cartridge-box each man was provided, we landed, and marched up to the
place where Lay was standing. Still doubting whether he were not
more foe than friend, and determined that, under any circumstances,
he should not escape, I received him with my left hand, presenting,
at the same time, a cocked pistol to his breast. I was not
insensible to the sentiment my harsh reception was calculated to
inspire; but circumstanced as I was, I could not risk every thing in
preference to inflicting a momentary pang, keenly as it might be
felt. I repeated the question, "Who are you?" to which he replied,
"I am your man," and burst into tears. I told him then to say to the
natives, that if they rose from their seats, or threw a stone, we
would shoot them all; but the poor fellow, delirious with joy for the
moment, knew not what he said, and, instead of obeying my command,
called out in half English, and half Island language, in broken
sentences, most of which was unintelligible to us; amongst other
things, he exclaimed, "they are going to kill me, they are going to
kill me." I ordered him to be silent, and then asked, why he told
them we were going to kill him.--Recollecting himself immediately, he
begged my pardon, declaring that he knew not what he was saying. By
this time, some of the natives had risen, and were becoming very
animated and violent in their conversation and gestures. Two or
three of them advanced towards us; I pointed my pistol at them, and
made Lay repeat my threat, which had the desired effect on all but
one old man, who, unarmed, advanced in defiance of me. Lay desired
me to suffer him to approach, which he did, and taking hold of Lay's
hand with both of his, he asked what his countrymen were going to do
with him. Lay explained to him, in a few words, as clearly as he
could, at which the old man seemed much affected. This was his
benefactor, the person to whom he was indebted for life; and the poor
fellow seemed not wanting in sensibility or gratitude, at the moment
of their parting. He embraced him affectionately, told him that he
would see him again before he departed, and wept like a child. I was
unwilling to remain longer than was absolutely necessary, lest the
natives, when they had recovered from their first surprise, should
conceive a contempt for our small number, and make trial of our
strength, in which I knew they would be much superior to us, if they
were determined and brave, as the first discharge of our pistols
would place us upon an equality with the same number as ourselves. I
therefore cut short Lay's interview with his friend, and hastened him
to the boat; there he wept for joy, and gave us several proofs of the
agitated state of his mind. His first impulse, which did great
credit to his heart, was, to inquire if his friends were well, and
then recollecting that it was probable none of us knew them, told us
he belonged to East Saybrook, Connecticut, and asked if any of us
were acquainted in that section of the country. He several times
repeated the same questions, forgetful that he had asked them before,
and that we had replied in the negative. When his mind was a little
composed, we made inquiries of him respecting the rest of the Globe's
crew, who had been left on the island; to which he answered, that
they were all dead except Cyrus H. Huzzy, who was on an island a few
miles to windward of us, and now full in sight. He asked, with an
expression of great solicitude, if we would go for Huzzy, and when I
told him we would, it seemed to afford him not less pleasure than his
own deliverance. He stated that he and Huzzy both knew that we were
in search of them, and that our vessel was a man of war. He said
that the chiefs had sent spies on board of the schooner every day
when it was practicable, who had communicated to them the number of
guns we carried, and, within a very few, the number of which the crew
consisted. They had apprised them of the force and conduct of our
exploring party, descending to the minutest particulars, and even
describing most of the individuals on board. They had seriously
debated the question of making war upon us several times, and always
consulted Lay and Huzzy as to the propriety of it, and what would
probably be their prospect of success. They dissuaded them from it,
of course, and filled them with apprehension, by declaring,
repeatedly, that we were invincible, and that there was scarcely any
thing we could not accomplish with our six-pounders; they even made
them believe, trifling as our armament was, that we could sink the
islands with our cannon: so ready is the human mind to receive for
truth what it cannot comprehend, if recommended by superior
intelligence, though it may be at variance with every thing in nature
or reason.
The natives were told to let us go where we pleased, without
molesting us in any way, to give us whatever we asked for, and, at
all times, to show themselves friendly to us. They had strictly
pursued the course of conduct pointed out to them by the young white
men, in whose superior knowledge of us and our prowess, they placed
every reliance; but still they doubted the probability of
conciliating our friendship in the sequel, and adhered tenaciously to
the idea of accomplishing our destruction in some way, to make their
own security the more certain. With this object, a variety of plans
were submitted at different times, to Lay and Huzzy, by those amongst
the chiefs esteemed the wisest and bravest, all of which were
discouraged, and the success of such an undertaking in any way, as
frequently declared to be utterly hopeless.
