THE MASSACRE OF THE CREW--CARY PROTECTED BY
CHIEF--A FEEJEE FESTIVAL--CARY MEETS A WHITE MAN.
I continued on this path, sometimes running as fast as I could, then
I would stop not knowing where it led, and every moment expecting to
encounter a native, until at length I reached the beach on the opposite
side of the island. I followed along the shore until I came to a rock
upon which I climbed, but could find no place of concealment so got
down, and continued on until I came to another. This I climbed and on
the top I found an opening leading into a large cave, which I entered
and crawled into a crevice, not daring to go far from the mouth of the
cave as it was so dark I could not see where it led. I threw down a
stone and it sounded as though it fell forty or fifty feet.
The crevice in which I stowed myself was just big enough to admit me,
and about ten or twelve feet from the mouth of the cave. During the
night I heard the natives talking and heard their spears dragging over
the rock. I had no doubt but that they were in search of me, so I kept
very quiet, hardly allowing myself to breathe. I scarcely entertained a
hope for life, well knowing that if I left the cave the natives would
kill me, and if I stayed I should eventually starve.
Here I lay some six or seven hours endeavoring to decide upon some
course of action, but without doing so I fell asleep, and slept at
intervals until daylight. I then crawled out very cautiously upon the
rock, being anxious to ascertain what had become of the crew. I thought
it possible that the lives of some of them might be spared. I climbed
a tree, to see if I could discover anything of the natives, but there
were none in sight, so I ventured to walk along the beach until I
came to the landing. The boat was there, but from the appearances I
concluded the crew had all been killed, as there were many tracks in
the sand and the beach was broken up and had evidently been the scene
of a severe scuffle. I searched around until I found a place which had
evidently been dug over. I scooped away a few inches of sand with my
hand and came to the face of a man. I uncovered one other, but could go
no further.
Sick at heart and almost famished, I started back toward my hiding
place, scarcely knowing which way I went or what to do. I found a few
raisins in the boat, which I ate as I went along. These, with a green
coconut which I got in the morning and drank the milk of, was all I
had eaten for two days, but was just enough to make me determined to
live as long as I could and keep out of sight of the savages. I had now
abandoned all hope that there was any of our crew left. Sometimes I
would think I might as well give myself up to the natives as to remain
in the cave and starve, for there was nothing that I could get to eat
or drink, without great risk of being discovered, which I considered
certain death.
On the third day I decided that I could stand it no longer and keep
strength enough to be able to climb out of my cave, so I crawled out on
the rock, took a look around, and as I did not see anything, I thought
I would venture down to the shore and bathe. When I reached the shore I
saw a party of women off fishing, near the reef. They soon discovered
me and immediately started for the town, and I returned to my cave. I
had not been there long when I heard voices. I looked out and saw two
men evidently in search of me. I felt extremely loath to give myself
up to be butchered, but my determination to live had been very much
weakened, so intense had become my sufferings from hunger and thirst.
After looking at them awhile I decided to come out and end the
suspense, so I crawled out in sight. They immediately started for me,
one armed with a boat hatchet, the other with a knife. I sat down in
the path with my back towards them, expecting to have the hatchet
driven into my head, and not wishing to see the blow. They walked
up until within a few feet of me, then stopped and looked at me a
moment before they spoke. It seemed an hour. I looked around when one
of them, an old man, a resident of the island and one with whom I had
previously been on very good terms, addressed me kindly and wished me
to go to the town with them. I sprang up and followed with alacrity,
almost forgetting my thirst, but after we got off the rock, I made them
understand I was very hungry and thirsty. We soon came to a coconut
tree, when one of them procured a coconut, broke it, and gave me to
drink, which greatly refreshed me. After we got to the town, the old
man, who was a chief, carried me to his house and gave me as much fish
and vegetables as I wanted. At dark he led me to a small hut in the
woods where we spent the night.
The next morning we went back to the town to get some breakfast. We had
not been in the house long when about twenty of our visitors came in,
seated themselves, and began questioning me by signs to know if there
were any axes or tools of any kind on board the ship. I told them I
believed there were, thinking it might draw their attention from me.
They remained awhile in animated conversation of which I concluded I
was the subject, then left me in care of the old chief's wife, and went
to the landing, launched their canoes, and started for the ship. They
had not been gone long when another gang came toward the house. My old
mistress on hearing them, said something, beckoned me to get behind
her, which I did. They came up to the house, asked some questions and
took their leave, much to my relief. But they had not done with me yet.
