Having a successful fishing voyage, we loaded our canoe, and carried
our cargo to the chiefs of _Luguonewort_. I had the satisfaction of an
interview with Lay; but our provisions being soon exhausted, we were
obliged to go again in search of fish. At this time there was a severe
drought, and breadfruit trees suffered extremely, many of them
entirely died. The superstitious natives supposed the drought was sent
upon them as a judgment, because myself and Lay were allowed to live.
I informed them that we could neither make it rain nor prevent it; but
some of them were so ignorant that they believed we could control the
weather. But some of the chiefs thought the drought was visited upon
them because they had killed our shipmates, and I was always ready to
join with them in that opinion. The drought continued about four
months with such severity that most of the breadfruit trees on the
small Islands were so completely dried up that they never sprouted
again. Many of the ignorant natives still insisted that their sickness
and drought were occasioned by suffering us to live upon their
Islands; but this gross ignorance was counterbalanced by most of the
chiefs, who believed differently, and to their more liberal opinion we
are indebted for our lives.
About this time the Islands were refreshed by plentiful showers of
rain, and the natives assembled at Milly to sing for the breadfruit to
come in abundance. They said their singing would please _Anit_, and
that he would reward them with a very great crop.
A disturbance existed between the high chief and his brother
_Longerene_. The disagreement lasted about nine months, during which
time the two brothers did not see or speak to each other. _Luttuon_,
the high chief, then sent a canoe to inform his brother _Longerene_
that he wished to see him. An interview took place, and a treaty of
peace was ratified.
During our stay at Milly, I had frequent opportunities of seeing Lay,
my fellow sufferer; but the only relief we could afford each other was
derived from a sympathy of feelings, and in conversations relating to
our homes and native country, by blending our mutual wishes for a safe
return, &c. &c. The reader can hardly conceive the unpleasantness of
our situation at this time--the famine was so great that the tender
branches of trees were cooked, and the nutricious juice drank as food.
My strength was so reduced in consequence of being deprived of my
usual quantity of provisions, that I was unable to accompany my master
on a fishing voyage. When my master returned, he found me lying in the
hut, and asked me what was the matter. I informed him my indisposition
proceeded from hunger; he cooked a fish and gave me, which, though it
afforded me some relief, was not half enough to satisfy the cravings
of appetite.
After I had recruited my strength, one day while engaged in fishing, a
canoe came to the Island; and as soon as the canoe was near enough for
the natives in her to be heard, they commenced hallooing and making
dreadful noises, which is their practice when war is declared. They
informed us that the high chief had killed several of the lower chiefs
who belonged to the Island called Alloo; that _Longerene_ had fled to
Alloo, his own Island; and that the high chief was determined to
pursue and kill him. We were ordered to go immediately to his
assistance; accordingly we set sail for the Island Milly, where we
found a great number of natives collected for war. Again I had the
satisfaction of being with Lay; who informed me that they were going
to fight the other party at Alloo; and that the high chief had told
him that he and I must prepare two muskets, and go and fight with
them. Luttuon sent for me and Lay, and informed us he was about to
have a battle, and that we must prepare to take a part in it. We asked
him if he had any powder--he said he had a plenty, and showed us a
small box, which contained a little powder and mustard seed mixed
together, which, if it had been good powder, would not have made more
than five or six charges. We told him it was good for nothing; but he
said we must do the best we could with it. As we were afraid to offend
him, we went to work with the powder, and dried it in the sun, and
prepared our muskets for battle.--The next morning we launched 15 or
16 canoes, containing in all about 200 natives, and set sail for
Alloo; where we arrived and landed, and proceeded to a village in
order to give battle to the enemy. On learning that the chief of Alloo
and his family had fled in a canoe, we returned to our canoes, made
sail in pursuit of the chief, but did not overtake him. After
returning and spending a day or two at the Island of Alloo, we
launched our canoes and went to our respective homes, and heard no
more of the war.
Some time after my master returned to the Island where we usually
resided, a canoe came and brought the information that a vessel was
anchored near one of the head Islands--that she carried guns on each
side, and had a hundred men--that they (the natives that brought the
news) had been on board of the vessel, and received presents of beads,
which they had on their necks. The natives said the vessel was not
like our ship which we came in, but had only two masts. I told them
we had vessels of all descriptions, some with one mast only. They said
the men on board did not look like us, and that they were very saucy.