One of their plans was, to get alongside of us at night, unobserved,
and with some of the sharp instruments they had obtained from the
Globe, make a hole in the bottom of the vessel, and sink her; when,
they very truly believed, that those who were not drowned, would be
an easy prey to them, and that the party on shore, unaided by the
schooner, might soon be overcome and destroyed by their superior
numbers.
Another of their plans, and the most plausible one, was, to assemble
secretly all the canoes of the islands, at some point not distant
from us, and approaching under cover of the night, surprise and board
us.
If this last plan had been put into execution, in a dark night, it is
possible that it might have succeeded, as we could hardly have seen
them in time to use our cannon, and the fire of musketry which they
had heard before, would probably not have driven them back when they
had advanced near to us, particularly if, as might be apprehended, at
night, the fire were not directed effectively. They would not have
found us entirely unprepared; for, under the impression that the
mutineers were still living, and on terms of friendship with the
natives, we were on the lookout for such an attempt being made, as it
seemed to be the only means by which they could possibly escape, and
the plan which would most naturally occur to desperate men in their
situation.
In advancing towards the island where we expected to find Huzzy, Lay
told us that the island where we found him was a favourite place for
fishing at a particular season, when numerous shoals of fish swam
upon its shore. Our schooner was anchored at the place of residence
of the high chief, who, with those we found assembled upon the small
island, had fled there to avoid us. The boat's crew being oppressed
with fatigue and hunger, I landed upon a dry reef, after proceeding a
few miles to give them rest and refreshment. It was painful to
witness Lay's anxiety to depart, who, fearing a messenger might be
despatched to the chief who had Huzzy in custody, kept his eyes fixed
upon us with an anxious, hurrying look, and several times expressed
his fears that the chiefs might have the boldness to attempt his
rescue. On finishing our frugal repast, we pulled up under an
uninhabited point of Lugoma's Island, (this was the name of Huzzy's
chief,) which, having passed without observation, an ample bay, upon
the shore of which was situated the village of the chief, opened to
our view; and, to our great joy, the only sail canoe in his
possession, was seen hauled up on the beach. For a few moments, no
one was seen; but when we were in the act of landing, Lugoma and
several old women came walking down to the beach, attracted by the
strange and unexpected appearance of our boat. They were struck with
the utmost consternation at beholding Lay, who was still in his
native dress; and the old women began calling out, in a loud tone,
demanding of him what he was doing there, and what we wanted. Before
he had time to reply to them, I got out of the boat, and taking, hold
of Lugoma, and pointing a pistol at him, bade Lay say to him, that
unless Huzzy was brought to me immediately, I would kill him. He
begged that I would not hurt him, and said Huzzy was near and should
come to me. The old women, alarmed for the safely of the chief,
instantly ran off, calling aloud for Huzzy. It was but a few minutes
before he appeared, walking towards us, with his fine yellow hair
hanging in ringlets about his shoulders, and his person quite naked,
with the exception of a piece of blanket, tied round his loins. When
he had approached sufficiently near, and I said to him, "Well, young
man, do you wish to return to your country?" his eyes filled with
tears as he replied, "Yes, sir; I know of nothing that I have done
for which I should be afraid to go home."
As soon as Lugoma felt relieved from his apparently dangerous
situation, he began to express his solicitude for Huzzy, begging that
I would not hurt him; and when he was assured that no injury was
intended towards his son, as has called Huzzy, entreated me not to
take him away. The old women united with the chief in the expression
of their wishes, and seemed, by their loud talk and significant
gestures, to insist upon the white man's remaining with them. The
scene was an interesting one, and we found a picturesque group
assembled on a beautiful lawn, in front of a number of huts,
surrounded by cocoa-nut and bread-fruit trees. Huzzy owed his life
to the native chief; he had been in the condition of a slave to him
for two years. To him he was indebted for many acts of kindness,
some of which he had requited by his industry in his service, and
some had been cancelled by harsh treatment; yet, still he stood in a
delicate situation towards the chief. The saving of his life alone,
conferred an obligation upon him, which could scarcely be repaid by
long and faithful services. The chief evidently appeared to regard
him as his son, and when the moment of our departure arrived, and he
saw we were determined to take our countryman with us, he joined
tears to entreaties, saying he should weep long and bitterly for him.
