, and when some of them began to pull the tent down, an old man +and his wife took hold of me, and after conducting me a few rods from +the tent, sat down, keeping fast hold of my hands. Under the most +fearful apprehensions I endeavoured to get from them, but they +insisted upon detaining me. I endeavoured to console myself with the +idea, that gratitude had prompted them to take care of me, as I had +frequently taken the part of this old woman, when she had been teased +by others; but alas! the reflection followed, that if this was the +case, there was a probability that not only my bosom friend, was about +to be sacrificed, but I should be left alone to drag out a weary +existence, with beings, strangers to the endearing ties which bind the +hearts of civilized man. + +Whether Payne and his associates offered any resistance to the course +now pursued by the natives or not, I do not know. Suffice it to say, +that all at once my ears were astounded with the most terrifying +whoops and yells; when a massacre commenced but little exceeded by the +one perpetrated on board the Globe. Our men fled in all directions, +but met a foe at every turn. Lilliston and Joe Brown (the Sandwich +Islander,) fell within six feet of me, and as soon as down, the +natives macerated their heads with large stones. The first whom I saw +killed, was Columbus Worth. An old woman, apparently sixty years of +age, ran him through with a spear, and finished him with stones! + +My protectors, for now they were truly so, shut out the scene by +laying down upon the top of me, to hide me from the view of the +merciless foe! I was however discovered, and one of the natives +attempted to get a blow at me with a handspike, which was prevented by +them; when, after a few words, he hurried away. + +As soon as the work of death had been completed, the old man took me +by the hand and hurried me along towards the village. My feet were +very much laccerated in passing over the _causeways_ of sharp coral +rock, but my conductor fearing we might be pursued, hurried me onward +to the village, where we arrived about noon. In a few minutes the +wigwam or hut of the old man, was surrounded, and all seeming to talk +at once, and with great excitement, I anticipated death every moment. +Believing myself the sole survivor, the reader must pardon any attempt +to describe my feelings, when I saw a number of the natives +approaching the hut, and in the midst, Cyrus M. Hussey, conducted with +great apparent kindness. + +Notwithstanding we had both been preserved much after the same manner, +we could not divest ourselves of the apprehension, that we perhaps had +been preserved, for a short time, to suffer some lingering death. + +Our interview was only long enough to satisfy each other that we alone +survived the massacre, when we were separated; Hussey being taken +away, and it seemed quite uncertain, even if our lives were spared, +whether we ever saw each other again. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +On the following day, however, accompanied by natives, we met at the +scene of destruction, and truly it was an appalling one to us. The +mangled corpses of our companions, rendered more ghastly from the +numerous wounds they had received, the provisions, clothing, &c. +scattered about the ground, the hideous yells of exultation uttered by +the natives, all conspired to render our situation superlatively +miserable. + +We asked, and obtained leave from our masters, to bury the bodies +which lay scattered about. We dug some graves in the sand, and after +finishing this melancholy duty, were directed to launch the canoes, +preparatory to our departure, (for we had come in canoes) when we +begged permission, which was readily granted, to take some flour, +bread and pork, and our respective masters assisted us in getting a +small quantity of these articles into the largest canoe. We also took +a blanket each, some shoes, a number of books, including a bible, and +soon arrived at the landing place near the village. As the natives +seemed desirous of keeping us apart, we dare not make any inquiries +for each other, but at my request, having boiled some pork in a large +shell, Hussey was sent for, and we had a meal together; during which +time, the natives assembled in great numbers, all anxious to get a +sight, not only of our _novel mode of cutting the meat and eating it_, +but of the manner in which we prepared it. One of them brought us some +water in a tin cup, as they had seen us drink frequently when eating. + +The natives now began to arrive from distant parts of the islands, +many of whom had not yet heard of us, and we were continually +subjected to the examination of men, women and children. The _singular +colour_ of our skin, was the greatest source of their admiration, and +we were frequently importuned to adopt their dress. + +On the 28th Feb. early in the morning the whole village appeared to be +in motion. All the adults commenced _ornamenting_ themselves, which to +me appeared to render them _hideous_. After greasing themselves with +cocoanut oil, and hanging about them numerous strings of beads, they +set off, taking us with them, to a flat piece of ground, about half a +mile distant, where we found collected a great number, and all +ornamented in the same fantastic manner.--Knowing that many of the +natives inhabiting Islands in the Pacific Ocean, are cannibals, we +were not without our fears that we had been preserved to grace a +feast! Our apprehensions, however, were dissipated, when we saw them +commence a dance, of which we will endeavour to give the reader some +idea. The only musical instrument we saw, was a rude kind of drum; and +the choristers were all females, say twenty or thirty, each having one +of these drums. The music commenced with the women, who began upon a +very low key, gradually raising the notes, while the natives +accompanied them with the most uncouth gesticulations and grimaces. +The precision with which about three hundred of these people, all +dancing at a time, regulated their movements, was truly astonishing; +while the yelling of the whole body, each trying to exceed the other, +rendered the scene to us, not only novel, but terrifick. + +The dance ended near night, and those natives who lived in a distant +part of the Island, after gratifying their curiosity by gazing upon +us, and even _feeling of our skins_, took their departure. + +After our return to the village, we cooked some meat upon the coals, +and with some bread, made a hearty meal. One source of regret to us, +was, that the natives began to like our bread, which heretofore they +had scarcely dared to taste; and particularly the woman whom I called +mistress, ate, to use a sea phrase, her _full allowance_. + +The natives expressed great dislike at our conversing together, and +prohibited our reading, as much as possible. We never could make them +comprehend that the book conveyed ideas to us, expressed in our own +language. + +Whether from a fear that we might concert some plan of escape, or that +we might be the means of doing them some injury while together, we +know not;--but about the first of April, we discovered that we were +about to be separated! The reader may form some idea of our feelings +when we were informed that Hussey was to be taken by his master and +family, to a distant part of the Island! Not having as yet become +sufficiently acquainted with their language, we were unable to +comprehend the distance from our present location. + +It now becomes expedient to present the reader with our _separate +accounts_, in which we hope to be able to convey an idea of the +manners and customs of these people. We had experienced in a very +short time so many vicissitudes, and passed through so many scenes of +distress, that no opportunity was afforded to keep a journal, and +notwithstanding we had even lost the day of the week and month, yet +with such force, were the principal incidents which occurred during +our exile, impressed upon our minds, that we can with confidence +proceed with our narrative, and will commence the next chapter with an +account of the adventures of _William Lay_. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +Early in the morning of the day on which Hussey left me, preparations +were made for his embarkation with his _new_ master and family. We +were allowed a short interview, and after taking an affectionate leave +of each other, we parted with heavy hearts. The tender ties which +bound me to my companion in misfortune, seemed now about to be forever +broken asunder. No features to gaze upon, but those of my savage +masters, and no one with whom I could hold converse, my heart seemed +bursting with grief at my lonely situation.--On the departure of my +companion, the "star of hope" which had often gleamed brightly mid the +night of our miseries, seemed now about to set forever! After watching +the canoe which bore him from me, until she was hid from my view in +the distance, I returned to the hut with my master, and as I had eaten +but little during the day, the calls of nature induced me to broil my +last morsel of meat, with which, and some bread, I made a tolerable +supper. The natives began to be very fond of the bread, and eat of it +as long as it lasted, which unfortunately for me, was but a short +time. + +I informed my master that I should like to have some more of the meat +from the place where the ship had lain. On the following morning, my +master, mistress, and four or five others embarked in a canoe, to +assist me in procuring some provisions. Observing that they carried +with them a number of clubs, and each a spear, I was apprehensive of +some design upon my own person; but happily, was soon relieved, by +seeing them wade round a shoal of fish, and after having frightened +them into shoal water, kill a number with their spears. We then +proceeded on, and when we arrived at the _tent_, they cooked them +after the following manner. A large fire was kindled, and after the +wood was burned to coals, the fish were thrown on, and snatched and +eaten as fast as cooked; although they were kind enough to preserve a +share for me, yet the scene around me, prevented my enjoying with +them, their meal. The tent which had been torn down, had contained +about forty barrels of beef and pork, two hogsheads of molasses, +barrels of pickles, all the clothing and stores belonging to the ship, +in short, every thing valuable, such as charts, nautical instruments, +&c. &c. The latter had been broken and destroyed, to make ornaments, +while the beef, pork, molasses and small stores lay scattered +promiscuously around. They appeared to set no value upon the clothing, +except to tear and destroy it. The pieces of beef and pork, from the +barrels, (which had been all stove,) were scattered in every +direction, and putrifying in the sun. After putting into the canoe +some pork and a few articles of clothing, we commenced our +return;--but a strong head wind blowing, we had considerable +difficulty in getting back. + +For some considerable time, nothing material occurred, and I led as +monotonous and lonely a life, as could well be imagined. It is true, I +was surrounded by fellow beings; and had all hope of ever seeing my +country and friends again, been blasted, it is probable I might have +become _more_ reconciled to my condition, but I very much doubt if +ever perfectly so, as long as reason and reflection held their empire +over my mind. My books having been destroyed from a superstitious +notion of their possessing some supernatural power, I was left to +brood over my situation unpitied and alone. + +Sometime in July, as I judged, _Luckiair_, son-in-law to my master, +_Ludjuan_, came from a distant part of the groupe, on a visit, and +during the week he remained with us, we became much attached to each +other. When he told me, that on his return he should pass near the +place where Hussey lived, my anxiety to accompany him thus far, was so +great, that after much persuasion, _Ludjuan_ gave his consent for me +to go. On our way we stopped at the tent, and I procured for the last +time, a small quantity of the _ship's provisions_, although the meat +was some of it in a very decayed state. + +In consequence of head winds, we were compelled to stop for the night +upon a small Island, where we found an uninhabited hut; and after +cooking some meat, and baking some wet flour (for it was no other) in +the ashes, we took our mats into the hut, and remained until next day. +The wind continuing to blow fresh ahead, we gathered some green bread +fruit, and cooked some meat, in the same manner as they cook the +largest of their fish, which is this.