Late in the afternoon the savages returned from the ship, after an
unsuccessful search for tools. They mustered all their party together
in the lower town, and sent up one of their number after me. He came to
the house and ordered me to follow him. On my showing some reluctance
to obey, he seized me in no gentle manner and shoved me out of the
house, so I put the best face on and followed him down to the town, or
rather he followed me, keeping me ahead of him in the path.
When we came to the town I was horrified to see the savages all
painted and armed similar to what they were at their first landing,
but looking much more frightful to me. They all stood in a circle,
and seated me in the center on the ground. My old friendly chief was
sitting a short distance from the circle repairing some of the rigging
to his canoe, to all appearances wholly unconcerned as to what was to
be done with me. One of them went to him and asked him some questions,
which he answered without even raising his eyes from his work. This was
repeated several times.
After about an hour spent in consultation, during which the chiefs of
the party appeared perfectly cool, but the common people manifested
considerable excitement, swinging their clubs and looking as though
they would like to have a crack at me, they all left and went to their
canoes.
The old chief immediately came to me and spoke kindly, but I could not
understand a word he said. He made me understand, however, that I was
now his son, and as such he treated me all the time I remained with him.
The next day our visitors left, much to our satisfaction. I say our,
as the islanders were no more fond of their company than I was, and I
believe as much regretted what had been done as if it had been part of
their own tribe that had been killed. I several times endeavored to
learn some particulars in regard to the massacre, but they did not wish
to talk about it and would only say that they had nothing to do with
it. I did not understand their language and could only learn from them
what they were disposed to tell me by signs.
I stayed here about a week longer, treated with the greatest kindness,
when one day two large canoes were seen coming toward the island, which
filled the natives with alarm. They ran to the town, collected all
the property which they had gotten out of the ship and buried it in
the woods. Seeing I was frightened they told me the canoes were from
Lahcameber, and were friendly to white men, and not at all like the Ono
men (our other visitors).
They soon landed and came up to the town. One of them seized me by
the arm, and directly another came and took me by the other arm. The
last one was a native of the Friendly Islands and much lighter than
the Feejees. They were both chiefs and after disputing some time as to
who had the best right to me, the Friendly Islander relinquished his
claim and, to my surprise, addressed me in English, bidding me good
morning. I returned his friendly salutation, after which my new master
introduced me to their head chief who, I learned, was his brother. This
chief was also brother to the head chief of Lahcameber. His name was
Toka and he was a very amiable man. He immediately took me with all my
possessions under his protection and made me understand that if any of
his men offered to molest or rob me, he would correct them.
After Toka had got through with me, the Friendly Islander inquired what
ship it was that was lost on the reef, and what had become of the crew.
I told him it was the ship Oeno of Nantucket, and that all of the crew
but myself had been massacred by a party from Ono. He shook his head,
saying they were very bad. He then asked if the islanders had any of
the plunder out of the ship and if there were any muskets. I told him
they had secreted their plunder on seeing the canoes, and that the
chiefs of the island had what muskets the Ono people had not got away
from them. He said his party would get the whole or destroy the town,
and if the inhabitants offered any resistance they would kill them all.
The next morning they commenced abusing the poor islanders shamefully
and made them bring forward all the plunder they had got from the ship.
My new master was armed with a four-pronged spear. He gave me a musket
and kept me close by his side. I thought at first from their movements
that they would destroy the whole town, but after they had secured all
the plunder from them they retired to their canoes and did not trouble
them more.
My old master was very sorry to lose me but did not dare to say a word.
I certainly felt a pang of regret at leaving him, as he had probably
saved my life and had always treated me with the greatest kindness. The
Tongataboo chief was anxious that I should stop with him and go to
Tongataboo with him, telling me that there were many missionaries there
and plenty of ships came there, but I preferred continuing with my new
master. I found these people were collecting tribute for the chief of
Lahcameber from the islands which were tributary.
The next morning we set sail from Turtle Island and steered for Ono, I
being in the canoe with the chief, and arrived the following morning.
The natives were expecting us, it being the time for their annual visit
to collect tribute, and had large quantities of provisions cooked and
all things prepared for their annual feast. All the inhabitants of the
island seated themselves in a large circle leaving an opening through
which our party passed to the center, each one carrying a bundle of
tappah cloth, which I found was intended for a present in token of
respect and friendship. When they got inside the ring our chief stood
in the center with the rest of the party around him, each one having
a spear in his hand. These they commenced brandishing in the air,
accompanying their movements with sundry antics and gestures which at
first alarmed me, thinking they were hostile demonstrations, but I soon
perceived it was only a kind of dance which was always performed on
such occasion.
