Early in the morning of the day on which Hussey left me, preparations
were made for his embarkation with his _new_ master and family. We
were allowed a short interview, and after taking an affectionate leave
of each other, we parted with heavy hearts. The tender ties which
bound me to my companion in misfortune, seemed now about to be forever
broken asunder. No features to gaze upon, but those of my savage
masters, and no one with whom I could hold converse, my heart seemed
bursting with grief at my lonely situation.--On the departure of my
companion, the "star of hope" which had often gleamed brightly mid the
night of our miseries, seemed now about to set forever! After watching
the canoe which bore him from me, until she was hid from my view in
the distance, I returned to the hut with my master, and as I had eaten
but little during the day, the calls of nature induced me to broil my
last morsel of meat, with which, and some bread, I made a tolerable
supper. The natives began to be very fond of the bread, and eat of it
as long as it lasted, which unfortunately for me, was but a short
time.
I informed my master that I should like to have some more of the meat
from the place where the ship had lain. On the following morning, my
master, mistress, and four or five others embarked in a canoe, to
assist me in procuring some provisions. Observing that they carried
with them a number of clubs, and each a spear, I was apprehensive of
some design upon my own person; but happily, was soon relieved, by
seeing them wade round a shoal of fish, and after having frightened
them into shoal water, kill a number with their spears. We then
proceeded on, and when we arrived at the _tent_, they cooked them
after the following manner. A large fire was kindled, and after the
wood was burned to coals, the fish were thrown on, and snatched and
eaten as fast as cooked; although they were kind enough to preserve a
share for me, yet the scene around me, prevented my enjoying with
them, their meal. The tent which had been torn down, had contained
about forty barrels of beef and pork, two hogsheads of molasses,
barrels of pickles, all the clothing and stores belonging to the ship,
in short, every thing valuable, such as charts, nautical instruments,
&c. &c. The latter had been broken and destroyed, to make ornaments,
while the beef, pork, molasses and small stores lay scattered
promiscuously around. They appeared to set no value upon the clothing,
except to tear and destroy it. The pieces of beef and pork, from the
barrels, (which had been all stove,) were scattered in every
direction, and putrifying in the sun. After putting into the canoe
some pork and a few articles of clothing, we commenced our
return;--but a strong head wind blowing, we had considerable
difficulty in getting back.
For some considerable time, nothing material occurred, and I led as
monotonous and lonely a life, as could well be imagined. It is true, I
was surrounded by fellow beings; and had all hope of ever seeing my
country and friends again, been blasted, it is probable I might have
become _more_ reconciled to my condition, but I very much doubt if
ever perfectly so, as long as reason and reflection held their empire
over my mind. My books having been destroyed from a superstitious
notion of their possessing some supernatural power, I was left to
brood over my situation unpitied and alone.
Sometime in July, as I judged, _Luckiair_, son-in-law to my master,
_Ludjuan_, came from a distant part of the groupe, on a visit, and
during the week he remained with us, we became much attached to each
other. When he told me, that on his return he should pass near the
place where Hussey lived, my anxiety to accompany him thus far, was so
great, that after much persuasion, _Ludjuan_ gave his consent for me
to go. On our way we stopped at the tent, and I procured for the last
time, a small quantity of the _ship's provisions_, although the meat
was some of it in a very decayed state.
In consequence of head winds, we were compelled to stop for the night
upon a small Island, where we found an uninhabited hut; and after
cooking some meat, and baking some wet flour (for it was no other) in
the ashes, we took our mats into the hut, and remained until next day.
The wind continuing to blow fresh ahead, we gathered some green bread
fruit, and cooked some meat, in the same manner as they cook the
largest of their fish, which is this.--A hole is dug in the ground,
and after it has been filled with wood, it is set on fire, and then
covered with stones. As the wood burns away, the heated stones fall to
the bottom, which, when the fire is out, are covered with a thick
layer of green leaves, and then the meat or fish is placed upon these
leaves, and covered again in a careful and ingenious manner, and the
whole covered with earth. This preserves the juices of the fish, and
in this way do they cook most of their fish, with _hot stones_.