--A hole is dug in the ground, +and after it has been filled with wood, it is set on fire, and then +covered with stones. As the wood burns away, the heated stones fall to +the bottom, which, when the fire is out, are covered with a thick +layer of green leaves, and then the meat or fish is placed upon these +leaves, and covered again in a careful and ingenious manner, and the +whole covered with earth. This preserves the juices of the fish, and +in this way do they cook most of their fish, with _hot stones_. + +In the afternoon the weather proving more favourable, we left our +encampment, and at sun down arrived at a place called Tuckawoa; at +which place we were treated with the greatest hospitality. When we +were about to leave, we were presented with bread fruit and cocoanuts +in great abundance. As we approached the place of Hussey's residence, +I discovered him standing on the beach. Our joy at meeting, I will not +attempt to describe.--We had a short time, however, allowed us, in +which to relate our adventures, and condole with each other; for in +_an hour_ we were once more separated; and we pursued our course for +the residence of Luck-i-a-ir. After encamping another night upon the +beach, we at length arrived at the house of my conductor, which was at +a place called _Dillybun_. His family consisted of his wife and one +child, whom we found busily engaged in making a fishing net. When near +night _Luckiair_ and myself went out and gathered some breadfruit, and +after making a hearty meal, slept soundly upon our mats until morning. + +A little before noon on the following day, two natives with their +wives, arrived from Luj-no-ne-wort, the place where Hussey lived, and +brought me some flour, and a piece of meat. The natives would eat of +the bread, but would not taste of the meat. I remained here about a +week, when _Ludjuan_ came for me. Nothing occurred of note, during our +passage back to _Milly_, (the place of my residence,) where I was +welcomed by the natives with every demonstration of joy. I was sent +for by one of the chiefs, who asked many questions, and as a mark of +his friendship for me, when I was about to return, presented me with a +kind of food called _cha-kak-a_. My present consisted of a piece about +two feet long and six inches in diameter. It is made of a kind of +fruit common among these Islands, and called by the inhabitants, +_bup_. The fruit is scraped very fine, and then laid in the sun until +perfectly dry. Some of the leaves of the tree bearing the fruit, are +then wrapped round a piece of wood, which is the _mould or former_, +and when securely tied with strings, the former is withdrawn, and into +this cylinder of leaves is put the _bup_, which is of a sweet and +pleasant taste. + +At the urgent request of the natives, I now adopted their dress. +Having but one pair of trowsers and a shirt left, I laid them by for +bad weather, and put on the costume of a Mulgrave Islander. This +dress, if it may be so called, consists in a broad belt fastened round +the waist, from which is suspended two broad tassels. The belt is made +from the leaves of the _bup tree_, and very ingeniously braided, to +which is attached the tassels, which are made of a coarser material, +being the bark of a small vine, in their language called _aht-aht_. +When the dress is worn, one of the tassels hangs before and the other +behind. The sun, as I expected, burned my skin very much; which the +natives could not account for, as nothing of the kind ever happened +among themselves. + +One day there was seen approaching a number of canoes, which we found +were loaded with fish for the chiefs, and to my great joy, Hussey was +one of the passengers. My master accompanied me to see him; and we +anticipated at least a mental feast in each other's society. But of +this enjoyment we were deprived by the natives, who were always uneasy +when we were conversing together. + +I learned, however, from Hussey, that the natives had been kind to +him; but before we had an opportunity to communicate to each other our +hopes and fears, he was hurried away. Having now gained considerable +knowledge of their language, I learned that they were afraid that if +we were permitted to hold converse, we should be the means of +provoking the _Supreme God_, _Anit_, to do them some injury. + +The bread fruit beginning to ripen, we were all employed in gathering +it; and I will endeavour to give the reader an idea of the process of +preserving it. After the fruit was gathered, the outside rind was +scraped off, and the seeds taken out; which are in size and appearance +like a chesnut. The fruit is then put into a net, the meshes of which +are quite small, taken into the salt water, and then beat with a club +to pummice. It is then put into baskets made of cocoanut leaves, and +in about two days becomes like a rotten apple; after which the _cores_ +are taken out, and the remainder after undergoing a process of +kneading, is put into a hole in the ground, the bottom and sides of +which are neatly inlaid with leaves, and left about two days; when it +again undergoes the same process of kneading, and so on, until it +becomes perfectly dry.--This occupied us a number of days; and when we +were engaged in gathering another, and a larger kind, a small boy came +running towards us, and exclaimed, "_Uroit a-ro rayta mony la +Wirrum_," that is, the chiefs are going to kill William. Ludjuan +seeing that I understood what the boy said, he said "reab-reab!" it is +false. From the pains taken by the natives to keep Hussey and myself +apart, it was evident that they were in some measure afraid of us; +but from what cause I had yet to learn. After passing a sleepless +night, we again in the morning pursued our labors, but I was +continually agitated by fearful apprehensions. About midnight I +overheard some of the natives in the tent talking about me, and I was +now convinced that some injury was contemplated. I then asked them +what I was to be killed for. They seemed surprised when I told them I +had been listening; yet they denied that I was to be killed, and one +of them who had frequently manifested for me much friendship, came to +my mat, and lay down with me, assuring me I should not be injured. + +The harvest being ended, a feast was had, and the chiefs were +presented with considerable quantities of this fruit, after it had +been prepared and baked, which in taste resembled a sweet potatoe, +sending presents of it in all directions about the Island. + +Having now but little work to do, I confined myself to the hut as much +as possible, for I had been observed for some time in a very +suspicious manner. In a few days I was informed that Hussey had been +brought to the Island, and it was immediately suggested to my anxious +mind, that we were now to be sacrificed. Ludjuan went with me to see +Hussey, but we were only allowed a few moments conversation, when I +was taken back to the hut, and communicated my fears to my old +mistress, who sympathized with me, but said if the chiefs had +determined it, there was no hope for me. I now was made acquainted +with the cause of their dislike, which was no less than a +superstitious idea, that we were the cause of a malady, then raging to +considerable extent! + +This disease consisted in the swelling of the hands and feet, and in +many instances the faces of the youth swelled to such a degree, that +they were blind for a number of days. Such a disease they had never +before been afflicted with. I had now an opportunity of most solemnly +protesting my total inability to injure them in this way, and as the +disease had as yet caused no death, I had a hope of being spared. I +learned that a majority of the chiefs in council, were for putting me +to death, but one of them in particular, protested against it, fearing +it might be the cause of some worse calamity. As the vote to carry +into effect any great measure, must be unanimous, this chief was the +means by his dissenting, of saving my life. + +The afflicted began to recover, and my fears were greatly lessened; +but as these people are of a very unstable and changeful character, I +could not entirely divest myself of apprehensions. + +As soon as the harvest was completed, great preparations were made for +the embarkation of the chiefs, who were going to make their annual +visit to the different Islands. They told me that the King, whom they +called La-boo-woole-yet, lived on an Island at the N. W. and if he did +not receive his yearly present of preserved bread fruit and _pero_, he +would come with a great party to fight them. Twelve canoes were put +in the water, each one carrying a part of the provisions, and manned +by about two hundred persons. + +After an absence of four or five days, during which time we exchanged +civilities with numerous chiefs, we returned to _Milly_, and hauled up +the canoes. I now learned that the principal chief, had said that it +would have been wrong to kill me, firmly believing that the disease +with which they had been afflicted, had been sent by their God, as a +punishment for having killed Payne and the others! The malady having +now entirely disappeared, they considered that crime as expiated! + +About two days after my return, there was great excitement, in +consequence of the appearance of a ship! Seeing the natives were very +much displeased at the circumstance, I concealed as well as I could, +the gladdening emotions which filled my breast; and, surrounded by +about three hundred of them, went round a point of land, when I +distinctly saw a ship standing for the land. The displeasure of the +natives increased, they demanded to know where she came from, how many +men she had in her, &c. I was compelled to tell them that she was not +coming to get me, and even pretended to be afraid of her approach, +which pleased them much, as they appeared determined I should never +leave them. At dusk she was so near the land, that I saw them shorten +sail, and fondly anticipated the hour of my deliverance as not far +distant. + +During the night, sleep was a stranger to me, and with the most +anxious emotions did I anticipate a welcome reception on board, and +above all, a happy and joyful landing on my native shore. In the +morning, Ludjuan went with me to the beach, but alas! no ship was in +sight. She had vanished, and with her had fled all my hopes of a +speedy deliverance. The kind reader can perhaps form some idea of my +disappointment. + +The natives continued to be kind to me, and I was often complimented +by them for my knowledge of their language; and the appearance of my +person had very much improved, my hair and beard being long, and my +skin turned nearly as black as their own! I was often importuned to +have my ears bored and stretched, but never gave my consent, which +much surprised them, it being a great mark of beauty. They begin at +the age of four years, and perforate the lower part of the ear, with a +sharp pointed stick; and as the ear stretches, larger ones are +inserted, until it will hang nearly to their shoulders! The larger the +ear, the more beauty the person possesses! + +About a fortnight after I saw the ship pass, Hussey came with his +master, on a visit. His disappointment was great, and we could only +cheer each other, by hoping for the best, and wait patiently the +pleasure of Heaven. + +Hussey again left me, but we parted under less bodings of evil than +before, for the kindness of the natives began to increase, and their +suspicions to be allayed. + +I will here acquaint the reader with some of the means that I was +induced to make use of, to satisfy the cravings of appetite. As the +Island now was in a state of almost entire famine, my daily +subsistence not amounting to more (upon an average) than the substance +of one half a cocoanut each day. The chief I lived with, having +several cocoanut trees that he was very choice of, and which bore +plentifully; I would frequently, (after the natives in the hut were +all soundly asleep) take the opportunity and get out of the hut +unperceived, and climb one of those trees, (being very careful about +making the least noise, or letting any of them drop to the ground, +whereby I might be detected,) and take the stem of one