A SECOND VOYAGE WITH HARTOG TO THE SOUTH
For three months after leaving the North Sea we sailed south, meeting
with no land until we sighted a group of islands which Hartog believed
to be the group that the Spaniard Cortes attempted to explore in 1519,
when one of his ships was burned by the hostile natives, while he and
his crew escaped with difficulty in the other vessel. These islands are
mountainous, well wooded, and apparently fertile. In most places that
we saw the trees were very thick, with spreading branches, in which we
perceived houses to be built, which looked like the nests of some large
bird. We approached the land with caution, for we knew from experience
that the tides in the vicinity of the South Sea Islands are very
irregular, and seem to be much affected by the prevailing winds and
currents. There is only one tide in the twenty-four hours. The
flood-tide sets to the north, and the ebb to the south. It therefore
behoved us to choose a safe anchorage, which, after consultation, we
finally decided upon, selecting a spot sheltered from the prevailing
wind, in deep water, close to a beach and opposite to a stream.
Two boats were then lowered and manned, Hartog taking charge of one and
I of the other. The natives, who had assembled in great numbers on the
beach, did not appear so surprised at the sight of our vessel as might
have been expected. As the boats drew near, some of them waded out to
meet us, showing no fear, but rather an anxiety to welcome us. They
were all entirely naked except for a strip of tapa cloth, which formed
a tee-band around the middle and hung down behind like a tail. This was
probably the reason for the reports given by the earlier navigators of
the existence of tailed men in these regions.
Some of the natives wore feathers in their hair, and all had fish bones
thrust through the cartilage of the nose, which gave them a ferocious
aspect. Even young boys wore sticks in the same fashion. The women were
attired in petticoats of white tapa cloth, which hung down in strips
from a girdle round their waists.
Before trusting ourselves among these savages we gave them, as peace
offerings, coloured beads and bright pieces of cloth. Our presents were
well received, but immediately on becoming possessed of them the
natives laid them at the feet of a young man who stood apart from the
crowd, surrounded by several tall and fierce-looking savages. From this
we concluded the young man to be the king of the country, though we
wondered he should be so young, as the leadership amongst savages
generally goes to the strongest.
We then showed the natives our water-casks, and, pointing to a stream
close by, made them understand we desired to fill them, to which they
offered no objection, so that we at once began to water the ship. When
we had finished our task we were invited by signs to go to the king,
and, being well armed against treachery, we boldly marched up in a body
to the king's house, which we found to be an immense building, nearly
300 feet long and 30 feet wide. It had a high peaked portico, supported
by posts 80 feet high, from which a thatched roof narrowed and tapered
away to the end, where it reached the level of the ground. The house
resembled nothing so much as an enormous telescope, and here the king
lived with his numerous wives and families, together with all his
relatives and immediate retainers.
From the knowledge I had picked up on my travels, particularly during
the time I was captive among the black cannibals of New Holland, I had
acquired the art of understanding, either by words or signs, what
savage people wished, by their language, to convey, which to most would
have been unintelligible, and from what I could gather it appeared that
the young king, who had but lately inherited his kingdom from his
father, whose tomb, perched on the top of a tree, was pointed out to
us, was threatened with war by a neighbouring chief, the former king's
hereditary enemy, and that if we would help him vanquish his opponent
he was willing to hand over to us the property of other white men which
had been left upon the island in years gone by.
When I had imparted this proposition, so far as I was able to
understand it, to Hartog, he expressed a wish to see the white men's
treasure, and on my repeating this request to the king's councillors,
we were invited to accompany them to a part of the island where we were
shown what were undoubtedly the remains of Cortes' vessel, the one that
was burnt and abandoned to the savages. There did not at first sight
appear to be anything of value among the ancient relics, but I noticed
some iron boxes, which had rusted at the locks, so that it became
difficult to open them. With the aid of a crowbar, however, which I
sent for from the ship, we were able to prise the lid off one of them,
when it was found to be filled with Spanish money, much gold coin being
amongst it. There were twelve iron boxes, and we reckoned that each box
contained money to the value of two thousand English pounds. At the
sight of this treasure Hartog readily consented to assist the king of
the islands against his enemies by every means in his power, and an
agreement was come to accordingly. Hartog then ordered the specie to be
taken on board, when we attended a council of the chiefs to ascertain
the part it was proposed for us to play in the war, I acting as
interpreter.
It then appeared that a number of canoes were expected shortly to
arrive from the adjacent islands. They would be met by the young king's
fleet, when a naval battle would take place; but the issue was
doubtful, since the hostile chief possessed many more canoes than the
young king did. It was to neutralize this disadvantage that our
services were required.
Now the "Arms of Amsterdam" was a more powerful vessel than the
"Endraght", mounting four guns, so we had little doubt but that we
would be able to render valuable assistance to the young king in the
defence of his country, and having pledged ourselves to support him we
returned to our ship, well pleased with our adventure.
Next day the beating of war drums and much commotion ashore announced
the approach of the enemy fleet, and having loaded our cannon we stood
out to meet them. Twenty war canoes belonging to the king, each
containing 100 men armed with spears and clubs, put off to take part in
the battle. They were far outnumbered, however, by the hostile fleet,
which now approached. At the sight of our ship the oncoming war canoes
appeared to hesitate, and for some minutes ceased rowing, but presently
they advanced again in the form of a crescent, evidently intending by
their superior line of battle to surround us. We were now midway
between the opposing fleets, and when the enemy canoes were well within
range Hartog delivered a broadside, which had the most remarkable
effect ever witnessed in a naval engagement. Not wishing to kill the
natives if it could be avoided, since the quarrel was not ours, Hartog
directed that the first broadside should be fired over the heads of the
advancing savages, but the result was the same as if we had sunk or
crippled the hostile fleet. At the flash and sound of the cannon, with
black smoke rolling across the water towards them, the savages turned
and fled, driving their canoes back to the place whence they had come
at a pace which sent the foam flying from the paddles. But the most
unexpected part of our interference was that the savages on board the
king's canoes appeared to be as terrified as were the enemy, for they
also turned and fled towards the shore. So we had the satisfaction of
seeing the opposing fleets flying from each other without blood being
shed.
Having thus brought matters to a satisfactory conclusion, and fulfilled
our agreement with the young king to drive off the enemy fleet, we
continued our voyage, well satisfied with our first transaction.