He told Huzzy that he must come back again, and asked me if I would
bring him. As the only way in which I could get clear of so strange
a petition, urged with so much feeling, I promised to bring him back
if his mother consented to his return. With this, he appeared to be
tolerably well satisfied, and we were about returning to the boat,
when Lugoma took Huzzy aside to talk to him privately. When their
interview was ended, I asked Huzzy what the chief had been saying to
him; to which he replied, that he had been reminding him how
difficult it would be for him to get along with his work without him,
and that he must return as soon as he could, and bring with him some
axes, guns, and cloths, such as his countrymen wore. "I have
promised to bring them," said he, "when I return, and he is quite
satisfied." When we were ready to depart, to conciliate the good
will of the female part of Lugoma's family, I presented them with a
variety of trifles, such as finger-rings, glass beads, &c., for
which, in return, they loaded me with a profusion of small mats, and
rude shell ornaments, accompanied with many expressions of
thankfulness and regard. When I came to take leave of Lugoma, I
presented him with a jack-knife. With the exception of an axe, I
could have given him nothing more valuable, and it gained for me his
unreserved confidence. He immediately proposed going with me to the
schooner, and got into the boat with his son, a lad eight years old.
Huzzy took with him a musket and a Bible, the only things he had
saved at the massacre. The first had been preserved for him by the
chief, who thought that with this in Huzzy's hands, although he had
no powder, he was a match for all his enemies; and the Bible he had
clung to himself, and had kept as the companion of his lonely hours.
The Bible was more an object of curiosity to the natives than any
thing else they found in the possession of the white men: they often
inquired of Huzzy what it was, its use, &c., and his explanations
seemed only to increase their superstition and aversion to it. They
were never pleased to see him retire to the garret of his little hut,
to read it, as was his custom; and invariably remonstrated with him
against it. They urged him frequently to destroy it, and when he
refused, they threatened to do it themselves. As the reason of their
dislike, they said it would bring spirits round the house that would
kill or hurt some of the family. Huzzy told them, that if they
destroyed it, the Great Spirit would come and kill them all; to which
he was probably indebted for its preservation.
I was walking, back of the huts, over a level green spot, enclosed by
cocoa-nut trees, when Lugoma came to me in great haste, and with a
disturbed look beckoned me to come away, at the same time saying to
Huzzy, that I must not go there: it was a place for the dead; my
presence would disturb them, and bring spirits round his huts; I
indulged his superstition, and walked off. Lugoma was about thirty
years of age, of moderate stature, square built, with low forehead,
and flat nose; having an expression of countenance that indicated
intelligence and enterprize. Huzzy gave him the character of being
very passionate, inveterate in his enmities, fierce and determined in
his hostility, but firmly attached to his friends, and possessing a
benevolent heart. He often became offended with Huzzy, in their
ordinary occupation, and upon such occasions would use violent
language, and sometimes threaten to kill him; but, when his passion
subsided, would be very sorry for what he had said, and soothe Huzzy
by telling him not to be afraid; he would not hurt him. Once,
however, in working their canoe, when something went wrong, he raised
a paddle and struck Huzzy with it, upon which, the poor fellow, slave
as he was, gave way to his indignant feelings, and was in the act of
repaying the chief's violence with interest, who, seeing that he had
gone too far with the high-spirited white man, and that his life was
menaced, begged him not to strike, declaring that he would never
again raise his hand against him; and the quarrel was amicably
settled by Huzzy's telling him, that if ever he did, he would kill
him. From this story, I thought there might be some truth in the one
which Huzzy told me was one day related to him by Lugoma's son, the
boy that was in the boat with us. We had a mulatto lad on board of
the schooner, and at the time our contemplated capture was spoken of
amongst the natives, this little boy told Huzzy that his father was
going to save the life of the mulatto boy, and then kill him as he
was getting too large. The mulatto boy was a great favourite amongst
the natives, and upon several occasions, quarrels had arisen amongst
the chiefs who should have him, when in the presence of Lay or Huzzy
they were debating the question of our capture.