cocoanut in my +mouth, and one in each hand, and in that manner make out to slide down +the tree, and would then (with my prize) make the best of my way to a +bunch of bushes, at a considerable distance from the hut, where I +would have a sumptuous repast; and if any remained, would secrete +them, until by hunger, I was drove to the necessity of revisiting that +place. + +I made a practice of this for some time, until the chief began to miss +his cocoanuts, and keep such watch, that I, for fear of being +detected, was obliged to relinquish that mode of satisfying my +appetite. + +A short time after this, I ventured to take a cocoanut off the ground +where the natives had recently buried a person; a deed which is +strictly against the laws of their religious principles, (if it can be +said that they have any,) and a deed which the natives never dare to +do, for fear of displeasing their God (Anit) under a certain length of +time after the person had been buried, and then, the spot is only to +be approached by males. + +Not twenty-four hours had elapsed after I took the cocoanut, before +they missed it, and coming immediately to me, charged me with having +taken it, telling me that not a native on the Island would have dared +so much as to handle it, for fear of the bad spirit, (Anit.) + +I then told them that I had taken it, but pleading ignorance in the +case, and promising never to do any thing of the like again, and +making it appear to them that I was surprised at what they told me of +the bad spirit, and also that I believed the same, they left me, after +telling me that if I ever handled another of them, it would not only +bring sickness and death upon myself, but would bring it upon the +whole Island. + +The reader will naturally suppose, that my mind was considerably +relieved on their leaving me so soon, fearing that something serious +might be the result. + +After this I was very careful how I did any thing that I thought would +in the least displease, or irritate them, and made myself content with +the portion they saw fit to give me. + +I frequently fired a musket to please them, by their request; and +told them if they would let me have some powder, I would fire off the +swivel, left by the Globe. They consented, and collected in great +numbers, and after I had loaded the gun with a heavy charge, I told +them they had better stand back. They said I must set her on fire, and +tell them when she was going off, and they would run! I however, +touched her off, when they instantly fell on their faces in the +greatest panick. When their fears had subsided, they set up howling +and yelling with ecstacy! + +They said, if they should have a battle, I must carry that gun with +me, which would alone vanquish their enemies! + +We were visited by eight or ten canoes, from a distant Island, called +Alloo. They came to exchange presents with our chiefs, and very soon a +great quantity of _pero_, &c. was baked, and having been inspected by +the chiefs, to see that it was in a proper state to be presented to +their visitors, it was given them to eat. + +As these people had never seen me before, I was much annoyed by them. +During their stay, I was constantly surrounded; my skin felt of, and +often became the sport of the more witty, because my skin was not of +so dark a hue as their own, and more especially, as my _ears_ remained +in the same form, as when nature gave them to me. These visitors, to +my great satisfaction, did not remain long with us. + +Their mode of anchoring their canoes is singular. One of them takes +the end of a line, and diving to the bottom, secures it to a rock; and +in the same way do they dive down to cast it off. I have seen them do +this in five fathoms of water. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +It was not until the 23d of December, 1825, that the prospects of +being relieved from my disagreeable situation began to brighten. +Early in the morning of that day, I was awakened by a hooting and +yelling of the natives, who said, a vessel had anchored at the head of +the Island. They seemed alarmed, and I need not assure the reader, +that my feelings were of a contrary nature. Their God was immediately +consulted, as to the measures to pursue; but as I was not allowed to +be present when he was invoked, I cannot say what was the form of this +ceremony, except that cocoanut leaves were used. Their God, however, +approved the plan, which was, that they should go to the vessel, or +near her, and swim on board, a few at a time, until two hundred were +on board, and then a signal was to be given, when they were to throw +the persons on board into the water, and kill them. Two large canoes +which would carry fifty men each, were put in readiness, but at first +they refused to let me accompany them, fearing that I would inform of +their having killed our men, and they would be punished. I assured +them that the vessel, having but two masts, did not belong to my +nation, and I was certain I could not speak their language. + +They at length consented for me to go. We arrived within a few miles +of the vessel at night, and early the following morning, were joined +by a number of canoes, which made in all two hundred men. It being +squally in the forenoon, we remained where we were, but when it +cleared up, the yells of the Indians announced the approach of the +vessel. I had only time to see that it was really an armed schooner, +when I was secreted with their women, about forty in number, in a hut +near the shore, and the women had orders to watch me close, that I did +not get away. + +A boat at this time from the schooner, was seen approaching the shore. +She landed at about a hundred yards distant from where I was confined; +but it being near night, I soon found she was making the best of her +way towards the schooner. Night came, and I was sent for by the +principal chief, and questioned closely concerning the schooner. My +fears and apprehensions were now excited to a degree beyond human +expression, and the kind reader will pardon all attempts to express +them. + +The natives seeing the whites so bold, excited in them a fear which +induced them to flee the Island. Accordingly, about midnight, the +canoes were launched, and I was carried to a remote part of the +Island, a distance of about 40 miles, where I remained until my +fortunate escape. + +29th. Early in the morning, we discovered a boat under sail, standing +directly for the place where we were; the natives were considerably +agitated with fear, and engaged in planning some method by which to +overcome the people in the boat, if they should come where we were; +and, as I expected, the natives would hide me, as they had heretofore +done, I thought it best to offer my services to assist them--I said I +would aid them in fighting the boat's crew--and that, as I could talk +with them, I would go to them, in advance of the natives, deceive the +crew, and prevail on them to come on shore and sit down, and for us to +appear friendly till in possession of their arms, then rise upon the +crew and kill them without difficulty or hazard. Some of the natives +suspected that I should revolt to the other party, and turn the +current of destruction on them; but the chief Luttuon said he liked my +plan much, and would inquire of their God, and if he found that I +should be true to them, my plan should be adopted. The inquiry +resulted in favor of my plan, and they said I might go. The boat was +now within one hundred rods of the shore, and Luttuon called me to +him, oiled my head and body with cocoanut oil, and gave me my charge +how to conduct. I pledged myself to obey his orders. My joy at this +moment was great, as the boat anchored near where we were. I went to +the beach, accompanied by about one hundred of the smartest natives, +whom I charged not to manifest a hostile appearance. I hailed the boat +in English, and told the crew what the calculations of the natives +were, and not to land unless they were well armed. The officer of the +boat replied that he would be among them directly; and in a few +minutes they landed, (13 men and 2 officers,) and when within a rod of +us, I ran to Lieut. H. Paulding, who took me by the hand, asked if I +was one of the Globe's crew, and inquired my name, &c. &c. We then +retreated to the boat, facing the natives, who all kept their seats, +excepting the one I called father, who came down among us, and took +hold of me to carry me back, but desisted on having a pistol presented +to his breast. + +Lieut. Hiram Paulding, of the Navy, for such was the name of this +gentlemanly officer, informed me that the vessel, was the U. S. +Schooner Dolphin, sent on purpose to rescue us, and commanded by +Lieut. Com't. John Percival. + +After expressing my gratitude as well as I was able, to Heaven, which +had furnished the means of my deliverance, I acquainted Mr. Paulding, +that the only survivor of the Globe, except myself, was Cyrus M. +Hussey; who was held in bondage upon a neighbouring Island. After the +boat's crew had taken some refreshment, we left the landing place, and +soon arrived at the place where Hussey lived. The natives had +concealed him, but after some threatenings from us, restored him, and +we were received on board of the Dolphin, and treated in the most kind +and hospitable manner. + +Our hair was now cut, and we were shaved. Our appearance must have +been truly ludicrous, our hair having been growing twenty-two months, +untouched by the razor or scissors. + +Our joy and happiness on finding ourselves on board an _American +Man-of-War_, and seeing "the star spangled banner," once more floating +in the air, we will not attempt to describe. Suffice it to say, that +none can form a true estimate of our feelings, except it be those who +have been suddenly and unexpectedly rescued from pain and peril, and +threatening death. In the afternoon the Captain wished me to go on +shore with him, as an interpreter. We accordingly went, and passed +over to the village on the other side of the Island, where we had an +interview with a woman of distinction, (the men having fled, being +principally absent with the chiefs at Alloo.) The captain informed her +he wished to see the chiefs, and requested her to send for them that +night, that he might visit them in the morning, and make them some +presents. We then returned to the vessel; and the following day, Dec. +1st, went on shore for the purpose of seeing the chiefs, but could not +obtain an interview with them. The captain informed the natives that +he must see the chiefs, and that he would wait another day, but if +disappointed then, he should be compelled to use coercive means. They +immediately sent another messenger after them, and we returned on +board, accompanied by several of the natives, among whom was Ludjuan. +The captain made him several presents, and informed him they were +given as a compensation for saving my life. Shortly after, the natives +went on shore. + +The next morning, Dec. 2d, the captain sent me on shore, to ascertain +whether the chiefs had returned, and I was informed by the natives +that they had, and were then at a house half a mile distant. This +intelligence having been communicated to the captain, he went on +shore, and took myself and Hussey for interpreters; but we found on +our arrival, that the natives had been practising a piece of +deception--the chiefs not having returned. Very much displeased at +this perfidious treatment, the captain made a demand of the chiefs +before sunset, threatening, if it were not complied with, to go on +shore with fifty men, well armed, and destroy every person he could +find. This threat threw the natives into consternation, and +immediately another messenger was despatched for the chiefs. The +natives were so alarmed, that they soon sent off three or four more +messengers; and we returned on board to dine. After dinner, I went on +shore with Mr. Paulding, the first Lieutenant, and some of the under +officers, for the purpose of shooting birds. After rambling round the +Island for some time, we discovered a number of natives quickly +approaching us from the lower part of the Island; and supposing the +chiefs were with them, we sat down to await their arrival; but before +they came to us, a signal was set on board the schooner, for us to +return, which was immediately obeyed, without waiting for an interview +with the natives. Early on the next morning, I was sent ashore to +ascertain whether