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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Narrative of the Shipwreck, Captivity and
+Sufferings of Horace Holden and Benj. H. Nute, by Horace Holden
+
+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 Shipwreck, Captivity and Sufferings of Horace Holden and Benj. H. Nute
+       Who were cast away in the American ship Mentor, on the
+       Pelew Islands, in the year 1832; and for two years
+       afterwards were subjected to unheard of sufferings among
+       the barbarous inhabitants of Lord North's island
+
+Author: Horace Holden
+
+Release Date: April 16, 2010 [EBook #32012]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SHIPWRECK ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Richard J. Shiffer 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.)
+
+
+
+
+
+[Transcriber's Note: Every effort has been made to replicate this
+text as faithfully as possible, including obsolete and variant spellings
+and other inconsistencies. Text that has been changed to correct an
+obvious error is noted at the end of this ebook.]
+
+
+
+
+  A NARRATIVE
+
+  OF THE
+
+  SHIPWRECK,
+
+  CAPTIVITY AND SUFFERINGS
+
+  OF
+
+  HORACE HOLDEN AND BENJ. H. NUTE;
+
+  WHO WERE CAST AWAY IN THE
+
+  AMERICAN SHIP MENTOR,
+
+  ON THE
+
+  PELEW ISLANDS,
+
+  IN THE YEAR 1832;
+
+  _AND FOR TWO YEARS AFTERWARDS WERE SUBJECTED TO
+  UNHEARD OF SUFFERINGS AMONG THE BARBAROUS
+  INHABITANTS OF_
+
+  LORD NORTH'S ISLAND.
+
+
+  BY HORACE HOLDEN.
+
+
+  BOSTON:
+  RUSSELL, SHATTUCK, AND CO.
+  1836.
+
+
+
+  ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS, IN THE YEAR 1836,
+  BY HORACE HOLDEN.
+  IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS.
+
+
+  STEREOTYPED BY
+  SHEPARD, OLIVER, AND CO.
+
+
+
+
+  TO
+
+  JOHN PICKERING, ESQ.
+
+  Of Boston,
+
+  AND TO
+
+  WILLIAM R. RODMAN, ESQ.
+
+  Of New Bedford,
+
+  To whom the author is under the greatest obligations
+  for their countenance and assistance,
+  this little work is gratefully
+  INSCRIBED
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS OF TATTOOING.]
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+The islands now known by geographers under the general name of
+_Polynesia_, have for some time past attracted the attention of the
+scientific and commercial world. Few opportunities, however, occur of
+obtaining information respecting any of them except those which are
+resorted to for commercial purposes. With a view, therefore, to the
+collecting of all the necessary materials for the history of their soil,
+climate, productions, and other particulars, especially of such of them
+as have not already been visited by the civilized people of Europe and
+America, it is desirable to preserve all authentic accounts of them,
+even of those which are of inferior importance.
+
+The following unpretending Narrative contains such an account of one of
+them, commonly called _Lord North's Island_, but sometimes known by the
+name of _Nevil's Island_ and _Johnston's Island_. It is situated in
+about lat. 3 deg. 2-3/4' N., and, according to the most correct
+calculations, about long. 131 deg. 4-1/4' E.
+
+This island has been stated, in geographical works of authority, to be
+uninhabited; but Horsburg's India Directory (vol. ii. p. 497, edit. of
+1827) correctly says it is inhabited, and that the natives "will
+sometimes come off to ships passing near." And it will accordingly be
+found, by the present Narrative, that it has a population of between
+three and four hundred inhabitants, as nearly as could be estimated by
+the American seamen, whose captivity and sufferings are the subject of
+this work; the island itself being, according to their judgment also,
+about three quarters of a mile long and half a mile in breadth.
+
+The materials of this Narrative were furnished by Horace Holden, one of
+the seamen above mentioned, who, with his companion, Benjamin Nute, was
+detained as a captive by the islanders for two years; during which time
+he and his companion acquired the language so far as to converse in it
+with ease. This afforded them the means of knowing and observing many
+things which would escape the mere passing voyager; and whatever
+statements are here made, the editor has every reason to believe may be
+entirely relied upon.
+
+In order to complete the little collection of facts in relation to this
+people--who may justly be called a new people, as no white man has ever
+before been upon their territory--a specimen of their language is added
+to the Narrative. This has been made under many disadvantages; but no
+small labor has been bestowed upon it, in order to render it of use, so
+far as was practicable, in elucidating the affinity of these islanders
+to others in that quarter of the world. It is now universally agreed
+among the learned, that language affords the surest test of the
+affinities of nations; and it is greatly to be desired that more
+attention should be bestowed upon this subject by the intelligent
+navigators of the United States, and especially by the scientific young
+men of our navy, who, under the permission of the government, would have
+the most ample means of augmenting the stores of general science, while
+at the same time they would confer honor upon their country.
+
+The editor forbears to add any thing further in relation to the contents
+of this little volume. But he cannot dismiss the work without again
+expressing the high sense of gratitude felt by the two seamen in
+question, to the benevolent individuals of their own country, and
+others, who have relieved their sufferings; and this he subjoins in an
+extract from a note on that subject by H. Holden:--
+
+     "In addition to the gentlemen mentioned in the Narrative, we are
+     under great obligations to Mr. Stephen Oliphant and his son, and
+     their clerk, of New York, who were residents at Canton when we
+     arrived there. Mr. Oliphant kindly furnished us with a room, food,
+     and other necessaries, and gave us our passage from Canton to New
+     York in his ship called the Morrison, commanded by captain
+     Lavender, from whom also we experienced every attention.
+
+     "The respected American missionary at Canton, Mr. Edwin Stevens,
+     rendered us many friendly services; and from the English physician,
+     who was formerly in the East India Company's service there, but
+     whose name I do not recollect, we received every attention and
+     medical aid that could have been bestowed on his nearest friends.
+
+     "We are also much indebted to Mr. Bradford and Mr. Robert E.
+     Apthorp, both of Boston, for their many acts of kindness. To the
+     latter gentleman, then a resident at Canton, I cannot sufficiently
+     express my obligations; he interested himself much in obtaining
+     money, clothing, and other necessaries for us, to make our
+     situation comfortable during our stay in Canton and on our passage
+     home.
+
+     "To the many friends whom we have found since our return to our own
+     country we can never be sufficiently grateful. Among these I cannot
+     omit to mention Mr. J. N. Reynolds, author of the interesting
+     Account of the Voyage of the Potomac, who has taken the most lively
+     interest in our case, and Mr. Joseph P. Bradley, of Boston, to
+     whose untiring zeal and benevolence I feel myself to be indebted
+     more than I am able to express.
+
+                                                       HORACE HOLDEN"
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+Equipment and departure of the ship Mentor from the port of New
+Bedford, Massachusetts.--The ship's company.--Arrival at
+Fayal.--Passage down the Cape de Verd islands, and round the cape of
+Good Hope, to the Indian ocean.--Cruising among the islands, and
+arrival at the port of Coupang, in Timor.--A violent storm.--The ship
+strikes on a coral reef off the Pelew islands.--Alarm and distressing
+situation of the ship's company, and sudden loss of eleven of their
+number.--The survivors preserved upon a dry part of the reef
+                                                                      13
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+The situation of the survivors of the ship's company upon the reef
+during the night.--A canoe filled with savage natives approaches the
+reef; intercourse with them; and description of their persons and
+terrific appearance.--Their pilfering of the articles saved, and
+plundering of the ship.--Several canoes arrive.--Mr. Nute's resolute
+conduct towards the natives.--The ship's company pursue their course,
+in their boat, towards an island, on which they land after severe
+suffering
+                                                                      29
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+A canoe, with two natives, approaches the island.--Communication
+opened with them.--A great number of canoes, filled with armed
+natives, suddenly arrive; rough treatment of the captain by one of
+the chiefs.--They all arrive at the harbor of the island, which
+proved to be one of the Pelew islands.--Description of the island and
+its inhabitants.--Consultation of the chiefs respecting the ship's
+company.--Result of the consultation
+                                                                      41
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+An extraordinary and unexpected meeting with a person not a
+native.--Happy result of the meeting.--Acquisition of the Pelew
+language.--Dissensions between two portions of the natives.--Three of
+the ship's company separated and carried to a place remote from
+the rest.--Attempt to construct a boat, in order to leave
+the island.--The natives agree to release them all for a
+compensation.--Solemnities observed by the natives on the
+occasion.--Tools used in making the boat; transportation of timber,
+&c.--The plan abandoned, and a canoe substituted for the
+boat.--Another festival
+                                                                      55
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+The natives become anxious to aid the ship's company in leaving the
+island.--Terms on which they agreed to release them.--Departure from
+the Pelew islands.--Necessity of returning the same night.--Detention
+a month longer; and final departure
+                                                                      68
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+Regret at having undertaken the voyage in boats.--Storm, and damage
+in consequence of it.--Loss of the canoe and the provisions on
+board.--Danger of perishing from famine.--On the fifteenth day, when
+nearly exhausted with fatigue and hunger, they discover a small
+island.--Approach of eighteen canoes filled with natives, who make
+prisoners of them all.--Cruelty of the natives; and return with their
+prisoners to the island.--Reception there.--The prisoners
+distributed among the captors
+                                                                      74
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+The island, to which they were carried, proves to be Lord North's
+island, called by the natives _To'bee_.--Account of the island and
+its inhabitants.--Their manners and customs
+                                                                      81
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+A ship discovered at a small distance from the island.--The natives
+prepare to go on board of her.--Captain Barnard and Bartlet Rollins,
+after being severely beaten, are allowed to go with the natives in
+their canoes, and thus effect their escape; the rest of the Mentor's
+people are still forcibly detained on the island.--Their hopes of
+being taken on board of the same ship are suddenly blasted.--Their
+despondency on that disappointment.--Return of the natives from the
+ship; their rage, and quarrels about the division of the articles
+procured on board of her.--They threaten to wreak their vengeance on
+the Mentor's people that remained with them.--Their cruel treatment
+of them.--A storm destroys the cocoa-nut trees and causes a scarcity
+of food
+                                                                      95
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+The natives compel the Mentor's people to be tattooed.--Description
+of that painful operation.--They also oblige them to pluck their
+beards, &c.--Another vessel passes by the island; and, afterwards, a
+third comes in sight and remains for three days; the Mentor's people
+are closely guarded at these times.--The melancholy fate of William
+Sedon; and the barbarous murder of Peter Andrews.--Attack on H.
+Holden, who is protected by one of the natives, and escapes.--B. Nute
+and others are protected by the female natives from the fury of the
+men.--Death of one of the Pelew chiefs.--Another of the Pelew people
+is detected in stealing, and is punished in their manner.--Death of
+Milton Hewlet and Charles C. Bouket; leaving now only B. Nute, H.
+Holden, and the other Pelew chief, named _Kobak_, who all remained in
+a feeble and helpless condition.--Filthy practices of the
+natives.--Friendship of the surviving Pelew chief
+                                                                     101
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+The feeble and exhausted condition of the survivors, Nute and
+Holden.--The natives consent to release them from labor, but refuse
+them food; and they obtain permission to leave the island in the
+first vessel, for a compensation to be made to the natives.--They
+crawl about from place to place, subsisting upon leaves, and
+occasionally begging a little food of the natives, for two
+months.--Their sudden joy at hearing of a vessel coming towards the
+island.--It proves to be the British barque Britannia, captain Short,
+bound to Canton.--They are taken on board the Britannia, November 27,
+1834, and treated with the kindest attention.--Their joy and
+gratitude at this happy termination of their sufferings.--They
+gradually recover their health so far as to take passage for America,
+in the ship Morrison, bound for New York, where they arrive May 5,
+1835.--Acknowledgments for their kind reception at New York and
+Boston
+                                                                     111
+
+
+
+
+NARRATIVE, &c.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+     Equipment and departure of the ship Mentor from the port of New
+     Bedford, Massachusetts.--The ship's company.--Arrival at
+     Fayal.--Passage down the Cape de Verd islands, and round the cape
+     of Good Hope, to the Indian ocean.--Cruising among the islands, and
+     arrival at the port of Coupang, in Timor.--A violent storm.--The
+     ship strikes on a coral reef off the Pelew islands.--Alarm and
+     distressing situation of the ship's company, and sudden loss of
+     eleven of their number.--The survivors preserved upon a dry part of
+     the reef.
+
+
+I was born in the town of Hillsborough, in the state of New Hampshire,
+on the 21st of July, 1810. My father's name was Phineas Holden. My
+parents were in moderate circumstances, and derived their chief support
+from a small farm. From the time to which my earliest recollections
+extend, until I was about ten years of age, our little circle,
+consisting of our parents, their three sons and two daughters, enjoyed a
+large share of the pleasures of a New England home. We were all
+accustomed to labor, but our exertions to secure a respectable
+maintenance were richly rewarded by each other's approving smiles, and
+by that contentment, without which blessings, however great or numerous,
+are bestowed upon us in vain.
+
+But, in early life, and in the midst of our enjoyments, we were called
+upon to experience a loss which nothing on earth can supply. My father,
+after a painful sickness of long continuance, died, and left us with no
+other earthly protector than our affectionate mother; who, had her
+ability and means been adequate to our support, or equal to her maternal
+fondness and anxiety, would have saved us from every hardship, and
+supplied all our reasonable desires. But, having no means of support
+except our own industry, we were at that tender age thrown upon the
+world, and compelled to provide for ourselves as Providence might best
+enable us. I labored at different occupations until the age of
+twenty-one; when, finding myself unable, by reason of an impaired
+constitution, to do more than provide for myself, and feeling desirous
+to contribute my share towards the maintenance of our surviving parent,
+I resolved upon making the experiment of a voyage at sea.
+
+I accordingly left the place of my nativity, sundered the many ties that
+bound me to home and friends, and, in July, 1831, entered on board the
+ship Mentor, at the port of New Bedford, Massachusetts, for a whaling
+voyage to the Indian ocean. The ship was owned by William R. Rodman,
+Esquire, an eminent merchant of that place, to whose benevolence, since
+my return home, I acknowledge myself to be deeply indebted. We sailed on
+the day of my enlistment; and I soon found myself upon the bosom of the
+great deep, and at the mercy of an element to which I had been but
+little accustomed.
+
+The whole ship's company of the Mentor consisted of twenty-two; namely,
+Edward C. Barnard, captain; Thomas M. Colesworthy, first mate; Peter
+O'Connor, second mate; Benjamin F. Haskell, David Jenkins, and Jacob
+Fisher, boat-steerers; Peter Andrews, steward; John Mayo, cook; and
+Horatio Davis, Bartlet Rollins, William Jones, Thomas Taylor, Lewis
+Bergoin, Charles C. Bouket, Calvin Alden, Milton Hulet, William Sedon,
+James Meder, James Blackmore, John Baily, Benjamin H. Nute, (my
+companion in suffering,) and myself, seamen.
+
+After leaving port, nothing remarkable occurred during the first part of
+our voyage. Having succeeded in obtaining a small quantity of oil, we
+touched at Fayal, one of the Azores, or Western islands, to leave the
+oil and replenish our stores. We left Fayal on the following day. Our
+course was down the Cape de Verd islands; and, without any accident
+worth relating, we passed round the cape of Good Hope, through the
+straits of Madagascar, and found ourselves in the Indian ocean.
+
+We continued to cruise among the small islands for some time; but being
+unsuccessful in the object of our voyage, it was deemed advisable to
+make for Java. We ran the whole length of the island of Java, passing
+through the straits of Sandal-Wood Island, to the island of Timor, and
+touched at the port of Coupang, where we remained about five days, took
+in wood and water, and replenished our small stores. After leaving that
+place we attempted to pass through the straits of Timor, with a view of
+gaining the Pacific ocean; but owing to adverse winds, and the strong
+currents setting against us, we were compelled to abandon the
+undertaking; and accordingly altered our course. We intended to have
+touched at Ternate, the principal of the Moluccas or Spice islands; but
+we passed it, running down the island of Morty, (or Mortay) to its
+furthermost point. Seeing no port at which we could stop, we altered our
+course, intending to make for some of the Ladrone islands, which we knew
+to be in possession of the Spanish.