The day was far advanced when we left Lugoma's Island, and stood
along the shores of the islets to intercept the land party whom we
met at no very great distance, making rapid marches. We landed to
inform them of our success, and that their labour was at an end, in
which they could not but rejoice with us, although they were
extremely disappointed that they should not themselves have been the
fortunate persons, after all the toil they had experienced in the
search. We put off and made sail in both our boats, and as the
canoes were all still upon the beach of the island from whence we had
taken Lay, I intended to land and get his musket, which, in the hurry
of our departure, he had forgotten. No sooner, however, did the
natives see both our boats standing towards them, than they put off
with all their canoes, and bore away directly before the wind. We
made all sail in chase, but soon perceived that they were leaving us
very fast; and, as night was coming on, we made the experiment of a
few musket shots, fired over their heads, with the hope of bringing
them to. Instead of answering the desired purpose, it served only to
increase their alarm, and the weather becoming squally, we suffered
them to depart without further pursuit. I had cause to regret that I
had fired; for from the first discharge, poor Lugoma was in the
greatest agony, for fear we were going to kill him, as well as the
rest of the chiefs. All the explanations that Lay and Huzzy could
make, and all their assurances of my friendship, could not quiet him.
Several times he would have taken his son and jumped overboard, had
we allowed him to do so. Whenever I went to the stern of the boat
where he was sitting, he repeated to me again and again that he was
my good friend, and that I must not kill him; my replying that I
would not hurt him, that I was his friend, &c., had not the least
effect; it only caused him again to repeat what he had before told me
of, his being my friend, and that I must not kill him.
The numerous shoals of coral, with the violence of the wind,
rendering it somewhat dangerous to run in the dark, I determined to
come to for the night, as we were yet a long distance from the
schooner. For this purpose, we stood in towards the place where, on
the preceding night, we had met the exploring party. Lugoma no
sooner found himself so near the shore, than he became more earnest
than ever in his petition to be permitted to land with his son,
although he was more than twenty miles from his home. I would have
allowed him to leave us, had I not been apprehensive of the hostility
of his countrymen; I knew not but by his aid in piloting them to our
night's encampment, we might be surprised before morning, and my
resolution to keep him was confirmed, when it was reported to me, by
some omen who had landed from the other boat, that one or more
natives had been seen near us, skulking through the bushes. We also
determined, not to trust ourselves on shore, but to lay in the boat,
and make an awning of our sails, to screen us from the heavy showers
that were frequently coming over, in the best manner we could.--When
we had finished our repast, we hauled off and anchored, but not to
sleep. Our awning was but poorly calculated for shelter, and the
showers that constantly succeeded each other, kept us too wet and
cold for rest; besides this, I was frequently reminded of Lugoma's
presence, who made me pay dearly for his detention. He would lay no
where else than alongside of me, and during the whole night, not more
than ten minutes elapsed at any one time, that he did not move his
hand over my face, and when he thought my attention was sufficiently
awakened, call out to me, "Hitera;" a word that signified he was my
good friend, nor would he suffer me to rest a moment afterwards until
I had replied to him "Hitera."