the chiefs had arrived, and soon found that they +had, and were in a hut, waiting to receive a visit from the captain, +who, I informed them, would come on shore after breakfast, to have a +_talk_ with them, and also to bestow some presents. Accordingly, the +captain, with myself and Hussey, repaired to the hut, where we found +them sitting, and ready to commune with us. + +The captain told them he had been sent out by the _Head Chief_ of his +country, to look for the men that had been left there by the ship +Globe--that he had been informed they murdered all but two--that, as +it was their first offence of the kind, their ignorance would plead an +excuse--but if they should ever kill or injure another white man, who +was from any vessel or wreck, or who might be left among them, our +country would send a naval force, and exterminate every soul on the +Island; and also destroy their fruit trees, provisions, &c. and that +if they would always treat white men kindly, they never would receive +any injury from them, but would have their kindness and hospitality +reciprocated. He also adverted to the practice of stealing, lying, and +other immoralities; stating to the natives that these crimes are +abhorred and punished in our country; and that murder is punished +with death. He then sent me to the boat, lying at the beach, to bring +three tomahawks, one axe, a bag of beads, and a number of cotton +handkerchiefs, which were presented to the chiefs. He also gave them +two hogs, and a couple of cats, with injunctions not to destroy them, +that they might multiply. The captain caused potatoes, corn, pumpkins, +and many valuable seeds to be planted, and gave the natives +instructions how to raise and preserve them. He then explained to them +that these acts of kindness and generosity were extended, because they +saved us alive, and had taken care of us while among them. This +conversation with the natives being ended, we went on board, dined, +and the captain and Hussey went again on shore. The first Lieutenant +made preparations for cruising in the launch, round the Island, to +make topographical surveys, who took me with him, as interpreter, and +about 4 o'clock, we commenced a cruise with a design to sail up an +inlet or inland sea; but the wind blowing fresh, and having a head +sea, at 12 o'clock we anchored for the night. + +Dec. 4th. At sunrise, we found ourselves not more than a mile from the +place where we crossed over the evening before; and immediately +getting under weigh, and rowing to the westward, we soon came to the +place where the Globe's station had been; anchored, and went on shore, +for the purpose of disinterring the bones of Comstock, who had been +buried there, and to obtain a cutlass, which was buried with him; but +before we had accomplished the undertaking, the schooner got under +weigh, and soon anchored abreast of us, at the same place where the +Globe's provisions were landed. The captain and Hussey immediately +came on shore to view the place; but as I caught cold the preceding +night, by lying exposed in our launch, I was excused from serving +further with Mr. Paulding in making surveys, and Hussey supplied my +place. Soon after, I went on board with the captain, carrying with me +the skull of the person we had dug up, and the cutlass, intending to +convey them to America. + +After dinner, the captain made a trip in the gig, to Alloo, taking me +for his interpreter, where we arrived in half an hour, and soon +travelled up to the village. The natives received us with marks of +gladness, and in a short time the house at which we stopped was +surrounded by them, who came undoubtedly for the purpose of gratifying +their curiosity, by gazing at us. We remained at the village about two +hours, during which time we had considerable talk with two of the +chief women, and made some small presents to the people, such as +beads, &c. They did not treat us as they usually do visitors, with +fruit, &c. there being at that time what we call a famine, which in +their language, is Ingathah. + +After having taken leave of the natives, and walked about half the +distance to the shore, we stopped to refresh ourselves under a fine +cool shade. While in conversation on the manners and customs of the +natives, an old man and woman approached us, who had acted towards me, +during my residence among them, as father and mother. I immediately +made them and their kindness to me known to the captain, who, in +consideration of their humane treatment, rewarded them with a few +beads and a handkerchief, for which they appeared thankful and +grateful--telling them at the same time, the presents were to +recompense their hospitality to me, and enjoining on them at all times +to be friendly to the whites, and a reward would certainly await them. +It being near the close of the day, we left Alloo, and having a fair +wind, reached the schooner before dark. + +The next morning, Dec. 5th, being very pleasant, all hands were +employed in procuring wood for the schooner--some in cutting it down, +and others in boating it off. Our carpenter had been engaged for a +few days, at Milly; to instruct and assist the natives in repairing a +canoe. The distance was four or five miles, and the captain wanting +the carpenter, set sail for Milly in his gig, and soon arrived there; +where he learned that the carpenter had repaired the canoe, to the +great satisfaction of the natives, who expressed a strong desire that +he might be permitted to remain among them on the Island; but the +captain informed them he could not spare him. When the natives saw the +carpenter packing up his tools, they expressed to me an expectation +that the tools would be left with them as a present. We left the +natives, and reached the schooner a little before sunset; the captain +feeling anxious for the fate of the launch, as nothing yet had been +heard of the fortune which had attended her, or the men in her. + +Dec. 6th. Having procured a sufficient supply of wood, though our +supply of provisions was hardly sufficient for the voyage, and the +launch having returned, at about 10 A. M. we weighed anchor and +proceeded to the place called Milly, where we anchored for the purpose +of planting some seeds, and taking a last farewell of the chiefs and +their people. The captain went immediately on shore, taking Hussey for +his interpreter. He was gone till nearly night, when he returned, +bringing with him _Luttuon_ and several other natives. The captain +gave orders to beat to quarters, to exhibit the men to the natives, +and explain to them the manner of our fighting. Those untutored +children of nature, seemed highly gratified with the manoeuvres, but +were most delighted with the music, probably the first of the kind +they ever heard. We informed them we always have such music when we +are fighting an enemy. The natives were then landed, and we +immediately made sail for the head of the Island, intending to cruise +around the other shores of it, for the purpose of making surveys, and +constructing a map of it. We stood eastward till nearly morning, then +altered our course and headed towards the Island. + +During the following day, Dec. 7th, having favorable winds and +weather, we made a regular survey of the whole length of the groupe, +before sunset.--The captain now steered N. W. to endeavour to discover +other Islands which the natives had often described to me, during my +abode with them. They said they had frequently visited ten or twelve +different Islands in their canoes, and that the people who inhabit +them, all speak the same language, which is the same as their own, and +that the Islands lie about one day's sail from each other. + +Dec. 8. The weather pleasant and fair; about 9 o'clock, A. M. we saw +land ahead, and passed it on the windward side, then varied our course +and sailed to the leeward of the Island; but night coming on, we were +obliged to defer landing till morning. The captain then attempted to +reach the shore in the gig, but was not able to land, on account of +the surf. After he returned on board, we made sail, cruising farther +to the leeward, in hopes of finding a place to anchor, but in this we +were disappointed, not being able to find bottom thirty yards from the +rocks. However, at high water, the captain, at imminent hazard in +passing the surf, succeeded in landing. He had previously given orders +to me and Hussey, not to let the natives know that we could converse +with, or understand them, but to be attentive to every thing that +might pass among them, to ascertain whether their intentions and +dispositions were hostile or friendly. After landing, the captain and +Hussey visited the house where the head chief, or king of all those +Islands lived, of whom I had formerly heard so much, while I was on +the Mulgraves.--They continued with him about two hours, were treated +well, and discovering nothing unfriendly in the natives, the captain +told Hussey he might make them acquainted with his knowledge of their +language, by conversing with them. The king, on hearing Hussey +speaking in the language of the natives, appeared at first so +frightened and agitated, that he could scarcely reply; but by degrees +became composed, and inquired of Hussey where he learned their +language, and why he had not spoken to them immediately on coming +ashore. Hussey then informed him he was one of the two persons that +had been on the Mulgraves, (in their language, Milly,) and that the +other person (myself) was on board the schooner--that the schooner had +been there after us, that we left the Mulgraves the day before, and +had then visited that Island for the purpose of examining it, &c. &c. +The king had long before heard of our being at the Mulgraves, and told +Hussey he had been repairing his canoe, in order to go to those +Islands, with a view to induce us to live with him, who, had that been +the case, would undoubtedly have used us well. The king was about 70 +years of age, and had a daughter on the Island where we had resided, +wife to Luttuon. He inquired if his daughter was alive and well, with +tears in his eyes and trembling form, for it was a long time since he +had received any intelligence of her; and hearing of her welfare so +unexpectedly, quite overcame the good old father's feelings. And here +the reader will observe, that the pure and unaffected emotions +produced by parental affection, are similar among all the human +species, whether civilized or savage. The natives of the Island we +were then visiting, may be ranked with those that have made the fewest +approaches towards the refined improvements of enlightened nations, +yet the ground work of humanity was discovered to be the same; and the +solicitude of a fond father for a beloved child, was manifested in a +manner which would not disgrace those who move in the most elevated +circles of civilized life. The old king expressed his regret that he +had not visited the Mulgraves during our stay there, was very sorry we +were about to return to America, and used all the force of native +eloquence, to persuade us to continue with him. He inquired if we had +got the whale boat he had heard of our having at the Mulgraves. Hussey +informed him it was on board the schooner, and the swivel likewise. +The captain then informed the king that he wanted cocoanuts and bup, +which were obtained; and in return, the captain gave the natives some +beads and handkerchiefs. The captain then went on board the schooner, +made sail, standing a N. W. course, in pursuit of another Island. + +Dec 9th. About 10 o'clock in the forenoon, we discovered land ahead +and off our lee bow. About 2 o'clock, P. M. we arrived near the land, +hove the schooner to, and sent two boats ashore, to get provisions. At +sunset the boats returned, loaded with cocoanuts and bup. We hoisted +up our boats, and with a strong breeze, it being the inclement season +of the year, prosecuted our voyage to the Sandwich Islands, & had much +boisterous weather during the passage. + +On Jan. 8th, 1826, we expected to make one of the Sandwich Islands, +called Bird's Island, but night came on before we discovered it. But +early on the following morning, we saw land about four leagues to the +leeward, and bore down to the Island for the purpose of sending a boat +ashore, to kill seals.