+
+I must here observe, that soon after leaving the island of Mortay,
+there came on a violent storm, which lasted the whole of three days and
+nights. During all this time we were unable to take an observation. This
+led to the melancholy disaster, which was the commencement of
+misfortunes and sufferings, too great to be adequately conceived of by
+any but those who experienced them. The violence of the storm compelled
+us to take in all the sails except the top-sail, (which was close
+reefed,) foresail, and foretop-mast stay-sail.
+
+We were sailing in this manner, not apprehending danger, when, about
+eleven o'clock at night, on the 21st of May, 1832, just at the time of
+relieving the watch, the ship struck with great violence upon what we
+afterwards found to be the coral reef extending to the northward and
+eastward of the Pelew islands. The ship ran directly upon the rocks, and
+struck three times in quick succession, the waves dashing over and
+around us with tremendous violence.
+
+At this awful moment I was in my berth, in the steerage. When the ship
+struck the third time, so great was the shock that I was thrown from my
+berth against the opposite side of the steerage; but, soon recovering
+myself, I rushed upon deck. There all was confusion, horror and dismay.
+The ship, immediately after striking the third time, swung round so as
+to bring her starboard side to the windward, and was in a moment thrown
+upon her beam ends. While in this awful condition, with the waves
+continually breaking over us, threatening to overwhelm us in a watery
+grave, or dash us in pieces against the rocks, the captain came upon
+deck, and inquired of the second mate, "Where are we?" The reply was, "I
+don't know, but I think there is land to leeward." There was no time for
+deliberation; it seemed that the immediate destruction of the ship was
+inevitable.
+
+In the midst of this confusion I heard the mate give orders for lowering
+the larboard quarter boat. His directions were immediately complied
+with, and ten of the crew threw themselves into it, thinking it more
+safe thus to commit themselves to the mercy of the waves, than to
+remain on board with the prospect of a certain and speedy termination of
+their existence. But there are reasons which force upon the mind the
+painful conviction, that their departure from the ship at that time
+proved fatal to them all. As the oars were fastened to the sides of the
+boat, some one asked for a knife or hatchet, with which to cut them
+loose. The request was complied with; and, quitting their hold upon the
+ship, they parted from us, and we never saw them more!
+
+As some doubts have existed in the minds of those interested in the fate
+of our shipmates who took to the boat in the manner just described, it
+is deemed advisable here to state my reasons for entertaining the
+opinion above expressed. Far would it be from me to desire to extinguish
+any well-founded hopes of their having survived; but a knowledge of the
+following facts renders it too certain, that they must all have
+perished, soon after their departure from the ship. The next morning the
+remains of a boat in every respect similar to that in which they
+embarked, were distinctly seen on the rocks, at the distance of about
+fifty yards from the ship, bottom up, and with her sides stove in. The
+water being clear and shallow, we could see that she was held there by a
+harpoon and lance, which constituted a part of the fishing implements,
+or crafts, in the boat when she left. These were apparently stuck into
+the crevices of the coral rock (of which the whole reef is composed)
+either by accident or design; and the presumption is, that she became
+fast in that place, and that the waves swept that portion of our
+companions in suffering into a watery grave. But this, though a
+melancholy subject of reflection, is not without some circumstances of
+consolation; for, admitting that they thus met their fate, they were
+saved from that extremity of suffering which some of the ship's crew
+were destined to experience. Were such a death, or the pains of
+captivity endured by my associates and myself, to be the only
+alternatives, I have doubted whether I should not prefer the former. To
+be far from kindred and friends, among a people but one grade above the
+most ferocious beasts, sick at heart, and deprived of necessary food,
+stripped of our clothing, and subjected to unheard-of severities,--to
+endure all this, was to purchase a continuance of life at a dear rate.
+
+Soon after the departure of the first boat, the captain, thinking it
+impossible for the ship to hold together till morning, ordered his own
+boat to be let down. This could be effected only by the united exertions
+of the whole of the remaining part of the crew. Some of the men, and
+myself among the rest, had resolved upon remaining on the ship to the
+last; and, considering it impossible for a boat to live, we earnestly
+expostulated with the captain, for the purpose of persuading him not to
+hazard the experiment. But he seemed to think it best to make it, and
+with great earnestness entreated the men to assist him in lowering his
+boat. As this was a time when but little attention could be paid to the
+distinctions usually kept up on board, I suggested that it might be well
+to cut away the masts, believing that this would relieve the ship, and
+cause her to lie easier upon the rock. This was the more necessary on
+account of her position being such as to render it next to impossible to
+let down the boat. The proposal was acceded to; and, seizing an axe, I
+assisted in cutting away the masts and rigging. This, to some extent,
+had the desired effect; and we were enabled, at length, by great
+exertion, to lower the boat. The captain, Charles C. Bouket, William
+Sedon, and William Jones, immediately placed themselves in it, and
+commenced preparing to leave us. In compliance with his request, a rope
+was fastened round the waist of the captain, so that should the boat be
+destroyed, as there was reason to apprehend she would be, there might be
+some chance of rescuing him from the waves. They were furnished with the
+necessary nautical instruments, log-book, a bag of clothing, a small
+quantity of bread in a tin tureen, and a keg of water. The boat was at
+this time suspended by her falls, and, with a view of letting themselves
+down, the captain stood in the stern, and Bouket in the forward part of
+the boat, both having hold of the falls. Sedon still held on by the
+boat's lashing. Jones had nothing in his hands. At this conjuncture, a
+tremendous sea broke into the boat, and dashed it in pieces;--so entire
+was the destruction, that not a fragment was afterwards seen. Jones was
+soon after seen floating in the water apparently dead. Sedon, in
+consequence of having hold of the boat's fastenings, saved himself by
+climbing into the ship. Bouket, being an expert swimmer, on finding
+himself in the sea, swam round to the leeward side of the ship, caught
+hold of some part of the rigging, and thus escaped. The captain was
+drifted away to the distance of nearly one hundred and fifty yards. It
+was with the utmost difficulty that we retained our hold on the rope
+which had been fastened to him; but at length we succeeded in drawing
+him in. On hearing his cries for assistance, forgetting our own danger,
+we redoubled our exertions, and soon drew him on board. He was much
+exhausted, but fortunately had received no fatal injury.
+
+After the failure of this attempt, and having in so short a time lost
+one half our number, it was agreed upon, after due consultation to
+remain upon the wreck till daylight should reveal to us more fully our
+situation. In this state of suspense and suffering, we clung to the
+rigging, and with much difficulty kept ourselves from being washed away.
+Our situation and prospects during that awful night were such, that no
+ray of hope was permitted to penetrate the dreary prospect around us;
+our thoughts and feelings, wrought up to the highest degree of
+excitement by the horrors of our situation, continually visited the
+homes we had quitted,--probably forever,--and offered up prayers for the
+dear friends we had left behind. Every succeeding wave that dashed over
+us threatened to sweep us into an untried eternity; and while we
+impatiently awaited approaching day, we committed our spirits to Him who
+alone could control the raging elements.
+
+At daybreak, we discovered that a part of the reef, apparently about
+three miles off to the leeward, was dry; and this, though but of small
+consequence, afforded us some comfort. In a short time we discovered
+land at the distance of twenty or thirty miles, in an eastwardly
+direction. This, though we were ignorant of the character of the
+inhabitants--if indeed it should turn out to be the residence of human
+beings--presented to our minds the possibility of escape; and without
+any delay we prepared, as well as we could, to abandon the vessel. There
+remained but one boat, and that was in a poor condition for conveying
+us, eleven in number, so great a distance. But, as no choice was left
+us, the boat was soon prepared; and when the sun was about two hours
+high, we had completed our arrangements. We took into the boat one small
+chest of bread, some water, a quantity of wearing apparel, a canister of
+gunpowder, one musket, a brace of pistols, three cutlasses, and a
+tinder-box. In this frail bark, and with these poor means of subsistence
+and defence, with little to rely upon but the mercy of Providence, we
+took leave of the ship; not without feelings of deep sorrow, and with
+small hopes of improving our forlorn condition.
+
+On leaving the ship we steered directly for the reef above mentioned,
+and without much difficulty landed and drew up our boat. This proved to
+be, as we had previously conjectured, a part of the reef upon which we
+had been wrecked; and we soon ascertained that the portion of the rock
+above water was but about sixteen rods long, and quite narrow, but
+sufficiently large to afford us a secure footing for the little time we
+had to stay upon it. It was our first, and almost our only object, to
+remain here until we could render our arrangements more perfect, and
+either put to sea with less hazard, or make our passage to the land,
+which was still distinctly visible. As yet but little time had been
+afforded us for calm reflection; and it was now a question of serious
+importance, whether it would be most prudent to encounter the billows in
+the crazy boat which was our chief dependence, upon the open sea, with
+our scanty means of subsistence, or to throw ourselves into the hands,
+and upon the mercy of whatever race of beings might chance to inhabit
+the island. In favor of the former plan it was suggested that we might
+be seen, and taken up by some vessel cruising in those seas, and thus
+saved from captivity or death among a barbarous people; and, on the
+other hand, it was maintained, that a chance among the savages of those
+islands would be preferable to the risk of going to sea in a boat which
+was in all respects unseaworthy, and with only a few pounds of bread,
+and but little water, for our subsistence.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+     The situation of the survivors of the ship's company upon the reef
+     during the night.--A canoe filled with savage natives approaches
+     the reef; intercourse with them; and description of their persons
+     and terrific appearance.--Their pilfering of the articles saved,
+     and plundering of the ship.--Several canoes arrive.--Mr. Nute's
+     resolute conduct towards the natives.--The ship's company pursue
+     their course, in their boat, towards an island, on which they land
+     after severe suffering.
+
+
+Happily, by the goodness of the allwise Disposer of events, the
+unfortunate can avail themselves of a thousand sources of comfort,
+which, by those in prosperous circumstances, are either overlooked or
+neglected. We were upon a barren rock, in the midst of a waste of
+waters, far from kindred and friends, and the abodes of civilized man;
+the ship which had been our home, and on board of which we had embarked
+with high hopes, lay within sight, a useless wreck; still we were
+enabled to enjoy a moment of relief, if not of actual pleasure, derived
+from an event, which, though trifling in itself, is worthy of being
+recorded.
+
+We succeeded in taking an eel, a few crabs, and a small quantity of
+snails. Having our fire-works with us, we collected a sufficient number
+of sticks, with a few pieces of drift-wood which had lodged upon the
+rock, to make a fire; with this we cooked our fish and snails; and, with
+a small allowance of bread, we made what we then thought a sumptuous
+repast! After we had finished our meal, we began to prepare for the
+night. We erected a tent with some of our clothes and pieces of canvas,
+at a little distance from the boat; and, when night came on, a part of
+our number kept watch, and the rest soon lost all consciousness of their
+misfortunes in sleep. About midnight those who had watched took their
+turn at resting; and in the morning we found ourselves considerably
+refreshed; though an increased activity of our minds served only to
+bring home a more vivid picture of the horrors of the previous night,
+and of our present condition.
+
+Providence, it would seem, had ordained that we should not long remain
+undetermined as to the course to be adopted; for before sunrise we
+discovered a canoe within a short distance of us, containing twenty-two
+of the inhabitants of the neighboring island. They approached to within
+pistol-shot of where we stood, and there lay on their oars for some
+time, looking at us, and manifesting no small degree of fear. Thinking
+it best to be on friendly terms with them, we attached a shirt to one of
+our oars, and hoisted it as a token of a wish, on our part, to regard
+and treat them as friends. This had the desired effect; and they
+immediately rowed up to the rock. Manifesting great pleasure, they left
+their canoe and rushed towards the place where the principal part of our
+boat's crew were standing, bringing with them cocoa-nuts, and a small
+quantity of bread made of the cocoa-nut boiled in a liquor extracted
+from the trunk of the tree. At that time, I was standing near the tent,
+at a little distance from my companions, and was an anxious spectator of
+the scene. Their appearance excited my astonishment, and I was filled
+with horror by the sight of beings apparently human, and yet almost
+destitute of the ordinary marks of humanity. They were entirely naked.
+Each one was armed with a spear and tomahawk; some had battle-axes. They
+were fantastically tattooed on different parts of their bodies. Their
+hair, naturally coarse and black, like that of the Indians of America,
+was very long, and hung loosely over their shoulders, giving them a
+singular and frightful appearance. Their teeth were entirely black;
+rendered so, as we afterwards found, by chewing what they call
+"_abooak_."[1] The reader can judge of our feelings on finding ourselves
+in the hands of beings of this description. Our confidence in the
+honesty of our visiters did not improve on further acquaintance.
+
+No sooner had they landed, than they commenced their depredations upon
+the few articles, which at that time constituted all our earthly riches.
+The nautical instruments, the musket, and a part of our clothing, they
+immediately appropriated to their own benefit. Fortunately a part of our
+clothing, the powder, and the cutlasses we had succeeded in concealing
+in a crevice of the rock. Taking with them their booty, they
+precipitately got into their canoe, and, beckoning to us, evidently with
+a view of inducing us to follow them, they steered directly for the
+wreck. Their first appearance, and this strong manifestation of their
+thievish disposition, so far from inclining us to cultivate their
+acquaintance any further, had given us an irresistible inclination to
+avoid them. Our minds were not long in coming to the conclusion, that an
+open sea, with Heaven to protect us, would be far preferable to a chance
+among beings like those. Accordingly, with the least possible delay, we
+launched our boat, and putting into it such things of value as we had
+saved, once more, surrounded by new difficulties and dangers, committed
+ourselves to the mercy of the waves.
+
+The island before mentioned being now distinctly visible, we steered in
+a direction towards it; though we found it necessary to go a somewhat
+circuitous course, in order to avoid the reef. By the time we had
+succeeded in getting into deep water, the natives had been to the ship,
+and were returning with the five muskets which we had left on board.
+They soon passed us with great rapidity, and evidently with the
+intention of escaping with their booty unharmed. The cause of their
+precipitancy will soon be explained.
+
+Just at this time there came in sight a number of canoes, perhaps
+thirty, filled with natives, who seemed no less intent upon plunder than
+those with whom we had already formed a disagreeable acquaintance. Their
+language was to us entirely unintelligible, but we could gather from
+their somewhat significant gestures, that they most of all desired to
+possess themselves of fire-arms. They beckoned to us to go with them,
+and seemed quite anxious to avail themselves of our assistance; but we
+were not less so to escape; and with the hope of being able to do so,
+we continued to row towards the island. Some of them remained near us,
+while the rest made for the ship. At length, all, except those in one
+canoe, left us, and joined their companions. These seemed particularly
+fond of our company, partly on account, as we afterwards learned, of
+their suspecting that we had something of value concealed about us, and
+partly for the purpose of making us their prisoners, and in that way
+gaining some advantage over the others. After a while they offered, with
+an appearance of friendship, to render us some assistance by towing our
+boat; and after some deliberation we concluded to throw them a line.
+This greatly facilitated our progress, as their canoe, being made very
+light, skimmed over the water with incredible swiftness. No sooner was
+this arrangement completed than a chief, and one other of the natives,
+left their canoe and took their station with us; the chief with a
+somewhat offensive familiarity seating himself in the stern of the boat,
+near the captain. We were not long in doubt concerning the motive which
+had led them to this act of condescension. Our bread was contained in a
+small chest, which had been placed in the bottom of the boat; this
+seemed to have excited their curiosity to the highest pitch, as they
+kept their eyes almost constantly upon it, and endeavored to persuade
+the captain to give them a chance to examine its contents. He declined
+gratifying them, thinking it better to keep their anxiety alive, rather
+than to expose to them the comparative worthlessness of the little that
+remained with us, of either the comforts or necessaries of life.