In the afternoon the weather proving more favourable, we left our
encampment, and at sun down arrived at a place called Tuckawoa; at
which place we were treated with the greatest hospitality. When we
were about to leave, we were presented with bread fruit and cocoanuts
in great abundance. As we approached the place of Hussey's residence,
I discovered him standing on the beach. Our joy at meeting, I will not
attempt to describe.--We had a short time, however, allowed us, in
which to relate our adventures, and condole with each other; for in
_an hour_ we were once more separated; and we pursued our course for
the residence of Luck-i-a-ir. After encamping another night upon the
beach, we at length arrived at the house of my conductor, which was at
a place called _Dillybun_. His family consisted of his wife and one
child, whom we found busily engaged in making a fishing net. When near
night _Luckiair_ and myself went out and gathered some breadfruit, and
after making a hearty meal, slept soundly upon our mats until morning.
A little before noon on the following day, two natives with their
wives, arrived from Luj-no-ne-wort, the place where Hussey lived, and
brought me some flour, and a piece of meat. The natives would eat of
the bread, but would not taste of the meat. I remained here about a
week, when _Ludjuan_ came for me. Nothing occurred of note, during our
passage back to _Milly_, (the place of my residence,) where I was
welcomed by the natives with every demonstration of joy. I was sent
for by one of the chiefs, who asked many questions, and as a mark of
his friendship for me, when I was about to return, presented me with a
kind of food called _cha-kak-a_. My present consisted of a piece about
two feet long and six inches in diameter. It is made of a kind of
fruit common among these Islands, and called by the inhabitants,
_bup_. The fruit is scraped very fine, and then laid in the sun until
perfectly dry. Some of the leaves of the tree bearing the fruit, are
then wrapped round a piece of wood, which is the _mould or former_,
and when securely tied with strings, the former is withdrawn, and into
this cylinder of leaves is put the _bup_, which is of a sweet and
pleasant taste.
At the urgent request of the natives, I now adopted their dress.
Having but one pair of trowsers and a shirt left, I laid them by for
bad weather, and put on the costume of a Mulgrave Islander. This
dress, if it may be so called, consists in a broad belt fastened round
the waist, from which is suspended two broad tassels. The belt is made
from the leaves of the _bup tree_, and very ingeniously braided, to
which is attached the tassels, which are made of a coarser material,
being the bark of a small vine, in their language called _aht-aht_.
When the dress is worn, one of the tassels hangs before and the other
behind. The sun, as I expected, burned my skin very much; which the
natives could not account for, as nothing of the kind ever happened
among themselves.
One day there was seen approaching a number of canoes, which we found
were loaded with fish for the chiefs, and to my great joy, Hussey was
one of the passengers. My master accompanied me to see him; and we
anticipated at least a mental feast in each other's society. But of
this enjoyment we were deprived by the natives, who were always uneasy
when we were conversing together.
I learned, however, from Hussey, that the natives had been kind to
him; but before we had an opportunity to communicate to each other our
hopes and fears, he was hurried away. Having now gained considerable
knowledge of their language, I learned that they were afraid that if
we were permitted to hold converse, we should be the means of
provoking the _Supreme God_, _Anit_, to do them some injury.
The bread fruit beginning to ripen, we were all employed in gathering
it; and I will endeavour to give the reader an idea of the process of
preserving it. After the fruit was gathered, the outside rind was
scraped off, and the seeds taken out; which are in size and appearance
like a chesnut. The fruit is then put into a net, the meshes of which
are quite small, taken into the salt water, and then beat with a club
to pummice. It is then put into baskets made of cocoanut leaves, and
in about two days becomes like a rotten apple; after which the _cores_
are taken out, and the remainder after undergoing a process of
kneading, is put into a hole in the ground, the bottom and sides of
which are neatly inlaid with leaves, and left about two days; when it
again undergoes the same process of kneading, and so on, until it
becomes perfectly dry.--This occupied us a number of days; and when we
were engaged in gathering another, and a larger kind, a small boy came
running towards us, and exclaimed, "_Uroit a-ro rayta mony la
Wirrum_," that is, the chiefs are going to kill William. Ludjuan
seeing that I understood what the boy said, he said "reab-reab!" it is
false. From the pains taken by the natives to keep Hussey and myself
apart, it was evident that they were in some measure afraid of us;
but from what cause I had yet to learn. After passing a sleepless
night, we again in the morning pursued our labors, but I was
continually agitated by fearful apprehensions. About midnight I
overheard some of the natives in the tent talking about me, and I was
now convinced that some injury was contemplated. I then asked them
what I was to be killed for. They seemed surprised when I told them I
had been listening; yet they denied that I was to be killed, and one
of them who had frequently manifested for me much friendship, came to
my mat, and lay down with me, assuring me I should not be injured.