--We arrived near the landing place, hove to, +and the captain with six men went ashore in the whale boat. We now +stood off from the shore for about an hour, then tacked and stood in, +for the boat to come off. The wind had increased to almost a gale, and +continuing to blow harder, when we were within a quarter of a mile of +the Island, not discovering any thing of the boat, we veered off +again, and continued tacking till night came on, but saw nothing of +the boat or her crew. About 9 or 10 o'clock, the wind abated, and we +found ourselves two leagues to the leeward of the Island, where we lay +to all night under easy sail, anxiously waiting for the approach of +morning, in hopes then to learn the fate of the captain and men who +had gone on shore. At length the horizon was lighted by the dawn of +day, which was succeeded by the opening of a very pleasant morning. We +immediately made all sail for the Island, but having a head wind, we +did not arrive at the landing till near the middle of the day. A boat +was sent on shore to learn what had befallen the crew of the whale +boat, and shortly returned with all the men except the captain and one +man that could not swim. We ascertained, that in attempting to come +off through the surf, they were swamped and lost their boat. We a +second time sent the boat ashore with means to get the captain and +other man, who were soon brought on board. We now made sail and +steered our course for Woahoo, one of the Sandwich Islands, and +nothing very material occurring on our passage, we anchored in the +harbour of that Island on the 14th. On the 16th procured a supply of +fresh provisions. On the 19th, Hussey and myself went on shore for +the purpose of rambling round the Island, but nothing occurred worthy +of notice. + +Our foremast being found rotten a few feet below the top, it was +deemed necessary to take it out for repairs, which required the daily +employment of the carpenter and others for some time.--On the 27th, +the captain received a letter, giving intelligence that the ship +London had been driven ashore at an Island not far distant from +Woahoo.--As the Dolphin's foremast was out, the captain was under the +necessity of pressing the brig Convoy, of Boston, and putting on board +of her about 90 of his own men, taking with him 2 of his lieutenants +and some under officers, he sailed to the assistance of the ship +London. + +Feb, 3d, the brig Convoy returned laden with a part of the cargo of +the London, and the specie which was in her at the time of her going +ashore, under the command of our 2d lieutenant, leaving the remainder +of her cargo in another vessel, under the command of Capt. Percival. + +Feb. 5th. The captain returned with the residue of the London's +cargo, and the officers and crew of that ship. After the cargo of the +London had been secured, we were employed in finishing the repairs on +our foremast, which were completed on the 21st; and we commenced +rigging. + +Feb. 26th. On the morning of this day, permission was granted to a +number of our crew, to go on shore. In the afternoon, Hussey and +myself went and took a walk. About 4 or 5 o'clock, I observed a great +collection of natives, and on inquiring the reason, learned that +several of the Dolphin's crew, joined by some from other ships lying +in port, had made an assault upon Mr. Bingham, the missionary, in +consequence of ill will towards that gentleman, strongly felt by some +of the sailors, but for what particular reason, I did not distinctly +ascertain. They carried their revenge so far, that they not only +inflicted blows upon Mr. Bingham, but attacked the house of a chief. +The natives, some with cutlasses, and others with guns, repelled the +unjustifiable attack; and during the affray, several of our men were +slightly injured, and one badly wounded, whose life was despaired of +for some time. The offenders were arrested, sent on board, and put in +irons. + +On the next day, 27th, Mr. Bingham came on board with the captain and +witnesses against the men engaged the preceding day, in the assault on +shore. After a fair examination of evidence in the case, the +aggressors were properly punished, and ordered to their duty.--The +whale ships now began to arrive for the purpose of recruiting, and for +some particular reasons, several of the captains of those ships +requested captain Percival to remain at the Island as a protection to +them, till they could obtain the necessary supplies, and resume their +cruises. From the present date, nothing of importance occurred that +would be interesting to readers, till April 3d, when great +preparations were made on board the Dolphin, to give a splendid +entertainment to the young king. The gig and second cutter were +employed in the morning, to borrow signals from the different ships in +the harbour, in order to dress out the schooner in a fanciful style. +About 11 o'clock, the gig and second cutter were sent ashore for the +king and several chiefs and natives of distinction, who were soon +conveyed on board. The yards were manned, and a general salute fired. +After partaking of as good a dinner as our resources and the means +within our reach would afford, the king and his attendants were +disembarked under the honour of another salute.--During the remainder +of this month, the events which transpired, were principally of an +ordinary cast, and not thought worthy of record. + +May 3d. This day we were employed in bending sails; and from this date +to the 11th, the necessary preparations were made to commence our +homeward voyage. This day (11th,) the pilot came on board, and for +the last time we weighed our anchors in the harbour of Woahoo. While +retiring from the shore we were saluted with 21 guns from the fort. We +hove about, returned the salute, and then resumed our destined course, +and bid a last adieu to Woahoo, after a tedious and protracted stay of +about four months. + +From the time of our departure, on the 11th of May, from Woahoo, +nothing of importance transpired till the 12th of June. On the morning +of this day we discovered the Island Toobowy; and at 9 o'clock saw a +sail, which proved to be a whale ship. At half past 2 came to anchor +at a convenient place near the Island, and sent a boat ashore, which +returned at night with two natives, who gave us a description of the +harbour, and directions how to enter it; and as our mainmast was +injured, we entered it to make the necessary repairs. On the 13th, we +beat up the harbour, and at 3 o'clock anchored, where we continued +repairing our mast, and procuring wood and water, till the 22d; when +we weighed anchor and made sail for Valparaiso, favoured with fine +weather and good winds. July 18th, made the Island of Massafuero, and +passed it about midnight. On the 19th, in the forenoon, made the +Island of Juanfernandez; and at 11 P. M. on the following day, +discovered the land at the south of Valparaiso. On the 22d, beat up +the harbour, and at 2 o'clock on the morning of the 23d, came to +anchor.--At Valparaiso, we learned that the frigate United States was +at Callao; and after getting a supply of provisions, we sailed for +Callao on the 9th of August, and arrived on the 24th. Here we found +the United States, lying under the Island of Lorenzo, with several +English ships of war. + +On the 26th, the Dolphin in company with the United States, passed +over to Callao; and Sept. 1st, I and the crew of the Dolphin were +transferred to the United States. + +Sept. 10th. All the men that had been transferred from the Dolphin to +the United States, had liberty to go to Lima; at 12 o'clock we went on +shore, and at 4 P. M. entered the gates of the city. I employed my +time while on shore, in roving about the city, and viewing the various +objects it presents; and on the 13th returned on board the United +States. We were detained here till the 16th of December, when we +sailed for Valparaiso, and having a pleasant passage, arrived on the +6th of January, where we were happy to find, for our relief, the +Brandywine. From the 8th to the 24th, all hands were engaged in +preparing the ship for her homeward voyage; when at 9 o'clock we +weighed our larboard anchor, and at 1 P. M. were under sail, passing +out of the harbour, when the Cambridge, (an English 74,) then lying in +the harbour, gave us 3 cheers, which we returned with 3 times 3; she +then saluted us with 13 guns, which we returned with the same number, +and then proceeded to sea. + +Being favoured with fine weather and good winds, we had a prosperous +voyage to Cape Horn, and arrived off the pitch on the 7th of Feb. and +passed round with a pleasant breeze. In prosecuting our voyage home, +off the mouth of the river Rio de la Plata, and along the coast of +Brazil, we had rough weather and thick fogs. On the 6th we made the +land and harbour of St. Salvador, and about 9 o'clock came to +anchor.--On the 7th we fired a salute for the fort, which was +returned. + +We were now employed in watering our ship, and making other +preparations for continuing our voyage homeward; and on the 15th got +under weigh, with a fine breeze. + +April 1st. At 10 o'clock, made the Island of Barbadoes, and at 1 P. M. +came to anchor, where we lay till 5 P. M. on the 3d, when we got under +weigh, and sailed down the Island to St. Thomas, where we sent a boat +ashore, and after transacting the business for which we stopped, made +sail on the 9th for the port of New-York. On the 21st, made the +highland of Neversink; at 2 P. M. took a pilot on board, but owing to +fogs and calms, did not arrive to the port of destination till 1 P. M. +next day, when we anchored opposite the West Battery, with a thankful +heart that I was once more within the United States. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +I will now proceed to give the reader some account of the Islands I +visited, and of the manners and customs of the natives, and shall +endeavour to be as candid and correct as possible. + +The Mulgrave Islands are situated between 5 and 6 degrees north +latitude, and between 170 and 174 degrees of east longitude. They are +about 50 miles in length, and lie in the form of a semi-circle, +forming a kind of inland sea or lake; the distance across it being +about 20 miles. The land is narrow, and the widest place is probably +not more than half a mile. On the north side of the group are several +inlets or passages, of sufficient depth to admit the free navigation +of the largest ships; and if explored, excellent harbours would in all +probability be found. In the inland sea are numerous beds of coral, +which appear to be constantly forming and increasing. These coral beds +are seen at low water, but are all overflowed at high tide. The whole +group is entirely destitute of mountains, and even hills, the highest +land not being more than six feet above the level of the sea at high +water. By the accounts given me from the natives, it appears that some +parts have been overflowed by the sea. Their being so low, makes the +navigation near them very dangerous in the night, both because they +would not be easily seen, and because the water is very deep quite to +the shores; and a place for anchoring can scarcely be found on the +outside of the Island. + +The air of these Islands is pure, and the climate hot; but the heat +is rendered less oppressive by the trade winds, which blow constantly, +and keep the atmosphere healthful and salubrious for so low a +latitude. + +The soil, in general, is productive of little besides trees and +shrubs, and most of it is covered with rough coral stones. + +The productions are breadfruit in its proper season, and cocoanuts, +which they have throughout the year; and a kind of fruit different +from any that grows in America, which the natives call Bup--all +growing spontaneously. Of the leaves of the trees the women +manufacture very elegant mats, which they wear as blankets and +clothing; of the bark of a vine they make men's clothing; and of the +husks of the cocoa they make ropes and rigging for their canoes, and +for almost every other purpose. The waters round the Islands abound +with fish, and the natives are very expert in catching them. + +There are no animals on the Islands, excepting _rats_; and by these +little quadrupeds they are literally overrun. + +The number of all the inhabitants, men, women, and children, is +probably between five and six hundred. + +The following may be given as prominent characteristics of the +natives.