+
+Probably owing to this show of resistance on our part, when we had
+approached to within five or six miles of the island, at a signal given
+by the chief, the sail of their canoe was suddenly dropped; and, seizing
+our powder canister, he jumped overboard and swam to the canoe. His
+companion, following the example of the thievish chief, seized a bundle
+of clothing and was making off with it; whereupon Mr. Nute, who had not
+yet become entirely reconciled to the fashion of going without clothes,
+like our new acquaintances, and conceiving that it might be well to
+insist upon having the rights of property respected, caught hold of the
+bundle and retained it. Upon this they immediately hauled us alongside,
+and seized upon our oars; here again we had occasion to offer some
+resistance to their supposed right to plunder us, and we succeeded in
+keeping possession of these; the only remaining means of saving
+ourselves from premature death and a watery grave.
+
+They had by this time become so exasperated, that we considered it
+altogether desirable to get ourselves out of the reach of their war
+clubs, spears, and battle-axes; and we took measures accordingly. We
+were still held fast to their canoe, and so completely within their
+reach that it required not a little courage to make any attempt to leave
+them; but Mr. Nute, whose resolution had been wrought up by the previous
+contest, took a knife and deliberately cut the line. Our intention was
+to throw ourselves astern, and then, by tacking directly about, and
+steering in the wind's eye, to escape from them, or at least to give
+them, for a time, some better employment than that of robbing their poor
+and suffering victims. This we succeeded in accomplishing; not however
+without the expense of much toil, and some blows, which they dealt out
+at parting, with so much severity, that we shall not soon lose the
+recollection of their barbarous conduct towards us. Mr. Nute, by his
+intrepidity, seemed to have rendered himself an object of their
+particular dislike; they beat him unmercifully, for his resolution in
+retaining the bundle of clothes, and sundering the only cord that bound
+us to our tormentors.
+
+Having but three oars, our progress was by no means as rapid as we could
+have desired; but perceiving that in going against the wind we had the
+advantage of our pursuers, and knowing that our only safety was in
+flight, we exerted our utmost strength, and soon had the satisfaction of
+leaving them at a safe distance from us. They seemed determined not to
+part with us, and continued to pursue us till about four o'clock, P. M.
+It was with the greatest difficulty that we kept clear of them; at times
+it seemed impossible; and in this situation we could fully realize the
+force of the scriptural sentiment, "all that a man hath he will give for
+his life." Finding them too near us, and evidently intent upon taking
+vengeance for the crime we had committed in attempting to escape, though
+our wardrobe had been reduced to a few necessary articles of clothing,
+we resorted to the expedient of parting even with these, by casting one
+thing at a time upon the water, rightly judging that they might be
+detained in picking them up, and hoping by this management to keep our
+distance from them.
+
+After they left us, we continued our course, which was directly into the
+open sea, until about sunset, when we discovered land ahead, apparently
+at the distance of forty miles. We continued to row on till about three
+o'clock in the morning, when we found that we were in shoal water, and
+near breakers. We contrived to throw the bight of a rope over a point
+of rock which was about eight feet under water, and we there remained
+until daylight. We then let go our hold, and pulled for land. At about
+four o'clock in the afternoon we succeeded in landing on a small island
+distant from the main land about half a mile, and drew our boat upon the
+beach. By this time our strength had become much exhausted, and we were
+suffering beyond description from the want of water. Our first efforts
+were made to find some means for quenching our thirst; and, to our
+inexpressible joy, we soon found a spring, which, in that extremity of
+our sufferings, was of more value than a mine of gold. Poor Sedon was
+left lying in the boat in a state of complete prostration. We carried
+him some water, and he soon revived.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[1] In Keate's Account of the Pelew Islands this word is written
+_pook_.--_Edit._
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+     A canoe, with two natives, approaches the island.--Communication
+     opened with them.--A great number of canoes, filled with armed
+     natives, suddenly arrive; rough treatment of the captain by one of
+     the chiefs.--They all arrive at the harbor of the island, which
+     proved to be one of the Pelew islands.--Description of the island
+     and its inhabitants.--Consultation of the chiefs respecting the
+     ship's company.--Result of the consultation.
+
+
+Having satisfied our most pressing wants, we next set ourselves at work
+to obtain food. We had with us a part of the bread brought from the
+wreck, and the preparation given us by the natives composed of the
+cocoa-nut pulverized and mixed with the sweet liquor extracted from the
+tree. Putting these together into a bucket-full of water, we made out
+the materials for a supper, which, though not of a kind to suit the
+delicate palate, was devoured with thankfulness and a good relish.
+Feeling refreshed and invigorated by our meal, we gathered ourselves
+into a group on the beach, and passed our moments of relaxation in
+conversing upon the melancholy vicissitudes through which we had passed,
+and the gloomy prospect which was at that unpromising moment spread out
+before us. Should we find it possible to procure the means of
+subsistence, it was thought best to remain where we were for a day or
+two, not knowing what reception we should meet with, were we to throw
+ourselves into the hands of the inhabitants of the main island, and
+feeling an unconquerable reluctance to come in contact with beings
+scarce less ferocious than beasts of prey. But fortune having commenced
+making us the sport of painful incidents, soon subjected us to another
+annoyance.
+
+A canoe containing two living beings, in the form of men, in a state of
+nakedness, was seen, from where we sat, putting off from a point of land
+which projected into the sea a small distance below us. They had
+evidently discovered us, and were approaching the spot where we were,
+for the purpose of making themselves acquainted with us and our
+condition. When within hailing distance they stopped, and seemed afraid
+to come nearer. Thinking it best to be on friendly terms with them, we
+beckoned to have them approach. This seemed to please them; and, to
+manifest a friendly disposition, they held up a fish. To show them that
+we were inclined to reciprocate any acts of kindness, to the extent of
+our ability, we held up a crab which we had caught. Upon this they
+immediately came near to where we stood. We presented to each one a
+jackknife, and indicated by signs, that they were at liberty to take any
+thing we had. They appeared highly gratified, and their conduct was
+inoffensive. In a short time they returned to their canoe, and made
+signs to us to follow them; we thought best to do so, and accordingly
+soon placed our effects in the boat, and followed them towards a sort of
+harbor at no great distance. In consequence of the lightness of their
+canoe and their dexterity in managing it, they were soon ahead of us,
+and, turning round a point of land, they were speedily withdrawn from
+our view.
+
+In a few minutes they returned, accompanied by a large number of
+canoes--the water seemed to be literally covered by this miniature
+fleet. The natives were all armed, much like those with whom we first
+became acquainted.
+
+This instantaneous movement was occasioned, as we afterwards learned, by
+an alarm given by the two natives who had visited us on the small
+island. Intelligence of the fact, that a boat's crew of strange looking
+beings, as we doubtless appeared to them, had landed upon their
+territory, was given by sounding a shell. This aroused the multitude,
+and caused them to come out, to satisfy their curiosity, and assist in
+conducting us safely and speedily to a place of security. A large war
+canoe made directly towards us; and, on coming alongside, the head chief
+sprung into our boat, seized the captain by the shoulder, and struck him
+several times with a war-club; in the mean while giving him to
+understand, that it was his will and pleasure to have us row, with all
+convenient despatch, to the place whence they had issued. He then
+commenced swinging his club over our heads with great apparent ferocity,
+for the purpose, as it seemed, of awing us into submission; occasionally
+striking some of our number. After pretty thoroughly convincing us that
+in this case our only course was submission, he began to strip us of our
+clothing. While this was going on, his associates in arms and mischief
+kept their canoe close alongside, and, standing up, held their spears in
+a position to enable them to pierce us through in an instant, if there
+had been any occasion for so doing.
+
+We were soon in their miserable harbor; and, it being low water, we were
+compelled to leave our boat, and wade to the tableland through the mud.
+Our appearance, as the reader will naturally conclude, was not very
+creditable to the land which gave us birth; but since our destitute and
+miserable condition was not our choice, we could do no less than be
+thankful that it was no worse; and, making the best of it, we suffered
+ourselves to be ushered into the presence of the dignitaries of the
+island, in the way they thought most proper. We were conducted to a
+platform, on a rise of land at a little distance from the harbor, on
+which were seated those who had power to dispose of us as they pleased.
+This platform was twelve or fifteen feet square, and was situated
+between two long buildings, called "_pyes_." These, as we afterwards
+learned, were used by the chiefs as places of carousal, and as a sort of
+harem for their women. They were constructed in a rude manner, of bamboo
+sticks, and covered with leaves. They were sixty or seventy feet in
+length, and about twenty-four in width.
+
+That something like a correct conception of this scene may be formed by
+the reader, it may be well to give, in this place, a brief account of
+the appearance, manners, and customs of the natives of this island. This
+was the island known to navigators as Baubelthouap, the largest of the
+group of the Pelew islands. It lies not far from the eighth degree of
+north latitude, is about one hundred and twenty miles in length, and
+contains probably not far from two thousand inhabitants.[2]
+
+The men were entirely naked. They always go armed, in the way before
+described, and carry with them a small basket, containing generally the
+whole amount of their movable property. The women wear no other clothing
+than a sort of apron (fastened to the waist by a curiously wrought
+girdle) extending nearly to the knees, and left open at the sides. The
+material of these garments (if such they can be called) is the bark of a
+tree called by them "_karamal_." This tree grows from thirty to forty
+feet high, and is two or three feet in circumference. The hair of both
+males and females is worn long; it is coarse and stiff, and of a color
+resembling that of the natives of North America. They make free use of
+the oil extracted from the cocoa-nut; with this they anoint their
+bodies, considering it the extreme of gentility to have the skin
+entirely saturated with it. Their arms, and sometimes the lower parts of
+the body and legs, are ingeniously tattooed. Their complexion is a light
+copper. Their eyes have a very singular appearance, being of a reddish
+color. Their noses were somewhat flat, but not so flat as those of the
+Africans; nor are their lips so thick. They are excessively fond of
+trinkets. It would cause a fashionable lady of America to smile, to
+observe the pains taken by those simple daughters of nature to set off
+their persons. In their ears they wear a sort of ornament made of a
+peculiar kind of grass, which they work into a tassel; this is painted
+and richly perfumed. In their noses they wear a stem of the _kabooa_
+leaf, which answers the double purpose of an ornament and a smelling
+bottle; and their arms, in addition to being tattooed in the manner
+above mentioned, are adorned with a profusion of shells. Our fair
+readers may judge how much we were amused, on finding that the
+copper-colored females of the island cut up our old shoes into
+substitutes for jewelry, and seemed highly delighted with wearing the
+shreds suspended from their ears.
+
+Our further acquaintance with this extraordinary people confirmed us in
+the opinion, that the ceremony of marriage is unpractised and unknown
+among them. The chiefs appropriate to themselves as many females as they
+please, and in the selection they exercise this despotism over the
+affections without regard to any other laws than those of caprice.
+Reserving a more particular account of their manners, customs and mode
+of living for another place, I content myself with observing at this
+time, that the people of these islands, generally speaking, are in the
+rudest state imaginable. It is true that some sense of propriety, and
+some regard to the decencies of life, were observable; nor did they
+appear entirely destitute of those feelings which do honor to our
+nature, and which we should hardly expect to find in a people so rude
+and barbarous.
+
+Such were the beings among whom Providence had cast our lot; and to
+think of remaining with them to the end of life, or for any great length
+of time, was like the contemplation of imprisonment for life in the
+gloomy cells of a dungeon.
+
+From the rudely constructed wharf near the spot where we left our boat,
+we were conducted into the presence of a number of the chiefs, who were
+seated upon the platform above mentioned. The natives eagerly pressed
+forward to obtain a sight of us. That curiosity peculiar to the better
+portion of our race was, on this occasion, manifested by the females of
+the island. They clustered around us, and, placing their hands upon our
+flesh, seemed greatly to wonder that it should differ so much from their
+own. The fashion of wearing a skin so white as ours, seemed to them, no
+doubt, to be an offence against the taste and refinement of their
+portion of the world. To go at large without being tattooed, was to
+carry with us the palpable proofs of our vulgarity; and, to our sorrow,
+we were afterwards compelled to conform to the custom of the barbarians
+in this respect, and shall carry with us to the grave the marks of their
+well-meant, though cruel operation upon our bodies.
+
+Judging from appearances, our case had become a concern of great
+importance. The chiefs seemed to have had under discussion the question,
+whether we were to be treated as enemies, and subjected to the process
+of beheading upon the block of the executioner, (which was there in
+readiness before our eyes) or regarded as friends, and welcomed to their
+rude hospitalities. Unable as we were to understand a word of their
+language, or to say any thing by way of explanation or defence, the
+reader will conceive, better than we could describe, our painful
+situation. For a time we considered our case as hopeless. The women, who
+seemed to have taken an interest in our welfare, after observing, for a
+time, what was going on among the chiefs, began to utter their cries and
+lamentations, as if greatly distressed on our account. Their grief had
+the appearance of being sincere; they wept, and in a variety of ways
+expressed emotions of deep and heart-felt solicitude. Whether this was
+their manner of interceding in our behalf, to avert some impending
+calamity, or was expressive of their regret on account of our doom
+having been already sealed, it was impossible for us to determine. Nor
+did we ever know the amount of our obligations to those female strangers
+for the interest taken in our welfare. A termination was put to our
+suspense, however, in the course of an hour.
+
+At the close of the consultation, a large bowl was brought to us, filled
+with sweetened water, and richly ornamented with shells, so arranged as
+to form a sort of hieroglyphical characters. We drank of the contents of
+the bowl, in compliance with their request, from a richly wrought cup
+made of a cocoa-nut shell. This act of hospitality was regarded as a
+favorable indication of a friendly disposition on their part towards us;
+and our hopes were afterwards confirmed; for no sooner had we finished
+drinking, than the natives prepared to conduct us away. We afterwards
+learned, that a messenger had been despatched to a neighboring town, or
+settlement, to consult their prophetess in regard to the proper manner
+of disposing of us; and that she had directed them to send us to her. Of
+this important personage a more particular account will be given
+hereafter; suffice it, for the present, to say, that the respect paid to
+her by the natives of the island was of the most profound character, and
+her authority over them was almost unlimited.
+
+We were conducted, through an inconsiderable place, to the town where
+the prophetess resided. In this place there were several
+dwelling-houses, scattered about without regard to order; and, besides
+the dwelling of the prophetess, two of their long buildings, or "pyes,"
+gave it not a little importance in the estimation of these rude and
+uncultivated beings. We were halted in front of one of the "pyes," and
+directly opposite the house of the prophetess. Here, again, we were
+reminded of the fact, that we were in the presence of our superiors, as
+to power, by the platform on which were placed our judges, the chiefs,
+and the block standing near them, for the purpose of execution.
+
+We were soon surrounded by a vast crowd of the natives, eager to see us,
+and to learn something of the nature of beings so different from
+themselves.
+
+A short time after our arrival, a quantity of food was brought from the
+house of the prophetess, and placed in the centre of the platform. This
+consisted of a hog's head, boiled in sea-water, highly seasoned with
+cayenne and aromatic herbs, a plentiful supply of yams, and a large bowl
+of sweetened water. This meal was abundant and delicious; and we partook
+of it with an excellent relish.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[2] This island is not always laid down by name on our common maps, nor
+mentioned in geographical works. In the best _charts_ it is called
+_Baubelthouap_. In the chart prefixed to the fifth volume of _Burney's
+Chronological History of the Voyages and Discoveries in the South Sea_,
+it is called "Panloq or Babelthoup." In the map accompanying the late
+edition of Malte Brun's Geography, (in 4to) it is carelessly printed
+_Banbeltbonap_.--_Edit._
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+     An extraordinary and unexpected meeting with a person not a
+     native.--Happy result of the meeting.--Acquisition of the Pelew
+     language.--Dissensions between two portions of the natives.--Three
+     of the ship's company separated and carried to a place remote from
+     the rest.--Attempt to construct a boat, in order to leave the
+     island.--The natives agree to release them all for a
+     compensation.--Solemnities observed by the natives on the
+     occasion.--Tools used in making the boat; transportation of timber,
+     &c.--The plan abandoned, and a canoe substituted for the
+     boat.--Another festival.