At the conclusion of the dance they threw down their spears and cloth
and retired to a house prepared for us, after which the natives divided
our presents among the chiefs, each one taking a share according to his
rank. When this was settled they brought us the provisions they had
prepared and presented them with a great deal of ceremony, then left
us to feast upon them, which we did with good appetites. We remained
here some ten or twelve days receiving tribute, which consisted of
tappah, sinnet, oil and mats, and sometimes a few whales' teeth, which
is the most valuable article they have among them. By this time we had
received all they had to give, so took our leave of them and proceeded
to Lahcameber, stopping on our way at Turtle Island and several others.
On the third day we arrived at Lahcameber. The landing was thronged
with natives of both sexes, who received us with great joy. I was
dressed in the Feejee costume (that is, no dress at all--only a strip
of cloth around my body). I was accompanied to the palace, which was
about half a mile from the landing, by the multitude, who gazed at me
with much curiosity. The king's residence was situated in the center
of the town, with a large square in front of it, neatly fenced in with
reeds. The houses were neatly built, similar to those at Turtle Island.
I was led into the palace and found the king entertaining a party,
with a kind of drink called carver. I was presented to the king and a
Friendly Island chief, who could talk some English, through whom the
king inquired who I was and where I came from. I gave him the full
particulars of the loss of the ship and the massacre of the crew. He
then offered me a cup of carver, which I dared not refuse, although
my stomach loathed it, and it was with much difficulty that I kept it
down. This beverage is made from a root. It is first chewed by the
natives. Each person except the chief takes a piece of the root and,
after chewing it sufficiently, spits it into a wooden bowl. It is then
mixed or kneaded with the hands, a little water added, and strained
through the thin bark of the coconut tree, when it is ready for use. It
is then poured into coconut shells and handed round, each one having
a shell of his own. After drinking heartily of it, it leaves them in
a kind of stupor, similar to the effect of opium. Disgusting as this
beverage was to me at first, my repugnance gradually wore away and
after a while I could drink it with as good a relish as I can now
swallow a glass of beer, though as I look back it makes my stomach turn
to think of it.
After our visitors departed, the king, with the aid of the Tongataboo
chief, asked if my chief at home would send out an armed vessel to
punish those savages who had killed the crew and I told him I thought
he would. He then wanted to know if I could clean his muskets--he had
seven which came out of the Oeno which were very rusty. I told him yes,
so he brought me some tools and I took them to pieces, he watching me
all the time with considerable interest. After I had cleaned them and
put them together, he expressed his satisfaction as well as he could by
signs, frequently repeating the word caloo, saying if I had not have
been a spirit I would have shared the fate of the rest of the crew.
The king then requested me to fire them, which I did several times,
loading and firing as fast as I could, which frightened them very
much. They all fell at every discharge as though they had been shot.
The king then invited me to eat with him. The food was brought in a
dish made from the leaf of a coconut tree, and consisted of yams and
tarrow. I was seated beside the king. One of his wives brought in a
large earthern pot of boiled fish, and six female attendants were in
readiness to wait on us. One sat by the king to feed him and another
was appointed to feed me. I at first objected to being fed, but the
king insisted on my conforming to his rules as I was his son and ought
to do just as he did, so rather than displease him I submitted. The
water in which the fish was boiled was dipped out in coconut shells
which were held to our mouths to drink. The fish was then taken out in
a wooden dish and divided equally. While eating, all present held a
green leaf in their hands, as a token of respect to the king. When the
repast was finished all clapped their hands, repeating the word Hamdoo,
which means give thanks to the king. A basket of coconuts was then
brought in and each one treated to a share of the milk. The men having
finished, the women were allowed the fragments. The women are never
allowed to eat with the men.
The next day, after walking around the town and satisfying my
curiosity, the king asked me to accompany him shooting and I, of
course, accepted. We were accompanied by three of the natives and
shot a few wild pigeons and a number of sea fowl which we found in
abundance. Having no clothes on I was badly sunburnt and had a very
sore back for a long time. Sea fowl were very plentiful about the
shores and fish of excellent quality abounded around the island. These
were caught by the women mostly, who were very expert, but the men
considered it beneath their dignity.