--They are in general, well made and handsome--very indolent +and superstitious. They are morose, treacherous, ferociously +passionate, and unfriendly to all other natives. When they are not +fishing, or otherwise employed, they are generally travelling about, +and visiting each other. They have no salutations when they meet, but +sit down without exchanging a word of civility for some minutes; but +after a silent pause, the head of the family, if there is any thing in +the house to eat, presents it to his guests, who, when they have eaten +sufficiently, if there are any _fragments_ left, are very careful to +secure them and carry them off when they return home; and the host +would regard it as an imposition, if his visitors were to neglect this +important trait of politeness, and fashionable item in etiquette. +They accustom themselves to frequent bathing; and commence with their +children on the day of their birth, and continue the practice twice a +day, regularly, till they are two years old. They do this to +invigorate the system, and render the skin of their children thick and +tough by exposure. Their living consists simply of breadfruit, +cocoanuts, and bup; but cocoanuts are all they can depend on the year +round--the two other articles being common only a part of the year. + +Their diversions consist in singing, dancing, and beating time with +their arms, in a manner similar to the amusements of the natives at +the Sandwich Islands; in which they appear to take great delight. + +They wear their hair long, and tie it up in a kind of bow on the top +of the head, and this is all the covering they have for their heads. +The men have long beards. One part of their dress makes a singular and +ludicrous appearance, which resembles two _horse tails_ suspended +from the waist, one before and the other behind. The women's dress +consists of two mats, about the size of a small pocket-handkerchief, +which they tie round them like an apron. + +I never saw any form of marriage among them, but when a couple are +desirous of being united, their parents have a talk together on the +subject, and if the parties all agree to the union, the couple +commence living together as man and wife; and I never knew of an +instance of separation between them after they had any family. In a +few instances polygamy prevailed. + +The following will give a pretty correct idea of their funeral rites +and solemnities: + +When a person dies, the inhabitants of the village assemble together, +and commence drumming and singing, halloing and yelling; and continue +their boisterous lamentations for about 48 hours, day and night, +relieving each other as they require. This they do, because they +imagine it is diverting to the person deceased. They bury the body at +a particular place back of their houses, and use mats for a coffin. +After the ceremony of interment is performed, they plant two cocoanut +trees, one at the head and the other at the feet of the buried person. +But if the trees ever bear fruit, the women are prohibited from eating +thereof, for fear of displeasing the bad spirit, _Anit_. And here it +may not be inappropriate to remind the reader that Eve ate of the +forbidden fruit, notwithstanding she knew it would displease the GOOD +SPIRIT. + +In their personal appearance, the natives are about the middle size, +with broad faces, flat noses, black hair and eyes, and large mouths. + +In relation to literature, they are as ignorant as it is possible for +people to be, having not the most distant idea of letters. + +Concerning the religion of the untaught natives of the Mulgraves, the +following remarks will give all the knowledge I am in possession of: + +They believe there is an invisible spirit that rules and governs all +events, and that he is the cause of all their sickness and +distress;--consequently they consider him to be a very bad being.--But +they have no belief in a good spirit, nor have they any modes of +worship.--It is a prevalent opinion among them, when any are sick, +that the bad spirit rests upon them; and they believe that particular +manoeuvres and a form of words, performed round and said over the +sick, will induce _Anit_, the bad spirit, to cease from afflicting, +and leave the unfortunate sufferers. With regard to a future state of +existence, they believe that the _shadow_, or what survives the body, +is, after death, entirely happy; that it roves about at pleasure, and +takes much delight in beholding everything that is transacted in this +world;--and as they consider the world as an extensive plain, they +suppose the disembodied spirits travel quite to the edge of the skies, +where they think white people live, and then back again to their +native Isles; and at times they fancy they can hear the spirits of +departed friends whistling round their houses, and noticing all the +transactions of the living. Singular as some of these notions and +opinions may appear, there is much to be met with in Christendom +equally at variance with reason; and I have heard from the pulpit, in +New-England, the following language: "I have no doubt in my own mind +that the blessed in Heaven look down on all the friends and scenes +they left behind, and are fully sensible of all things that take place +on earth!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +This chapter, and the concluding remarks of the narrative, will be +collated from a Journal kept by Cyrus M. Hussey; and if there appear +occasionally some incidents similar to those recorded in the preceding +account, it is believed the value and interest of this history will +not be diminished by them.--Hussey commences thus: + +About the last of April, myself and Lay were separated, destined to +different Islands, not knowing whether we should ever see each other +again. At night we arrived at an Island, and hauled up our canoe. We +found but few natives, but among the number was the mother of the +chief with whom I lived. She was very inquisitive respecting me, and +talked so incessantly through the night that I could not sleep. The +next morning we were employed in gathering breadfruit, for the purpose +of curing it for the winter. This employment continued about three +months, during which time I was very uneasy about my situation. At +intervals of leisure, when the old chief had no particular engagements +to engross his attention, he would launch his canoe and go and search +for fish; but my shoes having been taken from me, whenever I was +employed round the rough shores of the Island, my feet were so wounded +that I could hardly walk. The natives now commenced the destruction +of my clothing, and not being able to converse with them, I found it +very difficult to preserve my apparel. They often requested me to +divest myself of my clothing, and dress as they did, or rather not +dress at all. I made signs that the sun would burn me, if I should +expose myself to its scorching rays. When they found that persuasion +would not induce me to divest myself of clothing, they began to +destroy my clothes, by tearing them in pieces. It was some time before +I could understand their language, so as to inform them that the sun +would burn my back; and being robbed of my clothes, the powerful +influence of the sun soon scorched me to such a degree that I could +scarcely lie down or take any rest. + +About the latter part of July, William Lay and others came to the +Island in a canoe, to see me, being the first interview we had enjoyed +since our separation, which was about three months previous. Lay +informed me that the natives had taken his bible from him and torn it +up, and threatened his life. He informed me that it seemed to him as +though he was robbed of that comfort which none in a christian land +are deprived of. We were soon parted; he in a canoe was taken to an +Island by the natives called _Dilabu_, and I went to my employment, +repairing a canoe which was on the stocks. After I had finished the +canoe, the natives prepared a quantity of bread fruit and fish for the +chiefs, and on the following morning we set sail for an Island called +_Milly_, one of the largest in the group, at which resides the +principal chief. We arrived just at night and were cordially received +by the natives, who had assembled on the beach in great numbers, for +the purpose of getting some fish which the old chief had brought with +him. He then hauled his canoe on shore; and I had again the pleasure +of seeing my fellow sufferer, William Lay, after a month's separation. +Since our first meeting we were not allowed to converse much together. + +The old chief tarried at this Island but a short time, and Lay and +myself were once more separated. The old chief, his family, and +myself, returned to the Island which we had left two or three days +before, called, in the language of the natives, _Tabarawort_; and he +and his family commenced gathering bread fruit. As the old man with +whom I lived had charge of several small Islands, we found it +difficult to gather the fruit as fast as it ripened, so that a +considerable part fell to the ground and perished. In the mean time, +while we were employed in gathering in the fruits of the earth, news +came to the Island, to inform the chief with whom I lived, that it was +the intention of the highest chiefs to destroy us both, (that is +myself and Lay,) because a severe sickness prevailed among them, and +they being superstitious, supposed we were the occasion of it. I +informed them that _we_ could not have been the cause of the sickness, +as no such sickness prevailed in our country, and that I never before +had seen a similar disease. But still they talked very hard about us; +and the highest chief sent to the chief I lived with, to have me +brought to the Island of Milly, where Lay lived, in order that we +might be killed together. Preparations having been made, the old +chief, whom I called father, with his family and myself, set sail the +next morning for Milly, where we arrived about sun set. He immediately +went to see the chief of Milly, to inquire the circumstances relating +to the necessity of taking our lives, leaving me and the rest of the +family in the canoe. I shortly perceived William Lay and his master +coming towards the canoe, which produced sensations hard to be +described. Affectionate and sympathizing reader, what must have been +our feelings and conversation at that moment, when nothing seemingly +was presented to our view but _death_? We were allowed an interview of +only a few minutes, when we were again separated. + +My master soon returned to the canoe, and entered into very earnest +conversation with his family, which, at the time, I did not fully +understand; but found afterwards it was a relation to his family of +his interview with the natives on the subject of taking our lives; and +that if they killed me, they would first have to kill him, (my +master,) which they were unwilling to do. My kind old master told them +he had preserved me, and always should. Night now coming on, I lay +down to sleep, but fear had taken such possession of my mind, that the +night was spent in wakeful anxiety. + +The next morning I asked leave of my master to visit Lay, which he +readily gave. I set out for the hut in company with my master's son; +but on approaching it, Lay called out to me, to inform me that I must +not come--that the natives did not like to have us together. On my +turning to go back, Lay's master called to me to come. I went and sat +down, and entered into conversation with Lay, to ascertain what the +intention of the natives towards us were. He told me it was the +design of the high chief to kill us. I observed to him, that we were +in the hands of the natives; still there was a higher and more +powerful Hand that could protect us, if it were the Divine pleasure so +to do. I then bade him farewell, and returned to the canoe, never +expecting to see each other again till we should meet on the tranquil +ocean of eternity. + +My master being now ready to return to his Island, the canoe was +launched, and we set sail, and arrived the same night, having been +absent two days.