+
+
+An interesting incident now occurred. Just at the time when the servant
+of the prophetess brought out the materials for our repast, we observed,
+at a little distance, a singular looking being approaching us. His
+appearance was that of a man of sixty. His hair was long and gray,
+unlike that of the natives. His legs, arms, and breast were tattooed.
+His step was quick and firm; his motions indicating that he felt himself
+a person of not a little importance. His teeth were entirely gone, and
+his mouth was black with the use of "kabooa." Judge of our emotions on
+hearing this strange being address us in broken English! His first
+exclamation was--"My God, you are Englishmen!" He immediately said, "You
+are safe now;" but he gave us to understand, that it was next to a
+miracle that we had escaped being killed on the water.
+
+This person was by birth an Englishman, and had been on the island about
+twenty-nine years. He told us that he had been a hatter by trade, and
+that his name was Charles Washington. He had been a private in the
+British naval service, on board the Lion man-of-war. Cruising in those
+seas, he had, while on duty, been guilty of some trifling offence; and,
+apprehending that he should be severely punished for it, had left the
+ship, and taken up his residence upon the island. He seemed to be
+contented with his situation, and had no desire to return to his native
+country. He had attained to great celebrity, and was the sixth chief
+among them. His authority seemed great, and he exercised it with
+exemplary discretion.
+
+Observing the provisions before us, he told us that they were for our
+use, and desired us to partake of whatever we preferred. Seeing that we
+were likely to be somewhat annoyed by the crowd of young persons who had
+collected around us, he swung his battle-axe over their heads, and
+giving them to understand that we belonged to _him_, immediately caused
+them to disperse.
+
+Arrangements were soon made for our accommodation. A part of one of the
+"pyes" was appropriated to our use, and we were furnished with mats, and
+other things for our comfort and convenience. Here we remained for about
+a month, and were regularly supplied by the natives with a sufficiency
+of provisions of various kinds, such as hogs, goats, fish, yams,
+cocoa-nuts, bread-fruit, preserved almonds, and occasionally with sweet
+potatoes.
+
+A change seemed now to have come over us. We were, it is true, amongst a
+rude and barbarous people, cut off from all intercourse with the rest of
+the world, and deprived of many things which we had been accustomed to
+regard as essential to our happiness; but even then we found many
+reasons for being grateful to the Disposer of events. Our actual wants
+were supplied; and the natives soon evinced a disposition to consider us
+friends, and treat us as such. To the latest day of our lives we shall
+remember some of them with heartfelt respect and affection; and, most of
+all, regret our inability to requite them for the favors which they
+voluntarily bestowed upon us. Especially should we rejoice to revisit
+that lonely spot of earth, and carry with us, to those children of
+nature, the means of civilization, and the blessings of Christian faith
+and Christian morality. And should the government of enlightened America
+ever see proper to extend to them some proof of its regard, it would
+afford us unspeakable pleasure to have it in our power to communicate to
+them the exalted principles, which might incline this highly favored
+nation to the performance of so noble a deed.
+
+Finding it important to be able to converse with the natives, we
+improved every opportunity to become acquainted with their language.
+Having but little to occupy our attention, it was not long before we had
+acquired a tolerable knowledge of it; and we found our situation much
+more pleasant as we became familiar with it. Our great object was, as
+the reader will naturally suppose, to contrive some way of escape. Our
+only means of accomplishing this was by friendly and amicable
+negotiation, and to make them understand our wishes, and convince them
+that it would be for their interest to aid us in returning to our native
+land, were essential to our success.
+
+We had not long been with them before we became acquainted with the
+fact, that upon the opposite end of the island there was another tribe,
+and that the two divisions of the inhabitants were not on the most
+friendly terms with each other. Intelligence had in some way been
+communicated to those who lived remote from the spot where fortune had
+thrown us, that we were desirous of leaving the island; and, probably
+with a view of gaining some advantage, they sent to us a message,
+informing us of their willingness to assist in constructing a boat
+sufficiently large to convey us across the water. The persons
+commissioned to make this proposal, and to persuade us to go to them,
+were two Englishmen, who, as we afterwards learned, had been on the
+island for several years, and were left there by English vessels. The
+particulars of their history we were unable to obtain.
+
+An offer of that kind, coming as it did from their enemies, and being in
+itself calculated to offend the pride of those into whose hands we had
+fallen, greatly excited their feelings of animosity; and, in consequence
+of our having manifested some desire to satisfy our own minds on the
+subject, we were closely watched. On the whole, however, we had no
+reason to regret this state of things; for on finding that their
+neighbors were disposed to assist us, a spirit of emulation was aroused
+among them, and for a time we had some hopes that the excited energies
+of this tiny nation would lead to the performance of some exploit,
+which, in the end, might place at our disposal the means of
+deliverance.
+
+Our maintenance had by this time become so great a tax upon their
+resources, that it was found expedient to cause some of our number to be
+removed to a settlement about a mile distant. Mr. Nute, Mr. Rollins, and
+myself were accordingly selected, and under a strong escort taken to the
+place. This did not please us, as we preferred remaining with our
+companions; but either expostulation or resistance would have involved
+us in worse difficulties, and we submitted. In our new situation we were
+well supplied with provisions, and kindly treated. We were allowed to
+visit our friends at the other town, and spent our time as agreeably as
+could be expected under the circumstances.
+
+Previously to this, some steps had been taken towards constructing a
+sort of boat or vessel to convey us home. Finding the natives disposed
+to part with us, for a stipulated consideration, and to render us any
+assistance in their power, we left no means unemployed to induce them
+to exert themselves to the utmost; and, to their credit be it said, it
+was more owing to their inability than to their want of inclination that
+we were not entirely successful. An account of their proceedings cannot
+fail of being interesting.
+
+After much deliberation, and many consultations upon the momentous
+subject, it was agreed to commence operations. Their prophetess had been
+duly consulted, and the assistance of their divinity had been implored
+with great formality. Before they ventured upon the undertaking, it was
+deemed advisable to hold a festival. An event of so much importance
+could not be suffered to transpire without being duly solemnized.
+Tradition furnished no account of any thing equal to this attempt!
+Accordingly large quantities of provisions were brought from various
+parts of the island, and an immense concourse of men, women, and
+children, attended the feast. On our part we had little confidence in
+the success of the plan; but, be that as it might, we were far from
+being displeased with their efforts to carry it into execution, and
+shared with them the festivities of the occasion, with not a little
+pleasure.
+
+This part of the business having been duly attended to, the time had
+come for united and vigorous action; and accordingly the whole male
+population of that region repaired to the woods, to procure timber. In
+the mean time the females, animated by a spirit of emulation, betook
+themselves to the task of making mats, to serve as sails to our vessel,
+when it should be completed. In fine, the whole resources of the
+country, of every kind, were taxed to the last extremity, to accomplish
+the work.
+
+Considering the means they had for carrying the plan into execution, it
+is surprising that they accomplished as much as they did. The best tools
+we had were a few old inch chisels, which served as substitutes for the
+broad-axe, in manufacturing trees into planks, and afterwards fitting
+them to their places. There were a few spikes on the island, but we had
+neither auger nor gimlet.
+
+When news had been received that the timber was ready in the woods,
+orders were given to have it brought together. Seldom had we witnessed a
+more novel scene than that presented by the natives when they brought
+from the forests the rudely prepared materials for the boat. They were
+seen coming in from all quarters with loads of timber on their
+shoulders, of every size and shape that could be conceived of, and
+causing the hills and vales to resound with their shouts.
+
+In due time the work of putting together the materials commenced. We
+succeeded in laying a sort of keel, and at length contrived to erect a
+kind of frame, which, though it might not be regarded as a first-rate
+specimen of naval architecture, nevertheless looked somewhat like the
+beginning of a water-craft. But when we came to the more difficult part
+of the business, that of putting on the planks, we found that not only
+our skill, but that of the whole nation, was completely baffled. We were
+compelled to abandon the undertaking; and despaired of ever being able
+to succeed in building any thing of the kind.
+
+During all this time the natives were sanguine in the belief that they
+should succeed, and repeatedly assured us that they could accomplish the
+work. Their sorrow and mortification, on being obliged to give it up,
+were great; for they seemed to realize, that now they must have fallen
+in our estimation, and thought that we should be anxious to avail
+ourselves of the assistance of their enemies, who, as they well knew,
+were extremely anxious to get us into their hands. The captain did not
+attempt to conceal his wish to go to the other part of the island. This
+greatly increased their dissatisfaction; and their murmurs became
+frequent and loud. After considerable expostulation, they proposed to
+make a _canoe_ sufficiently large to convey us away; and, having some
+confidence in the practicability of the plan, we consented to wait and
+assist them in their endeavors to supply us with this substitute for the
+more respectable craft we had contemplated building. After duly
+consulting the old prophetess, the principal chiefs were assembled, and
+having agreed to take for the purpose the largest bread-fruit tree on
+the island, the people were called upon to meet at the spot where it
+stood, and assist in cutting it down.
+
+Matters of so great importance required deliberation in the operation of
+planning out the work,--but the accomplishment of an undertaking like
+that of felling so large a tree, with tools even less adapted to the
+business than the teeth of a beaver, was one that took several days. At
+length the herculean task was performed, and the tree fell! But judge of
+our feelings on finding that the trunk, which we had hoped to render so
+useful in conveying us to some place from which we could obtain a
+passage to our native land, had, in falling, become so split as to be
+good for nothing! It seemed to us that a cruel fate had ordained, that
+no labor of our hands should prosper. Another tree was selected, and
+with that we were more successful. We then commenced digging it out, and
+bringing it to a proper shape. The old chisels were now put in
+requisition; and, in twenty-eight days from the time we began, we had
+succeeded in bringing that part of our labor to a close. Of the other
+tree we made two wide planks, which we fastened to the upper edges of
+the canoe, thereby adding very considerably to its capacity. Two months
+more were consumed in fitting up our canoe with sails, and getting it
+ready for sea.
+
+Having proceeded thus far, it was deemed proper by the natives to have
+another festival; and, as our labors, in this instance, had been
+attended with better success, extraordinary preparations were made for a
+feast that should do honor to the occasion. An immense quantity of fish
+had been obtained; the females brought large quantities of bread-fruit,
+cocoa-nuts, and yams; and the toil of months was forgotten in the
+universal joy which then prevailed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+     The natives become anxious to aid the ship's company in leaving the
+     island.--Terms on which they agreed to release them.--Departure
+     from the Pelew islands.--Necessity of returning the same
+     night.--Detention a month longer; and final departure.
+
+
+By this time the natives had become nearly as anxious to part with us as
+we had ever been to leave them; and being mutually desirous to be rid of
+each other's company, we lost no time in preparing for our departure.
+Our object now was to get into the open sea, with the hope of falling in
+with some vessel on its passage to China or elsewhere, and thus be able,
+after a while, to find a conveyance to America. Provisions were
+furnished us by the natives; but we greatly needed a compass, and with
+much difficulty obtained one. Captain Wilson, who had been shipwrecked
+there many years before, left his compass with one of the chiefs, whom
+we finally succeeded in inducing to part with it. It had become much
+impaired by time and improper usage, but served as a tolerable guide.[3]
+
+It is proper here to state the particulars of our agreement with the
+natives of this island. They had, as before related, furnished us with
+the means of subsistence, and with comfortable lodgings; and, for the
+purpose of enabling us to return home, had been at great expense in
+fitting up a craft, such as they thought would answer to convey us
+wherever we pleased to go. According to their notions, we were persons
+of sufficient consequence in the estimation of our countrymen, to
+fulfil any engagement we might make with them, and to the extent to
+which, in our necessity, we were compelled to go, in order to obtain the
+object which we had in view, should the government consider itself
+bound; and it would be no less an act of justice than of humanity, to
+secure the friendship and confidence of these islanders; so that, should
+others unfortunately fall into their hands, their lives and property
+might be respected. It is also important, that those who engage in
+commercial pursuits should have every protection extended to them. It
+would cost the government but a mere trifle to secure an amicable
+understanding with these islanders; and it is but reasonable to hope
+that no time will be lost in making the attempt.
+
+Situated as we were, we did not feel ourselves at liberty to expostulate
+against the obvious unreasonableness of their demands. We were, in
+truth, indebted to them for our maintenance while among them, and for
+the assistance they rendered us in fitting up our craft; and, as a
+suitable requital for these favors, and to remunerate them for their
+hospitality, we solemnly assured them, that, should fortune so far
+prosper us, as to enable us once more to reach our native country, we
+would send to them two hundred muskets, ten casks of powder, with a
+corresponding quantity of balls and flints. Besides this, we gave them
+assurances of having several articles of ornament, such as beads, belts,
+combs, and trinkets of various kinds.
+
+On the 27th of October, 1832, we set sail, having the boat in which we
+had escaped from the ship, and which we had repaired as well as we were
+able, and the canoe which had been constructed by the natives especially
+for our use. It was agreed, that three of our number, viz. Davis, Meder,
+and Alden, should remain on the island as hostages, and that three of
+the natives (two chiefs, and one of the common class) should accompany
+us, to see that the agreement made with them should be faithfully
+executed. Fearing that the natives residing on the other part of the
+island might come upon us and prevent our going, we took our departure
+in the night. We soon found that our boats leaked so badly that it would
+be next to madness to proceed, and we returned in the course of the
+night. Our unexpected return gave great offence; but we insisted that to
+go to sea in that condition would be certain destruction. They at length
+consented to assist in repairing the canoe and boat, and to suffer us to
+remain long enough to complete our arrangements more to our mind.
+
+We were detained by these operations about a month, and then again took
+our leave of the spot where we had remained so long against our will;
+though we would not conceal the fact, that the rude kindness of the
+natives had so entirely overbalanced their faults, that, on parting with
+them, we experienced emotions of regret, and were quite overpowered with
+a sense of our obligations to them for the many favors which they had
+bestowed upon us. They had regarded and treated us as beings of a higher
+order than themselves; and our conduct had inspired them with a
+veneration and confidence almost unbounded. As a proof of this, three
+of their number were committed to our care, and were entirely willing to
+place themselves at our disposal.
+
+Seven of our number now took the canoe, viz., Bouket, Sedon, Andrews,
+Hulet, and the three natives. Captain Barnard, Rollins, Nute, and myself
+preferred the ship's boat. We were accompanied on our passage the first
+day by a large number of the natives. At night, as we had then succeeded
+in getting beyond the reef, they left us, and we continued our course.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[3] The Englishman before mentioned, Charles Washington, told us that
+this compass was left there about _thirty_ years before, which was the
+time when captain _James_ Wilson, of the ship Duff, was there. But from
+circumstances it appeared that he was mistaken as to the time, and that
+it was one which had belonged to captain _Henry_ Wilson, who was
+shipwrecked there in the Antelope, in 1783, and of whose voyage and
+disasters a most interesting and well-known account was published by Mr.
+Keate. Its preservation for about fifty years is certainly
+remarkable.--_Edit._
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+     Regret at having undertaken the voyage in boats.--Storm, and damage
+     in consequence of it.--Loss of the canoe and the provisions on
+     board.--Danger of perishing from famine.--On the fifteenth day,
+     when nearly exhausted with fatigue and hunger, they discover a
+     small island.--Approach of eighteen canoes filled with natives, who
+     make prisoners of them all.--Cruelty of the natives; and return
+     with their prisoners to the island.--Reception there.--The
+     prisoners distributed among the captors.
+
+
+We had not proceeded far before we had reasons for regretting, that we
+had entered upon the perilous undertaking of navigating the waters of
+that region in boats so poorly adapted to the purposes we had in view.