The harvest being ended, a feast was had, and the chiefs were
presented with considerable quantities of this fruit, after it had
been prepared and baked, which in taste resembled a sweet potatoe,
sending presents of it in all directions about the Island.
Having now but little work to do, I confined myself to the hut as much
as possible, for I had been observed for some time in a very
suspicious manner. In a few days I was informed that Hussey had been
brought to the Island, and it was immediately suggested to my anxious
mind, that we were now to be sacrificed. Ludjuan went with me to see
Hussey, but we were only allowed a few moments conversation, when I
was taken back to the hut, and communicated my fears to my old
mistress, who sympathized with me, but said if the chiefs had
determined it, there was no hope for me. I now was made acquainted
with the cause of their dislike, which was no less than a
superstitious idea, that we were the cause of a malady, then raging to
considerable extent!
This disease consisted in the swelling of the hands and feet, and in
many instances the faces of the youth swelled to such a degree, that
they were blind for a number of days. Such a disease they had never
before been afflicted with. I had now an opportunity of most solemnly
protesting my total inability to injure them in this way, and as the
disease had as yet caused no death, I had a hope of being spared. I
learned that a majority of the chiefs in council, were for putting me
to death, but one of them in particular, protested against it, fearing
it might be the cause of some worse calamity. As the vote to carry
into effect any great measure, must be unanimous, this chief was the
means by his dissenting, of saving my life.
The afflicted began to recover, and my fears were greatly lessened;
but as these people are of a very unstable and changeful character, I
could not entirely divest myself of apprehensions.
As soon as the harvest was completed, great preparations were made for
the embarkation of the chiefs, who were going to make their annual
visit to the different Islands. They told me that the King, whom they
called La-boo-woole-yet, lived on an Island at the N. W. and if he did
not receive his yearly present of preserved bread fruit and _pero_, he
would come with a great party to fight them. Twelve canoes were put
in the water, each one carrying a part of the provisions, and manned
by about two hundred persons.
After an absence of four or five days, during which time we exchanged
civilities with numerous chiefs, we returned to _Milly_, and hauled up
the canoes. I now learned that the principal chief, had said that it
would have been wrong to kill me, firmly believing that the disease
with which they had been afflicted, had been sent by their God, as a
punishment for having killed Payne and the others! The malady having
now entirely disappeared, they considered that crime as expiated!
About two days after my return, there was great excitement, in
consequence of the appearance of a ship! Seeing the natives were very
much displeased at the circumstance, I concealed as well as I could,
the gladdening emotions which filled my breast; and, surrounded by
about three hundred of them, went round a point of land, when I
distinctly saw a ship standing for the land. The displeasure of the
natives increased, they demanded to know where she came from, how many
men she had in her, &c. I was compelled to tell them that she was not
coming to get me, and even pretended to be afraid of her approach,
which pleased them much, as they appeared determined I should never
leave them. At dusk she was so near the land, that I saw them shorten
sail, and fondly anticipated the hour of my deliverance as not far
distant.
During the night, sleep was a stranger to me, and with the most
anxious emotions did I anticipate a welcome reception on board, and
above all, a happy and joyful landing on my native shore. In the
morning, Ludjuan went with me to the beach, but alas! no ship was in
sight. She had vanished, and with her had fled all my hopes of a
speedy deliverance. The kind reader can perhaps form some idea of my
disappointment.