We were anchored but a short distance from the place where the chief
mutineer of the Globe and his murderous companions had landed--where
he had fallen by their hands, and where they, in their turn, had been
killed by savages. It was a spot, calculated to revive, in the minds
of Lay and Huzzy, the liveliest recollection of sorrows and
sufferings, that no language could describe; and as we all wished to
hear an account of the mutiny, and of the events that subsequently
transpired, I desired Lay to favour us with the relation. Lay's
narrative was as follows: "The first that I heard of discontent on
board of the ship, was a few days previous to the mutiny. I went to
the maintop-mast-head, where I found Comstock; after a few moment's
conversation, he said to me, 'What shall we do, William? we have bad
usage: shall we take the ship, or run away?' To this I did not make
much of any answer. I do not now remember what I said; I was quite
inexperienced, it being my first voyage. In the afternoon, or the
next morning, I heard him talking to some of the men on the
forecastle about running away with him when we arrived at Funning's
Island, for which, I believe, we were then steering. This, I
suppose, was for the purpose of sounding them, to find out their
disposition, and who would join him in the mutiny.--From what we
heard, we began to think that all was not right, and tried to get the
news aft, but unfortunately did not succeed. In the afternoon,
before the night on which the mutiny took place, we were on the main
yard furling the mainsail, and I tried then to tell the second mate,
but Paine or Comstock was between us, and I was afraid to say any
thing. Comstock had, some days previous, taken his cutlass from the
cabin into the forecastle; he was a boat-steerer, and used to eat in
the cabin with the officers. I knew nothing more about it until
twelve or one o'clock on the night that the mutiny took place; I was
sleeping in the forecastle, when Rowland Coffin came and awoke me,
saying I must come upon deck, they had taken the ship. I got up and
went aft, where all the crew were mustered on the quarter-deck. When
Comstock had told us what he had done, and what his regulations were,
he said, that such as would not swear to stick by him, must go on the
other side of the deck. I did not know how many were engaged in the
mutiny, and believing that we should be killed if we did not swear,
we all swore to stick by Comstock and obey his orders. He then told
us to haul the third mate up out of the cabin; I was one that had to
take hold of the rope made fast to him. We laid him in the gangway,
and I thought he was dead; but when Comstock was throwing him
overboard, he clung to the ship with his hands. Comstock told some
one to bring an axe and cut his hands off, when he let go and went
overboard. I saw him in the water astern, swimming after the ship
for some time. We then made sail; Comstock was the only navigator on
board. We first went to the Kingsmill Group, but did not like to
stop there, as the natives were very numerous and thievish; besides,
Comstock had shot one of them for stealing something; after which, he
was afraid to stay amongst them. From Drummond's Island, of the
Kingsmill Group, we came directly to the Mulgraves, and made this
part of them, where we anchored and commenced landing the stores.
"The crew of the Globe consisted of between twenty-five and thirty;
but the only persons engaged in the mutiny were Comstock, Paine,
Oliver, and the black steward, (Lilliston, who was one of the
mutineers he did not mention.) It was midnight, and previous to
descending to the cabin, one of the number was placed as a sentinel
at the cabin door, with an axe, Comstock saying to a young brother
who was at the helm, that if he did not keep the ship in her course,
he would kill him as soon as he came on deck. Comstock killed the
captain by striking him on the forehead with an axe whilst he was
sleeping, having first locked the mates up in their state-rooms, that
they might not escape. He then went with the other mutineers, and, I
believe, cut the throats of the first and second mates, and shot the
third mate. I did not see any but the third mate, and was told that
the others were thrown out of the cabin windows.
"Not many days after the mutiny, the black steward was detected in
the cabin loading a pistol which was forbidden on pain of death; and
on being asked by Comstock what he intended doing with it, he
replied, at first, "Nothing;" but, when questioned more closely, he
said that he had heard Smith and some one else say, they intended to
take the ship. Smith and the other person named by the steward, were
called up by Comstock, and asked if they had threatened to take the
ship; to which they replied in the negative, insisting that they had
never intimated or intended any thing of the kind. Comstock declared
that such an offence could not go unpunished, and that the steward
must be tried by a court martial; he thereupon told the steward to
choose one man, and said that he would choose another, and that the
two should sentence the steward to such punishment as the offence
merited. The two men were accordingly chosen, the steward selecting
Rowland Coffin for his advocate, and Comstock, Paine for his. After
hearing the evidence, and deliberating for a short time, they found
the steward guilty, and sentenced him to be hung at the yard-arm
until he was dead. Immediately afterwards, all hands were called to
witness the execution; and the steward was taken forward and given
fourteen seconds to make his peace with God.[9] The foretop-mast
steering sail haulyards were overhauled down and tied round the
steward's neck, and Comstock, after making every body take hold of
the haulyards, held the fourteen second glass in one hand, and his
cutlass in the other. When the glass was out, he gave the signal for
the people to run away with the haulyards, by striking the ship's
bell with his cutlass, and, in a moment, the criminal was run up to
the yard-arm.
"After the death of the officers, Comstock made us all live in the
cabin with him, where the mutineers used to sing, and carouse, and
tell over the story of the murder, and what they had dreamed. Paine
and Oliver, who could scarcely ever sleep, spoke with horror of their
dreams, and of ghosts that appeared to them at night; but Comstock
always made light of it, and appeared to exult in what he had done.
He said once, that the captain came to him with his wounded and
bloody head, and showed him what he had done, when he told the
captain to depart and never come again, or he would kill him a second
time.