+There came on a violent storm of rain, the wind blowing hard, and the
+waves threatening to swallow us each moment of the night. To our dismay,
+the rudder of the canoe, owing to the imperfect manner in which it had
+been constructed, was unshipped, and for a time the destruction of those
+on board seemed inevitable. Fortunately we continued to keep company.
+By great exertion we made out to replace the rudder in the morning, and
+then proceeded. In the course of the day the rudder was again unshipped;
+but, with less difficulty than before, we succeeded in fastening it to
+its place with ropes, so that it answered tolerably well as a substitute
+for a better one. Happy would it have been for us, if this had been the
+worst of the disasters of our voyage. Our mast next went by the board;
+and during the whole of the next night, we lay drifting at the mercy of
+the winds and waves. In the mean time the canoe sprung a leak, and we
+found it impossible to bail out the water as fast as it came in. In this
+extremity we lost no time in shifting all our lading into one end of the
+canoe; and by tearing up our old clothes, and stuffing them into the
+crack, we at length stopped the leak. In this sad plight we continued
+on, meeting with no very serious accident till the fifth day from the
+time of leaving the island; when, just at the setting of the sun, owing
+to some mismanagement, a light puff of wind capsized the canoe!
+Fortunately no one was drowned. All but three swam to our boat; those
+who remained continued through the night to cling to the canoe. With
+great difficulty we kept our boat from being stove in pieces by coming
+in contact with the canoe. During all this time it rained very hard, and
+never had we experienced a more dismal night. In the morning we tried to
+get the canoe right side up; but finding that impossible, we concluded
+to abandon it entirely. We took from it a few cocoa-nuts, and, as our
+last resort, all took refuge in the boat. We saved the compass, and did
+not so much regret the loss of the canoe, as it had cost us already an
+incalculable amount of anxiety, toil, and suffering.
+
+But new difficulties now stared us in the face. Most of our provisions
+had been lost by the upsetting of the canoe, and we had but a very small
+quantity of water. It was therefore deemed expedient to divide among us
+the means of subsistence remaining. We had four cocoa-nuts for each
+person, and a few pieces over, which were distributed equally. At this
+time no objects were seen, except a few sea birds. We continued in this
+condition for nine days and nights, with actual starvation before us, as
+the most probable end of our anxieties and sufferings. We were about
+settling down into a state of confirmed despair, when, to our
+inexpressible joy, we discovered land apparently about ten miles off. We
+exerted all our remaining strength to reach it. When within six miles we
+saw, approaching us, a fleet of eighteen canoes, filled with the natives
+of the small island we were approaching.
+
+At first the small canoes came near us, for the purpose of ascertaining
+who and what we were. The appearance of these natives was such as to
+excite at once our astonishment and disgust. Like the inhabitants of the
+island we had left, they were entirely naked; and, as our subsequent
+experience proved, they were infinitely more barbarous and cruel. Very
+soon the large canoes came up, when the wretches commenced their
+outrages. They attacked us with brutal ferocity, knocking us overboard
+with their clubs, in the mean time making the most frightful grimaces,
+and yelling like so many incarnate devils. They fell upon our boat and
+immediately destroyed it, breaking it into splinters, and taking the
+fragments into their canoes. While this was going on we were swimming
+from one canoe to another, entreating them by signs to spare our lives
+and permit us to get into their canoes. This they for a long time
+refused, beating us most unmercifully, whenever we caught hold of any
+thing to save ourselves from sinking.
+
+After they had demolished our boat, and kept us in that condition for
+some time, they allowed us to get on board. They then compelled us to
+row towards the land. They stripped us of all our clothing immediately
+after we were taken in; and the reader may form some idea of our
+distress in this condition, under a burning sun, from the fact, that
+before night our shoulders were blistered, by being thus exposed to the
+heat.
+
+On approaching land we discovered no habitation; but after going round a
+point of the island, we saw near the beach a row of small and badly
+constructed huts. We were compelled to jump from the canoes into the
+water and wade to the shore. By this time the beach was lined with women
+and children, who caused the air to resound with the most horrid yells
+and screams. Their gestures and violent contortions of countenance
+resembled the frantic ravings of Bedlamites.
+
+The reception we met with on land was no more agreeable than that upon
+the water. Judging from the treatment we had received from the females
+of the island which we had left, it was hoped that the gentler sex would
+extend to us some proof of their commiseration; but in this we were
+sadly disappointed. If possible, they were more cruel than their inhuman
+lords and masters. We were soon separated from each other, and dragged
+about from place to place; our brutal captors, in the mean time,
+contending with each other to see who should have us as his property.
+Frequent contests of this kind occurred; in one of which, during the
+first day, I was knocked down. The question of ownership was at length
+settled, and we were retained by those into whose hands we had at first
+fallen. Some of us were taken to their house of worship, called by them
+Verre-Yarris--literally, God's house, where they went through with some
+of their religious ceremonies, and we received a few mouthfuls of food,
+which was the first we had tasted through the day.
+
+It was my good fortune to be retained by one who, compared with the
+other natives, was humane. His name was _Pahrahbooah_; the female head
+of the family was called Nahkit; and they had four children. I went by
+the name of _Tee'mit_; and Benjamin Nute by the name of _Rollo_. The
+captain was also fortunate in falling into the hands of a friend of my
+master, who treated him with comparative kindness. He was valued the
+more highly also on account of being a large, fleshy man--they judging
+of these things by the size and appearance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+     The island, to which they were carried, proves to be Lord North's
+     island, called by the natives _To'bee_.--Account of the island and
+     its inhabitants.--Their manners and customs.
+
+
+It may now be proper in this place to give some account of the place
+where our unhappy lot was cast, and of its rude and miserable
+inhabitants. It will be impossible to convey a correct idea of their
+ignorance, poverty, and degradation; but some conception may be formed,
+by imagining what the condition of beings must necessarily be, when
+wholly separated from the rest of their species, stripped of all the
+refinements of life, and deprived of all means and opportunities for
+improvement.
+
+We were now upon the small piece of land called by the natives _To'bee_,
+but known to navigators by the name of _Lord North's Island_, situated
+between the third and fourth degrees of north latitude, and in longitude
+one hundred and thirty-one degrees twenty minutes east. It is also
+known by the name of _Nevil's Island_ and _Johnston's Island_; and it
+has been hitherto considered by navigators and others as uninhabited.
+This is not surprising; as we were told by the natives, that no white
+man had ever visited the place; though it seemed, from the pieces of
+iron in their possession, and from other circumstances, that they had
+had some communication with the Spaniards and Portuguese in that quarter
+of the world.[4] Like many other islands in those seas, this is
+surrounded by a coral reef, which is from an eighth to one half of a
+mile wide; but outside of the reef the water is apparently fathomless,
+the water being as blue as it is in the middle of the ocean; and the
+largest vessels may in many places approach within a quarter of a mile
+of the beach. The whole island rises so little above the level of the
+sea, that the swell often rolls up to a considerable distance inland.
+It is about three quarters of a mile in length, and not far from half a
+mile in width. There were upon it three villages, situated on the
+shores, and containing, in all, between three and four hundred souls, at
+the time when we were taken there; but the number was considerably
+diminished by famine and disease before we left.
+
+The inhabitants are in a state of entire barbarism and ignorance. The
+men wear a sort of girdle or belt made of the bark of a tree. This is
+girded round the loins so as to leave one end to hang loose behind, the
+other is brought forward and fastened to the belt in front. This is
+their only clothing. The females, after arriving at the age of
+womanhood, wear an apron made of the leaves of a plant, by them called
+_kurremung_, split into fine strips and plaited. This extends from the
+loins nearly to the knees. Some few wear rings upon their wrists made of
+white shells, and some had this kind of ornament made of turtle-shell.
+In their ears, which are always bored, they sometimes wear a leaf; and
+round their necks a necklace made of the shell of the cocoa-nut, and a
+small white shell, called _keem_ shell. The children go entirely naked.
+The complexion of these islanders is a light copper color; much lighter
+than the Malays, or the Pelew islanders; which last, however, they
+resemble in the breadth of their faces, high cheek bones, and broad
+flattened noses. They do not color their teeth, by chewing any thing, as
+many of those islanders do; but their teeth are so strong that they can
+husk a cocoa-nut with them instantly.
+
+Their principal food is the cocoa-nut. They occasionally succeed in
+procuring fish, though the supply obtained during our residence there
+was exceedingly small. Their fish-hooks are made of turtle-shell, and
+not well contrived for the purpose; but we could not induce them to use
+our hooks, till they had heated them and altered their form so that they
+would not hold the fish. They did this, because they said that Yarris
+(God) would be angry with them, if they used our hooks without preparing
+them according to their fashion. Sometimes they are so fortunate as to
+obtain a sea-turtle; five only were taken during the two years we were
+there. The turtle, I may add, has something of a sacred character with
+them. They also raise small quantities of a vegetable somewhat
+resembling the yam; but while we were with them they were unsuccessful
+in cultivating it. These constitute the slender means of their support;
+and they are thus barely kept from actual death by famine, but on the
+very verge of starvation. When any one of them begins to fail, for want
+of food, so that his death is pretty certain, they inhumanly turn him
+off from among them, to starve to death.
+
+Their religion is such as might be expected among a people in their
+condition. Their place of worship is a rudely constructed building, or
+hut, about fifty feet long and thirty wide. In the centre, suspended
+from the roof, is a sort of altar, into which they suppose their deity
+comes to hold converse with the priest. Rudely carved images are placed
+in different parts of the building, and are supposed to personate their
+divinity. As nearly as could be ascertained by us, they supposed that
+the object of their worship was of like passions with themselves,
+capricious and revengeful. During the time we were with them, they
+attributed to his displeasure their want of success in taking fish as
+they had done in former times, and the unfruitfulness of their
+bread-fruit and cocoa trees.
+
+Their religious ceremonies are singular. In the commencement the priest
+walks round the altar and takes from it a mat devoted to the purpose,
+which is laid upon the ground. He then seats himself upon it, and begins
+to hoot, in the mean time throwing himself into a variety of attitudes,
+for the purpose of calling down the divinity into the altar. At
+intervals the congregation sing, but immediately stop when the priest
+breaks out in his devotions. By the side of the altar is always placed a
+large bowl, and six cocoa-nuts. After the incantation is gone through,
+and the divinity is supposed to be present, the bowl is turned up, and
+four of the nuts are broken and put in it, two being reserved for the
+exclusive use of a priest by them called also "_yarris_." As soon as the
+nuts are broken, one of the company begins to shout, and, rushing to the
+centre, seizes the bowl, and drinks of the milk of the nut, generally
+spilling a considerable part of it upon the ground. After this a few
+pieces are thrown to the images, and the remainder are eaten by the
+priests. This closes the ceremony; after which they indulge in any
+recreations that chance to please them best.
+
+While we were on the island several earthquakes happened, and some of
+them pretty severe. On those occasions the natives were much terrified;
+they would not let their children speak a word; and they said among
+themselves--_zahbee'too Yarris_, _To'bee yettah'men_, that is, Yarris
+(God) is coming and To'bee (the name of the island) will sink. They were
+also very much alarmed at thunder and lightning; and used to say at such
+times, _Yarris tee'tree_, God is talking. I do not know how they would
+be affected by an eclipse, as none happened, that I noticed, while we
+remained there.
+
+I will here mention some other things in respect to their customs and
+usages, as they now occur to me.
+
+Their implements of war are spears and clubs; they have no bows and
+arrows. Their spears are made of the wood of the cocoa-nut trees; the
+points of them are set with rows of sharks' teeth; and, being at the
+same time very heavy and from ten to twenty feet long, are formidable
+weapons.
+
+Their canoes are made of logs which drift to their island from other
+places, there being no trees on it large enough for that purpose; they
+are hollowed out with great labor, and are of very clumsy workmanship;
+to prevent their oversetting, they are fitted up with outriggers, like
+those of the Pelew islanders. A sketch of one is given in the
+accompanying engraving.
+
+They kindle their fires, as they informed me, by rubbing two pieces of
+wood together, as is common in the islands of the Pacific ocean; and
+they cook their turtle or other meat, (when they are so fortunate as to
+have any,) as well as their vegetables, by covering them with heated
+stones. I should state, however, that during the whole time we staid
+among them, fire was always preserved in some part of the island, so
+that there was no necessity for kindling it in the manner here
+mentioned.
+
+Like other savage people, they reckon time by moons; I could not learn
+that they ever reckoned by any other period, except, indeed, when
+speaking of two or three days.
+
+They take pride in their hair, and are particularly careful about it,
+washing and cleansing it almost every day. They do not color it,
+however, as the natives of some islands are said to do; but they moisten
+it with the juice pressed out from the cocoa-nut, which gives it a very
+glossy appearance; and it is frequently so long as to reach down to
+their waist.
+
+Their mode of salutation is, to clasp each other in their arms, and
+touch their noses together, as is practised in many other islands.
+
+We found no musical instruments of any kind among them. They sometimes,
+on particular occasions, would sing or bawl out something like a rude
+tune; but we could not understand it. We frequently tried to teach them
+to whistle, and their awkward attempts to do it amused us; but they
+never were able to learn how it was done.
+
+In their names, I could not find that they had any thing like a family
+name, but only a single one, (corresponding to our christian names,) as
+is the case, I believe, throughout the islands of the Pacific. I could
+not learn, that the names were significant either of animals or other
+objects, as the Indian names of America are, and I never found any two
+persons of the same name. The names of the members of the family with
+which I lived were as follows:--
+
+Pahrahboo'ah, the father of the family.
+
+Nah'kit, the mother.
+
+Buhwur'timar, the eldest child, a son, ten or twelve years old.
+
+Kobaw'ut, the second, a daughter.
+
+Kobahnoo'uk, the third, a daughter.
+
+Wah'rebo, the fourth, a son.
+
+The children do not address their parents by any word corresponding to
+father or mother, papa or mamma, but by their names. Their parents treat
+them on the footing of equality; they are generally well behaved, and
+are never punished, except occasionally when impatient for their food.
+
+Their language appears to be different from those of the other islands
+in that quarter; we found that the three natives of the Pelew islands,
+that accompanied us, could not understand any thing they said; though I
+observed afterwards, occasionally, a resemblance in two or three words.
+The reader will, however, be enabled to judge for himself, by means of a
+short vocabulary of common words which will be found at the end of this
+narrative. I may add, that the Pelew chiefs had never heard of Lord
+North's island; but they are acquainted with the _Caroline_ islands.
+
+A detail of all that befell us would serve only to give pain to the
+benevolent, or at most to show how much human beings can endure. I shall
+attempt but little more than to describe the sufferings of a day;
+observing once for all, that for the term of two long years we
+experienced the same privations, and were subjected to the same brutal
+treatment; life, during all that time, being no better than the constant
+succession of the most acute sufferings.
+
+This island, unlike the Pelews, is one of the most horrible and wretched
+on the face of the globe. The only product of its soil worth mentioning
+is the cocoa-tree; and those are of so dwarfish and miserable a growth
+as to bear but very few nuts. These few, however, constitute the food of
+the inhabitants, with the exception of a species of fish caught
+occasionally near the shore. The only animals or creeping things known
+on the island are lizards and mice, and, during our stay there, scarcely
+a solitary sea-fowl was known to have alighted on the island, and but
+few fish were taken by the natives.