--The natives expressed much joy on seeing me return, +and asked many questions respecting the chief of Milly; but as I was +unable to speak their language intelligibly, I could give them but +little information. We then went on with our work as usual, which was +fishing, &c. &c. + +After having been at this Island some time, my master's wife +manifested an inclination to go and visit her friends, who lived at an +Island called in their language _Luguonewort_. After a successful +excursion in fishing, we cooked a part, and took some breadfruit, and +embarked, agreeably to the wishes of my master's wife, and arrived at +Luguonewort in two days. The natives of that Island gave us a cordial +reception. We hauled up our canoe and remained some time among them. +After our agreeable visit was ended, we returned to the other Island, +found the natives well, and that good care had been taken by the +chief's mother, an old woman to whom the superintendence of things had +been left. + +About six months after the massacre of my shipmates, the brother of +the native in whose possession I was, came to the Island, and informed +us that a ship had been seen to pass a day or two before, and that it +caused great disturbance among the chiefs--that they thought it was +the ship that left the Islands, (the Globe,) and that she was in +search of us. My old master immediately prepared his canoe to visit +the chiefs, and he wanted also to inquire of me what I thought +respecting the ship. We loaded our canoe and made sail for Milly, +where the chiefs were. We arrived at night, and found a great number +of natives collected on the beach, to see if we had any fish. We +hauled up our canoe for the night, and the natives began to question +me about the ship.--I told them I did not know, concluding it would be +good policy to say but little on the subject. The natives crowded +round me in great numbers; and I did not see Lay till he came to me. I +inquired of him what he had seen, and he informed me that there had +been a ship in sight about half an hour before sun set, and that she +was near enough for him to see them take in their fore and mizen top +gallant sails, but could give no definite account of her, as she was +soon out of sight. We were not allowed to be together long; and I went +to rest as usual, but could not sleep.--"Hope springs eternal in the +human breast"--and hope that the ship which had been seen had come to +deliver us from savages and transport us to our native country and +dear friends, had an influence on my feelings more powerful than +sleep, and imagination was busy through the night in picturing scenes +of future happiness. + +But the prospect of our being released from our unpleasant situation +was not very flattering. Early next morning I asked and obtained +permission from my master, to pay a visit to Lay, before passing round +to the opposite side of the Island. Accompanied by my master's son and +several others, I went to the hut where Lay lived, and we had the +pleasure of another interview; but it was of short duration, for we +were not allowed to be together more than a quarter of an hour. I +returned to my master's canoe, and there continued till the middle of +the day; we then launched and set sail for _Tabanawort_, where we +arrived the fore part of the night.--Early next morning we prepared +for a fishing cruise, had pretty good success, and returned just +before night, made a fire, cooked some fish, and ate a delicious +supper. + +Our canoe being leaky and very much out of repair, my master and I +commenced taking her to pieces, for the purpose of re-building her; +and we were occasionally employed upon her nearly two months, when we +launched her, and commencing fishing business, had alternately good +and bad success. One day we had the good fortune to enclose, in a kind +of wear made for the purpose, a large quantity of fishes, and with a +scoopnet we caught a plentiful supply. After cooking them, we set out +with a quantity to dispose of to the chiefs of Milly, where we arrived +before night, on the same day of sailing. Very soon after our arrival +I saw Lay and his master approaching the canoe, and we once more had a +short but pleasant interview. I inquired of Lay how he fared, as to +food, &c. His reply was, better than he expected, and that the natives +were kind to him, always giving him his part. I informed him I had a +basket of fish reserved for him as a present, which he requested me to +keep till dark, that he might be enabled to carry them home without +having them all begged by the natives. He came at night for the fish, +and I retired, agreeably to my master's wishes to sleep in the canoe, +to prevent the natives from stealing the remainder of the fish that +were on board. The next morning my master was highly pleased to find +that nothing was missing; and gave me liberty to go and see Lay. I +went to the hut and found him with his master. They gave me a cordial +welcome, and presented me with some cocoanuts in return for the fish. +Lay's master inquired of me very particularly respecting my master, +and the quantity of fish we caught. I then returned to the canoe, +carrying the cocoanuts, to deposite in the hold. My master asked me +where I got them; I told him Lay's master gave them to me. If this +minute detail should appear unimportant to the reader, he may draw a +moral from it; for it evinces that my master was like other masters, +desirous to know if his servant came honestly in possession of the +cocoanuts. He then ordered me and his son to launch the canoe, which +we did, got under sail for the Island we left the day before, and +arrived back at night. We learned that during our absence the natives +had caught a considerable quantity of fish; and in a few days we +caught a large quantity more; loaded our canoe, and embarked for one +of the head Islands to pay a visit, where we stopped some time. On our +return, we commenced catching a kind of fish called by the natives +_kierick_. They are about the size of a small codfish; and the manner +of taking them is very curious--they make a line of the husk of +cocoanuts, about the size of a cod line; they then in the canoe pass +round the fish to the windward of the flat, then lie to till a +considerable quantity of them get on the flat, then square away by the +wind and run down and go round the flat with this line, and thus +catch them, men, women, and children being employed. I have known +them catch one hundred at a draught. The fish are afraid of the line, +and when enclosed, taken by a scoopnet. After taking a sufficient +quantity, they go on shore to prepare for cooking them, which is done +by digging a large hole in the earth, filling it with wood, covered +with stones. The wood is then consumed, which heats the stones--the +fish are wrapped in leaves to prevent them from falling to pieces, +then covered with green leaves, and cooked by the heat of the stones. +About an hour is required to cook them sufficient for eating. Their +manner of curing fish, is, to split them and dry them in the sun, +without using salt. Thus cured, they will keep some time. While we +were employed in fishing, Lay came to the Island, in company with a +native, to visit me; but did not stay long, for the chief sent for +him, fearing, as I afterwards found out, that they should lose us. +From some hints that had been dropped, a report had got in +circulation that my master and Lamawoot, (Lay's master,) intended to +leave their Islands, and embark for an Island to the north west, where +the king lived, and carry us with them as a great curiosity. Lay was +carried back to the chiefs--the head one sent an express to my master +and Lay's to come and see him--they made preparations and set sail for +Milly; where they were closely questioned respecting their going to +the other Island, &c. &c. They denied that they had even intimated any +such design; which was false, for I had frequently heard them talking +on the subject myself, but kept silent, as it appeared to be a great +crime for any to desert their Islands; and I feared the consequences +of making it known.--They then parted in peace and friendship, and I +and my master returned to our habitation. + +We then went to an Island to catch fish, and a disagreement taking +place between two of the natives, about some trifling affair, the +particulars of which I did not learn, one of them took a spear +belonging to the other, and after breaking it across his knee, with +one half of it killed his antagonist, and left him. The parents of the +man killed, being present, laid him out on some mats, and appeared to +regret their loss very much. They kept a continual drumming over the +body of the deceased for two or three days; after which he received a +decent burial on another Island at some distance from the Island where +he was killed. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +Having a successful fishing voyage, we loaded our canoe, and carried +our cargo to the chiefs of _Luguonewort_. I had the satisfaction of an +interview with Lay; but our provisions being soon exhausted, we were +obliged to go again in search of fish. At this time there was a severe +drought, and breadfruit trees suffered extremely, many of them +entirely died. The superstitious natives supposed the drought was sent +upon them as a judgment, because myself and Lay were allowed to live. +I informed them that we could neither make it rain nor prevent it; but +some of them were so ignorant that they believed we could control the +weather. But some of the chiefs thought the drought was visited upon +them because they had killed our shipmates, and I was always ready to +join with them in that opinion. The drought continued about four +months with such severity that most of the breadfruit trees on the +small Islands were so completely dried up that they never sprouted +again. Many of the ignorant natives still insisted that their sickness +and drought were occasioned by suffering us to live upon their +Islands; but this gross ignorance was counterbalanced by most of the +chiefs, who believed differently, and to their more liberal opinion we +are indebted for our lives. + +About this time the Islands were refreshed by plentiful showers of +rain, and the natives assembled at Milly to sing for the breadfruit to +come in abundance. They said their singing would please _Anit_, and +that he would reward them with a very great crop. + +A disturbance existed between the high chief and his brother +_Longerene_. The disagreement lasted about nine months, during which +time the two brothers did not see or speak to each other. _Luttuon_, +the high chief, then sent a canoe to inform his brother _Longerene_ +that he wished to see him. An interview took place, and a treaty of +peace was ratified. + +During our stay at Milly, I had frequent opportunities of seeing Lay, +my fellow sufferer; but the only relief we could afford each other was +derived from a sympathy of feelings, and in conversations relating to +our homes and native country, by blending our mutual wishes for a safe +return, &c. &c. The reader can hardly conceive the unpleasantness of +our situation at this time--the famine was so great that the tender +branches of trees were cooked, and the nutricious juice drank as food. +My strength was so reduced in consequence of being deprived of my +usual quantity of provisions, that I was unable to accompany my master +on a fishing voyage. When my master returned, he found me lying in the +hut, and asked me what was the matter. I informed him my indisposition +proceeded from hunger; he cooked a fish and gave me, which, though it +afforded me some relief, was not half enough to satisfy the cravings +of appetite. + +After I had recruited my strength, one day while engaged in fishing, a +canoe came to the Island; and as soon as the canoe was near enough for +the natives in her to be heard, they commenced hallooing and making +dreadful noises, which is their practice when war is declared. They +informed us that the high chief had killed several of the lower chiefs +who belonged to the Island called Alloo; that _Longerene_ had fled to +Alloo, his own Island; and that the high chief was determined to +pursue and kill him. We were ordered to go immediately to his +assistance; accordingly we set sail for the Island Milly, where we +found a great number of natives collected for war. Again I had the +satisfaction of being with Lay; who informed me that they were going +to fight the other party at Alloo; and that the high chief had told +him that he and I must prepare two muskets, and go and fight with +them. Luttuon sent for me and Lay, and informed us he was about to +have a battle, and that we must prepare to take a part in it. We asked +him if he had any powder--he said he had a plenty, and showed us a +small box, which contained a little powder and mustard seed mixed +together, which, if it had been good powder, would not have made more +than five or six charges. We told him it was good for nothing; but he +said we must do the best we could with it. As we were afraid to offend +him, we went to work with the powder, and dried it in the sun, and +prepared our muskets for battle.