I informed the natives the vessel was a war vessel, and that if
molested by the natives, they would shoot them. The natives said they
would take the vessel and kill all the men on board. I told them their
safety consisted in friendship, and that any hostile attack on the
crew of the schooner would lead to their own destruction.--They then
set sail for Milly, to inform the chiefs of the arrival of the vessel
at the head Island. The chiefs of Milly gave orders to launch the
canoes, 15 in number, to go and take the schooner. These canoes were
manned by 200 natives. My master's canoe not being in perfect repair,
we could not join the party. On the night of the 25th, (Nov.) we saw
several of the canoes returning towards the Island where I was. From
one of the canoes landed the high chief, who began to question me
respecting the vessel. I told him I had not seen the vessel, and of
course could not tell much about her; but that I expected she had come
after me and Lay, and that she would have us. He then said he had
better kill us both, and then there would be no one to tell that the
natives had killed the rest of our crew. I told him that the people on
board the schooner knew there were two alive, and if they killed us,
the crew of the vessel would kill all the natives. This appeared to
perplex his mind, and he shortly left me, and retired to rest.
On the next morning, 26th, the chief again questioned me respecting
the vessel, but I could give him no particular information, as I had
not seen her.--The natives then commenced knotting up leaves to
inquire of their god, who, they said, would inform them what was best
to be done. Towards night they departed, leaving me with my master,
giving him strict orders not to let me go to the vessel, fearing that
I should not only remain on board, but give information that my
shipmates had been murdered. I was glad to see them depart, for I
feared they would kill me.--The reader can have but a faint idea of my
feelings at that time; nor will I attempt to describe them.
Towards the close of the next day, (27th,) a canoe came to the Island
which had been boarded by a boat from the schooner. The natives
offered the men in the boat some cocoanuts, which they would not
accept. The boat then proceeded towards the Island of Milly.--The
natives informed me that the men in the boat inquired after the men
who were left there by the ship Globe; but they would not give any
information where they were. The canoe left the Island, and we went to
rest. The next day passed without hearing any thing of the schooner;
but the day following, (29th of Nov.) as I was walking in the woods in
the afternoon, I heard a dreadful outcry for Hussey. I ran to the hut
to learn the cause, and to my unspeakable joy, I discovered that one
of the schooner's boats was on the beach, waiting for me, the men all
armed and equipped for battle. As I approached, the Lieutenant spoke
to me and told me to come to him. I went and sat down by him. He asked
me several questions, but my feelings were so overcome and agitated,
that I know not whether I replied in English, or the language of the
natives. While we were sitting together, the old man whom I had always
called master, but who was now willing to be considered my servant,
asked me if the white people were going to kill him. The Lieutenant
inquired of me to know the purport of the old man's question; I told
him he was afraid of being killed. The Lieutenant replied that he
should not be hurt, if he behaved himself properly.
We then walked round the Island, and I collected what few things I
had, a musket, &c. and made preparations for our departure. My old
master being unwilling to part with me, asked permission to go with
me. I spoke to the Lieutenant on the subject, and he readily
consented. We then set sail, accompanied by my master and his son. We
soon fell in with the 2d Lieutenant, in another boat, who informed
that all the survivors of the Globe's crew were now rescued. The boats
soon lost sight of each other, as night came on, and that in which I
was arrived at the Island about 9 o'clock in the evening. We landed,
cooked supper, and anchored our boat at a little distance from the
shore for the night.
The next morning, (30th,) we got under weigh, accompanied by the other
boat, beat to the windward, for the outside passage, and then ran down
to the schooner, and got along side at 9 o'clock. I will leave it for
the reader, to picture my feelings on entering once more on board of
an American vessel, after having been among unmerciful savages 22
months. We soon had some breakfast, after which my hair was cut, which
was of two year's growth, and I was furnished with clothing, and
remained on board till the next day.
From this date to the time of our arrival in the United States, all
the important incidents and facts which transpired, will be found in
the preceding pages, arranged from the journal kept by Lay.
After expressing my thanks to all who assisted to rescue us from
savage bondage, and my gratitude to Heaven for a safe return to my
friends and native land, I bid the reader a respectful farewell.