+
+The character of the inhabitants much resembles that of the island
+itself. Cowardly and servile, yet most barbarous and cruel, they
+combine, in their habits, tempers, and dispositions, the most
+disgusting and loathsome features that disgrace humanity. And, what may
+be regarded as remarkable, the female portion of the inhabitants
+outstrip the men in cruelty and savage depravity; so much so, that we
+were frequently indebted to the tender mercies of the men for escapes
+from death at the hands of the women. The indolence of the natives,
+which not even the fear of starvation itself can rouse to exertion,
+prevents their undertaking the least toil, although a little labor, well
+applied, might be made to render them infinitely more comfortable.[5]
+
+Strange as it may appear, it is nevertheless true, that, notwithstanding
+they are in this miserable condition, with no prospect of its ever being
+improved, they are of the opinion that they are highly favored. This can
+be accounted for in no other way than by the fact, that they are
+entirely ignorant of all that lies beyond the narrow limits of their
+observation. They know nothing of any other portion of the globe, than
+the mere speck of barren land upon which by some accident they were
+thrown, and where they remain, to drag out a wretched existence. Their
+traditions do not extend further back than to about a hundred years;
+and, to their simple minds, it seems like a splendid effort of mind to
+be able to relate, with tolerable accuracy, the time-hallowed stories
+told them by their parents. Whether they could in any way be improved by
+instruction, is a question which it would be difficult to answer. They
+seem to be doomed to remain, as one of the last links in the chain that
+connects our race with the mere animal part of the creation.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[4] They occasionally wore a kind of broad hat, called by them _shappo_,
+and sometimes _shambararo_; which are evidently derived from the
+Portuguese _chapeo_ (or possibly the French _chapeau_) and the Spanish
+_sombrero_.--_Edit._
+
+[5] Some of these remarks are taken from the New York Sun of May 30,
+1835; for which paper the substance of them was furnished by Mr. Nute
+and myself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+     A ship discovered at a small distance from the island.--The natives
+     prepare to go on board of her.--Captain Barnard and Bartlet
+     Rollins, after being severely beaten, are allowed to go with the
+     natives in their canoes, and thus effect their escape; the rest of
+     the Mentor's people are still forcibly detained on the
+     island.--Their hopes of being taken on board of the same ship are
+     suddenly blasted.--Their despondency on that
+     disappointment.--Return of the natives from the ship; their rage,
+     and quarrels about the division of the articles procured on board
+     of her.--They threaten to wreak their vengeance on the Mentor's
+     people that remained with them.--Their cruel treatment of them.--A
+     storm destroys the cocoa-nut trees and causes a scarcity of food.
+
+
+We were captured and taken to the island December 6, 1832; and on the
+third day of February, 1833, two months wanting three days, captain
+Barnard and Bartlet Rollins effected their escape. Compared with the
+remainder of our captivity, our privations and sufferings up to that
+time were less severe. But at no time did we have sufficient food to
+satisfy the cravings of hunger! The very crumbs that fall from an
+ordinary table would have been to us a luxury; the swine of America are
+better fed than we were, on the most fortunate day of our residence upon
+that island.
+
+It was on the day above mentioned that a ship was discovered a short
+distance from the island, and the natives immediately collected, and
+prepared to go to it, in order to obtain iron, or some other articles of
+value. Hope once more visited us. To escape was, of course, our strong
+desire and intention. Accordingly, when the canoes put off we attempted
+to go. Our savage masters interposed their authority, and by menaces and
+blows prevented us. Many of us were severely beaten, and all but two
+were detained by the brutal force of the savages. At length captain
+Barnard and Rollins, after being severely beaten, were allowed to
+accompany the natives to the ship, and succeeded in effecting their
+escape. Trusting to the humanity of the captain and crew, we for some
+time confidently expected, that they would contrive some way of enabling
+us to join them. They were in sight about three hours; at one time they
+were so near that we could distinctly see the hands on board; but judge
+of our feelings when we saw the vessel pursuing her course! Our
+expectations were all blasted in a moment, and our minds, which had been
+gladdened by the hope of once more enjoying the society of civilized
+beings, of once more reaching the shores of our beloved country, sunk
+back into a state of despair; we wept like children.
+
+The natives, when they returned from the vessel, brought with them a
+small quantity of iron hoops, and a few articles of some little value,
+but they were highly dissatisfied with the amount received, and greatly
+enraged. The division of the property caused much difficulty, and they
+quarrelled about it for several days. Those of us who remained, though
+innocent, were the greatest sufferers. They held us accountable for the
+conduct of those who had left, and vented the malignity of their
+unfeeling hearts upon us. We were given to understand, that now our doom
+was fixed; that we should remain with them, and die the victims of our
+tormentors! Alas! it was but too true, that such was to be the fate of
+all but two of our number! We were destined to see one after another of
+our fellow-sufferers sink under the constantly increasing severity of
+the burdens imposed upon them, and perish either from actual starvation,
+or by the blows of the savages.
+
+After the departure of the captain and Rollins, we were treated with
+much greater severity than we had been before. Generally we were aroused
+from our broken slumbers about sunrise, and compelled to go to work; we
+were usually employed in cultivating a species of vegetable somewhat
+resembling the yam, and called by them "_korei_." This root is raised in
+beds of mud, which are prepared by digging out the sand, and filling the
+place with mould. The whole of this labor was performed with the hands.
+We were compelled day after day to stand in the mud from morning till
+night, and to turn up the mud with our hands. Frequently we were
+required to do this without receiving a morsel of food till about noon,
+and sometimes we were left without any thing to eat till night. At best
+we could get no more than a small piece of cocoa-nut, hardly a common
+sized mouthful, at a time, and if, either from exhaustion or any other
+cause, we neglected to perform the required amount of labor, our
+pittance of food was withheld altogether.
+
+From this plain and unexaggerated account it will be seen, that our
+condition at best was bad enough; but a misfortune befell us which
+rendered it still worse. About four months from the time of our landing
+on that dreary spot, there was a violent storm, which came very near
+sweeping away the whole of the means of support which remained for the
+miserable inhabitants. The wind blew down many of the best cocoa trees,
+and materially injured the fruit on such as were left standing. Besides
+this, the low places in which they raised the root, by them called
+"_korei_," were mostly filled with sand, and famine stared us all in the
+face.
+
+They attributed this misfortune to the anger of their god, and did not
+fail to use such means as they thought best calculated to appease him;
+and the calamity greatly added to our sufferings. Besides subjecting us
+to still more severe deprivations, we were compelled (though hardly able
+to drag our limbs from place to place) to labor in repairing the damage
+done by the storm. We were employed for months in carrying in our arms
+and on our shoulders pieces of the coral rock, in order to form a sort
+of seawall to prevent the waves from washing away the trees; and this
+drudgery, considering that we were naked, under a burning sun, and
+reduced to nothing but skin and bones, was too severe to admit of any
+thing like an adequate description. Our flesh, or, to speak more
+properly, our skin--for flesh we had none--was frequently so torn by the
+sharp corners of the rock, and scorched by the sun, as to resemble more
+that of the rhinoceros than of human beings.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+     The natives compel the Mentor's people to be tattooed.--Description
+     of that painful operation.--They also oblige them to pluck their
+     beards, &c.--Another vessel passes by the island; and, afterwards,
+     a third comes in sight and remains for three days; the Mentor's
+     people are closely guarded at these times.--The melancholy fate of
+     William Sedon; and the barbarous murder of Peter Andrews.--Attack
+     on H. Holden, who is protected by one of the natives, and
+     escapes.--B. Nute and others are protected by the female natives
+     from the fury of the men.--Death of one of the Pelew
+     chiefs.--Another of the Pelew people is detected in stealing, and
+     is punished in their manner.--Death of Milton Hewlet and Charles C.
+     Bouket; leaving now only B. Nute, H. Holden, and the other Pelew
+     chief, named _Kobak_, who all remained in a feeble and helpless
+     condition.--Filthy practices of the natives.--Friendship of the
+     surviving Pelew chief.
+
+
+A new trial now awaited us. The barbarous beings among whom our lot had
+been cast, deemed it important that we should be _tattooed_, and we were
+compelled to submit to the distressing operation. We expostulated
+against it--we entreated--we begged to be spared this additional
+affliction; but our entreaties were of no use. Those savages were not
+to be moved, and we were compelled to submit; and that the reader may
+form some idea of the painful process, I will here give a brief account
+of it.
+
+We were in the first place securely bound down to the ground, and there
+held fast by our tormentors. They then proceeded to draw with a sharp
+stick the figures designed to be imprinted on the skin. This done, the
+skin was thickly punctured with a little instrument made of sharpened
+fish bones, and somewhat resembling a carpenter's adz in miniature, but
+having teeth, instead of a smooth, sharp edge. This instrument was held
+within an inch or two of the flesh, and struck into it rapidly with a
+piece of wood, applied to it in such a manner as to cause it to rebound
+at every stroke. In this way our breasts and arms were prepared; and
+subsequently the ink, which was made of a vegetable found on the island
+called by them the "_savvan_," was applied. The operation caused such an
+inflammation of our bodies, that only a portion could be done at one
+time; and as soon as the inflammation abated another portion was done,
+as fast as we could bear it, till our bodies were covered. It was
+effectually done; for to this day the figures remain as distinct as they
+were when first imprinted, and the marks will be carried by us to the
+grave. They were exceedingly anxious to perform the operation upon our
+faces; but this we would not submit to, telling them that sooner than
+have it done we would die in resisting them. Among themselves, the
+oldest people had the greatest quantity of tattooing, and the younger
+class less.
+
+Besides the operation of _tattooing_, they compelled us to pluck the
+hair from different parts of the body, and to pluck our beards about
+every ten days, which was extremely painful; and at every successive
+operation the beard grew out harder and stiffer.
+
+About seventeen days after the captain and Rollins left, we saw a vessel
+to the windward; but the natives did not attempt to visit it. Five
+months afterwards another came in sight, and remained for three days
+near the island. At one time we could distinctly see the men on board;
+but we were kept on shore and closely guarded. Several canoes visited
+the ship, and brought back a few pieces of iron, fish-hooks, glass
+bottles, &c. We tried, but in vain, to escape. It seemed to us, that we
+were doomed to remain on that dreary spot, to wear out our remaining
+strength in hopeless bondage, and to submit to the control of brutal
+masters, whose tender mercies were cruelties. Death, in any form, would
+have been a relief, and often did we see moments when it would have been
+welcomed as the best of friends! To some of our companions it did come,
+though dreadful in the manner, yet as a not unwelcome alternative.
+
+About a year after we first arrived at the island, William Sedon became
+so reduced as to deprive us of all hopes of his recovery. He looked like
+a skeleton; and, at last, was so entirely exhausted by hunger, as to be
+unable to walk, or even to rise from the ground. He continued, however,
+to crawl from place to place, until all his remaining strength was
+nearly gone, when the inhuman monsters placed him in an old canoe, and
+sent him adrift on the ocean! Gladly would his unhappy shipmates have
+extended to him the last sad offices of friendship; that poor
+consolation was denied both him and us! My heart bleeds at the
+recollection of our separation and his melancholy fate--when we saw him
+anxiously turn his languid eyes towards those who were doomed still to
+linger on the borders of the grave! Our sighs were breathed almost in
+silence, and our tears were shed in vain!
+
+It may be observed here, that it is not their custom to deposit the
+bodies of any of their dead in the earth, except very young children.
+The bodies of grown people, after death, are laid in a canoe and
+committed to the ocean.
+
+It was soon our lot to part with another of our companions, Peter
+Andrews. He was accused by the natives of some trifling offence, and put
+to death. The savages knocked him down with their clubs, and then
+despatched him in the most cruel and most shocking manner. I was at this
+time at a distance from the place where he was killed. My master was
+absent; and upon my hearing a noise in the direction of the place where
+the foul business was transacted, and suspecting that all was not right,
+I started to see what was going on. I was near the beach when I saw a
+number of the savages coming towards the spot where I stood, dragging
+along the lifeless and mangled body of our comrade! One of them
+approached me behind, and knocked me down with his club. The body of
+Andrews was thrown into the sea, and it seemed to be their determination
+to destroy the whole of us. I warded off the blows aimed at me as well
+as I could, and recovering myself, ran towards the hut of my master. He
+had not yet returned; but, fortunately, an old man, who had previously
+shown some regard for me, and who was the particular friend of my
+master, happened at that moment to be passing; and seizing the man who
+had pursued me, held him fast. I escaped and ran into the hut, and
+crawled up through an aperture in the floor into the chamber under the
+roof. I seized an old box and covered up the hole through which I had
+ascended; but this was not sufficient to detain, for any great length of
+time, the wretches who were thirsting for my blood. They soon succeeded
+in displacing the box, and one of them seized me; but just as he was
+pulling me from my place of refuge, my master returned with several of
+his friends, and rescued me from the clutches of my enemies.
+
+In the mean time Nute and the rest of our companions were at the
+"_Tahboo_," a place of public resort, where, for the only time, the
+females rendered our people any assistance. They concealed the men under
+some mats, and kept them there till the fury of the natives had in a
+measure subsided.
+
+We were next called upon to part with one of the Pelew _chiefs_ who had
+come with us. He died of absolute starvation, and, according to custom,
+was committed to the waves in an old canoe. In a short time after this,
+the Pelew private (who had also come with us) was detected in the crime
+of taking a few cocoa-nuts without leave; for which offence he had his
+hands tied behind him, and was put into a canoe and sent adrift; which
+was their usual method of punishment for offences of different kinds.
+
+About a year and seven months from the commencement of our captivity
+Milton Hewlet died, and, like the others, was, according to the custom
+of the natives, committed to the ocean. A short time afterwards Charles
+C. Bouket, having become so reduced by his sufferings as to be unable to
+help himself, was (horrible to relate!) placed in a canoe, while still
+alive, and committed to the mercy of the ocean. Thus did one after
+another of our companions sink under the weight of their sufferings, and
+perish without any alleviation of their wretchedness. Nute and myself,
+with our friend _Kobac_, the other Pelew chief, were all that remained;
+and we were constantly expecting that the next hour would end our
+existence.
+
+The idea of death, however, had now become familiar; and often did we
+desire the release from suffering which that alone could afford.
+Nothing, as it now appears to us, but the kind interposition of
+Providence, could have continued our lives, and have given us the power
+of endurance to hold out so long as we did. We were frequently so
+reduced as to be unable to walk, and were forced to drag ourselves on
+our hands and knees to some place where we could lie down under the
+shade of a bush, and take rest. But the small comfort to be obtained in
+this way was greatly lessened by the annoyance of musquetoes, which
+could attack us with impunity in our helpless and feeble condition.
+Besides this, our flesh had so fallen away, that on lying down, our
+bones would actually pierce through the skin, giving us the most severe
+pain. After we were tattooed, the parts operated upon were, for a long
+time, running sores; and when exposed to the sun, the pain was
+excruciating.
+
+It has been already said, that the natives were indolent, filthy and
+degraded, but the half has not been told; and some things which we
+witnessed cannot be related. The intercourse of the sexes was
+unrestrained by any law; and the decencies of life were almost entirely
+neglected. Instead of taking pains to keep clean, they seemed to be not
+unwilling to have their heads overrun with vermin; and however
+incredible it may seem, it is a disgusting truth, that they are
+accustomed to eat them; and particular care seems to be taken to keep
+those loathsome animals in the heads of the children. But I forbear any
+further particulars.
+
+I have already said, that only two of the crew of the Mentor, namely,
+Nute and myself, remained alive, with the exception of captain Barnard
+and Rollins, who had fortunately escaped. The Pelew chief had become
+strongly attached to us, and we take pleasure in stating the fact, that
+his faithfulness and affection had greatly endeared him to us. He seemed
+more like a brother than a barbarian; and most gladly would we have
+saved him from those sufferings which, no doubt, before this time, have
+terminated his life. Alas! it was not in our power to administer to his
+relief; and when we last saw him he was but just alive.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+     The feeble and exhausted condition of the survivors, Nute and
+     Holden.--The natives consent to release them from labor, but refuse
+     them food; and they obtain permission to leave the island in the
+     first vessel, for a compensation to be made to the natives.--They
+     crawl about from place to place, subsisting upon leaves, and
+     occasionally begging a little food of the natives, for two
+     months.--Their sudden joy at hearing of a vessel coming towards the
+     island.--It proves to be the British barque Britannia, captain
+     Short, bound to Canton.--They are taken on board the Britannia,
+     November 27, 1834, and treated with the kindest attention.--Their
+     joy and gratitude at this happy termination of their
+     sufferings.--They gradually recover their health so far as to take
+     passage for America, in the ship Morrison, bound for New York,
+     where they arrive May 5, 1835.--Acknowledgments for their kind
+     reception at New York and Boston.