--The next morning we launched 15 or +16 canoes, containing in all about 200 natives, and set sail for +Alloo; where we arrived and landed, and proceeded to a village in +order to give battle to the enemy. On learning that the chief of Alloo +and his family had fled in a canoe, we returned to our canoes, made +sail in pursuit of the chief, but did not overtake him. After +returning and spending a day or two at the Island of Alloo, we +launched our canoes and went to our respective homes, and heard no +more of the war. + +Some time after my master returned to the Island where we usually +resided, a canoe came and brought the information that a vessel was +anchored near one of the head Islands--that she carried guns on each +side, and had a hundred men--that they (the natives that brought the +news) had been on board of the vessel, and received presents of beads, +which they had on their necks. The natives said the vessel was not +like our ship which we came in, but had only two masts. I told them +we had vessels of all descriptions, some with one mast only. They said +the men on board did not look like us, and that they were very saucy. +I informed the natives the vessel was a war vessel, and that if +molested by the natives, they would shoot them. The natives said they +would take the vessel and kill all the men on board. I told them their +safety consisted in friendship, and that any hostile attack on the +crew of the schooner would lead to their own destruction.--They then +set sail for Milly, to inform the chiefs of the arrival of the vessel +at the head Island. The chiefs of Milly gave orders to launch the +canoes, 15 in number, to go and take the schooner. These canoes were +manned by 200 natives. My master's canoe not being in perfect repair, +we could not join the party. On the night of the 25th, (Nov.) we saw +several of the canoes returning towards the Island where I was. From +one of the canoes landed the high chief, who began to question me +respecting the vessel. I told him I had not seen the vessel, and of +course could not tell much about her; but that I expected she had come +after me and Lay, and that she would have us. He then said he had +better kill us both, and then there would be no one to tell that the +natives had killed the rest of our crew. I told him that the people on +board the schooner knew there were two alive, and if they killed us, +the crew of the vessel would kill all the natives. This appeared to +perplex his mind, and he shortly left me, and retired to rest. + +On the next morning, 26th, the chief again questioned me respecting +the vessel, but I could give him no particular information, as I had +not seen her.--The natives then commenced knotting up leaves to +inquire of their god, who, they said, would inform them what was best +to be done. Towards night they departed, leaving me with my master, +giving him strict orders not to let me go to the vessel, fearing that +I should not only remain on board, but give information that my +shipmates had been murdered. I was glad to see them depart, for I +feared they would kill me.--The reader can have but a faint idea of my +feelings at that time; nor will I attempt to describe them. + +Towards the close of the next day, (27th,) a canoe came to the Island +which had been boarded by a boat from the schooner. The natives +offered the men in the boat some cocoanuts, which they would not +accept. The boat then proceeded towards the Island of Milly.--The +natives informed me that the men in the boat inquired after the men +who were left there by the ship Globe; but they would not give any +information where they were. The canoe left the Island, and we went to +rest. The next day passed without hearing any thing of the schooner; +but the day following, (29th of Nov.) as I was walking in the woods in +the afternoon, I heard a dreadful outcry for Hussey. I ran to the hut +to learn the cause, and to my unspeakable joy, I discovered that one +of the schooner's boats was on the beach, waiting for me, the men all +armed and equipped for battle. As I approached, the Lieutenant spoke +to me and told me to come to him. I went and sat down by him. He asked +me several questions, but my feelings were so overcome and agitated, +that I know not whether I replied in English, or the language of the +natives. While we were sitting together, the old man whom I had always +called master, but who was now willing to be considered my servant, +asked me if the white people were going to kill him. The Lieutenant +inquired of me to know the purport of the old man's question; I told +him he was afraid of being killed. The Lieutenant replied that he +should not be hurt, if he behaved himself properly. + +We then walked round the Island, and I collected what few things I +had, a musket, &c. and made preparations for our departure. My old +master being unwilling to part with me, asked permission to go with +me. I spoke to the Lieutenant on the subject, and he readily +consented. We then set sail, accompanied by my master and his son. We +soon fell in with the 2d Lieutenant, in another boat, who informed +that all the survivors of the Globe's crew were now rescued. The boats +soon lost sight of each other, as night came on, and that in which I +was arrived at the Island about 9 o'clock in the evening. We landed, +cooked supper, and anchored our boat at a little distance from the +shore for the night. + +The next morning, (30th,) we got under weigh, accompanied by the other +boat, beat to the windward, for the outside passage, and then ran down +to the schooner, and got along side at 9 o'clock. I will leave it for +the reader, to picture my feelings on entering once more on board of +an American vessel, after having been among unmerciful savages 22 +months. We soon had some breakfast, after which my hair was cut, which +was of two year's growth, and I was furnished with clothing, and +remained on board till the next day. + +From this date to the time of our arrival in the United States, all +the important incidents and facts which transpired, will be found in +the preceding pages, arranged from the journal kept by Lay. + +After expressing my thanks to all who assisted to rescue us from +savage bondage, and my gratitude to Heaven for a safe return to my +friends and native land, I bid the reader a respectful farewell. + + + + +A VOCABULARY + +_Of Words and Phrases, used by the natives of the Mulgrave Islands, +with their definitions and so spelt and divided in syllables as to +give the Reader a very clear understanding of the pronunciation._ + + + Beard Cor y ack + + Iron Maale + + A sail Wood je lah + + An oar Thib bet + + Steering Kib bet tebet + + Sailing Der rauk yruk + + Sleep Mad du rah + + Awake Mim mit + + Dark Mar roak + + Light Mar rum + + Night Boong + + Day Roun + + Growing Aung + + Drowned Mal long + + Oil Bin in yep + + Water Pir ren + + A long time Et tow + + Yourself Guay + + Sleepy Mil tegee + + Victuals Cuck con + + Scrape Goo tock + + Build Ae + + Hold on Coppy dirry + + Man Mum marn + + Woman Civ rah + + Boy Lod rick + + Girl Lid rick + + An infant Hi dir ry + + Black Eg gil ly mit + + White Em mew it + + Red Em mirt + + Drink E ranck + + Fingers Jan thurt + + A bird Paw o + + A knife Noad rick + + Begging Angue ot + + Work Derry bol + + An adze Jal tosk + + A nail Mer ry + + Grass Oo joo et + + Leaves Bel ly bal + + Counting Bun ne bun + + One Jew on + + Two Roo ah + + Three Te lew + + Four A men + + Five Ri lim + + Six Dil je mo + + Seven Dil jil je ma jew on + + Eight Ad je no + + Nine Ad dil y mo jew on + + Ten Dongue ole + + Musketoe To cotch up + + Fear Cwurd + + Giving Hi dir inge + + A rope Tow + + Wind Gut to + + Rain Woot + + Lay down Bah boo + + Get up Der ry cock + + Not good Nah nah + + Very good En no + + Talking Com el tah to + + Fighting Tarr yin ia + + Kill Mon ny + + Smoke Bout + + Sand Boak + + Diving Doo lock + + Digging Cob e coob + + Bury Col ly boo ny + + Sewing Thil thil + + Eat Mong ah + + Singing Al lil + + Sun Al + + Moon Al lung + + Star E jew + + Sky I id ere lung + + Sun down Doo lock Al + + Sun rise Tuck in Al + + To-day Raun ene + + Yesterday In nay + + To-night Boon ene + + Tomorrow Geen a raun + + Puking Mom mit + + A blanket Cawd + + A costume Ene + + Fuel Con ny + + Land Yin ny + + A bottle Buck ah + + Cutting Boo way + + Fastening Geal ing + + Stealing Mid dart + + A rat Kid dir rick + + Hair Co coa no bot + + Ear Lou dil lyg nui + + Eyes Mid dat + + Nose Baw thurt + + Mouth Loung ing + + Chin Chim in ny gne ad + + Chief Tam moon + + Forward A marn + + Egg Lip + + Drift Pay lock + + Paddle Aun arn + + I know E del lah + + Yes Ing ah + + No Aub + + Backside Al by gin + + Playing Cook ke ry + + Medicine Oo noe + + Whale Rat + + A louse Git + + Strong Mad jo jow + + Enough Em mut + + Thread Uer + + Forget Mer no lock wy + + See Lal ly + + Bailing An ain + + Mast Cod jew + + A saw Dir re ban + + A sword Jah jay + + A handle Je jew er + + Running Tit thurt + + A musket Boo wat + + A cannon Bac ca + + Powder Bow on ope + + Fire Kid ja ick + + Hewing Jick e jick + + A house Imm + + Fish Ikk + + Stone Buck ah + + Head Bur run + + Hand Bon + + Foot Nane + + A shark Bac co + + A spear Mor ry + + Cocoanuts Koree + + Breadfruit Mah + + Go Wy lum + + Come Wy to + + Very large El lip + + Scar or cut Gin net + + Thunder Daw roort + + Lightning Dar rum + + Lizard Cid re be lin + + A canoe, or any vessel Woa or Wah + + Put it down there Lickitin i genny + + Throw it away Jow lock y + + I am thirsty E mar row + + Give me some drink Letto lim ma dirick + + Finger nails Og guck + + Your father Gim mum + + His father Gim men + + My father Gim mah + + Your mother Gin mum + + His mother Gin nen + + My mother Gin nah + + Where are you going Guay te wy jickut + + What are you doing Guay je thah + + Where have you come from Guay te wy to den air + + Is there any O ra cy + + One hundred Jib be wee + + One thousand Der rab bin + + What is the news Ere nin narn + + A bag or pocket Pau jaw + + Do you know Guay del larky + + What is that Mer root thany + + What part E thane + + You must not A mow + + A cable or anchor Em mi tock + + A cask or chest Tub be tub + + Chips or rubbish Men a ca noak + + Laying a rope Bit the bit + + A cloud or squall Cur raw + + Fair weather Em mon Lung + + Don't say a word Tab co war roang aroang + + Sharpening iron tools Jim me jim mal + + Day before yesterday Jay marn + + Take that and go Book y em ettal + + Sick at the stomach Ma long a lung + + How large is this Island Rir ret Ilong ene + + What's the name of this Isle I tan Iling ene + + Going to sea Gib be lak + + +THE END. + + + + +Transcriber's Note + +Archaic and uncommon spelling has been preserved as printed--for +example, chesnut instead of chestnut, pummice instead of pummace, etc. +Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been retained. + +Variable spelling has been preserved where it appears due to +differences between the two authors, or where there was no way to +determine which was correct; instances include Humphreys--Humphries, +Edgarton--Edgartown, and Tabanawort--Tabarawort. + +Minor punctuation errors have been repaired. The following amendments +have been made: + + Page 11--Lumbard amended to Lumbert--"... William + Beetle, (mate,) John Lumbert, (2d mate,) ..." + + Page 15--Liliston amended to Lilliston--"... Wm. + Humphries, a black man, and steward, and Thomas + Lilliston." + + Page 20--Linniston amended to Lilliston--"... William + Humphries, (the steward) of Philadelphia, and Thomas + Lilliston; ..." + + Page 49--There amended to Their--"Their names were, + Gilbert Smith, George Comstock, Stephen Kidder, ..." + + Page 74--fastastic amended to fantastic--"... and all + ornamented in the same fantastic manner." + + Page 132--heathful amended to healthful--"... and keep + the atmosphere healthful and salubrious ..." + + Page 166--Diveing amended to Diving--"Diving ... doo lock" + +A table of contents has been added for the convenience of the reader. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Narrative of the Mutiny, on Board +the Ship Globe, of Nantucket, in the Pacific Ocean, Jan. 1824, by William Lay and Cyrus M. 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