Chapter 10

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.