+
+
+Having thus briefly related the story of our captivity and sufferings,
+it only remains to give an account of our escape from this barbarous
+people. We continued to survive the horrible sufferings to which we were
+constantly subjected, and to serve our tyrannical masters, in despite of
+our agonies of body and mind, till the beginning of the autumn of 1834;
+at which time we had become so emaciated, feeble, and sickly, that we
+found it impossible any longer even to attempt to labor. By this time we
+had acquired a sufficient knowledge of their tongue to converse fluently
+with the natives, and we informed our masters, that our feeble condition
+rendered it impossible for us to attempt to do any thing more. We also
+reasoned the matter with them, telling them that death was our
+inevitable doom, unless we were allowed to relax our labor; that if we
+died we could be of no service to them, but if allowed a respite, and we
+lived, and could be put on board a vessel, they should be liberally
+rewarded.
+
+With much difficulty we at length persuaded our masters to allow us to
+quit labor, and obtained from them a promise to be put on board the
+first vessel that should come to the island. But, at the same time, they
+informed us, that if we ceased to work, they should cease to furnish the
+miserable allowance of cocoa-nut on which we had before subsisted, and
+that we must either labor or starve. We deemed death as welcome in one
+shape as in another, and relinquished our labors and our pittance of
+food together.
+
+We were thus literally turned out to die! We crawled from place to
+place, subsisting upon leaves, and now and then begging of the natives a
+morsel of cocoa-nut. In this way we contrived to live for about two
+months, when the joyful intelligence was brought to us that a vessel was
+in sight, and was coming near the island! Hope once more revisited our
+despairing hearts, and seemed to inspire us with renewed strength and
+animation.
+
+[Illustration: ESCAPE TO THE BRITANNIA.]
+
+After taxing our exhausted powers to the utmost, we persuaded the
+natives to prepare for visiting the vessel; and throwing our emaciated
+bodies into their canoes, we made for the ship with all possible
+despatch. The vessel proved to be the British barque Britannia, captain
+Short, bound to Canton. Our reception on board is faithfully described
+in the following certificate given by captain Short, the original of
+which is still in my possession:
+
+                                   "LINTIN, 29th December, 1834.
+
+     "This is to certify, that on the 27th day of November, 1834, off
+     the small island commonly called Lord North's by the English,
+     situated in latitude 3 deg. 3' north, and longitude 131 deg. 20' east, on
+     board the British barque Britannia, bound to Canton river, we
+     observed about ten or eleven canoes, containing upwards of one
+     hundred men, approaching the vessel, in a calm, or nearly so, with
+     the intention of coming alongside. But having the small complement
+     of thirteen men, it was considered most prudent to keep them off,
+     which was effected by firing a few six pound shots in a contrary
+     direction from the boats, some of which were then within
+     pistol-shot. At the same time hearing cries in our own language,
+     begging to be taken on board, the boat was despatched away to know
+     the cause. The boat returned to the ship, and reported an American
+     on board one of them. She was then sent back, having strict
+     orders to act with caution, and the man got from the canoe into the
+     sea, and was taken up by the ship's boat, and brought on board. He
+     then stated in what manner he came there, and said he had another
+     of his countrymen in another canoe. I said if we could get some of
+     the boats dispersed, that every assistance should be rendered for
+     the liberty of the other man. Accordingly they did so, all but
+     three. The ship's boat was then despatched in search, and soon
+     found the other man. He was brought on board, but in a most
+     deplorable condition with fever, from the effects of a miserable
+     subsistence. These two poor fellows were quite naked, under a
+     burning sun. They appeared to bear all the marks of their long
+     servitude, and I should suppose two or three days would have been
+     the end of the last man taken on board, but from this act of
+     Providence. It appears that these men were wrecked in the ship
+     Mentor, on the Pelew islands, and were proceeding with their
+     commander to some Dutch settlement, in one of the Pelew island
+     canoes, when they got to the afore-mentioned island, and were
+     detained by the natives; and that captain Edward C. Barnard had got
+     on board some ship, and reached Canton river shortly after their
+     detention at the island; which has been confirmed by the different
+     masters now at the port of Lintin.
+
+     "The statement given in to me by the two men runs thus:--That they
+     were wrecked May 21st, 1832, on the Pelew islands, and detained on
+     Lord North's island 6th December, 1832. The two men's names are
+     Benjamin H. Nute and Horace Holden. I should thank any ship master
+     now in port, acquainted with the circumstance, to confirm it by his
+     signature, in order to make some provision for those men, should
+     they require it. But from the disposition and liberality of those
+     American gentlemen coming forward, that are already acquainted with
+     the circumstance, perhaps it will be unnecessary. At the same time
+     I shall be very willing to draw up any form, or in any other way
+     that I may forward their views, according to the opinion of their
+     American friends. I should hope that every vessel passing in the
+     direction of the afore-mentioned island, passing any of their
+     boats, will give them a trifle. I gave them what articles those two
+     men thought most beneficial, and should have held a closer
+     communication with them had I been better manned and armed.
+
+                                   HENRY SHORT, Barque Britannia."
+
+Never shall we find words to express our joy at once more finding
+ourselves in the company of civilized men! Nor can we be too grateful to
+captain Short, and his officers and crew, for their kind attentions
+during our passage to Lintin. Every thing in their power was done to
+restore our health and strength, and to render us comfortable. On
+arriving at Lintin we found ourselves sufficiently recovered to be able
+to pass up the river to Canton. We remained there, at the factories,
+under medical treatment, until the ship Morrison, of New York, was ready
+to sail; when we took passage in her for our native country, and arrived
+in New York on the 5th day of May, 1835.
+
+In New York we found many kind friends, who took a lively interest in
+our behalf. We would particularly acknowledge a debt of gratitude which
+we owe to Mr. John Munson, who opened his hospitable dwelling for our
+reception, and with whom we tarried for several weeks. Assisted by the
+humane and philanthropic citizens of New York, we have been enabled to
+reach Boston. Here Providence has raised us up warm friends, through
+whose assistance we have been rendered as comfortable as could under any
+circumstances have been expected.
+
+In compliance with the solicitations of many respectable gentlemen, the
+foregoing narrative is submitted to the public, with the hope that it
+may not be entirely uninteresting, and not without use. Every statement
+may be relied upon as strictly true; and it is believed, that, simple
+and unadorned as is our story, it may serve to afford some information
+of a little spot hitherto supposed to be uninhabited, and to present to
+view of the curious and intelligent some knowledge of a portion of our
+race among whom no white man has ever before lived.
+
+To captain Barnard the author of the statements in this narrative is
+under great obligations for his uniformly kind treatment previous to the
+loss of the Mentor, and during the whole time we were together. We have
+no reason to doubt, that he did all in his power to obtain our release
+from captivity at the time when he was himself so fortunate as to
+escape; and not the least blame is to be imputed to him on account of
+the disasters that befell us.
+
+Of the twenty-two persons who composed the ship's company of the Mentor
+when she sailed from New Bedford, only _four_ have returned. It has been
+reported, that one of the three who was left at the Pelew islands
+escaped a few months since. If such be the case only two remain there;
+and it is hoped that some measures will soon be adopted, either by the
+government or by humane individuals, to rescue them from their painful
+and distressing situation.
+
+I cannot close this narrative without expressing the most heart-felt
+gratitude to that kind Providence which has sustained us under trials
+and sufferings the most severe, and returned us to our homes and
+friends. And may those who have been to us friends indeed, find an ample
+reward for their generosity, in the consciousness of having been
+influenced by those sentiments and feelings which best adorn and dignify
+the human character!
+
+  BOSTON, NOVEMBER, 1835.
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+VOCABULARY OF THE LANGUAGE OF LORD NORTH'S ISLAND.
+
+
+The language of the inhabitants of Lord North's island appears to be a
+new and hitherto unknown dialect of the Polynesian family of languages.
+According to the preceding Narrative, it was wholly unintelligible to
+the _Pelew_ chiefs who accompanied the crew of the Mentor when they were
+made captives. To judge by the _numerals_, and a few other words, which
+have been collected by travellers, it has a near affinity to the
+dialects of the neighboring _Caroline_ islands.
+
+In the selection of words for the following vocabulary, we have
+principally followed the list of English words in Keate's Account of the
+Pelew Islands, but have added several from the Empress Catherine's
+Vocabulary; distinguishing by SMALL CAPITALS all the words which
+correspond to those in that Vocabulary. Some short dialogues are
+subjoined to the vocabulary.
+
+The orthography adopted is that of the _English_ language; it being the
+most useful to such of our navigators as may chance to visit Lord
+North's island or those in its vicinity. It is only necessary to state
+particularly, that _ay_ is to be pronounced like _aye_, or _ah-ee_; _g_,
+always hard, as in _go_; _ng_, in the middle of a word, as it is at the
+end; as, for example, in the English word _hanger_, and not as in the
+word anger, (ang-ger;) and _zh_ is to be pronounced like _s_ in
+_pleasure_, or the French _j_.
+
+It is proper to remark, that the words of the language here given, not
+having been furnished by _natives_ of the island, are to be received
+rather as approximations than as perfectly exact specimens of the
+language; but the comparisons made with kindred dialects lead us to
+believe, that they are as exact as are usually obtained from similar
+sources. Two years' residence in the island strongly impressed the
+language in the memory of the unfortunate captives.
+
+     And, mah.
+
+     Arm. (_See_ Hand.)
+
+     BACK, tukkalek'.
+
+     BAD, tuhmah'.
+
+     Bamboo, sheel, _or_ shil.[6]
+
+     BEARD, koosum. (_See_ Hair.)
+
+     BELLY, mish'ee-um.
+
+     Belt, (worn by the men,) tap'pah.
+
+     Big, yennup.
+
+     Bird, kar'rum.
+
+     BLACK, wayzer'ris, (wah-ee-zerris.)
+
+     Boat, prow, (prah-oo.)
+
+     BONE, cheel.
+
+     BOY. (_See_ Man.)
+
+     Brass, mullebah'dee.
+
+     Breast (of a female,) toot.[7]
+
+     Brother, biz'zheem, _or_ biz'zhim.
+
+     Canoe, (_the same as_ Boat.)
+
+     CHILD, (_of two or three years old_,) lah'bo.
+
+     Clouds, kotcho.
+
+     Cocoa-nut, (_when ripe_,) kahrah'pah; (_when very young_,) soob;
+     (_when the husk is so hard as to require breaking with a stone_,)
+     chou, _or_ chah-oo.
+
+     Cold, makkrazm'.
+
+     Come, (_verb, the same as to go_,) mo'rahbeeto.
+
+     Copper, (_the same as_ Brass.)
+
+     Cord, (small line) kreel.
+
+     Darkness, klo-wayzer'ris.
+
+     DAY, yahro, (_the same as_ Sun.)
+
+     DEAD, poo'ruk.
+
+     Dirt, yuhbur'.
+
+     Drink, (_verb_,) lim'mah.
+
+     DUST. (_See_ Dirt.)
+
+     Eat, muk'kah.
+
+     FATHER, wur'teemum; (_used also for_ Friend.)
+
+     FINGERS, kay'muk, (_the same as_ Hand.)
+
+     FIRE, yah, _or_ yahf.
+
+     Fish, ee'kah.
+
+     Fish-hook, kah-oo eekah.
+
+     Fishing net, shibbo'.
+
+     Fly, (_the insect_,) lahng.
+
+     Foot, petchem'; (_applied to the_ foot, leg, _and_ thigh.)
+
+     Friend. (_See_ Father.)
+
+     GIRL, pah'chik vay-ee'vee; (_literally_, a little woman.)
+
+     Go. (_See_ Come.)
+
+     GOOD, yissung.
+
+     GOD, yarris. (_They had images of twelve gods._)
+
+     GRASS, waw'ree.
+
+     HAIR, (_of the head_,) chim. (_See_ Beard.)
+
+     HAND, kay'muk. (_See_ Fingers.)
+
+     HEAD, mitch'eemum.
+
+     HERE, atid'dee, _or_ ettid'dee.
+
+     HOUSE. (_See_ Hut.)
+
+     Hungry, surmah'.
+
+     Hut, _or_ house, yim.
+
+     I, (myself,) nang.
+
+     Iron, pahng-ul; _also_ pishoo.
+
+     Iron hoop, chee'pah; (i. e. _pieces of iron hoops, of which they
+     make knives, &c._)
+
+     Kill, (_verb_,) mah'tee.
+
+     Large. (_See_ Big.)
+
+     Laugh, (_verb_,) mee'mee.
+
+     LEAF, (_of a cocoa-nut tree_,) trillah.
+
+     Leg. (_See_ Foot.)
+
+     LIGHTNING, visseeg'.
+
+     Little. (_See_ Small.)
+
+     Lizard, peelel'.
+
+     MAN, mah'ree, _or_ mah.
+
+     Many, pee'pee.
+
+     MILK, toot. (_See_ Breast.)
+
+     My, mine; e. g. _my cocoa-nut_, kahrah'pah ah nang.
+
+     Moon, muk'kum.
+
+     Mother, mish'erum.
+
+     Mouse. (_See_ Rat.)
+
+     Musquetoe, lahm.
+
+     Near to, yah peteh'to, _or_ petetto.
+
+     Night, neebo'; (_also_ by night.)
+
+     No, taw, _or_ tah-oo.
+
+     Numerals. (_See the list at the end of this vocabulary._)
+
+     Oar. (_See_ Paddle.)
+
+     Old, (i. e. from twenty years upwards,) mahzoo'-ee; very old,
+     mahzoo-ee ah va; _also_, butchee butch chim, _literally_, the hair
+     is white.
+
+     Paddle, vettel.
+
+     People, pee'pee ah mah'ree; _literally_, many men.
+
+     Rain, (it rains,) oot; it does not rain, taw oot.
+
+     Rat, tum'meeum.
+
+     Reef (of rocks,) ahrah'-oo.
+
+     Rope, tah'ree. (_See_ Cord.)
+
+     Sand, (or shoal in the sea,) pee. _This word means simply the
+     sand._
+
+     Sea, (salt water,) taht.
+
+     Shark, po.
+
+     Ship, waw'wee.
+
+     Short, yuhmoat', _or_ yah moat'.
+
+     Sick, makkah'kes; I am not sick, nang tay makkah'kes.
+
+     Sister, mee'ang-um.
+
+     Sleep, mus'see, _or_ mummah teed'ee.
+
+     Small, pah'chik; very small, (as a grain of sand,)
+     pahchik-gitchee-gee.
+
+     Son, (or daughter,) lah'bo. (_See_ Child.)
+
+     Stars, vish.
+
+     STONE, vahs.
+
+     Storm, pee'pee oot; i. e. much rain.
+
+     Strong, (in good health,) yuhkayl'.
+
+     Sun, yah'ro.
+
+     Tahboo', _the religious interdiction called_ tahboo, _which is
+     common in the islands of the Pacific ocean, and which is also used
+     in Lord North's island._
+
+     Talk, (_verb_,) tee'tree; e. g. tee'tree Inglish, talk English;
+     tee'tree To'bee, talk To'bee, or the language of the island.
+
+     Tattoo, (_verb_,) ver'ree-ver'-ree.
+
+     There, a-tur'nah.
+
+     Thou, _or_ you, gur.
+
+     Thunder, pah; pah zah tee'tree, it thunders; _literally_, the
+     thunder speaks. _When it thunders, they say_, Yarris tee'tree, God
+     is speaking.
+
+     To-morrow, waw'rah-zoo'rah.
+
+     Tree. (_See_ Wood.)
+
+     Turtle, wah'ree.
+
+     WATER, (fresh,) tah'roo.