Preparations were now making for a grand feast. The king sent people
out in all directions to collect and cook yams, tarrow and all kinds
of vegetables, also pigs, fowl, etc. The natives brought provisions
from all parts of the island and deposited them on one side of a
square before the king's house and retired to the other side to await
the performance which was about to take place by visitors from the
Friendly and Navigator Islands. They collected provisions enough for
two or three thousand people, and when several thousand spectators had
assembled, the king, with me by his side, was seated on an eminence
built of stone on one side of the square. After all was arranged the
actors made their appearances in two parties and took their stations
in the square about twenty-five or thirty feet apart. One of them then
stepped out into the open square and, brandishing a coconut stalk in
his hand, challenged anyone to come out and fight him. His challenge
was promptly accepted by a young native from the same party and a smart
fencing match ensued. At last one gave up and the conqueror was greeted
with shouts of applause by the spectators. Two others then took their
places and so the sport went on. After one party had their turn the
other came on and fought with their fists muffled with tappah, which
seemed to delight the spectators quite as much as the club fight. They
frequently shouted Wooa venaka! Suka venaka! (Very well done. Thank
you, sirs!) After about two hours of this exercise one of them used
some unfair play, which so enraged all parties that they flew to their
clubs and spears, and I expected to see something besides a sham fight;
but the king jumped from his throne, rushed into the midst of them and
quelled the disturbance. They then seated themselves and the provisions
were shared amongst them. After feasting they left us, some badly
bruised and many with broken limbs.
When all had become quiet the king and myself, accompanied by his
life guard and servants, went to a pond of fresh water to bathe. When
the king leaves his palace he is always accompanied by his guard who
goes ahead to inform all whom they may meet of his approach, as all
are required to bow down until he has passed. They pay great respect
to the king, whom they reverence as a superior being guarded by the
spirits of his forefathers. This they are caught by the priests, called
Umbaty, whom the king always consults before undertaking a voyage or
any enterprise. The old priest (for they are always very old) commences
shaking himself until every part of his body is in motion, pretending
meanwhile to be talking to the spirits. He then takes a stalk with two
or three coconuts on it brought to him by the king and beats it on the
mats. If the fruit comes off easily it is a good omen, but if not the
king postpones his undertaking till a more favorable time. After the
Umbaty gets through with his ceremony he takes a drink of sea water
which stops his shaking and drives the spirits out of the house.
While I was on this island we were visited by a party of chiefs from
Ambow, bringing with them six or seven Manila men--mutineers from
a Manila brig. They had killed the captain and officers and given
themselves up to the natives at Ambow. I inquired if there were any
Europeans in the brig. They told me there were three. One came from
the Ladrone Islands and left the vessel before the mutiny. The others
acted as interpreters for the captain and came near sharing his fate,
but were protected by some of the crew who were not so bad as the
ringleaders.
During their stay the king kept me close by him for fear they would
entice me away. I was very anxious to go, but the king told me he was
going to Ambow in a few days and I should go with him. The visitors
came to invite us to go to a great feast which was preparing at Ambow,
and in a few days they returned home in their canoes.
We now commenced preparations for our voyage. Messengers were
dispatched to every part of the island to inform the different chiefs
that the king was going to Ambow, and that they must send all the
coconut oil, tappah, and whales' teeth they could produce for presents
to the king of Ambow. Twenty large canoes were fitted for the voyage,
and when all was ready the king went down to the squadron escorted
by a large party of chiefs and subjects, five of his wives bringing
up the rear and bearing with them the mats to sleep on and cooking
utensils. We set sail with a fine breeze, made our passage through the
reef which surrounds the islands, into the open ocean, and steered for
the island of Emwaller, where we arrived about sunset and anchored near
the shore. The king and myself slept on the shore. The inhabitants
brought down yams, tarrow, pacalcolo and pigs which were divided among
the occupants of the canoes, a separate share being set aside for the
king and myself. The pig being rare done we built a fire, broiled it,
and made a very hearty meal. The next morning we got under way and
steered for the island of Engow, where we arrived, with the aid of
our paddles, before sunset and anchored as before, which was done by
sticking an ironwood pole into the sand, and making fast a rope with a
running bowline that it might slip down to the bottom. Where the bottom
is rocky they dive down and make the end of the rope fast to a rock or
piece of coral. Here we received the same friendly treatment as at the
other island, and the next morning steered for the island of Motosick,
where we arrived in the afternoon. This island is about fifteen miles
from Ambow.
Soon after our arrival here I saw a canoe coming from Ambow, in which
was a white man. As they came alongside our canoe the white man reached
out his hand and addressed me by name. I was dumb with astonishment.
At last he said, "don't you know David Whippey?" "Yes," I answered,
"I formerly knew him. He was a townsman of mine and an old playmate."
"Well," said he, "I am that David Whippey."