A VOCABULARY
_Of Words and Phrases, used by the natives of the Mulgrave Islands,
with their definitions and so spelt and divided in syllables as to
give the Reader a very clear understanding of the pronunciation._
Beard Cor y ack
Iron Maale
A sail Wood je lah
An oar Thib bet
Steering Kib bet tebet
Sailing Der rauk yruk
Sleep Mad du rah
Awake Mim mit
Dark Mar roak
Light Mar rum
Night Boong
Day Roun
Growing Aung
Drowned Mal long
Oil Bin in yep
Water Pir ren
A long time Et tow
Yourself Guay
Sleepy Mil tegee
Victuals Cuck con
Scrape Goo tock
Build Ae
Hold on Coppy dirry
Man Mum marn
Woman Civ rah
Boy Lod rick
Girl Lid rick
An infant Hi dir ry
Black Eg gil ly mit
White Em mew it
Red Em mirt
Drink E ranck
Fingers Jan thurt
A bird Paw o
A knife Noad rick
Begging Angue ot
Work Derry bol
An adze Jal tosk
A nail Mer ry
Grass Oo joo et
Leaves Bel ly bal
Counting Bun ne bun
One Jew on
Two Roo ah
Three Te lew
Four A men
Five Ri lim
Six Dil je mo
Seven Dil jil je ma jew on
Eight Ad je no
Nine Ad dil y mo jew on
Ten Dongue ole
Musketoe To cotch up
Fear Cwurd
Giving Hi dir inge
A rope Tow
Wind Gut to
Rain Woot
Lay down Bah boo
Get up Der ry cock
Not good Nah nah
Very good En no
Talking Com el tah to
Fighting Tarr yin ia
Kill Mon ny
Smoke Bout
Sand Boak
Diving Doo lock
Digging Cob e coob
Bury Col ly boo ny
Sewing Thil thil
Eat Mong ah
Singing Al lil
Sun Al
Moon Al lung
Star E jew
Sky I id ere lung
Sun down Doo lock Al
Sun rise Tuck in Al
To-day Raun ene
Yesterday In nay
To-night Boon ene
Tomorrow Geen a raun
Puking Mom mit
A blanket Cawd
A costume Ene
Fuel Con ny
Land Yin ny
A bottle Buck ah
Cutting Boo way
Fastening Geal ing
Stealing Mid dart
A rat Kid dir rick
Hair Co coa no bot
Ear Lou dil lyg nui
Eyes Mid dat
Nose Baw thurt
Mouth Loung ing
Chin Chim in ny gne ad
Chief Tam moon
Forward A marn
Egg Lip
Drift Pay lock
Paddle Aun arn
I know E del lah
Yes Ing ah
No Aub
Backside Al by gin
Playing Cook ke ry
Medicine Oo noe
Whale Rat
A louse Git
Strong Mad jo jow
Enough Em mut
Thread Uer
Forget Mer no lock wy
See Lal ly
Bailing An ain
Mast Cod jew
A saw Dir re ban
A sword Jah jay
A handle Je jew er
Running Tit thurt
A musket Boo wat
A cannon Bac ca
Powder Bow on ope
Fire Kid ja ick
Hewing Jick e jick
A house Imm
Fish Ikk
Stone Buck ah
Head Bur run
Hand Bon
Foot Nane
A shark Bac co
A spear Mor ry
Cocoanuts Koree
Breadfruit Mah
Go Wy lum
Come Wy to
Very large El lip
Scar or cut Gin net
Thunder Daw roort
Lightning Dar rum
Lizard Cid re be lin
A canoe, or any vessel Woa or Wah
Put it down there Lickitin i genny
Throw it away Jow lock y
I am thirsty E mar row
Give me some drink Letto lim ma dirick
Finger nails Og guck
Your father Gim mum
His father Gim men
My father Gim mah
Your mother Gin mum
His mother Gin nen
My mother Gin nah
Where are you going Guay te wy jickut
What are you doing Guay je thah
Where have you come from Guay te wy to den air
Is there any O ra cy
One hundred Jib be wee
One thousand Der rab bin
What is the news Ere nin narn
A bag or pocket Pau jaw
Do you know Guay del larky
What is that Mer root thany
What part E thane
You must not A mow
A cable or anchor Em mi tock
A cask or chest Tub be tub
Chips or rubbish Men a ca noak
Laying a rope Bit the bit
A cloud or squall Cur raw
Fair weather Em mon Lung
Don't say a word Tab co war roang aroang
Sharpening iron tools Jim me jim mal
Day before yesterday Jay marn
Take that and go Book y em ettal
Sick at the stomach Ma long a lung
How large is this Island Rir ret Ilong ene
What's the name of this Isle I tan Iling ene
Going to sea Gib be lak
THE END.
Transcriber's Note
Archaic and uncommon spelling has been preserved as printed--for
example, chesnut instead of chestnut, pummice instead of pummace, etc.
Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been retained.
Variable spelling has been preserved where it appears due to
differences between the two authors, or where there was no way to
determine which was correct; instances include Humphreys--Humphries,
Edgarton--Edgartown, and Tabanawort--Tabarawort.
Minor punctuation errors have been repaired. The following amendments
have been made:
Page 11--Lumbard amended to Lumbert--"... William
Beetle, (mate,) John Lumbert, (2d mate,) ..."
Page 15--Liliston amended to Lilliston--"... Wm.
Humphries, a black man, and steward, and Thomas
Lilliston."
Page 20--Linniston amended to Lilliston--"... William
Humphries, (the steward) of Philadelphia, and Thomas
Lilliston; ..."
Page 49--There amended to Their--"Their names were,
Gilbert Smith, George Comstock, Stephen Kidder, ..."
Page 74--fastastic amended to fantastic--"... and all
ornamented in the same fantastic manner."
Page 132--heathful amended to healthful--"... and keep
the atmosphere healthful and salubrious ..."
Page 166--Diveing amended to Diving--"Diving ... doo lock"
A table of contents has been added for the convenience of the reader.