+
+     ----, (salt,) taht.
+
+     Whale, kahs.
+
+     What; (what is that,) mahtah'men ah menno.
+
+     WHITE, butch'ee butch.
+
+     Why, bah.
+
+     WIND, yang.
+
+     Woman, vay-ee'vee; a young woman, wer'ree-wedg vay-ee'vee.
+
+     Wood, (trees,) tummutch'ee; tabur'rah eek'ah, the stem _or_ trunk.
+
+     Yellow, arrang'.
+
+     Yes, ee'lah.
+
+     Yesterday, rollo; yesterday night, rollo neebo'.
+
+     You, _or_ thou, gur.
+
+
+NUMERALS
+
+  One,       yaht
+  Two,       guhloo'
+  Three,     yah
+  Four,      vahn
+  Five,      neem
+  Six,       yah-woar'
+  Seven,     yah-veesh'
+  Eight,     yah-wah'
+  Nine,      yah-too'
+  Ten,       yah-saik' (sake)
+  Eleven,    sa-kum ah soo'
+  Twelve,    sa-kum ah goo-o'
+  Thirteen,  sa-kum ah sa-roo'
+  Fourteen,  sa-kum ah vah'oo
+  Fifteen,   sa-kum ah leemo'
+  Sixteen,   sa-kum ah wahroo'
+  Seventeen, sa-kum ah weeshoo'
+  Eighteen,  sa-kum ah wahrew'
+  Nineteen,  sa-kum ah tee-o'
+  Twenty,    sa-kum ah gloo-o'
+
+  Ten,       saik
+  Twenty,    goowaik'
+  Thirty,    sa-reek'
+  Forty,     vah-eek'
+  Fifty,     leemaik (leemake)
+  Sixty,     woar-eek'
+  Seventy,   vesheek'
+  Eighty,    wahreck'
+  Ninety,    tew-week'
+  Hundred,   surbung; &c.[8]
+
+The inhabitants of Lord North's island seldom count above a hundred; but
+when they wish to express a larger number they do it by a repetition of
+the syllable _saik_, (ten,) in this manner:--sakum ah saik, ah saik, ah
+saik, &c.
+
+In counting cocoa-nuts, they use the following numerals:--
+
+  One,    soo
+  Two,    goo-o'
+  Three,  sa-roo'
+  Four,   vah'o
+  Five,   leemo'
+  Six,    woarroo
+  Seven,  veeshoo'
+  Eight,  tee-oo
+  Nine,   wahrew'
+  Ten,    saik
+
+In counting fish they have still a different set of numbers:--
+
+  Seemul eekah, one fish
+  Gwimmul eekah, two fishes
+  Sreemul eekah, three fishes
+  Vahmul eekah, four fishes
+  Neemul eekah, five fishes
+  Waw'remul eekah, six fishes
+  Vish-ee ahmul eekah, seven fishes
+  War'remul eekah, eight fishes
+  Too-ee'mul eekah, nine fishes
+  Saik eekah, ten fishes
+
+
+DIALOGUES IN THE LANGUAGE OF LORD NORTH'S ISLAND.
+
+     Tee'mit, tay too attee'dee, nang ver'ree-ver'ree gur; mah'ree
+     To'bee tay ver'ree-ver'ree man Inglish mo'ree pooruk; zahbee'to
+     Yarris yettah'men man Inglish.
+
+          Horace, come here, for I am going to tattoo you; if To'bee man
+          does not tattoo Englishman he will die; Yarris (God) will come
+          and Englishman will go immediately out of sight; i. e. be
+          destroyed.
+
+They perform the process of tattooing by means of a little instrument,
+made either of a thin, flat fish-bone, or of the wing bone of a large
+sea-bird. The blade of the instrument (as it may be called) is about an
+inch long; it is fixed upon a little handle, about four inches in
+length, and the whole instrument may be compared to a carpenter's adz,
+in miniature; except that the edge, instead of being straight, and
+smooth for cutting, is made into teeth for puncturing the skin. This
+little instrument is held in the left hand, with the edge or teeth
+directly over the place to be punctured, and successive blows are then
+struck upon it, with a small stick of iron-wood, resembling a drumstick,
+and of about two pounds' weight, until the coloring matter is
+sufficiently pricked into the skin.[9]
+
+Before commencing the operation they mix the coloring liquid (before
+described, page 102) in a cocoa-nut shell. They then compel you to lie
+down upon the ground in such a position that the part of the body which
+is to be tattooed shall lie uppermost. After this, with a slender,
+flexible stick dipped in the liquid, they mark out upon the body the
+figures that are to be imprinted in the skin; then they dip the teeth of
+the tattooing instrument in the liquid, and by successive strokes, as
+above mentioned, prick it into the skin, till it is completed to their
+taste. During the operation you are surrounded by men, women, and
+children, all singing a kind of chorus or song adapted to the occasion;
+and if any complaint escapes you, from the severe treatment of the
+operators, (of whom there are generally two,) the whole company strikes
+up a louder strain, apparently as if rejoicing. The spirited wood cut
+accompanying this volume gives a very correct representation of this
+important ceremony.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+After captain Barnard and Rollins escaped from the island, the natives
+would often ask of Holden and Nute where they thought _Peeter Inglish_
+(their name for the captain) was;[10] they were answered, that he was on
+his passage to England. They would then say,--
+
+     Ah! Peeter Inglish taw borobeeto Inglish; Peeter Inglish yepee'lif
+     tang ah nee mah'ree ah To'bee ah pahng-ul; Peeter Inglish mo'ree
+     poo'ruk woar ah taht; Peeter Inglish tee'tree tee'tree mah'ree
+     To'bee pee'pee pee'pee ah pahng-ul, pee'pee ah lego', pee'pee ah
+     mullebah'dee; shaik, man Inglish yepee'lif tuhmah'; mah'ree ah
+     To'bee zah so zah tee'tree Yarris, waurwa ah Inglish cher prow tay
+     beeto woar Inglish.
+
+          Ah! the captain will never get to England; the captain was a
+          thief; he had not given To'bee man any iron, and he would die
+          at sea; the captain talked, and talked with To'bee men, (that
+          they should have) much iron, great many clothes, and much
+          brass; for shame! Englishmen (are) all thieves and bad men;
+          To'bee men (are) very angry; (we) will speak to God, and he
+          will make the ship founder at sea, and the captain never will
+          arrive in England.
+
+Whenever Holden or Nute expressed a wish to go to England, the natives
+would say to them,--
+
+     Gur zah beeto Inglish bah? Taw ah muk'kah woar Inglish; gur zah
+     beeto Inglish, gur mo'ree poo'ruk; mah'ree Inglish muk'kah ketch'ee
+     etch'ee, omah ah yahpuk gur mum'mee tee'dee ah To'bee, yevvers
+     mah'ree To'bee yissung ah mukkah.
+
+          What do you (wish to) go to England for? There is nothing to
+          eat in England; if you go to England you will die; Englishmen
+          eat rats and snails and filth; if you stay in To'bee you will
+          live; To'bee men have very good (food) to eat.
+
+
+_Dialogue between Horace Holden and his master Pahrahbooah._
+
+     _H._ Pahrahbooah, gur zah wosheeto ah nang woar ah prow, nang zah
+     beeto Inglish; nang zah mum'mah tee'dee ah To'bee zah pooruk, taw
+     ah muk'kah woar To'bee; woar Inglish pee'pee ah muk'kah, pee'pee,
+     pee'pee; gur zah wosheeto ah nang woar ah prow nang zah lee ah gur
+     pee'pee ah pahng-ul, pee'pee ah lego', pee'pee ah mullebah'dee; gur
+     tay wosheeto ah nang zah poo'ruk woar ah To'bee, gur taw ah pishoo.
+
+          _H._ Pahrahbooah, if you will put me on board of a ship I will
+          go to England; if I remain at To'bee (Lord North's) I shall
+          die, for there is nothing to eat on To'bee; in England, much
+          food, much, much; and if you will put me on board of a ship, I
+          will give you much iron, many clothes, and much brass; if you
+          do not put me (on board) I shall die on To'bee, and you (will
+          get) no iron.
+
+     _P._ Hah, nang tay wosheeto ah gur; gur tee'tree tuhmah; gur tang
+     ah nee nang ah pahng-ul; Peeter Inglish yepee'lif, gur yepee'lif,
+     mah'ree ah Inglish yepee'lif, senah-messen'; tuhmah man Inglish;
+     gur mummah tee'dee woar To'bee, zah pooruk ah To'bee.
+
+          _P._ Ah! I will not let you go; you talk bad; you will not
+          give me any iron; Peeter Inglish is a thief, you are a thief,
+          all Englishmen (are) thieves and liars; Englishmen (are) bad
+          men; you (are) to stay on To'bee, to die on To'bee.
+
+
+_Another Dialogue between the same persons._
+
+     _P._ Tee'mit, gur zah beeto Inglish gur zahnee mah'ree To'bee ah
+     pahng-ul, yennup way'sa teberee'kah yennup ah tepo'ee ah waus'sa,
+     ah lego', kah-oo eekah, zis ah pishoo' ah teet ah tuv'vatif, ah
+     mullebah'dee, zah beeto To'bee zah lee wur'teemum ah gur?
+
+          _P._ Horace, if you go to England will you give the men of
+          To'bee iron of a large size, as big as a stick of wood, and
+          big axes, and knives, and cloth, and fish-hooks, an anvil and
+          hammer, and needles, a trunk, and brass, and then come back to
+          To'bee and give them to your father?
+
+     _H._ Ee'lah, nang zah beeto Inglish nang zahnee mahree To'bee ah
+     pahng-ul yennup, ah tepo'-ee, ah waus'sa, ah lego', kah-oo eekah,
+     zis ah pishoo', ah teet, ah tuv'vatif, ah mullebah'dee, zah beeto
+     To'bee, zah lee wur'teemum ah nang.
+
+          _H._ Yes, I will go to England, and I will give to the men of
+          To'bee iron of a large size, and big axes, and knives, and
+          cloth, and fish-hooks, an anvil, and needles, and trunks, and
+          brass, and then come back to To'bee and give them to my
+          father.
+
+     _P._ Gur zah beeto Inglish gur dee mum'mah tee'dee woar Inglish,
+     taw borobee'to To'bee, gur zah yuh-woon; tuhmah taw muhpeer klo
+     dung-ah-rang-us.
+
+          _P._ If you go to England you will stop (sleep) there, and not
+          return to To'bee; this (will be) bad and not friendly, and you
+          will be a bad man.
+
+     _H._ Nang zah beeto Inglish, nang dak mum'mah teedee woar Inglish,
+     nang zah beeto To'bee.
+
+          _H._ If I go to England I will not stop (sleep) there, but
+          return to To'bee immediately.
+
+     _P._ Gur too-ay-go'rah beeto Inglish, gur mo'ree pooruk woar ah
+     taht, gur tay beeto To'bee.
+
+          _P._ You do not know the way to England; you will die (or be
+          lost) at sea, and not come to To'bee.
+
+     _H._ Hah! nang yego'rah beeto Inglish, taw mo'ree pooruk woar ah
+     taht.
+
+          _H._ Aye, I do know the way to England; I shall not die (or be
+          lost) at sea.
+
+     _P._ Gur ahnee ah prow woar Inglish, pee'pee ah pahng-ul, ah lego',
+     kahrahpah, ah vay-ee'vee pee'pee, ah mahree pee'pee, ah lah'bo?
+
+          _P._ Have you got ships in England, and a great deal of iron,
+          and cloths and cocoa-nuts, and many men, women, and children?
+
+     _H._ Eelah, nang yuhwo' ah prow woar Inglish, pee'pee ah pahng-ul,
+     ah lego', kahrahpah ah vay-ee'vee, pee'pee ah mah'ree, pee'pee ah
+     lah'bo.
+
+          _H._ Yes, I have got ships in England, much iron, and cloths,
+          and cocoa-nuts, and women, and a great many men and children.
+
+     _P._ Gur mukkah woar Inglish pee'pee?
+
+          _P._ Do you eat in England a plenty?
+
+     _H._ Eelah, nang mukkah woar Inglish pee'pee.
+
+          _H._ Yes, in England I eat a plenty, (or much.)
+
+     _P._ Tee'mit, gur zah beeto Inglish woshee'to ah pahng-ul woshee'to
+     ah lego', ah mullebah'dee, ah tepo-ee, ah kah-oo eekah, mo'ree
+     To'bee zah lee mah'ree To'bee, gur muhpeer, gur yissung ah mah'ree,
+     muhpeer muhpeer.
+
+          _P._ Horace, if you go to England, and fetch us iron, and
+          cloths, and brass, and axes, and fish-hooks, to To'bee, and
+          give them to To'bee men, you (will be) our friend, a very
+          good man, a very great friend; (_literally_, a friend, a
+          friend.)
+
+     _H._ Eelah, nang zah beeto Inglish, nang wosheeto ah pahng-ul,
+     wosheeto ah lego', ah mullebah'dee, ah tepo-ee, ah kah-oo eekah,
+     woar To'bee zah lee mah'ree To'bee.
+
+          _H._ Yes, (if) I go to England I will fetch you iron, and
+          fetch cloths and brass, and axes and fish-hooks, to To'bee,
+          and give them to the people of To'bee.
+
+     _P._ Tee'mit, gur zah beeto Inglish gur tay beeto To'bee, mah'ree
+     To'bee zah tee'tree Yarris, gur moree pooruk.
+
+          _P._ Horace, if you go to England and do not come back to
+          To'bee, the men of To'bee will talk to God and you will die.
+
+     _H._ Nang zah beeto Inglish, nang de mummah tee'dee, ah turt zah
+     beeto To'bee.
+
+          _H._ I will go to England and stop a short time, (i. e. sleep
+          there,) and shall return to To'bee.
+
+     _P._ Tee'mit, gur zah beeto venne Yarris, gur tay beeto, gur mo'ree
+     pooruk.
+
+          _P._ Horace, if you do not go to Yarris' house, (i. e. the
+          place of worship,) you will die.
+
+     _H._ Tur pay; nang zah beeto.
+
+          _H._ Wait a minute; I will go.
+
+     Verrah mahtah gur?
+
+          What is your name?
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[6] No bamboo grows on Lord North's island, but it frequently drifts
+ashore, and the natives make knives of it.
+
+[7] Used also by the Pelew Islanders.
+
+[8] _Numerals of the Caroline Islands, from the Missionary Voyage to the
+Southern Pacific Ocean, 4to, London, 1799._
+
+  One,    iota
+  Two,    rua
+  Three,  toloo
+  Four,   tia
+  Five,   leema
+  Six,    honoo
+  Seven,  fizoo
+  Eight,  wartow,
+  Nine,   shievo
+  Ten,    segga
+
+[9] Tattooing instruments may be seen in the valuable East India museum,
+at Salem; and perhaps in some of the museums in Boston.
+
+[10] What the import of this name _Peeter_ was, we are unable to
+determine. They gave the same appellation to a character of great
+celebrity in their history, whose entire name was _Peeter Kart_; and
+who, according to their traditions, came from the island of Ternate,
+many years ago, and gave them their religion and such simple arts as
+they possessed. They said he was of a copper color, like themselves.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Transcriber's Notes:
+
+The transcriber made these changes to the text to correct obvious
+errors:
+
+  1. The author was inconsistent in his use of accents with some of the
+     words in the language of Lord North's island. This inconsistency
+     remains as originally published.
+  2. Some of the last words of the native's dialogue was moved to
+     the previous page for readibility.  This occured on the following
+     pages:
+            130 text moved to page 129
+            131 text moved to page 130
+            133 text moved to page 132
+  3. The illustration "Escape to Britannia" has been moved from between
+     page 114 and 115 to page 113.
+
+End of Transcriber's Notes]
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Narrative of the Shipwreck,
+Captivity and Sufferings of Horace Holden and Benj. H. Nute, by Horace Holden
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