The natives continued to be kind to me, and I was often complimented
by them for my knowledge of their language; and the appearance of my
person had very much improved, my hair and beard being long, and my
skin turned nearly as black as their own! I was often importuned to
have my ears bored and stretched, but never gave my consent, which
much surprised them, it being a great mark of beauty. They begin at
the age of four years, and perforate the lower part of the ear, with a
sharp pointed stick; and as the ear stretches, larger ones are
inserted, until it will hang nearly to their shoulders! The larger the
ear, the more beauty the person possesses!
About a fortnight after I saw the ship pass, Hussey came with his
master, on a visit. His disappointment was great, and we could only
cheer each other, by hoping for the best, and wait patiently the
pleasure of Heaven.
Hussey again left me, but we parted under less bodings of evil than
before, for the kindness of the natives began to increase, and their
suspicions to be allayed.
I will here acquaint the reader with some of the means that I was
induced to make use of, to satisfy the cravings of appetite. As the
Island now was in a state of almost entire famine, my daily
subsistence not amounting to more (upon an average) than the substance
of one half a cocoanut each day. The chief I lived with, having
several cocoanut trees that he was very choice of, and which bore
plentifully; I would frequently, (after the natives in the hut were
all soundly asleep) take the opportunity and get out of the hut
unperceived, and climb one of those trees, (being very careful about
making the least noise, or letting any of them drop to the ground,
whereby I might be detected,) and take the stem of one cocoanut in my
mouth, and one in each hand, and in that manner make out to slide down
the tree, and would then (with my prize) make the best of my way to a
bunch of bushes, at a considerable distance from the hut, where I
would have a sumptuous repast; and if any remained, would secrete
them, until by hunger, I was drove to the necessity of revisiting that
place.
I made a practice of this for some time, until the chief began to miss
his cocoanuts, and keep such watch, that I, for fear of being
detected, was obliged to relinquish that mode of satisfying my
appetite.
A short time after this, I ventured to take a cocoanut off the ground
where the natives had recently buried a person; a deed which is
strictly against the laws of their religious principles, (if it can be
said that they have any,) and a deed which the natives never dare to
do, for fear of displeasing their God (Anit) under a certain length of
time after the person had been buried, and then, the spot is only to
be approached by males.
Not twenty-four hours had elapsed after I took the cocoanut, before
they missed it, and coming immediately to me, charged me with having
taken it, telling me that not a native on the Island would have dared
so much as to handle it, for fear of the bad spirit, (Anit.)
I then told them that I had taken it, but pleading ignorance in the
case, and promising never to do any thing of the like again, and
making it appear to them that I was surprised at what they told me of
the bad spirit, and also that I believed the same, they left me, after
telling me that if I ever handled another of them, it would not only
bring sickness and death upon myself, but would bring it upon the
whole Island.
The reader will naturally suppose, that my mind was considerably
relieved on their leaving me so soon, fearing that something serious
might be the result.
After this I was very careful how I did any thing that I thought would
in the least displease, or irritate them, and made myself content with
the portion they saw fit to give me.
I frequently fired a musket to please them, by their request; and
told them if they would let me have some powder, I would fire off the
swivel, left by the Globe. They consented, and collected in great
numbers, and after I had loaded the gun with a heavy charge, I told
them they had better stand back. They said I must set her on fire, and
tell them when she was going off, and they would run! I however,
touched her off, when they instantly fell on their faces in the
greatest panick. When their fears had subsided, they set up howling
and yelling with ecstacy!
They said, if they should have a battle, I must carry that gun with
me, which would alone vanquish their enemies!
We were visited by eight or ten canoes, from a distant Island, called
Alloo. They came to exchange presents with our chiefs, and very soon a
great quantity of _pero_, &c. was baked, and having been inspected by
the chiefs, to see that it was in a proper state to be presented to
their visitors, it was given them to eat.
As these people had never seen me before, I was much annoyed by them.
During their stay, I was constantly surrounded; my skin felt of, and
often became the sport of the more witty, because my skin was not of
so dark a hue as their own, and more especially, as my _ears_ remained
in the same form, as when nature gave them to me. These visitors, to
my great satisfaction, did not remain long with us.
Their mode of anchoring their canoes is singular. One of them takes
the end of a line, and diving to the bottom, secures it to a rock; and
in the same way do they dive down to cast it off. I have seen them do
this in five fathoms of water.